humblydemure

Inner peace. It’s a tantalizing and elusive idea. Everyone wants it, even when we don’t know what we’re after. Some think it comes from financial security, or possessions. For me, it comes from my Lord. But it still escapes me sometimes, like when I have paperwork troubles from the county and can’t think about much else, or when difficulties arise at work. What to do?

The best thing to do when circumstances threaten your peace is to really look at your situation for what it is, and ask yourself: what is the worst thing that can happen? Most of the time it’s not horrible. If it is, ask yourself what you can do to improve your circumstances. Most of the time, there is something you can do. Right now, with my difficulties, I am depending on the rosary, the Divine Mercy, and a novena. I also depend on the still, small voice of Jesus to guide me.

What do you do to maintain and reclaim your peace? Let me know. Thanks and have a blessed day.

One aspect of elegance is self care, and an aspect of self care is taking care of your health. I’m not going to tell you to go vegan or spend hours at the gym (unless you want to) but I am telling you that caring for your body and mind should be a top priority in the life of an elegant woman. Which do you think is more elegant: cramming a McMuffin into your mouth chased with a soda pop, or snacking on a cup of green tea and a fruit salad? I think you know.

Exercise has many benefits. One of my favorite exercises is yoga. I also enjoy Pilates and speed walking on nice days. Experiment and find what works for you. Zumba, Karate, and ballet are also options for those with the budget. Since most of you have limited means like me, I recommend starting with workout videos and exercises that require little to no equipment, like running.

When you buy food, beware of packaged items that contain a lot of artificial ingredients. Instead buy wholesome, healthy items like fruit, yogurt and nuts that come with a simple, easy to read ingredient list. If you can’t pronounce it, or the ingredient list is very long, put it back. It won’t benefit your body in any way.

I hope this article was helpful for you. If I missed anything or you have some advice for me, please leave it in the comments section. So that’s that for now and stay healthy, lovelies! 😁

Hello there! I want to share with you something that will make your life better: creativity. There are all sorts of ways to give ourselves the outlet we need to make something that reflects our personality and makes us proud. There is little more satisfying than creating a story, poem, or painting (or blog!) that brings a little beauty to the world. I myself prefer blogging, journaling and drawing. Other options include: making a YouTube video, doing a painting, or writing a song.

Creativity is truly elegant. It expresses our authentic selves, and authenticity is a very elegant trait.

Other things: I am slowly coming out of my slump. I am beginning to get up early again, and I did my morning yoga today. Hopefully I continue to get better.

Also, please share with me how you get creative. Lots of love, lovelies!!!

We all have days when we are not our most productive, best selves. I want to share my little slump with you so all of you can motivate me to do better. I have been skipping my yoga the last few days and waking up late. And I feel terrible, mentally and physically. I know I can get back on track, this has happened before.

I want to ask all of my dear readers to comment on how they get out of their slumps. I do it by carefully planning my next day and getting myself psyched for the new beginning by watching YouTube videos on how morning people are the most productive people. I have seen some great videos on morning routines. It also helps to tweak your morning routine so it feels fresh.

But what do you all do? Do you have any ideas for me? Please tell me in the comments below so we can all help each other. Thanks. And hopefully I will be back to my better self soon.

I am sitting in church waiting for mass to start. The choir is practicing, and I am looking over some notes in my journal, trying to decide what to address in this blog next. I finally decided to just say hi to you all.

My roommate needs prayer and if I were really nice I would light a candle for her. The poor girl doesn’t want to come to church anymore and appears to be going through a period of spiritual dryness. I know the feeling and it’s hard. Everyone say a Hail Mary for Eva.

Also, the news is kind of dragging me down. Stories of the president’s nationalist Fourth of July celebrations and the human trafficking rings in Baghdad are making me uncommonly sad. I hope you all are saying rosaries for those women. I am and I am convinced that Mary’s intercession is the key to ending human trafficking.

At least the sun is shining, I got paid yesterday, and I am in what is usually my happy place (church.) My thoughts are with poor Eva, who has been wallowing in negativity (can you see it affecting me?) and committing mortal sin with aplomb. Pray for her too. She needs the peace of faith. She was so faithful until a month ago.

The choir is singing a hymn I love, “Rain Down.” It is making me feel a little bit better. I hope this time of sadness passes soon. Thanks for being with me, lovelies.

One of the most important elements of elegance is simplicity. It is hard to imagine a woman being elegant with 20 bangles up her arm, all the latest gadgets, and a closet stuffed with piles of designer clothes. We may think of this woman as trendy or fashionable, but elegant? Unlikely. There is something about a woman in a simple dress, a pair of pearl studs, and little other adornment that makes us think something is different about her, something subtle and quiet but certainly there.

Simplicity is achievable for everyone, even the poor. Pick a signature accessory (like a scarf or ring you are never without) and do not adorn yourself with much more. Shop carefully. Only buy what you need and love, nothing more. One idea is a capsule wardrobe: a wardrobe made of basics that match everything else. All your possessions should be the highest quality you can afford as opposed to 10 T-shirts from Walmart. Thrift stores are great for this.

Also, don’t buy anything you do not need or don’t care about. It is surprisingly easy to do. Only buy high quality, useful, and beloved objects so you are surrounded by items that make you happy. This inspires an elegant and calm mind, and you will have more money besides.

I hope this was helpful. God bless and good luck, lovelies!

We all have a little hole in our hearts. We may not notice it all the time, but we do make the mistake of trying to fill it with worldly things like fashion, beauty, money, sex, etc. And when we get these things, and they don’t satisfy us, we wonder why and then we go back to pursuing these things that don’t fulfill us again.

The secret to a happy life is this: that the hole is God-shaped. Yes. The hole in our hearts can only be filled by a relationship with the one who created us and will never leave or forsake us. He designed us to love Him above all creatures and all things. That’s why the world won’t fulfill us.

Several years ago, I made the best decision I ever made, and I think if you haven’t done it, you should immediately. I enrolled in RCIA (rite of Christian initiation in adults) at a local Catholic Church and became a confirmed Catholic. The church is everything to me now, though I am far from perfect. My relationship with God is the most precious thing I possess and I love Him above all created things.

If you are already Christian, but have fallen away for some reason, pick back up where you left off. Go to confession and receive the Eucharist. Start reading the Bible and really pay attention to what God is trying to tell you in the pages. Talk also to the Virgin Mary in prayer. She is a great mother and wants to hear from you. The rosary is a great way to do this. Try different forms of prayer and see what resonates with you.

Just so you know, your problems will not dissolve the minute you decide to follow God, and you will have slip-ups. We all do. Myself included. But even though Jesus doesn’t say our way will be easy, we are promised that it is worth it. And Jesus will be with you every step of the way. God bless, lovelies. ❤️

One thing a lady of elegance, whatever her station in life, never does is wing her day. Even if (and perhaps especially if) you are unemployed, it is important to structure your day in order to structure your mind and meet goals and have a purpose. The way I do this is keeping a planner. You can keep one on your phone or tablet, but I prefer a lovely paper agenda that lets me get creative with how I write my daily goals. I’m usually pretty good at meeting my daily goals. But this was not achieved in a day. It takes willpower and discipline to be able to complete a long to do list. But, it is extremely satisfying to check off the last box beside a task and look back at how productive your day was. To do this, you need a planner and an alarm (for this you can use your phone.) The alarm is so you can wake up early to begin your tasks. Let me tell you honestly, becoming an early bird is not easy either (but a disciplined lady knows nothing worth having ever is.) But once you make getting up early and starting your tasks a habit, you will love it. I recommend starting your day with a 20 to 30 minute workout, preferably yoga or Pilates. This consistent habit will work wonders for your mental and physical health. I hope this entry of humblydemure is helpful. Good luck, lovelies! 😁

Thanks for staying with me while I shared my Catholic faith. Now we’re back on elegance. Today I would like to share on a practice that is essential for an elegant and healthy mind. That practice is journaling.

I have recently begun this practice myself, an I am astonished at how much it takes off my mind. This practice is very helpful in the face of fear and anxiety, as writing about our cares helps relieve a distressed mind. When you get your feelings out on paper, you can make them feel more manageable. Tranquility of mind and heart is very elegant, healthy and desirable.

That said, where to start? Well, I went to a local store and bought the prettiest notebook I could find and just dove in. I recommend finding a journal that speaks to your taste and is special. Find the book and writing utensil of your choice and pour your heart out on the paper. You can even color, draw, or paint your feelings if you like. Also, composing your own poems can be a healthy way to express yourself too. So find what works for you and good luck, lovelies!

The emotion of fear is normal. Jesus felt fear in the garden of Gethsemane. He prayed so hard that his sweat fell like drops of blood. But some fear is nothing more than a sign of attachment to something transient or a lack of trust in God. God will not allow anyone who loves Him to suffer something that is not good for their salvation. If you are in the love of God, then He will provide everything you need to get to Heaven. The only purpose of this life is to prepare for and earn eternity and the only regret one should have at dying is not becoming a great Saint and doing God’s will.

“The world is thy ship, not thy home.”

-St Therese of the Child Jesus