You will Smile all holiday season long, once you remember to inspire yourself daily
THE HOLIDAY SEASON CAN BE TOTAL CHAOS FOR MOMS. SO DON’T GET BITTEN BY THE OVERCOMMITMENT BUG THIS YEAR. TRY TO CARVE OUT DAILY BREAKS WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING THOUGHTFUL JUST FOR YOU. THIS WILL HELP YOU THINK STRAIGHT WHEN REQUESTS FOR YOUR TIME JUST KEEP POURING IN.
AND DON’T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF WAITING FOR OTHERS TO GIVE YOU THE GIFTS THAT TURN ON YOUR HOLIDAY CHEER. GIVE GIFTS TO YOURSELF FIRST, AND WATCH HOW MUCH MORE GENEROUS YOU FEEL TOWARDS OTHERS.
The Smell of Bliss
Spritz a little bit of evergreen, sugar cookie or eggnog latte room spray in the main rooms of your home. Your holiday spirit will perk right up and start to boogie, no further effort required. Purchase sprays at your local health food store or mix your own using 20 drops of essential oil, 2 oz distilled water, and 2 oz vodka in spray bottles in tinted glass spray bottles.
‘Nog your Coffe
Make your own eggnog latte: Mix a half-cup of fresh eggnog with a quarter-cup of 2% milk. Steam until hot and frothy or heat in the microwave. Pour over two shots of fresh espresso or a half a cup of coffee brewed double-strength. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with nutmeg. Yummy!
Snowflake-snipping meditation.
Why not make some snowflakes for the windows? Get some plain white paper, fold it up into whatever shapes you like, and cut some chunks out of it. The more you cut, the more delicate the results, remember? Scotch tape your snowflakes up in windows where they will be visible to folks outside, so you can bring a smile to their faces, too.
Cherish fuzzy friends.
Pets are great teachers. But quality time with pets can fall to the bottom of our to-do lists at this time of year. Don’t let this happen to you. Get down on the ground and let your pets remind you to slow down and make time to snuggle and play.
Slough city.
Turn your bathroom into a skin-softening getaway by stocking up on exfoliation brushes and cloths. Then whip up a quick and minty scrub using a half-cup of sugar, a halfcup of coconut oil, and ten drops of peppermint essential oil. Use a generous amount and rub gently all over to kiss that flaky skin goodbye!
Don’t resist the weather
If you have the right gear for cold-weather outings, you can enjoy being out and about as much as the rest of the year. Sturdy walking boots, warm texting gloves, a comfortable hat, and a lightweight winter coat with a built-in muffler will keep you smiling as you brave the weather to get daily fresh air.
Make a list and check it twice
You can put anything in the world you want on your list. As you are making it, pretend the sky really is the limit. What do you dream of receiving? Write it down. Make each dream a wish. You deserve it all and more!
Turn up the spakle
Twinkle up your finger and toe nails with some sparkle polish. Whites, silvers, and golds all match the season. For more drama, go for reds, dark blues and even blacks that shimmer. Don’t forget a bottom and top coat to protect your nails.
Curl up with a good book
You don’t have time to curl up with a book during the busiest time of year? But that’s precisely why you must do it. Reading slows us down and let’s us settle in. Without a book to read, you might not ever slow down all holiday season. No matter how many pages you turn, let your good read remind you that tuning out the world every so often is good for the soul.
Give yourself a good stretch
All you need is a doorway and a rug. Stick out your arm and bend it straight up at the elbow. Lay your forearm on the doorjamb and twist your body gently away from your arm until you feel the stretch across your right shoulder and down the right side of your back. Ah. That feels good. Next, lie on your stomach on the rug and prop your upper body up slowly by straightening your arms. Push your hips down into the carpet as you arch your back as much as you can, stretching your upper body up and back. You will feel like a million bucks after a ten-minute stretch.
