Keep your New Year's Resolutions!

As one year is closing and another is on the horizon, many people take the new year as an opportunity to improve themselves. There’s something about a fresh start and clean slate that empowers one to make changes. 

I’m sure most of us would love a smaller waistline, healthier relationships with those we love, a cleaner house, less debt, more cash and a longer list of books we’ve read. Whatever the goal is we all have challenges in reaching them. I read a stat that said 75% of people abandon their New Year’s Resolutions. Here are a few tips to help you not become a statistic. 

1. Recognize the magnitude of making changes

If it were easy to make changes, all of us would be the people we aspire to be. Change is never easy even when know it’s necessary or worthwhile. When you set New Year’s Resolutions or goals, recognize that it is no easy task to change your life even if it’s something small. Making changes typically involve changing habits. It’s commonly said that it takes about 21 days to create a new habit. What means to me - is there a process to change. With this mind, if you fall off the path, you’ll know that’s a part of the process ad not a sign that what you are trying to change is too hard.

2. Change your mind first. 

Christian evangelist Joyce Meyer says, “where the mind goes, the body follows.” I think most of our actions start with a thought. Many times we try to make changes physically without ever addressing them mentally. You can do several things to help start changes mentally. Hang notes around your house or office with reminders of your goals. Stick post it notes in your car with motivational statements. Put reminder alerts on your cell phone or the screensaver on your computer. If you can get your mind on board, you’re body will likely follow. 

3. Tell someone your goal. 

We are more likely to make changes with moral support. Call a friend, tell a relative your goal. They don’t have to be an expert in the area you’re trying to improve or even know how you can reach your resolution. They simply need to be someone who check in on you time to time and ask you how it’s going. Sometimes someone we care about is going to ask how our exercise plan is going provides motivation to get up and hit the gym rather than the snooze button. 

I hope these tips help. Happy New Year’s! Happy Goal Reaching! 

Roasting My First Turkey

This Thanksgiving I stayed at school in St. Paul, Minnesota for the holiday. Flights were too expensive. And the short break throws off my academic swing. The Saturday of that weekend, another Resident Advisor, Anna, and I made a Thanksgiving Dinner for the students who were staying on campus for the holiday. Area Coordinator, Gaith also helped.

Here's how we roasted our first turkey.

We started by cleaning out the inside of the turkey.

Then we wiped the turkey off in Apple Cider Vinegar, lemon juice and oil. We used each one of the liquids separately. 

We wanted a non-traditional stuffing to jazz things up a bit. So, we chopped up pineapples, pears, apples and pomegranate. Gaith, who is from Jordan, grew up with pomegranate trees in his backyard.

We sliced a lemon, tossed in a few fresh cranberries, mixed all the fruit and stuffed the turkey. 

We seasoned the turkey with spices I had on hand like basil, lemon pepper and garlic powder. We then poured Raspberry Balsamic Vinaigrette on top for additional flavor. 

I wanted to see if turkey slowed cooked as well as a whole chicken so we set the oven on 250 and let it cooked for about five hours. 

What we got was a delicious, tender turkey. (We got busy getting the dinner ready and forgot to take a picture of the turkey before we sliced it, but you can use your imagination:)

This was Gaith's and mine first turkey, but from the smiles of the residents, I think we did a decent job. It's basically the same as baking a whole chicken. Try our recipe and see how it works for you. 

New Cards at Coffee Grounds

These past couple of weeks have been overwhelming. My job as an Resident Advisor has intensified and I am at the point of the semester where it’s time to dig in my heels and step it up an notch. However, it’s also the time folks start their holiday shopping. This weekend was quiet - finally! I made a few new cards to take to Coffee Grounds, a St. Paul coffee shop where my cards are sold. 

Coffee Grounds is a neighborhood coffee shop near Como Park and Falcon Heights. A variety of artwork from local artists is featured like mittens and jewelry so stop by and do a some shopping and grab a cup of joe. Their address is 1579 Hamline Ave. in St. Paul. 

 I stocked several holiday cards for the approaching season. 

I have 24 types of cards from birthday to baby to holiday and I changed many of them out to give fresh inventory.

Stop by and pick up a couple cards. Support a local business. Get an early start on your holiday card shopping. 

Thanks for stopping by. Have a splendid day. 

Yours Sincerely

Chasity

Support Breast Cancer Awareness

                                            

Most of you know someone who has been affected by breast cancer. This Sunday I am doing what I can to reduce the number of those affected by this condition. 

This Sunday, I will be participating in a craft and bake sale where money will be raised to support breast cancer awareness. The event is sponsored by The Breast Yet, which is a group of friends, family and sometimes complete strangers united in the fight against breast cancer. They have logged roughly 180 event miles and 1650 training miles per team member in addition to collectively raising over $50,000 since forming in 2009. 

In 2012, they hope to raise $3,300. Vendors will be giving a portion of their sales to their cause. I will be donating 15%. 

                                              

The event is Sunday Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at The Movement Minneapolis in Uptown: 2100 Lyndale Avenue South, Suite B, MPLS 55405. The event is free so bring a free and help be a part of a cause that saves lives. 

Visit their Website: http://thebreastyet.comto learn more. 

See you there!

Yours Sincerely,

Chasity 

Latest cards

Hello, Readers

This past week has been busy with school and work, but I wanted to update you with I've been working on lately. Today's post will be a photo blog of my recent cards. Enjoy!

Don't forget to stop by Etsy shop where you can purchase the cards you see featured on my blog:

www.etsy.com/shop/yourssincerelygifts

Don't overthink. Just do it.

Last night, a friend asked me to make a baptism card. I have never made one before. Immediately, my mind got on the worry wheel wondering how I could make the card and thinking of which store I could buy stamps related to baptism. Then suddenly, I got a revelation.

STOP!

All you need, you have. Keep it simple. Trust your talent. That's what I did. I finished my homework last night and got up this morning and took less than 15 minutes to design and make the card. I had everything I needed and my friend loved the card.


Sometimes life isn't about having all the bells and whistles but making the most of what you have.


Thanks for reading.

Yours Sincerely
Chasity

Etsy: What's that?

A couple of years ago when I told my journalist buddy Kalen Ponche that I wanted to sell my handmade cards, she asked me if I had heard of Etsy.

I hadn't. As I browsed the site and learned more, I found it be an ideal place for me to share my creativity with the rest of the world without hopping on a place. Many times when I tell folks I have an Etsy shop, most are unfamiliar. Here's some information on what Etsy is.

According to their site, Etsy is "the world's most vibrant handmade marketplace." It features millions of items made by the hands of crafters all across the world. Etsy is the perfect place to find one of a kind gift items and every day needs. From custom wedding dresses to wall art to hoodies to feather earrings to makeup to baked chocolate chip cookies. The possibilities are endless.

What I appreciate about Etsy is the vastness of its offerings and it has created an accessible bridge between those who love to create and those who love to buy handmade items made with a purpose and with care behind them. Thousands of shops exist on Etsy. You can support local handmade artists in your area by checking out this link: http://www.etsy.com/local?ref=fp_nav_local

If you have a few minutes, take some time and explore Etsy. You're bound to find something special, unique and heartfelt.

Have a great day.

Yours Sincerely
Chasity