When I posted asking you for your questions, I promised I would respond to them. This week I will answer 5 of the questions I received in emails and comments.

What did I do for the holidays?

To begin the holidays comes the holiday parties you need to attend. I was invited to 2 parties this year which happened to be on the exact same night. That is always how it happens. My friend Bishop and his partner Dennis always throw a great holiday party each year. The house is decorated like Martha Stewart and the food is even better! His party was starting at 7pm and I RSVPed very early in the month to attend.

The second party was at a friend’s house in College Park and Fred and Becky would be attending. We got invited later in the month, but this party was going to be later in the evening so I figured Justin and I could make it to both. I should have known better…

Justin and I arrived at Bishop and Dennis’s party at about 7:15pm. As the night went on, we were laughing, eating, laughing, eating so more and still laughing. When a group of people decided to head out, so did Justin and I. This is when we realized it was 11:30pm at night! We wouldn’t make it to the other party because by the time we got there, it would be over AND I didn’t think I would be able to stay awake!

We disappointingly missed the second party and Fred and Becky.

Justin and I celebrated our time together on Christmas eve. I made a special dinner for us and we opened our gifts together. It is nice to have the time together and not to feel rushed the morning of Christmas when we are getting food together for the family dinner.

My whole family lives in Orlando so we always get together at someone’s house. This was the first year my brother was hosting the party at his new home. My brother had told my mom ahead a time he was worried about seating. Of course, we do not care if we have to sit on the floor as long as we are together AND eating!

When I got there I filled my plate and noticed all the seats at the table were taken. I figured I was going to have to eat on the couch in the TV room which made me very nervous because I spill a lot. I sat down for my brother to mention to me there was another table in the front living room which I happened to not see at all when walking in. I was saved from wearing my Christmas dinner after all. It was the magic of the holidays OR my brother knew me well enough to make sure there was a table and chair for me.

It was a wonderful feast and filled with love and laughter like my family occassions always are.

For New Year’s Justin and I stayed home together to celebrate the coming of the New Year. I am not a big fan on going out because it is pretty crazy out there on this evening. I feel it is better safe home. It is nice to play it low key some years and just spend it together.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe!

1 Comment »

It is the beginning of 2009 and I wanted to give you a plan to help you boost up your life. During these hard times in the States, a lot of people I thinking about having back up plans and supplies to support your life in case anything happens in your life. 

Not only during these times, but in general we need to plan for the “what ifs”. Not spending your time thinking about all the “what ifs” that could happen BUT putting in place a reserve so you don’t have to worry because you are prepared. Having a Super Reserve is even better and it really helps to reduce your fears and allow you to live your life without worry. 

A good friend of mine shared this program with me a year ago which helps you to work towards a building a Super Reserve in many of important areas of life. Of course it includes money, career, relationships, love, family, personal time, etc. It really covers everything so you do not miss out when building your Super Reserve. 

You do not need to complete this activity in a week, month or year. This is a goal you set in place and follow as you go along. The more you complete the better you are but there is no rush. Take your time and allow it to grow as you work on it. You will complete your Super Reserve in due time. 

Here is a link where you can print out the Super Reserve Checklist and begin your journey!

Good luck!

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe!

Leave a Comment »

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe!

5 Comments »

It is New Year’s Eve and we are ready to welcome in a brand new year to begin. Of course it is a normal time for us to think about what we accomplished this year and where we are headed in the next. 

As a gift today, I am offering you the chance to go to the future in my time machine. Are you jealous you don’t have a time machine? You shouldn’t be because I am letting you use it! :) 

You get into my time machine and move forward through time. You see beautiful color swirls all around you as you listen to pop songs from the 80’s. Finally the machine comes to a stop and the door opens to show you December 30, 2010. 

WOW. 2 years later in time. You are here and get the opportunity to see what your life is like. Unfortunately I can not come with you, you will just have to tell me what you see. 

What is your life like in 2010?

What is your career like? What is your relationships like? What about your friends and family? What makes you happy? Where do you live? What do you do for fun? What vacations have you been on? What fears have you conquered? What challenges have you faced? How successful are you? What makes you smile? What have you accomplished or achieved? How great is your health? How are you financially doing? 

It is time to go back to the present. We can’t live in the future, we have to live for now. You get back in the time machine knowing how GREAT your life is going to be in 2010! It is so exciting and you can not wait to get started on the journey to 2010. 

The question is, what is the first step?

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe!

Leave a Comment »

Every year Justin and I have the tradition of going to the Gaylord Palms to see ICE! It is a tradition we both love. We get ready on Thanksgiving morning to head down to the Disney area so we can be at ICE just before it open. We get very excited until we enter and remember it is a chilly 9 degrees. Living in Florida, we never feel temperatures like that so it always reminds us how much we love the warmth and sunshine. 

Here are photos from our day:

PS. Yes I grew a beard during that time. It is gone now.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe!

1 Comment »

Today is my sister Vicky’s birthday. As you know there is a age difference between my sisters and brother and me. My sister Vicky was 17 when I was born so I was almost like her child. We spent a lot of time together as I was growing up and we were even roommates for a long period of time. 

I am thankful for a great sister like Vicky because she put up with a lot from me. A LOT. 

• She would sing Wilson Phillips Hold On with me in the car and had to deal with me demanding who’s part was who. 
• Being scared of worms, she put up with my fake education classes where I taught her about the inside workings of the worm and wanted her to dissect one like I was doing in 7th grade science class. 
• She babysat me for our parent’s anniversary and then performed “Locomotion” with me with our matching jean jackets as a surprise for our mom and dad. 
• Later she would have to learn how to flip me in our next dance performance to Jane Child, “Don’t Want To Fall In Love.”
• Even later she became the stage hand who supplied the water spray and moving fish in my Little Mermaid performance. 
• She would take me to Pizza Hut every time I receive my free pizza reward from the Book It Program in school. 
• She took me to Sea World as a child and stood by the dolphin pool for many hours until one day I was finally able to reach and touch one. 
• She would order pizza with me and watch Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion over and over again. We only did this on the nights Buffy was not on. 
• She would play Zelda with me nonstop for 3 days until we beat it. 
• She gave me a wine cork when I was 6 and told me if I kept it by my bed at night, I would safe from nightmares. It worked. 
• She would allow me to come over to her house at night to play on AOL at night. Even when she went to bed at 10pm and had to be up at 6am and I would be up on the computer until 3 in the morning. 
• She put up with the LONG name I created for her because I decided she was going to be a nun in my wonderful pretend world. 
• She listened to my fashion advice when she was getting ready for her dates. 
• She came rushing over to check on me when I hit the parking garage with my car at 16 to make sure I was OK. 
• She pretend to enjoy reacting the beginning of Fame with me when I would push between her and my brother and dance. 
• She would get excited each week to watch Facts of Life with me on Saturday nights. 
• When I moved out with my first boyfriend, it was her who offered for me to live with her so I wouldn’t have to be alone for the first time. 
• She stayed living with me when the relationship was over so I wasn’t alone. 
• When I was younger we would go on Saturdays to the mall to play video games in the arcade. (Remember arcades! How much fun was that!)
• She took me every year to get my picture with Santa and even when we both were way too big to sit on his lap, we would still do it. 
• She has always believed in all of my ideas and has never doubted I would succeed….EVER. 
• She took my first college class, speech, with me so my transition to college was a lot easier not having to do it alone. 
• She came out first and showed me being gay was nothing to be ashamed about and taught me a lot about acceptance. 

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe!

4 Comments »

My Dad was born and raised on the island of Bermuda. He would celebrate Boxing Day as part of the holiday traditions. Boxing Day is held the day after Christmas and was celebrated by giving gifts to those who offered services to you through out the year. It was a way to say thank you. 

We may not celebrate it here in States but wouldn’t be great if we did? I think a lot of people have a hard time with the holidays especially the day after it is all over. What if you added Boxing Day to your holiday tradiations?

It would be a great opportunity to celebrate your gratitude after the holiday season. You could spend the day creating small gifts, notes, gratitude boxes or letters to hand out to all the people in your life who you are thankful for. You could let all the people who supported you throughout the year know how much they mean to you. This could be the day where it is not about the gifts bought at the store but a gift you give from your heart to allow everyone to know how much you care and love them.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe!

Leave a Comment »

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe!

Leave a Comment »

My friend Stephanie sent this to me and I had to share it with all of you as we arrive at Christmas Eve and to give you a fun perspective and a good laugh: 

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit.  In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they’re serving rum balls.
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It’s rare. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It’s not as if you’re going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It’s a treat. Enjoy it.  Have one for me. Have two.  It’s later than you think. It’s Christmas!
3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That’s the whole point of gravy.  Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they’re made with skim milk or whole milk. If it’s skim, pass. Why bother? It’s like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people’s food for free. Lots of it. Hello?
6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year’s.  You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you’ll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don’t budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They’re like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you’re never going to see them again.
8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don’t like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three.   When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?
9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it’s loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.
10. One final tip: If you don’t feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven’t been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:

“Life should NOT be a  journey to the grave with the  intention of arriving  safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but  rather to skid in   sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly  used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO what a ride!”

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe!

4 Comments »

I get asked a lot why am I a coach?

I am a coach because I love being able to make a difference with people. It is all about helping to support people in their own personal development. I work in the field of human development.

It is so easy to live your life by what others want. We look to make our family and friends proud. We want people to like us. We want someone to fall in love with us. We want to fit into society. We want to make people happy.

But the real questions are:

• Do you make yourself proud?
• Do you like yourself?
• Do you love yourself?
• Do you live by your own personal rules?
• Do you make yourself happy or even happier?

I coach so I can help people answer these questions and realize it all starts with themselves. Finding our authentic selves is not always easy so why not have someone to support you through the discovery, process and development!

I coach so I can be a partner in your life and help you acknowledge what is working, enthuse you to change what you want and celebrate you when you get closer to your goals and vision.

I coach because I learn so much from my partnership with my clients as they learn from me. As I coach, I have to develop myself as well and get to take time to make sure I am taking care of myself and growing as well.

I am a coach to listen to all your dreams. You have tons of them and we can work together to take them out of your head and turn them into goals. We will partner on a development of a plan to more your goals into reality. Your dreams deserve to come true. Lets make them come true! You have the power to do it!

The new year is almost here, isn’t it time you start living life out loud?

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe!

2 Comments »