http://www.encouragingcoach.com/projects-change50.htm
Only 2 more to go and then I will be putting them into an ebook so people can get all the changes at one time.
I am also finishing up a simplicity calendar for next year. There will be planning tips, simplicity ideas, ideas for self-renewal, etc. Something on each day. I plan on using it myself in 2005. Look for it later this week. (It also will have some tips for getting ready for Christmas this year.)
And one last thing, here are 25 simple gifts for children|||110174260776206616|||Tiny Change #50
Photos of my mantel (or should I say, entertainment center). You can get a glimpse of me on the right in the bottom photo on our way to a college dance my senior year with my hubby. The black and white photos are of my Great-Grandma. One with her brother and sister and one with her kids, including my Grandma.The top photo includes a picture of my Great-Grandpa with his parents at the left.|||110169438726622570|||Christmas Mantel
101 Decorating Ideas: http://www.allthingschristmas.com/decorations.html
Gorgeous Designs: http://www.gorgeousdesigns.com/christmas_decorating4.htm
Themes: http://www.parentinghumor.com/activityecenter/christmasactivites/decoratingthemes.htm
This Year's Color Trends: http://www.roominakit.com/Holiday_Decorating_Tips/christmasHolidayDecoratingAndColorSchemesTrends.htm
Chris Madden's Home: http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/decorating/article/0,,HGTV_3545_1548049,00.html
Home For The Holidays: http://www.elaschwartz.com/holiday.html|||110160957465412001|||Christmas Decorating
This month's issue is on nurturing habits.|||110150061315933324|||Newest Newsletter
We got our first snow of the day today. Light, big flakes. Perfect for getting into the holiday spirit. In fact, it started falling as my husband and I were doing some Christmas shopping.|||110150221953469102|||Snow
|||110150374692666059|||Making CardsWhere do you need to declutter next?|||110150096931373008|||Clutter
This is one of the best books on productivity I have ever read. The workplace has gotten so out of control busy that you need to be at the top of your game. This book gives ideas on how to work effectively instead of just trying to get more done in less time.
One of the ideas is on multi-tasking, once thought to be the pinnacle of time management. She shows new research that indicates it actually makes you less productive. Each task takes more time and you have more errors. Every time you switch modes it takes about 15 minutes to get back into the groove. One tip she has is if you are interpreted, put a post it saying exactly where you are and your next step. That way when you get back to work you can get your focus back quicker.
She also tells of the importance of personal care - how you take care of yourself outside of work effects how you work.
Another tip- avoid e-mail for the first hour of the day, which is usually your most productive. I am doing this one myself and amazed at my productivity. And be aware at how many times you sneak peeks at e-mail during the day just to break your own concentration. Try to only check it once an hour or four times a day.
Concentrate your efforts on how you make the company money. Making sure memos are perfect= wasted money. Sitting in meetings you don't have to = wasted money. Instead focus on projects that bring in revenue, save money or keep existing customers happy. That's how you prioritize.
And the most helpful areas of the book are the "is it you or is it them" sections. If you are having a problem at work these areas have you honestly take a look at your performance and give you ways to talk to management about how they are impeding your productivity.
I highly recommend reading this book for new ideas on how to succeed in the new work environment.
|||110070206716199029|||Making Work Work
We stopped by a new area store and the grocery store on the way home. Jeff helped me make dinner (or should I say, I helped him). He is the only person I know who can consistently get turkey bacon crisp. We did some family chores than Jeff and I cuddled for almost two hours, watching Law and Order re-runs, while the kids finished up their chores, homework and watched Animal Planet. My kids don't really like to watch much TV and when they do watch it is usually Animal Planet. I don't think I had simply had fun and rested in awhile.|||110070383317022421|||Family Time
"If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude." - Colin Powell
|||110070429549093226|||101 Ways to Get Ahead
This morning, I set the timer for 15 minutes for the kids to clean up their rooms. And I thought I'd work on my office to at least make a dent in it. After 15 minutes the whole office was picked up, papers put away, books back into the shelves, clothes put away and I even dusted a bit.
What will you do in 15 minutes?|||110036249558904711|||15 minutes
In Fred Seigel's book, "The Richest Man in Babylon for Today", he lays out the 10 Steps to Financial Success. We know most of them, we just don't do them.
1. Pay yourself First - save 10%
2. Develop a budget - to stop overspending
3. Pay off debts - for peace of mind and more money to invest
4. Start looking for ways to put your money to work - invest, part time business, sell things on e-bay, real estate
5. Accept risk, but be careful - if it sounds too good to be true, it is
6. Don't procrastinate - take action
7. Invest in your home - buy a home when you have enough money, upgrade it
8. Invest in retirement savings - 401K, Roth IRA
9. Invest in yourself - training, skils, knowledge
10. Prepare your walls - insurance, wills, epert advice
Another excellent book will take you step by step through most of the above suggestions using worksheets and plans: Dave Ramsey's The Total Money Makeover Workbook.|||110035763480732495|||Financial Success
I recently went to a meeting with different churches to hear a speaker on Kid's Hope. She told of children as young as six being raised with Grand Theft Auto. Children ignored and neglected. Shy children who never heard their name spoken in love. How children in America have more economically then ever before, but many are emotionally impoverished. One on one time is rare.
So when a mentor is faithfully giving one hour a week to listen to a child and work with a child, we see blossoming. One girl wouldn't speak for a full year with a mentor, spoke at the beginning of a new year. One boy shirked from even being touched on the shoulder, after 15 months spontaneously started giving hugs.
Kid's Hope has a goal of pairing 5000 churches with schools. I urge you to check out their web page and think about starting a Kid's Hope in your community.|||110036048477725733|||Kid's Hope
-Richard Carlson in "Don't Worry, Make Money"
|||110009425131484434|||Complaining
http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/HOME/Quick_Makes.htm|||109970321228446391|||Card Day
Don't take naps
Don't sleep longer on the weekends
Don't smoke or drink alcohol before bed
Avoid exercising within 2 hours of bed time
Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day
Turn alarm clock away from you so you don't look at it in the middle of the night
If you can't fall asleep after 20-30 minutes get up and do something else (I like journaling or reading fiction)
Don't eat within 2-3 hours of bedtime|||109977373029443596|||Better Sleep
One of our aquaintances always serves hot cocoa to warm us up. Many of the parents dress up to pass out candy. One family and their extended family sits outside admidst fake spider web, in costume with creepy music in the background. One older lady bakes chocolate chip cookies holding the baggie closed with an address label so you know they are safe.
Friends and neighbors stop to chat and catch up. I have really enjoyed this community time.
The next day after a cozy candle party and my in-laws, we took the kids out trick or treating near their neighborhood for a little bit.
"Tell me what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" - Mary Oliver
|||109970372716258408|||Halloween 2004
Tiny Change
# 47: Make a list of 100 things you are thankful for
It also includes a print out of 100 things I am thankful for that you can use. |||109932255529413977|||52 Tiny Changes #47 Go to the Archives, and click 'republish all'.