Month: December 2019

Ideas for Closing Out Your Year

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Motherhood.

Before the New Year rolls around and you start trying to keep your resolutions, it’s a good idea to think back on 2019 with some reflections. Part of growth as an individual is to recognize what went well and what didn’t so you can grow from your mistakes.

Here are ideas you can use to close out your year in a positive light:

  • List your accomplishments — Start off your year-end wrap-up with a list of all your accomplishments. Don’t let any of them slip by, not even the small ones. It could be something as “simple” as organizing your household paperwork or cleaning out the junk room. It can be reading at least one book a week to improve yourself mentally or spiritually. Or it can be major goals like spending more time with your family and friends each month. Whatever your goals were in the previous year, acknowledge the things you’ve accomplished.

 

  • Celebrate what you’ve achieved — The New Year is a time to celebrate new beginnings. But also celebrate the things that you’ve done in the past year. If you’ve managed to reach your goals, treat yourself to something special. It can be a night out at your favorite restaurant or a special item that you’ve had your eye on. Regardless of what you choose, it will be able to motivate you to achieve more things in the coming year.

 

  • Forgive your own mistakes — Acknowledge that you have made mistakes. But the important thing here is to forgive yourself for making them. A good visualization exercise would be to list out mistakes and missteps you made in the past year. Then take the list and burn it. Don’t linger on your mistakes but learn from them so you don’t repeat them.

 

  • Find your joy — Find what makes you happy and embrace it. It can be any kind of hobby or activity. If you like sports and exercise, celebrate that and make it the focus of your coming year. If you are a fan of movies, then make it a goal to go to one a month. Whatever is your source of joy, list it and make it your centerpiece for the coming year.

 

  • Set goals for the coming year — Now, it’s time to set goals for your new year. Don’t try to make resolutions since these are easily broken. Just set a series of goals that you want to achieve in the new year such as specific activities you want to take part in.

In the coming year, it is important to set goals for self-improvement that can guide you. This will help you cultivate a growth mindset in everything that you do.

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

Giving Back This Holiday Season (And All Year Long)

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Holidays.

It’s become a cliché, but the holidays are truly a time of giving to others. If you remember your Charlie Brown Christmas special, the crass commercialism of the modern world is trying to destroy that spirit.

That’s why it is so important to show generosity to others by giving back. It’s not only something you should do during the holidays but should be a year-round endeavor.

Here are ideas on how you can give back now and all year long:

  1. Quick change — Most of us have that change jar in our house or a cubby in our car where we throw our loose coins. Rather than using this for an occasional soda, take it into a bank and exchange it for hard cash and then donate this to a local charity.

 

In fact, relabel your change jar as the donations jar and keep putting in extra money year-round. (Another great use for your coins is to take them down to the local Salvation Army bell-ringers and just pour the whole jar in. They’d love to have all of that change at once and you won’t have to cash it in first.)

 

  1. Volunteer — Another popular form of giving back to the community is volunteering. One of the most popular forms of this is to help out with the local food bank or homeless shelter serving holiday meals. But the reality is that many of these already get tons of help during the holidays.

 

If you want to assist with serving meals or donating food, do this in the spring and summer when demand is high, but donations are low. Instead, donate your time to a local nursing home. And remember that it’s not just human beings you can give back to. Your local animal shelter would love toys and food for the animals there. You can also donate your time caring for the animals housed at the shelter.

 

  1. Build relationships — One of the greatest things you can do is to develop a bond with another human being. During the holidays, thousands of senior citizens are alone. Talk to your local senior center and see if they can let you come in and visit with these individuals so they don’t have to be so alone at this time of year.

 

These bonding activities can include sitting and talking, reading to them, or singing Christmas carols as a family or group. If you develop a connection, you may be able to have them join your family for dinner over the holidays. Chances are, if you try this you will develop a connection that will last long after the holidays are over.

During the holidays, many people get an entitled attitude of “give me more.” But it is also imperative that you give back to the community, especially if you have little ones that you want to inspire to do the same.

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

Gardens & Nurseries to Visit in Denver This Holiday Season

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Denver, Holidays.

Winter in Colorado conjures up images of snow-capped mountains and evergreen trees. The last thing most people think of is flowers and vegetation. But there are actually a number of botanical gardens and nurseries that thrive during this time of year.

As part of your holiday activities, here are some of the best gardens that Denver has to offer for you and your family:

  • Denver Botanic Gardens – This public garden is known for its beauty and the holidays are no exception. Stop by to check out their Winter Gift Market. Here, local artisans can help you find unique gifts for your friends and family. Local craft booths include jewelry, pottery, specialty foods, clothes, antiques, and bath supplies.

 

  • Tagawa Gardens – This nursery is known for celebrating the holidays in style with a variety of plants for your home. Of special interest for many people will be the array of poinsettias they have for sale. Tagawa has experts who specifically choose plants that will thrive in Denver’s homes so you know your plant will last with a little TLC.

 

They’re also the official garden center for the Denver Broncos, so you can be sure to find plenty of orange and blue poinsettias for you football fans. For those who are looking for holiday gifts, you might want to consider an amaryllis, azalea, or even a Christmas cactus, all of which will thrive in the local environment.

 

  • The Hudson Gardens and Events Center – This location offers beautiful self-guided nature walks that don’t stop just because the temperatures drop. For the adventurous, you can still walk through gorgeous landscapes to get in touch with nature. But Hudson Gardens also offers A Hudson Christmas.

 

Here, the landscape is transformed into a winter wonderland with lights adorning the trees and special displays set up to delight the kids. While you are there enjoying the lights, you can also warm up with hot chocolate and snacks. For the young (or young at heart) you can visit with Santa. Be sure to bring your camera to catch memories of this holiday festival.

 

  • Nick’s Garden Center and Farm Market – This great local nursery, Nick’s hosts a holiday open house on November 23rd and 24th to kick off the season. But if you can’t make that, they still have a multitude of holiday plants and a Christmas tree lot to help you bring the beauty of the outdoors into your home.

For the holidays, Denver can truly be an awe-inspiring place. But the natural beauty of this area isn’t confined to the mountains and forests. These gardens and nurseries can also entrance you with delight this holiday season.

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

Holiday Activity Calendar for Families Seeking More Christmas Spirit

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Holidays.

Nobody wants to be the Ebenezer Scrooge in their family yelling “Bah Humbug!” at the thought of Christmas. But with all of the stress of the holidays, it’s easy to find yourself falling out of the Christmas spirit.

Whether you have little ones who still believe in Santa, or you’re older and feel too “grown up” for Christmas, here are activities for you and your family that can put a smile on your face and warmth in your heart:

  1. Advent Calendars — Some of us fondly remember the advent calendars of our youth that counted down until Christmas. Each day, you would open a window on the calendar and get a piece of chocolate. (Always a plus!)

 

As a family, create your own advent calendar. Tape the “presents” to each day on a regular calendar. (This is great because you can choose your own candy.) If you want to excite the older kids (or yourself), advent calendars have moved beyond the norm.

 

Try one of these variations:

 

  • Funko Pops — These collectible vinyl figures are super cool and can make for a great holiday tradition.
  • Legos — These super-cool calendars feature mini-figures each day in a variety of themes. Just don’t leave them on the floor to step on them.
  • Wine — This one is definitely for the adults! But check out a sampling of wines each day to make you warm and festive.

 

  1. Santa — You’re never too old for Santa. This year, take part in some kind of activity that features the jolly fat man. Start by writing a letter to Santa thanking him for last year’s gifts and dreaming of what you really want this year. Then, make a trip to the local mall and have pictures with Santa.

 

Yes, it’s still perfectly acceptable to do this even without kids! If your pets are like family, take them as well to the local pet store for their own set of pictures. Finally, spend a day or two before Christmas baking special cookies for Santa and then leave them out on Christmas Eve. Just make sure they are your favorite types so you can enjoy them when the kids go to sleep.

 

  1. Tacky Light Tour — Some families have turned their homes into the Griswold house from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Round up the family in your mini-van, throw in some blankets and hot chocolate, and drive around watching the Christmas lights. Just don’t forget your camera and a sampling of Christmas music for the trip.

 

  1. Movie Marathon — Christmas is the best holiday when it comes to movies that warm the heart. Introduce your little ones to classic Christmas movies like the original Christmas Carol or Miracle on 34th Street.

 

Of course, It’s a Wonderful Life is also a perennial favorite. After the kids go to bed, check out non-traditional Christmas movies with Die Hard or Love Actually.

Make a late resolution this year to do something special for Christmas. It can be anything as long as it brings happiness, joy, and warmth to you and your family.

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.