Stumped on a Gift? Give the Gift of Your Time.

The hubby and I enjoyed a feel good movie on date night this week, Delivery Man with Vince Vaughn.  Man, he is tall!  If you were wondering, just like me, is he really that big or is everyone else puny?  Vince Vaughn is 6'5".  As you can tell, it was lady's choice.  Even though it averaged about 2 stars in the ratings, to all the men out there who might not want to go to this movie, you will leave the theater feeling good.  Take your wife, girlfriend, significant other...the night will end good for you ;).

There is a part of the movie that really got me thinking this holiday season. 

Christmas Miracles Come Big and Small

Working in retail for as long as I have I see first-hand how stressed out people become at the holidays.  So much to do and so little time to do it.  So much to buy and so little money to buy it with.  Friends and family too far away to share time with.  Friends and family no longer with us to spend time with.  It 'tis the season to be jolly, but it does take its toll in the days leading up to the big day.

I also get to see first-hand how generous people are. Salvation Army volunteers freezing the tails off to collect donations.  Toys for Tots, Forgotten Harvest, Gleaners Community Food Bank, and so many others making the holiday so much brighter for so many people. 

Stop Watching Start Living

I hear a lot of crazy remarks about my lifestyle.  People love to MSU – Make Stuff Up. These same people who make up stuff about how I get things done also make up stuff about why they can’t get more done.  What kind of stuff am I talking about?  Reading, writing, working out, volunteering, you know the kind of stuff that has the potential to make you more successful and more fulfilled.

I have been subject to lots of imaginary made up stuff about how I can possibly do everything I do in a day: work, kids, life, running…  I was talking to someone this week who told me that they shared with other people (really?) that my mom lived with me and took care of the kids, errands, etc.  Crazy!!! 

There is one very easy secret to how I get it done.  Once revealed you will see how very easy it is for you to get more done. 

‎101 Three-Word Success Tips

A colleague of mine recently posted this in a New Year / New You accountability group on Facebook and I found it so simple and at the same time so powerful that I wanted to pay it forward.
 

‎101 Three-Word Success Tips 

1.Drink more water.
2.Watch less TV.
3.Action makes traction.

4.Try new things.
5.Hang in there.
6.Get better daily.
7.Begin with enthusiasm.
8.Finish with flair.
9.Celebrate small wins.
10.Eliminate wasted steps.
11.Aim higher sooner.
12.Never stop learning.

How to Reduce Stress This Holiday Season

I work in retail so I see first hand how stressed out people can be during the holiday season. Our To-Do lists get bigger and bigger and the days are still only 24 hours long.  Here are some tips to help you get through it.

1. Make time for good nutrition and exercise.  When your body isn't fueled up properly you can feel more stressed.  Stay away from sweets and make sure to make exercise a priority.  Don't hold off until the New Year; get going now.  When you attend holiday parties, enjoy the people instead of the treats.
2. Take a gratitude walk.  Exercise is one of the greatest stress reducers and, according to Jon Gordon, it's impossible to be stressed and thankful at the same time.  As you go for a walk make a mental list of all the things in your life that you appreciate.
3. Volunteer or donate. There are so many groups and individuals who need help this year. Raise your spirits and theirs by giving.  
4. Make lists.  Write down everything you need to do and then prioritize the list.  This is about efficiency, not memory, but it can't hurt there either.  Lists can help get things done in the proper order.  For example: create invitations, send invitations, prepare menu, make grocery list, etc.  There is a proper order to get these done efficiently.  Lists can also keep you from running all over town or from wandering throughout the mall aimlessly.  Write down what you need to shop for.  Next to the items write down the most likely place you will shop for the item and then number your list in the most efficient way to shop for the items by location.

Who	What	Where	Shopping Route
Mom	Ugg Slippers	Mall	3
Dad	Running Shorts	Dick’s  Sporting Goods	1
Sister	Yoga pants	Victoria’s Secret	2

Keep a smile on your face and always remember 'tis the season to be jolly. 

Weekend Playlist 8.27.11

No child left inside this summer.  Get out and play.  If you are in southeast Michigan you must have noticed that the summer days are already starting to get shorter.  Enjoy them while you can.

Free (and almost free) things to do:

Go for a hike.  This will give the family a chance to be together, and experience something beautiful, while getting in a little exercise.  All you need is walking shoes and a water bottle.

Throw something.  Grab a football, baseball or frisbee and go outside for a game of catch.  It's easy to do and you can burn up  to 200 calories per hour doing it.

"The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely the one who dropped it."
-Lou Holtz

One of the absolute best cardio workouts you can get is from jumping rope.  It is a fun way to blast 10-20 calories per minute. Wow! 

What else can you do?
Take the dog for a walk.
Wash your car.
Swing on the swings at the playground.
Play tennis at the high school.
Rearrange your furniture.  Better yet, go buy new furniture at Art Van Furniture.  You can burn 400 calories per hour walking in our beautiful showrooms (yes, I work here), without burning a hole in your wallet.  This weekend starts our super Labor Day Sale.

"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation."
-Plato

It's finally CRIM weekend.  The CRIM offers walking and running events from 1-10 miles.

Pedal for Paws is a 10-35 mile biking event to support animal adoption.  The event takes place in Warren, MI this Saturday, August 27th.

FAST FORWARD

October 2nd, The Brooksie Way.  This one is in Rochester and made the list for scenic fall runs.  We ran it in 2009 and it is definitely my most memorable finish line.  My husband and I lost each other at the beginning of the race, but I caught up to him at around mile 11.  Realizing that we could finish under 2:00 we held hands and booked it to the finish line crossing together at 1:58.

October 16th, Free Press Marathon.  We are signed up for this one making it our second appearance in Detroit.  There is also a marathon in Grand Rapids for the western side of the state on the same day

Huddle to Fight Hunger

Making a difference can be easy when great companies get behind great causes. You can make a difference just by clicking on the link below. Kraft is donating one meal for every click to their page or text. It won't take much effort on your part, but it will make a big difference for someone.

Here is a copy of the email I received with the link. Since I live in Southeast Michigan it is directed to the local food bank near me, but this is a national program. Please click today. The program ends on January 9^th.

Kraft Foods has teamed up with Feeding America and Gleaners for the HUDDLE TO FIGHT HUNGER!

What is "Huddle to Fight Hunger"? Huddle to Fight Hunger is Kraft Foods' biggest-ever multi-brand integrated program. The program features many celebrities and the college football Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl game, all designed to help give Feeding America 20 million meals – or more – during this year's football season.

How does Huddle to Fight Hunger work? The program features a number of ways to help Kraft Foods meet and exceed their 20 million meal donation goal.  Here are a few of the easy ways to help:

• Go to www.HuddletoFightHunger.com, and click "Join the Huddle" (just one simple click!). When you do, Kraft Foods will donate one meal. It's that easy: one person, one click, one meal donated to Gleaners.
  
• Text the word "MEALS" and your zip code to 71717 – Kraft Foods will make a one meal donation to Gleaners for each text.
  
• Play the Kraft Foods HUDDLE TO FIGHT HUNGER Game on Facebook! In the Fight Hunger Facebook Game, you pass the ball to a friend. For every pass thrown, Kraft Foods will donate 1 meal. If you and your friends can keep the drive alive for 4 passes, a touchdown will be scored and Kraft Foods will donate 7 bonus meals, for a total of 10!
  

As a member of the Feeding America network, Gleaners benefits from initiatives like this that raise awareness and funding for the important work we do every day. Millions of Americans are faced with food insecurity – and we're working harder every day to assist individuals and their families right here in Southeast Michigan. It's a daily challenge, and we are always looking for new ways to meet it head on – ways like the Huddle to Fight Hunger initiative!