I have always been stuck in the middle. I’m a middle child, and I tend to use phrases like “better safe than sorry” and “moderation in everything.” But I also do crazy things like decide to get a job 5 states away in Yellowstone Park during college or start a blog when I’m technically challenged. Creating goals and a plan is something I enjoy doing. But too much of a detailed plan makes me feel squirrelly. See? I’m stuck somewhere in the middle. That is why I love the concept of creating a focus word for the year. When you develop a focus word or phrase it allows you to have a target goal for yourself through which every decision in the new year is filtered. The bullseye remains consistent, but the plan on how to stay true to your overarching goal can be a little more fluid. Intrigued? [Read more…]
6 Simple Ways to Capture Family Memories in 2018
When scrapbooking was at the height of its popularity, I would look longingly at the beautiful crafted books that scrapbooking moms would create. They were just so beautiful! But scrapbooking required a lot of time and a chaos of paper, stickers and special scissors to be everywhere. Scrapbooking also required you to CUT your pictures, which is something I would agonize over. Alas, my scrapbooking career came to a screeching halt before it began. Which is why I have had to learn easier ways to record sweet family moments that only took a little time each day! So here are 6 simple ways to capture family memories in 2018 that only take minutes a day. [Read more…]
6 Survival Tips to Reduce Holiday Stress
Snow, the smell of cookies baking and twinkling lights are all things that may remind us of the holidays. So does arguments, stress and busyness. For some the holiday season represents a positive time spent with family, cooking and shopping. While others struggle with anxiety at the thought of being around relatives, the expectations of trying to be happy and all the preparation required as the holidays draw near. Most people land somewhere in the middle. So how can we mentally and emotionally prepare ourselves this year? We want to enjoy and create some joyous holiday memories while still being realistic about our time and what is out of our control? Let’s lean into this question together to develop 6 survival tips to reduce holiday stress. [Read more…]
3 Inspiring Mompreneurs for the Aspiring Creative
Dreaming of creating a business? Would you love to bring in some additional income, but not sure how to juggle your time as a mom? I want to share with you 3 inspiring mompreneurs for the aspiring creative.
When I was in college we had email. And that was it. Oh, and the fax machine. I hadn’t even heard of the internet. So as a woman, I had two choices: Career woman or Stay-at-home-mom. So I got to hand it to the generation behind me that rode the internet wave and developed their own choices. Out of this generation has sprung the Mompreneur movement. Mompreneurs want to develop their interests on the side while keeping family a priority. So if you are dreaming of a future business here are 3 inspiring mompreneurs for the aspiring creative. [Read more…]
Pursuing Your Passion while Achieving Your Priorities
Several years after college, I interned at the Albert B. Sabin archive in Cincinnati. At the time, I was a single mom working full-time as a flight attendant pursuing a master’s degree in Library and Information Science (I know, crazy, right? I’ll come back to that). Albert B. Sabin was one of the men credited for eradicating polio with his oral polio vaccine, in this country and around the world. We are talking huge accomplishment. But as I combed through his life I saw all his time spent away from his family. There were several broken relationships in his personal life. It made me wonder. At the end of our life what will really matter? Does accomplishing a great goal or dream outweigh the cost to our personal life? Is it possible to pursue your passion while achieving your priorities? [Read more…]
10 Healthy Habits to Strengthen Your Family Bond
When my kids were younger I felt like I had more time to devote to each little step forward. As they grew life seemed to go faster and faster! It felt harder to keep an eye on the big picture of what I wanted for my children when I was just focusing on what had to be done for that day! As a blended family, Country Boy and I knew we were going to have to make strengthening our family bond a priority. Otherwise we were in real danger of acting separately from one another and not as a cohesive group. And at the end of the day, what matters most to us is not the to do list, but the relationships within our family and the character of our children. Here are 10 healthy habits to strengthen your family bond that we found benefited our family. [Read more…]
Creating Personal Summer Goals
Summer is my time “off” from homeschooling so the first week of June is always a sigh of relief. However, around here the list of summer duties can be never ending as we plant and tend our garden and fields, can vegetables, harvest hay, make jam and get kids to summer activities while also making time to relax. Inevitably, I begin adding more and more items to my to do list. By August, I wonder where the summer went! I’m sure you can relate! Creating personal summer goals can allow you to use the summer hours wisely, accomplishing and enjoying what is most important to you this summer.
Summer can also be a perfect time to practice creating goals if “learning how to set goals” is one of your summer goals:). Three months is long enough to satisfy a long term goal planner but still brief enough to feel doable to a short term goal planner. Learn more about your unique goal setting style here. [Read more…]
Understand Your Goal Setting Style
“Hey, Honey…I have an idea,” my husband typically starts the conversation. “Um, you do?” I hesitantly reply. Now, I love hearing all my Country Boy’s thoughts and dreams. However, I have discovered that almost none of his ideas are small or short term. His goals usually involve packing boxes or lots of late dinners and long Saturdays, whereas, I enjoy setting short term goals. As we have comes to realize our different goal setting styles, we are able to work together more smoothly. It is vital to understand your goal setting type as you set about accomplishing your goals. Whether you are talking about personal goals, family goals or business goals, you will want to understand your goal setting style!
You have a secret power when it comes to setting goals. You are naturally gifted at accomplishing certain types of goals. As you gain understanding of your unique skill set, goal setting will become so much easier. And people will begin to seek you out for your ability!
6 Activities to Help Teens Discover Their Passion and Purpose
From my years working with teens, I have noticed that when a teen connects with their interests they are more focused on their future. They tend to be more motivated, as they press forward and over obstacles to obtain their goals. But how do we help our teen find their passion and make time in their schedule for career development? Here are 6 simple activities to help teens discover their passion and purpose! [Read more…]
