#Reverb12, Day 4: How Will You Celebrate YOU?

Throughout the month of December, I’ll be participating in #reverb12: celebrating the successes of 2012, honoring the challenges of 2012, and planting the seeds for a rich and rewarding 2013. December is the perfect time to reflect on the year that has passed and start to manifest dreams for the new year.

Day 4 – How Will You Celebrate You?
How are you going to celebrate yourself this festive season?

To me, the holiday season is about doing for others – buying presents, sending cards, getting together to connect. Which is why I love today’s prompt; it’s so easy to lose ourselves in the rush of the holiday season.

One thing that I do to celebrate myself is decorate my house. I live alone, and I’m sure many people wouldn’t bother going through all the trouble. But to me, making my surroundings festive adds “sparkle” to my life.

Another thing I do for myself to help celebrate is to buy some new clothes to wear to the holiday festivities.  I love the incorporation of sequins into everyday items like sweaters, because it makes  it so easy to create a special look.

I use makeup to help get myself dolled up for the holidays.  I’m planning on pampering myself with a pedicure, because looking down and seeing red toes makes me smile.  I think I may just buy a special holiday nail polish, as well, so that I can add a bit of glitter to my nails as well.  Of course I love breaking out red lipstick during the holidays – red is a great color on me, but I only wear it this time of year, because it seems like a bit too much during other months.

How will you celebrate YOURself this season?

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Single Girls (& Everyone Else!) Should Celebrate Love

I absolutely LOVE Valentine’s Day! It doesn’t matter whether I’m romantically entangled or single (more often the case), this is a day worth smiling about.

It all started with my mom (doesn’t everything lead back to our moms?). She made Valentine’s Day really special for us growing up. Heart-shaped poached eggs for breakfast, a sandwich cut out in a heart shape, a sweet greeting card waiting for us after school, some cute little trinket at dinner. The house was decorated with hearts and pink and red, and we always had special candles on the dinner table. She instilled in me that Valentine’s Day isn’t just a corporate over-commercialized holiday, but it’s a time to show those you love that they’re important to you.

And that’s how I’ve looked at V-Day forever after. It’s a day to tell everyone I love just how special they are to me. How my life is better because they’re in it. And having a significant other (or not) doesn’t change that, because I have lots of love in my life even without a boyfriend to share it with (right now).

So…

...from the heart on my top...

...to the "amore" on my coffee cup...

…I wish you all a very Happy Valentine’s Day.  Go tell someone you love them today.

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#WEverb11, Day 25: Celebrate

For the month of December, I’ll be participating in #WEverb11. Each day gives a new prompt, each of which is a chance to reflect and look forward.

December 25: Celebrate

What did you celebrate in 2011? Are you looking forward to any celebrations in 2012? Inspired by Kaileen Elise.

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2011 brought my 40th birthday!  I wanted to do something fabulous to mark the occasion,and had big dreams about going on a destination vacation with my friends and sister to Hawaii or Vegas, but in the end we decided that something quieter, and more local was more fitting, given these financial times. Plus, it doesn’t really matter where you are, as long as you’re with the people you love.

I do hope to go to a destination vacation for my birthday one of these years, but all in due time.  Maybe for my 50th.  The other “wish list” thing I’d like to do for a birthday in the future is have a surprise party thrown for me.  I’ve never had one before, so it would be fun to experience it.  Although I am a nosy Nellie sometimes, so actually pulling off the surprise might not be too easy.

For this year’s party, my sister took on the preparations for everything, which was so special, because as a single mom time is one of the things that’s in short supply, but she made the day fabulous for me.  My birthday is on July 2nd, and as always, we had to contend with the 4th of July holiday.  A few people who might’ve attended weren’t able to because they were away for the weekend, but the ones who did attend more than made up for it.

We went to my favorite wine bar first, then walked to another bar, and finally, we were back at my house with an impromptu cake and candles celebration.  I won’t go into all the details, but it was a very memorable birthday, and I felt very loved.

The entire  weekend was full of celebrations, food, family, and friends.  What better way to usher in a new decade than that?

In 2012, I’ll be celebrating weight loss: my plan is to do a zipline once I hit Onederland.  And of course, meeting Scale Warfare will be a celebration, too.  Oh, and one of my best friends is having a baby in March.  And my mom will be turning 65 in 2012.  2012 will be filled with celebrations.

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If you’d like to join in on the daily writing prompts, go to WEverb11, sign up for the email notifications, and join us! Or follow along on Twitter using the #WEverb11 hashtag!

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HYC Update: On the 11th day of 2011…

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

There is so much to update you all on, but I did want to mention how fun it’s been to see so many new bloggers join in on our HYC.  Welcome everyone!

Can you believe it’s already January 11?  Today marks several milestones and mini reasons to celebrate for me.  On the 11th day of 2011…:

• …Lulu is 11 months old!  Her 1st birthday is on February 11, and I want to throw her a little puppy party.  My sister thinks the idea is very “chi chi,”  and sort of scoffs at me, but I told her that I really don’t need an excuse to celebrate Lulu any day of the week, so we might as well have a party when she’s a year old.  I wish more of my friends had puppies of their own; that way we could make it a real party.  I don’t know enough people at the dog park or the doggie daycare to feel comfortable having them in my home.  So I  guess it’ll just be my family and close friends and Lulu will have to soak up the spotlight by herself.  Actually, I think she’d prefer that option .
• …I’ve been a non-smoker for 5 months!  153 days, to be exact.  And I’ve finally reached the point where I don’t miss it.  And the cravings have pretty well subsided too.  And when I calculate the money I’ve saved – 22 weeks X $24/week = $528.  Wow!!!  That’s a lot of money.
• I’ve been doing the MeYouHealth Challenge for a few weeks now, and I’m loving it.  Each daily challenge is something that’s easy to do, but makes a significant impact on my well-being.  Plus it’s #2 on my 2011 Goals.This past week I’ve:
  • turned a negative into a positive
  • shared a healthy breakfast idea
  • acknowledged two things I’m really good at (two positive traits of mine)
  • went credit-card free for a day
  • bought a first-aid kit for my home and an emergency first aid kit for my car from the Red Cross Store
  • cleaned out a kitchen cabinet
  • created a sleep plan for the week
• My HealthyLoserGal Be True to You Challenge isn’t going quite as well as I would’ve hoped.  Ever since this back pain became a more serious issue, I’ve been hesitant to attend any group exercise classes.  My plan was to go to aqua aerobics last night, but my sister got home later than expected from work, so I missed it.  This week is her first week back to work so the normal routine is going to be a bit off.  Plus, I really want to hold off and see what the doctor says in terms of exercising. But, I have been walking for at least 30 minutes each day, so that’s a positive.  And I have my doctor’s appointment today, so at least I’ll begin getting some answers/solutions to the back pain and arm numbness.
• I also want to brag about 2011 Goal #1 – writing a comment a day on at least one of the blogs in my blogroll.  I’m happy to announce that I’ve been averaging 4-5 comments a day.  I’m enjoying completing this goal because reading those blogs helps me feel so connected to everyone.  Plus, I figure that the adage of “doing unto others” will work and I’ll start getting more comments on my blog in 2011.  I love reading comments and always appreciate the time it takes for you to leave your thoughts.

So there you have it.  What seems like a regular Tuesday to some is filled with NSVs and milestones for me.

What’s one thing you’d like to celebrate today?

 

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