These past two weeks have seen me tossing my hubby’s redneck t-shirts into laundry as I merrily whipped up a storm in the kitchen for both Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinners.  Apart from the household chores, I got to spend time with other family members who likewise took a break from their careers to reconnect with me.

Although I have to admit that I have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to blogging tasks, I will not trade those two weeks for anything else in the world.  Definitely nothing beats family.

The coming new year brings much promise of hope in the area of self-improvement.  Yes, there are some things in my personality which I want to revamp.  A new me is in order.  And I’m working on it.

How about you? Are you hopeful for the new year?  What are your goals for 2012?

In this realm, that seems highly impossible, though. We live in a fast-paced world riddled with dreams of making heaps of money. It’s no easier for moms, as we likewise have to attend to our parenting duties, lest our kids grow up peddling on the streets for a day’s meal.

That’s one of the reasons we should take time out to relax and spend time with our friends. There’s a different kind of pleasure you derive from hanging out with the girls, as opposed to spending time with the hubby or your kids. They help keep you grounded. At least once a month, try to make it a vow to meet up with them, even just for an hour or so of coffee. It helps recharge you, making you a better mom and wife.

At times when blessings abound, the best way to celebrate a birthday is to share these blessings with those who are underprivileged. Call it a Birthday Charity if you want. It can be as grand as organizing a charity ball for your chosen institution, a simple party with the elderly, orphans or disabled, or holding a one day soup kitchen for the street children or homeless.

If you don’t have time to organize an event or activity, you can simply choose to support a cause, sponsor a scholar or buy a tree in an environmental conservation effort. You can ask your kids and other family members to help you choose your beneficiary. Through these events our little ones will learn about the value of gratitude for whatever life brings us and sharing whatever little we have to those who need it most.

Image source: aboutpixel.de / sprunghaft © Anja Brunsmann

Whatever kind of life you live in this crazy world, everyone does need some time to relax. Whether you’re a busy work at home mom or a full-time corporate slave, you have to carve out some time to unwind. Your body and mind simply scream for a respite from the daily travails of work.

You don’t have to necessarily pack your bags and hop on a plane to relax. If you simply don’t have the luxury of time to go on a weekend out of town trip, there are some things you can do to mentally “get away from it all”.

Soak in a tub. Spend an hour or less in the bathtub, close your eyes and dream away. All that bath sea salt will do wonders at energizing your body and spirit.

Get a massage. A good one hour in the hands of a masseuse should work. She’ll be able to un-knot your stressed-out muscles and leave you feeling almost reborn.

Read a book. We’ve always been told of how reading takes you places without having to leave your room. Choose a book with a positive tone to it to help rejuvenate your weary mind.

It doesn’t take much to relax, really. We just have to take some time out to calm our nerves. It benefits not only our bodies, but our souls as well.

You can do charitable acts.  Go visit a shelter for old people and make them happy simply by keeping them company for a few hours.

Find a friend who happens to be alone as well, and paint the town red.  Go check out a new restaurant or hit the bars and drown yourselves in margaritas. 

If you’re not in the mood to go out and party, you can simply stay home and chill.  Get a massage or indulge yourself in a new hobby.  Call family members and burn the phone lines.

Celebrating Thanksgiving solo is not so pathetic after all.  As long as you have a thankful heart, you have a thousand and one reasons to be happy.