I hope you are enjoying the beautiful abundance of nature that is flourishing at this time of year. I am amazed as I look around and see a plethora of hydrangeas in an array of blue, white, purple and pink. The profusion of rose blossoms are rich with color as they continue to multiply and open.  This natural process of growth and expansion is mirrored in daily living.  Sometimes as we speed along on the fast lane of life we forget that it is important to take time to sit back, sip some lemonade and savor the view. These moments of pause and appreciation rejuvenate the mind, body & spirit.

Sometimes it is necessary to hit the pause button! Have you ever felt that way? Last week I “hit” the proverbial wall when I realized that we (our family) was adding in our 8^th hockey tournament this summer. If you are a friend on Facebook (& if you’re not, please come say hi!) you know that we have traveled far and wide for hockey tournaments. Let me first clarify, I love watching my children play their many sporting endeavors and they will tell you that I am an enthusiastic and animated fan! That being said, it is also nice to have some quiet time as a family. Time to sit by the ocean and breath the salty sea air (instead of Freon from an ice rink!) These moments of pause are essential to yours and my well-being!

When I “hit my wall” I admittedly had a “Mommy Meltdown Moment” which led to the decision to take a few days of R & R. I usually honor the sensations that tell me I am doing too much or that I need a break before I get there, but sometimes it can be so easy to get swept along by the strong currents of life and forget that the inner “batteries” need to be recharged!

My husband and I headed north from Boston and spent a romantic weekend on the coast of New Hampshire & Maine.  Sea, sand, salt air and lobster salad helped me to regain by equilibrium and once again breathe deep.

In the quiet moments, when you and I are able to step off the frenetic treadmill we gain clarity, insight and appreciation of the growth and expansion that naturally occurs in our lives. This opens us to a plethora of new possibilities that continuously show up to make our lives rich, colorful and extraordinary. We close down, miss and shut out these opportunities when we are racing through life without hitting pause.  Is it time for you to hit pause?

Honor that part of you that needs to sit back, sip some lemonade and savor the view.

PS… We are opening the doors to the Home in Harmony Master Class Summer Series! This is a FREE virtual event where experts share their secrets on home, health & happiness! Grab your seat now so that you can sit back and be inspired!

Get your FREE ALL ACCESS PASS HERE!

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

It is so interesting that there seem to be cycles or themes in life that many people face at the same time.  I have recently noticed with friends, family, clients and mastermind group members that a sense of overwhelm and frustration has bubbled to the surface and become a part of their daily living.  This creates a block to inspired living. Let’s look at ways to navigate gracefully through these feelings with ease and feel more empowered than ever!

I know that I too have recently experienced waves of overwhelm. With the kids home from school during the summer the house seems to constantly need tidying, they need to be driven to various activities or are asking for friends galore to come through our door. As much as I love the bustle of energy, it doesn’t leave much time for designing houses, videos that need to be created, recording interviews or writing blog post and newsletters!  Let me explain how I moved through the overwhelm so that I could ride the waves of life instead of being crushed under the force.

There are ways to meet the challenge of overwhelm that either create more chaos or infinite calm.  Let’s look at two keys that will help you move through this wave of inundation and set you up to surf any future tumultuous seas with ease and grace. Prioritize and delegate. Although they sound simple, they can be tricky to implement, especially when the forceful currents of overwhelm have you submerged.

Prioritizing is a fundamental tool that will help you move through this phase, one step at a time. Realize that this is a phase and you can get through it. Training yourself to move through these simple but effective steps will set you up for success and move you out of ‘stuck’ with effortless momentum:

• Categorize what needs to be accomplished: You will feel relief just by putting pen to paper and creating a plan.
• Prioritize the items so that you have a go-forward plan: This relieves the stress of “What should I do next?”
• Begin to take steps to check items off your list: Every time you check something off your list it will feel like an accomplishment or reward that will motivate you to keep going.
• Stick to the task and don’t allow yourself to get distracted: It is so easy to get distracted by people, the Internet or other items. Stay focused!

Another fundamental element that can help alleviate stress and strain in your life is to delegate. It is amazing how simple this sounds and how difficult it can be to do! As a parent I know how it is soooo much easier to do everything myself and as a CEO my perfectionistic side believed that only I could do it “right”. I also was keenly aware that in either arena no one could do it like me. Often I had a hard time asking for help because I thought that it somehow showed weakness. Have you ever felt that way?  Well, I am here to tell you that it actually demonstrates strength to delegate. “Help” is not a four-letter word of weakness. It takes skill to communicate what you would like done and how to do it.  Begin to practice this skill and the overwhelm will begin to dissipate.

In my business I have been practicing asking for help in areas of online management, marketing, bookkeeping, implementing design ideas (to name a few).  And for those type A people out there, it is a practice! Well, this practice has allowed my company to grow. I finally realized I didn’t have the bandwidth to do it all, or do it all well. When I finally got help in areas that I wasn’t excited about it gave me the opportunity to do more of the things I am passionate about, which creates inspired momentum.

This is true on the home front as well. At home I realized to maintain a Home in Harmony this summer, everyone needs to contribute in some way. This alleviates a few of the household burdens that can be all consuming.  My youngest decided that she wanted to be in charge of all the potted plants inside and outside our home.  She has been diligent with her daily watering and the plants have literally never looked better! This seemingly small task alleviated my need to worry about when I would water the plants or the weighing on my mind that I had once again forgotten to do it! Learning to delegate can be a challenge, especially for those of us who know we do it best… that is, until you find out that someone else can do it better when you make room for them to do it.

When you start to submerge from the tug of life’ currents take a moment to assess what to prioritize and where you can delegate. This opens up the opportunity for you to find your ease, grace and equilibrium in the gentle and tumultuous waves of daily living.

If you would like guidance to begin living your Inspired Life feel free to connect with me for a FREE 20 Minute Home in Harmony Lifestyle Private Call by clicking here!

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Are you beginning to feel the heat of summer sizzle along with barbecue grills and s’mores on the bonfire? As the warm winds of summer arrive, traveling to go and see people and distant places increase. You might find yourself as a guest in someone else’s home or the lucky recipient of travelers at your door. Whichever it is, there are ways to be a good guest that is welcomed back or a fantastic host that your visitors will be raving about for years to come! Lets look at the tricks of the trade! In this article we will focus on how to be remembered as an amazing guest… even 16 years later! There is an art to being a great guest and inspired host. These simple tips can have your guests raving instead of running or have you welcomed back with an open door! In this article we are going to focus on being a gracious guest instead of the dreaded unwanted visitor.

Appreciation

As a guest it is important to remember that as much as the host is thrilled to have you join them at their home it does require energy and effort to have you there. Being conscientious of this and demonstrating a willingness to help out and verbalizing your appreciation is the initial step in being a fabulous guest.  The first year we had our summer home we had people join us each weekend to frolic in the Martha’s Vineyard Sound. We enjoyed sharing our time and space with wonderful friends and family. But, by the end of summer I was wiped out. Throughout the summer I was spending the beginning of the week cleaning up from the previous weekend and grocery shopping to restock the barren cabinets. By midweek I was beginning to plan, shop and prepare for the weekend to come and the new guests that would arrive. My time and space designed to recharge my mind, body and spirit after a busy year was beginning to deplete me.

Stick to the Plan

Show up on time! Make a plan and stick to it. Take into account traffic delays or anything else that you might need to factor in. It is rude to leave a host waiting or arriving before you are expected. Obviously things come up that are out of your control, but that being said, you should do whatever is in your power to arrive when you said you would. You never know what a host has planned or on the stove. A timely arrival can set the tone for the rest of your stay.

Bring a Meal

A fabulous way to show your hosts that you are hoping to help make it a successful weekend for all, instead of assuming you are a guest at a bed-and-breakfast, is to bring an assortment of snacks, a meal or both. When I travel to distant places I always bring a basket of goodies. Sometimes I opt to bring a bag of bagels and muffins to take care of breakfast for the morning– this is a great option that travels well no matter the distance. I also had a friend who always came with huge bag loaded with snacks and drinks for the kids. Her conscientiousness was always appreciated. The idea is to alleviate some of the stress for the host.

Give a Gift

Another way to ensure you are welcomed back anytime is to give a gift. It doesn’t matter how big or small, it is just the gesture. I remember inviting friends to join us for a weekend in Vermont when we had little ones. They had brought a fun toy for the kids. The kids enjoyed the activity and the adults got silly trying to figure out how to pack it back up (which was nearly impossible, but we had fits of laughter trying).  The following week we received one on our doorstep with a note that said we needed to master the disassembly process.  The gift AND handwritten note were a beautiful gesture that is remembered 16 years later!  It truly doesn’t matter the size of the gift. It is more the meaningful connection and intention behind the gift.

Tidy Up

It should go without saying, but I will mention that it is important to keep your things neat, out of the way and clean up after yourself. We have had guests that leave their stuff everywhere and ones who make an effort at keeping things neat. Which would you prefer to have in your home and who would you invite back? There are also those courteous guests who make an extra effort at being helpful.  As a host, I am always so thankful when someone is willing to take the sheets off of their bed at the end of their stay and place them in the laundry room. It is just one less thing that I need to do after they leave. This little gesture goes a long way in helping ease the cleanup process of a house full!

These are a few simple solutions on being a gracious guest and ways to avoid becoming the unwanted visitor. I hope your summer is fun, safe and filled with travels to places near and far seeing and spending time with people you enjoy!

If you would like guidance to begin living your Inspired Life feel free to connect with me for a FREE 20 Minute Home in Harmony Lifestyle Private Call by clicking here!

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Photo Credit: community.ally.com

Do you ever forget to take time out for yourself? I mean real quality time? If you are saying, “Of course I do.” Let me challenge you to be really present with that question and dive a little deeper by asking… What is the one thing you do each day to take care of yourself? How about in a week? Do you spend more time absorbed in the commotion of daily living and the busyness of life or taking care of others? It is easy to get caught up in the hectic pace that whirls around you, especially as you begin to approach summer with the blitz of end-of-year activities, people excited for coming vacations and the turbulence that naturally comes with the seasonal transition. In this week’s article we will explore how you can make time for yourself. We are also gearing up for the Home in Harmony Master Class Summer Series! Details for this incredible event with more amazing experts will be coming soon!

If you are one of those who has been caught up in the whirlwind of daily living it is sometimes important to take a moment out to reassess and re-calibrate so that you don’t end up depleted emotionally and physically. It is amazing that as a culture we don’t have an appreciation for the importance of self-care or rituals around revitalizing our emotional, spiritual and physical well-being. It is of the utmost importance to continually take time to replenish the wellspring within ourselves so that we can be the best we can be. Somehow the mentality of continuously pushing ourselves to the breaking point without rest and rejuvenation is not only ok but, the norm. You might even feel touches of guilt when you do take time out to care for yourself! Studies show that when you and I take time to renew ourselves we are more productive, creative and loving. This supports the notion that it is critical to take time for you! Let’s look at a few ways to make it happen…

Assess it!

Determine what fill you up! For some it might be bowling, someone else yoga or perhaps gardening is your passion. Deciding what activity or preferably activities you are going to make a priority in your self-care routine are critical for success. Remember, it doesn’t have to be a big endeavor. It can be a simple bath with candles and a book. The important thing is that you determine what brings you pleasure and soothes your soul.

Schedule it!

We are so over scheduled that sometimes looking at the list of items on one’s calendar can be daunting! What if you penned (not penciled) in time for you! You would actually smile at that item on your calendar. This is a critical first step that can help you stay on track to take time out for you. Otherwise it is too easy to get caught in the commotion of daily living and have things or people pull you away from your restorative time.

Design it!

Sometimes it can be helpful to design a space that is dedicated to self-care. Creating a space that is nurturing and supportive will entice you to spend time there. An inviting space will help you make self-care a priority.  This will help you to instill the habit of self-care! Habits can be beneficial and assist you in finding more harmony, ease and grace in our life. The added benefit to the strategy of creating a sacred space is that your brain automatically connects the space with feelings of rejuvenation and well-being. Just the site of the space triggers these feelings. Your environment has a direct and subtle impact on you and your well-being. Use this to your advantage.

These are a few simple solutions to help you find the time and space to prioritize your emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. Give yourself permission to take the time you need to rejuvenate you!

If you would like guidance to begin living your Inspired Life feel free to connect with me for a FREE 20 Minute Home in Harmony Lifestyle Private Call by clicking here!

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

I LOVE playing with color!  Thankfully when I am designing spaces I am able to use color to create the feel, mood and atmosphere that will touch the mind, body and soul of those entering the space. I look around our world and am so thankful for the colors and textures that we are able to look at through the lens of life.  What makes me even more excited about color is understanding that color is not only fun to look at but that it affects us both psychologically and physiologically! Yes, that’s right, it actually has an impact on your mood and biology. It can make you hungry, angry or harmonious. It really is important to be mindful of what colors you are including in your life and begin to understand how they impact you.  In this weeks article we will take a deeper look into the spectrum of color, how to choose the best color and the ways it can help you create home, health and happiness!

I also want to take a moment to acknowledge and welcome the thousands of new members of the Home in Harmony Community! We are really excited you are here!  I also want to say thank you to the members of our community that have been with us for a while. Your continued support and encouragement allows us to enthusiastically grow and expand.  Please let my team and I know how we, at Home in Harmony Headquarters, can support you best! I hope the information we provide you enables you to find inspiration in designing inspired living and creating home, health and happiness!  I also want to share that we have some exciting things on the horizon based on feedback we received from the super successful Home in Harmony Master Class!  So, keep on the lookout! Also, we would love for you to hop on over to Facebook or Twitter and join the conversation!

I have had many conversations around the topic of color.  Recently, we were finishing up a corporate design project for a law firm in Connecticut and everyone who came through the door would mention how they loved the chosen colors from the cool grays to the soothing ocean hues.  At a staging project in Boston we discussed which colors to incorporate to make the environment feel inviting and a place one would want to stay. I choose colors based on the needs of the inhabitants, how it will work with the lighting of the space and how it coordinates with the colors that are already there.  Let’s look at how to choose colors that will help you design an inspired home and life!

Psychology & Physiology Needs

Studies have shown that color affects our physiology and psychology. For instance, blue is scientifically proven to produce a cooling effect on the body (physiology) and a calming effect on the mind (psychology). It is also known to diminish hunger.  Red, on the other hand, is considered a power color associated with authority, aggression and prestige (think about the red carpet or the power tie).  Red accelerates your heart rate and increases feelings of hunger and aggression. When designing a space it is important to take into consideration what type of space would benefit you the most and what you hope to achieve in the space.  If you are feeling agitated and anxious you might benefit from calming or cooling tones. If you are depressed or lethargic a splash of vibrant color might be just what you need. First assess where you are and what you need. Next, determine what type of space will support you the most. Once you have evaluated these two things you will be in a position to choose colors that help your home, health and happiness.

Lighting

Have you ever noticed that a paint color looks much different in the paint store under fluorescent lighting in comparison to when you get it home? Or, have you ever loved a color in a magazine and put it on your own wall to find out it doesn’t look the same? This is because color is impacted by light. The color will look different under overhead lighting, lamp lighting and northern or southern natural light exposure. Natural light will give you the ‘truest’ sense of the color because it has a neutral balance of the warm and cool ends of the light spectrum; the warmer end of the spectrum being yellow and the cool end being blue.  Interestingly colors that are most impacted by light are the grays, taupes, blues, greens, lavenders and mauves. I once painted a Show House room in one of my favorite colors, Benjamin Moore’s Wedgewood Gray, and when people entered the space they often thought that each wall was painted in a unique color. However, all the walls were Wedgewood Gray. It was just how the light played with the undertones making it look green hued on one wall, tinged blue on another and cement gray on yet another. When choosing a color for your home, I recommend painting a large sample board with the color and watch how the light influences it during the day & night and with the lights on & off.  This will help you determine if you love the color in all its complexity!

Compliment & Coordinate

An entire home can feel out of balance because there isn’t a graceful flow of colors. It is important to notice all of the colors you are utilizing in a space to make sure it is congruent. This will help you feel balanced and harmonious. Your surroundings can bring a sense of grounding, ease and grace into your life when the colors coordinate and compliment one another. Competing palettes create dis-ease, restlessness and agitation. Choose colors that support you and carry those colors throughout your space. If your kitchen is blue, be sure to incorporate blue tones throughout your home to make it feel consistently congruent. This will give a sense of balance and harmony to your space. When your space feels harmonious it nurtures your mind, body and spirit allowing you to be the best you can be.

Choosing colors can be a tricky process. The good news is that when you break the process down it diminishes overwhelm and anxiety.  Color selection should be a fun and fascinating process. It allows you to look at your life through a lens that sees the spectrum of colorful possibilities in designing your inspired life.

If you would like guidance to begin living your Inspired Life feel free to connect with me for a FREE 20 Minute Home in Harmony Lifestyle Private Call by clicking here!

Happy Soaring!

XOXO