Romancing the Ordinary-A Year of Simple Splendor by Sarah Ban Breathnach

I just finished reading "Romancing the Ordinary-A Year of Simple Splendor" by Sarah Ban Breathnach. I loved this book. This is definitely one I want for my personal library. It's all about falling in love with yourself and your life, how great is that!

The book is divided into sections for each month of the year and has some of the best suggestions I've found for nurturing yourself and finding passion in your life. I love books that get me all jazzed up and excited about living my life and this book definitely did that.

There are so many wonderful ideas and suggestions in this book and they are all self-empowering. This book will get you deliberately savoring "the sensual experiences of daily life" whether that be through cooking, decorating, gardening, rituals, fashion, etc. A couple of my favorites are:

Becoming Your Own Courtesan - page 78.
"There's much to be said for the revival of courtesan grooming for women of all ages. Not to woo the world, but to seduce yourself."

"What have you always wanted to do or understand? Make a list. What social situations do you avoid because you feel awkward. Make up your mind that you're going to dismantle your fear with information."

"Do you have any idea how thrilling it is to actually enjoy your own company? It's like having a numbered account in Switzerland. Something you can always bank on. Begin to think of this year as your cosmic charm course. Become your own courtesan and watch the world begin to court you."

Being Home - page 195
"Inside your home, you keep mementos of your past that help or hinder your movement into the future. Which are you doing?"

"Come home to a house that shelters your body and soul."

"The size of your house is not related to the size of your soul, but the condition of your dwelling does present a picture of the condition of your being - body, mind and spirit."

I found myself making notes about the different books she mentions, recipes to try and fun ways to do your housework. I encourage all of you to check out this delightful book and begin to discover ways to live your life more passionately than ever before.