Stuck in an Eddy

Life sure speeds up when the baby starts crawling. All of a sudden your home feels like a land mine of dropped change, food, and dog hair. I had myself in quite a tiff and finally decided that children all over the world have survived and even gained strong immune systems from the time spent in the muck. So I let it go and am going easy on myself. This has also led me to a another round of purging of the household's nick knacks. I wonder how I seem to acquire so much stuff. My new goal is to think thru every single purchase I make; is it necessary, do I really need it, and is it the quality that I desire. If it doesn't pass muster then I move on. I have been following the simple living movement after reading an article in an old Oprah magazine. It isn't about living in a hole in the ground or going without, it is more about appreciation of what you do have and what you truly enjoy. I have been walking thru my house and asking myself if I could only take one tote with me what would I take. Do these things bring me joy or just take more time. Do you realize that we spend more time now washing clothes then the olden days. It is because clothing is so cheap that we just buy more and more of it. I like the french concept of key pieces of high quality. Maybe its the sheer enormity of laundry in my home. Speaking of which...time to crank the stereo and fold some clothes.

What Every New Mother Needs

This is kinda of funny after my last post all about drinking but thats just me, well rounded. There are several things that I find very useful but I try and keep my "Things" basic.

1) A sling is a must. This is great for nursing and easy on and off. I love the MamaBaby wrap. The material is soft and is stretchy. I like to keep it in my car so I always have something for in and out easy grab. http://www.mayawrap.com/products.php

2) Ergo backpack. As they get older this is absolutely amazing. http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/

3) Muslim Blankets they are soft, light, and yet surprisingly warm. They come in packs of 4 and I got two. I also have the Winter Weight blanket which I adore. It is great for covering both of us when nursing. http://www.adenandanais.com/

4) I have 2 lamb skins. I use one in the car and keep one in the house. Wool is naturally wicking and is very soothing.

5) A amber necklace for teething. http://www.amberartisans.com/

6) 2 potty's one for the car and one for the house.

7) A good stroller. I mostly carry my kids but a good stroller is very handy. I am a walker not a runner so The Maclaren Techno works just fine for me. It is well worth its price tag. It rolls smoothly and has plenty of storage. http://www.maclarenbaby.com/us/content/view/105/497/lang,en/

Drinking Etiquette

Drinking Guidelines/Suggestions

I consider myself a “Drinking Maven” I like to use this word because I think its absolutely hilarious when people self-proclaim themselves Experts. I am a bit more of an “Action” gal and let my skills do their own talking. These days I have slowed down and prefer wine by the fire or a fresh squeezed margarita on a warm day.

Guidelines #1. Chose Your type of liquor.
Now I personally enjoy a good tequila, preferably an Anejo or a Reposada. Of Course 100% Blue Agave floats my boat. You of course my chose otherwise. I enjoy Tequila because its an upper not a downer like other alcohols.

#2 Stick with the same type of liquor ALL night. This will cut down on your chances of a hang-over.

#3 Drink your liquor straight. Its the sugars in the mixers that really do a number on your head. Personally I will have a few margarita’s and then switch to my tequila Neat.

#4 Get to know your bartender. Always try and order at the bar. Tip generously...if after the 2nd or 3rd drink your bartender isn’t pouring you a stiff drink...or giving you one on the house. You might not be a very good tipper.

#5 The best nights to drink at least at a bar are Sunday and Monday nights. The amateurs usually come out on the weekends.

#6 If someone wants to buy you a drink always go to the bar with them and watch the bartender pour it.

#7 If your going to walk around a crowded bar with a drink make it a beer in a bottle.

#8 Always pay cash for your drinks.

#9 Your bartender can be your best friend if you treat them right.

#10 If your going to a bar to meet someone you won’t meet who you want. But if you go to drink, dance and have a good time you will.

#11 A good thing to know when going to a dive bar is how to play Liars Poker.

#12 There is nothing worse then drunk and stupid...So be interesting.

#13 Look for the out of the way watering holes.

#14 Learn your limit. I know where mine is although I sometimes have been known to surpass it.

So Cheers and happy tavern trails, dive dunking, and dance clubbing~

Why I have 2 names~

I was born Tiffany Amber and was quite happy being a Tiffany or Tiff for most of my life. It fit me just fine and I had no desire to ever be anything different. But life had a different idea for me. In 1992, I arrived in Laguna Beach California with my good friend Wendi. The weather was warm and the beaches amazing. Wendi had brought along a book on Numerology and I set about reading about my name. It said some interesting things one of them being the fact that if my name equaled such and such number and my birthdate was such, that I should change my name. So I thought what the heck I am going to tell everyone I meet that my name is Amber. So I did. About a week after being here we were at a fancy restaurant and we met a girl from Oregon and she introduced me to her manager who offered me a job waiting tables. He met me as Amber and I took the job. As you most likely realize I ended up staying in California and getting married. So now if you knew me before 92 you know me as Tiffany and if you met me after you met me as Amber. So take your pick I answer to both~

Respect

Respect

The other day I was sitting in my 4 year olds Tiny Tiger Karate Class when the Head Sensei walked into the Dojo. Five young ones and the Sensei teaching class stopped what they were doing and quietly turned bowed and said Anagazi Maz which means please help me or please teach me. It was amazing to me, watching their faces, to see such RESPECT. It made me think about how important respect is and how little most people get. I thought wow; if everyone was shown the respect that Sensei Paul receives what a boost to their self-confidence. Why, every aspect of their lives would be improved. Think about it, if every day when you went to your job or did your work, people thanked you and bowed, listened quietly to your instructions and then did their best to follow them. People would look up to you and ask you for your advice. Sounds wonderful, but then I thought about it further. Sensei Paul is a black belt in Karate, he has been training many years, he treats his students with respect and offers them sage advice that he has learned through the years with hard work and listening to those with knowledge. In other words he has earned the students respect. He does not ask them to do things that he himself cannot do. He does not ask them to do the things he does not want to do. He leads by example. How many of us walk our talk? How many times do we tell people how to do, but not do it ourselves?

So I realized yes we all deserve respect but it is not something that is given lightly. It is given when we are striving to be the best we can be, when we are impeccable with our word and we are showing respect to those we come in contact with.

How does this relate to my business? Am I doing the best I can? Can I jump a little higher? I am demonstrating to others how to do the business or am I just telling them how to do it. In order to gain respect we must do and we must do it to the best of our ability. Just like karate we must practice, and enjoy our training. We must push beyond our boundaries in order to achieve greater success. The only thing holding you back is yourself. Sensei Paul says, “when you are tired is when the training begins.” “Anyone can assume a karate stance but only those who train can hold that pose after five minutes.” Only those who have trained their minds can push past the pain and become stronger. We must have belief in ourselves and take action in that belief.

Gratitude

I am on a habit forming run. Everyday I use a Process to bring my thoughts an feelings into alignment with that which is my source. I can feel when I am out of alignment because everything goes wrong. Ever noticed that when you feel bad you get more of it. Focus on what you want and the feeling of having it and that is what you get. But if you look at what you want and feel lack the lack is what you attract. You know how they say, "hang with turkeys or soar with eagles" well I want to surround myself with eagles and feel myself into abundance. It is hard not to feel sorry about all the "crap" going on right now but that will not benefit anyone especially me. So I chose to look at what is around me and chose only that which improves me and that which feels good. An abundant life full of laughter and joy.

My Why

My Why: My happiness is my "Why" it is what is it that makes me happy? Doing fun things with my kids. Enjoying time with my husband, dining, fishing, gambling, going to concerts, traveling, and laughing. Spending time with our mutual friends and my individual friends. Having nice things that bring me joy. Being part of Usana. My "Why" is finding Joy in everything that I do. I want experiences and I am taking the" How "out of the equation. Everything I want/desire to create is All within my grasp. I am setting my INTENTION and letting go of my stories that do not serve me. Everything that I have and need Always comes to me. I Chose Abundance. I chose Freedom. I chose Financial Freedom. I chose Joy. I chose Happiness.