You are the ultimate gift.

This is a great article to read right now with the fresh new year upon us.  Actually it will be one that I re-read on a regular basis.

Give Yourself the Ultimate Gfit

*sniff* Packing away Christmas Decor

I'll be honest. I'm only THINKING about packing things away. My tree only has lights and a star on it this year (but I will show you the pretty ornaments we made) and I am SO loving the simplicity of it! It wasn't planned, but came out of a too hectic pre-Christmas season filled with final exams, a birthday party and some oral surgery.

I am actively looking for some twinkling light decorations for the new year. I"m just not ready to give them up. But, I guess I need to think about packing them away as well. Mandi has a great post full of ideas. I am amused to admit that I had not thought of using plastic grocery bags to wrap things in! I mean really, I am all about reusing things! How could that not have occurred to me? How could I have not seen it on the million +4 organizing blogs I read? It is a mystery that I will likely not solve in this lifetime.

Time to Pack Away the Christmas Decorations

3 Ways to Naturally Beat the Winter Blues

simple mom has a great article on beating the winter blues....

3 Ways to Naturally Beat the Winter Blues: "

The following is written by health columnist Lisa Byrne of The Well Grounded Life.

I notice the changes each year as the days get shorter. I feel more tired and sluggish during the day, my patience wears a bit more thin, irritability intensifies, and there is a distinct lull and lethargy about my moods.

I know now that I am simply feeling the impact of a mild form of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which can be termed as the “winter blues.”

There are simple, natural ways to help alleviate the symptoms of SAD.

Though the symptoms of SAD may feel like other forms of depression, this mood disorder specifically descends for weeks or months at a time during the times of the year that are naturally darker with less sunlight, and then lifts as the hours of sunlight increase with the shifting of seasons.

And similar to postpartum depression, SAD varies greatly in it’s severity — ranging from the mild “winter blues” to a severe form that can truly be debilitating.

An important note: Whenever you feel like you’re experiencing more severe or longer-than-normal stretches of depression, low moods, anxiety, or losing touch with your “normal” self, it is always a good idea to seek out trusted professional support.

For those of us who experience a more mild form of this seasonal depression, there are simple, natural ways of lifting the lull and lackluster feelings as we move into the darker, colder months of winter.

read the rest here...

How to Stay Happy and Motivated During the Winter [Health]

How to Stay Happy and Motivated During the Winter [Health]: "

Whether you suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or not, Winter can be a rough season for many people simply because it can be more difficult to be outdoors. To combat the Winter vibe, here are some tips to stay motivated. More »

"

Swagbucks 2010 total

I signed up (skeptically) for swagbucks in 2009.  All you do is use SB as a search engine (powered by google) instead of google.  Randomly you "win" swagbucks when you search.  You trade the swagbucks in for prizes.  I always choose the Amazon giftcards.  I totalled $65 in 2010.  Sweet!

If you want to try it - I'd appreciate you using my referral code..
http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/whimsygirl


Have fun!

Lifehacker iphone apps 2010 recap

Lifehacker has their recap of the best iphone apps of 2010 up. Surprisingly there were a couple I missed!

Lifehacker Pack for iPhone: Our List of the Best iPhone Apps