Garden Gatherings

It may not be one of the four seasons, but it is one season that most of us cannot ignore. I just closed the final file of my 2010 records and receipts and delivered them today!

Whew! What a load off my shoulders and my desk. My heartfelt admiration goes to ALL tax professionals and preparers who take on this taxing task (say that 10-times fast) year after year. I applaud you.

Every year I promise myself I’ll do quarterly reports so the year-end paper stack won’t be so daunting. I teach wellness principles and nutritional planning in 90-day segments, so it only makes sense to lighten my administrative duties and adopt this seasonal approach as well.

Now that my recently (professionally) organized office is cleared of last year’s paper . . . my creative energy is awakening. I’ve got exciting information to share to guide you into Total Wellness, and Spring is the season to get started (unless  you’ve fulfilled your New Year’s resolutions).

Join me next time for a Total Wellness breakthrough.

Before

January is spent . . . the new year is moving forward and so am I. Recently I attended a seminar presented by Angela Cody-Rouget and Suzanne  Simpson. These two wise women share how “Clutter Clogs Your Cash-flow.” Now, I’ve always considered myself to be quite efficient and organized, but realized I had much to learn after hearing this program!

I came home and stared at my not-so-clutter-free office and thought,”No wonder I”m not prospering . . . I can’t even see the floor.” I made a quick call to Angela, better known as Major Mom and scheduled a visit. In she came with enthusiastic precision and kind comments regarding  my mess. It’s amazing how we humans cling to our clutter. I learned several valuable lessons regarding my “stuff.” Angela and Suzanne cover emotional clutter as well as material clutter.

Now my office is a new space in which I now enjoy spending time . . . and I’ve regained my sense of efficiency and creativity when I spend time there. Please visit Angela and Suzanne’s websites and attend one of their seminars. Angela: www.MajorMom.biz and Suzanne by email at: suzanne@connectcoach.com

The ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures say it all!

Before

Ah-h-h, After

No More Clutter!

Say good-bye to January and to your Clutter. . . your health (and wealth) may depend on it!

It’s amazing how a day in the sun can revive the body,mind and soul. I just returned from four fabulous days in Phoenix and feel completely restored and energized . . . a much needed remedy after the first couple of weeks of January (as recorded in my previous post).

I lived in the Phoenix area from 1989 until 1996, so several stops were quite nostalgic. One of my favorite places to visit when I lived in Arizona was The Farm at South Mountain . . . and after this weekend, I can still say, it’s one of my favorite places. It is truly my kind of place––a quiet respite from the surrounding desert. The gardens have been expanded since I was there last, several more experiences have been added but the food is still the freshest (grown on site). Please visit when you are in Phoenix. In the meantime, visit: www.TheFarmAtSouthMountain.com For this garden lover, The Farm rates high on my “gardens to visit” list.

And to be fair to hubby, we ate at Los Dos Molinos . . . if you like HOT food this is the place to go. To find one of their several locations in Arizona and to learn their interesting history, visit: www.losdosmolinosaz.com Its a noisy, colorful, fun place to eat some of the hottest food you’ll ever eat!    

And last but not least, if you like Italian food, you must try Giuseppe’s on 28th.

We heard about this from friends who had seen it on the Food Network’s Diners-Drive Ins-Dives show. The freshly made pasta was exceptional! We enjoyed the food so much, that we visited one more time before our plane departed. Yum! Another recommendation for your Arizona trip! www.giuseppeson28th.com Well, with all this great food, perfect temperatures and warming sun, I’m ready to make 2011 my best year ever!  I’m excited about sharing optimal wellness so you can have  your best year ever. . .

What’s your focus?

I started this new year with a Bang . . . but not the bang I had planned. A severe sore throat pretty well ruined my New Year’s plans (a fun get-a-way with hubby & friends in Grand Lake, CO) and landed me in the emergency care via an ambulance at 2-am.

My mistake . . . not staying hydrated with WATER! I drank plenty of hot tea, hot lemon juice with honey and hot grapefruit juice, but the body still needs pure, clear, water to repair and rejuvenate.

In just a blink of an eye the last quarter of 2010 rolled to its scheduled end  and the first week of 2011 is well under way. Already I’ve heard several people moaning their dismay over their yet unfulfilled New Year’s Resolutions.

Why do we torture ourselves year after year? I looked up the definition of resolve. As a noun it means firmness of purpose or intent; determination made as to follow some course of action. As a verb, it means to make up one’s mind––to resolve on a plan of action.

A word closely related is resolute. An adjective meaning firmly resolved or determined; set in purpose or opinion.

On what  you are firmly/intently focused? What have you made up your mind to do this year? Have you written your plan of action? Do you desire improved over-all health and wellness? Do you want to save more money? How about saying “no” more often?

Each new year gives us an opportunity to “do-over” or complete what we did not finish last year. Or, to just start fresh.

I began a new book the first day of this new year . . . Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah. This is my first encounter with the author, so I had no preconceived expectations of the book. What a delight! It’s about family/legacy/real relationships right now. It resonated with me because I have grandmothers who immigrated from Germany/Russia. . . talk about resolute women!

The clinching thought: “Sometimes when you open the door to your mother’s past, you find your own future” will keep readers spellbound. I can’t praise this book enough! Visit Kristin Hannah’s website for more on her other best sellers.

Find your focus . . . be well and enjoy your journey. Happy New Year!