2012: What are you doing to celebrate the new year?

Well, I will be going out to dinner with my husband and best friend's, the Brown's, for some French food, at marchebacchus.com, awesome champagne, and to celebrate turning another year older. At the strike of midnight it is on! One more year younger. All the nonsense from the previous year is in the storage areas of our minds, not to be forgotten, but to utilize to become wiser. The 1st call of the year, out of six, to wish my amazing Mom Happy Labor Day. It has always been a bitter sweet birthday, being born on New Years Day, but yesterday I met two friends of Gabbie's and they both brought it into perspective for me by saying, "How exciting that everyone celebrate's your birthday!" Well....I'll take it! I truly hope that everyone has a safe, prosperous, healthy and blessed New Year. Good bye 2011, hello 2012!

Are you living in your Princess Castle?

Well are you? If not will you? It dosen't matter what size, shape, or where it is as long as you have a haven to come home to. There is nothing like snuggling in front of a roaring fire with a cup of hot tea, your puppies lying in the crook of your legs and the contour of your belly, staring at you adoringly.(this is unconditional LOVE)! Recently my daughter came home from college for Winter break. She is a Sophomore and the differenence a year can make is incredible. She actually wants to stay home and hang out with us. Conversations? Yes, we are having them again. All the angst of the first year when your constant companion leaves and there is a void in your heart starts to fill up again. Welcome back Gabrielle Margaret.

Buzz...H2O for the new year!

How many of you truly love water? I am not a big fan, although I know that I need to be. My preference is bubbly water as in Perrier or San Pelligrino. The problem is it is not always available so...I want to drop this recipe for Sassy Water borrowed from Christina of Carolina Charm. I plan to make a batch for the new year. Let me know how it goes for you, I want to hear the results. Happy Wednesday!


Sassy Water
Looking for a way to perk up those 8 glasses of water that you should be drinking every day? Look no further…I present to you Sassy Water! Not only is it tasty, but sassy water is touted as a way to help you shed some extra pounds around your midsection by eliminating a buildup of contaminants, fat, and excess water weight. 
 
You Will Need:
{8 ½} cups water
{1} teaspoon grated ginger
{1} medium cucumber, sliced thin
{1} large lemon, sliced thin
Mix all ingredients together in a pitcher and refrigerate overnight.
{12} mint leaves
 
The next morning, strain and drink all 8 ½ cups throughout the day.
Repeat for 4 days in a row...trying your best avoid any other beverages (coffee, soda, alcohol, etc.)
Why it works: Cucumber is natural diuretic, and helps the body release stored excess water. Ginger boosts metabolism and helps calm and soothe your GI tract.
 
 We all need a little help to get us started in the right direction. :)

The week after Christmas and before New Years!

It seems like the shortest week in the calendar! All of a sudden you are looking back at the year and listing your accomplishments, failures, dreams, nightmares, goals and challenges. I want to challenge you to post your New Years Resolutions here on my blog. They will give inspiration to some, a vision to others. They may trigger someone to post their own resolutions. Just to clarify what a New Years Resolution is...
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A New Year's resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to one or more lasting personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit. According to Gretchen Rubin (author of best-seller "The Happiness Project"): "You hit a goal, you achieve a goal. You keep a resolution".
This lifestyle change is generally interpreted as advantageous. A New Year's Resolution is generally a goal someone sets out to accomplish in the coming year. Some examples include resolutions to donate to the poor more often, to become more assertive, or to become more environmentally responsible. 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.

So the challenge is on. What are your New Years Resolutions?