Before computers, life was easier......

And less frustrating. I have redesigned my website with the aid of the talented web designer, Brian Anthony. Now the site is done and I need to link it to my domain name. The site is with one company and the domain name another and understanding how the two can talk to each other is like deciphering ancient languages before the discovery of the Rosetta Stone. Brian has been extremely patient with my many, many, many emails (some with screen shots) detailing the problems. While I don't literally have a headache, this process is a headache and making me grumpy. I am hoping that while I sleep tonight that G-d will command the computer geniuses to work their magic and make everything 100% perfect tomorrow morning. I just want my redesigned and awesome site to go live under the domain name. Not a lot to ask for!

Goals then and now.....

I wrote these goals for a trip back packing through the US Rockies with the National Outdoor Leadership school and now fast forward nearly 20 years and I am a productivity coach helping others achieve their goals.

(P.S. I should note that some of the goals on the list were not achieved because I was sent home after three weeks with knee problems that prevented me from continuing and despite this, I still consider this trip to be one my best life experiences.)

One bite at at time

Since being diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, doing things such as writing, typing and my favorites cooking and knitting are hard, so to work on a marketing postcard I am doing one piece of it a day and by weeks end a draft copy will be done and I am following the advice I give my clients to break projects into multiple tasks and do one at a time.

Wednesday's words from a wise man

"Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome." —Samuel Johnson

Tip: Sugar busting

I discovered (much too late) the way to bust my sugar habit is to throw it out, something I practiced today with leftover candy corn—to repurpose a famous saying "One small step for my weight loss needs, one giant step for my sugar problem." (I mean no disrespect to the astronauts who landed on the moon in 1969.)

Story of first US landing on the moon—Apollo 11

Wednesday's words from Agatha Christie

"Oh dear, I never realized what a terrible lot of explaining one has to do in a murder." —Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie Biogrpahy

My daughter's behavior....Am I looking in a mirror or not?

I am sitting here reflecting on some bad behavior on my daughter's part—hard wiring, environment or teen attitude in a tween and I realized it is all of the above since, I was stubborn as a kid and still am, so now I am reflecting whether I have myself to blame for my daughter's bad behavior and attitude and what I can do to steer her in the direction of team work and loving attitude.

Vacation too long?

After being grumpy and testy all day with my mother and daughter on a shopping excursion, I am begining to wonder if my vacation has been too long and I am yearning to return home to deal with the mail, email and other household chorse or if I am just wanting time alone (sans mother and daughter) on my vacation.

In the kitchen on Thursday and Friday: Mistakes happen

I tried yesterday to make frozen yogurt and ended up with a block of yogurt until I reread the recipe and saw that I was supposed to add milk, which I did today by slightly defrosting what I had and mixing in the milk and I hope (fingers crossed) this works.

Honey Blueberry Frozen Yogurt

1C. greek yogurt (it is already strained, but some recipes recommend doing it again—I did not)
1/4. milk
1 tsp. honey
1/4 C. blueberries

Mix all ingredients in a ice cream maker. Let it "churn" for 30-40 minutes and place in freezer.

I used a Sassafras Ice Cream Maker.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BXJY0S

The short and the long of it

Today I am going with my family to the cemetery to honor those who have died which makes me think life is short and it should be in order at all times which based on recent developments with my new business makes me ask, "How do I get a client o actually commit to meeting with me when they have agreed to do so?" (Any ideas are helpful.)

What I learned from having a new fence installed-- Quiet Time

At this very moment work is being done our house (new front fence, backyard lights and basement drain) and I am realizing that as a house needs to be reviewed and updated every so often, so do we as humans and that is what quiet reflection time is for, so today amid the sounds of drills and hammers, I plan to take some quiet time (and hope to do so every day this week) and you should too.

Tuesday's Tip....Candle wax removal

To easily remove candle wax from inside a candle holder, pour boiling water into the holder, and then after 2 minutes use a dull knife to pry out the wax and on the flip side you should freeze wax to remove it from table linens with a dull knife.

Coffee and creativity....

Today I was at my mom's wanting a cup of coffee and created a drip to avoid instant and realized in that moment that some problems require really creative solutions.

(Just remember to firmly hold the edges of the filter when pulling it out.)

Paint and Sadness

Once again my 8 year old daughter, who is into room layouts, interior design and watching HGTV, went to bed said because she doesn't think that her father and I like her grand redecorating ideas for our house, complete with paint color choices (selected today at the hardware store, when she was there with her sitter) and the real problem is we renovated the house to move in and don't want to do it again.

(Some of her selected paint colors)

Life and breath

To paraphrase the substitute yoga teacher, "Fit the pose into your breath and not your breath into the pose" and this got me thinking that I should fit life more into me than me into life, so I raise my half-caf coffee cup to the improved, but not new me.

Wednesday's Words...Adjust your sails

"I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my
destination." —Jimmy Dean

Jimmy Dean Birography

Where did the time go?...TV

While watching TV can be very relaxing as in yesterday afternoon when my husband and daughter were out, I am beginning to see it as a time drain, especially when reruns of my favorite shows are on during the day and I work from home—TV lunch anyone?!

Wednesday's Words: What lies in a problem

"Half the solution to any problem lies in defining it." -- Dr. Phil

So far Monday is a "good luck" day

I found a penny on the bus ("Pick it up and all the day you'll have good luck") and the solutions to three minor problems have been solved before lunch time—that penny sure was lucky.

Why is a finding a penny considered good luck?

Tuesday's Tip: Tax time

Those free mailers from the USPS, UPS or FedEx make wonderful "folders" for sorting your receipts and papers for taxes and just don't forget to label them.

Tax Calendar for 2013