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Here’s to the new year…

May it bring more joy and success

And less grief and regret.

To our dreams…

May we never stop believing in them

And taking the actions that will make them a reality.

To our friends and loved ones…

May we take the time to let them know

How much it means to us

To have them in our lives.

Let us encourage more and criticize less,

Give more and need less.

And whenever we can,

Let us create harmony and peace.

To new beginnings…

Let us start fresh, right now,

To make this the very best year ever.

A very Happy New Year to all of us!

By Joanna Fuchs

Do you do New Year’s Resolutions? I usually don’t (except for losing weight but that’s really a new month’s resolution), but I’m going to do one this year that may become a tradition.

I found this on my new addiction, Pinterest. Find an empty jar, add notes of all the good things that happen to me throughout the year and read them at the end of 2013. I have a jar and it is ready for some slips of paper. Should make for an interesting read next New Year’s Eve.

Here’s some help in making resolutions and ideas for resolutions and making your 2013 better. Good luck and Happy New Year!

It’s great to make resolutions, but how do you make them stick?

29 Ways To Make 2013 Better is geared towards those in their 20s but many of the suggestions could be for everyone.

Eat better, lose weight! This is one resolution that a lot of people make. Every. Year. Many of these you may already know, but this article has them all in one place.

Funny New Year Resolutions! Because not all resolutions need to be serious.

33 New Year’s resolutions — times three has 33 resolutions in three categories – job search, career development and personal resolutions.

Getting a better night’s sleep! Enough said.

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.

Abraham Lincoln

How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them.

Benjamin Franklin

The Old Year has gone. Let the dead past bury its own dead. The New Year has taken possession of the clock of time. All hail the duties and possibilities of the coming twelve months!

Edward Payson Powell

Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.

Hal Borland

New year, same goal.

Joe King

Many years ago I resolved never to bother with New Year’s resolutions, and I’ve stuck with it ever since.

Dave Beard

Well, shit! The apocalypse didn’t happen which means Christmas will still happen in a couple of days. Do you have all your shopping done? There have been years that I’ve shopped on Christmas Eve and there have been years that I was done the first week of December and then calmly walked around the mall on Christmas Eve to see if I could find a great deal for myself. However, if you are still looking for some ideas for small gifts, here’s a few links to help you out.

Organizing Homelife has a list of over 125 cheap stocking stuffers ideas.

(Image via organizinghomelife.com)

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Have some time to make some quick homemade gifts? Texas Cottage has 10 gifts in a jar that you can do. Or, maybe someone loves your cookies. Put the dry ingredients in a jar, add the recipe on a tag, pretty it up with a ribbon and you have another gift.

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Everyone needs some TLC. Not the network. Tender, loving care. I was involved in a secret Santa gift exchange this year and I included some bath salts. I used this recipe from Canadian Living and made two jars. It’s super easy as the ingredients are equal parts epsom and course salts. (To make it even easier, just use epsom salt.) One jar of bath salts had lavender pure essential oil added to the salts and one bottle had no oil added in case they didn’t like that scent. 2 jars and I was done in less than 5 minutes. A lot of recipes I looked at also included the option of food colouring so that the salts have a nice tint. I didn’t out of personal preference. Some sites thought it was a great idea, others didn’t like adding food colour because of the chemical aspect or because some people add too much and the user ends up with colour on their skin.

Hope you have found some quick and easy ideas to help ease some of the stress of the holiday season.

 

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May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace,
The gladness of Christmas give you hope,
The warmth of Christmas grant you love.

Author Unknown

Christmas is not in tinsel and lights and outward show. The secret lies in an inner glow. It’s lighting a fire inside the heart. Good will and joy a vital part. It’s higher thought and a greater plan. It’s glorious dream in the soul of man.

Wilfred A. Peterson (The Art of Living)

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.

Agnes M. Pharo

When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things-not the great occasions-give off the greatest glow of happiness.

Bob Hope

There’s more, much more, to Christmas
Than candlelight and cheer;
It’s the spirit of sweet friendship
That brightens all year.
It’s thoughtfulness and kindness,
It’s hope reborn again,
For peace, for understanding,
And for goodwill to men!

Author Unknown

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Admit it. Sometimes booze helps with the holiday cheer. Here’s 28 Huge Bowls Of Holiday Booze To Help You Appreciate Your Family from BuzzFeed.

And, I know you know, but don’t be greedy with the booze, share and drink responsibly. Don’t drink and drive or have a designated driver and remember, the holidays will be over soon so you can get back to some normalcy and catch up on your rest.

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Holidays and food always go together. Something else that goes with the end-of-year holidays is stress. Whether it’s gift buying, office parties, school concerts or traveling, the one constant for most people is stress. And, with stress comes eating too much or too little. Here’s some quick and easy recipes, with some that can be made the night before, to help make the holidays a little bit less stressful.

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Christmas morning can come with lots of excitement and gift opening. While the merriment is happening, you can have a delicious and healthy breakfast – that was prepared the night before – baking in the oven such as Better Breakfast Casserole.

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Here’s a collection of 40 breakfast casseroles from sites such as Betty Crocker, Cooking Light and Southern Living. Some may not be as healthy as the previous recipe but, it is the holidays.

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Leading up to, and during the holidays, there is an abundance of food and leftovers. You may want some quick and easy recipes to make that both children and adults will enjoy such as these Cupcake Mold Pizzas or Windy City Crescent Rolls.

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There’s a lot of indulging happening during the holidays so there should be some healthy eating going on such as Mason Jar Salads.

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And, because time is at a premium during the holiday season, Mel’s Kitchen Cafe has 39 Meals to Make in 30 Minutes or Less.

Happy eating!

TAKE A SHORT BREAK!

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The days leading to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are busy, hectic and stressful. Even if you’re having a quiet Christmas or you don’t celebrate it, many around you are stressed and rushed because of the holiday season. Be kind to yourself and take quick breaks throughout the day. Have some tea or coffee. Listen to a song or two. Do some stretches or massage your neck. Shut your office door. Find a video of your favourite comedian and have a laugh. Put your feet up.

Hide in the bathroom for a few minutes if you must!

But, take that quick break to regroup and recharge. You deserve it.

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If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give.

George MacDonald

Each day comes bearing its own gifts.  Untie the ribbons.

Ruth Ann Schabacker

You give but little when you give of your possessions.  It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.

Kahlil Gibran

We should give as we would receive, cheerfully, quickly, and without hesitation; for there is no grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers.

Seneca

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