For most people, the holidays mean spending time with family. That’s ideal if the family gets along well.  But for those who do not have the best relationships with their family, this can be a stressful time of year. Additionally, if people are experiencing loss, illness, injury or ovewhelm, the holidays may be especially difficult.

Sticks and stones may break my bones…you know the rest, right?  How many times have you heard that saying?  Countless times, I’m sure.  But, have you ever really stopped to think about it?  WORDS will never hurt me.  Words will NEVER hurt me.  Words will never hurt ME.  No matter how many ways I spin

In February of 2020, I lost my mother.  It still feels weird to type this statement.  And, it was every bit as challenging as I thought it would be. Even though my mom was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma back in 2009, I never really considered losing her as an option.  I partly blame her for

In a previous post, I wrote about forgiving someone who continually hurts you.  I wanted to write this blog to make sure that we’re crystal clear about the difference between true forgiveness vs. being a doormat.  Forgiving others is important.  Harboring bitterness and hatred in your heart is detrimental to your own well-being.  So, I’ll

Do you want to stay fit without going to the gym every day? I have the perfect idea for you. You should set up a home gym!  If you have even a little free space in your home, you can make this worthwhile investment. I started working on my home gym at the beginning of

The holidays are a common time when people overspend. It is easy to make last-minute choices that have long-term consequences if you are not intentional about creating a budget for holiday spending. It is also a good idea to research some tips to save money to give you an idea of ways to decrease your

Are you a woman juggling work, family, and home? Kudos to you for displaying utter strength. However, in your busy schedule, do you ever make time for yourself? I am afraid to hear what your answer to this question might be.  Many of us are so guilty of taking care of everything and everyone around

There can be so much pressure during the holidays to do things and go places that may not necessarily fit into your vision. Sometimes, it seems like everyone has an idea of how they want you to spend your time, money, and energy for the holiday season. Instead of getting frustrated or overwhelmed, how about

Apologizing to someone when you make a mistake is tough.  I’d argue that it’s even tougher to forgive yourself.  Why are we so hard on ourselves when we mess up?  Oftentimes, we harbor guilt for our mistakes for much longer than we should.  Today I want to share with you some tips for forgiving yourself

Having a regular self-care routine is important, but do you have a holiday self-care routine? Thanksgiving and Christmas are two very popular holidays that often come with lots of chaos for the person responsible for all the planning.  If you are part of the crew that makes the holiday magic happen, you’ll want to read

If you’re looking for Christmas gift ideas for a college girl, you’re in the right place. This is the ultimate guide for shopping for the best gifts this holiday season. When shopping for gifts for college students, you want to focus on thoughtful gift ideas that are functional. Otherwise, the gift might just end up

Thanksgiving is a fun time to for families to get together and celebrate their love and gratitude for each other. Many families enjoy a gathering filled with traditional recipes that everyone looks forward to. Adding a fun theme to the mix will make the celebration a little more exciting! Today, I’m sharing some fun Thanksgiving

When you think Thanksgiving, I bet the first thing that comes to your mind is food. I think of the large spreads of traditional recipes that we look forward to all year long. You probably also think of family. Thanksgiving is a time that lots of families gather and spend time together. I hope you

The holidays are supposed to be a joyful time. But in the blink of an eye, holiday dysfunction can come along and crash the party. Everyone does not have good intentions when it comes to spreading love and joy, but you do not have to let their negativity rub off on you. Knowing how to

The idea of the holidays usually brings excitement and joy for most people. The pumpkin spice lattes, the festive decor and the holiday music can spark all kinds of emotions.  Sadly, those emotions are not always positive ones. For some, the thought of the holidays brings added stress. Let’s talk about three reasons you may

Thanksgiving is the time of year that we are often reminded to be thankful for the people and things in our lives. It’s easy to be grateful when things are going well, but when things are going tough, it can be a challenge to remember exactly how much we have to be thankful for. Let’s

Turkey is often what you will find at the center of Thanksgiving dinner celebrations year after year. But what if you are not a fan of this popular holiday family favorite? There are many nontraditional Thanksgiving dinner alternatives that are just as delicious and I’m going to share some ideas with you today.  Now, if

Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude. It’s a time to be grateful for your blessings and the things that matter to you. Unfortunately, Thanksgiving can sometimes be an overwhelming burden due to finances, family members, health issues and other worries. To keep from feeling totally stressed out this Thanksgiving, it’s important to know how to

Thanksgiving can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a lot of work! The joy of preparing for your family and friends can quickly turn into frustration and a big headache. Before you know it, the excitement can turn to chaos and your to-do list can quickly become way too long to

Over the years, your family has probably developed some holiday traditions that you hold near and dear to your heart. Some of those traditions may have been passed down from several generations. As times change, the need and desire for new ideas may arise. You may want to incorporate some new practices into your traditions