The Holidays Are Over!

As Martha Stewart would say, "It's A Good Thing!" I do LOVE the holidays, but they can be tough at times. We are experiencing some challenges right now, but the chance to spend time with family, friends, and good food really makes up for it.

The bright side is always there-you just have to look for it and appreciate it!

2009 will be the best year ever! Why? Because I want it to be. It's that simple. Didn't you know that life is easy? We keep making it harder than it has to be. I have always said that if life is hard, then you're not doing it right! God has a plan for all of us.

My dad has very simple advice for everyone: 'Do Good!' That sums it up. You can't go wrong if you follow it.

Short post today. Staying positive though. Today's quote is a French proverb: The only wasted day is one where you have not laughed. Enjoy! Michelle

Positive Gift Idea - Can't lose!!!!!

Hi! I'm back! I am creating a positive, healthy, inspirational blog, so I really didn't need to post during the last month. I am facing many challenges (keeping the good attitude, though!) and wasn't in the mindset to air it here. There are too many places to visit where you can get your fill of cynicism, depression, complaining, and overall negative-ness!!!!

I heard a great commercial this morning. Meijer is prompting folks to give their gift cards for Christmas. It had a woman saying "What I'd really like is a ... gerbil!" and a burley man saying "What I'd really like is a ... shiatsu massager!" It cracked me up. What an AWESOME idea. Everyone can give eachother gift cards and it solves the problem of WHAT to give, avoids buying wrong sizes and wrong colors, and stops re-gifting (of course, that is fun too - to see how far a certain gift can go!). If you have the perfect idea for someone, give it. If you don't, give a gift card. If you agree to give the same amount to someone, then you know you can afford it!!!

If you like to make gifts, you can fashion a hand-made card, box or similar holder for the gift card. Then it is made with love, AND practical! You get the joy of giving, wrapping, and feeling generous. It is the best of both worlds you receive the fun of giving (and getting) giftcards as well!

Times are tough. Give a generic gift card with love. It can be used for essentials like groceries, or a special gift to self like scrapbooking supplies!

Take care. Enjoy the holidays! (Remember, smile through the tears) Michelle :)

Always a Silver Lining

Okay, so I started this blog in hopes of bringing joy and inspiration to the world, and life goes to hell!!!!! Can't keep me down though. As I said, if I could write a newspaper column, it would continue to focus on the positive aspects of life, so... my financial difficulties are teaching budgeting, patience, and appreciation for what I do have AND my too-busy schedule is teaching organization skills, time management, and delegation. There we go - back on track!

I know life cannot always be easy so we have to learn from the challenges and enjoy the rest. One day in October I ran a school PTO function in the morning, went to work for 3 hours, took my daughter to a doctor appt for test results (she's fine), and finished the day with an awards ceremony for the other daughter! Funny thing is, a day filled with so much is NOT out of the ordinary! What is uncommon though is a day where I do not leave the house, in fact it would be great if I could not leave my pj's, and spend the whole day being lazy!!! Oh to dream!!!

I have pledged to LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH, LEARN, EXPERIENCE, ENJOY, and HELP, and you can't do that by staying in pj's everyday! Why not? There has to be a way!!! :)

Though I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders right now, it expands my horizons and helps me realize that there are other people out there who need more than I do and I can accept my own situation a bit easier. I am blessed with so much - especially the wonderful family I was able to visit with this past weekend. Thanks Dad, Max, Laurie & Dennis for everything!

If you like books, check out the website Good Reads if you get a chance. www.goodreads.com I have just finished reading The City of Ember (new movie is out in theaters-and I LOVE movies) and I have started The Secret.
Bye for now! Keep Smiling!

By the way, if you are a crafter, check out my sister's blog: http://creationsontheisland.blogspot.com/

She has the greatest ideas and links in her posts. **And there's still a few more days til Christmas if you want to create a hand-made gift or card for someone!



For fun, try the site I love: I Can Has Cheezburger! It has the cutest pictures with funny captions! I set up my account so a daily email arrives to brighten my day. It really works!



Give it a try now and SMILE! http://icanhascheezburger.com/



All my best, Michelle :)

Finally!

I am one of those annoyingly upbeat people! I try to see the Bright Side and I smile all the time-even when I don't want to! I smile through the tears at funerals and I laughed on the day I find out my niece had leukemia - because I shook the coffee creamer (when the lid wasn't tight) and it went all over me and the new carpet! Now, I finally have a way to express my thoughts, opinions, and good advice and no one can stop me!!!!

If I could write a newspaper article, it would be completely positive. I would turn situations around and expose the "good" side of it. I would encourage others to find the best in themselves and their situations. I think this would be a necessary, welcomed service. But since we (as the general American public) only want to hear about death, despair, and destruction, it won't ever happen. Well guess what? I will ONLY be positive in this blog. I will write what I want, when I want, how I want, and as optimistically as I want!

I will end this first post with a "thank you" to those who have read it. Saying thank you is important. I believe in praying daily to give thanks to God, and telling (and showing) those I love how I feel. Today is not guaranteed. Enjoy some of my favorite songs when you get a chance: Live Like You Were Dying-Tim McGraw, 100 Years-Five For Fighting, Blessed-Martina McBride, You're Gonna Miss This-Trace Adkins, Hold On-Wilson Phillips, Unwritten-Natasha Bedingfield, I Hope You Dance-LeeAnn Womack --- okay so there are a lot that inspire me! Check back again! Michelle :)