Simply.Progress.

Hello-o  Progress!!!! It seems so simple, but we have to ask. Isn't that a fantastic goal? Simply, to make progress.  Making progress pretty much applies to any situation you can think of, work, sports, relationships, school, creativity or knowledge. What does entering each day better than the last do? It creates possibilities!  So whether you're chasing a dream that seems out of reach, sitting pretty in the comfortable confines of life or striving for greater happiness...take that step to be better.

One way to get better is to learn through experiences. If we choose to see mistakes in a different light they can usually be waved with the wand of opportunity. Have you noticed that moments of failure often end with a silent promise to yourself to be better? That's why we long for one more chance to prove to ourselves that we've learned.

We too can learn from positive situations or success as they give us a perfect chance to reflect.  How many times have you been so happy to move onto the next event or task that you've neglected to take a few seconds and reflect on how exactly you achieved success? Some of the greatest opportunities for growth come from analyzing situations and determining what we could have done better or different.  This allows us to gain a deeper understanding  of ourselves and how exactly we can achieve success in the future.

It takes just one step each day to be better.  A step that stretches you to grow upward and onward.  What does your vision of upward and onward look like?

Get Excited...It's FRIDAY!!!

Ahhh Friday!  Oh what a relief it is. People are a little sweeter, smiles are a little brighter and it’s safe to say we all have an extra pep in our step. Yes, that’s right HaPpY FrIdAy and HaLlElUjAh --you’ve officially made it! TGIF is in full effect!

So since we’re dedicating the Blog to the day of Fri, we figured we should give our individual thoughts on what we feel it resembles...

Nik: “Friday is like the color hot pink!!! It’s vibrant and always in style (especially if you have a tan).”

Tiff: “Friday is like a perfect cup of coffee (Specifically, the flavor Butter Toffee, 1 splenda, HOLD THE MILK, most importantly-- brewed with lots of love). SoooOOoo good to... the... last…drop…then, I suddenly realize I brewed it--meaning FREE REFILLS! WOOT WOOT!”

Have an incredible Friday and please share YOUR thoughts on what is qualified as fantastic enough to be compared to the best day of the week!

What's YOUR "Go To" song(s)? Here's Our Choices!

Whether you’re working out, on your way to work, or ready to “work it” on a Friday night you probably have a 'go to' song that fits the given situation.  We thought we would share two different songs that we are absolutely lovin’ right now. The main reason we enjoy both these songs SoOOooOo much is because of the actual LYRICS and what they stand for--yep we're cheesy! It’s no secret we all have different preferences when it comes to music so odds are you may not like the genre of songs we have selected...all we’re saying is the lyrics to both of us are as powerful as CHUCK NORRIS in a fight – with a brown bear—in Alaska—unbuttoned jean shirt, showing that chest hair–during a Blizzard -- okay we’re getting carried away, sorry! (hypothetically speaking, we wonder what CHUCK’s playlist consists of– Queen,AC/DC,Lynyrd Skynyrd?)

Here’s our list… We hope you enjoy and find our choices just as powerful!

First Song Stats: Eli Young Band: “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.” Best listened to when working on your passion, envisioning your dreams, pre/post-workout, or in chill mode…

FAVORITE LYRICS FROM SONG:

Some dreams keep on getting’ better,
gotta keep believin’ if you wanna know for sure.

.. Ohhh, I can hear em singin,
"Keep on dreamin, even if it breaks your heart."

Second Song Stats: Justin Hines: “Say What You Will.” Best listened to first thing in the morning, last thing before bed. Feeling sentimental or going through a tough time (BEN & JERRY in the HOUSE and Kleenex on the COUCH!)? Reflection time. Feeling thankful? —> You should probably Wiki/YouTube (SOPA what's up now?!) his story if you have time... incredible  
FAVORITE LYRICS FROM SONG:
And all the time that I was holding back,
Just trying to protect myself,
well I want you to know I loved you more than that.

… Say what you will before it’s too late.

What’s YOUR GO TO song RIGHT NOW?! We want to hear about other songs that are on YOUR must play POWER List (on Chuck Norris' level of course)…P-L-E-A-S-E share…any genre (we definitely listen to all –  as stated before there are songs for different situations and you best believe we get down to Lil’ Weezy on occasion: Robin Thicke ft. Lil Wayne: Pretty Lil’ Heart is a downloadable MUST as well)!!!!

Clutch Gene…Does it exist? Do you have it?

According to 10/10 doctors a clutch gene is NOT included on the long list of inheritable genes. We can acknowledge that a clutch gene is not inheritable however; we do believe it exists and you just may have it!  So, what the heck is a clutch gene? We’re not claiming to be Mr. Webster’s Dictionary but we’ve gathered that the fortunate few who posses the clutch gene have the ability to embrace and become the MVP of big moments in life (biggest moments on the biggest stage within a given industry). These MVP’s appear to have a superhuman ability to slow down the critical moment and see it with clarity.  They have the intangibles to will themselves and others to get the job done no matter what it takes.

The field of athletics is probably the most recognizable stage where the clutch gene is exposed.  You’ve witnessed sporting events where a select few always seem to do the right thing at the right time (often at the most critical point in a game)…  From Michael Jordan, Albert Pujols and the Honey Badger to the current star, Tim Tebow, these folks always seem to rise to the occasion. They are the ‘go to’ guys. Well, we can assure you that as good as they are they don’t ALWAYS come through (M.J. missed 26 game winning shots in his amazing career). The interesting thing is that it doesn’t matter to them what their previous outcome was, (success or failure). They want the pressure of the key role the next time around.  They never fear failure. In fact, they never believe that failure is an option. As golfing legend Nick Faldo puts it “self belief is the most important club in your golf bag”.

It’s also evident that the clutch gene is valuable and present in almost ALL professions and industries. Let’s consider Doctors, EMT’s, Firemen, Policeman, Soldiers, etc.! You think a Doctor who performs an emergency surgery isn’t clutch? How about a Fireman who risks his life attempting to save a family in a burning house? Talk about pressure when someone’s life is in your hands! Do you think they have enough time to possibly weigh all of the risks associated with each move they make? Nope. They just do it.

Business requires a clutch gene too! How about the guy who gets the BIG $$$ sale when no one is spending? Some people just find a way to come through! And finally, giving a kick @$$ presentation to top executives is easier said than done… but it is DEFINITELY doable…our dad Bruce is practically a legend when it comes to presentations and speeches! To those of you who were lucky enough to witness his “Wedding Speech,” we’ve got news for you... that’s how he ran most of his meetings during his 35 year tenure! (Unfortunately we did not inherit his ability)

What does it take…Do you want it bad enough…Do want it at all?

In summary, scientists have not been able to isolate and identify an actual ‘clutch gene,’ but it is a fact that there is a fortunate minority of people that seem to possess it.  By a remarkable coincidence these same folks also seem to share a few important characteristics such as preparation, self belief, and an absence of fear……

What Will You DO in 2012?

Somebody’s got a case of the Mondays? Well, good news folks it’s Tuesday!! Although it may feel more like a Monday (especially if it’s your first day back to work). Holiday hangover anyone? Guess what though...there's more good news for you; 2012 is a leap year giving YOU a whole extra day to accomplish and fulfill the New Year’s resolution you just made. Yayyy…That’s right 366 days, 8784 hours, 527,040 minutes and 31,622,400 seconds (check the math—dare ya!) to do EXACTLY what you set out to do-- accomplish those goals and hopefully make this the best year yet! 

There’s just one problem…that the extra day may (and by may we mean probably will) be tallied as another day you DID NOT stick with the self-improvement mindset.  Unfortunately, research shows more than half of people do not even stick with their resolution for 6 months. Confession time! We too are more than guilty of not sticking to our past resolutions! Let’s face it; we as a society are creatures of habit. For both of us, our habit of choice includes over-indulging on sweet treats on the daily (sometimes hourly) and that is a tough habit to kick. Another crazy fact is that it takes 90 days to make a habit or break a habit. So that means to conquer our resolutions and make new positive habits (while kicking the negative ones) we have to at make it to the 90 day/13 week mark (March 30^th)!

So for laughs, let’s take the classic resolution—LOSING WEIGHT.  Weight loss itself is a difficult task but includes a fairly simple formula: Total calories consumed – calories expended<(must be less than) your daily suggested calorie intake. Of course there is more to it but just roll with it people (or person—depending on how many people have read this far)!  Back to losing weight…so for example let’s say “our friend” wants to lose 20 lbs. For some people it’s super overwhelming to even think about lifting 20 lbs., let alone losing 20 lbs…but I assure you, you can do it…if you want to bad enough!  

First, let’s break that big ol’ number 20 into smaller increments…how about we divide the 20 pounds over the amount of time it takes for most people to give up on their resolution (only 6 months). In this case during the time span of January 1^st to June 30^th (182 days, 26 weeks) you would need to lose a little over ¾ of a lb. a week. Totally doable!  Also meaning, on average you will need to cut (through diet) or burn (with exercise) an extra 385 calories a day or about 2695 calories a week. Realistically, you are going to have days where you rock it (Richard Simmons style) and days where you want to crawl under a rock (red velvet cake anyone?), but that’s life! 

 So what else is important in the resolution process? Well you better hurry up for starters (363 days woohoo) and if you must hurry up that means we must zip it up! To ensure that you do NOT allow yourself to fall victim to the resolution downfall, get your mind right--quitting simply can not be an option. Along with the previous tips we have constructed a short list to what we feel is important (NOTE: We are definitely not experts, nor dieticians for that matter, so please share your ideas and thoughts):

1.  You have to put yourself on YOUR priority list.  Mom’s unfortunately are the worst at this… between carting kids to/from events -grocery shopping -cleaning-laundry-dishes -lil Billy being sick -more laundry- lil Billy is recovered but now has poison ivy…okay you get the point-and THE POINT is you are going to have to carve out time for yourself. Trust me the precious boogers will actually appreciate you more if you’re not always accessible. Schedule it and stick to it!
2. For gosh sakes write down your resolution/goals! Do it..Now! Really. Rumor has it (Adele anyone?) that if you write down your goals (essentially a resolution) you will be 80% more likely to achieve them in the future.  What’d you have for lunch 10 days ago? A little off subject but we bet you can’t remember (keep reading for the point to this question.)..hence, we believe it is just as important to frequently read your list over again-- put them in a place where you will be forced to look them over (ex, bathroom mirror, daily planner) to remind yourself what the heck you are doing.
3. Track/picture your progress.  Tracking your progress can be an amazing motivational tool while allowing yourself to be inspired by your personal progress at the same time. Keep picturing the “new you” until your vision/goal turns into reality.  A wise lady once said “You become what you think about all the time”-Loren Ridinger.
4. Have an “Accountability Partner” (A.P.). Fortunately, we can use each other as an A.P. (sista..sista!). You should also have someone that holds you to your goals and looks out for your best interest (even though YOU may think you need a 3^rd piece of pie this is where the A.P. should flash their badge). We recommend warning your new A.P. that you may get upset at them from time to time for holding you accountable but stress to them that they shouldn’t take it personally.  Going hand in hand with this suggestion we’ve found that people you’re closest to are usually the best option... cuz let’s be honest they’ve seen your crazy and everyone’s crazy is a little different and should only be exposed to a limited number of people.
5. Don’t expect perfection.  Lord knows (literally—if you're a Believer..or "Tebow" on occasion-google it!) that no one is perfect. Setting realistic expectations for yourself is crucial and if you break the realistic expectations you’ve set…big deal. Rome wasn’t built in a day and my Grandfather isn’t going to be a GQ model at age 86 either! As a matter of fact you should schedule mini-splurges or treats for yourself just don’t take it too far. Going cold turkey is never a healthy idea unless it’s on a delicious sandwich. Get back on the bandwagon and regroup because tomorrow is a new day!

That’s all we got… hope we didn’t delay your resolution success and we wish you much excitement in the coming year!

Tell us...how do you find the latest and greatest?

SoOoO much information and soOoO little time to scour the web for the latest and greatest.

In an attempt uncover a few new finds in website world, we’ve dedicated this blog to hearing from you! So our question is… If you could only visit ONE website for your must have info, what would it be? Think of it as the ONE website you could not live without! Your interest can be focused on news, sports, mommy-hood, humor, fashion, fitness, gossip, or all of the above…anything that get’s you to the goods.

PS Feel free to start your Friday with a little sass!

Slump BUST OUT!

Haven’t felt like yourself lately? Whether you’ve been under the weather, not been turning in your typical quality work, or even had a string of bad luck, there are certain things you can do to change the recent tides back in a positive direction. These "recent tides," could be characterized as a slump and every athlete knows they’re prone to experience one at some point in time. So yes, unfortunately, we are prone slumps in our  personal life as well.

In athletics a slump buster is crucial and something that requires a change---ultimately triggering a positive outcome. In life we need slump buster's too!!! Have you ever heard the saying, “Keep doing what you’ve always done and you’ll keep getting what you’ve always gotten?” Essentially, if you keep doing what you’ve been doing the odds of breaking out of a slump are less likely.
Begin by trying a new approach, having a new outlook and WILLING yourself to positivity.


Life wise: Definitely consider switching things up when you’re in a life slump. It’s not only good for you, but it helps extinguish the boredom and monotony of everyday life. We also think its fun to keep our most favorite people on their toes! HelloOoO, you are secretly saving them from a boring life and doing a good deed all at the same time! By the way, no one wants to be around a Debbie Downer-Double Frowner as spring quickly approaches. To bust outta that slump, here are a few suggestions for starters:

· Take a look at the BIG picture and concentrate on the positive(s) within your life—what brings you joy?
· Commit to staying active! Sharing an honest moment, we have started P90X twice without actually finishing it. But as our witness, we promise to finish it, we HAVE to do it! And of course, endorphins make you happy, right?
· Take a mini-vacay
· Go on an overdue date night with your special someone
· Look at pictures that remind you of fond memories.


Sports wise: With softball and baseball season underway let’s consider the following scenario: You’ve had 0 hits in your last 20 at bats…YIKES! So let’s switch things up by executing a bunt -PS- this is your slump buster. By catching the other team off guard, you are now standing safely on first base (way to go). Now the seed has been planted and your previous choices will influence the defense for future at bats. So next time, the defense may come in half a step expecting another possible bunt. That small step could result in a hit that’s barely out of the 3rd baseman’s reach…this is a game of inches (and so is life). When analyzing your next move always consider “taking what the defense gives you!”