I love to find stories about getting organized! 

Now, even CoverGirl make-up has jumped on the organizing bandwagon and has developed a numerical system for matching up their various types of make-up. 

They claim to have taken the guesswork out of finding your TRU shade with their TRUblend makeup organized system.  This includes liquid foundation, concealer, pressed powder and blush.  The system is numbered from 1 through 6 (1 being the lightest shade, 6 being the darkest shade). 

For example, if your TRUblend liquid makeup is a 2, then your TRUblend pressed power, concealer and blush are also a 2.  

Organizing can be so beneficial, even when it comes to purchasing  your make-up.  Gotta love that!

Now that that problem is solved, if you have any other organizing issues you would like me to address, please feel free to contact me at A BETTER SPACE.  I will be more than happy to help.

Have a great week!

I am currently working with a client who has discovered that she has ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder).  She is working with me to learn how to create a system for getting and staying organized.

One of the things I suggested she do on a daily basis, when I am not physically there with her to coach her, is to simply take just 5 minutes a day to focus on one area of her home and declutter it by putting things away.  Basically, straightening up.

Granted, things need to have a home to begin with so that they can be put away.  That is what I am working on with her during our sessions.  However, in the meantime, she has taken my advice and has begun practicing this ritual.  To her surprise, she has found that just those 5 minutes a day can really make a difference.  Sometimes, she is feeling so productive, she takes more than just 5 minutes, but the 5 minutes is the minimum. 

Consistency is the key to success and if you just commit that short amount of time each and every day, you will find that you can keep it under control.  If there are other family members, get them to do the same thing with a particular area of the home.  Just having each of them put things away for about 5 minutes a day can add up to a lot of decluttering in one day!

Give it a try and let me know how you make out.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with the prospect of getting organized, simply contact A BETTER SPACE.  I will be more than happy to help.

Enjoy your week!

Are you familiar with the term Feng Shui and what it means?

Feng Shui is an ancient art and science developed more than 3,000 years ago by the Chinese.  The science of Feng Shui involves a complex knowledge that shows how to balance the energies of a space to insure the health and good fortune for the people living in that space.

Gentle wind and clear waters in the Chinese culture have long been connected with good health and a good harvest.   Feng means "wind" and Shui means "water".

The Chinese believe the world is made up of "Chi" or energy.  The outcome could be good or bad, depending on how the energy flows, particularly inside of your home.

The Ba-Gua is an octagonal grid used by experts to do an analysis of the home.  Even though the process can be complicated and best left to the professionals, there are certain concepts the average homeowner can implement in their home.  You can:

• Improve the air quality and natural light by opening up the drapes and windows, letting the sun shine in and the air flow in.  Introduce plants that will help filter the air or use an air filter to remove impurities from the air.  If natural light is not an option, full spectrum light bulbs can be used to improve the light in your home.
• The five Feng Shui elements can help you incorporate changes in your home.  Each element is represented by specific colors, and by using these colors, you can bring about change in your home easily - WOOD - green, brown; FIRE - red, strong yellow, orange, purple, pink; EARTH - light yellow, sandy/earthy colors, light brown; METAL - white, gray; WATER - blue, black
• Learn your Feng Shui birth element which pertains to the year you were born.  By using this element in your home, you can reinforce positive energy.
• Examine door placement.  Your front door and back door should not line up with each other.  If they do, it will cause the "chi" or energy to slip right through the home without bringing any benefits to you.  You can easily solve this problem by placing a large plant or other obstacle beside one of the doors and place an angled throw rug to create a path in a sideways direction.
• Reduce clutter.  (This is the one I am particularly partial too!)  Lightening up the house is key to good feng shui.  Clutter can trap good energy.  Get rid of things you don't absolutely need. 

Your objective is to create a positive space.  Decorating your home with more light, music, water, air, plants, mirrors, windchimes, bright colors, household plants and flowers can activate the positive energy of joy and happiness in your home.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with the clutter in your home and want to create more positive energy within it, take the first step and contact me at A BETTER SPACE.  I will be more than happy to help.

Enjoy your week!

I received the following information from my accountant today and thought I would pass it on.

The IRS frequently reminds taxpayers to beware of identity theft scams. Two of the latest phishing scams include one offering inherited funds, lottery winnings, or cash consignment and another offering a bogus tax refund. Scammers use the IRS name, logo, or website in an attempt to convince taxpayers that the scam is a genuine communication from the IRS. Scammers may also use other federal agency names, such as the U.S. Department of the Treasury. After obtaining personal information, identity thieves use the victim's personal data to steal his or her financial accounts, run up charges on the victim's existing credit cards, apply for new loans, credit cards, services, or benefits in the victim's name, and even file fraudulent tax returns.

Please note the IRS does not discuss tax account matters by email. So, contact your accountant if you receive an email, purported to be from the IRS, requesting personal information.

Hope you find this information helpful.