Archive for November, 2009

The value of beauty — a tricky thing

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Beauty, style, “looking good” – as human beings many of us are in a tug of war with them and the money it costs to have beauty in our lives.

In my 11 years as an interior designer I have noticed that many, if not most of us, are drawn to things we find beautiful, whether it’s a cool pair of shoes, an incredible hotel or home, or the sunset falling behind the trees. On one hand we feel satiated, excited and deeply fed by our connection with these lovely things. But on the other hand, many of us feel the need to denounce beauty as something frivolous, surface, unnecessary, and a waste of money and time, perhaps out of a belief that we can’t afford or don’t deserve it.

Our spirit and our ego act like the cartoon version of the angel and the devil,  one on each shoulder fighting it out — creating chaos in our mind. “Can I have it, this beautiful thing? Do I need it, or is it indulgent? Oh, I can go without it. But I want it!” Back and forth, and on and on. Have you ever had this conversation with yourself before?

So which reigns true? Is beauty a human need or a frivolous desire? My answer: beauty can be both.

What type of life would we lead if we were not to open our hearts and smile at the blooming of a flower, the turning of a leaf from green to crimson orange and gold, or get excited about a lovely piece of clothing that makes us feel like a million bucks or a luscious new paint color on our walls? Beauty and style connect with our hearts, stimulate creativity, bring us joy!! What, exactly, we find beautiful is an individual choice, but we all know it when we see if for ourselves.

AND this being said, if our closet if full of beautiful clothes and we are lucky to see stunning sunsets from our home every day, if then we still feel the constant need for more… perhaps it is not the open-hearted, creative connection with beauty we are seeking. Likely we are using beautiful things to fill a void inside us like a band-aid on the “not good enough” thinking that plagues us inside. Does this mean that if you’re blessed to have enough wanting more is bad? No. It means take a look inside yourself and see where the desire for something beautiful is coming from.

Does your connection with this beautiful thing open your heart and bring you joy, or is it covering up a gashing hole of low self-esteem? How you feel when you imagine paying for it will clue you into it’s hook on you– light and full of warmth or anxious or “deserving.” If it’s the later, a walk in the woods, connecting with the beauty of nature, might be a better fix.

Holiday Home Accessories Swap

Monday, November 9th, 2009

What is it? Why go?

Swapping is a form of bartering — the oldest form of currency. And in a DOWN ECONOMY, swapping is a great way to let go of what no longer fits or lights you up and TRADE it for items you DO love, items you’ll use and make a contribution to you and your home.

So unclog your closets and holiday decor boxes and start making a pile of home items you just don’t use or love anymore and bring them to the Holiday Home Accessories Swap. Think pillows, throws, candleholders, frames, art, coffee table books, ornaments, wreaths, etc. See our list of Acceptable and Non-Acceptable items to make sure yours will fit the bill

The SIT+SIP Holiday Home Accessories Swap will be held on Saturday, November 21 from 10 to Noon at the Phinney Neighborhood Center in Seattle.

The cost? 3 items or more to swap and a $10 entrance fee… after that EVERYTHING is Swapped for FREE!!

This is a great way to keep your wallet in your purse while you shop for holiday gifts for others. And, I don’t know about you, but whenever I’m shopping for others, I always seem to find a couple things for myself too :).

If this sounds like a good event for you, RSVP Now. Only 50 spots are left — get yours before they’re gone.

For more details about how the Holiday Home Accessories Swap works, go to our FAQs