How To: Make New Year's Resolutions Stick

It's what we're all thinking...

Drink less alcohol. Eat healthy food. Get a better job. Get fit. 

How long is your list of resolutions for the year ahead?

If you're anything like the statistics we found, you're more than likely to give up on your ambitious goals anytime after your first month. We're not saying that to discourage you. In fact, we're hoping you're up for the challenge and, if so, we have a few pointers that just might give you the confidence you need to finally make those resolutions stick!

1. Make your goals realistic and attainable: If your plan is to lose weight, plan a realistic goal for yourself. You can always add more to a task later but by starting out small you can aim for big, overall success.
2. Work with a friend: Sometimes its easier to work in a team. This is an effective way to reach goals on a timeline when you are part of an encouraging group. (It's like having you're own built-in cheerleaders or personal trainers!) Your successes will be their successes and you can work collaboratively on the parts of your goal that might prove to be more difficult.
3. Rewarding yourself is okay: Every so often, a little compensation for a job well done is in order. But, be careful! Stay away from "days off" and instead do less. In lieu of completely giving up for a day, allow yourself to take a mini-vacation and do something that makes you happy but maybe temporarily takes the focus off the one task you're trying to accomplish. You might even feel better about being able to get back on track once you've taken a short break!
4. Give yourself credit: Some goals (like quitting cigarettes) are harder to achieve than basic and simple adjustments to a lifestyle. When dealing with goals that encourage the breaking of habits, sometimes its better to set intervals of scaling back bad behavior or adverse habits and also more manageable. You'll feel more accomplished if you can accomplish pieces of your plan instead of building up anxiety when you don't meet your mark.
5. Don't give up!: Stay focused. Even if you slip, don't beat yourself up about it. Twelve months is a long time to set and accomplish any given task so while there's room for error, there's also room for success!

Whether you are trying to save money or you just to want to plan a trip, we're rooting for you! Send us suggestions you have for meeting your new goals in 2012 by commenting below, on our Facebook page or on Twitter by following @COSMOpolitique!

Here's to a happy and healthy 2012 & may all of your resolutions be successful!

The Nice List: 11 D.I.Y. Holiday Gift Ideas!

At some point, holiday gifting can get a little carried away. From swearing to yourself that you'll start shopping earlier next year to your budget being less realistic than you'd hoped (and all of the holiday predicaments in between,) sometimes its nice to get a little creative and give a give that comes from the heart instead of hitting the outlet malls in search of any one "thing".

With that in mind, meet your holiday D.I.Y. gift guide! After scouring the web for the cutest gift ideas, we shared our top 11 favorites for every day left on the calendar until the big day!

1. Tote Bag with Iron-On Silhouette: Everyone from Mom to a "mom-to-be" can appreciate the convenience of a canvas tote. Personalize this gift with a monogram stencil as a classic way of making a practical gift glamorous!
2. Sewn Felt Slippers: This gift is essential for anyone on your list who enjoys the coziness of the season. Package with hot cocoa mix or tea lights and a matching coffee or tea mug for the gift of "A Cozy Night In"!
3. Dip-Dyed Candles: For friends who are finally moving out into the world, give candles to new homeowners or recent empty nesters. Nothing says home like a beautifully lit candle!
4. Cute Cork Coasters: After several weeks of holiday shopping and sprucing, a nice glass of wine sounds like the perfect treat. But where to put down your glass?! These coasters are the perfect gift for the wino's in your life (and can be gifted with inscriptions by writing little messages on the corks in a thin permanent marker)!
5. Braided Dupioni Silk Necklace: This was the first gift we saw where one would just not be enough! Whether you make an extra strand for yourself or give multiple strands to a friend for layering, this beautiful jewelry can spice up even the dreariest of winter outfits.
6. Rein-beers: First seen on LaurenConrad.com, this gift is perfect for any and all men on your list! We thought of decorating all but one bottle with brown or black pom-pom noses and making one with a red nose. If this is your first Christmas together, its a no-pressure gift that is clever and easy!
7. Needle-felted Handmade Pillows with Roving, Yarn and Felt Accents: Once we started thinking about who made our holiday lists this year, we jut wanted to give everyone one of these! Vary the shapes and trimmings and its very easy to make a whole set for the friend who just got a place of their own! 
8. Bath Fizzies: With any luck, it will start to feel like Christmas soon but with the cold weather comes cold hands and feet. Remind friends and family to relax this holiday season by a gift that pampers and pleases! 
9. Velvet Ribbon Belt: Martha Stewart's website says it all, "A gift so simple and luxurious, you might be tempted to make one for yourself!"
10. Patterned Sachets: This gift is essential for friends or family who like to travel. Help them keep a little bit of home with them wherever they may go (and some Christmas spirit too)!
11. Photograph Jewelry: Nothing is more personal than a picture of a loved one. We thought this gift was especially good for family members and friends who remember you when "you were just this big"!

We hope you have some fun making this beautiful gifts! Post any pictures or ideas you have used as d.i.y. gifts and we'll share them with the COSMO-politique community. 

Hope you're Christmas time is as festive as ours and happy holidays!