Happy Friday!

Happy Friday all! This weekend we are still hitting the Christmas festivities hard with an annual after Christmas Christmas Party followed by some massive eggnog drinking- someone has to drink it before it's too late...

The weekend after Christmas is one of my favorite times since things have slowed down, people have relaxed a bit, and we are able to sit around in our PJ's with close family and friends. I am hoping to play a few games this weekend with family including this one and this one. Here is Adam Levine playing it with Ellen.

What will you be doing this holiday weekend?

Netflix Infidelity- are you guilty? My husband totally is!

The Best Wins of 2013

Thirteen of the most convenient workouts in honor of 2013

This website showing the popularity of names over 100+ years is super addicting. I have been looking up family member's names all morning.

Happy 2012!

On the last day of any year, I start to think of everything that has happen in my own life over a year, and everything that has happen throughout the world. When you think about it, it has been a pretty big year. Some of the big things for me have been starting up this here blog, adding two adorable fuzzies to our family, donating more of my time to others' needs, and getting to travel to some pretty great places! But, I do not think I have seen anything that sums up the world's 2012 quite like this video. It is pretty epic what we can do when we come together. I hope you enjoy this sum up as much as I did... You may need a tissue or two, just to be sure :) 

Have a wonderful rest of the year and a fantastic next. The years only get better!

New Years Resolutions

2013 is only a few days away! I am getting very excited about what the New Year will bring, and am creating some great goals to go along with it. Goals are definitely important to me and are uber helpful in making sure I continue a habit, even when scrolling through the internets with a bowl of frozen yogurt sounds better.

Goals are more tangible than a resolution, and they are much more likely to be accomplished. There are a few methods I use for making sure I get a goal down, and stick to it until it is done.

The best goals are a combination of physically evident results i.e. Kill all cellulite, easy to measure goals: run a mile, and some goals that will keep me on track ex. a one sweet thing per day rule. This goal cocktail seems to be the best way to stay on track with an endgame in mind. It is also vital to put all goals in the present tense. This is important for when we look back at the goal. It is better for our mind to see them as already accomplished than "will be" or "by this date". If you are really serious about obtaining a goal, write it down, read it at least twice a day, out loud, and into a mirror. The visualization is key. Being constantly reminded of a goal, both visually and audibly, makes it more of a reality and more likely to happen.

Remember, a dream is not enough to make things happen. There needs to be a plan to go along with it. Make sure that all goals have a way to be accomplished. This is, sometimes, done through another goal. Running a half marathon is a big goal, it will take jogging at least four times a week. To make the half marathon more likely, working out at least four days a week has become another goal. The daily goal of working out will make the end goal less hefty, and also give daily progress. Little steps every day towards a goal are better than giant leaps every once and a while.

If you ever need encouragement, get a good quote and think of it often. Mine is from one of the most creative minds of our age, Walt Disney.

Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it, and work it until it's done and done right.

Five Ways to Spend Christmas Money

Our little 6 month old 9 lb kitten. He has lion as his end goal ;)

Christmas is just around the corner and, although, it does not look a lot like Christmas here in sunny Florida, it sure does feel like it! Soon, family will be arriving and the festivities will be in full swing. But, what about after the holidays when the family is gone, the gifts are put away, and you have a wad of gift money burning a hole in your pocket? Spending that can be a big decision (I usually hold on to mine for like a month not knowing what to do- then get pillows or something ridiculous like that). To help with the "I have all this money but what do I want to do with it" dilemma, we have the list of five great, and somewhat unexpected, ways to spend holiday cash. 

Internet Finds

While perusing the internet for some great gifts for everyone else on your list, you may have run into something you had no idea you needed, but must have now. Unfortunately, the gift lists have gone out and there is no way you will be getting it this Yuletide season. Buy it! Whether it is something you saw on a blog or a shopping site like outblush or thefancy, there is bound to be something that caught your eye. Good for you for taking the high road and not buying it then. Now, you can buy it and feel uber pleased that you did not splurge! Personally, I have my eye on that ridiculously awesome, extra cushy yoga mat.

Donate It

$25 or $100 or how ever much you get over Christmas may not make that big of a difference to you, but it could be the world to a starving child or homeless kitty. Donating your extra goods to places like World Vision, Free Wheelchair Mission, or The Humane Society would keep those warm fuzzies going well past Christmas, and spread the love by helping another in need!

Get Away

For a great post-Christmas cool off time, pool your money with friends or that special someone and get away. Even if it is only for one night 45 minutes away from town, you are away. This could be a great time to catch up with friends you did not get to see over the holidays, or, spend some time alone with your favorite person!

Save It

No, this is not the most fun holiday spending idea, but it is still a good one. Saving or investing a few hundred dollars right before the new year could be great! It is a nice little cushion to fall back on for those unexpected needs, or, it could make a little extra back as an investment. Think of it more as waiting and being able to buy two pairs of shoes than spending now and only buying one!

Rejuvinate

The holidays can be a bit hectic with all the coming and going and family and you get the idea. Have a little post-holiday pamper time and forget all that stress! There are quite a few spas around that I have always wanted to go to but have not been able to rationalize the spending. If you can relate, a little holiday splurge on some R+R could be right up your ally. Go ahead, enjoy that mud mask guilt free, you deserve it!