SavvySugar

5 Steps to Feng Shui Your Office

Emily Co — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:34:16 PDT

There is a growing trend of businesses seeking feng shui consult and home buyers seriously taking feng shui factors like the unit number of the residence into consideration before purchasing. The New York Times reports an increasing number of real estate brokers who are coming to realize the importance of feng shui to their clients. I found this so fascinating that I decided to ask Marina Lighthouse, a successful feng shui consultant, to see what SavvySugar readers can do to improve their feng shui on a smaller scale.

Add a plant: “Having a plant around you will promote and support life force or chi, just as long as it’s not spiky. Spiky plants look like swords so when you subconsciously walk by them, our natural reaction as human beings is to step back.”
Evaluate past energy: “The predecessor chi or the energy of the environment is very important. For example, if you're going to take the desk of someone that just got fired, you definitely need to adjust the feng shui of that area or you could get fired because that’s the energy of the spot."
See what's behind you: "To put your mind or psyche at ease, put a mirror [in front of you] so you can see whatever is going on behind you." For example, if your desk is facing the wall, consider hanging a small mirror on the wall to be able to see what's happening in the background.

For more tips, read after the jump.

Low Maintenance Plants For Your Cubicle

Leta Shy — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 03:05:54 PDT

There's nothing like a good desk plant to liven up your cubicle and brighten up a day at the office, not to mention the great feng shui benefits. And as an added bonus, office plants combat what NASA calls the Sick Building Syndrome by purifying the air you breathe. Here are some low-maintenance plants that do well in low or fluorescent office light. Click on one you like to pick it up and start feeling healthier at your desk!

Clockwise from top left: Golden Pothos ($17), Peace Lily ($40), Mini Leaf Jade Plant ($8), Sansevieria (Mother-in-Law's Tongue) ($17), Strawberry and Cream Rubber Tree ($8), African Violet ($28).

East Meets West: 5 Easy Feng Shui Fixes

Lizzie Fuhr — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 03:00:54 PDT

The feng shui hype has died down in the last few years, but if you're into cultivating creativity in your casa, chances are you recognize that the spaces we reside in affect our general well-being. The colors you choose, how much light enters your bedroom, and the general ability to flow through your home are all concepts that affect our ability to live comfortably and happily. Above all else, the goal of feng shui is to create a harmonious living environment that promotes health and invites happiness. And I don't know about you, but I could use as much of that as I can get. The idea of feng shui may sound a little far out, but this ancient Chinese art of placement does not have to feel so foreign. Here are five easy feng shui fixes that will allow you to harness some good energy, breathe in, and zen out.

Clear out the crazy clutter. Clutter translates to unfinished business. The last thing you should feel is overwhelming when you enter your home, or sanctuary, at the end of a long day. Get and stay organized. This means everywhere.
Let the sun shine in. Natural light promotes prosperity and happiness. Coming from someone who has lived in a number of super-dark bedrooms, there's nothing more beautiful or inspiring than the way light enters a room in the morning.
Bedrooms are for relaxation. Not work. Treat yourself with delicious fabrics and surround yourself with scents you love. Your bedroom is not a place for catching up on TV or hanging out on your computer. When you enter your bedroom, you should have a calming experience. Limiting your activities in the bedroom will make it way more intimate.
Make sure your bed is in a commanding position. The placement of your bedroom is not just a stylistic choice, it can also affect the chi in your room. The golden rule of bed placement in feng shui? You want to make sure you're facing the door when you're in bed. It can be placed across the room with your headboard against the wall, or even diagonally, but you want to have a feeling of peace and safety in your bed. This alignment will help you achieve that.
Fresh flowers and plants keep energy awake and moving. You don't have to import Chinese bamboo in order to feng shui your spot. Bringing just a little green into your home will connect you to nature and warm things up. It's also a great idea to put some plants in a corner of a room; this technique is said to keep energy flowing in typically stagnant spots.

Does your home harness some serious chi? Share a photo in the Su Casa group, and we may feature it on the site!

Do You Practice Feng Shui?

CasaSugar — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 08:30:04 PDT

I personally don't know much about the ancient Chinese practice of feng shui, and I've always felt like there's too much to learn to get it right. But, I have friends who swear that it's improved their lives by sending them "positive Qi." Do you practice feng shui? Have you made an attempt? Do you think it's a hoax? What's your take?Source

Would You Dine at This McDonald's?

YumSugar — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 07:15:19 PST

McDonald's recently opened their first feng shui inspired restaurant in Hacienda Heights, CA. There are water elements, earth tones, red accents and exotic fauna. The franchise owner said they did this to create a soothing environment for their customers to enjoy their dining experience. So tell me, do you think you'd enjoy this feng shui-ed McD's?

Having Trouble Sleeping? Try Feng Shui

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 02:30:00 PST

Do you have a hard time falling or staying asleep? Do you wake up in the morning feeling uneasy or irritated? It may have to do with the Feng Shui in your bedroom. Feng Shui, which literally means "wind and water," is the ancient Chinese art of placement. The goal is to enhance the flow of "chi" (energy) and to create a harmonious environment that supports health and happiness.

Here are some basic Feng Shui tips to hep you get a better night's sleep:

Shut out the outside world by removing the TV, computer, and exercise equipment. The bedroom is your place of serenity, where you need to get away from the stresses of life, so if your desk or office must be in the bedroom, separate the space with a curtain or folding screen.
Use calm and friendly earth tones such as copper, cream, tan and chocolate to create a warm and cozy atmosphere. Light blue, mint green and lavender will give a tranquil feeling and invite healing energy. Vibrant colors such as red and bright orange stimulate the mind, so this may not be the best color for your bedroom.
Your bed should be in the commanding position. This means it should be far away from the door, but you should still be able to see the entrance. This will give you a sense of safety and protection. You also don't want the foot of your bed to be pointing towards the door. In traditional Chinese culture, this is called the "Death Position," and thought to drain life force energy since the deceased were carried out feet first.
There should be room on either side of the bed so it is approachable from both sides and energy can flow around you freely.

Want to hear more about your bed? Then

Try not to put your bed under a slanted ceiling, heavy beam or ceiling fan. This position is thought to contain depressing energy that literally pushes down on you while you sleep. If you can't avoid this position, hang tapestries or other fabric above the bed.
Also avoid positioning your bed directly under a window. A solid wall symbolically can support and protect you, while glass allows energy to flow in and out of the window, which may cause restless sleep. Solid headboards are great since they'll provide even more protection and support while you sleep. Footboards on the other hand block forward progress in life and are only recommended if your bed has to point towards the door.
Reduce clutter in your bedroom, under your bed, in your closet, and on your night stand. Clutter represents unfinished business, which can disturb your sleep.
Cover windows with curtains so that you can have a cocoon-like feeling at night, and they'll keep the sunlight out in the morning. Being exposed to sunlight first thing in the morning is said to influence your serotonin levels and affect you for the rest of the day. Once you're ready to wake up, you can easily pull the curtains open and flood your room with natural light.
Make sure not to hang a mirror next to or opposite the bed as this is thought to bounce too much energy around the room and prevent restful sleep.
Hang up art that exudes happiness and calm energy.

You obviously don't have to do all these things, but as long as you can walk into your bedroom and feel relaxed and comforted, then you're on your way to a good night's sleep.

Source

How to Find Affordable, No-Fee Apartments on Craigslist

Business Insider — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:15:00 PDT

Searching for a home? Here are some great tactics for apartment hunting on Craigslist from Business Insider.

Believe it or not, I've found all of my apartments on Craigslist.

And I've never paid a broker's fee once.

I've always resented the notion of a one-month (or more) broker's fee, since in my experience, the real estate brokers showing my apartment were just making appointments.

RELATED: Tips For Cheap Feng Shui

I was the one telling them about the closest grocery store, amenities in the building, and all the quirks of the apartment.

There are apartments on the site if you know how to wade through the crap. It just takes research, common sense, and knowing exactly what you want.

Here's what I've done to find fee-free apartments on Craigslist in Hoboken, NJ; Jersey City, NJ; the Upper West Side, NYC, and the Upper East Side, NYC:

Research, research, research! Figure out which area or areas you want to live in and really explore them. Take trips to the neighborhood during the day and at night. Assess which section is the expensive part of town, where the main street is, where the closest transportation is, and where the residential section is. Talk to people who live there as well as people who don't. Get as much information as possible from as many different people as possible.

Don't trust the pictures. Are all the shots narrow? Does the apartment look like it has many hallways but no rooms? It's probably a shoe box. Lots of pictures of the outside or only one room means that the broker/owner doesn't want you to see what's inside. Request more pictures before you take the time to see the apartment.

Read on for more.

Link Time: Tips for a Greener Home, Easy Kitchen Updates, and Graphic Accessories

Angela Swinderman Elias — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:16:02 PDT

Discover five pinners you should be following – Stylelist Home
Learn tricks for rearranging your furniture to achieve either a formal, feng shui, or kid-friendly layout – Real Simple
Get tips for making your home more eco-friendly – Houzz
Shop on-trend graphics for your home – Elle Decor
Find out 20 different ways to update your kitchen (without a huge remodel) – Country Living
Check out ten charming animal inspired home accessories – House Beautiful
Learn the secrets behind DIY curtains that are stylish and easy to make – Apartment Therapy

The Secret to Making Your Dollar Last

LearnVest — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:15:57 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Research psychologists have all the best tricks up their sleeves. Maybe it’s because they study humans like guinea pigs to figure out what really makes our complicated selves tick.

Feeling stressed? Reason yourself out of it (studies show this actually works). Rushed all the time? Slow down, and you’ll be a nicer person (a famous study we cite shows that this is true, no matter who you are).

Feeling broke? Or wish you could stretch your dollar more? We’d normally tell you to head straight to My Money Center and Budgeting Tool (you can’t have enough free tools at your fingertips) - but today, we’re going to give you a break. We’re going to let you in on an easy way to stretch your dollar and enhance your happiness, and it’s also totally free. It’s called savoring.

What Is Savoring?

Savoring is the ability to prolong and stretch enjoyment or positive emotional experiences. It’s the difference between wolfing down a meal vs. lingering over every bite. It relates to how much time you spend sitting in front of a sunset (if you even stop at all).

Scientists have consistently found that the ability to savor promotes happiness (see here or here). Which makes sense. The more you can prolong positive emotional experiences, the more positive emotions are filling up your day. In fact, the tendency to savor benefits individuals across the lifespan: studies show it predicts the subjective well-being for grade-school children, adolescents, college students, and the elderly.

Read on for more.

Earn More Money By Changing Up Your Office Space

LearnVest — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:15:07 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Most of us spend about 40 hours per week at work - in other words, the majority of our waking hours.

And nearly all of those hours are spent sitting at our desks. It’s a definite problem - and not just because we’re missing happy hour or quality couch time at home.

There’s no shortage of discouraging research pointing out the evils of a sedentary lifestyle and claiming that sitting will actually shorten our lives.

But, conversely, making a few tweaks to the way you sit - and the space you sit in - all day has been proven to make you a happier, healthier worker, busy earning your killer salary.

And, scientists say, the happier you are, the more you tend to earn.

In an effort to make the time spent at our desks as productive (and as profitable) as possible, we’ve combed the research for the easiest, most effective tips to soothe your mind and body when trapped in a cubicle . . . or corner office.

Just follow these four steps.

1. Make It Comfy

When we say “comfy,” we mean “ergonomic.” It’s an unfriendly word for a friendly concept: basically it means “intended to provide optimum comfort and to avoid stress or injury.” Friendly, right? Besides, an awkward workspace can lead to major health issues, including disorders in your joints or tendons, so a little tweaking of your cubicle can go a long way for your well-being. Line up your body correctly by following these two principles:

Your feet should be flat on the floor and your elbows should be even with your desk. This can be achieved either through adjustable chairs or - if chairs are a hot commodity at your office - a combination of step stools and pillows.

Read on for more tips.