Friday, April 27, 2012

DIY Feng Shui Kits at Escape Spa in B'ham!

This is Escape Day Spa in Crestline Village in Birmingham.  Isn't it cute?


This is Carrie.  She is co-owner of Escape Day Spa in Crestline Village in Birmingham.  Isn't she cute?

Oh!  And look!  She's standing next to a Do-It-Yourself Feng Shui Kit!  Why?  Because she has offered to sell them out of the small store they have there.

Just in time for Mother's Day.  For more info on the kits, check out the blog from December...

Happy Friday!

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Confession #3-- CarLess in ALABAMA????

So like I said, I've been busy.

Confession Number One: I got feng shui'd (i.e. got organized).
Confession Number Two: I got certified as an arborist.

What's my confession today?   What's Number Three, you ask?

Well, as you've seen plastered all over Facebook, I have just launched a Kickstarter campaign for a little movie I shot called CarLess in L.A.

And WAHOOO!  It's already raised $3010!  And that's in a day and a half!  I'm so grateful for all the generous contributions.

So?  What's my confession?  
Okay.   I went with zero carbon emissions in Los Angeles for 80 days (...or more -- contribute to the Kickstarter campaign so the movie can get made and you can find out!)...

But I'm not car-less in Birmingham, Alabama where I currently live!  In fact.  I don't even own a bike here.

My trusty Trek (named Trusty) is still in Los Angeles, where I keep it for visits so that I can bypass renting a car.
Trusty's cousin (source)


But what?

Yes, I bow my head in shame as I write this.

So what kind of person dares to go with zero carbon emissions, for almost three months (plus?), in the hugest, most car-dependent city we know,  THEN dares to have someone follow her around with a camera while she does it, THEN dares to ask friends, family, and strangers for $10,000 to finish the movie, BUT DOESN'T EVEN OWN A BIKE in her own town????

I CONFESS!!!!!

I confess.

(even smaller now)  I confess.

But see.  I have my reasons.  I have a long, long list of reasons.  Well, actually, I only have three:
1.  Birmingham is not a bike-friendly city.  This means there are very few bike trails, no "share the road" signs, the streets have tiny shoulders, and drivers that are not happy to see a cyclist blocking their way.  Trust me, I've checked it out.   (Interestingly, it's the windy, mountainy roads that make Birmingham so beautiful yet dangerous to ride.)
where are these signs in Alabama??

2.  I have a precious daughter who is only two-years-old, and I don't want to take her on a bike in a non-bike-friendly city.  Nor do I want to possibly deprive her of her mother (me) by riding in a non-bike-friendly city.  In short, I'm scared.  I can ride like a maniac in L.A., but here, there's slight anxiety!
3.  I keep it local for the most part, so do I really need a bike?

Okay, so the first two are, honestly, lame excuses.  A new friend of mine, a fellow arborist and cyclist, Stan Palla of Trees for Alabama, lives and bikes in Birmingham.  I expressed to him Reasons 1 and 2.  You know how he responded?  "Get over it."

He's right.

Not that I'm going to go pedaling down 280!  Nor am I going to whizz down 31.  Honestly, I'm going to be very strategic when I ride and where I ride, because I have already heard of too many awful car/bike-related accidents in Birmingham.  I learned in LA, however, that these incidents should not deter the willful rider, but I do believe that cyclists must be smart and recognize that, while cars should share the road, they are much bigger, faster, and stronger than bicycles.

So what about excuse number 3?  Ding, ding, ding!!!

Ladies and gentleman, do not fear.  I would not have let you down.

You see, when you see the movie CarLess in L.A., you will understand what I am doing!  (And you know you want to see it -- go contribute now here!)

I learned so much in those 80 days.  SO MUCH.  And I so want to share with you and you and you what I learned because it's AWESOME.  It's eye-opening, heart-healing, and good.

Basically, a little goes a long way.  A little goes a long, long way.  And that little goes even longer if there are many doing a little.  Make sense?  Which is why I want people to see the movie.  So more people can do a little to go a long way.

So, I keep it local -- meaning, I walk.  I chose the location of my home so that I can go days, if I have to, without getting into my car.

My daughter and I stroll to the grocery, stroll to local eateries, stroll to the botanical garden, stroll to the zoo, stroll to the local walking trail.  Sometimes, I get a babysitter and stroll to the local watering hole.

So, despite my lack of biking, I am still, and will always be, as car-independent as possible.

I do drive though.  My friends are spread out across town.  My little girl's child care is too far to walk and too dangerous for biking.  And there are things I like to explore outside my little circle.  The farmer's market, for example.  And places like Lowe's and the art supply store.   But when I do run errands, I do my best to streamline them.   And Whole Foods.  And.... Oak Mountain (known for its amazing mountain bike trails).

I fill up my car (a Honda Accord) about once a month.  (Is that good?  I don't even know!)

And what about public transit, you ask?

Good question.  Let me get back to you on that one.   (...and I mean it.)

Oh, and I'm looking for a good used bike, probably more mountain bike than road bike, and something kid-attachment-friendly.  I can't wait to get out on two wheels with my little girl!  She's gonna love it.  Because, face it, there are some places I can still ride to.  No more excuses, right?

Sunday, April 22, 2012

My Second "Confession" - Earth Day Tribute!

Flowers on a Japanese or saucer magnolia tree

Last post, I admitted that I had a few projects going on.  The first was Organizing My Home Like Crazy.

The Second?
You are now reading the words of a Certified Arborist.

What's an arborist, you ask?  To put it simply, I know quite a bit about trees.

While living in Los Angeles, I had the pleasure of working for an amazing organization called TreePeople.  My first job there was to educate children about the "city forest."  My second job there was as Campus Forestry Manager, where I led tree-planting events with loads and loads of volunteers (parents, teachers, and especially children) on school campuses around Los Angeles.  Because I gained experience and knowledge about trees (obviously), I was eligible to become certified as an arborist.

Oh, but that dreaded test!

I sucked it up, studied for D-A-Y-S, took the thing early one Monday morning, and lo and behold, I passed.  You have no idea how good it felt to walk out of that testing center knowing that I now have "credibility" when it comes to trees -- and therefore I am able to help them just a little bit more.

You see, I have realized something in my life.  It's this:  I have a deep desire to leave this planet a little better than I left it.  More specifically, I'd like to do my part at helping humans and nature live together more harmoniously.

In all honesty, I think we humans have a ways to go.

But the place to start -- the place where we can all start --- is recognizing the gifts that trees give and go from there.  When we develop an appreciation for the things we take for granted, we change for the better.

Remember, trees give us oxygen.  They provide shade and transpire through their leaves, cooling the air.  They give us food. They give nice animals shelter.  They capture rain in their canopies and put water back into the natural aquifer.  They lower our bills when planted near our homes, because they cool us off.  They raise the values of our neighborhoods.  They provide sound buffers for traffic.  They clean the air of many pollutants.  They are fun to climb.  And they are beautiful.

They heal us in ways that the human spirit has yet to understand.

So take care of a tree today.  Or make plans to plant one.  (Select the right species for the right place, please, to ensure a long life!)  Or just take the time to admire one.

And yes, I give you permission to go hug one.  Don't worry -- I won't tell.

HAPPY EARTH DAY.
My daughter making friends with an oak outside our home

Admiring the oak in my parents' backyard -- must be over 200 years old!

Friday, April 20, 2012

Confessions of a Feng Shui Consultant, Part I (with GREEN tips)

What have I been doing?

Not blogging obviously!  I've been busy, busy, busy laying some big, fat foundations.  There have been three big projects going on in my personal world.

Today I will talk about one of those projects:

Organizing Like Crazy!  I'm talking, Not Messing Around.

Those of you that know me well, know two things about me:
1.  As a feng shui consultant, I'm always singing the praises of de-cluttering and being organized because it has such a positive impact on your life.
2.  I admit, wholly, that organization does not come naturally to me.  I have to work hard --really hard -- at it.  And even then, it misses the mark a bit.

I have to come to realize that a sense for organization is a talent that a person is either born with or they aren't.  Just like some people can draw without trying, some people can organize without trying.  It is innate.  It's part of their in-bred personality.  Maybe one day they will discover the gene for it.

All I know is that I am way more in the drawing category than the organizing category of things-I-do-naturally.

So, HERE's THE CONFESSION --   I sucked it up and hired a professional organizer.

And, oh, boy, did she kick my little tush into gear.

This is single-handedly the best thing I have done for myself in I don't know how long.  She gave me a list of very specific tasks (everything from closet organizing to managing my receipts), and boy, did I have some homework.

I even cleaned out my junk drawer.  And took more baby clothes to Goodwill.  And (gulp) straightened up my art studio.  And (double gulp) cleaned out my files!!!

Here are a few tips that are simple, but I believe made a huge impact:
1.  Buy those skinny felt-y, velvet-y hangers.  Then put your closet in order by type (dress, shirt, pants) and color.  Finally, I can find my clothes.

2.  Get rid of paper.  This is eco-happy and clutter-free.  No more paper bills!  Do it now!  Just be sure to write down your password and username somewhere handy because I got in trouble with this.  You do not have to hold onto your bills anymore because they are all kept on-line.  I cleared almost a whole file drawer because of this.  Recycle all that paper, please!  (Shred first, according to Jennifer.)
everybody trash adds up!
GREEN TIP:  Remember, when thinking green, it's REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE.  Ideally, we want to REDUCE the waste we use.  Signing up for paper-free bills will do that.  If we must use something, try to reuse it, rather than throwing it away.  Finally, recycle it rather than putting into the garbage where it just goes to a landfill.  It uses a lot of energy to recycle things, so it's best to reduce first, reuse second, and then, if we have to, recycle it.

3.  Containers, containers, containers.  Junk drawers need them.  Desk drawers need them.  (You know, those little trays that separate everything.)  Underwear drawers need them.  Compact disks need them.  Magazines need them.   I cannot tell you how much I love knowing where supposed "knick-knacks" go, now that I have a nice, neat home for them.  I just have to get used to the fact that I don't have to hunt for things and that they actually are in their perfect place!

GREEN TIP:  Try to avoid containers made from plastic.  Plastic is not green at all!  Check out 5 Gyres for more on that.

The name of my organizer is Jennifer Jones.  Not only does she have "the gift," she's a lot of fun to work with, AND she's got an Earth-friendly slant that we all love!

Besides the practical advice, I think the biggest thing I got out of the session was the fact that sometimes we need that outside perspective to motivate us.  In a way, I got to see what my clients go through when they call me in for a feng shui consultation!  I knew that I needed to get more organized, but Jennifer's presence held me accountable in a way.  Sometimes it just helps to have someone tell you what to do, frankly.

Today, I am reveling in the aftermath of all that hard work.  No matter how strategically placed my home is according to the laws of feng shui, it's the organization that took my it from "happy enough" to "totally dialed in."

I'm ready to rock n' roll, is all I have to say.

my humble little newly-organized home office...artwork by Pat Snow

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Art and How It Can Make Your Dreams Come True

Today's Living Social Deal inspired this post.  $15 for $30 of artwork.  Curious (I have a blank wall or two, and I'm due for some changes in my home), I clicked on the link to Fine Art Print to find a dizzying array of images.

Here are a few:

Flaming Flower painting by Nadine Rippelmeyer
Pluto painting by Scott Listfield

Cloud Cover photo by Mal Bray
Rain Princess by Leonid Afremov
Ah, the power of art.  You'll recall my blog about how film influences our subconscious.  Well, the same applies to the art on our walls.  After all, we see it every day of our lives!

There are many ways to "uncover" the symbolism (both personal and archetypical) in art.  Play with the images above, or check out the art in your own home.  To determine the "feng shui quality" of it, ask yourself the following three questions:
1.  What is the overall feeling of the image?  Perhaps find a few adjectives to describe that feeling.
2.  If I had to explain this photo/painting/image to an alien who had never been to Earth, how would I describe it?  (i.e. you'd have to explain "umbrella" in the last image)  Even colors play a large role.
3.  If someone I really admired saw this image, how may he or she describe it?  Would he or she like it?
4.  Does this image make me feel higher?  Or lower?

I suggest reading up on dream symbolism to take the exploration a bit further.

The above questions will help you determine your personal symbolism to the painting and whether it belongs in your home or not.  When you've understood the deeper meaning of an image, ask yourself the following VIQ.

Very Important Question:  Does this image represent "who I want to be" and "where I want to go" in life?  (If these images appear in your children's rooms, ask if you want that type of influence for them.  This also applies to spouses, of course!)

It's a good idea to take the bagua map into account.  If your home was divided into a tic-tac-toe of nine equal sections, and you placed this map with the Kan line lining up with the front door, you can determine where each section lies in your home.  (i.e. Money is in the back left corner of your home.  Health is in the center.)
ENTRANCE RUNS ALONG THIS LINE (source)


To rev up each section, place art that aligns with what you want for yourself and family.  A painting that depicts a bowl full of fruits or a lush landscape would be great in the Abundance/Money section.  Photos of you and your spouse work (wedding pics?) in the Romance.  Vibrant, happy art with bold colors is great in the Self-Expression/Fame gua.  Of course, make sure the artwork works with the decor.

The power of image can work for you or against you when it comes to feng shui.  Choose empowering images and live an empowered life, I say!