Make this Christmas and holiday season one to remember.

In the hustle and bustle of all that surrounds you, think back to your best memories of the past Christmas holidays you shared with family and friends. What stands out as being your favorite things that you recall?

When I was growing up in Michigan, my Mother had the market on baking cookies. In fact that was what she was known for. The house we lived in had a side porch that acted like an extra freezer, because the temperatures were always freezing in December and January. She would stack 12-14 tins of cookies out there, and pull them in one by one to make assorted platters of cookies for friends and families. My children still talk about it.

Even though Mom and Dad are now in heaven with the angels, we can still recall similar feelings of warmth, family, and the love that connected us all to each other, each time the Christmas season comes around. Wouldn’t it be great to have this much love in your heart for family and friends all year long? There is nothing to stop that from happening.

What if you made a point of visiting your loved ones more often during the year? How about planning get-togethers so your children and their cousins would actually know who each other is? For most of us there was not as much distance that separated us when we were growing up, as there is now. Distance is now easily eliminated with “Face-Time” and Skype. Use those tools to stay in touch with your friends and family. Include some new ideas in those resolutions for 2015 that focus on making some great memories for your family.

Memories are the glue that holds families together. Have a warm and wonderful holiday season!  

                                                                                                                                              “Now, let’s get going!”  xo Sally                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

It is so important to remember that when buying gifts for those children on your holiday Christmas shopping list, you need to stay within the age guidelines on the manufacturer’s box. Even though you may think that your child or grandchild acts “so much older than that,” the age ranges are put there for a reason. Kids will be kids, and just as soon as your eyes drift away to the dog who is eating cookies from the table, you may find that the child who never puts anything in their mouth, decides that the new toy they opened…fits right in there and is fun to chew on.

Here on some tips for you to remember:

Children can suffocate with plastic wrap, and deflated balloons. Make sure you dispose of all plastic and paper wrapping pieces once the gifts have been opened, to keep little fingers away from the pieces.

All bicycles and other riding toys, even the toy cars, can tip over and cause injuries. Make sure that you buy the protective wearing gear when you buy the toys! It will be a very sad child who opens up a great gift, to find that they have to wait to ride in it until they get the safety gear that goes with it.

Magnets also need to be kept away from children. They look inviting because they cling to other metal objects “like magic.” Have you noticed what happens next? Kids turn those magnitized things over, figure out what is holding it to the other object, and either try to loosen the magnet or find another way to use the toy.

Parents, you can’t be around your child and their toys all the time. Pick toys that will be entertaining, and educational, but most of all spend time with the kids and their new toys. The time you spend with them will be their favorite part. Never underestimate the importance of the time you dedicate to your children. You teach them more than any toy out there!

Have a wonderful holiday season and have fun! “Now, let’s get going!”  xo Sally

For more information: http://child-familyservices.org/december-is-national-safe-toys-and-gifts-month/

If you start each day with a smile, you will be putting your best face forward. Since that is what people see, you will be a positive force in your own world and in others.

You have the ability to change your thoughts and you have the power to limit the effect others have on you. Depending on your age and experience, you may think that you have to “fight fire with fire.” If someone has said mean things to you or about you, you may feel like you have to “come out swinging,” to defend yourself.

The biggest defense is to smile and not lower yourself to their standards. You may have to physically remove yourself from the situation, to avoid saying something. But your reality is that you are recognizing the damage they are doing, and making a conscious decision to not participate in it. Just make sure that your past behavior is not responsible for their behavior. In other words, if someone else is still angry with you because of something you said or did, and you just want to slide by and forget it ever happened…you have to be a big enough person to apologize and move on.

Learn to forgive and let the past stay in the past. People make mistakes and learn from them. Don’t be the person who thinks they don’t make mistakes too. We all do. Own it. Apologize. You have the power to do it!   “Now, let’s get going!”  xo Sally

Get away from the mindset that other people need to validate you. You are your own person. You have your own goals and dreams. You have many gifts to offer others, and some are still waiting to be discovered.

Someone else may never see the person you are. Are you showing the world who your best self is? What are you waiting for?

Believe that you have greatness. Accept the reality that others may not see it yet, but don’t let that stop you from following a pathway that gets you closer to your goals. We have a new year coming up in a short period of time. Plan your next step and make it a big one! You are amazing. Believe in yourself!  “Now let’s get going!” xo Sally

Over the next few days let’s focus on why you started working on the goals that you have. Are you any closer to reaching a part of that goal? Have you given up on trying to see yourself in a better job, relationship, or just a better place emotionally?

To get to your goals you have to have faith. You have to believe that you can accomplish what you are setting out to do. Don’t let your own negative thinking hold you back. You have to “think positively-on purpose.” When you allow yourself to be a negative thinker, your life will remain negative, your relationship won’t change, and you will make it much harder to get out of your own way.

Don’t be that person. Start each day with the desire to be better and see yourself and your situation in a better light. There is no reason why you can’t get a new job, start a new business or change your relationship. Think about why you started working on your goal…don’t quit. You may need to modify some thinking or change your approach, but DON”T QUIT! You are amazing and you can do it!  “Now let’s get going!” xo Sally

Don’t be discouraged. Life hands us many experiences we really don’t want. A marriage falls apart, our child gets in with the wrong crowd, our job gets eliminated; there are so many challenges we have experienced, and guess what? There will be more. You are not alone.

Have the faith that if you are having a challenging time right now, and that there will be something better on the other side. Don’t allow yourself to believe that your best days are behind you. They aren’t. Your best life is waiting to be lived.

Believe that the problems of today will have solutions. Those solutions will provide you a new road map to follow, that will bring you to a better place. Shake off the negative thinking that tries to creep into your head. Your faith in your God can bring you hope and new opportunities. Believe that what you are going through now is temporary. There is more in store for you. Have the faith to believe that it is so. “Now let’s get going!” xo Sally

I don’t know anyone who is perfect. Some people may give the impression that they feel they are, but we know better.

It isn’t necessary to be “perfect.” There is no such thing. Life hands us challenges every day. Each day we are faced with a choice; hang on to the old ways and keep a mindset that is closed to new possibilities, or open up to new options.

We can relate to people that tell it like it is. That is what a “real” person does. Just don’t confuse being “real” with being rude. How we choose to communicate and be ourselves goes much further when we are nice. Add a smile. It won’t kill you.

Be aware of how you project your “realness” to others. Do it in a positive way. Promote your open and caring side. You will be appreciated. “Now let’s get going!” xo Sally

Most things that are difficult create pain. Sometimes the pain is physical and sometimes the pain is emotional. Either way, pain is not comfortable.

Some people can cope with pain and discomfort easier than others. There are some people that can allow others to speak poorly about them, and not let it phase them. Then there are others who can take things that are said totally out of context, get upset, and no one can understand why they are so upset.

Change is painful. When things don’t work out the way we thought they would, pain can result.

The good news is; that the same pain you feel is so uncomfortable, can pave a new road to your success. We have to realize that life is not easy. Once you agree to accept that, you can stop worrying about why life isn’t easy. Just accept it and focus on the positive options you can choose from. They are out there. Start looking for some new opportunities and challenge yourself to believe that you are worth more now, since you went through the painful experience you had. Turn it around. You have the power! “Now let’s get going!” xo Sally

It is just fine to take small steps towards being the person you want to be. It doesn’t have to happen all at once…and for most of us, taking the small steps helps us to have many experiences that we learn from each day.

Approach a problem a new way. Have faith that the troublesome person you are dealing with will change. Keep in mind that they may not change, until you change your approach towards them. What can you do differently to make a relationship more successful?

Keep a positive mindset. Believe that you have what it takes to reach those goals you think are too big. Pray about it. Be grateful for all of the small steps. Be grateful for all of those who cross your path, because they are all teaching you something. Sometimes the best skill we can learn is patience, because it never lets us down. Patience = Strength. “Now let’s get going!” xo Sally

You may be feeling that you are at a low point. Nothing seems to be going in your favor. Life is hard, and you are tired.

Many of us feel that way from time to time. There are plenty of negative people out there who struggle when a positive person crosses their path. They want to stop your positive energy because it challenges THEM.

Start today with the attitude of being a “bridge builder.”  Help others to see that their negative behavior and their resistance is hurting them, more than anyone else.

Use your common sense and positive spirit to move to the next step. Don’t allow a negative environment to stop your dreams. Build your bridge beyond that and connect with others who want you to succeed. You have all the power to make your life as special as you are. “Now let’s get going!” xo Sally