Hot Mama’s Clutch Bag Contest Winner Is…

First off, I want to thank all of the Hot Mama Daily readers who shared their thoughtful New Year’s resolutions.  You guys rock!  Unfortunately, I could only pick one grand prize winner and that lucky winner is Michelle St. James from Brockton, Massachusetts.  Yay!

Michelle gets to select the clutch bag of her choice from Handbag Heaven.  However, because I received so many great responses, I am also awarding two runner-up prizes to Lynda Kelly from Toronto and Margarita Viera from New York City, who will both receive a $10 gift certificate for Handbag Heaven.com or any of the Affordable Style.com websites.  Who says Christmas is over?

Read the winners’ inspiring resolutions below:

Michelle:  

I have given my resolution tremendous thought this year because 2008 was difficult and left me hollowed out, both emotionally and spiritually.  There was a great deal of loss in my life and when December came around, the cliché that life is short suddenly had real meaning for me and I took stock of my life and myself.  I have a good and blessed life, but I am neither the person I want to be nor the person I always thought I would be.  Somewhere along the way I lost sight of the dreams that were strictly mine and that once gave me great joy.  I think that happens to all of us as life happens and we start putting others first, but my New Year’s Resolution is to reclaim my dreams and to work toward them.  I have always wanted to write and have had small pieces published here and there, but I have never given it a fair shot.  I bought Writer’s Market on January 2 and I have found a mystery writing course I plan to take.  I have no idea if I possess either the talent or the drive to be a full-time writer, but my resolution is to dive in head-first, ignore the inevitable feelings of guilt for doing this one thing just for me, and give it a shot, hopefully recapturing the creative spark that was once such a presence in me.

Lynda:

My name is Lynda and I am a university student in Toronto, Ontario.  In reviewing 2008 and the decisions I have made in my life thus far I am declaring 2009 my year of reconstruction. My New Year’s resolution is to get organized and get focused. Because no one has me as top priority but me!  In the last week of 2008 me and a close friend got together and spent the day setting goals and the means of achieving them in 2009 this included finances (tuition, vacation, life savings, etc), career plans (associations to join, things to accomplish to make our dreams come true) and many other categories to help us come full circle in aspiring to be the best that we can be by our own standards.

One of my favourites is the TRASH COMPACTOR (these are the people, things and places that are a waste and need to be removed from ones life).  My friend and I are accountable to each other through weekly updates via email and encouraging phone call/texts no matter what the hour of the day. We each have a book to help us get more organized and eliminate clutter from our lives making more time for our priorities. The book is called Organize Now by Jennifer Ford Berry. It gives you a week-by-week guide to getting organized.

I know it’s only a week into the new year but by writing out a plan for my future and eliminating clutter from around me, I already feel a sense of peace that I want to work hard to keep with me all year.

Margarita: 

My New Year’s resolution is to learn to say no to people.  It may sound silly but I consulted a psychic at an event I went to and she told me that people take advantage of me, which is true.  I was a bit skeptical, but she told me I have to learn to say no and heal.  Her advice was to become more spiritual and to be strong, so I have promised myself to do this by reading the Bible and reading “how to” books.  She also told me to wear a rose quartz crystal.  Sometimes we forget to meditate and take time for ourselves, which is vital for our soul.  I had trouble saying no at work.  I am no longer at that job, and I hope to be strong at my next job which I am currently searching for.  I plan to learn to be more confident by improving my self-esteem and my self-image, which will help me say no more often to people.