Magic & Miracles

The other night at one of Marianne Williamson's lectures, a guy asked her what she thought of Vision Boards. She told him to go ahead and use them if he likes, that yes, they work...but with a Vision Board you are telling God/The Universe exactly what you want and you could be missing out on something much better that He might have in mind for you.

"You know," she added, "you can go with the Divine Intelligence that created Man and all of Nature, or you can do it yourself. Don't you want that Intelligence to bring you that which is for your highest good rather than what you can come up with in your limited vision?"

Marianne said it was the difference between Magic and Miracles. Yes, the Magic (such as Vision Boards) works, but why not invoke the Divine to create a Miracle?

She told a story of a guy who spent all sorts of energy asking for a small walk-on part in a television show. She wondered if perhaps God wanted to arrange a great part in a Scorsese film but he missed out on it because he was so focused on getting a few lines on 'CSI.'

From a Feng Shui perspective this is why adding your personal intentions to your cures is so important. Without your intentions, you have simply moved furniture, added color and placed items that represent your goals. And yes, Magic can happen from the energy shift of this physical aspect of Feng Shui.

But once you invoke the Divine by adding your intentions (the non-physical aspect of Feng Shui), you then get the Miracles. That's when the Universe realigns itself for your highest good to bringing things, people and events beyond your imagination.

If you have "tried" practicing Feng Shui, but not much has happened, add your sincere Intentions. Aim high, and call on The Universe to swiftly manifest your desires for your highest good. Then sit back in amazement as your wildest dreams unfold.

10 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality

We all deserve to breathe easy and safeguard our well-bring. Ensuring high indoor air quality is an essential step. Here are some helpful tips from Green Depot.

Americans spend 90% of their time inside. Modern buildings are tightly sealed to conserve energy, and indoor air quality is often poor because many conventional building materials (not to mention other products in our homes and workplaces) contain toxins that off-gas into the air.

By following these basic steps, you can improve your indoor air quality:

1. Clean and vacuum regularly to remove dust, dirt, and particulates that build up indoors; be sure to change vacuum filter bags or clean dirt cups often, to ensure that the dust and dirt doesn't end up back in your home.

2. Use the power of nature to help clean the air indoors – buy some plants! Plants remove chemical quickly from the air, and can actually thrive on substances that can be harmful to people.

3. Use materials that and furnishings that are non-toxic – including wall finishes, caulks, adhesives, upholstered furniture, and carpeting.

4. Use natural cleaning products, which contain no volatile organic compounds or toxic chemicals.

5. Invest in good HEPA air filters to help purify the air in your home, and be sure to change filters often.

6. Remove your shoes when you come indoors, and prevent a host of dirt, dust and other particles from spreading throughout.

7. Never smoke indoors.

8. Check air and furnace filters at least every two months, and replace or clean regularly.

9. Encase your mattress and pillows to protect against dust mites.

10. Take steps to ensure that your home remains mold-free.

Double Duty

I love double-duty items. I guess it comes from living in Manhattan apartments where everything needed dual or triple function in order to fit in the limited space. So I just about flipped when I was the photo above. What an awesome way to add a table to a small area, and conversely, to store away a table when you need more room for guests. You just gotta be sure no one sticks gum under the table!

Here's the info from Lifehackers...

Don't have a lot of space for a kitchen table but would love the option of a sit-down meal from time to time? This clever picture table design is a beautiful solution—and one you could certainly do yourself.

From the folks at Ivy Design, the picture table folds down when you need it, and when you don't, it folds unobtrusively up to the wall, doubling as a picture frame. They don't offer any specific schematics (they're selling their design), but it seems like something you could figure out for your own space easily enough. The folks at DIY blog Make even highlight a similar design from a DIY furniture book from the 70's.

Either way, it's a clever idea, and could be very handy in a cramped space.

Ready for the Big One

Most of us here in Los Angeles were awakened yesterday morning at 4:40am with a hardy shaking by a relatively mild earthquake. Having experienced the Northridge Quake in 1994, I was so glad to realize that my earthquake auto-pilot responses are alert. As I cleared the brain fog from a deep sleep, I found I'd already grabbed my glasses and slippers (which I always keep bedside). Thank goodness, this quake was a just healthy reminder and nothing worse.

About the only upside to 'the big one' coming is that this time I'll be prepared.

I'm a big believer in having things set up just in case, because I've experienced a 6.9 quake without an ounce of preparation. Trust me, not having a flashlight in the pitch dark when you're disorient and scared is not fun, especially when you're barefoot walking on broken stuff and you can't find your shoes. Or glasses.

Here's some great advice and handy checklists from 72hours.org.

After a major disaster the usual services we take for granted, such as running water, refrigeration, and telephones, may be unavailable.

Experts recommend that you should be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least three days. Store your household disaster kit in an easily accessible location.

Put contents in a large, watertight container (e.g. a large plastic garbage can with a lid and wheels) that you can move easily.

Your basic emergency kit should include:

• Water – one gallon per person per day
• Food – ready to eat or requiring minimal water
• Manual can opener and other cooking supplies
• Plates, utensils and other feeding supplies
• First Aid kit & instructions
• A copy of important documents & phone numbers
• Warm clothes and rain gear for each family member.
• Heavy work gloves
• Disposable camera
• Unscented liquid household bleach and an eyedropper for water purification
• Personal hygiene items including toilet paper, feminine supplies, hand sanitizer and soap
• Plastic sheeting, duct tape and utility knife for covering broken windows
• Tools such as a crowbar, hammer & nails, staple gun, adjustable wrench and bungee cords.
• Blanket or sleeping bag
• Large heavy duty plastic bags and a plastic bucket for waste and sanitation
• Any special-needs items for children,seniors or people with disabilities. Don’t forget water and supplies for your pets.

A component of your disaster kit is your Go-bag. Put the following items together in a backpack or another easy to carry container in case you must evacuate quickly.

Prepare one Go-bag for each family member and make sure each has an I.D. tag. You may not be at home when an emergency strikes so keep some additional supplies in your car and at work, considering what you would need for your immediate safety.

• Flashlight
• Radio – battery operated
• Batteries
• Whistle
• Dust mask
• Pocket knife
• Emergency cash in small denominations and quarters for phone calls
• Sturdy shoes, a change of clothes, and a warm hat
• Local map
• Some water and food
• Permanent marker, paper and tape
• Photos of family members and pets for re-identification purposes
• List of emergency point-of -contact phone numbers
• List of allergies to any drug (especially antibiotics) or food
• Copy of health insurance and identification cards
• Extra prescription eye glasses, hearing aid or other vital personal items
• Prescription medications and first aid supplies
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Extra keys to your house and vehicle
• Any special-needs items for children,seniors or people with disabilities. Don’t forget to make a Go-bag for your pets.

Online Paint Tools

Looking for a big change to your home this Spring, but don't have the funds for new furniture, artwork or flooring?

Painting your home is pretty much the fastest and most cost effective way to go. For about a hundred bucks or so, and a little elbow grease, you can transform a room in a day.

Benjamin Moore has some great online tools to help you. Remember to go Green for a healthy, odor-free experience.

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Envision Color 2010

Shows you how paint color combinations will look in a room or on a house before you pick up a paintbrush.

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Paint Calculator

Don't get stuck with too little or too much paint. Use their paint calculator to find out how much will be right for your job.

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Problem Solver - Interior

All interior paint problems are correctable—find the right solution here. This section lists a variety of interior painting problems...

Blistering Bubbles sometimes form on the paint film that look like blisters. These result from the localized loss of adhesion and lifting of the paint film from the underlying surface. Learn More Blocking Blocking occurs when two painted surfaces stick when pressed together (e.g., a door sticking to the jamb). Learn More Burnishing Burnishing is an interior painting problem that occurs when the gloss or sheen of paint film increases when subjected to rubbing or brushing. Learn More Caulk Failure Caulk may lose its initial adhesion and flexibility, which will cause it to crack or pull away from the surfaces to which it is applied. Learn More Cracking or Flaking Dry paint sometimes cracks or flakes through at least one coat due to aging, which ultimately will lead to complete failure of the paint. Learn More Foaming or Cratering Foaming and cratering occur when bubbles (foaming) form. When the bubbles break during application and drying, they result in small, round concave depressions (cratering). Learn More Lap Marks Lap marks are the appearance of a denser color or increased gloss where wet and dry layers overlap during paint application. Learn More Mildew Mildew can appear on the surface of paint or caulk as black, gray, or brown spots or areas. Learn More http://www.benjaminmoore.com

Designer Quotes

I love these inspiring quotes from designers-in-the-know, found in Elle Decor.

“Buy the best, and you only cry once."—Miles Redd

“I need contrast—the old and the new, the rough and the soft. The clash of it all is very sexy.”— Catherine Malandrino

“There is a conception in this country about luxurious things that we have to save them for a time that’s right. But an object is truly luxurious if you allow it to be, if you use it. When you live with beautiful things you stimulate your mind, you enjoy life a little bit more."— Ralph Rucci

“Minimalist rooms can be so beautiful, but I can’t live in one; I love objects too much.”—Bunny Williams

"I could never live without artwork. It’s a constant inspiration.”—Narciso Rodriguez

“When I see something great, it doesn’t matter where it comes from. In fact, sometimes the best things are from cheesy places."— Jeff Klein

"There are two things that make a room timeless: a sense of history and a piece of the future."— Charlotte Moss

"In the most successful spaces, you don’t see everything at once. The more time you spend in them, the more you discover. They open up like flowers."— Vicente Wolf

Resetting your clocks

For most of us, today starts daylight savings time. Here's some Feng Shui advice for setting your clocks from my website.

So you think you’re pretty clever by having the alarm clock by your bed set ten minutes ahead and the one on the oven set seven minutes ahead. You reason that it gets you going in the morning.

Never mind the fact that the mantle clock in the living room is stuck on daylight savings time and the cuckoo from Aunt Minnie stopped working last March (not to mention the blinking 12:00 on the DVD player.)

Wanna know what’s going on from a Feng Shui perspective?

It depends on where the area falls on the Bagua Energy Map, the essential tool for Feng Shui. Let’s say the bedroom is in the Love Area and the clock is set ten minutes ahead. Maybe you are always rushing relationships. Pushing your partner before they are ready. “Hurry up. Let’s go!”

Maybe the one in the living room falls in the Wealth Area…and it’s an hour late. Do checks take awhile to get to you? Are people slow to make decisions regarding your business?

And what about Aunt Minnie’s cuckoo?

Hmm, what if that is in the Travel & Helpful People Area. Are you stuck doing everything alone? Do people bypass you and recommend others? Is traffic and travel unnecessarily a burden? Or do you feel like you never go anywhere.

Set all of your clocks (watches & calendars, too!) to the accurate time. It might take a short while to get used to, but it will make everything flow better. You and all members of the household will be on time and in the moment rather than sluggish or rushing.