Hi Wellness Warriors. Welcome back to another episode of the Wellness Inspired Podcast, a place where you can find inspiration, motivation and empowerment in the pursuit of a wellness lifestyle. I'm your host, sherry Davidson. I'm a wellness coach and acupuncturist in Houston, texas, and I am deeply passionate about health and wellbeing. And, as always, I'm here with my co-host, ben. If you're new to the podcast, finn is my terrier mix, rescue dog, trail runner and loyal companion. He is also a therapy dog and greeter at Element 5 Acupuncture and Wellness, and I have an excellent episode for you.

Speaker 1: 0:56

Today I had the opportunity to sit down with Terry Pugh of Terry Pugh Studios to explore the intersection of mindfulness and creativity. Terry brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table and I have to say I really, really, really enjoyed our conversation. But first a little bit about her. Terry, the daughter of a prominent luxury residential builder, was destined to have a deep-rooted love for homes and their intricate designs. From a young age, she exhibited an innate passion for art. This love for art would later become a driving force behind her unique and creative approach to interior design. In 1996, with vast knowledge and the relentless desire to bring her vision to life, terry took a leap of faith and established Terry Pugh Studios. With a focus on turnkey design services, she set out to create spaces that truly reflect the personalities and aspirations of her clients. So join us as we dive into the role of mindfulness in her design practice and uncover its transformative power. But before we get started, I have some exhilarating news for you.

Speaker 1: 2:10

For those avid listeners who've tuned into the podcast over the past year, you've likely caught wind of the Wellness Riverboat Cruise. Well, friends, the moment has arrived. Mark your calendars for April, the 20th 2025, as we set sail on an unforgettable seven-night cruise along the Danube River. We will transverse through the picturesque landscapes of Austria, germany, hungary and Slovakia. Prepare yourselves for an array of active sightseeing adventures, including invigorating hikes, scenic bike rides and perhaps a few brisk runs. Alongside these activities, you're going to get to indulge in the serenity of yoga sessions, engage in enlightening wellness discussions and savor the flavors of locally sourced cuisine. Excitement is already brewing, as several enthusiasts have already secured their spots. So for those intrigued, I'll put the necessary links in the show notes. And if you're certain this voyage is calling your name, please waste no time in securing your place.

Speaker 1: 3:14

The riverboat cruises tend to fill up rapidly. That's what prompted us to shift from this year to next year, cause originally it was supposed to be, uh, in the fall of this year, but, um, they didn't have the availability. So don't think about it too long. Seize this opportunity while you can. And one more thing before we move on um, in an upcoming episode, I'll have the pleasure of hosting Laurie, the representative from Ammo Waterways, and Tammy, a travel concierge, and we'll dive into the cruise experience further. So feel free to forward any burning questions my way and I can ask them during that episode. And, additionally, keep your eye out for an upcoming in-person event. I'll ensure that you stay inside the loop with all the details. Okay, let's do this. Welcome to the podcast, terri.

Speaker 2: 4:19

Thank you, I'm so happy to be here.

Speaker 1: 4:21

Yeah, I'm happy that you're here. You're a residential designer.

Speaker 2: 4:25

I do mostly residential interior, high end. Okay, a little bit of commercial.

Speaker 1: 4:28

Well, we met at the Matterball showroom at the Decorative Center of Houston for the fall market. I did a mindful morning ritual meditation for interior designers and was focused on creativity and self-care.

Speaker 2: 4:43

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 4:44

So, before we get into it, why don't you just tell people who you are, you know your business and how you got into interior design?

Speaker 2: 4:50

Yeah, so my name is Terri Pugh, my company is Terri Pugh Studio, and it's been a journey getting where I am. I started off in college studying art graphic art thinking that I would go and use that as my career, but I learned that it was so much more than that. I did more studio art, abstract painting, just the real creative side, and it was perfect for me because I would never have made it in any kind of engineering or doctoring or anything like that.

Speaker 1: 5:25

The creative side needed to be expressed. Yeah, for sure.

Speaker 2: 5:28

Yes, always. And so I carried that through and went out and started trying to get a job, initially in a time when the economy was just not great, and I ended up going into sales. But I did for shelter magazines, lifestyle magazines and an architectural magazine. But I've always kind of bebopped around architecture and interiors and art and I just have a real love for that so you were an art major?

Speaker 1: 6:02

I was, are you?

Speaker 2: 6:03

from here, you from Houstonston. There's another story. I grew up in southern california. Okay, parents moved us here when I was 11 and so, um north of houston, in the conroe area, um got to get horses and do all those other things that I love doing.

Speaker 1: 6:20

I love horses I haven't been around them a lot, but I think they're my spirit animal.

Speaker 2: 6:26

You'll have to come. We have two. Really yes, they're amazing. When I was in Iceland.

Speaker 1: 6:32

I had a great connection with one of the Icelandic horses.

Speaker 2: 6:36

I have goosebumps. I have goosebumps.

Speaker 1: 6:40

They're just amazing, I mean, and they're so big and powerful, but they seem so gentle.

Speaker 2: 6:50

They have either great personality or none, and they're just like people. They're everything in between. Yeah.

Speaker 1: 6:59

I love that. Yeah, well, awesome, I'd love to come.

Speaker 2: 7:03

Yes, we'll have to make that happen. Yeah, well, awesome, well, I'd love to come.

Speaker 1: 7:05

Yes, we'll have to make that happen.

Speaker 2: 7:05

Yeah. So I ended up going through that process and then I ended up um, uh, going into sales for a number of um publications and then from there I branched out and did my own uh firm where I actually did hospitality and uh design for hotels and uh like golf condos and things like that. And then I came back to Houston, got married, wasn't really planning on working, but I just kind of got bored and my father had a home building business high-end residential home building and he kept picking my brain hey, what do you think about this plan? Hey, what would you do with this area? So I finally told him I said you're just going to gonna have to hire me. So I worked for him for 10 years and that has been 12 years ago. Then I branched off and started my my own studio now therapy studio and how long ago was that?

Speaker 2: 7:55

12 years ago and I've been in the business, though probably over 20 yeah, I um.

Speaker 1: 8:01

I looked at your website the spaces oh, they look amazing.

Speaker 2: 8:05

Thank, you Absolutely beautiful.

Speaker 1: 8:06

So yeah, very beautiful Thank you, what would you? Say that your design style is.

Speaker 2: 8:12

That's a good question. Yeah, I don't really have a design style. My design style is my client. I love that. I have to get to know my client. I have to get to know their ins and outs, how they live, what's important to them form, function, aesthetics, children, puppies, what have you and so what I like to do is get to know them and then pull in whatever style I like to and I mix everything to really work off of any rules. Yeah, I love that. That's creativity, right? I think that's. That's that's creativity.

Speaker 1: 8:48

Yeah, yeah, I love that. Uh, candace was on the podcast. Um, I guess we did a. We sat down a couple weeks ago and we talked a lot about that I love we did, we did well, yeah, I know she's the best. Uh, yeah, hers just went out. Uh, or today I need to listen to yeah. Yeah, it was good we talked about well design.

Speaker 2: 9:07

So it was a big topic, you know designing for the person. Yeah.

Speaker 1: 9:11

So so I really do, I love that.

Speaker 2: 9:12

I think a lot of, I think a lot of my peers do the same, yeah. And so as far as style goes, I can, if you look at my website you can tell we do pretty much everything from traditional to modern to medical, to a lot of different things you said you do some non-residential.

Speaker 1: 9:31

Yeah, is it hospitality that you're doing?

Speaker 2: 9:34

No, that was my previous life. Now I'm doing some dermatology clinics, some dermatology clinics, that, and what I like to do with those with. And there they have five here in Houston and we're getting ready to start doing another two, in doubt, in the Dallas area.

Speaker 1: 9:53

Okay.

Speaker 2: 9:53

And what I like to do with my commercial is I like to bring an element of residential into it.

Speaker 1: 9:59

So I wanted to feel more comfortable, more like home.

Speaker 2: 10:02

Yeah, not so rigid or medical clinical clinicals. Yeah, yeah, not so rigid or medical, clinical, clinical yeah.

Speaker 1: 10:07

Do you know? I was an interior designer.

Speaker 2: 10:08

I did not know that.

Speaker 1: 10:11

Yeah, I worked for PDR. Oh my gosh Cool Long time ago it was a long time ago and when I lived in Austin, I worked with a residential architect.

Speaker 2: 10:23

So I was in Austin for almost 20 years, really yeah.

Speaker 1: 10:26

That was Diane Kett. No, okay, she was an architect, but she was residential and that's who I worked with for about a year or two.

Speaker 2: 10:35

That was when I was doing more of my hospitality commercials. So do you miss Austin? I miss being out in the open and I miss the outdoors part of it. I miss the hill country I used to my bedroom. I backed up to a green belt and at night I could watch the moon just go like through the sky. And when I moved to Houston I'm like I'm in a hole. Yeah, but yes, I do. I miss that very much. I do too.

Speaker 1: 11:02

I'm originally from Houston. I'm born and raised, but I lived in Austin for eight years.

Speaker 2: 11:07

And.

Speaker 1: 11:08

I don't miss the traffic because the traffic is awful, but I do miss the whole country. I do miss the lake. And I used to wakeboard and run and bike and Houston has it, but not like that Lady Bird Lake.

Speaker 2: 11:24

Lady Bird.

Speaker 1: 11:24

Lake which used to be Lake Austin.

Speaker 2: 11:26

when I was there, I used to run or ride my bike?

Speaker 1: 11:29

Is that when you did the triathlon?

Speaker 2: 11:30

That is one of them. Yeah, I did the Austin Half and we did out at Lake Travis. I can't remember. I think it might have been Pale Face Park or something where we did the swim.

Speaker 1: 11:40

That wasn't Cap Texas, was it? They have one they've been doing for a year called CAP Texas.

Speaker 2: 11:47

I would be very embarrassed to say what year that was. That's okay, you don't have to talk about it Forever ago.

Speaker 1: 11:54

Well, that's awesome, yeah. So what else you did? Some hospitality. You're residential. You've been in business. Well, you started your studio 12 years ago, yeah.

Speaker 2: 12:03

This current portion of it. Yeah, and then I did interiors through my uh family's uh building business. Probably I would think I was there 10 years yeah and then, prior to that, what I did in austin, which was, like I said, mostly commercial.

Speaker 1: 12:16

Yeah, well, very nice so you've been. You've been in the business for around a little bit. That's awesome. So I just want want to give our listeners an idea of what we're going to be talking about today, because we did meet at the mindful meditation, where we talked about creativity and mindfulness, and so we're going to explore the intersection of mindfulness, creativity and interior design. Okay, and before we do that, I want to set the stage for the episode by sharing the introduction I gave before the mindful meditation, and then we'll just jump in.

Speaker 2: 12:51

And I just I remember what a great experience it was. It was so much fun to just go and have the little pillows. And you know we were all dressed up but we're all sitting on pillows on the floor. And then you they did a great job. I know you brought us in and, uh, it had been a long time since I had meditated and it was so lovely.

Speaker 1: 13:14

That's so great to hear I've gotten a lot of great feedback, so that makes me very happy and just it makes me excited that they invited me there to do that and that and designers were interested in it.

Speaker 2: 13:26

Definitely, I think that was such a great topic. It was such a great topic because we're used to going and seeing things that have to do with flooring or lead design or what have you, but it was just such an unexpected and lovely thing to do that day.

Speaker 1: 13:48

You know, they invited me back.

Speaker 2: 13:49

Of course they should. I think I wanted to have you come to my office, even you mentioned it.

Speaker 1: 13:56

Yeah, and we can still do that. They're doing an event for National Women's Day on March the 8th. Oh, and I am at the showroom it's I think they're Asian rugs. I can't remember the name, I'd have to look again. But yeah, so they're going to have like a half day of events going on and I'll be at 1.30 doing something very similar.

Speaker 2: 14:19

That sounds like a good place for everybody to come check out what you can do, yeah.

Speaker 1: 14:24

Well, I'm excited and I'm excited. They asked me to come back.

Speaker 2: 14:27

It made me feel great.

Speaker 1: 14:29

So I'm going to share the intro that I did with you guys. So this is the intro that I gave before the mindful meditation. Creativity is a dynamic force that thrives in the present moment. It is the art of tapping into the richness of the here and now, where inspiration flows freely and possibilities are boundless. In this very moment, we immerse ourselves in the world connecting with our senses, emotions and surroundings. The intersection of past experiences, current sensations and future dreams spark the flame of innovation. When we fully engage with the present, our minds open to new perspectives, uncharted ideas and unexpected connections.

Speaker 1: 15:13

It's in this state of mindfulness that creativity flourishes. The present offers a canvas for the mind to paint fresh visions, compose novel melodies and craft innovative solutions. Fresh visions compose novel melodies and craft innovative solutions. Each second is an opportunity to think, feel and express in ways that are uniquely your own. Creativity is a dance with the present, a testament to the power of living in the now and a reminder that the most extraordinary ideas are often born from immediate experience. So embrace the present, for you'll discover the boundless wellspring of your creative potential.

Speaker 2: 15:49

I love that, yeah, I mean I think it just wraps up with creativity and mindfulness you know have to do with each other and it just takes you down a little bit of a notch to where you're breathing and things just feel like you can take your time to be creative slow down and let the noise go past and just focus on whatever comes to mind, right we?

Speaker 1: 16:16

have so much noise around us, and especially when you own your own business. Oh, because I deal with that here I there's so many things I would love to just dump my time into and and put all my time in this. But it's like no, I've got to do the insurance and no, I've got to make return phone calls and run a business and you have employees yeah, so in teams and you have an office space and you have clients, and so it's. There is a lot of a lot of clatter a lot of clatter yeah.

Speaker 1: 16:45

So what do you do? Do you have anything that you practice? Do you like? How do you sift through all of that?

Speaker 2: 16:51

So you know, like what you sort of taught us that morning over at the deck center was to take some time to reflect and meditate, and I don't do it every day, but when I find myself doing that it does kind of like just kind of calm my entire day down.

Speaker 2: 17:14

So, I'm not as stressed about taking care of the day to day payroll benefits, employees, clients, um, you know all of everything that goes into running that business, which is a lot, and it can sometimes just quash all of your creativity If you don't take the time to do things that you love or to reflect, or to even just give yourself a little hug. Um, in the mornings, um, I read a daily devotional called Jesus Calling, and I've been doing that for years and that kind of helps set the stage for me and it kind of puts things into perspective that it's not all about me, it's about the day ahead of me and the people that are going to be involved, and it kind of takes away the severity of the problem or the severity of the the getting this done so fast and just move, move, move, and I can't move fast enough for everybody. Yeah.

Speaker 1: 18:14

Yeah, I don't and I want to go back to that, but I do want to respond to that is that I don't think people realize how intense being an interior designer is.

Speaker 2: 18:25

Yeah, I think a lot of people have a vision of that. You know the whole fun part of it. You know designing and putting things together and coming with a beautiful outcome of a finalized project. Well, from A to Z, there's a lot that goes into it and it can be very difficult. There's a lot of personality, there's a lot of juggling and there's a lot of good news, bad news, sorry, we can't get this anymore. Okay, we have to reselect and go back to square one. So that can be a lot.

Speaker 1: 19:00

Timelines yeah for sure. I'm trying to keep everybody on that timeline. Yeah, that's what I remember. I did corporate, but uh, it was incredible, yeah that's awesome and the and the, the, the actual design, the action of designing and trying to get into that flow state was minimal compared to the rest of it.

Speaker 2: 19:22

It's so true, Because if all you had to do was just breathe and design, then I guess you wouldn't appreciate it as much, maybe because you know you do go through those moments where it's just chaos.

Speaker 1: 19:39

And the challenges make it worth it, right, when you're done, what you learn from that process and then being able to step back and look at your project completed, having a happy client, which I'm sure you have many happy clients.

Speaker 2: 19:56

They come and go out of those stages, they always hit what I call the brick wall. I'm like, oh it's brick wall, alert Cause they're, they're here with everything. But yeah, you know, you get to where you're in tune with that. You can see it coming and you want to avoid it like the plague. But I think it does kind of play into a lot of projects that we're involved in and you know it's how you manage that, yeah, and uh, how you make people feel. Sure Uh that's so important. Yeah, I like that yeah.

Speaker 1: 20:30

Let's go back to your morning ritual.

Speaker 2: 20:32

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 20:33

Where you have a devotion that you read.

Speaker 2: 20:35

Yeah, it's um, it's uh. I was going to trust him. And how to you know, in your weakness he is your strength. You know that kind of thing. So it kind of takes that burden off.

Speaker 1: 21:03

And you do this every morning.

Speaker 2: 21:05

Not every, every but dang near every yeah, yeah and how long is your practice? For this.

Speaker 1: 21:12

It takes me maybe five to seven minutes they say it, all it takes is eight minutes. Yeah and the meditation meditation eight minutes, yeah, and that you can gain a lot of benefits from that.

Speaker 2: 21:23

And the other thing, that and I don't, and I and I'm not very consistent about things like I should be. I'm relatively consistent with that. But the other thing that I love is to go and be outdoors and ground my feet in the in the dirt and my little bit of vitamin D that that one might take eight minutes.

Speaker 2: 21:41

Maybe it's just little things that I think that you can do for yourself, no matter what career or what, what fields you're in that um that you give yourself a little, like I said, a hug. Read the, read your devotional um. Find some quiet time and nature is the best man I love biophilic austin girl right there, yeah I love it.

Speaker 1: 22:03

I mean, it is I trail run and that is my I, just I, and I love traveling and trail running so I get to explore and I have this adventure aside and just be in this. You know, beautiful environment, I think. Well, I know. I went to the faroe islands and did a wow, a trail run and I was out there for seven hours oh my gosh.

Speaker 2: 22:25

I bet you felt like a million bucks when. That was a little sore. But yeah tired and sore, but mentally I was great.

Speaker 1: 22:35

I love that, so so I think, yeah, I talk about biophilic design a lot on this podcast and um jackie berry. Do you know jackie berry? No, well she is a professor at hcc okay, but they apparently have a really amazing program. But I met her at pdr okay and so she was on the podcast talking about biophilic design, because there's just so many health benefits, yeah so I love that you do and you have horses. Animals are a whole.

Speaker 2: 23:01

nother healing being yeah, there's just like dividing your life into these little like quadrants, you know, and you can't spend your whole time in one area, you know it's. You've got to, like, give a little bit to each spot, right? Yeah, I love that, thank you.

Speaker 1: 23:21

Let me ask you this. So Albert Einstein said, said creativity is intelligence. Having fun. I love that. I do too. That's why I put it really like a little fun yeah so what does creativity mean to you? We talked a little bit too about this at the beginning, about that flow state and getting into that flow state. But what is what does?

Speaker 2: 23:44

creativity mean to me.

Speaker 2: 23:45

I think it's a way of life for me um, it's that space that I get to go to, where I can challenge myself to come up with beautiful things. Yeah, and whether I'm inspired by nature or just the thing is that every day is a different day. I don't live the same day every day. I don't go, do I don't? I don't even have the same schedule every day, and I think that that works for me and that also works for the creative type of person to not be boxed in to. You know, the same thing on linear I couldn't do it.

Speaker 1: 24:29

We're adventurous souls. Yes, agreed, and you can be adventurous in your job as well. Right, yeah, every day is different. Yes, very true. Uh, so I really, I really like that. So we talked a little bit about fueling your creative spirit. I I did read your about page, oh, and it did talk about fueling your creative spirit. I did read your about page and it did talk about fueling your creative spirit, and you did talk about your horses and, I guess, time spent with your family, what else? Your morning devotion?

Speaker 2: 24:55

That, the horses, the dogs, nature, my family, my friends, my relationships. I think that's enough it's good.

Speaker 1: 25:11

Those are all good areas so what about your creative process? Oh my goodness everybody has, especially being a creative um.

Speaker 2: 25:21

We all have different processes that we well so generally it's an it involves a client or project, so there's always that tiny bit of a limitation, I guess. Um, I, I am a painter too, so that creative process would probably be a little more fun for me to talk about.

Speaker 1: 25:43

Go for it because I would assume that some of that applies.

Speaker 2: 25:46

It's probably running in the background yeah, I think it all does, whether we even recognize it or not. So when I'm about to do a painting, I generally work on very large format four feet wide, six feet tall or vice versa and I start off by just being quiet.

Speaker 1: 26:10

The mindful moment.

Speaker 2: 26:11

Yeah, I'll get all my materials, I'll get everything ready to go, and that might take me a while, but when I actually sit down to create, I almost don't even think about it. I just let it come through and I try not to overthink it. I think people overthink things too much. People overthink things too much now if it drifts into my professional creativity with with working with clients, I have a tendency to overthink that too, because I want it to be spot on yeah you know from the get-go, so um, you're always like got that little voice in your head is it?

Speaker 2: 26:48

good enough is, are they gonna love it?

Speaker 1: 26:50

yeah, I'm gonna have to do this 12 times, Whereas if you were sitting in front of a canvas doing your own thing like it's, it's very, you just start.

Speaker 2: 27:00

Yeah, I really do so. Are you currently still painting? I have not in a while, but I would say probably within the last year. Maybe six pieces. Yeah, but not not right now. You do abstract.

Speaker 1: 27:14

Yes, six pieces, yeah, but not not right now.

Speaker 2: 27:15

You do abstract. So yes, yeah, yes, and I do incorporate um my like. I'll do um commission pieces for either other designers or for my clients or just for me to do, and I will incorporate um a spiritual like blessings. I don't ever really do scripture, unless somebody wants me to, and it fits all realms. I've done for every denomination of person and I like to put into my pieces blessings into people's lives, into their homes, and this is something that will live in your home. That's intended to just bless you on a daily basis. I love that. I need to get back into it a little more, yeah.

Speaker 1: 28:00

It's what I love.

Speaker 2: 28:01

I'm happiest with the paintbrush in my hand. I tell everybody that. But you know.

Speaker 1: 28:05

Yeah, I love the spiritual piece of that you know, because I feel like it gives things also more meaning. Yeah, when that kind of intention is behind it. Yeah, so do you ever? Have you ever seen like water for chocolate? I love that movie.

Speaker 2: 28:19

Really. I read the book and I love the movie. It's one of those movies that is almost better than the book, or at least as good right, so I didn't read the book, but I have seen the movie.

Speaker 1: 28:30

Oh, you need to get the book and it. You know, there's that part where they're in the kitchen, they're cooking and they're happy, and then when they sit down at the table, they're all happy, yeah, and then the other part, they're at the end. Then I guess later on in the movie they were crying while they were making the food yeah and everybody started crying at the table eating yeah, I guess that intention that was put into something creative.

Speaker 2: 28:50

It all, just it all revolves around like every chapter in the book starts off with a recipe. Really, oh my gosh, I need to get you this book. Yes, so it starts off with a recipe and then it goes into how the family interacts and, like you said, there's the, the emotional portion of being happy, or the crying or the. I mean I haven't. I would love to pick it back up and read it again, but yes, I do.

Speaker 1: 29:13

I love that.

Speaker 2: 29:14

I think you're the first person that I've ever mentioned that book. I'm surprised because you can ask me do you know? Her Do you know them?

Speaker 1: 29:19

I'm like, yeah, I live in my own little bubble. Oh, that's great. Well, you've got me wanting to read the book now, but I think that it's so true. So your, your designs, like your, I know you're working for, uh, clients, but you, how do you put that into your projects when working with clients? And do you? I guess I should ask, do you and how do you?

Speaker 2: 29:44

well, again, I think it's very unique to each individual or couple or family. So I mean, it's it's kind of a dance like getting to know each other and you know, finding out everything I need to know about how you live, and you know what's your hopes and desires and you know what do you, what do you want, what do you like, what don't you like. It's a gathering process, initially to learn as much as I can about the family, and then we start to look at the components of the residence, each of the spaces and how they want to use them, and what you know like for closets, for instance. You know what do you have, what do you want to store, what do you use on a daily basis. You know how much of that do you have and does this mean something to you and would you be interested in looking at, maybe doing it a little differently? So it's just kind of one of those things that you get into, and maybe your passion too.

Speaker 1: 30:49

You know like. I think when you have a passion for something and really enjoy what you're doing. I think people sense that, whether it's conscious or unconscious, you know they feel that they feel something from you.

Speaker 2: 31:04

Yeah, I agree with you on the conscious or unconscious level.

Speaker 1: 31:08

Yeah, for sure. I think that, because there's people out there that don't enjoy what they're doing and you can tell it comes through. It comes through in their work. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 31:15

I know, and I am like an open book If I'm having a bad day or if I got in a fight with my husband or whatever, I cannot be. I just can't be happy. I'm the same way. I can't. Everybody's like oh God, here she comes.

Speaker 1: 31:36

I'm like take it personally, I'm the same exactly, are you. It's hard for me to to act happy when I'm not. Yeah, yeah, so, uh, I usually I'm just pretty transparent and yeah, it's not you, it's me yeah, don't worry yeah I'll be fine, yeah for sure, let's see your puppy yes, yes, I have a. Um, I'm a dog mom. Yeah, he is my everything. He just had a chiropractic adjustment. This morning I think that's so cool it is. It's been amazing he was struggling.

Speaker 2: 32:06

They do go ahead oh I want to hear what you have to say.

Speaker 1: 32:08

I've got a funny story uh, he was struggling with um. He was having these episodes of really intense pain and we couldn't figure out what it was like. I could see him going into spasm, but my vet nobody he. I took him to like three different vets and nobody could figure it out. So finally they just slapped a diagnosis diagnosis on him and they said that he had intervertebral disc disease. And I was like I just I'm not sure. You know, he was a trail runner and he was young and I just refused to believe. But then I started to accept and I'm like, okay, his episodes started getting closer and closer together and I started looking for at ramps for my bed, I started looking at little booties to put on him so he could walk, because the the what happens with the intervertebral disc disease is it typically ends in paralysis you know, like corgis and you always see them in little wheelchairs.

Speaker 2: 33:04

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 33:05

Um, and I just decided to make him an appointment with this vet and she's a chiropractor and acupuncturist and I took him. He did a series of treatments. It was in 2021, I think, or 2000. We came out of COVID. That was 2020. Four years he hasn't had an episode.

Speaker 2: 33:24

I love that. That's an even deeper issue into wellness and everything in terms of puppies and people, that we don't get diagnosed properly, and most of what is wrong with us is a lifestyle thing, and so I seek out holistic treatment and make sure I try to check the blood work, do all this, make sure that everything's running properly and I do not embrace the sickness, I rebuke it.

Speaker 1: 34:07

Yeah, Because.

Speaker 2: 34:08

I mean, I actually went through a crazy kind of cancer scare thing that I just a prayer and I'm not having this. I'm not. And you mentioned a minute ago about chiropractic. Well, I had a Vizsla that she passed a couple years ago probably in 2021, but had a very similar situation going on and we had a chiropractor come in and she was amazing and she used, um, I don't know what, some type of a, I don't know what it was, some tool yeah, it was um guasha or some kind of no it's.

Speaker 2: 34:46

It's um something that chiropractors will use. It's electro something, or like an east.

Speaker 1: 34:51

We we use an e-stem.

Speaker 2: 34:54

They're like jumper cables and you click them onto the needles. It was really interesting. I love your story that your baby's okay now.

Speaker 1: 35:02

Yeah, I mean, it was amazing, and she does horses too.

Speaker 2: 35:06

I was going to tell you my horse has been adjusted and I have a video of it. It is the craziest thing you've ever seen Was your horse just relieved? Yes, yeah and you would touch him, you know, on his withers or a certain area, and he would just tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, you know. And after they adjusted him he was fine.

Speaker 1: 35:26

Yeah, it's amazing. I mean, it's just really a testament to you know, Unfortunately, I fight my chiropractor because I don't like being cracked.

Speaker 2: 35:35

I don't either. I don't either.

Speaker 1: 35:37

I'm like, oh, relax, but I believe, I believe, I believe. And especially after Finn, it was really a testament to um. Just it's an amazing medicine you know, cause right now he would. His cocktail was a muscle relaxers, pain painkillers and anti-inflammatories, and that's what he was doing. Now he's good.

Speaker 2: 35:56

Yeah, there's always another way to do it.

Speaker 1: 35:59

Always another way to do it, but that's great that your horses are doing chiropractic adjustments too. I love that. I love it. Okay, I am curious about what turnkey means. I'm not familiar with that.

Speaker 2: 36:18

Turnkey is A to Z. We're involved, from architectural plans all the way to furniture and accessory installation. So, turnkey, we provide all those services. Okay, wow, full service. So, turnkey, like we provide all those services okay, yep, wow, full full service.

Speaker 1: 36:36

Yeah, it's probably a better way to say it okay so let's talk a little bit about decluttering, because I think that is a mindful living yeah, talk a little bit about your, your perspective on decluttering, and is that something that you talk to your clients about?

Speaker 2: 36:53

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I can talk to them about it, but I can't talk to myself about it. I have a problem, I do, but no, I don't, I don't like it. And so the main places in my home I want everything put away. But then I have a nice collection of hoarding stuff Not on this level, but you know, maybe maybe around here it's, it's a, it's, it's a thing for me.

Speaker 2: 37:20

I battle with that personally. And so when it comes in, uh, comes to working with a client, um, I'm all about the declutter. When I walk into um, let's say we're getting ready to do a remodel and their cabinets are just full of things that they've had for 20, 30, 40, however many years, and it's just, I'm like it's time, it's time for us to get in here and work on a plan to get you where you need to be. What do you really need and why does this thing matter so much to you? Um, so yeah, that, and then in in. In design as well, I like to keep things simple. I don't want to overdo it and have too much to. Um, I would say not confuse, but it does, like you said, it really does stress, stress people.

Speaker 1: 38:08

I think stresses me yeah uh, candace, and I talked about it and I was telling her I've got a lot on my plate right now, so I'm doing a lot and I'll look at my desk oh and I will have papers and files and books and computers and ipads and newspapers and I'll have to stop because it stresses yeah and I just have to clear everything off so I can think straight.

Speaker 2: 38:35

I can't work. So we'll have a big 10-foot conference table with clients and we'll have things out that we need to review or get approved or what have you, and it starts off very calm and just a few things on the table and then as things come on to the table and we start building this monster. I'm like, okay, I need to get everything off this table and and pick up where, pick up where we left off. Yeah, there's a lot to be said for having too too much.

Speaker 1: 39:08

It's a distraction, it's I agree I think, unhealthy I agree, and I think, as far creativity I think some of the most simple projects I wasn't quite sure what word to use, but I guess project and this is can be super hard to do. Yeah, but that's where the art comes in, I think, because everything is so, you're so mindful about every piece of that project and how it all fits together. I can totally relate to that.

Speaker 2: 39:38

Yeah, so I think that's it's.

Speaker 1: 39:41

I think that's one of the things I really like about Japanese architecture and design. That was one of the things that when I got into that's how I got into Chinese medicine was when I was in design school. I got into Japanese wooden houses how cool and I fell in love with them, the philosophy behind them, everything and so then I got into Eastern philosophy and then that led me into martial arts. Martial arts led me into Chinese medicine. Here I am. I love Chinese medicine. I do not like Western medicine.

Speaker 2: 40:14

If I'm allowed to say that, you can say that.

Speaker 1: 40:16

I always tell my patients there are pros and cons to each.

Speaker 2: 40:21

And.

Speaker 1: 40:21

I think that our system is. It needs to be fixed. There's a it's yeah, it's too big.

Speaker 2: 40:28

I think we're. I think that our medical system is really good at, say, surgeries or emergencies or that kind of thing, but as far as treating, I think we're too far into pharmaceuticals.

Speaker 1: 40:42

Sorry, I know, it's so true though and it really um masks a lot of doctors oh yeah, and it's really sad that I can't tell you how many stories I've heard in here with patients and it's a soapbox of mine, for sure Me too. And then my mom just had a scare last year and we had a horrible experience getting a diagnosis. It took us over three months. She got lost in the system. Wow, I mean it shouldn't have happened. And then people wonder why you're so upset. Yeah, when you call and pick up the phone, when you pick up the phone and call them.

Speaker 2: 41:19

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 41:21

But yeah, so I'm right there, it's, we need something, needs to happen. Yeah, I don't know what that is.

Speaker 2: 41:27

I don't either. If we figured it out, we'd be like we'd be there, we would we would so okay, so turnkey, that is from start to finish.

Speaker 1: 41:38

So I'm curious, if you have clients that ask you for mindful spaces, does that ever come up?

Speaker 2: 41:45

The first thing that comes to mind is prayer rooms or meditation, quiet spaces or meditation, or and again I'm all about the outdoors, so, you know, making that a space of that nature. As far as creating a space, yeah, that's I mean quiet space.

Speaker 1: 42:07

Do people ask for a quiet space?

Speaker 2: 42:09

I mean a lot of like people that want to say a prayer room or something of that sort. And yes, actually I'm doing a project right now with a client that has a daughter that has some she's ADHD and she's got some other stimulus issues where she can't be too stimulated and so, yeah, we are going all out to make it a nice, light, airy place with good windows and soft surroundings and textures.

Speaker 2: 42:38

she's the cutest little girl and she's absolutely fine, but she has these issues that she has to deal with, so she needs a space.

Speaker 1: 42:47

That's not. Yeah, no, that comes in for sure. Yeah. So I read an article in the wall street journal in a snug room a snug room yeah, it's british, but it's a quiet room you know we go off to the side.

Speaker 1: 42:59

It's a snug room and they were just saying how um it is making its way here. So I'm always curious. You know, I read things but I don't know what's really happening and what terms people are using. You know, I mean, I use mindful a lot, but I know a lot of people don't use that.

Speaker 2: 43:17

I love that. I love the term, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1: 43:19

I like that. So you've mentioned designing this room for this girl. You said it was natural light. Because my next question was well, how do you design a quiet or mindful space, like for people to engage with that part of them? Or mindful space like for people to engage with that part of them, Like, how do you, how do you kind of provoke that, or to like what are?

Speaker 2: 43:40

some things you would do. Again, it all goes back to that communication with the person about, for instance, that the parents of this young girl are telling me that she can't have anything really contrasty or busy because it it does something to her and it's emotionally upsetting. Yeah, and so you know, I, I hear that and then I realize, okay, so what we need to do is is do very, a very calm, very neutral space for her.

Speaker 1: 44:10

Um, you know, floor to ceiling yeah, more neutral. So really you're just kind of listening to the clients and then reflecting that, yeah, and trying to find solutions for that.

Speaker 2: 44:19

Yeah, um, we're also doing these cute little like hanging chairs. She's got a flex space off of the bedroom and they're hanging chairs like. They're kind of like get in a little cocoon and just, you know, be at peace, so yeah, yeah, that's really cool.

Speaker 1: 44:37

What about technology has? Technology has become an integral part of our life, so how do you balance the integration of technology in design while maintaining a mindfulness to that?

Speaker 2: 44:50

Or do you? I mean, that is a great question. I find that the technology has just it just surpasses and gets to the point where it's just almost unmanageable. But I find that most people are demanding, you know, from any type of like audio visual media, room security.

Speaker 1: 45:14

You know, uh, too many televisions why do you need that many tvs um?

Speaker 2: 45:25

Yeah, I think it's an awesome thing, but I also think it's that double-edged sword for sure.

Speaker 2: 45:31

You know, with the way you and I think and the similarities that we have, it's probably, I mean, it serves its purpose. I mean we're doing it right now, yeah, but the convenience of it, and then the devices you know, and the technology keeps changing so you're out of date by the time you actually get ready to move in or install the that's crazy systems you know. So it it's. It is kind of a battle, but it is also very interesting to see some of the things that they've come up with, like some of the speakers that one of the av companies that we're working with, they actually install it behind the drywall and it just, it, just, you get perfect sound right through the drywall, wow. But the other thing like there's other you know kind of I can't think of, it's a Samsung TV that doubles as a piece of art you know so you put up a beautiful photograph or a piece of art or something when it's not the tv and it's very slim line and I think that's beautiful.

Speaker 2: 46:35

Uh, because I'd rather look at that than look at a a tv, just a blank screen. Yeah, yeah, yeah, and then that sounds pretty amazing I know and then so in a lot of these high-end homes, everybody I mean each space or each room might have a a on the wall to get the music, or look at who's at the front door to do all those kinds of things. So I think it's great. I actually kind of like my ring. I just got a ring Aura ring it's probably been about the door ring.

Speaker 1: 47:03

Oh the ring when the people come and you're like, wow, who's at the door? Because they also have an aura ring.

Speaker 2: 47:08

Oh, my niece has one of those. I would like to get one of those. Do you have one? I don't. No, we need one. I have a watch it tracks my sleep and everything.

Speaker 1: 47:16

But the aura is supposed to a lot of people really like it. It's a little bit bulky, yeah, but the technology it's not going away and we're going to keep progressing forward with it. So it's just, and some of it's really exciting and it's very tempting, you know. But I have questions. Um, I think it's the EMF waves that I I'm curious about. Is it like EMP? Is it EMP, electromagnetic pulse, or something like that?

Speaker 2: 47:44

Oh, my God, I've had so many conversations about this lately. Have you, yeah, cause I'm kind of like you know I'm into everything about that. And then what was the other thing I was going to say? That was kind of a I can't remember. It'll come to me if I let it go. But yeah, that's crazy, I'm curious.

Speaker 1: 48:04

Oh.

Speaker 2: 48:04

AI, that's what I was going to say. Oh, ai, I don't know how much you follow or know or do A little bit, okay, yeah. So I mean that's something that's really interesting. But it's also kind of scary to me because you know they're able to go in and they can take your voice and turn it into something else. Or they did something with Tom Hanks like that, where they, you know, wanted to use him in movies. You know, hundreds of years from now, it's just mind boggling actually.

Speaker 1: 48:34

It is, and I wonder how that's going to play into homes. Have you seen anything?

Speaker 2: 48:41

Very, a little bit, very little, it's pretty new, I know. I know. But then I think that AI is actually becoming something that's taking over the human element and what people do for a living and work. Like I can go on chat, gbt or whatever, and say I need to write a proposal for an interior design contract, blah blah blah. And then I mean boom, it's done. I mean I see, it's a great time saver but then we, we, we start losing that yeah, losing that human element, that, yeah, is so important.

Speaker 1: 49:17

So there's a little fine line there there is, so it'll be really interesting to see how it all plays out you know, I mean obviously there's a lot of talk around it. Um, I know I listened to a couple podcasts. I think sam harris is one that he talks a lot about AI.

Speaker 1: 49:33

I had a guy in here's technology he's. He swore up and down we weren't even close to AI yet, and so I thought that was interesting. But I think it is a little especially thinking about your home and how everything is, how everything is more computerized now or is more like somehow connected to a computer what comes to mind right now, what I don't know.

Speaker 2: 49:57

I'm probably dating myself.

Speaker 1: 49:59

The jetsons, yeah, no absolutely, I used to watch it all the time you know and the robots and the you know everything push a button and then your food comes down, this like yeah, yeah, no, I think that's where we're going. I do too, and there's a part of it that's really exciting and um and scary at the same time. So, yeah, I totally, I totally hear what you're saying. I agree.

Speaker 2: 50:18

I think we lose that sense of ability to do something like you have to kind of a calculator.

Speaker 1: 50:25

when calculators came out and people lost their ability and I use a calculator all the time, but people before us lost their, you know we lost our ability to add quickly in our heads oh my God, don't get me going. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 50:36

Writing cursive. Yeah, nobody does that anymore.

Speaker 1: 50:38

No, well, you know, I, I, I, I still print. Yes, because I used to print on plans.

Speaker 2: 50:43

Yeah, yeah, yeah, me too. Yeah, yeah, I don't, I, I don't really write cursive, but anyway, I don't know, I went down that road.

Speaker 1: 50:52

It's okay, it's a good road to go down. You know, there are things that are happening that are concerning have you well, you don't really. You're not really out purposely design, designing mindful spaces, are you, or would you say? Would you say that you design mindful spaces?

Speaker 2: 51:08

I guess I'd be a better way to ask you you know, now that you're posing that to me that way, it makes me think yeah, basically, because every space that we design, we are putting thought into. You know what goes into this, say, dining room, you know and why and how it works for those people. Yeah, I think we're put, I think we're being mindful of of pretty much everything we do. Now that you, now that you put it that way, yeah, yeah, you are doing mindful spaces. Yes, I design mindful spaces.

Speaker 1: 51:47

Well, and I think the first thing you said that you designed for your, your client yeah, like you, you listen to what they say and you reflect that back to them in their space yeah, and that takes a lot of thought. It takes a lot of thought and also. I think the big thing is it takes a lot of thought and presence.

Speaker 1: 52:04

You have to be present to listen to your client yeah to hear what they're saying yeah, that's huge, yeah, it really is. And then to be able to listen to your client to hear what they're saying yeah, that's huge. Yeah, it really is. And then to be able to reflect that back to them and design and get it right. And get it right. But, it means you're present and you're listening.

Speaker 2: 52:18

Yeah, it's a back and forth communication with them. Yeah, I think that's really beautiful and you get a lot of joy out of that you know Well.

Speaker 1: 52:31

Joy out of that you know well I am also a wellness coach and that's part of what we do. Right, like I am not an expert, I'm an expert in acupuncture and um chinese medicine yeah but when it comes to coaching, you're the expert of yourself because you know yourself.

Speaker 2: 52:43

You know yourself or you're teaching people to know themselves.

Speaker 1: 52:46

Yes, yeah so I collaborate with them. You're teaching people to know themselves. Yes, so I collaborate with them on an idea or a goal that they might have five years, or a vision. They have this vision and we get in there and we talk about that vision and we start working on it. But I'm not here. I run and if somebody wants to lose weight and I've said this a million times on the podcast but if somebody wants to lose weight, I run. I can't tell you to go run five miles a day to lose weight because it might not be a good fit for you.

Speaker 2: 53:13

It works for you, it works for me, yeah.

Speaker 1: 53:15

Yeah, and to be able to design like that, I think is is really great because, you really are being mindful, being present and reflecting that back.

Speaker 2: 53:24

Thank you, that's. I couldn't have said that any better.

Speaker 1: 53:30

Well, I love it.

Speaker 2: 53:31

Me too.

Speaker 1: 53:32

Do you have anything else you want to say? I just want to thank you for having me on today.

Speaker 2: 53:36

I'm so excited about this. Thank you for coming my first time to do a podcast.

Speaker 1: 53:41

Well, you did very well. Thank you, and it was fun. Yeah, we'll have to do it again. We will Absolutely Thank you. Thank you.

Speaker 1: 54:01

If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the podcast and share with your family and friends. You can also give me a rating and review wherever you listen to your podcast. It helps others find me as well. To get updates on new episodes and wellness inspiration in your inbox, please join the wellness inspired community. Go to the wellness inspired podcastcom to sign up. I'll put the link to the website in the show notes so you can click and join. Also, there's a Facebook community at the wellness inspired and you can follow me on Instagram at wellness underscore inspired.

Speaker 1: 54:32

If you're in the Houston area or just visiting and interested in our services acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping, zinchiatsu or dry needling therapy contact us. You can find out more on our website at element5omcom. That's element5, the number five omcom, and again I'll put the link in the show notes. If you're interested in health and wellness coaching, we can connect in the clinic or on zoom. Reach out to us and we'll get you on the schedule and, as always, I would love to hear your feedback. I am dedicated to bringing you great content that is inspiring and informative. With an artsy fun, edgy spin. Thank you so much for listening. We'll meet here again next time. And with an artsy fun, edgy spin. Thank you so much for listening. We'll meet here again next time. And remember never stop exploring, learning, loving and being you Bye.

The Wellness Inspired Podcast

An Artful Blend of Mindfulness and Creativity with Interior Designer Teri Pugh

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