Friday, May 26, 2017

What's Your Home's Vibe and How to Fix It - Not Your Ordinary Psychic Mom

Decorating Home
After writing the blog post on How to Use Color in Marketing, I had several people ask me if I knew anything about selecting the right colors for the interior of their home. Yes, I do! And Yes, you can improve the vibe of your home by just understanding the symbolism of each room and the psychological affect of color.  

The lowdown....The colors you choose to paint each room in your home shapes the personality—the energy—of the room. Those colors reinforce a message about you to whoever visits that room. 

Below are descriptions of what each room symbolizes in your house along with the colors that work better in the room. In reading the descriptions below, think about the personality you have given each room in your own house. Are the colors you’ve chosen supporting the true purpose of the room, and for that matter, creating the energy flow that is in alignment with your personal goals?
  • A bathroom symbolizes the need for cleansing, purging, or eliminating something in your life that isn't quite working. Time to release and let go. You want to be able to release in the bathroom. Cooler or more earthy colors support that.
  • A kitchen represents that you are preparing yourself for something. It may also symbolize something you have brewing or cooking up such as an idea or concept. The kitchen is a social place. Many people are drawn to decorating their kitchens in yellow, orange and red tones which reinforces a social environment. However, those colors have also been found to increase hunger making people snack more often. Use those colors sparingly in your kitchen, and make sure you bring in some cooler tones to balance the room out.
  • A dining room means its time to nourish and take care of you. This is where you actually do sit down and eat in your life. It’s where you fill your physical body with nourishment. It’s also a place for conversation and formal gatherings. Most dining rooms in a home sit empty the majority of the year. As a result, a dining room can be dressed up in colors that reflect a style that make your comfortable. My recommendation is to use earth tones or colors that are richer in nature. This can set the tone for a more royal festive occasion.
  • The living room symbolizes being comfortable, relaxing, and taking a break. Greens, beige, tans and browns are colors that promote relaxation and make others comfortable when visiting.
  • The bedroom is a place you go to rest and contemplate the day. It may even symbolize sexuality issues. This is the place where you can revive your energy and Spirit. Blue is the best color to paint a bedroom. It allows one to relax comfortably and confidently. Earth colors also provide a calming environment for one to be able to relax and obtain a good night’s sleep.
  • A basement or cellar symbolizes your subconscious mind which deals with routines, habits, and patterns. It also involves eliminating outdated beliefs. Many people store their Christmas decorations, childhood memories, and junk in basements keeping the energy of old habits and secrets buried deep within your home. If you have a finished basement, bring some warm toned colors into it to liven and brighten it up.

Thursday, April 27, 2017

How to Use Color in Marketing and Achieving Your Goals - The Psychology of Color

I love color! It can motivate you. It can help you relax. It can help you achieve your goals. And it can even help you get out of that funk you are in.

Psychology of ColorThe Psychology of Color can be used to develop and communicate your brand image—who you are and how you want to be seen. Yes, the color you choose to wear sends a message to others about you at that moment in time. In fact, even the color you choose to paint the interior walls of your house communicates to the people who enter it who you are. But colors psychological affect goes beyond brand image. It affects your mental attitude. It affects your emotions. It affects your behavior. Color is made up of energy (Yep! We all learned about it in Science 101 - ultra magnetic spectrum). It has an unconscious power that many marketers leverage to get you to take action! 

Color and MarketingTake McDonalds for instance. This Global fast food chain has profited by incorporating the colors red and yellow in its brand image. The color red and yellow trigger a person to be hungry resulting in them eating more, or more often. This is the very essence of McDonalds business—fast food. Brilliant marketing strategy! 

So, when you are picking out the color and style of your clothing, think about the image you would like to convey. When you are decorating your home, think about how you and others will feel when entering each room. And if you are an entrepreneur, think about what colors will communicate your company and brands image - colors in marketing. Remember, each day is a new day; and each day can be a new color. 

The following descriptions will assist you with understanding the psychological
affects of 9 of the most common colors. Also, when you add black and white to a color, it changes it's feeling and affect.

  1. Red is used to convey love. It is a high energy color. A color you wouldn't want to paint your childs bedroom. Red is a "look at me" color. People who wear red get noticed. Red also has been found to raise a person's blood pressure. It can create aggressive behavior. 
  2. Orange is such a fun party color. It gives off the feeling of passion, sexuality, ambition. People drawn to the color orange are social, friendly and happy. Orange is a wonderful color to use in a marketing brainstorming room.  
  3. Yellow creates a feeling of optimism. It's a very intellect and mental. It also can create a feeling of being controlling. This is one color you should never paint your child's room, unless it's a soft creamy yellow. Studies have found that kids have a more difficult time sleeping in a bright yellow room. Their mind just won't relax.
  4. Green is such a wonderful color to incorporate in your life. It's everywhere in nature. It symbolizes growth, healing and good luck. It can help you relax and be present. Many production companies have a green room where guests sit in, so they can relax before going on set. Hospitals use green to help create a calming feeling too.
  5. Blue is the color of communication. It's been found that wearing blue to an interview makes you appear reliable, loyal and honest. Blue is a great color to help you become more confident. Blue is also a wonderful color to paint a bedroom. And incorporating blue into your kitchen or getting a blue light inside your refrigerator can help overeating. It's an appetite suppressant. Where red is the opposite.
  6. Purple is a spiritual color. Preachers are often seen wearing it. It gives off a feeling of luxury and royalty. Purple is not a motivating color. 
  7. Black has no color. It represents the unknown. Black gives off an energy vibe of death, mystery, and power. It is the most popular color in fashion. Many people are drawn to the color black when they are in a phase of questioning who they are and what they want to do for the rest of their life. This color represents mystery, secretive, power, death, and uncertainty. Black added to a color makes it more powerful. But it also can create a vibe that creates a negative feeling. Painting a room in dark purple, can make one more depressed and unmotivated
  8. White is clean and fresh. It’s a great color to use when cleansing. White is used to give a feeling of sterile. Angels are white symbolizing truth and honesty. When white is added to another color it gives it an innocence. People appear gentle. Angels are white representing truth and honestly. An all white room can make you feel uncomfortable, hindering creativity.
  9. Brown grounds a person. This color represents your UPS man— he or she is reliable and trustworthy. You always know he’ll be on time. This color doesn’t make a statement when out in a crowd. It’s a color that blends in. If you want to be noticed, this is not the color you would want to wear. Wear it if you are looking to blend in and be everyone’s best friend. In summary, brown represents earthy, grounded, having common sense, credible, reliable, and politeness.


Tuesday, April 25, 2017

31 Daily Affirmations For Positive Self-Improvement - Not Your Ordinary Psychic Mom

Daily Affirmations
Affirmations are positive statements that bring about change in your thought process, belief system and life. The key to using affirmations for self-improvement is to recite them repeatedly on a daily basis. This allows the affirmation to sink into your subconscious mind. Typically what you will end up finding is that within a short period of time, you will notice positive changes in your attitude towards life. However, some psychologists believe that for some people positive affirmations may not work; it's usually people with very low self-esteem. What they suggest is including the word "working on" within the affirmation; such as, "I am working on loving and respecting my child."

When creating an affirmation, it’s important to keep the following in mind.
  1. Use “I” statements such as “I am confident” and “I am happy.”
  2. Keep them positive.
  3. Use the present tense such as using the words “today” and “now.
  4. Write them down.
  5. If you feel the affirmations are not working, then include the words "working on" within the affirmation that you are reciting.
The following are positive affirmations you can incorporate in your daily:

Affirmations for Parenting

  • I love and respect my child.
  • I am patient and understanding, and take a deep breath before I lose control.
  • I speak to my child in a kind, loving tone.
  • I listen to my child.
  • I make our home safe and secure for my child.
  • I help my child to stay healthy and fit.
  • I take time every day to be and speak with my child.
Affirmations for Health
  • I am in control of my health.
  • I am healthy and full of energy.
  • I eat healthy, nutritious foods that benefits my body.
  • I have the energy to do whatever I desire.
  • Every day is a new day full of hope, happiness and health.
  • The universal energy heals me and makes me whole.
Affirmations for Career
  • I am happy in my job. 
  • I get along well with my coworkers. 
  • I enjoy going to work.
  • I am a leader.
  • I am a good communicator.
Affirmations for Love
  • I am a loving person filled with joy, love, and light.
  • I give my love to everyone I touch.
  • I always deserve love.
  • I attract only loving and caring people into my life.
  • I love myself. 
Affirmations for Spirituality
  • I am connected to the universal life force energy.
  • I am intuitive.
  • I am pure light.
  • My angels protect and guide me on my path.
Affirmations for Abundance
  • I am open to receiving.
  • Money comes to me easily and effortlessly.
  • My life is filled with wealth.
  • I have unlimited abundance.
Don’t forget! The process to make your affirmations work is for you to continue saying them on a repeated basis

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

11 Best Holiday Gifts for Girls in 2016 - Tween and Teen

There are some amazing gadgets and gifts for teen and tween girls this holiday season. My favorites and my tween daughters are below.

3Doodler 2.0 Drawing Pen
This 3D drawing pen by Brookstone made my tween daughters Christmas list. It's one of the hottest toys for 2016 holiday season. Hoping it lives up to its promise - easy to use!




One of the best journals on the market for tweens and teens! It will keep your child engaged by prompting them to do things such as adding photos, painting a page with hot chocolate and coloring outside the lines. Creative and fun!


Wreck this Journal

Wired Cat Ear Headphones from Brookstone
Great tween or teen holiday gift gadget! LED lighted cat ears with over-the-ear cushioning for noise reduction and a secure fit. It also is USB rechargeable—up to 5 hours of playing time per charge.
LED lighted Headphones

Chocolate Bar Maker
Somehow, every year, a food toy makes my daughters list. This year it's the Chocolate Bar Maker by Moose Toys. I'm sure she'll only use it once or twice. I bought it for her because it made her list and I'll get a yummy chocolaty treat that she made especially for me.
Chocolate Bar Maker
Great book if your child is interested in crafting such as scrapbooking and card making. I purchased this along with Tombow Dual Brush Pen Art Markers, Bright, 10-Pack

Writing Lettering for Crafts

Crayola Air Marker Sprayer
My tween daughter loves doing art projects. This Air Marker Sprayer available at many stores like Target and Walmart is another hot toy this 2016 holiday season. It also had great reviews. One thing that I like about it is that you can use any marker versus having to purchase something unique that can't be used alone.
Crayola-Marker-Sprayer
Pie Face! Game
Help! Yes it's hilariously fun! Yes my kids will love this! But I'm still torn between purchasing this game or the Bounce-Off game. Having whipped cream splattered on my kids (or their friends) face will be hilarious! As a mommy of four, I just don't want to deal with the mess it will create and the cost of continually having to purchase whipped cream just doesn't excite me. 
Pie-Face-Game
Smartphone VR Headset with Earphones from Smarter ImagePriced at only $49.99, this Smartphone VR Headset with Earphones from Smarter Image will give you an amazing 3-D experience. We tried it, and absolutely love it! The best part is that it is compatible with all smartphones up to 3.875” W x 7.5” H. 

Virtual Reality Headset

Day At The Spa Gift Set by Creativity for Kids
I did purchase this for my tween daughter. She and her five year old sister asked for this for Christmas. It's a bit pricey, but I think they'll get a lot of use out of it. At least, I'm hoping.

It comes with an inflatable pedicure foot tub, nail dryer that is battery operated, satin eye mask, pedicure slippers and toe separators, nail file, buffer, 4 bottles of nail polish, 1 bottle of glitter polish, 6 sets of printed press-on nails, stick-on nail art, nail stand, cotton balls and satin spa bag to hold all of your supplies. Batteries not included.
Spa Kids Gift Set

Fun gadget when you are doing your homework and need a breather. 

Remote Aircraft Toy

Last, but not least, Spot it! is one of our favorite games to play. It's a face paced game that develops focus, visual perception and strategy.
Spot it! Card Game


Tuesday, November 15, 2016

11 Best Holiday Gifts for Boys in 2016 - Tween and Teen

Every holiday season, I spend hours upon hours researching the latest and greatest gadgets and gifts to purchase for my kids for Christmas. This year, I discovered 11 cool holiday gifts for my tween and teen boys.

Virtual Reality Headset for Gaming and Movies
This is the coolest gadget for the 2016 holiday gift season. Great for kids and adults. I haven't purchased one yet; but it has made one of my son's top Christmas list requests. Right now, I'm highly considering the Smartphone VR Headset with Earphones from Smarter Image. It's priced competitively at $49.99 and has 5 star reviews. 

The following are two review sites that are helping me in my decision process.

PCmag.com Virtual Reality review
Virtual Reality headset by Wareable.com


Virtual Reality Headset


Infrared Laser Tag from Smarter Image
This is just one cool gadget for only $69.99! You get two infrared laser rifles (one blue one green) that “shoots” infrared light, and two (blue and green) visors that records hits up to 100 ft. away. The rifles also can transform to a pistol. Another amazing feature is the visor has a scan” feature that tells you when your opponent is getting close. 
Laser-Tag-Blaster

Virtual Pong from Smarter Image
Smarter Image rocks with cool gadgets for the entire family. The Virtual Pong game priced at only $79.99 is on the top of our list this year. It's great for those cold winter days. 



Atari Flashback 7 Classic Video Game Console
This looks like such a cool video game system! It comes with 101 games that I played when I was growing up. It has mixed reviews. Honestly, technology didn't work well in the 80's and 90's so this console may bring back some great memories. 

I purchased this from Bed Bath & Beyond, using a 20% coupon.

Atari Flashback 7 Video Game Console
Vista Sage 62" Recurve Take-down Bow
My 13 year old son asked for this. After doing some research, I decided to purchase it from Basspro due to price savings. I also purchased him a Vista Recurve Bow and Arrow case from Cabela's, along with some Carbon arrows.
Vista Sage Recurve Take-down Bow

K'nex K-force Mega Boom Building Set

This was a Lightning Deal on Amazon, so I couldn't pass it up as a surprise gift for my tween boy. He loves building Lego's and shooting Nerf guns. Hopefully he'll enjoy this as much. 
K'nex K-force Mega Boom Building Set
Google Pixel
I haven't purchased this yet, but am highly considering it. For the past five years, we've been an iPhone family. With Google playing such a big role in my kids educational lives, I'm leaning towards investing in the Google Pixel for my boy and girl twins.

Google Pixel Mobile Phone
Google Pixel=

Fishing rod
My boys love to fish. This year, my 13 year old asked for a Shakespeare Catch More Fish Rod and Reel Combo for Catfish
Fishing Rod


Not for Parent How to Be a World Explorer

This was another mommy surprise gift for my 13 year old son. 
World Explorer Book



Beats by Dr. Dre - Powerbeats2 Wireless Earbud Headphones - These are one of the hottest gifts of the season. For the price, all I'm hoping is that they truly are comfortable and work!

Wireless Earbud Headphones
Framed portrait of my boys favorite sports team and playerMy boys are big MLB and NFL fans. This year I wanted to get them something they can see and enjoy every day - Rob Gronkowski New England Patriots Framed 15" x 17" Super Bowl XLIX Champions (purchased from Fanatics and used a 40% + free shipping coupon) and Chicago Cubs Highland Mint 2016 World Series Champions 13" x 16" Key Moments
Rob Gronkowski SuperBowl PictureChicago Cubs World Series Framed Picture


Wednesday, September 28, 2016

7 Simple SEO Hacks for Bloggers

I've been helping businesses (and mom bloggers) for years optimize their website, landing pages and blog. Many recommendations I make are simple and can easily be fixed, while others take time and sometimes an investment in resources. 

Here are my top seven SEO (Search Engine Optimization) tips:
  1. Know what keywords you want to rank for
    • Keywords are one of the most important SEO hacks. As a mom, lifestyle or professional blogger, you need to determine what keywords you want searchers to be able to find your blog when they are querying. 
    • Use long-tail keywords in your content. These types of keywords are 3 to 4 words in length and are specific to what you are selling or offering. For instance, if your are a recipe blogger, instead of using the word recipe alone, add more description such as pumpkin pie family recipe.
    • Research competitors for the top keywords they are ranking for. This will also give you ideas on additional keywords you can use within your content.
    • Don't over use one keyword throughout your blog. Again, it will appear spammy when crawling your site.
    • Sprinkle long-tail keywords within your informational blog post. When Google crawls your site, it is looking for consistency and a few keyword variations to be able to understand what your content is about. 
    • There are lots of tools available for getting keyword ideas such as Google Adwords Keyword Planner, Google Trends, and SEMRush.
  2. Optimize your Titles
    • Include your keywords in your mom blog title.
    • Try to keep your titles under 55 characters. Google typically displays the first 50-60 characters of a title tag.
  3. Format URL's so search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo can read them
    • Include descriptive keywords in your URL's. When creating titles and content, write for the reader not for the search engines crawling your page.
    • Use hyphens instead of underscores to separate words. A word of caution though, overuse of hyphens can be seen as spammy by the search engines. So watch out how long your make your URL.
    • URL character length should be no longer than 2,048 characters. If longer, Internet Explorer won't be able to load the page.
  4. Add Alt Text to all your images using keywords and variations of your keywords
  5. Sprinkle keywords and links within your blog post. 
    • Many bloggers believe that they should load their blog post with the same keyword and also link to ten plus sites. This is seen by the search engines as being spammy. Instead, include variations of your keyword and link a few of your keyword variations to other sites.
  6. Ensure link relevancy
    • Building link relevancy helps establish trust for your site. Link relevancy is determined by search engines by both the content of the source page and the anchor text. 
    • Include short-tail or long-tail keywords in your Anchor Text. Anchor text is the words that hyperlinks display when linking to another website, landing page or document.
  7. Register your blog with Google Search Console
    • Google Search Console is a free tool that helps you monitor and fix your blog. Your able to see which pages are causing 404 errors, what keywords Google thinks is relevant for your blog and if the search engine is having problems crawling your site.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Tiny Prints 2016 Invitations, Holiday Cards and Personalized Gifts Savings

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