Mix together:

1/1 pound unsalted butter, softened

1 pound light brown sugar

1 teaspoon cardamon

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon grated nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon allspice

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Store mix in refrigerator until use. To make drink, add 2 tablespoons mix to one mug boiling water. Stir in a shot of bourbon (or dark rum, if preferred) and an optional ounce of half & half.

See what Brenda, Mike and Ciara are doing to have a better Winter!

In today’s Motivational Monday segment, InspireU Life Coach Chris Burell tells us all about coping, and how to discern whether the ways you cope with your insecurities are healthy or unhealthy. Especially in extreme situations, it could be a life-or-death lesson — and it’s ONE THING that you deserve to give yourself time to consider this week.

Well. If you already know that that’s not always exactly the case, then you may be a little more realistic and self-aware than moi.

I found this out this week, when I woke up early Monday morning with my stomach in knots and my body feeling like it’d been run over by a truck (or… at least a large motorcycle). “Oh no,” I thought. “I can’t be getting sick.” I mean: there was no reason for me to be sick. No dodgy back corner sushi fest or recent testing of the 5-second rule that I could account for. In fact, I’d prepared all the food I’d eaten the day before.

So, of course, then I started blaming myself. Sigh.

I’ll save you the drama (I know: thanks, right? I wish I’d done that for myself.) but it all ended with a really pathetic breakdown in my bathtub after getting home from work Monday. And, as these things usually go, the breakdown became a breakthrough. The “ping ping” of the pain became a #BingBingMoment.

See what had happened was: Mondays and Tuesdays, just historically, aren’t my favorite of days. It’s the high of the weekend crashing with the reality of looming deadlines and to-do lists of the work week. I know: it’s nothing new or revolutionary, but it can get me down almost every effing week! I’ve seen your Facebook posts. I know that, overall, Monday doesn’t have lots of fans. (Sorry, Monday.)

But, on a larger scale than that, I asked myself: Can’t I just have a bad day and be done with it? Why lash out and be tempted to make grand, sweeping proclamations (“I need to move to another cittttyy!!”), and over-generalizations about all things under the sun?

So that’s where this idea came about. We all have sh**** days. We all have wrong-side-of-the-bed-mornings. And so, in just accepting that those things will happen, even to the happiest and most on-purpose and most blissed-out of beings – and being honest about that (Oprah never talks about bad days, does she?) – the task then becomes: Okay. Sh**** days happen. How do you cope? What tools are in your toolbox in order to move through the stank a** attitude with just a little, even a morsel, of more grace?

I want to compile the hugest compile-able list of coping strategies and techniques, so it’ll be something that we can all refer back to on those gloomy days. I know the info’s out there, and I know each of you have at least ONE THING you do to help yourself.

So, let’s all put a smile on our faces (even if you ain’t feeling it right now), let’s know that this-to-shall-pass, and let’s do this!

Tell me: What’s ONE THING you do to help yourself when you have a stank a** attitude? Hit me up in the comments below or:

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ONE THING I wanted to do this year is to address situations as they occur, so, in the spirit of THAT, I’m going to reboot some of my resolutions by walking myself (and you) through the following:

ONE THING I Need to Do More:

Make room for more fun. This means everything from spending more (semi-quiet) one-on-one time with friends to switching up my elliptical/free weights/wash/rinse/repeat schedule at the gym. Remember those classes (yoga and “Latin Heat”) that I had fun doing? Yeah. More of that, please.

Also: yeah, salads and all that healthy stuff are great, but my super-healthy and fit friends swear on their “cheat meals.” (No, not “cheat days,” I asked For one meal a week, you eat whatever junk you want and never look back. They say it even boosts your metabolism. Something to explore further, I say.

ONE THING I’m Glad I’ve Done So Far:

When you’re losing momentum and worry that all is lost, it’s important to give yourself credit for the things you’re still doing well. Oftentimes, these are things that have become part of your new routine after 21 instances and, since they’re new habits, you may have started to overlook ‘em.

I’ve had a couple of questionable food choice moments (Walmart brand Cheesy Poofs, REALLY?!), but I have NOT gone into the candy dish that sits, quite rudely, in the office next to mine. I haven’t had my usual go-to fast food at all. I’ve reset my food-o-meter, and that’s a big win.

ONE THING I Refuse to Do:

Get down on myself. Lose hope. Throw my faith out the window. Stop asking what’s-your-secret questions to people who have been down this road and, in keeping with their path, are miles ahead of me. Not pray about it. (See the New Year’s Renewal Prayer #2 and simply replace “year” with “month.”)

To not keep myself motivated would be a crime, even bigger than eating Walmart Cheetos, yes?

So… what about you? How are you keeping yourself on track with your goals this new year? Talk back to us in the comments below or here:

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Let us know — What’s ONE THING that’s making YOUR Winter better?

Talk back to us in the comments below or here:

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This idea, spotted on Pinterest, takes that idea to a whole ‘nother level.

It gives us the opportunity to give gratitude for the “good” things that have happened all throughout the year!

The secret is taking a second to jot down your gratitude moments as they happen. If you place your jar (or it could work on a bulletin board) in a convenient space and stock it with note cards (index cards, maybe?) and a marker, you’ll be more likely to make this a part of your routine.

What a great way to remember those small moments that all-too-often pass us by and disappear into the ether of the passing year, right?

THEN… at the end of the year, as you reflect, you can glue all the moments, maybe in a quick collage form, into a simple memory book, so you’ll be able to reflect and give thanks many years from now.

LOVE that ONE THING!

Big thanks to KeepersMinistry.com for the inspiration!

What steps can we take to protect ourselves from dishonesty, double-crossin’, and downright deception?

Certified InspireU Life Coach Chris Burell says it’s all about listening to your intuition, the little voice inside that alerts you when something’s not quite right.

How do you feel about intuition, and how do you pay attention to that little voice inside? Let us know in the comments below, or here:

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Learn more about Mr. Chris here.

We want YOUR feedback! What do you have to say to Beverly or someone in a position like hers?

Let us know via email (ONETHINGwithKyleCollins@gmail.com), in the comments below, or here:

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