"Creating the Peaceful Home" and other original blog post titles.

 My blog post title is not original because I took it directly from the title of this book: "Creating the Peaceful Home" by Ann Rooney Heuer.  Goodwill gave it to me after I gave them $3.99.  I wish I could tell you I got it on dollar day but I don't remember, so we'll just leave it at $3.99 to stay conservative.  There's the spirit.

I do remember it was a relaxing day.  Me and my husband had a date-day for some odd reason, but we obviously didn't question it.  We headed to a Mexican restaurant for lunch, close to our hood, which had been referred to us by our neighbors, one of which, has the appropriate street cred, being Mexican herself.

 I took a picture of the patio because it was colorful and nicely shaded with trees that bent over due to some condition with their roots; I don't know.  I'm not an arborist.  I hoped the trees weren't in pain or had Degenerative Disc Disease or Osteoarthritis in order to bring natural shade to the patio patrons, but ignorance is bliss on that one.

We enjoyed three different flavors of salsa which were displayed in a three salsa holder dish-contraption.  It was awesome! After enjoying the salsa...and food, we headed next door to Goodwill, my mother-ship (Legally Blonde).   There, among Italian flash cards, I snagged this super cool find.  Today (disclaimer) you can snag it on Amazon, used in hardcover or paperback for .01.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1567997996/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1567997996&linkCode=as2&tag=crifoyo-20&linkId=DECOQE2HKSQG4HWD.

As far as Ann Rooney Heuer goes, she has a website and several blogs:
http://www.annerooney.com/#!online/c1nep
http://www.stroppyauthor.com
http://bookvivisection.blogspot.co.uk
http://awfullybigblogadventure.blogspot.co.uk

Amazon has a short biography on her:
http://www.amazon.com/Anne-Rooney/e/B001H6S7RO

I wish I could feign surprise at myself for buying this item since the internet has been working hard to make picture books extinct, at least in tangible-book format.   We have magazines, we have www.Houzz.com; we have Google Images, none of which I begrudge, in fact the opposite.  I am a non-traditional picture book addict.  Although, I still have some values and have resisted giving in to any tablet-like things. Therefore, since I insist on being politically correct and pleasing all involved, I try to keep my foot in both worlds.

I still like to smell and touch real books and I like to scroll through images on my phone, so sue me! Do I miss getting papercuts when I'm image-scrolling? No, but the other day I got a shred of glass lodged in my upper index finger, which remained there for a week and half until I finally tweezed it out after my co-worker suggested I show our on-site doctor and then stating emphatically: "You have glass in your finger!".  I never knew foreign objects lodged in fingers could cause so much pain; well now I do!

So, I don't regret this picture book.  I use it as decoration on my bookshelf; the cover is word art in itself.  It conjures up images of peaceful rooms and spaces, and invites one to retreat into safe, private, and secure retreats.

I think creating peaceful spaces is an inherent value within human nature.  We don't need any advance credentials or degrees to conclude that access to peaceful, serene, places are invaluable for people to grow physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

When I think about the TV show "Hoarders" or any similar show, I'm reminded how graphically it depicts what happens to ones health when his/her physical environment is not only unsafe and toxic, but ugly as well.  Even though beauty is in the eye of the beholder, we all can safely assume: Hoarding = Bad; Cleaner than hoarding but not perfection = Good.

Now that we're all on the same page and not in danger of breaking any politically correct laws (Heaven forbid). I will conclude with an exhortation to not give up on our less than perfectly-peaceful   environments, despite the barriers of moola, time, energy, and all the other precious resources NOT at our disposal.

I've personally found that changing and investing in even small, little improvements and upgrades can  
improve my sense of wellbeing and productivity.  After we finally upgraded to faux wood window blinds from the disturbing paper window shades we lived with over a year, I actually cleaned the bathroom, and we weren't even expecting company...like just for fun.

Just something to chew on...