My mother’s name is Kimberly Ann Jacob.  Growing up, she taught me how to work hard, aspire, nurture, lead, love and even cook a few recipes (the easy ones). She is a constant presence when I need support or honest advice. We went through the typical stages of a mother/daughter relationship—from childhood adoration, to teenage contempt, to college-aged annoyance. Now that I’ve grown up and gotten over myself, we talk almost every day and I can truly say she is my best friend.

Laura Knobel and her mom, Kim Jacob, showing off their silly side.

I have another mother. Read it carefully: this one’s name is Kimberly Anne Jacobs. She didn’t get the joys of experiencing me as a petulant teenager, and we don’t talk on the phone every day. But throughout my four years of college and beyond, she has been a mentor, an advisor, a confidante and a safe haven. When I was eight hours away from my biological mother at school, she was just a short walk away, and I can never thank her enough for that.

Laura Knobel with her mentor/second mom, Kim Jacobs, being congratulated on her masters degree while her biological mother looks on.

Good things come in threes, though. Catherine Marie Niedermeyer isn’t old enough to be my mother (she’s turning 26 today, in fact, and has a baby of her own). But she has been there to wipe my tears in my lowest moments, and she was the woman counseling me through my wedding day anxiety right before my walk down the aisle. Regardless of when and where, I know I can count on her to drop everything to help me when I need it.

I turn to these mothers and others at different times—when I’m lonely, stressed, sad, exuberant, confused, heartbroken, celebratory and more. They have mothered me, and I’d venture to say I’ve even mothered them, more times than I can count. So as Mother’s Day approached, I found myself reflecting on the many ways mothers show up in our lives, whether it’s through a biological relationship or otherwise.

“Mother” may technically be defined as “a female parent” (thanks for clarifying, Webster’s), but if you read a little closer, it’s also defined as “maternal tenderness or affection.” Mothers look a lot of different ways, and show up in the most surprising of places. It’s hard to see sometimes—we’re all in the rat race, and we feel so much pressure to look after our own affairs and everyone else’s at the same time that we rarely stop to let someone take care of us for a moment.

Laura Knobel with two of her mothers, Catie Niedermeyer and her biological mother zipping her into her wedding dress.

But mothers are always there. For me, being mothered is that feeling you get when you can relax a little deeper, let your guard down, and feel like yourself. It’s safety and security in a bond you have with someone. It’s the trust and compassion that comes with true unconditional love and care.

Consider these mothers: the mentor on the other end of the phone when it’s time to ponder a career move. The sister who is just a short text away for relationship advice. The friend who never misses a Friday evening happy hour at the end of a long week. The office manager who always has ibuprofen when a headache hits in the middle of a busy workday. The new mother who has barely slept because she’s just trying to figure out this late night feeding schedule.

The single mom working sixty hours a week and trying to fill the role of two parents. The grandmother who took in her grandchildren when their home was no longer a safe space. The family with two dads actively seeking out female role models for their young daughter. The not-yet-mother who is waiting on a call from the adoption agency to say they’ve matched her with her child. The dog mom lovingly caring for her ailing pet to ensure its comfort in the final years of its life.

My spouse, who without fail, brings me red Gatorade, chicken noodle soup, and a gossip magazine when I’m home sick—just like my biological mother always did growing up.

I’ve witnessed and experienced all of these examples, and I’m sure you can think of even more. Today, on the official Mother’s Day, of course you should reach out to your mom, if you have one, but reach out to someone else who has mothered you, or who is working hard as mother to others. They might not even be aware of the impact they’ve had. Tell them you see them, you appreciate them, and you love them. Then pay it forward.

The post Redefining Motherhood appeared first on Clutch MOV.

Let’s just put it out there: we are on a budget diet. Between the holiday season and one of us having an unfortunately timed January birthday, we’re doing our best to rebuild our savings little by little. Instead of feeling the pressure to go all out, we’ve decided to challenge ourselves to plan the cheapest, most fun Valentine’s Day ever. Whether you’re single or taken this February 14^th, steal some of our tips to spread the love!

• Relive your childhoods with a family game night. Take turns picking which game to play (and no, I won’t complain if he chooses Star Wars Monopoly).

• Be eco- and budget-friendly by visiting the greeting cards section and picking out the cards you would have given each other. Exchange them in the store and go on your merry way. For added stakes, set a two-minute timer and try to find the funniest, cheesiest or raunchiest card you can find — winner gets bragging rights until next February.

• Complete a mystery box challenge à la Masterchef and choose five random pantry items for your partner (or yourself), with which you must make your best restaurant-quality dish. No skipping the taste test, no matter how unappetizing it might look.

• Instead of rejecting all the mushy language surrounding Valentine’s Day, in the week leading up to it, put a quarter (or other amount) into a change jar anytime you hear the words love, Valentine, Cupid or heart. By the end of the week you could probably fly to Paris with all the money you’ve saved.

• Be a Mid-Ohio Valley tourist: We get so used to living near all this history, we forget to appreciate it. The Campus Martius Museum, Ohio River Museum, Toy & Doll Museum, Oil & Gas Museum, Blennerhasset Island Museum, The Castle and more all have affordable admissions and hold a new perspective about our neck of the woods.

• Doing good together can bring you and your sweetheart closer (and whether you do it solo or partnered up, it really boosts your spirit). There are lots of people and places in our community that need some love on Valentine’s Day. Try volunteering at the Humane Society or offering to lead a game of Bingo at a local nursing home to warm your own heart and someone else’s.

• Netflix and chill(ed wine): Elevate your regular evening of binge watching “Orange is the New Black” with a classy cheese tray and a split bottle of (cheap) wine. If you’re anything like us, choosing something to watch together could turn your house into World War III, try turning it into a game by using a site like What the Hell Should I Watch On Netflix and agreeing to watch whatever it pulls up for you. Bonus tip: put a cutout of a mustache on the TV and kiss every time it lands on the perfect spot on a character’s face. Laughs and smooches guaranteed.

• In lieu of an expensive dinner out, treat yourself to your favorite indulgent latte at Jeremiah’s, or Whit’s frozen custard with as many toppings as you want. No ridiculous prix fixe menu means you can splurge on cookie dough and brownie pieces.

• There’s nothing special about January 1^st. Take February to spend some time reflecting on how you want 2016 to look for yourself and your relationships. This year, my partner and I chose the word care as our theme: care for each other, care for ourselves and caring about what goes on in the world are going to be our priority this year — and that’s 100% free.

The post Best (Budget) Valentine’s Day Ever appeared first on Clutch MOV.

I’m just a tad obsessed with animals. From the noble canine to the humble white rat, I’ve had just about every pet you can imagine. I’m crazy about the little fur-balls. But I’m willing to bet my love for animals is trumped by every member of the amazing team at the Humane Society of the Ohio Valley.

The staff and volunteers at HSOV care for, foster, and love every animal that comes through their doors. From stray cats brought in from the side of the road to dogs that are surrendered because they are considered “aggressive,” HSOV never loses faith in an animal’s potential to be rehabilitated. Theirs is a cause close to my heart, so when I moved to Marietta, I was proud to learn that our city is home to a shelter with one of the highest successful rehoming rates in the country!

Last weekend (during the combination River, Trails & Ales festival and Merchants & Artists Walk), amidst the local businesses promoting their goods and organizations camped out on the Armory lawn, I came across an odd sight on Front Street. A troop of volunteers in brightly colored t-shirts wrangled a pack of excited HSOV dogs, and they were the highlight of the evening. The pups were dressed in their “Adopt Me” finest, and they greeted everyone who walked by. In between pets, I was lucky to catch up with Amber Dennison DeLong, the HSOV Volunteer Coordinator, who shared her story with me under the hot August sun.

How did you get started working with HSOV?

I live here in Marietta, but I started by volunteering at the Humane Society in Parkersburg about five or six years ago. I learned that Marietta was short on volunteers, so I started volunteering up here instead. When our previous Volunteer Coordinator became the President, she appointed me to the role.

What kind of responsibilities do you have as the Volunteer Coordinator?

In addition to recruiting and training volunteers, we like to get the animals out and about. I always enjoyed taking my son to local festivals like this, and when I approached the shelter manager, he said it would be okay for us to bring dogs to these events. The community has responded really well to it. Some of them have said, “Wow, we didn’t know you had dogs like this at the Humane Society.” Soon after we started doing this, people started contacting me and requesting that we bring dogs to their events, and it just snowballed from there!

Sounds like you and the volunteers are really focused on having a presence in the local community.

Yeah, it’s amazing how it’s grown. When I started, I think we had five volunteers. Now, every time we have an event, we easily get twenty-five volunteers to sign up immediately. It’s gotten to the point where the fundraising team will contact me to assist with their events, just to have some volunteers and some animals present. I wasn’t expecting that because I’m not even a part of fundraising, but the two pieces have really started to go hand-in-hand.

That makes sense, the dogs are the biggest fundraisers!

That’s right! The dogs are the ones bringing the money in!

Are you enjoying your new role?

Yes! It feels like it was meant to be. I’ve always been an animal lover, and in Parkersburg, I enjoyed walking the dogs, but that was most of the work I did. Here, I’m able to enjoy both the animals and the people. This is my social life, really! The volunteers and I kind of fuel each other. They mean so much to me. When I get frustrated or life gets busy, they are the ones that keep me going.

If someone wanted to volunteer, how can they get signed up?

They can contact me directly or contact the shelter. I’m also at the shelter every Saturday from Noon-3:00 pm, and I host volunteer orientations for anyone who would like to start helping out at the shelter.

As the only Humane Society in Washington County, HSOV sees an exorbitant number of animals come through, and they rely heavily on donated supplies and monetary contributions to give the best care to our furry friends. Recently, businesses such as Tim Horton’s, C&C Toyota, and The Original Pizza Place have generously hosted fundraisers and donated profits to HSOV. Individuals can help, too—the rest of the month is jam packed with events benefitting these worthy animals. See you there!

• This weekend, local businesses and organizations are invited to host any fundraiser with the theme “Going to the Dogs!” Gather your co-workers for an office raffle, host a canned (dog) food drive, or just gather up your spare change and donate it to the Humane Society of the Ohio Valley.
• August 14-15, 8:00 am-5:00 pm: The American Legion (8^th & Wooster) hosts a Rummage & Bake Sale for HSOV! Browse the goods and take home a new treasure or some treats for your sweet tooth. Interested in donating sale items? Bring housewares and baked goods to the Legion on Thursday, August 13 from 3-8 pm.
• August 16, 1:00 pm: Enjoy BINGO, raffles, and drawings at the Reno Community Building (260 Sandhill Road)! Donate animal supplies or food to enter the drawing, and pay just $20 for twenty games of BINGO, which starts at 2:00 pm. There are a limited number of tickets, so to get one, call or text Jamiann Voshel at 740-525-0517.
• August 29, 10:00 am-4:00 pm: If you’re considering adding a furry friend to your family, come on out to We Luv Pets (450 Pike Street, Suite A) for an Adopt-a-Thon and meet some of HSOV’s amazing dogs and cats. If you just want a chance to mingle with the animals, you are welcome to stop by with a donation in exchange for some slobbery love.

For more information about HSOV, volunteering, or fundraising events, visit their website at www.hsov.org or find them on Facebook.

The post The Heart of the HSOV appeared first on Clutch MOV.

If you were counting, I’ve lived in two countries and seven states (you could say eight, if you count both times I’ve lived in Ohio). I like to tell people “I come from a little bit of everywhere.”

But really, you can’t quantify someone’s identity. You cannot be defined by how many places you’ve lived, how many people show up to your family reunion or how many miles you’d have to drive to visit your parents (although for me, that’s 902). Each of us is a summation of the experiences that make up our unique human experience. It’s not how many vacations your family took, it’s how many embarrassing candid road-trip photos you managed to take of your brother in the backseat of the minivan. It’s not the score you got on your S.A.T., it’s how many hours you spent growing up playing school with your dolls in the basement.

Me? I can count my childhood in fireflies.

Living in Pennsylvania as a kid, Saturday afternoons were Mom’s time to grocery shop. I hated it! The ice-cold frozen section on my bare summer legs, the weird sprayers making the produce slimy and wet—I complained about having to tag along every week, without fail. But if I behaved and was a good helper, I’d get to pick out any candy I wanted in the checkout aisle.

I always chose the same kind: these little candy tarts that were shaped like bugs. I’d ride squished into the middle seat on the way home, popping all the candies into my mouth before we could pull into the driveway. They tasted good, but it wasn’t really about the sweet treat; it was about the plastic jar they came in. It had holes in the green, yellow, or pink flip-top lid, making it destined to be the perfect bug-collecting container. After the candy was gone, the groceries were put away, and dinner was made and cleaned up, my family always, always sat on the porch. Mom would soak the plastic jar in hot water until the label peeled off, and while my parents enjoyed a warm summer evening on their lawn chairs, I’d run around the yard collecting what my family called lightning bugs.

I was entranced by them. It seemed almost magical that a little bug that would have disgusted me in the daytime could be so intriguing in the dark. They seemed entranced by me, too; when I’d catch one in my hand, it didn’t seem afraid or try to fly off. Instead it would explore my tiny palm, softly glowing on again and off again, and seemingly trying to figure out just what kind of giant bug I was. I’d collect five or six of them in my little jar just as Dad called me in to get ready for bed, and I’d stare at my glowing nightstand with my head on my pillow, willing myself to stay awake so I could enjoy them for just a little bit longer. Of course, as soon as I fell asleep my parents would release them – until the next Saturday night when we would do it all over again.

We moved to Minnesota when I was seven years old, and I’m not sure why, but there aren’t any lightning bugs there. The climate probably isn’t temperate enough. I never thought much about them until last summer, when I moved back to Ohio with my husband. We were driving around, trying to catch a breeze of relief from the August humidity, and there, on a hill, were dozens of tiny flashing bulbs rising a few feet at a time out of the grass. Suddenly, I was back to being a kid on a warm Saturday night. We pulled over and cut the engine, enjoying the muffled darkness, those glowing dots the only indication that there were any other creatures around. I caught one, and it crawled around my now grown-up palm with that familiar tickle.

I know I’m not the only person who collected fireflies as a kid, and I certainly won’t be the last. But if you see me sitting on my patio in a lawn chair at twilight, you’ll know it’s because a little bit of me comes from those odd little bugs. I may be older now, but none of the wonder has gone away, so don’t bother trying to talk to me about bioluminescence. The reason why fireflies flash is nothing short of magic.

The post Why Fireflies Flash appeared first on Clutch MOV.

No, that’s not a typo. Valentine’s Day may not be until tomorrow, but the day before—February 13^th—is best reserved for GALentine’s Day. What is it, you ask? Well, it’s best explained in the immortal words of Leslie Knope, a character played by Amy Poehler on the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation (which just happens to be my favorite show):

I couldn’t have said it better myself.  The purpose of Galentine’s Day is for women to celebrate their fellow women (whether single, taken, or otherwise). But the spirit of the day is to pause and celebrate friendship regardless of your relationship status, during a time when you may be feeling overwhelmed by the new year or saddened by overcast winter days! Whether you keep it classic with brunch like Leslie and her ladies, or mix it up by beating the winter blues.

To give you some ideas for your own local Galentine’s Day celebration, my friend Erin and I celebrated a few days early by leaving our husbands at home and exploring one of our favorite towns in the MOV: Belpre, Ohio.  Really, we did all of our favorite things without leaving one parking lot, which is my ideal outing.

My 2015 Galentine

Here’s our “suggested itinerary” in case you’d like to recreate our Galentine’s Day for your own evening on the town!

First Stop: Unicorn Wine Guild

A little après work imbibing was on our minds when we first arrived in Belpre. So the first thing on our plate for the evening was dropping into the Unicorn Wine Guild. Yes, a winemaker in Belpre! Some of the most delicious nectars you’ll ever taste, not to mention an awfully cute mascot. The Unicorn Wine Guild makes their own wines in-house from some of the best, concentrated juices from around the world, plus it features delicious locally-produced teas and wine-making (and drinking) accessories and gifts.

We were lucky enough to stop by while the owners, Barbara and Joel Whitaker, were there. In between 25-cent samples of everything from a classic dry chardonnay to a chocolate-raspberry port, they regaled us with stories of their younger days, from college all the way up to opening the wine guild in 2007.  As a final project for a business class at Washington State Community College, Barbara designed a “fictional” business plan that ended up being the very real plan for opening the Unicorn Wine Guild—and the rest is living history.

Not only does the wine guild make for a great night out, but Joel is excellent at recommending wines for your at-home menu, as well as suggesting foods to pair with your favorite wine. But the most important thing we learned about pairing wine from Joel? At the end of the day, the only person who can make a perfect pairing is you. If you like a food, and you like a wine, you’ll like the pairing. It was a refreshing thing to hear from a certified vintner! No pretentiousness here.

After a few too many samples, we needed to walk it off. Lucky for us, the perfect place was right next door…

Next stop: Peddler’s Junction

Ah, Peddler’s Junction. “More than a flea market”—so much more! The huge location lends itself to a huge variety of offerings from scores of unique vendors. One vendor happened to be setting up his booth as we explored, and reminded us that, “If you can’t find anything you like today, just come back tomorrow and it will probably be here!”

Erin and I have very similar tastes when it comes to décor—mid-century modern styling and statues of forest creatures are things about which we tend to agree. But the beauty of a business like Peddler’s Junction is it also caters to our unique interests. My favorite purchase thus far is my vintage tin tray emblazoned with the Land O’ Lakes Butter logo, because the Minnesotan company serves as a reminder of my childhood home.  Erin’s is a tiny little ceramic cat statue—she took one look at it and exclaimed “He needs a home!” There was no question that home was hers. From this trip, our favorite (and most timely) find were these adorable vintage Valentines:

There’s something special about giving vintage items new life while paying homage to their former ones. We found everything from an old record-holder end table that may have once held the best of the Rat Pack’s tunes, to a Brownie camera that my husband would have loved that has likely captured hundreds of memorable moments. But beyond just vintage items, Peddler’s Junction features vendors with primitives, crafts, and clothing, and other modern items that make it the perfect place to shop for gifts or home décor.

Our favorite booth was called “Remember When,” where Erin found the perfect vintage hat for a selfie.

All this shopping made us hungry, so we headed across the parking lot…

Last Stop: Food For Thought

For a late dinner before heading home, Erin and I spoiled ourselves rotten by eating at Food For Thought, an amazing restaurant that could please any palate.  Although it was almost closing time when we arrived, the friendly staff greeted us and seated us without any complaints. The interior of the restaurant is gorgeous, with cozy, high-backed booths and unique colored ceiling lights. It makes a perfect date-night spot, whether you’re with your Galentine or another special someone.

Erin went for the special—grilled ham and cheese with potato soup—while I kept it classic Galentine’s Day with a breakfast pocket (Leslie would have wanted it that way). Did I mention you can get breakfast all day at Food For Thought? I think it might be my version of heaven.

There wasn’t much socializing during dinner, because everything was so delicious we couldn’t be bothered to do anything besides eat! Not only were we checked on often by our server, but the chef came out to check and see how we were enjoying our food. Hmm…let us think about that…

Amazing. No other word. Okay, two more words: Carrot. Cake.

All in all, our Belpre Galentine’s Day was a resounding success. When planning your own, remember that while Marietta and Parkersburg are great places to discover unique small businesses in the Mid-Ohio Valley, there are hidden gems in every local city.  Don’t be afraid to explore and try new things—and do so with a friend, it always makes it a little more special.

Happy Galentine’s Day!

The post Happy Galentine’s Day! appeared first on Clutch MOV.

“I LOVE IT WHEN YOU CALL ME BIG PAWPAW.”

Now that’s a love note only your MOV Valentine could appreciate. On Friday, Clutch MOV hosted “Prints and Pints” featuring two area businesses—justAjar Design Press provided the “prints” by leading guests through the awesome process of making their own Valentines, and Marietta Brewing Company served up the “pints” along with tasting samples of two of their delicious craft beers.

It was all in the name of collaboration. Recently, Marietta Brewing Company debuted posters for four of their beers—each one designed and printed with care and artistry by justAjar. All of justAjar’s work is outstanding, but the posters really shine.  They are more than just advertisements for the beers; each design tells the story of the brew, the plot containing everything from clues to its name origin to an imagined character that personifies the flavor. (Speaking of the flavor, if you haven’t yet been lucky enough to taste the nectar that is Estella’s Raspberry Wheat, get yourself to Front Street, stat.)

Owner Tony Styers from MBC kept the guests laughing and well supplied with cold ones, while owners Bobby and Sara Rosenstock from justAjar let each person take the reigns on the press with Valentines designed just for the event (prompting a thrilled exclamation each time a new print was produced). These two businesses “flow together like the Ohio and Muskingum.” From the stories they each shared, it’s clear that not only have they created amazing products that complement one another, but they’ve formed a friendly bond in the process. Now THAT is small business at work.

No matter the trade, all of our locals’ unique skills come together to make this valley a community. The Clutch staff members were overjoyed to see all of our MOV friends and readers in one place—our sincerest thanks to all of you who made it out last week.  Be on the lookout for an announcement about our next big event! We want to make this a habit.

P.S. If you would like to purchase the Valentines shown here, limited quantities are available for $6 a set. Email clutchmov@gmail.com.

The post Prints and Pints appeared first on Clutch MOV.

It’s that time of year again….time for those New Year’s Resolutions! The one Resolution that tops most lists is to become better organized. Whether that organization is in the form of your home, office or the dreaded email inbox, it’s always a task!

My goal in 2015 is to help that pending, waiting-to-be-read email (the dreaded red pop-up on your phone with the number of emails you still need to read) decrease in number instead of seeing it continuously increase!

Because I am in the business of working smarter, not harder, I put together a few quick ways to get to a clean slate when it comes to your inbox.

Tip 1: Create Folders

This simple tip of creating some folders within your inbox will help you all year long by taking minutes (maybe even days) of wasted time trying to find that one email you need to respond to, or get an important date or phone from the sender.

Some ideas for folders beyond my favorite folder, Important (its all important…right?) are projects you are currently working on, clients you are working with, and my go-to folder is taxes I have paid and the year (oh yes, the geeky business owner in me is coming out).

Tip 2: Move emails INTO the folders

It’s one thing to make the fancy folders, it’s another to actually use them. Now don’t get carried away with the folders– not everything has to have a folder, only the most important current projects of mine get put into folders…because honestly who has time to put all those emails into folders!  This leads us to the next tip what to do with those “other” emails.

Tip 3: Archive (if this is a function of your email)

Archive, as defined by the fine people at Google, removes messages from your inbox, but keeps them in your account so that you can always find them later. Archiving is like moving messages into a filing cabinet for safekeeping, rather than putting them in the trash can.

Why archive?

• Clean up your inbox by getting messages out of your way.
• Archived messages stay in your account in case you need to find a phone number in someone’s signature or you become famous and write a memoir.
• When you delete a message (instead of archiving), it will be automatically and permanently deleted after about 30 days.

What this will do….this is the Clean Slate!

The ultimate goal of a clean inbox to start your new year.

I would suggest doing this AFTER you make your folders and transport those important emails into the folders. Luckily you can always use the search feature (or select ALL MAIL) to find those old emails and organize them later incase you decide to hit the archive button before creating your folders…not that anyone writing this article did that or anything. But trust me the emails are still there.

So how can you stay organized well into 2015?

• You can create filters in your email to automatically archive certain kinds of messages. Which I think will be key for me to continue with my quest of a zero email inbox.
• Google also allows you to turn on a send and archive feature for all emails. This will help save you time if you feel like you are always archiving after you send an email.
• Make sure to Star or Priorize those emails that need filled into folders and take time once a week to clean up your inbox. You will be amazed in what you can accomplish in just 10 minutes.

As I continue the quest to make this resolution of being more organized with my email in 2015, I would love to hear your best inbox tips! Please comment below and share you knowledge of organization!

The post Organize that Inbox appeared first on Clutch MOV.

“I think women are especially hard on themselves because we expect to do it all…and do it well. The liveWELL planner is unique in that we aren’t just selling a planner—we are trying to help empower women to feel good about their days.” Tonya Dalton, Owner of inkWELL Press in Asheville, N.C. knows the value of organizing life in a way that doesn’t overwhelm, and believes that it all starts with the right planner.

I agree.

I’ve never been the most organized person in the world (in fact, most would probably describe me as a little addicted to coffee and a lot frazzled). Call me old-fashioned, but there’s something about a paper schedule and to-do list that help me keep track of all the tasks, meetings, and reminders that are spinning around in my brain. As you can imagine, I’ve gone through more than my fair share of yearly planners—sometimes more than one a year, when it didn’t meet all of my needs.

Then, I found it. The liveWELL planner from inkWELL Press has exceeded my expectations. Dalton describes her planner as “a marriage of design and function,” and I couldn’t have said it better myself. When I opened the package, I was taken aback by the gorgeous cover design (mine is the “Wood Chevron” style), gold foil customization (I went with my newly-married initials), thick paper (which doesn’t bleed through) and beautiful graphic design. But this planner is more than just a pretty face.

Inside are pages to list important dates, daily meal, fitness, and household task boxes, and sections for planning vacations, making lists of books and movies I’m interested in, and more. It also comes in two styles so customers can choose the structure that works best for their lifestyle—the vertical “Classic,” which plans your day in hour long increments, and the horizontal “Flex” which has open boxes each day for writing in tasks or the occasional meeting. Weekly and monthly Notes sections allow me to make lists, take note of my husband’s work schedule, practice daily gratitude, or just doodle.

My favorite feature of the liveWELL planner is how it intuitively guides you through the process of designing a purposeful life. We are most likely to achieve big goals when we break them up into smaller, easily reachable goals that contribute to our long-term success. My new planner is already helping me hold myself more accountable and establish habits that I’m confident will lead to triumph this December, not regret. First, the one-page yearly goals sheet forced me to prioritize and consider what big things I wanted to accomplish in 2015, in several categories. Then, the monthly Mission Board page allows me to set short-term expectations that benefit my long-term success in these parts of my life.

Sound overwhelming? Never fear. What makes inkWELL Press unique is the series of short videos that arrive to your email inbox leading up to, and shortly following, the arrival of your new life planner. Dalton personally introduces you to the format, includes a downloadable worksheet to help you prioritize, and shares unique ideas for making the planner your own. Over the course of a couple of weeks, you set up your planner to function the way you need. Meanwhile, you join a community of women who are ambitious, friendly, and supportive by using #inkwellpressplanner and #IWPsetup on Instagram.

Overall, inkWELL Press is a friendly company with integrity, and my liveWELL planner has inspired me to live deliberately. As Dalton so eloquently stated,

“Sitting down, setting goals and writing out your plans really can empower women to feel like they did accomplish a lot in their day. There’s something to be said about that feeling of satisfaction.”

Whatever your methods, I encourage you to take some time this January to reflect on what you want to achieve this year. Try not to focus on resolutions; rather, consider what gives you “that feeling of satisfaction” and how you will seek it out. It may be closing a book after reading the perfect final page, finding twenty minutes a day to take a walk and get lost in your own thoughts, or seeing your savings jar fill up with pocket change. Ultimately, celebrating these small joys throughout the year will cultivate a lot of happiness come December—and that’s something to plan on.

The post LiveWELL appeared first on Clutch MOV.