Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a great weekend! This past weekend was spent running errands in preparation for the upcoming week. On Saturday, I got a chance to do some bridesmaid dress shopping with my dear friend Brittani. It was so fun to meet some of the other bridesmaids in her wedding party and decide on a dress for her destination wedding in Myrtle beach. Hope you all have a great week!

1. Realize- that happiness is a choice…you can make the decision to “be happy” each morning.

2. Remember- that happiness is contagious. Make someone smile, and the good feelings come right back to you.

3. Be Grateful- for the little things in life that are free. Make a list, and add to it each morning.

4. Believe- that everything happens for a reason.

5. Give away some courage every day! Encourage others and you will find an unending source of happiness!

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Happy 2015 & Happy January 1st! You know what this means? Everyone is going to start hitting the gym today, eating tons of vegetables, and drinking tons of water. How long will this last? Statistics say that only 10% of people stick with their resolutions throughout the entire year (not good odds, folks!).  I have always been torn about setting a New Year’s resolutions because they sound like a good idea but usually turn into these unrealistic challenges we create for ourselves.

Instead of beginning the upcoming year with energy and enthusiasm, I end up dreading my new goals of losing weight and cutting back on sweets. This year I will vow to start the year on a more positive note celebrating and appreciating the little moments instead of focusing on changes I should or need to make.

Here are a few things I look forward to doing this year:

• climbing back into bed on the weekends without feeling guilty
• Read more books and watch more news
• spend more time outside 
• eat breakfast for dinner
• declutter and organize more
• take more day trips
• less texting, more calls
• go to church more regularly
• stop sweating the small stuff
• help a stranger
• get dressed up more often wear heels more freguently
• say yes more often
• volunteer
• floss more often

2015 is going to be an awesome year, I can feel it.

When you think about the month of November  which is now less than a week away most of us associate it with giving thanks and being thankful for what we have. Why do we only focus our attention on giving thanks in a given month when it should be year round. 

I have decided to challenge myself during the month of November to give thanks to something I am grateful for each day. If you want to participate in my be thankful challenge all you have to do is wake up each morning and ask yourself “what am i thankful for today?” write it down and make a list. It doesn’t need to life changing or require a lot of thought. 

While Thanksgiving only happens once a year we can all make resolution to wake up and express appreciation each morning. Thank a co-worker, a parent, a friend, a stranger holding the door or the waitress bringing you coffee and see if you don’t feel a little bit better after doing it. 

Happy Monday, friends! This week let’s focus on challenging ourselves to go above and beyond with everything we do. Challenging ourselves is one of the most important things we can do to increase our quality of life. We not only improve as individuals but also enhance the lives of those around us. Here is a quick list of fiver reasons you should challenge yourself this week:

1)      Help yourself grow as a person: work on being more genuine, kind, honest, considerate, spontaneous, spiritual, etc.

2)      Educate yourself: A complacent, inactive mind is a sad thing. Continue to educate yourself on things that interest you.

3)      Become healthier physically and mentally. Without health we have nothing. We can challenge ourselves to lose weight, eat better & exercise.

4)      Build Wealth Money can’t buy happiness but it can help us rest easier and enjoy life more! Set goals and challenge yourself to make more, save more and have more money, money, money.

5)      Become a better friend or partner- Having good, real friends is mandatory for being happy, but are we being the best friend we can be?

Happiness is usually the end results of successful challenges, but they can be challenges all on their own. Why not challenge yourself to be happier? This will help you better understand exactly what it is you need to attain happiness in your life.

As women, we all go through the very same setbacks and funks ( self-doubt to exercise ruts and relationship woes). With tomorrow being the first day of October let’s try to focus this month on doing more of what makes us happy.

“I’m unhappy with my job, but I’m going to stick it out for another year.”

“I’ve fallen off the bandwagon with my exercise routine!”

I am sure many of these phrases have come out of your mouth a time or two. Not putting your happiness first is one of the worst things you can do for your spirit. October is the perfect time to starting changing your way of thinking. When we do things out of love, life gets that little bit easier.

Don’t put off what it is you truly want. It’s never ever to late to do what matters. October is your month to start making it happen, to get back on track or to choose a new track entirely!

Cheers to October and a new you!

1. Mess creates stress. Use Sunday as a day to clean out the clutter and organize your house/apartment making the following work week less hectic.

2. Sell your TV. You’re just watching other people get successful versus doing the things that will get you to your dreams.

3. Run routines. Follow strict daily routines. It’s important to wake up at the same time everyday, start work at a consistent time, exercise and the same time and relax at the same time everyday. 

4. Wake up early; waking up early gives you a lot more time in the day to be productive and get your life in order

5. Don’t say yes to every request. Most of us have a deep need to be liked. I am definitely guilty of over committing myself during the week instead of saying no.  That translates into us saying yes to everything – which is the end of your productivity for the day because you get out of your routine.

6. Get fit. Getting to your absolute best physical condition will create a ton of energy, help you focus and increase your creativity.

7. Drink more water. When you’re dehydrated, you’ll have far less energy. And get less done. Drink up!

8. Work in 90 minute blocks with 10 minute intervals to recover and refuel. You need to take breaks throughout the day to regain your focus.

9. Use your commute time. If you’re commuting 30 minutes each way every day – get this: at the end of a year, you’ve spent 6 weeks of 8 hour days in the car. Use this time to make calls, listen to a book or schedule appointments. Remember, the fastest way to double your income is to triple your rate of learning so might as well be learning during this extra hour a day.

10. Get things right the first time. Most people are easily distracted these days. And so they make mistakes. Get it flawless the first time around. This saves you days of having to fix problems.

So we’ve made it to another hump day! Remember to start each day with a grateful heart. There is so much more to be grateful for than to complain about if you’ll just appreciate the little gifts he gives you. Being consciously grateful is essential to a happy life. It keeps you positive and optimistic, which are two of the most important things you can be. Never forget that you get what you give, and being a positive person will bring more positive people, events and opportunities into your life.