5 Tips to Make Home Time More Enjoyable

5 tips make time home more enjoyable

1. Before you say more than hello to your spouse, grab something cold to drink.  Beer, wine, liquor, water, tea, pop, pick your poison and have it handy before you even talk to your spouse.  Take a drink of it.  Savor it and the fact that you are now at home.

Find the recipe below

http://livingchiconthecheap.com/orange-vanilla-iced-tea/

2. Leave your phone in another room.  Work comes home more and more often nowadays,  Instead of falling into the system, leave it alone.  Even if it's just for 20-30 minutes- put it in another room. They can survive without you for that long.

3. Ask your spouse about their day.  Listen to what happened.  Reflect on it with them(we'll talk about how to do this properly in another post). Your need to tell them about your day needs to come second- whether yours is more important or not. Your spouse and kids(if you have them) are the most important thing in your world, and they don't care that you had a bad/good day.  They are just happy you are home.

 

4. Invest in your home life. That means spending time with your spouse(without a phone or laptop in front of you). Basic household chores like laundry and dishes can be pretty fun if you approach them the right way.  We've had many a water fight or warm clothes fight.  We may end up soaking the kitchen or wrinkling the clothes, but the kitchen needed mopping anyways, and the clothes were bound to get wrinkles. Make the things you do at home into something fun that involves your family. 

5. End the night on a relaxing note.  Whether its watching a certain show before you fall asleep together(for us, it's Scrubs or How I Met Your Mother) or taking a shower(see my blog post from yesterday), or reading a book or the paper, make sure you take the time for yourself to unwind.  That's what home is for right?

Make your 10 minute shower feel like a Spa Day

I rarely get more than 10 minutes to take care of personal hygiene. So that 10 minutes is important.  Every other day is shaving day, duh.  I wear dresses 85% of the time to work, and have to have smooth and professional legs. So 50% of the time, I only get 5 real minutes of pamper myself time in the shower. 

I associate spa's with a few things: a nice smell, gentle lighting(candles), and quiet sounds. So I try to replicate these things in my own home.

How I make my 10 minutes count...

Since we don't pay utilities, I start my shower at least 3 minutes before I get into it and let the steam heat up the bathroom.(these 3 minutes don't count)  There is nothing worse than getting undressed when it is cold.  Unlike most normal people, I don't have the fan going either.  I like it steamy! I also light a candle or two plus turn on a few battery operated candles. (So I can see) and put on some relaxing music(I like acoustic/nature sounds)

If I'm shaving, as the bathroom is heating up, I cover my legs and other parts in cheap awesome smelling conditioner(I like V08 peaches and cream. It's 99 cents). It makes the hair soft and easier to get through. 

When shaving:

- Lather hair

-Shave legs

-Massage scalp

-Rinse hair

-Put conditioner in if you use it

- Shave other parts

-  Rinse hair

- Lather body with delicious smelling soap that will make you relaxed/elated depending on necessity

- Final rinse.

When not shaving

- Lather hair

-Apply body scrub.  Massage into skin.

- Rinse body

-Massage scalp

- Lather body with delicious smelling soap that will make you relaxed/elated depending on necessity

- Final rinse. 

 

Here is a nice article from Mind Body Green on how to give yourself a scalp massage and its benefits: Give yourself a scalp massage

Either way, when I get out I indulge in either body oil from Neutrogena or a decadent body lotion. It makes me feel pretty and happy.

 

 

Take the time for yourself to be relaxed.  For me it means a few minutes to myself to pamper myself and be alone with my thoughts. Splurge on that decadent body wash/soap. Make sure you feel superb.  It's important.

What to do in the case of a concussion?

So I came home from work last night to find my boyfriend sitting in bed shaking like a leaf after telling me for hours that his head felt like it was going to explode.  Very strange symptoms for a guy who never gets sick.

 So i put his symptoms into WebMD to try to find out what was wrong. I asked him questions about his symptoms until finally I asked him if he hit his head.  "Oh yeah," he replied. "I hit it hard coming in the window this morning."  I pulled up the symptoms for concussion and we were right on the money. I feel like that was pertinent information to share with me.   He then shared that he had no recollection of time after that, was having trouble remembering what came next, and our english bulldog was very concerned.  He wouldn't leave him alone.

And then, it hit me.  He had a concussion.A concussion is a traumatic brain injury.  For most people, this is not as dangerous as it is for him.  He has had multiple concussions during his hockey career.    He can't count on his hands the number of concussions he has had throughout his life.  Every concussion is dangerous, but the more concussions you have had, the worse the symptoms get and the more damage that goes unchecked.

So I gave him Tylenol, like all the literature says.  I made him eat a good dinner and drink lots of water.  I woke him every two hours during the night just to check on him, but like most people who are concussed, he wasn't really sleeping anyways.

Today, I'm keeping a close eye on any new symptoms and hoping that he can get some rest this afternoon after his interview.   Here is some more information for you about concussions.  This one is specifically dealing with athletics, but they can happen in any situation.

Have a great Friday!

B

5 best new dramas of fall 2014

The 5 Best New Fall Drams of 2014

1. Scorpion:  I had been waiting since I saw the first preview for this show, for it to premiere.  It was a long wait and well worth it. I haven't worked with many genius's of that caliber yet, but the characters remind me of friends of mine- who might just be too smart for their own good.  Drama, kids, heart pounding action, fast cars, Katherine McPhee, it's a perfect combo.  Despite having my bf talk through the entire episode, it was awesome! My favorite new show of the season.
2. NCIS New Orleans: Die hard NCIS fan right here. So when they did a New Orleans episode and introduced the new cast during the 11th season, I was ecstatic and a little worried(same emotions that I felt when they introduced NCIS LA). What a fantastic surprise!  The cast is dynamic.  The views are incredible.  Nothing better than catching up with characters you already know you are going to love.
3. Red Band Society: It makes you laugh, cry, and think about your mortality.  What more could you want?  A really adorable, hilarious, and sometimes hot cast?  Well it's got that too.  Make sure you tune in to this one. 
4. Gotham: First I would like to say that this one is dark.  I am a light, barely makes you think show kind of girl.  I talk to people about their mortality 7x a day.  But for me, this one is dark.  It's gory, gritty, and sometimes a little nasty.  The storyline is great.  the cast is phenomenal. So far, it's extremely well done. 
5. Forever:  Watched the first two episodes last night and I'm hooked.  Hot living forever doctor decides to work with cop who just might find out he can't die…what a conundrum.  I can't wait to see how this show pans out. I love the dose of history that is put in as well. 

I've included a fall tv premier schedule, so you won't miss any more action. 

Why your Relationship with your Parents is Important

I love my parents.  They drive me crazy and I drive them crazy, but I love them.  I am beyond thankful to have grown up with parents who unconditionally loved me, supported me, and taught me how to be the woman I am today.  My relationship with my parents is important.  

It hit me the other day, that my parents, just like everyone else, are going to die someday.  I live hours and hours away from my parents.  I recently saw my parents in July, but before that it had been almost 7 months.  I cried when i saw them.  I miss them. I miss being able to go to my dad for a hug when I have a rough day.  I miss helping my mom pick out clothes and purses to get ready for a charity event.  I love my parents dearly and I don't talk to them nearly as much as I should.  

Your parents are not going to be around forever.  There will come a time when they aren't there anymore and you are going to miss all the little things and all the big things that were a part of them.  Remember that when they make you angry because they lecture you about your financial decisions or call you repeatedly when you haven't been in contact.  They do it because they love you. 

My relationship with my parents is important and as busy as I am, I know they are busy too.  I need to put the time and effort into being a better communicator with them. 

I love my parents. They are incredible people who have raised two kids while managing full time careers, non-profit work and organizations, and kept a balanced home life.  If I grow up to be half the parent that they are, I'll be doing pretty good. 

Love you guys,

B

6 tips for keeping your social media clean

Would you want your grandmother to see that? Or how to keep your social media clean

Now a days, everything is on the internet.  There are a million ways to be socially active on the inter web.  You can find out everything from who's cat took a dump outside to what Amanda did last night during her bachelorette party.  Some things however, are not meant to be shared with the world. 

Even if your grandmother was a progressive lady, be aware that everyone sees what you post to the internet.  Your parents, grandparents, employers, children, grandchildren, and future employers can see everything you post- forever.  Sharing is great.  I love seeing pictures of my friend's weddings, their kids growing up, and all the new members of my college sorority.  I do not like seeing pictures of my friends smashed out of their minds, with their clothes half off, doing things that they will regret in the morning. 

 Before it goes on social media, think about the effect it will have on you later.  

6 tips for keeping your social media clean

Always wait until the next day to post those pictures to your social media.

Is anyone in the picture a teacher or going to be?  Don't post it. 

Is anyone in the picture doing something illegal?  Don't post it.

Is anyone in the picture half naked?  Unless this is on a beach- don't post it.

Would the people in the pictures' parents be offended or disappointed in them?  Don't post it.

Could this affect the future job of someone in the picture? Don't post it.

A great night out can still be a great night out without sharing a million pictures on social media.  

Be careful what you post and be aware that the whole world is watching. 

B.

What is failure?

We all make mistakes.  Some of us make a lot of mistakes. It is part of being human.  Without making mistakes, we would not learn.  

We are often told that one mistake is a failure. The only way a mistake is a failure, is if you did not learn from it. 

The world is a tough place and we are in a constant state of successes and mistakes(not failures). 

Choose to learn something from every mistake you make, not only so that you don't make it again, but so that it will not be considered a failure. 

On a side note: these two quotes really stood out for me today. 

Happy Monday Everyone! 

YOGAFIT: finding time to work out

 All seniors try to get in to one of the fitness classes in college. My best friend and I managed to get into the same class.  We decided on Yoga- for the relaxation.  I was applying to graduate schools and she was building a life in a new house for her husband when he came back from deployment. We knew we were going to be stressed.  The yoga class that I took as a blow-off in college, changed my views on yoga as a whole.

 

 The benefits I experienced following the YOGAFIT system were wonderful. I had taken yoga classes previously, but I was not impressed by either the workout(I come from a martial arts background) or the way the workouts progressed(the moves did not flow into each other and make sense)  We had to purchase a book for our yoga class. Weird right?

  I still use that book. The system makes sense.  The moves are explained in a clear and concise manner. I feel great afterwards and the workout is as challenging as I want it to be. If you enjoy yoga, please look into this system. It is fantastic. 

 

I followed the system during graduate school, doing 10 minutes of yoga in the morning before classes. It made me more relaxed throughout the day as I was taking a crazy course load. 

Once we moved out to Colorado, exercising fell to the wayside for the most part.  I was always working.  When I wasn't working, I was trying to relax.  Somehow the idea did not cross my mind to start getting back into yoga for relaxation. I enjoy doing the monthly fitness challenges on Pinterest and Facebook, but if I don't set reminders on my phone, I forget. 

 

 I took the step to purchase 5 YogaFit Dvd's as a reward to myself for meeting my personal goals at work.  They arrived last night and like a kid at Christmas I opened every single one of them.  I'm not ashamed :) Starting tomorrow I am devoting myself to at least 10 minutes of yoga a day.  The Dvd's range in time needed from 10-15 minutes to 75 minutes. I'd like to work my way to a full 75 minutes, but for now, I'll start with a realistic goal of 10 minutes per day. 

Here is the link for where I got my DVD's. You can also purchase the book on this site as well.

https://webportal.orderwave.com/YogaFit/portal.0?action=viewItemDetail&itemNumber=k110#.VBw-ZpUtDIU

Have a great day everyone! Thank goodness it's Friday! And go get some exercise!

B

How to stay in touch when you live far away

I have spent the last 6 years living away from home. The first four were spent 4 hours away at Kent State University(GO FLASHES).

 Year five was spent 4 hours away at the University of Tennessee (GO VOLS). 

 

 Year six and currently I live 24 hours from home in Colorado.

 

Keeping in touch these days is easy right? 

Not so much. I work a ridiculous amount of hours per week currently because I'm pursuing the next management step. Keeping in touch with my friends and family becomes increasingly hard.  The two hour time difference between Ohio and Colorado doesn't help much either.  Luckily I have friends who are night owls, so I get to talk to a few friends pretty regularly.  

How to keep in touch when you live far away?

1. Make a date with your friends/relatives to talk. It amps anticipation and gives you something to look forward to.
2. Utilize text messaging. It's easy, fast, and be realistic(you are on your phone all the time anyways)
3. Skype/Facetime/ Kinect are your friends.  Learn to use them.  Hearing someone's voice is one thing, seeing them even from a distance, is even better. We use the Kinect to see my sister in law and brother in law and my niece and nephew since they live in Washington.  It's not a long conversation, but it helps us feel more involved in their lives. 
4. Let people know when you are thinking of them.  It will make a difference in their day.  Text/Call/ leave a Facebook message. It's amazing what knowing that someone is thinking about you will do for your day. 

As much as I would like to go lay on a beach, that idea is not in my near future.  To compensate, I'm wearing a beachy scent( Pink Beach- Beach babe.

And looking at this gorgeous picture with envy. I want to swing there! For now, I'll stay happy with my mountains and probably call my parents.

Happy Thursday!

B

How to pay off your debts and still live

How to pay off your debts and still live. 

Paying off your debts is one of the most important things you can do when you are young. Not living surrounded by debt will make your life happier and healthier.  I make a good living most of the time.  I also have a 50,000 grad school debt to pay off. I pay the highest amount I can per month.  It means that I cannot do a lot of things I would like to.  I would love to be able to go out to dinner occasionally or go out for a night on the town.  But for me, paying off my graduate school loan is more important.  I want to be able to save money and put a down payment on a house in the next year.  I would love to be able to go on vacation, but none of those things are as important as paying off my grad school loan.  So instead of putting tons of money in savings for that house or for a vacation, I'm putting all of that towards my loan. It sucks now, but it will be better later. 

Tips for paying off your debts and still living

1. Find out how much debt you have
2. Find out how much money a month you can put towards those debts
3. Do not take out credit cards
4. Stop spending on frivolous things- coffee at Starbucks or your choice of coffee house, clothes you don't need, drinks with friends, dinner dates.  Do those things at home.  It will save you TONS of money. 3.50 for a coffee 3x a week gives you $42 to put towards something more important.  Get a coffee maker and coffee from the grocery store.  It can  save you hundreds of dollars a year. 
5. Make the important decision to take care of your debts. 
6. Make a budget!!!!!!! it will help you figure out number 2. Here is a link to help you. Or try the bajillion on Pinterest. http://premeditatedleftovers.com/naturally-frugal-living/how-to-budget-people-hate-budgeting/

5 quick steps to stay healthy this fall.

Today is a new day. I was sick all weekend and yesterday with strep throat and an ear infection.  It was to the point that I needed to cancel my appointments on Friday evening so that I could go home and rest.  I saw the doctor on Saturday- who scolded me for not coming in sooner, which is why instead of having just an ear infection, I have an ear infection AND strep throat.  If you live in CO, watch out for this strep throat bug, it's going around.

The moral of the story is, you have to take care of yourself. If you feel sick, find a way to see a doctor or nurse practitioner.  I went to the Little Clinic inside King Soopers. I went right when they opened to avoid the lines and got seen immediately. The doctor was very kind and made sure I had the right medication to make me better.

We are coming to that time of the year when it is super important to take care of your health.  This means eating right, drinking enough fluids, and taking a multivitamin daily.  It will help you stay healthy. Also, no matter how good your immune system is, you can get sick. Do not wait 2 weeks like I did to seek medical attention.  Go when you first feel sick so that your sickness's do not compound upon one another.


5 quick steps to stay healthy this fall

1. Drink plenty of fluids
2. Work out for 20 minutes daily
3. Eat good food: fruits, veggies, grains, meats, dairy: snack on good things- not chips/chocolate
4. Take a multivitamin daily
5. Go see a medical professional if you feel ill

20 minutes for yourself + how to brew tea

I spend 98% of my day doing things for other people. I work crazy hours where I spend time helping people learn a new business, help people with any problems they are having in the business,and selling life insurance myself.  That's my 8 am-9 pm job.  Then when I get home, I help my boyfriend cook, clean, do laundry etc.  Taking time for myself is extremely hard.  I rarely have more than 20 minutes a day to myself. 

Taking that 20 minutes for myself is hard. There is always something else that I need to be doing for myself or for someone else. I am no better at saying NO to my bosses or my significant other than you probably are.  I have realized though,  that without my 20 minutes to myself daily, I become a really unpleasant person.  I have to be selfish with my time.  90% of the time, my 20 minutes occurs during my drive to and from work.  I put on a book and just drive. I try to let everything that has happened drift away for a little while.  I concentrate on the story and let the world fall away.  I don't mean to say that I don't concentrate on driving when I am driving.  I just let go of the thoughts of work, my to-do list, or what my significant other is thinking. It's 20 minutes of me time.

If you answer to more than 2 people(boss, spouse, kids etc) throughout your day, this message is for you.If you are constantly running around like a chicken with your head cut off, you are hurting yourself much more than you are helping yourself and others that you are responsible for. 

 Find time that you can take for yourself.  I know it's hard and it takes time away from other things.  Just try it.  And by try it I mean carve out 20 minutes per day on your calendar each day for the next 30 days to make it a habit. 

You can spend your 20 minutes doing anything that makes you happy.  Listening to music, working out, taking a long shower, reading a book, writing in a journal, doing Yoga, taking a power nap or just sitting in silence with a cup of tea or coffee: it's your time.  Do with it as you wish.

 

Since I like my 20 minutes to include tea...here is a great resource for how long to steep this wonderful, healthy beverage

 

I found my 20 minutes.  Now go find yours. 

5 things to do in September

Before I take you to todays topic, take a minute and remember what today is and what it stands for.  We are a nation still at war.  We could be in a multi-front war at any time.  Yet here we are standing tall and standing up for those who cannot yet stand up for themselves. Thank you to all of our servicemen and servicewomen who have fought for the freedom of the world in the fight against terror. 

Also today is DAY 2 of the Invictus Games taking place in London, England.  I hope you will follow our team of amazing service people as they compete against 12 other nations.   For more information about the games please visit invictusgames.org

So, onto today's topic which is a much lighter note.  10 things you should do this month.

1.  Make sure you have the appropriate clothing for the season.  In mos parts of the country you are experiencing warm days and cool nights.  Make sure your wardrobe reflects that.

2. Get some apple cider.  There are all kinds of delicious drinks and recipes that incorporate apple cider. Here are some ideas to get you started. 

http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=apple%20cider

3.Make Chili.  There are a million chili recipes.  Try a few.  Find your favorite and make a huge batch.  Freeze a bunch of it for later in the fall. 

4. It's football season!!!!! Go watch a game!!!! 

5. Do a fitness challenge!  It's fun, it changes daily, and it will get you active.  Here are some ideas to get you started. http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=fitness%20challenge

 

 

Help 101: asking for what you need to get what you want

I hate asking for help.  Some part of me believes I am all powerful. But the reality is that I'm not all powerful or superhuman. I can't do it all and often I need help.  It is the thing that takes the most strength.  It is the most powerful thing that I can do to help myself.  

Let me say...I HATE asking for help.  I hate asking for support. I guess in my family that was given unconditionally.  It's weird for me to ask for it. But I've had to since most people do not give help or support like my family does.  It was a transition that I had to make especially once David and I moved to Colorado.  The only people we are social with are our neighbors- half of whom are over the age of 60.  We have no friends because I work such crazy hours and I don't have time to go out and make friends. The time we have together we want to spend just with each other.   

Working such crazy hours I needed support from both my boss and my boyfriend.  Working crazy hours puts a lot of strain on any relationship.  It's hard to keep a relationship going when you see each other for only a few hours a day a few times a week. David has stepped up and become the man I need him to be.  He is supportive and listens to me talk about work no matter how positive or negative that talk is.  

 

 I finally told my boss that I need support from her and she has stepped up as well. I finally have the support that I need at home and at work and it wasn't easy to ask or sometimes to receive that support.  I am very independent and letting someone else handle the details is hard for me.  I had to let the reins go a little bit at work but it is helping tremendously to have less on my plate.  Now I can focus more on the things that matter instead of having to sweat the details. 

 

How to ask for help?

1. Put together a list of things you need help with- support/dishes/more time to yourself?
2. Who can help you with each task?
3. Talk to the people who can help you.
4. Ask them for help.  Most people love to help others; they are simply never asked. Let them know how much their assistance means to you.

Imagine what would happen if you asked for the help you need/want.  How much better would your life be?

Mentorship: 5 things to make your relationship permanent and the INVICTUS GAMES

First find out what you are interested in or need help with?  I entered the sport psychology world knowing nothing about sport psychology.  My first experience with it was when my parents provided me with a plane ticket, hotel room, and conference tickets for the Association of Applied Sport Psychology.  I was very lucky in the fact that as a undergraduate junior I was able to attend a national conference with no fear of meeting new people.  I've always been interested in how people got to where they were and I enjoy talking to people. One of my favorite mentors I met at that conference, standing in line to talk to a keynote speaker.  That was over 4 years ago.   We still talk almost weekly.  

So first find out what you need mentorship for.  Then find someone who knows what they are talking about in that vein. Next see if you can meet with that person to discuss what they do and how they got there.  They might not be the right mentor for you.  See if you have common ground or you think that they can help show you the way you want things to get done.  You could be polar opposites and still make a great connection.  Don't count someone out, they may just be too busy at the time. Taking on a mentee is a lot of commitment and they want to be able to have the time to commit to you.

Mentorship is a two way street.  You have to be willing to commit to the relationship too. 

1.   That means answering calls and messages that they send you promptly and listening to their advice and guidance.  But you have to remember that they are busy as well and they took the time to connect with you.  Do them the courtesy of responding. 

2. If they recommend a book/movie/author/article for you to read/watch...do it.  They don't ask you to do things for shits and giggles.  They want to help you.

3. Spend time learning about the field.  If someone just did a study about cocaine use in rats and you found it really interesting, talk to your mentor about it.  They may know the person responsible for the study or someone doing something like it, that you could connect with. 

4. Let them introduce you to other people in the field.  The world is about who you know. It opens a lot of doors for you, just by knowing the right people. 

5. Be the best mentee possible and make sure that your expectations for the relationship are clear to your mentor.  Don't be disappointed because you didn't speak up. 

Take your mentorship relationship seriously.  Be as committed to the relationship as your mentor is and take their advice to heart.  

I am thankful every day that I met Mark Campbell at AASP in 2010.  He is one of the most giving human beings on the planet  and is truly committed to his work with our wounded, ill, and disabled veterans.  I am so proud of his work and committment to the service people of our nation.  The Invictus Games start tomorrow, of which he is a part.  Please take the time to follow the Invictus Games and support our servicemen and servicewomen competing in the games. For more information about the Invictus Games please visit

invictusgames.org

Get out of your head!

My strongest enemy is myself.  It is the voices in my head that tell me I'm not doing enough, I'm not going to get that promotion, I'm not strong enough for this, I'm not where I was supposed to be now.  Then I learned how to shut up all of those voices. 

How did I do it?

1. I stopped telling myself I wasn't good enough.  Instead I told myself that I am the best(teacher, trainer, girlfriend, etc).  This is called affirmations.  I say positive things to myself instead of negative.  The reality is that negative thoughts rarely help us mentally.
2. I asked for more support at work and at home.  I am not superhuman.  I cannot do it all. By asking for more support at work and at home, I took a lot of stress off of myself.
3. I wrote down positive things about myself and I keep them on my phone and look at them every morning,or whenever I need a boost. 
4. I re-evaluated my expectations of myself.  We all want to be the best at everything we do.  There is something to be said for that.  Yet,these expectations have to be realistic. The best thing you can do for yourself is set realistic expectations for what you can do. 

This didn't happen overnight. It took a while to figure out.And it took time to find the best way to go about doing these things.  Give yourself time to adjust to your new way of thinking.

 

 Activity: Take a blank sheet of paper and fold it in half. On one side of the paper, write down your negative thoughts. On the other side of the paper write the opposite of the negative thoughts.  Rip the paper in half so that the negatives are on one side and the positives on the other.  Take the negative side and destroy it.  Rip it into shreds, put it through a shredder, burn it, however you want to do it. Take the positive side and post it somewhere you will see it multiple times a day.  I find that the best places are on bathroom mirror or on the refrigerator. 

Have a great Monday!

7 ways to show your spouse you care

7 ways to show your spouse you care

 

1. Take interest in the things they are interested in and actually talk to them about it.  My boyfriend LOVES football and hockey.  Let me rephrase that, my boyfriend is OBSESSED with football and hockey.  So in order to have connection with him, I read a few articles on NHL and NFL.com daily so that I can discuss the current issues with him.

 

2. Be physical.  Actually touch him/her.  Whether its a kiss on the cheek when they are cooking in the kitchen or a booty grab in the shower, give your partner physical attention.

3. Verbally praise your partner. Praise them at home and with others.  If they did the dishes without you saying anything. Tell them thank you and how much it means to you. It really is the little things that matter most. 

 

4. Spend time together.  Time is more valuable than money.  Especially when you are just starting a life together, your time is your most valuable commodity.  By spend time together,I mean do things together, not sit in the same room and text other people or play on your computers.  Do something together.  Anything can be fun if done in the right mindset and with the right person.  David and I do laundry together and honestly we make it fun. Sometimes the folding takes a little longer than it should, but we have fun doing it. 

 

5. Put down your cell phone/work email.  Put all of your technology away. Focus your attention on your partner.  Ask about their day. Ask how their projects are going at work. See how they are feeling.  For goodness sakes act like you care.  If you give it, they will give it back.  

 

6.  Get them an unexpected gift.  David brought me home a candy bar the other day and I almost cried.  It was so sweet and unexpected. I had a rough day and a silly little candy bar and a kiss made it a little better. 

 

7. Plan a home date.  As great as going out dates are...I'm a big fan of home dates.   It helps that both David and I are very good cooks.  We don't see the point of spending money on drinks,food, and entertainment that we can provide for ourselves at home.  A typical home date for us includes dinner and wine, a movie or tv show marathon where we plug in our surround sound, popcorn, and dessert.   It also involves snuggles with our bulldog.  He gets really cranky when he is left out of the attention.

 

Here are some other suggestions from Le Love.

 

Going into the weekend is the perfect time to put a little bit extra into your relationship as hopefully you have more time together.

 

B

3 books and 2 book series to Read/Re-read Now

Reading has always been important to me and it has been a priority for me, for most of my life. Reading is part of my family culture. One of my first real memories is my dad reading to my brother and I before bed each night. Everyone in my family reads.  Books are how we grow, learn, expand our horizons, and visit places and worlds we would never visit otherwise. When we stop growing and stop learning, we stop living. Find a library, a book store, a computer/tablet/smartphone.  Get your nose in a book.

Here are 3 books and 2 book series to Read/Re-read Now

1. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.  No matter how many times I read this book, I discover something new about myself.   I read it as a junior in high school, as a senior getting a Bachelors degree, and again after getting my Master's degree.  Each time, I learn something new about myself and about the journeys that we all travel.
2. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. There are so many good quotes, life lessons, and battles we all fight in this series. I could go on about the Harry Potter series all day, but I'll respect your time. Read them for yourself- especially if you are a skeptic.  The only way to find out if you really object to something, is to see what it is all about by talking to others or experiencing it.
3. In Pursuit of Excellence by Terry Orlick.  If you want a book to motivate you and teach you, this one is great! It applies to everyone can be applied to every discipline.  I use it in my office all the time
4. Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. No book has impacted me in such a way, as this one did.  Love is an extremely powerful motivator and without it our world falls apart.  The twists and turns in this book will keep you on your toes the whole time.
5. The Boxcar Children Series by Gertrude Chandler Warner. Every child wants to be a detective and have adventures. This series not only reminds us that sleuthing never ends, but that you can make something from nothing, if you only have the courage to look in the right places.

Go find a shady tree, a blanket, a book and spend some time re-reading some of your favorite books.  It's amazing what you will get out of them the second or third time around.

Day In Day Out introduction

Day In and Day Out we have responsibilities, time commitments, relationships, jobs/careers, and other things that take our attention and our time. This blog aims to give you some tips to make this whole life a little easier.  None of these ideas are mind-blowing or new, but they are for you and for me.  We all need reminders sometimes.   Let me be your reminder.

 This blog will give you little glimpses into my life, my relationships, and my career- and how I manage all of it. My name is Bethany. I'm 24 years old. I work 60+ hours a week at American Income Life where I'm a recruiter and trainer. I enjoy the work and the pay. I have a boyfriend named David and a 9 year old English Bulldog named Karl. 

Welcome to my life.