Life

  • Life

    7 Personal Development Books to Help you Level up in 2022

    If you’ve been around the blog for a while you probably know that I am a personal development junkie. 

    I read a ton of personal development books, and take a lot of courses. I’m on a constant quest to get just a little better every day. The self-improvement books I have read range from the inspirational to the truly bizarre.

    Here are my top 7 tried and true books that have really helped me to level up.

    personal development books

    This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase an item through one of my links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

    Let’s face it.  Building good habits can be challenging. This book digs into the way that habits are formed. It provides actionable tips on starting small to set yourself up for success when developing habits to help you achieve your goals.

    One of the things I really liked about this book is that it helped me to understand why I had sometimes been unsuccessful in setting habits in the past. Some of the information seemed obvious, but overall the book has really helped me break my habits into tiny pieces to actually stick to them.

    Trust the Universe: Powerful Methods for Positive Manifestations and Raising Your Vibration by Stephanie Keith

    This is a great book to read if you are interested in manifestation and the law of attraction but find yourself a bit skeptical. The book itself is beautiful, and it does a great job of balancing the spiritual aspects of manifestation along with the science behind it.

    There is a lot of great information, but it is broken down into short, easy-to-read chapters. I really love that there are so many practical tips that you can apply to your life right away.

    Get Rich Lucky Bitch!: Release Your Money Blocks and Live a First Class Life by Denise Duffield Thomas

    This was my first introduction to Denise Duffield Thomas’s work.  I read this book in a book club that I’m a part of, and I will be honest I was a little thrown off by the title. I’m so glad I gave it a chance though because this book is really good.

    The topic of money can sometimes be stressful, but the book is funny and easy to read. It really helped me to identify some of my money blocks and it has helped me to change the way I think about earning money. There are a lot of practical exercises to implement as well.

    Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes

    This book is so relatable. I mean, not the whole tv writer attending Hollywood parties bit. But the description of an introvert who struggles to say yes to opportunities and experiences part is definitely something I can relate to.

    As an introvert, I am constantly needing to make the conscious decision to push myself out of my comfort zone so I can truly live my life. This book is funny, and entertaining, and has really helped inspire me to say YES to more experiences in my own life. 

    Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking by Jon Acuff

    Overthinkers unite! This book is hilarious, relatable, and filled with action items to help you flip the script on the unhelpful stories you are telling yourself.

    I listened to this one on Audible and finished it in two days. This was another book club pick that I probably would not have otherwise chosen. I”m seriously considering giving this as gifts to a bunch of people at holiday time this year. I liked it that much.

    Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo

    This is one of those books that was recommended to me by several different people, but for some reason, I resisted reading.  I’m glad I finally gave it a chance. 

    I found it really encouraging and inspiring. Marie is funny and real. There is a little bit of tough love and a lot of motivation. This book has really helped me to push through my excuses and look for creative solutions to obstacles.

    Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

    There’s a reason this book is a classic. I was hesitant to read it since it’s a much older book.  I assumed it wouldn’t have very much information that is useful for modern times.  I was wrong. There are a lot of great mindset lessons in this book.

    I will admit there are some parts of the book that are a bit wacky. But overall it’s a great book about having the power to change your circumstances and going after what you truly desire.

    Conclusion

    If you’re anything like me there are probably some books on this list you have already dismissed. I encourage you to keep an open mind though. Sometimes the message you really need to hear can come from an unexpected source. 

    I hope you found this list helpful. I’m always looking for book recommendations. Leave me a comment below and let me know what personal development book has changed your life.

  • Life

    7 Easy Things to do on Sunday to Have the Best Week

    Mondays can be hard. Starting off the week feeling like you are already behind can be even harder.  Putting a little work into your Sunday routine to get your life in order is really worth the time and effort. Here are 7 things to do on Sunday to set yourself up for a successful week. 

    1. Prepare your meals 

    meal prep

    This doesn’t have to be some elaborate meal prep ritual.  In fact, the simpler the better in my opinion. I will be honest that when Sunday rolls around, I do not want to do this.  But I know that it’s one of the most beneficial things I can do to make my week run more smoothly.  I am ALWAYS glad to have it done. 

    I usually prep my lunch for 4 days and my breakfast for 2 days at a time.  Fridays are usually free days and I just have whatever I’m in the mood for or whatever we happen to have. I have about 3 different choices for breakfast and maybe 5 for lunch. I just rotate through them each week depending on my mood.  

    I don’t do anything fancy or time-consuming.  I’m usually done in an hour or less. 

    2. Do a 15-minute tidy up

    tidy up

    Starting off the week with a clean house really helps me feel more relaxed and on top of my game. 

    I usually just take 15 minutes to clear off the surfaces in my house. I also try to make sure there are no dirty dishes leftover from the weekend.

    It’s true what they say- outer order really does create inner calm. 

    3. Make sure clean laundry is put away 

    folded clothes

    I will admit that laundry is one of my most dreaded tasks. It feels neverending in my house. I’ve really been making an effort to improve in this area. 

     I recently started a new laundry system where I do one load of laundry each weekday from start to finish. I try not to let myself get into bed until that one load has been washed, dried, folded, and put away. 

    I put the clothes in the washer as soon as my kids leave for school. I have a timer set on my phone for when it’s time to switch the clothes to the dryer, and when it’s time to take them out to fold them. 

    So far it has been working pretty well for me, but I’m still a work in progress. I start out really strong at the beginning of the week, but I will be honest that I start to slip a bit as the week goes on.  If I do have any clothes from the week that still need to be put away I make sure I do that on Sunday so I have a clean slate for the week. 

    4. Do a weekly review 

    colorful planner

    Set aside some time on Sunday to review the upcoming weeks. Some things to think about during your weekly review: 

    • Check your schedule and add any important items to your planner

     

    • Do a brain dump of items that have been on your mind

     

    • Review your goals and set your action plan for the week.  What small actions can you take to get yourself closer to your goals? Block time for those actions in your schedule

     

    • Take the time to visualize the way you want your week to go. If there are any important meetings or events coming up during the week, take some time to think about how you would like them to play out. 

     

    • What were your “wins” for the previous week? What went well? This helps to train your mind to focus on the positive, and give yourself credit where credit is due.

    5. Check your inventories 

    toilet paper

    Go around your house and check your inventory of those essential items you use on a daily basis. 

    I like to make sure we have enough in each area that we use these items. This will keep you from constantly feeling like you are refilling things at the most inconvenient times.  There’s nothing worse than realizing you are out of toilet paper just a bit too late.

    Some of the things I check in my house:

    • Paper products- toilet paper, paper towels, and printer paper. 

     

    • Hand soap and dish soap

     

    • Pantry Items- I have clear plastic storage containers for things like cereal, rice, sugar, flour, etc. So I just take a quick look to see if anything is running low. 

     

    • Coffee and coffee filters- It’s really not pretty if we run out! 

     

    6. Restart and clean electronics

    We have a timer set for our router to reboot each Sunday morning before we are up for the day.  I also reboot all our phones and tablets and wipe them down to clean them. This helps to make sure things are running properly. 

     

    7. Take some time to unwind

    relaxing

    I like to think of this as rebooting myself. It’s important to take some time to relax before the chaos of the week starts again. Some of the things that I like to do to relax on Sundays:

    • Meditate
    • Stretch before bed
    • Read
    • Exercise
    • Puzzles
    • Spend time outdoors 

    It’s not always easy to find the time and energy to get these 7 things done, but it is definitely worth it. If you’re not currently doing any of these things, try choosing one to start with. After you have mastered that for a couple of weeks try adding another. 

    Once you have a Sunday routine down your weeks can be so much smoother. 

    Leave me a comment and let me know what you do for your Sunday routine. Thanks for reading!

     

  • Life

    How to Create a 2022 Summer Bucket List

    With the school year winding down and the unofficial start of Summer rapidly approaching, I’ve been thinking a lot about making my summer bucket list for this year. I typically have these grand plans of all the things I want to do during summer. Then we get to the end of August and I’m disappointed that I’ve done virtually none of them. That’s why I started writing my ideas down.  You’ve probably heard of a summer bucket list.  You may have even created one for your family. Family summer bucket lists are great, but this year I want to encourage you to create a list just for you as well.  Now, I don’t mean adding a few items for yourself onto a list for your kids. I’m talking about creating your very own list. Why? Because chances are you’re not going to get to everything on the list. And guess which items are going to be the first to get cut? Most likely it’s going to be the ones for you. If that doesn’t sound like you- congratulations! But if you’re anything like me, you may sometimes struggle to make yourself a priority as a mom. That’s my number one reason for having a list that is all your own. 

    Before you begin

    Before we get into some ideas to get you started making your list, here are a few suggestions and guidelines to consider. 

    Make it fun

    Set aside some time to create your list. Maybe you want to get together with some friends to create your lists together over takeout and wine. Maybe you want to create your list alone in bed with a cup of tea. Whatever your preference, set the scene and make it enjoyable. 

    Only include items you enjoy

    This should not be another to-do list or a list of chores.  This should purely be a list of ideas for things you can do to make your summer feel more fun and magical. If organizing your closet brings you joy- awesome! Otherwise, don’t add that to your list. Don’t add something to the list because you think it’s something you SHOULD do. Also, don’t add items to the list that you think SHOULD be fun for you. What is fun for one person may sound like a nightmare to another. For example, my sister loves to go out dancing. I’ve always felt like this was something I should enjoy because she has so much fun doing it. As an introvert, going out dancing actually really stresses me out. It took me a long time to realize that it’s ok that this is not something I would add to my list. 

    Set realistic expectations

    As I already mentioned, you’re probably not going to cross everything off your list. That’s ok! No pressure. Remember: this is all about fun! 

    Creating your list

    summer bucket list If you’re anything like me, it may not be easy to come up with a whole list of activities you enjoy. We tend to spend so much time thinking about caring for others that we often don’t take the time to think about what really makes us happy.  If that’s the case for you, here are some questions you can ask yourself to help get your ideas flowing. 

    • What do you wish you had more time to do? 
    • What did you do for fun as a child?
    • If you had a whole week off to yourself what types of things would you do?
    • What do you see other people doing that makes you a bit jealous?
    • Think about a time that you had a lot of fun. What were you doing? 

    Don’t censor yourself

    When you are brainstorming ideas don’t restrict yourself. Write down anything that comes to mind. You can whittle down your list later. Now is the time to let your creativity flow.

    Summer Bucket List Ideas

    Sort into categories

    Once I have a good list generated, I like to sort my ideas into categories. This helps to determine when I will fit things into my schedule. Once determine my categories it usually sparks more ideas on things I want to do.  Here are some categories you could use.

    • Outdoor activities
    • Indoor activities or Rainy day activities
    • Solo activities 
    • Activities with friends
    • Free activities
    • Books to read
    • Movies/Shows to watch
    • Things to eat/drink
    • Places to travel

    Complete your List

    Once you are done generating ideas, create a finalized list. Since I’m addicted to my paper planner I usually dedicate a page in my planner and use colorful pens and stickers. You’ll want to make sure you put your list someplace you will see it. Out of sight, out of mind. I also like to leave a little space in each section of my list in case I think of more ideas as time goes on. 

    Start scheduling in your fun

    Start to add some of the bigger activities to your calendar where you can. The dates don’t need to be set in stone, but you have to start somewhere. Otherwise, you won’t end up doing any of the activities, and may just end up feeling bad about yourself.  Don’t just use the weekends, sprinkle some joy into the workweek as well. Hopefully, you will have a good mix of little things and bigger activities to choose from. Here is a list of ideas to help you get started.

    • Make ice cream sundaes 
    • Do a jigsaw puzzle 
    • Watch fireworks
    • Go on a hike
    • Make s’mores
    • Read 10 books
    • Unplug for 24 hours 
    • Go to a baseball game
    • Spend a day by the water 
    • Have a movie day in bed
    • Enjoy some live music
    • Go to a farmer’s market 
    • Have drinks on a patio 
    • Learn a new skill
    • Clean out your closet
    • Do a DIY facial
    • Read a book by the pool 
    • Visit an amusement park 
    • Go camping (or glamping)
    • Get a pedicure 
    • Visit a friend you haven’t seen in a while 
    • Redecorate a room in your house
    • Go strawberry picking
    • Have a water balloon fight
    • Go to a water park
    • Make tie-dye shirts 
    • Go to a drive-in movie
    • Go horseback riding
    • Take a nap 
    • Play mini-golf

    summer drinks Again, these are just ideas. Fill your list with things you love. I hope this helps add some extra fun to your summer.  Leave me a comment and let me know what activities you’re adding to your list! 

  • Life

    4 People Who Will Love Dream Wish Plan

    1 . Women who are planning a Disney vacation

    During lockdown in 2020, I was suddenly painfully aware that I was seriously lacking in the hobby department. I was no longer rushing from work to after-school activities and events, and I wasn’t entirely sure what to do with myself. At first, I thought I would finally tackle all those projects around the house I had been meaning to do. And I did do some of those things. But as time went on I realized that for my mental health I was going to need to find some more activities that made me happy and not just fill up my time. One of the things I rewarded myself with at the end of the day was watching Disney vlogs on YouTube. I was so grateful to have that little chunk of time that felt like sunshine to me. We had been planning a trip in June 2020, which we had to cancel. I threw myself into planning our next trip even though I had no clue when it would be. Keeping up with Disney news became an even bigger hobby than it already had been in my life. I’ve been able to use all this new information to plan some epic vacations. I want to use those skills to help others do the same.

    2. Women who are trying to add some joy and magic to their daily lives

    I’ve already mentioned how I rediscovered my Disney obsession, but what I didn’t tell you is that I live in NY. So, I don’t get to be in Disney as much as I would like (every day). While I’m currently scheming ways to convince my family that a move further south is a good idea, I needed to find some creative ways to sprinkle that Disney magic into my life. I have found some great tips, ideas, and products that really help to add that pixie dust feeling into my routine.

    3. Women who want help with planning, and organizing their home

    My planning skills extend beyond the world of Disney. I will share tips and tricks to help you plan your most magical life, set meaningful goals to increase your happiness, and organize your home to create a place that feels like a breath of fresh air.

    4. Women who are looking for an escape from the drama and insanity

    There are plenty of places on the internet with sensationalized stories designed to instill fear. There are also plenty of people to follow that will make you feel like you are not measuring up. My goal is to create a positive and inspirational space. No fear, no fighting, no shame, and no guilt. Just fun.

    I want to create a place where we can lift each other up. I want this site to be a place where we can share tips, hacks, and positive stories. I want to share some of the things that have helped me live a happier life. So if happiness and fun are things you enjoy, then you are in the right place!

  • Life

    5 Things I Want to Help my Audience With

    The last few years have been a period of change and growth for me. As someone who has lived with anxiety for most of my life, being thrown into an environment of such uncertainty and change was really difficult. Even though there have been so many challenges to tackle, there have also been so many blessings that have come out of this time. I have more time with my kids, more work flexibility, and so much more clarity around what is truly important. I have also gained so much confidence in myself, and my ability to make the best of whatever life throws my way. Thinking about all the things I have learned has inspired me to start this blog. I want to help others live a more happy life. Here are 5 things that I want to help my audience with:

    • Plan a magical Disney World vacation
      One of my biggest passions, and something that has been a bright light for me in even the darkest of days during the pandemic, is my love of all things Disney. It brings me so much job to always be planning a trip to Disney. For me, half the fun is in the planning. For many people, though, it can be super overwhelming. There is so much to consider, and things are constantly changing. I will help you sort through all the information to find those hidden gems so you can maximize your trip and enjoy the process. Whether you are a first-timer, or a full fledged Disney fanatic, I will give my best tips, resources, and planning hacks to help you plan your most magical vacation.
    • Share happiness hacks
      I like to focus on little ways I can bring joy to my daily routine. I will share my most loved tips, products, recipes, and ideas to help you add those magical little details to your everyday life.
    • Help moms with planning, organization, and goal setting
      Mom burnout is real thing, and it’s a serious problem. The demands of motherhood can be so overwhelming. One of the things that has helped me to break the burnout cycle is to set up systems and routines to feel more successful. I have also been working on my goal setting system, and evaluating what lights me up outside of my duties as a mom, wife, and employee. I am a personal development junkie,and I love to learn. I read a TON of books and listen to some really great podcasts that provide great tips to help maximize your time and build a happier, more productive life. I want to share some of those things that I have found helpful, and save you the hundreds of hours of doing your own research.
    • Give great book recommendations
      Did I mention that I love to read? Other than Disney, my biggest hobby is reading. My goal is to read at least 50 books per year, but I usually exceed that goal. In addition to personal development books, I love a good mystery. I also read a lot of young adult fiction. I’ll give you my top book recommendations, and I would love to hear yours as well!
    • Build a supportive and encouraging community
      I believe that we rise by lifting others. I want to create a safe place for moms to share their experiences, and their knowlege with others. I belive we can help each other End the post with a quick recap and conclusion of your thoughts. Don’t stress too much over
      this post, see it as a brainstorming session. Remember, you can always come back and edit,
      remove or add to the post. Your first few posts are for you to practice and become a better

    I am not an expert. I am not perfect. I am a constant work in progress. But I don’t believe you need to be an expert to help others. My goal is just to share my experiences with others. I hope that sharing the things I have learned along the way will help bring even a little more hapiness to others. Thanks for reading. I’m so glad you’re here!