The unboxing of Om for the Home

A Little Lite Housekeeping

 

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Thanks!  All this tidying up makes room to put the Om in the Home

Book announcements coming next.

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I AM OVER THE MOON excited to announce that Clodagh will be writing the foreward to my book. 

Clodagh is the Beyonce of wellness design! 

Clodagh passionately believes that good design supports well-being and that it can transform people’s lives. She feels that clutter can undermine serenity, but minimalism should not be self denying. The experience of entering a Clodagh designed space is one of blissful serenity.

A believer in the tenets of integrative medicine which addresses the entire body and psyche as a whole, Clodagh embraces both ancient and cutting edge methods in an effort to comfort not only the body but also the mind.

She was among the earliest adopters of feng shui in her design practice. Clodagh is once again ahead of the curve by now incorporating such cutting edge modalities as chromatherapy and biophilia into all of her projects.

Life takes such synchronistic turns. I traveled with Clodagh to Menla resort, called Tibet in the Catskills,many years ago as part of a press/blogger junket. I always admired her work and was inspired by her mission to marry wellbeing and interior design but never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined our paths would cross again many years later in this way.

After a two and a half year journey writing Om for the hOMe, I am so grateful and humbled that Clodagh agreed to do this for me.

There will be much more discussion around The power of hOMe™ in future posts. 

XO

Mindful Design

 

Many months into this pandemic, we seem to be taking an "it is what it is" attitude.  We have to.  We have no choice.  We have no control.  We are buckled up and in survival mode.  The chaos around us is so confusing!  If you're like me, you may have started out strong when we were told to stay home.  I was feeling like I was going to take this time to be productive, learn something new, relish the opportunity to relax.  There was nowhere to go, nowhere to rush, no one to see, so why not make the best of it?  I was working on my book full speed ahead.  That attitude did not last long! 

Five months in and a kind of lackadaisical haze had befallen me.  My structure had fallen by the wayside, my diet went to shit, and depression set in.  Seven months in and I summoned my resiliency muscle memory.  Too many challenges, too little control leaves one helpless and hopeless.  That's where mindfulness comes in.

What do we have control over when everything around us is falling apart?  We have our mind, we have our body, we have our spirit, and we have our living space. 

We have the present moment.

The practice of being more aware of the present moment is very powerful!  When you’re a witness to your actions, your awareness enables you to make decisions that are better for your wellbeing.  That is mindfulness.

The world is an exhausting place right now ~ Let's create more beauty within.  This is such a transformative time.  We will and are rising to the occasion.

Let's channel our energy into making mindful design choices that will foster a happy, healthy, calm environment even when, especially when, things around us feel chaotic.

1.  Find a sense of order in everything.  From your meals to your self care ritual to your housekeeping, order helps the mind and body remain calm.  You want to stress less!  The energy around you should be supporting that desire for inner peace and a sense of sanctuary.  It literally has the power to change your brainwaves.  Our work/home life lines have been blurred.  If you are multi tasking from home, order is essential!  Different zones for different activities at the very least.  Clean up or finish up one task and put it away before you begin another.  A sense of order is a self care ritual.

2.  Buddy up with a plant, or now that we can go out again, keep fresh flowers in the house.  Having something living in your space enriches your energy and the oxygen in the air.

3.  Get out in nature.  Go for a walk.  Go for a ride.  Change your scenery.  The smell in the air, the sun on your skin, the scent of the trees are incredibly restorative.  The quiet you derive from being in nature keeps you mindful of employing a "big picture" attitude.  Feeling present in that moment allows for an attitude of gratitude.

4.  Engage your senses with scent.  Smell is our most sensitive sense.  It triggers memory more than any other sense, so make sure it is a positive, pleasant memory that is evoked.  Candles, aromatherapy or essential oils can subtly change your experience in a space and alter your mood.  Make sure the scents you use are chemical free! 

5.  That is a natural segway into really attempting to eliminate the amount of chemicals you bring into your environment or put on or in your body.  Chemicals can have crazy toxic effects on each of us.  You may not notice much in any one instance, but the cumulative effect of toxins surrounding us is absolutely making us sick.  Balance of body = balance of home.

6.  Live by the light.  There is so much research about the benefits of  living in tune with our circadian rhythm.  Our biological clock works hand in hand with circadian rhythm to keep our wake/sleep cycle  balanced and our immune system healthy.  Ergo, when we are in balance.... all things are in balance.

7.  Self care is not a luxury!  Surround yourself with beauty and things that bring you joy; objects, people, music, anything!  Treat yourself like a queen.  Take a long bath, indulge in a bit of chocolate, carve out some alone time.  It could be anything that lifts your spirits and puts a smile on your face.  When you take care of yourself, you can show up as the best version of yourself for others.  

8.  Change your perspective and your world changes.  Whether it be the stories you tell yourself or the objects on your table, a fresh perspective begets fresh energy and with that wisdom abundance springs.

Your living space should enhance your happiness and wellbeing, and by living space I am referring to your body and mind as well as your environment.  Everything is connected and everything is energetically linked.

photos; 1. art by Mary Finlayson, bath by mama medicine, side table design by Alessandra Branca

Go Green and DIY Clean

All this need for cleaning is disconcerting when you are trying to lower your toxic load.  

DIY cleansers not only do just that, we most likely have these ingredients in our home, it alleviates some stress of even trying to find cleaning products that may be sold out.

I always refer to the Environmental Working Group website  (EWG) for information about everything from foods to beauty to home health care.  It's a conversation for another day.

 This is a quick tip that I am going to concoct tonight.

Brought to you by Fiberseal.


Stay Well, stay safe, stay home!

Keep Calm and Distance Yo' self

I don't know about you but I vacillate between vowing to stay clam and not let my imagination and all the hysteria get the best of me and feeling tremendous anxiety over this virus that has just about shut down the nation.  We've never seen anything like it!  It is the fear of the unknown and the lack of information or mixed messages that keeps us in this state of fear. Why are we afraid?

"The answer is a mix of miscalibrated emotion and limited knowledge," argues psychologist David DeSanto in an editorial for The New York Times.

Here's what I know for sure. We have no control over the situation but we have control over ourselves, our reaction and response.  Let's manage our anxiety and do what is in our best interest (and in this case, those that we come in close contact with).

Limit the amount of exposure to the constant onslaught of media coverage. Between the stock market and the virus, one can't help but feel hyper threatened.

Obviously we are aware of the need to wash our hands frequently and keep our distance from others!

What else can we do?  We can remain calm, stay level headed and find grace in the madness.  If you must stay home, do something you've always meant to do but kept putting off.  Stop making excuses for not having the time. You now have the gift of time.

I, myself have been putting off going thru my streaming music and making playlists.  I am envisioning how good it will feel to accomplish this task and the added plus of listening to all my music feels immediately calming!

Clean, Clear clutter. Having control over your environment really cuts down on feelings of stress. Now more than ever, your home should be a refuge from the "scaries" outside your door.


Make nourishing meals for your family.  It is a way to show your love and make family feel loved and cared for at this uncertain time.

Boost your immune system.  Our bodies need to be healthy to fight the good fight.  Eat right and take your supplements, reduce inflammation and stay hydrated.

Family time is time well spent.  If my kids were home, I'd be breaking out the board games. Oh how I miss those game nights!  Indulge in a guilty pleasure. Pick up a good book (damn it, I wish my book was published already!!!) , binge watch Netflix.  Oooh, the possibilities are endless.  Do you see the silver lining in this time out?

Find humor in the absurdity of it all.  Laughter is the best medicine when you feel overwhelmed and out of control.

Go be in nature. Take a walk outside, exercise!  I am lucky enough to be in Florida right now, so time spent at the beach is really soothing.  I get a good dose of vitamin D, listen to the waves lap against the shore and feel my toes in the sand for a full sensory experience that removes me from thoughts of doom and gloom. Go forth and create your experience.

Practice self care. Take soothing baths, experiment with essential oils, take a nap. If you are self quarantined alone; relish this alone time.  Get comfortable being uncomfortable.  Being alone with your thoughts allows you to go inward.  It helps reconnect you to yourself.  Relish the solitude

Stay present and breathe.  Breathe in, then blow out and repeat " I am fine."  Breathe in, then blow out and repeat, " I am safe." Breathe in, then blow out and repeat, " I am healthy."  Don't catastrophize and stay mindful.

Don't panic and for G-d's sake, stop stockpiling toilet paper!  Be prepared but enough with the irrational panic buying!



AND NOW FOR SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL: AN EXCERPT FROM "OM FOR THE HOME" .  I wish my book was out!!  I can speak to all the wonderful things we can do to ensure our home is helping heal us, especially when outside our door it's a mad, mad world.

There is a proverb that says:  “Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;  by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” 

It is not enough to have a well designed home anymore, we must be mindful of the “riches:” within; our thoughts, our behavior, the relationships we participate in, the toxins that we choose to (or not to) allow into our everyday life. The self talk we use to help or harm. None of this is separate. If our outer space mirrors our inner space, then a cluttered  house equals a cluttered mind. If our inner space mirrors our outer space,  A peaceful mind equals a peaceful home.  We must take a psychological deep dive into our subconscious.

 Designing a harmonious life, full of rich relationships, balance, and living in authenticity is dependent upon designing your home to support your desires, facilitate healthy relationships, reduce stress, support healthy habits and enable you to manifest the things you want in life built upon the goals you set for yourself and the values you hold dear.  The who you envision yourself to be. The who you aspire to be at your CORE.

C   connectivity - understanding that everything is interconnected. Your emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical, environmental, even financial wellbeing are each pillars of wellness, one dependent on the other.

You  cannot have a well designed home that supports a healthy lifestyle while your mind is full of negative thoughts or negative energy. You cannot have a healthy home and fill it with toxic chemicals or a healthy body if it’s filled with processed  food.  It behooves you not to engage in toxic relationships , even if you do dwell in an immaculate house, they are at odds with one another.  Inner and outer peace, inner and outer beauty ~ they go hand in hand. One cannot exists without the other.  

O   Observe , self observation is critical for transformation, which begins with awareness. Having the observational skillset to practice self-observation:noticing what we are thinking, feeling, doing, and imagining allows us to become self-aware. When we are aware of what we are thinking, feeling, doing, and imagining we realize that we have choices and choices are what make us powerful. When you practice self-observation, you will begin to recognize that the part of you doing the observing is your true self. Having that self awareness allows you to see when you  are behaving in alignment with your goals and your values and when you are not. You can also recognize when your choices are serving you and when they are not.

R   responsibility help us recognize that we only are in control of ourself. We are responsible for our thoughts, our beliefs, our emotions, our home, our health. How we react to the ever changing landscape over our “interior” ensures more enjoyment not just endurance. Taking personal responsibility for choices and actions not only makes you accountable for yourself but allows for relationships with deeper understanding, trust and compassion. Stop the blame game. You are not what happens to you, you are what you make of what happens to you. Being able to see that your decisions have a direct impact on your life’s events is what being able to accept personal responsibility is all about.

E  energy is everywhere. Everything is energy. We are more than physical matter, we consist of energy, our homes consist of energy  - different states of being emit different energetic frequencies.  Energy interacts with everything all the time in ways you can't ever see, but often you can sense with your feelings.Energy is elusive but is something we FEEL. We can empower ourselves to control our personal energy with our thoughts. Our thoughts create a very real and specific vibration (whether we are aware of it or not) and that energy will seek out it's vibrational match.  When we are vibrating at our magnificent best, we are attracting others that are vibrating at their magnificent best. Think about what can be accomplished when we are all energetically in tuned at our highest level.

Call it magical thinking; but in these challenging times, among challenging people, along with our challenging thoughts, it is more important than ever to nurture yourself and create a sanctuary that calms you (within and outside of yourself) and centers you every time you walk through that door. 

 Could you be better; more joyful, more balanced, more connected to your inner wisdom? Can you do better; listen to your body and give it what it needs  to succeed?  Can you accept the things you cannot change in a healthy way, understanding that everything happens for a reason, even if we don’t know what that reason is, we have to trust the universe has our back? Could you detach from the stories you tell yourself that you believe to be true ? Could 

above is copyrighted  material and may not be reproduced without permission.

photo artwork via Sara Shakeel. She's a great follow!

Uplevel Your Bath Ritual

Ahhh, bath time. I never truly appreciated this small indulgence until  a couple years ago.  I predict the bathing ritual will again be in favor as everything wellness in the home and the recognition of self care rituals are priorities that are becoming more and more expected, not excepted. It is a must that we take time for ourselves. When we do that, we are able to be there for others. We have better mental health.  Taking a moment for stillness reduces stress and increases our "feel good" hormomes.

While adding flowers to your bath water might be a stretch and let's be honest, it does create a bit of a mess, adding bath salts or oils will do quite nicely, thank you

Make sure the products you use are free of dyes, parabens, chemicals and other "nasties" of any kind. My new favorite clean product line is all things  Tammy Fender.  I just went to her holistic center in West Palm Beach and had the most heavenly facial!

Sometimes we need a little more r and r, that's when I call in the CBD products.
I do love a CBD bath bomb full of epsom salt and calming goodness. There are so many studies out that reinforce the wonders of what CBD can do for you. I am not really a DIY'er but I am into making these beauties, maybe for next year's holiday gifts. There are so many amazing products on the market. Make sure the CBD product you choose is of the highest quality. There are a lot of posers out there.

While I wholeheartedly support just relaxing and turning your mind off, there are times where multitasking is a must. I love this bath catty if you find yourself reading or needing a surface for accoutrements

I'm gaga over this 3 in one ditty. It's an LED lantern for a little ambient lighting, a speaker for a podcast perhaps or  mood music and a charging station.  It is not the time to run out of power.  Its  form is as good as its function.

Let's make it the best experience it can be, shall we? Our body and mind will thank us.

This or That

                            I'm taking a pole, which  title do you like best for my book?

The book delves into how our home can help heal us on a deeper level and lead us to our authentic self.  It's about becoming aware of the "messages in the mess" that can become a catalyst for change.  With case studies, science backed information, exercises and inquiry we can find inner peace , more fulfilling relationships with ourself and others, then decorate accordingly.


                                                      DESIGN FROM WITHIN

                                                                      or

                                                          OM FOR THE HOME

Do you understand what the book might mean, does either title make you curious and want to know more?

Does anything come up for you when you read this; curiosity, need, confusion?

Thank you for your feedback

Help Wanted

I am busy, busy over here being an author.  I love saying that!
This is the biggest, scariest thing I have ever tackled to date but that isn't stopping me.  I need  your help.  As I am thinking about the myriad of things that go into writing a book, the #1 goal is to solve a problem for my reader.

If you were reading a book about how your home can heal you on a deeper level, a holistic approach to live your most joy filled, authentic life ~ How can I serve you?

What would you want to learn having to do with how your home is a part of a bigger picture?
The connection between home, mind, body, spirit.

Are you interested in -
                                  manifestation
                                   better relationships
                                   mindfulness
                                   interconnection between chakras, gut health, positive psychology and home                  

What areas do you struggle with?
                             not enough; time, money, happiness
                             victimhood
                             thoughts that cause suffering
                             showing up for yourself


I really want to know anything that comes up when  you think of these questions!  You would be helping me steer my book in a clear direction that hopefully would encourage you towards transformation on your own hero's journey and of course the role your home plays.

Feel free to comment here or drop me an email at carrie@carrieleskowitzinteriors.com


                                                         Thank you
                           
                 
         

A Paperless Post

I'm an old fashioned gal at heart.  I like my magazines in print and I love receiving invitations by snail mail.  I want to hold something.  I love feeling the weight and texture of the paper, studying type, always looking at the choice of decorative stamp and liner but alas, I fear I am a dying breed.

There is something to be said for the ease of emailing an invitation to someone's inbox.  We live in such a fast paced, "instant gratification" kind of world, the immediacy of creating an invitation from the myriad of choices, hitting send and waiting for the RSVP's to roll in has a place in my heart too.

That's where Paperless Post comes in.  They offer you the best of both worlds.  You can choose the style and theme from any number of invitations for any number of occasions and hit send, or have it sent!

An invitation does so much more than convey time and place.  It sets the tone for your affair; the theme, color, vibe  of what's to come.

I have a number of speaking engagements coming up.  Some are privately hosted dinners, some in interesting venues.  I will speak more about this later.  I am really excited!  I am calling it, "Om for the Home:  being mindful of the energy filling our beautifully designed spaces."  Paperless Post was the obvious "go to" site for me.  I knew I wanted to create an ongoing series of invitations for each event with both the consistency of look and ability to customize.  I hadn't planned on putting my photo illustration on the card, but Paperless Post suggested I make it personal, so I did!  There is so much to love.  Between their designer collaborations with Jonathan Adler, Oscar de la Renta, Kate Spade, Crane, Kelly Wearstler, John Derian and more, Paperless Post has you covered fashionably and effortlessly.  You would be hard pressed not to find just the right style to convey just the right message.

Party On

 Paperless Post reflects the Livebeauti~FULLY brand.  This was a sponsored post in conjunction with Anagram Interactive, but the sentiment is all mine.

Om for the Home

I am busy tweaking my talk scheduled for Thursday April 20th.  I am equal parts nervous and excited.  Nervous because I have never done much public speaking, but excited because I plan on doing more!  I want to "think big, play big."  If I talk to 12 or 1200, no matter.  I am going to do the best I can coming to it professionally and with integrity.  I titled it "Om for the Home" because when we hear the word Om we think of balance and a state of zen.  It's a strong vibrational word.  Vibrations are energy and energy is what our home houses.  The beauty is, we get to decide what this energy looks like.

I read a quote  once that said, "If  we go around chanting the word Om, the air around us will sparkle."  I do love sparkles!

Wish me luck!