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Valentine's Day - Romance & Reservations or Family & Fun?
Are you one of the many Americans planning to celebrate Valentine's Day this weekend? If so, are you celebrating by wining and dining with a romantic partner or planning a cozy night in with the whole family? A recent survey from Influence Central, indicates that many of us are doing the latter.
Research shows that for many of us Valentine's Day has become a holiday to celebrate all the people we love - significant others as well as our kids - and often includes gifts, cards and dinner with everyone. We love this trend. After all most of us will happily welcome another occasion to celebrate the ones who love and support us at our best and our worst.
So if you haven't already, consider cancelling those dinner reservations, ordering some take-out favorites or whipping up a simple meal, and spending Valentine's Day together as a family. After all family is the essence of love. Happy Valentine's Day!
Want to discover more ways to Live Life Inspired with a focus on style, health and simplicity? Sign up to receive Inspired by Dawn's email newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.
How to Survive the Longest, Shortest Month
Okay, you made it through January. The short days. The crazy weather (hello blizzard, then 60 degree days, thanks El Nino!). The reminders about your resolutions and how you're measuring up, or not. It's time to blow off some steam and find ways - real or manufactured - to enjoy the longest, shortest month of the year.
Starting this weekend there's Super Bowl 50 and Chinese New Year's Eve. Whether you're football fan, a devoted commercial viewer or just ready for a little gluttony after your month-long resolution diet - cheese-filled dips, pizza and wings can be reason enough to kick back on Sunday night and enjoy a break from the doldrums of January. Plus, there's Coldplay, Beyonce & Bruno Mars set to take the stage at halftime. Pass the nachos please!
Then, it's also the Year of the Fire Monkey which officially begins on Monday but is often celebrated with foods, colors and traditions meant to welcome luck, fortune and abundance beginning on the eve of the new year. So on Sunday toss on a little red and gold (colors of vitality and strength), gather some friends or family, add some dumplings or potstickers to your table (symbols of money), definitely don't clean the house (or you'll sweep away your good fortune) and welcome the year of the monkey. We can get behind this kind of celebration!
Fortunately, this just gets us started. There's much more to come this month - Valentines Day, Presidents Day (e.g. long weekend!), Oscars and Leap Year. Hopefully all these festivities will help us survive, and possibly thrive, during this short month.
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Healthy Stomach, Healthy Brain?
This is just one more reminder - as we wrap up January - that it's so important to take care of our health. Everything in moderation. We only get one body, take good care of it and it'll likely love you back.
Wishing you good health in 2016!
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Need to Jumpstart Your Exercise Resolution? It's Easier Than You Think
How are you doing on your exercise resolution? Still on track? If so, well done! If not, here's some inspiration to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start anew!
Once again, science seems to be showing that any amount and type of exercise is beneficial. A recent study reported in The New York Times indicates that any amount of exercise, especially between the ages of 40 and 65, can increase our cellular health and hopefully our longevity.
So if you've already fallen off the treadmill, don't beat yourself up. Just forgive yourself and resolve to get moving again!
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Resolve to Declutter? 21 Things to Get Rid of Right Now
One of the simplest ways to embrace the clean slate that is January, is to create a clear slate for the rest of the year. Sure we can do a cleanse to get our bodies recalibrated after the holidays, pack away all the decorations from the house and commit to a fitness program once again - which if we're lucky we embrace for the month.
But what about lightening the load by clearing clutter throughout the house? It's a great time to take stock of what you have in different parts of your home, and figure out where you can purge so you can enjoy a clearer, more peaceful environment for many months to come. Change the lens on all the stuff that surrounds you - the piles of magazines and mail, the over crowded medicine cabinet, unedited pantry, etc., etc.? Can't you almost feel your stress level go down when you imagine less stuff, and cleaner, clearer spaces? Sure it'll take a bit of work but if you stay focused on the end result you'll be able to power through and enjoy a calmer space.
Are you ready to simplify? If so, here's a few tips from the experts on where to start.
- PopSugar offers "11 Things You Need to Throw Away". Great article on stuff that tends to pile up in the kitchen, the bathroom and throughout the house, and how to easily donate, recycle or safely dispose of them (hello, vitamins, medications and electronics!)
- Real Simple gives you "10 Things to Toss in the Next 10 Minutes". Keeping it simple, this short but sweet list gives you items to grab (and dispose of) in the next 10 minutes to quickly give you nearly instant peace and satisfaction.
Ready, set, go!
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New Year, New Start
Most of us whether we formally state it or not want to change a few things in the new year. After all it's a perfect time to set the reset button and try to make some positive changes in our lives.
And for many of us those changes include eating healthier, exercising more and taking better care of our bodies. Are you setting out to tackle one or more of the above this January? We at Inspired by Dawn certainly are - one step at a time.
You've heard it before - set small realistic goals for yourself, and you're much more likely to realize some measure of success. To help you (and us) out a little, below are a couple of attainable goals to get you started. Pick two or three and focus. You'll be feeling better in no time!
- I'll cook dinner three times this week
- I'll rely on fast food only two times this week
- I'll go to the gym or walk three times this week
- I'll take my vitamins five days this week
- I'll drink two whole glasses of plain water for five days this week
- I'll reduce my soft drink intake by one serving for five days this week
- I'll eat a piece of whole fruit three times this week
- I'll do squats during a commercial break three times this week
- I'll go to bed and get 7+ hours of sleep each night for three nights this week
Last Minute NYE Style Inspiration
New Year's Eve party tomorrow night and no idea what to wear? Check out our Pinterest board for party styles that'll have you looking great well into the new year!
Cheers to 2016!
Want to see more ways to Live Life Inspired with a focus on style, health and simplicity? Sign up to receive Inspired by Dawn's email newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.
It's Not Too Late | Last Minute Holiday Help
It's December 18th so we're T -7 days until the big day. Hopefully you're almost done with the shopping and ready to put a bow on all the pre-holiday tasks. But if you're not totally done, we've got a few last minute resources to help you still enjoy an organized, inspired and stylish holiday.
Gifts and Stocking Stuffers
If you're still searching for the perfect gift for your mom, daughter, friend, aunt, etc. check out our Inspired Gifts that Always Fit and Gifts for Women On-the-Go boards on Pinterest. They'll give you last minute gift idea inspiration with great visuals, as well as the ability to order with just a few taps on your phone, tablet or computer.
Gift Wrapping and Holiday Decor
If you're a little further along and looking for inspired ways to add signature holiday style to your gift wrapping or home decor then you'll want to check out our board Inspiration is in the Details, again on Pinterest.
Spirited Holiday Style
Still deciding what you'll wear to your holiday events this week and next? Then don't forget about our Holiday Party Style Inspiration board for ideas on how to be stylishly festive all week long.
Baking, Tipping & Teacher Gifts
Still thinking about baking cookies or needing to pull together some last minute tips or teacher gifts? Check out our post from last week with some helpful hints and resources.
Finally, don't forget that Inspired by Dawn is offering complimentary upgraded 2-3 day shipping on all orders placed by 11:59pm Sunday, 12/20 to ensure you can gift everyone a Style Rx pill box case this Christmas (no code needed).
Want to see more ways to Live Life Inspired with a focus on style, health and simplicity? Sign up to receive Inspired by Dawn's email newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.
Multi-Tasking All the Way Through the Holidays
Most of us are knee deep in it at this point. It's December 9th - the middle of Hanukkah, 16 days until Christmas - and it's real. You're shopping for gifts, wrapping presents, addressing holiday cards, decorating, baking, attending school performances, etc., etc. Right now you're probably feeling like you need to clone yourself just to get it all done.
So we rounded up few ideas, tips and resources to help make things a little easier and hopefully help you round out your holiday season in style. Good luck!
Baking
Save time and make three distinct cookies from one basic sugar cookie dough. This is a lifesaver!
Tipping
Who in your daily life to tip
Tipping etiquette - when, how
Teacher Gifts
Gifts that teachers will actually appreciate
Want to see more ways to Live Life Inspired with a focus on style, health and simplicity? Sign up to receive Inspired by Dawn's email newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.
Office Party This Weekend? Style Inspiration is at Hand
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The annual holiday office party can be a minefield. You want to look chic and festive but still polished and professional. So how do you strike the right note? Start by taking a peek at our Pinterest board. We've curated a collection of festive, holiday office-appropriate looks sure to get you noticed for all the right reasons whether your party is casual or formal or somewhere in between. So hurry and get your office holiday party style inspiration!
Want to see more ways to Live Life Inspired with a focus on style, health and simplicity? Sign up to receive Inspired by Dawn's email newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.
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