One of the easiest things to do is remove your shoes when entering your home - especially with all that trash littering New York City streets, never mind all the salt and chemicals used for snow removal. And besides, everyone loves indulging their feet with some cozy warm slippers.

Open a window often, even if it’s just a crack to allow fresh air exchange. Every morning I open wide my kitchen window as a wake-up-feel-alive exercise, deeply breathing in the cold air.

Switch all conventional household cleaners to greener more natural alternatives. Eco cleaners are everywhere, try vinegar, baking soda and lemons.

Buy only natural carpeting products, furnishings, bedding and use only non-toxic paints and finishes. This is my area of expertise: you no longer need to sacrifice beauty in order to purchase environmentally friendly furnishings - the choices are now abundant (Yay)!

Get some living plants. Plants not only create oxygen, they remove chemicals. A great book is How To Grow Fresh Air.

Be aware of all plastics entering your home, from dry cleaning bags (really bad stuff) to various food containers.

Check out all the ingredients in your personal care and beauty products for any hidden creepy culprits you may unknowingly be applying directly to your largest organ – your skin.

Reduce unwanted mail and catalog clutter as well as unsolicited telephone intrusions.

 Start a daily commitment to lesson toxic materials, as well as people, thoughts, words, ideas and habits, and allow the cultivation of healthier environments, both inside and out…and you never know – you may be able to keep those New Year’s resolutions after all!

 Here’s to a Lighter, Healthier Home! ~ cheryl 

                           Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us.

–Marianne Williamson