Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I am feeling blessed for so many thing. As always it is a day filled with lots of mixed emotions…as usual, I am crying tears of joy and gratitude mixed with tears of sadness.

I am blessed that yesterday I got to spend a fun-filled day with my mom.  We spent the day Christmas shopping, talking and making memories that will last a lifetime.

I am blessed to snuggled in front of the TV to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade remembering the fun we had last year when Belinda, Ashley, Ashleigh (yes, two of them) and Amber were here.  I got to cross seeing the parade in person off my bucket list!

I am blessed to be spending Thanksgiving with my dad, my step-mom and my extended family.  I am excited to be having not only traditional foods but my niece will be making a vegan meal for me to try!

I am sad because today our family is apart.  Something that I need to get used to since Belinda is married and living in North Carolina.  Holidays are now split between New Jersey and North Carolina.

Memories of years gone are filled with high school football games, homecoming floats, dinner at Grams with the entire family. As in years past, lives changed and so did family dynamics. Along came Belinda and the splitting of holidays between family. The family has gotten smaller as our family of angels in heaven has grown.

I am blessed in so many ways. I am grateful that my family is healthy. The year has been filled with trials which have all been blessings in disguise.

Thirty One has blessed my life too. Who would have thought that 4 years ago, a $99 kit would make such a difference in my life. I have a growing business with a team of women who continue to amaze me with their strength and friendship. It has given me an income that allows me not to work full-time. I also have met women who are now customers, hostesses as well as my friends. I have been blessed to be able to share my blessings from Thirty One with those who are less fortunate giving back to our community.

Words can’t express how grateful I am today and every day. My wish is that each of you have a blessed Thanksgiving – enjoying the time with your friends and family. Cherish the moments for all the years to come.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful Thanksgiving!

 

Happy Thanksgiving

Today I am feeling blessed for so many thing.  As always it is a day filled with lots of mixed emotions…as usual, I am crying tears of joy and gratitude mixed with tears of sadness.

I am blessed to be celebrating the holidays with her and some of her friends in New York City at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  The weather is COLD but it has been on my bucket list to do ONCE.  This is it!  After today I will sit at home snuggled in front of the TV to watch the parade – WARM!

I am sad because the rest of our family is spread across the State of NJ.  Rob is having dinner with his mom – the first time in years.  Mom and Sal are in South Jersey eating dinner out.  Dad and Patti as well as the rest of that side of the family will be gathered at Dad’s for out traditional dinner.

Memories of years gone are filled with high school football games, homecoming floats, dinner at Grams with the entire family. As in years past, lives changed and so did family dynamics. Along came Belinda and the splitting of holidays between family. The family has gotten smaller as our family of angels in heaven have grown.

I am blessed in so many ways. I am grateful that my family is healthy. The year has been filled with trials which have all been blessings in disguise.

Thirty One has blessed my life too. Who would have thought that 3 plus years ago, a $99 kit would make such a difference in my life. I have a growing business with an amazing team of women who continue to amaze me with their strength and friendship. It has given me an income that allows me not to work full-time.  I also have met amazing women who are now customers, hostesses as well as my friends. I have been blessed to be able to share my blessings from Thirty One with those who are less fortunate giving back to our community.

Words can’t express how grateful I am today and every day. My wish is that each of you have a blessed Thanksgiving – enjoying the time with your friends and family. Cherish the moments for all the years to come.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful Thanksgiving!

#happythanksgiving

#blessings

Holiday Choices

Busy day planned as I get ready for the invasion of “the girls” as hubby calls the upcoming visit from Belinda and 3 of her friends from North Carolina.  They are scheduled to arrive sometime tomorrow.  I am excited to be able to spend Thanksgiving with my daughter.  Of course this Thanksgiving trip conjures memories of her last Thanksgiving trip to NJ including an expected trip to the ER for an emergency surgery to remove her leaking appendix.  This is a shorter trip, so keep us in prayer that there are no trips to the ER.

My first instinct is to go into Vacation Veronica mode…. you know the one.  The holidays are here, surrounded by family and who wants to work, right?  It was great when I worked for someone else, I could take time off and work didn’t suffer.  The truth is, in direct sales what you do today will effect your business 90 days from now.  Scary thought, huh?  I don’t want to be scrambling in 90 days for bookings or worrying about meeting goals; I want to continue the steady path that I am on now.  So, I am being smart about this holiday… I am scheduling hours to work my business so that I can enjoy Thanksgiving Day in NY with the girls and tine with hubby.  I am fighting Vacation Veronica mode even if it means getting up at 5AM before and after the holiday.  It will be so worth it.

When Vacation Veronica pays a visit not only is work effected but also our eating habits (or at least mine).  Last week at Weight Watchers, we did the PLATE.  It is a visual that show just how many points (or calories) are in each of the items that we eat over Thanksgiving.  Let’s be honest – do the mashed potatoes taste any different on Thanksgiving then any other day of the year?  You can have biscuits anytime, right?  So, if you are watching your weight, you have a decision to make:

1. Am I going to eat everything I want and not worry about the scale?  If so, enjoy.
2. Am I going to eat the things that I really enjoy and hold off on the things that I can have everyday?
3. Am I going to eat a little bit of everything, just smaller amounts, until I am full but not stuffed

Which of those best describe you?  Well, this is Week 1 of being back on program at Weight Watchers.  It has been a definite eye opener for me on how easy old habits creep back into our life.  So, since I am cooking this year and we are having our holiday meal on Wednesday, I think I will choose #2.  I will enjoy the things that I don’t have every day including my Tofurkey (the vegetarian version of stuffed turkey) with some gravy and LOTS of veggies.  I know that Thanksgiving Day will be filled with lots of walking and dinner out in NY after the parade so I want to save my points so I can enjoy the day.

Are you embracing Vacation Veronica this week or are you only allowing her a SHORT visit?  Whatever you decide, enjoy the moment and don’t beat yourself up.  Embrace the choices that you make, enjoy and jump back into work or your weight loss program the next day.

It is time to go bake a pumpkin pie and pick up cookies from Jersey Cookie Girl.…

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

#holidaychoices

#Thanksgivingblessings

Weekend Happenings

YEAH!!  Who is ready for the weekend?  Okay, so I have to work today at my JOB but then I get to enter my pink bubble again this weekend.

Tomorrow, not only do I get to share the gift of Thirty One at a vendor event but I get to help raise funds for Step of Faith.  Check out their website to see all of the AMAZING things that they do to help those in Haiti.  Ready to start your holiday shopping – stop by St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Brick.

Sunday is Jackie’s Holiday Shopping Soiree in Forked River.  Gift ideas will be available from Thirty One, Tastefully Simple and Arbonne to name just a few.  In the area, stop by and mention my blog for 25% off any one item.

Did I mention in just 5 LONG days, I will get to see my baby?  Okay, so she isn’t a baby but she will always be my baby.  Belinda is coming home for Thanksgiving with three of her friends.  We are so excited since this is the first time in a LONG time that she has been home for this holiday. Guess where we are spending Thanksgiving?  In NY at the Macy’s Day parade!!!  Okay, so that was a squirrel moment.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful weekend!

#holidayshopping

#vendorevents