Happy Thanksgiving!

Welcome back!

 I am so excited for today!  Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays for gratitude is at it’s core.  It’s a wonderful day to spend quality time with family and giving thanks for everything wonderful in life.

In honor of the holiday, I have a gift for you (actually 2)!  I got together with 11 other wonderful
heart-centered business owners and we created an inspirational screen saver.  Each of us came up with an original inspiring quote, and our quotes are set on beautiful, inspiring nature scenes.
The purpose of the screen saver is to help inspire you throughout your day as you work toward your
goals. We’re also hoping you’ll feel connected and among like-minds as you read through our quotes. And, we’d love it for you to meet some new people and make new connections as well!

 The screen saver is available to you as my gift. To download your copy, simply log on to this web site: http://www.mindfulbusinessespartner.com  While you’re on the site, be sure and check out the other great women who are part of this project!

The screen saver will only be available until December 12th, so be sure and get your copy!

Finally, in honor of the kick off of the holiday shopping season-I’m having a SALE!  Click here to shop 11/28 through 11/30 on our website and use the coupon code FRIDAY during checkout to receive 10% off your entire order.
May you and your family have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

In gratitude,

Thanksgiving and And All That Good Stuff

The month of November has been a great month of gratitude and “thanksgiving.”  I’m really looking forward to culminating the month next week with a delicious Thanksgiving Feast.  We all have our traditions.  In my family it consists of a day of traditional food and football.  How about you?

I thought over the next few days I would share some of my Thanksgiving tips and recipes.  We’ve been hosting Thankgiving for nearly 12 years and have had some good times!

My favorite Thanksgiving tip I learned from a friend many years ago.  I take a pound of bacon and drape it over the top of my turkey.  It creates a natural basting and is quite delicious when cooked.  The drippings really add to the flavor for the gravy, too. 

One year we actually got so carried away preparing for the day that we forgot to baste the turkey!  The bacon took care of that and the turkey was still moist and delicious (thank goodness!)  Although I certainly don’t recommend not basting-it was still good!

Here’s a recipe for muffins that I have been making lately–they are delicious!

MUFFINS

My neighbor recently mentioned this recipe to me and I just love it.  The muffins are delicious and healthy (2 points if you are counting Weight Watcher’s points!)

1 box of any cake mix (spice cake, any chocolate or vanilla variety or carrott cake)

1 regular size can of solid pack pumpkin

Mix cake mix and can of pumpkin together.  The batter will be thick.  Spoon into greased muffin tins.  Bake according to box directions for cupcakes.  Yields 20-24 muffins.

Ironically, mixed with chocolate, you don’t even know that there is pumpkin in these muffins!  I actually made these for my daughter’s birthday and put frosting on them.  The kids didn’t know the difference and it was a much healthier treat!

As a variation, I used carrott cake box mix, added some crushed pineapple and some raisins with the pumpkin.  They were moist and delicious–quite a hit at my house!
 
Enjoy!

Thankful Thursdays

It’s hard to believe that it’s Thursday already this week! Although, I must admit, I am ready for this week to be over. It’s been a rather long and difficult week for various reasons.

Appropriately so, I was inspired by the blog post from KD on “A Bit Squirrelly.” She wrote today about the days that we struggle to find things to be grateful for. We know we are blessed, we know what we have, yet it’s a struggle. It seems there are days when everything is working against us, we keep getting beat down. Sometimes it’s difficult (or seems so) to climb over that mountain and see the other side.

I often tell people that these days of struggle are often the days of most growth. Right now, after a tough week I am most grateful for simple things–sitting in front of a warm and welcoming fire, watching a football game while snuggling next to my warm and fuzzy corgi named Coco.

Days of struggle force me to see the simple things that I may overlook on the days when the gratitude pours out of me. I have a great appreciation for things that maybe on regular day I take for granted.

Use these days to dig deep and grow!

Twitter, GNO (Girl’s Night Out), and Feeding America

I’ve been talking a lot about twitter lately.  Twitter has been a fabulous tool for business, fun, and all sorts of good stuff!

Last night I participated in my second GNO party.  It’s a fast paced chat with lots of gals (and some guys, too:-).  The topic last night was gratitude (which was very fitting) and the GNO gals hosted a virtual food drive for Feeding America.

I am so excited that the Gratitude Circle Blog was featured on the night’s wrap up post.  Click here to check it out.

The GNO gals have a goal to hit $1500 by Friday.  Would you be able to help out?  Even $5 makes a difference!  Donating is easy and you can do it securely through paypal.  Simply click below and then click the donate button.

The Indiebizchicks.com Official Guide to a Great Holiday Season

I am so excited to announce the launch of the 2008 Indiebizchicks.com Official Guide to a Great Holiday Season!

The holidays are coming… and if you’re looking for a little help getting ready, download this free 40+ page holiday guide, full of articles, recipes, tips, ideas, and more!  Yes, it’s FREE!  It’s absolutely fabulous and a must have this holiday season–I know you will enjoy it!  Click here to download your FREE copy.

Finding Gratitude in Helping Others Overcome Challenges

I am thrilled to introduce Taylor Fitch, the new Miss America’s Outstanding Teen as she talks about her platform and her desire to help children overcome their physical challenges.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. Taylor is truly an inspiration!

Our world is built upon the dreams of a child. Their fresh, undaunted spirits inspire us, and their dreams become innovations, then inventions. Children are our future. And God has a purpose for each and every one of them, no matter their physical condition. I have worked with special needs children since I was a little girl and I have witnessed first-hand as some of these children’s dreams and aspirations were ignored and pushed aside.

These children inspire me. They instill a desire in me to take life into perspective and learn what is truly valuable. That is why I developed my platform, Overcoming Physical Challenges: Heart, Mind, and Hands. I work with organizations such as March of Dimes, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Jymsu, Family Connections, Anderson Disability Board, and was previously the spokesperson and “Angel of Change” for Easter Seals.

People will comment on how much I have taught “my kids,” but honestly I see how much they have taught me. They teach me to laugh when I really want to cry. I see their tenacity and try to replicate the same quality in my life. I see how gracious and caring they are, completely selfless and I attempt to mimic these characteristics as well. They have taught me to be thankful, brave, strong, loving, and indestructible. Most of all they have taught me what life was truly about and how to live to the fullest; to take everyday and perceive it as a gift and view each trial as an opportunity. These kids have truly changed my life and helped mold me into the person that I am today.

Passion is anything powerful or compelling; anything that drives one to push boundaries and press the limits of his own being. Everyone has a passion, mine is to see every child succeed. I am thankful for their presence in my life.

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Taylor Fitch is the current Miss America’s Outstanding Teen. Through her platform, Overcoming Challenges: Heart, Mind and Hands, Taylor encourages everyone to look beyond the physical challenges that some people in society endure and embrace their individuality and special gifts. Taylor challenges others to help children with physical disabilities participate in every day activities such as sports and 5K races. In addition to serving as a Goodwill Ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network throughout her year of service, Taylor is excited about promoting “Taylor’s Team,” a nationwide effort to build teams of 5K participants including those with disabilities.

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The Gratitude Collection is proud to sponsor and support the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Organization. During the month of November, The Gratitude Collection will donate a portion of our sales to help this wonderful organization. Please be sure to let us know you were sent by MAOT when you check out.

We believe that through this wonderful alliance with MAOT we can truly accomplish our goal of introducing young women across America to the benefits of positive thinking and a practice of gratitude.

Thankful Thursdays

I can’t believe it’s Thursday already this week! So many exciting things have been going on around here lately. 2009 will be a very exciting year and I am very grateful for that! I’ve been meeting so many people through my social networking over the past several weeks, it’s been a lot of fun.

Today I am most grateful for some much needed me time. It feels good to take care of yourself! I spent the morning at my pilates class, took myself to the nail salon, and ran some errands. Simple stuff, huh? It felt really good to clear my mind, now I’m refreshed and renewed to jump back into my exciting work!

Tonight I am grateful to dig into reading two new magazines I bought for myself while spending time with family watching the Patriots/Jets game. Go PATS!

Until next time,

The Gratitude Project

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. -Cynthia Ozick

I am so excited to be participating in the Gratitude Project with my friends at “This Marriage Thing.” The Gratitude Project was created as a way to bring thanks to those people in our lives that protect, comfort, love, delight and sometimes anger us-our spouses (or significant others).

Be sure to check it out and join on in! I’d love for you to participate and then post some comments. There are many blogs participating…let’s share the love!

Thankful Thursdays

I am really excited to join in with some of my blogger friends on a Gratitude Carnival started by my twitter friend, KD from A Bit Squirrelly.

It’s really cool to start Thankful Thursdays during the month of November which is actually national “I Am So Thankful Month.”

Of course as the holidays come upon us we are compelled to reflect on our gratitude and thankfulness. In our family, we truly enjoy the holiday of Thanksgiving. We love getting up early to make the turkey. I love to set my table the night before and enjoy how pretty it looks. We love sitting around as a family, enjoying each other’s company and my favorite, watching football (much to my daughter’s dismay!)

As the holidays approach, how will you create a grateful and fulfilling holiday for you and your loved ones? What does that mean to you? Do you have traditions that you share with your family that you carry forward each year? What extra steps will you take to help others?

Join my twitter friends at MommyGossip Cares who are having a Virtual Food Drive to help feed hungry families this holiday season.

Give Thanks! It’s National “I Am So Thankful Month.”

Give Thanks! 
The Gratitude Collection Celebrates National “I Am So Thankful Month”

OXFORD, CT – NOVEMBER 5, 2008 – Did you know that November is National “I Am So Thankful Month?”  With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we are compelled to reflect on our thankfulness and gratitude and in turn express it to others.

The Thanksgiving holiday is a great time to let friends and family know just how much they mean to you. Even small gestures can make a big impact. Everyone wants to feel appreciated – now is the time to help your loved ones feel that way.

“An attitude of gratitude and thankfulness can bring so much into your life and in turn do so much good for others,” said Deanna Collins, founder of the Gratitude Collection a line of jewelry and apparel that reflects the benefits of positive thinking and the acts of gratitude and thankfulness.

“Energy is contagious.  It doesn’t take much effort to express your gratitude—it’s just a matter of mindfulness—go out of your way to pay a compliment or send a thank you note.  It will make you feel so good!” Collins noted.

The Gratitude Collection offers the following suggestions on how you can show your gratitude to the important people in your life:

• Send a handwritten note or card:  So many people use email to communicate today – sending something via postal mail creates a personal touch
• Donate your time and efforts: Take the focus off of material possessions by giving your friends and family your actual time and/or efforts. For example, if your friend is a single mother, offer to babysit a few weekends throughout the year for free or spend some quality time with an elderly friend or relative
• Start a compliment marathon: Make it a point to give someone a compliment every day this month. It can be as simple (and subtle) as telling someone they have a great smile. You’ll be making someone feel good about themselves and that is a very precious gift.  Think about how good it will make you feel, too!

“The holiday time is such a special time—a time when we feel rich with gratitude” Deanna said.  “Be sure to spend time to think about how you want to create a grateful and fulfilling holiday for yourself and others.”

The Gratitude Circle, the online community for the Gratitude Collection, aims to become the premiere online resource for inspiration and merchandise that cultivate a positive outlook on life and create opportunities for people to share personal stories of gratitude.
 
For more information on The Gratitude Collection and to purchase your own jewelry and apparel from the line, visit http://www.thegratitudecircle.net/.

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