Whoopierific Ways to Keep Resolutions

Do you think that actually going to the yoga class is more beneficial than walking around in stretch pants all day?  There IS a plus to looking like a OOOOOmanista with a green juice.  For istance, I feel flexible.  It's easy to get in and out of my car with packages.  And people think I worked out.  Guess it doesn't really meet the resolution to practice getting more grounded.  Yoga is supposed to be such a good stress reliever.  My issue is that when I do my downward dog, I end up sounding like Queen LaQueefa.  That's not zen, it's freaking noisy.  

According to Forbes magazine, only 8% of us will keep our New Years Resolutions.  It's freaking hard to change.  Some experts say that to break a habit, you have to replace it with a new habit. They suggest we rewire the brain with a new, positive trigger, and reward yourself.   Guess that means to get the benefit of a downward dog, I'll need to do an online class in private, and treat myself to a green juice in public.  This is making me feel so grounded.  It really is a practice.

Watch my take on ways to make resolutions stick or read more ideas below...

 

Say you want to exercise more.  Join a gym with a friend.   The accountability of having a buddy with you will actually keep you showing up.  Take a class that is enjoyable.  You are more likely to stick to anything if you add an element of fun.  Zumba is hit and half because we shake it like a Polaroid. 

Want more happiness?   Try a celebratory attitude by finding a reason to celebrate the every day.  It can be simple - I didn't yell at my kids today.  Or, whoo hoo, I slept 8 hours last night.  Some people might put this in the gratitude category.  There are oodles of unique "holidays" if you need a little extra help.  Last week was Elvis' birthday so we had pb & banana sammies for dinner.  Next week there is National Hug Day.  I resolve to try the "more-than-you-were-expecting" hug on a few people. 

DAYS TO CELEBRATE THIS WEEK:
1/13 Tuesday - Make Your Dream Come True Day.  Better than a resolution, this is buket list material for dreaming big.  Check out Before I Die http://beforeidie.cc/site/  Candy Change painted an abandoned building with chalkboard paint and started a movement. 

Anyone walking by could pick up a piece of chalk, reflect on their lives, and share their personal aspirations in public space.

Anyone walking by could pick up a piece of chalk, reflect on their lives, and share their personal aspirations in public space.

Anyone walking by could pick up a piece of chalk, reflect on their lives, and share their personal aspirations in public space.

Before I die I want to _______.” Anyone walking by could pick up a piece of chalk, reflect on their lives, and share their personal aspirations in public space.

1/14 Wednesday - Dress Your Pet Day:  Oh gawd!  

1/15 National Hat Day:  As if we didn't wear enough hats!  Pick your favorite actual hat or don a metaphoric one. 

1/19 MLK Day of Service - Get out there and help somebody.  If you have kids, check out the shelters.  They often need people to volunteer to make sandwiches.  They also gave us a tour of the facility and it was good for the kids to see where the ladies sleep.  All bunk beds are not created equally.

Whoop it Up!

Christmas Countdown Ideas to Dazzle During the Holidays

You know how people get crazy and seem all wackadoo during the holidays?!  I was one of them.  A man in a car cut me off and I screamed, "What the f**k!"  Well, polish up Mom of the Year trophy (again) because my daughter was in the car and asked me what I yelled.  Of course I told her the truth, "What a schmuck!"  

I write this blog post as much for me as for anyone who needs to sparkle yourself up so you can dazzle during the holi-daze.  We have to fill up our cup in order to have it runneth over.

12 Days of Christmas Countdown, inspired by Dr. Oz The Good LIfe magazine.:
 

1.    Sugar lips – Makes me think of my favorite karaoke song.  I sing badly, so awful that people shush me in church.  But sweetie, I can belt out the tune, "Pour Some Sugar on Me."  Now you can pour it all over your lips.  For those mistletoe moments, we want them to be velvet soft.  Gently massage this brown sugar scrub on your pucker, and lick off lips.  2 tsp brown sugar, 1/2 tsp olive oil, 2 tsp honey.

2.    Take an email vacation day – set automatic reply to feel the peace and joy.  

3.    Tinsel nail polish.  Pretty for the holidays.  This brand is great because you can do it yourself and mistakes don’t show.  The color is Gilty Party by Sally Hansen!  Woo hoo!

4.     BYOT – Bring Your Own Tree by making a Christmas tree for your desk from cuttings and a cup/vase.

5.    “Christmas Spirit” drinkie makes for a jolly time.  Cocktail or Mocktail.  I actually start mixing it up on Thanksgiving because it is sooooo good. Thank you Emily Mazzella for the recipe.

    

4 cups chilled cranberry juice

     2 cups orange juice

     2 cups vodka

     2 tablespoons of sugar

     2 tablespoons Quantro

     1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

     1/4 tsp ground allspice

     1/8 tsp nutmeg

6.    Sparkle powder yourself before every shopping trip or wrapping session.  Available at Victoria's Secret.

7.    Smiling’s my favorite.  Watch the movie ELF to get out of a cotton-headed-ninny-muggings mood.

8.    Drink out of crazy straws, candy cane style.
  http://store.krazystraws.com/product/603X-07.html

9.    Glitter Flowers – spray flowers with glitter spray from Michael's.  http://www.michaelsfloralsupply.com/glitterspray.html

10. Holiday Jam with Pandora.  Pick your song and get a whole playlist in same genre.  http://www.pandora.com/

11. Best Scent Ever.  Make your home smell sweet without baking.  1 cup cranberries, sliced orange peel, 1 tbsp cloves, 3 cinnamon sticks, 2 cups water into saucepan and simmer for 30 minutes.

12.  Sit on Santa’s lap and BELIEVE that good things are coming your way!  For more fun, watch my Pop Up Comedy Quest For Xmas Cheer.  http://youtu.be/5G2Iml-t8UM

Happy Holidays!

Cyndy 

Gratitude for Odd Family & Dealing With the Crazy

I hope I don't insult my family by stating this - WE HAVE SOME ODDBALLS.  My grandparents have a house full of taxidermy.  A cousin greats you by patting your booty while saying, "Bless your heart."  An uncle has a special "square dancing name" and wears it on his belt buckle.  A 90 year old aunt declared to all at our last gathering that she wants to have sex one more time.  That's the norm at my family gatherings so you can imagine what a holiday does to the cra-cra factor.  Thanksgiving makes people go nuts.

Disaster and comedy are often part of our holiday meal. When I was a little girl, we were in Tennessee visiting my dad's side of the family near the Smoky Mountains in a little, bitty town called Spring City, next to Soddy Daisy, around the corner from Stump Hollow.  Everyone was chowing on the spread of turkey, fried fish, chicken-n-dumplings and all sorts of non-Pilgrim dishes.  They do a side of jello, cream cheese, with pretzels and throw in some strawberries to call it a "salad." 

My Aunt Patsy was enjoying her dinner when all of a sudden, she started the "I'm choking" pantomime, only she wasn't playing a game.  Uncle Hayward grabbed her from behind, pulled her pants down, and put his tongue all over her bottom.  The food went flying through the air and Aunt Patsy started breathing again.  Grandpa proudly hugged me while whispering, "The Cecil's call that The Hind Lick Maneuver."  

So as we gather with our families this holiday to give thanks, keep in mind that gratitude releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain that makes us feel great.  Regular gratitude helps create a "virtuous cycle" in that the brain starts looking for more things to be grateful for, hoping to get that next rush.  I am super grateful for the odd things my family does.  I only hope I can live up to their legacy.

Tips on how to deal with the "crazy":
•  Avoid topics that will get you into trouble.  If you know Uncle Bobby always talks politics, make a joke out of it when he baits you.  Say, "Let's not talk about that, and give the rest of the family something to be thankful for."
•  Don't gobble till you wobble.  Tough order for Thanksgiving but think of it as a 2 day feast and know you can have leftovers.  Or, wear yoga pants. They are on my gratitude list.
•   Bite your tongue.  It's one day and better to leave feeling proud of how you showed up instead of dealing with the aftermath.
•  If someone offends you, ask them, "That really hurt my feelings. Think you could rephrase what you said in a way that shows you love me?"  Corny but it works.
•  Make your own fun to bring up the mood!

• Play a raucous family game Pit.
• Put people's faces in Jib Jab videos http://www.jibjab.com/holidays
• Test your Thanksgiving knowledge on this quiz http://www.lifescript.com/quizzes/holiday/test_your_thanksgiving_iq.aspx, 
• Get outside and play flag football, or run a turkey trot before your stuff your face.
• Watch the Thanksgiving Day parade and re-voice it with your running commentary.
• Pull out the karaoke machine and sing these songs about thanks - http://www.timeout.com/newyork/music/the-20-best-thanksgiving-songs. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Whoopierific Ways to Enjoy Halloween in DC and beyond

I'm all about sharing ways to whoop it up and have more joy in life, and with a holiday approaching, there are lots of opportunities!  Create something fun every day to whoop POW life with joy.  Whether you’re celebrating at home, going out on a date, or wanting to enjoy all the Halloween fun DC has to offer, I’ve got ya covered…

* Enjoy the build up to the holiday.  Decorate your home.  Cut out bats with construction paper and tape them to your windows for a spooktacular glow at night when you're lights illuminate the silhouettes. We make mummy sausages and other creepy food to get into the spirit of things.

                                    

  

*Take part in some great family events.  There’s always Boo at the Zoo and wonderful pumpkin patch visits.  Here are a few unique outings for the family.  

Halloween Whodunit at The Kennedy Center.  www.kennedy-center.org  Date: Oct. 26, 2014  The National Symphony Orchestra musicians dress up in costume as they create a Halloween mystery that the audience will help solve. Throughout the concert, you will use the clues to figure out who stole Stephen Dumaine’s tuba. Along with the fantastic musical mystery, kids can trick-or-treat before the show and visit the instrument “petting zoo.” 

Fall Harvest Family Days  Mount Vernon www.mountvernon.org  Date: Oct. 25-26, 2014  Mount Vernon is one of the many tourist attractions in the DC area for a number of reasons, including that it was George Washington’s estate and it has a beautiful landscape and design. The historic estate and gardens is a look back at a simpler time, without the internet and smart phones. With the cost of your admission into the site, you will have a special day of fun. Fall Harvest Family Days includes fun fall things like apple-roasting, a straw bale maze, wagon rides, games, music and more. Spend Halloween with a simple day of family fun.

* Get wicked in Washington

Nightmare on M Street  October 25, 2014, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tickets sold in advance (sometimes sell out). Costume bar crawl to 30 of Washington, DC's hottest bars in Dupont Circle to Gallery Place.  Use the coupon code "whoopie" for a special discount. 

DC Drag Queen Race  October 28, 2014. A crowd gathers in Dupont Circle for an informal street parade and race of costumed drag queens. This is one of the most popular DC Halloween events. 

Here's to makin' whoopie and a happy Halloween all month long!

FLASHDANCE: TAKE YOUR PASSION AND MAKE IT HAPPEN

The best ALS ice bucket video I've seen is by Brad Letson,

What a feeling

Being's believing

I can have it all

Now I'm dancing for my life

Take your passion

And make it happen

Pictures come alive

You can dance right through your life

Why was the movie Flashdance a hit?  The main character, Alex, went from rags to riches-in-rags (her cutoff sweatshirt).  She transformed from a factory-worker-welder into a superstar-breakdancing-ballet dancer.  She was a woman who reached her dreams.  

      

Ok, Flashdancers, try these steps to take your passion and make it happen:      

1.  Write your dreams down in a life list.  Pretend you are a superhero who could choose to do anything and be successful. Pretend there are no other players in the game-nobody to judge or to tell you you're wrong.

  

2. Plan it. Take out a piece of paper. Make two columns. In the left column, write down your dreams. In the right column, next to each dream, write down the one single thing you can do today to achieve that dream.   Then add what else you could do. 

3. Take action.  Do one thing a day that gets you on your path.  Imagine what will happen in 7 years if you accomplished one task every day toward fulfilling your dreams!

WHAT A FEELING!

Hugs,
Cyndy  

Enjoy the Every Day in January

Take up your FUN factor by celebrating random holidays in January.

1/3 Festival of Sleep Day, Catch some Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz's.
1/4 Trivia Day
1/5 National Bird Day
1/6 Bean Day, the more you eat...
or celebrate 
1/6 Cuddle Up Day
1/7 Old Rock Day - bring on the Stones
1/8 Bubble Bath Day - I'm def honoring this day!
1/9 Play God Day - hmmmm
1/10 Peculiar People Day - do something crazy on an elevator
1/11 Step in a Puddle Day
1/12 Feast of Wild Men Day
1/13 Make Your Dreams Come True Day
1/14 Dress Up Your Pet Day
1/15 National Hat Day
1/16 National Nothing Day
1/17 Ditch New Years Resolutions Day
 1/18 Thesaurus Day
1/19 Popcorn Day
1/20 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
or celebrate
12/20 National Buttercrunch Day (eat all the leftover Christmas bark)
1/21 National Hugging Day
1/22 National Blonde Brownie Day
1/23 National Pie Day - whoopie pie!
or celebrate 
1/23 National Handwriting Day - have your scribbles analyzed
1/24 Compliment Day
1/25 Opposite Day
1/26 Spouse's Day
1/27 Chocolate Cake Day  - Mmmmk!
1/28 Fun at Work Day
1/29 National Puzzle Day
1/30 National Inane Answering Message Day
1/31 Inspire Your Heart with Art Day

Whoop It Up No Matter Who's Talkin' Turkey

It's butterball time and with all the relatives around, there might be a ruffled feather or two.  Thanksgiving is an emotional holiday.  If your Uncle Bob is a Rush Limbaugh fan and your cousin Serenity drives a Prius, it may be wise to avoid topics like politics and religion at your Thanksgiving table this year.  Duh!  Here are some tips on how to whoop it up with more fun & less stress, no matter who is talkin’ turkey.   It's a cornucopia fit for The Thanksgiving Hunger Games:  Special Names, Costumes, Rituals, and Awards.  

Pre-meal Creative Mission :

During the prep stage of the day, often times family is sitting around while the meal is a cooking.  People get restless or drink too much which could cause friction at the table.  Best to put them on a creative mission.

• Pilgrim Name Generator – type in each person’s name on this website to find out their Pilgrim Name which chould help inspire them to create a headdress (next item).  Put name on name tag.  On this day forth, I shall be known as Alice Hopkins, great great great pumpkin pie eating grandmother of Anthony.   http://www.quizopolis.com/pilgrim-name-generator.php

• Costumes, everyone! - Have everyone make a headdress.  Options are great: Fall Harvest Crown, Feather, Pilgrim Hat, Pilgrim Bonnet, Scarecrow. http://www.parents.com/holiday/thanksgiving/crafts/super-cute-thanksgiving-hats/#page=26

• Compete in a Talkin' Turkey Trivia Game with a buzzer or bell - Trivia Facts http://www.whsv.com/seasonal/misc/33852054.html

At The Table Rituals:
• Chalkboard table – write what you’re grateful for on the table.  

• Pass The Candle and say what you're most thankful for.  

• Tell Funny Stories Thanksgivings Gone Wrong, dog grabbed turkey off counter, clogged up toilet, drunk fam member.  Great stories at Gawker -  http://gawker.com/5863107/here-are-your-worst-thanksgiving-horror-stories

• Have a toxic guest?  Use place cards.  Move Uncle Bob and his outbursts to the end of the table – Keep the kids at the same table with the adults for more lively adventure.  (I always hated the kid table!)
 

Post Meal Decompression: 
• Awards:  Share “Thank You Certificates” with dessert.  Funny ways to enjoy each other…each person gives one to another person at the table…coordinated by the dinner host. http://www.night.net/kids/cert-thanks.html-ssi

• Thank You For The Constant Whistling…makes our house seem happy.

• Thank You for the Guilt Call...I know how much you care.

• Thank You for Taking a Nap Every Time We Watch TV…so I can change the channel.

•  Turkey trot after the meal.  Walk off those giblets: 160 pound person, 1 hr walk = 250 cal.

•  Watch a movie – If you are not going to see The Hunger Games, here are 10 movies about Thanksgiving with my fav’s Trains/Planes, Avalon, Home For the Holidays and more.  Great list on IMDB http://www.imdb.com/list/BhMKFbC2SWg/

ENJOY and Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope you get your favorite style of cranberry sauce and lots of hugs!

Cyndy, The Whoopie Queen

p.s. If your relatives do a doozie to your emotions this holiday, never fear, The Whoopie Queen is here.  I have a call on Wednesday, December 4th at 12noon to provide positive psychology tips and tools on getting down with your mind chatter.   http://www.eventbrite.com/e/whoop-it-up-with-your-mind-chatter-tickets-9231111503

WHAT HAVE YOU FUN LATELY?

What have you FUN lately?  According to the CDC, 1 in 10 American adults report depression.  While children laugh 300 to 400 times in a day, adults laugh only 15 times. "The opposite of play is not work, it is depression."  Brian Sutton-Smith, Founder, National Institute for Play.   It is like we have forgotten to have fun. 

My grandfather, Robert Buddy Cecil, who just passed away to the great-recliner-in-a bass-boat-in-the-sky, was a master at the art of joyful merriment.  Even though he was born in one of the poorest places in America, Harlan County... Even though he was one of 17 siblings and was abandoned as a boy... Even though he was part of the Normandy Invasion in WWII and saw more death than anyone should ever have to see...   Even though all of those things happened to him, he was a man who could have been bitter but he never was.  He was awarded over 10 medals for his heroism in WWII.  He went on to work at GM and built a life with four sons, a 71 year marriage with my grandma "Helen Bessie", and he retired on a lake where he caught more bass than his big belly could hold.  More than anything, that papaw of mine was a character and was always telling jokes and stories.  He was jolly because he chose to be.  Being at his funeral last weekend made me realize how extremely lucky I am to have learned from him about how to be a funmaker!

How did he do it?  How does anyone do it?  How do you make whoopie fun when you feel life cheated you, you're stuck or tired or bored or not so happy?  There is a theory that motion creates emotion.  It's a choice. Joyfulness is unconditional commitment to be happy in the moment and to have fun despite life’s problems. Joyfulness is easily triggered by joyful activities like laughing, dancing, singing and playing. It is purely a physical phenomenon.  You FEEL it.   Happiness is a concept of the mind which can come or go.   However, having more fun in life, you will FEEL like life is more fun.  You have to make it to feel it.

I can help.  My Whoopie Queen Facebook page has something that will make you laugh every day.  https://www.facebook.com/WhoopieQueen  Follow me on the Twitter for ideas on making more fun in life - https://twitter.com/WhoopieQueen.   Watch my tour show in September.  Here's a sneak peak - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKxsK7-KwnI 

Private parties, corporate events, speaking engagments, here I come.  And, I'm planning a seminar on how to have more fun and less stress in life called Make Your Own Whoopie In The World.  

The Whoopie Hotline is 917)714-0694 or email me at cyndy@whoopiequeen.com.

Now go out there and make your own whoopie in the world,
Cyndy The Whoopie Queen