5 Luxe Redux Tips for Sleeping Like a Baby

Sleeping like a baby is achievable for adults. Like all good things, you’ve got to really want it. If life is taxing and stressful, you want it. I do. Here are some things I’ve borrowed from sleeping babies about a peaceful, blissful and restful sleep:

• Babies don’t know to worry and stress about the day that’s passed or the day that’s coming. Why do we? Decide to let it all go for the sake of a great night’s sleep.
• Babies are sensitive to discomfort. We aren’t. We fall asleep under the worst conditions: a blaring stereo or TV, disorder in the room, and bed linen twisted and mangled. Prepare your environment for comfort.
• Babies sleep best when they’ve been pampered before bed. Take a hot shower, deep moisturize your body skin, condition facial skin, and put on sleeping clothes that make you feel good and cozy.
• Babies fall asleep when they are sleepy. You don’t have to tell a baby it’s time to sleep though we try. Ignore the need to push past your fatigue and simply go to bed.
• Babies could care less about alarm clocks. Babies wake up when they’ve had enough sleep. Try it at least one day a week. It can’t hurt.

5 Redux Tips: Hiring a Personal Stylist

One of the services I’m contracting one day is for a personal stylist. I’ve worked with stylists for clients over the years and have even given consultation as an image expert – all for the benefit of others. However, the personal stylist can prove to be invaluable for so many reasons.

• Over time, personal stylists can make clothing purchases more cost-efficient. They can help you build a wardrobe while helping you avoid wasteful spending.
• They are the professional eye/ear that is unbiased regarding what looks best on you and what will make you look the best to the rest of the world.
• And they can provide service on an as-needed basis for special occasions like weddings, formal affairs and events.

These are my tips for hiring a personal stylist:

1. Assess your real need. Are you in need of a stylist to accommodate a busy lifestyle that prohibits extensive clothes shopping? Or are you in need of assistance with building a wardrobe? Do you want to purge your closet?
2. Do your homework. Find out the difference between an image consultant, a personal stylist and a personal shopper.
3. Research rates and decide on a budget. Most people never consider the budget but the personal stylist will, so be prepared.
4. Start letting go of (1) preconceived notions, (2) fear of change and (3) clothing that is outdated and unflattering.
5. Don’t be afraid to share how you really feel about style choices your stylist suggests for you. A professional will always consider your comfort first.

Luxuriate!

5 Redux Tips: Cashmere and Pashmina

• When shopping resale for cashmere or pashmina products take a small flashlight to shine through fabric. If there are any holes, worn patches or other imperfections in the yarns, light will expose them.
• Cashmere and pashmina blend fabrics are best when blended with other natural fibers such as bamboo (very nice), silk and cotton
• Purchase boxes and containers with tight lids or zippers for storing cashmere and pashmina over the summer months. It keeps moths out.
• Cashmere and pashmina stink when wet. Wear carefully in the rain. They are made from animal hair.
• The higher the ply, the sturdier the fabric and the more expensive in some cases. I’ve seen 1 ply products that are beautiful but I’ve also seen 8-ply products that were plain cheesy. Err on the side of quality, construction and your need. Don’t err on the side of cost, you could be disappointed.

For more information on cashmere and pashmina visit

The Pashmina Master: How to Wear a Pashmina

Apparently men like pashmina too!

Video: Caring for Your Cashmere

Watch Full Episodes of AETV.com’s Hoarders

Each 60-minute episode of Hoarders is a fascinating look inside the lives of two different people whose inability to part with their belongings is so out of control that they are on the verge of a personal crisis. Hoarders airs Mondays, 10/9C.

Here is a clip of the September 7 episode:

Pathological Hoarding

I’ve known a few people who are pathological hoarders in my day. They’ve tested the limits on relationships with family and friends with their need to keep everything or an excess of many things. About two years ago, a dear friend sent me photos of her relative’s house and garage and a profound sadness fell over me. And some years back, I knew an elderly woman who kept everything from a Victorian commode to Styrofoam food containers to newspapers in multiple stacks to the bags and boxes of items she’d purchased many years before. She refused to listen to anyone who told her that she was living in a hazardous environment.

This is a serious problem. Watch: