Happy New Year 2013

The time has come to say goodbye to 2012 and start anew with a brand new cycle and a brand new world of possibilities to embrace!

The New Year marks a time when we can set intentions, create goals, and make positive changes in our lives to create a better year ahead. There is so much power and positive energy around the New Year celebration that it shows up across the world as it brings people together.

New Year's Eve is a time when we can choose to release things from the past that no longer serve us. We can explore the year before and see if there are things that need to change in order for us to get the most out of our lives. We can also get proactive and look at how to create the things we do want in our lives and use the changing of the calendar to mark a new beginning and fresh step on a new journey.

The New Year is completely filled with new potential and possibilities... what will you create in 2013?

From the Tabelina family to yours, Happy new Year!

Merry Christmas

From the Tabelina family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and look forward to celebrating the New Year with you!

Winter Solstice

Tomorrow is winter solstice! This wonderful time of year has been celebrated across the world in countless cultures in a variety of colorful ways. Based on the movements of the earth, the winter solstice is the moment when the night is at its longest and the day is at its shortest. Because of the short days, the weather tends to hit it  coldest at this time of year and snow tends to find its way to many lands.

Winter solstice may seem like the darkest time of the year, but in many cultures its actually the time when we celebrate the return of the light. Since it marks the longest night of the year, the day after the winter solstice starts the process of the sun hours getting longer each day. Starting on winter solstice, the days become longer and longer until they reach their greatest length at the summer solstice.

Candles, fires, warm food, and celebrations are all great at the time of the winter solstice as we celebrate bringing back the light into the world. Many religious and spiritual celebrations happen at this time of year because it represents the triumph of light over darkness.

As the light returns this year, I hope you find yourself surrounded by warmth, energy, and a beautiful New Year ahead!

Simple Last Minute Christmas Gifts

If you're got a few more people on your list to take care of this year, you may be wondering what to get them and how to get it all done before the big day. You may also have a variety of co-workers, neighbors, and friends on your list that you'd like to gift. The good news is that there are some great ways to create inexpensive gifts that everyone on your list will love without any of the hassle!

Here are a few easy last minute gift ideas that will make your life easier and 'wow' the people on your list!

• Gift cards are a great way to give a gift that your loved one can customize. A gift card can be purchased for their favorite store, restaurant, or activity.
• Home made sweets are a fun and easy way to treat your friends with holiday cheer in a way that doesn't break the bank. Making cookies, candy, or breads can be a truly affordable way to celebrate the season.
• Handmade crafts are a great way to surprise the people on your list. Decorations, ornaments, and other fun trinkets that represent the holiday season can be fun to make and easy on the wallet.

As you create your last minute holiday shopping list this year, think outside of the box and get creative! It's a great way to save time, money, and stress!

Gift Ideas For Guys

Shopping for men can be a real challenge, especially if you're shopping for the man who already has it all! As I was looking around for some great gift ideas this season, I stumbled across three amazing websites that spotlight various gift ideas for men - many of them handmade or one-of-a-kind!

Check out these sites, and get inspired about what to get the special guys in your life this year!

www.CoolMatierial.com
Imagine seeing the best in tech, food, cars, and clothes all in one place! Cool Material has a ton of amazing ideas, and they do a great job at spotlighting artisans and brands from across the web.

www.HandmadeMen.com
Handmade Men is all about one-of-a-kind gift ideas for guys. I found everything from beanies and sweaters to man cave decor and hygiene items here - all made by hand! Handmade Men does interviews each week, gives you inside looks at artisan workshops, and reviews a ton of fun stuff. They even have weekly giveaways - so it's worth checking out every week!

www.UncommonGoods.com
Another site featuring tons of gift ideas for men (and a few great ones for women, too!). Uncommon Goods covers every taste and style, and they give extra information and reviews about the products they list.

Here's to a truly stress-free and one-of-a-kind shopping season this year!

Easy Natural Remedies

When it comes to treating common ailments and feeling great, easy natural remedies are a great way to accomplish it. From herbs and supplements to a holistic diet packed with nutrition, adding natural options to your life is a simple way to stay healthy and prevent many imbalances from happening. I'd like to introduce you to a few ways that you can bring natural healing into your life right now!

Herbal Tea

Drinking herbal tea is a simple way to reap the rewards of nature's healing plants without all the fuss. Herbal tea varieties come in an endless array of tastes and ingredients, and many are specifically formulated to help overcome common imbalances. Herbal tea packets can be taken with you on the go, or you can prepare tea at home and use a coffee travel mug to sip your tea throughout the day.

Food

It is said that we should let our medicine be our food, and our food be our medicine. Eating a holistic plant-based diet is a great way to supply our bodies with the essential nutrients they need to succeed and stay healthy! From salads and soups to sandwiches and sweets, it's easy to work healthy foods into your daily diet with a little effort and experimentation.

Exercise

Believe it or not, exercise is a remedy for many complaints! People often find that mood swings, aches and pains, and digestion can improve with even a moderate amount of mild exercise.

As with all things related to health, talk to your doctor before changing your diet or taking up an exercise program to make sure it's safe for you.

Here's to your health!

Inspiration For Handmade Christmas Gifts

If you're thinking about making gifts by hand this year, you have more resources than ever before! You can find online videos tutorials that will walk you step-by-step through the process of creating a full array of one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts that your friends and family will love. You'll also find many community circles and craft shops that will help arm you with all of the items you need to create amazing handmade creations with none of the hassle.

Here are some places to look for handmade gift ideas that will make it fun, easy, and affordable...

YouTube
If you have something in mind, you're sure to be able to find a how-to video on YouTube. If you aren't sure what you'd like to make, try searching for handmade gift idea videos where various instructors will give you tons of great ideas!

Local Craft Stores
Check out your local craft store and see if they have any upcoming classes, group crafting events, or specials on crafting kits. This is a great way to get hands-on instruction, meet new people, and learn a new skill!

DIY Blogs
The internet is filled with DIY blogs showing you how to make just about anything you can dream up! Many DIY blogs have videos, while others use photographs and instructions to teach you the ropes.

Crafty Friends
If you've got friends who craft, now is a great time to give them a call! Connecting with established crafters is a great way to get access to a variety of tools and supplies, and some hands-on training as well. Most crafters love teaching others, and it's a fun way to spend time with friends during the holiday season!


Happy Crafting!

Writing Your Way To Success

Did you know that one thing the world's most successful and happy people have in common is that they journal? Keeping a journal is celebrated by many spiritual traditions and self-help paths across the world because it really works!

When we take time to write down our thoughts, feelings, fears, and goals each day, we are able to step outside of ourselves and see things in a new light. Sometimes having a conversation in our own minds allows us to have the 'a-ha!' moments we need to make serious changes along the way.

Journaling doesn't have to be a chore, and you may be surprised to find that it's actually simple, fun, and really effective! Many people journal at night right before they retire to bed so that they can fall asleep with a clear and grounded mind.

When journaling, you can write full stories about your day and the things in your heart and on your mind, scribble, doodle, or make lists. There's actually no right or wrong way to work with a journal - just open it up and put the pen to the paper!

Many people are surprised to find that when they journal, new ideas and solutions to problems come to the surface almost like magic. This is because the rational and intuitive minds find a common ground in the practice of free-writing, and some pretty amazing wisdom and personal empowerment can come to light.

If you don't want to have a physical journal, there are many free online journals you can use that can be set to public or private viewing. Owning a blog can be a fun way to share your life with loved ones, or just share personal and private ideas in a safe place that you can access anytime you want.

Get your write on!