Did you know…

The aromas of pine, cedar and cinamon are the best for staging a home for sale.

A damp, musty-smelling basement not only puts off prospective buyers, but is actually unhealthy for you.

After every season, you should completely air out your home because subtle, stale odors are often not noticed by those living there.

Spider plants and Pathos are the best indoor plants for keeping indoor air clean and oxygen enriched. Nothing smells better than fresh, clean air!

How things feel when we touch them is a feng shui consideration. Stiff or scratchy fabrics, sticky vinyl, and fabrics that don’t breathe make us uncomfortable. Chairs and couches should be comfortable and soft. Chenille throws and soft colorful toss pillows add comfort and color to a space. In the bedroom, consider egyptian cotton bedding with a thread count of at least 300 threads per square inch. You will pay a little more for them but they last three times as long and get softer every time you wash them.

It’;s all about comfort!

Did you know…..

A kitchen sponge holds at times more active bacteria than the toilet bowl. Sterilize it in the dishwasher or replace it frequently.

That when you flush the toilet, particles of toilet water are scattered eight feet in all directions.   ALWAYS close the lid before you flush.

Your cutting board has lots of germs.   Clean it with white vinegar at least every other time you use it.

Your coffeemaker will last longer if you clean it well once or twice a month.   Clean it by running it with a white vinegar solution twice in a row then rinse with plain water.

There is no better way to lift your spirits that to bring into your space a vase filled with flowers! They can be wildflowers, garden flowers, or purchased from the local greenhouse but they are all a welcome boost of color and life force energy to brighten your mood. For almost any reason (or no particular reason), consider giving some to a friend or loved one.

The gift of joy you give returns to you ten-fold! That’s good Feng Shui!

Do you need a change in your life? Are you bogged down? Here’s a quick tip to get things moving in your life.

 Find 27 objects in your home that have not been moved in a year. Move them. Clean and /or dust the area they were in, say out loud “I am ready for a change.”, then put the objects either back where they were or rearrange them to suit you.

Give it a try!

Do you have a sticky window, a door that doesn’t shut properly, a loose board, dripping faucet, electrical outlets that don’t work, circuit breakers that continually trip, etc?

Your house is crying out for care! Listen to it! The time and effort it takes to fix small irritants like these pays off big in the long run. You may be preventing an accident, a fire, water damage, and more. The pay off of good maintenance is that you maintain the monetary value of your home as well. You may even be saving energy if you pay attention to how your windows and doors function and by keeping your heating and cooling systems cleaned and serviced.

Every time you encounter a stuck drawer or trip over a curled rug or catch your sweater on a nail sticking out you create aggravation for yourself and others. That negative feeling can build up in the space. These little irritants could be “the straw that broke the camel’s back!” So prevent these stressors before you blow!

That’s good Feng Shui!

Lotus: The Buddhists and the Hindus both consider the lotus to be a sacred flower that symbolizes purity and the unfolding of life. It is an enduring symbol of creativity, purity, peace, and tranquility; both Buddha and Vishnu are often pictured with or on a lotus blossom.

The many petals of the lotus represent the endless possibilities and opportunities in life. We all have talents and abilities…the things we are good at and the things we are passionate about. Use the lotus as a symbol for your ever-expanding life!

White magnolias and orchids symbolize good taste and femininity. In China the magnolia is considered to represent purity and truth. The Chinese use the bark and the flower buds as herbal remedies. Consider these flowers as the blank canvas which you will paint with your joy, and express with elegance your truths!

Chrysanthemum: This flower is a native of China and represents happiness and laughter. They are frequently found in Chinese homes, as they symbolize comfort, happiness, and a pleasant life. They are also related to nobility and strength of character.

In the Fall, we enjoy the many colors of Mums and they remind us that even though Winter is coming, we are blessed with the richness of the natural world and “fed” by the beauty of those colors!

Peony:The peony is a native of Mongolia and Siberia and it represents wealth and honor. In China it is known as “ the plant of twenty days,” as it’s blossoms remain fresh for almost three weeks. The peony tree can live for 100 years or more. In your garden it is best placed in the wealth corner of the garden.

A china frog, carrying a coin in his mouth and placed inside the front door is supposed to attract wealth to the house. Other symbols of wealth are: fish, a coin jar, a photo or painting of a babbling brook or gentle stream, or a blossoming plant.

Black is a representative of the water element. There should be a touch of it in every room. Sometimes a black picture frame is enough. It is mysterious and independant and is associated with the career area of you home or business. It is not appropriate for children’s rooms, therapy rooms, or living rooms.

Pink: Pink is linked with purity of thought and has the positive association with happiness and romance with no negatives. It is suitable for bedrooms and a hint or accent of pink should be in the far right corner of every room for positive thinking and good relationships. This is not the best color for kitchens and bathrooms, however.

Green: Green symbolizes growth, fertility, harmony and money! It’s one of those colors that works well in almost every area in the home. It is healthy and refreshing and brings optimism, freedom, and balance, It’s rare negative influence is envy. This color is a great choice for therapy rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens.