Plus Size Blog – Plus Size Lifestyle and More

What a fantastic opportunity! Oprah Winfrey and Suze Orman have gotten together to allow Oprah’s viewers to download Suze’s latest book free until January 15th. You can download Suze Orman’s 2009 Action Plan – Free Book, even if you missed the show as I did.

Hurry, before it’s too late!

Okay, it has been ten days since the New Year’s Resolutions were made. If one of yours was to lose weight, how are you doing with it? What did you resolve to do? Were the goals that you made for yourself realistic, and reachable? If the goals we set for ourselves are not realistic and reachable, we are only setting ourselves up for failure. Studies have shown that a series of small, reachable goals that progress toward the ultimate goal are much more successful. Hey, there’s enough people in the world to get on our case, we don’t have to help them! Instead of making a goal of running the New York marathon when you haven’t been able to walk around the block without huffing and puffing, make your first goal to be able to walk around the block.

There are so many resources available online to provide guidance, information, and support. One of the best sources for information is the American Heart Association website. They host a program called Start! which is a walking program with an online component to provide support and tools for healthy eating and walking.

Believe me, I know how difficult it is to get motivated! But, we all have to start somewhere. And we have to be responsible for our own health and wellbeing. That’s a scary thought. It’s much easier to be able to blame everything on someone else. Perhaps, it is someone else’s fault. But, I would wager that they are not going to be there to solve all your problems for you. Believe in yourself. Trust that you can do what you want and need to do with your life. Take responsibility. You don’t have to do it all by yourself, you only have to do it for yourself.

My Dad always used to say that problems are but opportunities in work clothes. Let’s put on our work clothes and get to work!

Now is the time of year when many people get the “blues” and just want to get away from the “ho-hum” of their usual lifestyle. When the weather is not conducive to outdoor activities, and you are tired and bored being inside and cooped up, why not try some of these suggestions?

Treat Yourself to a Spa Treatment

It would be great if you can afford to go to a local day spa and totally pamper yourself. Check the newspaper and internet to see if any spas that are close are having any specials. Also check on the internet to see if there are any product codes available to reduce the cost. I don’t know about you, but I always forget about the coupons in the phone book, until after I need them. Look at them now and see if there are any you could use.

If going to a spa is out of the question financially, it doesn’t mean that you can’t still have few of the luxuries of a spa right at home for a fraction of the cost! Set up some candles in your bathroom and get some fragrant bath salts or bubble bath. Now is a good time to buy all of those gift baskets leftover from Christmas as they are marked down. Get the supplies needed to give yourself a manicure and pedicure ready. Claim a block of time just for yourself and let everyone know you don’t want to be disturbed unless it is an emergency. Put on some soft, relaxing music; light the candles; indulge yourself in a nice hot bubble bath until you feel all of the stress leave your body. Work on your nails. Massage your hands, feet and legs.

You will emerge relaxed and ready to face it all.

Take a Trip

Now is a good time to plan a short getaway or even a cruise. Expedia has some great specials now. Save up to 35% off hotels and weekend packages for Martin Luther King Day! Hotels from $27, air +3 nights from $178 – Expires 1/19/09

If you’ve always wanted to go to Europe, here’s a great deal for you. Europe: Book early and save! 4+ Night Packages from $612 – Expires 3/1/09

And, if you act quickly, you can get a great deal on a cruise. Last Minute Cruises from $189 – Expires – 1/7/09

Get Away Locally

Don’t have the time or money to leave town? Expedia Winter Sale: Save up to 30% on hotels in 90+ North America destinations – Expires 2/26/09
. It’s amazing what a night at a hotel can do to revive and refresh you. Combine it with a night on the town at your favorite restaurant or club, and you’ve got a custom made mini-vacation.

Take a Hike

No, I’m not telling you to get lost! But if the weather cooperates at all, get outside on the next pretty day (hopefully before Summer) and take a walk. The fresh air and sunshine works miracles on improving moods!

Whatever you do, it is possible to get away from it all. Whatever it takes and is within your means to do, it will give you the boost in spirit and energy to make it through these ho-hum days.

Of course, with a New Year, it is only natural to think about what you want to accomplish in the coming year. And to set goals with a plan to accomplish them. Goals need to be realistic, and fall into either shortterm, medium term, or long term goals. It is best to make your goals measurable so that you will know that you have reached them. This means that you need to have some objective way to indicate your progress toward a goal. For instance, a measurable goal would be to write two posts per week to Plus Size Blog. With this goal, I will know immediately if I have accomplished it if I write two posts each week. If instead, I were to put that I wanted to be more active blogging, would I accomplish tis goal if I blogged once a week or once a month?

With all that said, here are the goals that I have defined for Plus Size Blog for 2009.

1. Post two blogs per week.

2. Bring up-to-date news of interest to plus size readers by adding one articler per week from outside sources.

3. Refine the manner in which affiliate opportunities are presented.

4. Increase traffic by marketing blog to one new opportunity per week.

5. Increase Google page rank to #3 within three months.

6. Review one plus size fashion item per week.

If your family is like mine, there is at least one member who really loves to read and actually wants a book for Christmas. Here are some of my favorite books and ones that I am thinking about buying as presents.

The Christmas Sweater

The Revolution: A Manifesto

Tales from the Dad Side: Misadventures in Fatherhood

Jim Cramer’s Stay Mad for Life: Get Rich, Stay Rich (Make Your Kids Even Richer)

Most of these would especially be appropriate for that man in your family  you find difficult pleasing.

Just got word that Silhouette is having a great new contest.  They want their customers to look their best for the holidays.  Follow this link to enter the contest.  They will be giving away a $1,000 wardrobe every week from now until January!

I’ll tell you about other specials as I hear about them!