24,746 things on my to-do list...

...for 2011

In the spirit of "making a list", I thought I'd get a head start on the annual tradition of New Year's resolutions. But instead of dwelling on what I'm not doing well, I thought I'd make a list of all the things I could do to be a better me in 2011. While 24,746 things may seem like a lot, once you read the list I think you'll get that its not going to be too overwhelming! ;)

I guess you could say I'm resolving to take more time for myself, my husband, my family and my community. I have other things I want to focus on too, but this is the fun stuff!

1 5k
4 facials
4 trips to the beach
12 bottles of wine
12 girls days out
12 haircuts
12 massages
12 new outfits
15 pedicures and manicures
26 family nights
52 date nights
52 memory verses
52 yoga classes
52 Zumba classes
156 workouts
200 bare-feet covered
300 meals for strangers
365 hours alone with God
23,360 ounces of water

Just to clarify, these are all minimums! As far as this list is concerned, 'more is more'! ;) Don't worry I will be setting some limits for myself in other areas!

Put some clothes on...

... your neighbor.


I want to introduce you to your new neighbor, my friend, James.

Maybe you met James when he was hanging around with us earlier in the year. Maybe you have no idea who or what I'm talking about and you're thinking, I've never seen this guy and he certainly doesn't live next door to me.

The truth is, he doesn't live anywhere. He's a ... "vagabond", "vagrant", "wanderer"... well not exactly. All of these terms by definition indicate that he'd have no purpose or direction in his travels. But for my friend James, this is a choice, and if you talk to him, you'll quickly find out that he doesn't classify himself as anything more than "a follower of Jesus". I'll let you read his story for yourself, I believe you will find it rather inspiring!

What I will tell you about James is that he is the founder of Clothe Your Neighbor as Yourself. At the foundation of what he does, he sells t-shirts and with the profits, he lives among and provides for our neighbors.

This organization is giving you a chance to kill two birds with one stone in this "season of giving". Here's what I mean:

1. You have a list of people who you want to give something for Christmas

2. You want to be in category 3 and "give back"

When you purchase one of these shirts for that special some one on your list, your new neighbor, James is going to take care of #2 and put you in category 3!

And thus, you will have JOY and LIVE LONGER as a result!

I'll be putting my order in and marking some names off of my list today! I hope you will do the same.

Be sure to check out the CYNY website and to follow them on Facebook and Twitter to travel along with your new neighbor, James.

"..So he asked him, "Which is the most important of all the commandments?" Jesus answered, "Here is the most important one. Moses said, 'Israel, listen to me. The Lord is our God. The Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your mind and with all your strength.'—(Deuteronomy 6:4,5) And here is the second one. 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.'—(Leviticus 19:18) There is no commandment more important than these." -- Mark 12:28-31

Get in Category 3...

...give!

Unless you are cut off from all forms of media, (and if you're reading this, I know you're not) you are probably in one of the following two categories:

1. Super excited that Christmas is coming, making your list, shopping, putting up your tree, planning Christmas Eve with your family, pulling out your Christmas CD collection, driving those in the next category insane!!

2. Super agitated that Thanksgiving isn't even here yet and we're already talking about Christmas, I mean Halloween wasn't over before the store had out the Christmas decor and now there are pre-Black Friday sales, c'mon!

Well, I'm here to form a third category for you!

3. Hallelujah! Christmas is coming and I am living in abundance because the Lord sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for my sins! I have more than I need and I am super excited to give back this year at Christmas!

Now, I know there are some of you out there who want to be in category 3, but don't know where to start in the "giving back". Maybe you just don't know of anyone in need or don't "trust" charitable organizations. You know, I actually have people who come to me during the holidays and ask if I know of a charity or organization they can give to at this time of year, even those who do not recognize the true meaning of Christmas (you know the part about "I am living in abundance because the Lord sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for my sins!").

Well, I'm here to help! Over the next several weeks, I intend to introduce you to some ministries and some people who I know and love who are serving others in a real and tangible way!

An article I recent read by Drs. Oz and Roizen over at Success Magazine has this to say about helping other:

Almost every study of longevity indicates one secret that makes people healthier and happier: helping others. Some research shows a 60 percent decrease in mortality figures among those who help others; they’re aided by what’s called the “helper’s high.” Specifically, it’s the dignity, the joy, the passion and the purpose of helping others that have these beneficial effects, whether you’re helping another person quit smoking, building a home for a family in need or mentoring a child at school.

So, if you want to find JOY in the season of giving and LIVE LONGER, stay tuned!

Upcoming Event to benefit the Dream Machine

I am a founding member of a small networking group in Lake City called B.A.N.G. We are a group of home-based and direct sales business owners working together to promote each other and build a community of local support.

Together we are sponsoring a fund raising event for the Christmas Dream Machine. I have been unable to find much online information about the Dream Machine, so I thought I would try to educate you all on what the Dream Machine does. It's really an awesome organization!

Christmas has always been known as a time for giving and ensuring that over 900 children will have a truly Merry Christmas is what the Dream Machine is all about. A local non profit organization designed to help children, the Dream Machine receives donations from individuals and sponsors and gives Christmas to needy children in the area who would otherwise not have Christmas. "I started the Dream Machine in 1989, the same year my father was tragically killed in a car accident.” Meally Jenkins,the Founder and CEO of the Dream Machine, said. “My parents always taught me to give.”

The families receiving the toys must show a need for help. They must be the working disadvantaged or prove that they are unable to work due to a disability. Once they are determined to be eligible, the child's name along with their wish list are displayed on a paper ornament on the Christmas tree. Individuals who wish to donate then pick a child’s name off the tree, purchase gifts and bring the unwrapped gifts back with the paper ornament. A few days before Christmas the parents pick up the gifts to take home and wrap, that way the children will never know that the parents didn't actually buy the toys.

The most popular gift every year for girls and boys are bicycles.

Jenkins, and her volunteers, devote countless hours during the holiday season to the Dream Machine, as well as the preparation time and effort spent throughout the year. The first year of operation about 360 children were helped. In recent years, over 900 children have received Christmas presents because of the Dream Machine efforts.

Without the support of the community and corporate sponsors the Dream Machine would be just that, a dream and the 900+ children would have had a less than joyful Christmas.

B.A.N.G. is proud to be able to provide a contribution to this organization, helping those in need provide a joyful Christmas to their children! Come out on October 9th and get a jump start on your holiday shopping and support the Dream Machine!

Event Details:

Gifts big and small!

Get a jump start on your holiday shopping!

Over $250 in prizes to be raffled!

Gourmet boxed lunches available from My Personal Chef, Gerald Hoyt!

Featuring:
BeautiControl, Jenna Greene
Dove Chocolates, Christine Pesta
FirstFitness International, Amy Polk
Mary Kay Cosmetics, Pam Hess
Pampered Chef, Shannon Morris
S & J Jewels & Treasures. Sandy Castiaux & Joan McPherson
Stampin’ Up, Michelle Givvines
Tealightful Treasures, Barbie Hoyt
Soaps by Design, Donna Hyde & Terry Rogers
Willow House & Creative Memories, Aurora Argueta
& more!

Saturday, October 9 · 9:00am - 3:00pm
Bethel UMC Fellowship Hall,
4843 S US Highway 441
Lake City, FL

Independence...

...what does it mean to you?

This is one of my favorite holidays. Summertime is here in full force, which I love, high temps and all! My favorite thing about the 4th, of course the fireworks!! I just can't miss them, its simply not an option. I hope to share with you sometime this weekend a childhood memory of how I did miss the fireworks once and was scarred for life.

Fireworks are just a great symbol of patriotism to me. When I see them, I am immediately reminded of the National Anthem, "the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there."

The 4th is also a time when I think about our freedoms and independence. The greatest freedom we have is the freedom to worship our God. In this great country, and yes it is great, I can leave home and travel to a church to praise and worship my Heavenly Father anywhere, anytime. I can tell others of my faith in Him, publicly, even on Facebook, I can share my beliefs on the clothes I wear, my jewelry, with a fish on my car and a cross on the rear-view mirror, all with no fear of being persecuted by my government.

This year in particular, I recognize that it is to our soldiers that I owe this freedom. They are in other countries, countries where Christians are persecuted and killed, fighting for my independence, my freedoms, the greatest of which is to worship and praise my Savior.

To all soldiers and veterans, I say thank you. Thank you for giving me and everyone of us the freedom to know and worship the Almighty Creator.

I'm excited that I will attend a festival to honor Veterans this weekend as I pursue the "American Dream", yet another great thing about this country. My friends and new business partners at Anytime Fitness in Starke invited me to be a part of their booth at the VetFest Musicfest in Waldo this weekend! I can't think of a better way to celebrate my independence, helping my friends as they, too, pursue the "American Dream" and helping others find or regain their health through nutrition and exercise! Together we are going to lower the obesity rate in Starke and surrounding areas!

The Vet Fest Musicfest will be held on July 2-3, 2010 at the Classic Cafe and Dixieland Music Park in Waldo, FL (Friday starting at 2 pm and Saturday starting at 10 am and lasting till 11:30 pm both nights! There will be 2 full days of Live Entertainment, Food and Drinks, Fun, and so much more. Don't miss this amazing time. Proceeds will benefit the Major Alan Rogers Scholarship Fund at the Santa Fe Community College. Major Alan Rogers was a classmate of my husbands.

Anytime will be offering some amazing pre-opening deals at the festival:

No registration fee

Your choice of either FREE months at the end of your membership agreement
Or
Unlimited FREE tanning for the duration of your membership agreement

The membership agreements are either 12 months or 18 months.

If you go with the 12 months membership then you get 2 FREE months at the end of the term.

If you go with the 18 months membership then you get 4 FREE months at the end of the term.

Also, the first 100 members will get a FREE Anytime Fitness T-shirt.

So come out and support our veterans, enjoy some great live music, and stop by to see us!

Blog Frog....

... hop to it!

I’m now on Blog Frog!! I started my own community and invite you all to join. I would love to get to know you all better. I have posted a few discussions so feel free to join in. The widget to join is on my left sidebar. Hope to see you there...

I have also decided to participate in the Blog Frog July 4th Community Challenge this year. It runs to July 4th. Its basically setting a goal for my community and working to achieve it in a short period of time.

The Renewed You Community currently has 24 members and my goal is to reach 100 members. Do you think I can do it?

If you haven’t joined Blog Frog yet, you should check it out. Its free to join and its a great site for networking and connecting with other bloggers. I have learned many new blogging tips there and hope to improve on this blog as I go.

So please help me reach my goal and join me on Blog Frog today! If you are already a member of my community, then thank you!