Please share in comments: What color is your sky today?
I almost missed the first color of the month for 2017 because I was trying to talk myself out of my first color choice, because it would mean for the third year in a row, I've picked a shade of blue for January's color of the month. But, the more I let this post sit, the more I knew this was my pick, so without further delay I give you my January color of the month: Blue Gray.
My inspiration came from a photo of this amazing door.
 |
| source |
Here is my Pinterest board collaboration. I hope it inspires you to embrace the blue-gray days of winter and look forward to springs thaw!
Happy Nesting!
Please share in comments: Would you paint a room in your home this color> If yes, what room?
Happy Nesting!
Please share in comments: Would you paint a room in your home this color> If yes, what room?
What would you like to change in your life? Be more focused
at work? Communicate more effectively? Find work-life balance? Those three
questions were in the introduction email review request I received from
Blogging for books for Habit Changers- 81 game changing mantras to
mindfully realize your goals by M.J. Ryan. My answer to all three
questions was yes! Is your answer yes to
one or more of those questions too? Then this book may be for you.
About Habit Changers-
81 game changing mantras to mindfully realize your goals by M.J. Ryan:
“Often, the biggest obstacle to change lies in our most deeply ingrained
habits: those automatic thought
processes that operate outside our consciousness, and yet have a profound
impact on our behavior, shaping everything from how we respond to challenges to
how we engage with others.
The good news is that we can literally rewire our mental habits for the better. In Habit Changers, executive coach M.J. Ryan shares the secret weapon that has helped her highest performing clients improve their focus, better manage under pressure, enhance their emotional intelligence, become more effective leaders, and more.”
Inspired
by the Buddhist tradition of Lojong,
or "slogan practice," habit changers are simple, one-line aphorisms that, when recited, reprogram your brain’s
automatic responses. Here, Ryan explains how to use the 81 Habit Changers
that have demonstrated the most profound and lasting results. They include:
- You can’t say yes if you can’t say no
- Don’t push buttons that don’t need to be
- Handshake your fear
- Stand where you’d rather not
- Remember your highest intention
- Outsource your worry
- Reach for the better thought
My Thoughts:
Even though I’ve never used slogans, or mantras to improve
my life or work goals, I was open to the idea of trying a new way of improving
myself. As soon as I received this book, I flipped through the table of
contents and landed on the chapter for happiness. I think I’m a pretty happy
person, so I was intrigued at the idea of learning something new.
The two mantras under happiness are:
- Reach for the better thought
- Change it, leave it, or accept it
According to the How
to Use Habit Changers chapter, I was off to a great start. The author, M.J.
Ryan explains to begin you are to scan the
table of contents which are grouped together by the issues they address. Pick
one topic, (like I picked happiness)
don’t pick ten, or even two! It’s the single-pointed focus that makes this work
says M.J. Now- this is the tricky part, stay with the phrase that
resonates the most with you, adapting it so it feels right for you and your
situation. Turn it into a question if you need to. There is no right or wrong way here. Just
stay focused on one key mantra before you move on to another.
Exploring:
As happy as I am- or thought I was, I’m still on the
happiness chapter. Folks- this is deep stuff that is working! I’m allowing myself to analyze my work/life
balance and ask myself tough questions like is what I’m doing today is truly making me happy? That’s me
reaching for the better thought and fully exploring the change it, leave it, or
accept portion of this chapter.
Final Takeaway:
I feel confident in saying that while this book isn’t to be
read or used in the traditional read chapter one and move forward style we are
accustomed to, I will read and utilize every page in this book this year
because I want 2017 to be a good year in ALL aspects of my life.
Connect:
M.J. Ryan states that our capacity to change is our greatest gift as human beings. Habit
Changers will help you take control of your destiny and more easily achieve the
success and happiness you desire. That sounds like a fantastic plan to me!
I
invite you to learn more about the author here and
on Good Reads here . I’d
love for you to follow me on Good Reads too here.
Please share in comments: What goal would this book help you achieve this year?
Disclosure:
I received this book from Blogging for books for this review. No other form of
compensation was given and all opinions stated are my own.
Please share in comments: Is your yard covered in snow and ice?
During my holiday off time, I made plans to share more homemaking posts here on the blog like I used to do with my weekly chore prompts. If you want to have a cleaner, more organized home in 2017, please visit each week for project inspiration! In an effort to go as green as possible with my cleaning, I'm continuing my partnership with Grove Collaborative so you can get a fresh start in 2017 and save on Mrs. Meyer's products too!
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small percentage of sales earned on each fresh start bundle sold via my referral link.
Going green is something I’ve been working on for
a while, but it’s taken some time as I finish off old products and introduce
new greener ones. If you’ve ever bought a brand new cleaner only to realize you
have a half-used bottle hanging out in the back of your cabinet, then you know
what I mean!
Fortunately, this new customer offer from Grove
will help get us off to a great start. The set includes a super
cute enamel cleaning caddy stocked with supplies from Grove Collaborative and
Mrs. Meyer’s. It’s a chic and easy way to keep all my products organized and
close at hand, whether I’m pulling it out to clean the kitchen or toting it up
to the kids’ rooms. How much more excited would you be about scrubbing the
stove if all your supplies were organized in something this pretty? I
certainly am.
I was thrilled to see that the caddy came with a
Mrs. Meyer’s dish soap, hand soap, and the brand new hand lotion too. Mrs.
Meyer’s soaps were some of the first natural products I switched to, and
they’ve been a sink-side staple ever since. I always wanted a matching lotion
for my Mrs. Meyer’s hand soap, and now they just released it! The lotion is
wonderfully rich and smells amazing — perfect for post-dishwashing hand care!
(The lemon verbena scent is my favorite, but you can’t go wrong with the
honeysuckle or lavender either.)
The kit also comes with these Grove Collaborative
walnut scrubber sponges. They’re actually made from crushed walnuts, so they’re
non-scratch and non-toxic. I stashed one by the sink and one in my cleaning
caddy, and I know I’ll be ordering more.
I’m looking forward to stocking up on more great
supplies from Grove Collaborative throughout the new year. Grove Collaborative
makes creating a greener, more organized (and beautiful!) home effortless and
affordable.
Sign up and Save:
Once you sign up, Grove will ask you a few
questions about your home and recommend products you’ll love from brands like
Seventh Generation, Method, and Mrs. Meyer’s (don’t miss their house brand
too!). They deliver everything you need right to your doorstep, on your
schedule so you never run out. I’ve been a member for almost a year, and I’ve
been so impressed with the quality of their products, the fabulous customer
service, and how easy the whole process is.
- Free Mrs. Meyer’s hand soap
- Free Mrs. Meyer’s dish soap
- Free Mrs. Meyer’s lotion
- Free Grove Collaborative Enamel Cleaning Caddy
- Free Grove Collaborative Walnut Scrubber Sponges
- Free shipping
If you’re already a Grove customer, you’ll get a free
Mrs. Meyer’s hand soap with your next order when you use my link.
Choose your favorite scent — honeysuckle, lemon
verbena, or lavender — when you check out. These brand new lotions are only
available at Grove, so don’t miss out on your chance to try them! The offer
ends Sunday January 15, 2017 at 6pm PT and supplies are limited.
Here’s how it works:
1. Sign up for Grove Collaborative here . You will receive the Fresh Start Kit for free when you
sign up!
2. Answer 4 quick questions about your home that
Grove Collaborative will then use to customize your first basket -- this takes
under 30 seconds!
3. Once you’ve answered the questions, you can
finalize your basket of products to suit your household needs by adding or
removing items.
4. To receive this offer, your order needs to be
a minimum of $20. Choose the combination of products and scents you love and
receive in your first box.
5. You made it! Click Finish & Pay and place
your order.
Once you have submitted your
Grove order, you’ll be signed up for the free 60 day VIP trial. For 60 days,
you’ll save even more with free shipping, free gifts, price matching, exclusive
sales and personal service. (I decided to keep the VIP membership after my
trial ended, and I can say it’s well worth it! It has paid for itself in free
shipping alone.)
I hope you'll take advantage of this great offer and come back each week as I help you keep on track with your homemaking in 2017. Because you can't cute clutter!
Please share in comments: Which Mrs. Meyer's scent will you choose?
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