Manifesting any magic lately? Let's try it!

We spoke a few weeks ago about relaxing into the new feelings of NOT expecting the worst, right? And seeing how that felt? Well, if that has been working for you, why not, try for a litte bit MORE? 

Without giving too much away, an amazing opportunity presented itself today, less than 24 hours after I set an intention about it. It's a pretty magnificent opportunity, and literally came out-of-the-blue, as they say, via a phone call from a great friend I hadn't spoken to in awhile...

What was so different about this intention-setting? 

1. It was CLEAR: One sentence.
2. It was specific, without mentioning or demanding to have the "HOW" of it. 
3. It felt "doable." It wasn't so outlandish that I didn't or could not believe it. It felt...just right.

#3 is the real key. It has to feel "right." Believable-whether it is a certain amount of money gained from something (you should specify the basic throughway-as this is part of your desire-an acting gig, a new law practice, your writing, painting side hustle, a new job, finding that special someone- whatever your wish or intention may be-just not the exact "how" of it.

Write it down or repeat it several times a day, with a clear and certain clarity, similar to "I'm meeting Anthony for Brunch on Sunday." It should be that matter-of-fact, and full of ease and looking-forward-to-ness:

"I'm going to make _____ through my ____in the next _______."

"I'm going to lose _____ lbs. in the next ______ at my new gym. " 

"I'm going to land ____ new clients in the next ________ with my new practice."

"I'm going to clear out and organize the garage/guest room/home office  to my and my husband's/wife's specifications in the next _______, and it will be a pleasant and very easy experience." 

Let's all try it together! "You never know who or what is going to appear when you are clear." I'd love to know if this works for you, too!...xo 

(Remember-KISS-"Keep It Simple, Sugar." :) 

Tiny Tidy: Your Freezer (Brrr!)

As the seasons are beginning to turn, I bet you have LOTS of containers of frozen soup, winter stews and meats that may be way past their due date, or at the very least, need to be organized in there a bit better! This one is easy and fun, and not a full-scale commitment at all (such as the ENTIRE fridge, which we will be addressing in this week's Spring Clean post). 

For the Tiny Tidy Freezer Clean-Out....You'll need: 

• A Magic Eraser or Microfiber Cloth
• Your fave natural cleanser (or a white vinegar and baking soda combo will work great here)
• Some labels or masking tape
• A Sharpie or a grease pencil
• Garbage bag for food you're tossing

Let's get to it!

1. Get your trash bag ready.
2. Start going through your frozen goods-things you have personally cooked prepared, stored and frozen. Put anything you want to defrost for meals this week in your fridge. 
3. Put the things you want to eventually toss in the sink to defrost (To be cleaned out from their containers and tossed a little bit later)
4. Now toss any expired bags of frozen veggies, ice cream cartons, other foods, etc. which are past their prime. 
5. Figure out which foods stay in there. 
6. Take whatever is staying in-OUT. ALL of it-ice packs and ice cube trays, all boxes and containers of food stuffs-OUT-on a nearby kitchen counter. 
7. As quickly as you can, WIPE DOWN the entire inside of the freezer, using your cleanser of the baking soda/vinegar combo. If there are any frozen bits, nudge them out with a butter knife. 
8.  WIPE INSIDE OF FREEZER DOWN AGAIN, this time, with a dry cloth. 
9. Put all the food stuffs and containers back, labeling anything you want/need to more specifically. 
10. When things in sink have defrosted, toss out the insides and clean out or recycle the containers. 

YAY! You did it! And please remember, Tiny Tidys are not about Martha Stewart perfection! They are about remembering how easy and and simple it is to keep your space clean and organized, without it becoming overwhelming, and feeling a quick, swift sense of easy-peasy accomplishment. 

Now...you have our permission go go and heat up something yummy for dinner! Mmmm. 

Spring Cleaning Start: Weekend Three!

Dude! We are almost there! And this one is fun (sort of!)  because this weekend, we are going to focus upon...

Spring Cleaning the Kitchen!

Okay, let's get some easy-breezy materials together: 

• Your fave natural cleanser (or white vinegar) that you can clean all surfaces and glass with, too. 

• Bon Ami Cleanser

• Rags

• Magic Erasers (a few!)

• Baking Soda

• Newspapers or paper towels for the glass and windows

• Mop and whatever natural floor cleaner you use (I use the same spray for everything) 

Ready? Let's GO: 

1. Look at everything in your pantry. Take a breath. Now, go through it! (If you have kids old enough to read a label, promise them a really nice treat, and have them help you go through, tossing anything old and expired and past its prime. 

2. Take OUT all the goods in the pantry you are keeping! Then, wipe down with cleanser the entire cabinet(s) shelves or pantry room. (ALL of the shelves. up and down!)

3. Put all of the pantry goods, jars, and cans of food back in the pantry. 

4. Mix about a cup of Baking Soda and 1/4 cup of warm water and make a paste (adding more water when necessary.) Open the oven, and scrape out the bits with a butter knife you can get at. The dried, gunky bits you can't? Put the baking soda paste over it, and spread it throughout the oven where you see those "burnt" streaks. Close the oven, leave the mixture on inside overnight. (This method works like an incredible charm-I swear!)

5. Take the Bon Ami and natural cleanser, and carefully clean the top of the stove, getting at all of the gunky stuff, if it's there! Finish off with the cleanser, making it really sparkly and shiny. (Clean the "window" on the oven, if you have one, too!)

6. Next, take and dampen your Magic Eraser, and let's hit the kitchen sinks! This is the most oft-overlooked place in the kitchen to really clean. If you have a disposable, run it, and toss a quarter of a lemon in there, to make it smell nice. Take that eraser, and really clean the kitchen drains, which, you will see, are really dirtier than you think, I assure you. Rinse with more cleanser and Bon Ami and rinse again, all of it! I guarantee it, your kitchen will instantly just look and "feel" cleaner. 

7. Take everything out of your fridge,  and we mean-EVERYTHING. Toss what is disgusting, old, out-of-date, you get it! (Make a little spot on the kitchen counter for veggies you can save, and use for some nice meals this weekend, if at all possible.

8. Fill your now spotless sink with warm, sudsy waters and put in the plastic produce drawers, if yours pull out. 

9. Now get in that fridge, and wipe that baby down! (STOP whining about what a mess your fridge is-we are almost done, here!) Make sure to get at the disgusting parts on ten shelves and in the grooves-(just do it! :) 

10. Make a list off condiments and things to get and place at the store.

11. Wipe down the food and jars and things you are keeping in fridge. Do the freezer next, same deal! 

12. Take your Magic Eraser, take everything off the top of the fridge, if anything'e store up there, and clean off any dust and grim duo there. Also- whet the hell do you have up there, anyway? If it's not cute or functional or decorative, take it outta there! (That cabinet above the stove is usually great for storing store bits of kitchen ephemera you don't want to part with.) 

13. Hopefully, you have already hit under the Kitchen Sink. If not, read THIS! 

14. Okay! YOU ARE AMAZING! Now, last but not leastly, it is time to do the floors. 

15. Sweep or vacuum up the kitchen floor.

16. Whatever your favorite method of mopping is, utilize it now, but get in there! Around teh stove and fridge, especially. Wipe down the baseboards! You heard us, just do it! Us ether Magic Eraser for this, it's super-healpful on grimy dust. 

17. Go throw your drawer of kitchen linens, and turn into rags anything that looks ratty or too old and not fun to use. 

18. In the morning, wipe out the oven. You will be amazed at how much easier the baking soda mixture make this.

19. Clean off the top of the stove hood with a Magic Eraser and rag. 

20. Go & get yourself one or two pretty, new dishtowels or some nice, new cloth napkins…:)

And...you are DONE! GOOD JOB! 

What Does Being "Alone" Really Mean?

I love this photograph, above! Primarily because the woman in it seems pretty cool and looks like a true badass while she is doing something usually associated with "loneliness"-playing solitaire. 

I've never been married, and spent a good portion of my life un-partnered. I also do not have children. I had a blip as I was typing this, because it made me pretty vulnerable writing that. But it's true. 

I never wanted to get married, even as a child. Never once had even imagined my wedding. Strange as it seems, my fantasy future life just did not include these things. And the older I become, I am left to evaluate and reflect upon my choices: Should I have frozen my eggs? Could I have settled, and just picked someone to go after and marry? Should I have tried harder to have a family? 

It's very interesting living in large city, especially one like Los Angeles, which, as un-conservative as it may seem, still has a very conservative feel when it comes to relationships and family. Yes, the partnering which occur may be "unconventional," or out of the norm, but they are still basic templates and structures we all so easily recognize. 

The truth is I have more anxiety worrying about the fact that I SHOULD be more worried being single right now! I have great friends, a social life that suits me, and a family and a niece and nephew, especially, with whom I am very close, and with whom I see and spend a lot of time. Do I want to be cooking for someone, traveling with someone? Of course. But the someone I need has not yet manifested. I don't online date, and try to stay as open as I can. 

What does being "alone" truly mean in this day and age?

I suppose, for me, it offers the excitement of a future that can change at any moment and is truly limitless, in that sense. The great downside is, our time on this earth is not limitless. Trying to stay in peace with whatever state you are in-married, with children, single, etc, I feel is the key, if there ever is one. 

I am writing this post to present a model of someone, a woman, who is quite happy in the present moment being "alone." My wish is to pass this feeling on to you, however you may be currently partnered (or not!) . xo

(Me, Francesca, below, sending good vibes to YOU!)

Take a Free Happiness Course through Yale University!

You can now take a FREE online Happiness Course that was created at Yale University and taught and moderated by the same professor who started it! "The Science of Well-Being" was one of the most successful and oft-requested classes EVER at Yale-and now it, too, can be YOURS! Coursera is offering it online now, just register here to get started with their awesome, online modules. I'm trying it! (No fees for this post, just wanted to pass on the very GOOD news...xo)

Let us know if YOU are trying it, too...

Tiny Tidy: Inside the Trunk of Your Car...

Okay, we realize that this may not apply to everyone, not by a long shot. Some have spotless car trunks, many don't care about this anyway, and some live in fantastic urban cities that do not require the ownership of automobiles (lucky ducks!). SO! If you do care, and if you spend an inordinate amount of time in your car like I do, living is Los Angeles, this little Tiny Tidy is for you. So, here we go! 

1. Pick a safe time of the day to do this, if you have to park outside, or in carport, thats' relatively "quiet." If you have a garage, lucky you. you can do this at 2 am,  if you wish! 
2. Put a few garbage bags or old blanket on the ground. 
3. Take everything OUT of the trunk. (Believe me, this is painful for me too, I feel ya.)
4. Put everything from the inside the trunk into your living room, and put it back in its proper place. Maybe it's old clothes and shoes meant to be donated? That stuff goes in your front seat, to be taken to the Goodwill or drop-off bin stat. Are there a few boxes of left over Christmas things to be returned? Work supplies? What? (If you need to put it back in the trunk because some stuff you actually use daily or weekly, that's okay, we'll do that next) 
5. Depending on whether or not you have a Dustbuster, vacuum up the trunk or, are feeling quite vigorous and sans personal, hand-held vacuum, take the car to a instant car wash place and vacuum out the trunk there.
6. Drop off anything that needs to be donated on the way there or back. (DO IT! :) 
7. Go back to the living room. Now, what really needs to be in that trunk? Ideally, we are just talking about things like emergency kits, water, extra reusable shopping bags, and maybe some postage supplies, PLUS- whatever you do need for work or life (supplies and sports equipment, sports, kids etc.) Decide. Be ruthless!
8. Organize this stuff now. Just go ahead and do it, it will take fifteen minutes, tops, I promise. Hopefully, you have stashed away, recycled or donated the excess stuff that was being hoarded there. 
9. If you are so inclined, and definitely do have stuff that NEEDS to stay in the trunk of your car, grab ONE small bin, or a few pretty, square baskets that you wouldn't mind utilizing. 
10. Bring everything back to the car's trunk outside (or in garage) along with the baskets or bin, and start to organize. Do it fast- please do NOT overthink it. This is not a Martha Stewart marathon. Just a good, old fashioned tiny Tidy to make your commutes more pleasant and enjoyable. 

Enjoy the strange, refreshed and buoyant feeling you experience next time yo get into your car. You are a badass.

You have a clean car trunk, woo-hoo! xo

You can purchase this nifty Black & Decker hand-held vacuum at Target, click below: 

Spring Cleaning Start: Weekend Two!

We are on to Weekend #2 of our Spring Clean Guide. How was last week for you? Too much, or not quite enough? Well...

Now, we are going to kick off this weekend with a few "big" tasks, sprinkled in with some truly smaller, more "fun" ones. Okay, ready or not! Here we go...(And again, please feel free to start Friday night, if you wish) 

Weekend #2 of the Spring Clean Start: 

1. This weekend, we are going to focus on two BIG things: The walls, and the bathroom!

2. (I know.)

3. Now that you hopefully lightly dusted and de-cobwebbed your walls last weekend, grab a magic eraser, dampen it, and go around rubbing out any scuffs or little marks that you can manage from your walls.

4. Get a chair ready, take a rag or micro-fiber cloth, spritz on your fave natural cleanser, and get to work! Start at the top, and work your way down. Remember the endless moves he had to do in The Karate Kid? Just go in sweeping motions, like you are waxing or drying off your car. 

5. Next, take care of any spots or true wall marks that cannot be buffed out. I keep a bright white tube of acrylic paint in a drawer, and daub any "real" marks. 

6. Take a little break. Go for a walk. Meet a friend or take your partner out for lunch or coffee. Deal with your kids, and tell them you need a little "me" time. (Or ask your kids to help!) Just take a little rest!

7. Next, we are going to tackle your bathroom(s)! Ugh. I know. It is my least favorite room to clean, by far. So, to make it FUN...

8. We are going to make "Doo" Drops! I'm dead serious. And NO, I confess, I am not really a DIY person, but these drops are so fun, silly, and easy to make that it seems silly not to do this when cleaning out the dreaded bathroom! Just take a small glass or plastic bottle (preferably one that has a dropper, but that is not necessary) and pour about 2:1 in parts (depending on the size of your bottle) cheap vodka or rubbing alcohol/ to liquid hand or dish soap. Then, add about five drops of your fave essential oil, shake that baby up, et voila, instant "DO before you DOO!" Drops! (The bright idea is that you or a guest shake out a few drops into the toilet before they go number deux. The oil makes a coating on top of the water that traps odors.)  Trust me, It's genius, and it WORKS! You can even grab a colorful marker, but off some brown paper from a grocery bag, and make a cute label. Done! (You are now a DIY genius.)

9.  Next! Here we go: Take out everything on the sides of the tub, top of sink and vanity,  and around and in the shower. That would be the shampoo and conditioner bottles, soaps, bubble bath and salts- you name it. Just put it in the hallway for now, even. What we want is a clean surface so we can get in and out of there, as easy and fast and possible. Remove everything from the top and around your toilet, as well. 

10. Start with the toilet, in fact. I prefer using Bon Ami powder, which is a safe, gentle-yet-abrasive cleanser, which is also very inexpensive. Oxi Clean packets are also great to toss in and let dissolve, and they smell divine. Next, get out your toilet brush and scrub away! Take a rag and your fave natural cleanser, and scrub the top and sides of the toilet. GENIUS TIP: Take one or two DENTURE CLEANSING tablets as a safer alternative to those nasty blue pods. (Yes!) Grab some cheap ones at the Dollar Store. I'm serious! They leave a nice fizz, actually safely clean porcelan, and give a nice finish. 

11. Your tub/shower: Bon Ami your tub, after first rinsing it with warm water from the shower, and pull up any stray grossness with a rag or paper towel. Spray and wipe the tile and surrounding walls. 

12. Wipe down the sides and "walls" of the tub, as well, down to the floor. 

13. Finish off the tub with a white vinegar/warm water rinse, to de-germ for real. (You can also add a few drop of your fave essential oil to the vinegar mix, if you'd like.) 

14. Clean the mirrors, sink and vanity.

15. Wipe down all of the shampoo and shower gel bottles, skin care, whatever was resting around the tub and vanity, and put it all back. 

16. Fun job: Run down to the drug store and buy a sack of scented Epsom salts, (lavender or eucalyptus!) and decant them in a pretty jar, popping it next to your tub. Super inexpensive, and a pretty little treat for you and your tub. 

17. Run some hot water, and take a nice, long bath! You deserve it!!!

18. Have a great rest of your weekend...! xo

Do YOU Multi-Task? Your mind is trying to tell you something...

This is a big topic in the self-improvement world, and has been for years. "Studies show" that multi-tasking, is, well, bad for you, and for your overall productivity, and peace of mind. And I personally tend to agree...

But, here is what I think it is GREAT for: It is wonderful for identifying what you really WANT to be doing, at any given moment, and more importantly, what you need to be doing in your life, instead. 

If you consistently check on other sites (like this one! Ha) when you should be working on something else (like work!)  or looking to be distracted in some other way, even if those distractions are "productive," (like toggling between emails and a report that is due, for example) it is a definitive indication that you need to change the way you focus and structure your decisions. 

What we are talking about here is CHOICE. And on another level, your choice on what you decide to COMMIT your time to. 

I have really been thinking lately about this nagging, little thing I do, a very sophisticated version of the Scarlett O'Hara out-off-until-tomorrow excuse: I will sort of load myself up with this do-gooder, "I must, I will!" feeling....And....weeks can pass, and I stay in the very same loop. Some examples that I am guilty of? Well, I have been making phone calls and volunteer for a political action group, about once per week. EACH week I go in, I get this elated feeling, and say to myself, "This week, I will learn-up much more about all of the candidates in the districts I am calling for..."  These are simple actions, and, since I am so excited that I am there volunteering, this gives me an extra punch of joy. But, you know what? I do not dedicate the time the following week to do this! Weeks are now turning into months. Is it an enormous "deal?" Well, no. Not really. I know enough about the candidates I am calling about, and am also supplied with a script and an online resource library to consult.  But still! I feel as if  I "should" know more. Another example is the way in which I am writing my novel. I write pretty consistently, but somewhere, far off in my head, I fantasize about a time when I will have "acres and acres of time" (to quote Sylvia Plath) in which to work on my book. 

Guess what? That is probably not happening in the near future. And I am not going to tie up this post with a bow, and say that it is not important enough, then don't worry about it. Let those other tasks go.

No!  I am going to tell you that these distractions, whether they are "real" (internet surfing) or imagined (guilt, fantasizing) really are trying to tell you something.

You have to either adjust the way that you work, make time for the things you really want to do (being more politically aware, cleaning your home, helping your kids with their homework more often, looking for a new job, carefully writing that book or screenplay) and make the changes towards doing so. Simple, huh? 

When we are engaged, we do not flip and flop from one thing to the other. When I am writing these posts, for example, I enjoy it so much, I usually do not stop for long stretches. That is a good thing! I am (quite hopefully) going to be able to start making some adjustments to how I also work on my "real" job in the non-profit world, working with the Children's Lifesaving Foundation, so I may bring the same type of focus to jobs that are a bit more tedious, like admin work or writing grants, for example.

There are thousands of posts, books and sites about productivity and focus out there. And I have studied a lot of them. One stands out and I'd like to share it with you, because, in the good spirit of not multi-tasking, we will get right to the source:  

I have an online mentor whom I have never met IRL, but has been a huge inspiration to me: Leo Babauta of his terrific blog, Zen Habits. He has a new  fully dedicated to this type of amazing focus, as well, and here is what Leo has to say about what he calls  "Grand Canyon Focus:"

"Imagine you’re standing at the edge of a cliff, where you really need to concentrate in order not to fall into the abyss. Imagine the intensity of that, the forced focus, the complete and utter devotion to being present.

Now try that kind of complete and utter concentration for reading the rest of this post. No distractions, no pulling away to other things, just stay with the words, keep connecting with me and the meaning of this article. Be here, without fail, or you’ll fall off the cliff.

You can practice this with any task, from washing a dish to writing a paragraph. Fully pour yourself into it, so that the doing of the task isyou. The doing is a full expression of who you are.

To really master this kind of focus, set aside practice time each day. Tanaka-san could only manage it for two hours a day. Try it for just 10 minutes a day, then 15 after a week, then 20 a week after that, only expanding after your practice period becomes too easy.

This is the practice of ichigyo-zammai, which means full concentration on a single act. Zen master Sunryu Suzuki wrote:

“So instead of having some object of worship, we just concentrate on the activity which we do in each moment. When you bow, you should just bow; when you sit, you should just sit; when you eat, you should just eat.”

You don’t have to do it all day long to achieve this kind of enlightened activity. A single bow, a single meal. Just this, and you’re fully practicing.

What do you want to master?"

Can you practice this kind of Grand Canyon Focus with that task, he asks? I love this. This is just a reminder to pay attention when you are distracted. It means so, so much more than you think it does...xo

Tiny Tidy: Your (ahem!) Nightstand Drawer

Today, we will be cleaning out our nightstand drawer(s)! We don't mean to be cheeky. But whether you store some saucy stuff in there, or not, it is completely refreshing to do this, especially if, like us, you love to lounge, eat, read, work and do tons of other fun things in bed...OKAY! Here we go:

1. Open each bedside, night table drawer, one by one. How do you feel? Are you anxious? Do you have a few journals in there you started, but never finished? Does something in there remind you of the sex you are currently having or not having (and both thoughts fill you with dread?) Take note! We are going to fix a few things, here.

2. Find a cloth bag or large, pretty make-up bag you can repurpose. Put all of your sexy time USA stuff in here. (Note to Self: Those satiny Sephora gift bags, which they give out free over the holiday with any purchase, are perfect for this!)

3. If you have no sexy stuff to chicly store, than use this bag for any daily meds, headphones, body cream you have. Just capture anything you may use nightly (or morningly) in this pretty bag.

4. Take everything out of the drawer, one drawer at a time. Still anxious? That's right. It's because you won't read those books that have been hiding in there! So, go file them back on the bookshelf. #feelnoguilt. Now, this is not about the PILE of books on nightstand you're currently reading. That is a totally different story!

5. I know this will really bother some people, but please recycle any old journals stored here, (even with a few blank pages left) that cause you to feel any amount of psychic pain. Trust me, this is an AWESOME way to make way for the new. If you had a crappy few months, or year, and were sort of trying to journal your way through it, recycle those babies (Unless there was anything remotely creative in there you may need for a future project). Please. I promise! It's really okay.

6. Take TEN MINUTES ONLY to put things in other places-bits of jewelry, workout clothes, your ten pens, lingerie, etc. Don't get stuck here!

7. Old letters, momentos, concert stubs, birthday cards? Put them in a file for a now and store on or in a desk or cabinet. We will be dealing with those things later on this month.

8. Find a pretty, deep bowl, and place it INSIDE the top drawer. Put your hand and body cream or essential oil in here, ONE pen, and a NEW journal or notebook (if you use one) here.

9. Add a few "lucky charms" or crystals to the bowl, for fun, if you wish!

10. Anything else-try to store in your closet or bookshelves, if you can...

Remember, we are NOT aiming for Pinterest perfection, here. Just whatever is soothing, and feels right, to you. Here's mine:

AND...you're DONE! YAYAYAYAY! xo

Spring Cleaning Start: Weekend One

We are going to jump right in with our Spring Cleaning Guide, Weekend One!

This is going to get some things out of the way that will make you feel sooo good, and get your home ready to rock-n-roll for Spring...Here we go!

*Suggestion: Maybe start on a Friday early evening before you go out, or turn on some much-needed Netflix, and space out the rest over Saturday and Sunday, or start anytime you wish!

1. Set your ceiling fans to blow in the "summer" direction (counter-clockwise) and keep it on a bit higher speed, if need be.

2. Stand on a chair, grab a clean pillowcase, and grab and pull the dust off your ceiling fans'   blades. 

3. Turn your mattresses! Just like rotating the tires on your car, flipping your mattress at least twice per year is such a good practice, especially for better sleep. (If you have the type of mattress you cannot "flip," then at least rotate it so your head now rests where your feet once were!)

4. Strip off and the wash the bedding you usually don't (i.e.-fancy pillow shams, coverlets, duvet covers, blankets.) Try using a cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of white vinegar, and let it sit in the hot water before you dump in the laundry and regular laundry detergent. This trick is also great for softening sheets and towels.

5. Grab the sponge mop or Swiffer mop you normally use, and rubber band a thick rag or microfiber cloth around where the sponge or wet cloth normally goes. Make sure it's really secure, spritz on some of your fave natural cleanser, and gently brush the walls of each room up and down, paying attention to any stray cobwebs or dust at the top or in the corners, jumping up on a chair when necessary! Pay special attention to the walls of the bathroom, and maybe go over them with a rag by hand, as well...

6. Vacuum the couch, main chairs in the living room, and under the beds-ONLY, for right now! Grab any stray bits of this or that under everything. 

7. Using a few microfiber cloths and warm soap and water, gently scrub any blinds you may have in the kitchen, bathroom or living room. If they are okay and not too dirty or dusty-then just lightly dust them. I HIGHLY recommend using microfiber sheets-they work so much better than even a magic eraser, (which will often smear the dust into vinyl blinds, especially.) 

8. Dust the tops and sides of any hanging mirrors or framed art work in your home. 

9. For now, just lightly dust your bookshelves, taking casual note of any books you have not read in awhile, or ever.

10. Take whatever's on top of the FRIDGE off, take a rag with natural cleanser and scrub off the top, and put everything back, seeing if there's anything you can store in another cabinet or drawer. (Do NOT take longer than 5 to 10 minutes to do that, however! ;) 

Woo-hoo! You get to take a break! Notice: Do you feel better, a little bit lighter already? You completely should, and it will only get better next weekend! Now, go to the movies or grab that drink or coffee with a friend. You deserve it! You got a great leg up on your Spring Cleaning, and, in fact, have absolutely started! Cheers to YOU! xo

Are You Living The Dream, or Living IN One...?

Do you spend an inordinate amount of time day-dreaming? I do...I know that, for sure, and have done so since I was a child. 

In fact, I even had a name for it: "Thinking Minds." (!) I told my little brother, "please leave me alone, I'm doing 'thinking minds.'" During that time, in my head of course, Batman and Catwoman were about to get down to it, or I was living alone on an island, and had to fend for myself, or, much later, I became pals with the entire Van Halen band, and we would vacation together, me making lemonade for them in something resembling my aunt and uncle's summer cottage they'd rent near a lake in Connecticut. (I'm not even joking!)  Later, I was a famous model and movie star and dating Sean Penn. The list goes on. 

I am older now, and still do it. Constantly. Do you? 

And here's what I happen to think about this: I think it's okay. As long as you keep your head on straight, and are not (too!) delusional, a rich fantasy life certainly cannot hurt, and in fact, could be a way of safely compartmentalizing your stress. When things are just a little too hairy in your life, and may not be changing for awhile, especially in the case of a break-up, job, serious illness, loss of a loved one, or similar tragedy, zoning out a bit may even be prescriptive. Daydreaming may add some needed zest when you're exhaustedly caring for a six-month old, or not making love with your partner much these days. Or  it may provide some much needed motivation when fantasizing you're in that perfect job, when you are currently unemployed. 

Jess Lively has really been talking a lot lately about Abraham Hicks and Law of Attraction, and I am really fascinated by people that can really and truly take this concept to the "feeling" level, something I am currently playing around with. That is, acting as if.  As if you already have the job, are making the film, about to get your novel published, are engaged, pregnant or in the process of buying that new home. As if it's all, actually and really... happening.  

I think this feels disingenuous and well, a little crazy to most people. BUT! The fact of the matter seems to be this: We spend such a great deal of our time putting the almost opposite energy vibration towards the things we do not really want at all ("He will never go for me," I will never get out of debt," "I will never have the moxie to make that movie," "That job is too far above me!") that we are already, unbeknownst to ourselves, vibrating out to the universe these bolts and waves of negativity. We are simply so used to it, that "shifting" it in the other direction feels like we are efforting too much. But does it, really, require that much effort turn it around? Maybe we are just stuck in this negative feeling zone. 

Just like we spoke last week about rewiring neural pathways, I think the very same thing goes for "feeling" the outcome beforehand, in terms of applying the Law of Attraction. What it really boils down to, they say,  is believing what you "dream" and fantasize about will one day come true.

But you have to feel it first. 

Daydreaming is like baby stepping to the Law of Attraction. You just have to add that extra dose of "feelingness" to your daydreams to make them do double-duty! I am going to make more of a commitment to really putting this concept to good use this month, and I promise to report back...Would love to know your thoughts!  xo

GREAT Motivation to Declutter...

I just found out that Amazon has this terrific,  new Trade-In Program...Actually, as soon as you hit that link, the page will even tell you which of our previously purchased products are eligible to turn in for Amazon gift cards! I think this is great, especially if you are someone who shops often on Amazon, and if you buy lots of your household staples and cleaning supplies online. 

You can hit that garage, and look for: Old text books, video games, Kindles or e-Readers, cell phones, speakers, you name it! (Electronics are big, so ask your kids to look through their closets, too.) They are also constantly updating this part of the site and adding new items that are eligible, too. 

How the Amazon Trade-In Program Works: 

• You identify an item you want to get rid of, and Amazon makes you an offer.
• If you "accept," you print out the pre-paid shipping label they make available to you, and mail in the item to them.
• If you are a "qualified" Amazon member, you can choose to be paid instantly, and your gift card balance will show this new balance. 

Et voila!  You are on your way to de-cluttering for Spring, and making a few extra bucks while doing so! Woo-hoo!

Tiny Tidy: Under the Kitchen Sink!

I know! You're probably like...SERIOUSLY? "Quick?" But this one came to light for me last week when it was raining here in Santa Monica VERY hard, so badly that mine and my neighbor's kitchen sinks got jammed up. 

The (awfully sweet!) plumber actually took everything out from under the sink, and wiped it down  before leaving (!) And although it wasn't gleaming and spotless, it made me realize that doing a quick-clean under the kitchen sink is NOT such a terrible thing.

SO! Here we go: 

Do a Quick Clean Under Your Kitchen Sink:

1. Put a plastic Garbage Bag on the ground below your sink cabinets, and grab a few rags. 
2. If you have your garbage & recycling bags/containers under the sink, take them out, or just put them aside.
3. Take everything else out from under the sink-sponges, cleansers, rags-whatever ya got down there. Place them on the covered floor space. 
4. Kneeling down, grab a rag and spray your favorite natural cleaner on all the surfaces. This should only take a minute or two.
5. Now, if you have a plastic tub or tray of some kind, grab that, and stick it under there to corral all of your cleaning supplies. This looks nice and neat very quickly. 
6. Look through whatever is left. What did you have stored down there? Do you really need three empty, aluminum coffee cans? Unless you are a kindergarten art teacher or truly use them for crafts, no, you do not! Recycle those babies, or store them someplace else, if you can. Jars? Extra cleaning supplies you never use? Try to really see if you can either recycle some things, or put them in a place that makes more sense, like the garage or laundry room or linen closet. 
7. Take out the garbage.
8. Put garbage bags back, if they belong there. 
9. You are done!
10. Woo-hoo! Good work! See, that wasn't so very hard, right? Now, go celebrate, and go do some dishes! (#kidding!)

Getting Out from Under: The Trap of the "Bad Day"

Of course, I have to start this post by saying that I am not a therapist. Of any kind. I have been in therapy, in the past, so this post is not meant act as a substitute for that, in ANY way. It's a post for those of us who have just had too many sh*tty days, maybe consecutively, many on-and-off, but enough that you are feeling like "enough is enough." 

I completely understand. I have also started to feel a bit of the pre-Spring slump lately, especially when your New Year starts off with high hopes, and somewhat of an emotional bang. Reality sets in, and often, the very same things that have been plaguing us and have kept us stuck for so long are still, unfortunately, still there. 

It's hard to climb out of this kind of vague slump, because we have spent trying to do so, our emotional muscles get so tired, and we just want to put the cover over our heads, and read our latest good book on the nightstand (speaking for myself, here!) We spend so much energy trying NOT to feel bad, we scoffed at any other generally good and sound advice. (Call a friend! Schedule a manicure! Take a walk!) I know. You just want to smack someone who suggests this when you are feeling like this. I really get it, believe me. 

So- what to do if you keep having days like this, have always had days like, but always do manage to bounce back? How do you reduce the time spent feeling like crappy?

I think you don't have to stop, feel it in your body, ask yourself what's wrong, etc, necessary. You KNOW you are having a terrible day. But it's important to stop right there. As we have spoken about here in past posts, the brain's neural pathways can get used to any environment. Neurons that fire together wire together, and vice versa! If you are used to feeling like crap, believe me, the brain does, too. Sometimes, you have to make the brain put on its Nikes and just "Do it", even though it feels like lying on the couch and eating potato chips. (Metaphorically speaking, of course! ;) 

So, okay, you are feeling lousy again. And you have a fun day of work, which maybe you are not looking forward to. And the kids are getting on your nerves. And the house is just a mess. Just...stop for a moment, before taking the next disagreeable thought or action. Then ask yourself:

1. What do I really want to be doing right now? 

2. Is there any way I can incorporate that, in any way, shape or form, into what I am doing currently? If you work from home, could you perhaps take a break to do that thing that will put your mind at ease? If that calming, clearing thing for you is cleaning or tidying, throw a load of laundry in, or wipe down the counters. If it's Facebook or Instagram, CALL a friend, instead, to get that hit of connection, instead of spending dead minutes or hours scrolling. If you are at work-maybe you can schedule meetings with co-workers who make you laugh or you get along particularly well with. If your work is labor intensive-in the service industry, for example-and you have a pretty set itinerary to your day or evening- then definitely schedule something not for when you get off work tonight or later-but- for something LATER ON in the week you really will look forward to: Visiting a favorite niece or nephew, grabbing drinks out with friends, seeing that Oscar flick that you missed, plotting some Sexy Time USA with your Significant Other, just whatever it may be. Tonight, or whenever you get home, you need to chill, but scheduling something later in the week, well, that should give you a nice, refreshing little boost.

3. Go to Trader Joe's. (This always works for me!) I'm serious! There is something about this company that is simply good-mood inducing: The cheerful staff. The adorably named food items. The cute packaging. And the great deals. Where else can you find a $6 bouquet of roses, free samples, and adequately priced, quality almond butter-all under one roof? I adore this place! Make a list. Even if you're at work, go and hit that Trader Joe's now, or on your way home from work, or whenever you schedule allows. You may even grab some extra wine and cheese, and be motivated to call a few friends to come on over! Yay! If anything, at least you went grocery shopping for the week. ( #amiright?)

4. Clean something. Right freaking now! Yes. This site is not House & Mind for no good reason, man. Gretchen Rubin of the Happiness Project is even writing a book about this phenomenon, because it works, called Outer Order, Inner Calm (landing on shelves next Spring!) Sometimes, feeling really down is just anxiety in a super-duper sneaky disguise! You may not feeling like exercising or going out for a nice walk, but just try to clean or organize one, small thing in your apartment or house right now, and see how you feel then. (we have a few Tiny Tidys posted that are just the ticket!) 

5. Remember: This Too Shall Pass. One of my oldest friends used to say this to me whenever something terrible or just uncomfortable happened, and it's absolutely the truth. Tomorrow is another day. 

But...the more you "catch" yourself from falling into the trap of a bad day, the better off you will be from preventing them in future, and get adept at literally turning them around.

PS-Just please remember, some days DO just, well, s*ck. (And that really is okay, too!) xo

What Self Presentation Means To...YOU

There is so much that can be said about this topic, I don't even know where to begin. This post could be titled "Finding Your Personal Style," I guess, or "Clean Out Your Closet for Good!" But, especially for women, the topic of how a person puts themselves together, (or chooses not to)  is one that can cause some considerable debate.  It is politically, emotionally, often ethically charged, when we talk about the provenance and price of our clothing, what wearing and using what really means. And then- there's the make-up we use... And the quality, the organic "cleanness," of said make-up. Of course, then also,  is the loaded "style" aspect of all these myriad choices, and what they "mean" to one's personal expression. #Oy...!

Which is why, I think, so many people just, well, sort of give up on their own self-presentation, after awhile. They let their bodies go. Wear the same yoga pants every weekend. Dread opening their closet doors! Yikes. I know this feeling. It's funny, I feel my home so much more greatly expresses who I am, so much more than my choice of clothing shoes, accessories and hairstyle do. I wonder how common this really is...

My mother told me she always got dressed for herself when she was younger. But I have heard many women say that they dress for other women. This means that we want sort of invisible nods and kudos from each other for looking cool, attractive, and put together. We want the approval and acceptance of other women. This makes sense, to a certain extent. (Guys, I'm sorry to leave you out of this. I just have no data on this, in terms of you all.) 

But what if, say, one day, we have the need to channel the very 'Seventies look of our first baby sitter's hair? Or want to pretend we are an artist's' model from Paris, circa 1923? Then what? What if it's simply too stressful, expensive, outlandish, childish, waste-of-time, frivolous (pick any adjective that suits you!) to express yourself, well, through yourself, and the way you put yourself together? How do you even start, if you do in fact have the creative desire to try and cultivate a more daring, or just more put-together, cute, athletic (again, pick your adjective, here) look?

It is rather challenging, right? 

I am working on a special project that will address this very issue, and I would love to hear back from you! Please email us your thoughts about you go about loving and feeling your best-vis a vis your self-presentation, I'd love to hear how you go about it. (Or don't go about it!)

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts! xo

I am certain one of my many neighborhood babysitters in the 70s used Breck shampoo! They always had the raddest, longest, cool-girl hair, that I still, to this day, struggle to emulate. :)

Tiny Tidy: Decant the Sweets & Snacks in Your Pantry

This little Tiny Tidy is SO fun, so visually stimulating, and just so satisfying, PLUS- if you have some saved jars (and who doesn't, am I right?) this should take no longer than 10 or 15 minutes:

DECANT YOUR SWEETS & SNACKS INTO JARS IN THE PANTRY

The one is FUN. It's not for your beans, flour, sugar, dry goods...NO. This is for your treats. Your snacks and sweets. That's right! Hello, sour gummy bears, licorice sticks, dried fruit, chips, nuts-whatever fun snacks you have lying around your pantry in probably boring and/or rather unsightly bags and containers. 

NOTE: This is MUCH more satisfying if you use jars you have saved, NOT jars that you purchase, unless you really, really want to. Also please note: I am not aiming for perfection, and you shouldn't, either! The point is to realize how quick and easy it is to get a hint of organizational satisfaction with such little effort, time and commitment. Here we go!

         To Start: 

• Gather up your used, saved jars, preferably medium sized ones, like pickle jars are really perfect for this.
• Make sure the jars are VERY clean and dry. 
• Take out all of the candy, sweets and snacks from your pantry that you'd like to decant.
• Start filling them up! As you do so, please make sure to recycle all of the old bags/containers/wrappers from your sweets and snacks. 
• Wipe down some pantry space with a damp cloth or paper towel, and set your filled, prettily filled jars into their new space.
• Arrange jars around, as you see fit. 
• Stand back and admire your work.

Bravo! You did it. Now treat yourself to some sour gummy bears, good work. 

Also, if you truly find yourself sans jars, just go to our link below to get these cuties: 

How to Stay on Top of the Big Things While Dealing with all of the Little Ones...

It's really hard to focus on a huge project-whether work or creative, while staying on top of your day-to-day. Countless productivity systems have been developed to help us get and stay and keep on track. They are literally almost hundreds of ways and systems that have developed over the past twenty years of chopping up one's time and focus, to try and create real and genuine balance in your life. BUT, that is NOT what this post is about...

One thing that I have found that really helps when stressing out big-time is to look at everything, in the midst of those same feelings of great overwhelm and stress, and appreciate, for a brief moment, what you really have going on in your life. If it's a lot, then you are lucky, man! Even if you are broke, financially struggling, working two jobs plus a side gig of walking five neighbor's dogs- you ROCK! If you have too much to do between big work commitments and raising a hectic family, how fortunate you are that you have that happening, and you have that family around you as a sustaining force, as well as the motivation to get up each day, and get sh*t done! A student going to school, but working every spare moment to cover her tuition and living expenses? She is already fifty percent ahead of a huge percentage of her non-working student friends, gaining knowledge and experience that is genuinely priceless. A single mom struggling? Hey, man, you have that great kid(s) that make you get out of bed every morning, and they rely on YOU for everything. Do you think they give two craps that you work at Trader Joe's, and have a catering gig and drive for LYFT on the side to help make rent each month? C'mon! They adore you!

In other words, having any amount stress in your life means you are, or are on your way, to doing really good things. Yep, the truth hurts:  It's the way one handles the emotions stemming from the stress that creates how much we can succeed and achieve, whatever that means to you. (Also, if you have a boss or spouse from hell, these are different stresses, and ones we can refer you to get help in a professional way.) 

This post is a gentle reminder to give yourself a little break. Seriously. Could you, in fact, not only be doing just okay, but actually, quite well, yes, thank you? Can you tally up a few good stars for a few things these past few weeks that you are proud and want to share? Of course you can! So, pat yourself on the back right now, and take that deep breath. You ROCK. I swear to God, you really do. 

(And don't you forget it!)

Birds of a Feather: On Flying with Your Flock

Everyone from the ever-hustling and magnetic Tony Robbins to the most zenned out of Buddhists will almost universally agree: You are who you hang out with. But what if this, well, admonition, if you want to be honest, wasn't entirely true? What if the whole of your experience as a person on this earth does not solely have to rely on what you have accomplished, or how much you have "succeeded?" How can you keep the people in your life balanced, when you don't want to hang out all the time, but they still make up who and what you are as a person? The answer is simple: Boundaries. Made to be reinvented and re-implemented in an ever-changing way. 

I know. If you are someone who feints at the thought of hurting anyone's feelings, I feel ya, believe me!  Especially if that someone has been quite close to you, or has been a huge, integral part of your life. Birds of a feather do flock together, but they also pair off, fly in different squadrons, even go solo for a little while. It's important to recognize what you want in your life via your friendships, how much you can or want to give, and what you need. And to respect the very same in others. 

It is essential to find the friends and collaborators who will feed your soul, partner on future projects and have like-minded career goals and life values. But- what about those who have served a purpose in your life? Is it important to "cut them out?" I don't think so. Unless someone is sucking the true life out of you, consider this: 

What if the tapestry of your relationships can form a quilt of a different stripe, if you look it at that way? If you can try to balance personal and emotional  boundaries within your flock of friends, and know who to limit your time with, reserve more space in your life for, and be aware of which old pal  is always down for a drink or coffee or tea when times are tough- might that also work for you? Your friendships can weave a thick, warm tapestry that make up the richness and memories of your life!  Good and bad, these friends have been there for you-in one way, or the other. Respect this tapestry, and honor your own needs and boundaries, and watch as you all fly, up and away, together. xo

Tiny Tidy: Top of your Bureau or Vanity

We will be posting these little quick fixes, to get you ready for spring cleaning, or just to rev up your day or morning or evening so you can either A. Relax or B. Tackle some more important sh*t and clear your mind. So, without further ado...

Clear the top of your table top, vanity or bureau of choice, and style it! (WHY NOT?) 

Just take everything off of there! And I am going to assume you are doing your bedroom bureau and/or vanity table, here. You may have spare or broken jewelry to go through, make-up to be decluttered, coins to corral, and a few bits and bobs to organize-but don't do that right now. Set your phone's timer for 30 minutes. (And that is IT, that's all the time you get!)

To Start: 

• Grab some ziplock bags and a Sharpie
• Throw a few towels onto your bed 
• Bag up any broken jewelry to be repaired/sold/given away. 
• If you have jewelry and accessories on top in containers/jewelry box, place that on your bed
• Place any make-up brushes/creams/brushes/perfume in the ziplock bags. 
• Toss any old make-up/creams (Gross!)
• Place those ziplock bags on bed
• Take whatever the hell else is on there, and place it on bed
• Get out your favorite wood or natural cleanser (depending on what your bureau is made of) and dust off. 
• Take a brief tour around your space: Any old, clean candle holders, cute jars, trays, or tiny little bowls you can repurpose to set up jewelry, make-up brush holders, or perfume bottles? I bet you can!
• Place the new jars/holders/ trays on your bureau/vanity top in a different configuration than you had before. Peep Pinterest or Apartment Therapy or Instagram if you need some inspo.  Don't go nuts, though. You are not painting the Sistene Chapel, here, just organizing your day-to-day stuff that keeps you glowing and cute.
• Don't sweat it. Have little fun.  Especially for women, this little tidy can be surprisingly creative. I like to put some little evening bags and things out on my vanity. So, c'mon! Pretend that you're French.  Or more organized than you really are. Or more feminine. Or less cluttered. Or more cluttered! Whatever feels different and fun and right. 
• Okay, time's almost up. Put the jewelry that needs fixing or selling or giving away near your door, so you can then put it in the car, so you can then figure out when to take care of it. 
• And...you are DONE! (GOOD JOB!)

Pre-Game Your Spring Clean this Weekend!

Yep! It's that time of year again! Spring is, finally, on its way. But! Not yet... I am fortunate that I live in Los Angeles, where the weather has been a bit rainy and dreary this week, but it is absolutely nothing compared to what my family and friends on the East Coast, and in the Northeast, have been dealing with.

Wherever you may reside, if you did not do a post-Holiday sweep of your home, spring is the time to really renew and refresh your space. 

But do not fret! If you are stressing about not being able to tackle your entire home, we are going to break down a few things for you that will help you be on your way. Promise!  

Hang on to your hat! Here we go:

1. Choose the "big" project you have been dreading- and get to it! 

This may sound counter-intuitive, but tacking something you have been putting off-painting a closet or kitchen cabinets, grouting the tiles in the shower, cleaning your windows inside and out-whatever you've had on a physical or mental list to get finished. If you have to go get painting supplies, take this weekend to go do it, a few hours to plan out and organize the task, and start it. There is really no need to take two full days to do most projects like this...You can shoot for a few hours on both Saturday and Sunday, or just part of a Saturday. Put off any other errands and chores you may have, get your partner, friend or babysitter to watch the kids -until you dig into this one project. 

Here's what will probably happen...

You may balk at this. Wake up Saturday, and want to go back to sleep, or off to brunch, or hit your Netflix queue. Guess what? You can treat yourself AFTER, not to worry! You will see your friends and get to watch Netflix again, I promise! But seriously, I am not making light of this. These blocks can be huge, and are often paralyzing. Because- if you are blaming your inability to do more important things (your novel or screenplay, painting, starting a side business, looking for a new job, checking out and organizing your finances) on the fact of your looming household projects, there is no other way to get over this, than to get through it, and to tackle what is holding you back. 

"What, little ole' me?" you may be saying? Yes, you! A lot of us do this, and the easiest way to stop it is to just...start it! Just start, in any way you can, if blocking off the whole or part of the weekend is too overwhelming. That's okay. 

THEN, here's what will happen...

After you start, even if it's just taping of the edge, to paint, or doing the bathroom windows, inside only: YOU WILL START TO FEEL SOME STRANGE, NEW ENERGY! You will start to feel that, gasp, you will be able to possibly finish this project, maybe even someday very soon! You may want stop. But, the very next moment, you will want to keep going! You will realize what a badass you are for even starting this thing! Screw it, you will say to yourself- "I'm gonna finish this! 

2.  Do a Mini-Sweep of Your Home

*Disclaimer: You are going to need a few baskets and/or bins to do this. It is not necessary to buy these. Most of us have these in our garage, closets or laundry rooms. Go grab 'em now! 

• For all I know, you may have some spare holiday decorations or pillows or something hanging around. Are you kidding me? Get rid of those things! Pack them off into storage, the garage or attic.  

• Lighten up any textiles, pillows or blankets that are too heavy, and pack them in wherever they normally go in your home.  If your weather is still lousy, you may want to toss some of your quilts and blankets into the dryer, on low, with some dryer sheets to freshen them up.

• Recycle any magazines, newspapers, catalogues or mail that you can glance at any know they are meant to toss into your bin. Do not take longer than ten or fifteen minutes to do this. If you have a pile of mail that is getting to be real a bitch, find a cute, small basket and put it in there for now, and lay it on your kitchen table or counter.

• Gather your children's toys in large plastic bins and ask them if they want to donate anything to a child less fortunate.

• Take a lint roller to your sofa and stuffed chairs or sectional if you have dogs and/or cats.  

• Take another basket or bin, and literally clear off your coffee table, minus any important papers or bills. (Just do it, trust me!)

• Take your natural, all-purpose spray cleaner, a clean rag, and wipe down all of the light fixtures and door knobs in the house. 

• Clean the window sills the same way. Just a light dusting will do just fine. 

• Open the fridge, peer in, and toss out at least one or two (or three! Or four!) items that are expired. If you can't find any you are A). Lying or B.) A Very Good Person! I'm kidding. I honestly hate throwing away food, but it really does happen to the best of us!

• Okay, now STOP! (Take a nice break.)

3. Make a List. Be Ruthless.

Okay. How does it feel to have done the above? GOOD. Am I right? You know I am! Because I know this high, and it's the best feeling ever. That's what we're going for, here. A taste of feeling that accomplishment that comes from doing something wonderful-just for yourself. I do not care if you finished or even start the big project. If you are reading this far, you are motivated to galvanize your space, and maybe did a few things off of the list above. I hope so! It's important to know that what's holding you back on the outside directly corresponds to what's holding you back -inside. Once you can accept this fact, you will no longer be able to BS yourself, and you be able to banish these household tasks and slay these domestic dragons as easy as brushing your teeth in the mornings. (And you better be doing that!) 

Now, start making a list of what you want to do to your home this spring, and what needs to sorted and cleaned and made better.  Maybe you are pretty clean and tidy already, and do not need to do a massive spring-clean this year. Maybe you'd just like to focus on decluttering, or, if you've been doing that awhile, selling some of your old things on Poshmark, Craigslist, or eBay. Maybe your garage is a disaster, and you want to focus on that. If it’s a big project, break it down in ten to twelve actionable baby steps. If it's a general "To-Do" cleaning list, just randomly list what comes to mind. 

You are going to feel so good by Sunday night, I promise you... (And even if you don't, you still started!) 

Yay! Feel good. And cue that next Netflix marathon!