From the amazing site Marc and Angel Hack Life:

“When you stop chasing the wrong things, you give the right things a chance to catch you.

So starting today…

  1. Give up trying to be perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done.  Read Getting Things Done.
  2. Give up comparing yourself to others. – The only person you are competing against is yourself.
  3. Give up dwelling on the past or worrying too much about the future. – Right now is the only moment guaranteed to you.  Right now is life.  Don’t miss it.
  4. Give up complaining. – Do something about it.
  5. Give up holding grudges. – Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness.
  6. Give up waiting. – What we don’t start today won’t be finished by tomorrow.  Knowledge and intelligence are both useless without action.
  7. Give up lying. – In the long-run the truth always reveals itself.  Either you own up to your actions or your actions will ultimately own you.
  8. Give up trying to avoid mistakes. – The only mistake that can truly hurt you is choosing to do nothing simply because you’re too scared to make a mistake.
  9. Give up saying, “I can’t.” – As Henry Ford put it, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right.”
  10. Give up trying to be everything to everyone. – Making one person smile can change the world.  Maybe not the whole world, but their world.  Start small.  Start now.
  11. Give up thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises.  Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.
  12. Give up setting small goals for yourself. – Many people set small goals because they’re afraid to fail.  Ironically, setting these small goals is what makes them fail.
  13. Give up trying to do everything by yourself. – You are the sum of the people you spend the most time with.  If you work together, you will be far more capable and powerful than you ever could have been alone.
  14. Give up buying things you don’t need. – Manage your money wisely so your money does not manage you.  Do not spend to impress others.  Do not live life trying to fool yourself into thinking wealth is measured in material objects.  Read I Will Teach You To Be Rich.
  15. Give up blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can live your dream life depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life.  When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.
  16. Give up making mountains out of molehills. – One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time?  Three years?  Five years?  If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.
  17. Give up trying to live up to the expectations of others. – Work on it for real and exceed your own expectations.  Everything else will fall into place.
  18. Give up the ‘easy street’ mentality. – There is too much emphasis on finding a ‘quick fix’ in today’s society.  For example taking diet pills to lose weight instead of exercising and eating well.  No amount of magic fairy dust replaces diligent, focused, hard work.
  19. Give up making promises you can’t keep. – Don’t over-promise.  Over-deliver on everything you do.
  20. Give up letting your thoughts and feelings bottle up inside. – People are not mind readers.  They will never know how you feel unless you tell them.
  21. Give up beating around the bush. – Say what you mean and mean what you say.  Communicate effectively.
  22. Give up avoiding change. – However good or bad a situation is now, it will change.  That’s the one thing you can count on.  So embrace change and realize that change happens for a reason.  It won’t always be easy or obvious at first, but in the end it will be worth it.
  23. Give up your sense of entitlement. – Nobody is entitled to anything in this world.  We are all equal.  We breathe the same air.  We get what we give.  We get what we earn.
  24. Give up waiting until the last minute. – Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.
  25. Give up being dramatic. – Stay out of other people’s drama and don’t needlessly create your own.
  26. Give up being anti-athletic. – Get your body moving!  Simply take a long, relaxing walk or commit 30 minutes to an at-home exercise program like the P90X workout.
  27. Give up junk food. – You are what you eat.  Read The 4-Hour Body.
  28. Give up eating as a means of entertainment. – Don’t eat when you’re bored.  Eat when you’re hungry.
  29. Give up foolish habits that you know are foolish. – Don’t text and drive.  Don’t drink and drive.  Don’t smoke.  Etc.
  30. Give up relationships with people who bring you down. – Saying “no” to right people gives you the time and resources required to say “yes” to right opportunities.  Spend time with nice people who are smart, driven and likeminded.
  31. Give up being shy. – Network with people.  Meet new people.  Ask questions.  Introduce yourself.
  32. Give up worrying about what others think of you. – Unless you’re trying to make a great first impression (job interview, first date, etc.), don’t let the opinions of others stand in your way.  What they think and say about you isn’t important.  What is important is how you feel about yourself.
  33. Give up trying to control everything. – Life is an unpredictable phenomenon.  No matter how good or bad things seem right now, we can never be 100% certain what will happen next.  So do you best with what’s in front of you and leave the rest to the powers above you.
  34. Give up doing the same thing over and over again. – In order to grow, you must expand your horizons and break free of your comfort zone.  If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.
  35. Give up following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile.  Don’t find the easy way out.  Do something extraordinary.
  36. Give up persistent multi-tasking. – Do one thing at a time and do it right.
  37. Give up thinking others are luckier than you. – The harder you work, the luckier you will become.
  38. Give up filling every waking moment with commitments and activities. – It’s okay to be alone.  It’s okay to do nothing sometimes.  Think.  Relax. Breathe.  Be.
  39. Give up making emotional decisions. – Don’t let your emotions trump your intelligence.  Slow down and think things through before you make any life-changing decisions.
  40. Give up doing the wrong things just because you can get away with it. – Just because you can get away with something doesn’t mean you should do it.  Think bigger.  Keep the end in mind.  Do what you know in your heart is right.
  41. Give up focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen.  Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story.  If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.
  42. Give up taking yourself so seriously. – Few others do anyway.  So enjoy yourself and have a little fun while you can.
  43. Give up spending your life working in a career field you’re notpassionate about. – Life is too short for such nonsense.  The right career choice is based on one key point: Finding hard work you love doing.  So if you catch yourself working hard and loving every minute of it, don’t stop.  You’re on to something big.  Because hard work ain’t hard when you concentrate on your passions.  Read The 4-Hour Workweek.
  44. Give up thinking about the things you don’t have. – Appreciate everything you do have.  Many people aren’t so lucky.
  45. Give up doubting others. – People who are determined do remarkable things.  Remember, the one who says it can’t be done should never interrupt the one doing it.
  46. Give up fussing with every beauty product on the market. – Good looks attracts the eyes.  Personality attracts the heart.  Be proud to be you.  That’s when you’re beautiful.
  47. Give up trying to fit in. – Don’t mold yourself into someone you’re not.  Be yourself.  Oftentimes, the only reason they want you to fit in is that once you do they can ignore you and go about their business.
  48. Give up trying to be different for the sake of being different. – Nonconformity for the sake of nonconformity is conformity.  When people try too hard to be different, they usually end up being just like everyone else who is trying to be different.  Once again, be yourself.
  49. Give up trying to avoid risk. – There’s no such thing as ‘risk free.’  Everything you do or don’t do has an inherent risk.
  50. Give up putting your own needs on the back burner. – Yes, help others, but help yourself too.  If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.

And remember, mistakes make us human, failures help us grow, hope keeps us going and love is the reason we’re alive.  So keep learning, loving and living.  Never give up on yourself.”

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks

Launching 01 APRIL, 2011

We launch the new website www.101ThingsIHateAboutYourHouse.com featuring everything you want to know about my new book, book tours, media events, TV and Radio appearances and my Personal Favorites Resource Center. We’ll have contests, daily blog postings, special guests and so much more.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks

Never go to excess, but let moderation be your guide.” Marcus Tullius Cicero

Flights of fancy may be fun but at the end of the day the wisdom wrapped in the simple cloak of moderation wins it for me.  There is an elegance found in simplicity, in the clean well edited version of things which never fails to capture my attention. Maybe it’s a reaction to the complexity of our times but on the broader stage of life I’ve come to believe that it’s my own designing North Star guiding me safely home.

Wrong on so many levels

While my heart will always skip a beat at the sight of a monumental decorative flourish honestly I resonate more and more with the beauty found in a graceful line, a well edited vista or the unadorned sweep of fabric exposing a framed view of the world beyond. Looks like I’m just a simple guy after all. Which makes today’s look at the plain silly excesses of tassels, trims and tapes all the more ridiculous. Like the artistry of makeup on a woman’s face these highlighting devices can, by their application, tell very different stories. When appropriately selected and applied a story of grace and refinement is told but with a heavier hand and less constrained taste what began as a lady quickly looks like a working girl.

Love Yourself; Love Your House

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks

Over the past year our friends at Marc and Angel Hack Life have received countless requests to compile all the life questions shared on their site and place them on a single page that can be easily printed and reviewed.  So here it is.  A whole year’s worth of thought provoking questions to get your mind moving.

Do yourself a favor and settle in for a thought provoking read. You won’t regret this investment of time.

365 Thought Provoking Life Questions

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks

Only great minds can afford a simple style.” Stendhal

When a decorative opportunity exists primarily for its own expression there is trouble in River City.  Details that present themselves as extensions of a classical order tend to, when kept simple, find a home in the expansive range of the appropriate. Most anything, when kept simple, can prove harmonious with it’s surroundings and thus tip the scale of “yes” rather than landing squarely in the “no” column.

There are areas in the home which, to the lesser trained individual, offers a carnival sized smorgasbord of mostly bad choices. The tendency toward “silly” seems in direct proportion to the decorating inexperience; boldness and innovation are mistaken for style and taste and the whole thing becomes a comical disaster. One such area, in the making of a home, is the valance. When executed by a knowledgeable hand this tool of design speaks of harmony, scale, proportion and an appropriateness which appears second nature. When these principles are glazed over the results are more akin to images in a decorating fun house mirror.  To this day I cringe when a friend asks me over to see the pretty new valances they’ve just put up.

Love Yourself; Love Your House

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks

“Friends are like bras; close to your heart and there for support.”  Unknown

Often the greatest upfront successes are the direct result of a network of “invisible” support. It turns out that the “overnight” career explosion witnessed and celebrated by the world is the direct result of years of diligent, consistent and relentless effort.  Few manifestations of any worth spring to life fully formed without a labyrinth of intricate systems far in the background.

Like haute couture that looks deceptively simple but belies its complicated internal structure so too is the slight of hand involved in beautiful curtains.  Richly appointed panels are not solely the result of an exceptional fabric selection but rather rely on layers of lining to produce their rich hand, sublime weight and graceful draping.  With very few exceptions a proper curtain requires some form of lining. The choices are as follows:

  1. A single-layer lining of cotton (never synthetic) sateen or similar fabric in white or cream. Adding body to the face fabric and providing protection from the exterior elements this simple layer will enhance the life of the curtain as well as its function and beauty.
  2. A cotton inter-lining. Typically a felted material this is used between the face fabric and the cotton lining. The inter-lining adds a weight to the curtain’s hand which is unmistakable. It also increases the insulating properties of the curtains while delivering a luxurious drape to the finished product not otherwise attainable. Inter-lining does not block-out natural light.
  3. A black-out lining. Similar to the inter-lining but fabricated with a facing which prevents light from passing. This offers complete blocking of daylight when the curtains are drawn and is recommended for all bedroom applications. Weighed similarly to the cotton inter-lining the blackout lining adds greatly to the curtain’s finished presence.

The fabrication of beautiful curtain panels does not happen by chance but rather by the studied application of principles which have been perfected over time. Find a workroom aware of this these principles and you have a workroom worth its weight in decorating gold. Cherish them like the treasure they are.

Love Yourself; Love Your House

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks

“Life is filigree work. What is written clearly is not worth much, it’s the transparency that counts.” Louis-Ferdinand Celine

In matters of relationship, both public and private, transparency is prized as a virtue. It is a treasure to be sought, mined and cherished as one would a valuable jewel.  Transparency in matters of decoration can be a bit more problematic. Shear curtains by their very name offer a thinly veiled view of the outside world and when used in conjunction with layers of curtains, shades or shutters offer the maker of homes options galore.

Transparency becomes problematic when the time tested approach to window covering layers is bypassed. The hanging of unlined panels on the windows of our life, while often a necessity, is not the ideal. Who among us has not hung a bed sheet over a window in a new home or apartment in an attempt to give privacy during those initial moments of occupancy?  And why not take advantage of the multitude of unlined panels available in stores today when funds are tight but some sense of window resolution is sought. But be warned. These panels should be viewed for what they are; placeholders against which we stack our hopes for a more advanced version of lined curtains. The bleed of light pouring though lightly draped fabric disallows appreciation of color or pattern and creates an odd glare which reminds me of staring into an open flame. And the propensity for sun light to fade and deteriorate fabric is greatly underestimated. Lining aids in protecting your investment and allows for a longer life for your decorating investment. So unless decorating a beach front cottage where unlined linen panels can be desirable, make lining your curtains a goal worth pursuing.

Love Yourself; Love Your House

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks

“People shop for a bathing suit with more care than they do a partner. The rules are the same. Look for something you’ll feel comfortable wearing. Allow for room to grow.”
Erma Bombeck

It has been mentioned to me, on a number of occasions that, while the great fun of “101 Things….” is the dissection of lacking interiors, there should be clear instruction on how to achieve success. It’s hard to argue with this logic and so, in the true spirit of making the world more beautiful a slight change is afoot. In the mornings we will start our day by focusing on the sadly misbegotten rooms we’ve come to love to hate. Balancing this will be our afternoon posts where I shall try to quantify a basic principle and articulate it’s execution in a manner that will encourage more beauty at every turn. I have no doubt that you will continue to find reason to comment on the afternoon’s offerings and I’d be disappointed if you didn’t. I shall also be disappointed if you also don’t share your personal experiences in “getting it right” so we can all learn together.

So in this spirit here are my thoughts on perfectly lovely and delightfully simple curtains on rods.  We shall consider these “Curtains 101”;  basic curtains, beautiful and perfectly appropriate in most every circumstance. To achieve this “simple” success consider the following:

  1. Mount the curtain rod as high above the window casing or opening as feasible.
  1. If a shear layer is called for mount this layer at the same height.
  2. If shades of any sort are used these too should be mounted at rod height (a common mistake is made when installing shades inside the window frame. Great decorating energy is lost when windows are truncated in this manner).
  3. Line your curtain panels. Cream or white cotton only. And all curtains in the house should carry matching cream or white lining.
  4. Inter-line your curtain panels if your budget allows. The added weight of a felt interlining can offer a blackout possibility and give you a most elegant drape to your curtain panels).
  5. Never puddle curtains on the floor. ½” break (think a gentleman’s trouser breaking on his shoe) is all that is needed.
  6. If trim is used it is best when applied to the lead and hem edges only.
  7. To avoid fabric buckling always apply trim by hand. Machine stitched trims tend to pucker and bunch-up in an unattractive manner.
  8. Curtain hardware should coordinate with the room’s décor. Avoid “statement” rods which pretend they are something they are not; the center of attention!
Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks

I really do hate an unsafe home. Most home related accidents can be prevented.

Safety doesn’t take a lot of time, but it does take thought and planning. Not sure how to Commit a Minute to Safety? Pick one, 10 or 100 of the things below and get started today. You’ll see that sometimes it just takes a minute to avoid what could be a lifetime of regret.

  1. Test each smoke alarm in your home
  2. Replace the batteries in each smoke alarm
  3. Count how many smoke alarms you have in your house. If you do not have one on every level and near sleeping areas, purchase additional smoke alarms
  4. Designate an outside meeting place for your family (for example: the mailbox) in case of a fire or emergency
  5. Blow out candles before leaving the room or going to sleep
  6. Use a sturdy candle holder or hurricane lamp
  7. Turn down your hot water heater to 120 degrees or less to prevent burns
  8. Roll up your sleeves before you start cooking
  9. Have oven mitts nearby when cooking
  10. Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove
  11. Store all matches and lighters out of reach of children
  12. Put hot food and drinks near the center of the table only
  13. Put down your hot drink when carrying your baby
  14. Test hot water with an elbow before allowing a child to touch
  15. Post your fire escape plan on your refrigerator
  16. Put water on cigarette butts before throwing them away
  17. Unplug small appliances such as hair dryers and toasters after using them
  18. Use flameless candles
  19. Move anything that can burn, such as dish towels, at least three feet away from the stove
  20. Practice “Stop, Drop and Roll” with your kids
  21. Schedule an appointment to have your furnace cleaned and inspected
  22. Look for the UL Mark when you buy appliances
  23. Tell kids to stay away from the stove/oven
  24. Turn space heaters off before going to bed
  25. Remove any gasoline from your home
  26. Put non-slip strips in your tub and shower
  27. Install night lights in the hallway
  28. Put a flashlight in each bedroom
  29. Wipe up spills as soon as they happen to prevent slips and falls
  30. Use a sturdy Christmas tree stand
  31. Water your Christmas tree every day
  32. Keep your Christmas tree at least three feet away from any heat source
  33. Inspect your Christmas lights for signs of damage
  34. Flip over large buckets so water cannot accumulate and become a drowning danger
  35. Store cleaners and other poisons away from food
  36. Post the Poison Control hotline number (1-800-222-1222 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-222-1222 end_of_the_skype_highlighting) next to your phone
  37. If you have young children, use cabinet locks on cabinets that have poisons such as antifreeze, cleaners, detergents, etc.
  38. Keep medicine in its original containers
  39. Purchase a carbon monoxide detector for your home
  40. Test your carbon monoxide (CO) alarm
  41. Put your infant to sleep on his/her back
  42. Remove any soft bedding, stuffed animals and pillows from your infant’s crib
  43. Cut your toddler’s food into small bites
  44. Use safety straps on high chairs and changing tables
  45. Check www.recalls.gov to see if any items in your home (including cribs) have been recalled
  46. Move cribs away from windows
  47. Use safety covers on unused electrical outlets
  48. Test small toys for choking hazards – if it fits in a toilet paper roll, it’s too small
  49. Remove all plastic bags from the nursery
  50. Pick up any small items, such as coins or buttons, that can be choking hazards for infants and toddlers
  51. Write down emergency contact information for your family and make sure everyone has these numbers
  52. If young children live in or visit your home, move furniture away from windows so they don’t climb up to look out and accidentally fall
  53. Tie window cords out of a child’s reach
  54. Check your child’s bath water temperature (use your wrist or elbow) to make sure it is not too hot
  55. Remove drawstrings from your baby’s clothing
  56. Keep the toilet lid shut to prevent little fingers from getting slammed by a falling lid
  57. If you have toddlers, install a toilet seat lock
  58. If you have young children, install door knob covers on bathroom doors
  59. Use a fireplace screen
  60. Put toys away after playing
  61. Don’t refer to medicine or vitamins as “candy”
  62. Put on safety glasses before any DIY project
  63. Put tools away after your DIY project is complete
  64. Post emergency numbers near your phone
  65. Pick up one new thing for your family’s emergency preparedness kit
  66. Use a ladder, not a chair, when climbing to reach something
  67. Use plastic instead of glass near the pool
  68. Cover any spa or hot tub when it is not in use
  69. Purchase a first aid kit
  70. Drain the bath tub immediately after bathing
  71. Remove clutter from the stairs
  72. Use the handrail when you are walking up or down the stairs
  73. If the power goes out, use flashlights instead of candles
  74. Ask smokers to smoke outside
  75. Wear proper shoes when climbing a ladder
  76. Check your home for too many plugs in one socket and fix the problem
  77. Install baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs if you have young children
  78. Never leave food cooking unattended
  79. Make sure pools or spas are properly fenced to keep out small children
  80. Teach kids to tell you when they see matches or lighters
  81. Turn out the lights when you leave the room
  82. Unplug appliances that aren’t in use (especially in the kitchen)
  83. Take your hair dryer off of the bathroom counter and store it safely
  84. Check your electronics for the UL Mark
  85. Identify two exits from every room with your kids in case of fire
  86. Check your holiday decorations – keep breakable decorations out of reach of young children
  87. Replace an old light bulb with a new energy-efficient option
  88. Check the walls for loose paint chips and re-paint with low-VOC or VOC-free paint
  89. Check all the outlets in your home for overloaded sockets or extension cords
  90. Remove any extension cords that are pulled under rugs or tacked up
  91. Place fire extinguishers in key areas of your home
  92. Place an escape ladder in an upstairs room that might not have an easy exit
  93. Remove any painted furniture that is pre-1978 to avoid possible lead exposure
  94. Lock medications safely in a cabinet
  95. Consider low-flow toilets
  96. Check that all major appliances are grounded and test your GFCIs
  97. Clean the lint trap and hose on your dryer
  98. Check your swing set for sharp edges or dangerous S-hooks
  99. Take a tour of your home from your child’s perspective looking for hazards
  100. Hold a family fire drill

Love Yourself; Love Your House

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks