Happy New Year!!

Female friends are another relationship I want to embrace more in the new year. We all seem so busy with stuff all the time. Are we really so busy that we can’t go have a glass of wine with a girlfriend, go shopping, chat on the phone, or meet for lunch? Sure, it’s easy to be consumed with our lives and all our responsibilities, but female friendships can be so rewarding if we make the time. I’m going to work on allowing more girlfriend time in my life. Laughing is one of my favorite things in a friend. Tell me you don’t have time for some stress release with friends, and I’ll tell you that you might just be too busy. Yes, that’s possible, and I admit I have been guilty of that!!

 I have walked regularly over the years, mainly because our breed of dogs demand daily exercise. They have kept me accountable over the years, and I would add in some challenging physical goals like P90X and bootcamp, but after pulling a hamstring and running was too painful for one of my hips after bootcamp, I settled for walking alone. I have got to start strength training again because I need a strong core and toned muscles….and it’s not only for vanity these days. In fact, I’d say it’s not about vanity at all, and it’s more about keeping our machines oiled and in good working condition. There is no doubt that exercise is the best medicine for optimistic/happy moods, good health, and overall wellness. 

I love the feeling of being organized, but it just doesn’t come as natural as it once did. I used to be so organized when I was a child, then as a teenager, and throughout my college and early years as a teacher. Then kids came along, we stayed in a home for 11 years, and collecting stuff is a part of my business. I have gradually been updating our home with more current colors and furnishings, and that has really transformed my thinking about organization. Updating and beautifying spaces in your home can really motivate you to organize because you want your beautiful spaces to not just be beautiful, but also functional. Point in case: my husband just built some large storage shelves for our basement, and now I almost feel giddy about putting all the Christmas decor away now because these new shelves are going to free up so much space in a room in the basement. Our basement has been unfinished all these years, but we are starting to finish it for the boys to have a space all their own! This motivates me, too! I hope to get my closet and photos organized in 2014, too. ( Don’t quote me on that last one!)