Pandora's Free Music Box

When I walked into my friend Carlos' house last night, he said cryptically, "Pandora?" I shrugged to say 'Whatchu talkin' 'bout?'

"Okay," he continued, "I have to take a picture of you because you'll want to mark the moment you're turned onto Pandora."

He was right. My life is now AP...After Pandora.

Pandora is quite simply a genius music discovery service designed to help you enjoy music you already know, and to help you discover new music you'll love.

It's powered by the most comprehensive analysis of music ever undertaken, the Music Genome Project: a crazy project started back in early 2000 to capture the complex musical DNA of songs using a large team of highly-trained musicians.

Just go to the site and type in one of your favorite songs or artists. Pandora launches a streaming station to explore that part of the musical universe.

For example, I'm a Joni Mitchell fan. The word 'fan' doesn't do it justice. Nut or kook might be more accurate.

When I type 'Joni Mitchell' into the search bar on Pandora, it starts playing her music and then finds music similar to her's. As a Joni nut, it's pretty hard to impress me because nobody comes close HRH Joni. Except for the dozens of musicians Pandora found for me. I was blown away!

Love a particular musician or musical style? Pandora creates and saves a 'radio' station for you. You can create up to 100 unique "stations." And you can even refine them. If it's not quite right you can tell it so and it will get better for you.

More about The Music Genome Project...

Each song in the Music Genome Project is analyzed using up to 400 distinct musical characteristics by a trained music analyst. These attributes capture not only the musical identity of a song, but also the many significant qualities that are relevant to understanding the musical preferences of listeners.

It's amazing and true. And its FREE!

Have a passion for listening to new tunes and a variety of music but you don't have the disposable income to buy any right now? Go to Pandora, cuz it's FREE!

Even better? Upload it to your Blackberry, iPhone, Palm or Window Mobile. Yep, for FREE.

Don't you just love technology!

Capture The Spotlight

From a Feng Shui perspective, activating the Fame Area of your home is not just for celebrities. It's for getting the recognition that you deserve!

Have you ever worked on a project that someone else got credit for? Or perhaps you've witnessed someone recommend your competition's services right in front of you as if you weren't there. Or worse, people say bad things about you. If so, you would benefit from adding some Feng Shui touches to your Fame Area.

As I always say, if you're a dentist, you want to be known as the best dentist in the area. This video can help.

To learn more about the Fame Area and Feng Shui, visit my design site, www.space-lift.com

Bug-A-Boo

I'm getting ready for a summer vacation with my family in Northern Michigan. Folks from all around flock to the Mackinaw area, one of the prettiest parts of the US. Unfortunately, so do mosquitoes.

When I think back on childhood nights playing Kick The Can, Red Rover, and as we got older, 1-2-3 Switch (don't ask), I remember how our mom's doused us with toxic chemicals to ward off the bugs. So I did a little search to find some ideas for healthy insect prevention.

I noticed that my best personal tips were not on the list: 1) avoid attracting them in the first place. No perfumes, scented deodorants, hairsprays, lotions & potions. Especially floral scents. It makes a big difference. And 2) remember to remove any standing water near your home. It's where insects breed.

Here's the list from The Green Guide...

Bug sprays with the chemical DEET—the most active ingredient in insect repellents—are considered safe in small quantities by U.S. health and environment agencies. However, some studies have shown that DEET exposure can cause headaches, nausea, and psychological problems in people who use the chemical often.

But with a wide array of plant-based repellents now on the market, you may want to go the natural route—unless you're traveling to an area where serious insect-borne diseases are a real threat.

Active Ingredients: For most of your backyard barbecues and hiking trips, you can keep mosquitoes, ticks, and other biting insects at bay with products containing plant oils. Many products contain geranium, lemongrass, and peppermint oils. Citronella and oil of lemon eucalyptus are specifically recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Picaridin and DEET are also recommended by the CDC.

What they kill: Bug sprays aren't a one-size-fits-all product. Most protect against mosquitoes, but read labels to make sure the product you purchase fits the right bug problem, such as ticks for long hikes or sand flies for trips to the beach.

• Wear long sleeves, long pants, closed shoes and socks in areas with high mosquito or tick populations.
• For added protection against ticks, tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants.
• Wear light colors. There is some evidence that mosquitoes are more attracted to dark colors than light colors, and light colors make any ticks that might crawl on you more visible.
• Avoid being outside when the bugs are worst, generally dusk to dawn.
• When walking in tick-infested areas, stick to the center of the path and avoid brushing against grasses, where ticks wait to hop a ride.
• Check for ticks at the end of each day, paying careful attention to your head and warm spots such as underarms, behind the knees and between the toes.

Note: when using any spray product, use a pump not an aerosol.

No need to take down the earth's protective wear layer with aerosol's CO2's in an effort to ward off a few bugs.

The Green Guide

(re)Purpose

I'm having a blast working on a restaurant redesign here in Los Angeles. I'm trying to make the project as eco-friendly as possible. One of the things we're doing is repurposing items so I have that on the brain right now.

Here are some ideas for you to repurpose items in your own home. It's a fun way to save money, be creative and keep items out of landfills. Win, win, win!

The photo above shows a former luggage rack with a glass picture frame as the new table. A little paint pulls the look together and voila!

Old calendars can be cut apart to make framed artwork. Really...here, look for yourself.

Worn-out sweaters make great pillows. Wanna see? Here ya go?

Need more inspiration? Check this out.

Food wrappers can be made into a purse. Okay, it's not for the home, but so cool I had to share. Find instructions here.

(You're welcome.)

Dance Your Grass Off

Here's an idea could be a great way to bring some jingle to your pocket while having fun with the family. And if you win the Big Kahuna, you can trick out your backyard. I like those upsides!

Tiki (yeah, as in Tiki Torch) is holding a dance video contest in celebration of summer and the outdoors!

Film yourself/friends/family doing a Tiki dance and you could win these great prizes:

The Grand Prize (retail value over $2,900!) includes

• $1,000 Visa Gift Card
• A Canon® VIXIA HG10 High Definition Camcorder.
• A Charbroil® Designer Series 4 Burner Grill, grill cover and stainless steel tool set.
• 2 Metropolitan Patio Torches, 8 Island King™ Torches, 8 metal torch stands
• 12 64-oz. bottles of Bitefighter® Fuel.

(5) First Prizes include

• $250 Visa Gift Card
• 4 Island King™ Torches
• 6 64-oz. bottles of Bitefighter® Fuel.

The first 25 people to enter win $25 Visa gift cards!

To enter, join this YouTube group: www.youtube.com/group/tbdvc

For more info, here's the official Tiki site: www.partyonastick.com/contest

There's even a "Directors Kit" that includes music files and downloadable masks to get the party started.

Food Inc.

The documentary Food Inc is in theaters. I believe in the subject so deeply, but truth be told, I'm scared to see it. Because I know it will change what I eat...even though that's probably a good thing.

I'm scared, but I'm going anyway. Wanna join me? Let's have a conversation about this!

Here's what the Food Inc site says:

In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA.

Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.

Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto) along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield's Gary Hirshberg and Polyface Farms' Joel Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising—and often shocking truths—about what we eat, how it's produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.

foodincmovie.com

The Upsides of Adversity

ad⋅ver⋅si⋅ty  [ad-vur-si-tee]–noun, plural -ties for 2.

1. adverse fortune or fate; a condition marked by misfortune, calamity, or distress: A friend will show his or her true colors in times of adversity.

2. an adverse or unfortunate event or circumstance: You will meet many adversities in life.

Origin: 1200–50; L adversitās.

Synonyms: 1. catastrophe, disaster; trouble, misery. 2. See affliction.

Antonyms: 1. prosperity.

Everyone, at one point or another, is faced with adversity. If you're like me, you have many loved ones in your life that are being hit, spun around and dropped to their knees with adversity. Fresh rounds of layoffs continue, foreclosures loom, relationships are strained. If you are one of those people, this is for you.

The Upsides of Adversity

"Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed on an equal or greater benefit." Napoleon Hill

Adversity brings appreciation

As swell as it is to image all of your problems disappearing, if you lived in a state of perfection everyday, you wouldn't like it. There'd be no contrast and therefore, nothing to appreciate. A perfect world would be, well, boring rather than wonderful. As the Taoists say, "If we do not experience darkness, how can we appreciate the light?"

Years ago, my brother, who was attending the University of Arizona at the time, called me in cloudy, dreary Michigan to say, "I'm so frustrated! Another hot, sunny day! I haven't seen a cloud or rain in months. Or thunder! Thunder would be awesome. Just one cloud would be helpful. I'm going crazy with all this sun!" And he was serious.

It's the contrast of these dark days that makes the future look so bright.

Adversity brings spiritual growth

We wouldn't grow spiritually if we didn't have challenges to overcome. Challenges are huge opportunities for personal and spiritual growth. Faith, gratitude and love can help us to see that the block in the path is simply an obstacle to maneuver around...many times leading us to a better path.

Adversity shows you who your true loved ones are

This one's right there in the dictionary definition of adversity: "A friend will show his or her true colors in times of adversity." There is no better time to know your real friends than in the heat of adversity. A friend of mine posted on Facebook a couple of days ago that he lost his job of 10+ years. Today he wrote, "I'm overwhelmed with all the support I have received in the last 2 days. This is turning out to be one big positive!"

Adversity shows you who you really are

There is no better time to know yourself than in the heat of adversity. When a broken bone heals, the area around the break can actually become stronger than it was before. Adversity can do that too. It can take our weak spots, help us heal and become stronger than ever.

Adversity offers opportunity

The Chinese character for 'crisis' is 'peril' + 'opportunity.' Interesting, huh? When a job is lost, a major client parts ways or a relationship ends, it's a chance to rebuild in a way that's more in alignment with our ultimate goals and highest selves. Many times folks are laid off from a job they didn't like in the first place. Or they fear losing a client who's in reality a pain-in-the-neck and an energy vampire. We've all had the experience of trying to hold onto a relationship only to look back on it later thinking, "If that hadn't ended, I wouldn't have been free to meet my true love."

Instead of mourning the loss, use the time and energy to attract a better situation than before. This is not the end, it's the beginning. Create it the way you want it.

The solution is in your response

You need to remind yourself in the vertigo of the crisis that the lesson is not about the particular issue at hand, it's about the way you respond to it.

Tune into success

Think back to past times when you were able to overcome adversity. Didn't it feel great? It's a fulfilling pride like no other. Focus on that feeling to connect with the Law of Attraction. It's like tuning into a radio station. Whatever you are 'listening' to (or reading, watching, talking about), you will get more of the same. So tune into station KJOY or KHOPE rather than KFAIL or KWHYME. Don't you know someone who seems to be constantly tuned into KSHIT? All they do is complain about their lousy life and they seems to get more of the same. Yeah, don't do that.

Make a plan, Stan

Here is my action plan for handling adversity:

• Be still and breathe.
• Picture the best possible outcome while being open to it arriving in a way that serves the highest good.
• Take continual steps toward that outcome.
• Create support systems and surroundings that encourages the goal.
• Focus on gratitude and the joyous of feeling the goal being reached.
• Repeat until it is so.

Work that plan

Winston Churchill said, "If you're going through hell, keep going!" So go! Don't live in denial. Don't dawdle. Don't create paralysis of analysis. Leap! Jump! Pounce! Sitting around talking about why an adverse situation happened will only create more of it. Focusing on the thing that will make you ultimately happy (new job, more clients, true love) will create more of that.

Have patience and don't quit before the miracle

Churchill also said, when asked to give a speech on his recommendations for creating success: "Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, give up. Never give up. Never give up. Never give up."

Many of us are completely unprepared for today's challenges. Because we're spoiled. We're not used to facing such difficulties or having to work so hard just to put food on the table. In Churchill's times, to have dinner, they had to grow the food before preparing it. We've been living in times where we not only didn't have to grow our own food, we haven't even had to prepare it! The salad's in the bag, ready to go! We don't even have to go into the store...we can just drive thru!

So it's time to dig deep. Our greatest personal and national character builder stands before us in the days ahead. Let's be still, breathe and picture the sweet banquet when we celebrate our victory. Carpe Diem!

El Happy Hour

One of the best upsides to today's economy? Everything's on sale. My favorite sale? Happy Hour, of course!

There are bangin' sales at your local watering hole if you just plan to go a little early. Never thought of it as a sale, did you? Well, it is!

My local choice? El Carmen on Third Street here in LA. They have the best margaritas in the area...during Happy Hour they're only $4! There's no swapping it out with el crappo tequila for Happy Hour either. It's the same El Carmen Classic Margarita as you get later at twice the price.

The guacamole is fantastic. For Happy Hour it's only $2. I just paid that for a single avocado at Wholefoods! And it wasn't mashed up with onion, cilantro then served with chips and love the way it is at El Carmen. Sheesh.

Actually, everything I've ever eaten at El Carmen is great.

Here's their Happy Hour Menu:

• Guacamole $2.
• Nachos, Quesadillas & Ceviche $4 each.
• Combination Plates (Chicken, Potato or Carnitas tacos) $5 each.
• Classic El Carmen Margaritas $4
• Tecate Beer $3

Happy Hour is Monday thru Friday from 5 to 7

El Carmen

(323) 852-1552

8138 W Third St (at Crescent Heights Boulevard)
Los Angeles, CA 90048

Not in Los Angeles? Try these sites to find Happy Hours in your area.

unthirsty.com

thrillist.com

happy-hour.com

Cheers!

Cheap Choo's

In the past, the only way to get your tootsies into a pair of high-end designer shoes without spending a bloody fortune is to 1) marry a man whose last name is Blahnik, or 2) befriend Carrie Bradshaw to get her hand-me-downs. Both extremely difficult situations to maneuver.

Soon you'll be able to get Jimmy Choo shoes (and handbags) at bargain prices. Okay, you'll have to wait until November 14 when an exclusive line will be sold at budget friendly H&M stores, but this is a very good sign.

H&M has already collaborated on several successful lines from pop icons and designers including Stella McCartney, Madonna, Karl Lagerfeld, Roberto Cavalli, Viktor & Rolf and Matthew Williamson.

Jimmy Choo co-founder and President Tamara Mellon said the brand would bring H&M "a sophisticated, fashion forward, accessible and glamorous collection."

I say this is just another upside to a downsizing economy. Hopefully, it's part of a paradigm shift toward more reasonably priced items. Because as beautiful as they are, spending the same amount on a pair of shoes as you do a luxury car payment is just plain ridiculous. Unless your last name is Blahnik. Or like Ms. Bradshaw, you're a fictional character on a TV show...who doesn't have a car.

Here's To My Dad

When I was in the second grade, my teacher assigned the class the task of drawing our fathers' portraits and writing about them in preparation for 'Father Goes To School Day.'

Today 'parenting' is a verb and most fathers are a daily part of their child's school experience. But back then, 'Father Goes To School Day' was the only day of the year that dads would come to school.

Imagine the thrill when my art piece was not only a huge hit with my dad, but it was the covered by the local paper! Apparently, they thought it was unique I mentioned that "He is handsome."

Well, the handsome part is true, but it's not the only thing that's unique about him. Here's one thing that's greatly influenced my career...

Considering he's a mid-western meat and potatoes man's man, my dad has a great talent for interior decorating. He might not exactly think of himself as a 'decorator,' but the eye for style and design is definitely there. Both of my parents were huge influences on my design sense. Having a beautiful home that expresses one's passions and personality it not something I learned in a feng shui book or in some design class. It's simply the way I grew up.

I'm so grateful to this and many other qualities my dad has, mostly that he marches to his own beat with a fun sense of humor and a thirst for adventure. I would be remiss if I left out the fact of his outstanding athletic abilities and sportsmanship. Best of all, he's a good husband to my mom. I think most folks would agree, that's the best quality in a father.

My dad is the number one person I want on my team in life's clutch situations. Trust me, he's lead me out of many tight spots over the years. It's such a wonderful feeling to have parents who have your back. I'm so very grateful.

So here's to Phil Chamberlain...Happy Father's Day, Dad. I love you with all my heart.

xoxo,

Elizabeth

(And thanks to Mom for saving my childhood artwork!)

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to the fathers of some of my favorite people.

Jerry, Alan, Tom and Carlos...much gratitude and love for being such wonderful fathers and role models!

xoxo

"The Science of Getting Rich"

"You may be the poorest man on the continent, and be deeply in debt; you may have neither friends, influence, nor resources; but if you begin to do things in this way, you must infallibly begin to get rich, for like causes must produce like effects." Wallace Wattles

In 1910, Wallace Wattles wrote a little book called "The Science of Getting Rich" that summarized the Law of Attraction and launched generations of teachers who've spread the word, including the group that brought you "The Secret."

Below is the summary. I keep a copy by my bedside so that I can review it often.

THERE is a thinking stuff from which all things are made, and which, in its original state, permeates, penetrates, and fills the interspaces of the universe.

A thought in this substance produces the thing that is imaged by the thought.

Man can form things in his thought, and by impressing his thought upon formless substance can cause the thing he thinks about to be created.

In order to do this, man must pass from the competitive to the creative mind; otherwise he cannot be in harmony with the Formless Intelligence, which is always creative and never competitive in spirit.

Man may come into full harmony with the Formless Substance by entertaining a lively and sincere gratitude for the blessings it bestows upon him. Gratitude unifies the mind of man with the intelligence of Substance, so that man's thoughts are received by the Formless. Man can remain upon the creative plane only by uniting himself with the Formless Intelligence through a deep and continuous feeling of gratitude.

Man must form a clear and definite mental image of the things he wishes to have, to do, or to become; and he must hold this mental image in his thoughts, while being deeply grateful to the Supreme that all his desires are granted to him. The man who wishes to get rich must spend his leisure hours in contemplating his Vision, and in earnest thanksgiving that the reality is being given to him. Too much stress cannot be laid on the importance of frequent contemplation of the mental image, coupled with unwavering faith and devout gratitude. This is the process by which the impression is given to the Formless, and the creative forces set in motion.

The creative energy works through the established channels of natural growth, and of the industrial and social order. All that is included in his mental image will surely be brought to the man who follows the instructions given above, and whose faith does not waver. What he wants will come to him through the ways of established trade and commerce.

In order to receive his own when it shall come to him, man must be active; and this activity can only consist in more than filling his present place. He must keep in mind the Purpose to get rich through the realization of his mental image. And he must do, every day, all that can be done that day, taking care to do each act in a successful manner. He must give to every man a use value in excess of the cash value he receives, so that each transaction makes for more life; and he must so hold the Advancing Thought that the impression of increase will be communicated to all with whom he comes in contact.

The men and women who practice the foregoing instructions will certainly get rich; and the riches they receive will be in exact proportion to the definiteness of their vision, the fixity of their purpose, the steadiness of their faith, and the depth of their gratitude.

To learn more about Bob Proctor's program, click here.

For a free pdf ebook of "The Science of Getting Rich", click here.

Affordable Denim That's Good For The Planet (and makes your butt look good too)

Okay, that's three upsides for one! I Like It!

From Josh Dorman, "The Lazy Environmentalist."

Those of us determined to green our jeans will find that most eco-aware denim is priced at or above $150 a pair. But there are exceptions.

Good Society delivers high-style, fair-trade certified organic cotton jeans for about $100. Not only is the styling clean and sharp, but every pair purchased also helps provide fair wages for the workers who produce them in India.

When we think about “going green,” we typically focus on reducing our environmental impact. But fair-trade certification also ensures that the people making the products we use are not exploited in the process.

This helps to create a web of positive change — a good society, if you will. And for Aiden Dingh, Good Society’s co-founder, it’s not enough to sell clothing that respects both the people who make it and the environment we live in, it’s also essential to make those items affordable.

While Sling and Stones, Dingh’s original organic cotton denim line, carries designer prices, Good Society makes eco-chic clothing accessible to a broader audience.

You can find the collection at big national retailers like Urban Outfitters and at smaller boutiques across the country. Good Society keeps the good going by giving 10 percent of its profits to environmental causes. They’re available here in women’s and men’s styles.

Other Affordable, Eco-Friendly Denim Options:

Arizona Jeans
Arizona’s new eco-collection is available at J.C. Penney. Instead of tossing the cotton that’s left over from the cotton mill in a landfill, Arizona Jeans recycles it into jeans that retail for around $40 per pair. The company does the same thing with T-shirts, incorporating 60 percent recycled cotton.

Levis
Levis keeps it green with its 100 percent organic cotton Levis Eco denim collection featuring boot cut, straight, and slim cuts for men and women with prices that hover around $68 per pair.

Quiksilver
Guys and girls will dig the vibrant, fresh designs that are increasingly made of organic cotton by Quiksilver. From stylish tees to denim jeans, Quiksilver is rapidly introducing eco-friendly products that are sure to be a hit in dorms rooms everywhere.

Plastic Island

The next time you forget to recycle, think of this video.

The next time you carry a plastic grocery bag home instead of a reusable cloth bag, think of this video.

The next time you buy a plastic water bottle instead of using a refillable stainless bottle, think of this video.

Wouldn't it be lovely if the upside of watching this video was that you could personally help to make the planet healthier for you and your family? It can happen! Please, it's for your own good, and the health and well-being of your loved ones for generations to come. Watch.

DIY French Doors

I can easily get lost in a marathon of design shows, can't you? Every once in awhile, an idea makes me sit up and take note. This was one of them.

Check out this inexpensive idea for creating french doors using store bought bi-fold doors. You could easily customized it to your own style by changing the molding, knobs, paint and yes, the wallpaper.

It's way less expensive than purchasing new french doors and pretty darn easy to do yourself...or with a Handy Andy friend. If you have a sketchy view from your dining room into your kitchen, this is a great idea. The mirrors only need to be on one side. You could even use chalkboard paint on the kitchen side! Just sayin'.

I saw it on HGTV's new show from Canada, Pure Design.

You can achieve the rich look of the Hollywood Regency style without the high price tag by adding glam to every day bi-fold doors.

Tools and Supplies:

• Bi-fold doors
• Ruler
• 10 pre-cut glass mirror squares (5 per door)
• Molding strips
• Wood glue
• Nail gun
• Silicone

How To:

1. Mark out five even spaces for the 5 mirror squares, leaving space without mirror on the bottom of the door in case it ever gets kicked.
2. Using standard trim molding, cut to the size to surround each mirror. Place the L-shape of one corner down first to create a cove that the mirrored glass can slip right in.
3. Attach the molding to the door face using glue and then secure with nails.
4. Use a dab of silicone on the four corners of the back of the mirror to hold it in place and finish the molding.
5. Paint and then re-hang.

From HGTV's show Pure Design

Ways Your Home Looks Outdated

Just as there are people who are wearing the same haircut since the late 80's, there are others who decorate their home once and figure well, that's it, I'm done.

There are also folks who move into a new home and simply continue using the last owner's decor. I asked a friend recently why his framed painting was so off center and high. "Cuz that's where the nail was," he replied with a look on his face that said "duh."

Most of the following items were really stylish back in their day…and that’s just the problem. Their day was a looong ago. And they have not come back around so don't even attempt claiming retro chic.

If you are moving anytime soon, removing these items should be on your home staging to do list.

Shiny yellow brass. The last time I moved, I replaced the existing chandelier and brought it to Goodwill. They refused to take it because of the shiny brass. It’s not stylish enough for Goodwill.

Wallpaper boarders. Admit it, you felt so clever for 'pulling your room together' by matching the wallpaper border to the bedspread. But it’s time to remove the evidence of your handiwork. Actually, it was time about a decade ago. Or two.

Hanging plants with vines more than 12’’ below planter. The ZZ Top beard of the decorating world. If it’s 8 feet long and wrapped around the room, it looks dated for two reasons. 1) that hasn’t been a style since the Pet Rock; and 2) it has to be old in order to grow that long. Extra points for draping them along the wallpaper boarder.

Curtains that “puddle.” Not since vogue-ing was the dance rage has a curtain puddle been chic. Hike ‘em up to 1/4” above the floor.

Popcorn ceilings. These can be not only dated but dangerous. Many popcorn ceilings contain asbestos. Remove professionally!

Mirrored sliding closet doors. Great for checking out your parachute pants and Members Only jacket. Sketchy for today’s style. Not to mention, bad feng shui. It disturbs sleep to have a mirror seen from the bed.

Diamond-shaped stained glass windowpanes on the front door. Go ahead, try to duplicate this. Nope, they don’t even make ‘em anymore.

“Ye Olde” Anything. This one’s easy...‘Ye Olde’ is right in the name.

Avocado or mustard appliances. Yes, colored appliances are making a come back…but not in the groovy colors of the 70’s. If your fridge is avocado green, it’s time to retire it along with the collections of tuna casserole recipes and the Crock Pot.

Colored bathroom fixtures. Sure you were foxy getting ready for some Saturday Night Fever in your bathroom with the peach tub, sink and toilet. But you cut your Farrah wings, time to change these too. White or Biscuit please.

Floral chintz, ruffles and bows. Even Laura Ashley herself has moved on from this look.

Any of these sound familiar? Contact me. I can help. www.space-lift.com

It's Who You Know

My grandfather, a very successful businessman, always used to say, "It's not what you know, kid, it's who you know." In today's competitive job market, who you know can make all the difference. After all, statistics show that most people find jobs through their personal contacts. Online social networking connects you with who you know, and sometimes more importantly, with who they know.

Each social networking site offers something different. If you are looking for a new job, Linkedin.com is a must. Think of it this way: chances are you're only one or two degrees away from a new job. Linkedin connects you with those degrees.

You're probably already aware that Linkedin is a business networking site as opposed to some of the more social sites like Facebook.

On Linkedin, you can add a summary of your professional experience, list your education and training, feature recommendations from former colleagues and join groups of like-minded professionals. But most of all, you can create a profile that highlights your skills and experience to set yourself up for your next position. Since the summary is not a formal resume, there's a huge advantage to framing it as the position you are looking for rather than just listing past positions.

Linkedin Tip to Set Yourself Apart from the Competition

A colleague of mine, Alan Hellard, gave me this tip for using Linkedin. Before any interview, ask who'll be in the room during the appointment. Then check Linkedin to see if the attendees are registered on the site. If so, email them through Linkedin to tell them that you are looking forward to the meeting and offer them the opportunity to review your profile.

This does several things: 1) it shows you're doing your due diligence on them; 2) it gives you the advantage of letting them read your profile before you arrive rather than having them read your resume while you're in the room, which splits their attention; 3) it gives the interviewer the opportunity to read recommendations, see what groups you're involved in and provide a fuller picture than a traditional resume or CV; 4) it gives both of you the opportunity to find commonalities.

Chances are your competition is not taking this extra step, which only sets you further apart from the herd.

If you're not on Linkedin, sign up now by clicking here. Because just as you are searching for employers' profiles, they are looking for your's. Complete and update all details along with a professional photo. This is a great opportunity to brand yourself, so perhaps you'll want an objective friend to give their opinion before posting.

As opposed to Twitter and Facebook, Linkedin is a site that does not require much attention once you've uploaded your information. Until it's time to update by listing your new position, that it!

And the best part? It's all FREE.

Good luck!

How to Repurpose Your Old Yoga Mat

One of the most creative ways to go green is to repurpose items that have outlived their original purpose to give them a second lifecycle. It lightens the load on our landfills and it creates a new, free item. Love that!

Gaiam, a healthy lifestyle company, asked their fans how they repurpose their yoga mats. Here are my favorites ideas:

1. Place it under an area rug for no-slip gripping.
2. Cut the mat into squares and use them as "bases" while playing baseball with the kids.
3. Make grip pads to open jars.
4. Use it on the beach instead of a towel.
5. Place it under your sleeping bag for extra padding when enjoying the outdoors.
6. When traveling with your infant, take an old mat along for safe bath time. Simply place it on the bottom of the tub and you don't have to worry about your little one slipping around.
7. Cut and put down by the kitty litter box. It's not hard on paws and stops the litter.
8. Great for those hard bleachers when watching sporting events.
9. Makes a great liner under house plants.
10. Sticky mats keep groceries from sliding around in the trunk on the way home from the store

For 40 more yoga mat repurposing ideas, click here.

Happy Closets

The other night I went out for coffee with some girlfriends following an event. After I got home it became painfully obvious to me that the decafe latte I ordered was fully caffeinated, and so was I. Two hours later, my closets were cleaned out, reorganized and color coded, just as I describe in the video above.

The upside? I found several items I had forgotten about, I have a fresh pile for an upcoming yard sale, and I feel lighter! So yes, I am happy to report that it did lift my spirits.

Point being, the advice in this video works...if I may say so myself.

Enjoy.

Color Capture

As you probably know from past posts, I'm a huge iPhone fan. I've been waiting for this app to be released...and it's even better than expected!

Benjamin Moore's new ben® Color Capture™. (Yes, ben® is spelled all lower case.) Here's the scoop...you take a photo of a color you want to remember and the app matches to a Benjamin Moore color. Then it not only tells you the color, it finds your location with the GPS in your iPhone and tells you where the closest Benjamin Moore retailer is. It also saves your selections.

The iTunes Store says...

The ben app is intuitive and easy-to-use. Simply glide a finger across the digital photo taken with the iPhone's built-in camera, zoom into a color, and tap the "match" key. In just seconds, a strip of colors will appear below the photo, with the closest paint match highlighted.

A simple shake of the phone and ben will provide up to four coordinating colors, creating an entire harmonizing palette based on the original selection. Favorites can be saved and enlarged to the size of the iPhone screen for easier viewing.

There's access, as well, to the full spectrum color wheel, which expands or contracts by fingertip control to focus on a color preference. That, too, can be translated into a Benjamin Moore color and saved as a favorite for future reference.

I can't wait to use this! Get it now at the iTunes Store. For FREE!