Edge of Insanity: January 2015

MAJOR Swagbucks news!

I know we haven't posted about Swagbucks in a long time. The short answer is that after the holidays, I had Swagbucks burn-out and couldn't even think about visiting them for a few weeks.

Now that I have have recovered from the burn-out, I have some big Swagbucks news about the Rewards Store!

Remember when you had to save up 2500 Swag Bucks just to get a $25 gift card? Oh man, that took forever! Twin always seemed to rack up more Swag Bucks than I could, and she always made it to - or even exceeded - 2500. Talk about sibling jealousy!

Anyways, you no longer have to wait until you reach 2500 Swag Bucks to get a $25 gift card. Starting March 2nd, you will be able to redeem 2,200 Swag Bucks for one(1) $25 gift card of your choice once a month! (This doesn't include Paypal or gas cards. Sorry.)

They are also offering a $3 Amazon gift card for only 300 Swag Bucks! They have also upped the price of the $5 Amazon card from 450 to 500 Swag Bucks. It's kind of a bummer because I kind of relied on those Amazon gift cards last Christmas when I didn't have 500 but really needed that extra $5. But then again, it would be cheaper to get two $3 Amazon gift cards and end up with an extra $1!

With all of this great news, I feel a shopping spree coming on!

If you haven't signed up for Swagbucks, sign up now! (It well worth it - trust me!)

By the way, how often do you use Swagbucks?

#PorkRindDay is coming!

This might get my Texan card revoked, but I don't eat pork rinds often. But when I do eat them, I am usually watching my favorite NFL or college football team play! There's just something about watching the game and having a bag of pork rinds beside you as you watch teams pass the ball back and forth across the field.

In honor of Pork Rind Appreciation Day, which is Sunday (February 1st), Rudolph's is giving you the chance to win $3,500 and a year of free pork rinds in their Pass the Pigskin giveaway! When you play the game (by passing a bag of pork rinds to Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Ickey Woods), you are automatically entered to win and guess what - you can play every day until February 1st! Better yet, you also have more chances to win when you follow, share, or tweet.

Now through Pork Rind Appreciation Day, a portion of the sales of all Rudolph Foods branded products will be donated to the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund. The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund provides hands-on assistance to help retired players and there families deal with medical hardships they face after careers in football.

Interested in buy Rudolph's Pork Rinds? You can buy them at Walmart!

Don't let the bed bugs bite! #Orkinman #BedBugFeud

The prize will be sent via FedEx or USPS. No P.O. Boxes please. Any/all information was sent through the promotion of Orkin, LLC. Any thoughts/opinions are my own. Your experience may differ.

We have all heard of bed bugs. Whether we've had them or not is a different problem. But do you know all of the facts about those icky bed bugs like how to identify them or what to look for?

In general, bed bugs are reddish-brown in color, are wingless, and are about the size of an apple seed. They are not only found in homes and hotels, they can be found in offices, hospitals, the gym, and a variety of other places. They are also often mistaken for fleas, ticks, the Carpet Bagger, and lint.

Now you've been given the basic facts on bed bugs, how well do you think you can do at the Orkin Bed Bug Feud?

(By the way, I think I got a 96 my first time. It gets easier each time and you learn more about them!)

Giveaway

Now that you've learned more about bed bugs, it's time to put your knowledge to the test! Take the Orkin Bed Bug Feud and enter to win a CleanRest Pillow Encasement! Enter below. Good luck!

Note: Each household is only eligible to win (1) CleanRest Pillow Encasement via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Entry -Form

Fall in love with #ModCloth's Sweetheart Shop!

*This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links.

Express your unique style this Valentine's Day with ModCloth's Sweetheart Shop! From heart-printed pieces to beautiful outfits, the Sweetheart Shop is filled with items you would love to have - I know I would!

One look at their beautiful designs and I want it all! If I had to choose 3 of my favorite items for a Valentine's date, it would have to be:

1. Sure is Sassy Dress - $74.99

2. Career Appreciation Heel - On sale for $59.99

3. Retro Rosie Earrings in Red - $9.99

These bring such a classic look to a hopeless romantic's favorite holiday! Which piece is your favorite?

Life with Meniere's - Overdoing It

(Photo Credit)

As most of you know, my mother suffers from a mild to moderate degree of Meniere's Disease. While she no longer passes out, she can still suffer from violent attacks where she can't do anything but sit until the attack passes.

Do you know what brings on most of the violent attacks? Overdoing it. Overdoing what, you ask? Everything. There are some things she cannot spend a lot of time doing it, because it does cause an episode if she overworks herself. (Yes, we do help her. But she is super independent, so there are still some things she wants to do on her own.)

Many people, according to people my mother has talked to, suffer from the same problems - getting a sudden attack if they overdo it, no matter what the physical activity is. But sometimes you can't really put off doing something because it needs to get done right then and there. So when my mom continued talking to them, they came up with really great ideas on how to keep attacks at bay but still continue on with your activity:

* Doing it in increments (for example, take a break every 5 minutes) helps keep everything balanced.
* If you can, plan chores and heavy activity for a day when your Meniere's isn't as bad.
*Avoid caffeine and salt on days you have a lot to do. This might prevent a heavy episode.
*Do the activity with a friend or family member. That way if you need to take a break, they can either take the break with you or continue doing the activity.
*Challenge and reward yourself. See if you can do it for 10 minutes and then reward yourself with a 20 minute break.

Meniere's Disease is not an easy condition to live with by any means. But if baby steps are taken, it can be manageable.

Give the gift of Minted for Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day might be 22 days away, but it's never too early to start planning - especially if you set a budget for Valentine's Day. Right now thru Monday (1/26), save 20% off foil-pressed Valentine's Day cards, foil-pressed Classroom Valentine's Day cards, and foil-pressed art!

Minted also has plenty of other Valentine's Day cards and gifts if you don't want foil-pressed! I have to say, that I still wish I was in school so I can hand out these Cupid Classroom Valentine's Day Cards! They are so cute!

Water Color Heart print

If you want to give a gift that is really special, the Water Color Heart print would really make that special someone feel, well, special! You just use your favorite picture - and you have it framed or unframed. You can even decide which colors you want - you have 4 to choose from including Rose, Stone, Peach, and Mint. I wish I was in a relationship just so I could get this - it's so pretty!

If you're not into the lovey-dovey gifts, you can create your own calendars or stationery for just about anyone - your favorite teacher, friend, or blogger. :)

Valentine's Day doesn't have to be just about teddy bears, roses, or chocolate (though those are all great gifts!). You can create something a little more personal and Minted is a great place to start!

Now if I could convince someone to get me the Texas Map Filled foil-stamped print - I must have!

Weight Loss Journey: Healthy Snacking

It is time for yet another weight loss update! This time around, I am VERY proud of myself! The last time I posted an update, the holidays had just begun and I wasn't really losing any weight. I wasn't gaining but not losing any weight either. I tried to limit my salt intake, which wasn't hard for me. I tried to limit my sugar intake, but failed miserably. What can I say - I like chocolate, especially a hollow Lindt Santa (which are so good!).

Now that the holidays were finally over, I decided to up the ante by running at least 20 minutes every day. It's hard when it's cold outside, so even if it was just running in place for 5 minutes, it all added up. But I still lost more weight! I also decided to sort of pick up healthy snacking. I don't snack very often, only because I don't eat much anymore. But every now and then, I would have a craving for something crunchy or just needed a little pick-me-up. So I went in search of healthy -but affordable - snackables.

A ZonePerfect bar I reviewed back in 2012.

If I decide to skip lunch, which I sometimes do, I will grab a LARABAR or ZonePerfect bar. Both have plenty of protein to keep me full until my next meal. To feed my chip craving, I still enjoy munching on any flavors from The Better Chip. Not exactly healthy, but a lot better than Cheetos. For that sweet tooth, I have to admit, that I don't exactly snack healthy when it comes to that. We have sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies in the fridge, and sometimes when I am getting some tea, I find myself sneaking one or two. The real test is when we bake Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate brownies next month for Valentine's Day.

To recap: I have lost more weight. I have picked up healthy snacking - somewhat. Cookies aren't a healthy snack. Those Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate brownies for Valentine's Day may be my downfall.

What's for lunch?

Get better-looking skin with #BotanicalSplash!

Winter is horrible on my skin. I kid you not - it dries it out and just makes it look horrible. It's hard to find something that moisturizes and revitalizes but isn't terribly expensive or full of chemicals.

Botanical Splash is a body moisturizer and revitalizer made from 100% pure botanical oils of orange, almond, lime, lemon, olive, and avocado. It was designed to firm and tone skin appearance, clean and condition the skin, moisturize deep down, and make your complexion seem smoother (since the pores seem to appear like they have shrunk).

Keep in mind that this is to be used on the neck and down. For the face, I suggest their Amazingly Beautiful line.

BUY
For a limited time, the manufacturer is willing to offer my readers one FREE bottle. They said they would love to have our readers try out Botanical Splash and agreed to send one bottle FREE if our readers would pay a minimal shipping and handling charge. This is a one-time only offer! Click here to get your FREE bottle now! You can purchase Botanical Splash starting at $29.97 each bottle.

WHAT I THOUGHT

Like I said, I hate how winter treats my skin. As a Texan that is used to really dry summers, I should have been better prepared for a cold dry winter. But I wasn't. So I was in in full-dry-skin annoyance when I learned I would be giving Botanical Splash a try.

My arms & elbows tend to be the first that suffer, for some odd reason. Anyways, I put a few drops on my arm and smoothed it out. It gave my skin a shimmery glimmery look that reminded me of beautiful healthy skin.

Believe it or not, when I went to inspect my arms the next day, I noticed that they weren't as dry! I was really impressed by it. Granted, my skin was still kind of dry and didn't have that healthy glow yet, but I knew after a week or so of using it daily, I would eventually get there. A week or two later, my skin is look much better!

I think I really like Botanical Splash. Not only does it works great, it smells like really really good!

Giveaway

I want your skin to look and feel great as well. So three(3) winners will each receive a bottle of Botanical Splash of their own! Enter below. Good luck!

Entry -Form

#SuperSoulSunday - Faith

Whether you are religious or not, everyone needs a little faith to move onto the next step in life.

(Photo Credit)

Give Back Through AmazonSmile!

Last year, Amazon rolled out their charity shopping program called AmazonSmile. When you shop through the AmazonSmile website, a percentage of eligible purchase prices is given to the charity of your choice.

To choose a charity to donate to, go to AmazonSmile and sign in with your Amazon info. If you are not part of the program, you will be given the choice to choose from their spotlight charities, or you can search for your own.

Find the charity you want to donate to!

Instead of choosing to donate to a major national or international charity, I decided to choose a charity here in my own town.

Look for this when you shop!

Once you have chosen your charity, you are now free to shop! Not all products on Amazon are eligible for the AmazonSmile program. If you are unsure which products are part of the program, you could always search for AmazonSmile products.

So far, since I have chosen my charity, I have donated almost $10. I know it isn't a lot but to non-profit charities not funded by the government, it goes a long way. If your household has multiple Amazon accounts (which is very helpful during the holidays!), you can each choose a charity to donate to - helping out even further!

The times we live in now make it hard to feel the need to give back to our community, especially when there are problems with some bigger charities not giving to the community the donations they receive. But with plenty of local charities (over 72000 in Texas alone!), you know your donations will be appreciated and used where it is needed.

If you need more information on the program, click here.

Why I LOVE Walmart's Savings Catcher!

I kept hearing about Walmart's Savings Catcher app, but wasn't sure about getting it. I thought it would be too much of a hassle to deal with all those numbers. If you haven't heard about Walmart's Savings Catcher app, it is essentially an app for your android and iPhone device. You enter your receipt by typing the TC code and date. You can also scan your receipt by using the QR code (which is usually at the bottom left corner) or the barcoade. They will compare prices, and if they find a lower advertised price in your area, you get the difference on a Walmart egift card. If you have the Bluebird card, you get 2x the savings!

Okay, so why do I love the Savings Catcher app? Aside from me not knowing how to scan it properly at first (until Twin taught me how), we scanned a receipt from the past week just to see how it works. Not even a day or two later, we found out that there were lower prices advertised somewhere else for most of the items! Even if it was just a few cents lower, we still got the difference! It came out to only about $1.96, which isn't a lot, but it was nice to know that it actually worked!

Another great thing about the app? We were able to see where the lower prices were advertised (like Walgreens) and the prices at the store. It also showed prices of the items locally - like a dozen eggs at Target were almost $3!

See where it says "Now Available"? You can either let that add up and cash out for a bigger gift card or get your gift card now.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind: You can only use receipts for things purchased in-store. Don't expect savings on every item or every receipt. You will only be paid for LOWER prices. You can only enter a receipt once.

I love this app! Luckily for us, we go every week so I think I can get some good use out of it.

Do you use Walmart's Savings Catcher app? What do you think?

Blogging How-To: Keep your blog organized in 2015!

As bloggers, we strive to keep some sort of organization. There is tons of paperwork, shipping labels, and written drafts everywhere, and trying to reel the mess in is like hanging jello to a wall - it is almost impossible! I am certainly guilty of not keeping my blog stuff organized. But if you're like me, don't fret - there are TONS of ways to keep your blog organized in the new year!

One way to keep everything organized (from reviews to giveaways to earnings and post ideas) is to create a digital "notebook". I use Google Drive to create my spreadsheets, post idea documents, and anything else I need in order to feel a little more organized. In fact, I still have spreadsheets going back to 2012 (just in case).

If you aren't interested in creating all of the documents yourself, there is a wonderful 2015 digital blog planner at Mom's Small Victories!

What if you don't want to keep a digital "notebook"? You don't have to! You can keep an actual notebook. You'll need the follow items:

A large 3-ring binder
Plenty of notebook paper
Pens
A pen/cil pouch for binders
Notebook dividers
A printed (or even handwritten) version of a blog organizer & planner (I found a great printable version at Confessions of a Homeschooler!)

Now you have all of the paper stuff (and digital documents) all organized. Wonderful!

What are other simple ways you can keep your blog and all its stuff organized? Besides a notebook (digital or otherwise), you can always turn your mobile device into a blogging machine! Calendars are great for keeping up with deadlines. Last-minute alerts are my blogging life-saver! There are apps for photos, e-mails, social media, list making, writing notes, and even apps for your blogging platforms! It won't help you with that paper stack of product information, but it can make blogging on the go really easy. Later this year, we'll talk about the best apps that bloggers should have.

Keeping your blog organized doesn't have to be difficult. You just have to remember to do it every day!

We're participating in the Biannual Blogathon Bash!

Every year around the end of January (and then again in June), bloggers come together to tackle that long to-do list we keep putting off in what is called the Biannual Blogathon Bash! It is a time for bloggers to get organized and finally scratch-off those things off their list. Click here to find out more about the Biannual Blogathon Bash.

In fact, I try to participate every January. If I remember correctly, I even participated only a week after being released from the hospital back in 2013. If I can write a post from my hospital room, I knew I could at least get a couple of things done in the BBB!

Here's the rundown of the BBB:

THE BIANNUAL BLOGATHON BASH WILL BE JANUARY 23-26. Click here to sign up!
It starts about 8am in whatever time zone you are in. So if you're in Central, you can start at 8am. But the official "kick off" post usually isn't published until 8am EST.
It is suggest to aim for at least 24 non-consecutive hours related to blogging in any form (including brainstorming, e-mails, back up your blog, etc.). But the more you participate, the more chances you have of winner a blogging prize, which may vary each event.
There are mini-challenges through out the event. During each event in January and June, they will be different. You can do them all, one, or none.

I have a small list this year, so I don't get so stressed. Some of it includes working on the layout, creating posts for February, and a couple of other things. It isn't a lot, but it works for me!

Who knows, maybe I'll find that perfect Valentine's Day craft I've been searching for.

Magazine Wreath Tutorial

The other day, I saw a magazine lying around and thought, "Instead of throwing it away, I wonder if I can find some sort of craft to use it for.". Believe it or not, I didn't go to Pinterest immediately. I actually googled something like "magazine catalog wreath" and that lead me to this beautiful Upcycled Magazine Wreath tutorial on Addicted2Decorating. But I didn't have everything she had, especially the 18" wreath form. So instead, I decided to do a mini-version and tweak a few things.

What You'll Need
Scissors
Tape (I couldn't find the scotch tape so I used the paper medical tape we always keep on hand.)
Glue (All I had was Tacky glue.)
2 magazines (You might need more/less, depending on how many colorful pages there are.)
7.6" x 7.6" piece of cardboard
2 circular things of different sizes (2" wide top from a canister and a 6.5" or 7" paper bowl will work just as well. The sizes must be different!)
Ribbon or fabric
Ruler
Pen/Sharpie (Pencils will not work, unless it is a charcoal pencil.)

Optional:
Exacto knife (This will help when cutting the cardboard. We don't have one.)

TOTAL PRICE: FREE!

Ready to get down to work?

1. Gather everything you will need. It is tedious so you want to make sure you have everything within reach.

Step 2. Measure twice, cut once...

2. Take your 7.6" x 7.6" cardboard and place your smaller circle that's at least 2" in diameter in the middle. Trace and cut it out. An Exacto knife would work perfectly in this case. I didn't have one so I had to use scissors. Can I just say that cutting a circle in the middle of cardboard with scissors stinks? It does.

Step 3. This is what you should end up with, minus my sloppy scissor-work.

3. Now place your paper bowl that's at least 6.5" or 7" in diameter right over the smaller circle and trace. It's okay if you can't trace it around completely. You can cut to make your wreath form look more like a circle. Toss both cutouts away. You won't need them! Don't forget to poke a small hole at the top of the cardboard circle to thread thin ribbon or fabric as a hanger!

Step 4. Look at all the pretty colors!

4. Take your magazines and look through them. If you find a colorful page you like, cut or tear it out. (If you tear it out, you can always cut the side to make it more even.)

5. Gather as many as the pages you think you can cut with your scissors and stack them. You may need to use the ruler to measure and mark, but with the papers stacked together, cut 2.5" x 2.5" squares. I tried to cut individual squares and almost went mad! You will probably need 100 or more.

Step 6. Roll, roll, roll your squares!

6. Taking one square in your hand, roll it around your finger (or anything like a nail polish bottle top, AA battery, or something similar), going from point to point (not corner to corner). You want it to look like a pointy cylinder. Secure the end with tape (or glue). Next, fold in half shortways. You can either have the pointed open ends facing away or to each other. Your choice. Secure the middle with a little tape or glue. You might want to pace yourself with Step 6. It gets really tedious after rolling 15 of those squares.

Step 7. Glue until you think you'll dream of gluing in your sleep.

7. Run a strip of glue around the rim of the inner circle. Place the folded end of your rolled square on the glue and hold for a few seconds until it sticks. Keeping place the folded edges on the glue until either A: you run out of space or B: you run out of rolled papers - in which you would have to make more, unless you run out of patience and quit.

8. Once you have done the inside, it is time to start moving to the outside. Now, the squares we have already glued will be getting in the way to run a strip of glue around the cardboard so you will need to start gluing the papers individually. You don't have to finish this in one sitting. I sure didn't! Remember- start on the inside and work your way out. Just be sure you don't completely cover the hole for your ribbon/fabric!

Step 10. After 3 days, this is what the finished product looked like!

9. Once you have glued everything, including your sanity, to the cardboard, thread your ribbon or fabric through the hole and hang. Voila - you added instant home decor for free and helped the environment! (Sorta.)

Changes for Edge of Insanity in 2015!

It's a new year and I have some major changes for Edge of Insanity this year. Some of these changes may surprise people, may make some of my readers think I've forgotten about them (which is not true), and some people may feel like it is a step forward towards making Edge of Insanity better than ever.

Before you think that I have forgotten those who have been there since the beginning, please remember that these changes are to help more people and make Edge of Insanity more relatable to more people as well. I haven't forgotten where I began and who was with me at that time. It's because of my readers who have allowed me to broaden my horizons and turn Edge of Insanity into what it is today.

With that being said, here are my plans for 2015:

We plan to step away from posting deals as often. Edge of Insanity no longer stands out as a frugal living and lifestyle blog that it has become. There will still be some deals, but not as many.
More crafts and recipes should be expected. We weren't able to do it last year (because of our situation) but I am hoping to change that.
We will have more posts about anxiety, being a caregiver, and living with GERD. These are near and dear to my heart, and since many people can relate, I thought it would be wonderful to be like a "friend" that's there for them.
The amount of personal posts will stay the same. As I've said before, I'm a pretty private person, so the current amount of personal posts I do is what is comfortable for me.
Expect more reviews & giveaways that any family can relate to. We plan to be a little more selective in what we choose to review and offer our readers but we still want to keep it up.
We will most likely bring back our Blogger How-To posts. Those were really popular and helped a lot of people.
We plan on changing the layout so it is more user-friendly and more little colorful and up-to-date.

I know these may seem like such drastic changes, but as I said before, I want to help more people in many different ways. I know it's probably stupid to think that a blog could help people in life, but that's what I want Edge of Insanity to do.

By the way, I want to thank everyone who has been here for us since the beginning. Your support, not only for Edge of Insanity but my family as well, has been tremendous. It has allowed me to make Edge of Insanity into what it is today.

I cannot wait to see what 2015 has in store! Are you ready?

Soothe Your Throat With #PineBros!

It's wintertime, which means it's also cold & flu season. Sore throats are bound to follow the cold or flu. Even when you have horrible winter allergies, sore throats can be a problem.

For the longest time, my family has been loyal of Pine Bros Softish Throat Relief. We have tried other throat drops, but the flavor was horrible or it was hard to get relief because it didn't offer the comfort Pine Bros does.

Pine Bros Softish Throat Relief drops are made with natural ingredients including Gum Acacia, natural flavor, and Carnauba Wax. They come in 4 different flavors: Licorice, Wild Cherry, Natural Honey, and their brand new flavor, Lemon Citrus! Available in pucks (Wild Cherry and Natural Honey flavors only) or bags, they soothe the throat and help with coughs.

You can find Pine Bros (which dates all the way back to 1870 and is considered America's firs throat drop) in certain retailers (click here to see the list of retailers) or you can buy them online. (Note: Some people have trouble finding them in their regional stores. FYI: You can purchase them through the Walgreens website.)

They also have t-shirts and 3 children's books!

So if you find yourself with a sore throat, dry throat, or just need to soothe your coughing, be sure to try Pine Bros. Not only are they delicious, they really work!

It is safe for children 3 and over. Allergy Alert: Pine Bros Softish Throat Relief drops are also manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts and tree nuts.

Be sure to follow Pine Bros on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

WHAT I THOUGHT

Wild Honey puck

I have horrible winter allergies. They kick my butt - sneezing, coughing, and just feeling miserable. But the one thing that bothers me is the dry throat. As someone who likes to talk a lot, it's hard to stay in conversation when my throat is dry and scratchy. Not exactly attractive if you're talking to someone you really like.

Like I said, my family love Pine Bros. It's a nice and refreshing change after using other throat drops for years. When I was little, I refused to use the hard drops because it just tasted like medicine. But Pine Bros Softish Throat Relief drops do not taste like medicine! It has a nice natural flavor that makes using them more bearable. The drops are soft - kind of like the gummy candy, only not as soft. On a day I could hardly talk because of my throat, I popped in a Natural Honey drop (my favorite), and within 5 minutes, my throat wasn't as dry and scratchy.

The Wild Cherry tastes like cherry without the yucky medicine taste. I wish I had these when I was little - I wouldn't have minded using them! The Lemon Citrus flavor was okay. It was delicious at first, especially since I love sour flavors. But after a while, it kind of started leaving a bad taste in my mouth. It's not a favorite of mine.

I have pucks (which is a great name for it, by the way! Hockey, anyone?) and bags all over the house, so now one one has a reason to deal with a sore or dry/scratchy throat on their own!

Natural Health - Free 1-Year Subscription!

This freebie goes perfectly with those "want to get healthier" goals! For a limited time, you enjoy a 1 year digital Natural Health subscription sponsored by JudysHealthySnacks. No strings attached. You'll never receive a bill. Powered by Zinio. Read it on your computer, iPad or any Zinio enabled device.

How To Keep Those 2015 Goals!

(Photo Credit)

For a long time, I would make "resolutions", but I never reached them because I don't think I was motivated enough. Plus the word "resolutions" is really motivational enough for me. So I started calling them "goals" and started to be more specific in what I wanted to do. I actually found ways to make it a little more easier to keep those goals!

So if you made goals for this year, here are a few tips to keeping those goals all year long:

1. Be ambitious but make sure their are achievable.
It's okay to write down that you want to lose 20-50 pounds , but make sure that it is possible for you to do that. Not everyone has the ability to lose the amount of weight they want (personal problems, different abilities) so if you write down how much weight you want to lose, be sure that you can reach that goal. Ambitious goals are inspiring, but making them too difficult can lead to problems in getting there. It's okay to ask, "What do I get out of it? What would my end result possibly be?".

2. Set up a time frame.
Setting up time frames for each goals makes you want to work that much harder towards that goal. But don't make it ridiculously short (like 2 months to stop smoking) because you may set yourself up for failure.

3. Don't beat yourself up.
Didn't reach an aspect of your goal that you wanted to in the time frame you set? That's okay! Life gets in the way, and we're not always able to do that what we want. Once you feel you are ready, dust yourself off, and try again.

4. Allow for mistakes.
When it comes to going for a goal you haven't done before, there are bound to be mistakes. You don't stretch before exercising and end up in bed for a week or two. You get into a new relationship only to find out that there is something wrong, and it is because of you. We're human - we make mistakes. Don't let those mistakes defeat you.

5. Don't stop once you reach it your goal.
Some people, once they reach their goal, stop trying to become the best they can be at whatever their goal was. And once that happens, They end up forgetting what they learned, stop trying to lose even more weight, or stop organizing everything. After all of that hard work to just stop trying once they reach the goal, was it really even worth it in the beginning?

Okay, so to recap: Make sure the goals are achievable. Set up time frames for achieving those goals. Allow for life to happen. Mistakes are bound to be a part of it. Don't stop once you reach the top!

What are your goals for 2015?

Check us out on social media!