Poster Pics

A part from the ikea shelf building and adopting more plants, Sarah and myself got creative on making a much need poster for her flat. We decided to go crazy and just make it really colourful and happy...something that would bring back lots of memories from the festival she went to. I hadn't used felt tip pens in a long time but it was fun just going wild on a blank canvas.

Green Fingers

I know next to nothing about plants and have managed to kill all the plants I've had to look after the past (including the orchid i bought for my sister in November) so it was a real challenge just to find something for the flat.

So here's my chance to learn a bit about plants and how to look after them, in the end we chose plants that were pretty forgiving and don't need much attention.

Dracaena

• Origin - Subtropical and tropical regions.
• Care Tips - Very easy to look after. If leaf tips get brown (from dry air) just snip them off with scissors. If lower leaves on the stalks turn brown, simply remove them - this is a natural process. To prevent them turning "leggy", you can cut off the top section and root it in a glass of water. The stem should then sprout two new leafy tops
• Trivia - Dracaenas are excellent at cleansing the air of impurities and harmful chemicals, particularly trichloroethylene.

Spathiphyllum wallisii- Peace Lilly (Simon Pegg in Hot Fuzz was obsessed with his peace lily)

• Origin - South and Central America.
• Care Tips - Plants will droop when they need watering - but try to water them before they do this! Peace lilies are unlike other plants in that if they are reluctant to flower, put them somewhere less bright.
• Trivia - Currently second most popular houseplant in the UK. One of the best air purifiers according to research.

Phalaenopsis (Orchid)

• Origin - South East Asia
• Care Tips - Enjoy a light spot, but no long-term exposure to bright sunlight. Regular, moderate watering ideally using boiled and cooled water. Provide high humidity, mist often but not on the flower heads. Feed with Orchid fertiliser every 14 days. Cut back stems after flowers fade to just below node which produced the first flower. Given the right conditions phalaenopsis can flower for months on end.
• Trivia - Effective in removing xylene (chemical emissions from adhesives, computer VDU screens, paints, photocopiers, stains and varnishes) from the atmosphere.

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Feng Shui-ing my home

Bathroom - if situated in the wrong place tends to leak energy and can be damaging to both health and prosperity.

• Have visuals that give you pleasure/bring good feng shui energy - need to put a picture up
  
• Have mirrors that will give you the pleasure of looking at yourself, as well as bring the presence of feng shui water element - we have a nice big mirror
  
• Have several sources of lighting, including candles - I put a candle with stones in the corner
  
• Make it possible to listen to the music while in the bath - we have a radio duck for the bath

Home Office - Working from home brings numerous benefits to one's lifestyle, and feng shui can help you make the best of it.

• Use feng shui to create your home office as far from the bedroom as possible - well it is as far as possible in the small flat we have
  
• Plan your home office with your well-being and productivity in mind. Feng shui colors, images, items that make you feel happy, appreciated, successful, creative - I put lots of colourful pictures and vision boards in here
• Bring at least a couple of air-purifying plants into your home office - need to get some plants
• Position your desk so that you do not have your back to the door. If you have to face the wall, use feng shui to make the wall "disappear" with vibrant images, beautiful art, etc; - its against the wall but i have a big cork board there for creative things and notes
  

Living Room - is the place reserved for relaxation, interaction, conversation, and relationships, it is considered to be the heart of the home.

• The living room should be in the south side of the home or should face south - yes its just happens to be
• The shape of your living room should be square or rectangular in shape - yup
• Try to avoid placing the back of a sofa or settee directly toward a wall because this will break the lines and secret arrows which produce Sha energy - oops can't do much about that, damn those secret arrows
• The living room should have an open and inviting feel to it - i think we've done that
• Do not use colors that oppose the furniture or artwork. If possible derive the colors from your artwork to help create a harmony between the two - need a pic but we are going with Green for longevity
  

candles are good feng shui

Kitchen - represents nourishment and prosperity

• The kitchen should have several levels of proper lighting, be airy and spacious, clean, bright and welcoming - there's tons of space and it has lots of different lightning
• For good feng shui, keep the kitchen simple and do not overload it with gadgets - very tempting to buy kitchen gadgets but i will refrain
• Fresh flowers bring beautiful uplifting energy to your kitchen - Still waiting for some flowers from Steve...but have got my bamboo up instead for now
• Feng Shui-wise, color yellow is a good choice for the kitchen, as it is good for your digestion - hmmm have nothing yellow yet
• Create a comfortable seating area in your kitchen. The more accommodating your kitchen, the easier it will be for you to get the love and support you need to thrive - in the process on getting some stools, will make sure they are comfortable.
• The more often you cook, the easier it will be to take advantage of opportunities for health, wealth and romance - cool, I love cooking especially in this kitchen
  

Accessorizing our new flat

So the whole weekend was spent moving, unpacking and shopping for things for the flat... The big purchase being the 42 inch widescreen tv and I bought a few candles and cushions to brighten up the place.