Huggable Ivy

After a terrible year (I was attacked in my home then suffered through a difficult divorce), my elderly parents visited and helped me pull the ivy that had swallowed my backyard. My father said, “Don’t let that take over again, Irene.” Ten years later, while grappling with stubborn regrowth, I found dad’s hat — gnarled, mouse nibbled, rotted. I’d been missing him fiercely, wishing he were still here to guide me. Not one for assigning spiritual meaning to coincidence, I’ll take this particular tap on the shoulder. Thanks for taking care of me, dad. I’ll take care of the ivy. — Irene Ziegler

Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging“, as I know each of these pieces represents something…

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Best Advice

“Notice the signs of loneliness — on the bus, in a queue, in a cafe — and speak to the person. The comment can be simple, such as ‘Beautiful sunny day today’ or ‘Oh, look at that cloud, more rain on the way, I love the rain!’ Or ‘Hope you don’t mind me asking, but what are you reading? I love books.’ Most people don’t turn away. They want to talk and share their lives.” — Carol Macfie Lange, Oxford, England

Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging“, as I know each of these pieces represents something…

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The One

“You’ll know when he’s ‘the one’,” my mother said. She died when I was 20, leaving no further guidance. At 23, I was stale inventory by Jewish matchmaking standards. Despair settled in. Until one Shabbat afternoon when Phil, an old friend of my roommate, breezed into our 93rd Street apartment. He was cute, interested in my aspirations and favorite author. My roommate asked how his birthday had been. “When was it?” I asked. He replied, “September 14.” My mother’s birthday. Serendipity or shidduch (a match)? I know which. He was her gift to me. Twenty-three anniversaries later, I still know. — Gila Pfeffer

Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging“, as I know each of these pieces represents something…

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Emotional challenges

Emotional challenges. After losing a loved one, going through a breakup or becoming an empty nester, our items can become laced with deep sentiment. Working through these feelings can make it very hard to access your executive functioning skills. “A home organizer can help you make difficult decisions about what to keep and let go of.

Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging“, as I know each of these pieces represents something…

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In a small space, do you really need a dining table?

Yes, you need a dining table

Have a place to put items. For Tiffany Piotrowski of Tiffany Leigh Design, “a dining table is necessary no matter your space.” The Barrie, Ontario, designer says: “It’s a surface to put out drinks and a charcuterie board when you’re entertaining. It’s a spot to sit and do some journaling, a puzzle or try a hobby like painting.”

No, you don’t need a dining table

Don’t underestimate the floor or sofa. New York designer Nicole Arruda of Nicole Alexandra Design Studio also says that eating in the living room is just fine when your apartment is short on square footage. “Don’t underestimate the floor,” she says. “I love a comfy pouf or floor pillow I can just pull around a coffee table.”

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