Cultures, Codes & Bordeaux

As a designer, it's so inspiring to walk around Paris while breathing in the influences of cultures and history. In one neighborhood, I fall in love with the iron grates, the topiary, the door handles in the center of the doors. And in another arrondissement, it's the stylish cafe scene and the millennia of artisan influences. 

The thing I miss the most about US design? The building codes. In only a couple of days, all three of us have taken headers from the uneven stairs. Charming as it may be to think that someone hundreds of years ago climbed the same stairs, they not safe when one riser is 5'' high and the next is 8". It might be a pain while designing according to codes in the States, but they are certainly safer than the ones we've slipped on here in Paris. 

Plumbing codes are certainly different in Europe. I had to share with you a photo of the 3'' wide powder room sink in the apartment we rented here in Le Marais. The master bath is significantly larger, but the powder room does the job without any unused space. This faucet an efficient 'on & off' only spigot. I can just imagine some French real estate developer saying, "Hot water! Pfft. They are lu-key to have any water!" 

As I write this, I we're sitting in front of the fireplace in the apartment, enjoying a glass of bordeaux that we got in a charming wine shop on the Isle St-Louis which was next door to the fromagerie where we got the cheese to accompany it. C'est magnifique. 

Tomorrow is a another long day with lots of adventures planned...so for the first time in over a year, I'm taking the day off from blogging. It's a vacation, after all. 

I bid you adieu. Bon nuit. 

Paris Attitude

A great way to save money while traveling is to rent a short term stay apartment. We're staying in a fabulous flat in Le Marais that's about half the price as a hotel, yet far larger. Plus we get to experience what it would be like to live here. I took the photo above out the window this evening. Not bad, right?  Believe me, I'm visualizing a mid-term stay for some point in the future!

A quick trip to the local deli for some breakfast essentials saves a lot as well. There's plenty of time for cafe au lait breaks, but it's really nice to have some coffee and croissants in our jammies before heading out to hit the streets of Paris. This became especially important once we learned that Parisians' version of 'grande cafe' is significantly more petite than what we're used to in the States.

There are tons of short term apartment rental companies. We used www.parisattitude.com for our flat.  But we also learned that it's important to ask lots of questions and to communicate well with the owner. It's not like a hotel with a front desk and concierge.

More sight seeing tomorrow, but for now, it's time for much needed sleep. We powered thru today to avoid sleep irregularities. I'm on hour 29zzzzzzzzzzzz....

International Smartphone Usage

Mention to friends that you're traveling out of the country and folks start sharing horror stories of outrageous cellphone bills. Two of my friends were forced to pay thousands of dollars for phone usage during recent vacations.

Being an avid iPhone user, I knew this was an important part of my travel plans. Plus, I need to be able to blog from the sidewalk cafes, oui?

Here's what I discovered.

Set up international cellphone usage.

A simple phone call to your carrier before you leave will avoid all problems. There are all sorts of plans depending on your length of stay and estimated usage.

Turn Data Roaming "OFF": When you go on an international plan, you are charged for all data usage including sending & receiving emails, web browsing, and apps that require web.

Turn Fetch New Data "OFF": Check email and sync contacts and calendars manually instead of having the data pushed to your phone automatically. This way you can control the flow of data coming to your phone.

Purchase an International Data Package: Purchasing an international data package can significantly reduce the cost of using data abroad. Additional fees apply to sending and receiving texts abroad.

Reset the Usage Tracker to Zero: This will enable you to track your estimated data usage.

Cancel the plan when you return. Set a reminder to cancel the monthly international rate once you're home.

Feng Shui OoLaLa

Ready for a great Feng Shui success story?

It all starts with this table in the Travel & Helpful People Area of my home. To activate the energy in the area, I added:

• a brass box containing foreign money and helpful people's business cards
• a tray of an angel's wing with an angel's touchstone in it
• an oil painting of the French Alps
• a few books on manifesting my goals
• and a statue of the Eiffel Tower ('cuz I've got a touch of the Francophile)

The win/win/win result?

My dear friend's husband booked a huge job on a television show (win). Since he'll be working, I get to take his place for spring break in Paris (win)! The tickets they got at a charity event (win) had to used by April 10. That's right, April in Paris. See, everybody wins.

So today I'm on the plane to France. C'est magnifique!

Inspiring Your Passions

Does the artwork in your home and workspace reflect your goals and passions? Take a look around to see how your art is influencing you.


One client requested a consultation because his work environment was so stressful. In the Career Area of his office was a black & white photo of Philippe Petit walking on a tight-rope between the World Trade Towers.

Think about it. You're sitting in your office, fielding high-stress calls all day. You look up and see a man on a tension wire, suspended 104 stories over Manhattan, who could lose it all with one wrong move. Not to mention the foreboding energy of the Trade Center itself. I don't know about you, but I feel tense just thinking about it.

Removing the photo brought a deep sigh of relief to his office.


How about you? Are you feeling frustrated by the lack of helpful people in your life? Maybe the sad clown prints in your Travel & Helpful People Area aren’t helping. Looking for love while surrounded by paintings of empty beach chairs?


I recently saw a large collage that included sheet music of Gershwin hits including “Nice work if you can get it,” “Brother can you spare a dime,” “Let’s call the whole thing off,” and “It ain’t necessarily so.” Now imagine if this piece were to hang in Wealth Area of your home. Hey, it would drag down pretty much every area! At first glance, it was a very attractive collage. That’s why art re­quires a second look. Ask yourself, “Does this piece support or hinder me.”


Look around your home and workspace to see if the artwork is supporting your goals or reflecting just the opposite. Sometimes moving them to an­other location is all that is needed. For example, a watercolor of a man alone in his field might create loneliness in the Love & Marriage Area, but it could be great in the Career Area.


To locate the Career, Wealth and Love & Marriage Areas of your home or office, visit the Feng Shui section of my website www.space-lift.com.

Junk Mail Art by Sandhi Shimmel Gold

If you love inspiring art, look no further than artist Sandhi Shimmel Gold. And if you're interested in being green, cutting down on clutter or are just plain feed-up with junk mail, well, Sandhi's your gal for that, too.

Sandhi creates gorgeous art pieces from junk mail. Yeah, that's right. The cool, hip mosaics are actually made from upcycled junk mail, calendars, post cards, photos, old greeting cards, tags, etc that was headed for the landfill.

"My pictures are made of thousands of incongruent pieces - images and text. Assembled like a mosaic; the tiles create an entirely new image - a portrait, a landscape, a fantasy - directly from my imagination, utilizing materials that would otherwise go to waste." Sandhi Shimmel Gold

So the next time you have a wild hair to do something creative, think outside the box like Sandhi does.

Or better yet, do what dozens of celebrities have done...commission a custom portrait. It the perfect way to add your own personality to your home.

http://www.schimmelart.com/

All images are subject to copyrights of S A Schimmel Gold and are protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) and by the Berne Convention. Reproduction, storage or transmittal by any means, of any image on this web site, whole or in part, is prohibited without express prior written permission.

Money Magnet MP3

Whenever I write or create anything new (my website, the Feng Shui tips, the ebooks, this blog etc), I always approach it by first thinking "what would I want to know if I were learning it for the first time." See, when I first became interested in Feng Shui and Green Design, I was a sponge for the information...but I couldn't find what I was looking for all in one place. I had to piece it all together like a huge puzzle. So that's what I continue to put together to share with you.

With that in mind, I'm really proud to say that the recording of my last tele-seminar is now available for instant download. I had a blast doing it and am so happy to provide a jam-packed hour full of great Feng Shui information. So here's the scoop...

How To Be A Money Magnet

Attracting Wealth The Feng Shui Way

A 58-Minute MP3 Audio Recording that you can

download onto your computer, load onto your iPod,

or burn onto a CD to listen in the car.

Plus as a bonus, you'll get the transcript notes to read, too.

If you're looking to 'get into the flow,' this recording is filled to the brim with all sorts of ways to help you tap into the financial flow of Wealth Energy by creating a home that acts as a Money Magnet.

It also includes essential information about the non-physical aspects of attracting wealth such as Intentions and the Laws of Attraction and Prosperity.

If it seems like you're in a constant struggle paddling upstream against the current, applying the tips I share in this audio (and in the 12 pages of notes) will help you turn your boat around and head downstream.

And you know the zinger? Everything you want is downstream. Everything.

How To Be A Money Magnet will teach you how to:

•Locate the Wealth Area in your home or workspace

•Cure a “Missing” Wealth Area

•Rid your personal surroundings of negative energy

•Identity items that block financial flow

•Add items that increase wealth energy

•Draw positive energy into the home

•Balance other areas essential to attracting money

•Start attracting Wealth Energy immediately

Listen to the MP3 Audio Recording and read the bonus notes anytime you want, as many times as you want, to get inspired and stay motivated.

It's a mere $19.97. A blip compared to the wealth you can attract & create with the tips and tricks you'll learn.

Click the button below to buy now...

or visit my site for more information.

www.space-lift.com

Make your dog more hybrid, less SUV

Dogs are not just man's best friend, many times they're the most popular member of the household. They're even a great Feng Shui cure for adding Life Force Energy! But if you have a dog, you know that already.

Here's a great article from Mother Nature Network by Julie Knapp.

If you’re a dog owner and call yourself eco-conscious, guilt might set in after reading the new book Time to Eat the Dog? The real guide to sustainable living by Robert and Brenda Vale, which reveals dogs are worse for the environment than SUVs.

The authors, who designed the first sustainable settlement in the United Kingdom in 1996 and are architecture professors at Victory University of Wellington in New Zealand, measured the environmental impact of our lifestyles from the food we eat to how we travel to sports, hobbies and pets based on the Ecological Footprint technique created by Mathis Wackernagel and William Rees.

Bottom line: Our pooches cost the Earth more than a Toyota Land Cruiser. According to the Vales’ research, a medium-sized dog has twice the impact of driving the luxury SUV 10,000 miles. Why? “Basically dogs are bad for the environment because they are large carnivores, so it takes a lot of land to provide their foods,” says Robert Vale. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to get Fido out of the doghouse.

Put your dog on a diet

Since your canine’s carnivorous diet is the biggest factor in his environmental impact, start by looking at what goes in the dog bowl. Most dog food isn’t produced in an eco-friendly way, and the heavy bags of kibble or cans of wet food have to travel miles to get to your door.

Dr. Viv Harris, veterinarian and author of Natural Remedies Dogs and Cats Wish You Knew: A Holistic Care Guide, suggests making your own dog food using locally grown or organic veggies.

Your vet can help you work out the perfect mix of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals and vitamins to meet your dog’s needs. And with all of the tainted pet food scandals in recent years, your dog may be better off eating homemade meals anyway. After all, many dog foods that claim to be natural still contain byproducts or low-grade meats.

If the do-it-yourself doggie diet sounds like too much work, look for smaller, locally made dog food brands. Or select chicken or rabbit based-kibble, which have a lower impact than beef.

Do your doodie duty

If you ask the Vales, dog poo isn’t such a big deal compared to what goes in the other end. However, if you don’t scoop up the poop, it can contaminate our waterways. If you’re a city dweller and use plastic bags to clean up, choose biodegradable poop bags.

Shop smart

Just like when you shop for yourself, think about the impact of the products you buy for your pets. Choose dog shampoos that are free of sodium lauryl sulfate. For toys and dog beds, avoid plastic and synthetic products and look to natural fibers like organic cotton or hemp as well as products made from recycled goods. We love SimplyFido’s hemp plush collection, West Paw’s Eco Nap dog bed made from recycled plastic bottles, and Planet Dog’s balls made from post-production material that would otherwise be discarded.

Use birth control

Spaying and neutering your dog might sound inhumane, but it’s the eco-conscious thing to do. “Reducing the overpopulation of dogs is crucial,” Harris says. If your dog alone creates a impact bigger than an SUV, just think what its accidental litter of puppies could do!

Choose safe flea and tick treatments

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), some flea control products pose a cancer risk to children up to 1,000 times higher than the Environmental Protection Agency’s acceptable limits. Keep these chemicals off little fingers and your pet’s fur by talking to your vet about safer treatments or by choosing from the NRDC’s list of safer flea control choices.

You can also make natural solutions at home. In her book, Harris suggests creating a DIY flea wash. Start with a base of castile soap and add 10 drops of lavender, five drops of eucalyptus, five drops of rosemary and five drops of cajuput oil.

Consider other pets

We’re not suggesting you part ways with your pooch right now, but if you don’t have a dog yet or are considering a second pet, you might want to think outside the dog box. According to the Vales, a goldfish is equal to the impact of just two cell phones; two hamsters or four canaries can be compared to a plasma TV; and a cat is only as bad as aSmart Car. Even smaller dogs are better than big dogs.

Change your own habits

Just like you can buy carbon credits when you take a long-haul flight, you can try to balance out your dog’s impact by making some changes of your own. If you don’t want to give up Fido, maybe you should give up meat or your car instead. Of course, smaller changes or buying carbon credits can help, too.

WESTWEEK 2010: Design Revolution

Tomorrow starts WestWeek 2010 at the Pacific Design Center. It's the time of year when all the big furniture, fabric and accessory manufacturers reveal their new product lines. Basically, it's a big party for designers.

This year there are more than 50 showroom programs, many sponsored by famous shelter magazines such as 'Metropolitan Home,' 'House Beautiful' and 'Luxe.' Number One on my calendar is the Baker Furniture event (of course). But here are dozens more lectures, book signings, open houses I'm looking forward to as well such as the gorgeous showroom of Kneedler Fauchere. It's always such a fun time for all sorts of design inspiration and camaraderie.

If you're in the Los Angeles Area and interested in interior design, check out the list of event. Some showrooms require rsvp's. But it's all free.

Here's the list of events

The Little Things in the Office

My Grandpa Dave kept a sign in his office that read: "It's not the mountains ahead that wear you down, it's the grain of sand in your shoe." So true.

Gretchen Rubin, the inspiring author of "The Happiness Project," wrote this piece filled with advice for keeping the grains of sand out of your workspace. Grandpa Dave would approve.

18 Tips for "Little Things" to Boost Your Happiness at Work by Gretchen Rubin

Your happiness at work will depend mostly, of course, on how much you like your job and your co-workers. But, as Samuel Johnson observed, "It is by studying little things that we attain the great art of having as little misery, and as much happiness as possible."

Here are some little things to consider that have helped me find more happiness at work. A few minor adjustments can give a real boost in mood and comfort.

Your work space:

1. Check for eyestrain: put your hand to your forehead in a salute. If your eyes feel relieved, your space is too bright.

2. Get a good desk chair and take the time to adjust it properly. (A friend works at a big company where they have a person who specializes in this task!)

3. Sit up straight and lower your shoulders--every time I do, I instantly feel more energetic and cheerier.

4. Think about how your space could be more pleasant. Could you invest in some desk accessories to help stay organized? Could you replace that hideous lamp?

5. Get a phone headset. I resisted for a long time, because it looks so preposterous, but it's really much more comfortable, and it lets me walk around when I'm on the phone, which boosts my energy. I also initially resisted the advice to...

6. Get additional monitors. I now have three monitors, and they make me so happy! The ability to have multiple pages up at once saves me a huge amount of time. (Back to #1: after I got my three monitors, I noticed that my face hurt. I finally realized that my three monitors were all set to maximum brightness, so I'd been squinting all day. Turning down the brightness levels fixed the problem.)

6. Don't keep treats around. A handful of M&Ms each day will mean a weight gain of five pounds by year's end.

7. Periodically, take time to deep-clean the loose papers that have piled up. I usually do this specifically because I need the shot of the wonderful calm it brings.

Your day:

8. Try never to say "yes" on the phone; instead, say, "I'll get back to you." When you're actually speaking to someone, the desire to be accommodating is very strong, and can lead you to say "yes" without enough consideration.

9. Take care of difficult calls or emails as quickly as possible. Procrastinating just makes it harder; getting them done gives a big boost of relieved energy. (Here are some tips for making phone calls you don't want to make.)

10. When accepting a responsibility, imagine that it's something that you'll have to do next week. That way you don't agree to something just because it seems so far off that it doesn't seem onerous.

11. Be honest about how you're spending your time. You feel overwhelmed, but are you really working hard? How much time do you spend surfing the internet, chatting on the phone or with colleagues, looking for things you've misplaced, or doing a task that's really someone else's job?

12. Go outside at least once a day, and if possible, take a walk. The sunlight and activity is good for your focus, mood, and retention of information.

13. Even if you can't go outside, take a 10-minute break each hour. Studies show that the break boosts your retention level.

14. Don't let yourself get too hungry.

15. Let yourself stay ignorant of things you don't need to know.

16. Try to make a lunch date with someone outside the office at least once a week.

17. This may be the hardest: figure out a way to control technology so you don't feel distracted and hunted. Turn off your email; turn off your phone; disconnect from the internet; figure out a way to set limits so you can concentrate when you need to, and disengage when you need to. Technology is a good servant but a bad master.

18. Be nice to your co-workers. This is the right way to behave, and it will also serve your best interests, if you need that justification. In situation evocation, for example, we spark a response from people that reinforces a tendency we already have -- for example, if I act irritable all the time, the people around me are probably going to treat me with less patience and helpfulness, which will, in turn, stoke my irritability.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gretchen-rubin/balanced-life----18-tips_b_503506.html

Inspiration from One Minute Shifts

Back by popular demand, more videos from OneMinuteShifts.com.

It’s easy to get lost in the complexity of our fast paced lives. Here are three videos, each only one minute long, but containing very simple solutions for delivering important kernels of wisdom. Enjoy.

Seeing your work (or framing your employee's work) as a calling...

Healing Perceptions....

and Metamorphosis...

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.