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Heron standing on porch beside flower pot.

StoopBoyd

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I know I missed Friday Silliness yesterday. So, I thought I would show you a little of what has been keeping me so busy. I am having to work extra to afford massive amounts of hot dogs these days for a new visitor to my home. This egret has decided to call my home his. When we walk out onto the porch, he is there waiting and walks right up to us expecting his hot dogs. When I come home from any trips away, he flies right down behind my car as it pulls into the garage and stands at my door as I get out.

We have named him StoopBoyd after a cartoon (Hey Arnold!) character who would not leave his stoop. Recently he has been inviting friends, in particular a gray heron who, as of now, remains unnamed. Yesterday, StoopBoyd entered the house looking for more hotdogs. I had my son escort him back outside, as I cleaned up his thank you gift. (Yes, I was careful not to touch anything with my bare hands, thanks for asking Stan!)

So here he is, the most recent addition to our family, StoopBoyd!

Smiling man with text about client expectations in a bright office.

The holidays have a way of bringing out the perfectionist in all of us. The magazines are filled with pictures of perfectly decorated homes and yards. Many of them with hand crafted ornaments that only take 3 weeks and way too much money to reproduce. The “Perfect Family” that lives up the road always has everything done and in place the day after Thanksgiving. The stores are filled with aisles of adorable decorations and great big sale signs. The drive to fulfill the fantasy of the perfect holiday takes over and the stress level goes up another notch.

It is important to make a decision regarding your activities during the holidays, are you doing these things because you love them or because you think you should? If guilt is the reason, let it go! If it is because you haven’t let go of the perfection drive, perhaps you might enjoy this little story.

I love to create gingerbread castles. I have done this since I was in the 7th grade. For me, it is a fun, creative process that I enjoy. It is a three day process, including the dough, the patterns (I make my own) , the gluing (with melted sugar) and finally the decorating. Of course, eating them usually doesn’t take my family as long. However, it is nice to have a gingerbread castle on the Christmas table.

Several years ago, I went through the process of creating my finest castle ever. The dough was delicious, the windows were made of rock candy (dyed with food coloring) and the powdered sugar snow on the roof was just delicate enough to look real. I was thrilled as I fell into bed around midnight, exhausted and proud. The following morning I awoke to hear my husband saying, “Oh no! Little Bit!” in a panicky voice. I stumbled out of the bedroom and into the living room. Rubbing my eyes, I heard my husband repeat, “Oh no Little Bit!” and look furtively back and forth between me and the cat. His eyes were huge and his head kept wobbling back and forth as if he was watching a tennis match.

As I looked in the direction of the cat, I started to laugh. I laughed til my sides ached because of what I saw. There, smack dab in the middle of my finest creation ever, sat one very happy kitty! Little Bit was convinced that she had the best mommy ever to have created such a delicious playground, as she licked her paws, she was covered in crumbs and icing. Fortunately for me, I enjoy the process of creating the castles. I knew from experience that they get eaten anyway, it is only a matter of time. So, it was just funny.

My table did not have a gingerbread castle that year. It hasn’t in many years as I got into another baking streak for a while. I baked over 100 rum cakes (each December) for gifts and that began to take up my time. I am not baking those cakes this year (at least not 100 of them) so perhaps I’ll take another shot at gingerbread. After all, I still have a dog and a cat who think mom is amazing when she drops goodies in the kitchen!

Golden retriever wearing a Santa hat.

With the Thanksgiving holidays behind us, are you one of those people who suddenly feels the crush of the upcoming season? Gift giving season is upon us, along with parties, social events, wrapping up the year before a new one begins, children’s pageants and the list goes on and on. All of this is meant to bring us joy and yet it seems as though we are on constant overwhelm. This year add the concerns that we have been feeling about the economy and the holidays can seem to be turning into nothing but a dizzying array of obligation!

There is hope. Here is how I deal with the season. I breathe. That’s right, deep breathes, allowing my thoughts to clear and my body to relax. Breath is life, we always have our breath with us and yet all too often we get into overwhelm and we forget to breath. When you are stressed, your breathing is quick and shallow. When I recognize that in myself, I stop and take a deep, wonderful attitude changing breath.

The next thing I have had to learn is to forget the fantasy of perfection. If my uncle is a goof ball with outrageous behavior and opinions that he is compelled to spew every other day of the year, why should I expect him to be any different during a holiday event? I have lowered my expectations of how things “should” be. (I am not fond of “shoulding” on myself anyway.) If it is truly a family or friend get together that is important to me, than I focus on the relationships and enjoy the people I am with.

It is my experience that my friends and family would rather get together with a happy sane me, than the one that is weepy and weary because I created the perfect table decorations or had that one extra appetizer that no one knew I was going to serve in the first place. So far, neither Martha Stewart nor Norman Rockwell have featured my celebrations, but my friends and family have all enjoyed themselves as we usually end up laughing about everything and nothing.

With the economy what it is this year, it is a good time to remind ourselves about the reason for this season. Whatever your holiday or your Spiritual beliefs are, keep your focus there. When we take time out to renew ourselves Spiritually, we feel more ready to handle whatver comes our way. I like to remind myself that in this moment, I am safe, I am healthy and all my needs have been met.

Don’t try to buy happiness. Often, when setting a budget and sticking to it, everyone is happier. After all, how much fun is “the gift” in January when the bills start to roll in? Perhaps, the gift of time is what loved ones would prefer. Be honest with friends and family, set limits on the amount spent on a gift, limits that fit your budget.

I enjoy a moment of quiet relaxation, of self hypnosis. When I find my words becoming terse or negative, I stop and think about how I want to feel. I think about who I want to be. Try it. Take a moment now and relax. Breathe deeply and with your eyes closed recall a favorite holiday. Recall the events, the sights, the sounds, the aromas. Most importantly, recall how wonderful you felt. Recall those memories of joy and love. Fill yourself with those feelings of joy and love right now, then take those feelings forward with you through out the rest of your day.

Three red-orange rectangles of varying sizes on a white background.

Yesterday was the American holiday, Thanksgiving. I hope all who celebrated had a fabulous day with plenty to be grateful for.

We can all be grateful we weren’t at this Turkey Drop.

Have a great and relaxing weekend. Take a moment to reflect on what you are grateful for and imagine how you desire your life to be. Then, begin to allow that life to become your reality.

Holiday Survival 101 cover with snowflakes.

With the holidays and all the added pressure and responsibilities, as well as the added social obligations descending upon us, do you find it almost impossible to remain aware of your weight, eating and exercise routines? Do all those extra goodies seem to call your name? The good news is, according to a government study, on average, Americans actually only gain about one pound of fat over the holidays.

If you prefer to avoid even that one pound gain, then here are a few quick ideas to help make your holidays healthier and happier.

Remain Aware

Stop believing the fantasy of how “someday” you will have it together enough to really make a difference. That someday is now! It starts in little increments and builds. You want to create a healthy mindset for daily living.

  • In order to practice awareness relating to your intake of food, remember, no goody tastes as good as being healthy and fit feels!
  • Allow for the occasional treat, so you don’t feel deprived. You will find that you enjoy the food and the holidays if you don’t focus on deprivation.
  • Take a moment each morning to look yourself in the eyes (in the mirror) and remind yourself that you deserve to look and feel great.
  • Before a holiday party or meal, be sure to drink a full glass of cold water. This will help to fill you up sooner and elevate your metabolism so that you burn what you eat more efficiently. Dehydration slows your metabolism by 3 percent. That can be up to 80 calories a day burned just by drinking water.
  • Chew sugarless gum! While fixing a meal or when you want to snack, grab a piece of sugarless gum and you won’t be as tempted to put other foods into your mouth.
  • Eat from the veggie platter when you first start, fill up on the healthy foods.
  • At social gatherings, don’t fill the silence with another mouthful of food. If you don’t know what to say, remain quiet for a moment and just listen. People love a good listener!

Keep It Moving

It is imperative that you keep moving through out the holidays. This will help with both the foods you consume and the stressful situations. Building muscle helps to burn fat, even when resting. If you exercise regularly, you will have more energy, feel better emotionally and sleep better as well as fight off diseases better. Any increase in physical activity has a positive affect on your health and your perfect body size.

  • Park further out in the lot at the shopping malls. Walk briskly to your destination, whistle or hum an upbeat tune to keep you moving!
  • Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
  • Remember that cleaning and decorating both include plenty of twisting, lifting and movement, do it with enthusiasm to get the maximum benefits!
  • While you may believe that you don’t have enough time for exercise, it is true that only eight minutes a day of exercise will make an impact on your weight and your stress reduction.
  • Keep a set of hand weights by your sink. Every time you wash your hands, do a quick set of 10 reps with the weights. You’ll be amazed how much extra exercise you sneak into your day.
  • Taking a walk while trying to resolve an issue is a great way to burn calories, reduce fat from your body and release clutter from your mind! As you get the oxygen pumping through your blood, your head will clear and often answers seem to appear!
  • Studies have shown that those who stand through out the day burn more calories as do those who fidget. Just by fidgeting you can burn up to 700 calories a day! Stand while conducting phone conversations.

Take some time for yourself in quiet contemplation. Close your eyes and imagine yourself having the perfect time with loved ones. See yourself laughing, hear the happy sounds of gatherings and feel the warmth and joy you allow. The holidays are about so much more than the foods we consume. So put your focus on your family, your friends and your spiritual beliefs and enjoy this season with zest!

Smiling woman in red top at desk.

Want to know why I am musing on Tuesday instead of Monday? Possibly because I was so amused yesterday with my new toy. I bought a webcam, finally. I feel like a dinosaur compared to so many of my blogger buddies.

I am preparing to offer online groups to help my readers handle stress better. So, I decided I needed the camera. It is wayyyyy too much fun. I keep it on (offline) and catch my family doing the silliest of things at my desk. I am just too lucky when it comes to reasons to be grateful after watching my guys on film!

Anyway, after they sign releases, maybe I will load them up. In the meantime, here is a quick shot I took yesterday while being interviewed on Skype by Andrew Wilkie. We chatted about hypnosis marketing and just generally had a great time.

Two women engaged in a futuristic brain-computer interface session.

I just wanted to say a quick thank you to my friend Cecilia Sherrard for sharing the news about why you should quit smoking from a very practical view point. Her blog is a real estate blog, Cleveland Ohio Real Estate, or Youshouldown.com. Her take on smoking? The cost and negative effect on your home, when looking to resell. When you want to sell your home, doesn’t it help to have every advantage?

It is a wonderful article and Cecilia generously shares with her readers about how they can get help through hypnosis phone sessions with me. Thank you!

Please, take the time to read through her blog, there are fabulous tips on caring for your home. Her cleaning tips are a great resource for me. Please stop by and read her article,

Negatives Of Smoking In The Home & Why You Should Quit. Leave a comment, say hello and let her know I sent you!
Woman smiling while holding a proclamation document.

Just one more reason to quit!

Cigarette in ashtray near a pacifier.

Yesterday I had a blast at Palm Harbor University High School. The kids there are great and the teachers so willing to lend me their imaginations. We had teachers singing, dancing, looking for their missing feet and all sorts of fun. I was able to get the message across about the power of your mind and using it to create your future starting now. I also addressed the Great American Smoke Out.

So here is a little information I would like to share with you my readers. I have taken a post I wrote previously and edited it slightly, just a reminder, you can change your life starting today!

It isn’t necessary for me to go into all the research that has been done connecting cigarettes and various forms of cancer, emphasema and heart disease. Not to mention what fun in the chemistry lab one could have analyzing all the chemicals in cigarettes. Let me list just a few: ammonia, carbon monoxide, nicotine, nitric oxide, hydrogen cyanide, mercury, tar and toxic trace metals (nickel, lead, cadmium, chromium, arsenic and selenium). Of course men (in their 30s and 40s) should be particularly interested in the fact that smoking increases risk of impotency by 50%!

Enough of old news, however. There is another reason to quit. Cigarettes are expensive. Not just the per pack cost at the store, but the per pack cost overall. Increased health risks will result in increased visits to the doctor and medications. Insurance companies are aware of this and therefore have an increase in the premium costs of medical coverage (not to mention homeowners insurance). Life insurance surges as well with smokers.

The extra dental bills, cleaning and whitening your teeth is more frequent with smoke dulling and coating your mouth. The extra breath mints a smoker buys to keep “kissing” sweet adds up.

Dry cleaning bills are higher with smokers because of the lingering smell left by cigarettes. Homes that smell of smoke don’t sell as easily, so if you want top dollar on your home, you have additional painting and cleaning costs before placing it on the market.

Hypnosis helps with smoke cessation, according to a study presented at CHEST 2007, the 73rd annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), hospitalized patients who smoke may be more likely to quit smoking through the use of hypnotherapy than patients using other smoking cessation methods. Results showed that hypnotherapy resulted in higher quit rates compared with NRT alone,” said Faysal Hasan, MD, FCCP, North Shore Medical Center, Salem, MA. “Hypnotherapy appears to be quite effective and a good modality to incorporate into a smoking cessation program after hospital discharge.”

The I.R.S. recognizes the value of stopping smoking. Tax laws passed for 2003 onwards means you can get a tax credit for money paid for hypnosis smoke cessation programs. The nicotine gum is not accepted by the I.R.S. Neither is the patch! Hypnosis is. This is a tax credit – not a tax deduction, so that means 100% credit on your taxes of the total amount spent for the entire program! You Can Get 100% tax credit for your Stop Smoking program when using Hypnotherapy.

I.R.S. information is here:
http://www.hsainsider.com/pdf/treasurypublications/TreasuryPub_23.pdf

Here’s to breathing clean, fresh air in your lungs everyday, the rest of your life!

Surviving the Holidays event flyer details.

It was a fabulous weekend. The temperature dropped and it is nice and crisp out when I walk. I love that! This week promises to be fun and exciting for me.

On Wednesday, I am giving presentations to the Palm Harbor University High School, for the Great American Teach In . They have informed me that I will be in the main auditorium, presenting all but one period. I expect to see every student in the school! As the very next day is the Great American Smoke Out, I have to work that message into my talk.

(AS a side note: I am offering discounted sessions this week for smoke cessation. Time to quit!)

On Thursday, I am speaking for a group called Working Women Of Tampa Bay. It is a girls night out/networking event. I will address how to survive and enjoy the holidays.


On Friday morning I am speaking to a group of students at East Lake High School about hypnosis. The young lady who called and invited me said, “the kids are excited to meet a real hypnotist”. Wait until they find out I am just an ordinary person, a mom like they have at home, even. Hopefully, I will bring them laughter with learning.

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