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Thought of the Day - 2/8/10

A baby is God's opinion that life should go on.
~~ Carl Sandburg ~~

Thought of the Day - 2/7/10

Our family is a circle
of strength and love.
With every birth
and every union,
the circle grows.
Every crises faced together
makes the circle stronger.
Every joy
adds more love.

Thought of the Day - 2/6/10

Life brings simple pleasures to us.  Every day.  It is up to us to make them wonderful memories.
~~ Cathy Allen ~~

Thought of the Day - 2/5/10

A winning attitude is . . .
I CAN make it work.
I WANT the responsibility.
I'll never know until I TRY.
I'M READY to learn something new.

Thought of the Day - 2/3/10

After all is said and done, more is said than done.
~~ Larry Wingate ~~

Thought of the Day - 2/2/10

Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.
~~ Confucian proverb ~~

Thought of the Day - 2/1/10

Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal.

Thought of the Day - 1/31/10

Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.
~~ Lin Yutung ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/30/10

Words and pictures can work togther to communicate more powerfully than either alone.
~~ William Allard ~~

Thought of the Day 1/29/10

Gratitude is good. The more you are thankful for, the more you will have to be thankful for. God responds to a grateful heart with joy.

Friday Fill-Ins #6

1. Wouldn't it be easy to just go back to bed and sleep.

2. My faith in God is better than ever!

3. I love the taste of chocolate.  I am a chocoholic.

4. The traditional Chritmas tree is in the living room.

5. The first thing we're going to do is pray.

6. Drop, drip, drip, drip; drop.

7. Tonight I'm looking forward to staying home (out of the frigid cold), tomorrow my plans include taking down more of the Christmas tree and decor and Sunday, I want to scrapbook.
 

To participate go to Friday Fill-Ins.

New Year Resolutions Or Not

Resolutions Vs. Goals

Resolution

  • A written motion adopted by a deliberative body.
  • The ability to distinguish peaks in a mass spectrum.
  • The replacement of one longum with two brevia.
  • A rule of inference used for automated theorem proving.

New Year's Resolution
A New Year's resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous. The name comes from the fact that these commitments normally go into effect on New Year's Day.

Goal
  • A goal or objective is a projected state of affairs that a person or a system plans or intends to achieve.
  • A personal or organizational desired end.
  • Point in some sort of assumed development.
  • Many people endeavor to reach goals within a finite time by setting deadlines.
After reading the definitions of resolutions and goals, I prefer the word goal.  I can achieve a goal; not sure (using the definition above) that I can achieve a resolution.


1.  Do you make New Year's resolutions?
Not usually.  I know for myself I will most likely fail in trying to complete the resolutions. 

I like using the word goal . . . so if I fail to complete my goal it doesn't seem to be as hard of a failure.  The word goal -- to me -- is more positive, more attainable, more focused.

I do not set goals every year.  The main reason fo not setting new goals each year has to do with attitude.  If I am not in the "right" mind-set, I cannot try or attain a particular goal .

This year my list of goals is long.  With my renewed faith in God and myself and the support of wonderful friends, I know I can achieve these goals.
A.  Stop drinking Mt. Dew. -- Already accomplised!!!
B.  Stop social smoking.
C.  Pray every day.
D.  Spend more time reading the Bible and doing Bible study.
E.  Walk.
F.  Be a better parent.
G.  Maintain contact with family.
H.  Minimize the amount of pills needed daily.
I.  Enjoy life!

2.  How many resolutions do you make?
See above for answer.

3.  Do you keep them (the resolutions)?
Depends on what it is.

4.  If you break them, how long do they usually last?
Varies.

5.  What are your New Year's resolutions are for 2010?
See answer for #1.

6.  Do you think you will keep your resolutions for 2010?
I sure hope so because my life and my children's lives will be better and more enriched if I do keep my goals.

I've added this post (because it's full of questions) to Aloha Friday.  Head on over to Kailani's blog and check out all the fun questions and answers.

What's Your True Passion



Your True Passion is Art



You feel most alive when you are creating or appreciating art. Art truly feeds your soul.

You love expressing yourself artistically, and it's likely that you dabble in many creative activities.



Even when you aren't channeling your inner artist, you enjoy brainstorming and collaborating with others.

You believe the world is what you make of it, and you want to make it as beautiful and interesting as possible.

Thought of the Day - 1/28/10

Life's most urgent question is:
What are you doing for others?
~~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/27/10

Peace begins with a smile.
~~ Mother Teresa ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/26/10

Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.
~~ Seneca ~~

Computer Tips #15 - Erase Files Forever

This is one of those high value freebies that come by once in a while but not too often. Share this with your readers right away because it will expire January 31, 2010.  This is a software that truly and completely removes data that you want to delete.  When you delete documents, pictures, cookies, or your internet history, it is still there on your hard drive -- it is not completely gone. You don’t see it, the computer tells you it’s gone, but it is still there. That’s not good if you truly want that data erased permanently.  East-Tec Eraser can do that. They are giving away the 2009 version. We don’t always have to have the latest and greatest to get things done, right?  Especially when this software costs $49.95 regularly.

Find out how to get it here thanks to the guys at TechSupportAlert.com.

Thought of the Day - 1/25/10

Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.
~~ Benjamin Spock ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/24/10

Studies suggest that we decide how close a relationship we will have with a new acquaintance within the first ten minutes of meeting that person, and that in evaluating people, we weigh early information more heavily than information aquired later.  So, make a big effort to be openly friendly the first time you meet someone.

SparkPeople Challenge

As you may know, I am an active member of the popular healthy-living website, SparkPeople.com. In an effort to help SparkPeople live out their mission of helping millions of people reach their goals and live healthier lives, I have joined a contest they're holding called "The Spark Free Chapter Challenge." If you have one minute to spare, I could use your help, because I REALLY want to win!

So here's the deal with the challenge…

Chris Downie, SparkPeople's CEO and founder, recently published a book called "The Spark" that offers a proven new approach to improving your health, transforming your life and reaching your goals (for example, real people have lost over 10 million pounds using their free online program)!

People like me who are helping them "Spread The Spark" through The Spark Free Chapter Challenge are encouraging our friends and family to download a FREE chapter of "The Spark" book. And for every person I can encourage to download the chapter, I will get an additional chance to win a $500 weekend getaway and other prizes, as well as something they offer called "SparkPoints," which also help motivate me to reach my goals.

All you have to do to help is download a free chapter from The Spark book. Nothing else. To do so, simply go here and click the button to download your free chapter.

If you would be willing to help me with this, I would truly appreciate it, and I also think you will enjoy reading this free chapter from "The Spark". I know I did!

Thought of the Day - 1/23/10

Friendship is the act of supporting someone without condition or without thought for gain.

~~ Kathy Ireland ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/22/10

Do something wonderful, people may imitate it.
~~ Albert Schweitzer ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/21/10

A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.
~~ Author Unknown ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/20/10

Step forward.
Leave an impression.


~~ Emilie ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/19/10




Our greatest natural resource is the minds of our children.
~~ Walt Disney ~~

The Snowflake Test



You Are Unique Because You're Clever





Unlike most people, you are able to draw interesting connections and come up with amazing theories.

You are able to take in a lot of information at once. You can see patterns where others can't.



You are rare in your ability to think without boundaries or preconceptions. The whole world is open to you.

Like a snowflake, you are happy to contribute to something great. You like feeling that you matter a little.

Organizing Printables For Moms

Moms are the ultimate managers. They often manage everyone and everything in their homes, from planning the kids’ lunches to keeping track of the family’s money. It’s not always easy to keep things running smoothly. That’s why many moms need a little help now and then. If you find that you need something to help you organize, you may want to download these printables.

Thought of the Day - 1/18/10


Want New Friends?

8 Ways to Make Yourself More Likable

You can't actually make someone like you, but you can behave in ways that will make you more likable.

We all want to feel that other people enjoy being with us.  Having close relationships is one of the most meaningful elements to happiness.  It's not always easy to make friends, however.  To form a friendship, you must like someone -- and you must also be likable.

How can you boost the chances that someone will like you?  Here are eight stragegies to keep in mind -- not ways to manipulate people or to be fake -- but to make sure that your desire to be friendly effectively shines through:

  1. Smile.  Studies do show that the amount of time you smile during a conversation has a direct impact on how friendly you are perceived.  People mimic the expressions on the faces they see, so if you smile, you are more likely to be smiled at.  (Scientists have identified 19 types of smiles.)
  2. Be easily impressed, entertained, and interested.  Most people get more pleasure from wowing you with their humor and insight than from being wowed by your humor and insight.
  3. Have a friendly, open, and engaged demeaner.  Lean toward people, nod, say "Uh-huh," turn your body to face the other person's body.  Don't turn your body away, cross your arms, answer in monosyllables, or scan the room as the other person talks.
  4. Remember trait transfer.  In "trait transfer," whatever you say about other people influences how people see you.  If you describe a co-worker as brilliant and charismatic, your acquaintance will tend to associate you with those qualities.  Conversely, if you describe a co-worker as arrogant and obnoxious, thos traits will stick to you, so watch what you say.
  5. Laugh at yourself.  Showing vulnerability and a sense of humor makes you more likable and approachable.
  6. Radiate energy and good humor.  People catch the emotions of other people (called emotional contagion) and people prefer to catch an upbeat, energetic mood. 
  7. Show your liking for another person.  We're much more apt to like someone if we think that person likes us. 
  8. Remember the person's name.  Here are some tips for to help you remember.

Thought of the Day - 1/17/10



Laughter is America's most important export.
~~ Walt Disney ~~

Haiti Relief Effort

On January 12, 2009, Haiti was struck by the largest earthquake the island nation has ever seen. The Red Cross estimates that 45,000-50,000 people have died as a result of the 7.0 quake. As rescue workers dig through the aftermath for survivors, millions are left homeless in the Western Hemisphere's poorest country.





Examiner.com (who I write for)  has published a resource page full of information on this catastrophic event that includes ongoing coverage and information on how individuals can contribute to the relief efforts in Haiti:

  • You can simply text "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross' Haiti relief initiative.
  • For ongoing Examiner.com coverage of this devastating event, you can subscribe to the RSS feed.
  • Examiner.com is also donating to the cause with contributions to Doctors Without Borders and the Red Cross
My hearts and thoughts go out to the millions of people affected by this horrific situation.

Thought of the Day - 1/16/10

When you're curious, you find lots of interesting things to do.


~~ Walt Disney ~~

What Makes You Fabulous?



You Are Fabulously Friendly



You're nice to everyone you come across, even if they aren't being particularly nice to you.

You genuinely like others. You love your friends, and you're happiest when you're a social butterfly.



You always have a smile, joke, or kind word for someone. You're kind to everyone, even if they aren't very friendly back.

You are simply a people person. You naturally make friends with almost everyone you meet.

Thought of the Day - 1/15/10

Peace comes not because your prayer has been answered exactly as you prayed it,
but because you shifted your focus and the burden of responsibility onto Him.
~~ Christopher Parkening ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/14/10

The dearest ones of time,
the strongest friends of the soul -- books.
~~ Emily Dickinson ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/13/10

Every sunrise is a message from God.
Every sunset, God's signature.
~~ William Arthur Ward ~~

How to Say No

Are you suffering from mom burn out? Do you struggle just to make it through each day? Moms everywhere are breaking down because they are too chicken to say, "No".


"No" may be a tiny, two-letter word, but it can be your secret weapon. And you can say it. Here are some ways you can say "no" without feeling guilty about it:

Sorry, I’m taking a break.
The number one reason why you should say, "no" occasionally is simply that you deserve a break. You are chef, chauffeur, dish washer, and more. You job never ends on any given day of the week. You deserve a break. If you feel bad for saying "no", say, "Sorry, I’m taking a break".

My schedule is full.
We tend to jam-pack our schedule full of activities, leaving time for nothing. Cut back on your kids activities. Start a car pool and share driving responsibilities. Do whatever you can to free up some time in your schedule.

I don’t have time.
You’re headed out the door, rushing to the next appointment when the telephone rings. What do you do? Do you come to a screeching halt and answer the phone? Let’s say you do, and it’s a family member, calling to dump their latest woes on you. Do you stand, tapping your foot impatiently while you roll your eyes and listen to the sob story? This is a typical scene for many moms.

I have another commitment that day.
Say it and mean it. Regularly schedule in time with your family or time alone and if someone ask for your help during that time look in your planner and tell them you have another commitment.

Instead of rushing to be everything to everyone, stop. Ask yourself if you truly have time for whatever comes up. If not, say no by walking away, turning off the ringer on the phone, or not answering the knock at your door.

Always remember that you are a mom — not a super hero. When you have to say no, people will understand; if they don’t at first, they will get used to it eventually.

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Favorite Things About Christmas 2009

  1. My children still believe in Santa Claus.
  2. The gifts my children pick out for me from the school's Santa Shoppe or when I take them to the dollar store.
  3. The surprises.
  4. The happiness and laughter of my children as they open their gifts.
  5. The help from agencies so I am able to buy gifts for my children.
  6. The time spent with friends.
  7. Our annual Open House.
  8. I got 42 trees up and decorated.  Whoo hoo!
  9. The annual baking of dozens of cookies.  This year a new friend helped us bake.
  10. The fuzzy feeling I get when giving gifts to my friends.
Join Amanda, our hostess, and others as we list our Top Ten lists.

Tuesday Toot #15

This month I started a new blog titled 365 Days of Photos.  Description of blog:  Follow my life via photographs . . . the good, the bad, the ugly, the ordinary, and the extraordinary . . . photographs of little things and important things . . . photographs of people important to me, photographs of my life.  Join me every day for a new photo.

We, as mothers, have problems praising ourselves, so Tuesday Toot is a good way to take the time each week to "toot our own horns."  Join us at Tuesday Toot and see the good that we are all doing.

Thought of the Day - 1/12/10

When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.
~~ John Muir ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/11/10

Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore.  Dream.  Discover.
~~ Mark Twain ~~

I've Learned

I've learned that you cannot make someone love you.

All you can do is be someone who can be loved.
The rest is up to them.

I've learned that no matter how much I care,
some people just don't care back.
And it's not the end of the world.

I've learned that it takes years to build up trust,
and only seconds to destroy it.

I've learned that it's not what you have in your life,
but who you have in your life that counts.

I've learned that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes.
After that, you'd better know something.

I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself
to the best others can do,
but to the best you can do.

I've learned that it's not what happens to people,
It's what they do about it.

I've learned that no matter how thin you slice it,
there are always two sides.

I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.

I've learned that you can keep going
long after you think you can't.

I've learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done
When it needs to be done
regardless of the consequences.

I've learned that there are people who love you dearly,
but just don't know how to show it.

I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I've learned that true friendship continues to grow even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.

I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to
doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I've learned that no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.

I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken,
the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,
but we are responsible for who we become.

I've learned that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean that they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I've learned that sometimes you have to put the individual
ahead of their actions.

I've learned that two people can look at the exact same thing
and see something totally different.

I've learned that no matter the consequences,
those who are honest with themselves get farther in life.

I've learned that your life can be changed in a matter of minutes
by people who don't even know you.

I've learned that even when you think you have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you,
you will find the strength to help.

I've learned that writing,
as well as talking,
can ease emotional pains.

I've learned that the people you care most about in life
are taken from you too soon.

I've learned that it's hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice
and not hurting people's feelings and standing up for what you believe.

I've learned to love
and be loved.

I've learned . . .

Thought of the Day - 1/10/10




Faith blesses my day and paves my way.

365 Days of Photos

I've been wanting to do this project for several years now and I am determined this year to actually follow through on this project.

Check out my new blog, 365 Days of Photos, to see a new photo each day that represents me and my life.

Arthritis News

Health care reform is important to all of us, click here to read how the Arthritis Foundation is taking action to take care of the of 46 million Americans with arthritis. Contact your Senator and Representatives and let them know what we all need in the health care reform bill to benefit people suffering with arthritis and related issues. For more arthritis advocacy information visit Arthritis Foundation.

Register now for The Power of One -The Voice of Many 2010 Advocacy and Kid’s Summit.

Thought of the Day - 1/9/10

Assert your right to make a few mistakes. If people can't accept your imperfections, that's their fault.
~~ Dr. David Burns ~~

Continues

The Thought of the Day column will continue throughout 2010.  By an overwhelming 85% readers, like you, want to see the TOD continue to be a daily column and 100% of those voted want to see the TOD continue.  Thanks to all those that voted!

Thought of the Day - 1/8/10

Try as hard as we may for perfection, the net result of our labors is an amazing variety of imperfectness. We are surprised at our own versatility in being able to fail in so many different ways.
~~ Samuel Crothers ~~

Freebie of the Month - January

The Polly Klaas Foundation's FREE Internet Safety Kit will help you, as parents, keep children safer online and will help you open communications about the Internet with your children. Click here to order.

Parties With a Purpose

The Giving Book shows children the power of their actions and encourages them to help others and make the world a better place. The Hero Book helps children discover the traits they admire in their role models and to celebrate the hero within themselves. The Autism Acceptance Book and its sequel, The Special Needs Acceptance Book, help children better understand and accept people who may seem different or behave in unfamiliar ways. The Healing Book helps children and families deal with the loss of a loved one by expressing their feelings and capturing their memories. The Greening Book inspires children to build a friendship with the earth so that they may appreciate its gifts, learn about its needs, and protect its treasures. The Healthy Body Book engages children in a journey that will help them learn about, and appreciate, their bodies as it inspires them to make healthy choices and form healthy habits.

So, whether it's for your child or the child of a friend, neighbor, colleague, or client, books are gifts that children will value and parents will appreciate.

Parties with Purpose
Planning a birthday party, a rainy-day get together, an activity for a group of children that you would like to be memorable, fun and inspiring? We developed “Parties with Purpose” Guides that can help you plan fun, themed parties while utilizing our books in a group setting. You can download these FREE guides in PDF format by choosing one of the options below:

The Giving Book “Parties with Purpose” Guide (240 KB PDF)
The Hero Book “Parties with Purpose” Guide (264 KB PDF)
The Greening Book “Parties with Purpose” Guide(322 KB PDF)
The Healthy Body Book “Parties with Purpose” Guide(518 KB PDF)


Tuesday Toot #14

In my continuing effort to toot my own horn, which I have a very difficult time doing, I added this list to the Tuesday Toot meme.

In case you missed my post, I quit drinking Mt. Dew this past Sunday night. I still have some side effects but slo-o-owly they are easing.

Top Ten Tuesday - Why I Love Him

In no particular order, my list contains the top ten reasons why I love this man (who will remain a secret).

  1. Wonderful sense of humor.
  2. Good father figure to my children.
  3. Cares for me and my children.
  4. Does things with his children, hands-on kind of father.
  5. Lives a Christian life and has a strong faith in God.
  6. Helps me (mostly) whenever I need it.
  7. Fixes things around the house.
  8. Great cuddling skills.
  9. Great teasing skills.
  10. Helps others on a daily basis.
To participate or to read others' Top Ten Lists, go to Amanda's blog, Oh Amanda.

Mommy Don't Drink

I have some unfortunate news, I lost a close friend today. We have been through a lot and we have had some good times and some bad times. I am sure we could have had many more good times, but my friend and I just aren’t good for each other. My friend's name is Mt. Dew. Yes, I am an ex now. I know Mt. Dew is bad for you with all the caffeine, sugar, and preservatives. Now it is getting expensive, but it tastes so darn good. The cold, the flavor, mmmmm, the first taste out of the can is so fantastic. The flavor goes with any meal, any snack, and its good all by itself. It gets me through the day, especially the tense, hectic, stressful days. Mt. Dew is enjoyable to have around but it is regrettable that he gives you things like high blood pressure, diabetes, tooth decay, and heart problems.

In the end it is probably good that Mt. Dew and I are no longer friends, but I am going to sorely miss him. Now I am an ex Mt. Dew drinker who wishes she was still a Mt. Dew drinker.

I am human and I have a rational side (sometimes) and my rational side will prevail (I hope). I know down the road I will be happy with this decision. I'll lose weight. I'll feel better physically and emotionally. I can stand proud and say, "I am an ex Mt. Dew drinker."

Thought of the Day - 1/2/10

Do something every day that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow.
~~ Doug Firebaugh ~~

Thought of the Day - New Year's Day

You don't love someone because they are beautiful; you love them because their heart sings a song only yours can understand.




I know many of you like my Thought of the Day. I am glad to be able to share my thoughts with you. I am glad to provide the inspiration to challenge you to look inside of yourself to better yourself and to better your life. Now it is a new year and I want to know what my readers want. There is a poll above, so please vote so I know if I should continue my column in my blog.

A Time for Reflection

Each new year is the perfect time to pause and reflect -- to think about what we have done in the past year and think about what we want to do in the next year. What are you satisfied with and what changes would you like to make? Do you have new goals for the new year?

There are many things to think about, and reflection deserves your precious time, especially if you want to set goals for the new year. Without a plan, life just happens to you.

Would you like to spend more time with your family or with your friends? Would you like to eat healthier and exercise more? Do you want to learn more? Do you want to break a bad habit? Do you want to become more organized? Is there some place you've always wanted to go? Are there relationships you need to nurture or mend? Is there something you've always wanted to do but have put it off? Decide the changes you want to make and write them down. You are more likely to accomplish them if you do! Make the most of your life so it is fulfilling and full of the things you want and care about most.

They say your thoughts become your words -- your words become your actions -- and your actions become your destiny. Take time to make your life all YOU want it to be!

Thought of the Day - 12/31/09

Start living your life . . . stop looking at what you haven't got and start being thankful for what you do got!

Thought of the Day - 12/30/09

The fact is I regret my past, and I'm afraid of the future. But this is the present and I'm going to do the best I can to make it all worthwhile.

Thought of the Day - 12/29/09

I have bite marks on my tongue from all the things I should have said but didn't.

Thought of the Day - 12/28/09

Life isn't like a pencil, your mistakes can't be erased. Life is more like a pen, you can use whiteout to cover it up, but you'll be reminded of where you were mistaken.

Thought of the Day - 12/27/09

Your past is not who you are, it's who you were.

Thought of the Day - 12/26/09

I hope that, through my blogging (and photography and scrapbooking), I have been able to pass on my appreciation of the beauty of words. As adults we all need to stop occasionally and look at ourselves and our circumstances with an open mind and a sense of humor, and remember to appreciate the simple things in life, which are often the most important.

Thought of the Day - 12/25/09

Wish List

To our enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, our heart.

To a customer, service.
To all, charity.

To every child, a good example.
To ourselves, respect.

~~ Oren Arnold ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/24/09

The light of God surrounds us.

The love of God enfolds us.

The power of God protects us.

The presence of God watches over us.

Wherever we are God is and all is well.

Thought of the Day - 12/23/09

Changes you want to make might not be the changes you need to make.

Thought of the Day - 12/22/09

Sometimes it is the quietest moment in your day that carries the biggest impact.

Thought of the Day - 12/21/09

It's never too late to believe in the unbelievable.

Thought of the Day - 12/20/09

No matter what anyone else tells you, you really know what's best for you. Your friends and family mean well when they give you their opinions, but in the end, it is up to you.

Thought of the Day - 12/19/09

Forgive quickly.
Kiss slowly.

Love truly.
Laugh uncontrollably.

Never regret anything that made you smile.

Thought of the Day - 12/18/09

A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.

Free 2010 Blogging Calendar

Don't you just hate it when you really need to update your blog and draw a blank? Well, one of the best ways to jump start those creative juices is to simply look at the calendar. How simple is that?

Every month, week, and day, there are some really strange, fun, and downright funny holidays and observances celebrated everywhere. In fact, you can even make up your own 'holiday' to celebrate on your blog with your readers - that's how easy it is to come up with days of posts at a time. But you don't have to make it up yourself. It's hard enough coming up with a post. Here's a blogging calendar I found that feature some of these holidays. The other nice thing is, it has room to jot down your own ideas and you can use it to literally plan out the year's content - or just a month or two ahead if you're not the planning type. This really helps keep your blog going without rushing to write last minute posts.

Download and check it out for yourself. I bet you can find a couple of posts just off those dates you can write about. In fact, you can write about them right away and schedule them. Your readers will have fun and marvel at how you are so on top of the holidays and seasons.

Thought of the Day - 12/17/09

Be kinder than necessary . . . because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Thought of the Day - 12/16/09

Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass . . . it's about learning how to dance in the rain.

Thought of the Day - 12/15/09

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is just a little extra.

Thought of the Day - 12/14/09

If you spend all your time organizing your life, you can miss the joys of experiencing life.

Thought of the Day - 12/13/09

Believe in yourself -- in the power you have to control your own life, day by day. Believe in the strength that you have deep inside, and your faith will help show you the way. Believe in tomorrow and what it will bring -- let a hopeful heart carry you through. For things will work out, if you trust and believe there's no limit to what you can do.
~~ Emily Matthews ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/12/09

A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be.
~~ Albert Einstein ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/11/09

You have to Be the change you want to see it in the world.
~~ Mahatma Ghandi ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/10/09

Always laugh when you can. It’s cheap medicine.
~~ Lord Byron ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/10/09

A happy family is but an earlier heaven.
~~ George Bernard Shaw ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/9/09

Practicality aside, we have to follow our hearts. Never giving up is a virtue.
~~ Bruce Price ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/8/09

A successful relationship requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. Always with the same person, but deeper and deeper every time. Each time on a whole new level you together open in love and discover the truth of your beloved anew. There is no limit to the beauty of your beloved. If you think you've reached the end, stop generalizing.

Thought of the Day - 12/7/09

God sees.

The problems we encounter that no one else seems to understand.
God sees.

The pain we feel.
God sees.

The tasks we perform for which no one thanks us or pats us on the back.
God sees.

Thought of the Day - 12/6/09

We can choose to accept the things we cannot change and learn to act on the things we can change. We gain self-respect when we decide to stop blaming others for our dilemmas and start taking responsibility for our own choices.

Thought of the Day - 12/5/09

The joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you.
~~ E. B. White ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/4/09

Having a dream is what keeps you alive. Overcoming the challenges make life worth living.
~~ Mary Tyler Moore ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/3/09

Strength and confidence comes from within.

Thought of the Day - 12/2/09

It's never too late -- never too late to start over, never too late to be happy.
~~ Jane Fonda ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/1/09

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.
~~ Thomas Edison ~~

Thought of the Day - 11/30/09

Often you just have to rely on your intuition.
~~ Bill Gates ~~

Thought of the Day - 11/29/09

Being strong can be feminine. I don't think feminine equals being weak.

Thought of the Day - 11/28/09

Just living is not enough . . . one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.
~~ Hans Christian Anderson ~~

Thought of the Day - 11/27/09

If you want your dreams to come true, the first thing you have to do is wake up.
~~ Debbie Tenzer, friend of mine ~~

Counting My Blessings

This holiday season, remember the things that matter most. Here are 20 things to inspire gratitude.

I'm thankful for...

  • Sticky kisses.
  • Our nation of abundance.
  • Chocolate.
  • Reruns of my favorite shows.
  • Loveys.
  • Your child's many talents.
  • Naps.
  • The babysitter who is willing to come over a second time.
  • The prepared food counter at the supermarket.
  • Baby wipes. What would we do without them?
  • The Internet. When it's 3 AM and the baby is coughing, you can quietly look up croup, and have a chat with another mom who's hovering over a sick baby.
  • Videotapes or DVDs. Sometimes that 30 minutes of respite is all that stands between you and total insanity.
  • Photo albums.
  • Antibiotics. Imagine having to worry that every disease might turn into something life-threatening.
  • Vacuum cleaners. It's nice to know you can clean the cookie crumbs and pet hair if you really wanted to.
  • A king-size bed and snuggling.
  • Smile, especially when your child knows he did something wrong.
  • Friends who understand everything without a single word said.
  • Family.
  • The sublime disorder of a home full of children and laughter and love.

Remember to count your blessing and be thankful for what you do have.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thought of the Day - 11/26/09

Love is just a word . . . until you find the one to give it definition.

Thought of the Day - 11/25/09

You have the courage to reexamine your beliefs, so use it.

Thought of the Day - 11/24/09

The Parents Affirmation of Imperfection

It is perfectly okay for me to be imperfect. This means that it's okay that I have already made a lot of mistakes as a parent and that it's okay that I will make other mistakes in the future. What's not okay is for me to pretend that I am perfect and to thereby hide my mistakes from myself. Instead, I will catch my mistakes with a smile rather than a kick and learn what they have to teach me. That way, I won't make the mistakes too often, and I'll become a better parent. But, I'll never be a perfect parent and that's okay, because my goal is excellence, not perfection.

Thought of the Day - 11/23/09

A happy childhood is one of the best gifts that parents have it in their power to bestow.
~~ Mary Cholmondeley ~~

Thought of the Day - 11/22/09

May we never let the things we can't have, or don't have, spoil our enjoyment of the things we do have and can have.
~~ Richard L. Evans ~~

 
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