Resolve to make reasonable resolutions and follow through! You can do it!

The dictionary says: res·o·lu·tion,[rez-uh-loo-shuh n],noun

1. a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.

2. the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc.

3. the mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose.

 

Wikipedia says: A New Year's resolution is a commitment that a person makes to one or more personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit. A key element to a New Year's resolution that sets it apart from other resolutions is that it is made in anticipation of the New Year and new beginnings. People committing themselves to a New Year's resolution generally plan to do so for the whole following year. This lifestyle change is generally interpreted as advantageous.

 

 

Some of the most popular New Year's resolutions are: 

Drink Less Alcohol
Eat Healthy Food
Get a Better Education
Get a Better Job
Get Fit
Lose Weight
Quit Smoking
Save Money 

Volunteer to Help Others

 

Most people successful in their lives that I know say: 

*Make goals reasonable, so that you will keep at the until you reach them. Instead of I am going to lose 50 lbs by Feb 1st, say I am going to exercise 4 times a week, and only have one sugary treat per week). 

*Set them often. Once you have successfully signed up to volunteer at a place you are passionate about, set your goal to spend 15 hours a month there. 

*Set new goals, or revisit goals that might have slipped away from your attention. Remember when you used to do crunches during the commercials of nightly tv time...but now you no longer do it. Get back into that habit!

Keeping a dry erase board on your fridge is a great place to see your current goals, and once they are in your repertoire, a great place to see your newest goal(s). 

 

Mine change often. It keeps me on my toes and working hard. Right now I have two goals listed: 1) learn to play the piano again, 2) jog more ~ 1000 miles for 2013, which is about 20 miles per week. Broken down like that, I know I can do it, and I can take just one week at a time...

 

Past goals have been such things as take a little time every day to listen to and enjoy music more often. It worked! However, when that starts to slip away, I will re-goal it!

 

Speaking of good music, take a look and listen as George Harrison rings in the New Year with this great song. Man, he was my favorite Beatle! 

 

 So good luck as you set your goals! You can do it! Make it fun! You are so worth it!

I am a Putnamaniac making constant resolutions and setting goals and sticking to them!

Resolve to have more fun with me in Putnamaniac ~ see the activity calendar here

Macbeth storms the Bradley Playhouse!

Embarrassingly enough I have never read or seen Macbeth. I do know it is a work of Shakespeare.... but...ummm...that is all I know.

Luckily, I have the chance to check it out because Macbeth is coming to the Bradley Playhouse very soon ~ this coming Friday and Saturday nights (1/4 and 1/5/13) and Sunday afternoon (1/6/13).

I just know that I will love it, and then I will make a beeline over to the Putnam Library and check out the book firsthand.

What do you think?  Have you had the chance to check out the drama and tragedy of Macbeth.  

Meet me at the Bradley Playhouse if you'd like to experience an evil family plot..... dun, dun, dun....

I am a Putnamaniac that can't wait to see Macbeth at the Bradley Playhouse!

See the Putnamania Activity Calendar here

Libraries are like unlocking the Fort Knox of your imagination!

Yup, I'm a fan of going to the library, walking through the stacks, looking at the books, touching the books, reading the jackets... making the big decision, and renting a new life for 2 weeks!

Where else can you ride a dragon, go to Australia, visit the French Revolution, hang with a Hunchback, battle evil, become a nurse...

Yup, again, that is right... go to the library, which is just like going to a travel agent.

I am so lucky to have a great library right down the road... the Putnam Library!

Are you so lucky???? Hit those stacks as often as you can. Make your goal 12 books a year. That is only 1 book a month! You can do it! Reading is FUNdamental!

I am a Putnamaniac that LOVES her local library!!!

Check out upcoming FUN on the Putnamaniac calendar!

I took Taylor Brooke Winery for granted since I lived so close ~ but now I will visit often!

Like most folks, I tend to take things that are so nearby for granted.

Growing up in RI, I was not that far away from Newport and the mansions.  However, I only went to them once, and that was for my prom! Go figure... but I think that is typical behavior that most of us exhibit.

Since I've moved to Putnam, I live very close to the Taylor Brooke Winery, yet I'd never been there until very recently. It was gorgeous and mind you this is the less than stellar time of year... I will be certain to frequent this local treasure, and hope to find many more treasures in my hunting.

Keep hunting yourself! I hope you find you treasures and maybe a bottle of wine will be at the end of the rainbow, like at Taylor Brooke Winery!

I am a Putnamaniac that will try not to take my local treasures for granted!

Putnamaniac fun calendar!

 

There's nothing like some live music to liven things up after Christmas ~ at Bella's Bistro!

As the fun holiday seasons wind down and the not so fun winter season cranks it up a notch, I work pretty hard at finding stuff to do and ways to keep my spirits lifted until the warmer, brighter days come round our way again.

Luckily I live in Putnamania where fun is plentiful!

Live music and theater are part of Putnam, and tomorrow night, Friday, December 28, is no different.

Bella's Bistro hosts live music often, and Sister's Keeper will be playing there tomorrow night, starting at 8:45pm. I have had the pleasure to have heard this group before ~ 3 talented and beautiful sisters ~ and although some may tease me that the starting time is closing in on my bedtime, I will be there to listen to a little bright music to warm my heart.

If you live anywhere near Putnam, there is no excuse for you to not have fun as often as possible. It is within our grasp in any number of locations and in all assorted varieties. Reach out and grab it!

After spending most of the first 51 years of my life putting off  many opportunities for fun for some other task, while thinking "I am not missing out on much", I have discovered FUN in the last year, and I will admit, I was missing out!!! I will not miss out on FUN ever again!

See you at Bella's tomorrow night to hear some songs to warm your winter!

I am a Putnamaniac that will be warming up my winter's night at Bella's Bistro with some good music with Sister's Keeper!

See more fun to be had in Putnamania on the event calendar here

 

Frostival is almost here! Another fun, free NECT event!

Even though Christmas 2012 is officially over, and Boxing Day 2012 is coming close to an end, we still have New Years Eve to look forward to with delightful anticipation!

In Northeast CT that means great evening of family fun in Danielson at Frostival.

Like so many fun things to do in Northeast CT, it is free!

They close the streets down and bring on the fun!

 (Info courtesy of WINY Radio's Upcoming Events Page)

I went last year for the first time and enjoyed the heck out of it! There were all sorts of stuff for kids (of all ages) to do! Very family friendly, very community minded, which is probably why there were so many people there. I stopped in to hear one of the musical offerings, The Alston Sisters, and they were fabulous! I am hoping to catch Yankee Dogs this year. (One of the Yankee Dogs is The Last Green Valley's Chief Ranger Bill).

After that, there are so many other options for fun around Putnamania...dinner at The Courthouse, Bella's, 85 Main, Someplace Special... or listen to some fine tunes at The Stomping Ground.

Ring in the New Year with tons of fun, like we do in Northeast CT!

I am a Putnamaniac that loves to ring in the new year in good old Putnamania!

Putnamaniac Event Calendar is here!

Gifting!

'Tis the time of year for gifting.

People are spending money like they have money trees growing in their back yards!

Everything at this time of year can get overwhelming... if you let it overtake you... and if you forget what is truly important to you.

Make it a point to remember how you felt as you sat in church with your friend and watched her kids up on stage performing in their Christmas pageant.

Listen to your memories in your heart of how great it was to see doors opened to you and faces lit up as a group of friends sang Christmas carols to them.

Think about how you felt when you heard of the tragic moments at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT and that you swore you would hug your loved ones tighter every time you saw them.

Remember when it dawned on you that you had the best mother on the planet.

Although giving gifts at Christmastime is something that most do, try to give the gift of time and love every day of your life. Something as simple as opening a door for someone, with a big smile on your face and a bit of a flourish & a curtsey as they enter before you is a great gift. Bring a big cardboard box over to kids house, and play rocket ship with them. This is the stuff that makes us great humans! 

I challenge you to do something as often as you can as the years pass. I know you can do it! I try my best every day!

I am a Putnamaniac that loves gifting all year long!

Putnamaniacs plan on having lots of fun - see our calendar here