Today, let's dive into something that's not only delicious but also has the power to lift your spirits—food! Yep, you heard me right. Certain foods have this amazing ability to not just fill our bellies but also make us feel like we're walking on sunshine. So, let me share with you my top picks for mood-boosting munchies:

​This is Bella. She is 5 pounds of nothing but LOVE!

​Whenever someone comes to the front door she greets them with every ounce of LOVE she has in her tiny little body! It doesn't matter who is at the door, me, my husband, a friend, a package, she is consistent! She greets everyone with the same amount of LOVE!

In times like this, we need to remember that we cannot control the situation but we can choose how to perceive it.  For instance, the term “Social Distancing” sets us up for a negative mindset of perceived social isolation when really we should be “socially connecting while physically distancing.”  When you flip to this mindset and perception, it is easier to see the opportunities for connection.

Singles looking to meet other singles still have options despite the stay at home suggestion!  In fact, I personally believe this is the absolute best time for singles to be dating, virtually that is!   Keep using your favorite dating app or try out a few new ones to find new potential dates.  Learn how to virtually date “like a pro,” using the suggestions below. ​

Once upon a time, a cow went out to graze in the jungle.
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Suddenly, she noticed a tiger racing towards her. She turned and fled, fearing that at any moment the tiger would sink his claws into her. The cow desperately looked for someplace to escape and at last, saw a shallow pond. Barely evading the tiger’s reach, she jumped into the pond, and in the heat of the chase, the tiger blindly leaped after her.

Dr. John Gottman’s empirically-based theory, the Sound Relationship House, describes what couples in the good healthy relationships do and have.   They have built their relationship foundation by building their love maps, they share fondness and admiration, they turn towards each other instead of away, they maintain a positive perspective, know how to manage conflict, they make life dreams come true, they create shared meaning all within the walls of trust and commitment.  So what does all of this actually mean?
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So many people become caught up in the monotonous trap of existing through what they perceive life to be.  They wake up and start their normal routine; eat the same breakfast, take the same route to work, eat lunch at the same restaurant, finish work, take the same route home, have the same dinner, watch the same TV shows, sign on to the same website, go to sleep and wake up only to do it all over again the very next day.  Some people even consider themselves happy with the comfort of such a routine.  To this I have to ask:  when is the last time you laughed so hard it made you belly hurt? ​

Sometimes it’s not about who you have been in the past or even who you are today but more about who you want to become…

In this complicated world of dating and relationships I believe there are two very clear, black and white types of relationships.  I choose to define them in a very simple way at this point in my life…or maybe it’s just the cold medicine kicking in…LOL!

There are those people out there that help you.  People who are supportive in your decisions and life choices and inspire you to best the best person you can be. These are people you can count on, the ones that will always be there for you and put a smile on your face.​

A few days ago I signed up for  on line webinar for a life coaching class. One of the things they talked about is that a lot of us do not know how to say Thank you. We often feel guilty when someone gives us a compliment. Now we don’t think on the surface we feel guilty; it is mostly subconsciously. For example when someone says,” Hey you look great in that dress.” Most of us instead of saying thank you we will say something like,” OH I got it on sale or you would look better in it than me”. This is a pattern I think I have had all of my life. It stemmed from childhood poverty then adult insecurities left over from broken relationships. Somewhere along the line I never learned to just say Thank You! After that hour webinar I was so excited and told myself I would practice saying Thank you…

Learning to live is actually one of the greatest challenges we face as adults. So many times we get caught up in the monotonous routines of daily life we forget to stop and smell the flowers. Learning to live is learning to enjoy life in the present, to enjoy each spectacular moment. Each day is a blessing with thousands of hidden blessings within and it is our job to find those moments and appreciate each and every one of them. Getting stuck in worries and the “what if’s” or defining yourself through past relationships or experiences is like living with blinders on. Look around your world right now, today, this very moment and experience it. Use all of your senses to find those moments of bliss and take the time to actually FEEL it! See each beautiful object, listen to every magnificent note, touch all of life’s textures and taste the deliciousness of every bite.

Forgiveness is true freedom; most people define forgiveness through forgiving a person and/or their behavior. However there is so much more to forgiveness in order to find inner peace and have the ability to love once more. When you look deep into yourself and have the ability to forgive someone in this way, to be able to forgive yourself, you become less of a victim and you can open up your heart to someone else.

Anger is one of the phases of the grieving process. It is natural to become angry when you have lost something or someone which you truly loved. Anger in itself provides us with a way of becoming the victim and allows us not to have to take responsibility for our mistakes. In order to grow as a person we must learn how to take responsibility for our mistakes, learn from them and press on...

90 % of the single population have either been in or are presently in this emotional state – the emotional state of denial…
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The most common way of falling into a state of denial is by being single for a long period of time.  A long period of time could be 6 months or 10 years, this varies by individual.  Some people need more affection and to these people, a long period of time could be 3 months.  Regardless of the length of time someone is single, the result is always the same.  When someone is single for a long period of time, relatives, friends, neighbors and co-workers start asking them when they are going to find someone and settle down, when are they going to get married etc.  After a while we get tired of making excuses or admitting that we don’t know where to meet the right people.  In this day and age it’s easy to meet people but hard to meet quality people so it’s certainly not anything to be ashamed of.

Most people are familiar with Gary D. Chapman’s 5 Love Languages:  If you are not, I strongly suggest you take the time to learn and understand these as they are a great tool in understanding yourself and your relationships.
But what if there was a 6th Love Language?  Could Humor be the 6th Love Language?

In July of 2013 Gerald Rogers wrote a facebook post that wen’t viral with 138,971 likes, over 1000 comments which lead to several media stories and his book Marriage Advice I Wish I Would’ve Had:  What Divorce Taught Me about Love and Life which is available on Amazon!

This is a MUST READ for all, including my all ready amazing husband LOL

Some of the nicest people I have ever meet are caregivers.  You know the ones, always doing for others, typically putting their own needs aside.  When a caregiver chooses a career it tends to be one in something like social work, teaching, nursing etc.  They choose these career paths because it makes them feel good about themselves.  It gives them purpose.  When they fulfill that “need to be needed” in their career choice great things can be achieved.

We all have them, not all of us are able to admit to them! Once we are able to identify our fears then we have to ask ourselves are we ready to conquer them?  Until we make a concise decision to make a positive change in our life we are unable to move forward in a healthy direction.  

​Many people suffer greatly from the fear of REJECTION. This is very common in 90% of the single male population. With the fear of rejection comes shyness as well. Think about it why does that shy person sit alone in the corner at a party…they are afraid if they talk to someone “it will only result in yet another rejection.”  Most people who suffer from the fear of rejection have a very hard time meeting new people and do not often put themselves in social situations where they can meet new people.

So much can be said without saying a word.  Some research even suggests over 80% of what we communicate is non-verbal.  Understanding some of the key elements of basic body language can help you to date more successfully.  Becoming more aware of the body language you are putting out can help you with not only flirting but in attracting the right person by sending the appropriate signals.  Learning to interpret these unconscious indicators can take some of the guess work out of dating and help to determine if the feelings are mutual.

Many of us experience a “signal disconnect” at some point in our romantic relationships. It could be due to time restrictions, money issues, children and other family responsibilities, or a sense of monotony in the relationship. It’s likely that you still love and care for one another deeply, but have lost the direction to express that regularly. If you’re dealing with this loss of connection or closeness, also referred to as intimacy, in your relationship, here are 3 ways to get out of it.

Getting what you want is not always easy in life, love and relationships.  But it doesn’t have to be that difficult!  The biggest mistakes I see people make is that they are either setting their goals too small or having unrealistic expectations.  Look in the mirror.  Do you like what you see?  You have to love you first before you can truly love anyone else.  What do you have to offer?  Are you asking for more or less than you can bring to the table yourself?​