15 Ways To Look and Feel Good For The Holiday Season

According to the American Psychological Association, nearly 90% of American women think they are going to be stressed at some point this holiday season. Here are some tips to help you be your best...

1. Wrapping gifts? Ripping tape? Help keep your nails in shape by filing in one direction.

2. Get a fresh haircut. If you change your part, your hair will have more body.

3. Keep your energy level up by exercising. Working out with a friend is more fun and

will help keep you motivated.

4. Indulge in some dark chocolate. It’s healthy for your heart since it’s loaded with

lavonoids. The key is moderation!!

5. Find some peace and quiet. Light a candle, put on soothing music--take a few minutes

to recenter during this busy season.

6. Take care of your lips. Exfoliate lips once or twice a week by gently circling over them

with a soft toothbrush after you have brushed your teeth. Apply lip balm immediately afterwards.

7. Dress festively. Plan an outfit ahead of time so you don’t wind up
wearing anything unflattering at the last minute.

8. Remember, there is no substitute for sleep. Take the night off. If you are wound up,relax with light exercise.

9. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! (Gathered From The Garden has an awesome Facial Moisturizer.)

10.Try a new winter activity. Taking your workout outdoors on a chilly day burns 12 % more calories!

11. Repeat: “I am not Martha Stewart.”

12. Helping others will remind you of the true meaning of the season. Researchers say that volunteering can lift your spirits instantly!

13. When in doubt, wear black. It’s always chic and slimming.

14. Apply some body lotion that contains shimmer to your arms, shoulders and décolletage.

15. It’s time for something festive so paint your nails red. Then wear a cuff jeweled bracelet to draw attention to your fresh manicure.

And if these don't help your stress level--don't be afraid to ask for help. Tell those you love most exactly how they can help ease your load.

How would you have answered the APA's survey? Do you expect to be stressed this holiday season?

Today I am Thankful For

Moms, dad, son, son-in-laws, daughters,grandkids,sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews,friends, neighbors. A family that chose to host Thanksgiving for all of us this year. It makes a girl glad to be part of a great town, a great family.

Raw natural beauty. We spent part of July in Alaska. Seeing the glaciers and mountains put me more in awe of God's creation. Driving to and from school through farm country makes me realize how even the simple corn fields are a wonder of God's creation too.

Today I am thankful for all of you. Thanks for making my year so much richer.

Quick Take

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac:

Cranberries contain malic acid, a natural astringent. Cut open a cranberry and rub it over your chapped lips. This will help strip away dead skin cells while at the same time infusing your lips with protective antioxidants.

I've got whole cranberries in the freezer right now. I'm going to thaw some and give it a try. My lips aren't chapped but I'd like to see how it feels. Anyone else game enough to try it?

A List of Things to Be Thankful For

Some have attributed it to Mother (Saint) Theresa, which suits me just fine. I'm thankful I found it and have the ability to pass it along.

Be thankful for the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means you have enough to eat.

Be thankful for the mess you clean up after a party, because it means you have been surrounded by friends.

Be thankful for the taxes you pay, because it means you're employed.

Be thankful that your lawn needs mowing and your windows need fixing, because it means you have a home.

Be thankful for your heating bill, because it means you are warm.

Be thankful for the laundry, because it means you have clothes to wear.

Be thankful for the space you find at the far end of the parking lot, because it means you can walk.

Be thankful for the lady who sings off key behind you in church, because it means you can hear.

Be thankful for the alarm that goes off in the early morning, because it means you are alive.

And finally, here is mine: I'm thankful to be able to post this on a blog and have readers like you who read and respond!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

The Brown Bag Project

I recently joined the Bloggers Unite group. They ask bloggers to pick something to blog about, only for one day and this is what I have chosen. The Brown Bag Project takes place on November 21, 2009.

This year on 11/21/09, BlogCatalog.com and HalfHourMeals.com are helping fight hunger. They are asking bloggers from around the world to join in. You can use your blog to promote this and to help make people aware of the hunger that is happening right before us. If you don't have a blog you can still help.

Here are a few ways that the Bloggers Unite suggested how we can help out.

1) Donate food or money to a local food bank.

2) Sponsor a food drive.

3) Volunteer at a local food bank or kitchen that helps to feed the hungry.

4) Deliver a meal to a hungry family.

5) Donate to a charity that fights to end hunger.


I'm telling you this early so that you will have time to plan. It could be as easy as donating to your church or asking your local school principal if they know a family who could use a little extra help this year. Thanks for reading! Enjoy your day~

Great Sources of Holiday Ideas

Here's another 10 blogs for you to check out for fun and creative holiday ideas. From crafts to cookies...you'll find lots of inspiration!

http://www.partywishesscv.blogspot.com/ Fun ideas for creative parties.

http://www.theidearoom.com/ Craft ideas and projects.

http://www.cookiemadness.com/ Not just cookies!

http://www.craftzine.com/ More crafts.

http://www.craftbits.com/ Can't have too many ideas!

http://www.alphamom.com/ Click on "Once Upon a Holiday".

http://www.eddieross.com/ Click on Crafts.

http://www.blogntell.blogspot.com/ Crafts and other stuff.

http://www.oneperfectbite.blogspot.com/ Simple and tasty recipes.

http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/ I think everyone's heard of her but in case you haven't...

There you have it,10 more great blogs to check out. You can't help but get into the holiday spirit with all of the great craft and food ideas you'll find on these blogs. Let us know if you try out a craft or recipe from one of these blogs!

A Workout For The Sole

When it comes to exercises, we tend to neglect our feet. Walking and pressure can lead to the weakening and fatigue of our foot muscles. Performing simple foot exercises can go a long way in building muscle tone, relieving fatigue, preventing cramping, and foot pain.You can practice a number of exercises to strengthen your feet. Here are some great moves to keep your tootsies feeling their best: (Jerry graciously agreed to be my foot model!)

Stretch
This feels great after having your toes squeezed together all day.

How to do it: Sit in a chair. Take your foot and thread the fingers of your opposite hand through your toes. Use your fingers to press inbetween your toes. This will help relax the muscles in your foot.


Strengthen
You can to this with a rubber ball like Jerry did or you can use Foot Wakers (http://www.yamunabodyrolling.com/).

How to do it: Put the ball under your heel and exert pressure on the center of your heel for 5-10 seconds. Rock back and lift your toes, then roll the foot down.


Next, put the arch of your foot on the ball and rock back and forth over it.

Flexibility

Marble Pick-up
How to do it: Place about 20 marbles on the floor. Try picking up those marble with the help of the fingers of your feet. This exercise provides flexibility to your feet and also helps strengthens it.

So keep your feet happy and healthy. Another tip I have for you is to go visit your chiropractor and ask about orthodics for your shoes. I have a pair and they have made the world of difference for me. I ask a lot of my feet--standing all day, running and walking--they deserve some pampering!

Speaking of pampering...check out Gathered From The Garden's Pedi-Balm and Flip Flop Foot Cream. http://www.gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com/

This Veterans Day, we give special thanks to the men & women who protect the health & safety of our nation. We appreciate your dedication!

Skin Care For Everyone!

My granddaughter got her first American Girl Doll today. We drove over an hour to get to the Mall of America's store. Inside the store it was packed with little girls and big girls oohing and ahhing over the dolls and accessories. I hadn't been in there before so I was in for a big surprise. The biggest being the price tag on the dolls and accessories(and boy are there accessories)! The dolls are almost $100 a piece and the outfits and other fun stuff you can purchase are all very spendy. Once you buy your doll you can bring her back to get her ears pierced or her hair styled, all for a price of course. There is a cute little Bistro where you can get a bit to eat and your doll gets served food too.

Being in the bath and body product business I noticed what else you can buy for your doll. A skin care kit! Yes, even your doll needs facial products to keep her looking her best!

All this is said with tongue-in-cheek. When my own children were young they wanted Cabbage Patch Kid Dolls. I'm just jealous that someone else came up with the American Girl Doll idea. They are raking in the cash while making little girls happy.

Do your daughters have American Girl Dolls? Do you? (If I had one, I'd pick Ivy or Kit.)

A "Skinny" Sangria Recipe

My new goal is to cut down on my sugar consumption. (Of course I waited until Halloween was over...) I've just been reading too much about how hard sugar is on your body. As I was checking on some of my favorite sites I came across this recipe.

By Bethenny Frankel
From Health magazine (http://www.health.com/)
Make yourself a lighter red sangria by ditching the sugar and replacing some of the wine and high-calorie liqueur with sugar-free soda.

Just slice up 4 apples and 3 oranges. Combine fruit with 1 pound red grapes, halved; 3 bottles light- to medium-bodied red wine; 1 can Fresca (or any diet lemon soda); and 1 can club soda. Chill mixture, and serve over ice for 16 servings of scrumptiousness.

Here’s the best part: Each serving has only 173 calories—that’s 125 calories saved.

So I can do some entertaining and watch my sugar intake. I'm still trying to figure out how to use agave nectar instead of sugar in my baking/cooking. Has anyone tried it?

Steps to Minimize the Risk of H1N1

We’ve all been hearing so much about the H1N1 flu. Maybe you saw Dr.Oz on Oprah telling us to take Vitamin D. Other advice is to take a probiotic each day, get plenty of rest, eat healthy, cover your cough and keep your hands clean. Here at Gathered we are working on all-natural products to help fight the flu virus.

Being a certified aromatherapist I am always looking for good information about health. On Aroma Web's site they have some excellent advice about minimizing the risk of H1N1 using essential oils. They also have some really good general advice that anyone can use. To read article go to: http://ow.ly/yqUa

Knock on wood--I have not been sick yet. I think it's a combo of extra Vitamin D, keeping my hands washed,getting enough sleep and using Gathered's Sanitizer Spray in my classroom. I really have to work on cutting back on my sugar intake. Easier said then done, looking at left-over Halloween candy!

What have you been doing to minimize the risk of the flu?