As we head into the holidays, life may feel a bit more hectic and full. Take a look at Artizen Coaching owner and life coach Jennifer Lee’s recent TV appearance on The View From The Bay for five simple tips to achieve more balance. Although the segment is targeted toward busy moms, the suggestions apply to anyone feeling overwhelmed by all they have going on.

At the very end, Jennifer showcased the Unfolding Your Life Vision Kit, a personal, portable work of art and visual affirmation of your values, goals and dreams.

Here are some of Jennifer’s tips for achieving more balance in your life:

1. Say yes to something for you and no to something for someone else.
Moms are so used to doing thing for other people. So first, do something you’ve been wanting to do for yourself but haven’t had time for. To make room for that, say no to an outside obligation.

2. Ask for help – make at least one request of someone today.
You can’t do everything all by yourself, so delegate a task to a family member, friend or colleague. Often times they want to help, but they need guidance.

3. Have a quiet place to recharge. Create your own personal sanctuary.
Have a space in a quiet room just for you and decorate it with candles or inspiring quote. Spend at least five minutes a day here to center yourself.

4. Change the channel. Gain a fresh perspective that will support you.
Instead of focusing on what’s going wrong in the world, choose a new outlook that helps you move forward and stay positive and grounded.

5. Have a compelling vision for your balanced life. Make a portable vision board and carry it with you in your purse.
When you’re clear about the life you want, it’s easier to take action in alignment with that vision.

Motivation gone on holiday? Check out these tips from Traci Barnum of Seattle’s Fly Fitness on how to stay fit through the season!

• Since evenings are full of cocktail parties during the holiday season, we recommend working out first thing in the morning to ensure nothing will get in your way of your routine.

• Recruit a few of your co-workers or friends to exercise with. It’s harder to blow it off, if someone is waiting for you.

• Join or put together your own “Turkey Trot” or “Jingle Bell 5k” for your friends and family. Nothing beats a good run before a long day of eating. You can even make t-shirts for your event and offer some yummy, healthy treats to kick off the day!

• Spice up your routine. Map out fitness classes all around the city. Most gyms offer a small drop in fee. Mix it up by trying a spin, dance, boot camp or any other class that interests you.

• Instead of hosting a cocktail party hire Fly Fitness to put on a Sporty Soiree for you! Some ideas:
Dashing Through The Trails Sporty Soiree
Sweat-n Santa Sporty Soiree

• Invest in hip work out clothes! It really makes a difference if you have something other than a beat up old t-shirt to wear to the gym.

• We need all the Vitamin D we can get. Purchase rain gear and dress in layers, and get outside as much as you possibly can!

Many people dream of being able to work from home. Is it really a good idea for you? Would you really enjoy it? I have been working from home for the past seven years and (as I mentioned in a previous post, Creating a Business Around Your Passion) the best part is getting to work in bed on my laptop first thing in the morning. I’d absolutely hate to go back to a regular office job.

I asked a couple of work-from-home entreprenesses why they love it so much, and here’s what they said:

Alicia Silva, Synergy Design Studio:
1. I am able to have a balanced life having a business and knowing where my sons are.

2. Working in a creative environment, I love to be able to run to my office when I have an idea.

3. Not commuting save me a lot of time, and since I’m already home, it’s easy to socialize!
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Jill Earthy, Mom Café:
1. Flexibility. I’m able to work 24/7 but on my own terms.

2. Freedom to multitask. I’m managing laundry and the growth of a business at the same time!

3. Efficiency. I have the ability to focus on tasks without dealing with office politics and dramas.

4. Of course, comfort and an easy commute also come into play.
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Lara Feltin, Biznik:
1. Commute. Some days I commute from the upstairs to the downstairs in pajamas. Other days I commute from the upstairs, to the downstairs for coffee and the laptop, then back upstairs for a couple hours of work in bed.

2. Wardrobe. My “professional” wardrobe consists of yoga pants, sweaters and slippers. I make maybe 2-3 trips to the dry cleaners a year.

3. Budget & Weight Control. I don’t have a $10/day Starbucks habit nor do I snack on junk food, because my well stocked kitchen is in the next room.

4. Flexible Hours. Everything I need to run my business is in one place. Working late well after midnight isn’t followed by a late night drive through empty city streets, but a simple climbing of the stairs back to bed.

5. Fuzzy Friends. Working from home means my cats live where I work. They’re happier, and who’s not happier with a purring kitten curled at your feet all day?

6. Multi-tasking. I know the experts recommend home office workers don’t give into the temptation to unload the dishwasher or do laundry during “working hours,” but I’m going to take a 5 minute break every couple of hours and move around anyway. A trip to the basement to move the laundry from the washer to the dryer is a great way to break up the day.

A house full of relatives during the holidays can be a blast and a major source of stress. Every season I make a point to take a pre-cation, a local get-away that me helps me collect, calm, and center myself before the storm of bustling activity hits. I like to visit cozy towns, secluded mountain cabins, and even rainy beach resorts.

I wanted to share some of the great places I found while searching for this year’s pre-cation destination in the Pacific Northwest.

Doe Bay Resort and Retreat
107 Doe Bay Road, Olga WA, 360.376.2291
Rustic, down-to-earth environment. You can start the day with yoga practice and a trip to the soaking tubs and sauna, take a guided kayak trip in the afternoon and have a delicious meal in the waterfront
café, hike in nearby Moran State Park and then read about the things you’ve seen in Otter Lodge, their guest lounge and library.

Kahler Glen Golf and Ski Resort
20700 Clubhouse Drive, Leavenworth WA, 509.763.4025
Gorgeous destination resort filled with year-round activities. Enjoy golf, skiing, snow shoeing, tennis, swimming, hiking or just relaxing. Located in the pristine Cascade Mountains, ideal for winter sports and
recreation.

Skamania Lodge
1131 SW Skamania Lodge Way, Stevenson WA, 800.221.7117
Set on 175 fabulous wooded acres in the spectacular Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. There are over 70 waterfalls nearby, including the famous Multnomah Falls.

Sun Mountain Lodge
604 Patterson Lake Road, Winthrop WA, 800.572.0493
A year-round destination resort, Sun Mountain Lodge in beautiful Methow Valley offers the outdoor enthusiast a unique playground and luxurious lodging.

Willows Lodge and Spa
14580 NE 145 St, Woodinville WA, 877.424.3930
Located in Woodinville’s wine country, Willows Lodge and Spa is within walking distance of Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Winery and Red Hook Brewery. It has a scenic location on the Sammamish River, and is just 25 minutes from Seattle.

Whats your fav winter get-away spot?

Been craving networking opportunities in a fun and comfortable environment? We hear you loud and clear, and we want to let you in on something fantastic–every third Sunday from 2-4 pm, the mavens at CRAVEbusiness will be hosting intimate, informal business related discussions at a coffee shop or other casual local venue. Initially the talks will be focused on a monthly business topic; however we will boldly go wherever the conversation takes us!

Join social media strategist Erin Anderson as we discuss how not to be overwhelmed by online social networking. Learn effective ways to broaden your company’s reach by utilizing web/email marketing and social media networks such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Discuss simple techniques for building a community around your business by using online networking to your advantage.

Speaker: Erin Anderson, Social Media Strategist
Topic: Don’t Let Online Networking Consume You!
When: Sunday, November 16, 2-4pm
Where: Pan Pacific Hotel Lobby Bar
Price: $25 per person

Click here to learn more and sign up!

Check out this video from two of my favorite people, Carrie McCarthy and Danielle Laporte. What is your brand? Does it come from your true authentic self?

The average Thanksgiving dinner contains over 2000 calories, meaning you could pack on a entire pound from just one meal. We are all about indulgence within reason, and were so happy to find a fantastic article by “Women’s Health” contributor and dietitian Lisa Drayer that explains how we can enjoy Thanksgiving traditions while keeping the meal under 942 calories! Find selected examples below, and read the rest of Drayer’s article here.

Wine
(5 oz glass), 120 calories
If the family drives you to drink, choose wine. You can go with white or red (only a 3-5 calorie difference per ounce). But note: red wine offers resveratrol, a healthy antioxidant, in higher amounts.

Turkey
(about 3 oz., or the size of a deck of cards), 107 calories
Go for skinless breast over thigh; dark meat is higher in saturated fat and calories.

Gravy
(1-2 tablespoons) 8-16 calories
Use a soup spoon instead of the spout of that 1950′s gravy boat to serve yourself. You’ll use less.

Sweet potato
(1 whole, baked, with skin) 103 calories
Do your best to pass if the sweet potatoes are candied or in casseroles, which can pack as much as 300 calories per cup.

Read more of Lisa Drayer’s Thanksgiving meal tips.

What is your favorite thanksgiving tradition?

We all are aware and have become increasingly conscious of our carbon footprints, but what about water footprints? Amol Rajan of The Independent explains in a recent article, “the concept of water footprints–or ‘virtual water’–will tell consumers the amount of precious H2O that has been used in the manufacture of products they buy. As with carbon footprints, a ‘virtual water’ figure will indicate the extent to which a particular product has cost the earth. And, as with carbon footprints, the message is clear: less is better.”

Rajan points out that a cotton shirt, for example, has a water footprint of 2,700 liters, tallying up the water evaporated in irrigating and growing the cotton, as well as the water needed to wash away fertilizers. Recycling such products, and thereby minimizing fresh production, could make the earth’s water resources go much, much further.

Concerned? Mix vintage finds into your wardrobe. Here’s a compilation of our fav local shop spots:

1. Pretty Parlor (119 Summit Ave E, Seattle, 206.405.2883)
Alongside the vintage marvels and distinctively styled couture including slips, silk lanterns, parasols, boas, vintage patterns, jewelry, cocktail dresses and sparkly pumps, you’ll also find fabulous fashions by indie designers.

2. Le Frock (317 Pine St, Seattle, 206.623.5339)
Great source to find a vintage party dress from earlier parts of the twentieth century and a sassy purse to match.

3. Private Screening (3504 Fremont Pl, Seattle, 206.548.0751)
Here you will find Deco to Disco, Rockabilly, Romantic Classic 20′s, 60′s, and some funky 70′s to 80′s. Private Screening holds the city’s largest selection of quality vintage suits and shirts.

4. Isadora’s (1915 1st Ave, Seattle, 206.441.7711)
‎Unique collection of exquisite antique estate jewelry, elegant vintage evening wear and exclusive wedding gowns created by our own designers.

5. Sugartown Vintage (2421 NW Market St, Seattle, 206.789.1400)
Extensive, incredibly organized collection of hip vintage duds from 1960-1990.

What’s your favorite vintage find?

Find your holiday style at Vancouver BC’s largest fashion and art market, Portobello West. With a show on November 30th, and a spectacular two-day Christmas show two weeks later, there’s really no way you could say, “I didn’t know what to get you!”

We interviewed Carlie Smith, director and mastermind of Portobello West, for our upcoming CRAVE Vancouver book to get a behind-the-scenes look at her business.

How would you describe your business in 3 adjectives or less?
Carlie Smith: Original, funky, and stylish!

What was the inspiration or motivation behind starting your business?
CS: Portobello West was inspired by the famous European markets like the Spitalfields in London.

Who is your role model or mentor?
CS: I look up to leading entrepreneurs like Richard Branson, who listen to their customers and continue to innovate no matter how big the business gets.

What mistake have you made in your business that you will not repeat?
CS: Just like any business, there are many mistakes I would not repeat. The the key is to learn why not and apply that lesson to all similar business processes.

What is your indulgence?
CS: Locally-designed clothing. I have the opportunity to see endless amounts of stylish clothing and accessories through Portobello West.

I’m a last minute kind of girl, so you can imagine the anxiety I experienced after seeing candy canes while standing in line for Halloween treats on October 31st! After the initial shock wore off, I embraced the holiday spirit much earlier than I usually do. On November 1st, I became determined to really prepare for the hustle and bustle of the months ahead.

I decided the first step in keeping the mood alive was to fill my house with simple, stylish holiday decor. I immediately went to the extensive online catalog of Seattle-based design megastore Velocity, and assembled this must-have wishlist:

1. Artecnica Xmas Light
Dancing snowflakes, twinkling stars, and even holiday cookies flutter on Tord Boontje’s ingenious xmas light, bringing warm holiday spirit to any room.

2. The Polished Antler Multi Taper Holder by Roost
These gorgeous candlesticks are cast in recycled aluminum from real antlers, then burnished to a high shine. Perfect to display throughout the winter.

3. Penguin Ornament from Roost
Hand-crafted of natural materials, this quirky penguin family is endearing whether waddling across a table or decorating a mantel in their finest black tie.

4. Boreal Forest Trees from Roost
Create a wooden wonderland of delicate birch veneer trees. Each piece is skillfully laser cut, leaving a burnt edge that helps to define the detailed shape.

5. Heath Ceramics Plaza Serving Plates
Set your holiday table with contemporary square shapes, mix and match with existing tableware lines or simply use your Plaza pieces as serving trays.

6. Vitra Algue
Algues are at one and the same time interior design components and decorative elements. Reminiscent of plants, the plastic elements can be linked together to form web-like textures – from light curtains to opaque, thick room dividers.

What decoration gets you psyched for the holiday season?