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November 20th, 2020

11/20/2020

Thanksgiving Gratitude Activities

No doubt, this year’s Coronacoaster has taken us for a loop! What better time than Thanksgiving to prove 2020 cannot beat us! We can still come together, albeit virtually, and be thankful for the good in our lives. The people, the moments, the experiences, the actions...so much out there to recognize.

Take a look at the links below for some gratitude activities and games you can incorporate into your Turkey Day celebration. There’s something here for everyone - in person gatherings, virtual gatherings, activities for small children and some for the tweens & teens at your table. I'm really looking forward to the Smartphone Scavenger Hunt and a virtual game of Scattegories with extended family!

The photos below are active links that will direct you to free printables and more info on each activity. Leave a comment and tell me which activities you enjoyed together!!
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!

For some great free printable activities, check out the MeaningfulMama site and have some fun! I love the A-Z gratitude list!! This is a great way to keep little hands busy for a little while.

Smartphone scavenger hunt is a great way to get the older kids involved with a gratitude game! I found this free printout on EdventureswithKids site.

Kickin' it old school with some MadLibs. HappinessisHomemade has this free printable that would be great to play in-person or virtually!

This free game by HappyGoLucky is a great activity to play with virtual guests. Just share the link and be sure to tell everyone to have some M&M's at the ready.

Who doesn't love getting crafty! SunnyHomeCreations has some really cute & simple activities to show your gratitude.

Print out this free Scattegories T-Day board from the SavvySpending site. Another opportunity to play in-person or virtually.

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November 09th, 2020

11/9/2020

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Retrain Your Brain - 7 Quick Tips to Shift your Perspective

redtri.com/7-quick-tips-to-help-shift-to-a-positive-perspective/

Walking among the hundreds of pebbles and shells on the beach, my son picked one up and shouted, “Look, Mom!! This one’s a heart! It really has been a perfect day!”

Was it really a perfect day? Not so much. Our morning was filled with battles over excessive screen time and endless requests to complete household chores. Not to mention, we got a very late start to our family outing, AND we were down one family member because he couldn’t get off from work. So in reality, it was not perfect, but my son chose to see it that way.

We live in a society that spoon feeds us negativity. And despite being bombarded with negativity, we can choose how we perceive the world. We can focus on the obvious or we can shift our perspective to see the good and all the possibilities out there. We can celebrate the ‘what’s working now’ and recognize all the great qualities we bring to the party.

Studies have shown that positivity and hope have an increased effect on health, creativity, performance and the ability to overcome obstacles. When you focus on the good, you allow more good to enter your life! Better yet, when you focus on the good, you are modeling a positive attitude for your children who will naturally follow your example! Don't you think it’s worth the effort?

Challenge yourself!! TRAIN YOUR BRAIN to see past the negativity out there and find the good. Here are seven quick tips to help shift your focus.

1. Practice Reframing
Flip those negative thoughts so they have a positive spin. Rather than think of what you have to do, think about what you get to do.

2. Start a Gratitude Journal
Jot down the people, the moments or thoughts that brought you joy during the day. Write about something you’re looking forward to or perhaps something that made you smile. If journaling is not your thing, there are some excellent Gratitude Apps out there you may like. (Click here for some easy ways to get started journaling)

3. Say ‘Thank You’
Recognize the special people you mentioned in your gratitude journal with a handwritten thank you note! The appreciation you display in your note will feel good for you and the recipient.

4. Volunteer
Widen your lens and see the world from a different perspective. When you find a need in your community, fill it. It is such a ‘positivity’ boost to be helpful and productive for others.

5. Reassess your Fuel Source
If you’re fueled by social media, news and adrenaline, it’s time to re-anchor yourself. Consider a healthier self-care regimen that includes moving your body every day, staying hydrated, pausing to regroup your thoughts and saying ‘no’ to activities that don’t serve you a purpose.

6. Allow Yourself Some Grace
Life is not a ‘measure up’ experience. Set goals, not expectations. It’s okay to be where you are right now - Celebrate your strengths!

7. SMILE
A quick smile instantly boosts your mood and can shift your perspective. Plus, who doesn’t look good sporting a smile?!

When my son held up his treasure on the beach, at first glance, it was just a rock. A small little pebble amongst hundreds of others on the beach. But with a simple shift in perspective, it became a heart. This small, simple shift in perception can make all the difference in how you live your life and approach situations.

We often miss these beautiful symbols in life because we are not looking out for them. Imagine the possibilities and potential we could bring to light just by keeping our eyes and hearts focused on the positivity surrounding us.

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November 3rd, 2020

11/3/2020

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Anchored in Your Family Values

redtri.com/anchoring-your-family-values/
I will never forget the day when my family went for a sail around the waters of Sandy Hook, NJ and we got caught in an unexpected storm. Growing up, my parents were fortunate to have a small sailboat to take us out on little day adventures. On this particular day while we were out, the wind really picked up, creating whitecaps on the water. The weather was too risky to attempt our trip home, so my parents decided to duck into a nearby cove and drop the anchor to ride out the storm. I was a super nervous sailor, so getting stuck in this surprise storm was not ideal for me. But I remember feeling safe and secure once the anchor was nestled deep into the muddy floor of the cove. Once I noticed my parents settled and calm, that was my cue to feel like I could breathe. Even though the wind was whipping around outside, I knew we would be safe because the anchor would hold strong.

The anchor is powerful, heavy and unbreakable. Blowing wind and crashing waves may push a boat around, but the anchor is strong and unwavering, serving as a reliable source of strength for a sailor. It is what grounds the vessel, allowing it to bob in the water without drifting away. And even in certain weather when a sailor needs to add more slack on the line to allow more leeway, the anchor’s hold maintains the sailor’s position. The anchor is quite dependable.

In life, we are constantly met and challenged with situations out of our control, especially in our role as parents! When challenges arise in your parenting, what keeps you anchored through the storm? What is connecting your family’s boat to what truly matters? Being anchored to your core values is what will help you feel confident through any patch of rough weather.

Values are the key beliefs that guide your decision making. They define how you chose to live and how you create happiness in your life. When you have clarity on what your values are, the decisions you make around discipline and family time just make sense and feel good. Having clear family values allows you to live authentically, feeling grounded and true to yourself as opposed to feeling lost and misguided.

When your anchor of family values is set firmly on the ocean floor, it allows your family some movement without getting lost. You will feel secure as you brave the ever changing winds of raising children. When managing the rough waters of outside influences, your anchor will hold you safe and in place. And even during those moments when you have to give more slack to the line, allowing your children some space to grow, the anchor is still there doing its job. When your family values are clear, practiced and in place, your house rules and expectations will be more consistent, allowing your children to feel safe and secure with your parenting. Having a solid hold on your family values will even allow you to feel more comfortable with other external viewpoints without compromising yourself and who you truly are.

Of course, there are times the anchor slips and loses its grip on the earth. The sailor’s awareness of the drifting boat allows her to recast the anchor to set it again. It is not uncommon for any of us to lose our hold sometimes, but it’s the clarity that allows us to reestablish our footing. While we’re navigating through the current storms of raising our children in 2020, allow yourself some time to check in and be sure you are anchored in your family values. Here are a few questions to consider:

What are the basic beliefs that help you decide what is important in life? What are your family values?
Do you and your partner value the same things?
Which values would you like to pass on to your children and what steps can you take to encourage them?
How do you honor the values in your life?
How can you realign yourself to be sure you are living true to your beliefs?

A boat without an anchor is forced to keep moving no matter what comes its way. The sailor does her best to navigate through the waters, trying to find a path that will keep her out of harm's way. The same is true for a family unaligned with its core values. When your values are unclear or not practiced, it can be difficult to be consistent with decision making, disciplining and just finding an overall direction. Stop drifting through your days. Drop the anchor and become solidified in your family values.

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Keepin' it Real Blog

November 20th, 2020

Thanksgiving Gratitude Activities

November 09th, 2020

Retrain Your Brain - 7 Quick Tips to Shift your Perspective

November 3rd, 2020

Anchored in Your Family Values

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Keepin' it Real Blog

November 20th, 2020

Thanksgiving Gratitude Activities

November 09th, 2020

Retrain Your Brain - 7 Quick Tips to Shift your Perspective​​

November 3rd, 2020

Anchored in Your Family Values

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Retrain Your Brain - 7 Quick Tips to Shift your Perspective