It may be as simple as, “today no one cried” or as joyous as, “today, we saw a rainbow after a warm summer rain.” No matter how small or big, seeing your life in a new positive way will change the way you look at your life.

Gratitude Journal App

I use the Gratitude Journal App by Happy Tapper on my iPad. 

Since I’ve starting using the Gratitude Journal App, I’ve started to look at my day differently. I look for things that I can put into my Gratitude Journal…..positive things.

The Gratitude Journal app is a very simple to use. You add text and photos (1 on iPhone & 4 on iPad.) Each day you get a new positive quote (love that feature) and you can rate you day from 1 to 5 stars. Such a simple way to look at the positives in your life.

iPhone Gratitude Journal App

The iPhone version of the Gratitude Journal App looks like a page out of a yellow lined note pad. You can change the design behind the note pad.

iPhone version of Gratitude Journal app.

iPad Gratitude Journal App

And the iPad version of the Gratitude Journal app looks more like a regular journal. You can choose from several different designs for the journal section on the right. This is the version that I like to use because it looks so much like a regular journal and I can add more photos.

iPad version of Gratitude Journal app.

Your assignment today for #RechargeME is to start a gratitude journal. If you don’t have access to these apps, then get out the old fashion pen and paper and jot down 5 things. Give it a few weeks and see how it changes your outlook on your whole life.

This is a positive way to use technology to enhance your life.

Do you use a gratitude journal? Do you or would you use a hi-tech Gratitude Journal App or pen and paper?

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Put Your Mask on First

Do you take the time to take care of yourself before you take care of others? Even if you do not have children, we all have responsibilities whether it’s at work or with family. We need to put ourselves first sometimes.

There will be times when we can’t, but I believe that if you take care of yourself on a regular basis, you will be better equipped to handle those times when you can’t put yourself first. Stress is better handled on a well body.

Taking Care of Yourself Ideas

Taking care of yourself doesn’t have to be a long complicated procedure. You don’t need to carve out an entire weekend and go away. It is something simple that gives you a quick recharge. Here are some ideas:

• Wake up 15 minutes early and have a cup of tea alone before starting your day.
• Take a walk after dinner every evening alone (or with your favorite music.)
• Take a bath before you go to sleep (or even a nice warm shower.)
• Watch your favorite movie.
• Spend 30 minutes reading a book or magazine. 
• Play a game you enjoy on your tablet or smartphone.
• Put your headphones on and listen to your favorite music while closing your eyes and zoning out!
• Spend time with your BFF.
• Get a quick manicure or pedicure (or ask your BFF for a manicure/pedicure.)
• Sit and watch a sunset or sunrise.
• Take a nap!

So, as you can see, it doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. When I had several small children, just using the bathroom alone with a magazine was my way of carving out 10 minutes alone!

Find Your Way

I have lost my way in the last few years, forgetting to take care of me. This weekend, I plan to relax. We do have things that need to be taken care of, but I’m also going to take care of me. I have a new book I want to read and I plan to take a nice long run over the weekend. Those are my ways of taking care of me!

Are you taking care of yourself?

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Build Your Own Taco Recipe

Wednesdays in our house involve all 4 kids needing to be in different places at various times and no 2 people are home at the same time to enjoy dinner. I decided to make the BYOT (Build Your Own Taco ) recipe that I found on McCormick Pinterest page .

By the time the kids came home from school, the house smelled yummy and they asked if we were having Taco Night!

At 3:00 pm, I started the ground beef by adding the McCormick Taco Seasoning, water, garlic powder, sea salt and diced jalapeno peppers.

I chopped up lettuce and tomatoes. Added shredded cheese, black olives, sour cream, soft shells, hard shells and taco sauce and we had a meal.

Then we had shift one who ate at 4:30 pm while I drove Nicky to TaeKwonDo. We came home an hour later and 2 more kids ate Tacos while I drove others to Dance.

Megan is not a big traditional taco lover. She prefers to put all the ingredients on her plate, break up the taco shells and eats it like nachos.

And the last shift of the evening was my husband and I. I love to make a hard shell taco inside of a soft shell taco:

And a big soft shell taco:

Pinterest Taco Night Challenge

Here’s how the Pinterest Taco Night Challenge will work:

Be sure to use the hashtag #McCormickTacoNight and tag me with @ScrappinMichele.

Check out the McCormick Taco Night Pinterest board .

Here are a few other blogs hosting an Easy Taco Night recipe:

• Some the Wiser
• Honeybear Lane
• All Things Mama
• Hines-Sight Blog
• Frosted Fingers
• Not Quite Susie Homemaker

Disclosure : This is a sponsored post through The Motherhood for McCormick. I received compensation plus product for this post. All opinions are my own. All spices used were McCormick spices.

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Daily Reminders

As we are working to recharge our mojo, we need a reminder that we are focusing on our goals. I know how easy it is to give up when you’ve gotten off track.

Just like this Recharge Me series. What was I thinking starting a series as I’m heading off to the Mom 2.0 conference? Not real brilliant on my part, but I was anxious to get started. I lost my way for a few days, but I’m back on track. I will get 30 days in even if it takes me 2 months.

So, back to the daily reminder. I like to use a bracelet as my daily reminder, preferably one of the rubber ones that can be worn when you are showering because once I take it off, it may never go back on. I’m going to find one with my reminder words on it (or make one.)

Be The Change

I like to use the quote, “Be The Change” which is the shortened version of, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” I wrote that in silver on my Nike FuelBand (until I make or order another) as my constant reminder to be the change I want. If I want to be stronger, be stronger. If I want to be happier, be happier. If I want to be more successful, be more successful. You get the picture.

So, find a way to keep your goal in front of you wherever you are and let me know in the comments what you are doing.

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I wish I could say that my husband and I agree on everything, but it is so far from the truth. We have similar values, but we were raised in two different households with two different ways of doing things. Neither right or wrong.

I like to say that we find a happy medium in most things. Ultimately, we try to discuss the bigger things and we try to back each other up. We also realize that we have these differences and we have to recognize that and discuss things as they come up. I find talking about why we do things a certain way and the outcome we are trying to achieve helps. Usually we find we have the same goal in mind.

Finding Common Ground

Tia Mowry hosts the latest video from Circle of Moms by POPSUGAR. In the first chapter, she and several other celebrity moms discuss how they find common ground. Here are a few highlights:

• Find common ground by talking it out and finding a compromise that both partners are happy with.
• Having a united front for your kids is always better.
• Keep in mind what is best for your kids. You have a common love for your kids.
• Nothing good comes from keeping score of who gets their way.
• Remember it’s harder to change someone values.

Celebrating Creativity

Chapter 2 from the latest video from Circle of Moms by POPSUGAR discusses Celebrating Kids’ Creativity. This topic is so important to me because I am a creative person and when someone is stifling my creativity, I am crushed.  The celebrity moms discuss this topic while trying out the new seat coolers in the all New 2014 Kia Sorento.

I always let my kids show their creative style as long as it is proper (can’t wear mini skirts and halter tops to school, no matter how creative it may be.) We have a lot of tools around our house to encourage creativity whether it’s books, crayons, paper, sewing machine, photography, video or a computer. When my kids find something they are creative in, we encourage them to participate and learn more.

Fun Ways to Print Instagram Photos

In Chapter 3, Snapshots of the latest video from Circle of Moms by POPSUGAR, the celebrity moms discuss using Shutterfly to print your Instagram photos. What an awesome way to take your everyday family photos on Instagram and create a scrapbook (or as they referred to it, the lazy scrapbook.)

Here is the episode in full:

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Kia through their partnership with Circle of Moms. While I was compensated to review the Kia Motors video and write a review, all opinions are my own.

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Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.

This quote came from the cover of a notebook I bought at Target. I thought it fit perfectly. I often dwell on what I have done wrong or what I didn’t do when I said I would instead of just moving forward and making a new ending. The dwelling stops me from making the making a change and get a new ending.

You can write your quote on a napkin, paper, type it up or create a scrapbook page. I plan to print it out and post it on my bathroom mirror, computer and make it my phone home screen.

Finding Inspirational Quotes

Need to find a quote? Here are some resources:

• BrainyQuote
• All Great Quotes
• Goodreads Quotes
• SparkPeople Quotes

Those sites will give you a variety of quotes to choose from.  If you’d like, share your quote in the comments below.

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But, I have instructions from my 2011 Vision Board and I’m going to work on my digital vision board on the plane tomorrow as I head to the Mom 2.0 Summit in California. So, if you want to get started, here are some instructions you can follow including a video.

Create A Vision Board

Every year we all set our intentions and every year, by March they are out the door. In 2010, I went through a process of setting my intentions with every intention of reaching all my goals. I even posted them all here so I would be held accountable. Didn’t work!

I just finished reading the Idiot’s Guide to Vision Boards and the free Vision Board e-book by Christine Kane.

My Vision Board Project Supply List

• Something for the background – could be a bulletin board, foam board, poster board or anything that suits you
• Tape or glue or anything to use to stick the pictures on your background
• Magazines or print off photos from the Internet
• Markers or some type of pretty pens in your favorite colors
• Anything else that you would like to use. Get as crafty as you’d like or as simple as you’d like.

Vision Board Craft Plan

1. Write out a list of goals that you would like to achieve (that you would like on your vision board).
2. Find pictures, quotes, words or headlines to glue to your vision board. Magazines work really well for finding pictures and headlines to represent your goals. You may also use pictures that you have or search for pictures online and print them. What you choose is up to you. I started by going through magazines and cutting out anything that appealed to me.
3. Separate all the items you found in step 2 into piles for each of your goals (if you have more than 1).
4. Lay out the items onto your chosen background. Do not glue them down yet. The order is not important. Do what feels and looks right for you. There are many theories about creating a vision board. My personal theory is create your vision board so that it inspires you. It needs to make sense to you and no one else. I left white space so that I could add elements and decorations after. The scrapbooker in me wanted to make it pretty!
5. Once you are satisfied with the layout of all the items, begin to glue everything down. I adhered all my pictures to scrapbooking paper before putting it on the board. Feel free to be as creative as you would like when adhering your items to the board.
6. Use the Elmer’s No-Wrinkle Dual Tip Glue Pen to adhere the magazine clippings to the board. The glue is perfect for magazine or newspaper because it doesn’t wrinkle.
7. Add any additional elements or decorations to your vision board.
8. Finalize your vision board with your name and label anything that you feel needs a label. I used the Elmer’s 3D 10 Classic Rainbow ‘n Glitter Colors to highlight anything on my board that needed a little glitter. I used the Elmer’s Project Popperz Classic Colors Markers (8 pack) to add my name and put some decoration around some of the goal pictures.
9. Put your vision board in a place where you will see it every day. This is my completed project:

Vision Board Example Video

This video is about 10 minutes long, but I go through and explain in great detail why I chose the different items on my vision board. I won’t be insulted if you do not watch the entire 10 minute video. I created it for anyone who wonders why I chose different items or if you want an in depth explanation of a vision board.

Elmer’s #CanYouTopThis Vision Board Example from Michele McGraw on Vimeo.

My 10 minute detailed explanation of my vision board

Here are some links to other Vision Board posts:

• How to create a vision board (holykaw.alltop.com)
• How to Create a Vision Board…Keeping Your Goals in Focus (reclaimingyourcastle.com)
• Vision Boards: Creating Clarity out of Clutter (serenajenkins.wordpress.com)

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What is Recharge Me?

I’m going to take the next 31 days to focus on me and my plans, goals, intentions, desires in both my personal and business life. I will document my journey with daily updates and you can follow along with me. I’m going to try really hard to post at least 5 times each week.

I will be using tools I find and books I’ve read to help me with this journey. I’m not sure where it’s going to take me, but I’m going to start on May 1 with a vision board.

Vision Board Example – My 2011 Vision Board

My plan is to create a digital vision board first because I can do that easily. Then I will print it out and have something to put on my wall. I’m creating 1 vision board that encompasses all parts of my life. The lines between personal, business, family, health, friends and me often blur and I’m ok with that. So 1 vision board it is.

Vision Board Sharing

Come back tomorrow and I’ll have a Recharge button for you to use if you want to join me and you can see my Recharge Me Vision Board. If you have a vision board you have created, I’d love to see it. Leave a link to it in the comments below.

Do you have any ideas, book suggestions, websites, eBooks or any other suggestions for me for my Recharge Me month? I’m open to any ideas.  Leave me some comments below.

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Have you talked to your kids about underage drinking? Do you know when you should start talking to your kids about underage drinking? These are questions that most parents are faced with these days. It seems kids are faced with the issues earlier than we were and as parents, it’s our responsibility to be sure they are armed with the tools and knowledge to handle these situations when they come up.

My kids are 16, 14, 10 and 8 and we have had the discussion about underage drinking with all 4 of them. I don’t specifically remember the age we started, but it’s always been a natural part of our family discussions throughout the years. The discussion changes as my kids get older and our family changes.

Dr. Anthony Wolf

Last week I participated in The Century Council briefing with Dr. Anthony Wolf. Dr. Anthony Wolf is a practicing child psychologist, father of two “ex-teenagers” and wrote several books.

Underage Drinking Discussion Tips

Dr. Wolf had some great advice for talking to your kids about underage drinking.  Here are a few of the tips I learned:

• Parents have a bigger influence on their kids than parents think they do.
• Parents must be aware of the dangers and effects of drinking before they can teach their kids.
• Be sure you give your child your full attention when having an important conversation about underage drinking (or other topic.)
• Do not give attitude back to your teenager. It will only create more disrespect and back talk. Rise above the attitude.
• Talk to them in an adult manner. Drinking is an adult topic and should be approached in the same manner.
• This should be a conversation and not an argument. There is no winning, just discussing.
• Do not criticize or correct kids when they are talking. They may shut down and not open up in the future for fear of being wrong.
• Ask questions to keep the conversation going and to encourage them to open up.
• Teach your children to confidently say “no.”
• Parents need to Ask, Listen & Learn.

Here is a quick video of Dr. Anthony Wolf discussing underage drinking with The Century Council:

My Tip

Sometimes kids do get into a situation where they feel trapped or are not sure how to handle it. I give my kids a way to easily ask for help. They text me “1111″ and that is my signal to call them and tell them I am coming to pick them up. I want them to learn to say no, but if faced with a situation they don’t know how to handle, I want them to know they have a way out and they do not need to give in.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post through The Motherhood working on a project with the Century Council. All opinions are my own. Affiliate links within post. 

Related articles

• how to talk to kids about alcohol and underage drinking (teachmama.com)
• Here is How to Talk To Your Kids About Bullying (5minutesformom.com)

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