Motivation Monday - Less is More!

Source: Uploaded by user via Martha on Pinterest

Very busy times for me this past week and for the next two upcoming weeks!

I've had to put all my minimalist projects on hold, even put all holiday stuff on hold in order to be fully present with my boys for their chorus performances. Both are really wonderful singers and both in the best most unbelievable high school chorus. This year one is a freshman, the other a senior, the only year I will be able to see them perform together. They average six concerts a week at this time of year and also both have staring roles in a series of dinner theater performances.

This is a once in a lifetime time kind of thing for them and for me and my husband, it's our main focus right now.

I will be a little scarce for a few weeks - this would be a great time for those of you who would like to be featured at my new blog Minimalist in the Making here to submit. Click here for more info.

No matter what your focus is right now, take time to enjoy the holiday season!

Originally posted at Minimalist in the Making

More about → Motivation Monday - Less is More!

R & R for Sunday, December 4th, 2011

R  and R Tip # 78:  Relaxing through the holidays

If you are like me and have a lot of preparation tasks before Christmas comes you might enjoy a few of the following ways to relax

Watch those corny holiday specials. Yes, even the cartoons. Be open to their simple but timeless messages and let them warm you all over. My favorite has to be this truth from Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas:  It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.

Take some time off. Enjoy a day of baking cookies and sweets, making decorations or doing a craft without fitting it in between work, chores and shopping. Turn off the cell phones and the computer. Do just one thing at a time. Master the challenge of single tasking.

Send an old-fashioned, put a stamp on it holiday greeting. Instead of mailing 300 holiday cards or a generic newsletter, write a handful of letters to those you love but will not see this season. Use some festive paper, a favorite pen, and your best handwriting. Connect with those far away who are also weary from the world’s troubles. Tell them you care

Set aside time each day to stare at a snowfall, take in the tree lights or just agree with the angels and pray for peace. It can only help.

See you all next week!

Love, Live, Laugh and Be Happy!

ma 

More about → R & R for Sunday, December 4th, 2011

It's GITTING time!

The idea of a GIT Challenge is to play catch up with whatever we need to get done. Just leave a comment saying you'll play along, minimize this post so you can easily come back to it throughout the day, stop what you are doing (meaning get off the computer and stop procrastinating!), take an hour right now to catch up on things you need to do and work as fast as you can!

Come back every hour or two and leave a comment with your progress. Check out what other participants have accomplished - all in the comment section, no blog hopping necessary. After updating, get back to work for another hour or so until you're done for the day. We always accomplish so much during these challenges!

Jump in anytime, there's no special time to start or finish. It's fun working together - join us!

More about → It's GITTING time!

Question of the Week

It’s December First… Only Twenty Four More Days until Christmas…

Are You Ready… OK, maybe not yet… But Have You Started Thinking About it and Making a List…

Our Christmas Lights are up Outside… The Christmas Decorations for Inside Have Been Brought in from the Garage…

Today I Put Up the Advent Calendar House… Next, Write up 24 Quotes from Christmas and Disney Movies to Riddle the Boys… Or You can put Scripture, Inspirational Messages, Candy, Toys or Money… Or Simply Use it as a Countdown to Christmas…

I Bought my Christmas Cards and Received my First Christmas Card… Next, Fill Them out and Mail Them…

My December To Do List:

1. Advent Calendar Quotes
2. Write out Christmas Cards
3. Mail Christmas Cards
4. Put up the Tree
5. Decorate the Tree
6. Put up the Inside Christmas Decorations
7. Keep the Kittens out of the Tree and Decorations
8. Shop for Christmas Presents for the Boys
9. Fill Goodie Bags to Give to my Associates at Work
10. Wrap Presents
11. Bake Cookies
12. Eat Cookies
13. Watch Christmas Movies
14. Listen to Christmas Music
15. Drink Hot Chocolate with Whip Cream
16. Visit the Zoo Christmas Lights
17. Visit the Neighborhood Christmas Lights
18. Prepare Christmas Eve Dinner of Ham
19. Spend Time With the Family
20. Wait for Santa
21. Prepare Pillsbury Orange Sweet Rolls for Christmas Morning
22. Open Stockings
23. Open Presents
24. Remember the Reason for the Season

Happy Christmas…

More about → Question of the Week

True Gift - A Chill Holiday Season

The tide of holiday stress is coming, and you can see it all around with the overblown consumerism and expectations. I have ridden that wave off and on throughout my adult life, but not this year.

The biggest gift I am giving, is, To Myself and it's a Break. I have decided to get off the "Stress Mess Train", and just be in the moment and present. I am focused on creating memories, especially with our teens on the cusp of young adulthood, and leaving the nest soon. There will be plenty of "Merry and Bright" as we all enjoy decorating, entertaining, and good food. But I will work to enjoy the process and journey, as much as the end result.

We choose our emotions, and I have learned this the hard way. I choose to be "light", a state of appreciation or grace. We have so much to be thankful, and this is really the meaning of the holidays.

It is a privilege to "pay it forward" this season. This includes - telling the cashier at my neighborhood drugstore how much I appreciate her, donating old blankets and towels to the animal shelter, or purchasing toys and clothes for a girl in foster care. This things cost little, but make us feel so rich.

Thank you for sharing with with me, your time and thoughtfulness. I hope that you will give yourself the gift of kindness this season, and witness how wonderfully contagious it is.

My best to you always and all ways, Martha

Photo of Point Lobos State Preserve, Carmel By The Sea, California

More about → True Gift - A Chill Holiday Season

Motivation Monday - It's that time of year

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving - the holiday season is really in full swing now!

Would you believe I haven't yet given the first thought to shopping or decorating? Guess I can totally forget any kind of crafts this year. It's been a very busy year for me and about to get even busier. As of this week the boys will have 6 concerts per week, 3 on week nights and 3 on the weekends. I somehow have to work full time, manage my usual stuff, be ready to attend all these events, try to find time in between to shop, decorate and prepare for Christmas. To top it off I have company coming this weekend, and then more the following weekend. I don't know how I'm going to manage it all, but somehow I know I will.

With that said, I seriously doubt if I will have time in the upcoming month for my usual posts. For December I will be bringing you little more than a single thought, quote or photo on Mondays - just a little blurb of motivation for you for the week...

                              Source: tumblr.com via Martha on Pinterest

Have a great week and a wonderful holiday season!

More about → Motivation Monday - It's that time of year

R & R for Sunday, November 27th, 2011

R AND R TIP # 77:  RELIEF is in the simple things

Many of us tend to get stressed out this time of year and I found a few SIMPLE THINGS that might just keep us all a bit more peaceful.  

Enjoy a Candy Cane 

 Studies show that just the menthol smell alone will pep you up to enjoy the holiday festivities.  It's also yummy for your tummy, helping to calm an upset stomach.

 Grin While You Shop

Having a cheery attitude during the holiday season increases the chances that those around you will feel warm and fuzzy too, according to one study.

Make Friends With Hot Cocoa

Just holding a warm beverage makes us more generous and friendly, And it turns out that warm hands are linked to warm hearts by way of a part of the brain called the insula, which helps process both physical temperature and emotions.

Peel Yourself a Clementine

When researchers mapped the moods created by certain fragrances, they found the scent of this sweet, juicy fruit more likely to boost joy. Not only will a whiff of one help keep you happy, the vitamin C, calcium, and potassium in it will help keep you healthy too.

Now that Thanksgiving is over most of us will be getting ready for Christmas.  There is an old Christmas carol that says.. All is Calm, All is bright.. Keep Calm and Bright this holiday season.  Relax, Enjoy, and Remember to get that much needed Rest too

See you all next week!

Love, Live, Laugh and Be Happy!

ma 

More about → R & R for Sunday, November 27th, 2011