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!

How To Shop & Change The World

As we all start the process of gift buying for the holiday season this year, I wanted to share a few really great ways that you can help make a positive impact on the world while checking off each person on your list this season!

Buy Local
Supporting local businesses in your community is an excellent way to put funds and energy directly into the hands of the people who make your area what it is. Local businesses are often part of a chain of small business supports, so when you shop local, you are taking great care of small businesses and are adding money and attention to your local economy.

Support Small Business
Whenever possible, it's always a great idea to support small businesses. The people and ideas that make a small business happen are what makes this country great - and you'll often find that service, product quality, and longevity at a small business can't be beat!

Buy Handmade
Buying handmade items is a great way to show your love for those on your gift list this year while supporting artisans at the same time. Artisans who create by hand often support other small businesses and independent trades making the economy more robust and stable while honoring their personal gifts and talents at the same time. A win-win situation!

Go DIY!
If you have an artist within, this is a great year to try your hand at making some of your holiday gifts. Support local craft shops to get your supplies, and rely on books and community classes to learn how to get the job done. Nothing celebrates the holiday season better than a one-of-a-kind handmade gift from the heart!

Go With Meaning
Instead of buying random gifts this year, take time to choose items that will make a positive impact on the people you gift to. Jewelry, clothing, books, and gadgets that have a deeper positive purpose are all great ways to give a gift that keeps on giving!

Happy Holidays!

3 Simple Ways To Feel Better NOW!

Let's face it, some days we wake up and just don't feel our best. Stress, fatigue, thoughts, and other influences can take a toll on us under the radar, and when it all adds up they can even wear us down enough that we end up sick. The good news is that when you have a bad day where you just don't feel so great, there are some simple things you can do to get proactive and choose to change things around for the better!

Here are three simple ways to feel better now that I rely on all the time. Whether it's deadlines and stress at work or emotions and fatigue, these three simple techniques can make all the difference in the world.

Hydrate
This may sound too simple to be effective, but trust me - it works! Our bodies are around 70% water. Our brains rely on water to function properly, our tissues need water to operate at their best, and water can and does influence our mood and our immune system. If you feel bad, try taking a 5 minute break and enjoying a tall glass of clean, room temperature water. You may be surprised at what happens!

Eat
That's right... you can eat your way to feeling great! Many mood and imbalance issues stem from bad foods, preservatives, salts, and other things our bodies get tired of dealing with every day. When you don't feel your best, try a fresh salad, fruit smoothie, or other healthy treat to boost your body and mind with essentials.

Think
One of the best things we can do to change the game when things aren't going so well is to change ourselves. Spend a few minutes thinking about things you are grateful for, remembering good times, or visualizing yourself being surrounded in love and healing energy. These brief and basic meditations often spark a chain reaction that creates serious mood shifts and healing!

It's just that simple to take positive action and make great changes in your life!