Elevator Talk With Michelle

Hi and welcome back to another Elevator Talk. Todays topic is all about setting your goals for 2021. 

1. Be Specific. What do you want to achieve? You need to specific (dot every “I” and cross every “t”). You may want to ask yourself why you want to achieve the specific goals you are writing down.

2. Make Your Goals Measurable. If they aren’t measurable, then how will you know you have achieved them? Also, its best to break them down into small sections so you don’t get overwhelmed. You need to know how long it will take to achieve each goal (a day, a month, a week or a year).

3. Set Deadlines For Your Goals. Otherwise you will drag that goal out for ever and a day.

4. Make Sure Your Goals Are What You Want To Do. If your goal isn’t something you want, then you wont stick with it. PERIOD! You have no skin in the game, because you aren’t doing what you are doing for you. You are doing it to please someone else.

5. Put Your Goals On Paper. If you have been around me any length of time, then you know I am a big believer of writing down your goals. That’s why I created my vision book and not a vision board, eve thought I think they are great. Writing down your goal, allows you to write out the steps you need to take in order to reach your goal. You need to have each step figured out in order to get the result you are looking for.

6. You should have goals in the following areas: Fitness goals (getting healthy), family goals (vacations, etc.), spiritual goals (becoming more active in your church, starting a devotional plan, attending bible study, etc.), career goals (what’s your next step), education goals (going back to school, etc.) and financial goals (getting out of debt, building up your savings, etc.).

Hi and welcome back to day 12 of my 12 Day Of Christmas series. Thank you so much for listening to this series and I hope you enjoy the reading of one of my favorite Christmas stories. I want you all to a very Merry Christmas and enjoy your day to the fullest, as you remember the reason for the season.

One of the oldest and most popular Christmas poems ever, commonly referred to as “Twas The Night Before Christmas,” was written in the early 19th century. Though its author is disputed, with the poem being attributed to both Clement Clarke Moore and Henry Livingston Jr. over the years, it was definitely first published on Dec. 23, 1823 in the Troy Sentinel newspaper in upstate New York. It is also referred to as “A Visit From St. Nicholas” or “The Night Before Christmas.”

Here are the original lyrics to the poem:

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all threw’ the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads. And Mama in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow, Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below; When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: “Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer, and Vixen, “On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Donder and Blixen; “To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! “Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of Toys - and St. Nicholas too:

And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof, The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.  As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound: He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnish’d with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys was flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack: His eyes - how they twinkled! his dimples how merry, His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry; His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face, and a little round belly. That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly:

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

He sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle: But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight- Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

1. What Is Your Favorite Thing About The Person Sitting Next To You?

2. Share A Christmas Shopping Fail.

3. What 3 Words Would You Use To Describe Your Family?

4. What Is The Nicest Thing The Person Sitting Across From You Has Done?

5. If You Could Only Celebrate Christmas With One Person, Who Would It Be And Why?

6. Who Is The Funniest Person Sitting At The Table And Why?

7. If You Could Only Eat One Dish From This Table For The Rest Of The Year, What Would It Be?

8. What’s On Your Christmas Wish List?

9. If Money Were Not An Issue Where Would You Want The Next Family Reunion To Be?

10. Describe Your Life 1 Year From Now.

11. What Is Your All-Time Favorite Toy?

12. What Would You Do If You And The Whole Family Were Snowed In For An Entire Month?

13. What Is The Hardest Thing About Being (fill in your age) Years Old?

14. If You Had The Attention Of The World For 30 Seconds, What Would You Say?

15. If You Were Given $5000 To Help Other People, How Would You Spend It?

16. It Wouldn’t Be Christmas Without (fill in the blank).

17. What Is The Funniest Thing Your Parent/Kid Has Ever Done?

18. If You Could Give One Present To The Whole World, What Would It Be And Why?

Hi and welcome back to day 10 of my 12 Days Of Christmas series. Today I am sharing some easy Christmas cocktail recopies, that you can try at home.

1. Tropical Bourbon Punch- This citrus-y bourbon drink is extra merry and bright, and it can be made in a large batch to serve all of your family or friends.

2. Cider Hot Toddy- A hot toddy is a perfect drink to warm you up all winter, and this one adds a splash of cider to bring out even more cozy autumnal flavors.

3. Elisa's Champagne Cocktail- This champagne-based drink is the perfect way to add a bit of sweet bubbly to your holiday festivities.

4. Pomegranate Royal- Sip on this bubbly cocktail that uses pomegranate seeds to add some texture to it.

5. Guilt-Free Margaritas- Although a summer-y drink, these guilt-free margaritas, which only have 80 calories, will help you feel a little less guilty about indulging during the holiday season.

6. Orange-Cranberry Mimosa- Sip on this bubbly drink Christmas morning or at holiday brunch.

7. Slow-Cooker Peppermint Bark Hot Chocolate- It doesn't get any more festive than hot chocolate and peppermint. Combine the two and add crème de menthe or vodka for this comforting drink.

8. Christmas Cosmopolitan- Turn the classic Cosmo into a holiday treat with a little pomegranate juice.

9. Peppermintinis- Spice up this peppermint martini by lining the glass with little crushed up candy cane bits. Peppermintastic!

10. White Russian- White Russians are good anytime of year, but the softness of the cream mixed with Kahlua makes them the perfect combination of heavy and soft to be a tried and true holiday drink.

11. Cranberry Mimosas- Garnish these mimosas with a sprig of rosemary and some fresh cranberries to be extra festive.

12. Boozy Butterbeer Punch- Happy Christmas, Harry! Try this Harry Potter-inspired Christmas drink that'll transport you to holiday festivities in the grand hall at Hogwarts.

13. Caramel Snickerdoodle Martini- Snickerdoodle cookies are a favorite in the Christmas cookie lineup. Get all the spicy, delicious snickerdoodle flavors in this cookie-inspired cocktail.

14. Grapefruit and Rosemary Mimosa- An interesting take on the classic mimosa that subs out orange juice with grapefruit juice. Add a spring of rosemary for garnish!

15. White Christmas Margaritas- It's always a white Christmas with these festive margs, made with coconut milk, silver tequila, and lime juice.

16. Spiced Mexican Hot Chocolate- A splash of bourbon in this adult-only hot chocolate is the perfect way to warm up on a cold day.

17. Mulled Wine- This mulled wine will warm you right up on a cold winter's day. With apple cider, brown sugar, orange and cinnamon sticks, this will be a go-to for cold seasons to come.

Hi and welcome back to day 9, of my 12 Days Of Christmas series. Todays topic is all about staying it during the holiday season.

1. Make Staying Fit A Priority. Registered dietitian and certified specialist in sports dietetics Lindsey Pine suggests signing up for seasonal activities. She recommends signing up for fun runs, half marathons or obstacle course races. This is a great way to stay fit and do it with friends, family members and random strangers (just remember to socially distance yourself and wear a mask).

2. Take a Brisk Walk (or Jog). You can take a walk or jog before you eat that big meal and/or after that big meal. It doesn’t have to be a long walk or jog, you can do a brisk 10 min run/walk or you can do an hour run/walk. Because of COVID, I am not going to the gym right now, I am riding my spinning bike and sometimes I am lazy but I want to get my cardio in, so I do the 20 minute intense ride.

3. Workout Inside. If the weather isn’t perfect (i.e. to cold, to hot (depending on where you live) you can do your pushups, sit-ups, body weight squats, ab crunches, get some dumbbells (5lb, 8lb, 10lb, 15lb and 20lbs) Use these exercises to create a circuit. Example: I can ride my bike for 5mins, do 20 push-ups, 20 sit-ups, 20 ab crunches, 20 body weight squats, 10 bicep curls, 10 tricep extensions, rest and then repeat.

4. Drink Plenty Of Water. I know it’s the holiday season and many of you will be getting your drink on. But please make sure you are drinking responsibly and get in plenty of water. You have to drink your water, even though it’s the holiday season. Yes, you can substitute one or two of those cups of water w/your favorite tea (Earl Gray, Peppermint, lemon ginger, etc.)

5. Reward Yourself. Create a reward for sticking to your workout plan. You can treat yourself to a new purse, a piece of jewelry, getting your hair done, get your nails done, purchase a new pair of shoes and the list can go on and on. Now for every day you miss working out, you can pay a fine (you decide the dollar amount) and put it in a jar and save it for later.

I would like to know how you all are choosing to stay healthy during the holiday season! Never use the holidays as an excuse for falling off the healthy eating and exercising wagon.

Hi and welcome back to Day 8 of my 12 Days Of Christmas series. Today I am giving you come really great ideas to put on your holiday buck list. The best way to create an unforgettable Christmas is with a plan. Even if it’s a flexible one. So, don’t let this time slip by! This year is going to look different for many people, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t safely enjoy yourself. Those happy memories are waiting for you. Now, let’s jump into our list of ideas!

1. Take a family Christmas photo and have it framed.

2. Write a letter to Santa.

3. Make treats for neighbors.

4. Decorate the Christmas tree as a family.

5. Kiss your special someone under the mistletoe.

6. Schedule a Christmas tree campout.

7. Do a random act of kindness. 

· Donate food to a food bank.

· Pay for the persons meal behind you at your favorite drive-thru restaurant or coffee shop.

· Leave candy canes on your neighbor’s doorstep.

8. Have a family game night.

9. Put on matching pajamas and watch Holiday movies together.

10. Make special Christmas cards for the extra special people in your life.

11. Put together a gingerbread house.

12. Work on a Christmas puzzle.

13. Wrap Christmas gifts together.

14. Read Christmas books to your children or read your favorite Christmas story. (My favorite book is the Polar Express).

15. Create small Christmas treat bags for residents at a nursing home.

16. Adopt a family in need.

17. Let your kids decorate their rooms with Holiday cheer.

18. Drink hot beverages by the fireplace. You could hot tea, hot chocolate, coffee, etc.

19. Drive around looking at Christmas decorations, it’s free, you can get some really great ideas and it’s a lot of fun.

20. Build a snowman together. 

21. Go sledding together.

22. Make homemade eggnog.

23. Bake Christmas cookies.

24. Create or try a new holiday recipe, that will become a holiday tradition.

25. Donate gently used toys, that your kids are no longer playing with.

26. Attend a tree lighting ceremony (making sure to wear your mask and socially distance yourself.

27. Volunteer!

28. Pick out your Christmas tree together as a family.

29. Plan a cozy holiday date for just you and your spouse. You can watch a Holiday movie curled up on the couch or in bed, have a quiet dinner or have a cocktail.

30. Make a special holiday wreath to keep or giveaway.

31. Take a holiday winter walk. Please be sure to dress warm.

32. Make DIY gift(s) from your heart.

33. Reach out to someone you haven’t talked to in a while.

34. Take a Christmas break (from work, social media, household chores, etc.)

35. Pay to have your house professionally cleaned.

BONUS: Stay healthy. Make sure you exercise and eat somewhat healthy.

Hi and welcome back to Day 7 of my 12 Days Of Christmas Holiday series. Today I will be talking about some great holiday drinks at Starbucks this year.

1. Caramel Brulée Latte- Steamed milk with an espresso, flavored with a caramel Brulée sauce and topped with whipped cream and caramel Brulée topping.

2. Chestnut Praline Latte- A seasonal chestnut infused chocolate flavour in espresso with steamed milk, topped with whipped cream.

3. Fudge Hot Chocolate- A deliciously creamy, chocolaty blend, topped with whipped cream and golden white chocolate curls. (Not Available In The US)

4. Eggnog Latte- The Starbucks Christmas classic. Real eggnog, mixed with a bit of milk, espresso, and topped with nutmeg on top.

5. Gingerbread Latte-Another Christmas classic, a fresh latte with a couple of shots of gingerbread syrup, topped with whipped cream and nutmeg.

6. Honey And Almond Hot Chocolate- Mocha and almond syrup blended with steamed milk, topped with chocolate, whipped cream and finished with swirls of mocha and honey drizzles. (Not Available In The US)

7. Peppermint Mocha- A classic mocha with peppermint syrup, topped with whipped cream and some festive red sprinkles.

8. Toffee Nut Latte- A freshly steamed latte with toffee nut syrup and crunchy toffee sprinkles. (Not Available In The US)

Hi and welcome back to Day 6 of my 12 Days Of Christmas series. Todays topic is all about holiday traditions you can start this year. The holidays are going to look a little different this year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate the season with lots of love, joy and togetherness (even if some of it happens via Zoom). From Christmas tree campouts to virtual snowmen building competitions, here are some ideas for new holiday traditions that will make this festive season the best one yet.

1. Throw A Holiday Movie Marathon. Pick a day and watch nothing but holiday movies with your family, friends or by yourself. I promise you will love it.

2. Do A Mug Swap. Pretty much everybody owns a mug (for me, I own several). So why not swap some of yours with some of your friends and they can do the same.

3. Drive Through Your Neighborhood And Checkout The Beautiful Holiday Lights. I remember my Mom and Dad, taking my Brother, Sister and myself drive to see the holiday lights and it was always so much fun. This is both festive and you can socially distance yourself from other people.

4. Have A Hot Chocolate And S’Mores Night. You can use store bought hot chocolate or you can make your own. Plus if you don’t have a fireplace, you can order an indoor s’mores maker.

5. Have A Christmas Tree Campout. Bring your sleeping bags into the living room so that you can snuggle by the tree and admire your hard work, all night. Wait, don’t forget the hot cocoa and/or Eggnog.

6. Pound Cake Decorating Contest. Instead of decorating gingerbread cookies and houses this year, you can buy a store bought Sara Lee All Butter Pound Cake (we are working smarter and not harder). Pull together your favorite toppings (whipped cream, fruit, candy, nuts, etc.) in separate bowls. Each person gets a slice of pound cake and let the decorating begin. Every is a winner, because you get to eat your own creation.

7. Write A Holiday Letter. Every member of your family can write one thing they are grateful for this year and after everyone has written down what they are grateful for, make sure everyone signs the card. This is perfect to send to other family members, instead of sending text messages or emails.

8. Donate Clothes & Food To Those In Need. Start this year and making it an annual tradition to help those who are less fortunate. It can be through your Church or local shelter. Make it an annual winter tradition to help those less fortunate. We all have gently used clothes, coats and scarfs and hats, that we can give away. You can always donate non-perishable can goods to soup kitchens or donate money. They are hosting a toy drive, seek out the nearest food bank and figure out what nonperishables they need or donate money, every little bit helps.

Hi and welcome back to Day 5 of my 12 Days Of Christmas Series. Todays topic is all about last minute Christmas shopping ideas. So you promised yourself, you wouldn’t wait until the last minute to do your shopping and here  you are. It’s the 11th hour and you haven’t started your holiday shopping. You have a shopping list a Country Mile long and you don’t know where to start.  Well here are some things you can do:

1. Try Shopping During Non-Peak Hours. “Non-peak hours” is retail-speak for “really early or really late.” Basically, don’t go at times when everyone else is going. That way, you won’t have to deal with long lines, and you can hit more stores. It’s really that simple. Since stores restock overnight, you are more than likely to find stuff on your list

2. Gove Subscriptions. For the serious TV and movie watchers on your list, you should get them a gift that keeps on giving such as: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, or Sling Orange. You might want to give a subscription to the book lovers on your list as well and you can use one of these: Kindle Unlimited, Scribd, Playster, and Oyster. You may also want to try: Audible, SimplyAudioBooks, and OverDrive.

3. Gift Cards. Now I know that a gift card usually says the person didn’t have time to shop for you, but they didn’t want to show up empty handed. It is ago a great gift to give to that person who is hard to shop for. It allows them to buy what they really want and not what you want them to have. The good thing about it is, you can get gift cards pretty much everywhere.

4. Find Discounts. One of the big problems with last-minute shopping is that you can end up getting stuck with high prices. Well now you can compare prices between different stores and find promo codes. Here are some websites you may want to check out: PriceGrabber.com, Google Shopping, Shopping.net, Nextag.com, or Shopzilla. If you are looking for promo codes, you want to check out these sites: DealNews.com, SlickDeals.com, RetailMeNot.com, BradsDeals.com, or CouponSherpa.com.

5. Use Amazon Prime. If you already have Amazon Prime, great! You should be able to order your items and have them show up on time, but you might be also able to get same day shipping or overnight shipping. This is going to depend on where you live.

Hi and welcome back to day 4 of my 12 Days Of Christmas series. Today I am going to be sharing some great Holiday movies that are a much watch. Netflix is making a lot of original content, and its lineup of original Christmas movies for 2020 for kids, families, and adults is sure to be even bigger than last year’s, which was large enough to give Hallmark a run for its money. Netflix has just started releasing its new Christmas movies for 2020.

1. Holidate

2. Klaus 

3. The Knight Before Christmas

4. Holiday Rush

5. Holiday in the Wild

6. Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch

7. Operation Christmas Drop

8. Jingle Jangle

9. The Princess Switch

10. Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square

11. The Christmas Chronicles

12. The Christmas Chronicles 2

13. A Christmas Prince

14. A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding

15. A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby

16. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

17. The Holiday Calendar

18. Christmas Inheritance

19. Christmas Wedding Planner

20. Christmas With A View

21. This Christmas

22. Christmas In The Smokies

23. White Christmas