July 4th Celebrate Being Grateful

I was thinking... planning a Quinceanera celebration is a time to be grateful and so is the July 4th holiday. I just received this message I would like to share with you from the : White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans -

"On this Fourth of July, we join all Americans in expressing our gratitude for the freedom this national Holiday represents. Over this holiday weekend, please take a moment to share a positive thought for the men and women serving our nation in uniform."

Holidays are usually a time to be with our families and have fun. This July 4th is a time be grateful for what we have. We have the freedoms we enjoy in the United States, because so many brave people, either gave their lives or endangered their lives in the name of freedom.

Freedom gives us so much to be grateful for. However, when we have so much we usually take too much for granted.

Take a few moments now and practice being grateful for what you have.

• Take a deep breath and exhale...repeat this 3 times.
• Close your eyes and take 3 more deep breathes and exhale. Smile...
• Think of 3 things you are grateful for.
  
• Feel the blessings of what you have.
  
• Hold on to those wonderful feelings and say thank you for what you have.
  
• Now take 3 more deep breathes and exhale.
  
• Open your eyes smile and remember the wonderful feeling of being grateful for what you have.

Whenever a negative message or feeling, comes into your head take a deep breath and smile and remember the wonderful feelings of being grateful. Send the negative thoughts away....far, far away. Hold on to those grateful feelings and ask God for more gifts and say thank you. Be ready to accept the gifts of life you deserve.

Blessings,
Priscilla
PS: check out my book that I wrote for the Quinceanera and her family. You can download the first two chapters free.

How to Make a Dream Quinceanera Reality

Mom the first secret is to sit down and discuss your dreams with your daughter. And listen to her dreams. I received a call the other day from a Mom who told me what she was planning for her daughter's Quinceanera. She said her daughter was leaving everything up to her. The only thing her daughter shared was she didn't want a Corte de Honor.

The Mom never asked her daughter 'WHY' she didn't want to have a Corte de Honor. Planning your daughter's Quinceanera is the perfect time to share. To share ideas and time to share quality time. Time to communicate on a different level.

It's important to remember that the Quince celebration is all about your daughter making her transition from a little girl to a young woman. Why not start now and use the planning process for helping both of you create a beautiful new bond as she prepares for her transition to a young woman.

There are so many decisions that have to be made. The first item for the family to discuss is the 'budget'. The amount of money planned to be spent, will be a major influence on most of the other decisions to be made.

The good news is: you don't need to spend a lot of money to have a lovely and memorable occasion.

'# 1 ...work out a budget'

Budget Guide

• 50% to 52% of the budget is usually spent on the food/beverages/banquet hall
• 15% to 18% Photographer and/or videographer
• 3% to 5% Flowers
• 2 to 3 % Cake
• 5% to 6% Dress for Quinceanera and her accessories
• 3% to 18% Music- decision live band and/or D.J
• 3% Invitations
• 5 to 10% Misc.

The planning process should be fun. Start now...

Wishing you all the best,
Priscilla
P.S. Your "perfect guide" for having a "dream Quinceanera celebration" is...Quinceanera Connection: Your Dream Celebration On Any Budget- by Priscilla Mills. "Order Now" and receive your gift/bonus of a 70 page Quinceanera eplanner with the purchase of book.