It’s the time when everyone and anyone that has anything to do with horse racing heads to Louisville to enjoy the one and only Kentucky Derby—one of the most incredible sporting events of the year.

What about you? Are you headed to the Derby this May? If so, you’re a lucky duck. But if a trip to Churchill Downs isn’t in your immediate future, why not throw a Kentucky Derby party to celebrate this great American tradition at home with friends and family? Follow these tips to make your party just as much fun as the real thing.

Kentucky Derby Party Planning Ideas

Dress Code

*Encourage guests to don hats and “Derby” attire. Offer a rose bouquet to the party guest who is dressed the best! As the “host,” you should set the standard. Ladies should dress for success and absolutely must wear a large, amazing hat—wear pearls, pastel suits, bright silks, and anything over the top southern. Men are appropriately dressed Derby in seersucker, bright colors or a blue sports coat.

Menu

*Serve Mint Juleps, the official drink of the Kentucky Derby. Follow this original recipe below:

The Early Times Mint Julep Recipe

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• Sprigs of fresh mint
• Crushed ice
• Early Times Kentucky Whisky – optional
• Silver Julep Cups

Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight. Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one-tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Early Times Kentucky Whisky (optional). Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

*Prepare traditional Derby fare to serve to guests: chicken salad, shrimp grits, crab cakes, reubens, Kentucky Burgoo, Kentucky hot browns, brie, pickled shrimp and cheddar bisque.

Set the mood

*Make guests feel like they are really at the race by giving them official racing forms and programs direct from Churchill Downs at www.KentuckyDerby.com. Encourage partygoers to choose their favorite horse. Award winners with a themed prize—a pecan pie to go or a pair of silver Julep cups.

*Decorate with bright colors and roses. Fill silver Julep cups with red roses. Cover tables with bright “silk” inspired tablecloths and dinnerware, as a nod to the Jockeys’ colorful uniforms called “silks.”

*Print out and display pictures of favored horses, with history and jockey information included.

Entertainment

*Print out lyrics to “My Old Kentucky Home” for a sing-a-long.

* Since the actual race only spans 2 minutes, extend the viewing fun. Tune into NBC for Kentucky Derby footage including undercard races, Red Carpet and the actual race.

*Play these Derby games to keep adults and kids entertained: horseshoes, derby pool, twister derby style, derby pool or frozen jockey. Rules can be found at http://www.kentuckyderby.com/party/food-and-entertainment/games.

Follow these tips to create a fun Kentucky Derby party your guests will talk about for years to come!!!!

Mint Julep Trivia:

Each year, almost 120,000 Early Times Mint Juleps are served over the two-day period of Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby weekend at Churchill Downs Racetrack. That’s a feat that requires more than 10,000 bottles of Early Times Mint Julep Ready-to-Serve Cocktail, 1,000 pounds of freshly harvested mint and 60,000 pounds of ice.

Ahhhhh!!! It’s springtime! Breathe In. Breathe Out.

A season of renewal, sunshine, fun and, dare I say it—CLEANLINESS! As much fun as it’s not, this is the time of the year to get your clean on! So set aside an afternoon to transform your stuff from messy to tidy—and don’t forget to include your car. Dirty cars need love too!

Ask yourself, are you a little embarrassed when a friend jumps into the passenger seat of your car? Moms, do you hang your head low in car line? What about on Friday night? Does your date step back in horror as he or she steps into the driver’s side?

If you answered yes to the questions above, now is the perfect time to do something about the state of your car.

So I’m here to help! Follow my guidelines to get your car back in shape for spring . . . for the sake of your friendships . . . for your sanity in car line . . . and especially for that “hot” date you’d like to go on next weekend.

Think about how much better you’ll feel behind the wheel of your clean ride. Say goodbye to dirt and hello to a fun springtime in your clean and shiny car!

SPRING CAR CLEANING GUIDE:

1. Wash—Use a mild soap and water to wash your car. Then dry with a soft, clean chamois. Don’t allow tree sap, bugs, and bird droppings to damage your paint. Remove damaging things as soon as you can because the eating away of your paint happens fast, especially with the stronger sun of spring baking down on your paint. Use a soft brush to clean wheels. If your wheels are dirty, clean those first.

2. Polish & Wax—Put a fresh coat of wax on your car for spring. The wax serves as a protective barrier against the insects, bird droppings and tree sap that’s plentiful this time of year. And that you just spent hours cleaning off. Plus, wax keeps your car looking nice and shiny.

3. Replace Filters—Inspect your cabin air filters and engine air filters. Replace all filters if necessary. During spring these filters can become heavy with pollen, which negatively effects how your car runs.

4. Clean Screen—Clear the screen where the hood and windshield meet, directly under the wipers. Also clear out crevices in this area. You have to make sure and keep these areas free of leaves and miscellaneous debris so that they won’t absorb water, which causes rust, and which can cause sediment that will clog the evaporator drain. If you don’t, you could be facing very expensive auto repairs.

5. Pressure Check—Make sure your tires are set to the proper pressure because as temperatures get higher, air expands, so you may have to let air out of your tires.

6. Interior Detail—Pull out your car mats. Vacuum carpet. Wipe down interior. Throw away garbage. Organize your trunk.

7. Window Clean—Clean all the windows and mirrors (inside and out). Use a solution of ¼ cup household ammonia to 1-quart water. Apply solution with a sponge and dry with either paper towels or a soft cloth.

8. Clean Your Blades—Gently lift the blades, and wipe both sides with a soft cloth or paper towel soaked in a solution of ¼ cup household ammonia to 1-quart cold water. Dry the blades with a cloth and lower them back into place.

9. Shine Your Lights—Apply window cleaner to your headlights. Rub vigorously.

If you’ve followed steps 1 to 9 to get your car clean then you deserve a break! So take that shiny ride out to dinner. Bring a friend along. You wouldn’t want all that work to go unnoticed!!!

Happy clean trails to you! Until we meet again.

Crunch. Crunch. Munch.

Sitting here devouring a bowl of Lucky Charms. Magically delicious and not so nutritious.

As I stare down at these little marshmallow hearts and clovers, it gets me thinking about St. Patty’s Day, the “Luck of the Irish” and the green fun that is upon us in a few weeks.

And about how some of my friends live and die by their personal lucky charms. In fact, I know one grown man who won’t go fishing without his lucky hat, EVER, but he’ll remain nameless of course. You know who you are, friend.

What about you? Do you have a lucky charm?

Whatever the answer, most of us want more good luck to come our way so I say, let’s tip the scales in our favor!

Here are two things you can do right now to attract good luck into your life, without a charm or a bowl of cereal at your side . . .

HOW TO ATTRACT GOOD LUCK:

Know What You Want

Being focused on a goal is the first step to achieving it. So if you want good things to happen to you, you have to clearly know what those things are. Our mind is a powerful tool. People underestimate the power of the mind to make things happen. You can attract what you believe you will get. So go ahead and take some time to determine what you want; before long, you will be surprised at how lucky you are!

Fill Your Mind & Body With Positive Input

Successful people (aka lucky people) continually seek out knowledge and ways to improve themselves. Be very purposeful with how you spend your time. Read. Surround yourself with people who inspire you. Cut down on negative influences and watch how fast this positive input transforms your everyday life.

Lucky people are also healthy people. So take charge of your health and mental state now. Sleep more, eat less, smile, expect to have a good day, and believe that good things are on their way to you.

OK, my cereal is a bit soggy now. Guess I’d better eat this apple now. After all, an apple a day is sure to get good luck on its way!!!

Interesting Factoid:

“The percentage of Lucky Charms consumers who are adults has risen to 45%, said Greg Pearson, the brand’s marketing manager. As a result, the brand posted its best volume year ever in fiscal 2012, according to General Mills. Overall, Lucky Charms is now the seventh-largest cold cereal brand, with sales up 5.64% to $252.6 million in the 52 weeks ending Oct. 7, outpacing category-wide growth of 0.83%.”

It’s that extraordinary time of year again!!!!

A time for fun and frolic and drumroll please . . . FOOTBALL. Yes, folks, Super Bowl Sunday is this weekend and I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to party!

Sure, it’d be great to be going to the Big Easy to watch the game in person but no worries, somehow we’ll all manage . . . with our big screens, our buddies and some really good EATS to help! Whether you’re going for the 49ers or Ravens, we can all agree that an integral part of game day celebration is the FOOD on the table.

Super Bowl Sunday is after all the second biggest eating holiday in the country, coming in behind turkey day of course. And on the second biggest eating holiday in the country, the most highly consumed food is the chicken wing.

Bok. Bok. Bok. Can’t help myself. Car dealers aren’t poets or comedians apparently. If you’ve been following my blog, you’ll know what I’m referring to. For the rest of you, let’s get back to some serious chicken talk.

This year chicken wings are in high demand due to a one percent drop in chicken production. Last year’s drought conditions drove up corn and feed prices, resulting in less chicken for our wings.

According to the National Chicken Council, “More than 1.25 billion wing portions were consumed during Super Bowl weekend in 2012,” and for 2013, consumption should come in almost that high again (about one percent less due to the shortage).

No way around it, that’s a lot of chicken and really you shouldn’t have a problem finding wings on game day, you may just pay a little more.

Ok, that’s enough chicken talk for one day. So let’s all enjoy Super Bowl Sunday with wings in hand and friends in toe, and as they say in New Orleans, “Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler” together. That’s LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL for those of you who don’t speak Cajun.

Happy NEW Year!

There’s something invigorating about a new year. A fresh start. A blank page. The chance to make a change. The opportunity to make this year better than the last. Kind of like the first day of school all over again.

With all the holiday decorations put away, the house feels renewed. Around the dealership, people seem to be on a mission. Everyone has things they want to accomplish and I’m no different.

I’ve got big goals for 2013! One big goal is helping even more people get out of cars they hate this year. Another goal is to be healthier. The older I get, the more I realize the truth to the statement, “Health Is Wealth.” Which didn’t stop me from overindulging this holiday season. So here I go again, the sugar has gone away and fruits and vegetables are here to stay! I’m eating better, even if my attempts at poetry continue to fail.

But enough about me.

What are your goals? I encourage you to figure out what you want to achieve this year and then write down your plans. It’s important to write your goals down so that you won’t forget them.

Make time to review your goals each month so you can keep focused on what you want to get done in 2013. Sadly less than half of people who make goals and resolutions fulfill them. Break the chain and be victorious. Make sure that you’ve set goals that motivate you. Don’t set too many either. Focus on a few things that are the most important to you.

It’s also important not to rush your goal setting. Take the time you need to create goals that mean something to you so that are spending your time achieving things that really matter to you!

One thing that can guarantee your success is to find a way to track your progress, whether that is through a real person or a virtual assistant.

So if you can find a partner to help keep you on track, great! If not, I put together a list of virtual resources for you to make tracking more efficient.

Lifetick.com

Lifetick is web-based software that brings together goal setting and achievement through an intuitive and easy-to-understand process. Like a personal goal trainer, this tool helps you gain perspective, stay on top of tasks, measure performance and manage your goals on the go. Accessible from smartphones, with a mobile Web version. Free trial version. Uses SMART methodology.

ToodleDo

ToodleDo allows you to set multiple goals and associate your tasks with those goals. It’s convenient because you can create an action plan or at least a set of tasks that will help you achieve your goal. Both web version and mobile apps are available.

Joe’s Goals

Joe’s Goals is a free daily goal or habit tracking web tool with a simple and pleasant interface. You can create multiple goals and check off each day you accomplish them. A daily score helps you stay motivated, and you can also share your progress with others. Ease of use and simplicity are this tool’s key strengths.

MyGoalPlanner.com

MyGoalManager.com is a goal planning and organization tool that gives you everything you need to be your most organized and productive, even when mobile. The system helps you maintain better organization, craft detailed action plans, prioritize and more.

43 Things

43 Things is a social goal-making site that helps you create your list of goals, set reminders about your resolutions, and connect with others who have similar goals. The community aspect of 43 Things is what makes it shine: you can get inspiration for new goals and adopt others’ ideas, send and receive “cheers” for supporting resolutions, add comments and progress updates (the site connects to your Facebook account) and more with the free service.

TheCoveyCommunity

The Covey Community is an online community built upon the principles of Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It’s a support system with the sole purpose of helping people achieve the most important things in their lives. Features include a goal wizard, goal-setting programs, daily progress tracking and journals.

Declare-It

Declare-It is an online application that helps you easily create, track and be held accountable for your goals. It focuses on seven different areas of achievement to help you develop better habits and achieve your goals. It includes a built-in accountability system.

GetGoaling

Get Goaling is an online tool to help you set goals, plan actions and make progress. It is simple to set goals and track them to completion with the included goal setting tools and tracking options.

GoalEnforcer

GoalEnforcer is a visual goal planning software that can help you plan, get focused and accomplish goals. You can set and rearrange a goals by dragging and dropping virtual objects. It includes color coding, status reports, and progress chart features for goal tracking.

GoalPro

GoalPro is goal setting software that lets you create, categorize and simplify goals. It includes action processes, performance tracking, reporting and daily journals to help keep you on track.

GoalScape

Goalscape goal setting software provides a unique visual display to help you identify, develop and communicate the key elements of any complex challenge, including overall structure, relative importance, and progress tracking. The tool lets you break down your challenge into manageable parts and track your progress.

GoalsOnTrack

An online goal setting tool to help you create SMART goals, track progress, manage goal-oriented tasks, plan daily activities, keep a journal, review reports and more. Best for anyone looking for a full-featured goal planning/achievement system. Offers a 60 day money back guarantee.

AchievePlanner.com

Achieve Planner is time management and life planning software for Windows that helps you get organized, get focused, and make better use of your time. You can work with multiple projects and goals without feeling overwhelmed, plan your time for maximum productivity, and feel more focused and productive while you work toward your goals.

Goalmigo

Free goal setting and tracking site. Fun source of motivation. Participate in the community. Give and hare some inspiration.

Don’t Break The Chain

Don’t Break The Chain is a simple calendar designed with the Jerry Seinfeld motivation technique in mind. Don’t Break the Chain! has the simplest of interfaces and can be integrated with iGoogle and Google Chrome. Best for completing a single goal in a quick and visual way.

StickK

If you’re the kind of person who really needs more motivation, StickK may be the Web tool for you. The site gives you an option to commit money to the goal. Then if you don’t achieve it, StickK will send your money to a friend, charity, or an organization you don’t like (as a further incentive to make sure you achieve your goal). StickK says that your chances of success when you put actual money on the line increase up to 3X.

Wow, that’s a lot of choices. Perhaps your first goal should be to decide on one of my recommendations. Until next time . . .

2013 is right around the corner now. Scary how fast time goes by—I must be having more fun than I realize! Either that or I’m just getting old. All in all, it’s been a banner year around here. I helped lots of people drive a nicer, newer car in 2012 and am looking forward to a repeat performance in 2013.

Let’s just say that I’m pretty excited about New Years this year. Now the trick is finding something (or someone) really special to ring in the New Year with. Actually my choice is already made so the real question is, whom are you spending the holiday with?

Here are a few tips on how to make this New Years one for the record books! Sure, we all can’t spend New Years at the Ritz drinking champagne and eating caviar but you can make it so you don’t wind up looking for a tree to kiss at midnight, or even worse, wake up to a mound of depression on January 1, 2013!

Tip #1: WEDDED BLISS

Are you married? You can skip down to the end because your decision is already made. Spending New Years with your spouse is a no brainer! But why not take it up a notch this year? Surprise your significant other with a gift or an upcoming trip at midnight. Make it one that he or she will never forget. Get your romantic juices flowing. New Years is the perfect time to be spectacular and there isn’t anyone on the planet that deserves it more than the person who puts up with you all year. Can I get an amen? You know it’s true!

Tip #2: DATE DIVINE

If you are single, decide whom you would most like to spend New Years with now. Don’t wait until the morning of to make plans. This strategy could backfire. Book travel tickets now. Get your party planned so that you won’t be scrambling at the last minute. Try the dating sites, ask friends for hook-ups . . . start exploring your options now because as you know, sometimes you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince (or princess). If all else fails, call your best friend now and plan to spend December 31st together.

Tip #3: HOST WITH THE MOST!

Nothing to do and no one in particular to spend this holiday with? One answer is to play host. Plan a New Years party that people will want to come to. Get commitments now before social calendars fill up. Then take time to really think out how to make your party fabulous. Pay attention to details, especially the music and atmosphere. Make it feel like a special occasion. New Years isn’t the time to scrimp on food and decorations. It’s the time to roll out your best. After all, you want your friends and family to come back next year, don’t you?

Tip #4: GET OUT OF DODGE!

So you don’t want to throw a party? Don’t have a spouse? And don’t want to date anyone at this moment? Here’s an idea: go somewhere exotic for New Years. If you’ve got the budget, you can spend this New Year snorkeling in the Caribbean or skiing in Vail? Why not take a New Years cruise? Hit Times Square or Rio de Janeiro. It’s hard to be depressed when you are on the go and in new surroundings so this strategy is a good way to keep your mind focused on the blessings of the past year. Who knows? You may even meet someone special while you are there. You may never come back.

Tip #5: MAN WITH A PLAN (OR WOMAN)

This is for all of you who choose not to practice tip 1 though 4. So if you don’t want to party, travel or snuggle on New Years, you have a couple of choices left. Stay home, ignore the holiday, or watch New Years celebrations on the tube. Or why not spend the night in deep planning mode for 2013. Take the evening to do soul searching. Figure out what you want to achieve in 2013, and then make detailed plans on how to execute your plans.

So happy, happy New Year to all of you! Thank you for making my 2012! I couldn’t have done it without you! I’ll be toasting to all of you at midnight. And many more!

Hope this message helps to ensure that New Years Eve 2013 leaves you with a smile on your face. Wink, wink!

Some people tell fish tales. Other people, well they tell tall tales. Me, I’m ready to talk turkey tales. After all, Thanksgiving is right around the corner and turkey talk is welcome conversation this time of year.

So how do you prepare the perfect turkey on Thanksgiving Day? What is the secret that transforms a dry, boring bird into a delectable delight to be enjoyed and celebrated by all?

From what I can tell, the secret is in the brining. Brining adds moisture and flavor to turkey, which is a must for preparing the perfect bird. Too much brining results in a dry, tough and salty turkey so be careful. Only brine for one hour per pound of turkey.

For the best results, use a fully thawed all-natural turkey without additives. Get a large container for brining—a five-gallon bucket will work and clear space in your fridge so that you can keep your turkey chilled. After cleaning and trimming your turkey, rinse it well. Next prepare your brine by combining one gallon of water with 1 cup of coarse salt. After the salt dissolves, place your turkey in the container. Add seasonings and spices to the brine. You can use herbs, garlic, lemons, onions, bay leaves, brown sugar, a bottle of dry Riesling, etc.

Make sure and completely cover the turkey with brine. Place your turkey in the fridge for one hour per pound of turkey. When the time is up, remove and rinse your brined turkey thoroughly.

Now that brining is complete, you have three choices on how to cook the turkey—roast, smoke or deep-fry your turkey. It’s really up to you and depends upon what tools you have at your disposal, and the tastes of your guests. Remember, though, that if your turkey is over 15 pounds, it’s best to roast. Otherwise, you might try smoking your turkey. If your turkey weighs in at 12 pounds or under, deep-frying is a yummy alternative. Just be careful. Many a turkey day has been ruined over a deep frying nightmare.

Ok, enough turkey talk. I’m getting hungry. I’ll leave you with a few fun facts about Thanksgiving Day that are sure to make you smile, just like your guests when they bite into your perfect bird on Thanksgiving Day!

10 Fun Facts About Thanksgiving

1. Commercially raised turkeys cannot fly.

2. Turkeys have heart attacks. The United States Air Force was doing test runs and breaking the sound barrier. Nearby turkeys dropped dead with heart attacks.

3. In the US, about 280 million turkeys are sold for the Thanksgiving celebrations.

4. Each year, the average American eats somewhere between 16 – 18 pounds of turkey.

5. Californians are the largest consumers of turkey in the United States.

6. Only male turkeys gobble while hens make clicking sounds.

7. Fully grown turkeys have 3,500 feathers.

8. Mashed potatoes, pumpkin pies, popcorn, milk, corn on the cob, and cranberries were not foods present on the first Thanksgiving.

9. The pilgrims didn’t use forks; they ate with spoons, knives, and their fingers.

10. Since 1947, the National Turkey Federation has presented a live turkey and two dressed turkeys to the President. The President does not eat the live turkey. He “pardons” it and allows it to live out its days on a historical farm.

November 6 is quickly approaching and you know what that means! No, it doesn’t mean you only have a few weeks to bust out your turkey basters and best pumpkin recipes, although that in and of itself is a very important matter (I’ll talk turkey on my next post). No for now, I’m climbing on my soapbox to urge all of you to get out and vote this year.

The young people did it their way with ROCK THE VOTE, now this car dealer is bound and determined to DRIVE THE VOTE this November 6.

Although you may have heard me ranting and raving about negative campaign ads last month, that won’t keep me from voting! I admit, political ads have taken on a life of their own and can get pretty annoying but the issues behind the ads are far too important to ignore.

It’s too bad more Americans don’t actually vote in elections. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, turnout by all races and ages was about 64% during the 2008 elections.

64% of the population shouldn’t be making decisions for 100% of the people. You may think it doesn’t matter if you don’t vote. Ask yourself, if you don’t vote then who is voting? Think about the fact that even if you aren’t voting, someone is and that someone is making decisions for you. There is a LOT riding on this election. Your vote does count and does matter. Don’t give it up.

There was some good news and bad news with regard to voting last election. First the good news: about five million more Americans voted in the 2008 elections than in the elections four years prior to that. Voter turnout was highest in Minnesota and the District of Columbia at about 75%. Now some bad news: voter turnout was lowest in Hawaii and Utah, where just over half of voters went to the polls. At 64% of the people voting, there is one thing that is certain. We can do better.

So if you know someone who needs help voting, why not help them make it happen? For yourself, make sure you are registered and know where to vote. More important, go the polls armed with information. Responsible government only comes as a result of responsible voting. You may be tempted to go to the polls only knowing half the story. Take time to educate yourself before election day. You’ll be glad you did when you are staring at the ballot November 6.

Here are a few online resources to help you:

http://www.canivote.org/
Need help with voting–nonpartisan web site created by state election officials to help eligible voters figure out how and where to go and vote.

http://votesmart.org/
Find out who’s running for office before you go to the voting booth at Project Vote Smart Web Site—nonpartisan. Get more information about the candidates where you live.

http://www.ontheissues.org/
On The Issues: Every Political Leader On Every Issue—Find out about the issues that are important to you and your family.

Get your engines running and DRIVE THE VOTE November 6. See you at the polls!

Labor Day is here! For me that means the end of summer and the beginning of my favorite season, fall.

September brings good things. Happy things. Fall things.

With the first cool, crisp breeze arrives that feeling of anticipation . . . tailgates, pumpkin patches, tricks and treats and a lot of really delicious things to eat. Ok, that’s my attempt at fall poetry. There’s a reason I’m not a poet.

Ok, back to blogging . . . poetry and car dealers don’t mix.

Fall 2012 is sure to be better with some planning, as is anything in life and of course, we all want our fall to be fantastic, don’t we?

So here’s my . . .

4 Ways To Make Fall 2012 Fantastic!

Idea #1: REVEL IN THE LEAVES

Plan a trip to enjoy the leaves. It would be a shame to wake up on a cold winter morning and realize that you didn’t take the time to savor the beautiful fall foliage while it lasted. Plan a day to drive or fly somewhere breathtaking where fall’s bounty is apparent. You won’t regret it. And if you just can’t get away, there is one small thing you can do to enjoy the leaves in another way, JUMP IN A PILE!

Idea #2: FOOTBALL FUN

For some of you, this suggestion is a complete waste of time because you live and die by the football season. If I’m describing you, skip right to the apples. For the rest of you, why not go to a live football game this year? Root for a team, munch on hot dogs, drink a Coke and travel back to a simpler time. Become a cheering fan in a stadium—local homecoming games are an economical way to enjoy football, or travel back to your alma mater to attend a college game. And if watching football is the last thing you feel like doing, why not get in the action yourself? Organize an impromptu game of touch football in your neighborhood. What a great way to get to know your neighbors!

Idea #3: APPLES A PLENTY

Plan a visit to the Apple Orchard. Apple picking is an ideal way to unwind and unplug from today’s hectic schedules and technology overload. Then enjoy the result of your private harvest for weeks after. Can’t you just smell the home-baked apple pie? Or the cider stewing on the stove?

IDEAS #4: HALLOWEEN HYSTERIA

Why not organize a Halloween get together this year? Make your house the “spot” that everyone wants to stop! Oh no, back to rhyming. Geesh. Halloween is the ideal time to get creative and wow your friends with a unique Halloween costume. If you come up with a plan now, you won’t fall victim to the “last minute I don’t know what to do or what to dress up as” syndrome. Avoid attending the same lame party this year. Make your bash so much fun that people will talk about it for years to come!

Now that you have a plan to make this fall fantastic, you can enjoy this last weekend of summer!!!

Until next time.

So Long Summer

Time marches on and summer is fast slipping away. Goodbye lazy days of summer; hello crazy days of back to school, back to work and back to business. I hope all of you enjoyed a vacation, a siesta or at the very least a sleepy Sunday spent in pajamas this summer. As Sam Keen said so eloquently, “Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.” Now it’s time to pack up lazy, pick up the pace and look forward to the start of a new season.

Fall is always a little exciting. There is so much to look forward to . . . cooler temperatures, big breezes, football games, the holiday season, and a return to routine. Fall is cozy and predictable like my favorite old sweater!

Here are a few things you can do to prepare for a smooth transition from relaxed to recharged this August . . .

1. Make a plan—spend a few hours figuring out what you want to accomplish this fall. The busy days ahead will be much more manageable with a plan in place.
2. Schedule appointments—make sure and visit your dentist, doctor, chiropractor, dermatologist, and whoever else you need to visit to stay healthy in the months ahead.
3. Donate—clean out your closets and drawers to make room for organization. Spend a few hours giving away things you don’t need to charity. It will help you and help others while keeping your house organized this fall.
4. Health break—take a few days to cleanse your body. Drink water instead of soda. Choose fruit over candy. Skip fried foods and fill your plate with healthy choices like brown rice, lean meat and salad. Healthy eating will give you the physical boost you need to approach fall with muster.
5. Sleep well—go to bed a little bit earlier so that you can wake up well rested in the morning. Keep nighttime distractions to a minimum. Invest in new sheets and a high-quality pillow. Happy nights make for happy mornings.

Follow these tips to keep the demands of fall from sneaking up on you! I’m planning on doing the same, just as soon as I wrap up one of my super important summer to-do list items . . . taking a summer siesta. ZZZZZZZZZ.

There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart. ~Celia Thaxter