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Find Your “Relaxing Place” (It could be the smartest thing you do this year!)

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Relaxation QuoteGreat Quote About Relaxation

My weekdays are incredibly busy – so much moving, thinking, and schedule-busting I must sometimes look like a bumble bee going from flower to flower. And, frankly, I couldn’t be more  grateful. One of the greatest blessings of my life is being able to watch three grandbabies when their parents are at work.

I might mention the fact that they’re currently 1, 2, and 4.

Buzzzzzzzzzzz from flower to flower…

I’m also an avid cook, voracious old movie fan, love flower gardening, am an avid reader, and web publisher with a food blog, old Hollywood blog, cat blog, Kentucky travel blog, and (obliviously) a self help blog! Obviously, my grandbabies always come first, but suffice to say I stay busy on weekends, before and after they arrive, and when they’re napping.

After cooking and eating supper, cleaning up the kitchen, taking my shower, and putting on so much girly smelling lotion that I smell like the flowers I bounce around, I glide into my favorite den chair and…. ahhhhhhhhhh! Two things can be true – you can be completely in love with what you do from 8:00 to 6:00 AND be completely in love with the stillness from 6:00 to bedtime.

“It is nice finding that place where you can just go and relax.” ~Moises Arias

My den chair represents relaxation to me and, after reading the wonderful quote above by Moises Arias, I’ve begun calling it my relaxing place. The mind stays active (most of the time anyway) when I’m in my relaxing place but the body takes the opportunity to simply relax and unwind. I sip hot tea, watch tv with my husband, catch up on Twitter (my old Hollywood Twitter page is so fun I always love seeing what people have to say!).

I find that this period of time to be fun, enjoyable, relaxing, and in many ways healing. The body can go through a lot during a busy day, I’m convinced relaxing times such as this give your body time to catch its breath, unwind, and kind of get in touch with life.

Sounds as flowery as I smell after a shower, but sometimes flowery words can also do a body good!

Carving out a period of relaxation in your relaxing place each evening also helps with sleep. If you try to go instantly from busy mode to sleep mode, your body and mind are going to be too stunned to cooperate! You have to give them time to rewind… to change the pace from day to night. Trust me, it works miracles.

An extra benefit of having your own special relaxing place and relaxing time is that it gives you something to look forward to. A few days ago, even though (unfortunately!) none of my precious grandbabies were here, I stayed busy from around 9:00 to 4:00 –  packing up Christmas, boxing, cleaning, doing maintenance on my blogs, catching up on e-mail, etc. Several times throughout the day, I’d think about my relaxing place, my hot tea, tv and conversation with my husband, and every single glorious ahhhhhhh that comes with the evening. It gave me something to look forward to through all the business and it was glorious.

I often sign my Self Help Daily posts with the words, “Make each moment count double,” but today, I have a different sign off in mind….

Make each relaxing moment count triple! ~ Joi

The Benefit of Pets… To Many to Even Count!

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Quote About the Benefit of Pets

Quote About the Benefit of Pets!

During the pandemic, I’ve noticed many changes in people’s lives and in the way they look at life in general. One thing seems to be a return to the love of and focus on HOME. As I often say, this is actually one of the rare beautiful things that has come out of what is overall a complete nightmare. More people have realized the importance of making their home as beautiful, comfortable, and enjoyable as possible.

Basically, everyone has refocused their attention to making home a place they want to be.

If I can make a confessions, this has always been at the core of who I am simply because I am quite the home body! It is, however, interesting to see more people searching for ways to make their home a more fun, comfortable, and happy place to be.

I’ve also noticed more people seeking out companionship – possibly more than ever before. I think there are several reasons for this:

  • During bad times, we are reminded that family (which pets most certainly are, in addition to humans!) is absolutely everything. Not possessions, not appearance, not money… they’re fine and good, of course, but the ones who make us smile and FEEL the most are the ones who breathe.
  • Some people are feeling more lonely than ever. Tragically, many people lost loved ones during the past few years, but there’s another (nearly as tragic) phenomenon… many have lost friends and relationships due to the insanely frustrating division that have occurred the past few years.
  • People are socializing less and, again, spending more time at home. The amazing (and I think wonderful) thing is, not all of them are home more often because they think it’s healthier… many are home more often because they realize it’s a happier place to be!

This is where pets can can come in like the little superheroes they are. I have had pets all of my life and cannot imagine a home without them. My only experience with “coming home’ to a place where at least one pet doesn’t meet me at the door has been hotels and, quite frankly, it’s a cold feeling when you’re accustomed to warm greetings!

While I caution that one should always be completely certain they have the time, energy, and affection for adding a furry member to their family… (more about that in a minute) I simply couldn’t recommend it more. Their love and companionship are immeasurable and the entertainment they provide is greater than any movie (even westerns!).

Before adding a cat or dog, please consider:

  • Pets are completely dependent upon you. You have to have time and patience and be willing to feed them, clean up after them, and potty train them… basically they’re babies covered in fur!
  • Realize that things like dog or cat food, litter boxes, litter, vet visits, immunizations, and toys (animals love toys as much as human kids) will require an increase to your spending. Trust me, they give back FAR more than they take.
  • Make sure you have the space required and can provide them with a safe and happy environment.
  • Make your mind up to provide for them (find a loving home) IF things don’t work out. PLEASE never turn a cat or dog loose to fend for themselves. It’s a cruel thing to do – and an animal shelter isn’t much better. IF things don’t work out for whatever reasons and you’ve given it a few weeks, find a loving home by asking around and even putting notifications on Facebook, in local veterinarian offices, etc.

More times than not (MANY more times than not), when you give a precious animal a forever home and forever family… you find yourself asking, “Okay. Who rescued who, here?!”

I hope you consider adopting a cat (or two!) or dog (or two!) from your local animal shelter. You won’t only be adding to your family with a face you’ll wonder how you ever lived without… you’ll be literally saving a life (or two!).

~ Joi (“Joy”)

Tulip and Huck

Two of my babies!

Your Home is Your Happiness: 10 Ways to Improve your Interior

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Making Your Home a Fortress

Making Your Home a Peaceful Fortress!

Any house can be transformed into a cozy place to which you always want to return, hiding from this hectic world.

Several design solutions will allow you to save on repairs and truly transform your interior.

  1. Brighter colors

Adding bright decor, textiles are the first steps to change the interior. More lighting will emphasize the advantages of your home. To feel the changes more clearly, change the furniture. Even a few chairs of non-trivial design or a couple of bright armchairs will change the perception of the interior. A more drastic solution would be to repaint the walls or replace the wallpaper. It is better to change everything gradually, otherwise, the interior may change beyond recognition.

  1. Mixing styles and textures

The combination of the incongruous has replaced the pure style. It is not necessary to stick to one canvas in the design of the home. Vintage items will not be superfluous in a modern interior, loft elements will be a good addition to strict classics. Mixing different styles in one space will be successful with a limited number of colors.

  1. Art objects

Empty walls look unfinished. A work of art that fits the style is a universal way to change this. When choosing paintings, posters, photographs, or other art objects, you need to pay attention to their size concerning the room and furniture, so that they are not too small or too large.

  1. More textiles

In addition to curtains, carpets, decorative pillows can transform the interior. To emphasize the individuality of the owner, you can decorate the interior with products made of velvet polyester in the form of your favorite car. This solution is perfect for a children’s room.

Pillows of non-standard shape are suitable for the design of other rooms. Any idea can be displayed on a soft handmade product: from a photo of a beloved girl to a picture of world art, from a pet to a glass of your favorite beer. All this will emphasize your individuality.

When making a bed, an experienced decorator is not limited to one blanket but uses the whole arsenal: bedspreads, blankets, decorative pillows. All this will create a special atmosphere of comfort in the room. More details on how to get a custom pillow can be found on the All About Vibe website. Your happiness is under your head.

  1. Mirrors

Mirrors will instantly transform the space – they will increase the amount of natural light and create a sense of spaciousness in the room. As decorative accents, they are also good: with their help, you can decorate an empty wall above a dresser or dressing table, beat the fireplace area in the living room, or become the only decoration in a minimalist hallway.

  1. More light

Designers know how important light is in the interior, so they always think over several lighting scenarios for each room. Along with the main one, the local one is very important: sconces and table lamps will create a chamber atmosphere in the bedroom and children’s room, and in the living room you can not do without a floor lamp with warm light.

  1. Hide the electronics

In order not to give the impression that this or that technique was in the room by accident, you need to make it as inconspicuous as possible. The easiest way is to hide behind furniture facades. The TV can also be hidden behind sliding panels or included in the home gallery.

  1. Accent wall

To do this, use wallpaper with an expressive print, textured plaster, 3D panels, or contrasting paint color. Moreover, light and decor help to beat one of the options. For example, a wall painted in a different shade is decorated with moldings or a large-format painting, and a large panel with a natural stone texture is illuminated with a pair of sconces.

To support the accent wall, designers recommend choosing furniture or accessories that match the color.

  1. Glass partitions

Today designers are increasingly using glass partitions in their projects – it looks stylish and modern. By the way, this is a good reason to zone the room and at the same time leave the interior light and airy. With their help, you can separate the private area of the bedroom from the living room, the kitchen from the dining room. Use it as an alternative to doors or even walls in the apartment.

  1. Metal parts

A must-have of any modern interior – bright metallic accents. They make the space more elegant, go well with wood, marble, mirrors, and glass. In the last few seasons, it has been fashionable to mix several types of metals in one interior at once. One of the win-win options is to combine warm metals with warm ones, and cold ones with cold ones.

Final thoughts

Your home is not only your fortress but also a reflection of your spiritual world. Don’t keep it to yourself, let your inner world go beyond the boundaries of your body, transforming your home.

Improve Your Mental Health With Simple Changes in Your Home or Workspace (Infographic)

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Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, Paul Henreid and Humphrey Bogart - Casablanca

Humphrey Bogart, Claude Rains, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid 

Think about one of your favorite movies for a minute. For me, Casablanca comes to mind (as one may expect from someone who is obsessed with old Hollywood!). Casablanca is comprised of an outstanding cast bringing colorful roles to life. Rick, Ilsa, Victor, Captain Louis Renault, Signor Ferrari, Carl, Sam, Major Heinrich Strasser, Ugarte…..

The movie would have been good if you removed one of these roles. It would have been good enough if you removed two of these roles. It would have been okay if you removed three of these roles (I mean, so long as they aren’t Rick, Ilsa, Victor, or the Captain!). BUT… now here’s where the magic hits the stage… when you have all the roles together and in place, what you have is a legend. A masterpiece that has stood the test of time.

It’s the same with many things in life. There are many components that make the hole. If you fall short on one or two… sometimes even three… you’ll probably be okay. But who wants to be okay when you can be a legend?!

When it comes to being physically healthy, there are Rick, Ilsa, Victor, Captain, and Sam roles:

  • get plenty of sleep
  • stay hydrated
  • get plenty of fresh air
  • get enough exercise
  • eat a healthy diet
  • etc..

The same is true with staying mental healthy, in fact, the roles for physical and mental health overlap, don’t they?!

However, when it comes to mental health, there’s an unexpected role (a real scene stealer a la Sam in Casablanca!) but (again, like Sam), it is essential because it sets the whole stage: Your Living Space. We set ourselves up for success or failure by the conditions with which we surround ourselves and the infographic below does an outstanding job of detailing the ways in which we can set ourselves up for better mental health and, in my opinion, better emotional health as well. Both of which will only have positive effects on our physical health.

Enjoy the infographic (click for the larger version) and read more about Optimizing your Living Space for Mental Health by clicking the link.

As for me, I’m going to take a break in my day and watch Casablanca… for probably the 100th time because, what can I say, I have a thing for legends.

Make each moment count double!
~Joi (“Joy”)

How to Optimize Your Home for Mental Health
Infographic Source


Home Sweet Haven: Making Your Home Your Personal Escape from the World

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Nature Inspired Wall Murals

Source: 54 Wall Mural Ideas to Personalize Your Home

Beautiful Ways to Make Home Sweet Home EVEN Sweeter

I love it when things just kind of come together, don’t’ you? Kismet always makes me smile – there’s just something harmonious about feeling like you’re where you’re meant to be… figuratively or physically!

I have been thinking and planning on a new type of category and series of posts and articles on the self help blog. The idea has been simmering over the past year and, when I tell you more about it, you’ll understand WHY that has been the case!

We have always understood the value of home – even if it, ironically, is sometimes the last thing on our minds. We don’t mean to take it for granted, of course, but when you factor in…

  • school
  • work
  • bills
  • retirement plans
  • medical worries (HELLO PANDEMIC!!!)
  • the news
  • politics (I know… dirty word…)
  • relationships
  • car problems
  • savings
  • etc etc etc..

Our minds are pulled in so many directions that we often take the most important place in our world for granted. Home!

An article or two back I talked about things I hope we’ve learned from the pandemic. The importance of home should truly be near the top, if not at the very top. Our home is our haven and we’d all be wise to let that really sink in.

Whether or not another pandemic (or this same intrusive one!), national or global emergency, weather, or personal storm ever keeps us at home for extended periods of time again, shouldn’t we make our home a place we WANT to be rather than a place we HAVE to be?

I certainly think so and a new category (Home Sweet Haven) on the Self Help Blog will focus on the home.

An article I want to link you to today is all about making your home YOUR home injecting not just your personality into it and making it reflect the essence of YOU.

I’ve always thought we should surround ourselves with things that make us happy – things that make us smile. I also believe we will be happiest in an environment that “fits” us. One of my favorite things in the world is old movies (see Hollywood Yesterday for proof!), so you can find many old movie posters in my home as well as framed photos of some of my favorites: Lena Horne, Rita Hayworth, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Maureen O’Hara, etc.

54 Wall Mural Ideas to Personalize Your Home is a wonderful collection of ideas to bring your personality into your home, creating your own personal haven – safe from the unpredictable world outside.

I hope you enjoy the article and are motivated to inject your wonderful personality into every room in your home sweet haven.

Make each moment count double!

~ Joi