Monday Afternoon Mantra - 12/29

Hi everyone!

Please accept my apologies for a late mantra. I've been feeling under the weather today! But here's a great one for ringing in the New Year this week.

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right!" -- Oprah Winfrey

I have to tell you, I am so optimistic about 2009. We have the opportunity to start fresh and new and make this year exactly what we want it to be!

Cheers!

Nicole

Monday Morning Mantra - 12/22

Good morning friends!

I hope you had a great weekend and weren't caught up in the chaos of the malls. Yikes! I stayed away.

Here's a Monday Morning Mantra that is important to remember during the holiday season:

“Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!" -- Amanda Bradley

Enjoy your holidays and remember to extend that feeling of celebration and appreciation throughout the year! :)

Love,

Nicole

Obama Named "Person of the Year" by TIME

So this wasn't big news to me. Obama is the man. :)

But I thought it was really amazing to just think about Obama's humble beginnings, which so many of us can relate to. He didn't come from a privileged home. He didn't have both of his parents in his life. He didn't cruise through school with all A's. He had some real trials to overcome -like all of us - and he made a choice not to let his past dictate his future.

One of the things I talk to people about all the time is hope. Having hope can make all the difference in your life. Not surprisingly, Obama's book, The Audacity of Hope, talks about the role it has played in his life.

Click here to read about Obama's honor.

No matter what your situation is, keep hoping!

Nicole

Monday Morning Mantra - 12/15

Good morning guys!

I hope you had a great weekend. Here's our mantra for the week:

"When you're passionate about something, you want it to be all it can be. But in the endgame of life, I fundamentally believe the key to happiness is letting go of that idea of perfection." -- Debra Messing (Starter Wife)

Ditch perfection for the week and just strive to be the best you can be.

Nicole

Thankful Today

This week has been a busy one - lots of new projects, Donte's birthday, an interview in Richmond, Va., etc., etc.! So I thought this was the perfect time to stop, take a deep breath, and give thanks.

I'm thankful for my husband, Donte, who just turned the ripe ol' age of 27 (I've robbed the cradle!).

I'm thankful for the nice man at Mr. Tire who gave me a discount on my tires this past weekend.

I'm thankful for the roof over my head and food in my fridge during a time when so many people are struggling financially.

I'm thankful for my daughter's "A" on her math test this week! (Go Riss!)

I'm thankful that just when one door closes, God opens another.

Have a great weekend. Remember to take stock of all the things you can be thankful for in life. It feels good. I promise.

Nicole

Monday Afternoon Mantra- 12/8

Hello all,

I'm a bit late with this week's mantra, but better late than never! :)

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going." -- Jim Ryun

Have a great week, and make working towards your dreams a habit!

Nicole

What Women Care About

Curious about what matters most to women right now? The YWCA just released a study that tells us all about it. Generation Y (women aged 18 to 29) feels that civil rights and racial discrimination should be at the top of the new administration's list of priorities along with the financial crisis.

As a Generation Y-er, I agree. :)

Check out the study.

Nicole

Monday Morning Mantra - 12/1

Morning!

Can you believe it's already December? Time for the holidays, one of my favorite times of the year! Here's a quote to keep you focused on what's most important this week:

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful." -- Albert Schweitzer
So go forth in pursuit of happiness this week!

Nicole