Friday, December 30, 2011
What it takes to keep your resolutions
10:00 AM | Posted by
Heather |
I can't tell you how many times I have made the same resolutions. Year after year I do my best to make positive changes. Most of my attempts end with me feeling like a failure. So I decided to see what could be done about keeping my resolutions this year. After taking some time and reading several different articles on the subject of keeping resolutions, I have come up with a list of things to help ensure success.
Be realistic
It's great to have a grand end goal but make sure you plan smaller more obtainable goals. Not only will this help keep you on track, it will also seem easier if you have small steps to take. As an example: if you want to get fit, don't set a goal of going to the gym for four hours a day everyday. Start simple: maybe start with 10 minute walks and work up to more. (Always seek the advice of a medical professional before starting any work out or diet program).
Don't keep your goal a secret
Telling friends and family about your resolutions will help build a support network. Blog about your progress, or keep a journal; make sure you get it out in the open. You might find a workout buddy or someone to be accountable to while working on your weight loss. Your kids can remind you that you promised to only smoke twice a day. Building a plan and having a support network is a great way to make sure to keep on track.
You will fail
You can't let a slip up set you back or make you give up. If you did not walk three times this week like you wanted to, make sure to check what the factors were that made you set it aside. Be aware of the problem and just pick it right back up.
Rewards
Remember to reward yourself for success. Plan out your smaller goals and rewards for hitting them. I walked three times a week for a whole month so I get to enjoy a pedicure. The rewards will keep you motivated and make you want to hit the next goal.
Keep at it
Even if you let the whole thing drop, you can pick right back up where you left off. There is no reason that you can't renew your resolution any time of year!
I hope the tips above help make your resolutions successful this year, I will be working on my weight loss and getting more active. I have a big goal of dropping 100lbs this year but I have set realistic smaller goals. As for getting more active, I need to up my walking to three days a week (even in bad weather) and I have a reward structure set up to help keep me motivated. As for telling people, I just posted a public blog about it.
Heather Garcia, Promotions Manager
www.johnstonmommies.com
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Monday, December 26, 2011
Year in Review. 2011: What a year it was!
January - We started off January with a kick! We started up the Book Club again, and continued wih some kid fun at the PB&J Fun Factory. We scheduled multiple playdates at indoor bouncehouses as we adjusted to the cold weather outside.
February - In February, we welcomed our awesome new Chapter Manager KATY! Our Moms On The Clock group kicked off the first of their monthly happy hours. Our younger kids had a great time meeting up at Marbles Museum in Raleigh.
March - In March, we said goodbye to our PB&J Fun Factory as it closed and moved to North Raleigh; too far away! We had another great MNO at Jenny's house!
April - We started our library storytimes with Clayton's Hocutt Library. Many story times were followed by picnic lunches in the park. We had a fantastic, wild adventure at Noah's Landing for one of our family event days! The kids got to touch, feed and pet many wild animals, like snakes, parrots, donkeys, a zebra, possums, and many others!
May - We switched up our story time to Smithfield library. Some of our kids went on a great blueberry-picking excursion at Creekside Farms
June - Our group visited Marbles Museum again! We continued having fun MNOs - Thanks to all the hosts throughout the months. As we sweated through the hot summer months, we spent a lot of lunches at indoor playhouses and restaurant playplaces :).
July - Our youngesters participated in the 4th of July parade! What fun decorating bikes and wagons with the colors!
August - JM tried its first cookie bake-off this month. Each participant left with warm, freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies and brownies!
September - Our Kids' Adventure Group was formed this month. What fun we had creating crafts, reading books, and learning some basic vocabulary and prinicples! We also scheduled a big family event - Bowling!
October - Our Kids' Adventure Group continued strong. We also started up our Walking Group, and a Zumba group each week! So many strong JMers are trying to get in better health and start off 2012 right!
November - We set up a bunch of evening playdates this month! We were so glad that lots of working mamas were able to attend. This was also the month that so many of us got out to see the holiday lights and festivities
December - The end of the year is always so hard to set up, we were thankful to be able to set up playdates, a cookie swap, and a MNO within just a few weeks.
Look to 2012 to be a continuation of the fun and excitement we've had all year long! There are so many routines and traditions that we will definitely want to extend into the New Year. Let's all give a hand to the many mamas who schedule, plan, and host ALL of our events. As always, if there's something specific you'd like to see, don't hesitate to PM a member of the management team; or don't be afraid to start a thread of your own to spark interest! Items on the 2012 agenda: Kids' Adventure Group, younger kid playdates, movie days, library story times, holiday celebrations, a book club, MOTC Happy hours, MNOs, family events. Happy holidays and a fantastic New Year to everyone!!!!
-Elizabeth Hopkins, Event Manager
Friday, December 23, 2011
No Snow, Snow kidding
After spending 19 years in California I love one good snow a year. It looks like this year we might not get any. At the very least we will not get any of the fluffy white stuff for the big Christmas holiday. Now don't get me wrong, I never wanted to live in places where blizzard conditions are the norm during the winter. I just like a good dusting once a year.
Now that we have been here in North Carolina for three years, I still am not over my love of the weather. I love the crisp cool fall and the cold winter. I adore the beauty of spring and even the heat of the summer. Maybe it is my yankee showing but I love a good snow storm. I love to watch the big fat fluffy flakes fall softly from the sky. I love to watch it pile up and start to stick to the grass.
I am aware that there are more than a few people who would like to string me up for my wishes of a white Christmas: Folks from the North who did not spend a long time in California, anyone who just does not like winter; but fuss at me if you must, I want my winter wonderland.
Heather Garcia, Promotions Manager
www.johnstonmommies.com
Monday, December 19, 2011
The Christmas tree: A history
There is some dispute about the origins of the beloved “Christmas Tree”. The tree as we know it today comes from a 1,000 year old German tradition. It is said that St. Boniface came across pagans worshiping an oak tree; angry, he cut down the tree. From the roots of this tree a fir tree sprouted. The Saint took this as a sign, but it was not until the 16th century that the trees were brought indoors.
The evergreen has been a part of celebrations around the world for a very long time. Egyptians worshiped evergreens. During the winter solstice they brought green date palm leaves into their homes as a symbol over death. Romans celebrated the solstice with a feast called Saturnalia to honor Saturn, the god of agriculture. They used evergreen boughs to decorate homes and temples. The Druids of Northern Europe also decorated their temples with evergreen as a symbol of everlasting life. Even the Vikings in Scandinavia thought evergreens were the special plant of the sun god, Baldur.
The first “Christmas Tree” traveled to England with the Georgian Kings. They were decorated with tinsels, silver wire ornaments, candles and small beads. The old custom was to have one small tree for each family member. In the United States the “Christmas Tree” goes back to the time of George Washington's defeat of the German Hessians in 1776.
From its humble beginnings, the “Christmas Tree” has come a long way. You can now find them in any shape, size, and color. You can get an easy to care for fake tree, or a real fresh evergreen. You can even buy one that you can plant after the holiday has come to an end. It does not matter if your tree has colored lights, or classic white, what matters is what that tree symbolizes for you and your family.
Happy Holidays
Heather Garcia, Promotions manager
miio.com
@H
twitter.com
@Muirenn
@johnstonmommies
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Friday, December 16, 2011
It's Time
As we reach the end of 2011 and step forward into the next year my house is working to get it's financial and physical house in order. My husband has set a goal to run a marathon in 2012 and I am continuing my weight loss journey. Our household has put in place a plan to save money in order for us to move into a home of our own in the next couple of years. All of the above require family co-operation and hard work. We need to support each other and work as a team to reach our goals.
That got me thinking, how many people spend time working on goals as a family? I am a firm believer in working together as a family makes things go smoother. We have had a rough year and we are ready to move on and start out with a fresh new calendar.
As always I am excited to make positive changes in my life. Thrilled to see the direction my family will go in the New Year. Big changes with my daughter graduating, and my son about to start sixth grade. All kinds of exciting new things are afoot this year.
I hope each of you have as much positive momentum as our family does. My wish is for each of you to have a safe and happy holiday season.
Heather Garcia, Promotions Manager
www.johnstonmommies.com
Monday, December 12, 2011
More water please
Everyone knows you need 8 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated and healthy. I hate to drink water so this is a problem. I know I need to drink it. My body needs it, more so in the winter when the heat is sucking the moisture right out of the air. I just don’t understand why I can’t enjoy a nice cold glass of water.
I have tried adding lemon, crystal light, lime juice, and even tried different brands of bottled water. We have a water filter and the water we have is good. I just don’t like to drink it. It boggles the mind how one thing can irk me so much. I want to like to drink water.
The one way I can drink it and enjoy it, is when it is mostly frozen. Even then it is not a pleasant experience for me. In my quest to become more healthy I know this is a problem I must solve. More water will keep me hydrated and add to my weight loss. It will also help my skin. I am tempted to kick my soda habit making water the only thing I drink except the occasional cup of coffee, but I am not that brave yet.
Until I figure out how to get over my dislike of water I will be trying to force it down.
Heather Garcia, Promotions Manager
www.johnstonmommies.com
Friday, December 9, 2011
The List
Every year my husband and I make our Christmas lists for the kids. We take each childs’ wishes into account. We make our decisions on what is to be purchased and go out into the shopping frenzy. Every year I swear we will do it sooner next year. This NEVER happens. SIGHS!
My husband is a list maker. We have lists on what is for dinner, lists on what do on his days off and lists for shopping. Now I am all for this list making, as it keeps my house peaceful and orderly.
I have come to learn to not only use the list method of dealing with life but to enjoy it. I have embraced the list. It is a necessary thing when your husband and son both have ADD, when you have a teenage daughter with an active social life, and when you homeschool and are just trying to make it through the day.
Why lists are helpful:
- Making a list can help to keep your day on track. (Make a to do list before bed)
- Accomplishment is visible if your list is printed out and you can see things being marked off.
- Lists can help your organize your thoughts about things.
- You can use them in almost every aspect of your life, professional goals, personal goals, and family goals.
Some tips for writing lists
- They don’t have to be well written
- They can be short or long
- They have to matter
- They can be simple or wordy
Heather Garcia, Promotions Manager
www.johnstonmommies.com
@H miio,com
@Muirenn Twitter.com
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Wordless Wednesday!!
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| Photo by John Lawson (from the Clayton Christmas tree lighting) |
Monday, December 5, 2011
Overcoming Self Induced Obstacles
We all have them, our self induce obstacles. These are the things that for whatever reason we have put in our path to success. It can be the fear of being along keeping you in an unhappy relationship, or your refusal to give up a favorite food in order to loose weight. Clutter is an obstacle to a clean home, and lack of motivation can be an obstacle to dealing with personal and professional growth.
We are coming up on the beginning of a new year, a time when we all make resolutions to be a better person, loose weight, and over come our personal obstacles. Have you ever been to the gym the first week of the New Year? Tons of people are working out getting in shape. Still going in March, the crowd has thinned to those who were able to over come the personal obstacles that have kept them stagnant in the past.
There are ways to change your behavior, ways to overcome the obstacles that have kept you down in the past. It has been said that it takes thirty days to make a habit, which is the first clue to changing our ways. You must change the bad habit or form new good ones. Making a schedule, and keeping to it is important. You can apply this to many areas of your life. Change from a sugar fill junk food snack to an apple and a handful of almonds. Work out a budget to control spending, make a plan for dealing with undone housework.
Whatever your personal obstacles are, you can overcome them and improve your quality of life. Once you make the decision and act on it, you will not only be surprised at the changes, but you will see your self esteem grow with your accomplishments.
Heather Garcia, Promotions Manager and blogging diva
www.johnstonmommies.com
@H miio.com
@muirenn twitter.com
Ring in the New Year with TMN!
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To help you start the New Year with a bang, The Mommies Network is offering the following:
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The Mommies Network can help your business reach moms across the nation or in your community. We are a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide a safe, secure, free place for mothers to find support and encouragement from other mothers and to empower them to be better women, parents, and community leaders. Through our online forums, our chapters connect local mothers, enabling them to ask questions, seek support, offer encouragement, find volunteer opportunities, and grow as leaders as they volunteer their time with our site. Our organization provides a valuable service to a portion of the population that is nearly always overlooked, overworked, and taken for granted: moms!
For more details on how your business can ring in the New Year with moms across the nation, please contact Jessica Van Dyke at Jessica.VanDyke@TheMommiesNetwork.org.
How are you reaching the greatest buying power in our nation?
Friday, December 2, 2011
Tired of turkey?
So here we are a week after the big Thanksgiving feast and I don’t know about you but I am tired of turkey. For some unknown reason I made two turkeys’s this year and had a whole bird leftover after the feast. So we have been having turkey in various forms over the past week. Now I am tired of turkey so tonight we shall dine on spaghetti.
Now, don’t get me wrong I am a HUGE fan of turkey. I love it on sandwiches, in a pot pie and of course just roasted with a little cranberry sauce. It seems that every year I over estimate the amount of food I am going to need. Not just enough for leftovers but enough to feed a small army. I am sure someday I will learn but until then I will come up with new and interesting ways to use leftover Thanksgiving turkey.
Last night I whipped up a turkey stew of sorts. Easy and quick, it is pretty much turkey gravy with veggies and turkey. I served it over the last of the dressing. It made a nice warm filling meal to finish off our turkey leftovers.
I guess I need to start thinking of things to do with ham next because I know I will over cook as always.
Heather Garcia, Promotions manager
www.johnstonmommies.com
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