Don’t miss the next Lunch & Learn session “Create a Personalized Health Plan” where you will learn how to create a Personalized Health Plan using tools to identify your optimal health vision and assess where you are in each domain of the Wheel of Health. This “Lunch & Learn” will be presented by Kim Moseley on Thursday, February 23, 2012 from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM at the Myers Park Presbyterian Outreach Center (1073 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC). Visit the Simplicity website for more details.

Kim Moseley

Kim Moseley says “being a Health Coach is a calling for me, not unlike a calling into the ministry. I believe in people and their potential to become all they can be.  I am a listener and love to hear peoples’ stories.  It energizes me to see people step outside their comfort zone at whatever stage of life they are in to undertake a new challenge in spite of obstacles like fear, physical or health impairments and life circumstances.  Coaching believes that people are capable of finding their own best answers and solutions in life.  My role as a health coach is to help clients peel back the layers in order to discover the answers from within and to uphold their optimal health vision, identify habits that don’t support that vision, and build new ones that do.

I have always strived to live a “balanced” life.  My balance consists of daily exercise, healthy eating, a high priority on family and friendships, community service, regular prayer and quiet time, time outdoors, reading, and eight hours of sleep.  Professionally, I have worked in the “helping” professions and most recently have had experience as a small business owner.

My educational background includes both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work.  My health coaching training comes from Duke University’s Center for Integrative Medicine. I have also completed the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program, developed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn.



Kim L. Moseley, MSW, LCSW
Integrative Health Coach
704-560-4330
Kim@HealthyPathways.net
www.HealthyPathways.net

By Best Nest.

Hiring a professional organizer is much like hiring a landscape architect or an interior decorator.   Organizing, landscaping and decorating are things that can be done independently, but often shouldn’t be.

Potential clients might hesitate to hire a professional organizer for the same reasons they balk at engaging a landscaper or decorator- they think they should be able to do it themselves and consider help in these areas to be an extravagance or admission of incompetence.

When it comes to organizing and streamlining your home, you know if this is where your talents lie.  If so, read no further. But if you struggle when it comes to taming your possessions, hiring a professional organizer might be the answer.

With Simplicity, you’ll be hiring professionals who bring not only their expertise, but also the womanpower to achieve sustainable results more quickly.  You’ll gain not just an organized home but also peace and mental clarity. Getting organized creates space in your life that allows for more spontaneity and flexibility. It’s an investment for your entire family, not a selfish indulgence.  All that’s to say, being organized should not be viewed as a luxury, but rather a necessity.

Professional organizing provides tremendous value.  Your space, your calendar, and your family are organized not just for the short run, but for the long haul, too.  Simplicity clients are armed with the tools and systems for maintaining their homes once the job is done.  We’ll check in with you periodically to make sure everything is continuing to hum.

For about the same price as a great restaurant meal for two with good wine, a pair of designer shoes, or a few spa services, you can have a half-day with a Simplicity organizer.   The restaurant, new shoes, and spa provide real but fleeting pleasures, while getting organized will bring real and lasting pleasures.

So, ask yourself this question, “Can I afford not to hire an organizer?”

By Amy MacCabe, Owner – Savory Spice Shop Charlotte South End, Atherton Mill and Market

Ever wonder why some of your spices are not as flavorful as they used to be? Flavor in a spice is stored in the form of essential oils and as those oils evaporate over time the flavor and aroma goes with it. Ground spices have a limited shelf life of about a year and whole spices for about 2 – 3 years. Purchasing small amounts of spice at a time is always best practice to ensure you are getting the most flavors from the spice. Remember too, general rules for storing spices are to keep them in an airtight container, out of sunlight and in a cool, dry place. If your spices are near a window or stove consider moving them elsewhere to a pantry shelf, inside a cabinet or a drawer.

Does it sound like time for you to clean out the cupboard and replace your old bottles with freshly ground spices? If so, keep it simple by stocking up with your essentials and purchase spices for those special recipes as needed. To encourage you further, from January 21st through February 29th bring your tired, old competitor spice bottles to Savory Spice Shop (South End location) and get $1.00 off any new bottle. You do not need to buy an exact replacement for the bottle you contribute.

Here are our top 10 pantry picks to get you started:

1.     Tellicherry Pepper – This black pepper is offered in a variety of sizes as well as whole for those who prefer to grind with a peppermill.

2.     Salt  – Pink Himalayan fine or La Baleine are wonderful alternatives to standard table salt

3.     Basil – European basil is an essential ingredient in Mediterranean cooking and pairs well with capers, chives, cilantro, garlic, marjoram, oregano, mint, parsley, rosemary and thyme. Practically everything is better with basil including but not limited to; tomatoes, corn, olives, mozzarella cheese, poultry, seafood, pasta, sauces and pizza.

4.     Oregano -  Greek Oregano has a milder, sweet flavor that matches well with thyme, basil, rosemary, sage and marjoram. Used extensively in Italian cooking and is often found in pizza, pasta sauces and many other tomato based sauces. Mexican oregano is a bit stronger, less bitter and less minty than the Greek species. It is widely used in Southwestern and Mexican cooking

5.     Cantanzaro Herbs – A perfect Italian blend hand mixed from garlic, lemon peel, marjoram, European basil, Mediterranean thyme, rosemary and Greek oregano. Goes well in pasta sauce, on garlic bread and pizzas.

6.     Tomato Powder – Just mix with water to create an instant tomato paste!

7.     Cinnamon –. Sprinkle on toast, pancakes, waffles or in coffee. Pairs well with pumpkin and other squashes and is a necessary ingredient in many curries. Savory Spice Shop has five different cinnamons to select from.  Ask us to explain the differences next time you are in the shop!

8.     Cumin – Use ground cumin in chili, tamales, marinades, barbecue sauces and burgers. It can even be used in some desserts, including cookies.

9.     Chili Powder – A convenient blend that replaces many individual jars on the spice rack. Don’t confuse this with ground chile peppers; chili powder usually contains chile peppers plus cumin, coriander, oregano, and many other spices.

10.  Vanilla Extract – A must have for bakers. This pairs nicely with desserts and surprisingly, it is also useful in tomato based sauces. Just a dash cuts acidity and will help bring the flavors to the surface.  Savory Spice Shop carries Madagascar, Tahitian, Mexican and double strength vanilla extracts.

Amy MacCabe
Owner – Savory Spice Shop Charlotte South End
Atherton Mill and Market
2000 South Blvd, Suite 150
Charlotte, NC 28203
Store: (980) 225-5419
charlottesouthend@savoryspiceshop.com
http://www.savoryspiceshop.com/aboutus/charlottesouthend.html

By Andrea Umbach, Therapist at Southeast Psych www.southeastpsych.com

During this past holiday season, a Charlotte man was killed in an apartment fire. Police described him as a hoarder and speculated that the amount of stuff in his apartment not only provided additional kindling for the electrical fire but may have kept him from making it out alive. A tragedy such as this often makes us wonder if there is anything we could have done to help or to have changed the outcome. Although we cannot alter the past, we might be able to make changes in our own lives to prevent similar devastation or support others who may need our help.

1) Identify there is a problem. The first step is to recognize when clutter has become excessive and a significant problem for ourselves or our loved ones. This is often difficult since acquiring and saving items can elicit positive feelings in the moment. However, when looking at the bigger picture, it is often clear that hoarders are not living the life they want to be living. Instead, they have found themselves stuck in a hoarding cycle and do not know how to get out. The following points can be considered when determining if clutter has become a  more serious problem:

• Excessive acquisition and/or failure to discard a large number of objects
• Difficulty financially, spatially, or organizationally handling the quantity of items
• Clutter prevents or seriously limits the use of living spaces
  
• High risks including fire, falling, respiratory problems and health risks
• Cluttering, acquiring, or difficulty discarding causes significant impairment, distress, or poor quality of life

2) Recognize consequences if no changes are made. Typically we think of the reasons to keep all of our possessions rather than the reasons to make changes. However, hoarding can result in a variety of serious consequences:

• Difficulty finding important objects (keys, glasses, bills) creating more stress
• Problems  performing basic activities (cooking, bathing, sleeping)
• Inability to maintain and repair home
• Significant financial debt
• Relationship conflict or isolation
• Eviction or children being removed from home
• Health risks, injury, fire hazard, or death

3) Remember you are not alone. Hoarding has been estimated to occur in 5% of the population or 15 million people in the US. So there are many people who struggle with similar issues. There are also many researchers and mental health professionals who have focused on finding ways to help hoarding individuals. So far, cognitive-behavioral therapy has shown to be the most effective treatment. Therapy can help to identify underlying beliefs and feelings related to hoarding, provide organizational and decision-making skills, and address any others issues such as anxiety, depression, or relationship problems.

4) Tips for family and friends of hoarders. One of the most difficult things for us to accept is that the individual who is struggling with hoarding needs to make his own arguments for change. We cannot force, threaten, persuade, or shame them into it. Also, we cannot do it for them. So unless the clutter is immediately life-threatening, the best we can do is to offer support and empathy. Instead of nagging or arguing, ask the individual how hoarding helps and hurts them, ask if their behaviors are consistent with their values and goals, and if are they living the life they want to be living. You can also emphasize the importance of spending time together rather than focusing on physical items or enabling hoarding behaviors. Lastly, share with the individual that help is out there. You can provide them with information about treatment as well as other resources such as professional organizers. Mostly importantly, we have to remember that change takes time. Hoarding does not go away overnight.

*****************

By Robin McCoy.

Start off the year with a new mentality and watch Graham Hill’s TED Talk.

http://www.ted.com/talks/graham_hill_less_stuff_more_happiness.html

Hill is an architect by training and a simplifier by avocation.  His interest in reducing our environmental impact while simplifying our lives led to his founding of Treehugger and Life Edited.

Hill’s mantra is to “live little” by editing ruthlessly, monitoring spending and thinking small and multifunctional.  You’ll be amazed at how livable and sexy his 420 square foot condo is.

I suspect Hill would heartily embraced the philosophy of Antoine de St. Exupery who said, “Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more to take away.”

It’s true!  < = >

By Catie Eller

To borrow a phrase from Young Life, I believe that any adult needs to “win the right to be heard” by today’s teens by first listening to their needs and building a relationship based on trust and understanding.  Serving two roles as a Simplicity Teens Organizing Coach and with Custom College Consulting allows me to do this.

Whether we like it or not, teenagers often tune out their parents, even when their best interests are in mind. With trivial matters, this is just a frustrating occurrence.  As teenagers set their sights on prospective colleges and universities, parental advice on how much to study, which sports to play, and how use their summers productively quickly goes in one ear and out the other.

When wearing my “Simplicity” hat, I take the time to understand a teen’s personal learning styles, individual interests and goals to design an organizational plan that best suits them. As a Simplicity Teens Organizing Coach, I help instill order in a teen’s home, particularly with their school work and maintaining a balanced schedule. Especially during those critical transitions between elementary, middle and high school, the systems and skills that I develop with teenagers through this curriculum will stick with them.  You can learn more about my bio at www.simplicity-organizers.com

While Simplicity Teens helps manage a student’s physical belongings and space, my role as a College Consultant addresses the other puzzle pieces of a teen’s life – such as setting academic goals, prioritizing their activities and researching prospective schools. Building upon my background as a College Counselor in private schools in Georgia and Texas, I am proud to introduce a new venture called Custom College Consulting. Wearing the “College Consulting” hat, I provide a customized action plan and valuable information for each family to guide them through the process of finding the right college fit for their teenager.

In many ways, Custom College Consulting helps your teen manage the activities of life, from sports to academics, in a way that allows them to reach their fullest potential. Regardless of where your teenager is in their educational journey, Custom College Consulting can help! You can learn more by visiting www.customcollegeconsulting.org.

Whether it is as a Simplicity Teens Organizing Coach or a Custom College Consultant, my hope is that you will allow me the opportunity to be an outside voice, partnering with you to help your student through their transitional teen years to develop a solid foundation that will help him or her to reach their full potential.

By Melissa Lee, Closet Contest Makeover Winner.

Melissa Lee, the recent Closet Contest Makeover winner, blogs about her closet makeover experience – in 3 parts. Click on the links below to check out the amazing BEFORE and AFTER photos and see the stunning transformation.

Step 1 – Organize! Simplicity organizers, Anne Steppe and Andrea Gill, and Melissa Lee sorted, purged and organized the closet’s contents.

Step 2 – Decorate! Melissa, owner of New South Design, added her own special decorating touches to make her master closet magnificent!

Step 3 – Design & Install! Closets by Design installed the custom closet.

AFTER

By Andrea Gill.

Within the next few days most of us will be packing away all evidence of the recent holiday. The decorations will go back into their respective containers to be returned to storage until they are called into duty again next year. But what about all of those beautiful Christmas cards received from family, friends, and co-workers? Now that so many are photo cards it makes it harder to just toss them out with the wadded up wrapping paper and uneaten fruit cake.

For the past 10 years I’ve put all the cards together, labeled them with the year and filed them in a storage container in my office labeled “Christmas Cards”. While this is certainly an organized approach, it fails to do what I am always encouraging my clients to do – honor the items they choose to keep.

This year I have been inspired by several ideas that do just that.

1)      Create homemade placemats with them. Cut out poster board the size of a standard placemat and arrange the photos from the cards on the front and back. Be sure to include your family’s card as well. Glue them down and then laminate or cover with clear contact paper. Every year bring out the placemats with your holiday decorations to enjoy during the season. This is a simple project that can easily involve kids of all ages – cutting, arranging, gluing.

2)      Keep a card scrapbook. Select a photo album or scrapbook that suits you and simply add the cards and photos you receive each year.  Put the album out for family and guests to enjoy during the holiday. It makes it easy to flip through and reminisce. Once you have your album started it will only take a few minutes to update it with the current cards before packing it away.

3)      Christmas Card Shower Curtain.  For just $19.99 you can purchase a clear shower curtain that holds up to 40 pictures.  This is a great place to display the current years Christmas Card pictures so they can be enjoyed the entire season!

4)      Pray for the families they represent. Keep the cards together in a decorative basket. Every week select one card and spend time praying specifically for that family. At the end of the week, send them a short note letting them know you have been praying for them. It is a tangible way to share the spirit of the holiday year round.  At the end of the year you could still create placemats or a scrapbook with them.

Once you have a plan in place, you won’t be faced with the annual indecision regarding what to do with your Christmas cards. It may even become a new family tradition that you look forward to each year.

Happy Holidays from Simplicity!

By Anne Steppe

Many of us have heard of Charlotte’s leading lady in radio and TV, Ramona Holloway – but she and two other phenomenal ladies, Sharon Decker and Pam Stone have a show on 107.9 The Link that airs on Sunday’s from 7:00-8:00am called “The Satisfied Life.”

Simplicity owner, Laurie Martin and I were honored when asked to come on “The Satisfied Life” to discuss organization!  We had a blast talking about the importance of shaping a vision for your space, practicing time management, and involving children in the process of creating organizational systems.

We enjoyed our time with the ladies from “The Satisfied Life” and hope that you will take time to listen to the broadcast!

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