5 Budget Ways to Warm Your Decor Through WinterWritten by Kathleen Wilson
Now that holidays are over, and decorations are put away, you may be wondering what now? Remember that Spring is still several months away, and you’re best bet for keeping your rooms inviting during dead of winter is to add warmth and comfort. And if you are like me and don’t have a lot of extra cash laying around after holiday crunch, use these ideas to make major changes in your rooms, for minor cash.1.Rearrange. Create more intimate furniture arrangements, or just try something new! Move seating to create areas where people can easily talk, or group them around fireplace or other focal point. 2.Use candles! Candles are relatively inexpensive, and should not be saved just for special occasions! Group them together, combine them with plants, or set them in front of a mirror. If you feel using them too often will cramp your budget, set aside one meal a week where you ceremoniously use them, such as Sunday dinner. 3.Place throw blankets casually over chairs and sofas for your loved ones to cuddle up in. A great way to buy these inexpensively is to check your fabric store for clearance sales on polar fleece. Buy 1 to 1 ˝ yards for each throw, then use scissors to cut fringe on two ends. This fabric doesn’t fray, comes in a wide array of patterns and solids, and does not need to be hemmed or sewn! I bought enough for several and paid less than five dollars for each throw! Oh, and did I mention it is extremely soft and warm?
| | How to Have an Emotionally Intelligence Valentine's DayWritten by Susan Dunn, The EQ Coach
Every time Valentine’s Day comes along, I think of day before Valentine’s Day a couple of years when, as I was leaving card and gift shop where I’d selected some Valentines, while cursing materialism dictated to us by Madison Avenue that demanded expression of feelings with store-bought cards and boxes of candy, mourned fact that I had no “honey” at time, thought of cards I should and should not have received on past Valentine’s Days, worried if I was spending too much or too little, and wondered if my son would remember to let my grand-daughter pick out a card for me...... shop owner called out, “Be careful driving, Susan. There are a lot of angry lovers out there on road today.” It’s coming again … Valentine’s Day … and with it a lot of emotions. It’s also a day you can organize, if you sit down and think about it, using both your IQ and your EQ. INTENTIONALITY How do you intend your Valentine’s Day to be? Intentionality means saying what you mean and meaning what you say, and it also means being responsible and accountable for your motives as well as your actions. If your intention is to express your love to someone in a meaningful way, this might include thinking about what means love to them. It could be a toaster oven would be greatly appreciated, a poem you’ve written, a kiss on cheek, an addition to their collection, a power tool, something very gushy or not very gushy, a night of dancing, or not spending any money because you’re both over budget. At same time, how to you intend to manage your emotions? If you take an honest look at situation, here are some intentions you might have: ·Do you plan to be upset over what happens? ·If you’re single, do you intend to “let it get to you?” ·Do you intend to be disappointed in what your lover gives you, as nothing is good enough? ·Do you intend to keep your expectations in line with reality-testing? ·Do you intend to express your needs, as no one can read your mind, no matter how much they love you? ·Do you intend to spend more than you can afford to and then feel guilty? ·Do you intend to compare yourself, or gift you receive to others’? ·Do you intend to agree to choose your boss’ gift for his wife even though this causes negative emotions for you? ·Do you intend to let someone else “do” Valentine’s for you, or do you plan to be personally involved in your gift choices? ·Do you intend to be a perfectionist and feel that whatever you buy is wrong, and whatever you do isn’t right?
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