Forget the New Year Resolutions - ONE Week Until Christmas

Are you planning to make a whole bunch of New Year Resolutions? Forget it!

Why?

Because of the 40% of the population that make New Year resolutions, only a tiny 8% achieve their goals. 

Why?

Because they are unrealistic. "Become a millionaire" is unlikely to occur legally in one year if you can't afford to keep your clapped out Commodore on the road to get to the place of business where you are planning to make the $million.

Why?

Because it requires behavioural change and "rewiring" of your brain. You are who you are, good and bad. This is how you got where you are and forcing change in one aspect of your life will force change elsewhere that may not sit well with your 'self.'

Why?

Because most of them involve a huge

amount of effort that you may not have the time, energy or inclination to follow through.  

Photo by Chris of lucidtech.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrish_99/

Why?

Because a year is a heck of a long time to commit to something that you decided was too much effort or not worth doing on the 3rd of January.

 

If you are determined to make some New Year resolutions, here is a selection of weird ones that others have tried. I didn't make them. I found them on the internet. 

1. Finish a chapstick. If you manage not to lose it in the year, you have achieved something truly amazing.
2. Master a party trick. 
3. Eat less bacon. 
4. Fight crime by teaching owls to shout out "crime" at anyone breaking the law.
5. Learn how to clone Nutella.
6. Don't hang out with people you don't like. There are millions more out there. 
7. Stop worrying about what the Kardashians are doing this week. 

If you are still determined, here are my tips for making them stick.
1. Pick one (1) only. 
2. Be realistic. Refer to above for why.
3. Pick a date. The 1st of January may not be the best day to give up chocolate.
4. Share your resolution with a friend to create your own cheer squad.
5. Accept failure. Just because you ate a whole chocolate bar tonight doesn't mean the rest of the week will be a disaster.
6. Celebrate successes. If you were on a solid diet of daily chocolate, resisting on just one day is an achievement. 

Two Weeks Until Christmas

Is Christmas at your house this year? If it is, then it is time to make your house look fabulous. 

This is my friend Angela's house. It looks amazing doesn't it. Christmas lights are beautiful and I will never achieve this magnificent display but I have a few to create the festive spirit.

There is no need to knock yourself out with cleaning. A few simple tricks and cheats will create a tidy house that looks clean and inviting. 

1. Start with the entry.
Remove all the shoes, dog water dishes and dead leaves.
Hang a decoration on the front door, it will distract them from the dirty window beside the door.

2. Speed tidy with baskets and boxes.
Put all loose items that are not in their correct place in a basket or box in the room that they belong in. Clear tables, cupboards and bench tops make a house look tidy and spacious.
If they are in common rooms, take 10 minutes to quickly put items where they belong. 
Shut the bedroom door.  

3. Fluff up the cushions and throw rugs in your lounge room. It's a quick trick and will make your house look like a hotel suite.

4. Clear the junk off the fridge door. Fridge magnets are cute but make the place look cluttered and can be dirty. Shopping lists and favourite recipes can be stored in a drawer during the Christmas visits.

5. Wipe down surfaces. This one is worth the effort and will remove hairs, dust, fluff and coffee cup rings. 

6. Vacuum the common areas. Nothing makes a house look spotless more than freshly vacuumed carpets.

7. Clean the toilet. Please.

8. Hang a clean tea towel in the kitchen and clean towels in the bathroom.

9. Buy some fresh flowers or a pot plant. Plants make a house look fresh and natural.

10. Smile and fuss over your guests. They will be dazzled by your attention and won't even notice the remaining mess. 
    

Making Food and Positive Feelings

Since all this started I have done a lot of baking. Quick recipes that produce tasty results with minimum effort. I enjoy baking and it makes me feel good. 

According to this article, published in the Journal of Positive Psychology, "people who frequently take a turn at small, creative projects report feeling more relaxed and happier in their everyday lives." That's me.   

Baking is not going to cure my shoulder or magic the fatigue away but it is pleasurable and gives me a sense of accomplishment, no matter how quick the recipe is. For a short time, I concentrate on something else. Something that is fun. I suggest you give it a go and check out my recipes. They are about simple as you can get.  

Read more here: 
Feeling down? Scientists say cooking and baking could help you feel better

3 Weeks Until Christmas

It's back to food this week. It is only 3 weeks until Christmas and the shops are getting hectic. We do the groceries every Saturday morning, usually arriving soon after 8am and leaving at about 9:30. In and out before the rush and nobody waiting for our car park as week leave. No so this morning. By the time we got back to the car, the four wheeled vultures were circling, hunting for a car park.

The message for this week is to get organised now. Study your menus for Christmas functions. Start two shopping lists. The first one is for non-perishable items that you can buy now. The second list is for the items that you have to leave until the last minute. You can continue to add to this list until the last shop before Christmas but start now so you won't forget anything. 

What can you buy now? Most things: tins, coffee, biscuits, pet food, snacks, toilet paper. Have you ever noticed the huge amounts of toilet paper that are driven out of the supermarkets right before Christmas? Does the human body work differently at Christmas time, maybe in response to the change in diet? Who knows, but I can assure you that the toilet paper you buy today will not go stale in the next three weeks. 

Are you planning to try a recipe for the first time at Christmas? I have a habit of doing this and amazingly have not had a disaster but it is better to test recipes out ahead of time if you can. 

My Sister-In-Law is a creative and skilled cake maker and decorator. Fortunately for the rest of us who don't have the same degree of patience, dedication and skill Toni-Maree provides delicious recipes and ideas to try. Try out these truffles this weekend. Enjoy them and make more in time for Christmas. 

The Fantasy Cake Factory    

Christmas should be fun. Organise yourself so it is not all effort and stress at the last minute.  

This gorgeous bowl of gingerbread was created by Anita:
http://s125.photobucket.com/user/alongway99/library/?sort=4&page=1

4 Weeks Until Christmas

It's Time to Find Clothes to Wear to Christmas Gatherings 

Have you already picked out your outfits for all the Christmas functions?

Time is running short.The shops are getting hectic.
Don't delay any longer. Disappointing as it may be, it is doubtful  you get thinner, more toned or more buffed in the next three weeks.
Now is the time to pick something that you feel really good in. 

So, what to wear?

My plans usually start out with an idea to wear stilettos, something figure hugging and stunning with a fancy hairdo. By the time the day finally arrives, I am rearranging my wardrobe looking for something vaguely modern to go with my kitten heels. The work Christmas dinner is an example of this. I was going to wear my blue satin, figure hugging "wedding dress" and strappy black sandals. Why is it called a wedding dress? Because so far, I have worn it to two weddings and my graduation. When the evening came, I wore my slightly Indian looking dress and matching orange wedges. Much more comfortable. Much more me. 

There are times to glam up and there are people that love to glam up and look absolutely fabulous but wear something that feels like 'you.' It is possible to still make a statement and feel comfortable. Many years ago I bought a pair of lime green jeans from the secondhand shop. I paired them with a black cheesecloth top and black sandals. Boy, did I create a stir, but I felt very comfortable and at home in my clothes. 

I studied Google for advice about what to wear to Christmas gatherings. Here is what I found.

• If you tend to be a messy eater, wear something patterned or at least not white.
• If you will be outside, wear a hat. 
• If you will be crawling around under the Christmas tree looking for presents, wear jeans, shorts or leggings.
• If you like tradition, wear red and green.
• If you want to be chic, wear a dress.
• If you love jeans, wear them and dress them up with a sparkly top.
• If you love jewellery, spend a few dollars and buy yourself some costume jewellery. The choices are endless.
• If you are planning to eat and drink a lot, wear something that gives you room to grow.
• If you will be standing a lot, pick your shoes carefully. Stilettos don't look sexy if you also have a tortured look on your face.     

Remember, Christmas should be fun, not a fashion contest. 

7 Weeks until Christmas

It is now time to get serious about the Christmas shopping. If you don't buy gifts or celebrate Christmas, repeat week 8 and take more time for yourself.  

Here are my strategies to lessen the stress and effort of present shopping.

Make a list 

Starting writing a list of possible gifts. Even this step makes
me feel as if I am making progress.
I have a habit of interrogating the family at the dinner table for
ideas of what each other would like. Some wild and unrealistic suggestions turn up but there are usually some great ones as well.


Flexible standardisation

What's wrong with giving variations on the same gift to 
multiple people. Let's be realistic, it probably isn't the only present they will receive.
How about- DVDs, socks (sigh,no), chocolates, wine, perfume.






Plan a shopping day

After you have written your list, pick a day that you will have
plenty of time so that you can do most of it in one trip.
Get to the shops early so you still have a chance of getting 
a car park. Wear your active wear. This is not the day to look fancy.
Schedule in a coffee and snack break so you can rest your feet and check off your list.
Warn the family that someone else will have to be responsible for organising the evening meal. 


Pick your shopping centre


There is no sense in planning to buy everyone books and then going to a shopping centre that does not have a bookstore. 
Check the car parking. Is it easy to get in and out of?
Park your car rear end in so that you can drive straight out
past all those fighting for your carpark. 
  

Negotiate to reduce the number of gifts

Rather than buying lots of cheap presents

why not agree to buy one present only. Draw the

name out of a hat and do secret Santa if you wish. 

 

Make your gifts

If you are low on funds or if you find craft a relaxing pastime,

consider making some of your Christmas gifts.

There are many gifts to choose from- baked goods, artwork, potted plants, knitted and crochet apparel, pottery. The list is endless. 

Christmas should be about spending time together, not struggling your way through the shops elbow to elbow to buy the 'perfect' gift. Be logical. If you had fun buying it, then the recipient is more likely to love it than if you have gone to the ends of the earth and back just for one gift.