Feng Shui Friday

January 17, 2014

It's a Go Broncos Feng Shui Friday. We're in the playoffs toward the Super Bowl. After 43 years married to a football fan and mother-in-law to our daughter's husband who runs our annual football pool, it's important stuff!

While you're watching your favorite teams this weekend, or not, consider going through a drawer or boxes or piles and de-cluttering and organizing for the New Year, the feng shui way.

Possessions can be a joy--and a burden.

They ask for care, use, maintennce, storage, access, replacement and disposal.

They divert energy and attention;

require resources, time and development of discrimination.

Enoughness, sharing -- less can be more.

Let go of inactive, unused and unneeded things.

Walk unencumbered through the world.

--Anonymous

Feng Shui Tip of the Week

Start with a timer. Or you can use a television or radio/satellite program or a football game to create an amount of time you will work on a project. When you use a timer or set a specific amount of time, you give yourself permission to quit when the timer goes off, the program ends, or the ballgame is over. Without an end-time, you either work for five minutes and it feels like five hours or you work too long and may experience burn-out. In a few hours you can...

Make a detailed list of everything you want to review and purge this year: basement, garage, car, front hall closet, boxes from previous move, books/CDs/DVDs, recipes, refrigerator, guest room, storage unit, clothes and shoes, kids toys
Review and purge your physical address book, Rolodex file, contacts list in your phone, email address book, or Christmas/Holiday card list
Review and purge a file cabinet drawer or 10 file folders
Review, purge and reorganize a junk drawer
Review, purge and organize a box of loose photos
Look through a stack of magazines and tear out pertinent articles you want to read; recycle the rest of the magazine (mostly ads), and place in a small folder; grab a couple on your way out the door to read while you're waiting in line or for an appointment
Go through the piles on your desk and put into action folders: dump/recycle/shred, take action (call, email, complete, mail, do), and a hold pile waiting for further information or follow up when additional information is available (deciding with another family member, waiting for reimbursement check, etc)
Get a bag(s) or boxes ready for charity pick up
Tackle a project on your list

What else can you do in a couple hours?

Minutes are okay. Clearing clutter doesn't have to take days and weeks and months or even hours. You can start with smaller projects and celebrate your achievements more frequently. Too often we think a large chunk of time is the only way to 'make a dent in it'-not true. In less than 15 minutes, while dinner is cooking, before you head to an appointment, or you're waiting for the kids to come home, you can...

Get the mail and go through it
Make a phone call you've been putting off
Complete a form in the pile and get it sent
Shred the recycle pile
Call your favorite charity and schedule a pick up and then have something ready for them on that day
Toss outdated leftovers
Hang up clothes and put away shoes

Celebrate! When you make a list--a detailed list--of all the de-clutter projects you want to accomplish, make sure to cross off and check off everything when you get it done. Not only have you cleared the clutter from your mind with a list but as you complete each item, you made room for a new opportunity or experience. Keep the list in one central location, easily retrievable, and in a plastic protection sleeve, if you like, so you can revisit it regularly and SEE how much you have accomplished.

This week while you're watching the playoffs or listening to music or on-line programming, clear some clutter. Get it off your mind, out of the piles, into a donation box or your car for delivery, and cleaned out for easy retrieval. Lighten up and let it go.

Until Next Week

Wishing you MORE Simplified Interiors

Kathie Seedroff

Happenings, Events, Classes

Conquering Clutter: The First Step to Downsizing

Sunday, January 26, 2014

9-10:30 a.m.

St. Andrews Methodist Church

9203 S. University Blvd, Highlands Ranch 80126

Call 303.794.2683x156 to register for this free class

Whether you're looking for a simpler lifestyle, downsizing to a smaller home, or determining what keepsakes to hand down, conquering clutter is the first step. Come learn why conquering clutter is more than just getting rid of stuff; it's about letting go of what no longer serves you--body, heart, mind, and spirit--and making 'room' for inspiration, possibilities, and opportunities. We'll explore why it's hard to let go, steps to get started, and motivational tools and resources to keep going. Make this the New Year to get in the spirit and conquer your clutter.

2013 snake art class

USING ART THE FENG SHUI WAY:

Year of the Horse

January 26, 2014

2-5pm**

** Music starts at 5pm. Stay and invite friends and family to join you for entertainment, libations, and celebration of the

Lunar (Chinese) New Year!

Additional food and beverages available for purchase

Birgit Whitelaw, art instructor, and I will once again be offering our annual art workshop for Lunar (Chinese) New Year which begins January 31, 2014. Come paint with us and learn how to set intentions with art and basic feng shui principles. We will help you create your own unique piece of art designed to fill your feng shui intentions for 2014 using information and characteristics of what to expect during the Year of the Horse.

Location: Java Jam Cafe, 500 E. Hampden, Englewood

(directly across the street from Swedish Hospital)

Investment: $49includes instruction - materials - one beverage (wine, beer, or specialty coffee, and light snack)

Register Here: