Did you make a New Years’ Resolution? Most of us have. How long did you keep it? If you’re like most of us, the answer is not very long. It can be tough work sometimes, but if you’re determined to make a resolution this year, here are some ways to be certain you can keep it.

Be realistic. Take some time to examine what you can reasonably expect to accomplish this year. There’s no point in setting yourself up for failure. Pick resolutions you can achieve given your time and resources.

Set goals you really want. Before you put all the time and effort into meeting that New Years’ resolution, make sure you’re doing it for you and not for someone else. Not only will you be more likely to get it done, but you’ll end up a lot happier if you’re successful.

Create bite sized portions. Making major changes can seem so overwhelming that many of us opt not to even start. Don’t be intimidated. Instead, break your goal down into manageable chunks that you can handle.

Be persistent. You’ll have your down days. You’ll have days where you slip back into old habits without even thinking about it. Don’t be discouraged. Remember if it was easy, you’d have probably taken care of it by now.

Even though we may laugh at them sometimes, the idea behind New Years’ resolutions is a good one. It’s a brand new year, so why not start the year off right with a brand new you? Keep these tips in mind and you’ll have a great chance to succeed.

“You are never too old to set a new goal. To dream a new dream.”

—     C.S. Lewis

If you didn’t know it was a new year by looking at the calendar would you really notice any difference from the day before?

The weather would probably be about the same (cold in most places). For the most part, the same topics as yesterday would still be trending on your social media. And, of course, your cat would still expect to be fed like always.

A New Year is much more than a date on the calendar though. It’s a time for renewal, a chance to reinvent yourself. It’s an opportunity to start fresh and a way to put the past behind you. These may all sound like clichés, and perhaps they are in a sense, but it doesn’t make them less true. That’s what makes a new year so special.

But why wait until January 1^st to reinvent yourself? You have the ability to make every day a new start. There’s an old saying that past performance is the best indicator of future success. Says who? Don’t let past failures cloud your future. Your future is your own, not some prophecy set in stone.

Now, of course, you’ll need a plan. You’ll need to visualize that future and take steps to make it happen. You’ll need to put in the work. All of these things are possible even though they might not seem that way at the time.

So go make those resolutions! Make every day a new start. Go out and reinvent yourself and see where it leads you.

"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas ...perhaps ... means a little bit more!"

Dr. Seuss (from How the Grinch Stole Christmas)

The holidays are bright and beautiful. There’s nothing quite like going out on a chilly night to see the lights glistening against a backdrop of new fallen snow. You have tinsel sparkling and carolers singing. You might catch the aforementioned Dr. Seuss Christmas special on TV or maybe go old school with the classic It’s a Wonderful Life. There’s the anticipation of the big day, and of course, there’s the wonderful smorgasbord of holiday goodies to munch on, made even more special by the fact that you only get to enjoy them for a short time.

A big thing is the loot. You’re bound to get something you need and (just as importantly) maybe something you’ve been wanting all year. It might even be something you didn’t even know you needed until that magical moment you tear open the package. It’s often better to give than receive though, and the priceless look of joy on a friend or relative’s face when they see what you’ve gotten them makes all the behind the scenes work worth it.

Of course, Christmas isn’t just about the things that come from a store. It’s about family and friends and being with the ones you love. They’re the ones that truly make Christmas a special time. So take a moment to appreciate the joy of Christmas. After all, it only comes around once a year.

Have a Great and Happy Holiday!

Your stomach may still be recovering from all that Thanksgiving feasting, but the holiday march continues. Christmas and New Years’ Day are coming, which means more family gatherings, more office parties and more tantalizing things to tempt your tummy.

There’s no harm in indulging yourself a little, but just because it’s the holidays doesn’t mean everything you eat has to be bad for you. There are alternatives that are both delicious and easy on the calories.

If there’s no way you’ll make it through the holiday without some quality green-bean casserole, try this slimmed-down version on for size.

Got a holiday party to go to? Get all the great taste of buffalo chicken wings without the associated calories with these spicy sriracha-buffalo cauliflower bites.

You probably won’t survive the holiday rush on carrots and lettuce alone, and with this healthier version of classic meatballs, you won’t have to.

Festive? Yep. Holiday color? Check. If you want a dessert that has all the Christmas pizzazz without all the Christmas calories, these star-mint meringues might be just the thing.

Let’s face it: you could really go for a great crab cake. You just don’t want to feel guilty about it. Problem solved with these light mini-crab cakes.

Use these tasty recipes along with a little moderation and common sense for the holidays. Remember a great Holiday spread doesn’t have to end up on your waistline.

It’s holiday time, not tax time. After all, you want to be trimming the tree not thinking about Form 1040. However, now might be the perfect time to get a head start on those schedules, and more importantly, do some end-of-the-year tax planning.

The key part of taxes is that they encompass everything within the calendar year, meaning that if you want to include something when you do your taxes next year, you’ll need to have it done by December 31^st of this year.

Stock up. If you’re self-employed, stocking up on supplies before the end of the year is not only a great way to hit the ground running in January, but it means you can also expense them, potentially lowering your taxable income.

Contribute. An IRA is more than just a good way to save for retirement. It’s also a way for you to potentially lower your tax bill. Depending on your age, you may be able to make a contribution of up to $6,500 dollars to an IRA, directly subtracting from your taxable income and possibly pushing you into a lower tax bracket.

Pay off those doctor bills. If you’re planning on itemizing your medical expenses, make sure you actually make the payments before the end of the year or they won’t count on this year’s taxes.

Sure, this time of year you’d rather have sugar plums dancing in your head than tax schedules, but a little planning now can save you big bucks when April 15^th rolls around.

The warm days of summer are long gone. Now there are only bare trees and the cold winter breeze. That means it’s time to come inside and watch the world through your windows, right? Well, not so fast. When we were kids, the cold weather didn’t stop us. We couldn’t wait to get outside and play in the snow. Find your inner child again this winter. Here are some ways to enjoy some cold weather fun:

Capture the Snow Flag. This is cheap winter entertainment at its best. All you need is a piece of white cloth tied to a wooden spoon. Mark off your area of play, and then have one person plant the ‘snow flag’. Time how long it takes the other person to find it. Switch places and start again. The person who finds the flag in the shortest time wins.

A real holiday movie night. It’s pretty easy to find an affordable movie projector for outdoor movie nights. But why let the fun stop when the summer ends? Get some blankets, some warm drinks and other supplies and enjoy a holiday movie in true holiday style.

Tic-Tac-Snow. Sure you could play the game inside, but why would you? Use a stick to draw some lines in the snow, grab some pines cones, stones, etc., for playing pieces and you’re all set.

Go for the stars. One nice thing about winter is that the humidity is low and the night sky is crisp and clean, perfect for some quality stargazing. Astronomy and hot chocolate. What could be better?

Winter is waiting. Make the most of it with these fun holiday activities.