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Less Stress in 2012: A Holiday Investment

November 13, 2012 in Eco Friendly Ideas, Inspiration, News with 0 Comments

When the holidays roll around, I always find myself wondering and asking what kind of presents to get for my loved ones and close friends. What can I purchase or create that will be meaningful? What can I give that will truly help out that person to support and propel them forward? What about you? Do the same thoughts run through your mind as Christmas and the New Year nears? And then it came to me…

 The Gift of Time! Or better yet… my services! I know what you are thinking… how can Shelley be a gift to my friend or loved one? Well I can help them complete any projects that they have needed to complete or support them in de-cluttering and regaining peace in their chaotic lives. They can take a breather and have a mini ME-cation as I hustle and bustle for them… they deserve that break!

This is why I created my Piece of Time Peace of Mind Gift Certificates in the first place. I want anyone to have the option of giving a truly (almost) priceless gift that is easily customized. The recipient of the Gift Certificate can ask me to help, support, and redo any part of their workplace, living area, and even regaining peace in their own life! Simplicity and streamlining… PDR approach… and life coaching for a stress-free schedule-I can do it all! It is like gifting them an Executive Personal Assistant/Coach.

Check out the Gift Certificates here (or you can click on ‘Gift of Time’ underneath my ‘Store’ tab) and purchase one for someone today. The gift of time, creating it and being able to actually give it is a feeling that I know is priceless.

 

“Time is the most precious gift one can give. Each moment is unique because it will never happen again… the gift of your time spent with others is the ultimate display of unconditional love.” – Robert W. Merriweather

 

Planting Peace,

Shelley

Household DIY Series: How to Squeeze More into Less

October 15, 2012 in Eco Friendly Ideas, News, Tips with 0 Comments

I am a person that loves to keep her house clean and organized. One day as I was cleaning, I took a look at all of the cleaning products I use and just… W-O-W! I had a whole cabinet filled with just cleaning products… Windex.. Name Brand toilet bowl cleaner and scrub… furniture polish… floor cleaner… it was starting to get overwhelming, not to mention expensive.

My budget was not too happy about the money I was spending on these all-natural and non-harmful cleaners.

I just had to find a way to cut down, create space in my cleaning cabinet, and simplify what I used on a weekly basis.

Think… Think.. Think…

And there it was: all these household items like white vinegar, lemons, tea, etc just staring straight at me! You can’t go more natural than these items right here. I tested and created my own recipes to replace all those household cleaners that you and I are tired of purchasing, using, and storing! I call these my: DIY Household Cleaners Series. They are easy on your budget, safe for your home, and a piece of cake to store in your cabinets! I invest my money where I can get the most out of it–this way I can save a little here then I can re-purpose it on a delight, treat, or much needed indulgence!

I used these handy spray bottles to store some of my new cleaners–reusable and they have a special curved “straw” to make sure I don’t waste an ounce of product!

 

The BEFORE: Look at all these cleaners…
Now-the AFTER: so simple, easy, and compact!

Now I can just grab, go, and CLEAN! It’s important for me to have a safe product and to be completely aware of the ingredients in the product. When I make it myself, I have complete control! I love using things already in my kitchen to clean the rest of my home.

Watch out for my first DIY post soon-All-Purpose Enzyme Cleaner…

 

Planting Peace,

Shelley

My Ugly Spot

July 13, 2012 in Designing Peace, Eco Friendly Ideas, Re-purpose with 0 Comments

My husband and I have been doing DIY projects um…uh  wow for about 10 years now!   I have this ugly spot right outside my kitchen windows, that has been wearing me down. Each time I thought I would re do this area something would happen, we have been flooded, dug up, backed up and much more in  this area, needless to say it has been left there and ultimately has earned the title “ugly spot“.

 Don’t worry your time has come little ugly spot I am going to make you shine, just you see!

All I need to do is go shopping, not the shopping where I go to a store but the kind of shopping,

where I Re Purpose items I already have. What can I gather for my new transformation?

All the items we located right in my back yard…

just  a little cleaning, wiping off and paint  did the trick.

 

Hummingbirds ROCK!

 

Planting Peace!

Shelley

 

Is Green The New Black?

April 9, 2012 in Balance and Peace, Eco Friendly Ideas with 0 Comments

{image by Brittney Bush}

April begins and Earth Day is approaching, each year we celebrate Earth Day, which is intended to inspire us to be more aware and appreciate the Goodness of Mother Earth.

Do you ever feel overwhelmed with trying to be Greener? With so much information coming at us from all directions, and telling us what is good and what is not, what we should make from scratch and where we should buy products? Sometimes I feel a little lost.

Making the decision of living a Greener Lifestyle can a bit daunting.

Just approaching the topic of food makes my head spin. The word Organic has got me so confused…Organic vs. Non Organic or GMO vs. Organic. It’s difficult navigating the world of GREEN. It can be a very complex process and it takes time, energy, and focus. There is this underlying feeling with “going green”–a kind of all or nothing when it comes to taking the first step in living a Green lifestyle.

I made the decision to not worry about becoming 100% compliant with a Green Lifestyle. I decided to make 3 Monumental Areas of Change on my Green Living journey. I sat down each April and looked at my lifestyle and figured out what I could impact with ease and grace instead of moans and groans.  I gave myself 1 year to commit to my best laid out plans. I would do my best and not worry about the rest.

No magic formula can completely transform your life to evolving to a green lifestyle. However, each time you consciously decide to live your life with more consciousness, you are moving closer to a greener lifestyle.

If you can, dedicate time to develop a simple plan custom made for you. If you can, begin by taking smaller steps and extracting a few things that you would like to do and start with those little things. A greener life will begin to evolve for you.

I heard someone say this one time and I gently remind myself of it each day “inch by inch is a cinch and yard by yard is hard.” Don’t worry about arriving to your greener lifestyle overnight. You can become greener by taking small steps each day, month or year.

My first I choice was to cut back on wipes and paper towels. I decided using paper towels and wipes was getting out of hand in my household.  I did not completely remove both at once from my life. I reduced my purchasing and I replaced micro fiber cloths to use for minor spills and weekly cleaning. I was buying 3 rolls a month and going thru 1 container of wipes a month. But slowly I let them go, until now I buy 1 roll (green) of paper towels every 3 months. I use about 3 rolls a year. I found replacing the thing I was giving up more effective and it helped support my decision of releasing paper towels/wipes.

My second choice was personal products. I chose deodorant, face scrub and baby powder. I spent some time scouring recipes for home made recipes, began saving containers, and even began asking friends what they liked about their products.

I then began experimenting with each product figuring out what I liked in texture, scent, longevity and of course cost ratio. I found that I love making my own products. I had more control of the scent and also knew exactly where it came from and what exact ingredients were in the product. Surprisingly enough, I like my versions of baby powder and face scrub more than what I was previously buying.

My third choice was planting a garden. I went down to my local nursery and asked a bunch of questions. I found friends who had a passion for gardening and received some incredible tips. I also went to the library to look at garden books. I tracked what I bought on a consistent basis from the grocery store and looked at the seasonal items vs. the all year round.  I planted my veggies and watched them grow. I realized I would not have the discipline to water often so I used a drip system. My garden grew and soon I was plucking vegetables for my dinner. I was so inspired that the following year I planted another garden–an herb garden for my seasoning.

Pick something you would like to change in your life and then replace the item you let go. I think it’s easier to create a habit than break one. It’s kind of the same concept, don’t focus on what you’re letting go of, focus on what you are gaining, a Green Lifestyle.

 If you can begin with the changes you want to see in a natural process for yourself, you will be more inclined to commit to your change. Are you getting started on your Green journey? Are you already on a Green journey and ready to kick it up a notch?

Every journey begins somewhere. You may find yourself anxious, nervous, apprehensive, excited, happy, eager… all of those emotions can make you feel rushed to reach your goal but take a fresh green approach this year. Decide on 1, 2 or 3 areas of change and ease your way to a greener pasture! Avoid trying to break habits and put your energy on creating a new habit and soon it will be 2013 and you will be one step closer to a Green Lifestyle. Each goal can forever change the way we view our lives and the world around us.

 

Planting Peacefulness,

Shelley

A Breath of Fresh Air…

January 30, 2012 in Designing Peace, Display, Eco Friendly Ideas, Organization Ideas, Re-purpose, Tips with 0 Comments

When I started Piece of Time Peace of Mind in 2009 I really deliberated with adding Decorating, as one of my services. One of my first hesitations was, decorating can be so personal and my second concern was decorating does not always have to be about running wild in every retail store consuming tons of NEW stuff.

I came to realize that my friends and family have always asked me to pay a visit and offer FRESH ideas. I never gave that much thought but one day I was having coffee and my friend said ” Shelley, please come over and give me some ideas!”  I did and we transformed her living room within the hour.

After much thought I decided that I can offer decorating services and I can also encourage my clients to do shopping in their homes. I have so much fun doing that! I avoid long lines, traffic and the price is perfect!

Here is an example of an office I helped create for my good friend Dana. Dana is a business owner of her own skincare line. She moved into a new facility where she could finally have an office just for her. She had ZERO funds to purchase any new pieces.

I came over and went shopping in her plant. Piece by piece I pulled together this office. We found some wood pieces,painted them white and they became shelving. This room was completely empty but had painted walls.

Repurpose is a powerful word and it can really help transform a room. I believe we buy things because we like them but sometimes we need to take a second look to find out why we liked the item.

Take a look at the after pictures below. What do you think?

Items were not purchased but rather Repurposed

 

Items were not purchased but rather Repurposed

 

File Cabinet I found in the Trash-Yes I dragged it back by myself all in the name of Repurpose!

Items were not purchased but rather Repurposed

 

Items were not purchased but rather Repurposed

 

Planting Peacefulness!

Shelley

Out With The Old, Whats Next?

December 5, 2011 in Eco Friendly Ideas, Organization Ideas, Re-purpose, Shopping Tips, Tips with 0 Comments

{image by danmachold}

Stuff: getting in your way?

Stuff: A big pile sitting on your floor ?

Stuff: Holding on, because you don’t know what to do with it?

Stuff: Trying to be responsible; recycling can be tricky  where do you take it?

Getting organized, often involves sorting and weeding thru items you no longer need, want or use. Let’s face it the more we can avoid sending stuff to a landfill the better off we all are. No worries, there are many places that will take almost anything you might want to donate, or recycle from clothes to computers to construction materials.

Here is your stuff resource list. Each link provides ideas and places you can do with your stuff. Finding new forever homes and leaving you some well deserved free space!

 Real Simple has a great 101 ways to recycle.

http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/green-living/recycling-101-00000000007875/index.html

 Think Outside the Bin my go to blog for anything and everything.

 Freecycle Community-keeping it local

Planting Peacefulness!

Shelley 

 

Simply Simply You

September 9, 2011 in Eco Friendly Ideas, Tips with 0 Comments

   Are you thinking about getting organized?

Get Motivated and soon you will tackle those organizing projects.  The Piece of Time Peace of Mind blog will offer tips and guidance on simple organization solutions. A simplified life is one that focuses on creating a process that works best for you. With a little support and a bit of effort, you can stay ahead of disorganization and clutter.

As overwhelmed people we tend to focus on trying to juggle an over-committed schedule, or trying to manage an overwhelming amount of paper, clutter, or tasks. A simplified life is a process, here are few tips that can help you begin your journey. Try 1 or all 3, remember inch by inch is a cinch. (Take baby steps…call me if you need any support.)

Say “NO”: We have all been in the same boat; sometimes it is hard to say “no.”  Try this, before committing, take a peek at your calendar and determine if you really have the time. If you can–great! If you cannot, politely but firmly say “no.” Remember a firm “yes” is far better than a resentful “no.”

In with the NEW and Out with the OLD: You can start with a category, as I did. I promised if I buy a pair of shoes, I will also give up a pair of shoes.  I started with shoes and slowly took on each category within my wardrobe. Doing this is such a tremendous help. It keeps me from over cluttering, and also from buying frivolous items.

Prevent Junk Mail/Catalogs: Junk mail may never completely disappear but you can at least cut the amount of mail sent to your home. A great way to prevent some of it from coming to your home is to check out these links:  visit DMAchoice to opt out of marketing offers and ads; submit a request through Opt Out Prescreen to stop receiving offers of pre-approved credit cards and insurance; and use Catalog Choice to get your name off of catalog mailing lists.