Heart Filled Holidays

How to enjoy every single day ~ that's our theme for today's show. We're talking about ways to enjoy the simple things, the big events and everything in between. We'll have tips for seeing opportunities and savoring every moment. To help us along with that we'll be taking a peek at upcoming holidays, ideas for Fathers' Day and, of course, taking our weekly jaunt to Christmas Corner. Our guest this week is Shawn Fink. Shawn is a busy wife and mom who knows how to make every moment count. She's a down-to-earth, fun-loving soul who inspires me to love my life. I've been following her blog and asked if she would share her real, simple, down-to-earth ideas with us. She'll be chatting with us about intentionally living; sharing stories, tips and inspiration that we can all use.

Today is all about preparing for summer. We'll be looking ahead a bit and sharing a couple simple strategies for enjoying the summer more. In Christmas Corner we're talking about turning summer fun into stress-free holidays. Kristin Beltaos will join us for our expert interview this week to share strategies for surviving the summer with food allergies. Summer is a season of gatherings, travel and backyard barbeques which can all be landmines for food allergies. Whether you're trying to be a good host to guests who are dealing with these allergies or your child has them, Kristin will shed light on some key things to look for and share tips for keeping the summer fun. Be sure to tune in to hear about the latest changes from airlines that can affect your family and your travel plans.

Today we're looking at changing things up! In the opening segment we're talking about what to do when there's something in your life that you dread. We'll have an example and a couple ideas on what you can do about it. Then we're bringing in Angie Mozilla for a round table chat about the ruts in our life. We all have times when we feel stuck or where we aren't getting the results we want. Listen in as we explore this and discover a few identifiers that can help show us when it's happening. We'll also be chatting about upcoming holidays including a few tips for one day that can add to both your safety and your happiness. And we'll cap it all off with our weekly trip to Christmas Corner.

One of the greatest joys in life is also one of the greatest stresses - parenting. Whether you're getting ready for a big event or trying to get through a simple day, raising kids can be a challenge. This week we're taking an honest look at what happens and how we can experience stress free parenting. Erin Kurt is joining us to talk about "How to Parent Without Having to Yell, Bribe or Nag" and I'm certain we'll be able to pick her brain and get some of her fabulous tips. We're also taking a peek at Mother's Day and that annual conundrum of enjoying your day while also honoring and celebrating the other moms in your your life. And in Christmas Corner we are keeping Erin on the line to talk about creating connection with simple traditions!

Garage sale season is upon us! On today's show we'll chat about how these events can make our lives better. And joining us for this week's interview portion is an amazing guest, Barb Tobias. Barb is the Thrift Talk Diva and the author of the book "Tossed and Found". Barb joined us in December last year on our holiday medley show. She talked about thrift and gave us a whole new view of getting a great deal; from Christie's Auctions to your neighbor's garage sale, Barb shared the beauty of thrift. On that show she shared ideas for finding treasures and creating amazing holiday décor, today we're talking about garage sales: how to maximize the fun and the finds. In Christmas Corner we're talking about making gifts for others including how to think outside the "me" box. Join us live in the chat room during the show to ask questions or share your comments and we'll get those on the air.

Food and stress are two integral parts of every celebration yet they often don't work well together. This week we'll take a look at overeating and binge eating. Joining us for this conversation is Ellen Shuman of A Weigh Out. She'll help us explore the role stress plays and talk about triggers as well as how to determine whether you have a problem and if you need help. In Christmas Corner we'll continue talking about stress but we'll be taking a look at some simple ways to curb holiday stress. So stay tuned for the whole show ‘cuz you don't want to miss a thing!

Money matters in our life. No, money doesn't create happiness but not understanding it and not having a plan for how to spend it can certainly cause unhappiness. This week we're addressing common concerns as well as tips and strategies for using it wisely to add to your joy. Our guest this week is Belinda Rosenblum, a CPA and wealth expert who will cast a bright shining light on our finances and simple things we can do to enhance what we have and turn over bad habits. She'll share the three A's and why they will make or break your financial success plus many other tips for avoiding those financial hangovers. And in Christmas Corner we'll take a peek at having fun at Christmas without breaking the bank. From decorating to gifts to parties there are simple tips and strategies to keep you on track. We'll get things started and look forward to hearing your ideas too!

Clutter and disorganization costs us time, money and energy even as it undermines our happiness. The simple act of being able to find what you need when you need it saves time and frustration. Being able to sit down and relax without feeling like you have to put things away gives you peace. And feeling like you can invite friends and family over without having to spend a month clearing out clutter and cleaning whatever was under the mess is priceless. This week we're taking a look at simple strategies for organizing our lives and our homes. Angela Cody-Rouget, founder of Major Mom household organizers, is joining us for a first-hand look at the simple things that get us organized and keep us humming along.

This week is all about spring! We're talking about fresh starts, Easter and more. It's a full hour of just you and me delving into the things that make our lives easier, better and happier. I'm giving you a sneak peek at Fresh Start Magic then we'll move into Easter. We'll cover tips for celebrating this glorious holiday including ways to cut back on candy without complaints, decorating for a season over a celebration, and the cutest little bunny cupcakes ever. And, of course, we'll pop on over to Christmas Corner where we'll chat about ways to make the upcoming holiday season easier and more fun (and I'll give you a hint: it includes having fun now and this summer).

The perfect wedding is something everyone wants. Today’s show shares ideas and inspiration for making sure your wedding is something you’ll treasure forever. Cornelia Powell joins us to share the importance of rituals in creating your wedding. She’ll share tips for the bride as well as her close friends and relatives. And in Christmas Corner we’re taking a look at that first Christmas for the newlyweds; how to design a celebration that honors both of you and your traditions.

Ever wonder if your marriage could be better? Well the answer is yes AND it can happen easily. We'll explore the topic of anniversaries. Then Dr. Terri Orbuch joins us to share surprising truths from her research study on marriage; showing us the simple ways we can create true happiness and a long relationship. Then stick around for Christmas Corner where we'll chat about ways to make Christmas with your spouse better.

Times change, people age and suddenly you may find yourself in new territory. Whether it's a parent, friend or grandparent you may suddenly be visiting them in an assisted living facility or nursing home, or they may have care-takers in their home. This change in environment can affect our celebrations and the way we interact with these loved ones. This week we'll take a look at things we can do to keep the love alive and enjoy every moment no matter where our loved ones live. In Christmas Corner we'll take a peek at gift giving. When it comes to the older people in our life gifting can become difficult. Don't stress - there are some simple ideas you can take and run with which show how much you love them while respecting their wishes.

Kids are amazing and there's nothing we love more than putting a smile on their face. Throwing a party is always a great way to do that! Whether they're six or sixteen, kids love the fun and food that comes with these events. So this week we're talking all about kids' parties! Those wonderful, exciting, hair-raising events that half of us love to throw and half of us dread. Either way, we're going to have great tips for creating events that are fun to host, great for the kids, and (hopefully) no-stress for you. We have Jennifer from Passion-for-Parties joining us and she's got terrific ideas that you guys are going to love. In addition to being the go-to gal for all things party, Jennifer is a wife and mother of four so she'll have time saving tips and ideas for making things run smoothly.

Have you ever had the realization that you're living your life the way other people want you to? That you're doing a great job of filling roles like spouse, parent or employee but not really being yourself? When you have this realization there are common issues that come up and simple ways to handle them. Angie Mozilla is joining us to talk about this mindset as we take a look at you and your fulfillment. She'll be talking about "Caging Our Big Green Parrot", "Embracing Our Inner Einstein", and "A Long Run at 9000 Feet" because, whether you're planning a family holiday or redeisgning your daily life, knowing how to handle these typical obstacles is your path to having it all.

Kids and holidays go hand-in-hand. Celebrating with children always seems to make things sweeter. They love with abandon, celebrate with glee and show us the path to true happiness. They are often times the reason we celebrate and they are more than happy to join us. AND...family life can feel overwhelming and exhausting. Trying to plan a party with kids who are being unruly or testing the limits can push our over-worked selves to the brink. Trying to juggle and balance all the activities and commitments of everyday life with the added tasks for creating a celebration can feel like it's not worth it. So can we enjoy our celebrations? Can our holidays really be filled with joy? Find out as we chat with Erin Kurt, an author, coach and mom who lives and teaches about stress-free parenting. We'll get an inside peek at her family, her parenting, and their celebrations. And along the way we'll get some valuable tips and advice from someone who's been there and done that.

In honor of Valentine's Day and the one year anniversary of Heart Filled Holidays Radio we are bringing back one of your favorite guests, communication authority Lisa Giruzzi. Lisa was the very first guest on Heart Filled Holidays and she's coming back to talk about love and relationships, including looking at the secret to having an extraordinary Valentine's Day. Lisa will be sharing her three tips for enjoying this special day and letting us know how we can go beyond the flowers and candy to create an extraordinary relationship. Listen in live and you can ask questions in the chat room plus you'll hear an exciting announcement.

The next big holiday on the calendar is Valentine's Day. We all love having a day to celebrate love and to experience a little romance; but the real gift is a solid relationship you enjoy the other 364 days a year. So on this show we're talking about the whole shebang! including how to balance everything from head to heart to hormones. Our guests, Lori and Bob Hollander of Relationships Work, will be sharing their insights with us. We'll chat about everything so be sure to tune in for amazing ideas and terrific insights on enjoying Valentine's Day and every day.

Color has an amazing effect on everything around us. Join us this week as we look at the miracle of color, including using it on ourselves. We all love to look our best. Whether we’ve spent an afternoon getting beautiful or we need to run out the door sans makeup, we want to feel good about ourselves. And when those special events roll around it is more important than ever. Our guest this week knows what a difference color can make in how we look and feel and she’s designed a system that makes looking and feeling gorgeous absolutely foolproof! She’s Jill Kirsch and she’ll be sharing her insider secrets with us as we explore color in our clothes and makeup.

One of the wonderful things about a great celebration is going over it again and again. And that means we photograph them. The age of digital cameras and video recorders means we all have photos coming out of our ears. Sorting them and putting them into some kind of usable format can feel daunting. Never fear! Cathi Nelson, professional photo organizer is here to help. Cathi will be sharing some of her hints and tricks for crawling out from under the pile and creating some terrific albums. And if you still don't see a path out or you just want some help she'll be telling us about a new profession that can save us from our digital nightmare.

After a season of planning, organizing, giving and going it's time to take a deep breath. Today's show will be a chance for you to do that. So grab a cup of tea, relax and join us as we discover ways to enjoy ourselves more and increase our happiness by taking care of ourselves. We'll be looking at some fun ways to take care of yourself as well as why and how you can go easy on yourself without becoming horribly self-indulgent or selfish. Our guest is Kristin Neff. Kristin is an associate professor and a leading authority on Self-Compassion. She's the author of Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind and she's joining us today to give us a different perspective self-compassion, self-esteem and happiness.