I was browsing through Divine Caroline and I found this article -- Love Letter to My Right Bicep. I think it's silly and fun, but it's also a great idea.

What part of your body do you just love? Sure, we all have flaws that we tend to zero in on. But rather than focusing on the negative, take a glass-half-full perspective and focus on everything that's awesome about your body.

Do you actually have to write yourself a love letter? It's up to you ... but why not? It's a perfect exercise to remind yourself of what's good, toned, strong, and healthy about your body. It's a positive and affirming way to view yourself. And maybe it will give you some inspiration to keep exercising and strengthening the areas you aren't so thrilled with.

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I recently read and posted on an article I really enjoyed about a writer who learned how to eat right, appreciate delicious and healthy food and NOT put on weight during a summer spent in the Mediterranean. One of the things the author mentions is that meals in Greece take longer, meaning she ate slowly and was really able to enjoy the flavors in the food, and also realize that she was full before scarfing down way too much tzatziki, spanakopita and moussaka.

After reading that piece, this post by Marisa McClellan at Slashfood about an entire article that extols the many virtues of eating slowly, really piqued my interest. In addition to helping you lose weight through consuming fewer calories (if you eat slower, you eat less!) and allowing you to really enjoy your meal, the piece says that taking your time when eating leads to improved digestion (you chew your food more thoroughly), helps lower stress (concentrating on your food keeps you from thinking of everything else you've got going on) and lets you rebel against fast food (if you're willing to spend time on a meal, you're more likely to spend it on a good one).

It may take some practice, especially for those who grew up in big families where eating slowly meant having your food snapped up by a hungry sibling, but all of the reasons listed in the article make it sound like taking 30 minutes out of your day to enjoy a meal is totally worthwhile.

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The holidays are infamously a time of both joy and stress. Unfortunately for some it's more of the stress than the joy. If you're finding yourself a little frazzled or negative this season then The 12 Yays of Christmas might help cheer you up, relax you, or at least possibly renew your appreciation for some of the "small things" that you might as well enjoy -- since you're gonna have to deal with them regardless. Written with the popular Christmas song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" in mind (now I've got that tune stuck in my mind!) the article mentions everything from the joys of Christmas lights in the neighborhood to taking a few extra days off work. It even tackles the usual stressors of family visits and winter weather and reminds us to appreciate the positive -- such as the tradition that comes with visits from loved ones, and that a snowstorm equals sledding and snow angels.

I so can't wait to make a snow angel...

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