Gaining Space: Coaching for a Clutter-free Life @gainingspace - Tumblr Blog

We're moving!!! Go grab that pink-polka-dot Minnie Mouse luggage set you've been saving... Gaining Space is moving!! It's time to say goodbye to this tumblr blog (with its beautiful, often... pornographic photography), for the more practical, more useful, and more "legit" website. Now, when you type in gainingspace.com, it will direct you to our new site. Don't panic, the blog will still publish every week! Boy, it's been a longtime planning! And it is definitely still a work in progress.... I hope you enjoy it and visit often — there are more changes to come. But we just had to get the sucker launched already! Go! Go check it out! Go, go now...! ;-) — Never miss a Gaining Space blog post...! Subscribe here and you'll get 'em delivered directly to your inbox each week — you'll also get special insights and info. that I only share in emails. And if you liked this post, please "like" it and share it with your friends on twitter or Facebook. Thanks!

— Thanks to Once in a Lifetime for the photo!

#travel #blog #website #Wordpress #Gaining Space #call to action

thanhoptemika

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Crazy thought... What if you could get those legs for yourself? Or those arms? It's not totally impossible! I recently heard that Ryan Gosling does 100 push-ups per day. My first reaction was, No friggin' way! But then my friends and I started thinking, "Maybe he does 10 per hour or something. That's do-able, right?" So then I started doing 20 push-ups every time I went to the bathroom throughout the day. I go to the bathroom (at least) 5 times per day. Hey, I drink a lot of water! I'm healthy! So... I made a promise to myself to do these push-ups (on the secure countertop or the wall) every time I go to the bathroom. It takes only 2-3 minutes, and the results have been amazing! After only one month of this...

I have more energy (both mentally and physically),

I have increased stamina (physically, baby!), and...

my arms are less flabby!

I'm feelin' good!

Now, make yourself a similar itsy-bitsy fitness promise. You don't have to commit to a full hour, half-hour, or even 10 minutes. Just start small, get yourself motivated, and do it, baby! Then tell us in the comments below... What are your fitness goals? And what can you do for just 2 minutes at a time to help you achieve those goals? — Never miss a Gaining Space blog post...! Subscribe here and you'll get 'em delivered directly to your inbox each week — you'll also get special insights and info. that I only share in emails. And if you liked this post, please "like" it and share it with your friends on twitter or Facebook. Thanks!

#inspiration #fitness #health #exercise

“You buy things as a source of external happiness and are afraid of what will happen if you let go of those things. This is a lack of confidence that you'll be OK with nothing but yourself.”

—from The Little Book of Contentment by Leo Babauta (re: debt and clutter) — I catch myself doing this all the time.... “If I buy this skirt, I will be a more beautiful and interesting person.” Not really. Even last week, I bought a new blouse and now I'm questioning my motives: Did I really believe I needed that new top so I wouldn't have to do laundry as often? Tell me in the comments below... Do you find yourself doing this? Maybe just a little bit...? Anyone out there in debt trying to buy happiness? — Never miss a Gaining Space blog post...! Subscribe here and you'll get 'em delivered directly to your inbox each week — you'll also get special insights and info. that I only share in emails. And if you liked this post, please "like" it and share it with your friends on twitter or Facebook. Thanks!

#happiness #debt #clutter #confidence #quote

bleachedandbloodless

gainingspace

I'm usually “against” shopping (not really), but today I am proposing that you go shopping....

Plant Shopping!!*

Adding plants to your environment is... what can I say...? Amazing! Besides the obvious "cheer factor"... They're living air purifiers! They suck up all that nasty carbon dioxide and increase the oxygen levels in your home, which will make you feel younger, healthier, and more alive. Who doesn't want to feel more alive...? Nobody, that's who! NASA even did a "Clean Air Study" on the best air-filtering, formaldehyde-absorbing plants. They were thinking for the space station, of course... selfish-selfish... always thinking of themselves and the space station... :] Here are a few of their favorites:

English ivy

Spider plant Don't get this one... it's ugly, pointy, and scary!

Golden pathos I have a couple of these and they're so happy!

Peace lily

Bamboo palm

Heartleaf philodendron Don't get this one if you have kids or pets—it's toxic when eaten.

Weeping fig I love this one, but the weeping can get loud... kidding!

Gerber daisy I love this one too... so cheerful! Remember, this one needs lots of light!

I don't have pets but I get a sweet satisfaction watching my plants reach toward the sun—I actually think it's "cute." Weird, yep. It's probably the same feeling a cat owner gets when it sees its furry friend napping or stretching in the sun. Now tell me, in the comments below... Do you have house plants? How do they make you feel? — *If possible, please buy locally from farmer's markets and farm stands. If that's not possible, try your local nursery or... give Lowe's or Home Depot a try. — Never miss a Gaining Space blog post...! Subscribe here and you'll get 'em delivered directly to your inbox each week — you'll also get special insights and info. that I only share in emails. And if you liked this post, please "like" it and share it with your friends on twitter or Facebook. Thanks!

#plants #bleached floors #fresh air

viewfromthetent

gainingspace

Enjoy your 4th of July weekend! Do something you love... something that wakes you up and invigorates you. For me, it's a quick swim in a cold lake! Brrrrr. But if camping isn't your thing... Eeek, bugs.... Find your thing! Then tell me in the comments below... What makes you feel alive? Is there anything stopping you from doing it this weekend?

— Never miss a Gaining Space blog post...! Subscribe here and you'll get 'em delivered directly to your inbox each week — you'll also get special insights and info. that I only share in emails.

— And if you liked this post, please "like" it and share it with your friends on twitter or Facebook. Thanks!

#inspiration #camping #vacation #holiday

berriescitrusavocado-blog

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I just made two batches of homemade ice cream this past weekend... Mmmm-mmm-mmmm! I luuuuuvv homemade ice cream!

Don't let another beautiful season pass you by. Do something you love!

And tell me in the comments below... What are you going to do to get the most out of your summer? — Never miss a Gaining Space blog post...! Subscribe here and you'll get 'em delivered directly to your inbox each week — you'll also get special insights and info. that I only share in emails.

#inspiration #ice cream #summer

"When Would Today Be a Good Day to Start?"

—The Minimalists — Hello fellow procrastinators...!

Tell me in the comments below... What have you been putting off? And what excuses are you making for not doing it today?

As for me... I've got three (3) kitchen shelves that need hanging (and have needed hanging for about 6 months now). My excuse: that I need to buy special anchors for brick walls. :] — If you liked this post, please "like" it and share it with your friends on twitter or Facebook. Thanks!

#start #procrastination #the minimalists

Last week I talked about how that Tim McGraw song made me cry a little bit. Here's why— Some of you know how close I was to my 100-year-old grandfather. Well, he passed away in April, and I had to fly to California to clean out his apartment. It was pretty emotional, but I tried to keep my sentimentality in-check while I was going through his things. So, last week... I'm listening to this Tim McGraw song with the line, "I finally read the good book…" which made me remember my grandfather's old & tattered copy of The Living Bible. He was quite non-religious but had read this bible over and over again throughout his life. And I thought of how I’d so “easily” donated that Bible. I thought how many of his things I had just given away, donated, or threw out. But then... 30 seconds later... I came to my senses! I realized I don’t need these objects to remember him. Having my grandfather's possessions clutter up my home isn’t going to serve me, or his memory, well. * * * In fact, during my clean-up of his apartment, I was conflicted about a lamp (pictured above) -- so I emailed this photo to two people, with a note that said something like: Hmmm...What do you think? Do I lug this heavy lamp back to NY with me? I've always loved it and wanted it but don't know where it would go in my apartment... or do I take it to Goodwill? Erg, I don't know! 1) A very close friend replied instantly: No, no, and yes! 2) My man, who is more thoughtful and sentimental, wrote later: Tough call. Probably take it, since you've always loved it.... Maybe move the current lamp or... some other rearranging.

I decided to "walk my walk" and go with the "No, no, and yes!" advice. I have come across similar situations in the past, where I was adamant on having [whatever that thing was].... Then I'd go through great expense and trouble to obtain [that thing], only to later get rid of it. So... I decided to skip all those in-between steps and just let it go now. How 'bout you...? Are you keeping anything based on sentimentality? If so, what is it? Does it get in your way? Or are you filled with joy to have it? Tell us, in the comments below. — And... if you liked this post, please "like" it and share it with your friends on twitter or Facebook. Thanks!

#declutter #sentimentality

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Live Like You Were Dying —Tim McGraw

I've heard this song a million times and love it. And for some reason it really hit me hard this week — I actually started tearing up at my desk Tuesday afternoon. What...? Why...?*

He said, “I went skydivin’. I went Rocky Mountain climbin’. I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu. And I loved deeper. And I spoke sweeter. And I gave forgiveness I'd been denyin'." And he said, "Someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying.”

If you're reading this via email, go on over to the blog and give it a listen. Then, tell me in the comments below... How would you live differently if you knew your days were numbered?

— And if you liked this post, please "like" it and share it with your friends, and subscribe here for special email updates. — *I'll explain the tears next week.

#Tim McGraw #music #Live Like You Were Dying #inspiration

verrlust

gainingspace

Q. When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Hmmm...that's a tough one.... Anyone have an answer? Tell me, in the comments below.

#quote #last time #first time

acherryicecreamsmile

gainingspace

How to attract the love of your life!

Let's talk about my tiny Brooklyn bedroom for a minute— I live in a 375-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment. The bedroom is 9x10 feet. That was not a typo.... I said 9x10 feet. Am I blowing any suburban minds right now? Because of the small size of the room, I had a double (some of you call it a "full-sized") bed for the first 10 years I lived here. But I'm a tall lady and always dreamed of the day I would have room for a Queen-sized bed. Ahhhhh, a Queen-sized bed... that would mean sleeping with my feet still on the bed instead of dangling off....[sigh] I had Cinderella-dreams of meeting a guy who would sweep me off my feet and out of my tiny apartment... giving me an excuse (and a place) for the larger bed I always dreamed of.... [dramatic pause.] Then one day, I took a different approach—I decided to stop waiting and buy the damn bed for myself! And when my friends balked at the idea of fitting a Queen-sized bed into my itty-bitty 9x10 ft. room, I would jokingly (or maybe not so jokingly) say:

"If you build it, he will come!"

And so he did. I met the sweetest, smartest, sexiest, kindest man.... once I made room for him in my life, and in my bed.... (Let's stop here -- my mom subscribes to this blog.) Consider if you are inviting the love you want into your life:

Do you live like a college student (my apologies if you actually are a college student) and still have a twin bed? Oh Girrrl, you are not inviting love into your life!

Do you have a double or full-sized bed with one side stuck up against the wall...? You know, where the poor bastard has to either hop over you or slink out the bottom? Girrrl, you are not inviting love into your life!

Or do you have the nice, big queen-sized bed but have a mountain of throw pillows, piles of laundry, or unpaid bills on top of it? Damn Girrrl, you are certainly not inviting love into your life!

Do this... Now!

Buy the bed of your dreams,

keep it clutter-free,

get the best sleep of your life, and

watch the man you've been waiting for walk into your life!

If you build it, he will come. Now... Tell us, in the comments below.... What's your sleep experience like? Do you have the bed of your dreams? What's keeping you from it? And what are you waiting for?

#bed #bedroom #oasis #love

What would you grab in a fire?

I found one of my favorite romcoms on TV this week: Leap Year. I used to have a thing for actor Matthew Goode... especially with that beard and Irish accent... Swwwooooon! Anyway... in the movie, Matthew Goode, plays a grumpy Irishman in need of money to save his pub. So, for €500, he drives stuck-up control-freak American Amy Adams to Dublin. They hate each other (as do all good romcom couples at first). She thinks he's a brute, and he thinks she's shallow when he asks her...

"If your house was on fire, and you had 60 seconds, what would you take?"

She didn't know. (Remember, she's stuck-up and shallow at this point.) Later, his answer to the same question:

"My mother's Claddagh ring. You know, the ones with the two hands holding the crowned heart."

Aww, isn't that sweet? ***SPOILER ALERT*** In the end, after she gets the rich doctor (not Matthew Goode) and the fancy apartment in Boston, she realizes she doesn't want any of it. She loves my boy Matthew! So she travels 3,000 miles back to Ireland (very romantic-like) and tells him...

"When my 60 seconds came around, I realized I had everything I ever wanted but nothing I really needed."

Yeaaaah... what she really needed was a little Matthew Goode... BAM!

Here it is... the obvious question— What do you really need? What is one thing you would grab in a fire?

Another important (and telling) question... What would you not grab? What would you be okay with seeing go?

Noticing these things can help you in your decluttering process now — If you'd be okay seeing it go in a fire... Why wait?

— If you liked this post, please "like" it and share it on twitter or Facebook. Thanks!

#fire #video #de-clutter

2013yearoflettering

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We have to choose joy and keep choosing it. —Henri J.M. Nouwen It's nice to know we can choose the kind of day we're going to have! Tell me in the comments below... What kind of day did you choose for yourself today? Did you choose to honk at the slow driver (something I might do), or did you choose to relax and let the day unfold?

— Beautiful hand-lettering by Kelly Cummings.

#joy #choice #call to action #Henri Nouwen #quote

One Easy Step to Increase Your Health & Wealth!

I'm excited to announce that after studying feng shui for many years and helping my friends improve their lives through small feng shui adjustments, I am now earning my feng shui certification.... Don't worry, I promise not to show up at your door with a bundle of sage. Well...most likely not. ;) Anyway... Did you know that... Your stove represents the health and wealth of those in your household! So what do you think a stinky, gloppy, greasy stove does for your health and wealth? Think you're gonna feel energetic and successful? Inspired and rich? Nope, probably not. Here it comes.... Experiment Time! Clean your stove! I mean it. Right now. Go clean your stove! Or... if you have a job (sheesh!)... wait until you get home, I guess. :] Make sure you clean it really well—that means putting some elbow grease* into it. Now, follow these steps:

Remove the grates,

remove the drip pans,

soak them all in super-hot sudsy water using a great grease-cutting dish detergent like Dawn Power Clean.

While those are soaking, scrub the crap out of the now naked stove top surface.

Then, back at the sink, wash those soaking grates and drip pans clean.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Ladies, you should probably be wearing dishwashing gloves on your hands to save those manicures!

ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE: Remember not to mix ammonia and bleach products.

Once all the parts are clean, dry them,

Then, put that stove back together!

This whole process (though it sounds daunting) should only take about 20 minutes — and while it will probably not be the most fun you've ever had... the results are... bling! Then, when you're all finished, come back and report your results in the comments below. Don't forget to take before & after pics so we can all share in your victory! Send them to "ckell [at] gainingspace.com" — I'll post them at a later date! And, please... if in the next few weeks you notice an increase in your health or wealth, come back here and share that with us too! — *Elbow grease is an idiom for working hard at manual labour, as in "You need to use some elbow grease." It is a humorous reflection of the fact that some tasks can only be achieved by hard effort and human energy, contrasting with the idea that there should be some special oil, tool or chemical product to make the job easier. Source: wikipedia

#inspiration #kitchen #health #wealth #stove #clean

themountainlaurel-deactivated20

gainingspace

Happy Spring!

Tell me... What are you doing to celebrate the arrival of spring?

#interiors #flowers

What to do with all those coupons!

I recently made an expensive clothing purchase, a sweater from Eileen Fischer. Then last week, I received a lovely handwritten note in the mail thanking me for my purchase and passing along this coupon (above). It was very thoughtful, a really nice touch. But I don't need anything from that store any time soon. And certainly not before what...? 5/15/13! So what do we do with all these unexpected coupons we get in the mail? You know it's coming... the tough love.... Throw 'em out! Recycle 'em! Get... rid of 'em!

Just because you get a coupon in the mail, doesn’t mean you have to use it. It adds to your clutter in two (2) ways:

The coupon itself is clutter.

If you use the coupon, the item you bought will likely become clutter.

So... If you don't actively need something from that specific store, get rid of that silly, tempting coupon. As for this one (pictured above), it's been recycled. Goodbye Coupon, Goodbye! Tell us, in the comments below... What's the last coupon you used? What did you buy? And did you really need it?

#clutter #declutter #shopping #coupon

stateeof-dreamingg

gainingspace

My All-Time-Favorite, #1 Easiest Way to Declutter—

Stop shopping! I know it’s difficult… it is for me too. But slow and steady wins the race. And the first slow step you can take is to stop shopping! Stop buying and adding more stuff to that clutter. Simply put, don’t bring more crap into the house. Easy-peasy, yeah? (Ha, I know it’s not so easy.) And I know these pink packages on top of this cute European car are adorrrrable, but think about where you would put these adorrrrable pink boxes in your home. And what exactly is inside these adorrrrable pink boxes? Another red dress? ”You’ve got a red dress you never wear…. What do you need another one for… huh?”**

EXPERIMENT TIME…! Stop yourself… just for one week. Stop buying shoes, clothes, collectibles, electronics, kitchen gadgets, or whatever your poison is. And tell us, in the comments below… What’s a memorable impulse buy you made that you later regretted? — *Red dress example taken from my own life — I’m not perfect either…who knew?!

#declutter #shopping #stop shopping

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