New year. New newsletter format. New content for January 09.
PLiNTH & CHiNTZ: The online interior design magazine for current students, new graduates, established designers and those just plain curious about this crazy, far-reaching, dynamic industry. Focusing on the process, not the project, we feature industry profiles, sage advice, helpful links, and a visual dictionary – all packed into one seriously entertaining site.
 Get S.M.A.R.T. About Goals
So many of us make dogged resolutions amidst the New Year’s Eve fireworks frenzy, but the majority of them fizzle out as speedily as a sparkler. Why? Because we fail to set goals. No, scratch that. Because we fail to set goals the right way. Whether your eye is on the prize of expanding your business, developing your career or generally improving your life here on Earth, goal-setting is there to keep you on track. As a former career counselor once revealed to us, half the battle to attaining success is planning S.M.A.R.T.-ly – i.e., with Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely forethought. Translation: Learn to think first so that you’ll be much more likely to act later...
Read solid examples here.
 4 To Explore – Get Organized
Besides getting svelte, getting organized is one of the most popular pledges people raise their right hands and swear to in the New Year. If you are one of those persons in need of an extreme management makeover, then we suggest you vow to investigate the following four resources designed to help you get it together.
01 | MyLife Organized
In the past, P&C has touted the Getting Things Done (GTD) concept
via our interview with Merlin Mann, the San Francisco-based writer who
coaches readers about personal productivity. The basic outline:
identifying tasks, penning them, prioritizing them, and then following
through. If you are one of the digitally addicted or find your own
handwriting indecipherable, then MyLife Organized (MLO) is for you...
Read the rest of the list here.
 Advocating For The Interior Design Profession On The Student Level
contributed by Corinn Harms [universal design & research connoisseur / recent graduate / x-treme crafter]
Many students do not realize that the diploma they are handed on graduation day is not a magic wand and does not automatically transform one into a professional. It is my personal belief that the road to promoting oneself and future career starts by becoming an advocate for the Interior Design profession, which not only entails educating your fellow students, family and friends, but also your local and state governmental leaders...
Read the rest of the article here.
 Design vs. Decorating: Do You Know the Difference?
contributed by The NCIDQ Crew
Undoubtedly you’ve heard the two terms “interior design” and “interior decorating” interchanged. This is one of the most common mistakes made when discussing the interior design profession. The common perception is that designers and decorators are the same, and that the act of designing is to simply make things “look pretty.” There’s far more to both professions, and we want everyone to understand that. Therefore, we thought we’d take a minute to solve the mystery once and for all...
Read the rest of the explanation here.
What In The World? [7 new links]
There's a lot of info out there on the World Wide Web. Let us do some of the searching so that you don't have to.
What The Spec?
[Persuade High-Efficiency Toilet by Kohler]
Eco Savvy
[Green Fortune – Walls that help us breathe.]
[The Green Guide – Sustainable practices in easy-to-swallow tablets.]
The Pros
[Building Materials Reuse Association]
[Electrical Safety Foundation International]
Other Design Junkies
[IDfuel – Industrial Designers put in their 2-cents.]
Time Killers
[Top Tips For Girls – Helpful advice for females 5 to 95.]
Design Speak [5 new terms]
Impress your interviewers / professors / co-workers with interior design industry jargon.
chiffonier | chifforobe | daylighting / daylight modeling | Rentable Square Footage | wayfinding
Say What? [3 new words]
Speak more intelligently when presenting and networking by incorporating some new vocabulary.
aquiline | embattled | histrionic
Rant & Rave
Keep those comments coming. Email us at contact@plinthandchintz.com, and read more rants and raves here.
How have you managed to stay beneath my radar? As the Editor-in-Chief of HomePortfolio, I pride myself on being in the know. Imagine my surprise when Nancy Jenner of the Boston Society of Architects forwarded me your newsletter. I was shocked. I was embarrassed. Actually, I am pleased as punch because your site is wonderful, and I will sign up.
--Jocelyn Hutt, Editor-in-Chief – HomePortfolio.com
Just For Fun
Experiencing post-holiday stress? Clear your mind with a little Zen painting.
Thoughtful Shopping
When you enter Amazon through PLiNTH & CHiNTZ, a wee portion of your purchase – no matter what you buy – helps to keep PLiNTH & CHiNTZ up-n-running. The best part: It doesn't cost you anything extra and it helps us keep your access to us free. So go here to search for office supplies, textbooks, appliances, gifts, music, toys...
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