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Upfront & Personal

Okay. What happened to November? For me, it disappeared in a whirlwind of speaking engagements in Toronto and Vancouver, the wrap-up of another successful “90 Days to a Balanced Life” group coaching program and parent/teacher interviews.

It's hard to believe there are only 13 days left (I get an update every morning from Adam, my six year-old) until Christmas. Am I ready yet? Yes and no. Yes, I'm ready for the break and the time to celebrate with family and friends. No, I'm not prepared with presents bought and wrapped or baking done (now you all know how I feel about baking).

What I know will be true for me this year as it has in the past, is that I don't care so much about everything being perfect and looking like a Martha Stewart Living magazine cover. What I am focusing on is what memories I want to create for my family, friends and me. Right now, I am asking myself: “How do I want to remember Christmas 2005?”

It's easy to get stressed and overindulge this time of year, so I've included a recent article that I was interviewed for in Chatelaine magazine called “Holiday Stress Rehab.” Once you've finished the article you can go to www.chatelaine.com/stresstyle and and find out what your personal holiday stress style is. And check-out my book recommendation if you want some tips on long-term, healthy eating as you face the buffet tables, appetizers and treats galore in the coming weeks.

We only have so many Christmases in our lifetime. How do you want to remember this one?

Wishing you and yours a joy-filled holiday season, L.

PS. For many people Christmas is a very tough time of year. Please do what you can to share yourself and your abundance (emotional, spiritual and financial) to support and give back to others.

Feature Article: Holiday Stress Rehab!

Are you a repeat offender? Guilty of biting off more than you can chew every season? We'll help you spot the four most common culprits and get through the next few weeks frazzle-free. By Kate Rae

Offender #1 The Dreamer

Visions of sugarplums dancing in her head. The dreamer pictures her family sitting around the piano in matching made-by-her sweaters. The reality: she's weeping into the gravy boat because her sister suggested she "lay off the stuffing."

Imagine the fantasy. Thanks to Hollywood and advertisers Norman Rockwell fantasies are an all too common holiday mistake.

Read full article

News You Can Use - PRODUCTIVITY
Feeling seasonally sluggish? How to keep your focus

Both employers and employees must strike balance to keep work levels up and cope with season's distractions, pros say.

By MARJO JOHNE
Wednesday, December 7, 2005

Read article

About Lisa Martin

Lisa Martin, PCC, is the author of the acclaimed Briefcase Moms: 10 Proven Practices to Balance Working Mothers' Lives. She lives what she writes and talks about. Mother of a six year-old son, a certified executive coach with 20 years of corporate and entrepreneurial experience, and the founder and president of Briefcase Moms®, she is all too familiar with the tug-of-war and challenges of work-life balance. Lisa has helped thousands of career-oriented women and men define, establish and maintain work-life success via her proprietary learning systems - 90 Days to a Balanced Life and Briefcase Parent Solutions

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Referral Lottery Winners Announced

My heartfelt thanks to all of you who've placed your confidence in me, supported my endeavors and referred my services and products. Your referrals and word-of-mouth support is extremely valued by me. As my way of thanking you, I launched a referral program in June. Nothing complex: just something fun and relaxing.

For every referral you made that resulted in a new client, an enrollment in one of my programs, a purchase of one of my products, or a paid speaking engagement, you received entry into my Referral Lottery and secured a chance to win a luxurious spa treatment as well as some other prizes. The inaugural prize draw was held at the end November and I'm pleased to announce that Pam Wessel from Greenville, S.C. is our winner. Congratulations Pam and enjoy your spa treatment.

Pam's name was picked from a total of 25 entries. Thank you to all of you who referred Briefcase Moms® and me this past six months. The Referral Lottery is continuing and our next draw will be held in six months at the end of May.

Please remember to let me know if you make a referral…sometimes I don't hear about it and I want to know so I can thank you firsthand and enter you in the draw.

French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating For Pleasure (Hardcover)
by Mireille Guiliano

I read this book over the summer and enjoyed its simple message. It also inspired me to be even more consistent with my morning walks. With holiday treats abounding, now is a good time to consider your approach and attitude towards a healthy lifestyle. I've provided the Amazon review below.

Author Mireille Guiliano is CEO of Veuve Clicquot, and French Women Don't Get Fat offers a concept of sensible pleasures: If you have a chocolate croissant for breakfast, have a vegetable-based lunch -- or take an extra walk and pass on the bread basket at dinner. Guiliano's insistence on simple measures slowly creating substantial improvements are reassuring, and her suggestion to ignore the scale and learn to live by the "zipper test" could work wonders for those who get wrapped up in tiny details of diet.

Most appealingly, these are guidelines and tricks that could be easily sustainable over a lifetime. If you agree that food is meant to be appreciated--but no more so than having a trim waist--these charmingly French recommendations could set you on the path to a future filled with both croissants and high fashion.

As always your thoughts and questions are welcome. Let us know what you think. This space is reserved for subscriber comments. Send us an email.