Dear Socialite with an Appetite,
I know the past few weeks have been difficult. Trying to create better habits, find time for yourself…to eat and workout. Thinking about going to the gym versus actually going to the gym has been extra challenging, but you’re doing it. And I’m proud of you for that!
Eating at home has been a game-changer. After a few weeks of eating clean, you’re cravings aren’t as severe and your will-power has increased, making it easier to resist canapes and hors d’oeuvres at parties and events. Sometimes you’re not even interested in socializing or going out. You’re not sure why. Who are you?!
Something is different.
What’s this? You’re starting to think about what’s really important? You’re starting to pay attention to that little voice. The one that knocks oh so softly but keeps you up at night if you let it. Seems there may be a paradigm shift happening within. I don’t know but when the 30 day challenge ends next week, don’t think of it as an end. Think of it as a beginning to something else. A healthier more meaningful you…
Cheers,
From one Socialite with an Appetite to another
A monthly feature that offers stylist tips so you can have the most fabulous, fashionable work wardrobe around!
This streak of amazingly beautiful weather has inspired me to share a few of my go-to items for a warm weather work wardrobe. This summer, I’ll be wearing…
#1: A Safari Style Shirt Dress
I absolutely love a cotton shirt dress for summer! The fabric breaths so well, and wearing it in a neutral color means you can rock all of your bright summer accessories! Pair this with red flats, a chunky belt and a few bangles for an easy, breezy summer outfit.
Whether we know it or not, we’re constantly trying to negotiate, placate or communicate with others every day; we are always presenting ourselves to someone somewhere.
In every situation we’re trying to put our best foot forward. And one of the most important things we need to remember is we have to carefully manage our image. We must take care of ourselves; inside and out. If we take care of ourselves on a fitness level, we’ll be much happier and we will radiate feelings of goodwill which will benefit us and those around us.
This also works in the business arena, whether we’re promoting our skills as an entrepreneur, technician or social catalyst; we’re essentially working every single day to attract more attention.
A positive outlook comes from a place of self-confidence and well-being and it is a very powerful attraction. Can you remember a time when someone contacted you because they really liked your personality? Maybe they said that you gave off a good vibe? Well, that’s your positive self-image shining through. You were radiating and people were attracted to that. Who doesn’t want to be around someone who’s happy about life or passionate about their work? Everybody is.
It’s easy to let our self-confidence slip once in a while, but a little bit of happiness can go a long way. So it’s up to us to get our daily dose of happiness or “vitamin H” by kicking up our fitness routine.
I’ve been working with Adriana at Fuerte Fitness for about two years and in the last couple of months I’ve been following some of her personal workouts. And let me tell you, if I make it through a session with Adriana, I’ve earned my vitamin H and the rest of the day I’m good to go!
Last week I went to hot yoga with Adriana and I didn’t want to go. I’d had a bad morning; things weren’t going my way but, she won’t take no for an answer. So, she suggested hot yoga. Well, when they say hot yoga, they mean HOT. I was so hot that my eyelids were sweating. I felt like there was a furnace blasting me in the face and my body just couldn’t do all the contortionist moves with any dignity. In my moments of greatest despair, I’d look over at Adriana and she’d just smile at me. We weren’t supposed to speak, so I soldiered on
Adriana Medina @ Fuerte Fitness
As the minutes ticked by and the sweat poured out of my body for an hour-and-a-half I thought about nothing in the outside world except for maintaining my body positions, drinking water and breathing. And you know what? At the end of all that misery I emerged from that yoga studio with a smile on my face and with a much happier outlook. (Mostly because I survived!)
Later in the day, as I went about my business, I had a big smile on my face and lots of people said, “Hello” to me. That’s when I realized I was presenting a healthy mind and body to everyone that I met. It was subtle, nobody really knew what was going on, but I could see the impact. They were attracted to me because of my healthy glow and positive outlook.
In those moments, I was presenting my best self to the world, a sense of well-being and honesty. I was living in the moment and it felt good. (That’s when I forgave Adriana for dragging me to hot yoga.)
As you go about your day and your workouts, try to concentrate on the moment. Think about centering yourself and taking care of your personal fitness. Remember that no matter where you go and who you run into, you’re presenting your best self to the world and if you can do that by radiating a positive mental attitude; you will see a change in you and the world around you.
Have a Fuerte Day!
www.http://nancytreder.wordpress.com/
Hey everyone, I am Chef Kirsten representing Team Feel Good for the 30 day Fit & Fab Challenge. We are closing in with only 8 days until the big event to celebrate the final day of the challenge on Thursday, May 24th!
I see so much great stuff going on over on the Girl Power Hour Facebook Group page! Goals are being set – attainable goals that lead to lifelong health as well as weight loss – I love it! People are sharing their successes, challenges, tips and questions. Have you checked it out yet? You can find the group here.
I had the chance to interview nationally-renowned fashion and beauty expert, Jenn Falik, famous for her practical, common sense advice and natural instinct to share everything that she learns with everyone she knows. Jenn told me about how she’s joining forces with Dove’s “Show Us Your Skin“ campaign to encourage real women throughout the nation to have the confidence to show off their beautiful skin and she gave me the scoop on how you can take part!
About Dove’s “Show Us Your Skin” Campaign: By uploading a photograph of themselves, each participant will be featured in a Dove ad for their “Show Us Your Skin” campaign, including online ads, a digital gallery, and an interactive billboard in the world-renowned Times Square.
About Jenn Falik: Jenn is an authoritative expert on everything fashion and beauty who has honed her skills at predicting and interpreting trends by working with many of the most influential behind-the-scenes trendsetters (from makeup and hair artists to dermatologists to clothing and accessories designers, stylists, and buyers). A frequent guest on “The View,” “The Today Show,” “The Rachael Ray Show,” “Tyra Banks,” and “E! Entertainment Television,” Jenn uncovers beauty bargains, decodes the latest wacky skincare ingredients, and reveals her sought-after secrets for making even the most daunting fashion and beauty trends wearable.
For much more information on Jenn, please log onto her official website www.jennfalik.com or follow her on Twitter @jennfalik.
For as long as I can remember I’ve heard people state that pets aren’t the same as children. When I was explaining to my boyfriend why it was important for me to adopt another dog, he didn’t understand. I used the analogy that he wants to spend more time with his son, I want to protect and love. “It’s not the same thing,” he said. But to me, it is.
I don’t have children; I was born a dog lover
I don’t have children so I have no first hand experience about the bond between parent and child. But I do know about the bond between a dog and his owner. When our dogs come crashing into the house, they immediately start looking for me. When we go outside to play, I sit in the grass and watch them play with each other. I can join in if I like, but it’s not necessary. They just want to be near me. Many people become dog lovers. I was born this way.
I’ve never had the desire to have children. I thought that I should, because that’s what we do, right? But the timing was never right and I wasn’t heart broken when I reached 40 and then 41 without having given birth. But the idea of never caring for another dog breaks my heart. No, I didn’t give birth to these wonderful creatures, but they crawled into my heart immediately and I recognized that I was being gifted with the opportunity to raise amazing canines. It’s what I do.
To those of us with hearts that beat for dogs, our dogs are just as important to us as your children are to you.
Logically, I know that there is a difference. There are many differences. But my heart only knows that I love my dogs just as passionately as people love their children. Maybe I’d see the difference if I had children. But since that’s not going to happen, please keep one thing in mind…
To those of us who call them fur kids, it’s because they are just that, our kids. Don’t discount our bond with our dogs, because they walk on four legs instead of two.
We’re switching things up over here at Chasing Harmony, folks. Though I love talking to you all about work/life balance, it’s come to my attention that I really don’t know that much about such things, or at least not much more then what I’ve already written on here. So what’s a blogger to do? Change her topic. What did I pick? BOOKS! After talking to Darnell about this new direction, she introduced me to her friend Jennifer Worick, author of 20+ books, including the upcoming Things I Want to Punch in the Face. A few days ago, Jennifer was kind enough to chat with me about the book, her writing career, and what she felt like punching in the face at that very moment (and don’t worry, it wasn’t me).
Thing I Want to Punch in the Face started as a blog. How did you come up with the idea behind it?
I had a really bad eight days a couple years ago. I had an unexpected break-up, followed by having to put my cat to sleep. Then three days after that, my book manuscript that I had just turned in got cut because of budget cuts, and then two days after that, I had surgery. At that point, the surgery was the least of my problems.
Congratulations to our Founder Darnell Sue who was selected as a Glambassador for Glamour Magazine for the 5th year in a row.
Glambassadors are a select group of well-connected and influential women across the country that receive the latest fashion and beauty products to test, share their thoughts , receive VIP access to private industry events , appear in advertorials in the magazine , co-host events and more.
Way to go Darnell!
If you’d like to get all the insider perks, freebies and more from Glamour Magazine, be sure to check out Glam Alert!
Talk Sporty to Me is your monthly cheat sheet to the hottest, most talked about sports topics.
What do you offer at work?
What do you do outside the specific skill set needed to your job?
Are you as valuable to your employer as you think you are?
That last question is a tough one. We all want to feel valued for our work. It gives us a sense of accomplishment and security, but in this highly competitive economy it’s hard to know when you’ve done ‘enough’ to be valuable.
Before the panic sets in, and you start wondering how many more tasks you can accomplish today, I want to suggest a new way to show value without adding to your to-do list. Let’s increase your value by improving your communication skills.
You can do this any number of ways and get results, but this month I want you to focus on your ability to make small talk and put people around you at ease. So often these days technology does the heavy lifting when in comes to communication. You know, all the emails, text messages, Facebook posts, Twitter updates… There’s nothing wrong with any of it – unless it’s taking the place of actual conversations. Business requires personal interactions and the better you are at them, the more value you offer and the greater your leverage.
BY: Tara DelloIacono Thies LUNA Bar nutritionist
Resting on the warm, white, sandy beach, you can hear the sound of waves gently crashing. Suddenly, a loud noise jolts you and, in a blink, you find yourself standing naked, exposed in a crowded room. Everyone else is clothed and staring at you. Waking up to your own horrified screams, you look at your beeping alarm clock to realize you are now forty-five minutes later into your morning than planned.
You may be fortunate enough to find yourself not woken up by a naked party dream. The more familiar scene is the morning time-crunch that sends you racing through the house, splattering coffee into your to-go cup and scrambling out the door. Hurried mornings without eating a healthy breakfast will leave you groggy, irritable and utterly unapproachable by lunchtime.
Eating something to kick-start your day is important for your mind and body. But what you choose to eat at this crucial A.M. hour can make a big difference in the morning. If stopping at the local pastry shop on your way to work has become a wake-up call rather than a satisfying morning meal experience, at least you aren’t in the habit of skipping food altogether. Give the morning meal the respect it deserves, by altering the venue and/or making food choices that can carry your body and mood through lunch and even to late afternoon.
What you give your body in the A.M. can make a big difference on how alert and vibrant you feel all day long. A breakfast full of fat, sugar, and starch may satisfy an immediate hunger pang, but, in less than an hour, it can turn you into a walking zombie! I’m sure this is not the effect you were going for. On the flip side of that syrup-coated hotcake, a breakfast that treats your body with respect can really rev you up for an energized day.
Skipping breakfast or unbalanced eating in the morning may not faze you until late afternoon when you find your energy at a lull. Fasting through a busy day will only slow you down in the end. Breakfast signals a wake-up call for your brain and muscles whether you realize they need it our not. If you choose not to eat or eat something unbalanced, you could be short-changing yourself the entire day.
Time is usually a factor in the morning, so planning ahead is important. Set out your fixings the night before, while you are preparing dinner. You can whip up your morning energizer in less than ten minutes or carry it with you to eat at work while reviewing your day’s agenda.
To prevent getting bored with repetitious eating behaviors and as a time-saver, make a list of foods you can reach for during the week. Having this list will give you quick alternatives and variety. Your list might include: yogurt, muesli, smoothies, breakfast or nutrition bars, apple slices on cinnamon toast, peanut butter banana sandwich on whole wheat bread, low-fat oat scone, glass of milk, nuts, rice porridge, grapefruit, hard-boiled eggs, sliced cheeses.
A respectful breakfast could look like this: instant oatmeal with a sprinkling of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit topped with a dollop of honey, accompanied by an invigorating citrus fruit such as a grapefruit or a tangerine.
Mix and match foods from your list to come up with many healthy, convenient foods to eat over the course of the morning. And, just as you opt for a casual Friday, venture off your list and try something new or occasionally revisit an old favorite morning treat, even a single glazed old-fashioned doughnut can be uplifting, if eaten only once in a while.
“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” It may be the oldest cliché in Mom’s book, but she’s right about this one!
