Anjie's Favorite Things: the fullness of summer

Anjie Cho August 1, 2024

Welcome to Anjie’s Favorite Things!

Each month, we highlight products to help you create a holistic lifestyle that inspires and nurtures you, so that you can be happier and feel supported.

We’re in the fullness of summer in August. It’s my favorite time of year because it’s also my birthday month! Plus this year I have my third book coming out: Mindful Living. But the real reason why I love August, is that I love the summertime. The last few years we’ve been visiting Maine to enjoy the water, hiking and the last days of summer.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

space | clearing Blend & Amethyst Mist for space & energy clearing

August is a big month to travel, as we’re taking advantage of the last days of summer. I never leave home for a trip without a bottle of my Holistic Spaces Space Clearing mist. The small 2 oz bottle is travel friendly and vital for those of us that are energetically sensitive.

The blend has white sage essential oil which purifies, and the amethyst crystal protects. The smell is divine, but the mist also clears away any stagnant energy that may be lingering in a hotel room or AirBNB.

Available at: Holistic Spaces

The buzz's insect-repelling perfume

I am a big fan of summertime. Biting insects are also big fans of summertime, and of me! I am the best mosquito repellent because they will feast on me and leave you alone!

I am a big fan of this DEET-free, plant-powered, chemical-free insect repellent that is also a wildcrafted botanical handcrafted elegant perfume. I recommend the Charlston scent. Top notes: Lemon & Lime; Middle: Orange, Bergamot & Mandarin; Base notes: Geranium

Available at: The BUZZ

BUG BITE THING

Still on the insect topic, I tried out the BUG BITE THING Suction tool and it really does work! Along with the BUZZ perfume, I also carry the suction tool in my pocket or purse to make sure I can use it if I get a bite.

Check out: BUG BITE THING

Out of the woods eco-friendly cooler backpack

When I think of August, I think of hikes and picnics. So I love my new Seagull Backpack Cooler from Out of the Woods.

Their products are cute, functional.. and did I mention: CUTE!

PLUS: they are lightweight, durable, and made from ethically sourced, sustainable materials, featuring Supernatural Paper® from responsibly managed forests.

Check out: Out of the Woods

Visit the Holistic Spaces Store

Color and the Five Elements

Guest User July 15, 2024

The five elements system is a way of looking at our environments and spaces. It was developed in Taoism, and the five elements are earth, metal, water, wood, and fire. There are many ways that the five elements can be expressed in a space, and one of these ways is color.

One way to begin working with the five elements is to simply notice each element’s presence in your home. Try looking around your home to see if you can find colors that represent each one. You can also experiment with incorporating something that represents each of the five elements into a space to create more balance.

The earth element is represented by earthy colors including brown and yellow. In homes, this often shows up in wood furniture and floors.

White and gray represent the metal element. White walls can be great as a blank canvas, but too much white can feel a bit harsh. To soften white, you can mix it with other colors, including softer off-whites and ivories.

The water element is connected to the color black, as well as very dark charcoal gray and deep navy blue. Like white, black can be overwhelming in large quantities, but a thoughtful pop of black can be really dramatic and beautiful.

The wood element is related to blue, green, and teal. If you have living green plants, that’s the wood element!

The fire element is represented by red, as well as fiery shades of orange. Since red is such a bright, strong color, a little bit goes a long way!

Were you able to find all of the element colors in your space? If you want to learn more about the elements and find out which element is most nourishing to you, take my quiz here!

by Anjie Cho

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui, check out Mindful Design Feng Shui School at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com

Feng Shui for a Studio Apartment

Anjie Cho July 1, 2024

small apartment with couch, bookshelf, desk, and table — Photo by Patrick Perkins on Unsplash

How can I apply feng shui principles to a studio apartment when I work from home?

I live in New York City where homes tend to be quite compact and I’ve also lived in many studio apartments, so I definitely have some suggestions to share! First, I want to point out that it’s an American sentiment to feel like we need to have large homes. There are people all over the world who live in smaller spaces, so I would first encourage you not to make judgments about having a small space. Instead, do your best with what you have and know that everything is workable.

In the case of a very small home like a studio apartment, one of the challenges is having a space that serves many different functions. You may have one room that is used for sleeping, dining, cooking, working, entertaining, and more. At the beginning of the pandemic, I taught a lot of classes and workshops about setting up a work-from-home space with feng shui. One of the most common pieces of feedback I heard during this time from people who had been working from another location is that they weren’t equipped to have work-life balance when they were suddenly forced to work from home.

This says a lot about the challenges of a small space. When you live in a studio apartment or a small home where everything is multifunctional, you have to acknowledge that you may not have the same physical boundaries that you would have in a larger home. Physical boundaries like doors, walls, and separate rooms make it a lot easier to set up different areas for different parts of our lives.

The idea in feng shui is that if you’re working in your studio apartment and looking at your kitchen all the time, that might tell you that you get hungry all the time. If you’re looking at your bed while you’re working, you might feel sleepy or have a hard time staying alert and focused. Alternatively, if you have a view of your desk while you’re lying in bed, it can be harder to fully rest when you’re trying to sleep.

When you don’t have the physical boundaries that might be present in a bigger home, it’s helpful to create energetic boundaries. One great way to do this is through ritual. For example, if your work-from-home desk is in the same space as your bed, create a ritual that helps you establish some separation between your work life and your personal life. My recommendation is to shut down your computer when you’re done working for the day. This turns off your energetic connection to work, and on a practical level, it makes it much harder to hop back on the computer and start working again. This ritual only takes a couple of minutes at the end of the day, but it can make a big difference. You can also put your computer away in a drawer if it’s a laptop, or cover it with a beautiful fabric so that you’re not looking at your work computer during your off hours.

Similarly, a lot of people work from their dining room table, which represents friends, family, and community. It’s totally okay to use your dining room table as a desk, especially if that’s all you have, but I would recommend creating rituals to begin and end your work day. During office hours, make your table into a proper desk rather than having your work supplies intermingled with your dishes. Have a daily ritual where you put away your breakfast dishes before starting work, and create a desk setup when it’s time to get started. This could include a desk blotter, a light, a special notebook, or maybe a special coffee mug that you only use while you’re working. When your work day is done, close your computer and put your work supplies away. This allows you to have a functional work-from-home space as well as a dedicated area to gather and share meals with friends and family.

Lastly, whether your work-from-home desk is a coffee table, a dining table, or an actual desk, make sure you’re in the command position while you’re working. If you want to learn more about feng shui and creating a healing living space, my book Mindful Homes!

by Anjie Cho