WONDERFUL HEALTH > Love Your Skin

Your skin is the largest organ of the body and it takes a lot of crap! It's burned by the sun, chaffed by cold winds, frozen by snow, dried out by cheap products... It's your body's first defense from sickness and disease. Isn't it time to show your skin some love?

I've included some DIY ideas to baby your epidermis with the much needed TLC it deserves. I usually suck at DIY projects, but these are so easy they don't need special tools and you can find most of these supplies in your kitchen!


Face: Avocado Mask

Peel and remove the pit from an avocado, then cut it in half. Throw one half into a bowl and add a tablespoon of olive oil and a teaspoon of honey. Mix until soft. Spread onto your face with your hands or a sponge. Let it sit for ten minutes, then rinse. Your face is going to feel like butter, baby!

Hands: Sugar Scrub

Squeeze a small size of body wash into your hand and add a teaspoon of sugar. Mix by rubbing the solution all over your hands, focusing on the palms. This gentle exfoliate will soften calluses and remove dead skin. Say hello to princess hands! (To use on feet, substitute the sugar for sea salt.)


Feet: Soak Solution

This soak is great for sore or swollen feet! Fill a large bowl with hot (but not scalding) water. Add a few tablespoons of lemon juice, one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, and half a cup of honey. Soak your dogs in this potion for 20 minutes and they'll emerge glass slipper ready. Rinse after if desired, and rub down with your favorite oils after to seal in the moisture.

Body: Aromatherapy Bath

Aromatherapy is a plush way to detox and unwind after a stressful day. A simple recipe is to add lavender and vanilla oil into your bath water. Light some candles and cue the soft jazz and you'll be in heaven! I found an awesome website with loads of recipes to choose from for those looking for a more extravagant experience.

Check it out! http://www.easy-aromatherapy-recipes.com/bath-oil-recipes.html


I like to have what I call "Princess Pampering Days" to groom and treat myself to some at home luxury and these solutions are are part of the 'royal' routine. Show your skin some love today and you'll glow from head to toe!

IMPECCABLE CAREER > Do What You're Passionate About

Let's do the math. A lot of people work 9-5's, so that is 8 hours per workday. With the average of 5 days a week, 20 days a month and 12 months a year, that is equivalent to 240 work days a year out of 364.

That's a little over 65% of the year dedicated to working. That's 40 hours a week, 160 hours a month, 1920 hours a year from your life that you can never get back!

Now, I know we have to earn an income to provide for ourselves and our families, but when you think about it, your job only values these precious hours of you life at an average of $10/hour.

I don't know how you feel about it, but I'm worth so much more!

We should all strive to dedicate or 240 work days a year to something we enjoy, something that adds value to our lives, and not just the company's bank account. It's time to take control of your work life and turn your labor into favor.

ID Your Strengths

 

What are you naturally good at? Maybe you have an ear for music or pride yourself in a pristine home presentation. You can coax a fish out of water or throw together meals that make taste buds sing! Make a list of all the things you do really well, then circle the ones you like doing most.

If you're unsure, give Strengths Quest a try to find your top 5. Visit www.strengthsquest.com 

ID Your Passion

What makes you feel fulfilled? What is it that makes you feel powerful, like what you're doing makes a world of a difference? I'll share my own passion to get you started. Ever since I can remember, I've always been a 'girls rule' kind of gal, and am a proud feminist. (The equal rights kind, not the man hating bra burning kind) I grew up in a city of few opportunities and many of the girls around me were abused or ended up with several children by the time the were 18. Thus, my passion is to make an outlet for young ladies to be inspired to reach for their dreams. My sisters and I didn't have money, but  we had hope, and that is a powerful thing. I'm using my strengths of writing and public speaking to build a career dedicated to this cause. What are you passionate about?

Google It

Once you find out what your strengths are and identified your passions, search online for potential careers involving these skills. There are positions out there you never knew existed, positions that will change the way you think about work. The best job I've ever had thus far was camp group leader, a job where I danced and chatted with girls all day long, serving as their mentor. And got paid well for it too! You may not think that's a big deal, but for someone who loves helping girls, it was a dream come true.

Plan It

After you gather a few careers you want to pursue, start researching what its going to take to
get the job. Some will require education or certification. Some will require experience or recommendation. You may think you're too old/young to invest in the preparation it takes to get these jobs, but you've already wasted how many years doing something you hate? Exactly. At least this is going towards something that actually matters to you.

The time to act is now! How many more hours, days, years will you spend in a position you tolerate just to survive? Why not go after something that's going to bring in an income and make you happy? You can absolutely have both. If you're willing to put in the work, and to never stop trying, eventually you'll end up in a career you love. You may not be a millionaire, but you'll be happier, and that's priceless.

WONDERFUL MENTAL HEALTH > Owning Who You Are

Magazine covers. Movie stars. Song lyrics. Everywhere you look in the media, there's someone telling you you need to be thinner/thicker/taller or have bigger breasts or blonder hair, etc. 

Stop the madness!

Yes, it is absolutely fine to look for tips in enhancing your looks (heck, I write about these myself) but it isn't healthy to digest these articles as the answer to self acceptance. No amount of mascara or even the most luxurious Marc Jacobs handbag can make you feel whole. 

At the end of the day when you wash your face, take out your extensions, and swop your designer OOTD with a pajama tee, it's important that you still see yourself as beautiful. Crucial that when you wake up and look in the mirror, you value the person you see in the mirror.

"So what can I do to accept myself as I am?"

Stop pointing out what's wrong (or what you think is wrong) all the time

Instead of comparing yourself to another person's eyes, figure, money, family, etc., realize there is nothing wrong with what you were born with. So what you can't wear a size 2? You still look amazing in a pair of blue jeans! Sure you're single, but that's only because you've decided not to spread your awesomeness with someone else right now. Just because you have a crooked smile doesn't mean it can't light up a room.

Give yourself more credit

Make a list of all the reasons you are so awesome and you'll see there's a lot to be proud of. You finished high school. You're employed in this crazy economy. You can cook a mean chicken alfredo. You're really good at home decor. You have the voice of an angel. You survived dinner with your boss. And if you're feeling really down and just can't seem to think of anything, then remember this historical wonder: You are blessed enough to live in the 20th century. Think long and hard about that one.

Show yourself some love: do something totally selfish and don't apologize

Get a massage. Indulge yourself in a two-day Lord of The Rings marathon without interruption. Have a spa day. Reserve a hotel room for the weekend and build a fort in the bed to catch up on some reading. Whatever you do, make sure that it's all about you and what you enjoy. You don't have to explain yourself to anybody. You deserve this sh*t!

Celebrate your milestones

You got accepted into college. You were offered a new job. You cleaned up your apartment.

Your blog had 50 hits today. You got a promotion. You finally finished the big kitchen project. You paid off a major credit card. It's important to celebrate your successes, even if they seem small. When you celebrate the wins of life, you have a real reason to smile, and when you smile, you're happy. And when you're happy, your brain release endorphins that make you even happier. How cool is that?

You are worthy of love and it's high time you embraced this truth. Some days are overwhelming and we just need to cut ourselves some slack. Give yourself permission to be human and be okay with that.

Not only that, but you never know who's watching. Think about the lessons you're teaching other women/men. Or the young children in your life. Do really want your niece to think her big butt is what makes her special? Or your son that a man is only as good as the suit/gold chains he's wearing? Show them what self-love really means and encourage them to do the same. 

She's more than pretty, she's brilliant.

He's more than athletic, he's special.

And so are you :)

BEAUTIFUL FAMILY > Your Mom Doesn't Like Me!!

You are head over heels in love with the man/woman of your dreams, but your fantasies of a blissful life together is ruined by the nightmare who goes by the dreaded name of "Mama". Maybe she's upset over something you've said or done, or maybe she just hates your guts in general. If you're looking to pick up the broken pieces of your would-be relationship with their mother, these tidbits (as told by disney characters) may just be what you're looking for.


Situation Number One: "You're not good enough for my son/daughter."

You've tried everything you could think of to get into their good graces, but nothing seems to be working. You haven't stepped out of line, they just hate you. Maybe they've even told you that you're just not rich/pretty/handsome/smart/young/old/talented enough. Or just as bad, you'll never be half the man/woman so-and-so was.

There is no way you can make someone like you, but you deserve respect! Try approaching it this way:

"JoAnne (her name here), I love your son/daughter deeply and there is nothing I wouldn't do to ensure Bobby's (your mate's name here) happiness. You raised him/her to be independent, intelligent, and responsible. I know that you want to protect them and only want what's best, and so do I. That's why I'm so blessed that he/she decided I'm what's best for him/her. I respect you, and only ask that you respect Bobby's decision in choosing me. And I promise to do my absolute best to earn your trust."


Situation Number Two: "You hurt them/me in the past."

You lied. You cheated. You keep some deep, dark secret that came to light in the worse way. You insulted her cooking. You made some mistake that she is apparently still holding onto, despite the fact that you have already been forgiven by your mate, so it's time to re-bite the bullet. Which one of these approaches would work for you?

• Accountability: She needs to know exactly why you did what you did. Intent matters to a high degree. Admit your mistake, be accountable for where you faltered, and confess your efforts to correct the problem. This should be wrapped up with a formal apology at the end. And be sincere, dammit.
• Closure: She needs to know what really happened. She could be living with the belief that you did something (or didn't step up) and it couldn't be further from the truth! Sometimes shedding a little light on the situation changes everything.

Situation Number Three: "Mother knows best."

Some mothers go bonkers in a mid-life crisis fashion when their child finds love. They throw fits, critique everything with the toughest scrutiny, or try to overrule any decision you try to make. Deep down, it's not that she's a complete witch. She's not on a mission to ruin your life and doesn't want to see you tar and feathered.

Truth is, she's realizing her child is an adult, and doesn't feel needed anymore. Mothers need to feel needed. They dedicated the last 18 years plus to making sure their child thrived in the world, and now they aren't the center of that child's universe anymore. They feel like you're trying to take their place and are desperately trying to reassert themselves as important in their lives. Here a few ways you can make sure she know she is still a priority.

• make sure you and your mate remembers her birthday/anniversary/special date. This tells her you're thinking about her and that she's loved
• send her thank you cards. Any favors she offers is a gift, and it will melt her heart when she receives that card in the mail
• ask for her advice. Ask her to teach you how to make your mate's favorite childhood meals, what her opinion is about the car you're thinking about purchasing, etc. You don't have to do what she suggests, but the gesture says her opinion matters.
• let her help with the wedding. Invite her to dress fittings, menu tastings, and give her a job with complete autonomy (i.e. reception speech, etc.). something that won't clash with your plans, but that is every bit as important
• invite her shopping. If you need to pick out new furniture, glassware, etc. bring her along. what woman doesn't like to shop? Seriously?!
• visit/go out with her, alone. I know, it may be painful, but go spend some quality time with her, just the two of you. Show her who you are outside of her child, that there's actual depth to your character.

In-laws will forever be important figures in your mate's life, so do your best to make peace with them. It brings peace to your relationship, and makes every encounter much more pleasant. No matter what happens, be strong, be the bigger person and do what's right.

Just be glad she's not your mama!

WONDERFUL WARDROBE> Build The Closet Of Your Dreams

You own every episode of America's Next Top Model ever recorded, your favorite movie is The Devil Wears Prada, and you have a three year subscription to Vogue magazine... but your closet sucks.

Just because you eat and breath fashion, doesn't mean you know how to dress yourself or even where to begin when putting together a wardrobe fit for a fashionista. Have no fear, your fairy chic godmother is here! This is a simple guide to putting swagg into your closet right away!

First things first: Out With The Old

The reason you've held onto that tattered old Beetles t-shirt is because you've convinced yourself it's vintage or its supposed to have that "worn out" look. Girl, please! Nothing you own should have holes or tears that weren't there when you bought them. If you can't get it restored to it's original glory (and it looks like it went through a shredder) it's time to get rid of it.

In fact, your homework tonight is to throw away anything that is hopelessly faded, ripped (unless you can repair it neatly), spotted or stained beyond measure, or doesn't fit/used to fit/will never fit. You need clothes that fit in the now (they're the only ones that actually look good on you anyway.) If you're losing weight, buy in spurts every four months.



Next, Collect Classic Pieces

What do you mean you don't own a sheath dress? There are several types of clothing that are staples to a fabulous wardrobe. These are appropriate for a variety of occasions and never go out of style... NEVER.

Staples include, but are not limited to:

Pencil skirts, slacks, blazers, a-line skirt, v-neck tees, pumps, ballet slippers, pea coats, and collared shirts just to name a few.

If all you own are party dresses and t-shirts with pictures on them, then Honey, you have a little ways to go!



Know Your Material: Quality over quantity

Ever wonder why you have to go shopping for summer clothes every single summer, even if you haven't gained or lost any weight? It's because the materials used are too weak to last more than one season. I hate to use the word cheap here, but let's face it: Cheap fabrics are Cheap.

It's easy to tell the difference between quality products and cheap ones. The way it feels (soft good, itchy bad), the way it's stitched (if it's one snag away from falling apart, don't buy it), and the materials used (natural fibers are always best!) Yes, a stylish wardrobe with quality clothing will cost more, but it will also last longer and look better. Trust me on this one. It's worth the extra dollars.


Follow The Three Rules Of Shopping

1. Try EVERYTHING on before you buy it. It can be a pain, but it's better than a no refund policy for a pair of jeans that give you muffin top.

2. No sympathy buys. If you're going to spend your hard earned cash on quality pieces, do not buy it because someone else says it looks good. Only purchase the ones that (A) fit you perfectly or can be tailored as such, and (B) don't resemble something you already own too closely. How many aztec print skirts do you need?

3. Wear heels. Seriously. You need to be able to visualize how that dress or those long pants will really look when you hit the club or attend that wedding.



Care For Your Closet

The way you store your things MATTER. Your closet should be clean and organized. Shoes should be aligned neatly on shelves or racks and the studs on your heels need to be reinforced (a service you can have done at the shoe groomers.) Purses and bags should be stored in their carrying bags or stored neatly on a shelf. Don't hang them, or you will wear out the straps. Folding your things is fine, but dresses should always be hung on sturdy handers, unless it's silk, then use satin hangers.


These four categories should more than get you started on your journey to a fantastic wardrobe. Just remember, it takes a while to complete your closet (6-12 months depending on your budget) so take things one shopping trip at a time.

Stick to the rules and watch your closet transform into fabulousness!