Here We Are...with Luci

Changing Your Life: The Top 5 "Here We Are" Personal Growth Articles of 2009

Putting Your Ducks In A Row For 2010

The holidays are almost over, the year is coming to a close, and life goes on. We reflect, revel, and remember the last year as a time capsule. Did you do the things you wanted to do? Needed to do? Longed to do? If not, perhaps you might like a bit of help to shape your hopes and dreams for 2010.

Remember, change is hard but without it there is no growth. It is time to put your ducks in a row to begin living the life you want.

Not sure where to begin? Get behind the wheel with Mind Map: Driving The Road To Success. If you already know what you want, but can't figure out how to begin the transformation, then Part 1 of Goal Getter...What To Write Down will have you inching your way there. Keep moving forward with Part 2 of Goal Getter...Getting What You Want to implement your plan.

Did the holiday festivities remind you that you can't stand your in-laws and your marriage has exceeded its expiration date? Listen for very helpful tips on Much To Do About Divorce: Positioning Yourself Before You Ask or Are Asked.

All too serious for you? Then at least tackle your overcrowded closet. You will feel like a weight has been lifted with Closet Cleaning...Clearing The Way For A Wearable Wardrobe.

As we say goodbye to 2009, these 5 very popular HWA articles will help you jump the hurdles that are holding you back as you begin 2010. Pick one and start today, your tomorrow will be better for it!

Holiday Wishes of Joy

A note from my house to yours...

Wishing You A Joyful Holiday Season! ~ Luci

May your walls know joy; may every room hold laughter and every window open to great possibility. ~ Mary Anne Radmacher

8 Shopping Tips To Save You More Than Money

The next two weeks are the busiest "in person" shopping weeks of the year. Converging upon the brick and mortar stores are last minute shoppers, bargain hunters, and the days-after-Xmas-buying-for-me spenders.

The hustle and bustle both before and after the holidays brings out many a shopping reveler. Sadly, it also brings out the bad guys scanning the happy crowds for a quick score with your credit card, wallet, purse, or person. While no one wants to be a Grinch, a little precaution goes a long way in protecting yourself from potential problems.

Use these easy safety tips to keep you safe this holiday season and beyond.

1. Carry your purse close to your body and zipped closed at all times. Keep it tucked under your arm or across the front of your body. Do not use a backpack style bag in a busy shopping environment. Keeping a bag zipped shut seems an obvious precaution; however, look around and you will see women with their bags wide open. I saw an unzipped purse on the floor in Lord & Taylor today and the owner was browsing two racks away!

2. Before leaving home, remove information you do NOT need from your purse or wallet, e.g., Social Security Card, check register with full check book, credit cards you won't be using on this trip. 

3. Distribute frequently used items...Put your tissues, lip balm, and mints in a pocket so you won't have to open and close your purse for these items when needed.

4. When at the register: Do not put your wallet on the counter, instead keep it in your hand. When the transaction is done, immediately return your cash or credit card and zip it away. Do not slip your credit card into your back pocket because you are "just going over to the other department." Pickpockets select their victims after watching and assessing the level of ease or difficulty of a theft. Make it hard for them.

5. Thumbs Up: When you use a credit card, keep a large portion of the number covered with your thumb. This prevents prying eyes, and cameras, from getting your name and credit card number without physically stealing it.

Also, if you aren't the one "swiping" the card (no pun intended) to make the purchase, be sure to check that you get your own card back if more than one transaction at a register is taking place. Often, store clerks who share a work space put the cards on top of the register while they are preparing the purchases; it is an easy mistake to swap the cards when returning them to the customers.

6. Bags, Bags, Bags: Add up the number of bags you are carrying. With a quick count you know you have all of your purchases + your purse (counts as 1 bag). This is especially handy if you "check" your bags with a store concierge or coat check (never check your purse).

Do not put the purchase receipts into the shopping bags, keep them separate. If you lose one, you may need proof you bought it; but, if the receipt is gone with the bag, you are out of luck.

7. Parking Lot Hints: Always try to leave a mall with a group if you are shopping alone. If you met up with a friend, walk to the nearest car and drive to the other one.

If you have a lot of packages, do not put them into the trunk and return to the mall or shopping area. Take the time to move the car or come back another day. It's easy to pop a trunk lock for someone who is in that line of work.

Some shopping destinations offer valet parking. This may be convenient, but be sure to check the car when the valet brings it to you. The cars are often left unlocked in the valet lot allowing easy entry to the car cabin and trunk. Even though there may be a guy in the valet lot watching the cars, better to be safe than sorry.

8. Be Aware: If something or someone seems "off" to you, trust your gut, it is never wrong. Take the necessary steps to ensure your safety.

It pains me to write an article on staying safe while you shop this holiday season, but it is the reality of the world we live in today. Don't be scared, be SMART! If you are Cyber shopping this season, check out HWA's Ten Terrific Tips for safe shopping on the web.

May you and yours be safe today and every day! Got a safety tip? A "do or don't" to share that can help another woman? Tell us about it.

Gift Ideas For A New Mom

A post by Staci, The Mom Squad

Do you know a new mom? Are you trying to decide what gift to get her this holiday season? Keep in mind that she has just taken on the most important job of her life and probably has everything for baby. Gifts to make the new mom feel special, appreciated, and even a little pampered are the most appropriate. After all, she deserves it! 

Here are some nifty ideas for the new Mom in your life, ranging from the most expensive to FREE:

Coffee, Coffee, Coffee! A coffee maker that will make her happy is the Special Edition Brewing System by Keurig. It gives you three brew size choices and always brews a perfect cup of coffee, tea, or hot cocoa. It costs $129.99 and is well worth it. Mom can even hold the baby in one arm while she makes herself an afternoon pick-me-up with the other hand. It's that easy!

If you like the coffee maker idea, but your budget doesn't, then a gift card to her favorite coffee shop will be well used. A Drive-Thru coffee shop is an extra perk since mom won't have to get the baby out of the car.

Another inexpensive coffee related idea is to take a picture of the baby and print it on a coffee mug. I got a newborn picture of each of my girls on coffee mugs and love them! The printed mugs range in price from 11.99 to 24.99 at Walgreens. A commuter mug (with a secure lid) is handy for the working mom. You can pair the mug up with a bag of coffee and breakfast bars in a reusable basket for a cute and practical gift.

Keepsake Jewelry or Keychain: A locket with the baby's picture inside is sure to touch a new mom's heart. You can never get too much of the new love in your life! Red Envelope has pretty, moderately priced lockets of all types from $19.99 and up.

For something more unique, check out the portfolio of Jenn Fenton, a jewelry designer in Orlando, FL, for amazing custom pieces. She designs chic and modern jewelry with the baby's name or photo on a pendant. Jenn will gladly work with you to get the piece you desire in your price range or visit her "about" page for a list of online retailers. Now that's nifty!

Pampering: What new mom doesn't need a little pampering? The most thoughtful gifts in this category are gift certificates to her favorite nail or hair salon. A really big treat is a certificate for a massage. Having professional treatments like these is a luxury for a busy new mom. Select a service that that caters to your price point since she will appreciate any "me" time.

The Gift of Time: Another way to make a new mom feel loved is to take a little pressure off of her by offering your time. While it may only be a few hours for you, this can make her life less hectic and stressful.

There are so many things a new mom can use a bit of help with:

• Babysitting while she is at the salon
• Cooking a meal for the family
• Running a bunch of errands
• Stopping by with lunch one afternoon
• Attaching a homemade gift certificate for FREE Babysitting to a pair of movie tickets for the new parents to enjoy.

Remember, taking a bit of the load off a new mom even for one day is a great gift!

Hope this gets your creative juices flowing to make a new mom feel special this holiday season. No doubt, the baby is the best gift she will ever receive; but when someone takes the time to make her feel appreciated as a mom, it will make her very happy. Enjoy giving!

{Product Review Disclaimer: This is NOT a paid review. No consideration of any kind was offered to or received by Lucimac Productions, the parent company of HWA.}

Friendship Quote: A Sunny Reminder

Our friendships are precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life; and thanks to a benevolent arrangement of things, the greater part is sunshine. ~ Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826), Third US President, 1801 - 1809

Have you had a friend shine their light on you lately? Have you radiated your friendship toward someone special in your life? The simplest act of kindness can be very powerful. Rain or shine, today is a good time to brighten a friend's day!

December: A Month to Make Merry

Announcements, Updates, & Reminders

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Gifts, Gifts, Gifts: Last month, I forgot to announce the November gift! You may have seen the entry about it on the Here We Are page on Facebook, if not, it is a new copy of the Essentials of Roasting from Williams-Sonoma. The winner will be announced in the January Announcements entry. This is an amazing book for anyone who likes to cook.

Speaking of roasting, if you have a picture of your turkey, post it on the HWA page on Facebook. We are having a "turkey" photo contest until midnight, Dec. 4, 2009...so far, the odds are good, only one FB friend, John, posted his turkey -- it is a good looking one! Pssst, don't tell anyone, but there is a prize. The only catch, you must also be a HWA FB fan for your Tom Turkey to be eligible.

Don't forget the Twilight "secret word" contest continues until midnight Dec. 15, 2009. Listen to the radio show, then email the secret word to be eligible to win one of three copies of Hot Blooded.

Calling all comments for a good cause. Instead of a subscriber gift in December, a donation will be made to Canine Companions for Independence. For every comment on the HWA blog, $1.00 will be added to the base amount of the donation. Most of the posts are open for comments, so feel free to drop by any to share, add a tip, cheer, or jeer. It's free to you except for a few minutes of time and typing. Here is an example of the good work they do; this group helps to improve the daily lives of children through adults.

Get Cooking! The Recipe Contest from Cuisinart continues until Jan. 31, 2010. They are giving away a set of their latest and greatest counter-top appliances. It's easy to enter, all you have to do is submit a recipe. Looking to speed up dinner? Read our review on the Cuisinart Rice Cooker.

UPDATES

Poll: The results are in on the HWA Thanksgiving Day Favorite Dish Poll. "Stuffing" took first place at 23%, with "Sweet Potatoes" closing in at 21%. Interestingly, "Cranberry Sauce" tied with "A Stiff Drink" at 17%. Perhaps a vodka with cranberry juice might make these readers merry?

Laundry Detergent: Okay, so it isn't sexy, but we all do laundry, right? I am in search of the best "green" laundry detergents on the market (to test for an article). Powder or liquid is fine. Tell us your likes and dislikes on products you've tried. In my search I stumbled across this video from Seventh Generation, a company with a conscience.

Cold and Flu Are Not Merry Makers: While there is no way to completely guard against catching a bug this winter, there are ways to lessen the chances. Refresh yourself with one of HWA's most popular posts, Cold and Flu...10 Easy Tips to Keep The Germs Away. It might come in handy this season.

REMINDERS

Make Good Use of Holiday Cards: Go GREEN while you help abused and abandoned children by collecting all the Used Holiday Cards...Repurposing Paper for a Positive Purpose. This is a much better destination than the recycling bin or the landfill. This season the program is open until February 28, 2010.

Make Merry = To revel; Be festive. May you and yours enjoy each day in the final chapter of 2009!