After retiring, as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in April 2010, I was ecstatic for the first four months.   Let's face it, listening to people's crisis, tumult and sad tales for 18 years took a toll on me  Don't get me wrong doing Jungian Dream Analysis, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy was fun and interesting and most of all helping people gain clarity and solace was rewarding.  The first thing I did was take a well deserved break, but then what to do next?   The only thing I had done prior to Social Work was acting. 

I loved acting.  I acted on stage since I was 9 years old and was in every play in Elementary school, Junior High, High School and College.  I loved theater, the classics, avant garde, improv and writing scripts, but most of all I dreamt of being a famous movie star since I could talk.  I had the acting bug seriously, seriously.  I was possessed with being an actress and quit the State School I was attending to consider moving to Hollywood and start auditioning for a professional career.  Prior to moving my parents insisted I finish up some General Education at Pasadena City College.  I took a Shakespeare Literature Course and met Martin Sheen's brother Joe Estevez.  We did a scene from a Midsummer Night's Dream together and Joe encouraged me to follow my dream and move to Hollywood and so I did.  I lived in Hollywood from 19-23 years old.  

The world of Hollywood was a pretty harsh place during the early 80's but I was persistent.  I took lessons from the best Stella Adler and Uta Hagen and I did a few, very few silly movies.  Noone took me seriously, seriously.  It was hard no matter how hard I hit the pavement.  You really had to be the daughter, or niece of so and so to make it at the time.  I was talented, attractive, in great shape and to no avail.  I also had some pretty scary experiences, so after 4 years I moved back home and went straight through to get a Master's Degree in Social Work.  If I couldn't help myself I would help others.

After retirement I remembered my sweet and small and insignificant career as a young actress and was watching a movie one night called Venice Venice by Henry Jaglom.   I had never seen such a magical, touching, in touch movie that touched me so deeply.  I cried and laughed and cried and laughed I don't know how many times.  I had never in my life felt so attracted and drawn to a film.  It inspired me to want to act again.  I felt a welling surge of desire that I had not felt since my youthful desire to be an actress.  I also had never written to a production compnay, but I had to because I didn't think I could live without more of Rainbow Film's Henry Jaglom's work.  So I found the website http://www.rainbowfilms.com and wrote an email stating how much I loved Venice Venice.  Henry responded and we became friends.  Henry even cast me in his film The M Word which will come out in late 2013.  I also did commercials, infomercials, a play in Newport Beach and some student films.  It was so fun!  I realized that I could just slip easily back into acting, but something ached from inside about helping people.  I still wanted to help people, not just myself.

I started I-Deal-Lifestyle a Professional Organizer business in Orange County, Los Angeles and San Diego offering organizer services, home organizing, office organizer systems, business organizer services, Feng Shui, Interior Design and Lifestyle Coaching.  The past two and a half years I have helped hundreds of people organizer their lives.  We organize paper, kitchens, closets, garages, storage units, help move people, we help people who hoard, collect and acquire way too much.  We help people downsize, upsize, relocate, re-evaluate their values in order to see what they want to keep in their lives, provide life coaching, business coaching and mental health advocacy and consulting.  I even spoke publicly for three major conferences this last couple of years on cures and remedies for hoarding challenges.  I have become a Hoarding and Cluttering Expert with new and innovative techniques to stop hoarding behaviors permanently.  Acting went on the back burner, but the dream, desire and determination is still there. 

I am now positioning the company to run without me full time so I can get back into the acting more.  I cannot let the idea of acting go.  The theater haunts me to return.  The call of the new and improved film industry call my name ....Marla Stone..... Marla are you organizing your life too?

Marla Stone is a Professional Organizer in Irvine, Orange County California.  She specializes in organizing people's lives from the outside in and the inside out.  Her areas of expertise are organizing hoarding clean-ups, coaching people with hoarding, helping them figure out what they truly value in life and learn how to protect their stuff, interventions for people with ADD, ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, Grief and Loss, Chronic Pain, Physical Challenges and or Chronic Mental and Physical Health Challenges organize their lives.

Marla can be reached at 949-709-7000 for a free 15 minute phone consultation.
www.i-deal-lifestyle.com
Marla also owns www.organizersnow.com

Do you ever feel so bogged down that you just don't want to do anything?  Have you become frustrated with how you are living day to day?  Do you have laundry, papers, dishes, clothing and just tons of stuff piling up?  How about your garage and closets, do you actually know what's in there?  Well you are not alone.  So many people that I help are overwhelmed with responsibility, children, loss, caretaking, work, and just life in general.  Many people are living lives of quiet desperation just waiting for that "adult nanny" to walk in and save the day.  I-Deal-Lifestyle offers you that wonderful "adult nanny" type of service every day of the week.  I-Deal-Lifestyle also offers personal shopping, Feng Shui, Decor Solutions, Life Coaching, office and paperwork assistance, and much, much more.  We love helping people with their self and space, clearing a path for more joy, wellness and clarity.  We teach you easy and efficient ways to keep your space organized long-term.

You want to know when enough is enough and get someone to help you sort through all of the things that are clogging your lifestyle.  I-Deal-Lifestyle has the expertise to organize every aspect of your self, your life and your space.  We organize every room in your home, including closets and garages.  We do it with zest, talent, warmth and concern to detail so that you will feel intense relief even with one visit.  

Using Feng Shui as a template for organizing makes it interesting and puts some structure and zing into the affect of the end result.  Marla Stone, I-Deal-Lifestyle, Professional Organizer will even Feng Shui your bookcases, built ins and your desk.  Feng Shui, an ancient artistic practice of placing objects in your home is a special way to create balance and  harmony, wellness, prosperity, romance, friendships, family harmony, health, creativity and wisdom.  If you don't think it is real, Marla will tell you it is since she sees how people naturally actually Feng Shui without even ever knowing it existed.  Her expertise and moving furniture around and placing your decor in special places usually immediately has an affect on the occupants of the home or office.

A Feng Shui Template divides your home into 9 separate but equal areas.  These areas are called Baguas.  Below is an example of the different areas of your home if it is a perfect rectangular shape.  If your home is not a perfect rectangular shape then you have "missing" parts to your home that would be built up in order to maintain balance and harmony.

                                             Very Simplified Bagua Template

Prosperity                                        Fame & Recognition                          Love & Relationships
Family                                                  Health                                     Children & Creativity
Skills & Knowledge                              Career                              Helping & Wise People/Travel

Each area is associated with certain colors, shapes and elements.  Feng Shui is a learned skill and can be mastered with a lot of training and education.  It is a fun way of decorating and organizing your self and your space.   So get Feng Shui'd, organized and breathe some vitality and life into your self & space.

Call I-Deal-Lifestyle for a free 30 minute consultation and GET ORGANIZED NOW!
949-709-7000.  Or email and set up an appointment for an assessment to get started!
[email protected]
Professional Organizer, Orange County, Los Angeles County, San Diego County

Renovation will be a cleansing and beautifying experience for your self and space. Renovation will also be stressful, overwhelming and confusing.  What will I fix, keep or exchange are the common questions when wanting to change up your home.  For instance, when you have a beautiful glass window or table and it has some scratches on it, one will believe they would want to replace that window, but there are always solutions for damaged glass, wood, doors, ceilings, floors etc....  One window scratch remedy is http://ezinearticles.com/?Glass-Scratch-Remover&id=6551520.  There are many remedies that you can find for almost any damaged part of your home on the internet.  Before you start spending big dollars to replace everything that has a little scratch or dent see if it can be repaired to your satisfaction. 

When you decide to actually get a new kitchen, bathroom, floor, windows, doors etc... finding the best quality for the best price is the next step.  Relying on services such as Angie's list or Service Magic, and or great references from family or friends would be the way to go.  Set aside two Saturdays or a weekend to interview contractors, in depth.  In depth means face to face interview asking at least 20-30 questions which you have thought of beforehand, calling their current and past references, searching on-line for any complaints against their license, making sure they have a license and a good score with the better business bureau, and visiting some of their clients homes that they completed.  You want to take as much time finding someone to work on your home, as you do when someone were to do surgery on a loved one.

Renovation also does not have to involve a great deal of cost or effort, it would be just as great replacing the doors to your kitchen cabinets, new flooring, paint and some posh.  Call Marla for a free 30 minute phone consultation for changing the stain of your kitchen, bathroom cabinets or wood furniture within a few days.  Adding some new furniture pieces and buying some new curtains, pillows and rugs will also be considered a renovation. 

Talk to your CPA, CFA or accountant about a budget that will not put you in jeapordy financially.  Also talk to your realtor or a realtor in the area who knows if values are going up or down, in your neighborhood, to help you decide how much money, realistically, should be put into your home.

Any way you go about a home remodeling or renovation get your self and your home organized first, then beautified and comfy, so you can enjoy your time there more and more!  Remember the outer is a reflection of the inner you, and home is where the heart, mind, body and soul rest regularly.

Check out some ideas at www.pinterest.com in the home improvement section.  Check everyday for a new idea to improve the lovin' feeling in your surroundings.

Marla Stone is a Decor Specialist and owns www.i-deal-lifestyle.com a self and space organization services for your self, home and business.  July Special 10% OFF!!!!

Orange County Professional Organizer helps you get your home, office, and business organized! We serve all of Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego.  We also serve your area by special request.

Please call 949-709-7000 for a free 30 min. phone consultation.

Marla Stone Lifestyle Expert is featured in the Orange County Register as the clutter buster.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/stone-370146-says-carbone.html