This Holidays

Writen by Aisling D'Art

Whether they're gifts for the holidays, a housewarming party, or another occasion, you can choose presents that bring Feng Shui luck.

When you select a present for someone, it helps if you have insights to their personal goals. Then your gift can enhance their luck in that area. However some items are lucky in a variety of areas. These include fantasy figures, plants, and candles.

FANTASY FIGURES

A statue, painting, or poster of an angel can be a wonderful symbol of supportive friends. Fairies in the same kinds of art provide similar luck; their wings represent rising above difficulties. Regardless of the recipient's goals, figures such as these are very auspicious.

Art that represents other creatures from fairy tales, mythology, and childhood stories can also enhance luck with business associates, friends, and networking in general. Fantasy art and figures boost creativity as well.

Statues, paintings, or posters of dolphins are perfect for someone with a creative career. They're fine gifts alone or in pairs and bring with them the luck usually attributed to fish.

However, dolphins have the added benefit of representing peace and harmony as well as intelligence.

In fact, these symbols are so powerful, be certain that the recipient truly wants this kind of luck in his or her life. For example, if someone has a career in competitive sports or works as an investigative journalist, peace and harmony may not be among his or her goals. In that case, the figure of a dragon may be more appropriate.

PLANTS

If you are giving someone a plant, choose a plant with two or three main stalks.

A bonsai plant brings strong good luck to someone who is facing hardships, but these plants can be challenging to keep healthy. It's a perfect gift for someone with a green thumb. Otherwise, consider a different plant.

Jade plants are sometimes called "money plants" because they consistently attract wealth; they're also easy to grow.

The heart-shaped leaf of the philodendron plant makes it especially lucky for someone who is single. Philodendrons are also perfect for someone who has a "brown thumb" and otherwise can't grow plants.

At the holidays, if you give someone a kit to force narcissus bulbs at the start of the year, this can be especially lucky. Just as lucky, lilies are legendary in China for helping to free their owners from worries.

Lucky bamboo plants are very popular and can be purchased in almost any store with a plant section. Although many of these plants are not true bamboos, any similar plant is very auspicious for attracting wealth.

OTHER ITEMS THAT SUPPORT GOOD FENG SHUI

Candles are another lucky gift in Feng Shui terms. Select colors appropriate to the recipient's goals, or to match the areas where the candles are most likely to be displayed. For example, choose purple, green or gold to attract prosperity, or red to enhance reputation.

Candles also prevent the gift from becoming clutter; after the candle is used, it's gone.

Likewise, a gift certificate can be an ideal present if it is for a meal in a fine restaurant, or can be exchanged for tickets to a show. These kinds of presents create happy memories instead of attracting dust.

Regardless of your budget, gifts can be simple or elegant and still bring great Feng Shui luck. Choose thoughtful items that reflect the decorating tastes and goals of the recipient. Each gift will benefit the person who receives it, and luck will also shine upon you.

Aisling D'Art is an artist and a Feng Shui consultant. ("Feng Shui" is pronounced like "fung shway." It is the Chinese art of design and placement.) She is the Feng Shui columnist for BellaOnline.com, and offers free Feng Shui advice at "Shui To Go!" - www.ShuiToGo.com. Her personal, art-related website is www.aisling.net.

Writen by Kathy Burns-Millyard

Despite the occasion, the best gifts for single moms are those that save her time, money and energy. Although a gym membership or a gift certificate to the local spa are both thoughtful gestures, single moms rarely have time to indulge themselves in such activities. You're probably thinking that it's only an hour or two out of her day. Well, an hour to the average person winds up being half a day of fiasco for a mom who is responsible for all household duties - including kids! There's getting the kids ready to go, dropping them off at the sitters, driving to the gym or spa, working out or getting a message, changing and taking a shower, driving back to pick up the kids, stopping for gas, driving home, etc. etc. It's exhausting! So next time you're faced with having to buy a gift for a single gal, think practical - everyday living. What would help her out the most? Here are just a few ideas to get you started:

Cleaning Service: Single moms are pressed for time, yet in many instances they cannot afford the expense of having someone else clean for them. So consider giving that special lady a gift certificate for housecleaning services. Only use reputable professionals that you have or currently use or ask for friends, business associates or family members for referrals.

Babysitting Service: Most single moms have only a moment to catch their breath every now and then. They usually have very little time to themselves and take the kids everywhere they go, including shopping, doctors appointments and to do the laundry. Give them a little free time by hiring them a babysitter for a day. Encourage them to spend some time doing whatever they want - maybe going to see a movie with a friend or playing a round of golf.

Filing her Car with Gas: Stopping to get gas cuts into a single mom's busy schedule. It can also turn into quite a project if she is toting all the kids. A great gift idea is to pick up her vehicle and get her a full tank of gas. Maybe you can do this routinely for a week or a month. Even just one time will be greatly appreciated.

A Week's Worth of Dinners: If you are handy in the kitchen, a terrific gift for a single mom is a week's worth of ready-to-cook dinners. Casseroles and soups are good selections. Make sure she has room in the fridge or freezer to store the dinners. Or drop one off to her daily for a week. Maybe you can even cook the meal for her and have it sitting on the dining room table when she gets home!

Writen by Mark Tyrrell

Don't get me wrong. New Year's Resolutions can be a great idea. A new year, a new you. Thinner, fitter, less smokey… It's all deeply compelling. I've only got one question. Why don't they work?

The problem with New Year's Resolutions is we focus on making the resolution not on keeping it. You get the satisfaction from making the resolution. You've succeeded!

Not only that, but we tell family, friends and work colleagues. 'No thank you, I've given up…' and even more rewards come our way as they admire our willpower and determination. Is it any wonder that our brain decides that making the resolution is enough? Keeping your plan going seems so much less important after a while. All that gratification, just for making a resolution!

Don't fall into Tony's trap

My friend 'Tony' does this all the time. He concocts a scheme, usually something big. A script for a new sitcom, a sponsored solo trip skateboarding around the globe, a new business that is certain to 'go viral'. And people are happy to reward him with attention and appreciation - even admiration. And all before he has set pen to paper, bought a skateboard or written a business plan. Tony forgets that most people are polite.

He waxes lyrical in the bar, at the party, in the coffee shop and it sounds completely compelling. He draws you in and infects you with his enthusiasm. He glories in achievements unachieved, in adventures not experienced and projects not started.

Then a few weeks later you ask Tony how it's going and…well you know the rest. There were good reasons not to go ahead. Other people let him down, the weather was against him, someone else got there first.

So how do you avoid the Tony trap when at New Year resolutions are firing off like crackers at a Chinese festival?

Reward before effort leaks motivation

Motivation is a fuel that will drive you towards completion of your goal. But recognition, attention and admiration before achievement tear holes in your motivation tank causing leakage. Happily, there is an easy way to prevent leakage and develop a powerful drive to accomplish your goals.

The power of secrets to generate motivation force Showing off your ideas before accomplishing them leaks energy like air escaping from a balloon. But keeping them secret multiplies the pressure, firing your motivation engine to higher and higher speeds. If you treat positive attention from others as a by-product, a happy addition after completing your aims, you will be astounded at what you can accomplish.

How to make New Year's resolutions that work

I'm going to make a small suggestion. Actually, it's two suggestions. Firstly, don't tell anybody what you are planning to do. Keep it secret until it has gained momentum and even then, only tell those you have to. And secondly, why wait for January 1? Start, or stop doing whatever it is you plan to do right now. Or failing that, start your resolution on January 2, or 3, or 10.

Make a secret New Year's resolution and see how long it is before people notice. Notice how good you feel with your secret inside as it slowly dawns on people what you've done. Go on. Show them what you are capable of.

Mark Tyrrell is a highly motivated and productive guy. So much so in fact, that he has written over 180 hypnosis sessions on everything from motivation to procrastination at http://www.hypnosisdownloads.com/

This Holidays