Five Simple Things to Make 2017 Your Best Year Yet: Part Five, Weekly Menu Planning

Five Simple Things To Make 2017 Your Best Year Yet: Part Four, Drink Up!

We all know the benefits of drinking water by now, helps hydrate our bodies from head to toe, including our skin,  it flushes toxins from our bodies, balances out our caffeine intake and can help fight off fatigue.

Not too many people say that water is their first choice when they want something to drink.  But, we have to say we really enjoy drinking water.  Especially when we add the bubbles.
We have the Penguin by Soda Stream, available at Williams Sonoma.  It turns your tap water(filtered preferably) into Sparkling Water with a few pumps, it adds carbonation through the CO2 cartridge.  Better yet, when you return the used cartridges to Williams-Sonoma, you will get half off the price of your new cartridge.  The penguin also comes with glass bottles which is a plus.  Sparkling water is a great way to increase your water intake throughout the day.

If you make one commitment to improve your health this year,  adding more water to your day is your best choice.

Five Simple Things To Make 2017 Your Best Year Yet: Part Three, Make To Do Lists

We are sure you have heard this before, but, we are going to say it again, Make To Do Lists.

There is no better feeling than scratching tasks that you have just completed off your lists.

Whether the task is a small one or very time consuming, the moment you can check it off the list as done, it creates such a euphoric feeling!

When you make to do lists, not only does it help plan out your day, but it also will alleviate that overwhelming feeling we get when we think we have so much to do and  think how am I possibly going to get all this done in a day?

We start the day by writing the to do list.  Review the list and make edits.  Start by listing the biggest tasks first (good to get them out of the way).  Continue listing and put small tasks last.  You will be so satisfied with yourself when you finish those hard to do items, that the rest of the items will be a piece of cake.

If there are items left from the day, then carry those over to the next day.  Do not fret over it, that will happen. 

We also like to make long term lists, like projects we need to do, but not right away.  Keep those lists in a notebook or journal and go through them periodically to make sure you are on task.  We like to

break these down into smaller projects, and tackle them a bit at a time, otherwise, it may seem to daunting to take on the whole project at once.

Writing lists will not only get you organized, it also gives you piece of mind and you will be able to sleep better.  Your list will not be running through your head at 2 a.m.  It will be on your desk, waiting to be tackled tomorrow!

Dee-Corum: The Theater

You know the drill.  You wait months and months and spend a tidy sum to purchase tickets to a spectacular theater event – let’s call it Hamilton.  But somehow, this night that should have been the magic of the genius of this show, the writing, the music, the actors, the set – all of it is tarnished by the behavior of a few people who clearly were never taught, or simply don’t care, how to behave while attending a theatrical or cultural performance.

My night began when, as I moved my knees to my right to place my purse under my seat, the man next to me literally snapped his legs to hit mine sharply letting me know I had crossed into his space.  I looked directly at him, smiled and apologized explaining I was just shifting to maneuver my purse.  He never acknowledged that I was speaking to him but looked forward in silence.  Wow.    

The excitement was evident as house lights went down (phone off and in purse) and we  focused our attention to the stage.  Or, tried to.  For during the opening, audience inspiring, powerful number in came four late arrivals who made no attempt to enter quietly.  It was THEN that they decided to work out the seating arrangements, take off coats and be seated.  Settled?  Oh, good.  Now, the show. 

 

But, say it ain’t so.  The very tall and somewhat large (I say this as a plus-sized gal myself) couple in front of me sat straight up, leaned into each other creating a physical wall blocking my view completely unless I shifted my head far to the right next to the aforementioned knee butter. We shifted right to left and left to right for the entire production creating our own little dance.   

Not to be outdone, “Knee Butters” date decided that tonight was the night to express interest in American History. “Who’s Lafayette?” was among her greatest hits. Seriously.  Her encore during the second act was swirling the ice in her plastic cup to tap LOUDLY  into her mouth to crunch during the most heartbreaking of ballads. Three harsh looks and a “Seriously” under my breath did nothing to deter her.

When the curtain came down the show ended and, one would think, so would the bad behavior.  Alas, as we all waited our turn to walk up the balcony stairs to the exit – all of us aware of the elderly couple moving slowly – “Knee Butter” elbowed me out of the way to move ahead of me and around said elderly couple. 

All of this is to say, when you are attending the theater, symphony, dance performance or anything that is NOT a sporting event or rock concert, all of the above would be included on a list of what NOT to do.  In the event no one has ever shared you some of the others, please, allow me: 

• Talking.  Any talking.  That’s why God created Intermission.
• Texting.  Yes.  We can see the light of your phone and hear the tapping.
• Taking photos or videos.  Buy the program book.   
• Eating.  It’s a 90 minute show.  How busy are you that you need to bring dinner into a theater? 
• Leaving before the curtain call.  The last thing the performers should see is an audience applauding.  Not the backs of the heads of rude patrons running to be first to the parking lot. 

I hope to see, but not hear you, at a wonderful live theater experience soon.

 This is one of our favorite clips form the movie White Christmas that sums up the Theater experience.  Please enjoy!!

Five Simple Thingsto Make 2017 Your Best Year Yet: Part Two, Donate, Donate, Donate

We all have been there, we look around the room and think, "Wow! We have a lot of stuff".  Well, there is only one cure for this-Donate.  We are so grateful that we are able to live in abundance.  Abundance is not necessarily meant to sound greedy or indulgent.  Abundance to us means living fully, appreciating the food and shelter we have, the love and support we give each other and the stuff we accumulate over time.

A few years ago, our family decided to sell our "Dream Home" that we built in the suburbs and move back to the city.  We knew we would be living in less than half the space that we currently had.  But, we were up for the challenge and ready to live smaller.  We had to get rid of most of our furnishings,  which meant a huge yard sale, giving furniture to friends and family and several trips to the Goodwill Donation Center.  It was hard to say good bye to some of things we left behind, but eventually, we realized we could live without so many possessions.

So, we made a pact as a family to go through our belongings a few times a year and donate what we have not used or worn and could give away.  We keep a bin or a bag handy so that items could be placed inside with out having much thought.  When the bin is full we bring it to the local donation center.  Not only are you ridding your home of clutter, but you are giving someone else the opportunity to have something nice at a much more affordable price.  It is a win win!

Dee-Corum: Double Bubble

Could Mr. Wrigley have ever imagined how this simple invention and delicious treat could have turned so ugly?

And I mean ugly.  Take a look as you walk down the street at all of those mouths chewing.  Not attractive.  Seriously - really, really not attractive.  Less attractive when the person is the clerk helping you who generously provides a view of the wad of gum in their mouth as they chat with you.  

Considerably less attractive when it becomes a big, black stain on the sidewalk.  The next time you stroll down a city street take a look down.  All those black ‘polka dots’ are not a public art project – they are disgusting, discarded wads of chewing gum that some thoughtless oaf has carelessly pulled out of their mouth and thrown on the ground.  Please, in the name of civility and dee-corum, please find the nearest trash bin.   

And, on a related subject – spitting in public.  Let’s not even …   

Five Simple Things to Make 2017 Your Best Year Yet: Part One, The Junk Drawer Cleanse

Happy New Year!  We  know we are all feeling the pressure to get our lives organized, lose 10 pounds, be the "best self" we can be and let us not forget, we need to keep all those resolutions going.  Well, if  you are like us, we do not like unrealistic expectations so we like to ease our way into the new year.  We have created a five part series to help you begin the new year with a feeling of calm and balance.  The first part is the junk drawer cleanse.

We all have that one drawer, usually in the kitchen, that is the dumping ground for all things by everyone in the family.  Then of course, you go to find the pair of scissors or a roll of tape and it is no where to be found.  Although, it is actually in the drawer, you just cannot seem to find it under the rubble of used gift cards and rubber bands.  We made a trip to the Container Store and purchased a cutlery tray for our junk drawer.  Check out your local hardware store or even Target if you do not have a Container Store nearby.  The cutlery tray is great because it has sections for your forks, knives and spoons. Get creative and you may find some other organizational tool that will work as well.

When we are starting any organization project, we like to literally start over.
1. We take everything out of the drawer and lay out on the counter or floor.
2.  Go through and find the things that can be thrown away.  You may have items that you are not sure of yet, put those aside.
3.  In goes the tray!  Then start filling in the slots with the items you feel are necessary and relevant to the location of the drawer.  All things that may have a home else where in the house should be
put in their respective places(like hairpins in the bathroom).
4.  Voila! you are cleansed of the junk drawer mess and on your way to a great year!