Handbook for 2011

My co-worker and friend Mendy shared this today. I thought it was wonderful and wanted to share it with all of you!! Hope you enjoy.

HANDBOOK 2011

 Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy

5. Make time to pray.

6. Play more games

7. Read more books than you did in 2010.

8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day

9. Sleep for 7 hours.

10. Take a 30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile!

Personality:

11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

12. Eliminate negative thoughts and things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive and in the present moment.

13. Don't over do. Know your limits.

14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.

16. Dream more while you are awake!

17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner of his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.

20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are part of the curriculum; they appear and fade away but the lessons you learn last a lifetime.

23. Smile and laugh more.

24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:

25. Call your family often.

26. Each day do something good for others.

27. Forgive everyone for everything.

28. For a learning experience spend some time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 8.

29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

30. What other people think of you is none of your business.

31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

32. Do the right thing!

33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful.

34. GOD heals everything.

35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.

37. The best is yet to come.

38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.

39. BE HAPPY EACH DAY!

Last but not the least:

40. Consider forwarding this 2011 message to everyone you care about as I just did.

Special Request!

A friend of mine is a HUGE Saints fan......did I mention HUGE!!! For Christmas I made her a bracelet in Saints colors!

She liked it so much she asked me to make her a necklace for the Saint's playoff game. I willingly accepted this challenge, even though she only gave me 3 days notice!! I don't usually work with yellow gold (I prefer silver tones so that's what I usually work with.) Here's what I came up with.

I hope she likes it!! She says she does ;) I enjoyed branching out of my comfort zone and trying something different! I even came up with some new ideas. 

Oh and did I mention I had to add a pair of matching earrings!

I'm even thinking of doing a whole line of sports inspired pieces!! (but don't tell anyone....It's my idea!!)

Resolution Renovation

I decided to take a different approach to making a resolution...and yes I said A resolution. Now I can't take credit for all of this myself....I got some helpful advice from some wonderful people like Jillian Michaels,  Bob Harper and a couple other TV personalities.

I have decided that this year is going to be about me! I am going to take more time for myself. I thought this was a good resolution that I could build on, one general goal that I can expand on during the upcoming year!!

So I started off small...kinda... I got my hair cut. This may not sound like much, but it had been over a year. I was actually thinking of cutting it myself. But I didn't! So Saturday afternoon while my girls and I were at the mall, I stopped in to get it done. I already new what I was going to do and they were able to take me right away!! It was like a huge weight was lifted!! I love it so much (Pictures to come!!) I am even thinking about taking it a little shorter! And don't get me wrong I loved my long hair, but I need a change. This week I'm hoping to play with the color!!

I know getting my hair cut doesn't sound like a big deal, but it's hard for me to find the time for little things like this. I know it doesn't take long, but I don't always have a lot of extra time/money for the little things sometimes!

Instead of just saying I'm going on a diet or going to exercise more. I'm going to expand on my All About Me philosophy!!  One of my first goals is making sure I drink plenty of water everyday. I feel so much better when I do. Once I get that down...I will expand...slowly...more fruits and veggies.....time on treadmill....etc.

This is the Year of Melissa.....and it's going to be a great one!!

Time...again

I know I have blogged about time...or the lack thereof...before.

This time is going to be short and sweet. You see I had something in my head...an idea for a blog....but it's not there now...

It was about time...or how I manage my time (not well) or something.

Long story short, I have no clue....it might come to me, but who knows when.

If it does I will be sure to share.

In the meantime!! Don't let the time slip away from you. Do the things that are important to you...with out having to think of someone else first. I think this train of thought might be the only way to get anything done!!

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas.....stay safe...and warm!!!

Songs

I am sitting here...too late..I should be in bed.
But Madison is up...and Kelly is up....so I too am up (I'm off tomorrow!)


And I'm bliping like crazy. (and drinking beer!) (((not always a good combo!!)))


It just hit me.....I love music...not that....but songs 'speak" to me.


I know I'm not the only one. But most songs reflect or can correct my mood.


I just listened to Same Old Lang Syne by Dan Fogelberg. For some reason this song always makes me think of my high school boyfriend. I'm not sure why...we haven't ever run into each other in this fashion. I guess because he's the one  I thought I would be with (at least at the time).


Music can be weird that way. Not only does it spark memories, but can initiate feelings that have laid dormant forever....and really aren't associated with the song.


I love music though...I love the way it makes me feel, even when it makes me feel sad. 


Music is my muse!! I play it in some form all through the day. So many times I get to relive the past and sometimes....the future. 


What's your favorite song?
Does it have  special meaning to you or do you just like it?


I have so many questions....it's hard for me to narrow down mine, but I think my 2 favorites are Pink Who knew and Foo Fighters Best of You!!


Don't ask me to explain...not sure I could!

No More Seafood...for Madison

We went to Pei Wei tonight for dinner. no big deal right...good food...fun family time...

That's what we thought! We ordered the crab wantons for an appetizer. We have them all the time in Chinese resaturates...but they are usually not made with real crab meat.

After Madison took one bite, Kelly and I looked at each other... we knew better. How could we have forgotten.

Madison has a food intolerance to seafood. We thought for awhile it was just white fish (read fish sticks) but it has now happened with crab and lobster.

We keep hoping she will outgrow this intolerance, but every now and then (once a year or so) we slip up and discover she has not outgrown it.

On this particular night, she took 1 bite.....1 bite of the crab meat. Said she didn't think she liked it and pushed her plate away. We just stared at each other...realizing what just happened and what we where in for. We hope and prayed that the 1 bite she took wasn't enough to upset her tummy.

We were wrong. After we came I home I jumped every time she hiccuped or burped. She kept saying "I'm ok mommy". So I finally put her to bed thinking we were in the clear...I was wrong.

She woke up vomiting and there was nothing she could do. It comes so strongly she has no control. I grabbed her up and stuck her in the bathtub...still holding the vomit bowl!

I feel for my baby. The funny thing is she had fish and other seafood before all this happened with no problems. She used to devour fried shrimp and loved crab or lobster bisque.

I'm not sure how or why....but I hope at some point in her life she will be able to eat seafood....It really is yummy!

Bra..it's a pocket...right?

Ok so I will admit it....I hate wearing a bra. Seriously....IF I have to wear one I will make every attempt to make it a sports bra!

I do make use of bras around the house though!! hubby laughs at me.... You see...maybe I should add that i don't like clothes either... So around the house I usually end up in yoga pants. Well any of you out their that wear them, know, they don't have pockets.

So when I'm flitting from one room to another, with baby and children in tow. I often don't have any hands left for essentials...like my cell phone. I have to stick it somewhere...so in my boobs seems to be the sensible place!

Even if I'm not wearing a bra...just a tight shirt, my boobs are well endowed enough that they can still hold on to things. (yeah i know...I'm just bragging now!!)

So tell me....do you have a pocket substitute? Do you use your bras for unusual things??