12 Days of Holiday Joy DAY 12!

12 days of what I hope was informative and inspirational to keeping the joy in your holiday season. I often believe that in many cases it is the small bite size shifts that create lasting and big change in our lives. I sincerely hope everyone has found some joy in this season and only hope you find more adventure, joy and inspiration in 2016!

DAY 12: Take Inventory

The end of the holidays can be just as joyful as the beginning. For some it is a time of great relief. The decorations can come down, kids can get back to normal routines and maybe family who was visiting is now back home and your house is in order. But note! This is a great time to also plan for the upcoming year. How will you sustain this joy, motivation and inspiration all year round? What little things can you incorporate in your life to be joyful, gracious and get more love out of life? 

I invite you to take inventory. Get a pen and a piece of paper or your calendar and jot down some intentions you will plan for yourself and your family. Stick to them and take each day one day at a time. 

Keep learning, trying and incorporating as much as what you want in your life each day. 

The Big Bucket List Book Review and Giveaway!

Life is so short. It has always been my thoughts to fill it with as much fun, joy, laughter and adventure as one possibly could. Then Gin Sander took it to a whole new level! And this kinda content is exactly what this blog is about. 

This book revels how to turn your bucket list into a well-lived life. This Author/Adventurer reveals 100+ experiences of a lifetime for any budget in this new book by Gin Sander. Gin Sander has raced cars, dined in a medieval castle with a cast of an opera, and had her portrait painted three times. 

Why? Because her mantra in life is to experience as much as she can....as fully as she can. 

Sander encourages others to "stop listing and start living" in her new book. Just in time for the New Year, The Big Bucket List Book features a wide range of fresh ideas for infusing your life with a bit of glamour, adventure and style- whatever your budget, including:

* Galas, parties and Get-Togethers: Marvelous Ways to Mix, Mingle and Meet New Friends
* Thrill Your Taste Buds: Food and Wine Experiences
* Make Your Mark: Irresistibly Fun DIY Activities and Skills
* Life is Learning: Must-Know New Skills
* Create and Inspire: Art, Film, Theatre, and More!
*Off the Beaten Path: One-of-a-Kind Travel Experiences
*Epic Adventures Glamourous Goals and Getaways



The Big Bucket List Book will change the way you look at the world and empower you to reach for all of the big and little things you want to achieve. Learn how to make your next chapter the most enriching and personally fulfilling of them all...and maybe change the world while you are at it!

At 218 pages this is an easy read. But I would slow down! Read a section and accomplish one item each month. Much more fun! Some of the ideas are simple like Restore an Object You Love whether a piece of furniture or an entire room in your home, think about the satisfaction in accomplishing something you had not found time for but absolutely could not live without now that you have done it. I love that each section of the book she offers us resources and a link to help in our search for completing the bucket list item. Now, you may never finish all the things in the book, but surely you will be inspired to create your own list and knock a few off each month or year to bring enjoyment and fulfillment to your life. 

About the Author: Jennifer "Gin" Sander is the New York Times Bestselling author of many popular lifestyle books. A former senior editor and chief book developer fro Prima Publishing, her work has been featured in Cosmopolitan, People, the Boston Globe, and USA Today, and she has appeared on Fox and Friends, C-Span's Book TV, NBC and more. She lives near Sacramento, California.  The Big Bucket List Book: 133 Experiences of a Lifetime is available in January 2016 for $14.99; Self-Help; Trade Paper.

Are you ready?  Now is your chance to win a copy of the book! (US and Canada only) Share this post on social media (Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram) and tag me on it to enter a chance for the book! Winner will be announced January 3rd!

I received this book free from Sourcebooks free and was asked to review it and participate in a book giveaway. All opinions are my own. 

12 Days of Holiday Joy DAY 11!

DAY 11: Rest and Relax!

There is enough excitement and things on your To Do list during the holiday season. It is important to do what restores you and replenishes you. Sometimes that is a good old fashion nap but sometimes it might be catching up a book you have not finished or thumbing through a magazine. Whatever it is, be sure to get your rest in. 

When we rest we are more rejuvenated and better able to serve others and be present for others like our family. We think more clearly and are more able to juggle multiple things at once. Not that I advise that, but that is usually everyone's normal. Be sure to dim the light, get quiet and relax this season.

Tips to setting your New Years Goals!

I am not one to set resolutions. I think of my year as a continuum. A constant opportunity of hours, days, weeks and months to mend, improve, fix and grow as an individual. This is the mindset needed for me to be able to work toward my goals. You however, might have a real specific resolution or goal you would like to meet and if that is the case, you will need a plan. A plan is only as good as it is executed! 

What we do know from research is that only 14% of Americans set resolutions in 2014. More interesting is that 61 % of people who wrote down their goals were more successful than the 43% who did not. Your odds of succeeding gets even better when you share your goals with a friend or family member. By month 6, many people abandon the goals or resolution. 

Try to make your resolution measurable. For instance, by April 2016  I will have ran 10 miles a week, or by June 1st I will be 90% debt free. Make it as specific as you can and create small tasks around it that will make it possible. 

So, let's set ourselves up for success from the beginning! Here are some easy, simple tips for goal setting. I will be talking about this more in the upcoming month, so stay tuned! 

Share your best tips for keeping your resolutions with us!