ACK. You and I haven’t finished our holiday shopping, wrapping, baking, or cleaning yet! I don’t have time to be writing this. But it is asking to be written (guess who needs to hear it)! Hang with me… six quick tips for sanity (maybe a deep breath, an aha moment) over the next coupla weeks….

1. Find inspiration

• I don’t know what I would do without AstroAnne.com these days. I’m no astrologer but there’s no denying it’s been a whacky time these last few weeks. Ask anyone who’s married, has parents or children. Whacky! Astrology (done well) is mind-blowing and actually quite helpful.
• I’ll tap into monthly wisdom from the leader of my Team Northrup tribe, Dr. Christiane Northrup tomorrow night. She and daughter Kate Moller are talking about Celebration as Spiritual Practice. Nice and easy, thirty minutes while I tackle the dishes… followed by holiday music, nice.
• If I neglect my body, life feels a little less colorful. I’ll be dancing in the Winter Solstice with my Diva friend Dr. Deborah Kern, taking long walks with my visiting mom, and hopefully teaching my daughter how to balance on her new two-wheeler.

2. Come, let us adore us

• My beautiful friend Kitty Cavalier, a timeless beauty and breathtaking burlesque dancer from New York, sent me the most sumptuous gifts to celebrate my senses… including amazing homemade salt scrub with essential oils… it is brilliant blue! I’ll have a (lovely) blue Christmas indulging my sense of touch – when I need a break from the holiday baking.
• My last free facial event of the year was this weekend, but friends are calling to come over for one on one tutorials. I LOVE that my gals are putting themselves first! This time of year especially, you want to pamper your skin with loving care and ultra-moisturizing sumptuous products made with no added preservatives.

3. Enjoy healthy snacks that love you back

• Yes I will be baking the traditional German fare… and every morning I’ll balance it out with my fave pink shake, a yummy balance of carbs, protein & essential fats that keeps my cravings from taking over completely. Here are a couple ideas (let me know if you want more, I’ve been collecting recipes):
  • Maddy’s Pink shake: 3 scoops Vanilla Nutrimeal^TM, frozen organic strawberries, 2 teaspoons Fibergy^TM, 1 packet Probiotic Plus^TM, 12 oz water
  • Cappuccino Smoothie: 3 scoops Dutch Chocolate Nutrimeal^TM, 8 oz soy or skim milk, crushed ice, 4 oz instant coffee, dash cinnamon
• I’ll kick off 2011 reclaiming my body with a five day RESET. This is always more fun with friends! Let me know if you’d like to join us January 10-14.

4. Connect with your people

• Who’s in your tribe? Don’t know? Whose tribe would you like to join? Find something that’s piqued your interest this year and act on it before the new one begins. Yoga class, spiritual community, labyrinth walk, volunteer organization, book club….still unsure? Check out Meetup.com in your area for ideas.
• One on one connection is best. I’m not doing the traditional holiday cards this year. Somebody sent me a JibJab card and I was inspired to make a great one with my family as the cast of characters that has (at least) me and my kids rolling! However, I’m deriving the most enduring gifts through speaking with my loved ones on the phone. Believe it or not… I’ve been scheduling times to talk over the next two weeks on my calendar! It is keeping me sane to know what my day looks like ahead of time, and I can completely kick back and enjoy the conversations at hand. And have you tried Skype video chatting yet? Fantastic (free) way to catch up with people whose faces you miss!

5. Keep the home fires burning

• This is a stretch as a metaphor… I’m talking about keeping all cylinders firing in your body. Tis the Season… allergies in Austin, flu season upcoming. What are you doing to boost your immune system? As usual, I’m ignoring that crazy-making popular media and trusting the cutting edge health experts I work with. Vitamin D is definitely my family’s ally. And we’re trying USANA’s latest product, Booster C600^TM which contains zinc, echinacea, elderberry and the proprietary vitamin C PolyC^TM.

6. Set your intention

• I’m not kidding, this works and deserves to be taken seriously. I set an intention for 2010 to be ‘the year that I transform my relationship with money’ and the VERY next day received an invitation that set me on course for exactly that, and in the company of some very inspiring, financially savvy, and supportive people.
• Been invited to a vision board party? Go! Before you do, take time to reflect (Winter Solstice is perfect timing for this… now through December 21) on the challenges, lessons, and everything you’re grateful for during this past year. Journal your thoughts about how you’d like to carry that forward into 2011. Notice key themes and what ideas really spark your interest, then set your intention.
• FUN is what’s coming up for me. Women’s financial empowerment expert Barbara Stanny says that FUN stands for Financial Understanding Now. How cool is that? I get to take my money lessons from 2010 into the New Year with me! And I feel inspired to meet more people by doing more things that sounds like fun to me. Stay tuned for FUN happenings with Vibrant One next year!

May you enjoy the MOST sane, peaceful, joyous, FULL-SPECTRUM Holiday of your life to date this year!

Lotsa Love, Maddy

• Tags: fun, healthy, intention, Movement, new year
• Comments: 4
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