Today’s 360 Interior Living communication is about character.
Character is defined as features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing, or one’s reputation. There is a truth to the old adage that all things hidden will eventually come into the light. What you do behind closed doors will in time be revealed. Your character is no exception. A person of exceptional character has no variance in their public or private life. What they say and do are the same. A person of character lives by these ten principles and is what greatness is made of:

♦ Say it, Do it. Be a person of your word. Whatever you say you’re going to do, be sure to do it. People are counting on you. When you fail to keep your word, people lose confidence in you.

♦ Consistency. Consistency shows stability and maturity. Inconsistency shows a lack of planning. People are watching what you do more than they are listening to what you say. Be consistent in meeting deadlines, timeliness, personal appearance and personal growth.

♦ Never Compromise. Set life standards based on your values. Stay with it and people will see you as a person of integrity.

♦ Truth: Love it and Live it. Wear honesty and integrity with care and conviction. Even if telling the truth could cause correction and discipline, you must determine it is worth it in order to be a person of integrity.

♦ Reputation. Always give people a reason to say something good about you. We all make mistakes, however, live an ethical, moral lifestyle that is above reproach.

♦ Proper Protocol. Respect, respect, respect those in authority in your home, on your job, in social settings and at church. Get to know the lines of authority so you can operate accordingly. Being submitted to those in authority is a sign of your character and your maturity.

♦ Be Accountable. Seek counsel of others in order to stay on the right track. Use accountability with another as an important check-and-balance in your life. See counsel from those whom you admire and consider being experts in your field.

♦ Accept Correction. Humbly look at correction as a way to grow and be challenged to change. Don’t become offended or take correction personally. Instead, respect the help that is being given and look at it as a sign of someone looking out for your best interest.

♦ Values. Live life based on your values. Values are important as they influence a person’s behavior to weigh the importance of alternatives. Your life and your character are an expression of what you value and love. If you value your family, then you will take time to do the things that will add significance to them. If you value your career, you will put more time, talent and resources towards it. Develop a solid character by basing your decisions on your values.

♦ Responsible. Being responsible means using self-control—
you think before you act and consider the consequences. You are accountable for your choices and decisions—you don’t blame others for your actions. Responsible people try to do their best, and they persevere even when things don’t go as planned.

People are always watching. In the world of interior design, shape, color and texture are some of the founding principles. Those same principles can and should be applied to making sure your personal interior (mind, soul and spirit) are beautifully arranged. Shape your life with standards, principles and morals which reflect your personal mission and philosophy of life. Color and texturize your life with love, laughter and learning as you discover how to value yourself and others. As with a functional and beautiful designed home, people of great character do great things that leave a sustainable effect.

If this post has inspired you, then please share it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter or other social media sites or networks. I know that there’s someone out there needing a little inspiration and direction today.

Thank you for stopping by and reading my posts, and your comments are an inspiration to me.

Live by design,

©2011 Dr. Deana All Rights Reserved

The top reasons why people don’t live life like it matters and walk into their purpose:

• Lack of focus – focus is a destiny-critical component to successful living
• Fear – overcoming fear is an absolute necessity to designing a rewarding life
• An inability to let go – letting go of all the things that no longer serve you well is vital to achieving your biggest, boldest desires

And both the problem and the answer begins with your MIND!

√ Isn’t it time you get to live the life you want to live?
√ Isn’t it time you break-free of intrusive thoughts sabotaging your mind?
√ Isn’t it time all areas of your life and home are harmonious?
√ Isn’t it time you rid yourself of self-limiting behaviors?
√ Isn’t it time you have clarity of what to do with your life?
√ Isn’t it time you have healthy, sound relationships with family and other people?
√ Isn’t it time you rid the chaos and have peace in your home?
√ Isn’t it time you let go of the past and love yourself?
√ Isn’t it time you build confidence and raise your self-esteem?
√ Isn’t it time you are motivated to live with purpose?
√ Isn’t it time for a personal achievement experience?
√ Isn’t it time for your whole life transformation?

So you want to be successful but your mind doesn’t know about it!

One of the areas that have held me captive is my mindset. After a drilling three days in Orlando last week at the   ‘ Be The Change Event,’ I realized that I had to ‘literally’ be the change if I wanted to succeed at the level of my desires. I want to help you do the same. It bins with a decision.

Are you ready for a change? Do you need to distance yourself from the clamor and clutter that builds-up inside of you? Are you being pulled and pushed and are uncertain of which way to go? Are you harboring hurt and burdens by the words or actions of others as well as your own? Isn’t it time to let go of the past and give birth to a healthier mindset and a happier you? Isn’t it time to become the architect of change in your life? Are you ready  to make your life easier?

You are only one decision away from changing everything.

You are only one decision away from living a successful life.

I made the change and so can you.

I want to help you take the last three quarters of 2011 over the top by simply helping you to shift your mindset. Join me on May 2, 2011 for a live Teleseminar at 8PM EST for an hour of power. If you are looking for a magic quick-fix formula, you won’t find it here. It takes a decision and real commitment to make a lasting transformation. I will teach you spiritual secrets and solutions to upgrade and change your mindset.

Go here and register now and I will see you on the call!

A well-designed life is truly one that is full of purpose. Purposeful living doesn’t happen by accident. You must make an on-purpose effort to transform your mind.  This Teleseminar will not only help you succeed in your business, but it will also bring you wholeness that will help you succeed in every area of your life.
RESERVE YOUR SEAT NOW!!

Don’t settle for a piece of the pie, get the whole 360 Design Connection and connect the dots that builds the foundation for every area of your life!

Go here and register now and I will see you on the call!

Live by Design,

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3. 30 Day Challenge to a Greater You!

There was a time I would wonder around in circles day by day, like so many other people, feeling like nothing was accomplished. I had to get a grip on my life and organize my world. Simplicity is always best because this makes things controllable and doable.

Many of you who are familiar with my writings know that I talk a lot about order. I read that order is an accurate arrangement of things. Because I have discovered a tremendous amount of satisfaction and pleasure that are related to an organized lifestyle, goals are completed and dreams don’t seem far-fetched. I stopped paying attention to what others had to say about order and customized my own concept.

Simplifying my lifestyle meant I had to decide the difference between what was important and what was not important. It was easier to control the parts of my life that were possible, for example, how I want my day to begin and how I want it to end. Every event of my day may not be under my control, but I certainly can decide what to do first and what I do last. It is my world, so I do whatever it takes to keep me motivated and energized. I know I must identify distractions and deal with them.

So can you. Let these seven master keys for organizing and simplifying your life become ingrained in you so that you can see the progress that leads to a happy life.

1. Disorganization creates losses. A disorganized life can be deadly. It can be the difference in getting the contract and not getting the contract. Organizing your life will require time, assistance, decision-making, contemplation, elimination and prioritizing. This ensures the tasks with the greatest rewards will get done.

2. What matters most? Do you know what matters most to you right now? Do you know your most pressing goal right now? The equation for your productivity is different than the equation for simplicity. That is why a successful wealthy person can make money, but he cannot have a happy home. They require two different equations. Determine what matters most to you right now and make that the priority of your life and your day.

3. Communication system. There should be an established communication center in your home and office where all users can find information. Perhaps a bulletin board in the kitchen,  family room or recreation room.

4. Information system. Get a notebook or use Notepad on your computer to list things to do. The other list should be things to remember. One list is your actions steps, the other is your knowledge base.

5. Delegate, train and participate. Delegate tasks to all users and train them to participate in the system and accomplish the task.

6. Grand central. By this I mean there should be a centralized place for everything so that each user knows where to find a thing. Have a central place for paper, pens, light bulbs, batteries, etc.

7. Design within and listen attentively. I read that God hides His gift in moments. So true. He can interrupt and change your priorities at His will. He will speak to you with something to do that is different from what you had planned. He can speak to your heart and give you a new book, a new song or speech at moment’s notice. Keep your voice recorder handy.

We undoubtedly live in a microwave society. That doesn’t mean that we have to. Take time to organize your life. This will create a more simplified and peaceful life for you. You owe this to your family and friends, and more importantly to yourself.

I would love to hear your success stories of how you have simplified your life. I invite you to leave your comments below.

I appreciate the time you took to read my blog post today.

Live by design,

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1. Top Ten Ways to Design Your Best Life!
2. 30 Day Challenge to a Winning Attitude!
3. 30 Day Challenge to a Greater You!

Mind expanding experiences are encounters that upgrade your mentality and change how you operate in life. They leave an impression on you and cause you to improve your lifestyle and your understanding of the world. You need to constantly be expose to new people, new places and new things. There is always better.

Challenge yourself to think differently.  Here are 7 tools that will help you arrange mind expanding experiences for yourself to take you to your next level in your life’s outlook and outcome.

1. Renew your Mind. Learn to move out from the familiar. Exchange your old thinking for new thoughts. Your current mentality is based on the following four factors:

• your environment:  how and where you grew up, your home and school environment
• your sphere of influence: what was spoken to you by your parents, friends, mentors, teachers and influential others who shaped how you feel about yourself.
• your repetitious information: whatever you hear and see on a repeated basis that shapes your thinking
• your experiences: how you’ve dealt with life’s situations and circumstances

2. Expand your reading. Reading will open your eyes to understand things and take you places that you have never been. This is one of my most enjoyable past times and I have learned to expand my thinking by being an reader. Read on a subject that has been a passion that you have never cultivated. You can become an expert in an area that can propel you into your purpose simply by reading.

3. Cultural outings. Visit museums, art gallery, bookstore, new neighborhood, design centers, furniture stores, historical sites, a rose garden, parks, the opera or ballet, live stage shows and any place that sparks your interest. This will bring culture and awareness of new ways of living that can improve your life. Exposure creates desire. Cultural outings do not have to cost a lot but the rewards can linger for a lifetime.

4. Field trip expeditions. Take field trips to a place that will spark your creativity and stimulate your senses. Investigate and explore greenhouses, tea houses or antique houses. Browse through luxury stores or upscale boutiques. Touch, feel and smell the quality. I adore newly constructed open houses. The interior designer in me longs for exotic decors, the science of furniture arrangements, artwork, sculptures and entry way elaborations. Cut out your everyday, mundane routine and spark your imagination.

5. Meet new people. This is a great way to overcome shyness. Meet new people like doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, pastors, teachers and other people who have accomplished great things. Successful people have a lesson to teach.

6. Take classes. Find a class in your community college, library, YMCA, community center or church and begin to learn many things for technical knowledge, instructional knowledge just for motivation. Develop an appetite for learning new things.

7. Volunteer and give of yourself. There is nothing more gratifying than knowing you made a difference in someone’s life. Giving of your time, talents and resources can be very rewarding. I make this a practice in my life. I am a giver and I enjoy giving as I am led to. Don’t just give and support your friends. Reach out to others. Giving life away will change your life forever.

During your mind expanding experiences, look at everything around you. Take pictures. Journalized your inspirations. Always ask questions and know that if you don’t implement what you’ve learned, you won’t change. Implementation is the key to change.

I always enjoy sharing with you. Leave your comments and I’ll be sure to respond to every one.

Live by design,

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Most often at the onset of the spring and summer months with winter being behind, people generally are geared-up to get in the creative mode. The beginning of a new season in some way incites creativity and motivation for change. Included with the desire to change may arise enhancing our lives; more outside activities and the best vacation spots. Much the same comes about for the home. Refreshing and renewing worn places ranks high on our to-do list.  For many of us, we seek to get our home in order and finally decorate those neglected and tough to tackle areas.

Ready for a Change!

When I think about changing my home environment it reminds me of how Jesus changed the darkened, hidden places of my being into a ray of light and hope. With a renewed mindset and beaming anticipation I knew He had a purpose for my life. I was ready for a change. Venturing into a home make-over, whether one room or the entire home, can produce this same optimism. But before you jet out to the store to make your purchases, prepare your mind for the change. Consider what you want your home to accomplish for you. More importantly, how can your home design unify your family? Do you want it to remind you of the warmth and security of your home as a child? Or would you like it to help cancel the pain of the past? What about a design that will accommodate every family member’s desires and needs?

Too often we acclimatize lifestyles and living at home to the layout and features of the home. Imagine how our lives would be if God didn’t first re-arrange the universe. He designed His world in His majestic display of power with purpose. The same holds true for every design or decorating endeavor we undertake. Design changes should spring forth out of a renewed mindset. I’m not only talking about designing to appeal to forms and aesthetics. And I’m certainly not referring to making changes because your best friend or neighbor’s home is outdoing yours. That’s not the right mindset, that’s meddling. Creating the right home design mindset means to have a plan.

Design a Plan

Looking back over Scripture it is apparent that God did nothing without a plan. From the design of the world in Genesis to the soon and coming King in Revelation, His plan has always been wooing His people to Himself. It didn’t matter how impossible the darken world looked, God had a plan for the design of His world. He knew exactly what He wanted His design to do for Him and His family. This says to me that we must do no less when designing our home. Let’s consider the gathering or family room for example. This room generally serves as a multi-purpose area where we relax and entertain, play and work, or watch TV, read and do homework. But we certainly can’t engage all these activities simultaneously. And someone has to plan the room’s layout and décor for incorporating these activities. Then the schedule must be planned.

Meeting of the Minds

Actually the way you live at home determines how you should plan your design. If relationships are centered in your heart, then making a place that unifies the family and connects family with friends is one way to define the purpose of the home. Perhaps working from home defines a major purpose for redesigning the home. Evaluate the use of each space. I often advise my clients to have a design meeting with their families. In this meeting discuss what is important to each household member, write it down, and be willing to compromise and be flexible when possible. While function is a major consideration in the design process; what’s paramount is the emotional and spiritual well-being of the entire household. Here are a few suggestions to discuss in the design meeting:

Objection

• What is the main purpose for making design changes? More space? Ab better lay-out? New purchase? Reworking some existing things? Insulation to stifle the sound of drum practice or electric games?

• Do you want your home to reflect your spiritual life? If so, what would you need to do to be ready to reflect this? Would it be more patience with each other? Like-mindedness with your spouse? Unselfishness?

• Does your lifestyle define how you live at home? What functions must be performed for each room?

Editing

• Walking through the home and carefully looking at each room, what do you see that needs to be done?
• What do you see that needs to be removed? What isn’t needed that can be donated or just simply thrown away?
• Are there any hard places in your heart needing editing? What about spurts of anger over something simple as tidying up behind someone or taking out the trash?

Ambiance

• What kind of atmosphere do you want? Do you want it to be peaceful? energetic? restful? loving?
• What kind of atmosphere can you create that will sustain His Presence?
• Atmosphere is very important to the Lord. Remember that He transformed space  to separate the waters so He could design an atmosphere called heaven.
• How is the atmosphere of your heart? Does it need renovating? Only a touch-up?Do you have the right spirit in your heart? What about your attitude?

• What style, objects and activities will be pleasing to the Holy Spirit? Everything that looks good may not necessarily be sanctioned by God.

Bringing Order

• How can you arrange your activities to undermine any negative habits and keep the home in order.

• Assess your needs for bringing clarity to what to do with what you have.
• Which spaces can you use in nontraditional ways if functional issues arise?
• In what ways can you adjust and show more love and respect for each other?

Sentiments

• How can you incorporate past places of influence into the design?
• How can you incorporate those pleasant childhood memories into the design?
• How can you incorporate priceless family traditions into the design?

Cultural

• Are there any cultural influences and can it be included?
• Talk about your differences and how to effectively translate them into the design.

Preferences

• What are your likes and dislikes?
• What are your individual interests?

Bonding

• When and where is family time together? It maybe as simple as sitting around the table sharing your day.
• Remember children are people too. Don’t make the design so important that they aren’t allowed to enjoy it.

Differences

• Discuss personalities, values, and memories. This carries a high price in keeping peace at home.

Improvements

• What changes will benefit everyone and fortify the family?
• What are some practical ways to improve on what you have?
• How can you better designate the existing spaces to meet your family’s needs?

These lists are not all inclusive, but know how vital it is to do this. So much time is used when planning activities to entertain friends, but planning the details with the right mindset for living at home is oftentimes overlooked. When you think about it, you spend more time in your home than any other place, which makes home design the most influential art form. In view of that, home is an important part of health, spiritual and well-being of your family.

Making changes in our lives and homes is essential and always necessary. I challenge you to begin this spring/summer season with the approach of looking at home design from a different perspective. Yes you are eager to finally decorate those neglected and tough to tackle areas. You’re longing for a fresh start. But be mindful of your family’s needs, surrender any selfish ways of doing things. Renovating allows for a fresh start. Renovate your heart of those hidden attitudes so that His plan and creativity can rise up within you. Your home is a good gift. Design it with the right home design mindset.

I always enjoy reading your comments and thanks for reading my posts.

Sharing my Passion,

Deana

©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.

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

Question: Are Nutritional Supplements Necessary For Healing And Health?

Yes! A well controlled study performed at the Shriners Burn Trauma Center at the University of Cincinnati Medical School demonstrated conclusively, that burn trauma victims (children experiencing severe burns over 60% of their bodies) fared far better when given extra nutritional supplementation over and above the normal “well balanced diet” generally prescribed by practitioners. 100% of those children receiving the extra supplementation lived, whereas tragically, 44% died of those children who were given the regular, traditional, medically and so called nutritionally balanced diet alone.

The scientists stated that, “to our knowledge, this is the first controlled study to demonstrate what has been suspected and accepted for some time, that nutritional intervention improves survival… It may well be that fortification of the diet with still greater quantities of protein or with selected amino acids may further improve these variables.”

Now answer this question: Do you consume the daily food requirement for nutritional supplementation? If your answer is yes, congratulations! But, if your answer is what I’m guessing, “no”, (because we are living a micro-wave lifestyle, always on the go and consuming the wrong foods), then you should take care of yourself and design your best nutritional lifestyle by adding the nutritional supplementation necessary to maintain optimum health and then share this with those you love.

Medical authorities now agree that the average American diet does not provide the needed nutrition for a foundation of good health. Most of all foods eaten in America are overly processed convenience foods which have little if any nutrient value! Shocking! Forty percent of middle class American children are severely malnourished, and adults fare far worse, upwards to 90%. Both children and adults choose to eat for taste, cost and convenience. Coffee, white bread and sugar are the most popular, most consumed foods; adults consume mostly white bread and crackers.

Take the first step to good nutritional supplementation today. I use these products and am enjoying releasing some unwanted pounds to boot. You too can bring out the super in your man, woman, and family!

Get back to me and let me know if I can help you with anything. Jump-start 2010 with a journey to good health, feeling great, and losing weight! Live long and live strong! Design your lifestyle now! Let’s talk.

Sharing my passion,
Deana

The Blueprint … I once read that the principles of design have been in existence for many centuries, and elements of design were not invented but discovered, and skillfully incorporated and balanced by artisans and designers over the course of history. If discovered, then they preexisted! Can the academic design principles and elements used today be a consequence of the preexisting principles and elements of old? So we can conclude the principles and elements of design were originated by God at his creation… the compass for your divine designs today. Nothing exists that he did not make (John 1:3, TAB).

Point One. The Space.
–According to Genesis 1:1–2a, in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness. This tells us that God located the problem—chaos, described as empty and formless. By his own will he decided to design (NLT).

Divine Design Tip:
Beginning with an empty room—the space—this becomes the blank canvas, so your senses are not influenced by the fabric already occupying it. Here is where you can identify what you are working with.

While paying close attention to the condition of floors, walls, doors, ceilings, and windows, you will notice how light enters the space and how users enter and exit. You will see how traffic flows—how users move about. Then the strengths and weaknesses in the space will be revealed to you. Here’s the opportunity to transform any weaknesses to work in your favor.

Point Two. The Vision.
–Having a vision for your designs is very important. You have the creative ability to look farther than you can see. According to Genesis 1:3–4, “Then God said, let there be light, and there was light … then he separated the light from the darkness” (NLT). God’s first divine command begins the process of transforming the chaos as a means of bringing about life and order, in other words, “Let there be order.”

Divine Design Tip:
All things begin with a thought translated into an image. Whatever your thoughts are behind your designs should be written down. Recording your every thought and collecting ideas for inspiration about your spaces, no matter how inconsequential they may appear, gives birth to the vision for the continuation of bringing order out of chaos. Afterwards you can share the vision with the other users. Now they can grab hold of your vision and share in the excitement of its planning. (Habakkuk 2:2, KJV)

Point Three. The Plan.
–Adventure in design can be looking to express the godly ways we desire to live and the ways we desire to design for the King. This requires thinking about how we actually live each day. According to Genesis 1:6a, 8a, “Then God said, let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters … and God called the firmament heaven … ” (KJV). Apparently God separated the waters of the earth from waters of heaven, and then he expanded the atmosphere over the space.

Divine Design Tip:
Atmosphere was obviously very important to God. He found need to divide and separate some things in order to expand his space and create a heavenly atmosphere. This tells us we must separate from some things in our living environments so that a heavenly atmosphere can reside. So the question is how?
By separating from worries about all the things we have to do and all the things we want to get. The stress and anxiety strangles the spiritual orders we’ve heard, and nothing spiritual results from it (Mark 4:19, MSG).

What this means to me when planning our space we must create a setting where the Holy One desires to abide. The Holy Spirit enjoys a place where he feels at home—a place absent of strife, confusion, and physical evidence of worldly lusts; a place where spiritual orders fill our thoughts, direct our conversations, and determine our actions. Now we are creating an atmosphere for bringing sanctuary and peace in our living environments.
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If these three points speak to your heart, leave a comment and do share this with others. Much much more on this topic is in my new book, Designing for the King. You may order your copy below. Let’s Talk.

Sharing my Passion,

Deana