It's that time of year again. The stores are overcrowded, traffic is hectic and people are frantically trying to get everything done on time. Including gift buying, which can be quite challenging to begin with. Figuring out what to get the people in your life is no easy feat. Add in jam-packed stores and crazy traffic and it can be downright awful.  It doesn't have to be though. The holiday season started out as something fun and heart-warming. A time set aside for fun traditions and spending time with family and friends.  I put together this holiday gift guide to hopefully make things a little less stressful this year and to free up some of your time that would be way better spent doing things you actually enjoy. I'd also just like to take a quick minute to remind you to  take care of yourself  this holiday season. You are just as important as everything else on your holiday to-do list. Do what's necessary to keep yourself centered. Whether that's makin

Deep down I know I'm good enough just as I am. I know I was created exactly the way I am on purpose, flaws and all. I know I have the power to achieve amazing things in my life while also positively impacting the lives of others. I know that even though I've made mistakes (lots and lots of mistakes), I still deserve happiness. Although I know all of this, I oftentimes don't feel like it's true. I still hear that negative little voice in my head more often than I'd like to admit. The voice that says things like, "You don't know what you're doing. You don't have the ability to accomplish that. You'll probably just fail, so why bother trying? You're not pretty enough, smart enough, good enough for that. What will people think? They'll laugh at you. Sure others have accomplished those things, but you're not like them. They have more money, more support, more talent, more ambition than you do. You've made too many mistakes to mak

We all need a dash of inspiration now and then. You know, when you're feeling unmotivated and like you really just need a push in the right direction? Uplifting quotes from people who have succeeded in living through some of life's most difficult circumstances can be a tremendous source of insight and comfort. I put together this list of my all-time favorites. If you want a little more inspiration,  here's a link  to an awesome book filled with more inspirational quotes by Dr. Joe Tichio, creator of Greatest-Inspirational-Quotes.com. I'm sure there are tons of great ones I've never heard. So, leave your favorites in the comments and enjoy! 1. Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve. -Napoleon Hill 2. Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans. - John Lennon 3. Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. - Pablo Picasso 4. The only person you are destined

"But, when you are dealing with someone who is hurting, remember that your boundaries are both necessary for you and helpful for them. If you have been enabling them to be irresponsible, your limit setting may nudge them toward responsibility." - Henry Cloud I never really felt like I understood what codependency was. I'd had people explain it and I'd read about it in lots of different self-help books, but it never really clicked. Until, one day, out of nowhere, it finally made sense.  I remember imagining a set of lanes like a freeway. I saw myself going along, living my life in my own lane while others were in their lanes. Then I imagined myself leaving my lane to  visit someone else's because they seemed to be having a hard time navigating life in their lane. In doing so, I was not only leaving my lane unattended, I was also causing that person to miss out on valuable life lessons.  My point is that although "helping"may seem like the kind t

We all have our ups and downs in life. Some days are amazing, some are not so amazing and some are a messy combination of the two. Sometimes I wake up with the motivation to do anything. Other times I have to really force myself to be productive when all I wanna do is watch YouTube videos in my pajamas. I've learned though, that just like most things in life, it's really about balance. So go ahead and watch the YouTube videos. But maybe you watch something inspiring enough to make you get out of your pajamas and do something else for a while. Which brings me to my first tip on how to be happier right now 🤗: Pay attention to what you watch/read/listen to. Sometimes it feels good to watch other people who are going through similar struggles, or listen to sad songs when you're feeling blue. But, when you're ready to get back to that happy state of mind, choose something uplifting. Watch an inspiring documentary, listen to music that motivates, read something info

One of the absolute greatest joys in life is the feeling we get from giving freely to others. It can be intoxicating. However, if you tend to feel more resentment than joy at times, it could be a sign that you need to start showing yourself  a little more love. If we are mindful of finding ways to make sure our own needs are met on every level, we are so much more capable of giving to those around us. And that's where the joy happens. Before we get into the list I want to say one thing: self love isn't giving yourself a free pass to indulge in anything and everything you enjoy.  Oftentimes, the things you feel like doing the least are the things that make you feel like your best self.  1. Create a list of 3 positive affirmations that feel good to you. This is a simple but powerful way to practice loving yourself. Find affirmations that just feel good to say out loud, memorize them and repeat them. And lastly, don't give up. It might take some time to st

Believe it or not, creativity is something we all possess. It's something we're born with and something we carry with us our entire lives. We can choose to ignore it or help it flourish.  Here are 5 ways to encourage your inner artist. Journal I've learned a few things in my 33 years and one of them is to never underestimate the power of journaling. My favorite way to do it is to sit down and just start writing anything and everything that comes to your mind. It's a great way to get your creative juices flowing.  Embrace the abstract Grab any art supplies you have and do whatever feels good.  Even if all you have is a pen and paper, you can doodle. Experiment. Pretend you're 5 again and have fun. Most importantly, try not to worry about the end result. You don't have to show anyone or even keep it if you don't want. Let nature be your inspiration  There really is beauty everywhere. Even things normally deemed uns