Dealing simple

The simple things in life really are what can make the most difference. I don't know how many times I can say that.

Everyone loves getting a deal. I just scored one heck of a deal two weeks ago (thanks Today Show and Philosophy!) and that deal just arrived in the mail today. It's no secret I love a great beauty product, heck, it's a big part of my day. If you feel you look good, you often radiate happiness! I love being a part of that! What was the deal you ask?  My daughter and I happen to love Philosophy brand beauty products. Not only do they work great, smell yummy, but they have these wonderful "happiness" sayings on the their products that really promote happiness as their philosophy for living! I couldn't have found a more perfect line to fall in love with. This deal happened to not only pop up on one my my FB feeds, but was featured on the Today Show. I scored $140 worth of yummy products for only $40!!!  Bonus was they are all products the two of us use often =)  The mailman walked up to the house this morning and I think was amazed I bounded down the steps to grab that box of goodies. Simple things that make a day!

I also love things that a free, yes, you can have a ton of fun that don't cost much or without spending a dime. I hear all time from people that there is nothing to do or that they are bored. Really??  How can you find life boring? I often have to say no to activities or to going places since we just seem so busy. Can't you go out for a walk or a bike ride, feed the ducks that stale loaf of bread or left over hot dog buns since we all know the ratio there?  What about going to visit that old friend who just lives across town you haven't seen all winter?  Pick up the phone, call that long distant friend and fold your laundry at the same time, bet you won't mind that task while catching up with your buddy!  My kids learned how to sweep away boredom just the other day...

Didn't cost us a cent to just do such a silly thing. (no brooms were harmed in making this photo and were returned properly to their hanging place). 

I did take my four legged companion for a 3.5mi walk today...felt so great! After a pretty mild winter, this Minnesotan sure loves the deal of gorgeous weather Mother Nature is treating us to! Kids were out biking, walking, roller blading and I could just hear the giggles as they bounced on their trampolines as I walked by. To see all the couples out walking together and just people in general out enjoying this beautiful weathered day, well, that sure was a simple pleasure if you ask me. Free, no debit or credit card needed!  I came home and topped off my night with fresh made gingered strawberry-kiwi lemonade, made with the juicer I bought for $15 =) Priceless!

Cheers to the deals and simple pleasures in life!

Life is good, get on with it, live it LOUD!

It's up to you

We all know people who complain, and I'm sure each of us has done our fair share. We also know how easy it is to blame someone else and come up with excuses along the way as well.  But enough is enough and time to realize that it is up to us.

Every time I log into FB, I see so many that are constantly complaining or expressing things that they themselves are totally in control of but would rather whine about it looking for some odd sympathy from some "club" to be right there with them, or like there is some badge of honor for having a sucky day. If you offer up a suggestion, they really don't want to hear it and will often snap back at you with some excuse or angered comment on how they don't want to be in control. UGH...stop the whining...the world is full of enough 2yr olds already and we wonder why society has allowed these children to control their parents, but it is often learned to be an OK behavior from their parents. The same with politicians...whine whine whine, blame blame blame!

One cannot rely on someone else to make them happy. It really is up to us. It's not someone else's fault that you made the choice you did. Yes, you alone made that choice. At one time you thought it was the best choice to make. I can't blame the traffic for making me late, I chose to sleep in a little extra or start that load of laundry and not leave a bit early. I am the one that decided I didn't have time to exercise or make healthy meals at home, no one else but me. I am the one who thought I should burn the midnight oil and get things done or sat at the computer instead of going to sleep and now I'm tired in the morning...yep, my choice. No one told me to buy that large ticket item that I just HAD to have, now it is a bit tighter with the budget at home. Oh well...all of this is based on a choice that we made ourselves at one time or another.

I may strike a nerve here, but it is something that bothers me and I am willing to take the fall out from it.  Have you ever noticed the "battle" of stay-at-home-moms vs. working-moms??  I see this so many times and how about just saying, "we're all mom's doing what we can to survive raising our kids?"  Yes, you stay at home mom's do it all at home and do a great job of meeting your kids' needs. Yes, you working moms have that stressor of rushing off to daycare and how to make dinner when you've been at work all day. SAHM's don't just lounge around, and WM's don't get a vacation from every day life by going to work! BOTH work hard, only in different ways, and they are choices that were made by that mom.

Now, let's put that in a different way. Often we look at another's life and think they have it made...it is easier to judge someone elses life than to take control of our own. What we forget is that we all have bills, we all have obligations, we all have "stuff'' going on, but some just choose to deal with it differently.  When one complains about what is going on in their life, another may think, "man, I wish I HAD their life."

Time to buck up and take control. Break that habit of complaining and blaming. Take charge of YOUR life. Make it what YOU want it to be. We have no one to blame but ourselves, really, we don't. Find that extra you don't need, free up time and money, plan for that vacation you want or that item your family "needs".  Make time for YOU, clear the mind, and free yourself from the blame-complain game, take charge and be happy!

Life is good, get on with it, live it LOUD!

Lifestyle Living

What motivates you?  No really...what is your motivation?  For me, it is life. Yes, simply the joy of living life and navigating a life worth living.

In my last two posts I've shared two "goals" of mine for this year. After viewing a post on FB and Pinterest this morning, it really dawned on me...it is a LIFESTYLE (thanks SKH) that I really strive for. I have made the choice to be happy, it is so simple; I am making the choice to live in the now and to be healthy. I love it!

Every one's life is worth living. We were all placed here for a reason. Isn't that a grand thought? We all have a place! Now, we all have choices as well. With those choices come the "stuff" that goes with the choices we have made. We can chose happy, angry, negative, positive...it really is up to us! I can choose what I want to do for a living, either by what I like and am passionate about or by what I think will provide the income I need to survive. I can choose to go on a trip, to fix up my house, to go shopping or to eat at McDonald's. I can also choose to workout, eat healthy, surround myself with positive thinking people and make that conscious effort to have well being in my life. Yes, I think that is a choice I want to make!

I can't control tomorrow, nor relive yesterday. I CAN be here in the now and see what direction I want to go in.  It is up to me to make my life the one worth living. Wow, I have that much power???  I like it! It really is up to each and every one of us to make the life we want to live. I want to teach that to my kids as well. It's not someonelses fault for my mood, my choices or my lack of motivation. It has to do with me and me alone.

Now, I understand that there are things that pop up that we have no control over...but do we?  We may not be able to control some of the things that happen to us, be we do have the choice on how our attitude is and how we react to it. I didn't choose to have appendicitis last year, but I did make the choice to get right back into the swing of things. I didn't choose for my darn patio door to be a pile of crap, but I can fork out the cashola to get a nice working one and enjoy the new view and energy savings! I can also be happy for the fact that I am able to have a job to provide the funds and that I know who to call to install this for me! Yay!

Yes, life can hand us some silly cards at time, but it is still up to us to play them. I know I don't want to fold, but I can always ask for a new hand!  So start living in the now, if that means taking a deep breath and slowly letting it out and opening your eyes to a new way to see things, then so be it! YOU ARE WORTH HAVING A LIFE TO LIVE!

Life is good, get on with it, live it LOUD!

You are what you eat.

I saw a pin on Pinterest awhile back that stated "you are what you eat, funny, I don't remember eating any sexy beasts lately."  Cracks me up! 

I find it fitting that March is National Nutrition Month....especially since one of my other goals for this year is to once again get healthy. =)  I'm tired of having that sluggish feeling and "brain" fog. I need to get back on track with being the best me I can be!

Yes, we all have aspirations of losing weight, feeling great and being healthy. How many of us say.."tomorrow" or "next week" or..."yes, I will do that, after I loose a little weight." My hand is in the air, I am guilty!  I have once again put the many needs of my family before mine (not that it is a bad thing) and let my eating and working out habits slide into "when I get time" category.

Not any more...it's time to make sure my health is back on track. A healthy woman is a happy woman ;)  I know, I am a cornball.  Any how, it became way too easy for our family to just eat on the fly, and we found ourselves spending so much money on eating out. This is not what I wanted for my kids as I grew up with the fact that eating out was saved for special occasions. So not only to make our household budget to be on a better "diet" I am once again trying to put our family on a better whole foods and life long eating well diet.  I've started reading the book, Skinny B*tch, and find it refreshingly blunt and to the point on our health and habits, along with wonderful inside information to our food. Just what I need for some added inspiration.

No, no fads...yes, I am using a juicer, as a way to add more veggies, greens and fruits to our bodies, not as a meal replacement.  But, I will admit, this will be used as a breakfast for me since I am not one to usually eat breakfast. That is a bad habit I got into as a teen and just cannot break. I make sure the kids get out the door with a banana or toast, and on a special day a pancake or two, but now I can also give them a full glass of plenty of fruits and veggies.  I have not been a big one to get all my leafy greens in, so now I can add baby spinach to my juice and not even taste it, those strawberries sure do wonders ;)  I will also like to have this "juice" for that mid afternoon "snack attack" that I seem to get these days.

Started back at my boot camp class at the gym as well.  Wouldn't you know it, just as my body was starting to not feel like a truck ran over it after class, the session ended. I know we'll have a two week break, and I need to stay on top of things. Jillian to the rescue, she will be my trainer.  I may also finally fit in some "Fit Club" sessions as well.  I miss running...a lot. I never in a million years thought I'd hear myself say that, but I do. I have taken the steps to sign up for two races already for the "season" and am mapping out a few more. I need to do this, I will do this!  Baby steps, one mile at a time.

I was once told, part of a goal is to write it down and then tell others to help you be accountable. Please, if you see me or are my FB friend, feel free to ask me how it's going...call me out if you don't think I've been on track, I am human and can use all the encouragement you can give!  Now, who is on this journey with me??

Life is good, get on with it, live it LOUD!

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN??

They say distance makes the heart grow fonder...and yes, I've been gone from the blog for awhile, I've missed you too. We all need time to take a step back and reflect, so, right after the holidays I did just that, and it just what this girl needed!

A new year and many new adventures. I get so excited for the new and upcoming things that I often forget to just live in the now. I have made a conscious effort this year to be more in the now and not on to the next thing. I cannot control what may happen and I can't worry about tomorrow, last week or next week. I want to enjoy what life is handing me NOW, here, and today.

We set goals, I like goals...goals are attainable and manageable. You can reset your goals as life happens and take them into new directions. I like the sound of that. To me, goals help you look to where you want to be and focus on the actions of today to get you there. This year I have set a few goals and am excited for them!

You may have guessed, my first goal is to spend more time in the here and now. We cannot change the past, and can't continue to rehash it with expectations of a different outcome.  And then we get so busy with what is coming up (I am a planner) that we often cannot simply enjoy what is going on today. I also find that as I have gone through life always thinking of the next thing, I forget about what just happened. I need to slow down, this thing called life, that I so love, is going by at an ever quickening pace! The kids do so much better when us adults aren't in a hurry and take the time to be present in the moment. I think that is one of a child's greatest attributes, the ability to just cherish the now to the fullest. Yes, I will still make plans, as with being a working mom of three full time kids, Mr. Man, a part time kid and the dog one has to, but will be more mindful of the now.

So, as I start back on my blogging, (thank you to those who have reached out and encouraged me to get back at it) AND that this is Leap Day,  I will be mindful of the extra day today and every day we have. I did read a parenting blog about not seizing the day awhile back...and it really struck me as someone who was bitter about the place they were in couldn't really take in the day and enjoy the place in life they were in. I don't want to be that person and don't want that for any of you...so go on, and carpe diem...seize the day, and enjoy the now, the extra now!

Life is good, get on with it, live it LOUD!

Christms Spirit

Where are you Christmas???  I love that song in the Grinch movie. To me, it says a lot. The fact that Christmas can tend to be so much about what you got and what you didn't...well, I guess that's the part I've never liked and I refuse to participate it any more.

I love what I do for a living, it has meant for some great conversations and meeting of so many different people. It's through all of these people that I continue to learn and grow as an individual. Part of that is listening to what is important to most, and I must say that I am happy with the shift in what I hear in people. I guess a lot of it could also be that you really do attract what you put out there, so it comes as no surprise that today most people DO warm my heart!

Yes, the commercialism of Christmas has gotten out of hand in today's American Society. The rush to buy buy buy and spend spend spend....we all saw that with Black Friday. Now, I am not condemning any business for trying to make a go in this world, but I want to ask what is it that is important to you. I grew up not liking Christmas once I got into school. I loved the time with family and I honestly couldn't tell you my favorite gift as my memories aren't of things. But I can tell you I didn't like when I returned to school after that Christmas break and was met with the "what did you gets" from friends. As if what someone took the time to purchase and gift to me wasn't good enough. I could not compete with those who had smaller family sizes than I, or parents who made more money than mine...and I was happy with what I had gotten until that moment. It did make me feel like crap and unworthy. Funny how another could control my thoughts like that.  Even just a few years ago I hung out with a group that seemed to stress so much on possessions...and I did.not.like.it!  It's NOT about things!

We often cave to the expectations of others, of society. A few years ago I made up my mind that I was no longer going to be that person. I wanted to really enjoy the season.  Guess what...it happened! I am in love with Christmas again. Yes, I know that the financial strains at this time of year can put great stress on a person, not to say that I don't ever fret about that myself, but I don't let it get in the way of the spirit! I love photo cards, love cookies, love the decorations, love how everyone seems to think of others, yes...that's what makes me happy! Really, a gift under the tree is just an extra.

I was talking with some people the other day and was asked what I was getting my kids for Christmas...I drew a complete blank. Just as with my birthday, we don't need anything. They really haven't complied a list, they really haven't asked for anything and to be honest, they themselves would rather just spend time together than to get something that after a week it gets set aside.  In their stockings they do get a new spin toothbrush, usually some gloves, socks and perfume/cologne and chap stick, ya know, the important stuff. Santa, well, he has always brought a little something...such as a school shirt. The gifts from me have been something functional and not too spendy and I usually do a family gift that consists of creating memories, such as a trip at a later date.

You see, we love the baking, the getting together and sharing good food and remember whens. We love doing for others as well; making hot cocoa mix to give to friends, neighbors and the plates of goodies. We also pick a charity of sorts and make our contributions there, whether it's money or helping out. We enjoy opening the mail that isn't a bill or junk and seeing what those we care about have been up to or how the families have grown over the year. We love the silly fun that goes with Christmas, the ugly sweaters, caroling, food, the old ornaments the kids made when there were smaller, the movies...I mean, who cannot laugh at Elf??  Then there are the programs and the gatherings...I mean we should have these types of things all year long!!

I ask that you take this day to reflect, think about what really makes Christmas special to YOU and then BE happy doing just that! IF it is the presents, great; the music, crank it;  if it is helping others, wonderful; if it's the food and fellowship, enjoy; decorating a tree or room, awesome!! It's all good and what YOU make of it! Make the most out of this Christmas Season...it IS up to you after all.

Life is good, get on with it, live it LOUD!

Full Heart

Can I say WOW!  Yesterday was so much fun, had to be one of the best birthday's ever! First, a big party on my Facebook page that seemed to just go on and on...then to get all the feed back from yesterday's blog was beyond overwhelming, in a GREAT way!

Yes, I was giddy all day. You would have thought I had won the lottery with the way I felt. Maybe in some ways I have, won the lottery of life. Just to be able to do things for others, see the looks on their faces on how just some simple act of pure kindness brought a smile to their face, man, that was wonderful! To engage others to do the same thing, now that was AMAZING!

What were the random acts you ask?  Well, I was so happy to get phone calls and text messages from those who did do acts but didn't want to post them as they really didn't want credit for it other than to tell me. I so respect that. Normally I wouldn't post about my random acts either, but did so yesterday to be an example of kindness and to show others how completely simple it really is. To also hear you all get excited about it and complete more than one, and then post them really overwhelmed me with joy and a continued love for life!

On to the acts themselves...I love the story of how a very good friend of mine was in the checkout line at WalMart and a man who appeared to be homeless walked up and asked if someone could purchase the pair of pants he had for him. I mean, how random was that for that man to be right there yesterday???  Yes, she did purchase them for him, to think that someone really just needed a pair of pants, wow! The messages of helping with returning carts or helping others with their carts at the store, giving away coupons for food, helping serve food to those who just needed one free meal that day, bringing baked goods to someone, a young lady donating her NEW bike to Salvation Army. To have spurred that in a young child, well, I am in awe! A sister who helped clean up after her sick brother, sibling love at it's best; those who donated clothing and other items, awesome!  Yesterday no act was small. No act ever is. It could be as simple as to just smile at the next person in line. I've said it before and I'll say it again, you never know if your smile is the only one someone will see for that day!

Yes, I completed my own acts and many of you were able to see them through out the day. The two recipients of the flowers that I gave out both said to me "but it's YOUR birthday, why are you giving ME flowers?" Just simply because I wanted to see them smile. Now that is a TRUE gift! Handing out the hot cocoa packets, just fun that was, who doesn't like to receive something? I still wonder if anyone took me up on my envelopes of quarters for a soda at the vending machine, if anyone had good luck with the pennies I dropped and I wonder what someone will do with that dollar in the library book.

Last week I was warmed with the story from yet another good friend of mine. She is a teacher and happened to have taken her students to the cities to volunteer and listen to a lady who opens and runs shelters for homeless...at the end of their time with her, she gave each student $5 to be able to go to McDonald's and told them God just said she should do this for them. Well, bless her generosity because it spurred those students to inturn take that money and go to the store to purchase toys for this lady's homes. Yes, one good deed spurred more and was wonderful to see that work!!!

Now don't stop with yesterday, or when Christmas is over. I love how one person said they want to do this every day, and I know many of you do...keep doing a random act, keep helping, keep being grateful for what you have and for wanting to make another person's day a little bit better. I know each and every one of you will be rewarded ten fold for this...you will find your heart is bigger, your mind less bitter and just simply enjoying a simple act, well, it feels great to feel good!

Thanks again to YOU, you made not only my birthday great, but the day wonderful for others. My heart is full!

Life is good, get on with it, live it LOUD!