New Year's Resolution Success Secrets

We're just a few short hours away from another New Year's Eve celebration and I was wondering how many of you make New Year's Resolutions?

I came across some statistics on how many of us will actually keep our New Year's resolution and the results were interesting.

New Year's Resolution Statistics

• 40% of all adults make New Year's resolutions
• 71% keep their resolution for 2 weeks
• 64% are able to keep their goal for 1 month
  
• 50% last for 3 months
• 46% make it until the 6 month mark

So, how do we then keep our goals for 2010?

Here are 5 Success Secrets:

1. Keep it Real- Make attainable goals that are realistic for you and where you are at in life. For example, if you plan to run a marathon in the spring and have never even jogged around the block, it is unlikely that you will achieve your resolution. Choosing an unattainable goal is a sure fire way to set yourself up for failure and disappointment.

2. Baby Steps- Sometimes our goals and dreams for the year are so huge that we need to chop them up into bite-sized pieces. If you plan to lose say 40lbs this year, do it in 5lb stages and chart out a course for success where you will feel more empowered and less overwhelmed. You could even reward yourself once you achieve each milestone. If you goal is weight loss though, make you reward something other than food.

3. Plan for Success- Sometimes people get caught up more in the hoopla of resolutions and what other people may want for them, or what others' goals are than what they truly desire for themselves. Hope and will alone will not help you achieve your goal. Without a concrete plan for your success, it is likely that the goal you had will start to become less reachable. Any business owner will tell you that a business plan for the year is key to their success, you need to implement the same sort of plan so you can achieve your personal goal(s).

4. Hold Yourself Accountable- There is no better way to keep yourself held accountable than by sharing your resolution with a friend that will cheer you on, but also kick you in the pants when you need it too. If you live with a roommate; spouse or your children, they can help keep you on track by asking you questions like, "Did you work out for an hour today?". The goals that we keep a secret are the ones that we are less likely to achieve.

5. Get Back on the Horse- Most people who make goals to stop smoking, lose weight, spend more time with family and friends or those who vow to do more volunteer work will slip up every now and then. Life is busy and gets in the way of our goals at times, but even if you eat a huge slice of cake or overfill your calendar one week and can't volunteer, there is always next week to get back on track. There's no reason to call the whole thing off. Girl, just get right back up on that horse and keep on riding!

It is so important to have little rewards to look forward to for meeting each milestone of the larger goals you have, so make time for those and keep them in mind as you work away to reach your dreams. It's always fun to have something to look forward to.

If you don't enjoy making New Year's resolutions or goals for fear of putting too much pressure on yourself, maybe you're simply looking to claim more time back in your life so you can have more YOU time. Here are some inspirational words for you from a previous post as you endeavor to fulfill your dreams and love your life.

What is YOUR New Year's Resolution? I actually just refer to mine as my '2010 goals' and I have many of them vs. just one. To be fair, I'll share mine with you, if you share with me yours. ;) You can always leave an 'anonymous' comment, either way, I'd love to hear from you!

Since I won't talk to you all again until tomorrow, Happy New Year! See you in 2010!

Restaurant Tipping Etiquette

Have you ever wondered what etiquette calls for when it comes to tipping? There are so many types of services that require a tip, but today's focus is on dining out.

For many that have been servers at a previous time in life or even still are today, your opinion is probably pretty cut and dry on this matter. Several years ago I worked at an upscale steakhouse part time for a few months and got to learn the ropes of the restaurant business and also see how servers view restaurant diners'. I also got to see how servers were often treated by customers as well.

After that experience I have a whole new appreciation for servers and what their job entails. I was also on the receiving end of poor tipping even when I had gone above and beyond to provide the best possible service. This is a result of those that do not understand tipping etiquette. On the flip side, I can recall some pretty amazing tips too, but those were few and far between. Because of my experiences I personally err on the side of over-tipping vs. under-tipping. Having said that, if someone has done a very poor job and has been rude and unhelpful in solving a dining dilemma, that is also reflected in their tip.

Here are some helpful guidelines to follow so that you won't insult your server- or worse- embarrass a group of friends you may be dining with while splitting the bill.

Tipping Etiquette for Dining Out

1. Tipping is NOT optional. It is expected at restaurants as servers, chefs, bus boys, hostesses, etc., will all be receiving a small share of the server's tip. Servers earn most of their money via tips, not in wages. The hourly rate for servers is very low and is usually under minimum wage. This is a server's incentive to provide the best service possible. The bottom line here is, if you cannot afford to pay the tip after your meal, you should not be dining at that restaurant in the first place. Select a suitable establishment that is more in line with your budget. Many restaurants post their menus online, so it's easy to choose one that will be perfect for you.

2. Be Gracious with Gratuities-In North America, the tipping standard for a good restaurant is between 15-20% with 20% or more showing your gratitude for outstanding service and an overall wonderful dining experience. This amount is based on your meal's total before tax and any coupons or discounts are taken off. Other countries operate very differently and some view tipping as an insult. Before traveling abroad it is important to understand International Etiquette with a special focus on tipping practices.

3. Automatic Gratuities- If you are dining with a party of more than 8 people, you will probably be subject to an automatic gratuity of about 18%. Large parties require more assistance and typically dine longer in a restaurant. These gratuities are added to make the server's and restaurant's life much easier. Be sure not to tip on top of the automatic gratuity, which is easy to do if you are caught up in laughter, great conversation or have had a couple glasses of wine. High end restaurants often use the automatic gratuity method for all tables, so again be sure to check for that so you don't overtip. You will always be welcome to tip on top of the automatic gratuity should you so choose.

4. Handling Poor Service- If your server has been rude, unattentive or has made several errors with your order, you'll want to bring those matters to the attention of the restaurant manager. Many times they will be able to assist you or compensate you in ways that your server may not. If it is something like an undercooked steak, your server should be able to take care of this. This doesn't necessarily warrant a lesser tip. After all, the server cannot control how the chef has created your meal. Perhaps they are unattentive because the restaurant is unusually busy. Try to see it from their point of view. If there is no apology or attempt to make your dining experience enjoyable, you may then want to reflect that in the tip you leave.

If a manager has taken care of an issue with your meal and deducted it from your bill, be sure to tip on the total amount of what your meal was worth and not the lesser amount. Remember you are tipping on the service and experience and not the discounted total. The same goes for birthday cake that was provided 'on the house', etc.

5. From Lounge to Table- Perhaps you've started at the restaurant's lounge or bar area before heading to your table, be sure to leave the bartender a tip before leaving for your table. Many people want to have it added to their dining bill, but this gets sticky as the bartender usually gets left without their tip. A server may forget later to give the bartender a kickback and may not know how much to give them as this is your job as the dining patron.

If you're dining with a group and you don't want to be responsible for anyone underpaying or under-tipping, simply ask for a separate bill. Often times if a large group orders family style or shares appetizers you may wind up forking over a lot of money for a dish that you had a small taste of while others finished the whole plate.

A girlfriend of mine just recounted the most awkward scenario involving a group of close friends at a restaurant. It resulted in her spending a lot more money than she had intended all while she was trying to adhere to her tight budget.

For similar posts, type 'etiquette' in the search bar at the top of this page.

Have you been a server before? What are your tipping experiences or opinions?

Happy Dining!

Making New Friends in 2010

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Are you looking to make more friends and meet new women with similar interests? Do you feel lonely or alone at times and wish you could meet more people, but just aren't sure where or how?

A couple of years ago I was discussing with a girlfriend the challenges of making new friends in a new city (and in my case, a new country). Sometimes we are looking for new friends not just because we've moved or they have but because we need more positive people in our lives that are interested in the same activities, hobbies or are at similar places in their lives. Once we are out of College/University, making friends becomes more difficult. We're no longer surrounded by such a large group of similar-aged people.

Especially for women in their late 20's, 30's and 40's, this can be a difficult friend-making time. This is because of the varying lifestyles and transitions people go though. Some have families; some are married, some are still single and dating and you may no longer be able to relate to some women that you once went to college with or knew since elementary school. If you're a new mommy and your friends are still dating, they may not understand baby's nap times and your exhaustion level and may start spending more time with their other childless friends. No problem, you can meet other moms who understand and appreciate what you are going through.

The first year and a half that I lived here in the U.S., I focused on my immigration paperwork, starting my design business and getting our own home in order. I didn't create much time to make friends initially because I wasn't sure where to look and as a result spent much of my time with my mother-in-law and my husband's aunt. I love them dearly but I needed to find some women my own age.

In early 2008 I stumbled upon an amazing website that allowed me to connect with other like-minded individuals. I was specifically looking to build a new group of friends here in Florida since my closest ones are now many miles away. While we have the phone, e-mail, Twitter and Facebook, that just wasn't cutting it anymore for me. I longed to have some close girlfriends nearby again to go shopping with, make crafts with, scout out deals at garage sales, watch chick flicks and eat cupcakes with. Boy, is hubby glad that I was able to find some great friends! He's off the hook from pink cupcakes and early Saturday yard sale trips! ;)

The website that I found is called Meetup. The reason why this site is so wonderful and successful is because you can join as many groups as you wish, free of charge. You can join and meet up with a group once or forever! The site is based upon local groups in your own city and country that you can join whenever you like. So, whether you're into walking your chihuahua with other dog owners on a regular basis in a local park for pup time, meeting up with a group of ladies for Martinis or meeting single men in a fun and exciting venue with no pressure, this website is your oyster!

After joining a few groups and going out to meet everyone for the first time, I got used to the 'new kid' feeling and then became a regular of a game night meetup, a women's social group and even started and organized my own local ladies Sex & The City social group for those that love the show. While I no longer run that group due to my schedule, I still love hanging out with the girls and I have made so many wonderful and sweet female friends. Hubby even joins me once in a while for the game night meetups. So, whether you're looking to meet new friends, a potential love interest or you are looking to make new 'couple' friends together, this website it where to go.

I've seen groups for those who cruise together, like outdoor adventure like rockclimbing, women's running groups, raw food, vegetarian/vegan groups, boot camp workout groups so if getting into shape this coming new year is what your goal is, it might be fun to meet other goal-oriented individuals.

I highly encourage you all to check it out. All you need to do is type in your country and zip/postal code and then you can search by interests. You'll even get your own dashboard showing you all of your calendar events and it shows who has RSVP'dso you'll know who is attending before you meet everyone. There are plenty of privacy settings too, so no worries about having weirdos find you online. lol

I don't know anyone that couldn't use another great friend or fun group to be apart of where you are free to be yourself.

I am so grateful to have 'met' so many of you (my readers) online during my first full year of blogging. Thank you for being so wonderful, leaving such great comments and sending me questions too. For those that are a little more shy, feel free to leave a comment, share your opinion and say hello when you stop by. I LOVE reading your comments and mail!

Have you heard of www.meetup.com before? Have you joined any of their groups? What do you love most about it?

Here's to making some great new friends in 2010!

Relaxing or Shopping?

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Many have already tweeted and written facebook posts about their early morning shopping success. I'm wondering how you will all be spending your day today. Do you prefer vegging out with some movies, a book or spending time with family on Dec.26th; or heading to the mall to snag some deals.

In Canada, today is the biggest shopping day of the year, it's called Boxing Day. This is when everyone takes their Christmas gift money and heads out for the day. It is comparable to the U.S' Black Friday. Ever since moving here I have stopped my previous tradition of scoping out the best deals on Dec.26th. I am working today however, so I'll be inside a store amidst the chaos, whether I like it or not. I am hoping to snag a couple great deals while I'm there though. 

My girlfriend just moved into a new home and she recently informed me that she needs a Christmas tree for next year, since they didn't have one this year. Tomorrow we plan to head out and brave the crowds to see what kind of deals we can get. I refuse to buy Christmas ornaments unless they are at least 75% off, so I may have to wait a few more days for those. I love getting the cute little Hallmark ornaments for a steal. My tree is filled with many of them and I've always waited for the sale before buying new ones. I'm also on the lookout for some beautiful greeting cards that I can use next year.

BTW-The results are in for the re-gifting poll as it is now closed, and it turns out that more of you re-gift items than not. It is definitely becoming more and more acceptable. We had 11 re-gifters, 9 that don't re-gift and 1 person that planned to re-gift this year but had never done so before. 

Now that Christmas is over, what to do with that non-useful gift you received this year? Stay tuned for tomorrow's post which will turn the items that you'd otherwise re-gift throughout the year into a fun and creative day.


Leave a comment and let us know how you are planning to spend YOUR day.

I hope the rest of your holidays will be both peaceful and joyful!

Merry Christmas!

To all of my readers around the world who are celebrating Christmas today (as I am), have a merry and blessed day celebrating His birth filled with love; joy, peace and hope!

EVERY good and perfect gift truly is from above!

Warmly,

Snow? I Can Dream....

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SNOW. Do you love it or loathe it?  For many that happen to live in a State, Province or Country that is used to their fair share of the white fluffy stuff, many asked would say they'd wish it away for sunshine and tropical weather anyday!

I, on the other hand, grew up with it for many years and have spent the last few years living without it. Tropical and sunny is nice, but I'm ready for a seasonal change, this has been one long, hot year with just a few days of chilly. This will be my fourth year here to be exact and I MISS the snow . If you had asked me about this 5 years ago I may not have had the same feeling. You see getting up an hour early to shovel my driveway and chip the ice off of my windshield was never the highlight of my day. In fact, it was windy, bitter cold and often quite wet and slippery. For those that adore the fresh, clean scent of freshly fallen snow, dream with me a little from the comfort of a warm, cozy place.

I was on the hunt for a new background for my laptop (my red autumn leaves were just a little outdated) and here is what I found....

I love the idea of a winter chalet or log cabin curled up by the fire with some hot cocoa and a good book. Look at that freshly fallen snow on the rooftops-gorgeous!

 This beautiful snow-covered bridge is so pretty and reminds me of a more simple time in life. I love how this photo captures the snow actually falling!

A close-up of some snowflakes!

The snow brings winter birds.

 Crisp, clean and majestic.

I love the contrast of the icy branches against the bright, blue sky.

Snow and ice in Greenland-how artistic!

Perfect for the ones who don't like driving in snow. ;)

I love deer. I saw some in the mountains while spending a week in California this fall.

The perfect snowy, sunny day.

The snowy scenery wouldn't be complete without a snowman.

Isn't this just precious? This photo warms my heart.

You can see a third deer's ear in the background behind the railing.

So interesting to see animals check each other out. ;)

Happy Day Dreaming!

 

12 Homemade Christmas Gifts and Decor for Under $10

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Shopping for Christmas gifts on a budget can sometimes feel like a downer. Likewise, decorating a home and not knowing how to do it with little cash can make the best of people feel frustrated. I've provided some of my favorite holiday decor and homemade gift ideas. Most of these double as the other so as you are getting your own home ready you can make some extras that will prove to be creative, special presents for your loved ones. Have a blast making each of these fun crafts at a fraction of what you might pay in a store. Enjoy!

1. Berry Votive Holder- Dress up any plain glass votive holder with berries on wire at any Michael's craft store and wind around the holder. Once the circle is formed use some fine craft wire or picture hanging wire from any dollar store and tie the ends together. My favorite colors are gold, silver, burgundy wine, or red. For a fun flair use cream or baby blue. Use these in your own home or wrap them up as a set of four or six in a pretty box with a gorgeous bow for a great gift. The exact same items double as napkin holders too!

2. Festive Napkin Holders- Use plain wooden napkin holders and paint them any color such as red, gold, silver, or white and embellish them with a small bell, snowflake, beads, or simply another paint color with pattern of snowflake, polka dots, stripes etc.

 3. Funky Centerpiece- Fill an inexpensive glass vase (tall cylindrical work best) with all sizes of the same color glass ornaments balls. I like red, green, gold, silver, or blue. Use one color but multiple designs such as stripes, swirls, frosted, shiny etc. With a large enough bowl this can make a great centerpiece. Try hot and spicy red for your dinner table. You can purchase inexpensive balls at dollar stores, discount stores like Ross, Walmart ,Target or try the Salvation Army.

4. Ornament Wreath- I've seen so many gorgeous ornament wreaths and they can easily be made with marked down ornaments after Christmas for the next year and make a wonderful gift. the one above was made by none other than Martha herself. Here are the directions to make your own!

 5. Create Cool Coasters- Use a (4) 4" ceramic tiles from a hardware store of any color (white works best) and use rub-on stencils with Christmas designs, festive verbiage or even monogram letters to use on each tile. Once finished you can spray with a glaze gloss to seal it. You'll want to put some self-adhesive felt or little rubber feet on the bottom so the coasters won't scratch the table. Walmart is a great place to find the felt material.  

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6. Christmas Art Frame- Use pre-made frames that are fun and fit at least a 4" x 6" picture for holiday words such as JOY, LOVE or PEACE. Use pretty wrapping paper or fonts from your computer then print them out to slide behind the glass instead of a photo. Silver and Gold frames are my favorite for the season. Feel free to use barn board, wood, plastic, whatever you have around the house. These are cute décor gifts for friends and family also.

7. Mini Snow-covered tree- Collect a bunch of twigs long enough to pop out of a decent size vase. Use decoupage glue and white tissue paper to create a neat effect for the vase or leave as clear filled with glass ornaments or whatever you like. Spray paint the twigs white and use fishing wire to dangle tiny ornaments and vintage jewelry for fun effect. Use on a table, at an entry way, or in a bedroom. Feel free to add some basic white indoor lights for a nice evening glow.

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8. Monogrammed Towels- To stay on budget, buy some great basic kitchen towels with a simple stripe at the bottom in red, blue, green or even black. Use a lettered script stencil and some fabric paint to paint their surname initial on the towel. Feel free to make up a set of two with different colors if you can find the kitchen towels at a super discounted price. Alternatively, if you have a sewing machine that will stitch the monogram on, you could use that instead.

9. Holiday Centerpiece- One of the simplest centerpieces is a glass vase filled with water and real cranberries (not frozen, not dried) and a white floating candle. Use an interesting vase with a large opening or a great glass dish. Either way the cranberries and candle will float and look wonderful. Ensure to use a non-scented candle if this will go on your dining table. We wouldn't want the scent to interfere with the wonderful aroma of your home-cooked meal.

10. Home-Made Snow Globe- Use old jam jars to create a winter snow globe. You'll need water, the jam jar, glitter of your choice, epoxy glue, ribbon and a small figurine or a few for the inside. Use the epoxy glue and secure the figurine(s) to the lid on the inside. Then pour some glitter or plastic mini snowflakes inside the jar. Now add distilled water without bacteria and close the jar tightly. Lastly add some ribbon around the bottom of the globe (the lid) to hide it and you are done. Again, gift or your own décor...you decide.

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11. Holiday Dishware- Places such as Ikea and discount stores can provide for a set of 4 bowls and plates that you can paint up with glass paint. Be sure if you are going to eat off of them that the paint is used for that. You can use white ceramic or glass bowls and dishes. For the glass set, use glass etching cream and a stencil for a great effect. Wrap up the set and away you go.

12. Primp those Pillows-Take your existing pillows and make them holiday ready with some simple organza. Take square or rectangular pillows and wrap the sheet of organza around the back until the ties meet the front. Now make a bow. The idea here is to use colors that work. So, if you have red pillows, use some gold organza. If you have plain white pillows, use red or gold etc. If you are handy with the sewing machine you can make some simple square slipcovers for your existing ones so you can change them back when the holiday is over. Using an old knit sweater is another fun cover for them. A neat idea for slip covers is velvet. Use an iron and a stamper. Take the backside of the fabric and place the iron there. On the good side of the velvet is where you'll press the stamper into. After you are done the pattern will be revealed either as one large centered detail or several small ones all over. Use this for chair covers too!

If you enjoyed the DIY projects in this post but don't feel very crafty and you're still looking for a unique gifts for your family, you can get started by checking out these ready made great Christmas gifts for mom.


What lovely decor and homemade gifts have you created this Christmas? I'd love to hear about it!

Want more Christmas-related posts? Click the links below:

12 Dates of Christmas

Party dress inspiration

Gift Cards are the New Fruitcake?

Quick tidy up tips

Humble & Merry Christmas

To Re-Gift or not to Re-gift?

I Won a Christmas Blog Giveaway

Re-gifting Etiquette

Thanks for reading!

XO

Reader Request: Bringing Classy Back

As promised in Thursday's post, here is our first reader request, and it comes from Kimberly-thank you for your candid email!

Hello,

I love your Classy Woman blog. I just found it tonight through the "How to do Everything" website and I've been reading the website for hours already.

I believe in everything you wrote and want to find myself/reinvent myself again.

I was divorced 2 years ago and have really let me myself go, not really taking care of myself and just existing most days. But, your post sparked my interest and reminded me of the classy and elegant woman I used to be. I took out my Journal and began to write ways to find myself again.


Do you have any specific suggestions for me?


I've gained a tremendous amount of weight (for me) and I know this has to be dealt with first and foremost. Making time for myself and not saying yes to everyone else's requests is another biggie for me.


Thanks so much,

Kimberly

Here was my e-mail response to Kimberly and my suggestions are below.

Hi Kimberly,



Thank you so much for your e-mail. :) I'm so glad to hear that you've been enjoying my blog and that you found it!


I'm sorry to hear about the turn you took after the divorce. This is common for many women after such a transition, you are not alone. I even watched a similar type of shift occur after my mother and father divorced several years ago. It is truly a physically, mentally and emotionally draining time in one's life.


I am delighted to share some great ways for you to take charge of your life again and regain that powerful, classy and fabulous woman that you so dearly miss. Taking time for yourself is SO important and that is one areas that I'll be addressing in the post. When you are left with more responsibility, it is natural to take care of everyone else first but it is us women that suffer in the end. I used to be a Personal Trainer and managed a nutrition store several years ago and can provide some good information tips and fresh inspiration to help you lose the weight you've gained as well.


I will be posting a response to your 'reader request' tomorrow- Sunday, Dec. 20th. :) I'll email you once it's posted!



Have a blessed weekend.
 
Warmly,
Karla


One of the best ways to recover after an emotional event like a divorce is to take more "you" time. With children that may mean getting a babysitter for a few hours or asking a family member or friend if they'd mind watching them. The best thing is to schedule one weeknight or weekend time slot per week where you can get out and have coffee with your girlfriends, go to the gym, go see a movie or get a manicure. This time is important to release the stresses of your week and get connected with other women. It doesn't have to involve spending money, even taking a hot bath with specials oils, candles and soft music playing can be soothing and will calm your mind. Be sure to surround yourself with positive, uplifting, classy women.


The key is to use a dayplanner or calender to pen in these special days for yourself. Don't feel guilty that you are leaving your children for self-rejuvenation time. The truth is that you can't give what you don't have. If you're running on empty you won't be able to give others your best until your batteries are recharged.

Most women I know feel overwhelmed because they've said 'yes' and promised to do too many things for others, leaving no time for themselves. The best thing to answer in response to someone asking you to take on responsibility that you don't have time for or don't really want to do is to say with a smile, 'I'd love to but I just can't".  If they ask again in another way, just repeat the same phrase. If anyone continues to ask why you can't do it or why you won't they are simply being rude. No means no. Once you start saying 'no' instead of 'yes' you will feel freedom that you haven't felt in a while. You will have just opened up your schedule for a whole lot more 'you' and 'family' timend you'll feel a sense of control over you life that you probably haven't  felt in years.


If your budget allows, buy one new item for yourself each month. It doesn't have to be expensive but it does have to be something that will give you a lift. Maybe it's a new pair of shoes that go with much of your wardrobe and make you feel happy and sexy whenever you wear them. Perhaps it is a new shade of lipstick or a fun nailpolish to transform your toes. Whatever it is, it has to make you feel good about yourself.


Many women start to care less about their appearance and do not spend the same kind of time getting dressed for work or going out with friends. Often, older jeans and sweats become the norm and they forget what it's like to get dressed up or feel like a beautiful woman. While your goal might not be to attract a man or even look for someone at this moment, you'll feel more confident once you spend some time in this area.  Look at your closet wardrobe and separate it into two sections: one for work/nicer outfits and the other (hopefully smaller side) for relaxing in  your home and gym attire. Make a diligent effort to try to dress up even when going to purchase groceries for example. It may seem like extra work but you'll feel better about yourself. Women always stand taller and have their heads held high when dressed to make themselves feel beautiful vs. dressing to get the task done.


Love Yourself! We as women must speak nicely not only to others but most importantly to ourselves. What we tell ourselves everyday shapes how we see ourselves. Thoughts like 'I feel so fat today' or  'look at all these wrinkles!' only help to create a negative self image. We need to speak kind words to ourselves especially on those days when we feel anything but beautiful, and we all have those days. We need to love and be thankful for our health and what we do have.


Your Home- Make sure your home is also a true refuge, filled with things you love. When people reinvent themselves they often reinvent the space around them too. Sometimes a cluttered home, unhealthy fridge and pantry or jam-packed closets can be barriers to success. These areas often hold many people back but they don't realize it. It is very freeing to purge anything from your home that does not make you happy. The same is true for clothing. If you don't feel good about yourself in it, do not wear it and if it's fasionably outdated, pass it along by donating it so someone can get some use from it.


You had mentioned that you 'let yourself go' and this is common for many women dealing with such transition. Just like it's important to schedule fun time for yourself, you'll also want to schedule several weekly gym days or walking days. Start small and move up as your body gets used to the level you're at. I don't recommend overwhelming yourself with 2-hour workouts. Begin by walking in your neighborhood or on a treadmill. Day after day increase your distance or the intensity/speed. Once you feel comfortable with that you could move to resistance training by using some light free weights and increase the weight slowly over time. Anything that involves too much sacrifice, too much time or too little food will drain you of your energy and desire to lose weight. Take things slowly watching both your food intake AND how much exercise you are getting in each week.


I could write you a whole book on health but I will share with you the essentials:


1. Exercise a minimum of 30 mins 4-5 days per week.
2. Drink plenty of water (your weight divided by 14 is how many 8oz glasses you require)
3. Take a solid multivitamin
4. Eat as many veggies and as much fruit as you can
5. Focus on whole grains, eliminating white bread, pasta, rice.
6. Eliminate sweets/sugar-filled foods (they will zap you of your energy!)
7. Eat protein with each meal (cottage cheese, cheese, peanut butter, meats, fish, etc.) as they will keep you feeling full longer and help with your muscle development
8. Make sure you're getting enough fiber to keep things moving (about 30-35 grams per day)
9. Eliminate alcohol and caffeine as they really wreak havoc with your metabolism and your organs.
10. Eat whole, raw foods like veggies, fruits as often as you can and try to avoid chemicals and preservatives which can interfere with the liver's optimal functioning.


*Disclaimer* Note that it is important to consult your doctor when implementing a new weight loss, fitness or diet regimen.


Be sure to set some attainable and realistic goals for yourself. Remember, it took some time to put  the weight on and it will take some time to take it off.  Spend more time at a local YMCA or your own backyard with the kids playing outdoors and incorporating more activity into your life so it feels less like work and more like fun! Another  great way to make working out more fun is to join with a friend where you'll have an instant  accountability parter who you need to 'show up' for.


Here are some additional articles on health that I have written that I hope you'll find helpful:


Lose Weight with Negative Calorie Foods
Exercise and the Mind-Body connection
Lose Weight and Keep it off for a Lifetime!
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If you are feeling as though the emotional burdens of the divorce are weighing heavy on you and friends and family are not enough to talk to, do seek out someone who can help you work through this time in your life.


Additionally, my husband is an Author and Life Coach and has a great book available on Amazon that might be helpful for your healing process. It's called Breakthrough for a Broken Heart which is a must read for anyone that has gone though a divorce, break up or loss of someone special.


As you probably read in one of my posts, I have a book for Classy Women due out shortly and I will share the details at that time if you are interested in picking up a copy so you can bring classy back. :)


Kimberly, once again thank you for sharing your question. I hope you will find these suggestions and resources helpful and I believe that by sharing your comments and questions in your reader request that both your words and this post will postively impact the lives of other women at a similar place in life. Please feel free to send me an e-mail and update me/us on your success.


Be Blessed,

I FINALLY Won a Blog Giveaway!

Are you the type of person who ALWAYS wins? Whether it be scratch tickets, radio contests, giveaways or draws, you just seem to win them all? Or are you more like me who rarely wins but when you do you get SUPER excited? I wanted to share my excitement with you and give you hope that after multiple entries, if you keep entering blog giveaways long enough you'll eventually win. ;)

What has caused my excitement you ask? Well, I happened to wander on over to visit Ashley over at the Domestic Fasionista to peruse her wonderful Christmas posts. I read her post on being 'Blessed by a Frugal Christmas' and loved all the great, inexpensive ideas where the focus is on using what you have to decorate for Christmas, something that I firmly believe in.

At the end of her post, she had a fun giveaway for this Gooseberry Patch Christmas Book:

Image Source

I left a comment with a few frugal Christmas decorating ideas and I won this amazing book! Thanks Ashley! It arrived a couple days ago and I really enjoyed flipping through it to uncover some amazing recipes and some fun crafty ideas too!

Here's a sneak peak at one fo the recipes that I plan on making from this book. Do these look delicious, or what?! It seems easy enough to make and would be a yummy Christmas Day treat to munch on, or a sweet gift!

Sorry for the blurry pic, I snapped a pic from the book.

TOFFEE

1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup butter
3/4 brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Butter an 8"x8" baking pan; spread walnuts on the bottom. In a saucepan, heat butter and sugar; bring to a boil stirring constantly. Cook until mixture darkens, about 7 mins; immediately pour over walnuts. Sprinkle chocolate chips over the top; cover with a baking sheet to hold in heat until chocolate begins to melt. Spread chocolate over top. Regrigerate; break into pieces when cool. Makes about one pound

Recipe provided in the book by Wendy Lee Paffenroth. Pine Island, NY

At the time I had read Ashley's post, I had also been meaning to write a post of my own on our frugal Christmas, so here is my previous post titled 'A Humble and Merry Christmas'.

Speaking of blog Giveaways, stay tuned as Classy & Fabulous has some new sponsors and we're working together to provide you some fun giveaways in the New Year! I'm looking forward to seeing many of you become blog giveaway winners yourselves this year!

Be sure to 'follow' this blog so you'll be eligible for the goodies and we'd love it if you'd tell a friend. ;)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Reader Requests

After almost a year of blogging about the ins and outs of being a Classy and Fabulous woman, I'm creating an open forum where you will be able to email me your post requests and questions and I will answer them specifically in the form of an upcoming blog post so other women can benefit as well. If you want your question(s) to remain private, just mention that in your message or subject header and I will be happy to respond to you only and will not publish your question. If you've wondered about how to dress classy for an upcoming date or what the etiquette is for a particular occassion, or even how I snag such great deals, I'm here to answer them all. :)


Simply look to the left hand side of this blog page and scroll down until you see the large cream-colored envelope. Click on it and then type and send your message along with a subject header named 'Reader Request'.


I want this blog to be an open community of women to grow, learn from one another and feel comfortable. So, with that said I'll be starting the 'Reader Requests' this month. You can always chime in too and leave your opinion and feedback in the comments' section. The amount of reader requests will be determined by how often you email me. As a matter of fact, I have received my first few requests recently and wanted to share them with you. Stay tuned for those upcoming posts!


I look forward to reading your emails soon!

Warmly,

WARNING-Wash Before You Wear!

Do you know where you newly purchased clothes have been before you put them out for a night on the town? It may have never occured to you that the very 'new' articles of clothing you purchased are actually downright dirty!

When shopping for clothing and trying it on in the fitting room, we always want to believe that we were the only ones that tried it on-until we find a dark ring of foundation around the neck or lipstick on the sleeve, but that's not even the tip of the iceberg on the type of 'dirty' I'm referring to.

Most of the clothing widely available in the U.S. was not manufactured in the USA at all. Most clothing comes from China, Indonesia, Taiwan, etc. What you probably didn't know is that all of the clothing and any fabrics are first sprayed with toxic chemicals that prevent fungal or insect contamination. If clothes are not washed first before wearing, you are in effect wearing pesticides on your skin and breathing them in as well. This is also prevalent in baby clothing which is why it is also key to wash all baby clothing in fragrance-free natural detergent first before every putting it on baby's delicate and sensitive skin. A baby's liver has to work much harder to remove such toxic compounds which is why infants are not supposed to wear even sunscreen at a very young age.

Did you know that most of the clothing that you'll buy has also probably wound up on the floor of a store at some point? When I was young, and fresh out of highschool I had a chance to work at two different clothing stores and I can tell you first hand that the clothing has a tendency to collect dust and when tried on in a fitting room, often winds up on the floor, sometimes stepped on and when being re-hung by store employees, has often been dragged on the ground if the article is long such as a bathrobe. Doesn't sound too appealing, does it?

Last week I was behing a woman at the checkout at a local Target store and I heard her tell the cashier that she didn't want to put the clothing on the conveyor belt (I don't blame her). After all-groceries such as packages of chicken run on the same belt so it's liable to become stained or dirty. She surprised me though when she then commented "I don't want to have to wash it BEFORE I wear it". That part I didn't agree with so much because of the reasons mentioned above. It's important to wash everything including undergarments and bras in packaging also, they are also treated before being shipped.

We never know what fabric or clothing goes through from the country of origin all the way to the truck or boat it was packed on to the point that it reaches a warehouse and then finally makes its arrival at the store. It may look clean, but I assure you  that ALL clothing is in fact dirty. As annoying as it may seem, after all it IS another step and another thing we need to worry about, I promise you the 2 seconds it takes to pop it in with your other laundry will be well worth it in the end!

While we're on the subject, if you're unsure of which type of pure, natural and eco-friendly detergents to use that are also safe for your skin (mainstream commercial detergents are not safe and can irritate delicate skin with harsh chemicals and fragrances causing allergies and skin irritations, and also pollute our waterways and fishy friends), here are a few great choices:

1. Method 'Squeaky Green'- Laundry detergent for adult/baby (they also offer dryer sheets)
2. Seventh Generation- Offer Adult and Baby detergents
3. Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day-Lavender Laundry detergent (other natural scents available)
4. Ecover Delicate Wash -Great detergent for lingerie, intimate apparel
5. Purex Natural Elements-Least expensive eco/skin-friendly detergent.

I have tried all of these above. They are a little more expensive than the traditional soaps however you are not only helping the environment, but are adding less chemicals to your skin that it absorbs and that your liver then has to process and detox. These are all concentrated formulas so you need less of them.

After learning the truth about what is really in our clothing, will you be washing before you wear?