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!
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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.
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.
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.
Beautifully Organized: Teaching you how to live life more organized
Airport Security Made Easy
Airport security and dealing with the TSA is one of the biggest travel frustrations that many of us face. Grandmothers in wheelchairs targeted for additional screening, children and babies on no fly lists, passengers stripping down to make a point, and Congressmen claiming harassment and allege groping by TSA personnel have all be reported. Most of my experiences through airport security have been uneventful and the majority of the TSA workers that I have come in contact with over the years have been polite and professional. I get the sense that their least favorite part of their job are those obnoxious pat downs.
There are my travel tips for how to get organized and get through airport security quickly with a minimal amount of hassle.
Airport Security Made Easy
Let’s start with your travel outfit. Keep it simple and avoid tons of layers. Jeans, a simple top, and jacket with pockets are good travel basics. Don’t wear a lot of metal jewelry that might set off the metal detectors. Instead accessorize with a colorful scarf. Avoid wearing belts, since most likely you will be asked to take it off.
Wear shoes that are easy to remove. This is much easier in summer months. Shoes with straps and buckles should be avoided. They take too long to remove and too long to slip back on. I hate putting my bare feet on the gross airport floor (yuck), so I bring cotton socks to slip on.
Store your zip top bags with liquids in an outer luggage pocket for easy access. There is no way I can get all my cosmetics in one zip top bag, especially on longer trips. I often put my overflow in my husband’s zip top bag. He normally takes two liquid items: deodorant and toothpaste. How easy it that?
I love my backpack because it has a separate spot for my laptop, which makes it super easy to remove. You will be asked by TSA personnel to place your laptop in a separate bin. TSA is pretty fussy about this.
Take your boarding pass and ID out before getting to the airport security line. This is one of the reasons, that I like traveling with jackets that have pockets. You will have a convenient place to put these documents until you get through security.
Keep your roller bag on the floor until you get up to the x-ray machine. This avoids having to push it the whole length of the table. And nothing drives the TSA more crazy that passengers pushing their luggage through the x-ray machine. It will not speed things up and normally generates a stern warning from the TSA representative.
TSA policies are consistent, however implementation among airports is not. Some TSA employees are either clueless or place their own spin on the regulations. It is pointless to highlight the fact that the last time you traveled you didn’t have to take off your sweater. Save your energy and make it your goal to get through airport security quickly. And smile often, it helps!
Worst Birthday Ever!!!
My boyfriend’s gift to me was a new puppy. Riley (fka Jovi, fka Caylee) came to live with us at the end of April and left us today and there is a hole in my chest where my heart used to be. My boyfriend and I spent the afternoon asking why and reliving our week with Riley and neither of us understand. I was drowning in my misery and when I came up for air I realized that my boyfriend was hurting too.
Over and over we repeat what a good dog she was, what a great addition to our family, and how we’re so shocked that she’s not coming home to us. We’re comforting ourselves by appreciating that week that we had with her and knowing that she died loved, she died with her family, and we did our best to keep her with us.
As requested by Ms. Zong Her… Here is a great workout you can do in your office! Of course, my favorite exercise at work is to pack your running shoes and go for a lunch time jog, but if you can’t escape the office, or only have 20 minutes, try these exercises on for size:
Chair Squat Hot Potato: Stand up with your chair behind you, feet about 1 foot apart. Bend at the hips into a squat until your hips are just hovering over the chair (don’t sit down!), arms out or overhead for balance. Hold for 2-3 seconds, stand all the way up and repeat for 16 reps, 2-3 sets. If you have a dumbbell(s), hold em!
Chair Tricep pushups: Make sure chair is stable (no wheels!) and face the chair. Place your hands on the front edge of the chair and lower into a plank type position (your body will be about 45 degrees). Keeping your elbows tight to the outsides of your rib cage, bend the elbows, lowering the body until the your chest is nearly touching the chair. Push back up and repeat for 16 reps, 2-3 sets.
One-Leg Squat: Stand to the side of a stable chair and place one hand (fingertips!) on the back of the chair. Balance on one foot and kick the other foot out slightly. Bend at the hips into a squat (keeping one leg floating), Hold for 2-3 seconds then stand up; repeat for 16 reps. Then repeat on the other side. Do 2-3 sets. If you have a dumbbell(s), hold em!
Wall Plyometric Push-outs: Stand facing a wall about 2 feet away. Lean to the wall and place your hands on the wall slightly wider than your shoulders, keeping your body straight (about 45 degree angle). Bend your elbows leaning all the way into the wall, then push your arms and spring outward. Repeat 16 times, 2-3 sets.
Water Bottle Abs: Do 2-3 sets in sequence (A, B / A, B / A, B)
[Part A] Hold a water bottle with both hands and stretch it up over the head, arms straight. Gently bend towards the left as far as you can, contracting the abs. Come back to center and repeat to the right. Complete 10 reps (all the way to the right and left is one rep).
[Part B] Hold the water bottle at chest level and contract your abs tight. Keeping your knees and hips forward, gently twist to the left and then the right as far as you comfortably can, feeling the abs contract. Repeat for a total of 16 reps.
Real Estate Chic is a monthly feature with local housing news you can’t afford to miss and insight you always wanted to know!
If you have not bough or sold a home this year you probably have talked to someone who has and they told you how hot the real estate market is right now. Prices are finally starting to rise in many Seattle neighborhoods and we are seeing multiple offers situations on well priced homes. For those of you who already own a house or a condo and you are not thinking of moving, I wanted to give you some ideas for home improvement as we head into our sunny season. I turned to my good friend and one of my favorite Seattle architects, Michelle Linden of Atelier Drome.
Here is a Q&A with Michelle which will hopefully inspire your next Home Improvement Project!
1) It is time to Spring Clean- What are some ways to increase storage in a small space to reduce clutter?
One of the easiest ways to increase storage is to size your shelves and rods to your particular needs. So many closets are built with one shelf and one rod, but if you measure your clothing and boxes (or whatever else you want to put in the closet), you may find that by adjusting the heights of the shelf and rod (or adding a couple more), you will be able to avoid wasted space at the top or bottom of the closet.
2) What are ways to incorporate more natural light into a space?
The easiest ways to incorporate more natural light include adding mirrors (to help bounce light), getting rid of heavy drapes, and painting with lighter colors to help reflect light.
However, these ideas may not necessarily coincide with your aesthetic – or you may have already done it and still want more light. We are in Seattle, after all! One of the biggest requests for remodels is to tear down walls and create a great room living space. This is usually because our modern style of living is more informal – with families and friends congregating in one area. But, it also allows light to penetrate rooms that might otherwise be dark.
3) What are the most requested remodel projects this spring?
Once spring arrives, everyone wants a deck and fire pit. But this year, we are also seeing a lot of requests for garage conversions. Old empty garages are being turned into generous master suites, playrooms, and more.
4) I live in a fixer, If I want to spend $5000 on remodel project, what should I do first?
This is a loaded question! There are so many things that can be done for $5000 and it really depends on whether your priorities are aesthetic, structural, or energy conscious. But really, I think the most important thing is to dedicate a percentage of that $5000 to work with an architect or interior design or structural engineer (as the case may be) to generate a game plan for the whole house. If you truly live in a fixer and tackle projects a few thousand dollars at a time, you need to have a master plan in order to avoid undoing work you’ve already completed (or living with something you dislike). Working with a professional may seem expensive at first, but it will generally save you money in the long run.
5) How can I give my home an exterior facelift?
A fresh coat of paint goes a long way. But, not all siding is worth painting, or even able to be painted. Residing a house can be a major project, but there are a lot of affordable siding products out there. Other ways to add a facelift include a neat and tidy entry walk or patio, a trellis, or everyone’s favorite deck!
6) If you were tackling a remodel project at your house- what would be the next?
Adding a second bathroom! Everyone can use a second bathroom, and it really adds value to your home. Plus, you get to enjoy it while you’re in the house as well! I keep dreaming about my own future second bath.
6) I live a condo, how can I bring a piece of the outdoors inside my home?
This can be tricky, as different condo associations have various restrictions. Generally, the biggest key is to make sure you don’t block your windows and doors with large pieces of furniture or fabrics. Consider orienting your furniture so that you can see outside from your main seating area.
If you’ve got a more lenient condo board, consider enlarging the exterior openings (or adding more glass). Or again, opening up non-bearing walls so that multiple rooms have views to the outside will significantly help bring the outdoors inside.
With her company Atelier Drome, Michelle has the ability to transform your space into something you love even more than the day you got the keys. Sure, you hired what you thought would be a pretentious and possibly unaffordable architect, but what you get in return is a space you absolutely love and the time and money back you spent trying to correct all the mistakes you made while remodeling your kitchen using just a Youtube video and the advice of your friends dad.
