I gotta admit, I don’t have monogrammed towels or color-coded linen closets. I’ve never mastered the art of folding a fitted sheet into a perfect little square (nor am I interested in learning to do it!). And while my dinner parties may not feature hand-lettered place cards or artfully arranged charcuterie boards, I still take pride in my home — not because it’s magazine-worthy, but because it’s warm, lived-in, and full of love.
One Southern Habit That Surprised Me
When I first moved to the United States many years ago, I landed in Biloxi, on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It was a new world in many ways — from the accent, to the culture, to the way people related to their homes.
Something that struck me right away was how often, when we visited someone’s house, the host would open the door with an apology:
“I’m sorry about the mess.”
“I’m not Martha Stewart!” Ha ha ha.
The homes weren’t messy, they just weren’t perfect.
Who‘s Martha Stewart, Anyway?
Back then, I had no idea who Martha Stewart was, other than a face on tabloid newspapers. I wasn’t familiar with her, growing up in Ecuador. But after hearing her name so many times, I decided to look her up.
Her show aired during the day while I was working, but on my days off or during holidays, I would sit down and watch to see what all the fuss was about.
Trying Out Her Tips (And Failing Gracefully)
I have to admit — I was impressed. Martha reminded me of the best parts of my grandmother, my great-grandmother, and my favorite aunt.
Martha could decorate the house and care for gardens like my grandmother, do crafts like my great-grandmother, and cook like my Aunt Cecilia. My grandmother was a master of home decoration and grew her gardens like no one else could — high up in the Andes mountains. My great grandmother was the most crafty woman I ever met. My aunt cooked the most delicious foods every day. These seemed like skills that took a lifetime to master by one person. Yet Martha Stewart did them all.
Martha also made everything look effortless: decorating, entertaining, cooking, crafting. She had an artistic flair and an eye for detail that was admirable.
I remember trying out one of her decorating tips: if you didn’t have a headboard in a guest room, you could install a wooden curtain rod on the wall and hang a piece of fabric from it. Simple, elegant, and clever. But in practice, it didn’t work. When our first guest sat on the bed and leaned against the wall, the rod bent, and the fabric pulled down. Fail. Embarrassment. Apologies. Blame it on Martha Stewart. “I tried to be Martha Stewart, but I’m not Martha Stewart, ha, ha!”
Behind the Magic: A Staff of 15
Eventually, I learned Martha Stewart had a team of at least 15 people working behind the scenes — stylists, chefs, designers — all helping create that illusion of seamless perfection. This number didn’t include the people producing the show, or camera operators. This was just the people involved in the projects. There wasn’t a single project on the show that she did all by herself. Suddenly, it made sense: The crafts, the recipes, the flawlessly set tables weren’t effortless. They were a professional team effort! They were staged for TV.
And that’s the thing about real life: Homes aren’t stages. They’re where you laugh, spill coffee, and pile laundry on that one chair you swear you’ll fold tomorrow.
“Enjoy Doing Laundry”? Really?
Speaking of laundry, there was an episode in her show that truly shocked me.
She was showcasing a new washer and dryer set she was giving away and said:
“Whoever wins these will be able to enjoy doing laundry even more!”
Enjoy laundry? I searched her face for signs of sarcasm, but she was completely sincere.
I had never met anyone who enjoyed laundry. Have you? Do you?
A Generation Hungry for Homemaking
Recently, I watched a Netflix documentary about Martha Stewart. It explained how part of her huge success was due to the fact that Generation X grew up without learning homemaking skills because many of their mothers were the first generation of women to enter the workforce.
These were latchkey kids who had to fend for themselves. They didn’t want shortcuts. They wanted to learn how to do things well — how to impress guests, how to create beauty at home, how to feel proud of their surroundings.
Those are not frivolous desires. They are deep human needs. After all, the nesting instinct is only second to procreation.
I’m Not Martha Stewart — And That’s OK
No, I’m not Martha Stewart. I never wanted to be.
But I do take pride in my home.
And over the years, raising a family and caring for my space, I’ve come to understand something important:
You can enjoy housework
Yes, you really can.
You can enjoy doing the dishes.
You can enjoy folding laundry.
You can enjoy vacuuming, mopping, tidying.
And especially — you can enjoy cooking, or at the very least, eating.
Not because it’s glamorous, but because it’s yours.
I did learn to not just enjoy, but absolutely love doing laundry when I did it with my children, while listening to funny audiobooks and folding clothes over a bed in a south-facing room, basking in the sunshine. Some of our favorite series were Hank the Cowdog, Sam Krupnik, or reinvented fairy tales on Storynory.
I can totally enjoy vacuuming when I have a really light, cordless, super-powerful vacuum doing most of the work for me, and the floor is clear of clutter. I tried a robot vacuum, but it didn’t handle pet hair well, and the extended noise annoyed me.
A Realistic, Holistic Martha Stewart
I like to think of myself as a realistic, holistic, Hispanic version of Martha Stewart. Even though Feng Shui has its origins in East Asia, my own Latin culture plays a part in everything I do and teach.
In Latin culture, the most important part of home care and decoration is not how it looks — it’s how it feels. And the questions you ask are this:
🟣 Does this feel like a place where my family can be happy?
🟣 How many people could I have for a dance party?
🟣 Where will we do the things we love to do?
One way where Latin culture differs greatly from modern American culture is food. For example, a Latin woman doesn’t want her family to eat hurried meals sitting at a kitchen counter in a stressful environment. She wants everyone to sit at the table, where conversation is as important as the meal. This may surprise you, but in Latin culture, allowing someone to eat by themselves is seen as cruel and unusual treatment.
The Real Secret: Love, Energy, and Intention
You can create a beautiful home that makes you proud — without a staff of 15.
When you pour love, energy, and intention into your place, it transforms into more than just four walls and a roof. It becomes a real home — a reflection of your spirit and values.
Every corner you touch with care, every space you fill with warmth, contributes to an environment that nurtures not just the body, but the soul.
Think about it: the energy you invest in your home is reciprocated. When you approach chores with a mindset of appreciation, they become opportunities to infuse your space with positive energy. The act of tidying up is no longer a mundane task but a ritual that renews your surroundings and your spirit.
What Should Each Room Do for You?
Start by setting an intention for each room. What do you want it to embody? Peace? Creativity? Joy? Let that intention guide your choices — from the colors you choose to the objects you display. Fill your home with items that spark happiness and memories that bring a smile.
Remember, it’s not about perfection. It’s about creating a space that feels right for you and your loved ones. A home where laughter echoes, where comfort is found in small details, and where each person feels valued and cherished.
It’s about crafting a life full of moments that matter, surrounded by an atmosphere that supports and uplifts you every day.
When your home is a true reflection of your heart, it becomes a place where you can always find solace and joy.
So embrace the journey, enjoy the process, and watch as your home becomes not just a haven, but a heartfelt expression of who you are!
Here’s how you do it:
- Proper Feng Shui – A home that feels good supports you deeply.
- Consistency – Small daily actions make a big difference over time.
- Perspective – See your home as an extension of your life.
When you love your home, your home loves you back.
By the way, did you register for my new masterclass?
4 Hot Home Design Trends That May Be Wrecking Your Feng Shui
With care and love, your space becomes more than a place to live — it becomes a source of healing, energy, and joy.
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