What Acupuncture Has to Do with Finding a New Home Office

Angel Quintana January 10, 2014

WHAT ACUPUNCTURE HAS TO DO WITH FINDING A NEW HOME OFFICE

Dear Diary,

PART 1

I've had this pain in my left shoulder for over six month now and since I made a New Year's goal to exercise more frequently, I realized I would have to deal with the pain to get me motivated to sweat. I opted for seeing an acupuncturist.

After reading lots of reviews on Yelp, I found a nearby office in Los Angeles' Eagle Rock district. I booked the appointment immediately. While I have done acupuncture in the past (although, haven't been for over a decade), I knew what to expect, or did I? I went in to see the holistic practitioner, she touched my arm, and we were ready to go.

She began poking me with her slender needles and I jumped a little. The first few needles didn't hurt a bit, until she lifted up my shirt and poked a needle right in the center of my stomach, just above my belly button; I ached in agony. I began crying profusely. Was it the pain from the needle or was it something more? Was her attempt to help redistribute the chi in my body releasing more than just mere pain?

She removed the needle immediately. After applying the final needle to my wrist I laid still listening to the fountain flushing in the background. After 40 minutes I began to squirm. My back started to bother me, which resulted in my moving around a lot, which in turn caused more pain. I couldn't wait for the session to be over.

After I paid my bill I went home.

PART 2

Over the past several months I started to outgrow my current living quarters-- my staff had grown, we adopted another puppy, and with 1 bathroom in the house, I was finally ready for a change of atmosphere. After nearly three and a half years, I decided it was time to look for a larger home to accommodate my spreading wings. My husband was on board.

Annoyed while on the phone with a customer service representative, my husband was shoving his computer in front of my face desperately trying to get my attention. What he had found was beyond (and I mean WAY beyond) my expectations. It was a 3-story modern, eco-friendly, solar powered townhouse with 2 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms in my dream area of Eagle Rock, walking distance from my acupuncturist (should I decide to ever go back), a Cardio Barre studio nearby, sidewalks to walk my pups, and sunshine on every floor. I wanted to cry; I was SO happy. Had the swanky-boho office I had been manifesting since summer finally come to fruition? I was eager to find out.

We immediately scheduled a viewing for that evening. Already obsessed with the photos online and blueprint of the property, I saw my dream office on the top floor with a balcony where yoga would become a daily routine, I couldn't wait to apply-- I was sold. I couldn't wait to move in!

“My happy thoughts dancing around in my head were of designing each room with shag rugs, ethnic textiles, pops of color with Feng Shui simplicity plague my mind and I felt deep inside my soul that this was the place. ”

And then we waited. And waited. And waited. And I grew anxious. My happy thoughts dancing around in my head were of designing each room with shag rugs, ethnic textiles, pops of color with Feng Shui simplicity plague my mind and I felt deep inside my soul that this was the place. You know the feeling of when you meet the man you know you will marry, it truly was that powerful of a connection. I just KNEW this place was to be mine.

The weekend came and past. My excitement slowly deteriorating and quickly turning to worry; I couldn't wait another second to find out if the Eagle Rock modern home would ours. I grew pessimistic by the hour and the next morning I received a text from my husband that said, "They accepted an application they received before us and they're moving forward with that."

“My heart broke into a million pieces and the tears jerked from my eyes just like the needle that poked my belly just 4 days prior. I couldn’t believe it. How could I have been wrong when the vibration was so strong?”

My heart broke into a million pieces and the tears jerked from my eyes just like the needle that poked my belly just 4 days prior. I couldn't believe it. How could I have been wrong when the vibration was so strong? Was it really possible there was something better waiting for me?

As I went on with my day and shared my heartache with friends and colleagues, each one of them with brilliant advice and exercises to try to bring my desire to life, I decided to take action. One thing I did was write on a small piece of paper everything I wanted in my new home and office space. The list went like this:

Stainless steel appliances
Dishwasher
2 bathrooms (1 with a tub)
2+ bedrooms
1100+ square feet
Outside space, patio/yard
White walls
Nice Hardwood floors
Close to shopping, restaurants, etc..
Sunny and bright (lots of windows)
Washer and Dryer
Walk-in Closets
Dog Friendly
Sidewalks to walk the dogs

And then I lit the piece of paper on fire over the kitchen sink and I watched it burn. I returned to my computer, went to Craigslist for one last browse; I even went till the very end of all the listings which were about to drop off, and there the ad read:

2br/2.5ba - 1147ft² - New community near freeways and shopping! 1 month free rent!

I clicked it and there my list read before my eyes: stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors, washer/dryer, dog friendly, etc… I called them the next morning! The woman who answered the call was kind. She even asked me what my requirements are for my dream place to live! Instead of going over my long laundry list of what I wanted (the ad had already confirmed that was what they were offering), I told her what I really wanted was for the experience of getting a new place to be effortless. I went on to tell her about my heartbreak, she listened and told me the place would be mine if I wanted it; she's be happy to hold it for me.

The pain in my heart finally subsided, the fear that I wouldn't be 'first in line' dissipated, and finally a smile returned to my face.

With all the emotion convoluting my head over the past week, I had forgotten to check my shoulder to see if the acupuncture had produced any results. Firmly distracted by the visualization of home decor and luxe office design that were waiting my Pinterest boards, I moved my arm and the pain had gone, just like the pain in my heart.

Not only did my boho-swanky home office show up instantaneously after burned paper and too many tears, but the pain in my shoulder dulled and should it decide to return, my new home is now walking distance from my new acupuncturist in Eagle Rock. On Monday I plan to sign a lease to my new home office and I cannot wait to spread my wings and fly without any pain in my arm.

Wish me luck!

Angel

Photo Credit: Pinterest

A Perfect Blend of Home Office and Fashion

Angel Quintana December 10, 2013

A PERFECT BLEND OF HOME OFFICE AND FASHION

Dear Diary,

In an effort to wind down the year with every single project I started to be completed, checked off, and off to a running head start I had to make some serious adjustments in my schedule. While I could have felt overwhelmed (like a couple of weeks ago), I decided to take yesterday to 'clean house' and I don't just mean sweep up the dust bunnies living under the sofa or mossed over cable cords behind my desk; I mean it was time to get seriously organized.

“ Since my closet really needs an entire room of it’s own, you should see my shoe collection, my office begrudgingly shares the same space —- not ideal, but I love a challenge. ”

One of the rooms in my charming home in Los Angeles is my home office. I don't just spend some time in there, I practically live there. As I looked around my office I realized it needed some serious sprucing up, adjustments, and overall, a makeover. Since my closet really needs an entire room of it's own, you should see my shoe collection, my office begrudgingly shares the same space --- not ideal, but I love a challenges. This was a serious task to endure.

I decided to make a floor plan of what I desired for 2014 as it pertains to my office and how I could realistically use my office as a wardrobe room-- a place where getting dressed in the morning was as inspiring as the vision board that lives in a vintage, oversized Rococo style frame I conveniently turned into a cork board and painted white above my josephine white lacquered desk. (I'm obsessed with white, did you know that?) I had to get clever.

I started with getting everything OFF the ground. No more computer paper. No more shipping supplies. No more random shoes laying around wishing to be put away. I decided I needed a large storage space to hide my work stuff and isolate the mess. But instead, I opted displaying my favorite heels and HIDE the office stuff. Shoes are much more inspirational than shipping supplies.

I wanted to celebrate my accomplishments, I mean, after all this is my office, so I went for printing large prints of some of my favorite magazine covers. Since the women on the cover were my muses, and super amazing individuals with major fashion sense, it made perfect sense to display them over my rolling rack of vintage and super-faves garb, which are now color coordinated. I purchased a beautiful geometric rug with gold and periwinkle accents and threw a couple shag rugs over each of my office chairs.

And wha-la! My new office is cozy, luxe, and inspires me while keeping my visually impaired and creatively dreaming. This year is wrapping up beautifully and I am now in love with my organized, clean, and fashionable work-drobe, where getting dressed in the morning is just as luscious as all the beauty I try to put online. I love being creative! Creative thinking can solve any problem.

Till Next Time,

Angel

The Success Blues

Angel Quintana November 19, 2013

THE SUCCESS BLUES

Dear Diary,

This month marks the 1 year anniversary of Holistic Fashionista and to be honest, I don't really feel like celebrating. Over the course of 12 months, the road has been anything but smooth sailing. It might be shocking, but behind closed doors it's actually been an uphill battle.

When I started Holistic Fashionista I was full of hope, excitement, inspiration, and dedication. It was a motivation I had felt in the past, like those days as a clothing designer at Sunday Driver. I was like a little kid running through the candy aisle-- high as a kite like an injection of glucose running through my veins. What happened? Where did the giddy little child go?

Perhaps the dose of insulin has hit my bloodstream and now things are balancing out. The thrill of the chase lost, now that my business is in full effect. Or maybe that burning desire to achieve my goal got satiated... Has the hunger gone forever?

As I grace the cover of Holistic Fashionista magazine in celebration to our 1 year anniversary, I just don't feel like toasting; I feel like hiding. I suppose over the course of 12 months I probably took on too much, launched too many things, and changed my website zillion times too many, but it was those very events that kept the thrill of the hunt exciting and mysterious. So now what? More of the same? I'm bored.

As I head into my second year, I want something different. I want to surprise my audience and keep them on their toes. I want to break-free from anything and everything that has ever held be down in my life-- I'm dying for shock value. Part of me wants shout from the top of my lungs "It's my life! I'll do what I want with it! It's my business, I'll conduct it as I see fit." And I'll change my website and my mind as often as I please.

“It’s my life! I’ll do what I want with it! It’s my business, I’ll conduct it as I see fit. And I’ll change my website and my mind as often as I please.”

If anything, my 1 year anniversary has me a bit bewildered that what I've created doesn't totally match what I set out to achieve. I built something I thought I wanted yesterday and I made a bunch of new friends along the way. How is that possible that I've worked with some of the most amazing women as clients, made a great living doing it, and I still yearn for that deeper understanding of what success is really about. I think I have the success blues.

So here I sit, at Wholefoods sipping electrolyte water, having just downed a three salad melody of steamed veggies and two flavors of chopped cabbage slaw, one purple, one light green. Am I really that different than I was 12 months ago? I'm still eating the same good 'ole crap. I'm still sitting here typing on my computer talking shop, but why do I feel so different?

Part of me thinks I just don't really know how to celebrate my accomplishments. Maybe the way I celebrate is to internalize and reflect on what it is I truly want. Maybe I want to have a pity party instead of noisy festivity with organic margaritas. Maybe everything I am teaching in my business coaching is who I truly am, and I just need to continue to dig deeper to find the hidden treasures that lay beneath the depths of my soul to continue to expand my personal brand and inspire others to do the same. Perhaps I need to stop judging myself for not doing things the way others want me to do them and accept the fact that Holistic Fashionista is who I strive to be, not who I am now or will ever be. And when someone has an opinion about how I 'should' be running my business, it's okay if I just ignore them.

“When it comes down to it, perhaps success is a personal journey. It’s not an accomplishment or destination, or something you get a medal for to display on your trophy shelf.”

When it comes down to it, perhaps success is a personal journey. It's not an accomplishment or destination, or something you get a medal for to display on your trophy shelf. Perhaps it's a movement, a voyage into the unknown, a rite of passage that is sacred to your soul moving through the growing pains, sitting alone at WholeFoods and sipping electrolyte water while asking yourself, "what is it that I truly want?"

Everyday I get closer to knowing exactly what that looks like, tomorrow is a chance to visualize it happening, but today is a time to reflect and sit with my success journey and figure out what the heck it is I want for the next 12 months. I'll sit peacefully alone next to this salad bar and digest my accomplishments-- I might even go get a mint tea latte. So maybe I don't feel like celebrating in the traditional manner; I can tell at this moment that this just might be how I celebrate: internalizing and questioning what I want while fantasizing about a mint tea latte. And now I'll go get that latte.

“I don’t need a party. I don’t need fan mail or hate mail to know I’m successful. I also don’t need to pat myself on the back or reward myself with some extravagant gift. ”

I don't need a party. I don't need fan mail or hate mail to know I'm successful. I also don't need to pat myself on the back or reward myself with some extravagant gift. I suppose the real gift is sitting here in front of this computer and choosing to share my truth. I could give two sh*ts about fame. I could give two damns about opinionated bystanders. I could care less about seeing my photoshopped photo on the cover of a magazine. What I care about is getting to know myself better and sometimes seeing yourself on the cover of a magazine helps you see yourself in a new perspective.

That's all I really wanted anyway--a new perspective to keep me motivated to keep going even when my feathers get ruffled. And then maybe tomorrow I'll have that organic margarita with friends because I allowed myself to celebrate in my own way today. ME time is celebration time and I can toast to that.

Love,
Angel

What Acupuncture Has to Do with Finding a New Home Office