Sacred Spaces

Today is our 20th podcast episode (yay!) and we are going to celebrate it by talking about milestones-big and small-in our lives. What is important to you? What do you allow yourself to celebrate, and what gets tragically overlooked? We all tend to focus on the big things in life-the graduations, birthdays, new jobs, weddings and anniversaries...BUT...What about the smaller wins and tiny victories in our everyday existence? What if getting out of bed today is a very big deal for you (as it should be!) These things, and all things in between, need to be appreciated, too. Today, Francesca and Cristina focus on how we may maximize our enjoyment and appreciation of the "everyday" milestones in our lives. They also talk about the bigger milestones in their own past-and they may be a bit more unusual than what you imagine! Also, Francesca has a sweet  "Tiny Tidy" which helps create an appreciation of the important things in our lives, and Cristina's meditation will allow you to savor the most important moments, and show you how to collect them in your mind. Enjoy! xo 

Francesca's "Tiny Tidy" starts at 18:41

Cristina's Meditation starts at 23:51

Milestone definition, from Oxford Dictionary:

1. A stone set up beside a road to mark the distance in miles to a particular place.

2. An action or event marking a significant change or stage in development.

The origin of the word Milestone: The Romans used carved stones to mark the distance along roadways, and to mark new construction projects along the way. 

What are you really scared of? It it a fear of heights? Clearing out your frightening garage? Following your genuine path in life?  Have you been letting your fear of being seen doing what you really want to do life hold you back? If so-this episode is for you! Join Cristina and Francesca as they discuss the concept and different manifestations fear takes in our lives, and the different types of hold it can have over us. We also chat about scary movies, big-wave surfing and our illusions about finishing that Big Creative Project, which can paralyze the hell out of many of us. Francesca also suggests a kinder approach to a potentially "scary" Tiny Tidy, and Cristina has an amazing meditation, which will truly help you melt your fear away. Enjoy! xo

Going with the flow-whether at work, during creative projects, or in everyday life-is not as easy as the phrase implies, as many of us know well! In this episode, Francesca and Cristina discuss getting in, staying in and navigating being in 'The Flow'-that supreme state of mind when time appears to stop, your good energy and creativity is truly flowing, and you are able to fully immerse yourself in the creative or 'work' or family task at hand. We talk about what to do when your work, or crucial aspects in your life, are not genuinely "flowing," and when it's time to start something new. Francesca has a "Tiny Tidy" to help you prepare your space for "getting in the flow," and Cristina has a terrific meditation to help you do the same. Enjoy! xo 

In this week's episode, Francesca and Cristina discuss the theme of "Expectations" in our everyday lives: The expectations we have of others, of ourselves, of our own lives-and how we deal with it when others may have different or undue expectations of ourselves-in our relationships, in our careers and jobs, and in our friendships. They chat about expectations about a special vacation to the "perfect productive day," and what it means to "sit with it" when things do not pan out the way you imagined them to be... This is a fun, rambling and deep-dive episode into these musings, including a very "prescriptive" Tiny Tidy from Francesca and an awesome meditation from Cristina (with a very  "unexpected"-but soothing and lovely- addition, unexpectedly added) ...Enjoy! xo 

In this episode, Cristina and Francesca chat about the dreams in your heart, what it means to hang to them and persevere, and they also share some inspiring stories about letting them go with grace. They also talk about material dreams, manifesting Chloe Sevigny herself on a New York City street instead of her fabulous East Village apartment (Francesca's dream pad!), and why you don't want to let your most important dreams disappear out from under you. Francesca also has a a fun, easy, aspirational "Tiny Tidy" for you, and Cristina's meditation makes you feel like just anything is possible! Enjoy...xo

On this episode, Francesca and Cristina ponder what it means to really "finish" something-whether it be a 5K, a novel, or organizing your home before and after a big move. They also discuss the tricky creative process, how the musician Jack White makes himself more productive, and the fact that how we get "there" sometimes is MUCH more important than reaching that stressful, mentally-imposed finish line. Francesca also has a challenging (but gentle!) "Tiny Tidy" for you,  and Cristina has a wonderful meditation (especially if you're walking or running while listening!) Enjoy...xo

On this special Birthday Episode, Cristina and Francesca discuss how we can focus on what makes us 'happy' in the here and now: Whether it's special traditions, objects in your home, or gratitude for the present moment-the cousins talk about how it's necessary to calm your 'Monkey Mind', and try like hell (or at least your best)  to re-route a potentially crappy day. We also learn about Cristina's '50 x 50' Project right before her big birthday, and how it went! Francesca also has a practical and delightful post-Pandemic Tiny Tidy, and Cristina has a lovely ("Smile!!!") meditation for us....Enjoy.

It's hard not to take in other people's perceptions of who and what we are, day-in and day-out, as we all move through life. In this episode, Cristina and Francesca tackle the huge hurdle and challenge of NOT giving others the power to dictate who you are and how you live your life-and how to gently take that power back. Using their own real-life examples, the cousins discuss how to navigate others' perceptions vs. staying real and authentic to yourself, and how even life's circumstances can negatively define your own experience, and start dictating the wrong story (with some kind advice on how to unspool it, once we're trapped in that narrative.) There's also a social media "Tiny Tidy" for every type of online personality, as well as a beautiful, grounding meditation by Cristina to remind us who and what we are. Enjoy! 

How much of life is lost when you don't push yourself through your resistance and out of your comfort zone, and when do you know yourself well enough to understand when something is just NOT your "cup of tea?" In this week's episode, Cristina and Francesca discuss the strengths, challenges and the coming-to-terms-with-peace of living outside your comfort zone, (or NOT!) and when to have the wisdom and self-compassion to know when you've been there, done that, and you're simply okay with that choice. We also discuss fear of: Zumba, flying across country, public-speaking, black bears, online dating, and of course-stepping outside your comfort zone within the home. Francesca has a special "Tiny Tidy" challenge to make both Type-As and more relaxed cleaners just a TAD more uncomfortable (for the better!) and Cristina has a wonderfully counter-intuitive mediation to come to peace with your resistance and fears. Enjoy...

A Foundation by definition "supports from underneath" or is "an underlying basis or principle".  Our homes have foundations but so do our bodies, minds, and souls. How we live is a reflection of who we are.  And what we believe makes us who we want to be.  In this episode, Francesca and Cristina examine not only what makes a house a home, but also, the foundational values we each carry within us.  

BONUS EPISODE! It's SPRING CLEANING TIME: What kind of person are you? Do you love it? Do you loathe it? Are you maybe somewhere in the middle? Join Francesca and Cristina as they discuss the joys and challenges of starting anew, sprucing up our homes (and our LIVES!) They share some simple, getting started spring-cleaning tips for the Type-As, to the "hate-to-cleaners" and "somewhere-in-betweeners" (like Cris!) Cristina also has a VERY special "Chakra Cleanse" in this episode. Join us, as we Spring Clean our lives, inside and out... Visit Francesca's website and sign up for her newsletter and find more Tiny Tidy challenges: houseandmind.com Visit Cristina's website for yoga and mediation whenever you need it: cristinacurreri.com Thank you for listening! Please do not forget to subscribe, review and rate Sacred Spaces on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

What do you do when life throws you such curveballs, it feels near impossible not to start letting your anxiety get the best of you? The R.A.I.N. Strategy (R-Recognize; A-Accept; I-Investigate; N-Nurture-or Non-Identify) is a mindfulness technique and strategy developed by Michelle McDonald to help you remind yourself that YOU are not your emotions-no matter what life situation you are experiencing in the moment. In this episode, Cristina and Francesca discuss different ways in which you can apply the R.A.I.N. technique to stressful, uncomfortable happenings in our everyday life-from screaming toddlers in the kitchen, to larger-scale, scary life events. Francesca has a relaxing "Tiny Tidy" for you to enjoy and utilize, and Cristina has a great meditation to help get you in the right space to practice this technique-anytime, anywhere....Join us!  Check out what Cristina's friend was inspired by in Episode 1, and the "Boxed Breathing" Technique in Episode 6.  Visit Francesca's website and sign up for her newsletter and find more Tiny Tidy challenges: houseandmind.com Visit Cristina's website for yoga and mediation whenever you need it: cristinacurreri.com Thank you for listening! Please do not forget to subscribe, review and rate Sacred Spaces on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Cristina and Francesca sit down to chat about how you can make your life better for yourself, today, for your "tomorrow" self. They also take a deeper dive into the concepts behind what "manifesting" really means. Is it possible to visualize the life you really want? Maybe, they realize, it begins with feeling as if what you want is already yours-today. 

We also have a special mediation for Manifesting Your Future Self, and a "Tiny Tidy" your future self will thank you for!  

Hang out with Cristina and Francesca as they chat further about what they really want their Post-Pandemic lives to look and feel like. What are we going to wear? Do we really have to go back to the office? Are we ready to travel? Get our kids dressed again? (Get ourselves dressed again?) How are we going to negotiate, well, being around all those other people again? 

We also have a special meditation and visualization to help prepare for this new existence and ease our Post-Pandemic anxiety, as well as a "Tiny Tidy," to help get your wardrobe (or part of it!) ready for being baaaack in action. (Or not!)

Do you suffer from Fear of Missing Out?  Are you unable to say no to an invitation? Does staying in on a Friday night give you hives? Maybe there are others out there who are feeling a tremendous sense of relief at not having to be everywhere, all of the time. What are you not doing that brings you Joy?  Cristina and Francescas explore all of the things they won't miss, and everything that they have gained, by having more time and space to do what they want, when they want, with the people that they love to be around. We also have a special mediation and a "Tiny Tidy" around creating space for just letting yourself feel joy in the moment. 

As we come to the tail end of this COVID-19 Pandemic, Cristina and Francesca ask ourselves: What do we want to keep from the Before Times, and what do we want to change? What do we feel like we can lose, and what can we add-to change and make our lives more meaningful, less stressful, and more relaxed and fulfilled? 

Join us for a very fun conversation as we talk about how the Pandemic has affected our social lives, our family, our anxiety level (!)- and discuss how we think we can all move forward in "the After." Also, enjoy a "Tiny Tidy" to help you prepare for your new "social" life, and a special meditation, which will help you allow for whatever comes next...

Where are you on your "To-Do" list?  Like the flight attendants always announce before take off, "Secure your mask first, and then assist others". Why can't we remember that in life?  In this episode, Cristina and Francesca share some of the ways that they practice self-care, and it's not your usual bubble bath and glass of Chardonnay. (Spoiler: It includes visiting a Salt Cave!)

Weight isn't just reflected on the scale in our bathrooms.  It's also the different types of weight we carry, emotionally and psychologically, that can carry us down, and even manifest itself in our homes. Family, relationships, job stress- we often carry other people's problems around with us, along with our own challenges, hopes, dreams, stressors and responsibilities. And what about that heaviness we feel when we are getting lost in our own homes-because of clutter, junk, old stuff, memorabilia, loved one's items, unfinished projects...?

In this episode, Cristina and Francesca talk about ways to "lose" this type of weight, as well as a special meditation and a "Tiny Tidy" to help lighten up your home, and help you store some of that excess, emotional baggage, and assist you in the desire to set yourself free from it! 

We've all heard of recycling ....but what is Up-cycling?

Over the past year, many of us have cleared up and cleaned out household items and clothing that we had been holding on to for far too long. In this episode, Francesca and Cristina share what items and things they have passed on and found, and explore ways that you can Upcycle other fun and interesting things in your life, as well. We have a great meditation for you, and a little "Tiny Tidy" to help get you going on the road to happily reusing what you already have around your home.