Posts Tagged ‘clutter’

When Enough Is Enough

Saturday, November 27th, 2010

enough is enough

“Can You Say No To Too Many Choices?” Great question posed in this article written by Barry Schwartz who eases us into the idea that more choices do not necessarily give us a greater sense of freedom with his visit to a local market where he encounters

“… 285 varieties and brands of cookies, 75 iced tea drinks, 40 toothpastes, 230 soups, 175 salad dressings, and 275 cereals.”

What’s the big deal, you say? Studies are showing that more choices have not made us more happy. More stressed? Yes. More depressed? Yes. More anxious? Yes.

Humbling? Yes. This is not where we thought we were heading a generation ago.

Fine. Lets go back to food choices then. They’re easy. Right? That is, until your partner asks you where you want (more…)

Extreme Makeover: feng shui relationship maker (or breaker?) part 3

Friday, November 6th, 2009

 

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What happened here?

 

They say nothing causes more arguments between a couple than money or sex!

 

If you’ve been following this series, you know I am sharing our extreme makeover through Feng Shui eyes and that we started this project in the wealth area of the Bagua with the world’s creepiest kitchen. (Know one creepier? Send me photos.) As coincidence would have it, the second room that needed our attention was in the relationship area of the Bagua. (Seems we were going to have the money and sex thing covered!)

This poor room was sending some pretty major mixed signals. (Not advisable in a relationship, by the way.) It didn’t know what to be or what to do. Judging by the furniture, its role had been that of a living room though its location felt more conducive to that of a guest room. (The REAL living room had its own problems.)

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Oh my. Is that an outside wall, you ask?

 

(more…)

Our Extreme Makeover: a kitchen beyond creepy: part 2

Friday, August 21st, 2009

WEALTH CORNER: A REAL FENG SHUI YIPES.

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Spooky and then some.

 

What sorts of creatures were peering back at us from the darkened corners of this room?

Sorry for the disposable camera quality. And the ghost on the right side doesn’t help either. Just kidding. (I think.)

Located at the back of the house – in the wealth corner of the bagua* – this kitchen won the prize for creepy. (Aesthetically and energetically.) A step down from the adjoining room, the erratic peaks and valleys of the common brick floor – set in a crushed granite bed – guaranteed uncertain footing. Between the dark wood cabinets and countertops, the 70’s brown appliances, and one small window, the room was way too dark.

It didn’t take more than a quick glance and a little imagination to see this room’s many Feng Shui challenges. Its energetic contribution to the previous owner’s bankruptcy was evident. Stepping down. Uncertain footing. Impaired vision. (And the list only grew after we moved in!)

(more…)

GOT CLUTTER? Come to this Spring Fling Workshop!

Tuesday, October 7th, 2008

spring: 1. to rise above.
fling: 1. to throw. 2. a brief time of wild pleasures.

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Before. Yipes!

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After. It's a Miracle!

Are you suffering from redund-abundance? Subscriptionitis? Paperyosis? Do you catch yourself clutter-muttering when you can’t find something? Have you lost your office? Your car? Are you merging two households? Moving an aging parent? Are you ready to downsize and set sail into your me-time? Then spring-fling-it!

So much stuff. So many decisions. So little time. This workshop offers hands-on hope for all Closet Clutterers, Life in the Fast-Laners, C.H.A.O.S. Sufferers (Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome) and anyone in between who wants to be more organized and less overwhelmed by “stuff.” With over a decade of “digging out” experience, I will show you how to take control. My approach is (more…)

Forgive Us Our Trash Baskets

Saturday, August 2nd, 2008

As we forgive those who put trash in our baskets – or mailbox.

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GreenDimes.com is using $5 million of their money to pay you to stop junk mail! Why? In their own words, “Because junk mail sucks! And we want to help you stop all the credit offers and other crazy stuff that’s clogging your mailbox!”

Since 2006, their GreenDimes Premium service has helped thousands of people. For just $20 – a one time investment – they remove you from junk mail lists, stop unwanted catalogs, monitor your account’s list status every month, provide 24/7 customer service AND plant 5 trees on your behalf. 

And, with their new do-it-yourself service, GreenDimes Basic, you can clean up your mailbox for FREE. 

GreenDimes wants to attract millions to the cause! But instead of buying TV and banner ads, they decided to do something creative to show how much they care about this problem. For a limited time, GreenDimes will pay you a dollar to stop your junk mail — and the waste it creates. And they even give you the option to use that dollar to let them plant a tree on your behalf through one their partners.

Redemption is at hand! For those of you who are frustrated with junk mail, this is an awesome deal. (Are you paying attention?) Check them out. And spread the word.

Hmmm. This service would make a nice gift for that person who has everything. Any of my people ready to give up their catalog addictions? Hint. Hint.

Extreme Makeover: the adventure begins

Thursday, July 17th, 2008

THE WEALTH CORNER. GARAGE.

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This photo establishes, with more than a little drama, a strong message to those who like to collect stuff!

Seven years ago, “project” was probably not the word that one might have ascribed to our little house on Wheat Street unless preceded by the word “demolition.” (Which is likely what was in the minds of family and friends when they first cast their eyes on our “find.”)

Project is however the word Ray and I used while wearing our rose-colored glasses as we proceeded to make our offer for this old mill house in the spring of 2001. “Adventure” was the other word we used, after our offer was accepted and the mortgage papers signed, to justify the decision we made to live in our treasure while renovating it.

There is an amazing story behind our finding this house – visions included. Had we not been strongly led we might have balked at any number of points in the process of taking ownership … but the telling of that is for another time.

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So, what does this photo have to do with wealth, clutter and Feng Shui?

Now, I gotta say, I will be sharing our little adventure through my Enlightened Interiors eyes because, as a case history, this house provides an abundance of stories and synchronicities that support why we all need to be mindful of what we do with our space. (more…)

Home Ec Now!

Monday, January 29th, 2007

 

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Somewhere ... in this techno-trend, accelerated existence, we’ve lost the art of 'making home.'

 

Article / Aquarius / September ©2000

I received an e-mail the other day. It was a forward of a forward. Normally my commitment to prioritizing time spent in cyber space puts those at the bottom of my “to read” list, but the subject was home. Being a key component in my work, a decision was in order. I broke my cyber rule and opened the file.


It was cute. Dubiously dubbed Home Ec 2000. Contrasting old school lessons of Home Economics with the reality of experiences today, it went something like this:

  • THEN: How to make nutritious meals, served in a calm, controlled home setting by a tidy, together Mom. 
  • NOW: How to make reservations for meals, served in a hectic restaurant setting by a slightly stressed server.

(more…)