(Photo Credit – Studio Choo Florists)

Ready to roll up your sleeves and practice a whole new way to de-clutter?

We’ve done a lot of prep work in this series to make sure your Spring Clean goes deep — and sticks. We’ve discovered your Big Why’s, identified some clutter (both obvious and not-so-obvious), and ditched the “de-cluttering” mindset for the far more empowering and exciting “editing” process.

Today, it’s time to get in there and get practical!

So … how do we actually DO this “Editing” thing?

Many of us get stuck before we even begin. We start sifting through all of our “stuff” and the overwhelm sets in. Every object holds the possibility for paralyzing indecision: how do we know if it’s truly serving us — or holding us back?

How can we make the best decisions about…

what needs to stay,

what needs to shift,

and what needs to go?

To support you through this tricky but oh-so-rewarding phase of your Spring Clean, here’s a handy set of questions. It’s a condensed and simplified version of the exact editing process I use with myself — and with my clients.

My Elegant Editing Process

 When faced with any “it” you’re not sure how to deal with, (a knickknack, a piece of furniture, artwork, clothing — or even an activity, relationship, or belief) ask yourself these 4 questions:

1. Does it function?

Functionality is beautiful, my friend! So … does it work? Do you use it? Is it broken, trash, or an unnecessary duplicate? Does it fit in your  home? If it’s a piece of clothing, does it fit on your body?

2. Do you love it?

Life is just too short to surround yourself with things you don’t love. Ask yourself: when I interact with this, does it feel blah, dead, and boring — or vibrant, beautiful, and alive? Does it make me feel better or worse when I see/touch it? Is it serving me, or blocking me? Remember: only you get to decide what’s beautiful to you!

 3. Does it represent who you are and where you are going?

Maybe you loved playing the flute in your high school jazz band, but now it’s collecting dust in your closet. Perhaps you’ve kept some mementos from “the one that got away,” and you breathe a heavy sigh every time you see that shoebox. Or, let’s say you’ve committed to a new, healthy eating regimen, and that ice cream maker just tempts and mocks you each time you see it.

Everything in your home reflects an image of who you are back to yourself. Click to tweet.

Old, blah, and outdated stuff turns your home into the unhappiest house of mirrors. Over time it can become a scary “fun” house that we can’t seem to make our way out of. It’s so hard to change and grow when we are surrounded by old, blah, and outdated versions of ourselves. Let these things go — make room for who you are and who you’re growing into. Trust me… it’s going to feel amazing!

4. What does your body say?

Our minds might get tangled up, and our emotions can pull us in opposing directions, but our bodies are often the clearest source for a “yes” or “no” in this process. If you’re stuck debating “pitch it or keep it,” hold the object in your hands (or gaze). Clear your mind. Tune into your body. Do you feel more or less alive? There’s your answer!

Emotions will arise as you edit. Sometimes tough ones.

This is perfectly normal … and you will get through it! I promise. If you encounter big emotions, take it from me: you are not alone or crazy — you are, in fact, incredibly brave.

Remember: your space is intimately connected to who you are, who you’ve been, and all the stories that make up your sense of self. It’s absolutely understandable for big emotions to come up as you edit your space. They might be connected to a specific event or phase of your life … a dream you outgrew … an image that’s shifting.

It’s common to feel guilt, grief, fear, scarcity, money issues, and much more as you work through the deeper aspects of Editing.

This is big stuff. Your emotions are a huge part of this process. So pay attention to them. Honor them. Feel your feelings.

A few suggestions for working with your emotions:

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(Photo Credit – Studio Choo Florists)

So you’re hip to the idea of a spring cleaning — not just to tidy things up, but to reconnect to your precious heart and desires. You’re ready to squeeze every ounce of personal transformation you can from this process. You’ve identified some clutter — in your home and in your life — and you’re ready to clear it out, and make way for new + beautiful things ready to emerge.

Awesome! Ok. At this point (even though you may think I am crazy)…

I beg of you: Please don’t de-clutter!

What?? Have I lost my marbles? No. I have a completely different way to think about “de-cluttering” and trust me: it changes everything.

Don’t De-Clutter. Edit.

I don’t know about you, but the word “de-clutter” always has a major “ugh” factor in it for me. It sounds boring. Exhausting. Daunting and tedious. Like a long, painful process of agonizing over what to keep and what to toss. It’s no wonder why so many of us put it off — easily finding something “better” to do, every time. Sound familiar?

Thankfully, I was introduced to the concept of “editing” years ago and I never looked back.

Here’s how to start making the shift:

 De-cluttering is about your stuff. Editing is about YOU.

De-cluttering removes the things you (or your Mom or someone else) think “shouldn’t” be there.  Editing breathes spaciousness, fosters flow, and sparks conscious evolution.

De-cluttering beckons my inner rebellious child who doesn’t want to clean up her room.  Editing invokes my clearest, most creative and motivated self.

De-cluttering is draining. Editing is exciting and empowering.

De-cluttering is all about removing objects. Editing is multi-dimensional. From this place, you may remove whats no longer is serving you, but you also might add in spices of vitality and sweeps of beauty.  You could rearrange the furniture to create more flow or upgrade certain items to provide greater ease, support and joy.

De-cluttering places a magnifying glass over all the stuff and dust of your home. Editing places you at the center of the process. It helps acknowledge that your space and all the things in it are an extension of you. Beautiful, alive, ever-changing you.

Don’t just deal with your space.

Shower it — and yourself – with loving attention.

When I was introduced to “editing” many years ago, it truly changed everything for me. Back then, I didn’t want to deal with my space — it felt too overwhelming. But I did want to deal with me.

Editing placed me back in my power — at the center of my story — and from this vantage point, working with my space became a natural extension, an empowering creative process and an opportunity that created big shifts in my life.

Editing is the real, vital process of aligning your inner and outer worlds — in ways that support who you are now and who you are are growing into be.

Edit to move forward. To be more present and clear. To create greater flow and vitality. To let go of what’s no longer serving you and to fill your space with what you love.

 Editing your space is an act of self -care and self -creation.

– Click to Tweet

What are your thoughts?

In the comments below, I would love to know… Does “editing” feel different to “de-cluttering” for you? Does it change how you relate to the task of spring cleaning, to your space, to yourself?

Ready for more?
The next post in the Make Room to Bloom Series is right HERE.

If you found this useful please share it with your family and friends to spread the love. (Believe it or not their spaces affect you too! But more on this another day.)

If you’re not already, be sure to subscribed to my newsletter (at the top right of this page) so you don’t miss a post! We have a beautiful growing community and would to have you join us!

Sending love,
Rebecca

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(Photo Credit – Studio Choo Florists)

An overflowing junk drawer. Stacks of papers and piles of clothes. That closet that obviously took a tornado ride with Dorothy.

Some types of clutter are blatantly obvious. But like everything in your space, clutter isn’t merely physical.

Your home is the physical expression + reflection of your inner world: your emotions, the personal meanings you attach to things, and all the routines that make up your life.

A cluttered home indicates + perpetuates a cluttered life.

– Click To Tweet

And if your home is a metaphor for your life, then clutter speaks volumes about what’s going on inside of you. We’ll get to the causes and sources of clutter in a moment. But first: why should you care? Well, it turns out: clutter isn’t just an eyesore. It can have some pretty serious consequences.  Clutter:

• Drains your energy (sometimes when you don’t even know it)
• Holds you in a state of distraction, overwhelm, irritation, or stress
• Contributes to burnout, stagnant creativity, or writer’s block
• Keeps you stuck in the fear of what might happen if you let go (of stuff or habits or even people)
• Represents underlying emotional issues you may be avoiding
• Keeps you from noticing or dealing with big, scary, important issues
• Blocks you from living your biggest, brightest, most beautiful life.

You deserve so much more than this, my friend! But before we start throwing things out, willy nilly, let’s get to know this clutter beastie a little better. Here’s how I define it:

Clutter is anything blocking us from flow, spaciousness, and having room to play and grow. – Click to Tweet

That’s right – anything blocking us. Not just that tupperware drawer you can’t stand or those boxes of old tax files you’ve been meaning to go through for years. Clutter can be far less obvious …

Is your crazy-busy-hectic job covering up a lifelong dream? Is some unresolved grief drowning an artistic passion? Is stress overpowering a deep need for rest and relaxation? We can view all of this through the lens of clutter.

Clutter can exist on many different levels:

1. Physical.

Physical clutter is what most of us associate with this term — and it’s the most obvious. It includes all the “stuff” in your space, and all the extra weight you’re carrying around (in your purse or your belly). It’s also your time: those obligatory events you “should” show up to. It’s piles of projects that you need to physically do, but don’t enliven you or light you up.

2. Emotional.

This is the realm of feelings and relationships. Are you weighed down by unresolved grief, trauma, or shame? Distracted by loose ends of a tattered relationship? Spending time with people who no longer support you or doing activities you no longer enjoy? You might find physical representations of these in your home:  those ice skates you never use anymore because you tore your ACL, or mementos that trigger painful memories.

3. Mental.

This is the realm of thoughts, information, and beliefs. Mind clutter is an overflowing inbox, an explosion of papers, calendars, and whiteboards. It feels like stimulation overload, anxiety, indecision and/or a “gluttony” for information. When our information is literally scattered throughout our spaces, we can  feel “scatterbrained,” and creative focus becomes a struggle.

4. Spiritual.

This level is quite different from the rest, in my experience. I don’t think of “spiritual clutter,” per se. Rather, I’ve noticed that the spiritual level suffers when we have clutter in our lives.

Each one of us brings a personal understanding and experience to the word, “spirit.” For myself, I define spirit as being fully, lovingly present in my life. It’s remaining connected to my divine essence, my sense of purpose, and the things that truly matter to me.

I’ve learned from my own experience and through guiding clients that when we have any kind of clutter (body, emotions, or mind), it becomes incredibly difficult to connect with ourselves on a spiritual level. We just can’t stay clear, grounded, and fully present when there’s constantly something distracting, draining, or pushing us off-kilter.

You simply can’t be fully present + loving when there’s

too much “stuff” in the way.

So now I am turning it over to you….

In the comments below, I’d love to hear: What type of non-obvious clutter do you struggle most with? Did you identify a new kind of clutter that surprised you?

Ready for more?
The next post in the Make Room to Bloom Series is right HERE.

If you found this useful please share this page with your family and friends to spread the love.

If enjoyed this, make sure you’re subscribed to my newsletter so you don’t miss a post!

Warmly,

Rebecca

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(Photo Credit – Studio Choo Florists)

Are you itching to do a spring clean? Feel super ready and rarin’ to go?

If so, you’re not alone.

That fresh energy of spring brings with it the promise of new possibilities and clean starts — inside us and all around.

The optimism is all but irresistible!

If you’re anything like me, once you get excited about something, part of you feels like a stallion — just waiting to burst through the gates. You can already see that finish line of a perfectly clean, clear, beautiful home. And you’re ready to gallop towards it at full speed.

But hang on just a sec. (Ahem, hold your horses!)

I love this big, passionate energy. It’s extremely important for this kind of work. But I’ve also learned how valuable it is to slow down, turn within, and do some deeper groundwork before bursting out of those gates.

Sure, you could dive right in. Throw on those rubber gloves. Start tossing things left and right. Wash, donate, recycle, lather, repeat. But I’ve got a better suggestion for you:

Slow down. Turn within. Honor your Spring Clean as an opportunity for deep transformation. It starts on the inside.

Because the “urge to purge” isn’t just about your stuff, right? It’s also about what’s going on inside of you. It’s about this precious and wild life of yours — and what you’re choosing to do with it. It’s about connecting with who you are, on a deeper level than ever before, and walking proudly out into the sunshine.

If we skip the vital, inner prep work of a Spring Clean, we might clean the surface without getting to the root of things: where and why our space feels stuck, stale, or cluttered.

So let’s dig a little deeper and do the real, inner work needed to harness the energy of spring, release what’s no longer serving us, and move our space — and our life — forward.

Here’s how I like to start:

3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Doing a Spring Cleaning

1. What’s Happening in Your Space?

I know, this one sounds obvious. But before you dive into the cleaning, it’s so helpful to take a few moments and get clear about what’s really going on. Grab a notebook and a pen and take a tour of your home.

Note the areas of your home that need some loving attention. Write down everything that feels outdated, cramped, messy, or dull. Look for the obvious and the not-so-obvious. How do you feel when you’re in each area of your home? Are there some areas that make you irritated or depressed? Do you ignore parts of your space — like your closet, your desk, or That One Drawer?

If you get overwhelmed or upset during this process — it’s OK! Take a deep breath. This is part of the process. We’re just gathering information, here. We can’t shift things we don’t let ourselves see, so the more clarity you can get here, the better.

2. Why is Your Space Like This?

Unless you just moved in yesterday, your space didn’t get this way overnight! Acknowledge the narrative that has brought you and your space here. Review your notes from Question #1 and identify what each space represents to you. What changes + challenges, transitions + accomplishments, highs + lows in your life made these spaces how they are?

Remember: Beautiful Living is not about having a shiny-happy-perfect-pulled-together life. It’s about being real, not perfect. It’s about getting messy, getting clear, cleaning things up, and making a beautiful new messes again. It’s about flowing and growing and changing, not about some unrealistic, static ideal. Truly. I promise.

So please, just acknowledge what’s brought you and your space to this point. Have you neglected your kitchen because you’ve been busy working on a new business? Have you avoided your closets because you’ve dealt with some loss that makes them hard to look at? Be gentle with yourself, here, and find reasons to celebrate along with your reasons to shift.

3. What Do You Want to Make Room For?

If we don’t know what we’re moving towards, it’s all the harder to find the motivation to let go of what’s not working. So … why aren’t you content with the status quo? What tender young sprouts are struggling their way to the top of your life? What do you want to welcome into your life and your home?  Sleep, relaxation, health, intimacy, creativity, safety, abundance? How would you feel if your space supported who you truly are what what you truly need? And speaking of that — what do you truly need?

Get clear here. Ask yourself if you’re ready to change. Connect to your commitment to doing something different, and inviting something new in. Open yourself up to letting go of what’s in the way. There may be fear, here — around losing the things that have made your space the way it is now, or even around letting in how good life can get for you!

Let’s Spring Clean with a purpose!

What new things are you ready to make room for in your life?

Click to tweet – Inspire the conversation among your friends!

Remember: this is about turning what could be a mindless series of tedious chores into a mindful practice of self-love. So treat yourself as you ponder these questions. This isn’t about shaming yourself for a messy home! It’s about getting real, right-here-and-now, about the life you want to live.

Take Action …

In the comments below, share and declare the purpose behind your spring clean this year, and one fresh new possibility you want to make room for.

Ready for more?
The next post in the Make Room to Bloom Series is right HERE!

Reach out for support if you need it! If you brush up against some mega resistance or big emotions, take a break, call a friend, or learn more about working with me.

If you enjoyed this post, please share this page with your family and friends! 

And if you’re not already, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter so you don’t miss a post!

Sending love,

Rebecca

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Meet my new friend and collegue, April DeMarco!

April is a gifted artist, an innovative jewelry designer, an inspiring teacher and an all around fabulous woman! April and I have such a connection both in our bubbly personalities and the philosophy behind of our work.  It is so wonderful to connect with someone who truly believes in power and importance of Living Beautifully.

I am excited to share our engaging dialogue with you!

In the video below, we talk about the power of our surroundings, using beauty as self care, art, jewelry so much more!

April navigates her creativity in awe-inspiring ways and her work is truly amazing!  If you are in the market for some gorgeous and meaningful new jewelry, then she is your gal. Check out all the beauty she is regularly creating over on her site…. CovetAndAdorn.com

Click On the Image Below to Watch and Enjoy!

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The spring energy has started to flow …

Have you noticed this yet? Even if the weather where you live hasn’t warmed up yet, there’s something shifting and fresh in the air.

I’ve loved the springtime since I was a little girl. I have a love affair with the flowers and the new colors of spring are always so exciting. Whether I’m walking through the park or the grocery store, it’s easy to feel a little extra happy.

Spring brings a kind of hopefulness. A sense of a fresh start. An opportunity to grow, change, blossom … into more beauty, truth, and meaning. -Click to Tweet

But springtime’s fresh start isn’t just about bringing new things in. It’s also about learning to let go, too. To release things that block us from truly blooming — both in our homes and in our lives.

Have you ever noticed that when something new is ready to bloom, it pushes everything in its way to the surface?

Like a bright-green seedling, fighting its way to the surface new things can be surprisingly strong and stir everything up a bit. Whether this “seedling” is a new career, a better relationship, a new baby, or a fresh sense of yourself — the shift can be uncomfortable.

This is the dark side of spring.

All that “stuff” we have to work through and release can be pretty unpleasant. It often feels irritating, overwhelming, and depressing. And it certainly doesn’t have the light, happy bounce we usually associate with spring!

In the past, I was an expert at not facing my “stuff.” I’d get whiney, stubborn, resistant, and defiant. There have been so many times in my life I’ve been in this place. Can you relate? I can still hear that little voice that would plead,

“Why do I have to deal with all this now?! I don’t wanna do all the work and cleaning up. I don’t have the time or energy. Can’t I just magically transform into a beautiful flower — and skip the growing part? Pleeeease?!”

Magic might not exist. But choice does – and it’s even better.

Over time, I’ve learned that I always have a choice. A choice between clearing my space and making room for what’s ready to emerge — or continuing to tolerate being weighed down and surrounded by stuff that’s already dead, but I can’t quite let go of.

Imagine a delicate spring flower, struggling to burst through to the surface — being blocked by a tangle of weeds.

Now, imagine the life gardens we could create if we tended to the weeds growing in our homes. Our spaces. Our hearts.

Doing the deep work to clear your space is so worth it.

Sure, it can be tough. It took me a long time to work through all of my resistance and learn how to deal the emotions that come up in the process. But the amount of beauty, love, and joy this process allows to flow into my life makes the hard work well-worth the effort.

So this year, in honor or springtime… and to help inspire + motivate and support ALL of us in doing the powerful work together, I am delighted to announce…

The Making Room to Bloom Series: Spring Cleaning for Your Heart + Home…

I’ll be sharing a series of posts all about “Spring Cleaning” here on my blog. But please know: this isn’t just about shaking those rugs and cleaning out your closets.

The Making Room to Bloom Series is about a Spring Cleaning, from the inside, out. It’s a chance to give some loving attention to your home and your heart. It’s not just about getting rid of things or cleaning (though that’s often a very important part). It’s about spending a few weeks reconnecting to your space, your self, and your life.

Got some dreams you’d like to dust off? Ready to perk up your energy by clearing out what’s draining you? Wanting more peace, beauty, and productivity in your life?

Then I hope you will join me!

It’s all happening here, on my blog and I am going to be cleaning my spaces right along with you! (I have a guest room closet that particularly needs some attention.)

For now, in the comments below, be sure to let me know if you are on board and name 1 thing you are ready to release.

Ready for more?
The next post in the Make Room to Bloom Series can be found HERE.

Also be sure to share this page with your family and friends to get them in on all the fun, and if you are not already, subscribe to my newsletter (at the top or bottom of this page)  so you don’t miss a post!

I promise the experience will be gentle and fun as well as deep and actionable.  I can’t wait to connect with you all!

With Love,

Rebecca

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Hi there!

I am so excited to be guest posting over on Sarah Jenks’ blog today and she is revealing some super fun “before and after” pictures you don’t want to miss!

Sarah is a dear friend and client of mine. She works with women around emotional eating and runs a wonderful program called Live More Weigh Less.  Sarah is also a new Mommy, and just welcomed a precious baby boy into the world a few weeks ago.  As you can imagine, she is a bit consumed with all things baby so I am honored to be her “Blog Babysitter” this week!

In the post, Sarah shares her experience from our work together and talks about the many transformations and discoveries she made in her space as a result. (Including how clearing out a front hall closet has changed her relationship!) 

In addition to Sarah’s story I also share about how beautiful living starts from the inside out. I explore the old adage “messy bed, messy head” and remind you that a well intentioned home reflects your true self back to you.

 Head over to check everything out here!

Sending love,

Rebecca

P.S. If your time is ripe to welcome more beauty, intention and meaning into your life – inside and out – I’d love to support you.

Contact me for a free, 30-minute introductory call to discuss where you are, where you’d like t o go and if working with me is the perfect bridge between the two.

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I want to share a story about a dear client of mine with you…

When I first met Jen, she described her home as “outdated, boring, empty, and dull.”

She’d resisted investing time and money into it because “What’s the point?” she said, “It’s just me and I don’t even know how long I am going to live here.” Have you ever felt like this? You don’t like what’s happening (in your home and/or your life), but you also feel hesitant and unmotivated to change it. Especially, when that change means investing time and money in yourself . . .

We dug a little deeper.

The morning of our first Authentic Design Intensive while doing a careful walk through of her space, Jen introduced me to her massive (and I mean massive, totally gorgeous, and impressive) wine collection that was living tucked away in a dark hallway closet. My curiosity was sparked and I wanted to know more…

{Cue flood gates opening, eyes sparkling, inspiration a-flowin’ . . . }

Jen lit up as soon as I asked about the wine collection. Her face changed, her body language shifted, there was immediately joy in the air- we had tapped into something. She went on to tell me that wine is one of her true passions. She loves drinking it, buying it, and talking about it. Her idea of a perfect day is piling into the car with her best girlfriends and heading to go vineyard-hopping in Napa Valley. This is a woman who loves all things wine. When Jen started opening up about her passion for wine, “outdated, boring, empty and dull,” were nowhere to be found. But when it came to her physical space, this gorgeous collection of wine and all her passion, radiance, and love for it were living locked away in a dark closet. Where no one could see it. Where Jen couldn’t feel it or connect with it. “I know,” she said. “I have been meaning to find a way to display my wine collection for years but I just haven’t done it.”

Hint: “I know I’ve been meaning to [insert well-intentioned, self-loving behavior or project] but I just haven’t done it yet” is never the whole story.

We dug a little deeper into why she had been keeping this amazing passion locked away in a closet. What Jen discovered was that there was significant connection between her hidden wine collection and the way she was showing up in her life. Her eyes got wide as this realization came to light. She was literally and figuratively hiding her passions in the closet. And she finally saw the ways she was hiding from the world, stuck in a constant cycle of fear and resistance. Fear of being seen for who she really is. Resistance to feeling vulnerable enough to share her true self with others. By unconsciously keeping these parts of herself hidden and locked away, she was not only blocking herself from making meaningful connections with others, but she was blocking herself from being supported and inspired by her own passions, interests, and desires. The wine in the closet was a metaphor for all the ways she’d been avoiding a connection with herself and her world. The hard work was done.

Awareness, all by itself, has an incredible way of making change happen.

Once Jen saw the metaphor between her space and her life, her resistance and procrastination didn’t hold the same power and she began to move forward. She bought a beautiful display case to preserve and show off her collection of wine.  She purchased gorgeous prints of vineyards to hang up around her home. She planned and hosted a wine party for her friends. Meanwhile (and this is the semi-magical part), as Jen started making these small changes inside her home, she also began to feel more alive, confident, and connected to herself outside her home. With her new awareness and inspired action, she is now able to examine other places she holds back or hides in her life and she has continued to bring more of herself and her aliveness to the surface. Yay! I love this story because so many of us are locking our passions in the closet. Whether they are actually physically living in a closet (like Jen’s wine collection) or locked away in a corner of your heart, they are hiding and it is important we start bringing them into the light. So now it’s your turn: Where are YOU hiding in your space and in your life?

Let’s not let the brightest parts of ourselves sit in a dark closet.              Click to tweet!

Take Action…

In your home: Look around – are your passions living in a closet? What have you tucked away and/or hidden? This is an invitation to literally open doors in your home and look “at” and “through” what may be hiding inside. In your heart: Allow your discoveries to expand as a metaphor in your life. What does the clutter, passion or that sentimental object represent? How does it point to an aspect of your life that is stuck, fearful, ashamed, lonely or just needs a little lovin? How can you bring this part of you closer to the surface? What’s one way you can shine a little brighter in your home? One piece of you that you can bring into the light? Display it, let go of it, or let’s deal with it!

In the comments below tell me one place you are hiding… in your space and/or in your life? And if you liked this post please share it with your friends!

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When I say ‘homemaker,’ what do you imagine?

A June Cleaver-type vacuuming in heels? Fruit suspended in a jello mold?  Doilies on top of everything?

Eeek,  I know! Let’s stop right there! Making a beautiful home that reflects who you are and the life you want shouldn’t be a lost art reserved for 1950s housewives.

In fact, I’d argue that the benefits and importance of tending to the home have been lost on Gen X.  Really, I would say that the art of the homemaker is one of the most neglected aspects of being human.

I’m here to change this.

Redefining homemaker.

Let’s be honest: the term homemaker has gotten a bad rap. It’s full of negative connotations and chauvinistic imagery.  I say it’s high time we reclaim it, turn it on its head, and announce that we’re home creators, instead.

Am I suggesting we return to a time when a woman’s “place” was in the home? Of course not.  That image of perfect Suzie Housewife with her crisp, white apron and pearls, not a silken blonde curl out of place, is a fraud. She never truly existed; may she finally rest in peace.

Instead, I want us all to reconnect with ourselves, our families, our bodies, and hearts through the rituals of creating our homes.

There is honor in creating a home.

Sometimes the activities of daily living that tend to fall under the banner of homemaking are not all that fun. But they need to get done, and the more we tend to them, the greater the benefits.

There is beauty and honor in being a home creator – the maker of the home. It transcends time, place, gender, occupation, income and comes to rest on the realization that the rituals of making a home for yourself and those you love can be a thing of pure joy.

There is honor and beauty in being a “home-creator” that transcends time, place, gender, occupation, and income. Click to tweet

Whether you’re cooking a meal, scrubbing a toilet, or rearranging the furniture for better flow and conversation… you are making an impact on your life and the life of those around you. These are no small tasks, and they deserve respect. When we tend to the home we are taking a subtle but profound kind of personal responsibility for creating our reality, creating our life the way we want/need it and reaping the benefits of living presently in our own uniquely beautiful, alive and real life.

How does creating a home help us evolve?

Home creating is more than keeping your space tidy, vacuuming the rugs, and folding the laundry. And in the same way, home creating is also more than merely decorating  or making your home look perfect.

Deep down, what is home creating really about?

It’s about building a safe, nourishing home environment for us to grow and evolve.

It’s about order and functionality rather than chaos and overwhelm.

It’s about beauty and connection rather than loneliness and depression.

Being a home creator is about tending the hearth – the heart of the home – but it’s equally about tending to your own heart and finding joy in the things that matter.  You’re tending the fire so that it doesn’t go out!

Take Action:

In Your Home: Take the time to reconnect with your home and the joy tending and creating it can bring. Make time to do the things that really matter and make life luscious: tend a garden with someone you love, bake a peach pie from scratch to share, or wipe away the dust of time so your favorite objects shine.

In Your Heart: Reframe your home creating tasks as blessings rather than “to-do’s.” Setting aside a day to tend to to your space is a beautiful ritual of self love, connection, nourishment, accomplishment, and fun.

In the Comments: (Right Below!) Tell me – how do you feel about the term ‘homemaker?’ Does it have positive or negative connotations for you?  Why is that?

And if you liked this post please share it with your friends!

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Hopefully you have had a chance to dive into your introductory guide and you are starting to realize that the relationship you have with your space is a powerful one. I mean really powerful! Crazy huh?

(If you haven’t signed up to receive your free guide, be sure to put your name and email in the golden box on the top right and a beautiful copy will be sent to your inbox right away!)

This week, lets continue to bring your space alive with My 7 Authentic Design Principles!

You see… (and yes, you are going to be hearing me say this a lot!)

Your space matters!

Picking a paint color, deciding where to put your desk, the texture of your bedding – these might seem like small decisions, but they all add up and create a profound effect on your quality of life.

 I imagine, on some level you already know this, right?  You love the feel of luxurious hotel sheets.  You appreciate your friend’s perfectly edited and displayed souvenirs. You notice how you feel when your meetings are held in a blue conference room rather than the white one with florescent lights.

The truth is…each individual element you choose to include in your space affects you in some way.  It’s not often we think about how lighting can change our experience and make us happier or how that scratchy pillow can make us uncomfortable, but these are things that really do impact us every day.

When working with clients, I often help them step back and really see their space, sometimes for the first time. They might be bumping into the same table every single day (it’s literally blocking them!) without even noticing it.

These tiny, everyday things affect your well being; every element impacts your body, your mind, and your emotions.

 But how, exactly, does one make their space feel sumptuous, supportive, and inspiring?

Here are the seven basic design principles I use to bring my clients’ spaces (and my own) into greater alignment with them self and their life. Take a look!

1.  Color: Color affects everything – energy, mood, motivation, inspiration, our relationships, our ability to relax. The colors you choose should represent your developmental stage needs, as well as the needs of your family and lifestyle.

2.  Lighting: Lighting brings your home to life. It wakes it up in the morning and puts it to bed at night. It creates different ways to be present in different times and places. Bright, white light in the morning helps you get motivated to start the day; warm, dim light in the evening can create a cozy, romantic mood.

3.  Living Elements:  Even if you’re a serial plant killer, I’d encourage you to find a few sturdy house plants. Living elements connect you with the cycle of life and each living being will bring a different energy into your home.

4.  Sight Lines and Flow:  In every space, invisible paths are carved by our daily routines. What do you see when you sit in your favorite chair? Are there obstacles that you (literally or figuratively) run into every day? What things quietly annoy you so often that you no longer notice them

5.  Feel:  Textures really help set the mood and tone of a space. Imagine a home where the sofa or dining room chairs are covered in plastic. What message does that plastic send? Now imagine a space with a soft, cozy sofa, covered in pillows that were embroidered by your grandmother. Feels different, right?

6.  Smell:  If you’re familiar at all with the concept of aromatherapy, you know that different smells have the power to motivate, relax, celebrate, comfort, and heal. Smells are also deeply linked with memories – both positive and negative. Want to relax before you head to bed? Light a lavender-scented candle. Want to feel energized before you dig into a big project? Take a whiff of some grapefruit or basil

7.  Sound:  Don’t overlook the importance of sound. Each sound, both interior and exterior, has a meaning. If you live near a busy street or if you’re blessed with noisy neighbors that drive you nuts, consider investing in a white noise machine.  Music can totally change the mood of your space as well – something upbeat and happy for the beginning of your day, something slow and interesting for cooking and to help wind down at night.

BONUS:  Energetic Cleansing: Finally, some people may find it a bit woo-woo, but many people take energetic cleansing quite seriously. They believe that past lives and other spiritual energies can deeply impact the people currently living and operating in a space. If space cleansing resonates with you, stay tuned as we will be talking more about this.

I really hope you enjoyed those and now I want to hear from YOU!

In the comments below tell me which design principle you relate to most. How is this principle making a positive or negative impact in your home and life right now?

 And Take Action!

In Your Home: Focus on one room in your space and examine it through the lens of one of these principles. Are your needs, preferences and desires being met?

In Your Heart: Examine how these principles may be impacting your mind, body, or emotions. What could you modify or change to make your environment more conducive your success?

Be sure to let me know how it goes!

With love,                                                                                                                                                       Rebecca

If your time is ripe to welcome more beauty, meaning, and intention into your life—inside and out—I’d love to support you.

Contact me for a free, 30-minute consultation to discuss where you are, where you’d like to go, and if working with me is the perfect bridge between the two.

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