P.S. Comment if it brightens your day!

Live Better, Love Smarter

It didn’t matter how late it was, or how tired she was, my mother always followed her nightly beauty regimen. I loved watching her wash her face, pat it dry, and apply what seemed like layer upon layer of lotion to preserve her “soft mama” skin.

When I asked her why she did these things, she’d look at me, smile and say, “So I can stay young.” And she was right.  People often mistake us for sisters!

Here are 3 simple but powerful tips I picked up from my mom.

1. Showing those pearly whites: You may not realize it, but the simple action of smiling is one of the best things you can do to appear younger. The muscles you use to smile give your face a little lift. You look years younger in just an instant! Keep in mind, a young smile is a white smile. As we age, our teeth become discolored and dull from food, coffee, wine, smoking and more. Try an over-the-counter teeth whitening kit or stop by your dentist to give your teeth a quick pick-me-up.
2. Standing tall, standing proud. Posture plays an important role in looking more youthful. Sexy, youthful women and men stand up straight and confident, ready to take on the world. And by simply standing or sitting up straight, you can take 5-10 years off your appearance! You’re also improving your circulation and mental clarity … plus, you can look up to 10 pounds thinner. To help build your back strength, try taking my Yoga DVD e-YOGA.
3. Looking on the bright side. Your thoughts have a direct correlation to how you look. It’s a fact – optimists and positive thinkers age better than pessimists and negative thinkers. A great way to stay positive is something called Self-Talk. This is the act of monitoring what you say about yourself out loud as well as in your head. It’s simple. Whenever a negative thought pops up in your head, say “delete” and then replace it with a positive statement. So instead of saying “That could never happen for me,” change it to “I will make it happen for me!” Fill your mind with beautiful, encouraging and youthful thoughts, and it will show on the outside. I promise!

Anything you take care of will last. Aging is unavoidable, but when you take care of yourself, you’ll always look your best.

P.S. I do a workshop around the world called Be Elle-egant and it shows women if they are hiding the best parts of their personality and why.  You can get the video version of that workshop today – CLICK HERE.

Live Better, Love Smarter

Each month we held a contest on Facebook that only required women to post their best shot at answering a question about their own life.  That’s it.  There was a different question every month and my team would vote. Sometimes it was a personal growth question and we would decide which woman had the most sincere answer about the changes she is making in her life.  One time it was just a silly “who can find the answer first” kind of contest.  We gave away cool prizes like new stiletto sandals and gift cards to places like Target, and Sephora.  Real contests, real gifts. Nothing fake or phony (you know I don’t roll like that ).

Anyway, all the winners were asked to do was take a photo once they received their gift in the mail to show that they received the item and demonstrate that we really do reward women for taking action.

Okay, now here’s the f’d up part

This is where I’m asking what you would do.  See, the last three winners received their gifts BUT they didn’t have the decency to send in their photo.  SMH!

Now, maybe they didn’t have a camera or a phone with a camera. Or maybe no one in their family or circle of friends has a camera or a phone. Long shot, I know but hey, maybe.  The point is, my team and I are considering abandoning the contest all together.  I mean, part of the reason women don’t excel in life is because they don’t follow through and complete what they start.

I mean, if you can’t even take a picture after winning a contest, how in the world can you get the life you deserve?

What do you think??? Leave a comment and tell us if we should stop or continue the contests.

P.S. If you know you need to get better at following through in your own life CLICK HERE.

Live Better, Love Smarter

They also say the average woman has 6 purses and although the colors might be different, the size/style tends to be the same.

You may prefer a handbag that you carry on your forearm, which tends to say you are a woman on the go.  Or shoulder bags may be your favorite, which says you want quick access to your belongings because you are practical.

But regardless of the shape, I believe there should be an award for keeping one’s purse in order. We start carrying purses early in life and just about carry them to our graves . We have pieces of this, pieces of that, receipts from here, coupons for there, and everything in between.

So no matter what size or shape you are most drawn to ladies as a life coach, I want you to remember this:

Clutter is the enemy.

Keeping your purse in order helps you keep your life in order and where there is order there is peace of mind!

And that’s the best personality trait of them all

Live Better, Love Smarter

It was so bizarre how it all happened. I met this accountant named Bill through an Internet business ad. He was credentialed and experienced and had really solid reviews from many people that he helped over the years. I could tell he was a good dude from our first email. As a life coach and speaker, you know I deal with a lot of people.  I was confident that he could assist me with a project I’m developing.

He liked the spirit of what I was doing, so we decided that I would e-mail him some documents and then get started a week later.

“Pretty simple,” I thought.

BUT…

About two days too soon, I received an e-mail from his address. Kind of puzzled, I opened it to find this short message: “Bill died over the weekend, I am his wife and I’m doing my best to touch base with some of his clients each day. His heart attack . . . was sudden. We will be closing this account in a few days.”

I keep hearing it in my head:

Suddenly.

Your health matters ladies… not just your career.

Live Better, Love Smarter

The truth was, like millions of other women, I overlooked the power in really treating my body like a temple and I don’t mean like what you are thinking. I know, that whole “divine thing” sounds like a useless broken record when you feel like you have no control over how much you eat.  But one day I was so fed up I asked my spirit, “How should a temple be treated?”

This was what I heard from within: “A temple should be treated with the utmost care and respect, inside and out.”

“Yeah right,” I thought to myself.  I was dealing with so much emotional stress and pain that this answer seemed way too simple. I felt like all was lost. I thought I would just keep gaining and die that way. With that mindset, it seemed like there was no point trying to believe in something new.

You may be feeling the exact same way.

When you can’t to see a brighter future you settle for food.  Trust me, I’ve been there. As I look back, I can recall being in the midst of my day and looking forward to eating fast food later that night. My satisfaction was always up ahead. Falling asleep on a full stomach was the one thing I knew I could count on to feel better, even if only for a few moments.

But as I gradually started tending to the needs of my spirit and grounded myself with spiritual principles (even before I started exercising) my belief in a better future increased. I had the tools to stop thinking “It will never get better.”

See, the reality is, your body can get better once you really understand that you are not having a battle with food you are in a battle with a belief that lives and dwells in your mind.

To learn more about how I turned my mind and body around…for good…get the book that is changing lives everyday -  CLICK HERE.

Live Better, Love Smarter

Personally, I never thought I would live to see 40. If you’ve been with me for a while, you know that I was a ticking time bomb by the time I was 30. So, at 43, I’m thirteen years ahead of my expiration date.

But simply being here year after year ain’t enough to make a woman jump out of bed in the morning to seize the day.

Simply being here year after year ain’t enough to make her want to bend down for the umpteenth time to lotion her tired feet or reach up to do arm exercises 3 times a week.

Being here, fighting gravity year after year gets real old after 40 UNLESS, I repeat, UNLESS you do things such as these:

1. Unless its Work or Abiding by the Law– Only do what YOU really want to do! Somebody you know will always have the perfect use for your precious time. You’d be better off loaning out all of your money, instead of all of your precious energy and time. At least you can get more money. When they keep draining you, you’re the one who ends up dragging around.
2. The Ten Minute Rule– Somewhere in your day you better find 10 minutes to discover YOU. The truth is, by the time most women are 40 they know what their Momma likes, their kids like, their man likes, (their ex-man likes) what their boss likes, what the pastor likes…Damn, must I go on? The problem is, you have no idea what you like, because you’ve been too busy rationing out all of YOU to THEM!
3. Weekly Booty Moving Is a MUST— And no, I don’t mean like
   that.   Stay focused. I’m talking about exercising so you stay energized. See, the reason why your back hurts many times is because you’ve been sitting on your butt and your spine is stiff. Your knees (poor thangs) can’t make it a day without Motrin because they don’t get enough circulation. Look, you’re the one who has to live in that body. Why treat it like a shack or implode it like the super dome? Trust me, I’ve been there and I can tell you, life after 40 feels a whole lot better than at 30 when I was lugging all those extra pounds around. You don’t have to become a size 4. But you do need to make time to stretch and twist and touch your toes. And NO… I don’t mean like that

Yoga is a great way to do all of the above and my program is quick, fun and even has a relaxing meditation where you can lay down and connect with you. To Download your copy TODAY, CLICK HERE.

Live Better, Love Smarter

How many times have you ended up at an event you didn’t want to attend because you didn’t want to cause a problem with your family?

Have you ever found yourself doing someone else’s job at work and just let it go so you wouldn’t seem like a trouble maker?

Do you have any friends who call you up to complain about their relationship and you listen for the umpteenth time, when you really want to get off the phone because you are sick of hearing about it?

Well, although I have no problem speaking in front of huge audiences or even on live TV, speaking up for and standing up for myself was a skill I had to force myself to do.

And you know what? People respect people who know how to stand up for themselves. As a Life Coach for Women, I help my coaching clients with this all the time with great results.

Today I’ll share a few of those tips with you:

1. Practice in the Mirror–Before the most annoying moment happens again (like that calling complaining friend). Forget about it feeling silly just get your mind and your mouth used to speaking the words. You could say, “Janet you know I love you but this isn’t a good time for me.” Basically, you know the ways you interact with your friends. The goal with practicing is getting the right language that fits the both of you, so that when the moment comes the words will be on the tip of your tongue.
2. Say No More Often During the Day–Do it at times where it really won’t matter much like when someone asks you if you have an ink pen or something simple. Instead of fishing in your purse to see if you do, politely say no and continue what you were about to do. This is training you emotionally to realize you don’t always have to do what someone else wants you to do.
3. Address Every Cashier by Name–Okay, I know this one seems a little strange, but what this does is bring you into the moment and enhances your sense of authority. Very few people even pay attention to name tags.  By doing this, you are sending a message to them and to your subconscious mind that you are aware of your place in the world and you can confidently interact with others in the world.

P.S. Did you know that I have a Web TV Show that gives confidence-building advice with a humor twist?  CLICK and WATCH a 5-Minute Episode

Live Better, Love Smarter

If you know you are ready for a change, and sick of struggling with the same old things, do something different today – CLICK HERE

A lot of women make excuses about not having the resources or time to do what their body needs them to do. But the truth is, I lost the bulk of those unwanted 60 plus pounds living in a state funded facility. If you are reading this, that tells me you have a lot more freedom and flexibility than I had back then.

3 Simple Ways to Start Losing Weight for Good:

1. Forget the Flour—Bottom line is this…If they made it with flour don’t eat it. I know it feels like everything “good” has flour in it. But that’s not true. And I can show you what to do/eat instead.
2. Park Way Way Way down there! Bottom line here is this…the body was meant to move. If you have gained weight, 9 times out of 10 its because you stopped—moving.
3. “Cocktail Hour-it-is”— Here’s what women don’t understand. Alcohol, wine and beer can keep you just as fat as eating cupcakes every day. Many women will eat Jenny Craig all day and then go to their friend’s house and wine it up. Or stay at home and do it, take your pick.

Now, if any of these caused you to get a knot in your stomach or roll your eyes, that’s good. Because that means I am speaking directly to you. I’ve been there and not only that, I have an arsenal of tools that help women just like you get out of that body and into the one they deserved. Are you ready to see what’s in your way?  CLICK HERE

Live Better, Love Smarter

Trust me I get it. Just the thought of dying can make you afraid but if we look at nature it should help you with your fears.

Think about the caterpillar – an insect we may take for granted, it also provides a perfect example of true transformation. In the beginning, a caterpillar is an insect that moves around slowly on the ground. It knows that this part of its life is short. Yet it embraces the transformation process, so it begins to spin a silk mat to create its own cocoon.

As the caterpillar hangs upside down in its cocoon, it begins an inner metamorphosis. Why? Because true change occurs from the inside out. You can think of this metamorphosis as the time that a baby spends in the womb before birth. The caterpillar is changing in every way as it prepares to be transformed into a butterfly.

When the caterpillar is ready, it begins to chew away at the shell surrounding it. Then the caterpillar finally breaks free, it emerges as a butterfly. Leaving the remains of the cocoon behind, it soars gracefully through the sky, in its new beautifully transformed body.

Just like the caterpillar, you too have the ability to transform your life. The good news is that your transformation doesn’t have to take as long as the cocoon process; it can occur in one minute. That’s right in just 60 seconds or less you can experience lasting change. How is that possible you ask? By using “The Minute Miracle Process”. It’s what my Coaching Clients and Club e  members are using to transform their own lives.

Change can happen in an instant. Start using “The Minute Miracle” process Today by CLICKING HERE.