Year of the Rooster

                                                                                                Week 5 ( Save $5)

Ghung Hay Fat Choy! to those who are celebrating Lunar Chinese New Year!

What is the meaning behind the Year of the Rooster and the Chinese calendar?

According to the ancient Chinese Astrology, the calendar is based upon twelve year lunar cycle. Your sign is determined by the year which you were born.  Each sign are represented by one of twelve animals. The Chinese calendar is believed to be over 5000 years old !

2017 and the Fire Rooster according to the Chinese people says that this year people will be more polite, kinder, less selfish and they will still make everything complex and complicated in their lives.

For those who are born in the Year the Rooster, they can be characterised as confident, energetic, intelligent and honest.

Fire Rooster's, you are adventurous, brave, witty, confident, hard working, talented, skilled, strong willed and resourceful individuals. Very popular, talkative and happiest when surrounded by people. Your strengths are self-assured and viewed as arrogant and vain when sharing your successful achievements with others.
 
Your weaknesses are your moodiness, stressed, vanity, self absorbed, disappointment and hate failure.

Your Lucky colours are brown, yellow and gold. 

Lucky numbers include 1, 5, 6, 12, 15, 16, 24, 51

Famous people who are born under the Rooster include: Beyoncé, Roger Federer, Benjamin Franklin, Michael Caine, Van Morrison, Yoko Ono, Serena Williams.

 

ENOY!

1000 Magic Marbles

                                                                 Week 4 ( Save $4 )

Is there a secret formula to living a happy life and living the dream?

Here is a story that has always had an impact on my life and I hope it will inspire you to have a joyful fulfilled outlook on your life.

 

Unknown Author and the story goes:

He was fifty-five years old, had a bowl full of marbles, and felt terrific. It was unknown territory for Bill, who for years had been unhappy with his life and didn't see any hope for a brighter future.

 

Today he is a changed man. It doesn't matter what happens to him, Bill responds to it calmly and smiles. Nothing can get to him, and everything makes him feel good about his life and his future.

 

What was Bill's secret?

 

Magic Marbles! What does marbles have to do with anything ?

 

Well, on  average, people live to be seventy-five years old. Some longer, some shorter, but the average person will reach this age. Realizing this, on a sunny Saturday afternoon, Bill did some simple calculations to figure out that the average person has 3,900 Saturdays in his or her lifetime.

 

Being fifty-five, Bill had 1,000 Saturdays left to live. He went to a small toy store in town, and bought every marble they had, 1,000 in all. Later that night, he placed all of the marbles in a large glass bowl that he placed in the living room.

 

As each Saturday passed, he would take one marble out of the bowl and throw it away. Bill watched as the bowl's contents diminish, and he realized that he didn't have forever to create a happier life.  Each day he felt negatively about his life was one less day he had to be happy.

 

After making the marbles a part of his life, his new attitude enabled him to fix the areas in his life that were lacking. Before he felt powerless to change anything and only wished for things to improve without doing anything.  Now he was taking positive actions to create a life that made him feel good.

 

I know we all get so wrapped up with our work and personal life that if we stop to think about how valuable life is and take a new perspective of your life to enjoy it with the loved ones around us.

Just remember that Life is not about how much money you make, how many material things you own or how important people think you are.

 

The fact is: We all have a certain amount of marbles left in a jar and the reality is, we cannot live forever. So often we struggle for the life we dreamt of but at what point will you decide to make that change? How many more marbles do you have to throw out before you start figuring out that your time on this earth is running out before you can make that change towards your goal.

Today is the day and the time is now! So get excited and get on the right path and make the most of everyday and make every single marble count in your life!

 

Happy Marble Shopping!

 

ENJOY!

 

 

 

 

 

 

January Blues

                                                          Week 3 (Save $3)

Oh those January Blues!  The joys of winter colds or flu's, the failed New Year Resolutions, the miserable weather, back to work blah's , the holiday credit card arrival,  lack of sleep and the waistbands too tight! December sure was grand! 

 

Here are a few tips to help you feel better and get through January Dumps.

Sleep more: Make sure sleep becomes your priority. Sleep at least 8 hours every night.  Sleeping repairs and refreshes the mind and body. So get some more Z's !

Exercise:  Bundle up and get outside whether it be a simple walk or a winter sport.  The fresh air will restore your energy level.  

NO more Resolutions: Maybe your resolutions were too hard to reach and unrealistic. Resolutions are so passé ! Why not set challenges and realistic goals to achieve by the end of 2017.  Do things that you enjoy and you will less likely give up such as reading a book per month, watching a movie per month, etc. Be creative!

Plan a Get Away : Whether it a  short vacation or a weekend trip. There is something about looking forward to a holiday which makes us happy.  Maybe it’s just the excitement of knowing your out of here!

Make time for yourself: Make time to do the things that are important to you that you been neglecting.  There is nothing selfish wanting to do something for yourself for once or all the time!

Take a break from Multi –media’s:  Too much time is spent on our devices.  Turn them off and you will find that Extra – time for yourself. 

Eat more happy foods: Salmon, tuna, flax seeds, nuts and seeds are high on omega 3.  Add more dark green vegetables and Vitamin C and D to your diet will block those low moods and kick up your energy level.

Socialise: The new trend is to actually physically going out to socialise to network with people and to connect.  Whether it be for dinners, games, social clubs or just a simple cup of coffee.
 

Be thankful everyday and if you make that effort towards feeling good, you can get through any bluesy low month and be happier!

                                                           ENJOY!

Frustrating Scarves!

                                                                                     Week 2 ( Save $2 )

 

 

Scarves are great accessory to any winter wardrobe. Such a classic piece and its functional purpose is to protect the neck and keep you warm. 

The only problem is how do you tie or wear the bulky scarf?  Do you wear inside of our jacket, over your jacket, wrap around our neck tight or just drape it loose?... It’s so frustrating trying to create something stylish and at the end it always that same old knot!

If only you can create that perfect wrap every time like an infinity scarf but what if you can make your bulky winter knit scarf into an infinity scarf with a few stitches!

If you have a scarf without tassels, just overlap one side of the scarf to the other side and stitch with matching thread tightly.


 

If your scarf has tassels, you can either remove the tassels and stitch together.

or

Tie the tassels in pretty bows...No stitching involved!

The End Result..Winter Infinity Scarves!

Just pop the scarf around your neck and wrap once.  Now you will be the scarf envy of others..." how did she wrap that scarf so perfect "...shhh...it's no big secret.

The great thing about the Winter Infinity Scarf is it can be pulled over your head on those cold windy days to keep your head and your neck warm at the same time...how stylish cozy is that!

Funky Fashion Tip: Wear a similar color sweater with your winter infinity scarf to give the illusion of a cow neck sweater. Two layers of textures. . . One great idea!

                                                                  

 

                                                                ENJOY!

New Beginnings...

                                                                          Week 1 ( Save $1)

Just follow the weekly/biweekly blogs to successfully save $1378 at the end of the 52 weeks.  We will start by saving $1 for the first week.  $2 for week two, then $3 for the third week and so on. Just keep increasing and continue the amount by a dollar over the next 52 weeks. The most you will ever put into your favourite piggy bank is $52 and at the end of the annual challenge you will hopefully realize how easy it is to save with just a little discipline. 

This is a great challenge for the whole family, especially when it comes to teaching children the value of money and how to spend responsibly.

I hope you will participate in this challenge.  Maybe ... donate all the savings to a worthy cause that is dear to your heart.


                                                         Happy Saving!