Then one day I heard Him say this to me, “I want you to elevate, educate and motivate my people.” While I was told to be patient, I was instructed to inspire someone else. As I needed encouragement myself, I was told to be patient! Thinking about this I came to the realization that nothing produces without first being in seed form. This seed could be a thought, a word, an action, or something tangible. God was saying to me work your patience by sowing into the lives of others the very thing that you are needing right now. As you do you will be walking smack into your destiny (entire, complete, wanting nothing).

I sow these words of wisdom and encouragement to enhance and elevate your thinking, enhance and educate your mind and enhance and motivate your heart:

1. There is greatness inside of you longing to be discovered.
2. No one can ignite it but you.
3. You must want it.
4. You must pursue it.
5. You must think about it.
6. You must talk about it.
7. You must never say anything contrary to it.
8. You must never loose hope — go in to possess it.

I’ve accepted the mission to enhance your lives, designing for you possibilities for the mind and heart. I want to help you to Design Your Best Life™. Every decision you make and action you take began with a thought. Yes, as simple as it may seem, a thought resulted in this online communication; a thought resulted in the bed that you sleep in every night; a thought resulted in the shoes in your closet. A thought! You can change your world with your thoughts. So what are you thinking? What’s on your mind?

There is only one person who knows exactly what you want and can truly make you happy. The buck stops with you. No one is responsible for you but you! Look farther than you can see. It’s called visualization. No matter how dark things are or seem to be, raise your sights, see the possibilities, and possess them. Always, let patience have its perfect work that you may be entire (complete) wanting nothing.

I will be sharing along these lines from now on. I am now on a mission. I want to help you transform your lives and your world from Zero 2 Greatness™!

I enjoy sharing with you and always look forward to reading your comments. Please share this with your friends and family.

Sharing my Passion,

Deana

©Deana Murphy. All Rights Reserved. You may reprint this post
only in its entirety with the author's byline below.
Deana is the Expert on Lifestyle Design™ and is your
Go-to-Resource for promoting successful lifestyle makeovers,
whether you seek one-on-one consulting, group trainings,
virtual workshops or live lifestyle makeover events.
Learn more about Deana’s expertise at  DeanaMurphy.com 

1. BELIEVE!
Know your passion, embrace its power. It’s what helps
you to achieve your cause.

2. DON’T QUIT BELIEVING
The only approval you need is the one that speaks within you!

3. BELIEVE REGARDLESS
Hang with those who have your answer and
remove those who have your problem.
To go up you’ve got to sow up!

4. BELIEVE ANYWAY
Listen to your inner GPS. If it is saying, stay in your lane,
then stay there!

5. ONLY BELIEVE
To accomplish great things, you must not only act,
but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.

As always I so much appreciate you reading my posts and I enjoy reading your comments. Go ahead and share with me today. Oh one more thing, share this with three people you know. Send them this link.

Sharing my Passion,

________________________________________________

Photobucket

Deana Murphy is The Expert on Lifestyle Design, media personality,
a dynamic speaker, an award winning best selling author who has been helping
people for years design a home they love, transform their lifestyle,
and showing them how to feel good from the inside out and unleash their
greatness. She has been interviewed for O at Home Magazine, Empowering Everyday Women,
Spectacular Homes, SORMAG, and Meredith publications to name a few.

Imagine what life would be like if negative energy would suddenly convert into the positive. That alone would jump-start your engine to an enjoying life simply because you now see the glass half full instead of half empty. Begin viewing life from the productive view instead of the critical.

My birthday is less than a month away. Reflecting on my life experiences I’ve released myself from appraising past mistakes and hurts. Instead I’m heeding to life’s lessons with gratitude of having explored ways that doing life didn’t work out! Therefore, I know now not to take that route again and move on. It’s time for a re-birthing of the greatness within. And it feels so good! We are in total control of our lives. The sagging economy doesn’t determine our successes or failures. Only we can do that.

It’s time to open your heart, take a deep breath and be thankful for the preciousness of living. Always there’s something to be thankful for. Do you have running water? Do you have indoor plumbing? Can you read these words in this post? Can you smell dinner from the kitchen? Get the picture…you have a great deal to be thankful for. Seeing life through thankful eyes encourages unspeakable joy which speaks to the greatness in your heart.

Life is too short to dwell on sorrow and distress. Don’t allow the economy and others negativity to stress you. When thinking on enjoying life, the three “F’s” comes to mind:

1. Forgive… Forgive yourself first.
2. Forget…Snap out of it. It’s over!
3. Focus… Look ahead of you.

Forgive How many times have you said, “if only I’d…. The reality is, you didn’t. Forgive yourself for your mistakes. Then forgive others for having hurt or mistreat you. What do you gain with unforgiveness other than depression, heart disease, and hypertension? Make a quality decision today.

Write down all of the mistakes that you’ve made. Look in the mirror and say aloud, “I forgive myself for having done this. I now released myself from all guilt and pain.” Now write down all the names of people you may have hurt. Call out each name and say aloud, “Forgive me.” Finally write down all names of people who have hurt you. Call each name aloud and say, “I forgive you. I release you from all liability.” Now say aloud, “I am thankful for this opportunity to be free.”

Forget Forget about the past. You cannot change what has happened. Do all things without complaining and disputing.

Focus Reach forward onto the things that are ahead of you. Keep your aim high and your eye on your greatness.

By doing these three things, you will jump-start a life full of abundant joy from a thankful heart.

Thank you for stopping by to read my post. I appreciate you and your comments.

Sharing my Passion,

©2010 Deana Murphy. All rights Reserved. You may reprint this article
 in its entirety with author's contact and bio information.
Deana Murphy is The Expert on Lifestyle Design, media personality,
a dynamic speaker, an award winning best selling author who has been helping
people for years design a home they love, transform their lifestyle,
and showing them how to feel good from the inside out and unleash their
greatness. She has been interviewed for O at Home Magazine, Empowering Everyday Women,
Spectacular Homes, SORMAG, and Meredith publications to name a few.

I can recall times when there were so many different projects on my plate and I’d work a bit on one then jump to another. But nothing was coming to completion. It appeared I was just merely going in circles, playing musical projects. There’s no formula for being flawless in this journey called life. But I have some good news for you. There are ways to redesign your life to function as you were originally designed.

Think about this. When you plant a seed in the ground, it always produces that which it was intended. For instance, plant an apple seed and what do you get? Apples! Plant a flower seed and what grows? Flowers? When God created you, He already planted the seeds inside you for a specific purpose and vision He purposed for you to grow into. But distractions, procrastinations, disgusts, bewildering, indecisiveness and fatigue sometimes are inflicted by others. You know, the things people say or do that causes you to become blinded to the vision and purpose seeds originally planted inside of you. Upend this lifestyle today. Become acquainted with you. Redesign your life. Here are the top six ways to do this:

1. Caution yourself
You were placed here for a reason. There is a life’s design seed in you beckoning to blossom into your purpose and destiny.

2. Take back control
Okay, you’ve swerved off the path for a moment. It happened. Don’t dwell on the time lost. Move on and find yourself.

3. Inventory your talent, desire, passion seeds
What are you good at? What do you do just for the fun of it? What would you do if you wouldn’t be paid to do this? Perhaps it’s something you’ve always enjoyed doing as a child. Perhaps it’s something you’ve always wanted to do but was afraid. Don’t be afraid. Remember, God has already planted the seed inside of you. Don’t allow it to rot in the soil of your heart. Give Him a good bang for His investment in you.

4. Revisit your goals
Let’s face it. Goals are the heartbeat to life. Without them you’re walking around with blinders on. Stretch yourself. Jump into the challenges that come your way. Reposition yourself. Push yourself to do the things you desire. Not only for yourself, but to shine in the face of those who told you that you can’t.

5. Stop Stressing
Put things in perspective. Use your mental energy in ways that you enjoy. As important it is to exercise your body, likewise it is with your brain. Crossword puzzles, reading for relaxing, visiting museums, listening to soothing music, and this one I particularly enjoy: thumbing through high-end magazines for selecting the furnishings for my next home. Use your imaginative energy on things you desire that will elevate your thinking. Laugh out loud often, like every half hour. Don’t take things so seriously; just be serious about making things happen.

6. Design your focus
You are drawn to your most dominate thoughts. Everyday I sit alone where it is quiet and focus on the design of my life. This is the most important aspect of redesigning your life. See yourself in, on, or at the desires of your heart. Then say out loud to yourself everyday what you are focusing on. If your focus drifts away, gently pull it back. Utilize the seed of imagination that God placed inside of you. Use it to your advantage and redesign your life.

No matter how old you are, how long you’ve been in a career path that you dislike, or what the naysayers are shouting, redesign your life today into the person of your desire. The seeds are inside of you. Water them and watch them grow.

I’m so glad you stopped by to read my post. Please leave me your comments.

Sharing my passion,

©2010 Deana Murphy. All rights Reserved. You may reprint this article
in its entirety with author's contact and bio information.
Deana Murphy is a dynamic speaker, award winning author and
 a conscious home and lifestyle expert who has been helping
 people for years design a home they love, transform their lifestyle,
 and approach life’s design in view of Spirit and family relations.
 She has been interviewed for O at Home Magazine, Empowering Everyday Women,
 Spectacular Homes, SORMAG, and Meredith publications to name a few.
 She has also appeared on HGTV and Fine Living.
 
 

But one thing for sure you want your working environment to meet your work style and reinforce your brand. The home office should be designed for optimum productivity. You spend lots of time there. And besides, because you’re the boss you should have the best office in the neighborhood! So why don’t you? Consider these ways to help you with your home office design so you can increase your productivity and match your brand:

Let’s talk about ergonomics. If you want optimum productivity, the work space must be comfortable and healthy.  Another way of looking at ergonomics is how the human position interfaces with machines and equipment. Creating a good ergonomic working arrangement is important to protecting your health and influencing your productivity. Here are some vital ergonomic safeguards:

1. The Chair.  Your chair is the most important piece of furniture in your office. To reduce vertebrae pressure and minimize lower back pain slightly recline your chair. It should have a good backrest that’s wide enough to support your shoulders. Ideally, the front end of the seat should be curved. Experts say a good chair range from $500 to $1500.
2. Lighting. The next most important feature is good lighting. You don’t want eye strain. Lighting, whether artificial or natural shouldn’t be too bright especially on the computer. I have a screen over my monitor to reduce outside glare. Desk lamps should light the papers not the eyes.
3. The Desk. Before purchasing a desk, evaluate your needs. What is your profession? What equipment and technology is needed? Do you need lots of desk space?  Consider space allowance for computer equipment, telephone, office supplies, and elbow room. I believe a large table that’s height-adjustable is both cost-effective and practical. Then you can move from your keyboard to the side table without bending your shoulders.



4. The Keyboard and Mouse. Here is where you must be cautious. Having the keyboard and mouse wrongly positioned can cause wrist injuries. I know this first hand! The keyboard-mouse tray should be between 28 to 30 inches off the floor. Use the keyboard in a tilt position. The mouse if not properly used can cause wrist injuries by twisting the wrist instead of dragging the mouse.
5. The Monitor. Keep monitor below or at eye-level and eyes between 24 and 36 inches from computer screen

Let’s talk about successful branding.  Because you work from home doesn’t mean your company doesn’t have an image. Your office design should match your brand even though you may never see a client there.

Successful branding reveals that you to “look” and “feel” the brand. Think about this:  having a fashionable and refined image, the best business card and brochure design with outdated office furniture and equipment will make you feel like you’re half-way there. It’s sort of like you’re pretending to be there but are not. This can interfere with your confidence to project your brand to customers.Work your brand. Live your brand. Design your brand.

1. Let people know about you. Determine what you want them to know. Advertise, social media, etc.
2. Connect with virtual assistance. Warning! Make sure they love your brand and connect with your image.
3. Project good public relations. Keep your customers happy. Customers don’t care if your office is the corner slot on New York’s fifth Avenue or the hottest spot in your basement. Keep the promises made to them, have a return/refund policy (you’ll need it) and keep them smiling so they will come back.
4. Serve your brand. I had to learn this the hard way. But know that everything you do, say, and project to the public is either building or tearing down your brand image. Serve the public well, and do something for FREE. Seed-time and harvest is inevitable.

Let’s talk about space planning. Determine how your office will be arranged to make work comfortable and convenient.  In your empty space, place the desk first.  It’s the largest piece. Generally, the largest piece faces the focal point of the room.  The focal point can be a large window or painting. It is so vital to create boundaries likes these:

1. Separate from home activities. It is essential to build a home office design supportive of your own personal productivity.  If possible, select a separate room for you office with a door so that productivity won’t be lost by the temptation of a pleasure break for TV, a snack, or engaging in the day-to-day activities of the home.
2. Good ventilation. You don’t want to become tired and drowsy with the temptation of taking a nap.
3. Clarify your work schedule. One of the productivity stealers is the e-mail. I am learning to read my e-mails only after I’ve done at least two task that day. Write out your schedule each night for the following day and stick to it as much as possible.
4. Clarify family time. Write this on your schedule so there are no conflicts. Separate work life from family life and visa-versa.
5. Clarify ME time. Don’t burn yourself out. Schedule a time to get out and take a walk. I do, and it is simply divine. When I return, I showers and then resume my tasks. It beats talking prescribed lunch break and clocking back in to only find twice as much paper on your desk from the boss. Now, you’re the boss.
6. Clarify who you are and where you’re headed. Believe me, so many don’t have this ironed out yet. It takes quality time.

I’ve learned to become creative in my zeal to maintain my home office.  You can do this too. The entrepreneur is here to stay and we as well must learn to enjoy the ride. Remain steadily productive, nurture your brand, and I’ll meet you over the top!

As always, I truly enjoy sharing with you.  But moreover, I love your comments.

Sharing my passion,

©2010 Deana Murphy. All rights Reserved. You may reprint this article
in its entirety with author's contact and bio information.
Deana Murphy is a dynamic speaker, award winning author and
a conscious home and lifestyle expert who has been helping
people for years design a home they love, transform their lifestyle,
and approach life’s design in view of Spirit and family relations.
She has been interviewed for O at Home Magazine, Empowering Everyday Women,
Spectacular Homes, SORMAG, and Meredith publications to name a few.
She has also appeared on HGTV and Fine Living.
 
 
.com

So you want to sell your home and get the best return on your investment? From my experiences, buyers are looking for a well maintained home. Studies have shown that most buyers make a decision about purchasing a house within 15 seconds of walking through the door. Many buyers have made a decision before getting out of the car! Your furniture and personal décor style are not important to a potential buyer. For that reason, home staging is on the rise. The goal of staging is to make a home appealing to the highest number of potential buyers, thereby selling a property more swiftly and for more money. Staging techniques focus on improving a property’s appeal by transforming it into a welcoming, attractive product that anyone might want.

I’ve put together some simple touches that will peak the interests of the average buyer. The first impression will have a huge impact. When the buyer turns into your driveway, he/she should immediately be interested in seeing the inside.

Simple Touches for the Outside of the Home

• manicure your lawn and shrubs

• repair cracks in driveway and walkway

• remove oil stains in the driveway

• repair any chipped paint on shutters and siding

• remove old TV antennas from the roof

• power wash the brick exterior and add a fresh coat of paint to any wood siding

• check your gutters for proper drainage

• wash your windows inside and out

• keep walkway and doorway clutter free

• add a seasonal pot of flowers or plants near the front door (welcoming them in)

• spruce up your back yard. Buyers are attracted to back yards with a nice deck or patio. Eliminate any clutter and plan your outdoor furniture to give an impression of plenty of space for dining, grilling and entertaining.

• if you show your home in the summer months, have an exterminator spray patio and decks for ants. If your back yard is child friendly, spruce it up with a play area, sand box, etc. Buyers listen to their children. If you have a pool, make sure it is clean. If you have pets, make sure there are no signs of dog poop out there.

Simple Touches for the Inside of the Home

• eliminate any dusk and clutter. You want your home clean and smelling fresh. Clean from ceiling to floor, i.e., crown moldings (looking for spider webs), blades in the ceiling fans, walls, base boards to floors. If possible, hire a professional team to clean your home. It will be well worth the investment.

• repair any signs of leaks, wall cracks, dripping faucets, and lighting fixtures.

• clear counter-tops in kitchen and bath. Clean all appliances inside and out. Remove any appliances that do not work properly. You are not obligated to sell your appliances with the home. Place waste containers away out of sight.

• Remove all notes, magnets, pictures from the refrigerator door. What if a buyer detests this look?

• re-caulk around bath tub and any loose tiles. Invest in replacing towel bars and rings if they look old and tired. Remember to get rid of all clutter. Clutter on counter-tops close in a space and make it appear smaller. Don’t just throw it in cabinets and closets – buyers look at everything. Keep faucets and knobs shining.

• a fresh coat of paint speaks volumes. Generally, neutral colors appeal to a larger population, but I simply adore color!

• pay attention to your floors. Squeaks will tell on you. Replace torn rugs, carpets or linoleum. It’s worth the investment to have on worn floors refinished.

  

  • illuminate the interior by opening blinds and curtains. Wash blinds and curtains so they are fresh. In our last home, there were no window coverings at all on most of our windows  creating an open and airy feeling.
  • open your interior space by getting rid of furniture you don’t plan to take with you. Keep attics, basements, and crawl spaces clutter free. The buyer will look for plenty of storage. Garages house your cars and is not a place for storing everything.
  • be sure your furniture is the right scale for the size if the room and pieces are in balance. For example, don’t have a king-sized bed in a small bedroom and visa-versa.
  • clean out closets of all clothes and items you no longer use. Remove any items from the floors so air will circulate. Organized closets appear larger.
  • use scented potpourri and fresh flowers in kitchen and bath. Electric fragrances are dangerous and have been known to cause fires.
  • make sure there are no offensive pet odors. If you have pets, it may be a good idea to have a relative or friend to pet-sit them during the time you home is be shown. What if the buyer hates pets? The idea that one lived there could turn them from the sale. 
    • • before the buyers arrive, bake fresh bread or cinnamon rolls to give the space a welcoming aroma. Not a baker, boil cinnamon sticks in a pot just 10 minutes before they arrive. Remember to remove all pots from the burners to avoid the look of clutter.
      • make the home look as bright as possible by leaving all the lights on during the day hours.

    
    Don’t leave all of the leg work to your realtor. Check out the market selling price of similar homes in your area. Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. How would you make a home purchase, from your head or from your heart? Follow suit. Congratulations. You’ve just graduated from “for sale” to “sold!”

I always enjoy sharing my passion with you, and I equally enjoy your comments. 

Sharing my passion,

Deana

Needing a home stager to help you sell your home?
I can coach you all the way from for sale to sold!
Call my office at 877.313.8797 today! 

Check out our amazing virtual interior design service at:
http://www.deanamurphy.com/success-store/home-design-redefined/

©2010 Deana Murphy. All rights Reserved. No parts may be duplicated
without permission.  www.DeanaMurphy.com  http://designingfortheking.com

The other day I was brainstorming with one of my friends over some things we are endeavoring to accomplish as we planned our upcoming conference in Los Angeles. We were charged and caught up in the moment by what God is doing in both our lives.

I met Linda while I was on an assignment and we sort of gravitated towards one another. But the amazing thing about her is that she keeps me accountable and I her, probably by default because we understand that success is a choice. Continuing to bounce ideas off one another I suddenly realized that we were realigning ourselves, designing for success, and walking into our purpose.

Linda and I talked about there being many who have no clue what true success really is. I believe that success is a choice, and it must be cultivated. The world suggests that our success requires us to turn away from the path of godliness – to neglect developing our relationship with God; to disregard ethics and morals for the sake of getting ahead.

I asked my husband Eric to define success. Out of his mouth I heard, well it is NOT money. (I smiled in delight). You have to know my husband. He doesn’t usually directly answer a question. In legal terms, he generally demurs, or delay by making a point of order. Befitting of him. His mind is trained that way as he is a law student. But then he went on to say something so profound, “Success is doing the will of God; and in God’s will we find our purpose, and when we know our purpose, we have found success.” I could not have said it better. Humm…

In cultivating a successful lifestyle, home life, family relationship, ministry or business, much the same as designing a space, or a room or even a entire residence or office space, there must be a process. The process of designing for success begins within us because wherever we go, whatever we do, we are there; When we are there, we make an impact on the environment, the people, the world. Our successes aren’t for us alone, it affect others. It begins with the one you see in the mirror. Michael Jackson said it so well,

“I’m starting with the man in the mirror,I’m asking him to change his ways and no message could have been any clearer, if you wanna make the world a better place take a look at yourself, and then make a change!”

Success causes one to ask questions like, “what do I have to become?” We have to become what we think. This means we have to relinquish the old way of thinking and cultivate a new. My 5 secrets to designing for success look like this:

1. Don’t Serve Your Thoughts

You can’t move forward as long as the problem or the obstacle that you are looking at is the biggest thing in your life. If you are thinking about the problem more than the solution, you are serving your thoughts. There is a way of escaping negative thought patterns. Talk to the man or woman in the mirror and tell him or her who you desire to be and what you desire to become. Make it automatic each time you see yourself in a mirror. And by all means look in a mirror often!

2. Take Control

Quit allowing your circumstances and challenges to assume your thought life. Instead, realize that circumstances won’t ever change until you change. Remember, you aren’t alone. you have God’s thoughts. You have the Holy Spirit to strengthen you and you have the mind of Christ.

3. Enlist a Master Mind Group

This is so very important. Get around people who are full of faith and have attained and traveled where you want to go. Don’t rehearse your problems to them! Make yourself listen to them. Join in with their faith and resist your old way of thinking,  seeing and saying things.

4. Prepare

Don’t be like the foolish virgins in the parable at Matthew 25. When they went to meet the bridegroom, though they took their lamps but took no extra oil and therefore were not prepared for the unexpected. We must be responsible for preparing ourselves by:

• Becoming the Learned. Read what others are saying. Read about current events. Read your Bible. Study to show yourself approved.

• Competing only with Yourself. When you compete with you, then you are challenging you. Competing with someone shows signs of immaturity. You cannot succeed by trying to out-do someone else.

• Journaling your Thoughts. You must be prepared to see around the corner. Write down the plan, a one, five and ten year plan. Everything you will ever need is within you. The design is within you.

5. Get a Strategic Mindset, Serve Others and Seek their Wisdom

Today I tweeted some thoughts and then retweeted some thoughts of others. I believe this is a great place to share as they fit in and are self-explanatory:

• It’s difficult dealing with an adult who acts like a child…..put them in TIME OUT! @JamalBryant

• As you go about your day, look for opportunities to add extra value to your customers and the people you work with. @JennyFerns

• Keep your eyes on your dreams, feet on the ground and you will get there one step at a time @JennyFerns

• Mastermind with yourself for 30 minutes each day, gets ideas flowing, answers bubbling. @ ProsperitybyDesign

• Life takes on meaning when you become motivated, set goals and charge after them in an unstoppable manner. @LesBrown

• Instead of doing 4,000 things 1 time…do 1 thing 4,000 times. That will bring success. @StephenSwisher
  

• Life is personal journey. People who give so much time to judge others, have no time to improve their life. @CodeinDesign

• God hates cheating in the marketplace; rigged scales are an outrage.” Proverbs 20:23 (MSG) @HaroldHerring

• Watch what you say and say what you mean. Words can create an atmosphere that can be felt. @FaithladyDeana

• Don’t loose the simplicity of a child. Just believe God and do it! @FaithladyDeana

Designing for success is a choice. And, of course you don’t need permission to succeed. Linda and I know this and we are holding one another accountable for the directions we are taking in this journey called life. Designing for success is the road we have taken by merely making a quality decision. What about you?

Leave me your comments, questions or thoughts. I’d love to hear from you.

Sharing my passion,

Deana

It amazes me how the drama unfolds when I visit some kitchens. Oftentimes, there’s no rhyme or reason to how it functions. Today’s kitchens are generally the heart of the home. They can be simple and still pleasingly functional while environmentally friendly and large enough for cooking, eating, and entertaining. The kitchen can be masterfully planned and delightfully personalized. Efficiency and an open floor plan allows two cooks to share the work area, visit with company while they cook, and move in and out of the kitchen easily. So I want to share with you four quick ways to get the best mileage from your kitchen and love it.

1. All Aboard! Destination: Function

My main component of function is safety. A well-planned layout allows traffic to flow with ease and saves steps and time while cooking. Kitchens aisles should be at least 42 to 48 inches wide to allow people to move around easily and for appliances to open with ease.

• Think about who will do the cooking. How many cooks?
• Think about what you like to cook.
• Think about why you like to prepare it.
• Think about the importance of seeing and talking to your family while you’re cooking.

It is important to make this space comfortable as possible because it’s the hub of the home and a lot of time is spent there. This means the kitchen should be specific to your needs.

2. Next Stop: Practical Appliances

Look at the practical side when choosing appliances. If there are two cooks in the home, talk this over and be specific and explain why certain appliances appeal to you. Let’s talk about these choices.

• The Blanco sink with two bowls — one large, one small and a drain board. The smaller sink has a built-in colander that doubles as a flatware drainer, and the larger one has a knob that controls the stopper, allowing you to drain it without putting your arm in dirty dishwater.

• A functional cooking appliance: The Frigidaire Professional Series stainless steel 30″ Slide-in Dual-Fuel Range with 4 Sealed Burners & EvenCook3 Convection System Self-Cleaning Oven with Auto-Latch Safety Lock comes with an Easy Set 510 Electronic Oven Control with Keypad Entry and Integrated Warmer Drawer Control.

• The Fridge: Most people look at the larger, wider models but think about conserving the real estate in the space with an intelligent layout energy efficient design by B & O designer/artist David Lewis. The fresh food section is at eye level and the freezer is on the bottom. The condenser and cooling tubes are built into the walls of the unit, with the back sealed to keep dust out of working parts. This sealed design allows for quiet and ultra-efficient operation. With two efficient compressors you have control over the cooling of each compartment.

3. Necessity Lay-Over: Install Proper Lighting

Lighting should be adjustable and from multiple sources. Recess fixtures overhead, specific task lighting over the counters, sink, stove and islands plus additional lighting above and under cabinetry will illuminate shadowy areas while adding depth and drama.

4. Last Stop: Organized Storage

So you have lots of cabinet space huh. But this doesn’t necessarily solve your storage dilemma when you aren’t thinking “usage” or “comfort”. Yes the kitchen is a place where comfort and ease are paramount, which is none short of functional. Cooking essentials must be organized. Think in these terms:

• Keep it simple dishes with dishes; food with
food; utensils with utensils

• Keep it handy: house cooking equipment near the stove; dishes near the dishwasher; everyday uses within easy reach; less often uses in back shelves or top cabinets; aluminum foil, plastic wrap and bags beneath counter

• Keep it flexible: Roll-out shelves and bins; lazy-susans; pull-out appliance shelves and pantry units makes easy accessibility and keep countertops free for food prep

• Keep it neat: Tupperware and plastic containers are easily accessible and visibly organized when placed in a drawer

• Keep it a kitchen: Food, food-like stuff, utensils, and the like belongs in the kitchen. Cleaning supplies, tools, pet food, batteries and light bulbs do not.

• Keep it versatile: The pot rack floating from the ceiling over an island provides a lot of storage, does not block cross-views, and is an attractive accessory.

• Keep it real: Let go of what you haven’t used the past 12 months or so.

A fully serviceable kitchen should contain all the needed appliances together with plenty of organized storage and ample working surfaces, and must be none short of comfort and function for every member of the family.

I hope you were encouraged to get the best mileage from your kitchen. As always, thank you for stopping by and reading my posts.
I encourage your comments.

Sharing my passion,

Deana

© 2010 Deana Murphy • All Rights Reserved

All Choices are not Created Equal

So today I endeavor to throw off everything that hinders and everything that so easily entangles so I can run with perseverance the race marked out for me. How is this done? There’s an awesome passage which tells us that apart from God we can do nothing. Latch onto this if you believe. It is your freedom package! Unfortunately and too often we become our own “hero” or “shero” believing we can handle anything in the name of “busyness”. And though we are busy doing what’s good, it is not necessarily profitable. What happens. Our mind becomes clogged and we can’t stay focused on what’s relevant and important since now we’ve become a “Jack, or Jill of all trades.” I sat here this morning talking with my Lord about what should I be doing. That’s how to begin clearing out the clutter. Ask for direction. Seek His wisdom and clarity. Everything we need is already within us. It is the wisdom from above that’s needed to proceed and cause us to triumph. Here’s my laundry list of things to clean-up in order that I stay on track and remain steadfast and focused on what I’m called to do. 1. Ask for forgiveness. Lord I want to be focused on what you’ve called me to do and be discerning of what direction(s) or program(s) are required to carry it out. 2. Find out what to purge Father, you made me and know my frame. Release me from what is holding me back from moving forward. 3. Just say no You can’t be everything to everyone. Today I canceled some commitments with an apology that I just couldn’t do it. Never burn bridges, and if you can refer an alternative then do that. 4. Exhale and stay on-point Exhaling to me is an outward expression of starting fresh, anew. Finish the task before you and refrain from jumping ahead to something new. It’s best to do one thing in excellence than several things poorly just for the sake of getting them done. 5. Journal every night the priories of the next day And stick to them. Though things may creep up and they will, follow-up with what wasn’t done today and add it to tomorrow’s list. Begin to depend on it as your guideline. 6. Take some time for yourself to think Do something that you enjoy. Do this on purpose. Also with a pen and pad take time to relax and think early mornings after prayer. It’s a great time because your mind is cued up. 7. Commit to reading a self-help book daily Even if it’s only one chapter a day, engage your focus with something to build you up, A teacher is ever learning. 8. Take a walk When feeling overwhelmed, remove yourself from what you’re doing and take a walk outside and then seek the master Designer for clarity and direction. 9. Remove worry When you trust in the Lord for all that you need, whether it’s meeting a time-frame or paying your bill, it will remove the worry. And besides, worrying is a sin. God is big enough to handle your concerns and mine. 10. Get help Seek the help of an assistant with the administrative issues so you can free the mind to be creative. I believe we can categorize and organize our thoughts as we do our homes, (I hope you organize your home. As you move about your home so does your mind). We were not designed or engineered to carry a clogged mind. If this is speaking to you today, leave me a comment and share how this post has helped you. I believe that I was inspired to write this this morning just for you. Sharing my passion, Deana

I hope you were encouraged. You can live a victorious life despite the challenges and chaos that peeps its ugly head up at you. If you want to read how 40 women across 18 different states conquered their woes and live a victorious life, go here.

As always, I appreciate you reading what’s on my heart today.

Sharing my passion,
Deana