What is the first thing you think of, when it comes to Valentine’s Day? Other than showing loved ones that you care…most of us have visions of bright red, pink and heart shaped boxes of chocolate goodies. After all, that’s what the grocery stores, the Wal-Mart’s and other retailers are promoting!

All of this chocolate imagery can really be a problem if you’re trying to knock off a few pounds, or at least keeping the few you did knock off from coming back! What to do about this challenge?

Let’s explore some healthy yet fun choices! If you have an inkling that your sweetheart is going to buy you a big box of chocolates, now is the time to suggest some alternatives that can be more rewarding for both of you, in the long run.

Remember that one of the most important aspects of Feng Shui is how you take care of you, when it comes to your physical and emotional well being. Enjoying a piece of chocolate now and then is not a bad thing at all…but if you’re like many people it is easy to over indulge on a special occasion like Valentine’s, especially if presented with a ‘too tempting’ array of chocolate goodies.

What are some fun and healthy alternatives to the traditional Valentine’s box of chocolates? Well…what about some lovely silk lingerie? For him, a pair of irresistible sexy briefs could be the ideal gift.

Both of these gifts have the potential of sparking…well…a nice romantic time together, perhaps?

Afraid that you won’t like how you look in lingerie? Receiving a gift like this might just be the push you need to get into better shape and look fantastic for your sweetheart. What better Valentine gift could there be?

Let your partner know that you are making an effort take care of yourself and that you are cultivating a nice body for both of you to enjoy.

Good Feng Shui is about making the best choices for not only your personal surroundings, but for you and your loved ones as well. Another fun thing you can do is go to a movie that you’ve wanted to see or plan a romantic evening at home and cuddle up with a rented movie you haven’t had time to see.

Making choices that will help you feel better and live a healthier life can only result in a positive impact for all of your relationships, especially the loving one that you have with yourself!

Make an effort to step up your work outs this week! The awesome result of doing this? You will feel better, you’ll look better and you’ll have more energy for any sort of ‘love’ activities that come to mind when Valentine’s rolls around!

Feng Shui not only focuses our energies on what we need to do to enhance our living spaces, but also instructs us on what to look out for, when it comes to negative energy influences. It isn’t hard to create a harmonious home using Feng Shui…but sometimes the amount of information can be overwhelming, which is why it is nice to digest these nuggets in smaller chewable chunks!

Did you know that overhead beams in your living room can exert a heaviness that has the affect of ‘bearing down’ on you and your family? What is even worse is if these exposed beams are in your bedroom. The subliminal ‘weight’ that these beams can have a negative impact, as opposed to helping you get the rest you need.

Another example of a negative energetic influence is exposed cutlery – such as a prominent knife set in the kitchen. The better choice is to store knife sets in drawers.

What about choosing the right Feng Shui colors? This also comes down to personal preference, but if you are striving for a particular energy…or to influence an area with more romance or attract more wealth for example…your color choices have an important role to play.

Our color choices represent the mood and energy of any space in our homes. Are your current color choices supporting your life goals and dreams?

Would you agree that your bedroom is the most romantic spot in your home? Let’s talk about this, since it’s almost Valentine’s Day again! What are the colors in your bedroom? If it is warmth and romance you are looking to create with Feng Shui, here are some ideas.

Many people would automatically associate the color red with a bedroom, due to its reputation as a strong and passionate color. Red is hot…it is vibrant and brings passion to the forefront. But an overabundance of red and you lose the balance in your bedroom.

Yes, a bedroom can thrive with touches of red (passion) but it is almost always a better choice to enhance with red accents such as candles or pillows or other fun decorative pieces, rather than painting entire walls with loud red colors.  This is the best way to encourage passion in your bedroom using the color red. Remember, you need to sleep here, too!

Pink is also a good “love color” choice and will have the affect of warming your bedroom nicely and make it an inviting place for play and intimate frolic. Again…this doesn’t mean you have to paint your walls pink! Choose according to your tastes and what will match your existing furniture. Remember, this is more about adding appropriate energetic color influences.

Maybe you’re most comfortable with white walls for your bedroom? Many people choose white color varieties for bedroom walls, which can work well, but be careful not to cool things down too much with an overabundance of white.

If you are going to stick with whitish walls for your bedroom, be sure to include other splashes of color that will help keep the feel of the room warm and luxurious.

The energy of love and romance you create for your bedroom can be extended to all other areas of your home. I consider this to be a vital part of creating a harmonious home because without love…what is a home?

Continue removing any obstacles from your home that embody negativity or trap negative energy. This includes physical obstacles that obstruct pathways and any clutter that has piled up in corners.

Feng Shui is all about creating a loving and harmonious home for all to enjoy. These principles will help you create and sustain a living and loving home environment that will attract romance, lasting friendships and healthy family relationships for a lifetime!

How do you feel when you come home from a tough day and walk through your front door? Are you relieved and happy the way your home greets you?

Take a close look and feel – is your home lacking that special Chi that makes a home a home?

If you’re familiar with Feng Shui principles, you already know that this ancient art is used by many people to create happy and healthy relationships. Feng Shui considers family ties and relations of great importance, because if you are not happy at home…or with those closest to you, how can you truly be happy elsewhere?

One simple way to support harmonious family relationships is to have a dining room that is inviting, uncluttered and designed to encourage a smooth flow of conversation and energy exchange.

Are there any sharp edges in the dining room…or any objects that feel threatening in any way to you? Having these influences in the room can cause subtle, yet very real agitations in you and your family. Your goal here is to reduce tensions at the most basic energetic levels.

This goes for any public area of your home where family normally gathers.

Another way to create more a more harmonious home is to boost the energy in the family region. Identify where this area is and ask yourself the question – do I love everything that I see here?

If there is anything mediocre or uninspiring – remove it at once! Don’t just find a home for it elsewhere…let it go!

Your home is the perfect place where you have the freedom to create a restful refuge from the everyday hustle and bustle. Being in love with your home doesn’t mean you have to furnish according to House Beautiful.

Romance your home and instill harmony through your own special style. Ask family members who are interested in Feng Shui or at least open to the possibilities, help you create a warm and inviting home.

In part two of “Creating a Harmonious Home Using Feng Shui”, we’ll take a closer look at color influences, and look at a few negative energetic influences that could be depleting your home.

Have you been feeling a bit overwhelmed lately?

It’s easy to go a little crazy and end up off balance, irritable and well…just become the person you really don’t want to be around.

Are you ready to take a little break and engage in some much needed self love and nurturing?

Are you willing to make a little time each day? If you do, you will be pleasantly surprised at how much more productive you will ultimately become.

Where is the best place for you to unwind? Where would you like to begin with Feng Shui, in this moment?

I know where I’m headed very soon…to one of my favorite places in my home – the bathtub!

For me, taking a warm bath in luxurious bubbles with a warm candle accompanying and some soft music is the ultimate in pampering and relaxation.

Especially here in Canada…on a cold winter’s night!

Feng Shui is all about creating spaces in our homes where we love to be…where we feel most balanced, relaxed, at ease and at home.  Do you have a special place like this?

If not, please honor yourself today…honor and respect your need for relaxation and rest by creating  one special  place in your home where you can be completely relaxed and in the moment.

Balance the space you choose with touches of the five elements.  Don’t overdo the red in this space though, as red represents fire and can have the opposite effect…resulting in too much excitement and intensity.

You don’t have to choose the bathroom…maybe your bedroom needs a bit of calming?

Just like it’s easy to skip daily exercise…it is also easy to skip quality relaxation time.  I hope this little Feng Shui tip for relaxation is something you will take to heart, because it is easier and more inviting when you have a special place set up just for this purpose.

As anyone who diligently practices the art of Feng Shui will tell you, applying the principles and cures that Feng Shui offers when it comes to fulfilling new year’s resolutions is time well spent.

If you are like many people, you have taken some time to assess your accomplishments over the past year and are resolved to have an even better year ahead. Have you made a list of resolutions? Have you written down a few goals you plan to attain this year?

Taking time to write down what you want to accomplish this new year is a sound first step toward meeting any of your new year’s goals.

What areas of your life do you wish to improve the most? Do you want more career success this year? More financial security and stability? Do you crave an intimate relationship with a loving partner? More quality time with your family perhaps?

The Bagua map is a well known Feng Shui tool that can help you identify the areas that you need to enhance. If you are familiar with this map, you understand that each life region corresponds to the most important aspects of one’s life, such as health, career, love, wealth, family, social recognition and more.

One excellent place to begin, when it comes to clearing the way for a bright new year is the very center of your home, which is the hub and holder of vibrant health. If you lack good health, how much more difficult will it be to accomplish any other life goals you have for this year?

One of the most simple and straightforward Feng Shui cures for this area is to take time to clean the space and clear away any belongings or items that have piled up there. The act of decluttering the health center will positively influence every other life region touching this area…(which happens to be all of them! Think of the center as the hub of a bicycle wheel, with the spokes extending out to all the other regions).

If you are stressed out or lacking energy during certain parts of your day, how much more difficult will it be to get where you want to go this year? If you lack the ability to focus, how much more difficult will it be for you to reach your most desired goals?

If stress and lack of focus is a problem for you, which area of your home would you want to enhance with Feng Shui first? In addition to the center where health and life balance reside, a good place to start would be in the traditional northeast of your home – the life region known as the inner knowledge or self improvement area.

The important point to remember is it all starts with you, and the energy you create for yourself and the energy that flows within your surroundings. Take time to clean and clear the center of your home and while doing so, keep focused on the resolutions you have for this new year.

Do you have a place where you can go and relax…free of stress and the hustle and bustle of a hectic life? If not, make it a priority to create a place of inner knowledge and self love in your home this month.

These simple Feng Shui acts of kindness you bestow upon yourself and your home will help you reap the rewards you seek this new year, whatever they may be!