Supernatural Botanicals

What steps will you take to make next year the best ever?  Don’t know where to start?  Contemplate this progression of actions as depicted by A Mindful-Based Stress Reduction Workbook:

1. Intention shapes our thoughts and words.
2. Thoughts and words mold our actions.
3. Thoughts, words, and actions shape our behaviors.
4. Behaviors sculpt our bodily expressions.
5. Bodily expressions fashion our character.
6. Our character hardens into what we look like.

Do top earners in America enjoy a piece of chocolate cake as much as you do?  Researchers don’t believe so.  They found that the more people earn, the harder it was to enjoy life’s little pleasures, like a slice of chocolate cake or a beautiful sunset.  Researchers found that the more you earn, you have greater access to expensive experiences that make you happy, so you don’t notice the simple pleasures in life.  No matter what tax bracket you are in, you are missing the point of life if you don’t enjoy all that life offers…including sunny days and dinner with friends.

Time for end-of-year personal assessments.  Did you create a vision board last year?  How many things did you accomplish that you had set out to do?  I’m happy to have accomplished almost everything on my board.

Don’t forget to assess your vision board at the end of the year to see your accomplishments.  Then it’s time to get started on next year’s goals.

If a vision board seems a little too seventh grade for you, go with what works for your personality.  I created mine on an art program on my computer and saved it as my desktop display…assuring that I’d see it every day.  You may choose to add magazine clippings and photos to a beautifully leather bound book with white pages, creating a vision book instead.

It’s so empowering to see accomplishments being checked off one by one.  Try a vision board this year…you may push yourself further than you ever knew you could go.

“I’ve never really viewed myself as particularly talented.  Where I excel is ridiculous, sickening work ethic.  While the other guy is sleeping, I’m working.  While the other guy is eating, I’m working”. …Will Smith’s insight to his success.

Angela Jia Kim of Savor The Success describes her edge on how to attract what she wants in life.

Find out what all the talk is about over at SmartTalk.  SmartTalk is about sharing life stories, networking, and feeling connected. 

The SmartTalk season will kick off January 31, 2011 with Sigourney Weaver.  Click over to SmartTalk to get your tickets now, and to get more information on the entire lineup this year.

Celebrity renowned makeup  artist, Bobbi Brown, is set to open a gym next door to her makeup store in Montclair, New Jersey with her personal trainer husband, Steven Plofker.

We all know the 411 when it comes to recycling, and that’s simply to DO IT.  We know better than to make excuses.  We should also know it’s simply a way of life for us now.  It’s should be a way of life for your children, too.

So lets take it a step further and precycle.  What is precycling?  It’s Proactive meets Recycling.    Here are 10 ways to proactively recycle.

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1. Bring reusable bags to the store with you. Cloth or paper will do!

2. Buy Large Quantities. If you buy products in bulk or in large sizes and quantities, you can put them in smaller containers as you need them and this uses less containers.

3. Buy products with the least amount of packaging or none at all. Items packed in multiple containers may look nice, but they are a waste!

4. Buy products packed in recycled packaging. If you have to use a container, it might as well be green. Additionally, you help support green corporations. (Important: make sure you look for the recycled symbol)

5. Don’t buy disposable items (plates cups, pens, diapers, batteries, etc.) They only fill the landfill more.

6. Buy less paper towels and napkins or none at all. Use cloth ones!

7. Buy long life and concentrated items (batteries, bulks , etc.) This saves on packaging as well as product.

8. Don’t purchase styrofoam. It contains polystyrene, which is the most difficult material to break down in our landfill and is considered a hazardous waste.

9. Buy items in cardboard. aluminum, steel, glass, and plastic containers marked 1 and 2 ( They are stamped on the bottom 1 and 2). These containers can be recycled more easily.

10. Read labels for ingredients. Stay away from chemicals that harm our plant and animal life and poison our land.

Do you know your generation?

Generation X encompasses the 44 to 50 million Americans born between 1965 and 1980. This generation marks the period of birth decline after the baby boom and is significantly smaller than previous and succeeding generations.

Members of Generation X are largely in their 30’s and early 40’s. On the whole, they are more ethnically diverse and better educated than the Baby Boomers.  Over 60% of Generation X attended college.  Team Gen X!

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Fantastic news!  We are featured on StartUp Princess today!  StartUp Princess is a website dedicated to women entrepreneurs.   They are all about connections, resources, and coaching women to succeed.   The site is fascinating, depicting stories of the highs and lows of female business owners….super motivational.  Great advice for women who have businesses, or women who someday want to own a business.  …after all, no one is stopping you.  If you have an idea, a way to do something better, a way to bring happiness into the lives of others, take it all the way and start your own business.  And you can do it on a shoestring budget like millions of others have done before you.  You CAN do this.  Check out StartUp Princess and get inspired!

Check out StartUp Princess feature here.