I was watching a recent Tiktok video about creating cute wrapping paper with your dog or loved ones. They mentioned that Staples was having a holiday sale and you either make your image in Canva or use one of their templates. I chose to be fast as the discount code for the super sale was ending soon. Jack is our newest family member, he fits right in with our simple life without our kids at home now. Looking through my photos I found a few cute ones of Jack and us for the holidays. I uploaded the photos to the Staples site and requested to pick up the paper in town this week. Excited to see what it actually looks like and how much we will get for a few fun holiday packages. Staples will continue with their holiday sale so be sure and search google for the discount code to apply at checkout.
Jack and his Red bow tie
Jack with his Paris outfit uploaded into ChatGPT and a Paris background photo was created.
Our family trip to Georgia with Jack
The quick look at the Christmas wrapping paper that I will get this week!
Or if you want to get a lot of wrapping paper I did a quick search on Amazon and they have so many options. https://amzn.to/4awzSrh
Are you smarter than you think? Head First - 10 ways to tap into your natural genius by Tony Buzan book review. When I first found this book I was on a trip with my husband and enjoyed visiting a local bookstore. The book was in perfect condition and first published in 2000, even though it's 25 years old, it caught my attention and I was intrigued. The author is a multi-million copy bestselling author. He begins the first chapter as a letter to his readers listing his reason on why he started questioning intelligence and he shares so many unanswered questions. The author explains how Head First is a book that explores the research that shows that IQ is not all that's needed for true success, there are 10 intelligences that will help transform anyones abilities to be successful.
Amazon review - Did you know that you only use 1% of your brain? In Head First, Tony Buzan, the foremost expert on creativity and the brain and the inventor of Mind Maps, shows you how to tap into the rest. Did you know that you have 10 different intelligences, each one more powerful and capable of development than you ever imagined? In Head First, Tony Buzan, the world's leading expert on learning and the brain, proves that you are smarter than you think. In 10 easy-to-follow chapters, Tony Buzan will take you through each of the 10 intelligences, which include verbal, physical, interpersonal, creative and sexual. Buzan will show you how to be brilliant with words, physically fit and more sensual, as well as how to be more in control of your time and in tune with your environment. With practical exercises and simple techniques, you will learn how to immediately enhance your ability to excel in social, personal and professional situations. Learning how to use your 10 intelligences will dramatically improve your life. Link to the book on Amazon - https://amzn.to/4ptbhIm
While I work on my review my dog Jack rests by my computer.
I really enjoyed reading the first of the 10 intelligences, the creative one. One of the examples that was shared was the story about Richard Branson and his early life history and struggles. He struggled in school and started his own newsletter with a friend and instead of doing the stories about the school they created a newspaper about students and the people that inspired them. The newspaper took off and then his career continued into so many other creative venues like his flagship company, Virgin America.
The Power of a Mind to Map: TEDx Talk
The book takes you through many examples and options to practice improving your different types of intelligence. In the book he divides the 10 intelligences into three major categories:
The creative and Emotional intelligences:
1. Creative intelligence - Create Yourself - The ability to think creatively and solve problems in novel ways. 2. Personal Intelligence - You and You - Self-awareness and the ability to understand one's own emotions, motivations, and goals. 3. Social Intelligence - You and Them - The ability to understand and interact effectively with others. 4. Spiritual Intelligence - Heaven Knows! - Understanding of one's place in the world and the search for meaning.
The Bodily Intelligences
5. Physical Intelligence - Body Talk - The ability to use the body to solve problems, create things, or perform tasks. 6. Sensual Intelligence - Making Sense of Your Senses - The ability to access all 5 senses to use to your advantage. 7. Sexual Intelligence - Putting your Head First to access your Intelligent Sex
The Traditional IQ Intelligences
8. Numerical Intelligence - Count on Yourself - Ability to reason, solve problems, and recognize patterns. 9. Spatial Intelligence - Mind the Gap - The ability to think in three dimensions and understand spatial relationships. 10. Verbal Intelligence - The Power of Words - The ability to see relationships between words and their concepts
If you want to know more about each one read the book!
I look forward to practicing many of these in my life and sharing with family and friends the stories that made me pause and think about how I could add to what I'm doing today for my future.
What would be your best way to improve your natural genius?
This week brings Thanksgiving on Thursday and then Black Friday for those that love to shop! It's a time to be thankful and a time to spend with those we love. My kids are now in college or graduated and luckily are all coming home for the holiday. We have their rooms ready for the week and plans to enjoy each day with them. Here are 5 tips on spending the holidays stress free.
Tip 1 Stock the fridge! Get foods that are filling and healthy with some easy recipes that make everyone have something they can enjoy. I find stocking up on celery sticks, carrots, apples, and grapes are quick and easy snacks. Also if you have those that like to fix a meal then they can cook their favorite meal too. Now that we are moving into the holidays be sure to check the Black Friday sales on Amazon for special kitchen tools and gadgets.https://amzn.to/3XgsNDG
Tip 2 Clean the house and wash the laundry. It might seem like a task but it makes the house feel cozy and nice when it's clean and orderly. You have room for family and friends to put down their extras and make room for fun and entertainment. Getting the laundry done is another stress saver, clean clothes are ready for the week and there are no piles of clothing waiting to be washed. The laundry machine is open and ready for those family that are coming for a visit and need some clean clothes during their stay. Here is a quick search on Amazon for the best items for cleaning. https://amzn.to/4p80pju
Tip 3
Bring out the boardgames. A little competitiveness and fun can be a way to relax during the holidays and what a better way to do that then to bring out some classic games. We like playing Monopoly, Yahtzee, Go Fish, and dominos. Some games can go on for long periods of time with the winners undetermined until the final end. Other games are quick and easy to play and make for several rounds with many winners. Be sure to get some games for your next family holiday. https://amzn.to/44sCnag
Tip 4
Get good sleep and have plenty of clean sheets and bedding. Sleep is so important to be able to rejuvenate our bodies. Once we have the right amount of sleep then we can make better decisions and our overall outlook on life can change for the better. Since we have all our family coming for the holidays I have made sure that everyone has clean sheets and a nice place to sleep.This year I decided to get organized and put all my bedsheets together by size and I got some containers that could hold them in my bathroom closet. Find some nice bedroom sets on Amazon here https://amzn.to/4rldvLo.
Tip 5
Journal and take photos. Many studies have shown that when we actively write down our thoughts and feelings we can reduce our stress and make our lives more manageable. Get a regular notebook or fancy journal that you can keep by your bed or bring with you during the day. Write down your dreams, a task list, or just random thoughts to fill the pages. During the journaling process you can also take photos and print them out or save them to an online journal. The photos could be of family, pets, or places you want to remember. https://amzn.to/3JXoMky
Do you have any favorite tips that help you to unwind during the holidays?
