Well, all the hustle and bustle of the holiday's are over and hopefully everyone survived the chaos. We are lucky in that we can keep things very simple and so there isn't much in the way of stress during this time of the year.
If you have chosen to make any New Year's Resolutions I wish you all the best in keeping them!
Happy New Year!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Friday, December 4, 2009
So what about all those Christmas decorations?
With Thanksgiving just a memory it’s now time to clean the house so you can begin to decorate for Christmas. Every year at this time I have clients ask me if decorations are really clutter and can they “get in the way” of good chi? My answer is always the same. Yes and no. Way to clarify, right? Here’s how I arrived at that conclusion.
It has always been my experience that before we even take the decorations out of the closet the house gets a very thorough cleaning. In Feng Shui terms this is never a bad thing. It seems that even though cleaning isn’t my favorite thing to do, it does shift the mood in the house and that in itself will uplift the chi.
Ok, so the house is clean and the decorations are out of the closet. You start unpacking the boxes and everything just goes in the same spot it was placed in for the last 10 years. Good or bad? Well, both actually. If you like how it looks then, go ahead and keep it the same. That being said, if you are just decorating on automatic pilot then that might be a problem. If you are displaying something just because you always have and you don’t really like the item then you shouldn’t put it out. In fact if you really don’t like something you may want to get rid of it. One of the first rules of Feng Shui is to surround yourself with things you find beautiful. If you don’t like it or it doesn’t work as intended, get rid of it. Now of course there are the sentimental things and it goes without saying that everyone needs a few of those. But if you don’t like them and keep it only because it’s was your grandmothers then you may want to consider either passing it along to someone else or just leaving it in the box in the attic until one of your kids shows an interest. Don’t spend time worrying about this however because a sentimental item neatly packed in a box in the attic is not considered clutter.
Once I go through this with my clients then I am usually also asked if holiday decorating can be overdone. Absolutely! However if you take them down right after the New Year then I don’t feel as though any damage can be done that quickly. The entire Holiday season is generally very busy and with people running on high energy that usually means tons of good chi coming your way.
It has always been my experience that before we even take the decorations out of the closet the house gets a very thorough cleaning. In Feng Shui terms this is never a bad thing. It seems that even though cleaning isn’t my favorite thing to do, it does shift the mood in the house and that in itself will uplift the chi.
Ok, so the house is clean and the decorations are out of the closet. You start unpacking the boxes and everything just goes in the same spot it was placed in for the last 10 years. Good or bad? Well, both actually. If you like how it looks then, go ahead and keep it the same. That being said, if you are just decorating on automatic pilot then that might be a problem. If you are displaying something just because you always have and you don’t really like the item then you shouldn’t put it out. In fact if you really don’t like something you may want to get rid of it. One of the first rules of Feng Shui is to surround yourself with things you find beautiful. If you don’t like it or it doesn’t work as intended, get rid of it. Now of course there are the sentimental things and it goes without saying that everyone needs a few of those. But if you don’t like them and keep it only because it’s was your grandmothers then you may want to consider either passing it along to someone else or just leaving it in the box in the attic until one of your kids shows an interest. Don’t spend time worrying about this however because a sentimental item neatly packed in a box in the attic is not considered clutter.
Once I go through this with my clients then I am usually also asked if holiday decorating can be overdone. Absolutely! However if you take them down right after the New Year then I don’t feel as though any damage can be done that quickly. The entire Holiday season is generally very busy and with people running on high energy that usually means tons of good chi coming your way.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
How can you stay healthy this winter?
The most important thing is to try and not get sick in the first place. Easier said than done? Maybe……
But here are some of my suggestions.
Stay hydrated and by this I mean actually drinking WATER. Soda, coffee and Gatorade do not count.
Rest and get quality sleep. A good night’s sleep is very important for our immune systems. Our bodies need to replenish themselves and when we don’t get enough sleep this can’t happen properly.
Eat well and on a regular schedule. Fresh fruits and vegetables are really critical in the winter. The more you can implement into your dishes the better. We love raw veggies and always have some on hand for snacking. When cooking your vegetables, less is better.
Try to keep stress at bay. Choose your battles and don’t waste energy on something you can’t fix or aren’t in control of. Write a list so we don’t feel so overwhelmed by the daily tasks we all have to endure. Laugh as much as possible. Rent a comedy movie and blow off some steam.
You knew this one was going to be on the list but WASH YOUR HANDS and don’t touch your face.
I have a ton more information on getting and staying healthy. Join me at my Gather health group for more!
http://thenaturalpath.gather.com/
Thanks
Teresa Abbott
Naturopath
But here are some of my suggestions.
Stay hydrated and by this I mean actually drinking WATER. Soda, coffee and Gatorade do not count.
Rest and get quality sleep. A good night’s sleep is very important for our immune systems. Our bodies need to replenish themselves and when we don’t get enough sleep this can’t happen properly.
Eat well and on a regular schedule. Fresh fruits and vegetables are really critical in the winter. The more you can implement into your dishes the better. We love raw veggies and always have some on hand for snacking. When cooking your vegetables, less is better.
Try to keep stress at bay. Choose your battles and don’t waste energy on something you can’t fix or aren’t in control of. Write a list so we don’t feel so overwhelmed by the daily tasks we all have to endure. Laugh as much as possible. Rent a comedy movie and blow off some steam.
You knew this one was going to be on the list but WASH YOUR HANDS and don’t touch your face.
I have a ton more information on getting and staying healthy. Join me at my Gather health group for more!
http://thenaturalpath.gather.com/
Thanks
Teresa Abbott
Naturopath
Saturday, October 17, 2009
CD Review Joshua Bell At home with friends
I really enjoy listening to music, especially when I am cooking!
Once again I was chosen to review a CD for One 2 One Network, so the other night we listened to this CD while preparing dinner for friends.
This CD is a very eclectic collection of music styles and the vocalists he invited along are really amazing. I guessed it was Sting singing before I read the jacket.
The music is all over the map including pop, bluegrass, classical, jazz and ethnic. The instruments are awesome.
While I normally think of instrumental music as calming this is also uplifting and energetic all at the same time.
Joshua Bell is a Grammy award winning violinist and it shows on this record.
Album Tracklisting (Originally performed by):
I Loves You Porgy featuring Chris Botti, trumpet
Come Again featuring Sting, vocals
Oblivion featuring Carel Kraayenhof, bandoneon
Cinema Paradiso featuring Josh Groban, vocals
Para Tí featuring Tiempo Libre, various
My Funny Valentine featuring Kristin Chenoweth, vocals
Maybe So featuring Edgar Meyer Sam Bush and Mike Marshall, stringsGrieg:
Sonata No. 3 featuring Sergei Rachmaninoff (Zenph re-performance)
Eleanor Rigby featuring Frankie Moreno, piano & vocals
O, Cease Thy Maiden Fair featuring Nathan Gunn, baritone
Il Postino featuring Carel Kraayenhof, bandoneon
Left Hand Song featuring Regina Spektor, piano & vocals
Chovendo Na Roseira featuring Dave Grusin, piano
Look Away featuring Edgar Meyer, bass and Chris Thile, mandolinVariant Moods:
Duet for Sitar & Violin featuring Anoushka Shankar, sitar
I'll Take Manhattan featuring Marvin Hamlisch, piano
Left Hand featuring Regina Spektor, vocals
Once again I was chosen to review a CD for One 2 One Network, so the other night we listened to this CD while preparing dinner for friends.
This CD is a very eclectic collection of music styles and the vocalists he invited along are really amazing. I guessed it was Sting singing before I read the jacket.
The music is all over the map including pop, bluegrass, classical, jazz and ethnic. The instruments are awesome.
While I normally think of instrumental music as calming this is also uplifting and energetic all at the same time.
Joshua Bell is a Grammy award winning violinist and it shows on this record.
Album Tracklisting (Originally performed by):
I Loves You Porgy featuring Chris Botti, trumpet
Come Again featuring Sting, vocals
Oblivion featuring Carel Kraayenhof, bandoneon
Cinema Paradiso featuring Josh Groban, vocals
Para Tí featuring Tiempo Libre, various
My Funny Valentine featuring Kristin Chenoweth, vocals
Maybe So featuring Edgar Meyer Sam Bush and Mike Marshall, stringsGrieg:
Sonata No. 3 featuring Sergei Rachmaninoff (Zenph re-performance)
Eleanor Rigby featuring Frankie Moreno, piano & vocals
O, Cease Thy Maiden Fair featuring Nathan Gunn, baritone
Il Postino featuring Carel Kraayenhof, bandoneon
Left Hand Song featuring Regina Spektor, piano & vocals
Chovendo Na Roseira featuring Dave Grusin, piano
Look Away featuring Edgar Meyer, bass and Chris Thile, mandolinVariant Moods:
Duet for Sitar & Violin featuring Anoushka Shankar, sitar
I'll Take Manhattan featuring Marvin Hamlisch, piano
Left Hand featuring Regina Spektor, vocals
Friday, October 16, 2009
New Album Review Harry Connick, Jr. Your Songs
I was chosen by One 2 One Network to review a new CD from Harry Connick, Jr. The title of the album is Your Songs and I would bet that you will recognize most of them.
All the way
Just the way you are
Can’t help falling in love with you
And I love her
They long to be close to you
Besame mucho (Kiss me much)
The way you look tonight
First time ever I saw your face
Your song
Some enchanted evening
And I love you so
Who can I turn to (when nobody needs me)
Smile
Mona Lisa
Generally I don’t care for remakes all that much but he gets away with it here. I am familiar with most of the songs on the album and found myself singing along the very first time I listened.
His song choices span several decades and he presents it in Sinatra / Big Band style. The accompanying instruments really add to the appeal of the music while not detracting from his voice at all.
Besame Mucho is the only song on the album that I didn’t know and of course I couldn’t understand a word of it but it’s a top tapper for sure. I googled it so I could read the lyrics while it was playing. I don’t know if he speaks Spanish or just learned this song but he does it well.
While reading the insert, I saw that he dedicated this record to his Mother, Anita.
Even though this is not my favorite music style I did like the album and will keep it near the top of my easy listening selections.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Talking Clutter again
Since fall is officially here, I thought I would address clutter once again before we are stuck inside all winter.
You have heard me say this before. Feng Shui is about increasing the flow of energy or chi in your space to create harmony but it’s also about surrounding yourself with things that you love. That being said, when there is too much “stuff” in the way, the energy gets stuck and things tend to stagnate in your life.
Sometimes when there is an energy blockage you may not even be aware that it is the clutter that is causing the issue. Now, I am not asking you to live a totally minimalist lifestyle. You don’t have to completely clear the decks! Just take a look around your home and ask yourself the following questions.
Do I like this?
When is the last time I used it?
Where did it come from?
Does it have sentimental value to anyone in the household?
I have found that we sometimes get so used to seeing something in a particular spot that we are almost immune to the fact that it’s even there.
Do you catch yourself saying, why didn’t I get rid of that long ago? Or, why didn’t we fix that before now? If so, then you need to take a look at your surroundings in a whole new light. Go through each room and actually stop and look at each piece of furniture, everything that hangs on the walls or sits on a table or shelf. Is it in good repair or has it been around way too long already? Is it just there simply because it always has been?
Do you save every newspaper and magazine?
Are there piles that seem to take on a life of their own?
In the past I have suggested that you not even bring the junk mail in the house. Toss it in the recycling bin before it ever gets inside. Keep a shredder handy and instead of setting it down so it can pile up, shred it. Look at things one time and get it done.
Remember my 9 minute plan. Take 9 minutes each day and clean, sort and put things away. Once you get used to it, you will be amazed how much you can get done in a short 9 minutes. Hopefully there will come a time when you don’t even need a full 9 minutes per day anymore and can cut back to less days a week.
Until next time!
“Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful and believe to be beautiful.”
William Morris
You have heard me say this before. Feng Shui is about increasing the flow of energy or chi in your space to create harmony but it’s also about surrounding yourself with things that you love. That being said, when there is too much “stuff” in the way, the energy gets stuck and things tend to stagnate in your life.
Sometimes when there is an energy blockage you may not even be aware that it is the clutter that is causing the issue. Now, I am not asking you to live a totally minimalist lifestyle. You don’t have to completely clear the decks! Just take a look around your home and ask yourself the following questions.
Do I like this?
When is the last time I used it?
Where did it come from?
Does it have sentimental value to anyone in the household?
I have found that we sometimes get so used to seeing something in a particular spot that we are almost immune to the fact that it’s even there.
Do you catch yourself saying, why didn’t I get rid of that long ago? Or, why didn’t we fix that before now? If so, then you need to take a look at your surroundings in a whole new light. Go through each room and actually stop and look at each piece of furniture, everything that hangs on the walls or sits on a table or shelf. Is it in good repair or has it been around way too long already? Is it just there simply because it always has been?
Do you save every newspaper and magazine?
Are there piles that seem to take on a life of their own?
In the past I have suggested that you not even bring the junk mail in the house. Toss it in the recycling bin before it ever gets inside. Keep a shredder handy and instead of setting it down so it can pile up, shred it. Look at things one time and get it done.
Remember my 9 minute plan. Take 9 minutes each day and clean, sort and put things away. Once you get used to it, you will be amazed how much you can get done in a short 9 minutes. Hopefully there will come a time when you don’t even need a full 9 minutes per day anymore and can cut back to less days a week.
Until next time!
“Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful and believe to be beautiful.”
William Morris
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