Zen

As can be expected the N.Y. Gift show was a tad overwhelming, however there were a few standouts. Drawn to their use of a limited palette and clean lines, we discovered FTF Design Studio . They use minimal materials in their furniture, tabletop, and kitchen/bath line that is an outgrowth of their architectural backgrounds. I couldn’t stop thinking about how great the zen-like “pod line” in corian would look on my coffee table. Trays and servers available on web-site, furniture and bath line through phone. Check out the ultra fab “pond bathtub” that looks as if a robin just hatched from it. FTF Design ... Read Full Story

One of the greatest illusions that we must deal with is that of "control". From very early, we are asked to "take control of our lives". This is an unrealistic and many times destructive request, for the simple reason is that nobody totally controls his or her life. Rather, we are cells in the Divine Body of the Universal Self, so we can only control a certain range of activities and/or thoughts. More important than control is learning to see things from a collective perspective - where we are all brothers and sisters, and can work together. If I know and believe that all ... Read Full Story

1/250 f/11 I discovered this place in Architectural Digest one year when my then-girlfriend wanted to go to Thailand. Only problem was I had been traveling a lot and was so not in the mood for another serious journey. It’s not the journey actually, it’s the planes and airports, etc. I can’t stand flying anymore. It drives me nuts. When I was a kid they still permitted smoking in the back of the plane, but they were more considerate of the people they now pack in and treat like cattle. I digress… The point is, I didn’t have to go through hell to get ... Read Full Story

This isn’t a feature article but just a quick note to everyone. How many hours do you have in your day? Theoretically, there are 24 in mine. Yours might be different. But I sleep about 6 hours a day. Maybe 2 hours are spent eating. Another 2 hours for grooming and driving. Another 3 hours for getting stuff ready for my kids, cooking, cleaning. Another 5 hours doing routine stuff at work and with the blog. Maybe another hour doing errands, paying bills, going to the grocery store, or whatever else needs to be done. Another 2 hours doing communication: email, IM, phones, etc. ... Read Full Story

What would you be doing tomorrow if you retired today? Let’s say you had a blank day staring at you. You didn’t have to work. You could do anything at all (although money is still a limiting factor). What would your perfect day be like? These questions are more than just hypothetical questions to ask for fun or idleness. It’s an exercise meant to get you thinking about designing your life. How do you design your life? Well, let’s assume that your life is under your control. Sure, not everything is under your control, but let’s assume that much of your life is yours ... Read Full Story