Yikes...what a title...however, as most of you know, I love to try & make a connection to what I love & correlate it somehow w/design.  How DESIGN can help, empower & support whatever it is that you are doing, love and/or dream of.  Right now, I'm hooked on Doomsday Preppers (National Geographic channel) which plays into some of the survival training I've taken (see what to do in case of an EMU attack!).  And, as someone who's weathered a hurricane & is subject to the crazy weather in WI (snow, blizzards & the like) & soon to be the Carolina coast (hurricane again), I feel that design DOES play a part into how prepared you are & how you will "weather the storm" as it were. 

Also, due to the economy & other threats to our physical well-being from foreign/domestic sources, how prepared we are in terms of food & even energy should all be taken into consideration.  Do you stay or do you go?  Do you have a plan as to WHERE to go if something happens?  What if you aren't prepared & the grocery store has a run & all that's left is non-essentials?  These are all things that you need to be aware of & prepared for in case something happens.  A disruption in the food chain CAN happen & has.  All anyone has to do is watch the news during a fire or hurricane evacuation.  Look what happned on the East Coast after last summer's earthquake & hurricane...some places were without power for upto 2 weeks!  Could you & your family survive?

So, it with all of this in mind that I start this new series on the CasaVerde radio show & this blog.  Today's episode featured SECURITY & some tips on how to "view" your house as an intruder would & some simple tips to keep you safe.  Here are some from David Morris & the Secrets of Urban Survival newsletter:

Around The House.

When returning home, do a quick check to make sure that your “castle” hasn’t become someone else’s “castle” while you were gone.  Are any lights/windows broken?  Are multiple security lights suddenly malfunctioning?  Are pets responding normally?  Is your door locked?  Does your alarm beep like it should when you open your door?

As a quick note, during “normal” times, if you know that an intruder is in your house, your best course of action is to call 911 and retreat to somewhere where you can provide updates, descriptions, and take pictures.

On this topic, are your firearms secured so that an intruder won’t be able to find them and use them on you?  If you don’t carry weapons, do you know where traditional and improvised weapons are near your door?

I LOVE fire extinguishers. Quoting Clint Smith, “Spray them with the white stuff and hit them with the red thingy.”  Do you have plenty of metal fire extinguishers?  New fancy compact fire extinguishers have their place, but it’s hard to beat the versatility of a big old metal fire extinguisher.

What is normal? Observe what normal is…for your neighbors, for your neighborhood.  Cars, coming & going, etc.  It will not only alert you to people and events that are out of the ordinary, but it will also help you get to know your neighbors better.  You’ll quickly see who’s social, who races off every morning with a scowl on their face, who always waves and has a smile, etc.  You’ll also see who notices you and who is oblivious to the world and completely un-aware.


I hope, if anything, this series of CasaVerde shows & blogs will help you at least become aware of what can happen & that you look at your home in a new way...One to protect you & keep you & your family secure in these uncertain times.  As always, if you have a question or a suggestion on a topic you'd like me to address, contact me at askdeanna@bantedesign.com.   Cheers!

With Cupid sharpening up his arrows for next week, women stressing about their date or lack of for the 14th, & men everywhere breaking out into a cold sweat over what to get/what to do/is it worth it...the Day of Love can be anything but that!  So, in trying to keep w/the happy, loving thoughts that "should" encompass Valentine's Day, here's a re-print of some Feng Shui tips for romance-whether you are happily attached, single & looking, or happily UN-attached...Enjoy!

Feng Shui for Valentine’s Day

Yes....it's THAT time of year again where women idealize the "perfect" date and men panic...I jest, however, with Cupid about to fly into all of our lives in a little over a week, it's not to early to start thinking of some ways to implement a little more LOVE into our lives.  OK, you say, why can't I just buy some chocolate & flowers....well you can (especially the chocolate!) AND you can also bring more LOVE into your environment through color and accessories.

Feng Shui for Valentine’s Day
As far as color goes, in Feng Shui (Black Hat Sect) there are 3 colors you can use to "activate" the RELATIONSHIP energy depending on your status (and while this applies for social & business relationships as well, the focus of this article is for romantic relationships):

RED-if you are in a LEGALLY binding relations (married, engaged w/date set)
PINK- if you are single & looking or dating
PEACH-if you are single & not looking for a relationship

***Integrate your applicable color into your bedding (pillows, throw, sheets), flowers, tableware (napkins, placemats) and wardrobe options.***

The element for the Relationship Area is EARTH.  Think items made from the earth: brick, stone, clay, marble, semi-precious stones....(diamonds are always nice!).  In Feng Shui, in the "productive cycle" (meaning ADDS TO) you want to use FIRE as well to "amp up the energy."  Think candles, fireplace-anything that represents an open flame or fire.  Shape for EARTH is a square.  Shape for FIRE is a triangle (can also use star or pyramid...anything with points).

***Integrate this into your decor with stone figurines of couples or other things in pairs (2s), candles, or anything else that reflects light such as mirrors (display candles or flowers on a mirror base to "double" the reflection).***

Other ideas on how to incorporate this into your Valentine's Day decor include:

• Set your table set w/red or pink square placemats or dishes. 
• Fabric draped across table/chairs...anything that will bring a sense of "sensuous" to the room.  Use velvet, silk, satin, leather, cashmere...anything that is soft to the touch and encourages you to feel it. 
• Items should be grouped in 2s or pairs-think a couple!
• Accessories that represent ROMANCE to YOU & your significant other...beach scenes, castles, gardens, wedding/honeymoon pictures.  NOTHING that includes: friends, kids, family or other people...it's about YOU & your significant other.

And remember, you can keep Valentine's Day all year by implementing this into your bedroom design!  The bedroom is synonomous with romance/relationship.  You should only have things here that represent rest & romance-no exercise equipment or pictures of your in-laws or kids.  Those can be definite romance killers!  Only things that represent you and your partner or what is romantic to you!

Applying Feng Shui to Your Menu
Romance is about sharing, loving & having fun.  Think about cooking dinner together!  (or at least ordering from the same take out menu!). Food needs to be shared and not too heavy (which will make you tired...you want to be energized!).  Again, going along our theme of EARTH & FIRE-we are going for spicy and hot.

Shrimp Tempura w/ dipping sauce
Japanese Nabe
Fondue
Most types of shellfish (oysters, lobster)
Tuna Brochettes w/tempeh
Vegetable sushi

Desert:
Green tea ice Cream w/chocolate sauce
CHOCOLATE anything!
Crepe suzettes w/sambuca
Raspberries w/creme fraiche

***Remember the Sex & the City episode with Charlotte & Harry going to the French restaurant for their romantic dinner.  They ate a 5 course VERY HEAVY meal which ended up making them sick it was so rich...Don't let this happen to you or you'll be remembering the night for some different reasons!.***

The most important tip though is for you and your partner/date, to have fun & do what is romantic and fun for you!  If it's movies w/pizza, a romantic weekend getaway to Napa or somewhere in between-do what YOU like to do.  Just remember to add some Feng Shui color to it!

Did you enjoy the tips on using Feng Shui in your menu planning?  Stay tuned for updates on DeAnna's next book, Party Like You Mean It!

Enjoyed the article? Click the "Subscribe" button on my Examinerpage to receive updates on new articles I post. For more design or Feng Shui tips and advice, follow me on Twitter at @bantedesign and @deannaradaj.

Just a short posting today...I'm off to enjoy the "warm" (hey, 40 IS warm for WI in Jan!) weather & hang outside w/the dogs after being gone for the weekend.  Topic today is tips on sprucing up your home easily without busting the budget.  You can use these same tips to help add some bling & value to your home's exterior as well if you're trying to sell your home.

...& don't forget, if you have any design, Feng Shui, clutter or color questions as they relate to your home, send 'em to askdeanna@bantedesign.com & I'll answer in an upcoming post!

Tips to Add Some Bling to Your Home's Exterior:

• For a quick update, change the address #s, door hardware, welcome mats & mailbox on front & back doors
• Hang flower baskets, put up window boxes or other landscaping that corresponds w/home architecture
• Upgrade your front & back door (i.e. hardwood not steel) & screen doors
• Reface cabinet doors in kitchen (cheaper than replacing entire cabinets)
• Upgrade facets, showerheads, drawer/cabinet hardware in bathrooms & kitchen
• Tile backsplash in kitchen & bath behind sink (& even the stove if so inclined!)

Hey All-
As Christmas & New Year are now in the "holidays past" portion of our brains & retail stores are now awash in pink, red & hearts galore...Here are some tips for the singles, the attacheds & happily-marrieds out there who want to either:

-AMP UP their romance vibe
-Are looking for someone special to share Valentine's Day with (and after!)
-Re-kindle the passion of days-gone-by

***If you aren't up to DIY or want some SPECIFIC advice for your space & your situation, contact us to schedule a "Valentine's Day Romance" consultation.  This 30 minute consult will address basic situation, color, space-plan & accessory choice for your bedroom.***

Remember, when you want to focus on Relationships, Romance & Passion you want to focus on the design decor of your bedroom.  And, if you're so inclined, you can "activate" the Relationship Life Area of your home.  This area is the FAR RIGHT CORNER of your home's floorplan.

• First off, the bedroom is for REST & ROMANCE.  Period.  Only items that relate to these 2 topics should be brought into this space.  No exercise equipment, pictures of kids or in-laws...
• The bed, if possible, needs to be placed in the Power Position.  This is the diagonal corner from the dorrway when you are looking INTO the space.  This is the most psychologically secure position in the room.  If the bed can't be placed on a diagonal (due to size of room/bed), then as long as it is in this quadrant, you're OK).
• There needs to be a headboard.  Again, this is for support.
• Bed should NOT be placed under a window a) again, this symbolizes a "lack of support or anchoring", b) health issues from drafts.
• If you have nightstands, they need to be MATCHING on either side of the bed.  If in a relationship, you want to be "equal" & if 1 side has a nightstand or 1 is bigger...it can symbolize an imbalance in the relationship.
• The bedroom relates to the RELATIONSHIP Life Area, whether you are in one, looking for one or don't want one...it manifests here in this room.  As stated before, have matching nightstands.  Make sure that there is room on BOTH sides of the bed to enter the bed easily-if in a realtionship, it's equal, if looking for one, you want an inviting space for a partner.
• Display items/accessories in pairs (2) to represent a couple.  Do not use singular items, signifies individual/single or in threes (3) as this signifies another coming in between you & your partner.  EX: 2 chairs, 2 candles, grouping of 2 pictures...
• For color: use RED if in a legally binding relationship, PINK if single & looking for a relationship, CORAL/ORANGE if looking for sex/passion & not a relationship.
• You can also integrate the EARTH element (tile, stones, brick, clay) and/or the shape of SQUARE to "activate" the relationship energy.  Think RED SQUARE picture frames from your honeymoon, SQUARE TILES to place candle pillars on...
• Engage all 5 senses.  Good music, lots of different textures (silk, satin, cashmere...), Ylang Ylang (an EARTH scent) candles/Environment Spray, wine/chocolate...
• For accessories, remember REST & ROMANCE.  So pictures of you & your honey on vacation/wedding, a shadowbox of items from your wedding...If single & looking, think of what represents romance to you: pictures of walks on the beach, bistro scenes...Display these.  NO pictures of: kids, inlaws, family, friends, work...
• No TV/computer/workstation in this room.  If space is an issue, think of a closed work station or use a tri-fold screen to separate the area.

As I'm late in posting a new blog for 2012 AND we are getting ready to celebrate the Chinese New Year (Year of the Dragon) on the 23rd, I think I'm safe w/this headline!  (Nice way to rationalize, right?).  I hope you all had a fabulous holiday & have recovered from the festivities & are still on track to reach your new year resolutions.  AND if you didn't make any on 1/1/12, you get a re-dux this weekend.  So make those Vision Boards for your business and/or your personal life & make 2012 THE YEAR!

***This weekend is THE perfect time to clutter-bust all closets, drawers, under the bed, desks & garage!  Room to focus on is the KITCHEN as it corresponds w/wealth & abundance in Chinese philosophy of Feng Shui.***

As for myself, the holidays were a total rollar-coaster, from a dental surgery on Dec 23rd, the result of an accident 2 yrs ago (!) & having to eat soup for a week, to FINALLY buying a new home in my warm weather dream location...it was definitely one for the books.  More on the move as  that progresses, but I will say it will be nice to a) unpack my stuff that's been boxed in anticipation of this move for 2 yrs...another Christmas if you will, & b) to go furniture shopping for this new home that truly reflects the new upleveling that's been occuring in my personal & professional life.  Yes, 2012 is off to a great start.  I hope it is for you all as well!

So, will all of this in  mind, I can now shift gears for the next holiday approaching...no, not Super Bowl Sunday ( sad face due to the Packer loss this past Sun...good grief that was ugly), but Valentine's Day.  As you all know, designing bedrooms is one of my passions...& since ROMANCE is 1 of the 2 activities that should be represented in this room (REST is the other), here are some tips you can implement into your bedroom decor, whether you're attached, looking or single:

***And remember that Bante Design LLC offers a Designing the BEDROOM of Your Dreams room package & hourly consults to help create a personal sanctuary in your bedroom!***

• Things need to be displayed in PAIRS (2s).  Nothing in 1s or 3s
• Use RED if legally attached, PINK if single & looking for a relationship & CORAL/PEACH if single & looking for just sex
• Integrate ALL of the 5 senses: taste, touch, sound, sight & hearing for a truly sensual space
• Know what REPRESENTS romance/passion to YOU...NOT what society says romance s/b.  If you like the beach, place symbols of the beach around, if it's a garden of blooming roses, have bouquets of roses/pics of roses.
• If attached, display pics of you & your sweetie happy & smiling
• Get rid of any "clutter" from past relationships or that you don't love, use or need.