 Ask yourself what you are crying out for, fame, fortune, love, health, wealth, spiritual awakenings, wisdom, peace, joy, or a combination of things. When you get straight on what your heart desires, you can be fulfilled with the outcome of the goals. Marla Stone, MSW People may be a little more complicated than we actually realize. I like to think of people as Souls wrapped up in bodies that allow Soul to be productive and creative in the Physical World. I recognize Soul as always happy, untouched, and indestructible. Souls are creative sparks of light. Let's say we have four spiritual bodies along with our physical body to keep Soul protected and recognizable in this life. Besides our clay shell we have an Emotional body, a Memory body (which holds all of our past experiences), our Mental and our Primitive body (which contains all of our thoughts, and ancestral knowledge), and all these bodies can see, experience, and help us live out our life with a higher perspective. All bodies can be moving together or working against each other. For instance, when our Physical body gets broken or sick, we may not fulfill the ideas and thoughts that come from our creative mind or our mental body. When we have a primitive notion to procreate, yet emotionally we don't connect to others, having children could be out of reach. When there are memories of traumatizing past experiences, it an impact our ability to concentrate. Our organizational skills may conflict when our lighter spiritual bodies are in conflict. When we go in too many directions to stay focused on what we thought we wanted, keeping an organized home and business will seem difficult. So, therefore, your space may look and seem disorganized when all the aspects of self are disconnected or in conflict. Your Primitive (Ancient Beliefs and Experiences) with your Mind (Focus and Discipline), along with Past (Memories and History), mixed with your Emotions/Desires and Actions and Physical Functions, want to be aligned to move your dreams, ideas and goals forward. When the physical experiences are unpleasant, and your dreams are not fulfilled, know you still will change, no matter what. Nothing in this world stays the same for very long. None of the five bodies remain the same, ever. You are constantly fluctuating and altering. Therefore your self and space are constantly changing and transforming. So the organization of your space is something that is always taking place, as well. People and their lives continuously flux from organized to disorganized and vice versa. How long you stay in an organized or unorganized state depends on the alignment and connection to all aspects of yourself. One minute your mind and physical body are staying on track, your room is neat and organized, and the next minute emotion steps in, or a life-altering event, your attention is now off organizing and creating a new life experience, and disorganization can easily set in. Having purely great experiences and a great environment will not take place one hundred percent of the time. A good ratio of organized to disorganized is about 70/30. And if you are at a higher percentage in the organized state, you may not be having enough fun or engage in things like friendship, travel, or hobbies. There is a balance in the life of positive and negative experiences. The outer and physical experiences are temporary, and you can perceive them as positive, negative, or neutral, yet life's surprises still happen daily. I like the unbiased view, no judgment, the narrow road, the path of least resistance. It feels comfortable like fuzzy slippers since the reaction does not involve emotion. I also get most of my work accomplished when I feel neutral. Too much happiness and excitement, and I can't focus, and too much anger or sadness, and I'm left with no motivation. You can ask what Soul gets out of the whole experience here in the Physical World; well, it gets to create, and sometimes depending on the cooperation of all the bodies or lack of collaboration, it gets a mess or a masterpiece. The concept of the world you see, feel and experience every moment while staying in the now is a fundamental task. Remaining focused, having down-time, and resting periods is key to allowing creative thoughts to drift into your mind and being. I dream, think, and speak about a future, but I cannot be there, I can only stay in the now, and that always grounds me. Writing a to-do or goal list is the first step in manifesting your life experiences. The next step is to make the experiences successful according to your values. Being true to your values is a real test of how happy you will be with what you choose to do and or be. Is there an insurance policy for having our goals turn out the way we dream them up? No, yet can we have a successful turnout of our dreams, ideas, and goals with persistence and will, as long as they are realistic? Yes. Most of the time, we can fulfill our dreams, although the goals, objectives, and ideas are better when they align with our most authentic desires. You can re-think the desire when you find out the desires are not lining up with your values. So the first step is to identify what your most genuine desires are. The second step is to see your wishes align with your physical capabilities, emotions, history, mentality, and destiny. With each step to aligning yourself, you become more and more aware of who you are and what you want. For some, the practical ideas are "I want to go back to work," and some thoughts are "I want to be a better wife, husband, friend, or partner," or some ideas will be to have a better house job or level of success. But the dreams, ideas, and goals I am talking about are your secret ones. For instance, being a famous writer, a well-known public speaker, a doctor, teacher, poet, inventor, athlete, or a business person may be your secret dream goal. If you have a secret dream goal, keeping it a secret is probably the way it will not be fulfilled. Get your mindset straight and your emotions in alliance with what you want to accomplish; think of the number one thing you want in life. Decide what the top dream is, then everything about your world will change towards that goal. When you dream about being a famous scientist, designer, or anything you can think of, it is possible; if you are physically, emotionally, and mentally able to accomplish that goal, it is possible. It does not matter how old, poor, or uneducated you are. Dreams that are dreamt well are dreams that become real. When you don't see signs of achievement towards your dreams in a reasonable amount of time, re-evaluate whether the dream is aligned with your true talents, mind, and physical gifts. It is exciting that some people think it's imperative to create a brand new situation in life to be safe, happy, or protected. Creating a new world is not essential in a day, month, or year. Taking small steps to alter your life is the basis of change. Creating a safe, economically sound world in harmony with your goals and dreams takes discipline, determination, planning, and follow-through. Thinking about your values is a creative process. Do you value family, fun, friends, money, work, health, sex, affection, children, or religion? Find out what you love most in life and create goals that will keep you aligned with your values. For instance, you could lose your home when you've dreamt of a home and then bought one yet did not consider the financial aspects and responsibilities of keeping the house. There are many variables to affording a home that people do not understand, and they make foolish decisions. Some folks wake up every day blindly going through it, with no thought about their ideas and dreams, losing sight of what makes them happy, and they end up depressed and confined to their lives of misery. Crisis and mundane life situations do not happen by accident. You can become new every moment as your thoughts stay focused on your dreams and goals, and you keep a schedule, pointing you towards those dreams and goals. You can draw new experiences to you every day. Maintaining new ideas that are fresh every day, building on idea after idea. Refresh your value list regularly, come up with new ideas, solutions, and projects, and stay excited about life and change when you don't follow through on them. Know that when you feel sad or unsatisfied and think thoughts that trigger guilt or rage, that is what you will draw towards yourself. When you hold onto old negative experiences, it is never a good idea. We can't be positive one hundred percent of the time, yet focusing on the positive is something we can always choose to do. It's the best side road to take. Will positive thinking or experiences ensure future negative experiences won't occur? No, but having fear, emotion, or any mental thought about negative aspects will alter our course. So stay positive, focus on the goal, and follow through with behavior that will get you to your dreams and goals. Having a mentor or a coach is always a good idea when you get stuck. Letting someone peek into your self and space and give you an objective opinion opens up new doors and ideas within your self and space. www.i-deal-lifestyle.com 
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Organization skills are not learned, usually. You probably remember your mom yelling, "clean up your room," but there wasn't an actual educational plan on how to clean or organize your room. Cleaning and organizing are two separate skill sets altogether.
Organizing is all about...well...managing stuff. Cleaning involves rags, solutions, and those new floor cleaners that vacuum and steam all in one. According to the free Merriam Webster online, the word organize is synonymous with arranging, array, classify, codify, dispose of, draw up, layout, marshal, order, range, and systematize, and the word organizes antonyms are deranged, disarrange, disarray, disorder, mess (up), muss (up), rumple and upset. No wonder people feel deranged when they are all messed up. Organizing oneself would be the place to start if you want your space to look ordered and for all the trash to be disposed of. The key word in the previous sentence is "if." People usually only want to get organized when they want to get organized. Getting organized is not a mandatory law or one of the 10 commandments, so it only happens if you want it to, and most likely "if" the IRS is knocking on your door or your mother is coming to visit. No wonder people don't dream about their Ideal Lifestyle all that much...too busy being disarranged, disordered, rumpled, and upset. The state of disarray can become the norm and the standard "lifestyle" nightmare. So, how does one get from disorganized chaos to organized order? Is it simple? Yes, managing yourself and space can be achieved. The first step is to want to get organized inside yourself. Self Organization starts with defining what your ideal lifestyle would look like. Write at least 30 concepts, ideas, or dreams about your "ideal" life. Watch a few light comedies or action hero cartoons to get motivated, or remember what you dreamed about when you were younger; you can do it. Think about what you value in life and actually write it down. Values can be career, money, a fancy car, a new partner, better relationships, spending time with family, solitude, or walks on the beach. When writing the list, whatever you do, don't lie to yourself. It is damaging when people say "it doesn't have to be" that great of a job, partner, car, or career. Saying "it doesn't have to be" is how it will be. So if you say, "she doesn't have to be that great looking," or "he doesn't have to be that smart," guess what? You manifested a not-so-hot or intelligent partner. How about saying, "I want it to be this way or that way," and putting that into the universe. After you draw up and lay out what you want for yourself, your space organization is the next step. Since the outer is a reflection of the inner, your exterior space will want to catch up to the new inner you. Space organization has been written about in thousands of books and magazines and now is taught on national television. The best book that addresses how to do an organizing project and the internal process is The Clutter Remedy: A Guide To Getting Organized For Those Who Love Their Stuff. Organizing a room or an entire home or business is about strategizing, executing, and physical labor, which you can do or hire someone else to do the project for you. You will only want that outer organization in your space when you feel organized and self-realized on the inside. So go ahead and get started on living your Ideal Lifestyle Now! Write your list!  Organizing one's self if a big task that takes time and effort. Managing one's space is a big chore that takes time and effort. I don't know which is more straightforward, less frustrating, or more valuable. I am pretty sure the inner and outer processes go hand in hand. I always say, "the outer is a reflection of the inner ." It is no mystery to me when I walk into a home or work environment or a friend's car piled up with papers, trash, and stuff that there is probably something going on mentally, physically, or emotionally inside that person. It does not take a "rocket scientist" to know something is happening, creating the"cyclone" effect. I know all too well from my own environmental hurricane effects that my own "Disorganized Self" (D.S.) can create chaos and get in the way of my "Organized Self" (O.S.). I will start accumulating piles of papers, collections of unnecessary items, wild and crazy clothing options start piling up on bedroom furniture, duplicates of the same item stock up, and a sense of hopelessness and wonderment when looking at it all. My distress comes from thinking about when I will have time to sort everything and organize it. My amazement comes from the wondering, "how did it happen"? As I recall, I decluttered the week before, so it should still be clean, correct?? I know something is going on with me for the emotional chaos to perpetuate weekly, losing my abilities and techniques for ongoing organization and order.
I realize that "Outer Disorganization" (O.D.) is due to something with the inner-self being off kilter. I know I create O.D. when my lifestyle choices grow old and mundane, and I get stuck, frustrated, and impatient in developing and implementing new goals and dreams. I create the O.D. to focus on the mess, papers, confusion, and my tropical storm path instead of on my life's major issues, like making real-life changes and resolving challenges. I realize that change and facing difficult life situations, going forward with new changes, and working through life with new approaches, can be like hitting a blizzard with a bikini on....cold and practically life-threatening. Knowing who I am, what I want, and where I want to go can be daunting, with thoughts twirling around and around like the Merry-Go-Round of my past. Knowing how to slow it down, so there is calm and focus and sorting through ideas, wants, desires, and dreams can be confusing and scary. At the same time, the new path through tunnels and bridges I must go through to get to the new me and the unique lifestyle is an opportunity for growth and fulfillment. The first stage of reckoning with one's D.S. is formulating an idea of your "ideal lifestyle ." Whatever you would love your life to look like, smell like, taste like, and be like. Whatever that means to you. This idea will begin to create your individual life picture. By cutting out all the images, words, and symbols from magazines that represent your inner self, creating a dream board and gluing them onto big cardboard can start you off. Making a list of your dreams and goals may help clarify your lifestyle image. Writing out a journal of ideas, thoughts, dreams, and wishes will help you formulate your "ideal lifestyle ."That is the first step to Self & Space Organization. After 17 years of sitting in the "therapist chair," I was glad to get moving again. My background as a former Social Worker, counseling thousands of people, has led me to understand human nature. I love working closely with people and helping them learn to understand and love themselves better so they can be freed up in every way possible before starting a decluttering project. Being a former psychotherapist has its advantages, don't get me wrong. I worked with the most extraordinary people, families, groups, and colleagues imaginable. I worked with seniors, children, families, and individuals with debilitating challenges. I had a contract to see the Military Personnel from Camp Pendleton and create interventions for PTSD and severe mental health challenges. I developed a Medication/ Treatment Alliance Program and still write articles about serious mental health challenges. My focus now is on assisting people to become the best they can be and to get organized for good. www.i-deal-lifestyle.com   Decluttering may seem dreadful at first, but your work will pay off – literally. In just a couple of easy steps, your trash will become someone else’s treasure and make you richer along the way. Here's how to make money by decluttering - just in case you were wondering. GET ORGANIZED BEFORE YOU START The point of decluttering is to remove things that don't add value to your life and to make room for new, valuable things. As we here at i-deal-lifestyle.com say, eliminating unused and unloved items will create a more comfortable, easier-to-be-home life. At first, going through so many things and deciding what to keep and what not to keep may be confusing and increase stress, yet the negative feelings will pass as you progress! So, how to get started? It's best to go room by room collecting all like items together so you can see how much you own. For Instance, bring all your books together, all your shoes, all the clothing by style, and all the collectibles. At the same time, pick up all the paperwork scattered everywhere. Looking at like-items helps you make good decisions about what to keep. To make this as easy as possible, organize the decluttering process well and look for some tips in The Clutter Remedy: A Guide to Getting Organized for Those Who Love Their Stuff. As you go through things you don't want anymore, remember to sort them into categories, for example, kitchenware, toys, personal items, etc. It will make it easier to identify sellable stuff. Deep clean along the way. You will feel lighter at the end as if you've moved into a new home! Organizing is a crucial step in the decluttering process HOW TO MAKE THE BIGGEST PROFIT Don't underestimate the value of old things! Unlike some things that lose value as they age, other belongings have the opposite effect. Research what your vintage items are worth before putting them up for sale. Also, sell at the correct time. Halloween or Christmas decorations will sell for more money when it's season time rather than at the beginning of summer. Don't sell certain things as you find them; wait to clear out everything before you start selling them. Some things are not worth the time and effort it takes to sell and ship individually. Also, some things are worth more as a collection than on their own, such as old video game collections. Old books and magazines are usually sold in bulk. If you have used children's clothes, and you wish to get rid of them, divide them into sizes and sell them together. Other things that are easier to sell in bulk are vinyl, CDs, cassettes, etc. Packing and shipping things safely are of the utmost importance, so both you and the buyer are satisfied. If you have furniture you don't want anymore, don't worry. The process of selling and shipping furniture today is as easy as it is for smaller items. Furniture movers will easily handle those bulky items that you decide to release. Look for a skilled team to handle moves with valuable items so you can prevent them from being damaged along the way. Investing a little bit prevents your items from being ruined and losing money. THE CLASSIC GARAGE SALE HELPS YOU MAKE MONEY BY DECLUTTERING A garage or yard sale is excellent - it's the best option because you won't deal with shipping or traveling. You are making money just by sitting in your front yard! The disadvantage is, of course, the number of people who will see what you are selling. You can announce it a few days before via social media to attract more people. Another thing to consider is that you can sell items for more money online, where people can bid and raise the price. So, it will not be as profitable as online selling, yet it is less of a hassle. THE ONLINE MARKET IS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO MAKE MONEY Whatever's left from the garage sale, you can put it online. Here you have more audience looking to buy. So, how can you make the most of it? For starters, be as descriptive as possible and, most importantly, be honest. Take the time to take outstanding photos of your items and write down the details. Today you have many options for where to sell; Social media has adapted to the desires of people looking to sell things fast and locally. Selling online has never been easier. WHERE ELSE CAN YOU SELL? Don't have time to sell items individually? Go to a consignment store to speed up your process, or hire a professional organizer with services to list your items and coordinate the sales. Getting support is one of the easiest ways to sell things in bulk. Or, even if you don't want to sell or give away your things, it will pay off. Donating to a Goodwill store can be used as a tax deduction. If you own vintage items, find the best buyer or go to your local antique dealer, who will give you an estimate of how much your should valuables will fetch. Besides antique shops, reach out to collectors for those rare items such as comic books, trading cards, stamps, and old currency. As for jewelry, go to jewelry stores and sell it to the highest bidder. Do you have a garage full of old sporting equipment? Well, you are not alone. So much so that there are second-hand shops specifically for them. So, sort out your gear, see what you will use, and take the rest there! Caring for your planet can pay off as well! Take your old electronics, batteries, cardboard, ink cartridges, or whatever scrap metal you have laying around the house to your nearest e-waste and recycling centers. Clearing your home of old items is not essential, yet the responsible thing to do while decluttering. Also, an excellent time to Declutter is when moving in with your significant other or roommates. The combination of your and their items will quickly result in a mess of multiplying objects. THINK OF THE END RESULT Your home will look fresh and unique again! You will see why most people feel less stressed when they clean their house or apartment. Your space will be easier to clean, more free space will be available, and you will feel an energized vibe. Take it one step at a time, and soon it will be like a new house. You will feel optimistic and refreshed. It’s a winning opportunity to change your perspective and make some money.   
A business thrives on its curb appeal, as it’s one of the main factors bringing customers into your store. If they're walking or driving along and see a beat-up, run-down storefront with no appeal, they're less likely to go in than an attractive and modern storefront. Here are a few simple upgrades to improve your business’s curb appeal and attract customers. Simplify ParkingCustomers face a significant issue when they want to give your store a chance, but parking is difficult—if not impossible—to find. Unfortunately, parking has become a more significant issue, as more cars are on the road than ever before. Help customers navigate this issue by simplifying your parking situation, keeping it clean and easily identifiable. You can place signs to direct customers towards proper parking. These changes will improve the perception of your business and bring more foot traffic into the store. Use LED LightingA switch that many homes and businesses are making is using LED lighting instead of incandescent bulbs. Not only do LED lights last longer, but they give off softer light. Unfortunately, many make mistakes when switching to LED lights, such as not double-checking the power supply ratings and wattages that LED lights require. These factors can determine the effectiveness of your lights, but once everything is in place, your storefront will look better than ever! Be Accommodating and AccessibleParking is a significant issue for many, but other customers may have difficulty finding space to park their bicycles or are unsure if your store is pet friendly. Install a bike rack nearby, offer water bowls for dogs, and designate a place to tether pets if you don't want them inside. Similarly, a store accessible to differently-abled visitors will appeal more to everyone. This accessibility shows your business is inclusive of all people and cares about their patronage. Focus on LandscapingOn top of everything, customers enjoy a visually appealing storefront. Hire a landscaper to groom the grass, flowers, bushes, and trees in front of your store so they can don't turn away customers. Landscaping is also essential for the path and steps leading to your storefront. Proper maintenance of natural accents encourages guests to keep coming in and positively perceive your business. These were a few simple upgrades you can easily implement to boost the curb appeal of your business. Any one of them will shift potential customers' perception of your business, and will surely bring more foot traffic your way.
Marla Stone, MSW REALTOR® License ID: 01823712 Nora Gallogly Group Beverly & Co. DRE#02078273 i-deal-lifestyle.com | Direct (949) 709-7000 |Connect with Marla on Instagram & Facebook! Marla is the Author of The Clutter Remedy: A Guide To Getting Organized For Those Who Love Their Stuff
Now is the perfect time to plant a garden or update your existing one. Not only will you have a colorful garden, but you will eventually harvest some delicious organic produce that you can add to your meals. Gardening in the spring is a great way to enjoy the beautiful weather. Here are our recommendations on the best fruits and vegetables to plant in the spring. VegetablesVegetables like zucchini, eggplant, beets, and carrots do best once the threat of frost has passed. Plants like these require six to eight hours of sunlight and thrive in naturally warm temperatures. If you live in a more temperate climate, you can plant these crops as late as May. MelonsMelon plants cannot withstand any freezing temperature. Honeydew and other melons perform best when planted in the spring but are not ready for harvest until late summer through early winter. Watermelons require more heat than other melons and need between 65 and 90 frost-free days to mature, making them one of the best fruits to plant in the spring. Fruit TreesThe average backyard cannot handle more than two full-sized fruit trees, so choose yours carefully. Plum trees are excellent for spring! After mid-March, citrus trees such as lemon, lime, and oranges do exceptionally well. This is partially because their roots can penetrate the soil better during this time; if the ground was still frozen, water would be difficult to access, and if it were sweltering hot, more frequent watering would be necessary. Keep these tips in mind, and you will enjoy the fruits of your labor. PepperBoth sweet and hot peppers grow under similar conditions. To ensure these plants grow successfully in cooler weather, gardeners start the seeds indoors and transplant them outside when the overnight temperature drops to 55 degrees Fahrenheit at the lowest. Peppers will not mature unless they have direct sunlight; they need eight to ten hours of direct sunlight a day!
Marla Stone, MSW REALTOR® License ID: 01823712 Nora Gallogly Group Beverly & Co. DRE#02078273 i-deal-lifestyle.com | Direct (949) 709-7000 |Connect with Marla on Instagram & Facebook! Marla is the Author of The Clutter Remedy: A Guide To Getting Organized For Those Who Love Their Stuff
 Your home should reflect your style and personality—most would say that’s a given. One thing that’s easy to forget during the interior design process is how to make your home feel welcoming for short- and long-term guests. These five tips to transform your home into a more inviting space will show you what to keep in mind.
Include Indoor PlantsAccording to science, plants will enhance the overall appearance of a space; they will also make you feel good. Some of the benefits of having indoor plants are that they:
Improve Your Guest BedroomHaving people stay at your home should always be pleasant for you and your guests. Embellishing a guest bedroom for a superb experience will leave everyone with a good taste in their mouths. Some tips for styling and modernizing a guest bedroom allow you to open your mind and leave your stamp on the room and in your guests’ minds. Have a Small BarA bar means drinks, but it also means that the host is ready to welcome you and other guests to their home. Having a designated area for talking and relaxing while having something to drink is always inviting. A bar is one of the best ways to transform your home into a more inviting space, especially when it’s visible from the entrance and ready for action. Add Modern LightingLighting can change the ambiance of a room with just one click. Choosing the right lighting for a space will completely transform how you and your guests feel. LED lights are a great option for switching colors, intensities, and location. Lighting can impact our feelings, and it can create anything from a bright room to a more romantic atmosphere. Placing them in strategic areas helps you create the perfect atmosphere for your guests. Use Mood ScentsOne of the first senses to activate anywhere you go is smell; it plays a key role in making your home more welcoming. Your guests will notice this before they notice anything else as they step into your home, so choose a scent thoughtfully. There are endless options for what you can use, from candles to air fresheners; every scent is possible and even better when it reflects your style. |
 Here, you will find an array of blog articles about living an ideal lifestyle and how to improve corporate business strategies.Marla is known as the Declutter Your Strategy™ expert. Marla earned her BA in Psychology and a Master's in Social Work. Stone is the founder of |
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