Holidays celebrated around the year’s end:

Holidays celebrated around the year’s end:

Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Pancha Ganapati, Mawlid, and Bodhi Day.

Christmas is an annual Christian festival on December 25th commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, which is preceded by the season of Advent or the Nativity Fast.

Hanukkah, also called Chanukah, is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods. It starts on the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev.

Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration that honors African heritage in African-American culture and is observed from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a feast and gift-giving.

Pancha Ganapati is a five-day Hindu festival celebrated from December 21 through 25 in honor of Ganesha.

Mawlid is the observance of the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad which is commemorated in Rabi' al-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar

Bodhi Day is the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni), experienced enlightenment, also known as bodhi in Sanskrit and Pali.


Did I forget a year's end holiday that you celebrate in the USA? Please message me and I would be happy to add it here!

2016 New Year's Resolutions

What will make 2016 better than 2015 for me? 

This question is the source question for most people making New Year's Resolutions.

Every year hundreds of thousands of people make resolutions that are mostly revolving around self-improvement. Lose weight, exercise more, save money are old stand-bys... In recent years, as lives have gotten "busier," there has been a shifting trend toward productivity and happiness resolutions.

Over the last month, I have been jotting down some of my goals, dreams and even wishes for 2016 and looking back at my goals for 2015. It spurred me to look at some of what others are posting about their resolutions and plans for the coming year. I had the words in a LifeHack article analyzed to see what popular words were in their 50 New Year Resolution suggestions (see image above).

I also saw some great ideas on Fast Company. I also filled out a form to review my last year and put my goals in writing. I checked my social media for ideas from my sphere of influence. I asked some people at work.

All in all, there was no shortage of New Year's Resolution advice and ideas online but my biggest take-away for success again this year is that you must put your goal in writing, share it with other people and keep it in front of yourself daily. So this post puts it in writing, publishing it shares it and these five things below will be copied to a daily reminder on my calendar so they stay in front of me. Here goes:

In the end, these were my 5 decided affirmation and commitments for myself this year:

1. Keep boundaries for personal time vs work time
2. Get help. Hire people to do things that they can do better for me or I don't have time to do.
3. Delete "toxic" people from my contacts list and call people I appreciate and enjoy more
4. Read one book per month that related to mental growth, business or lifestyle improvement.
5. Commit more fully to my Miracle Morning - and get at least one person to do it with me.

These are all things that will make me happier and healthier!
What is your 2016 New Year's Resolution? Will you do any of these with me?
Comment and Share!

Your Year In Review & Goals Forms

You Can Do It! Annual Goal and Yearly Review Sheets!

Since I wanted to make the download process easier for these printables, Click HERE

Happy New Year!

Here's your Sign: Funny Plaques

Looking for that perfect sign for your home, office, garage or loved one?  

Here are some that I have seen recently...

My Morning Routine, Fall 2015

Having a Routine for Success

We all have to start somewhere so this isn't perfect but it's honest. With any luck I will improve and have a success story to share a few months from now. If it works, maybe I'll write a book.  Writing a book seems to be "the thing to do" if you have success or struggle in anything, no?  Looking back, I have plenty of old self-help posts/material I could use - including thoughts on morning routines!

It started with the 6 Minute Plan from the book Miracle Morning and I have expanded a couple areas areas already in hopes for better results.  This is my current (Miracle) morning routine.

1) Calm and relaxed - deep breathing - I still do this lying in bed though they recommend getting up and doing it meditation-style, sitting with legs crossed and meditation music.

2) Vision board (goals), visualize a perfect day right after my deep breathing. This also still happens while laying in bed and I simply have a family photo on my Vision board for now.

3) Physical Activity - stretching/increase heart rate. I created a Pinterest board with some of my favorite exercises and spend 10 minutes a day on this... and I have started making my husband join me.

4) Write down what you are grateful for - this is easiest while you are still in that positive thinking state of mind from deep breathing and visualizing a perfect day.

5) Self-help Reading - I am in a book club and that keeps me accountable for reading a chapter a week. Though I am naturally inclined to learning, I tend to prefer short articles or books because I am a little ADD. Yes, another buzz acronym but not an excuse for me nor an official diagnosis. Infact, I tell myself the ability for my mind to switch subjects quickly and often is a positive skill. I digress.

6) Daily affirmations - I have struggles with this but I did write a couple and put them on my calendar to read each day.

7) The stuff people normally think of as a morning routine; brushing teeth, getting dressed, eating breakfast, COFFEE, etc

We all have the need for a bit of structure in our lives.  There are a lot of buzz words about being healthy, happy and having personal success through mindset and activities but the truth is not everyone will have the same commitment, drive, opportunity, etc and we all have excuses.

Even I have written about exercise and eating healthy and doing things to better myself right here in this blog and I too have "fallen off the wagon" because, well, life happens.  But the idea is that no matter how many times you fail, you try again, with a new approach if needed.

Wish me luck!

If you have a morning routine, I'd love to hear it and how you believe it affects your life.

7L - Seven Levels of Communication

I read 7L - Seven Levels of Communication


So for now, this post is a blank slate but it will become my take-aways and revelations from the book Seven Levels of Communication by Michael J. Maher. For some this will be Cliff's Notes.

This is what I noted during reading the book. Many were just strong reminders of things I already knew.


Givers will Get - Generosity Generation

You need to create a plan to communicate. In writing, on the calendar. Stick to it. Give it time.

If you don't ask, you won't receive.

You can market to strangers but it's a waste of money with the value is in your sphere

Put it on the calendar

I was reminded of my girlfriends old blog, an attitude of gratitude.

Places to go Tubing in the Twin Cities Area

Most of you that know me well know I am always cold. And I'm always complaining by this time of year. But tis the month of Thanksgiving  and I have resolved to approach the season with gratitude for the things you can do when it is cold.

After all, it's hard to be happy when the days are shorter and you're cooped up inside. So let's get outside and get some exercise and have some fun doing it!

Places to go Tubing in the Twin Cities Area

Paid and FREE options included
Hyland Park
Elm Creek, Maple Grove
Badlands, Hudson
Wild Mountain
Eko Backen
Green Acres
On your next Sunday Drive, be sure to watch for public parks with big hills! :-)


More will be added as our family has a chance to find them and try them out!

I am Thankful for...

It's that time of year when we are reminded to be thankful... and the Christmas holiday season gets into full swing!  But I want to take a minute to focus on being thankful as the holiday was intended before I let the season overwhelm me and my frustrations hold me back.  I suppose you would benefit from doing so too! :)

I Am Thankful For...
For kids jumping on their beds, because it means they are healthy and happy.
For the taxes I pay, because it means that I am employed.
For the mess to clean after a party, because it means that I have been surrounded by friends.
For the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means I have enough to eat.
For my shadow that watches me work, because it means I am out in the sunshine.
For all the complaining I hear about the government, because it means that we have freedom of speech.
For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot, because it means I am capable of walking, and that I have been blessed with transportation.
For shoveling the driveway this winter and paying the heating bills, because it means I have a home.
For the lady behind me in my place of worship when she sings off key, because it means that I can hear.
For the pile of laundry, because it means I have clothes to wear.
For difficult people in my life, because it reminds me how not to be.
For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means I have been capable of working hard.
For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it means that I am alive.
And finally....

For too much e-mail and too many texts because it means I have clients and friends who are thinking of me.... 
HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL!

Simplify Your Life

Just a few random things to make your days easier and your soul happier...

The rules of "storing things" should be as follows.

Clothes, if you haven't worn it in over a year or it doesn't fit, donate it. (Exceptions: if you were pregnant in the last year you can keep it 2 years, specialty clothes such as a suit or simple black dress that fits or sentimental pieces like your wedding dress)

If it's hobby related, are you still interested in that hobby? If you are not longing to do it, get rid of the supplies.

The Junk Drawer: Organize it with store-bought compartments or an old silverware tray and always put things back in their slot. Once per year, ditch stuff. Super Glue doesn't last forever folks.

Prepare for the next day the night before no matter how tired you are in the evening.

Every time you reach for your wallet to make a purchase, ask yourself:

Why am I buying this?

How often will I use this?

If I don't have this what will happen? (Can I live without this?)

Is this replacing something I already own? Will spending this money cause guilt or turmoil I could avoid?


Too much stuff doesn't make you happier! Be grateful for what you have and find ways to be happy living with what you have. It's much easier said than done.

For some people letting go of things that relate to memories is nearly impossible.

Its emotional and just the thought of letting go causes aching in their heart. I can't give any professional advice but I can remind you that you can't let things control your memories. Live your life and keep making new memories!