Happy Puppy Days ~ Jessica Lily Annie Coco Lola

Any ideas for puppy's  name?

Setting goals ...

'Set a goal and outline what it takes to achieve it. 

Then stop trying to achieve the goal. 

Just achieve each step you outlined along the way.'

For more planning or business ideas, check out Solved https://www.facebook.com/marketing.advice

Couldn't have said it better myself. I do find that a huge task or goal often over-faces me. I often put off setting about the necessary events to reach a specific goal, completing trivial tasks first. I spend much time thinking and more time procrastinating. To be honest, setting out what I need to do on paper has saved a considerable amount of time. As the quote says, 'outline what it takes.'

I'm a list person. List-making is high priority for me. If I'm over-faced with something, I like to make a list of all the things I have to do. ... I have lists of lists. But that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm obsessive about the order of things. I like lists to relieve my brain from holding lots of trivial information; post a package - buy a birthday present, write a speech, fix a dripping tap, deliver a get well card, edit a book and so on.

But the problem is that my goals end up muddled in between this list of everyday tasks and trivia, often becoming overlooked. I sometimes sort items on my lists into importance categories - only to find that I'm over-faced with the most important big-goal/task category. I then permit myself to procrastinate some more. 

Solved's quote quite simply beginning, 'Set a goal', has made me realise that each goal needs it's own list! An idea which pleased me greatly.

So now, when I have an idea for a new project, I set the goal title on a new page. I try to avoid listing - so I draw boxes with a stage title relating to the goal. I jot down associated tasks and ideas in the relevant box. I organise the boxes into stages of importance. The boxes / stages don't over-face me and I have noticed that I'm much more focussed when I'm trying to accomplish the steps in the boxes. Small tasks in each box appear do-able and before I know it, I'm onto the next stage. Feeling a sense of achievement motivates me to continue to the next box or stage until I reach the goal.

So I'd like to say thanks to Solved for sharing their motivating tips - and remember ... If you're following your dream[s] - dreams are goals - set out the goal and achieve each step along the way.

Gillian

Gifts for grandparents ... plan ahead ...

Choosing gifts for grandparents can often be difficult.

Sometimes, just talking is enough ...

Memory Prompt Boxes help to create conversation 

for grandparents with family, friends, carers and visitors ...

more ideas ~ Shop at
www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk

and don't forget grandfathers ...

A go to work with your daughter day ...

Just thought I'd share this with you. Due to the nature of my work, I'm always writing and sharing self-care tips ~ and to be honest, I'm a bit naughty, I don't always take my own advice !! Oops. So, at last, here I am, taking a day off - eating healthily - enjoying some fresh air - sunshine - music - great to be behind the scenes with my daughter ...

Rock & Coke Festival, Istanbul September 2013

One inch too long !

Good morning Ladies and everyone else. I say Ladies as Ladies are the higher percentage of people who wear make-up. I'd like to share a major possible hiccup when travelling abroad - and this is it:

We all know not to take liquids through airport security.  [Yes, we are all aware that we can pay around double the price for a bottle of water on the aeroplane].

We all know to put our make-up, lipsticks etc in a plastic bag.

We all know the bag has to be see through.

But did we know that the bag has to be a certain size - a size I am not aware of!

So, Ladies, and everyone else - I shall find out the said size, then I won't have to have the contents of my plastic bag emptied onto the counter and squashed into a specifically sized plastic bag - and when I have found out the said size, I will share it with you all - then you won't have to have your make-up spread all over the airport worktop!

Well done systems, health, safety, security and all the resto - gone a little bit too far I say.

Hmmmph,

Gillian

I love this thought ...

I love this thought ...

and butterflies.

Check out my friend and colleague, Kim Chamberlain. - not that she's a butterfly, but she keeps developing new ideas and ways to keep our minds busy and our motivation motivating. Here she is:

www.chrysalisforwomen.com/inspiration.html

Any ideas for inspirational quotes ~ let me know and we can share them
 Just email me, Gillian: gmhesketh@yahoo.co.uk

Terrific Transformation ... with Tropic and Body Love ...

It takes quite a lot for me to volunteer for a facial, massage or make-over in public but that's where I found myself last week at a fundraising - networking - friend supporting - skin caring afternoon ...
At least I was multi-tasking.

The products are designed by Susan Ma, contended for the Apprentice and backed by Lord Sugar.

Simple, safe, fresh, natural and organic. Bursting with active plant proteins, vitamins, antioxidants.

No parabens, preservatives or animal derivatives. 

Visit Zoe's facebook page to purchase products: 

Organic luxury oils, body butters...

or book a Skin Care Party [North West]:

Facebook.com/ZoesTropicPage

Tropic Pure Plant Skin Care & Botanical Make-Up

This cute body butter number smells divine

I have to say, the products look gorgeous, smell gorgeous, feel gorgeous. 

What more is there to say? ~ Simple ~ Gorgeous ... go and treat yourself ~ have some ME time.

You have to try it! Why not host a party and sample the whole range? 

Just Facebook Zoe for more details.

My make-up was applied with a soft yet stubby brush who's name I can't remember.

I've forgotten the type of make-up except that the colour is called caramel something-or-other.

The lipstick was divine - more like treatment moisturiser with a silky feel - but the colour? Not sure.

I left the event wearing a soft-effect eye-liner - something that doesn't happen often.

Personally, I had a fabulous afternoon, trying samples and having a make-over.

Gillian [and Zoe of course]

And I'm not worried about forgetting the names, shapes, textures, package shapes or colours because I know Miss Zoe will have everything to hand for when I want a repeat order.

Happy You ...

Good Morning everyone. I'm looking through the window, the sky is clear and bright. The trees are waving in the gentle breeze that's inviting me to go for a healthy walk. I've decided to eat healthily today, do some work, visit a friend and chill out.

If every day began and operated like that, life would be a piece of cake [or maybe a rosy apple]. Do you ever wake up and dread the day, your first thoughts being the heavy weight of tasks ahead or complicated work-load you're facing? If I'm totally honest, I sometimes do. Don't get me wrong, I love my work and I like to be busy all the time but I can sometimes be guilty of taking too much on, burning the candle into the night and feeling tired the next day.

As always, I'm researching for my work for carers, student support and people living with dementia. I decided to make myself a list of priority points to consider when I wake up and feel overloaded. So, here it is, just in case the sun isn't shining, the breeze is gale force and you fancy a cake for breakfast:

A list of my feel-good favourites for difficult mornings:

On waking, take a few moments to stretch out slowly. Arms above your head, just make yourself as long as you can. Repeat this a few times and relax in between.

Draw some deep in-breaths and release slowly.

Take a long look at the weather and embrace it - even if it's raining.
[I find this distracts me from the duties ahead and clears my head a little]

Drink a large glass of water before you prepare for the day - feeling better already.

Have a longer shower than normal - use extra soapy, bubbly or favourite fragrant bath/shower products.
Guys - choose something zingy to stir the senses.

Whilst you're in the shower/bath/leaning against the sink - choose one enjoyable ME thing to do during the day. It doesn't have to take up lots of your time - it could be making a plan to meet up with old friends. Do something unusual [pop into a library or museum, intriguing shop, park] - or normal - get a haircut.

Choose one of your favourite outfits or cool piece of clothing to wear - even to work.

Eat a really healthy breakfast - this will make you feel quite smug - it's early and you've already by made the right choices. Include a yoghurt and piece of dark chocolate if you can. Apparently chocolate is an anti-oxidant and yogurt kills off bad bacteria and helps your stomach stay quiet during the day.

Choose the 3 most important tasks that need to be achieved that day.

Select the most important of the 3 tasks. Focus on that one for a few minutes, simplifying the plan/content/order/structure in your mind.

Work out where you can slot the other two tasks in. Could you delegate them?  Should you re-schedule them for another day? Relegate them? Before you leave your house, decide what you'll do with the other two tasks.

Leave for work/college/volunteer role/meeting/other, a few minutes early. Being on the last minute always causes stressful feelings.

Take some peppermint with you - mint sweets/chewing gum/peppermint tea - apparently mint helps with fatigue by stimulating = alertness.

Smile. For no reason. Smile at everyone you meet [within reason - don't make a nuisance of yourself on the tube or at the bus queue and get yourself arrested]. At least 'think smile'.

When you write things down, they're more likely to happen. Anon.

Make your own list - Enjoy your day.

Weekends ...

I've learned something about the week ... it has a weekend attached to it!

I'm probably a workaholic. My family were and some still are workaholics. Knowing this, when I start a project, I always intend to create a work/life balance - but the truth is, I have never managed it. I become consumed with my project, not being able to leave it alone until it's come to fruition. The good news is that I always complete tasks within good time. I'm happy to work every day that ends in 'y.' My husband is a golfer, so he is happy to play golf on every day that ends in 'y.' The bad news is that every now and again, I run out of energy, concentration levels diminish; I lose patience with things, even the ability to laugh or switch off.

The other day, my husband was planning his golf thing as usual. My friends had been talking about arrangements with their families, plans to garden, tidy, sort, cycle, pic-nic, watch sport, shop, have a BBQ or even do nothing. Was it a holiday? I thought about it for a while but it was definitely the middle of the month and as far as I knew, no bank holidays were due for at least two weeks.

I had wondered why all these people were planning events during a similar part of the week. How could they coordinate that?

And that's when I learned that people didn't always work every day of the week. They actually took time off work. Generally, people didn't work over the whole weekend.

So, I am going to listen to my own advice; take some time out - for me.
I have decided not to work at the weekend. Well, I'm going to trial it at least. We'll see what happens.

But honestly - finding a work-life/personal-life balance isn't always easy. Too much work can create tiredness and in the long run, may weaken the output with regard to safety, speed or quality.

The same applies to being a carer. Carers often feel they are needed twenty four hours a day. That's why it's important to source family members to help; be connected with support groups, stay in touch with friends and look after yourself, taking rest breaks and short 'switch-off' sessions to recharge your batteries.

Take Care and Remember to Look After You,
Gillian

Really Useful Stuff to make life a little easier ...

Check out www.reallyusefulstuff.co a really useful marketplace of products to make life easier: www.reallyusefulstuff.co