Still Perfecting The Closet

Yes, you guessed it – I am reading a new book.  Good Housekeeping’s “The Complete Clutter Solution: Organize Your Home for Good” by C.J. Petersen.  Not that I have a clutter problem, but I am always looking for new ideas on how to best organize all my junk.  And now it is more crucial than ever due to the sheer lack of space.  Plus, it is my personal philosophy that stuff can never be too organized or too clean.  That said, my principal organizing principles are:

1. I am minimalist.
2. I like to hide things.
3. I do not decorate.

The book is conveniently divided into several sections by the areas of the home – bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, dining room, home office, etc.  Ironically, most of them combine into one in my royal flat. Another thing of note is that the book is ol’ skool.  I mean who has a landline anymore?  Below are some ideas that I found either handy (meaning I am already using them) or clever (meaning I will have to look into that).

I. Kitchen

• “Every item in the kitchen should be stored near where it’s going to be used, in place that makes sense”(pg 9).
• Towel bars – can be slide out or pull out, under or over sink, in the kitchen or in the bathroom.  I like this idea because the bars allow the towels to dry freely.  (pg 19)
• Tray dividers – can be used for lids, muffin pans, cookie sheets, cutting boards, etc. (pg 19)
• Accessory tree – basically shelves on a pole, like the tension rod in the bathroom (pg 25).   If you think about it, you can stick one just about anywhere.  And even add towel bars to it.
• Refrigerator rules – containerize and assign shelf space (pg 30).  In my book, every single item in your home should have its own designated spot. 
• Pantry – organize by level (pg 32).

II. Bedroom

• Here, my biggest storage challenge is efficient clothes storage.  The book states – “hang less” (pg 42).  However, that is exactly my problem – the lack of hanging space.  Most of my clothes are too nice not to hang them.  Surely, I fold all my sweaters and jeans, but even they get horrifically wrinkled (Yes, I iron my jeans).
• On the other hand, the book also states – “figure out what can stay and what needs to go” (pg 47).  My problem is that I already purged when I moved.  What’s left is either super nice or super new.
• The book does not devote any kind of serious attention to storage of shoes.  Big problem.  Big BIG problem.

III. Bathroom

• Sink-top caddy (pg 88).
• “Make sure everything you store is contained in some way” (pg 89).  It’s true.  All the cleaning supplies under sink are just randomly sitting there, and that is starting to drive me bonkers.
• Jewelry in muffin trays (pg 90).  Probably mini-muffin tray?
• Flatware caddy for make up (brushes, mascaras, etc.) (pg 90).
• Magnetic plates to stores metal objects (nail clippers, tweezers, etc.) (pg 94).
• Tank top storage (pg 95) – I will take just about anything for the top of the tank, because all the lint that collects there is practically impossible to get rid of.

IV. Family and Living Rooms

• Minimal furniture – smaller in number, smaller in size (pg 101) – leaves less space for the clutter to collect.
• Ladder shelves (pg 114) – I just think they are kind of cool.  You can even have a ladder desk!
• Another BIG problem – the book does not address how to best store magazines.  Don’t even ask.

V. Other spaces (basement, garage, attic, entryway, laundry, and whatever else you got in your mansion)

• Color code (pg 148).
• Trace the outline of the tools on the peg board to mark exactly where they belong (pg 152).
• “Use a large carton and pitch into it everything that takes up space but isn’t earning it” (pg 159).  I call mine “a donation box”.
• I’ll give you one tip for the home office – paper less.  PAPERLESS solves the need for file folders, file cabinets, paper clips, staples, even pens. 

Regardless of what your space looks like, the most important point to remember when selecting an organizing system is that it has to work for you.  It has to feel natural and comfortably fit your life. Do not force organization upon yourself (or yourself into an organizational system).  Sometimes “artistic clutter” is what works best or what is aesthetically pleasing to you.  Just make it a system.

OMG!  I even cleaned the top of refrigerator this weekend! Oh the life of a hustla, the life of a gambler!

Source:

"Good Housekeeping The Complete Clutter Solution: Organize Your Home for Good" by C.J. Petersen

RANDOM FACT: Cholesterol

According to American Hearth Association, almost 50% of adults over 20 have high cholesterol.  Shockingly, I am one of them.  Not that I just found that out.  Actually, the last couple of checkups have shown it to be higher than desirable.  But the scariest thing is that it keeps going up.  Particularly, my LDL (bad) level is crazy out of control. So of course, I am concerned – not ready to die yet.  Per my research the risk factors of high cholesterol are:

• Smoking (I never have).
• Obesity (my BMI is under 20).
• Poor diet (until now I thought I was a health freak – I eat very little fat and very little overall).
•  Lack of exercise (I work out 5-6 times a week).
• High blood pressure (last time I checked, my blood pressure was 103/98).
•  Alcohol (I only drink in Vegas ha ha ha).
• Certain medications (I am not on any prescription medication).
• Your age (I am not over 55 yet).
• Family history (No history of heart attacks in our family).

Ultimately, cholesterol deposits in your arteries will result in their hardening and narrowing preventing blood flood to the heart, which eventually will lead to a heart attack and stroke.

As I was under impression that I was already eating super healthy, I purposefully tracked my cholesterol intake for two weeks.  The recommended amount is less than 300 grams a day for a 2,000-calorie diet, if you do not have heart disease.  I did not change the way I was eating during those two weeks, and I was averaging around 250 grams of dietary cholesterol a day.  What da what?  Is it possible that my high cholesterol is hereditary?

Since it does not look like I have any other options for lowering my cholesterol than through diet, I decided to figure out a way to do it.  According to my research, there are three ways that you can affect your levels:

1. Soluble fiber – removes cholesterol from your body (use your imagination).
2. Plant sterols – block body from absorbing cholesterol that you eat.
3. Polyunsaturated fats – directly lower LDL levels.

Basically, I need to eat more whole grains (oatmeal) and beans, fruits and vegetables, omega-3s (fish and nuts), soy (tofu), and olive oil. And cut down on animal protein (even chicken breast has about 45 mgs of cholesterol - see nutritional info below) and dairy. Yup, the future holds a lot of label-reading for me.

Please visit your doctor.  You too could have high cholesterol, even though you may not look like it.

Healthful links:

High Cholesterol

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-cholesterol/DS00178
Dangers of High Cholesterol
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/features/high-cholesterol-dangers

10 Surprising Facts about Cholesterol

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/24/moh.healthmag.cholesterol.surprises/index.html

Top 10 Cholesterol Fighting Foods

http://www.prevention.com/food/food-remedies/10-best-cholesterol-lowering-foods

15 Surprising Ways to Improve Your Cholesterol

http://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/15-ways-improve-your-cholesterol

RANDOM TIP: “What You Wear Can Change Your Life”

“What You Wear Can Change Your Life” by Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine

Yes, you guessed it – I visited by neighborhood library again.  The reason I checked this one out is that I completely agree with these ladies.  What you wear can most definitely change your life.  Our whole lives are built on perceptions.  Often first impressions shape the rest of your relations with a particular person.  Thus, as we all know, you always have to look fab, because you never know when and where you will meet Mr. Right (or Mr. WillDoForNow).

This time they are addressing not only what is right for your shape and size, but also such style essentials as beauty, accessories and the organization of your closet.  The ones below were the most notable points for me.

1. If you are having a crisis of confidence, an easy way to feel desirable is to invest in sexy and supportive bras and underwear (pg. 24). The less money you have to invest in your clothing, the most money you should invest in decent undergarments. Basically, the underwear creates the canvas for the clothes.  If it is unflattering, it is not going to matter what you put over it.  And do not forget - “only supermodels look good in bikini briefs”. The only types of underwear that stay are G-strings (gives VPL freedom) and low-waisted boy shorts (great for jeans) (pg. 100).

2. These two have some weird beef with color.  I try not to overthink colors – they all look good on me.  However, generally I gravitate towards warmer colors – all shades of red, pinks, yellows.  My current obsession is orange.  I definitely do not wear enough blues, and, of course, I hate green.

• “People who understand color look more interesting, more in control, more confident, more self-assured, and more attractive”. 
• “Black is an absence of color”. 

3. Accessories:  Fine boned are more suited for delicate accessories; big boned can pull off bold accessories.

4. Intelligent storage.  They have a lot of good tips. But that’s where the intelligence comes in – you have to organize in a way that makes sense to you and fits your life.

5. The only thing I got out of this book about make-up is “long-lasting lipstick is a crime”.  Whole-heartedly agree.

The book also has some great tips for looking your best in photos.  So please visit your local library.  :)

More fabulous randomness:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/carolkinseygoman/2011/02/13/seven-seconds-to-make-a-first-impression/
http://www.livescience.com/10429-impressions-difficult-change-study.html

Craig's List Wisdom?

So here is another of his pearls.

LA Dating Cliche - m4w - 36 (LA)You know what I love most about reading dating profiles in LA? They're predictable. Now, I know you ladies might not be aware because you're probably not checking out a lot of women seeking men profiles, so let me try to enlighten you in the two minutes worth of attention I have here before you roll your eyes, do one good hair flip and move on...
It starts like this: I'm not your typical LA type. I am from, or spent significant time in, New York. I moved here for the sunshine and my career. I like some combination of the following: hiking, yoga, Runyon Canyon, social cause X, reading Sedaris/Palahniuk/Murakami, listening to Arcade Fire/Mumford and Sons/The XX, farmer's markets, Whole Paycheck Foods, and Wes Anderson movies.

Now, since EVERYONE has written the same thing, it's hard for me to see exactly how you're not the typical LA girl. And let me continue, just to see if the shoe really does fit.
You've traveled a lot because, after all, your parents' generation didn't work so hard for you to get barefoot and pregnant at 22 and you now feel that "seeing the world" has given you more life experience and credibility. Maybe you've even ventured into "third world" territory, which you can now wax poetic about over $20 martinis.

You think voting Democrat somehow shows you're a compassionate humanitarian, thinking that the difference between them and Republicans is chocolate-vanilla, when even a cursory analysis will reveal more of a dark chocolate/light chocolate contrast. You say that you love animals, despite the fact you claim "ownership" of them, give them human names, and often dress them in human clothing. Really, you've just anthropomorphized them and they are merely filling the childless void in your lives. 

Despite your proclaimed activism in the cause of social issues, you have an unnerving amount of products produced by Apple -- one of the most egregious operators of evil, pseudo-enslavement of peoples in developing nations. Also, just one of the little social events you've been to in the last month could've financed a permanent system of potable water for an entire village.

Your idea of unconventional is so... conventional. And contrived. Look, you can buy a nice faux bohemian lifestyle, you can buy a "green" eco-friendly car so you feel less guilty about those plane flights back to the East Coast, but you can't buy self-awareness. And that is what you lack the most.

Trust me, no one is happier than me that freedom of speech is a constitution right.  But does the constitution also grant one the right to judge and be hurtful to others? Doesn't it also grant others the right to be themselves? Even if all that means is to be fake or to follow the herd?

Moreover, why does one feel so compelled to voice his opinions?  Is that because he is of such high opinion of himself, that he believes that everyone is interested in his opinions? Hopefully, it is only because he's been hurt by the world too much, and this is his defense mechanism.  

Finally, why would anyone want to burn LA?  I am in love with this fabulous city!

Craig's List Wisdom: What does it really mean "to be yourself"?

I have a confession to make.  I am a Craig's List junkie.  I roam mostly the "missed connections" section though. I think I am secretly hoping that someone is looking for me.  My Prince Charming on a white horse, I suppose.  Better yet a white Aston Martin.    ;-D  

Most ads, of course, are pure rubbish that is synthesized in the minds of the herb-smoking 90% of LA population. However, once in a while one comes across a curious post that makes your brain cells wiggle around a little.  And it goes like this:

Where is My Mind? - m4w - 36 (LA)I've recently heard a spate of declarations such as, "I just need to find out who I am." Or "I need to find myself." And even, "I don't even know who I am yet." All of which did honestly remind me of myself 10 or 15 years ago. But I think the question of who you are, or who I am, takes on a different meaning now than it did then. So, let me dissect this question.I ask, who are you?

Almost immediately I will get a list of likes and dislikes. I hear virtues and beliefs spouted forth; a firing away of occupations, skills, accomplishments, life events. Okay, so I now know some things you like, some you dislike, a few of the major beliefs you hold, and some of the things you've done. Now, again I ask, who are YOU? What is the YOU that you set off to find?

So, the easy answer is that each individual is the sum of all of those parts. BUT. . . but if I like what you like, believe what you believe, and do what you do, we'd all agree that I am not you. I am still me, and you are still you. None of which helps to further define who YOU actually are.

I find it rather amusing that so many people spend so much time trying to "be who they are." You hear this all the time. "I just wanna be myself!" So, people will go to extreme lengths to "be who they are." Hair color, piercings, designer clothes, customized cars, tattoos, music tastes, group association -- all of this to help you just be you, apparently. But you still can't define who YOU are. We'll all agree that even if I look like you and talk like you and act like you. . . I'm still me. We just can't seem to define what ME is. But it's definitely not YOU.

"Just be yourself" -- as if it's a concrete thing, like a rock or a table. Or maybe it's a puzzle that one feels they have to solve, putting all the pieces together into a whole picture. But where did the pieces come from? Are we discovering these pieces randomly on the ground as we wander through this world? No, the pieces are simply things you've been told. You're beautiful. You're smart. You're capable. You're going to be X when you grow up. 

Your parents have told you who you are, or more aptly, who they want/expect you to be, since day one. And coming out a blank slate, you've assimilated that into your identity. Your teachers added on to that, assessing your skills. You're good at math. You have such an aptitude for language. You're going to be a beauty queen. None of these things are inherently true but you've been told, thus you act accordingly.

If only I was smart. Who says you're not? The term has been ascribed to you by others, based on a comparison between you and your peers, usually assessed through a series of tests or benchmarks. The interpretation of the results is entirely presumptive. If you were the only person in the world, you wouldn't even think to ask whether or not you were smart. Nobody would have brought it into question. You either build a fire or you don't. You either climb a mountain or you don't. But to internalize a permanent identity trait based on possibilities and probabilities requires others to put the idea in your head.

The simple fact is, there are no universal truths as to the formation of the self. It is purely a human invention. Any definitions or limits we place on the concept of a self are of our own creation. The universe, or the principles of physics, or the patterns of motion do not acknowledge our self. There is no interaction between our identity and the world around us, only perceived interaction within our own consciousness. Your feet move upon the ground, your mass moves the particles in the air, but whether you envision yourself as a bear or a dinosaur is completely irrelevant to the world around you. The vision of yourself in your own mind is entirely illusory.

If the self is but an illusion, that creates a myriad of problems for a civilization. If we simply wander as individual self-images, each in our own cocoons, then communication and cooperation become difficult. So, to foster a productive and progressive society, there arises the need for a collective illusion -- a set of common values and beliefs that can support the illusion of the individual selves. This also serves to alleviate the anxiety that is created by being adrift on an endless, formless sea.

Now, if a society is going to build a grand illusion that all its members can believe, it is best to do so with positive ideals. "Land of the free, home of the brave," for example, as opposed to "land of the enslaved, home of the cowardly." So, every culture will try to engender positive self-images, even though, again, these are entirely equivocal and arbitrary. And, as these self-images are based on comparison, the unfortunate tact is to say "we're number one." I have yet to go to a country where a political rally was held where people chanted "we're number two."

Just as our image was built by parents, friends, and teachers, now the politicians and media will attempt to add their pieces to our puzzle by adding collective adjectives on to our identities. We are the smartest. We are the most productive. We are the good guys. We are the fairest, the most just. Of course, none of these statements are inherently true, but the notion in play is that constant reinforcement will produce belief. Then, later down the line, the reverse can be used as motivation when you want people to do something. Aren't we the smartest? Aren't we the good guys? Aren't we number one? Well, now that you've egos have been constructed, they will want to defend against any attacks. History is full of people doing the most horrible, egregious acts in order to defend their own self-image, not matter how contradictory those acts are.

The advertising industry and, indeed, practically every consumer-based economy thrives on this principle of positive and negative reinforcement on self-image. There are two basic ways to get people to buy your product. You can use the positive model -- because you are good/right/smart/beautiful, you will want this. Or you can use the negative model -- if you don't want this, you will not be good/right/smart/beautiful. It really is as simple as that because of the deep-seeded anxiety that comes about from not being able to clearly define our own consciousness, our own self.

When people are faced with ideas that contradict their own beliefs they experience cognitive dissonance, which produces great anxiety arising from the fact that we don't actually know much about ourselves or the world around us. So, no matter how convincing the evidence, people err on the side of protecting their own self-image. A lifetime of reinforcement from parents, from teachers, from friends, from political leaders, from religious leaders, from television, movies, music, books -- it doesn't stand a chance against one or two statements that go against all of that. The ego has fortified itself with defenses and the brain will simply tune out any messages that substantially contradict foundational beliefs.

Throughout the entire course of human history, people have subscribed to ideas, actions, and ways of life that are subjective, relative, and utterly devoid of any empirical meaning. People would rather believe a lie that makes them comfortable than to accept a truth that makes them uneasy. After all, we've been conditioned to view unease as a bad thing, something that is undesirable, even though what is desirable is, for the most part, just another chunk of the grand illusion.

I might as well get this out of the way so as to not terribly disappoint anyone. I have no grand answer awaiting anyone. But maybe, stripping oneself of all such trappings above, in the diamond mind behind your eye, in the quiet of a darkened room, you will begin to get a glimpse of who YOU really are.

How do you define "being yourself"? 

What does it mean to you? 

Is it a constitutional right? One of the granted freedoms?

Is that what "the Catcher in the Rye" was doing? Just being himself?

I'd like to think I am a bitch because I don't compromise my standards.  But there do my standards come from?  How much power do I really have over defining them?

How do you define yourself?

AdSense

Have I told you my sister is a genius? Besides that, she pins the coolest things on the Pinterest.  For example, take her Common AdSense.

But she is the creative type.  I am so not.  I tend to err more on the practical side of life.  Though I do love beautiful ads in my "dirty" magazines or on the enormous billboards of my fabulous city, etc.  The one ad campaign I absolutely adore is Kenneth Cole Reaction.  Very clever.  Very bold.  Very effective. 

http://kennethcole.tumblr.com/

RANDOM QUOTE: Bob Marley

So excuse me, if I refuse to settle for anything other than perfect.  :P

RANDOM TIP: what not to wear

I have discovered a library a block away from my flat.  Needless to say, I have been reading a lot lately.  So much - they should give me frequent reader miles.  Among such books as "Pride and Prejudice", "The Catcher in The Rye" and "1984", the latest book I have read was "what not to wear" by Trinny Woodall & Susannah Constantine.  Do recommend.  Belong are some of their tips that resonate with me the most.

•  Nehru jackets are for men only.
• Chuck out the clothes that don’t suit you – even if you think of them as old friends.
• Plunging necklines are only for perfect décolleté undamaged by the sun or age.
• Backs are sexy alternative (to no boobs), so keep them shining and exfoliated.
• Any panty line on the rear is revolting.
• Put on an outfit that you feel most confident in and work out why you like it so much. What does it cover and what does it reveal?
• Never wear baggy sacks.
• Deep V-necks cinch in the waist.
• Thick belts around the hips make the waist appear smaller.
• All things double-breasted must be chucked out.
• Tailored coats left undone create the appearance of waist.
• Always wear your hem to the ground when wearing trousers with high heels.
• If you can’t walk in your high heels, they won’t give you confidence.
• No skin tight shiny fabrics.
• Make sure clothes skim rather than cling.
• Don’t wear your belts too tight.
• The only time you can get away with a lot of gold is when it’s in your mouth.
• The longer the distance of flesh to the boobs the longer the neck will look. The more flesh you show on your cleavage, the longer your neck will look.
• Black and brown shows should never be worn with pale outfits.
• Style is wearing something one else has (ever worn). 

The book is filled with many many more.  Please visit your local library.  :)

RANDOM TIP: Nutrition

I know I am always thinking about these kinds of things.  Especially after birthday celebrations.  :)  So hopefully, my research will be helpful to you too.

TrainingPeaks: A Calorie Is Not a Calorie
http://home.trainingpeaks.com/articles/nutrition/a-calorie-is-not-a-calorie.aspx

WHFoods: How Does Digestion Work
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=faq&dbid=16

LIVESTRONG: Calories To Eat
http://www.livestrong.com/calories-to-eat/

Yeah, it got deliciously sinful today.  >:)

RANDOM FACT: Body Fat

Yesterday at the gym I had my body fat measured.  I don't know how accurate that thingy is, but I am at 13.7% body fat. It made me curious about what it really means. According to current health guidelines, essential fat for women is 10 to 13%.

Should we focus more on the level of body fat, rather than the number on the scale, in our weight loss struggles?

 

 

Source:

http://txcowboydancer.com/2011/08/27/healthy-body-fat-percentage/what-is-a-healthy-body-fat-percentage-3/

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_fat_percentage