A small step toward happiness

I was reading an article in the local paper about the impact of small changes. While they were talking about the environment it got me to thinking about our own environment. Think about this for a minute; if you come home from work and the house is trashed, the laundry is piled to the ceiling and there isn’t anything to eat, how do you feel? If you come home from work to a tidy house and a hot meal, how do you feel?

Read Full Post »

A Free Choice

Perhaps I should have published this a few days ago when the holiday of the day was Bad Poetry Day. Unfortunately it didn’t occur to me then. But it’s here now so I’m sharing it with you.
I never claimed to be a poet. In fact, I never write poetry. This just came to me and I had to share it. I take responsibility for releasing it out into the world but I am making the disclaimer that I do not consider it to be poetry or a work of art. I do however deeply believe in the message it proclaims. I also believe that understanding this and using it to your advantage is one of the keys to great happiness in your holidays and every day.

I invite you to read, enjoy, chuckle and then take matters into your own hands.

Read Full Post »

A Great Life in Spite of Lousy Weather

My daughter hit the nail on the head a few weeks ago. We got in the truck to go somewhere and it was hot from sitting in the sun. She started to complain then looked at me and said, “And in a few months we’ll be complaining because we’re cold. Maybe I should enjoy the heat now.” Bingo! That’s it! One simple way to be happier is to choose to enjoy things even if you need to shift your mindset or your circumstances a bit to do it.

Read Full Post »

Moms, Get it off Your Plate: De-stress Your Life One Decision at a Time

A mom’s life is wonderful and full, sometimes too full. Sometimes we find that our to-do list and our commitments are outstripping our energy or just taking more hours than we have in the day. We often notice this when holidays or special events pop up because there just isn’t any room left to make them happen much less enjoy them. Well, the good news is that there are things you can do and I’ve posted an article that can help over on Bizymoms so pop on over and read it here (click through to the blog for the live link).

Read Full Post »

Are You Making an _ _ _ Out of Yourself?

The other day I experienced one of those blinding-flash-of-the-obvious moments. It had been really hot and humid so we had been running the air conditioning for several days. Then, in the early afternoon, I went out to run some errands…and it was gorgeous! It was 76 degrees and sunny with a nice breeze. And here we had spent the morning inside the house, complaining that it was kind of warm in there, when we could have opened the windows and enjoyed the wonderful weather.

Read Full Post »

Not that red, this red!

As I was cleaning out my sideboard this weekend I noticed that my candle collection had candles in two different shades of red. One was a bright and cheery Christmas red and the other was a little deeper and more of a mulberry. Both are red. Both are pillar candles. And yet, that slight nuance, that minor difference changes everything.

Read Full Post »

“Unseen Gifts”

On last Monday’s show we talked all about “unseen gifts”, from simple laughter to the quiet gifts of the introvert (guest Beth Buelow) to the unseen gifts of Christmas. This blog post from Judy Davis, the Direction Diva, hits the nail on the head. Read, ponder and open your eyes to receive more beautiful gifts than you ever imagines during the holidays and your everydays.

Read Full Post »

“Layering” may be your holiday solution

Spring in Michigan is one grand roller coaster ride. In the last 30 days we’ve experienced temperatures ranging from 29 degrees F to 82 degrees F. We’ve had sun, snow, rain and fog. We’ve been very fortunate not to have any damaging weather and, for that, I am grateful.

But as I do my daily wondering about ‘what to wear today’, and while I do my semi-annual closet cleaning, I find myself in a state of flux. I am constantly rotating clothes from spring, summer and winter wardrobes. Not surprisingly, I’ve discovered that layering is the easiest and safest choice for dealing with all the temperature changes and the differential from indoors to out (many days it’s actually colder inside the house than outside).

What’s the point of this meandering post on wardrobes and weather?

Read Full Post »

Pick your battles

“Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win.” ~ Jonathan Kozel

When we are the one planning a celebration we can tend to get a little overprotective of our own vision for the event. We have created an image in our mind and that is exactly what we intend to create. That’s a great way to start out but, unless your goal is just to orchestrate a beautiful event, you will likely be happier if you are willing to give in a little.

Read Full Post »

What’s your purpose?

My friend Amy had this post on FB “Bringing your 4-year-old on his scooter along on a power walk tends to take the “power” out of it.” She hit the nail on the head too. When we try to multi-task it doesn’t always work. Things like power walking and bringing the 4-year-old don’t work. My husband has the same problem when he runs and brings the dog – it just isn’t the same workout.

The same is true when we are planning our special celebrations.

Read Full Post »