We’re three weeks into 2017 and it’s safe to say I’ve been working really hard towards my goal of having a positive attitude. A change in mindset isn’t something that happens overnight, so I can’t say it’s been an easy task. However, with the help of some creativity and frequent reminders, I’ve been more aware of my thoughts and words to help me embrace a positive mindset.
Some fun ways I’ve been able to keep myself on track, is to place some subtle and some not so subtle reminders to myself that I see throughout the day. These reminders include a picture on my phone’s home page that says positivity, positive quotes on my wall in my office, a note to myself on my bathroom mirror and a post-in note in my car!
If you’re looking to add a little positivity to your life or love a good quote, I’ve included some of my inspiration below. Enjoy!
This year I had the chance to take my three-year-old daughter Olivia on the North Pole Express. I have heard a lot of great things about this magical experience aboard the Heber Creeper on the Heber Valley Railroad, and was excited to finally check it out for myself. Since it was our first time, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Thanks to some tips from our family and friends, we were able to be prepared for the adventure.
The North Pole Express is a 90 minute train ride to the North Pole aboard the Heber Creeper. This adventure mimics the classic tail of the Polar Express. Some kids dress even dress in their Christmas pajamas. Along the journey you can expect to meet Mrs. Clause, eat chocolate chip cookies and sing Christmas carols. Once you reach the Noth Pole, Santa Clause boards the train and meets with every little boy and girl. Olivia had so much fun meeting Santa Clause and singing along with everyone on the train.
We want you to have the same great experience, so below are 5 tips to keep in mind when riding the North Pole Express.
Buy Tickets Early: As you might already know, tickets go fast and the North Pole Express will sale out. Tickets go on sale in the early fall, so make note on your calendar to check the website in October for the best dates and times for your family.
Dress Warm: We were worried there wouldn’t be heat on the train, but it was pretty warm. You will however want to bundle up because you will be spending some time outside before and after the train ride. It’s pretty chilly up in Heber in the winter!
Arrive Early: Our train was scheduled for 5:00 but we decided to get there 30 minutes early. This allowed us to check out the gift shop and get situated. We waited in line outside for about 15 minutes and were able to be one of the first ones on the train.
Get the Best Seat: Make sure to sit on the right side of the train. This is the best spot because you will get to see the North Pole and Santa right out your window. If you are on the left side, you can still see, you just have to stand up and move over to the window.
Bring Snacks: The train ride is 90 minutes, which can be a tad long for some kids. It’s hard to get my three-year-old to sit still for 5 minutes, so I brought lots of snacks to keep her occupied. The elf’s bring around cookies and hot chocolate, so you’ll have an added snack for the ride.
Overall we had a great experience on the North Pole Express and will make this a new Christmas tradition. We can’t wait to go again next year and make this a family tradition.
Every Thanksgiving I look forward to getting together with my family and enjoying delicious food, just like everyone else. But the one thing I look forward to the most is my grandma’s creamy pumpkin pie. She’s been making this pie for 20 years and it’s my absolute favorite. It’s lighter than the typical pumpkin pie, but it’s very rich and filling. The best part, it’s super easy to make! This pumpkin pie only takes 15 minutes to make and doesn’t involve baking. You just stick it right in the refrigerator to set. This is my kind of recipe!
I asked my grandma if there was a special story behind the recipe I could share, but she just happened to find it in a magazine one day back in 1996. Either way, it’s delicious and I wanted to share it with all of you. Enjoy!
The biggest shopping day of the year is almost here…Black Friday! This year, I’m throwing out the printed ads and I’m preparing by having everything readily available on my phone. Who’s with me?
There are a variety of shopping apps but I’ve recently found one I love called Flipp. Take a look at the details below and check it out for yourself. You have a few days left to download the app and give it a trial run before your big shopping mission!
Flipp
Flipp is an app that helps make weekly shopping simple. It removes the clutter of traditional ads and coupons and replaces them with digital versions from retailers. The best part is you can also add loyalty cards to match local deals with coupons. There are more than 800 stores on Flipp, including Target, Walgreens, Smiths and more.
Top App Features:
Browse your favorite local weekly ads from over 800 retailers
Match coupons with weekly ads for additional savings
Plan ahead and discover deals for each item in your shopping list
Clip items to organize your list to make your shopping trip easy.
Receive reminders about expiring deals, new offers and updates from your favorite and nearby retailers
