Joy Junket

I grew up in a family that placed a high value on intellect.    I am a 4^th generation physician.    My Mom’s Father was a professor and,  we read a lot and put those in academics on a bit of a pedestal at my house growing up.   What I now realize is that intellect is wonderful BUT,  its not necessarily the best place to go when you are trying to solve puzzles of the heart.    In fact, sometimes I have to stop being so darn  smart-  so I can really look at how I am feeling and what my thoughts are causing me to feel.  I learned this only recently and its POWERFUL stuff.      There are any ways to look at your THOUGHTS-  and one of the most simple ways is a process called “the work” of Byron Katie . I cannot say ENOUGH about the work of Byron Katie.     Simple process- although it takes a bit of practice to do it-  but the results are well worth it.   What I have learned is that our intellect (brain-  whatever you wan to call it) creates thoughts-  and some of those thoughts are NOT HELPING US!!  For example-  “There is something wrong with me”  is a very common one I have discovered (for myself and with clients).  Yes-  in our Western Culture-  we glorify the mind-  but frankly … More

Seems I am an Eagle.  Yep, Sarah brought her animal totem book with us on a road trip earlier this week and we had a hoot (speaking of which, seems like one of our other friends is an owl…)  determining which animal characteristics were much like our own.  … More

Often a coaching client will say to me-  “Well,  I think what I really need to do is…….move to a cottage in the country  OR…..I really need to quit my job…..OR I need to lose 50 pounds……..OR I need to get divorced……and THEN everything will be better.   Of course sometimes,  a geographical re-location, a new job, a body transformation or a divorce are actions that need to be taken BUT ( and it’s a big BUT(:   )     When you get the new country cottage, new job, new body or new single status-  only your CIRCUMSTANCES will have changed.  Unless your thoughts have changed- you may still feel just as miserable.   Like Geneen Roth’s pointed out in her book with a letter from a client: “I just lost 10 pounds with Weight Watchers- why do I still feel like **it?” (paraphrased from WOMEN FOOD AND GOD unless we change our thoughts (an inside job) – the victory of weight loss (an outside job) can fall flat…That is why I always encourage my clients to explore the FEELING that they would like to have when they get those external changes.  Q:  So what does it feel like when you are living in this country cottage?   A:   Peaceful, relaxing and like I am surrounded by nature and beauty”.   Ok- so how could you create a little bit of that … More

I love my coaching tools.  Many of them are based on simply asking powerful questions.  The other day I tried out a tool on my 5 year old son because I wanted to give him a little special attention (and his 7 year old sister had wanted to try out being “coached” earlier- so he wanted to try too!).

So I asked him to tell me about something that he felt like he HAD to do but did not really enjoy doing (this is a great tool to try on yourself……)  So he picked brushing his teeth.

ME:  So Charlie- what would be so bad- or what would happen if you did not brush your teeth?

CHARLIE:   Lots of germs would grow in my mouth and it would make me sick.

ME:  So you have been sick before- what would be so bad about that?

CHARLIE:  I would throw up all over the place.

ME:  Ok – so you have thrown up before- why would that be so bad?

CHARLIE:  Because I would have to wash all the sheets and bedding….and put it back on again….

ME:  Why would that be so bad?

CHARLIE:  Because I would get bored…..and really tired and then *****I would have to move to another family, a different family….

*****The ZINGER

What I did not say is that Charlie is adopted (as are 3 of our 4 kids) and so by doing this simple inquiry-  we got to a painful thought-  that Charlie wondered if he might someday have to go to another family (I wondered too- if this was tied to him not being able to do a certain task or him being too tired to do it)…..so we had a great conversation and I re-assured him about the fact that he was our son FOREVER- and nothing could change that.  We also talked about his birth family and the fact that they would always be the ones who had created him.  We talk often about adoption in our family and are open about it- but clearly Charlie still needed to be reassured. A simple series of questions (inquiry)  led to a “juicy” belief-  that Charlie worried if he was unable to perform or fail that his family membership would be at risk.   POWERFUL.

Such a simple process of inquiry that uncovers quickly

Thoughts we may not even have known existed…..that is what coaching is all about.  Then we can go about the process of looking at the painful thoughts and bringing the light of truth in.   The truth is what sets us all free.

In the world of design I have experienced many highs and lows… (but I think that’s another blog!)…. but no hi/low is as satisfying as mixing unexpected and inexpensive treasures into the interiors we do.  I live by the mantra “collected, layered, lived in and loved”.  … More

Belief is powerful.  I have seen it in my own life many times.   I just had a powerful example show up lately.   Last spring we’re landscaped our whole yard.   It started out as a water drainage problem- then pretty soon the project was big- all new gardens- and it looked wonderful.   Then in the spring, an odd weed began to appear- it wasn’t just a few—it was hundreds and they were everywhere.    I tried not to be but frankly, I was upset- why was this happening?  I kind of had a mini-freak out.  They landscape guy came out right away and sprayed the weeds.  I waited.  I waited.  The weeds sort of partially died back- and it took about 9 days- a very slow process.  Then they began to come back with a vengeance.  I really freaked out.  Then I said,  “WHOA…….Sarah-  you are really letting this whole idea of WEEDS ruin your day”-  the thoughts were bad …we will never be able to control them….the gardens will be wrecked etc….  SO I decided that I needed to better the situation somehow.    Bettering a task that you don’t enjoy is one technique I use with coaching clients- it was time to coach myself.   That night when I went out to spray the weeds (using the exact same weed killer that the landscaper had used) I put on my iPod and listened to the most uplifting music I could think of- … More

Welcome to our very first Joy Junket Style Tour-  we plan to profile the fashion and Interior Design Sensibilities of fabulous humans seeking JOY!  We were so fortunate to stumble into Amy,  who generously shared her home with us-  and her thoughts.   We LOVE Amy’s obviously sensual and comfort based  approach to living in her space-  candles, using her couch as an “office”, enjoying the proximity to the sea.   After reading it all -  it makes us want to move right in!  Her ability to find items on Craigslist and combine them with gifted pieces and EDITING … More

Well, this is Sarah,  its time for me to do a bit of Q and A about Life Coaching.   (No that is not me floating in the pool- but more on that later…)    Just to set the record straight and clarify what it is and what it is not.   I first hired a life coach when I was in my late 30’s and feeling like- “wow I thought I would do my one job and be a doctor for 40 years and then retire”-  and then one day , I realized I felt extremely trapped.  Now, I am a doctor … More

I love this sofa….  Did I mention I love this sofa?  Oh, and my dog loves it too (see picture below)…  Okay I know… you are questioning the wisdom of a designer who places an antique French (yep, it’s from France, I consider it EXTREME personal development progress that I did NOT try to buy it a seat on the plane the last time I was there) sofa in a house filled with antlers, fur … More

It’s Suzi here, talking about one of our favorite books,  Style Statement…living by your own design.  We’ve  quoted it often,  have given it to countless clients, sold it at our vintage store and each done the questions ourselves.  We’ve come up with style statements for clients…Modern Organic for one of our favorite couples, and Enduring Legacy for a law firm we are working on.  … More

Why is it that it’s so difficult to tell an emerging weed from a flower early on in Spring?? For all I know I’m hacking out my perenials and preparing a fabulous bed for dandilions and other nasty greens.  But I tend to get so excited about working in the garden that it’s hard to me to wait around and see what’s what before making any decisions about what stays and what goes.  And let’s face it, sometimes the weeds don’t look half bad! … More

      I imagine we all have an area of the house that daily begs for a redo. For me, it’s my back door, and the stairs leading down to my farmhouse basement of unknown age.

     When we first moved in, I had romantic visions of welcoming my friends through our unusable front door. The door opens out onto an ancient moss-covered concrete stoop with no attached sidewalk. The walk back to the car seemed to deter even outdoorsy types. This dream lasted about a week. … More

 White Hot Truth’s Danielle LaPorte
We frequently tell clients who are looking to dig out their own personal style to check out one of our favorite books,  Style Statement by Danielle LaPorte.  Not only is the book visually a feast-  the discoveries you make will resonate throughout your life and dare we say change it?  You may accept and understand parts of yourself that you never have…anyhoo enough about the book.
Danielle is an ass-kicking … More

We had such a great time with our fabulous “Unlocking Your Creative Genius” group earlier this week!  I knew we were onto something when we started talking about how our lives are so intertwined with our homes, our creativity and our emotions.  I was hoping that … More

Wow, it seems like everywhere I turn these days everyone wants to know what my New Years Resolution is.  Not that there’s anything wrong with that!  I think it’s a time to naturally look forward to how we will lose the next five pounds, (No, I’m not going on a grapefruit diet but since my steady diet of holiday treats, cookies, chocolate, and-generally-eating-whatever-I-want-diet does not appear to be working either I will need to  figure something out) or get our financial house in order, or even find that special person. 

However, I did get asked an interesting question on New Years Day, “Have you done your gratitude list yet?”.  Gratitude list?  Wouldn’t that be looking backward?  Everything we are accustomed to NOT doing on New Years Day?   I had never thought about making a gratitude list for things that have happened in the last 12 months.  But, I started and was amazed at all the things I was able to include.  I am so grateful for the friendships I have made and maintained over the last year, my business and personal relationship with Sarah, and the joy I continue to receive by making beautiful spaces for others and myself.

I looked up the word “Grateful” in my thesaurus and noted that some of the synonyms were “agreeable and refreshing”.  Now isn’t that a great way to welcome the new year?  Have you considered making a gratitude list for 2009?  What would be your top five???

Suzi

 An exclusive Interview with one of Oprah’s favorite jewelry designers, John Wind!

 We are so fortunate to be joined today at Joy Junket by a jewelry designer who we have admired for several years John Wind of Maximal Art. His work has been featured in Oprah (favorite things!), Country Living and InStyle! Sarah first saw … More

“We’re soul searching designers who thrive on fun”… That’s how we describe the design aspect of our business.  What do soul searching and design have to do with one another?  That is a question we ask the people we work with to really think about. 

To me, design isn’t about pondering the benefits of a three cushion sofa versus a two cushion love seat, but about how I want to live in my home, entertain my friends, and create a place to relax.  Do I need … More

Nowhere is my character defect of  operating from a position of lack  more evident that at a mealtime, especially when company is coming!   There are my concerns about portion size, what people will eat, how much they will eat, and of course… will there be enough?   … More

We chat about holiday traditions, decor and all of the crazy things we have done (and sometimes cnotinue to do!!!)-  Join us for the fun!    

Click here to listen in!!! … More