Do You Dare? Be a Badass Bitch with Effie's Paper

Photo Credit: Effie's Paper

Some of my favorite entrepreneurs are the originators and creatives on Etsy!

I not only buy from these small business owners but I also have a small store selling my coloring pages...

One of my favorite Etsy girl boss stores is Effie's Paper.

The Effie's Paper store is filled with doses of inspiration and girl badassery to keep you thriving towards your goals...And fir some good laughs!

That what I thought when I saw this stationary from Effie's

Can you imagine getting a note from someone with "From the Desk of a Badass Bitch"?

Photo Credit: Effie's Paper

I love it!

So go support this woman owned brand and make it your own stationary or gift it to the friend who you know is a Badass Bitch!

And if the word "Bitch" is too much for you, then here's an equally Badass option: this gorgeous gold notepad from Effie's!

Photo Credit: Effie's Paper

Celebrating World Book Day with Essentialism

Photo Credit: @feneute on Instagram

I love this day! Today is World Book Day!

I am an avid reader and I read about 20 books per year!

So I wanted to highlight a book that has literally changed my life in the past three years...

It's called Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

Here are a few of my favorite sound bites from the book (copied from my gazillion highlights from my copy of the book):

The way of the Essentialist is the relentless pursuit of less but better. It doesn’t mean occasionally giving a nod to the principle. It means pursuing it in a disciplined way.

Essentialism is not about how to get more things done; it’s about how to get the right things done. It is about pausing constantly to ask, “Am I investing in the right activities?”

The way of the Essentialist rejects the idea that we can fit it all in. Instead it requires us to grapple with real trade-offs and make tough decisions.

The way of the Essentialist means living by design, not by default. Instead of making choices reactively, the Essentialist deliberately distinguishes the vital few from the trivial many, eliminates the nonessentials, and then removes obstacles so the essential things have clear, smooth passage. In other words, Essentialism is a disciplined, systematic approach for determining where our highest point of contribution lies, then making execution of those things almost effortless.


Get Essentialism and let me know how it changes your life too!

Level Up: Stop Apologizing

"Stop apologizing. I used to apologize for everything. Even if you made a mistake-- own it, move on, it's OK." - Jenna Lyons, President and Creative Director at J. Crew sharing her wisdom at Glamour's "Women of the Year Awards"

Stop apologizing for being a badass!

Stop apologizing for making those mistakes!

Stop apologizing for having BIG dreams and goals that make you hustle harder than your peers!

Stop apologizing for saying No! to things that aren't your passion!

Stop apologizing for choosing not to go along with the clique and forging your own path!

Stop apologizing for being your authentic self!

Stop apologizing for saying Yes! to your best life!

Keep going!

And for God's sake, stop apologizing!

Holy Week Chic & Renewal Meditations

Yesterday, Palm Sunday, kicked off what many Christians reserve as Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday.

For as long as I can remember, this week has been a time my family has set aside to observe the zenith of our faith and all that it means to renew our faith in the significance of the most important events that this week represents.

And because this is Curva-Lish, there is no reason you can't do it in chic style!

White:
White has always been symbolic of purity, innocence and cleansing in the Christian faith.

I'd like to add that these symbols beautifully encourage us to pursue forgiveness, second chances, renewal and starting over.

What I know for sure about life is that we all have some area of our lives where we need to start over or seek renewal in some area of life...a commitment, a focus, a journey.

Take some time this week to meditate on a specific area in your life whereas you feel you need to stop going in a circle and recommit or simply have a do-over.

And when you have that specific area in mind, create three columns: past actions, let go, renewed action...Complete this exercise to allow a mental cleansing of the area that you are sensing needs a restart in your life.

And what I have found is that you writing down and seeing your past actions next to what you decide to let go and creating a new action is what we coaches call "reframing" and it has an ingenious way of creating breakthroughs.

Palms:
There's a reason the people of Jerusalem laid palms as Jesus entered the city.

Did you know palms are symbolic of "victory"?

When I learned this in Bible college it created a whole new meaning for surrounding myself with symbols of victory!

How can you do this?

Be mindful to surround yourself with the people, things and activities that re-enforce victory in your life.

Have conversations that re-enforce victory. Not gossip. Not complaining. Not whining. Have conversations of (seeking) victory in your life.

Take actions that re-enforce victory. Don't go out drinking on a Tuesday night when you have the presentation of your life on Wednesday. Don't eat at fast foods everyday when you are committed to ending the cycle of diabetes in your family. Take actions that re-enforce someone who believes in the victory of their goal(s) before it even happens!

Holy Week Chic:
And why not take your renewed self a step further and get inspired by this chic look for your Easter plans!

It perfectly symbolizes your renewed self (white dress) living in victory (palms print tote)...

Here are some white dresses I tracked down

Temperley London Crochet Mini Dress

Miu Miu Chiffon Dress

Cushnie Et Ochs Pleated Knit Dress

And the palm print tote shown is by India Hicks

Inside Palm Print of the Riviera Tote

I also love this palms Baby Riviera if you want to carry something with just the essentials versus a big tote!

Palms Baby Riviera

Your One Stop Destination for Gingham Redux

One of my favorite things about true style is that if it's done right, it can be completely timeless!

Such is the case with Gingham this season.

Banana Republic just seems to get it completely right for modern women on a budget who appreciates this classically timeless print...but who also don't want to look old or like their grandmother's version of gingham style.

Here are three ways to style your Gingham Redux:

Casual Chic

Photo: @stylinbyaylin (Instagram)

Photo: @bananarepublic (Instagram)

Photo: @closet_luxe (Instagram)

Photo: @herimajination (Instagram)

Dressed Up Gingham

Photo: @honeyinmyheels (Instagram)

Photo: @fitfabfunmom (Instagram)

Photo: @thealohababe (Instagram)

Photo: @bananarepulbic (Instagram)

Pop of Color Gingham

Photo: @mackenziehoran (Instagram)

* I also love the India Hicks Carmen clutch in Flamingo color to achieve this pop of color! 

IH Carmen Clutch (Flamingo)

Photo: @margaretmkamara (Instagram)

Shop Banana Republic's Gingham Redux

April...The Month to Be Open

Be Open to new opportunities.

Be Open to new possibilities.

Be Open to your highest self.

Be Open to faith.

Be Open to grace.

Be Open to limitlessness.

Be Open to a new, different way.

Be Open to new partnerships.

Be Open to humility.

Be Open to new conversations.

Be Open to doing things outside your comfort zone.

Be Open to loving more.

Be Open to kindness.

Be Open to beauty.

Be Open to No.

Be Open to Yes.

In April, create a new habit to just Be Open to the fullness of it all!

Confidence for the Ages with National Prom Day

I am a big believer in the impact (positive or negative) that confidence has on the ability of people to truly reach their goals.

Why?

I have seen people with optimal technical ability, natural smarts, great education, excellent training, etc. not reach their goals and become extremely frustrated not realizing that their problem is not technical or natural aptitude.

The problem is that confidence is that secret weapon that reveals itself by what you have internalized about the external.

That internal dialogue is either the game changer OR the cause of cyclical frustration that will undermine your ability to achieve your fullest potential.

Period.

So when I had the opportunity to appear on KDAF's CW33 in recognition of #NationalPromDay, I jumped at the chance!

#NaitonalPromDay is a day set aside to empower young people to have the confidence to make great decisions (through their Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)).  The day is organized through www.nationalpromday.org and can also be followed at #promgirlxo and #promguytux hashtags.

Me at KDAF CW33 with #NationalPromDay Models

And as I eluded to at the beginning of this post, confidence is ongoing and is not restricted to young people.

You evolve.

Situations change.

Circumstances change.

And with each change, you are going to have to exercise your confidence muscle to push through fear and adversity.

And if you need help in assessing your confidence level, remember I always have the FREE "Self Confidence Personal Assessment" on my Resources Page...and add-on a confidence coaching session with me!

We All Need Self Confidence!

Breakthrough and live your dreams!

Be confident and go after it!