From My Desktop

Now that the Christmas season has passed and life is returning to normal (if there really is such a time), thoughts turn to the New Year.

I don't know about you, but I know for myself I never keep New Year's Resolutions. I am at the point where I don't even bother to make them anymore. I do however, write down a Goals list for the upcoming year. When I've finished, I seal it in an envelope and put it away in my special "Goals Box."

I don't think about it or do anything special with this list during the year. However, in the first week of the next New Year, I take it out, unseal the envelope and look over the list. What I find amazing it that most of the items on the list have been completed without much thought on my part. Just writing things down seems to send out energy to the Universe and helps with the completion of things I'd like to get done. It seems to give my subconscious mind a kick in the rear and starts it moving in the right direction.

If your're not a Resolutions type of person either, try this method and see at the end of this year how your life has turned out. This is really a fun experiment and experience.

Your friendly neighborhood (even if you are halfway around the world) Home Dec Lady,
Gloria

The Creative Workshop:
How To Recycle Gifts Without Guilt

Last month in the Creativity Workshop I mentioned that we should remove any item from our homes that we do not love or that does not make us happy. Following this column, I received the following note from one of my readers: "Once I started looking around, I realized many of the items I wish to dispose of were given as gifts. Do you have any suggestions as to how I could remove these items without feelings of guilt?"

When we think of it, isn't it amazing how often the word "guilt" pops up in our minds? Thankfully, the older I get, the more removed I am from feelings of guilt, so I do have a few suggestions of how to deal with this problem.

• Don't attach too much importance to the connection between the gift and the giver

Another time , after several years had elapsed, I offered to give a gift back to the giver. She mentioned several times how much she loved the item and since it was something I really didn't want, I asked if she would like to have it. She was thrilled and had actually forgotten that she had originally given it to me as a gift!

• If it's valuable or sentimental, offer to share it and spread the bounty

• When all else fails, relocate!

Above all, remember, that the item is a gift. That means it is given with love and comes with no strings. It is now your personal possession and you are free to do with it what you will.

The Creative Dozen

Do one thing each month to improve your home surroundings and you will be surprised at the energy and confidence that comes from this small undertaking. Not only will you be improving your home atmosphere, but you may find other areas in your life expanding as you stretch and grow in this area.

The Nose Knows
12 Ways to Add Scent to Your Home

The first thing that greets visitors to your home is scent. There's a reason our noses are the first part of our body to enter an area. Smells are a very important part of our world and let us know immediately what type of environment we are entering. Just think about it: could you ever forget the scent of a school, or the smell of your grandmother's house? What types of scents greet your visitors? If you enjoy scenting your home, or would just like to get rid of the cigarette smoke or the fish smell left over from dinner, here are some ideas you can try.

1. Candles are the most obvious. From tall pillar candles to small scented tarts burned in tart burners, you can always find a scent that pleases you.
2. Indoor foggers and water fountains are available at home decor and home improvement stores. Essential oils can be added to the water and scent along with added humidity will be added to your dry heated winter air. A great website offering tabletop fountains is http://www.fountainsnslate.com/
3. If you have some interesting heirloom china, fill some with potpourri for your home. Seashells filled with potpourri fit great into bathroom decor.
4. Effusion burners release fragrance and will saturate a room more quickly and consistently than any other fragrance products. If you are not familiar with this product you can check it out at http://www.fragrancelamps.com/
5. To get rid of kitchen oders, simmer an herb such as rosemary or thyme in a small pot on the stove. If you have a wood stove, fill an old large metal teapot with water, add some herbs and place it on the stove for humidity and scent.
6. Drawer liners are available in a multitude of scents. These are available at home decor stores and also at Crabtree and Evelyn.
7. Scented soap and packets of potpourri can be placed in linen closets and towel cupboards
8. If you are going on vacation, make the bed with fresh linen before you go. Place scented sheets of Bounce or Downy between the sheets for a fresh clean bed ready for you when you return
9. Earth friendly crystals (Rainbow Rocks) that last a lifetime are a new item in home scents. You can learn more about these at http://planetnaturals.com/
10. Fragrance reed diffusers last a long time. These are reeds inserted into bottles of essential oils. The reeds absorb the oils and release the scents into the air. Learn more about these at www.reeddiffusers.org
11. Padded scented hangers are available in various scents. These are especially useful to keep items that you only wear occasionally smelling fresh and clean
12. And of course, to round out our dozen, nothing can beat the smell of nature. Fresh flowers, flowering house plants such as lavendar and gardenia, or just opening the windows to get rid of stale air will go a long way to keeping your home fresh and clean smelling.

Dare to Dream, Dare to Hope, Dare to Believe, Dare to Live!

About the Home Dec Lady:

If you enjoyed this newsletter, visit my website and learn to develop your creativity and create the home you dream of by using my **free** online home decorating workbook.

If you would like to know why and how I am building a web business visit the Mysite/Myself page on my website. I am having fun and building a good income at the same time. If you would like to do the same, check out this page while you are visiting my online home

Do you already own a website? Is it producing income for you? If you would like some hints to increase the income from your site download this *free* Affiliate Masters course. Read what other website owners are doing to increase their monthly income.

All products recommended on this site have been actively researched and used by me. I only recommend products and services I use myself, and hope you find some new and interesting ideas for developing and using your God given talents and creativity.

Your feedback is always welcome and appreciated! Feel free to email me and let me know of your comments and suggestions now while your thoughts are fresh in your mind.

Please feel free to pass on this issue to friends and associates --just keep the entire message intact and unaltered.

Published Monthly “Creative Home Decorating" is a newsletter geared to the individual who dreams of creating the perfect home atmosphere of peace, harmony, comfort and relaxation.

Designed to help the frustrated decorator and creatively challenged, this ezine will inspire you to jump in and take a chance on your inborn talents. By doing this you will grow from the inside out.

Sign up today and receive a *free* Ebook, “101 Romantic Ideas"

Legal Stuff: How did I get on this list? You subscribed to this newsletter through a double opt-in feature. I never add names to my list except by request. I hate *s*p*a*m* as much as you do. If you need to make changes in your subscription or wish to unsubscribe, click the link at the bottom of this newsletter. This only takes a minute, and by making these changes yourself, you can be sure the information I receive is correct.

I never rent, trade or sell my e-mail list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You’ll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger by joining this list.

Gloria Daniels, Publisher
http://www.home-decorating-room-by-room.com