Want to Start the Day Right? Start Here.

I've got an easy and fun way to jazz up your day. Literally.

A beachside run is one way to start the day right, but read on for a solution wherever you may be.

I need to start with a small rant about November.

In a nutshell (or rather, sentence), I’ll tell you this: I’m not a fan of the month.

Historically, November hasn’t been a good month for me.

My reasons for my No-november feelings - in no particular order- it was the month a boyfriend dumped me in college, the weather always sucks, and I associate the month with some family illnesses over the years. The stuff you try to forget but always creeps back in.

There’s something about November that gives me a permanent case of the Mondays, and those freakin’ Mondays take over my calendar like a meeting-happy HR person with new policies to roll out. (Familiar with that scenario?)

So now that you know that, as you can imagine, my November Mondays are in full force on actual Mondays.

Which brings me to this past Monday… when I think I found the cure to my woes.

I was in my morning workout class, which takes place in a studio that’s heated to a toasty 95 degrees, and effectively kicks my a$$ every day at 7:25. Mondays are more intense than other days. (The kind of class you dread but know you’ll be happy after.)

Well. This past Monday started fast and furious, and really intense, and continued to be hard the entire 60 minutes. But I didn’t care. In fact, I loved (okay, maybe too strong a word, but close) every minute.

Why?

First, the people in the class are awesome, so even the most challenging workouts have a “we’re in this together, let’s do it” vibe. And second, the workout seemed easier because the playlist was “da’ bomb” with all the ‘80s songs I loved in high school.

I actually felt like I was in high school (I even wondered if some weird Cocoon thing was happening). In fact, I was so energized by the music's good vibes that I forgot the class was hard. I also forgot that I hated November, it was Monday, and I had a to-do list from there to the next county waiting for me at home.

The tunes made my day better.

Back home, I decided to put my Tune Therapy Strategy (TTS) to use, and use playlists to get me through the rough patches in my month of Mondays.

Some of my favorite playlists:

Groove Monkey (if you like funky music to play in the background)

This is Macy Gray (because I love Macy Gray and it reminds me of the time I went to her concert in Madrid with my favorite pals.)

Wake Up (helps you… wait for it… wake up)

Sunday Chill (great for any day of the week)

Namaste your stress away (better for evenings, but a relaxing mix)

Feel Good Afternoon Mix (self-explanatory title - love “The Walk”)

What playlists do you recommend? Drop a comment!

Now that you have some tunes and a strategy for the Mondays (whenever they hit), let’s get to all the things I’d rather be talking about this week!

• hostess gift ideas

• a salad survey

• a travel tip you need to know (other than don’t fly until the airline crazy clears up)

• amazing wardrobe solutions that won’t break the bank

• recipes and a tasty new mocktail you need to try

• SO MUCH MORE above and below the paywall

Speaking of the paywall… all the links can be yours for a cool eight bucks a month. Roughly the cost of a coffee at Starbucks - an alarming reality that hit me last week when I paid $7.45 for my cuppa☕️. I promise my links last longer than a $7.45 coffee buzz that leaves you jittery with bad breath.

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Fun fact: this is a stock photo from my search for “COZY” - but here’s the thing, I don’t really like this pic or the others I saw. I prefer my own cozy pics - of people and animals I love. I’ve got one for you at the end of this section. Photo by Pavan Trikutam on Unsplash

And now, some of the many things I’d rather be talking about this week…

What if you ditched your phone for a weekend? 😳 There are retreats for that, and I’ll tell you what. It doesn’t look so bad.

In life and business, remember that going the extra mile always pays off. I love this story that shows the power of doing little things that exceed people’s expectations. (And it all started with a New York hot dog.)

CALLING ALL SHOPPERS! I’m putting together a gift guide🎁, but it’s not going to be a gift guide. More like a list of things I find while pretending to shop for others that I end up buying for myself. 🤔 I’d love your input… if you have any great wellness, travel, lifestyle, clothing suggestions… can you please drop me a line? Thx!

Anxious before bed? Do thoughts of doom and gloom strike at 2 am? Maybe you need to try this Finnish anti-anxiety nighttime routine before bed. And while we’re getting ready for bed, ditch your old jammies for this affordable, comfy, and very cool Old Navy loungewear. Love the brown color too.

Speaking of sleep… is it a struggle? The answer can (literally) be found in the palm of your hand… thanks to a company called Moonbird. What is Moonbird? It’s a health tech product that helps you breathe better and reduce anxiety. The CEO is a PhD scientist turned tech developer who used her quest to do breathwork better to help us all sleep better and feel better. It may sound crazy, but this device works! Learn about Moonbird here.

Testimonial from yours truly:

I’ve been using Moonbird for a couple of weeks, and I mean it when I say it works. As someone who never “does it right” when my yoga instructor tells us to breathe (how hard can that be?), Moonbird gently guides me into a pattern of calm, rhythmic breathing. I simply shake the unit to “wake it up” (ironic, yes), then place my thumb over the special thumb button, and the unit begins to expand and contract, encouraging me to follow its lead with my breathing. Before I know it, I’m off to dreamland. You can get $10 off your first Moonbird with the Code ABBEY35974

Now, let’s talk turkey. Thanksgiving is right around the corner.

Starting with a hostess gift idea: a cookbook for leftovers that my Depression-Era mom would have loved.

Another gift idea? A beautiful mug. Made by a young artist named Evie. Just look at her amazing work.

As long as we’re talking gifts, get your shopping done early with a gift from Wolf River Leather. From custom-made bags to leather gifts like belts, log carriers, sleigh bells, and wine sleeves… there’s a unique masterpiece for everyone. And by everyone, I mean you, too. 😉 (I have their “The Dump” bag, sleigh bells, wine satchel, and log carrier. Plus I’ve gifted their products for weddings, retirements, birthdays…)

I need your help with my Thanksgiving dinner assignment. My family has named me the Salad Queen (a title I take seriously). Which salad I should make? Green Goddess Viral Salad, Thanksgiving Salad, or Simple Spinach Salad? If you have another idea please leave a comment.

For a healthy pre-dinner mocktail, try