Where's Samuel L.? I've got Snakes in my Yard

We've had a little snake problem this past week. We're doing some landscaping work and the guys have seen 6 snakes. Actually 7 if you count the little tiny one they found and killed yesterday. I guess we have to count it because while it was tiny, it was a rattler. Rattle snakes are poisonous and the baby ones are tiny and cute, but deadly.


I called in the local snake wrangler (who knew there was such a job!). He came by today and before we walked the property looking for snakes and inspecting our inadequate snake fencing he showed me some of the snakes he had in his truck. He had quite a few. There were several baby rattle snakes, a couple of pretty good sized adult rattle snakes, and a few gopher snakes. I asked if I could hold one of them. His name was "Big Goph". He wasn't terribly big though. Anyway--he was really cute!

Notice the guy in the back ground looking at me like I'm crazy? Well, maybe I am. But not because I like snakes. Actually, I like all animals, and I don't discriminate against snakes just because they happened to be born snakes. Gopher snakes are relatively harmless. They can bite, as can anything with a mouth, but they aren't poisonous. This guy was very comfortable with me, and I was very comfortable with him. I don't even mind the rattle snakes--but I don't want them to kill my dogs or my kids for that matter. So I do have to do what I can to get them out of my yard. I just don't want to have to kill them--hence the wrangler. We didn't see any today, but if I see one, I'll call him back to catch it rather than kill it.

Live and let live, I always say!

The Truth About YOU

Not too long ago someone said some not so nice things about me. OK, they said them to me. It bothered me for awhile and then I stopped and thought about it. Who knew me better--them or me? I think you can see where I'm headed with this. Watch the video below to hear about how if you remember a few playground sayings from 3rd grade you'll have the key to not letting someone else's inaccurate opinion of you bug you as much. I won't say not at all, because no matter what, it does hurt. Still, this just might make it hurt a little less.

Let me know what you think. There's a place to type your comments below each post--please use it--I'd love to hear from you!

Think Small

When it comes to making lasting changes in your life, it's often best to think small. One or two small changes are do-able, and sustainable. Why not try today and then add to your small changes each week. After awhile, you'll look back and see just how far you've come.

Self Care and HAIR (Complete with Before & After)

The kids are back at school so now is a great time to think about scheduling any overdue appointments for yourself. I was in dire need of a hair cut, not to mention highlights. Watch the video below to see my look BEFORE and AFTER. Taking the time to take care of myself made a big difference--and I'm not just talking about my hair!

If you've been putting off getting a hair cut, or more importantly--a mammogram or a physical--please take my advice and DO IT. Make a list and make the calls, set the appointments and KEEP THEM! You take care of everyone else...so why not take care of YOU?

3 Mistakes Women Make When Complimented

Have trouble taking a compliment? I know I do! I've been thinking about what we do when we're complimented, and more importantly, what we should do instead. Watch this video and see if you've responded to a compliment in one of these three ways.

Any of the 3-D responses to compliments sound familiar? I myself am guilty of "deflating" compliments...but I'm working on it!

If You Can't Do Everything, Just Do Something

I just came back from my family vacation. We went to Big Sky Montana and Yellowstone National Park--both amazingly beautiful and super relaxing.

Then I came home.

Reality was right inside the front door, coiled up and waiting to strike like the snake that it sometimes is.  I'm a total optimist, and a very positive person in general. I'm up for just about any challenge. But, somehow whenever I come back from a week's worth of vacation I get a bit overwhelmed by everything that got backed up in my absence. Looking around at the mountains of unopened mail, still not completed school forms, and and realizing that I hadn't bought a single back to school supply or ordered any uniforms, made me feel anxious and, well, just plain inadequate. I went about the business of unburying myself from all of this and after a couple of days of working at it, the piles were smaller and the to do list was shorter, but the anxiety was still fairly high.

Sometimes when I feel like I'm never going to get it all done I just commit to getting one thing done. Something small, that can be accomplished quickly, that I will feel good about and enjoy the benefit of having done it. Think of something you look at every day--whether it be your entry table, your car, your silverware drawer. For me it was the drawer in my bathroom where I keep my skin care stuff. It had become kind of a jumbled mess (not unlike all my other bathroom drawers!) and every time I opened it--there it was--that feeling of inadequacy. I realize I could invest a lot of time in therapy countering that, but it's really much faster to just organize the drawer.

So I did.

BEFORE

AFTER

Something about knowing that I could in fact, accomplish something from start to finish, renewed my energy to continue with the things that most likely I'll be working on for the rest of the week.

Moving Right Along: 4 Simple Steps for Getting Past a Bad Situation

If you find yourself in the middle of a bad situation--bad boss, bad relationship, one sided friendship, whatever, it may feel like you have no control, and that you're stuck. Guess what? There's no such thing. There's something that can be changed and you have the power to change it. That doesn't mean that you have control over the situation--not by a long shot. But, you do have control over one major factor, the most important factor--your reaction to the situation.

Here are 4 simple steps to help you exercise that control and take charge of your happiness.

STOP. Stop whatever it is you're doing--even if it's nothing, because doing nothing is passive and if you want something to change, you have to change something. So stop your previous pattern, and put your thinking cap on.

Be responsible. Without a doubt, your behavior or your reactions to someone else's behavior, contributed to the situation. Even if you were perfectly nice, but the other people/person involved were hurtful, you are still responsible because you chose to accept it.

Choose Differently. Here's where it gets really genius. Choose something else. That's right, once you realized you made a bad choice, stop making it.  Just drop a pin right where you are in this present moment--and go forward armed with the conscious decision that you are now making different choices in regards to your own behaviors and reactions.

Put Your Past Behind You. Yes, I did just quote Timon from The Lion King, who is in my opinion, one wise meerkat. Meaning: don't dwell on your past choices and past situations. Take only the lessons you learned and move forward. If you do that, you will feel empowered, enlightened, and ready for a whole new (and much improved) situation.

Is it me, or did a lightbulb just go off?