It is that time of year again where we celebrate those that have served our country and again where I implore you to do what you can for wounded warriors or my favorite charity, petsforvets.com

As I have said many times in the past, it is not a bad idea to just donate $10 to one of the many charities helping veterans. I know for a lot of us that are fortunate enough to have the day off, we like to spend it with family and friends and firing up the grill and maybe enjoying a few beers, but we wouldn’t be enjoying this holiday had it not been for so many that have sacrificed so much and those that continue to do so.

So no need to dig deep, just give a little. And our freedom comes at a very grave cost, I appreciate it every day, I love you all and today let us set aside our political divide and just honor and appreciate our brave military personnel. Thank you!

If you are like me, the holidays are never a time to sit around the tree and sip cocoa, instead it is a mad dash to purchase presents, attend the company party, pay all the year end bills and try to tie everything up, travel here and there, decorate and get glitter all over the place, including all over my dogs, only to find myself a bit burnt out and tired. I caught a cold from one of the nieces or nephews (little petri dishes that they are) during all the holiday get togethers so here I am at home in my robe ringing in the New Year with my dogs at my feet and me at my computer, by the way, I cannot get the glitter off my dog Tommy so at least he looks festive. I admit, I have a wonderful life, a wonderful career, great people in my life, overall great health and I am blessed beyond words in so many ways. I just wish I could slow the holidays down a bit and actually get to enjoy them, really be in the moment rather than running from place to place. I am a holiday human do’er not a human being.

So there you go, that is my New Year’s resolution, I know I have said it many times before but practice makes perfect. Maybe this year, 2018, will be the year I slow down and smell the roses. I am actually fortunate enough to have roses growing in my back yard and I rarely take the time to even look at them. They are beautiful and I take them for granted, just like I do my precious life.

So Happy New Year Everyone, may we all have the ability to push forward and succeed in 2018 and still take the time to breath it all in.

Hope you are all enjoying your long, hot summer. I have indeed enjoyed myself, I have been working and having a great time helping with all the new pornfidelity.com scenes and working with such great talent. I have been busy fixing up my new home and getting rather settled in for just being here not even 5 months. I even decided to throw myself a 50th Birthday party at my new home. I am doing a Country Fair themed party with carnival games and popcorn, cotton candy, ice cream sundae bar and churros, gourmet hot dogs, dj and dance floor, bartender and the best thing ever, a petting zoo! I have lots of friends and family with kids so I figured I would make it fun for everyone, but really I did the petting zoo for me! I love animals.

I can’t believe I am turning 50! I feel as though I am entering an entirely new phase of my life. My 20’s were about trying to find myself and fix my self, my 30’s I was still searching but had a pretty good idea of what I wanted and found the man of my dreams, my 40’s were about reaching goals in business and finance, and now my 50’s I want to expand our company as well as take some much needed time to take care of myself.

I have literally been on the go non stop for so many years and taking care of elderly parents, sick animals, employees, husband, 2 households, that even the idea of taking an entire day off and doing nothing seems absolutely absurd to me. I don’t want to entirely slow down or accomplish less, rather get as much as I can do, still striving towards my goals, but now do it without sacrificing myself in the process. I might even join a yoga class or something. My “beer and sex diet” may not be enough to carry me into my sixties, ha ha.

Really??? Why can’t companies out there find a way to celebrate and honor our former and current military with something other than a “Memorial Day Sale”? How about when everyone buys something this weekend a portion goes to helping our vets with their physical and mental issues and contributing to the rise in prescription drug addiction and homelessness instead of putting a few extra dollars into our already fat wallets? So you and I pay regular prices all weekend long and the discount money goes to these charities that support veterans:

thanksusa.org
hfotusa.org
dav.org
puppiesbehindbars.com
petsforvets.com
wwfs.org
uso.org
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
Hope for the Warriors

Now that would be a Memorial Day Sale that I could celebrate with a hot dog and cold beer! What is that song, “All gave some, some gave all”. Really digest that. Some gave all? So join me in honoring our vets this weekend and give a helping hand, hire a vet, donate some cash, if you don’t have any, donate some time or at least spend your time on Social Networking to spread the word, that doesn’t cost a dime and does bring about awareness.

I donate every month to petsforvets and I have for years, today I added puppiesbehindears.com because the love and loyalty these pets provide are priceless. I’m a dog lover so those are easy for me, pick one you can get behind. It doesn’t take a lot, $10 a month? Nothing provides as much satisfaction and general warm feeling than giving appreciation to those who truly deserve it. So let’s appreciate our Vets : )

Don’t be a Grinch this year, even if things aren’t going your way or maybe you feel lonely or depressed this Christmas, take the time to reflect on what is good about your life, what you can change to make yourself happier this new year and give yourself the greatest gift you can, to love yourself. Now after visiting my website you might want to “love yourself” in a different kind of way, but on a serious note, really give yourself the gift that no one else can give you, self love and acceptance. That’s a big one for me this year too. So let’s all let our little “Grinch” hearts open up and not only love and care about those around us and those sharing our beautiful and delicate planet, but really be honest with yourself and how you can improve the most important relationship you have, the one you have with yourself.

So Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa and wishing you all the true happiness you can find inside yourself this year.

Love You All!