The Best Inspiration Ever!!!

I want to share with you the best inspiration I have ever had, courtesy of my 4 year old.

Yesterday among the presents my daughter got was this little Tinkerbell wand. Of all the things she got this is by far her favorite--she has been carrying it around ever since.

This morning my mom and I took her to the store with us while we shopped the day after Christmas sales. Of course you know the lines were long and the store was crowded!

What did my 4 year old INSIST on doing but walking up to EVERY single person in the ENTIRE store and say:

"Excuse me," (yes she has fantastic manners...lol) "can you hold out your hand."

As soon as they did, she would touch them with the magic wand and say "I'm giving you fairy dust so that all your dreams come true."

I never saw so many people smile.


Thanks Audrey! :)

Things to Do for the Holidays

Although I will be with my family starting tomorrow, I'm still not quite in the holiday spirit...so I thought I'd kick off the Christmas countdown with a couple of short lists--you can add any of these to your big list.

Must See Christmas movies: Nothing is better than being curled up with a blanket, a cup of hot chocolate or some popcorn and watching any (or all) of these Christmas classics.

• Miracle on 34th Street
• It's a Wonderful Life (this is one of my favorites)
• A Christmas Story (you'll shoot your eye out...lol)
• The Nightmare Before Christmas
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (classic cartoon version is still the best)
• Polar Express (this is a great film if you've never seen it)
• Frosty the Snowman
• Elf (Will Ferrell, syrup and spaghetti...enough said)
• Home Alone (still a classic)
• The Muppets Christmas Carol
  
  and of course... Charlie Brown Christmas

Great Christmas tunes: I'll be putting together a cd tonight to listen to on my 7 hour drive

• The Christmas Song- Mel Torme OR Nat King Cole
• Santa Claus is Coming to Town- The Jackson 5
• Santa Baby- Joan Ellen Javits
• This Christmas- Donnie Hathaway (still the best version ever!!)
• Let it Snow- Boys II Men and Brian McKnight version
• Silent Night- Temptations
• Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer- Temptation
• The Chipmunk Christmas Song- Alvin and the Chipmunks
• All I want for Christmas- Mariah Carey version

and the one that always makes me think of Christmas:

Carol of the Bells- the Trans Siberian Orchestra version rocks!

Things to do to put you right in the holiday mood: Continue or start a holiday tradition this year

• Bake a batch of cookies*
• Make Christmas cards*
• Read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' on Christmas Eve*
• Drive (or walk) around your neighborhood and look at Christmas lights OR find a local drive through light display (we do this every year. our neighbors put up great Christmas displays)
• Have a Christmas movie fest (see above)
• Make homemade decorations
• Get your picture taken with Santa
• Go for a train or sleigh ride (a lot of parks have Christmas train rides set up and things like that)

and lest we forget the reason for the season:

Go to church (most have Xmas eve programs and services. Even if you are not particularly religious it's a good opportunity to connect with people)

If you're wondering why I starred 3 items--see below

Ideas for giving back: Please let's not forget there are those who are going through hard times this season. And it's not too late to volunteer. Here are some small ways to help

• Volunteer to serve Chirstmas dinner at your local food bank/homeless shelter
• Donate blankets/food/supplies to your local charity or Salvation army
• Bake cookies*--and give a batch to an elderly neighbor or friend who may be alone for the holidays
• Make Christmas cards*--and take them to the local retirement home or veteran's hospital
• Read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' on Christmas Eve*--or any other book at a local children's hospital (call and see if they need volunteers or have a program set up)
• Become a "Secret Santa"-- if you happen to know someone in need, do something small. For instance if you have a co worker/neighbor who is struggling, buy a $25 gift card to the local grocery store or gas station and give it to them anonymously.

Ok, I'm feeling a little more Christmas spirit already! Be safe and enjoy your holidays!

Re-Focus

I want to be encouraged. I do. But it is just so easy to let every day stuff drag you down and make you forget what you want to do and why.

Like today...

I am NOT having a good day.

It happens. I accept it. I'll get through it and I'll re-focus and get it together tomorrow or the day after. I'm trying to stay positive. I am. Ugh! It's not easy.

Days like today are the days when I look at my list and think to myself: is all of this really realistic? Sigh.

The answer is of course it is. I just have to find a way to make it work. So I took a look at a few of my goals and decided to break them down as to what I would need to do to make them feasible.

For most if not all of the BIG trips, I need to renew my passport and save up a whole bunch of money (unless by some miracle I hit the lottery), so I'm not going to concentrate on those so much today. Some of the smaller ones are "moment of opportunity" goals, so nothing we can specifically do about those either.

For some of the smaller ones, like the cooking class and the skydiving (well those aren't small, but smaller...) I'm going to spend some time today researching where I can do these things and when.

And since I am in the research mood, if anyone has anything or their lists (or even not on the list) and they don't know where to start, let me know. Post it in the comments section and I'll see what I can do.

I promise I will be my usual bright and cheery self by tomorrow. :)

Get on the Double Dutch Bus

In case anyone was wondering why I have "learn to double dutch" on my list....

Yesterday they held the annual Double Dutch Holiday Classic at the Apollo in NYC. Here's a short video courtesy of the Wall Street Journal.



Check out the kid doing the flares in the ropes at 0:29. Amazing

Christmas Wishlist

Dear Santa,

Yes, I AM writing a letter to Santa. (Bet you didn't know Santa reads blogs huh?)

It's almost the end of the year! And as hard as it is to believe, only 3 more weeks or so until Christmas. I realize this must be an extremely busy time for you, so I'll make this fairly brief.

I'm not exactly feeling scroogie, but I'm not particularly in the holiday spirit this year--although I should at least get an 'E' for effort. It's been an unusual year...I guess that's the right word for it. Lots of highs and lows, but all in all it truly could be a lot worse so I will not complain.

I like to think I've been (mostly) on my best behavior (with the exception of that one thing with my neighbor's little rat dog, but to be fair that wasn't MY fault...I'm just kidding!). In any case I have a few items on my personal Chistmas list that I'd like to throw out there. Normally I wouldn't ask because I realize you have other priorities (you know, small children and such), however I figure there is no harm in asking just this once since the worst that could happen is that I don't get a response...

1. I would like a new camera so that I can share photos of my list adventures

2. I would like to be able to finish off my graduate degree next year. So um, if you could get one of your little elves to finance that for me, that'd be just peachy.

3. I want to knock one of the BIG trips off my list next year. I'm sure you can understand needing a well deserved vacation

4. And since I'm asking, if you'd like to contribute to knocking something else off the list (like the Jaguar or the EWF tickets), I'm really not going to complain...lol.

I'm being very tongue in cheek with this letter of course, but in all seriousness before things get too hectic I do want to say that I'm really looking forward to next year and anxious to see what I and everyone can accomplish. Here's to a happy holiday season, accomplishing the things you want and living your life list.

But, um, Santa--for real, if you want to hook me up with anything off my list, like I said I won't complain. Drey and I will leave you out some of the good cookies--you know the ones from the DoubleTree...lol

Oh btw...the doubletree cookies really are the BEST. You can order them online and send tins as Christmas gifts. So if you're looking for some ideas... here's the link https://www.christiecookies.com/StoreFront/IAFDispatcher