HKpowerStudio

Creatively Organized Spaces

  • Home
  • About
  • Organizing Services
    • PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZING SERVICES
    • ART ORGANIZING & DESIGN SERVICES
    • VIRTUAL ORGANIZING SERVICES
    • Projects
    • Home Inventory without Heartache
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Closets & Clothing
    • Vision Board Workshops
  • Media
  • Connect

Discovering Delight

January 3, 2023 by Heather Filed Under: Creative process, Inspiration & Education, Planning & Goals, Productivity, Uncategorized, Wellness & Mindset 4 Comments

Happy 2023! These days, when greeting people right after New Year, I find it’s not uncommon to exchange “words.” Selecting a word for the year (WOTY) has become common practice! It was a year that began with a lot of uncertainty. I had left my long-term corporate career as a textile designer, and though I was finding my way, I was still far from confident in my future. I began setting an intention for my year by selecting a word; that year, I needed clarity. By the end of the year, I had launched my business, firmly stepped away from my corporate career, and permitted myself to be with unknowing as things came into focus. The results of selecting a word was powerful, and the practice has stayed with me. 

In 2022, I began the year needing HOPE. Strangely, I selected the word before things started to get crazy in our lives. I just figured that after two years of being worn down by the pandemic and grad school, I needed hope. 

I needed to be in a mind state of hope.

I needed to act in hope. 

I learned to live in a state of hope, to remember to be hopeful, and to take actions that lead to hopeful outcomes! 

HOPE became a practice.

As I reflected on my capacity to carry hope with me, I realized that I wanted more. I wanted something more expansive, light, and inspiring. I thought about the word inspiration and realized that I was trying to get deeper to our source of inspiration and oftentimes, that is what delights us. 

I want to live in Delight! 

 

WOTY-2023 Delight

 

Having my 4-year-old nephew with me over the holidays was a wonderful reminder that the delight children live with (much of the time). I asked myself if I could just recapture some of that every day.

Yes, I believe I can live in delight! It’s a practice and my intention for 2023. I will spend the next year playing with, noticing, cultivating, discovering, and pursuing what is a delight. 

Delight is everywhere! It’s a matter of noticing and finding gratitude for what is delightful.

Reflecting on the past DECADE of my practice of selecting a WOTY, here are some of my previous words. I love how they connect and flow into one another.

2011: CLARITY
2012: SOAR
2013: RADIANT
2014: PLAY
2015: CHOICE
2016: HARMONY
2017: ACCEPTANCE
2018: FEARLESS
2019: INTENTION
2020: INTEGRATION
2021: POSSIBILITY
2022: HOPE
2023: DELIGHT



















Word Cloud Created with Thinkmap: https://www.visualthesaurus.com/

I would love to hear your thoughts on the word of the year process (WOTY). Hit reply and let me know your word (s).

Sanity Saving Holiday Organizing Tips

December 8, 2022 by Heather Filed Under: Inspiration & Education, Organize, Wellness & Mindset Leave a Comment

Each of these holiday organizing tips will help get you through the season with a bit more sanity & JOY!

Holiday Organizing Tips

  • After receiving new holiday gifts, donate used items you no longer need to charity (One in One out Rule).
  • Ditch the photo holiday cards…generally, they end up in the trash (recycled, hopefully), especially since people can see you more frequently via social media. How about a digital holiday card? I compromised and began sending recycled content postcards a few years ago.
  • As you pull holiday items out, please consider donating old ornaments and out-of-date decorations. Many thrift shops set up great holiday display areas! Consider picking up new/vintage items from thrift locations also.
  • Begin memento boxes for your kid’s holiday traditions, and keep these separate so they can be given to your older kids when they leave home.
  • Clean out your attic, garage, or basement space before you return your holiday decoration bins (vacuum, wipe down shelves if needed, etc.).
  • Have a Grab-A-Gift bag or bin with an assortment of “anyone” appropriate gifts (for last min hostess or holiday gift exchange items).
  • Clean out your spices as your cook and bake. Toss the old and make note of anything needed (put the date of purchase on the bottom).
  • Spruce up your kitchen whenever you have 10-30 mins. by tackling small areas or appliances (fridge, stove, toaster, sink, etc.) a little at a time.  You’ll feel healthier & I bet you’ll eat healthier! See this kitchen organizing post.
  • Get your gift & wrap organized. Use a gift tracking list & invest or DIY a great wrapping station—see Pinterest for ideas

How to take care of yourself with purpose this season.

  • Don’t overbook your holiday calendar. If you’ve been invited to a million parties and events, occasionally, say no to a few and leave yourself some evenings at home, either alone or with your family and relax!
  • Schedule a date with your honey or yourself for a little holiday pampering. Dinner and a movie, a bubble bath and champagne, your pick, but keep it easy and fun.
  • Plan for the next year! Get a planner or calendar to map out large events such as vacation and business travel, important family occasions, and setting personal and professional goals for at least the first 1-2 quarters of the year.
  • Create a vision board to see what you want to create…it’s a beautiful thing! Learn more about my upcoming 2023 IN-Person workshop in Charleston (it’s been years, I’m excited!)
  • Pick a Word of the Year-AKA-#WOTY
  • Take a thorough home inventory this year-don’t wait for a disaster! Subscribe to my mailing list or “like” my Facebook or Instagram for more frequent tips and inspiration!
  • Keep your body moving, dance, hit the gym, take a walk…whatever your thing is, this is a great way to get out of your head and feel your way through the season.

Finally and most importantly, take time to Celebrate what is truly Sacred to you.

Is that a tradition, time with family, or a treat that you honor yourself with?

Whatever it is, this is the season to celebrate the sacred!

Save

Indoor Gardening for a Healthy Home

October 21, 2022 by Heather Filed Under: Home, Inspiration & Education, Wellness & Mindset

I love to garden for the joy that it brings me and to maintain my well-being. As we move towards winter, my craving for the garden also moves indoors. This week, the temps dropped into the 30’s at night, signaling TIME to bring my houseplants indoors. It snuck up on us here this year and I have a feeling it will warm back up. My plants might just get a little outdoor day visit here and there over the coming weeks.

In today’s post, I’m sharing simple tips for indoor gardening for a healthy home. Fresh air, lush greenery, colorful flowers, and sensory interaction (check out the sound of plants!) are a few reasons I love to garden. All of this can also be done indoors.

Many people don’t think they have a green thumb but with a little practice, anyone can grow at least one or two plants indoors. There is no mistaking how popular indoor gardening is. This is especially true over the last couple of years while our homes have become our everything!

CAM03097

Each fall, I spend a bit of time tending to my indoor garden, before bringing plants indoors. Some of my favorite ‘house’ plants are a 20-year-old philodendron, orchids, ZZ palms, pass-along ‘Christmas’ cactus, and an assortment of terrarium plants. If you have ever been to tropical climates, you might have recognized some of your favorite houseplants growing as outdoor tropicals. This trend began in the victorian era when lush tropicals filled parlors and conservatories. Some of us still can’t get enough!

Seasonal plant tips

To freshen up indoor plants seasonally (Fall & Spring), prune, fertilize, repot or replace leggy or unwell plants. For your terrariums, do the same as above but start by cleaning terrarium glass (with H2O only on the inside). The best time to move plants in/out is when temperatures indoors and out are about the same. Be sure all chance of frost has passed-or as it dips below the 50s in the fall.

I hope these indoor gardening tips will encourage you to try (or expand) what you grow indoors. It can take a little practice to find and maintain indoor plants in the ‘right spots’ but keep trying. My friends over a The Botanary do a great job of sharing the right plants for the right spots and ‘paring plants with people!

Good reasons to garden indoors

  • Plants are natural air filters!  They clean toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, toluene, and trichloroethylene from the air. Certain plants do a great job with certain chemicals. About 1 plant per 100 sq’ has been proven to significantly purify the air.
  • Express personal style through plants and indoor gardening to add beauty and round out your interiors.
  • The act of caring for and nurturing a plant can be a meditative and calming practice.
  • You are bringing a piece of nature’s beauty inside where you can appreciate it more often.

What grows successfully inside?

Start by observing your surrounding, especially the quality of light and the location of airflow/vents. Also, be honest about your lifestyle and how much time you want to spend with your plant babies. These are the two most important factors for plant selection. Determine which direction your house and windows face. Have this information available when you go to select plants. You are sure to be more successful by selecting the correct plant for your conditions.

Factors in plant selection

  • light/exposure (N, S, E, or W)
  • humidity (run a humidifier if needed)
  • maintenance time (watering, pruning, fertilizing, re-potting, etc),
  • design style and colors in your home
  • pets, check out the ASPCA list of pet-safe plants here

With this, you will be able to make the best selections for your space. Do your research before you head out to buy anything, check out a variety of reputable local garden centers or floral shops, and talk to the staff. They can usually make excellent suggestions if you know the direction your windows face and the size and space and will tell you the common and botanical names, and maintenance requirements.

Indoor Gardening for Wellbeing

The maidenhair fern above will dry out quickly and make you feel like a failure if you can’t give it daily attention. Alternately, the ZZ Palm or Snake plant below both require low light and maintenance to thrive.

The ZZ Palm: above great for low light: image via James Saper

Sansevieria or snake plant image via Gardenista

Plant maintenance and troubleshooting

The biggest mistake people make with houseplants is overwatering (I worked in the tropical greenhouse of a local garden center).  Generally speaking, let plants dry out completely before watering again deeply (some exceptions, like ferns). Potted plants are more quickly depleted of nutrients, so re-pot every 2 years using an appropriate potting mix with a slow-release fertilizer in it or sprinkle a little slow-release once or twice a year (see package for the rate of use). Otherwise, fertilize according to a regular schedule when you water, prune out dead leaves and sections and keep an eye out for pests. If you spot something moving, take a good picture and look up pests online or take the plant/photo back to your local garden center for help.

There literally is an indoor plant for just about every situation. Ask questions and do your homework before you head out shopping so you can make the best choice for yourself.  Your indoor plants can bring you joy, a sense of calm and beauty, and cleaner indoor air.

Do you have an indoor garden?  If so, drop a comment about what your favorite or oldest plants are, or who you got them from. Are you trying something new or have you had some complete failures (we all have!)?  I’d love to hear about your indoor gardening experiences.

Healthy Cleaning Tips: Greener ways to Clean

January 6, 2022 by Heather Filed Under: Health, Inspiration & Education, Organize, Tips & Resources, Uncategorized 1 Comment

The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to de-clutter, organize your closets and create a clean and fresh start in our homes. The following healthy cleaning tips are meant to help you understand what your putting into your homes and bodies.

There are so many cleaners and cleaning products on the market but do you really know what’s in them?

With the recent focus on sanitizing since Covid, it’s important to understand how to make cleaning choices that will keep our homes and bodies healthy. 

healthy cleaning

How healthy are the cleaners that you use?

Non-toxic, more healthy cleaning should be part of your everyday home cleaning routine – and especially if you have small children. The benefits of these healhty greener cleaners include; fewer toxins and chemicals being absorbed into the skin, less damaging to the environment and better air quality in your home and they are less expensive in some cases (DIY cleansers!). If you want to better understand the toxic chemicals to look out for in your cleaners, check out my previous wellness post on the subject.

GreenWorks Multi-Purpose Cleanser is a great cleanser to use for virtually any room in your house. It can be used for a variety of different tasks and is safe for your home and your children. Not only is it made with 97% organic materials, but it also works on those stubborn stains or hard to handle messes.

Method is another cleaner that has the environmental seal of approval. The method product line comes in a variety of different cleaners including hand soap, dish soap, laundry detergent, bathroom cleaners, all-purpose cleaners and even a body wash for men and women! They come in a variety of scents and uses all biodegradable materials. They’ve thought of everything!

Mrs. Myers is a wholesome midwest cleaning brand started by Mrs. Thema A. Meyer. She created Mrs. Meyers because of her penchant for keeping things neat and tidy and the scents were inspired by her garden. Her line of cleaning products which range from hand soap, body soap, laundry detergent and air fresheners are all made with natural scents like mint, basil, and lavender. If you want your home smelling like a bouquet of roses this Spring, you better get cleaning with Mrs. Meyers!

For those who want to know EVERYTHING that is in their cleaners, DIY is the way to go! Many homemade cleaners are made with ingredients you probably already have around your home. Vinegar, essential oils, baking soda, olive oil, and water are the key players in most of your homemade cleaners.

Bathroom

Vinegar is a key ingredient to getting rid of bathroom dirt and grime! For tough toilet stains, add ½ baking soda along with a few drops of essential oils into your toilet bowl when you’re ready to tackle the toilet add ¼ cup of vinegar and scrub away the mess as it works its magic.

A spritz of pure vinegar can be used in your shower and sink on soap scum and hard water residue. Add it to a spray bottle and spritz it on, letting the vinegar soak for 20-30 minutes before wiping off. If that doesn’t work, add baking soda to the mix and try again in 15 minutes.

Kitchen

Most kitchen surfaces can also be treated with vinegar, but if your surfaces are made from marble, granite or stone stay away from the high acidity and use vodka or rubbing alcohol instead- which both have anti-viral properties. Mixing equal parts water and vinegar/alcahol will make a very effective multi-purpose cleaner that can be used on most surfaces including countertops, floors, and walls. Add your favorite essential oils to increase the anti-viral (think tea tree, thyme, lavendar or citrus sents) properties and make your home smell wonderful!

More healthy cleaning tips

To tackle greasy frying pans just add salt – and give it a good scrub! If you need to clean a cast iron pan add olive oil and a teaspoon of course salt and rinse well with water. The best way to sanitize surfaces is with a lemon, simply cut it in half and run it over the surface you would like to disinfect.

Having the right ingredients is only half of the job, having the right cleaning tool is the other half. Sponges that have a harder edge are good for scrubbing stubborn pots and pans. Rags or microfibre clothes are excellent for disinfecting surfaces and the magic eraser is great for removing soap scum, scuff marks and any other war wounds your child puts into it!

Laundry

healthy cleaning

Click to view image and recipie larger

The laundry room is where most people run into trouble with the homemade detergents because if you throw a cup of vinegar in with your clothes, they wouldn’t come out smelling very nice. Laundry detergent is a bit tougher to make, only in the sense that you have to add more ingredients. Combine bar soap (chopped and processed), baking soda, essential oils, vinegar and washing soda and you will have created a very effective and pleasant-smelling laundry detergent.

Instead of using dryer sheets that lose their scent after one use, try using laundry ‘scenters’ that will stay fresh for up to 30 loads of laundry, or more! Add your favorite herbs or loose tea to a sachet (one that has holes that the herbs can aerate is best). For more laundry organizing and cleaning tips, check out this post.

Floors

Every room in your house has one and floors can be tricky to keep clean. Anyone with hardwood floors can keep it simple by washing (or steam cleaning) with warm water, just be sure not to over soak your mop when washing the floors.

healthy cleaning

Click to view image and recipie larger

If your floors still aren’t looking as clean as they should, add a bit of dish soap in to bring out the dirt and let those floors shine.

Laminate floors are very delicate and steam mops shouldn’t be used on them. When cleaning a laminate floor clean with a light mop and spray the cleaner onto the mop, not directly onto the floor. Using a mixture of three parts water, one part vinegar and a squirt of dish soap should do the trick.

Most other floors are easy enough to care for and don’t require any special precautions. A typical all-purpose floor cleaner is a cup of water, ½ cup of vinegar and a tbsp of vegetable oil to bring out the floors natural glow.

There are hundreds of different homemade cleaner recipes out there, all have different purposes and work differently for all homeowners and their grime, but the one thing we can all agree on is that they are made from natural ingredients and have a positive impact on your home and the environment. If you have any recipes you’d like to share, please leave them in the comments below!

 

2022-HOPE for what is possible

January 3, 2022 by Heather Filed Under: Creative process, Inspiration & Education, Planning & Goals, Productivity, Uncategorized, Wellness & Mindset Leave a Comment

The beginning of a new year fills me with HOPE for what is possible.

Hope

My word for 2021 was Possibility. In 2021, possibility felt like an opening, and an invitation to release my grip on expectations. There is no failure, there is only what is possible! 

Not everything I envisioned came to be, but I was conscious that I had and have a choice to pursue or release whatever possibilities come across my path. 

Possibilities are limitless.
Possibilities are an invitation.
Possibilities are the seed of the future.

Reflecting on the past DECADE of my practice of selecting a WOTY, here are some of my previous words. I love how they connect and flow into one another.

2011: CLARITY
2012: SOAR
2013: RADIANT
2014: PLAY
2015: CHOICE
2016: HARMONY
2017: ACCEPTANCE
2018: FEARLESS
2019: INTENTION
2020: INTEGRATION
2021: POSSIBILITY

2022: HOPE

Hope is one of the three ethical Christian virtues, along with faith and charity. Although this is not what drew me to the word, my choice for hope is an expansion of the possibilities of 2021. Hope is related to faith, and trust. It may for some, require those qualities, yet it is an expectation.

With hope, I envision something better-I give myself permission to dream again, to invite, to anticipate, to DESIRE.

Word Cloud Created with Thinkmap: https://www.visualthesaurus.com/

Hope is a Promise and an Invitation, an Outlook, and a State of Mind.


I would love to hear your thoughts on the word of the year process (WOTY). Hit reply and let me know your word (s)?

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 37
  • Next Page »

Search this site…artists, tips, posts & more!

Fresh Posts

simple paper sorting

Simple paper sorting

Discovering Delight

Sanity Saving Holiday Organizing Tips

Indoor Gardening for a Healthy Home

Piles of Papers

Piles of Paper and no system in sight?

Paperless organizing; Going digital

Search blog by Popular Category

info@hkpowerstudio.com
[office] 240-778-2804 *area code must be dialed/no text

Search Blog by Popular Catetories

Seach Blog by date

Copyright © 2023 · Swank WordPress Theme By, PDCD