Cypress Cares will be at the Fall Market this week with Christmas cards for our troops. Everyone is welcome to come by and sign some cards, which will be mailed off the day after Thanksgiving.

Like I said, please consider donating to Cypress Cares. No matter how you feel about our politicians or the war effort, the troops still need and deserve the support of all of us. All in-kind donations will be given a receipt for tax purposes, so gather up your friends, family and co-workers, head to the store and buy some of those items you would miss dearly if you were spending a year in the desert…our service members will truly appreciate it!

Raquel Cunningham
Founder, Cypress Cares
http://www.cypress-cares.org 

Spending more time with your family is important!

The majority of the time the reason moms become work at home moms is because they want freedom. That freedom may include time to be home with the kids, the ability to work when they want, and more.

Most, if not all moms, want to be there for there children. If their child wakes up in the morning and doesn’t feel good, a work at home mom can adjust her schedule and be there for their child.

One problem that work at home moms run into is they get too big and they end up spending less time with their family. That was not supposed to happen to a work at home mom. This article will show you how to efficiently and effectively delegate to others and still make money while spending more time with your family and friends.

We know you work your business so you can help support your family. We also know that you don’t have a lot of money to spend. This article will show you what to delegate so you can work your business in a way that will bring in even more money.

1. Virtual Assistant

Hire a Virtual Assistant to take care of your article submissions, blog posts and submissions, newsletter creations, and advertising. These are things that will lead to more traffic, sales, and confidence.

2. Ghostwriter

Articles are important for any business. Not only do they give you exposure, but they also show your readers that you are an expert. When you need to focus your time, you can have a ghostwriter prepare articles for you. This is a great way to have articles without doing anything.

Now you can see that there are two ways that you can efficiently and effectively spend more time with your family and friends. So why not give it a try this summer and see how it works.

Corrie Petersen runs a successful Virtual Assistant and Ghostwriting business. If you are ready to spend more time with your family, check out what she has to offer. Check out her website at http://www.virtualfreedom4you.com.

Can you believe that more than 1.3 million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in the United States this year? Those are staggering statistics, but there is hope. Each of us can do something to save lives and help those already fighting this disease. That’s why I’ve decided to take action against cancer by supporting the American Cancer Society Relay For Life® event right here in my community.

Relay For Life is an overnight event that brings our community together to help support the American Cancer Society and its lifesaving mission to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. The Society works hard every day to prevent cancer and save lives by supporting groundbreaking research, affecting public policies that protect us from cancer, and educating people on how to prevent or detect cancer early. The Society helps people with cancer right here in our own community. And our efforts at Relay For Life can help the American Cancer Society to keep working toward a cancer-free future.

I want to invite you to show your support in the ongoing fight against cancer by joining us for this year’s event. Please click on the link below for more information, including details on the inspirational Survivors’ Lap and the moving Luminaria Ceremony. We hope to see you there! If you can’t join us, will you please visit the site and make a donation to support our efforts? Either way, you will make a real difference in the lives of people facing cancer and in the lives of the people who love them. Thank you!

For state fundraising notices and the American Cancer Society’s Privacy Policy, please paste this link into your browser: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/SU/su_0.asp

Click here to visit my personal page.

Click here to view the team page for 19th Street Spirit Walkers

Most people know that eating healthier, in smaller quantities and exercising helps you lose weight. Yet 60% of Americans are overweight. Why is that?

Here are the top four reasons I have heard people give:

1. I don’t have enough time in the day
2. I really don’t want to work at it (it’s too hard or not fun)
3. Fast food/junk food temptations are all around me
4. I am afraid of failure

These are all honest and valid reasons, but if losing weight is something you really want to do, you can overcome these objections.

Let’s first address the time issue.

So many times I hear people say “I would love to exercise but I don’t have the time”, or “I would love to eat healthier, but I don’t have time to prepare healthy meals”. Yet these same people find the time to go to events or parties or get together with friends for a movie night. This is because they planned (scheduled) the time to do the things they really want. Well, if you really want to lose weight and eat healthier, you must schedule it (put it in your calendar as it if was an appointment). If it is in your planner like any other appointment (dentist, doctor, etc) then you will have the time for it. Remember you are doing this for you. If you really want to achieve something you must make time for it!

So you don’t want to go to the trouble of trying to get healthy because it is not fun or too hard?

First of all when you want to lose weight and get healthier you need to make a decision. You must decide that this is something you really want. You must decide to do whatever it takes to get healthy and lose weight. You must do it for yourself, not to please someone else or just to look good in a party dress. Otherwise, the results won’t last. Once you make the decision to get healthy, then you can move on to the next step, but until then, you cannot move forward. Decide now. What do you really want? When you have made the decision to lose weight and get healthy, stop making excuses and just get started. Make an appointment with yourself every day and just do it!

Are you keeping from starting on your weight-loss journey because you are afraid of failing?

Well, guess what? You will fail, many times! But if you don’t even try you will never succeed. Most successful people succeed because they don’t give up. They figure out what went wrong, start again, try different things and keep going until they reach their destination. It took me a lot longer to lose my weight than the average person because of my chronic illness, my elderly parents being in and out of the hospital, the hard time my eldest child was going through in life, my neck injury, etc. These things slowed me down, and sometimes I strayed from my journey, but I did not give up. I kept going, turned to my support system (which in my case was a weight-loss support message board community), and kept trying again and again. The key here is to keep going! We are only human, it is normal to stray and it is perfectly okay to make many mistakes. What is not okay is to give up the fight. Never give up!

Last but not least, the final reason for people not losing weight is because we are surrounded by fast food and tasty temptations.

In this busy day and age, we find ourselves stopping to pick up “junk food” for many reasons. We don’t have the time to make dinner since we have to take our kids to their after school activities, do other errands or had to stay late at the office. This goes back to planning and setting appointments even to prepare and make dinner. However, there will be times when you will need to pick up some fast food to feed the family. When you do, know that there are choices. Fast food restaurants are realizing that people are trying to get healthier these days. So they are now offering more healthy choices on their menus. Instead of ordering the same greasy choices you’ve ordered in the past, stop and think before you order. Pick the healthiest things on the menu. Skip the sauces and dressing unless they offer low-fat options. Keep some healthier choices at home so that when you get home you can add the dressing or dipping sauce. Cooking fresh at home is always best (and a lot cheaper than eating out all the time), but when you are in a pinch and must eat out, make smarter choices.

Yes all these suggestions require a little thought and planning, but eventually after doing these for a while it will become second nature and you will be making better choices without thinking about it. Changing your lifestyle to make healthier choices takes time, but it will be well worth the effort you put into it. Remember that anything worth having is worth fighting for. Remember, If you really want to achieve something you must make time for it! Repeat after me: “If it is to be, it is up to me!” So, what is keeping you from losing weight?

Angie Cyr is an Independent Million Dollar Body Coach and available for free mentoring and encouragement via E-mail. Find free weight-loss tips and sign up for her free monthly newsletter at her website: www.CoachChica.com

I love looking at magazines for decorating tips, especially for the holidays. I wanted to share with you some of my own ideas along with some that I have found over the years in other magazines that really have helped my home to look less cluttered and quite crisp for the holidays.

Decorating Your Christmas Tree

Step #1 - Wrap white lights around the tree in a spiral pattern, start from the top. Next, place identical medium sized ornaments in a zig zag pattern, work from the bottom up. Repeat with 2 or 3 other types of medium sized ornaments.

Step #2 - Hang larger ornaments among the medium sized ones. Fill in any gaps with smaller ornaments.

Step #3 - Select 3-5 ornaments that will be your focal point. Place them in a diamond or triangle pattern half way down the front of the tree. Depending on the where you place your tree, you may have more than one focal point. Something to keep in mind.

Use ribbon. Tuck in 4″ strips of ribbon around the entire tree or , sporadically drape long strands of ribbon down your tree.

Use beads. Starting at the top of your tree, loosely drape your beads.

Finally, add your tree topper.

Inexpensive Decorations, because less is more!

A simple arrangement of candles

Fill decorative bowls with oranges, apples, pomegranates or nuts

Add your favorite jewellery or beads to your centerpiece

Combine existing decorations to make wreaths or centerpieces fuller and far more attractive.

I do believe the most important thing is to just have fun decorating.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

Wendy Okkema
Yak’s Healthy Lifestyles
Personal Trainer/Lifestyle Coach
http://www.yakshealthylifestyles.zoomshare.com/

The Christmas season is here. With it will come parties and an abundance of delicious foods. In the past I have mentioned ways of eating on your regular routine days that will help you cut out hundreds of calories daily. If you don’t want to put on too much extra weight this season, remember that every day is not a party day, continue to eat right on the days where there is no office party or Christmas dinner to attend.

To find my Top 5 Healthy Eating Tips, visit my website at http://www.yakshealthylifestyles.zoomshare.com/

Eating Christmas treats. I am a firm believer that we need to enjoy these goodies that come but once a year. Try this, pick your favorite cookies or squares and enjoy, but enjoy 2 or 3, not 6 or 7.

Enjoying Christmas Dinner. Did you know that one serving (which is approximately 2 good sized pieces) of turkey is 150-175 calories, one cup of mashed potatoes is 135 calories and 1 cup of cooked squash is 130 calories. Now, all that is quite a substantial meal, with very few calories, so do enjoy that Christmas dinner!

Just do your best when it comes to eating over the holidays. If you get a little carried away with enjoying the food and the eggnog, do not feel guilty. Guilt is a wasted emotion, causing unnecessary stress, which is far worse than putting on a few pounds over the holidays in my opinion.

Do not stop exercising. You will be very busy this December. This is the perfect season to take some well deserved time for yourself, daily. Time to relax and pay attention to your body and your mind, both work so hard for you every day.

As many of us know, breathing is very important when exercising, but it is just as important when stretching. This is when you give your body permission to relax. Each time you do a stretch of any kind, inhale a nice deep breath, then exhale. By doing this, you are getting oxygen into your body, which will improve your circulation. Beware though, this will lead to an increase in your energy level.

Yes, you are busy with shopping, Christmas concerts and parties, but isn’t it for and with the beautiful family and friends God has given you? Exercise, stretch and use that time to reflect on what God has given you.

Be kind and take care of yourself this season. You will find that you have much more to offer your loved ones if you do.

Wendy Okkema
Yak’s Healthy Lifestyles
Personal Trainer/Lifestyle Coach
http://www.yakshealthylifestyles.zoomshare.com/

As the holidays approach, you probably are anticipating holiday plans with family, traveling, and looking forward to some time off from work. As fun as the holidays can be, this also can be a very stressful time of the year.

If you are a manager or business owner, you actually may end up working longer hours when your employees take time off. Then there are the holiday parties to plan and attend, some we eagerly anticipate, others that we would welcome a bout with the flu just to have an excuse to miss. Then there’s the shopping, the cooking and getting the house ready for guests. Add to that any conflict or tension in your family and you have a recipe for a stressful holiday season!

You can manage your stress to your advantage. Keep in mind that you are in charge of your stress level. You decide how you will let others affect you. You decide what gets done and what to let go of. You determine your experience of the holidays.

Your mindset determines your outlook, your actions and your experience. Deciding who and how you will be has a tremendous impact on your holiday experience.

Do you want to be someone who is stressed and overwhelmed this holiday season? Do you want to rush from one activity to the next, overwhelmed by all that you have decided needs to be done, panicking and procrastinating, unable to figure out where to start? Do you want to be someone who gets swept up in the tensions of those around you?

Or do you want to be someone who truly celebrates the holidays, enjoying time with family and friends, calmly going about your day? The choice is yours. Change your mindset and change your experience.

Set your intention at the start of each day. Tell yourself, “Today I will be…” Think about what you want to get out of your day. Focus on the experience you want to have, not on what you want to get done. After all, ten years from now, no one remembers the gift you bought them, the pie you baked or the tasteful holiday decor in your office. Ask yourself, “How can I make my day meaningful and enjoyable?”

Happy Holidays!

Business & Life Coach, Sabrina Schleicher, Ph.D. offers a FREE e-course: 7 INSIDE TIME MANAGEMENT SECRETS OF ELITE PERFORMERS plus FREE subscription to her newsletter at http://www.tapthepotential.com

breathe again magazine

is an online monthly magazine designed to uplift the modern women of today. Breathe Again was a vision created by Founder Nicole Cleveland to address the issues women go through to help empower, encourage and motivate.

The stirring stories about overcoming adversity and living triumphant, successful lives encourages and motivate women to not only endure but to overcome, life’s most challenging moments. Whether they are laughing, crying or saying a heartfelt “You Go Girl,” the entertaining, engaging and informative articles keep readers coming back for more. Breathe Again Magazine provides inspiration and hope for all women regardless of age, income, race or religion. Any and every woman who has experienced a life-changing event, or supported a friend through a life-changing event, will find comfort and comrade in the pages of Breathe Again.

The articles address every area of a woman’s life including health, marriage, motherhood, sisterhood, business, relationships and more. They even provide a little down home sistagirl advice.

Breathe Again will also be sponsoring quarterly events for women. Our vision is to create a forum for women to come together to relax and relate with other like-minded women. As women we nurture and care for others, yet rarely take the time for ourselves. Hopefully we can help you take that breath of fresh air, if only for an afternoon or a night.

Visit this amazing magazine for articles that will change your life and shine a new light of hope into your heart!

Breathe Again Magazine

Thursday Oct. 11th 10am pst / 11am mnt / 12pm cst / 1pm est

Authors Lillian and Dave Drummet will be on Journey to Self. We will be discussing how to be proactive in your life.

To listen live to the show go to http://blogtalkradio.com/journeytoself

You can listen live and join the chat room to interact during the show.

If you would like to call in to ask a question or to comment. You can call in at (347) 215-8942

Tune in and get some great information on how to be more proactive in your life!

Also, this week bring some organization into your life.

At Mom’s Coffee Break, our sponsor Christine Rice is giving away her book A Life Less Cluttered: Expert Secrets to Your Own Organizing Epiphany and a 20 minute phone consultation.

To get entered to win this FABULOUS prize visit Mom’s Coffee Break’s Blog http://momscoffeebreak.wordpress.com/2007/10/10/october-12th-sponsor-christine-rice and leave a comment sharing your best organizing tip.

Tonya Ramsey with Life By Design http://www.lifebydesignsite.com

So often, we get busy with our day to day lives and don’t step back to look at the big picture. Are you enjoying life? Or does life feel like a struggle? Do you wake each day thinking, “Today I have to…”" or do you wake thinking, “Today I get to…” There is a big difference.

I recently coached a client most people would describe as successful. Married with two children, Christina* worked as a registered nurse supervisor. She lives in a nice neighborhood, drives a late model SUV, and recently traveled to Hawaii with her family.

But, Christina felt unhappy. She did not enjoy her work anymore. She liked her co- workers and she received plenty of recognition for her efforts at work. But, she felt something missing.

Christina’s job was the end result of a series of choices Christina made over the last fifteen years. When faced with an opportunity, Christina always made the most “sensible” choice. Her series of sensible choices landed her in an “okay” job and an “okay” life.

But, many days, she came home feeling depleted. Her job drained her energy. Some days, she did not want to go to work. Many days, she had a gnawing voice telling her something was missing from her life. Many days, she woke up thinking, “Today, I have to…”

When Christina came to coaching, we had an honest conversation about what Christina really wanted. What a powerful conversation! For the first time in years, Christina gave herself permission to dream. Although she liked being a nurse, it was not her first career choice. Highly creative, with an entrepreneurial spirit, Christina felt boxed in by the structure of her job. She really wanted to start her own business.

For the first time in her life, Christina made a choice many might consider to be “un-sensible.” Christina decided to start her own business as a wedding planner.

Christina did not do this hastily. She spent months learning about business, researching the market in her area, talking to other small business owners and developing a solid back-up plan in case her business failed. She did all of this while she continued to work in her nursing job. In the process, something amazing happened!

In spite of taking on even more work as she developed her business and worked full-time, Christina felt excited and energized. She woke up each morning looking forward to the day ahead. Maybe that day she would have lunch with another business owner. Or, maybe she would spend time working on her business plan after her children went to bed.

It really didn’t matter how much time Christina devoted to her business on a given day. Christina got to do something everyday that excited her.

By the time Christina walked away from her steady paycheck, she had so much momentum going, fear no longer consumed her. Even though Christina faced plenty of obstacles and financial risk as she developed her business, she persisted. It did not take long before Christina made more money from her business in one week than she made from a month working as a nurse.

Christina’s success is not effortless. She works very hard at it. But, to Christina, it feels effortless. Christina loves what she does each day. She is pursuing her passion. Did you wake this morning thinking, “Today, I get to…” or did you wake thinking, “Today, I have to…?” Those two thoughts highlight the difference between thriving and surviving. When you wake thinking, “I get to…,” you’re having fun in your life and work.

You’re experiencing each day as a new opportunity to get to do what you love. Work can be fun and when it is, you thrive.

It’s your life. Are you having fun?

*Name and identifying information changed. Used with client’s permission.

Small business and life coach, Sabrina Schleicher, Ph.D., helps you work smarter, experience more success, and have more fun! Author of “Success from the Inside Out: How Busy Women REAL-ize Their Dreams,” Sabrina offers a FREE e-course: 7 INSIDE TIME MANAGEMENT SECRETS OF ELITE PERFORMERS plus FREE subscription to her newsletter at http://www.tapthepotential.com