The History of New Year's Resolution

With 2011 coming to a close i have been reflecting on quite a number of things. These things include: my life, personal goals, my financial standing, my professional goals, my blog and the list goes on. I promised myself that this year i will not make any resolutions. Why? In my reflecting i have come to the realization that I cannot even remember my New Year's resolution for 2011 or even if i made any. I have realized that I have made quite a number of errors in making my resolution. I am sure some of you are in the same boat. So I decided to try one last time. Here goes.... 




What is a New Year's Resolution?


A New Year's Resolution is a commitment that a person makes to one or more lasting personal goals, projects or the reforming of a habit. A key element to a New Year's Resolution that sets it apart from other resolutions is that it is made in anticipation of the New Year, and new beginnings. People committing themselves to a New Year's Resolution plan to do so for whole following year.




A Brief History of New Year's Resolution


Making New Year's resolutions is a tradition that dates back to the early Babylonians. This culture had a habit of making resolutions on the New Year. Although. popular modern resolutions might include the promise to lose weight or quit smoking. The early Babylonians' most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment.


The ancient Romans also made regular New Year's resolutions; although their New Year occurred in March, not January, as we understand it today. Despite the change in the dating of New Year over time, the traditions that the Romans practiced remained intact. The practice of making resolutions on the first day of the year is a time honoured, ancient practice.




Tips on How to Keep a Resolution


Be Specific


Be clear on what you want to accomplish. Don't just say you want to lose weight. Say instead, that you ant to lose 10 pounds and maintain a wait of 125lbs. However, do not over extend yourself by having too many goals. Keep it to a minimal so you can be focus and accomplish what you set out to do.


Write It Down


If your like me by the first three months you would have forgot what you have resolved to do. Therefore, just write it down. While writing down your resolution you can brainstorm ways in which you can simplify your goal by creating what I like to call sub-goals. Sub-goals are things that can be done to break down your overall goal and therefore makes your resolution easier to accomplish. Once this is done you can write your plan on a dream board, in your diary, personal organized or you can go high tech. It is up to you. Just use whatever best suits your lifestyle and personal needs.


Make Time


What immediately comes to mind is to timetable  your resolution. This might sound like high school and maybe it is but you need to find a way to schedule your resolution into you busy schedule.
This can be linked with writing it down. You can set weekly timeslots in which you can exercise, blog, connect with friends and family, etc.


Track Your Progress


Simply put- you need to monitor your progress or lack there of. This can be done by journalling, doing weekly or monthly reflection, making a note in your personal organizer when certain sub-goals are accomplished.     


Reward Yourself


This is my favourite part. Once you have accomplished a number of your sub-goals you can treat yourself. Your reward system should be tailored to you and your budget.


Don't Give Up 


Take it one day at a time. Whatever you do stick to it. This might mean giving yourself a pep talk or posting encouraging notes all over the house and at work in order to keep you on the right track. If this is the case do it.










Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year's_resolution
http://wilstar.com/holidays/newyear.htm
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20111229093523AAMmsRJ

Three Inspiring Activities for Life and Work

I am so and thankful that you took the time to read this post and others. Today's post is from Mariana Ashley. I know you will enjoy it. Please stop by her website.

Whether you are a student, employed full time, or a homemaker, we are all in need of a little motivation and inspiration every now and then. So much of our lives are about routine and productivity that it can be easy to slip into the same old boring pattern day in and day out. While this pattern can be the best way to get things done each day, it can also slow us down eventually. We have to find ways to inspire ourselves to do the best job we can and to be as happy as possible each and every day. While this may sound sentimental or silly, it is undoubtedly true. Inspiration and motivation in our lives is found through our senses. We have to see, feel, touch, smell, and hear new things in order to find new inspiration. Use these three activities to add a little excitement, energy, and inspiration to your everyday lives.

Exercise

Feel something new. Use exercise as a way to spice up your everyday routine. Even if you work nine to five every day or you have family to care for at home throughout the entire day, try to find a slot in your day or week to get some physical exercise in. Exercise can help relax your mind, keep your body healthy, and motivate you for the rest of your daily tasks. Go for a run in a new location each week to experience new things. Just this simple switch up in your regular routine is enough to really encourage some new and creative thinking. Exercise in general is essential to staying healthy (mentally and physically), but it also acts as a wonderful tool for the creative mind. Get your senses buzzing and adrenaline pumping by trying new forms of exercise each day. To stay motivated with my daily to-dos I like to take different exercise classes each week and my local gym. They offer tons of different types of exercise programs and classes that are perfect for experiencing something new.

Travel

See something new. Traveling to new and exciting places is a wonderful way to find new and exciting inspiration in your daily life. Even if you are merely traveling to a new destination within your own home town, trying and seeing unfamiliar things is a wonderful way to stay alive and excited about each coming day. Try visiting a local park you haven't been to before, taking a weekend trip to a nearby town you've never seen before, or taking a longer vacation to a completely new and exotic destination. Seeing new things may be exactly the motivation you need to really excel at your work. Traveling is a great option for individuals with creative careers (like blogging). New experiences can inspire creative thought like little else can. Taking small breaks from your usual routine can help keep things fresh day in and day out.

Listen to Music

Hear new things. This may sound silly, but listening to and singing with music can be a great way to inspire and motivate yourself. Try listening to music you've never heard before. Ask your friends to suggest something new or search online for a new band or style you are unfamiliar with. Just relaxing and blasting some music that is new to you or old music that you adore can help you step out of your current stress and monotony.

By-line:

Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about online colleges. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031 @gmail.com.

How to Gain More Readers (Blogging Communities)- Networking 101

If you are a new blogger you must be wondering, why is it you are writing great posts and you are not gaining readers. It is simple. At this point your blog is a needle in that hay stack. I say this because I, along with many others were once in your shoes.  Even if you are not a new blogger, you will find that over time the number of readers who generally come to your blog might fluctuate. With all of this in mind, we will be looking at using blogging communities for networking.

 Blogging Communities

Blogging communiites are websites that creates a virtual community where bloggers can interact with each other. The beautiful thing about these sites boasts a wide variety of bloggers. Therefore, these are great places to gain exposure for your blog and gain meet follow bloggers.

Here are a  few blogging communities that you can join:

• Gather.com
• Blogengage.com
• Fuelmyblog.com
• BlogHer.com
• 20somethingblogger.net
• Mombloggersclub.com
• Shewrites.com
• Brandbuzznetwork.com

What Next?

I have learnt that blogging is not for the timid. If you are an introvert like me , you will quickly learn that often  the direct approach is best. This means you will have to market yourself. When you join these communities please ensure that your profile reflects you and your blog. Also, remember that you should be true to yourself. I would recommend that you be yourself: good, bad or indifferent.

Here are Some Tips:

• Join the popular groups (This goes without saying)
• Post regularly in these groups
• Get to the point when posting information
• Always leave a blog link when posting
• Make friends and create a mailing list
• Be courteous and genuine to fellow bloggers
• If someone follows your blog, follow then back
• Sign up for the community newsletter
• Finally, HAVE FUN!!!!!

If you have any additional tips you will like to share, please let me know by leaving a comment.

Do You Want to Merchandise Your Blog?- DIY SUNDAYS

I know we all dream as bloggers to make money from our blogs at one point or another. However, oftentimes teaming up with advertisers do not always give you enough buck for your bang, as one of my readers pointed out. What to do next, you might wonder. If you are not sure here are some suggestions. Have you ever thought about using your blog to create a business or brand?

I know that often times businesses create blogs to promote their business. However, often we forget that we can create a business from our blog. Today we will explore how to do just that.


Build Your Brand

You have a loyal following and regular traffic, have you ever thought of of creating your own brand? When I speak of 'brand' I am referring to a product that is manufactured under a particular name. Do you know that you can create your own tag line, logo or use your blog name on various products such as t-shirts, caps, pens, mugs and buttons? The interesting thing about all of this is that there are a number of companies that offer this service.

This can be done with the help of any one of these websites:

• Printfection.com
• Cafepress.com
• Zazzle.com
• Customink.com
• Uberprints.com
• Spreadshirt.com/

I like Spreadshirt.com the best because you can open your own online t-shirt shop for free and sell custom t-shirts and other apparel with your designs, logos or text. Spreadshirt takes care of the production, shipping and service. You can set commission on each product and earn money each time you make a sale.

Also, you can sell your designs, without a shop. Create custom t-shirts and other apparel with your own designs and sell through their Marketplace. You can also sell your designs from their T-Shirt Designer. You set a commission on your designs and earn money for each sale.

Write a Book

Have you ever thought about turning you blog content into a book? It is easy with a site call lulu.com. You sign up for free, upload your book and they will publish your book for you. You set your book cost and they get a percentage of the sale. (For further details see lulu.com)


Market Your Talents

Bloggerjobs.biz offers bloggers the ability to market their talents. You are able to gain employment for positions that you qualify for. All of this is targeted at bloggers. Inessence you are building a blogging career. This i would say is a must see.


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Five (5) Websites You Can Use To Monetize Your Blog

In blogging, content is KING. Without great content,  readers will not want to return to your blog. Therefore, you will have to know your market or niche in order to provide the content they are interesting in. Just looking around the blogging community I am in awe of some of the content that is out there.

 On the other hand, I am also aware that there are bloggers that place more emphasis on promoting products instead of writing the content we love to read. I am in no way judging these bloggers, it works for them. However, if your like me you are afraid to cross that line, because somehow you are afraid of betraying your loyal readers.

With all of this in mind,  I wanted to provide the information about sites that assist in monetizing blogs. In my opinion, you can monetize your blog without 'selling out' so to speak.      

What does it mean to monetize your blog?

Website monetization is the process of converting existing traffic being sent to a particular website into revenue.  Often bloggers sign up with Ad. Networks that connect them with advertisers. They are then paid a fee for product reviews, per click ads, etc.


Here are five (5) sites that you can use to monetize your blog:


5. Blogsvertise.com

Website comments:

Our Advertisers want YOU to mention and talk about their websites products and services in your blogs and journals. They want the publicity, the exposure, the Buzz! that online bloggers and Internet journals can generate for their web site products and services. In exchange blogsvertise pays YOU in pay pal per task/blog ads placed to their website in your blog!

4. Payperpost.com 
  
Website comments:
Make money blogging! PayPerPost lets you pick your advertisers, name your own price and negotiate your own deals. You can get paid to blog on virtually any subject.


3. Payu2blog.com

Website comments:

Our focus at PayU2Blog.com is to make sure that bloggers receive a steady stream of work each week and don't feel they have to compete for their paid blogging assignments. Join our exclusive community of bloggers and start getting paid to blog today.         
2. Sponsoredreviews.com

 Website comments:
SponsoredReviews.com is a blog advertising network that allows you to build links, increase traffic, and improve search engine rankings on your website(s). We have tens of thousands of independent bloggers who will write blog reviews about your site on their blog. Also referred to as Paid Posts, blog reviews are a great way to increase your search engine rankings and traffic.

If you are a blogger interested in getting paid to blog, you will find that SponsoredReviews has hundreds of advertisers willing to pay you to do reviews of their sites. Blog Reviews are an easy way to earn money on your blog. 

1. Smorty.com
                                                                                        
Website comments:
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Get paid for publishing. Publish pay-per-click advertising on your blog to generate residual income. Get paid for blogging. Write your opinion about peoples products and services to turn your daily blog updates into money. Smorty pay directly to your Pay Pal account. Apply with multiple blogs to generate higher income. Write your opinions or publish ads Earn top Dollars Select subjects that interest you Publish in multiple blogs to earn more Build interesting, unique content in your Blog Make residual money from your blog

What is Your Guilty Pleasure?

This post is a super quick one. I really mean it.

The Merriam-Webster.com defines the term Guilty pleasure (Noun) as follows : something pleasurable that induces a usually minor feeling of guilt.  

We all have those things that we secretly do and greatly enjoy. We enjoy them so much that they are deemed a guilty pleasure.

Here are a couple of mine:

• Watching YouTube Gurus when i should be doing something more important.

• Watching Star Trek, Eureka, Sanctuary, Syfy movies is general. Everyone around me thinks i am weird but i just love them!!!!

• Reading Harlequin romances when i should be reading Caribbean Literature text.

I did say a couple didn't I? I would love to hear about your guilty pleasures.

DIY Sundays - Five Useful Websites for Bloggers

Todays DIY Sundays post will be a quick one  i guess not. Here are five websites that I found; I thought they could be very useful for bloggers like myself. I am NOT being paid/compensated  to write about these sites.  With that said, here they are:

Number 5

Fiverr.com - This website cracked me up because i could not believe a website would exist where people share things they are willing to do for $5. Fiverr.com is a place where buyers and sellers of pretty much trade any service or thing they can trade, for a minimal cost of five dollars.

 The Website Comments:

The place for people to share things they're willing to do for $5.
Buy. Sell. Have fun.

Number 4

Punchtab.com - This is a website that offers users the ability to include a loyalty points program to their blog, website, etc. These loyalty points can be converted to any prize. This,  I thought was very interesting.

The Website Comments:

Your readers spend more time on Twitter and Facebook than they are on your blog or website. Make sure you're staying connected by offering rewards for liking, following, subscribing and +1'ing your brand and your content. Increase your overall awareness from the content they share on their social networks.


Number 3

Pagemodo.com - Pagemodo creates FREE custom face book pages for business.How cool is that?

The Website Comments:

Thanks to Pagemodo’s Page builder, entrepreneurs don’t need to have any design or technical skills to design a clean, professional, and engaging Facebook Page. Pagemodo provides everything entrepreneurs need: a wide variety of gorgeous and customizable templates, easy-to-add features like slideshows, videos, contact forms, and maps, and powerful social media tools like fan coupons and “like” gates.

  
Number 2

Zemanta - I am not sure if you have heard about this company but i was not aware of its existence until recently. Zemanta is an online tool which can help you to blog smarter & faster - with instant smart links, pictures, tags and more. I am looking forward to trying this out in the near future.

The Squidoo's Comments:

Zemanta is a revolutionary new platform for accelerating on-line content production for any web user. Any user-created text (a blog post, article or web page) is directly "read" by Zemanta, which recognizes all contextual content. Zemanta then combs the web for the most relevant images, smart links, keywords and text, instantly serving these results to the user to enrich and inform their content. What's more, Zemanta can be deployed on all major content publishing platforms and web browsers through a simple plug-in.

Number 1

Blog 2 Print - I really like this site. Basically, Blog 2 Print gives bloggers the opportunity to turn their blogs into a professionally printed book. You can also create gift cards and awards on the site as well. The service is not FREE but I thought that it is pretty cool.

The Website Comments:

With a couple of clicks, you choose a cover, the posts you'd like to include, and you're on your way to creating your own Blog Book!

You pick

• Cover
• Images
• Number and Order of Posts
• Comments

The GREAT Divide

I have been thinking about writing this post for a while now. However, I have not been able to sit down long enough to allow the words to flow.Here goes. I have been comparing my everyday personality to the blogger you see. Somehow, i have been seeing a divide between Lioness and Antoinette.

When I think of Lioness, i think about the part of me that always tries to put the best foot forward. The part of me that is more welling to take risks, more willing to bare my soul to the world. Lioness is an extrovert, with smart ideas, great tips, and lots of positive vibration .

Whereas, Antoinette is very private with build in walls of steel. My family will tell you that i speak my mind and i am not afraid to burn bridges. I love to taken the unbeaten path. I am strategic in my planning. I often pretend that things slip off me like water; but truth be told, i internalize every single thing. I have very few friends but many acquaintances.

I know that some of my readers might be doing a double take at this point. But thinking about my own situation  brings to the fore the fact that we all have layers to our personality. We have the face that the world sees, the face that our husbands, boyfriends interact with and then if we are honest enough; we have our true selves coming out when we are alone. For some of us, that is when all the layers are peeled away and the great divide is bridged into one raw highway of truth and reality.

On the other hand, all of this could be a page from one very active imagination. However, think about it and let me know, do you have a great divide?    

Finding a Needle in a Haystack.... The Search for Prince Charming.

We each have that ideal image of 'THE ONE' burnt in our brains. For some of us, it seems we have been wired as a child, probably even from birth, to seek out curtain qualities that when fused together results in our version of Prince Charming. With this ideal image in mind, we grow up searching for our ideal partner, a soul mate so to speak. Than reality hits. Oftentimes, the reality is not that there is no one to meet our unattainable standards. No my friends that is not it. The reality is that there are no hunting grounds, no green pastures, no flowing brooks in which to meet our ideal mate. In lay terms, the single man or woman is faced with the stark reality that in a city or town that is well populated there are no dating opportunities.   

Unwilling to allow our dreams to wither and die; we often find ourselves moving to the virtual community. Here, like a cruel twist, is often populated with potential mates of all sizes, shapes, colours and skills. By just browsing the pictures it seems that all our viable candidates are ready and waiting to take that journey with us to bliss.  However, are they?

Although online dating offers us an answer to a number of social challenges; we need to ask ourselves, is it all real? How do we know that the information we are getting is credible? After all, we have seen countless examples in social media, we have heard many a personal experiences from a friend, colleague or through the grape vine of the misrepresentation of these individuals. The credibility of these individuals is a genuine concern. How do we know that that handsome 20 or 30 something is not in fact a 50 year old trying to get his groove back? Not to mention, the mental warfare that is waged by the person on the other end of the conversation to ensure that you both seem to be compatible. How do you know if he or she really likes 'long walks on the beach'?  In the end, the person might look good on paper but is the paper real? The truth is

With all of this in mind, why bother to try and find that needle in a haystack you might wonder. The simple truth is we all like the idea that there is some one, just for us out there. The idea is so enticing that we are willing to continue searching for Prince Charming. But in our quest, is the Internet really the place to look?




    

Sorry

Sometimes you just have to say i am sorry.

In Time!!!!!

The movie 'In Time' has got be thinking how much we relied on time as a people. It almost seems now that i do not have enough hours in the day to complete the tasks i have to do. I thought about what we would do if there were no time pieces to regulate every hour, every minute, or every second. Would it really make a difference? 0r would it still feel like we are in a crazy rush to met our time quota? Would it still be like our lives depended on meeting a time deadline that we or society as set?

For me, it's like in the mornings i feel like i am in a crazy competition with my watch to get to where i am going. I often feel like time is cheating. It's like the seconds are rolling away, in essence slipping trough my fingers like gains of sand. Then, there are those days when i refuse to acknowledge that the system (time) really exist. I love those days!!!!! 

Unfortunately, today i will be rushing against the system. If your reading this today, November 23, 2011. I will be at work here is my day. Come and walk with me.

 

5 am: Wake Up

6: 30 am: Departing home for work

7: 30 am: at work

7: 35 am: Going to my home room

8: am -8:45am : Class 1

8:45 am-9:30 am: Meeting

9:30 am-11: 45am -Classes 3 &4  

11: 35 am- 11: 45 am- Afternoon Homeroom Session

11:45am- 12: 30 pm - Lunch

12:30 pm- Visit trophy place for prizes

1:30 pm-4:00 pm staff meeting

4:00 pm- 4: 30 pm Mark Papers

4: 30 pm-5:00 pm- Pick Ups

5 pm - 6 pm- Journey Home

Let me just say today is my light day.

Flu Remedies- DIY SUNDAYS

I am currently battling the flu. It was so bad that i took some of my kids on a field trip and i left my cellphone. The worst part of it all was i did not realize what i had done until a colleague tried to call me and got someone else.

With this in mind, i wanted to share some flu remedies that i know. Please bear in mind that i do not have a medical certificate and therefore this is not an expert opinion. Please do your own research before trying these.


Garlic and Honey

This is a stable in my home. I grew up with my mom using it for our colds and flu and now i use it for my daughter.


1 head of garlic

1 cup honey


The garlic should be crushed and added to the honey.

This mixture should be sealed in an air tight container and allowed to sit for a day.

The longer the mixture is allowed to marinade the strong the potency and the better it is at treating the ailment.

I usually take 1 tsp of the honey three times daily.



Hot Ginger cinnamon tea


1 teaspoon of ginger

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

1 teaspoon of honey (or as you like)

1 glass of hot milk

Use all the ingredients to make the tea.

Ginger: Have antiviral properties, little sedative properties encouraging the rest needed and anti inflammatory properties which decrease the mucosal congestion of the throat. Ginger also has pain relieving, antiseptic and anti-oxidant properties.


Cinnamon: cinnamon has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.


Honey: honey contains multivitamins and antioxidants, along with antibacterial and antiseptic properties. It’s very helpful in flu especially to people suffering from asthma. There is a say my doctor always says it to me “you will never catch a cold if you take 1 big tablespoon of honey with half lemon juice every morning”



Fruit salad

Throw Couple of oranges, bananas, grape fruit, guava, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries and you will have a very rich plate, loaded with vitamins, antioxidants and other healthy elements and vitamins. You could also use honey as syrup and increase the overall health benefits.


Garlic Potato Healing Soup

1 teaspoon caraway seeds, crushed with a mortar and pestle
2 cups chopped potatoes
7 cups good-quality vegetable stock or water
1 teaspoon salt
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon butter
Croutons for garnish (optional)

1. Simmer potatoes and caraway seeds in stock or water for 20 minutes, or until potatoes are very soft.

2. Add crushed garlic and butter, stirring to combine thoroughly.

3. Serve hot with croutons on top, if desired.
Serves 2.


If you have any additional flu remedy you would like to share please leave a comment letting me know. 

Fall in the tropics..........

It's like the heavens knew i needed a relaxing day. So, from last night it has been raining none stop. This i think is crazy awesome!! I live in Jamaica and i must say the weather has been unbelievable hot. With this in mind, a rainy for us is like a refreshing fall day.I know it sounds crazy but it is true.

Therefore, it is back to bed for me. I will snuggle up under the covers and cough my throat out. I promise i will not feel pity. I will just smile at the knowledge that today will be one of those days when time stands still. Even if it is only for me.

Cruel to be Kind?

Lovelies,

Your girl had a rough week and an eye opening day. I really wanted to cry because i could not believe people can be so hateful and cruel. It makes me really wonder what has this world come to, when people tear others down just to feel good about themselves.

I really don't want to go into details because, to be honest, they are not worth my blogging time. So i will wipe my tears and COUNT DOWN the weekend. Have a fabulous weekend!!!!!

Are you your own obstacle? - Positive Wednesdays

First, thanks to all my fellow bloggers for their comments confirming that i was not the only person experiencing problems with blogger.

Second, sorry for the late posting of this weeks postive wednesday. I am fighting the flu, well to be honest, it's not a fight. The flu is whipping my you-know-what!!!!All of this is smack in the middle of my new role of events planner. I promised, you will get detailed updates soon. Right now i want to share what i found. I hope it helps.

Are you trying to stick to a fitness plan, improve a relationship, eliminate fast food from your diet, or be a better parent?  Whatever your goal, was there a time when you thought you couldn't do it? This is a natural reaction when things get tough.

It's easier to find ways to justify your actions than to get over the hurdle. This week, eliminate the hurdles and barriers you've created. If you find yourself saying, "I can't" or "I don't have time," then re-analyze your goal.

 If you really want to achieve it, then make the time or take a different approach (get up earlier, stay organized, learn the skills).  Find time for you and your goals.


POSITIVE QUOTE

Most barriers to your success are man-made. And most often, you're the man who made them.

 - Frank Tyge

Resource site: sparkpeople.com

Dealing with Computer Addiction - DIY Sundays

The personal computer can be an incredible time saving device. You can use it to bank online, order refills foryour prescriptions, shop for clothes, gifts or food. You can send an e-card, email or read a newspaper. The downside to this incredibly helpful technology is that it is so easyto get swept up into the cyber world and lose track of thereal world that is right in front of you.
 
1) What does your computer mean to you?
The first thing you should do is sit down and give some serious thought to exactly what your computer means to you and how it functions in your life. Is it just an entertainment tool or are you using it for business?

2) Set ground rules.

You want your computer to benefit your life which will mean setting some ground rules. These will vary widely per your individual circumstances. Give yourself an appropriate timelimit when online. If you have a family at home, don'tallow your computer time to take away from real face-to-face quality time with them. Nothing online is as importantas being with your loved ones. If you use your computer asa social tool, as most people do in this day and age, besure that you also get out in the real world and interact with other live, breathing humans.

3) Give your inbox a break!

Take a good hard, long look at email you receive. You canand should control what you allow to enter your email box.If you have friends or family members who forward you everyjoke or virus warning to make its way around the Internet,it's perfectly acceptable to ask them politely to stop. Remove your email address from all but the very most important newsletters.

4) Printing is OK sometimes.

If you enjoy reading online news articles but can't seem tobreak yourself of the habit of following every linkimbedded in the stories, you can always print out thearticle and read the hard copy-be discerning, please, so asnot to generate tons of paper clutter). You can also carrythese printed stories with you in your purse for time whenyou might be waiting with time to kill.

5) It's OK to delete.

Just like you don't have to read every email you receive,there's also no rule out there that says you have to download and view every (or any for that matter) of the plethora of video clips or Powerpoint shows that people love to send to everyone that they've ever met. It's okayto simply delete the email.

6) Make a plan before you get on the computer.

Say for example that you have one hour to spend. Jot down alist of the things you know you need to accomplish in thattime frame. If you spend 10 minutes doing online banking,15 minutes to read and reply to email, 15 minutes to placean online order or two then that will leave you 20 minutesleft to spend on an online forum or social networking site.

7) Use a timer.

If you find yourself frequently losing track of time andspending more time than you planned, start setting a timer.Once the timer goes off, be true to your decision and putdown the mouse. Avoid the trap of saying just 10 moreminutes. In that 10 minutes, you could have thrown in aload of laundry or filled and started the dishwasher--or better yet, have snuggled with a child or a pet.

8) Use computer time as a reward.

In order to avoid feeling guilty while you're online, useyour computer time as a reward for time spent on less pleasant tasks. For instance, you can promise yourself that if you spend 45 minutes and vacuum the house, then you getto spend 15 minutes online doing whatever you please. If you prefer to work in baby steps or in 15 minute blocks,than give yourself baby steps on the computer, say 5 minutes to check the latest headlines or leave a post on the GON forum!

9) Don't check for email every second.

Even if you use your computer primarily for business, it'sstill easy to get sucked into the black hole of time. Avoidchecking your email every 10 minutes.  Work email is aconvenience, but it can quickly become very inefficient ifoverused.

10) Stand up and stretch once in awhile, for goodness sakes!

Be sure to get up from your computer frequently, walkaround a bit, stretch your legs, shake out your arms,wrists and fingers. Have a drink of water and rest your eyes.

Resource site: www.getorganize.com

Do You Look in the Mirror?

What do you see when you look in the mirror? We often see what we want to see when we look in the mirror. For some of us, we see lines that are not there or weird shadows and minute flaws that in fact makes us prefect. Many say it is society that has created a era of women who are chasing after the myth, perfection. But we cannot blame society for all of our ills. Well we can but let's be real. We have to instead weak up and decide what we want. Or better yet, we need to decide which you, you want to be.

Last year, i did just that. I decided to step outside the box and be who i want to be. So i cut my permed hair and started to lock my hair. Now let me tell you,  it was not an easy progress. I turned up at work and everyone did a double take. Basically i had little or no hair. Kids started to laugh and my colleagues looked at me weird but i did not care. I knew what i wanted and society's perception of beauty was not going to stop me. So i walked out proudly and eventually the reactions dissipated. People adjusted and moved on. A year later i am able to make a bun with my hair. I am regularly referred to as Empress, Princess or Queen by members of the public.

I am relating all of this to say,  you must determine for yourself what is beauty and what makes you beautiful. So when you look in the mirror you should see beauty radiating. You should embrace your prefect imprefection. 

Positive Wednesdays- Knee Jerk Reaction

I wanted to share this video because I use it to keep me grounded. It is not my view to force religion down any ones throat but i thought there are some great points that are worth hearing. I hope you find it as valuable as i have.

DIY Sundays- Essential Oils

Essential oils are liquids that are distilled (by steam or water) from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark and roots of a plant. Highly concentrated, these oils contain the 'life force' of the plant and are one of the great untapped resources of the world. This life force contains the powerful healing properties of the plant and helps provide our family and home with health and pleasure without polluting our bodies or the environment.

Here are my top 4 Essential Oils and why you should have them in your home:

1. LAVENDER:

If you have nothing else, this is the oil you should have at home. Not only does it smell out of this world but lavender is a natural antibiotic, antiseptic, antidepressant, sedative and detoxifier that promotes healing and prevents scarring. It also helps with burns. I use it when my kids have cuts or sunburns. I put it on my pillow at night to help me sleep, and if I had a particularly stressful day. You can use it as a spray (add distilled water and put in a spray bottle) when one of the kids have a cough or cold to prevent it spreading around the house and to promote quick healing.

2. TEA TREE:

Found in Australia, the Aborigines have used this plant for centuries for its antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties. Tea tree is helpful for all sorts of infections, acne, fungus (including the hard-to-get-rid-of nail fungus) and athlete's foot and is a fantastic all-natural household cleaner.

3. PEPPERMINT:

Jamaicans have long known the healing properties of mint tea. However, the distilled oil is 100 times more powerful. It is an excellent digestive, aids the respiratory system and is antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. Peppermint oil can be used for gas and bloating, bad breath, headaches and fatigue. Just a tiny bit rubbed on the stomach can help indigestion. Instead of popping a pill next time you have a headache, try rubbing a few drops on your temples and breathe your headache away.

4. EUCALYPTUS:

Eucalyptus oilis great when my kids were babies! It can be used for chest problems and colic, a few drops on a cotton ball in the crib helped to clear stuffy noses in minutes. For older kids, who have a bad cough, you can rub five drops on their feet at bedtime and their coughs will quickly subside.

Taken from: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110420/health/health3.html

Acceptence (Managing Stress)

Adjusting Your Attitude

How you think can have a profound effect on your emotional and physical well-being. Each time you think a negative thought about yourself, your body reacts as if it were in the throes of a tension-filled situation. If you see good things about yourself, you are more likely to feel good; the reverse is also true. Eliminate words such as "always," "never," "should," and "must." These are telltale marks of self-defeating thoughts.

Stress management strategy: Accept the things you can’t change

Some sources of stress are unavoidable. You can’t prevent or change stressors such as the death of a loved one, a serious illness, or a national recession. In such cases, the best way to cope with stress is to accept things as they are. Acceptance may be difficult, but in the long run, it’s easier than railing against a situation you can’t change.

• Don’t try to control the uncontrollable. Many things in life are beyond our control— particularly the behavior of other people. Rather than stressing out over them, focus on the things you can control such as the way you choose to react to problems.

• Look for the upside. As the saying goes, “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” When facing major challenges, try to look at them as opportunities for personal growth. If your own poor choices contributed to a stressful situation, reflect on them and learn from your mistakes.

• Share your feelings. Talk to a trusted friend or make an appointment with a therapist. Expressing what you’re going through can be very cathartic, even if there’s nothing you can do to alter the stressful situation.

• Learn to forgive. Accept the fact that we live in an imperfect world and that people make mistakes. Let go of anger and resentments. Free yourself from negative energy by forgiving and moving on.

Positive Wednesdays + BLOG HOP 3rd Edition

Positive Hops

A blog hop is when bloggers enter thier url, blog name or their name and often email address in a linky. This information comes up as a list.

Bloggers then click and follow other members on the list. You should leave a comment on the person's blog and he or she will follow you back.

Jioning a blog hop enables bloggers to meet fellow bloggers, increase their reader base and following. It also helps bloggers to find blogs that they might not necessarily find.

So, if you have not entered your link please do so or you won't be listed on the hop.

RULES

1. There are NO rules.
2. If you are a new follower leave a comment and I WILL FOLLOW YOU BACK.
3. Have FUN!!!!!

 

Have You Found It?

Guys i am feeling so blessed at this moment in time. It is unbelievable! I have always heard that you should find your passion and stick with it.  I am excited because i think i have finally found my passion. Guess what,  it is blogging. This is coming from a person who went through a period of not wanting to write even a sentence. 

But, i am loving it. Recently, i had to take a little time off because of personal and professional engagements. Guys i literally ached. I know it sounds crazy. But i did. That is how i knew. I LOVE this!!!!

So thank you all for coming to my blog and reading my rants, my thoughts and just for sharing in my personal journey. I am blown away that people actually take the time to read my words.

Thanks You All!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DIY Sundays- Cutting Your Phone Bill

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk. All opinions are 100% mine.
I find that i spend quite a lot on mobile calls. It has got to the point where i have not been in contact with close friends unless they call me. Not only are my friendships dying but also i am losing the comfort of my inner circle.
With this in mind, i thought that many of my readers might be having a similar problem.  That is why i jumped at the opportunity to share what i have learnt about this amazing company called Straight Talk. no they are not paying me to say they are amazing. But just think about it. Any company that offers products and services for the budget conscious person is definitely amazing in my book. 
Here are the reasons why i am impressed:

•  cell phone bills are cut in half
• there are no contracts
• Great nationwide coverage and excellent reception/connectivity. Hook, line and sinker
•  Straight Talk only uses trusted phone manufacturers like LG, Motorola, Kyocera, Nokia and Samsung.

What really grabbed my attention was the break down of the monthly plan.

Monthly Plan
“All You Need Plan”- 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and 30 MB of web data.
• Unlimited Monthly service  includes calls, text, picture messaging, and web- $ 45
• 1 Year- unlimited calls, text, picture messaging and web - $499.00
• 411 calls are included at no extra charge.
• Free from activation, reactivation, or termination fees
International Long Distance:
• Straight Talk International Long Distance Service is a flexible prepaid calling service that enables you to make international calls from your home, cell or office phone at low rates. Call a friend
Phone Selection:
• Reconditioned phones are available from $10.00 with camera, mp3 player, mobile web access, and blue-tooth capability.
• Amazing smart phones; touch screen phones, and app capable phones with features like voice navigation, camera, video recorder, music player, instant messaging, and Bluetooth® Android on Straight Talk
 I am dying of jealously.  Why aren't they in Jamaica? I would love to make use of these great offers. I am just thinking what i could use the extra money for. I bet you are thinking about that new shoes you had your eyes on or that new child related  item you want to get.

The Journey Continues!!!!!

Firstly, Somehow i feel like i have been saying this quite a lot but nonetheless i will say it again. I have not given up on blogging and sorry that i have been M.I.A. There are days when i want to blog so much it hurts. But, I am finding it hard to pencil in blog time on my busy schedule. I would like to think that this situation is a work in progress. I am sure, you will be tired of seeing me pretty soon. Just to say however, that I am currently working on some personal projects and i look forward to sharing them with you soon.

Secondly, I know that for my United States readers, especially, you are preparing for fall and then winter. But, i just wanted to know if the climate has changed for you as yet. I swear that the sun is literally sitting on Jamaica.The days are blazing hot! I know that the summer equinox was on the 21 of September and therefore summer has officially ended. However, i am still waiting for summer to go to sleep or at least take a nap; so i can get a breath of air.


Thirdly, I want to remind you to keep positive. It might sound like i am one of those annoyingly happy persons. the reality is I am far from it, trust me. Like you i have days that kick me in the stomach and drain the energy from my body. Yes, i have those days when i don't want to get out of bed. However, I have learnt that all of this is apart of the human condition and we just need to learnt how to control it. 

Here are three quick tips that i use daily:

Surround yourself with positive energy. I have been hearing this quite often. However, i did not begin to understand the concept until recently. I woke up one day and i said today i will not dwell on the negatives and i will not accommodate persons who do. So for that day i did exactly that and i realized that by the end of the day i felt refreshed. Then, i continued that week and the week after that. I realized that i was able to get more done, i felt better and i was more focused. To me this was amazing after all, my typical day would begin at 5 am and end at 10-11.

Another thing is, before you leave your bed in the morning breathe positive energy into your day. I find that i take 2 minutes to exhale the tiredness, pains, doubts and anxiety in the morning as well as to inhale good things that i want for the day. I generally speak good things into my day. For example: today is going to be an awesome day i claim it! or today i will laugh, i will be happy, everything will be great! I find that when i center my energy i am able to have my contact sessions with an average of 150-200 students daily and still maintain sanity and inner peace.

Finally, get a personal organizer. I am still wondering how i survived so long without one. First of all, no one taught me how to be organized. I have always had the notion that you just get up and do what you have to do. Fullstop. However, thank God for the internet. Through the internet i have discovered the value of a personal organizer. Now, I have my new organizer (my first one ever) and i find that i am less stressed, more focused and procrastinating less because of it. I think i will write a post about my journey.  

Just remember its up to you to create the environment that you will thrive in. No one will do if for you. After all, no one knows you like how you know yourself.