Conquering Clutter: An Hour at a Time

Only Work for an Hour

Stick to your plan for only working an hour or whatever amount of time you have scheduled so you will trust yourself to do it next time. You can get your kids to watch the clock!

Seeing it all sparkle and come to life is incredibly rewarding and that may inspire you to keep going now that everything looks so much better.

I have gotten caught in that trap, myself, and what was supposed to be a few minutes of straightening up turns into three hours of wearing myself out. Which feels wonderful once you are doing but almost guarantees that you will not do that again for a long time!

And remember, this unplanned marathon habit is part of the problem!

Bonus Tip: Reward Yourself

Plan a reward for yourself every time you carry out this new plan successfully. Do not break the bank doing it but make sure you have something to look forward to as your reward for all that hard work.

That anticipated reward is part of what will motivate you to do it again the next day or the next week it is on the schedule. And part of the reward could happen before or during the work, like playing your favorite music or eating a pancake breakfast before you begin.

This new plan solves the problem that the old plan could not resolve: it does not tie up all of your time, it will not leave you exhausted, it makes it possible to trust yourself to keep going until it is all done (eventually) and best of all, it gets rid of your clutter!

Homework

An hour this weekend, that's not a lot, is it? And then, you can have a reward. Let me know how it works out!

Have a wonderful autumn day!

Jeanine


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Conquering Clutter: Clean While You Clear

Clean While You Clear

Part of the hassle of clearing clutter is the surprise cleaning that pops up! You wanted to move all that stuff out of the way but did you also want to vacuum the floor underneath and wipe down the counter and dust everything nearby?

Have cleaning supplies available, so that as you move things around, you won't have to go get something to wipe down the area you have just uncovered. And that way, you will not lose momentum and you lessen the hassle of adding cleaning to the mix.

You could even designate that task. You could be the dynamo who gets it all into the box and out of the way and one of your children could walk in your wake and clean up the mess you have uncovered.

Homework

This weekend, try getting the kids in on the act! That always makes it so much easier when I do it. Let me know if it works.

Have a wonderful autumn day!

Jeanine


Celebrating Home
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Conquering Clutter: Throw It All Away!

In the last two clutter posts, I suggested that you plan your drudge work and limit the time you allocate for it so you never get overwhelmed as you do it and always know you have a plan for getting back to it. I also suggested choosing one room at a time.

Throw Away as Much as You Can

In that room you are tackling, place a garbage bag or two and some boxes for separating out what to keep and what to store as you clear away the clutter.

Throw away as much as you are willing to let go of and put a date on what you decide to store. That date should be no more than six months later and whatever is in that box should be thrown away if it does not get used in that time.

Homework

This weekend, take a look around in one of your rooms and throw away as much as you can stand to let go of, and for the stuff you insist on keeping, but know you should throw out, put it in a box. After a week or more of not really seeing it, it may loosen its hold on you.

Have a wonderful autumn day!

Jeanine


Celebrating Home
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Healing with the Medicine Wheel, Part Two ~~ Going Deeper

Creating A Medicine Wheel

In last week's post, the focus was on making a simple five-stone medicine wheel for healing. It can be placed anywhere in the house and used for any healing purpose.

This week, we look at going deeper with a more extensive medicine wheel...

Full Medicine Wheel with 36 Stones

"If you really want your life back on track, spend the time to make a full 36 stone Medicine Wheel using the following order and the graphic as a guide: Golden Eagle, Coyote, Grizzly Bear, White Buffalo, Creator, Snow Goose, Otter, Cougar, Red Hawk, Beaver, Deer, Woodpecker, Sturgeon, Brown Bear, Raven, Snake, Elk, Tortoise, Lizard, Loon, Turtle, Frog, Thunderbird, Butterfly, Hummingbird, Owl, Firefly, Rabbit, Salmon, Wolf, Whale, Mouse, Ant, Racoon, Earthworm, Dolphin. Speak to every part of your soul, all 36 Power Animals, introduce yourself to all of them - Great healing will occur. Work either in your imagination or you can physically construct a Medicine Wheel in your home or garden." –Samantha Britt Williams

Have a wonderful autumn day!

Jeanine

Celebrating Home
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Creating Elemental Harmony: The Water Home

"The first thing you will feel when you walk into a typical Water home is warmth and comfort. It feels good to be there. This home is often filled with the traditional comforts of home: bread baking in the oven, handmade quilts on the beds, a dog curled in front of the hearth, a soft comfortable couch, flowered curtains blowing in the wind, roses blooming just outside the window." ~~Denise Linn

Which Element Most Closely Aligns with Your Spirit?

Most of us have an alignment with one element of nature more than the others. Which element we most align with seems to be closely connected to personality type and to the way we approach life. To determine your elemental alignment, consider each week’s featured element and the recommendations made for fall decorating.

Which one would you say seems most to fit the style you’d like to create? Which one calls to you?

The Water Home

"At home, we get in touch with our truth" --Alexandra Stoddard

For a Water home, you need to lighten the colors ("water" them down) as you decorate for the season, but that doesn't mean you can't incorporate signs of autumn in your décor.

Your goal is to have more water element features...

Because they are circular, wreaths are good, but to give them a water theme, pair the dark leafy green with a lighter green, adding a few touches of light gold.

Try two-tone candles, which will bring in the deep green of autumn, but marry it with a lighter, more oceany one (seagreen, etc). Do the same thing with orange or coral, and peach, and with other combinations like burgundy and pink, etc.

For comfort, add throws with similar color combinations. Draped fabric, in any color, is a water feature, so you can get away with colors that aren't pastel or sea colors and still nurture this energy.

Have a wonderful autumn day!

Jeanine

Celebrating Home
Home for Your Soul on Twitter
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Space Clearing: Preparing Yourself & Your Home

To maximize your own results, it would be best to clean your house first and clear as much clutter as you can. Also, just before you start, take a few minutes to think through and get clear on your intention for the house and the results you expect. You might even want to write it down.

Preparing Yourself...

(1) Take a saltwater bath to clear your own energy

(2) Drink a full glass of water just before you start the clearing process
Preparing Your Home...

(1) Light an aromatherapy candle in every room of the house and keep them lit throughout the process.

(2) Open a window in every room. If it's incredibly cold, just crack the windows! Even that will help the energy disperse.

Have a wonderful autumn day!

Jeanine

Celebrating Home
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How to Find the Objects that Hold Negative Energy in Your Home

Today, we're going to follow-up last week's mental tour with an actual tour of your home for a deeper exploration...

Take the Tour

In each room, walk slowly, pausing often to take in each of your possessions. You might want to take pen and paper to take note of what feels okay and what doesn't.

For those of you who, like me, are pack rats, or have great difficulty letting go of things, here's a suggestion. Take an empty box with you and go from room to room. Each time you look at or touch something you think holds negative energy, put it in the box. Do that until you have gone through every room.

In each room, take note of how you feel as you gaze at each piece.

Questions to Ask Yourself

(1) Can you hold the gaze? Does any part of you tighten or clench in response?

(2) Are there things that just don't feel like you any more or that hold the energy of negative memories?

(3) When you look at them, does your energy increase, decrease or stay the same?

(4) What about the photos? How do you feel as you look at them?

If you have pictures of people with whom you now have conflict, think about the fact that those pictures may remind you of it subconsciously, even if you hardly notice it as you enter the room.

Next week we talk about what to do with your box of stuff and how to eventually let go of the objects that are draining your energy.

Have a wonderful autumn day!

Jeanine

Celebrating Home
Home for Your Soul on Twitter
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Conquering Clutter: One Room at a Time

Work on One Room at a Time

I suggest working on whole rooms at a time, and perhaps getting help with each room. In most families, even if they are all cleaning at the same time, they are doing it in different rooms.

You vacuum the living room, I'll mop the floor in the kitchen. And while it is true that you cover more ground that way, it feels more overwhelming because each person has to work alone and has a larger area to work on each time.

Wouldn't it be easier to conquer each room if you only had to do a section at a time, were not doing it alone and only had to work for an hour?

Homework

Pick out one room and give it a try this weekend. Let me know how it goes!

Have a wonderful autumn day!

Jeanine


Celebrating Home
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Healing Your Home with the Medicine Wheel, Part One

"To make and activate a simple Medicine Wheel all you have to do is place five rocks, crystals or anything you wish to use from nature in a circle while calling in each of the Spirit Keeper Power Animals. Start in the East, place a stone and visualise Golden Eagle, in the South is Coyote and the West is for Grizzly Bear. The North is for White Buffalo and then place the last stone in the Centre to represent Creator - this can be any animal you wish. That really is all there is to it, anyone can build and use a simple Medicine Wheel!" --Samantha Britt Williams

Once you have created it, meditate for a moment about the changes you might like to experience in your home. Journal a few sentences about them.

As we meet back here each Thursday for medicine wheel healing, you may want to refer back to what you have written.

Have a wonderful autumn day!
Jeanine


Celebrating Home
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Creating Elemental Harmony: How to Decorate an Earth Home for Fall

"The Earth home often contains rich textures, treasures from many lands, big earthen pots, anything made of wood, wrought iron, beautiful baskets, and a wonderful array of scents, from sandalwood and frankincense to a whiff of ratatouille wafting from the kitchen. It's also a home that says: 'Forget the rules -- this is what I like." ~~Denise Linn, Feng Shui for the Soul

Creating Elemental Harmony

Most of us have an alignment with one element of nature more than the others. This alignment, if supported by your home's décor, will be nurturing and will help you function optimally. Which element we most align with seems to be closely connected to personality type and to the way we approach life.

Your home can be a support or an energy drain.

Knowing what your elemental alignment is, and that of your home can help you to create the home you really want.

To determine your elemental alignment, consider each week’s featured element (on Wednesdays) and the recommendations made for fall decorating. Which one seems most to fit the style you’d like to create? Which one calls to you?

We will probably spend some time in November getting more clear about which is your dominant element, but for now, with this weekly, month-long introduction, just consider what you like.

Just adding a small touch of one element to a room can shift the energy in a powerful way and will improve the health and energy of everyone there.

Remember, though, to add a balance of the other types, so each element is represented.

7 Fall Decorating Tips for the Earth Home

"Whenever we feel at home we move through our daily lives in tune with our superior spirit" --Alexandra Stoddard

If you are creating an Earth home because that's your primary element, and would like to decorate for this season, here are some suggestions...

(1) Fall is really your season, so you really can't go wrong!

(2) Create wreaths with fall leaves

(3) Hang paintings of leaves

(4) Buy pots or baskets of flowers in orange, rust, green or brown colors

(5) Go wild with pumpkins, but keep the bigger ones low to the ground

(6) Add light after the sun goes down with orange or brown candles

(7) Katie Brown suggests creating a centerpiece by pairing white pillar candles with autumn leaves (Ivillage.com)

Have a wonderful autumn day!

Jeanine


Celebrating Home
Home for Your Soul on Twitter
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Intro to Space Clearing

The first step to healing your home and creating a haven and a sanctuary for you and your family is clearing any negative energy that may be preventing the warm, welcoming atmosphere you want in your home.

Negative energy, like the kind created by a heated argument, an illness, or a period of depression, can build up in your home, and get in the way of creating the warm, loving atmosphere you want.

You know how people say, "If these walls could speak?". Well, they do, in a way. Each room holds the energy of all the memories that took place there--unless they've been cleared. Once they are cleared, you will have made room for all the loving memories you want to create, and that energy is what will welcome you when you come home!

Next week, we will talk about preparing yourself and setting an intention.

Have a wonderful autumn day!

Jeanine


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Intro to Creating & Maintaining Intuitive Resonance in Your Home

"Every book, object and piece of furniture in your home exudes energy that affects you"--Jayme Barrett

If that energy is toxic, it will, of course, affect you in negative ways. On the other hand, if you change the energy in your home by removing the sources of negative energy and replacing them with sources of positive energy, your home will be a source of support for emotional, physical, spiritual and financial wellbeing.

Let's take an exploratory tour of your house. Start with a mental tour, next week we'll do an actual one. Begin to get a sense of the different "feel" some things have than others.

But the differences will be even more clear when you are physically present with the object in question. So next week, we will follow-up with an actual tour for a deeper exploration.

Have a wonderful autumn day!

Jeanine


Celebrating Home
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Conquering Clutter ~ Planned Sprinting

Do You Hate Cleaning As Much As I Do?

If you are the kind of person who hates to clean, and tidy up, but you also love the way your house looks when it is clean, you might live with a great deal of tension just beneath the radar, and not understand why it is there. You get a glimpse of the stress your clutter causes when something forces you to take a good long look at it, and perhaps, at that point, you feel overwhelmed.

Because you know that once you start, you are not going to want to stop until it is all done. If bursts of activity followed by long periods of letting the tension build and basically, doing nothing, is an unacknowledged system you have got going, it must work for you.

But if it worked as well as you want, you would not be reading this post!

What to Try, Instead

Planned Sprinting

What I mean by that is that, rather than waiting for unplanned marathons of cleaning and clutter-clearing, you could plan briefs sprints. Set aside an hour a day or an hour a week and during that time, work full out at whatever task you have set, whether that is cleaning a drawer or a room.

The reason you will be willing to stop before it is all done despite the discomfort of knowing it does not look at good as it could is that you will trust yourself to the same thing tomorrow or next week. And the week after that one.

I believe that part of the reason you use that unplanned marathon system is that once you recognize a willingness to work on your clutter, you feel compelled to do as much as you can while the mood has struck because you have no idea when it will happen again. If you knew you could count on yourself to come back next week and do it, cleaning until you drop would not appeal to you as much.

Tune in for another clutter-clearing tip next week on Friday (just in time to try it out on the weekend)

Have a wonderful autumn day!

Jeanine


Celebrating Home
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31 Days of Autumn Bliss in October!

31 Days of Inspiration

It's finally here!! I found out about it from Melissa...

"My BBF Nester gathered up some awesome ladies to share 31 days of inspiration during the month of October, each on their own blogs and with their own 31 day theme!!"—Melissa at TheInspiredRoom.net

(photos are from her post)

For links to some of the participants' blogs, you can check out my blog list over on the riight side of this blog. It says, "31 days of inspiration". And those blogs will probably have links for any I didn't include.

31 Days to Creating a Home for Your Soul

I'm going to participate, too, right here at this blog! And I'm so excited to read the blogs of the others in this extravaganza. They so inspired me, I decided to join in.

Join me each weekday for that day's tip on how to create a home for your soul and share your thoughts in the comments section.

I'm starting today, so look for two posts on the same day today :).

Have a wonderful autumn day!

Jeanine


Celebrating Home
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An Inspired Post from theInspiredRoom.net...

Creating the Life You Want

In this post, Melissa gives us six tips to create the life we have always wanted. Six suggestions that will help us enjoy life more, right at home where we are now.

I loved them all, but this one was my favorite...

Strive for Imperfection

"Ah, yes, coming from a recovering perfectionist, I can tell you that this is one of the best tips ever if you struggle with perfectionism. Allowing yourself to fall short on purpose, knowing when to say “when” and knowing when you have achieved “good enough” are important parts of living a beautiful life, especially for the perfectionists. Your life will thank you for striving for imperfect."

I think that's important whether we are creating a home for our souls or the life we have always wanted or both!

Read the rest of her post here.

And then, join us both, tomorrow for 31 days of Autumn Bliss!

Have a wonderful autumn day!

Jeanine


Celebrating Home
Home for Your Soul on Twitter
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Decorating Tips from Celebrating Home...

Have a wonderful autumn day!
Jeanine


Celebrating Home
Home for Your Soul on Twitter
Contact Me

Blue and Brown Extravaganza

They're throwing a party over at Cottage Instincts! Feel free to join us.

All you have to do is take a picture of your blue and brown room or your blue and brown project, or even your blue and brown outfit (I thought of it) and put it on your blog and jump right in and join the party!

Here are my pics from my blue and brown bedroom...

What Does Your Dream Home Look Like?

Does it look anything like this? Which room do you picture first with that question?

I think I see the outside first (because I want it to be surrounded by a lake), but then, I see the living room with a great big fireplace! I want to a big fireplace in the dining room, too, and in the master bedroom.

What about you?

What do you envision?

I'd love to hear from you in the comments section.

An Autumn Porch (Ideas from Country Living)...

(photo credits: Robin Stubbert)

Furnish Your Outdoor Room: You’ll need at least one comfortable chair (but two is even better), a good, sturdy table, and a throw or a blanket in case you get chill while you’re soaking up the fall atmosphere.

Pretty, Decorative Touches: Add a pretty wreath or a bouquet or both! For the autumn leaf display, get a pretty container (vintage, like the one in the picture, if you can find it) and inside it, place an oasis block you have soaked with water. Arrange your autumn leaves colorfully. The cooler the weather, the likelier it will be that you will find brightly colored leaves for your bouquet.

Tough Furniture: Choose furnishings made of wicker, metal, and wood, that can handle weather changes.

Photo Credit for autumn wreath: Matthew Benson

COMING SOON: The Blue and Brown Blog Bonanza!

They're throwing a party over at Cottage Instincts! Feel free to join us.

All you have to do is take a picture of your blue and brown room or your blue and brown project, or even your blue and brown outfit (I thought of it) and put it on your blog and jump right in and join the party!

See you there!

Jeanine

Fall Decorating on a Budget (It's Finally Here!!)

My Dream Home Picture

Just this morning, it arrived! I finally own it and it is on the wall in my own home. I am nearly at the end of my fall redecorating extravaganza!

I have a console table on the way, that I will use for homeschooling books, and two end tables that match the style pretty closely (same wood, same wrought-iron legs). I think after that, I am done redecorating for a while.

But What a Transformation

I think I have spent about $500 altogether across a two-three month period and in the process, have transformed three rooms in my apartment: kitchen, living room and dining room! I have a new Tuscan dinnerware set, a casserole dish and a beanpot, a picture hanging above the mantel, two lamps, three tables, two small pictures on my mantel, a small picture that will be a Christmas present, two lanterns that I will use as candleholders for the console or my coffee table and whatever else I decide to buy as a hostess gift.

Hostessing Pays Off

The way I did it was by creating an online party and then, ordering from myself. Each month, both customers and hostesses get really neat deals, so as the customer, I would take advantage of that deal, then as the hostess, get even more.

Let me know if you would like to try it. I got the console and the picture, both almost $200 each, for half price. My dinnerware set was half price also and my casserole, and something I am forgetting, were free.

If you want to take a look around on the Celebrating Home website, here is my link. It will show all of this month's specials.

If you want to be a hostess yourself, to get even more deals, there is a link on the website to tell you more about that or you can let me know in the comment section here.

One neat thing about Celebrating Home is that you can easily do online parties and shop in your pajamas!

See you Thursday with more fall decorating ideas!

Have a wonderful day!! :)

Jeanine

Celebrate Fall & Nurture Your Spirit

Decorating for Fall

Fall is my favorite season!! I swear I can feel fall in the air toward the end of August, in spite of the 90-degree-plus heat and humidity here in the south. And my eye starts roaming around the rooms in my home, looking for ways to begin to add those touches that say "autumn joy."

Well, if you feel that way, too, you and I are in great company. Head over to The Inspired Room and meet the collection of women who are already feeling fall!

Meet Me Here on Tuesdays and Thursdays

Join me every Tuesday and Thursday for home soul tips that will help you bring joy to your home and nurture your soul.

The Blue & Brown Extravaganza







On September 22nd, come back for the Blue & Brown Blog Party and show off something you have created or put together that combines the two colors. Click on the link for more of the details!

31 Days of Autumn Bliss
And starting in October, this blog will post every weekday as I enjoy 31 Days of Autumn Bliss.

Feng Shui Principles

How to get started so you, too, can experience autumn wonder in October? Here are some brief ways to start the process. More on each in the days and weeks to come.

(1) Clear Your Clutter: I am doing that right now but let me admit that I have a ways to go because I am a pack rat.

(2) Clear Your Space: Release any negative energy trapped inside your home. Open the windows, light a candle in each room, mist or smudge the rooms and transform the way your house feels.

(3) Honor Your Alignment: Do you know which element your spirit aligns with most? Find out and choose carefully when you begin decorating.

Have a great weekend!

Jeanine

Welcome to "Create a Home for Your Soul"...

What does "home" mean to you?

For some it is a temporary resting place in between working 9 to 5 and heading out for night life, or between soccer mom duty to music lesson to den mother to dinner on the table and a collapse until it starts again.

For others, it is a haven. A home for the soul. A place to feel the warmth and comfort of belonging and connection.

What makes the difference?

Well, I believe we can answer that question on several levels, but what I want to emphasize is that there are spiritual and energetic principles that can guide you and techniques you can use to create exactly the home you want.

It can help fuel all that frenetic activity or help create and sustain the quiet, restful haven you long to have. As we begin this blog on how to create a home for the soul, here is an overview of five ways to transform the energy in your home...

Clearing the Clutter: We all know how powerful this action can be in the aesthetic sense, but not everyone realizes and you may not know, yourself, how powerful it can be, spiritually, to get rid of your clutter. If it takes up space, it holds your energy hostage. Getting rid of clutter, one room at a time, or one drawer at a time, will be empowering in ways you can not imagine.

Space Clearing: Your home has absorbed the energy of every person or thing that has ever been there. The builder, the realtor, your family and friends, gifts given and received. It also holds the energy of every argument, every illness, and every struggle with depression or anxiety, unless the space has been cleared. Clearing it gives you and your family the opportunity to start fresh.

Elemental Harmony: Connecting with nature – though it is important to bring the outside in, and also important to have all of the elements represented in your home, you will feel best with a predominance of the element you are most aligned with or connect to most, emotionally.

Creating a Medicine Wheel: Working with the energies of the medicine wheel and creating it physically in your home, using crystals, is a powerful way to infuse your home with healing energy.

Intuitive Resonance: Every single item in your home gives off energy. Each one is either helping to create a sense of wellbeing or creating disharmony. There are things in your home that you do not resonate with, but you may not know it. Finding them and then, letting them go will change the way your home feels immediately.