Is it Just Clutter?

 This is in response to the many, many e-mails I have received from readers who I’ve encouraged to jump-start their Spring cleaning.  THANK YOU so much for writing in and letting me know, how it’s going.  Many of you stated that you are doing good and have dumped a lot of “stuff”.  Going from room to room, but taking your time!  While a few of you wanted me to accept your excuses on why now was not  just the right time!  After a little persuasion, I’m glad the cleaning was a GO! 🙂

 I am so glad to hear, that I’ve gotten you all so motivated!   You’ll be glad to know, I had donated four boxes of clothing to Good Will and still going through my closet, I am now doing shoes!  Yep! SHOES! 😉

I also wanted to share with you an e-mail from Susan from Wichita, Kansas (name has been changed)  in which she wrote me to tell me that she didn’t know where to start.   Susan had indicated that she had so much stuff in her home, she was so frustrated! You see, we have e-mailed each other for the last two weeks back and forth, until she finally sent me a few photo attachments.

To my surprise in reviewing the photos, her home was not considered cluttered or just having things around, or even having things for years that accumulated.  Susan is what is known as a hoarder.  The Internet is such a wonderful tool (what would we do without it?)  for I read up a little about hoarding before I’d continued communicating with Susan.  I’d explained to her that the status of her home is based on a common psychological disorder; where a person has a personal attachment to everything around them and when departing with the items, it’s more emotional than to the average person.

Hoarders can’t seem to throw anything out (anything) and considers it a personal attack, if someone other than themselves decides to clean/dismantle their things without their permission.  To you and I, it may be very simple to throw out a Post It® with some writing into the garbage, however to Susan…. her state of thinking is to save it for whatever purpose that seems warranted and it does n’t have to make sense to anyone, but her!

I’d reassured her that there is definitely help available, however she cannot tackle cleaning her home without having a support group around her.  According to what I read, the support group should consist of family members, friends, a psychiatrist and a professional organizer which understands/has dealt with hoarding disorders.   I also commended Susan for realizing that she has a problem, my post definitely compelled her to finally to do something about it, for she says she has had this problem since she was a young woman.  

Just now (Wednesday), Susan had written back and it so happens that there is a task force for hoarding disorders in Wichita, KS (Sedgwick County) and she has contacted them for help.  In my response, I wished her the best and asked her if she would mind, if I shared with you (my readers) how to recognize the difference from mere clutter and a mental disorder of a hoarder; it’s more than just cleaning up.  She agreed!

So, I’d remembered A&E had a series on hoarding and to be honest, I saw it once and was not that much interested in continuing to watch the program.    However, since communicating with Susan, this evening I did search for and reviewed some of the episodes on youtube.com.   I have attached an A&E  trailer to give you an idea of a hoarding disorder; maybe this information can help someone you know too! 

You know, I was a little concerned on whether anyone was reading my blogs and guess what…… people are!!!!   Lesson learned, it does not take much to help someone, not much at all!   🙂 

Be well – Letia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq18Ae3ke-Q

What Do You Do? Make Pillows!

Pillows!!!!

Gone are the little leeways, where you knew when you spent a little too much money, you often thought you could probably catch up in the next few paychecks or use that credit card to buy and pay later. With our economy in such an uproar, family households have found themselves rethinking how they are spending money and creative ways to possibly make extra money.

Dorianne, my god sister (our Moms, friends for over 44 years!) was faced with these same decisions and had to really think fast!  Her income was slashed, she had to move, her son was graduating from highschool and important college decisions were on the table.  “What can I do?” “What am I good at?” Well she figured out, she was always good at sewing and thought of what  items people would actually buy? “Pillows? That’s it, I will make decorative pillows! “

Her goal was to make extra money, quickly Dorianne had started her own business!  She had an idea, brainstorming session, budget analysis (bit of money), thought of her skills, sorted out her supplier (fabric stores), site  location(home) and transport (her car)!

Well her idea worked, the pillows are absolutely beautiful (see photos)!  Dorianne can hardly keep up with her orders and is always running out of supplies (which is such a good thing).  Yes, pillows!  Her son, will be starting college this fall and her mind has been put at ease, knowing that while she is looking for a better job;  her business is definitely helping!

Pillows are a key item for decorating, it was actually a great choice; if I might add.  Pillows add that touch; they can be found in all different shapes, sizes and designs.   Some have tassels, buttons, piping, beads, sequins, even descriptive sayings!  You name it, a pillow can have it!  We often don’t look at the detail, but a pillow’s construction is amazing! 

For some of you, you may be saying it’s really not that serious!  It’s just a known item, that is often needed on a couch, bed or the floor!    However, get this!  It is always, always asked for, suggested and questioned, why aren’t there any? Pillows give that added touch!

There are people who are truly serious about their pillows.  It would n’t be me, if I didn’t put some history information in my post.  For you Jeopardy fans, pretend I’m Alex Trebek talking, here are some pillow trivia questions:

OK, you said EXPENSIVE for $100.  What is the most expensive pillow on the market?  It’s the Eider Down pillow – for it’s softness and filling.  They can go for $7,000 or more! (I know, that’s some pillow!)   

INTERNATIONAL for $200.  What is the most sort out pillow internationally?  It’s the Plumeland Pillow, it’s sold in Europe for about 69.99 EUROS.   

Ok are you bored?  Last trivia question!  MOST POPULAR for $500!  What is the most sold out decorative pillow to date?  Ready? It’s the Dora the Explorer Cuddle Pillow! 😉 

You see pillows are important stuff! 😀  Before going,  I would like to give some encouragement to others based on Dorianne’s story, for her’s alone is not the only one!  If you are a person, who has been told that your cakes are simply “scruplicious” and you begin selling them, you’ll have a business; right out of your kitchen.  If you know how to play the guitar or piano and decide to give lessons, you’ll have a business; right out of your home.   Perhaps, you work the night shift and have decided during the day to fix computers, you’ll have a business!   Family can help, kids would love to help, whatever you’re good at can generate some extra income.   Or you may know someone, who you could give some ideas to.  Ask!  So, what do you do or what are you good at?  Any idea can turn into a plan!   You know my saying, how will you know, if you don’t try! 

I hope this information was helpful.  If you’re interested in seeing more of Dorianne’s pillows,  you can e-mail her at  dori2enterprises@yahoo.com.   Until the next time!

Be well – Letia

Design Home Shows

This weekend was simply beautiful!  Went to NYC, the temperature was in the 70’s and people walking around were just happy! Why? We finally got a break, no SNOW!  I attended Architectural Digest’s Home Design and Dining By Design shows!  I’ve attended Architectural Digest’s Home Show for the past 4 years and each year it gets bigger and better!   It’s held near the end of  March for 3 days at Piers 92 & 94 (near 55th street on the West Side Highway).

There’s no way that I could show you everything, there were so many designers, decorators and vendors, PACKED!  Sssshhh, but I did sneak and take a few pictures of the different dining themes displayed.  Spring is here and summer is on the way, take a look below (click View All images), perhaps you can get some great ideas!  I had a lot of fun!! 🙂

Be well – Letia