Holiday Cheer!

Thought I would spread a little holiday cheer! We brought Matthew to see Santa last night. He was such a charmer. He was smiling and giggling at the girls in line behind us. Here is my first attempt at making 'Santa' cookies on my own. I think they turned out pretty darn cute! Saving them for my cookie swap will be a challenge.

Makeover!

Here is our house before... And after...with a new roof, shutters, and door. And, the beautiful rock wall Jeff built. However, I think the change of seasons/lack of landscaping in the front almost makes the after picture look worse than the before! Trust me...the house looks much better!

Better late than never!

I just got my memory card reader back! Here is a belated picture of Matthew as 'The Cowardly Lion.' He LOVED his costume and ran around the front yard while trick-or-treaters came to the front door. When it got too dark to play outside, every time a trick-or-treater would come to the door, Matthew would run to the door and peek through Jeff's legs as he passed out candy. Too cute!

How to Beat a Monday

Mondays often come way too fast. When I am at work, I do a few things to soften the day and make it a little more pleasant. Here are some things that I do on Mondays...or really any day when I need a little something to help me through my day. Whether you are at work or a stay-at-home-mom...sometimes you need a little something to start the week off right!

1. Grab a Starbucks or enjoy some flavored coffee from home. Smelling the amazing aroma of a pumpkin spice latte or Meijer hazelnut coffee makes my morning smell and feel like home when I am away.

2. Give myself a quick hand/arm massage with a scented lotion. The increased circulation and again, wonderful smell helps me to relax and focus on the tasks at hand.

3. Rub a small amount of Aveda Blue Oil on my temples. This amazing oil comes in a small vile with a roller on the end, perfect for your purse and for rubbing on pressure points. The oil cools the skin, which energizes, as well as relaxes.

4. Start the morning with some yoga. I cannot begin to tell you how much yoga has changed my life...with some simple stretching and breathing exercises, I am able to energize my body, feel refreshed, and start my day off right. A mere 5 - 10 minutes is all you need.

5. Take time to appreciate a picture that makes me happy. I have a few pictures in my office that make me smile every time I look at them. By taking a few moments to remember the day the photo was taken or think of the people in the photo, my spirits are immediately lifted.

6. Listen to relaxing music or a thunderstorm/rainstorm on CD. No, this does not make me sleepy. It makes me feel like I am outside enjoying the world, rather than inside working.

These are things that work for me. Everyone has a few things that would make their day a little more enjoyable. I encourage you to seek out these things and make them a part of your daily routine. Most of them just take a few moments or minutes and can impact your mood and day immensely...whether it be a Monday or any day!

Surrender Date

If you are anything like me, sometimes your 'Type A' personality can start to take over your life. When my daily tasks, errands, and need to conquer clutter get in the way of enjoying my family and free time...it's time for an intervention. One way that I am able to put my Type A in check is to plan (or not plan...read on) a 'Surrender Date.'

A Surrender Date is one in which the control freak (ahem!) I mean person exhibiting Type A behavior relinquenshes all control for one night to his/her significant other. This means that the significant other plans the entire date and makes every single decision. From what you will wear, to where you will go, to what you order to eat/drink for dinner...all decided by your better half.

It actually is quite fun not having to think about or plan a thing! It frees up your mind to simply enjoy the night. Think you could do it? Give up control for an entire night? I dare ya!

*I was first made aware of the idea of a Surrender Date while listening to Dr. Laura Berman on XM radio. I love her radio show and find a lot of her ideas/advice to be practical and easy to incorporate into my busy life. Tune in to her show on channel 156 at 5:00PM weekdays.

Think...BLUE!

Jeff, Matthew, and I are so excited to announce that we will be welcoming a baby BOY in March! I just KNEW it! My intuition was right, and I couldn't be happier! Matthew and his little brother are going to be best buddies. I am looking forward to bringing the boys to see their first MSU football game, buying a wagon for them to ride around the neighborhood in, and for so much more. I am one lucky mommy!

Happy Birthday Matthew!

Yesterday was Matthew's First Birthday. We had a party at my parents' and had so many wonderful guests to share in the celebration! Matthew had a great time playing with all of his friends and family. Thank you to everyone who made his day so special.