Posts tagged ‘holidays’
Shopping For The Holidays
My friends at MissRepresentation.org have been diligently working to challenge the media to portray women and girls in a positive light, to show them expressing important ideas and opinions, instead of being hyper-sexualized and objectified.
I stand with MissRepresentation.org, ToGetHerThere.org, SeeJane.org, and many others, who believe in that inspiring future. With MissRep’s recent victory in persuading Spirit Halloween to remove unnecessarily sexualized language describing children’s costumes from their website, worldwide film screenings reaching thousands of viewers, and recent power plays on Black Friday to avoid sexiest products, I’d say progress is being made.
To that end, with December upon us, it’s essential that we continue to stay aware of the media we are consuming and sharing with our friends and family. We hold the purse strings. We vote with our dollars. We can send the biggest message of all by NOT buying. Millions of movies, books, music, magazines and video games will be given as gifts over the next few weeks. We must be conscious of the way our women and girls, our sisters, cousins, mothers and friends, are represented in every THING we buy and make sure to support products that inspire and empower the gender.
A Mighty Girl.com has lists of girl-positive gifts in almost every category of media — check it out! #MediaWeLike on Pinterest highlights media recommended by the MissRep community for people of all ages. Lastly, of course, MissRepresentation itself is currently available on DVD and can be a great way to talk about media awareness with the ones you love because Media Literacy is an important human issue.
So as you shop this holiday season, keep in mind the old character building adage what I say and how I say it, tells others the kind of person I am. Before you buy ask yourself this question, “Does this gift acrately reflect the kind of notions, ideas and values I want to perpetuate in the collective consciousness of life?” If so, then give freely and with an open heart. If not, then thank you for being honest, and maybe you can find something else that better reflects who you are and the kind of world you’d rather live in. We are the change. Happy shopping.
Easy Gratitude This Thanksgiving
We had an earthquake in Southern California a little after 6 am this morning, and my first thought was, “Is this the big one?” My next thought as my bed was rocking, “I’m so grateful for the time I’ve had here on earth!”
How interesting that on this 2012 Thanksgiving morning Mother Earth would shake things up a bit perhaps to remind us just how precious life is and just how limited our time together might be.
Rather than play it safe again this year around the Thanksgiving table (my family isn’t big on sharing themselves or praying), I’ve decided to do more than just a “thank you for coming toast.” Perhaps this year we’ll start with a gratitude toast straight from the heart to set the tone for the evening, and to make each person feel welcomed and apart of something special.
I’ll also have my guests write what their grateful for down on paper before we sit down for dinner. The kids can collect them in a basket, and between dinner and dessert (my family likes to eat while the food is hot) we’ll have each person pull a slip of paper from the basket and read it aloud. This will save folks the embarrassment of having to share their own feelings, and yet still infuses some soul into the event.
So that’s what I’ll do today with my family, but with you my friends and readers I’d like to say how grateful I am for you right here and now. Grateful for you tuning in and reading my deeper ways of connecting, playing and celebrating. As Reverend Angela says, “Thank you for your spiritual bravery in stepping away from the status quo and daring to live a larger life, a spacious life wherein you claim your divine right to all that you can imagine.” That’s what its all about for me. As we step into our own light, we allow others to do the same. Thanks for playing big with me and for that I am so deeply grateful.
How will you make the most of your gratitude day?
Plan Back-To-Back Holidays With Ease
Spring is here and if you plan to host a Passover, Easter, Mother’s Day, or other springtime event, now is the time to start planning. Planning now will pay off big especially if you’ll be hosting all three back-to-back holidays, as I will be. My “easy six-element approach to party planning” makes situations like these simple to manage. Here are a few useful tips and tricks.
Time is a precious commodity. I’m a wife and an involved mother of two who works, I get it. That’s why I put together a beautiful Garden Brunch Party Plan for Mother’s Day which can easily be adapted for Passover or Easter.
TIPS & TRICKS #1 – Watch the six short video clips on this month’s episode of Shelby’s Secrets to a Great Party! for loads of great ideas that you can use for your own spring parties. For example, you’ll learn how to: develop theme ideas that will please your guests or guest of honor; make long-stem flower invitations; create baked eggs that are fabulous centerpieces to any brunch; design an easily customizable photo place card for any holiday; give a unique keepsake sure to illicit emotions; and set a beautiful table.
TIPS & TRICKS #2 – One of the secrets to planning successful celebrations and keeping your cool, is staying organized, even for the simplest party. Staying organized is easy when you use efficient checklists and worksheets to help you stay the course.
TIPS & TRICKS #3 – Click to download the one form that will make your party planning life simpler, Quick Six Worksheet. It won’t do all the work for you and you’ll certainly need to make other lists, I’m sure, but it gives you a great place to start. Make a copy for each event you’re planning this spring and start working the six-step formula.
The Quick Six Worksheet is part of my Planner Pack. Learning to use the Planner Pack is one of the best ways to avoid getting stressed about your upcoming gathering, or gatherings. The reason the included worksheets and lists work so well is that they allow you to get your thoughts and ideas out of your head and onto paper so that you can stop worrying about them. Having all of your party planning notes and information in one location assures that what you need to accomplish gets done on time, allowing you to relax and enjoy the celebration along with your family and friends. The Planner Pack is available for download on the Party Mart Page at YouCanPlanAParty.com for just $14. Make a copy for every party you host. We also offer a matching three-ring binder to help keep it all together.
TIPS & TRICKS #4 – Whether Easter, Passover or Mother’s Day, think of your gathering as a gift you’re giving your friends and family. Then ask yourself “why?” Why am I giving this party? What is my intention? What experience do I want my guests to have? What do I want my guests or guest of honor to feel? How can I create a lasting impression? Having a clear intention for your celebration will help keep you focused on what’s necessary. It also helps with the budget, putting dollars where they’re needed. Most important, having a clear intention for your party goes a long way in making your guests feel special and important.
TIPS & TRICKS #5 – Here are some great shopping resources for unique items. Whether looking for vintage Easter stuff, cool Passover items, or one-of-a-kind Mother’s Days gifts, these sites have something for everyone.
www.blumchen.com/easter_shop.html
www.bargainjudaica.com/default.aspx
www.zazzle.com/shelbysemail2
The Holiday Connection
I love the holidays. Apart from the insanity of staying up past midnight for nights on end, secretly wrapping presents and shopping for last-minute “Santa gifts,” I love the holidays for the warmth and love the season brings.
The holidays are for thinking of others and for me, bringing joy to friends and family. It’s a time of year when we gather to celebrate one another. It’s also a time of year when we express our love for each other and our humanity perhaps a little more than usual. Add automobiles with antlers and wreaths, houses lit up like they’re on parade, decadent meals, sweet treats, and beautifully wrapped presents that sparkle under the tree lights, and this party designer is in heaven!
With the start of the new year, I realized, once all the decorations had been packed away and life returned to it’s daily routine, that all the reasons I love the holidays are also why I love my work. They are all parts of my message that I’m committed to sharing.
In fact, a cornerstone of my party planning philosophy, is to design gatherings around your guests’ likes, wants and favorite things. Fill the party with details that are sure to delight them.
I also believe that connection and sense of community are two of the human souls greatest joys and that they occur naturally whenever people gather together, especially in the spirit of celebration.
That said, there’s nothing quite like a party being thrown in one’s honor to convey to them, “You’re special and important to me.” It is a great way to express your love.
My resolution for 2011 is that this is the year for getting the word out about how important it is to bring the special people in our lives together and celebrating them as often as we can; inviting people to think about parties a little differently so that they can create memorable, heartfelt experiences at their gatherings; and teaching as many people as I can my six-element approach to making it all happen a bit easier.
To this end, I invite you to check out my newest article published at SelfGrowth.com called “Introducing the Six Elements of Party Planning from the Heart.” It’s a great primer of my party design philosophy and six-step formula that can transform the way you think about parties forever.
Here’s to happy beginnings — new years, new messages, new gatherings!
Currently the host of “Shelby’s Secrets to a Great Party!” airing on YouCanPlanAParty.com, Shelby Phillips is an award-winning party design expert with over 20 years experience. Shelby has co-written a book series titled “The Enlightened Party Planner: Guides to Creating Parties from the Heart” and developed a 6-step formula for bring people together to celebrate. She has also been a host and designer on the Style Network’s “Big Party Plan Off,” and owner of a successful event planning and promotions company.
queen of connection | Shelby L. Phillips 