Everyday Feng Shui: Simple Tips to Keep Your Apartment Calm and Centered

featured today on Streeteasy.com

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Many people would like to integrate feng shui changes into their homes and businesses, but put it off until they can first clean it or until they renovate or right before they move.  But what most people don’t know is that you can embrace feng shui at any time.  It can actually be more helpful to integrate small scale, simple changes into your daily life. Feng shui isn’t just about moving furniture around but rather about physically shifting your environment and supporting  your daily life. Below are 3 simple feng shui tips you can incorporate right now to clear, calm and center you home.

Clean Your Windows

My husband and I cleaned our windows early this summer and afterwards he noted how clearly he could see the world now.  The environment and your perspective become clearer, brighter and more vibrant.  In feng shui, windows represent the eyes of the inhabitants of a home. Dirty and cloudy windows represent a lack of clarity in your life.  Improve your outlook by maintaining clean windows. While this is not necessarily an everyday occurrence, this tip makes a huge impact and your windows should be maintained on a regular basis.  It’s also important to use non-toxic cleaners such as vinegar and water to clean the windows.  Not only is a vinegar-water solution superb at cleaning glass, it keeps the indoor air free of toxins.  I like a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 1 part water, mixed in a spray bottle with 9 drops of sweet orange essential oil. Be sure to shake the bottle before use.

Rotate Your Stove Burners

What’s your favorite burner on your stove?  Mine is located front, right.  In feng shui, your stove represents nourishment, as well as career, fame and wealth.  This means it is essential to use your stove everyday, even if only to boil water, and to keep it very clean and in working order.  All the burners should work properly and wipe down the stove on a daily basis.   So what does this have to do with your favorite burner?  Next time you use your stove, try using a different burner to expand your opportunities for success in career, fame and wealth.  Instead of mindlessly using the same “favorite” burner, intentionally make an effort towards something new every day.

Use your Dining Table

Sadly, nowadays dining tables tend to be used for everything but dining.  If possible, it is important to take some time each day to eat mindfully at your dining table.  The dining table symbolizes a space to nourish and feed the body, especially with family and friends.  Using it on a daily basis prevents it from collecting dust and clutter, and allows you to take some time to nurture yourself.  Since space is often at a minimum, a dining table is often a daytime desk or perhaps non-existent.  If used as a desk, be sure to put away the “work” while you eat.  If non-existent, create a small space somewhere that’s dedicated to eating one meal.  Perhaps clear off the coffee table, keep the TV off, and find a beautiful placemat and dish to serve yourself your meal of choice.

I challenge you to incorporate these three simple everyday tips to provide some clarity, calmness and centeredness in your home and life.

by Anjie Cho


Feature: Keukmi Kim-Ali from MoMo Soap

Keukmi Kim-Ali is the founder of MoMo Soaps in New York City.  She's originally from Japan, and now resides in the Bronx.  Everyone I know is obsessed with MoMo homemade all natural soap!  I gave them as gifts last Christmas holiday, and now everyone is raving and ordering them like crazy. My sister loves the Afternoon Tea. My mom loves the Green Tea. My friend Jessy love the Blue Poppyseed.  My husband and I love them all! Currently I'm into the Carrot soap.

I think it's so important to use natural bar soap.  First, liquid soap use plastic bottles that are unnecessary waste. Second, she makes REAL SOAP!  Not a detergent with chemicals.  Keukmi makes soap from ingredients you can find in your refrigerator.  She makes them herself with love.  And because I appreciate the amazing soap she makes, I wanted to feature my interview with Keukmi on my blog this week!

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AC: What is MoMo?

KKA: Momo is a girl from a book by Michael Ende. It examines mass manufacturing and consumption; it challenges you to make time for yourself. It made me see how making something by hand always gives you joy in life. When I think about my soap company, I think about this story of MoMo.

How did you first learn how to make soaps?

I have been making soaps for almost 10 years. When I lived in Japan, the first book that I translated looked at environmental issues and it caused me to look at what I was using in my life that was mass-produced. So I rethought about how I use things in daily life. I was interested in how to use leftover oil because I love to cook and hate to throw out the used oil – so I read about books on how to use oil to make soap.

The weather in New York City is drier than Japan. It changes your skin condition, especially in the wintertime. So I also began to think about what could I use without chemicals to help with the dry and itchy skin in the winter.

What are the basic ingredients for your soap?

All real soap is made with oil, water and lye. Lye is a strong alkaline made with salt. These are the very basic ingredients, oil being the most important. I started with the very basic ingredients but a friend of mine introduced me to variations on soaps. She suggested adding honey, which is softening for the skin. Anything you can eat you can add to your soaps! I started add in other natural ingredients like carrot, oatmeal, charcoal, etc. Oatmeal, honey and milk are breakfast foods that make excellent soap. It’s like a breakfast shower for your skin!

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What’s your favorite soap?

My most favorite soap I don’t sell!  It’s special for me!  The ingredients include lavender, rosemary, lemongrass and geranium essential oils.  Geranium is especially good for women.  I also like to add adzuki beans for the abrasive scrub. 

What’s your most popular soap?

I have two very popular soaps.  The Charcoal soap is very popular with men.  It’s good for odor control.  The Honey Oatmeal Milk soap is very popular with the ladies.  Again, it’s breakfast for your skin.

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check out Keukmi Kim-Ali's website at www.momo-soap.com

by Anjie Cho