Pretty in the Queen City

The Relationship Between Inner Beauty, Health and Wellness (Guest Post)

Have you ever noticed that when you're feeling down or anxious, you're likely to get a cold? Some people have noticed how being stressed can affect their overall health as well. The good thing is you have the power to control your thinking and feeling, so you can prevent getting sick if by putting some effort into having a good positive attitude and practicing inner health.

The relationship between our feelings and our health is a growing topic among wellness experts, and with good reason. The connection between mind and body is a relatively new field expanding into traditional medicine, where we are beginning to understand how important it is to keep a healthy attitude to enjoy our overall health. The saying “Sound mind, sound body,” has never been more apparent as in our current lifestyle.

But how do we keep a sound mind? We all know the need to stay active and participate in physical fitness to stay healthy, but being active also determines our inner health. As we exercise, we not only burn calories and tone muscles, there is also a physical transformation inside our bodies that releases “feel good” substances called endorphins, which help us decrease our stress levels. When our stress levels are down, our body is healthier and we are less prone to illnesses. So listen to the doctor when he tells you, “Exercise is good for you.”

Another way to keep our inner health in check is to practice doing things we love, developing a hobby or craft that we can practice when we’re also feeling a little stressed or worried. These activities don’t need to be expensive nor complicated in order to enjoy them. Some people like crossword puzzles, other people like to meditate or read mystery novels. Whatever thing it is you like to do, and as simple as it may be, make time for it and time to enjoy it as often as you can. This helps you maintain your inner health because it promotes a happy state, contentment only you can enjoy, and eventually share with others.

Sharing with others is also a great way to keep your spirits up and your body healthy. Make it a point to see your loved ones and your friends. Go out and socialize, talk to people more often and you’ll be able to see you’re not alone in whatever daily troubles that may worry you. Yes, everybody has problems and it is easier to go on in life if you have a support group and friends to help you through them.

One of the best ways to connect health and inner beauty is to smile. Practice genuine smile more often, and as corny and cliché as it sounds, it WILL make the world a happier place. This in turn will make you look and feel better. A person who smiles, in good times and bad, is most definitely a beautiful person inside and out.

 

Check out  www.lulyforma.com for more advice on the latest exercise programs, health information, beauty, nutrition and well-being

 

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About Luly Mitchell :

Expertise: Exercise, Fitness, Training, Well-being, Lifestyle, Alternative Medicine, Olympics, Dance, and Tourism

TV Appearance: http://tvguestpert.com/guestpert_details.asp?guestpert=205

I was born in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico and lived in the city of Chihuahua since I was 5 years old. At that age my father enrolled me in the city gym and I began training in Olympic gymnastics. I was part of the Chihuahua State Gymnastics Team and I also participated in other sports such as swimming, tennis, racketball and volleyball.

My other activities always included dance and music. I participated in various dance schools: Jazz, Mexican Folkloric and Hip-Hop, among others. I always enjoyed the discipline of the rehearsals and was very pleased to see results when the audience was entertained and happy with our performances.

In 1985 I began to take aerobic classes. I always felt good to exercise to the beat of music. That same year I traveled to Los Angeles, CA to learn English for 6 months. I was staying at an aunt’s house and worked in a gym in Hollywood. She invited me to her gym where I learned more about aerobics and also took a course for certification as an aerobics instructor. The teacher that taught that class gave me my first opportunity as an instructor in that gym. It was a great time for me!

I had to return to Mexico to finish my university studies. Back in Chihuahua, I taught aerobics in the best local gyms. At the same time I was working as a model and had a TV show where I also taught aerobics to all the viewers.

To obtain my certificate as a personal trainer, I prepared and trained very hard. I consider myself a very active and creative person. I’m always looking for new ways to improve in everything I do. In 1987 I won the Aerobics Marathon in which over 150 people participated. This was a great personal accomplishment, I knew that all my efforts, discipline and training had paid off.

Another personal achievment was obtaining my bachelor’s degree in tourism and presenting my professional exam. Although my heart had always been in physical fitness, I tried to combine both careers. I worked for the Chihuahua International Airport as head of Public Relations and afterwards as the Promotions Director for an important chain of hotels in Chihuahua.

This also gave me the opportunity to continue preparing myself as a fitness trainer. Every 6 months I traveled to Los Angeles to take different master classes in aerobics, jazz and dance to prepare myself and be updated with the latest exercise trends. In 1991 I took one of the biggest and most important decisions in my life: I decided to live in Los Angeles, California. I was offered a job as a fitness instructor and personal trainer. It was a hard decision because I left behind family, friends and my old job. But I loved Los Angeles and thought it was a magical place with the beaches, mountains and people from every country in one great package. Wow!

I have worked very hard and my reward has been the popularity of my Fiesta Latina class. One of my greatest satisfactions is to have taught in the best gyms in Los Angeles, like Sports Club LA, Spectrum Club, LA Fitness, Sports Connection, Crunch, Madonna Grimes Studios, to name a few.

In 1995 I got married to my wonderful husband and 3 years later I received the greatest joy in my life: the birth of my son.

During the year 2000 I had several difficulties to overcome. One of them was that I was diagnosed with MVP, Mitral Valve Prolapse. One of my heart valves was not functioning correctly and for over six months I was not able to exercise. I studied extensively about this condition and found a remedy based on alternative medicine which helped me recover completely. I thank God that everything was resolved and that I could continue with my workouts, which are a fundamental part of my life.

In 2003 my good friend and producer Alejandro Munguia and I began working on a exercise video to fill the need to promote health and well being through exercise that results in improving your lifestyle. We created this DVD which is informative, fun and effective.

Certificates:

ACE: AMERICAN COUNCIL OF EXERCISE

FEMARA: FEDERACION MEXICANA DE ACTIVIDADES RITMICAS AEROBICAS

FITKID AND AEROKID (Exercise and Activities for kids from pre-school to 18 years old)

 

 

Bonding Over Beauty by Erika Katz (Interview)

When your daughters reach the sometimes dreaded "tweens" how do you handle it? What do you say? Little girls are growing up so fast these days physically and mentally, much more than say when you and I were in school. Some women don't know how to approach subjects that may even embarrass themselves. 

I can remember "the talk" as my mom checked out several library books to explain everything to me which was the normal approach at that time. But as for physical changes within my own body....there wasn't much bonding time over beauty issues. Not that she didn't care but I am almost certain discussing these types of things were possibly taboo in her mind and of course there is always the separation of generations.      

Erika Katz has solved that problem for those of us with our own daughters and is the author of  Bonding Over Beauty, A Mother-Daughter Guide to Self-Esteem, Confidence and Trust (Greenleaf Press, March 2011), Erika Katz uses her beauty expertise to help moms bond with their ‘tween daughters. A former child model and actress, Erika appeared in over 100 commercials, print ads, and films. As the mother of a ‘tween girl, she now writes a popular beauty blog for mothers tackling the drama of the ‘tween years.

Before college, Erika interned in the beauty department at Seventeen magazine. Using her experience at Seventeen, cosmetology classes, and lessons learned through her extensive work in television and modeling, she created a beauty guide that served as the foundation for Bonding Over Beauty. Though the guide initially targeted young women, after joining several parenting groups Erika soon realized many mothers were unsure of how to bridge the generation gap when dealing with the beauty and hygiene issues their daughters faced. Believing that a parent’s job is to nurture their children’s self-esteem and happiness, she turned her beauty guide into a valued resource for moms that contains advice and numerous bonding rituals that can ease the difficulties faced by young girls growing to physical and emotional maturity.

Bonding Over Beauty focuses on encouraging and strengthening the mother-daughter relationship through simple, fun, and intimate activities such as teaching your ‘tween basic beauty rituals like painting her nails or making an organic face scrub from scratch. The book also helps mothers navigate sensitive topics that often arise with tween girls, from dealing with unwanted body hair to menstruation, and everything in between.

A graduate of Dartmouth College, Erika lives in New York City with her husband and two children.

Erika took time to share more about her recent book and to even offer some guidance on some very important issues.

First of all....I must say kudos to a beautiful concept you have created. A much needed one at that! What inspired you to write the book Bonding Over Beauty? I went to a parenting meeting in my community and moms were talking about how their nine and ten year old daughters were getting hair under the arms, above their lip, and were showing signs of puberty all before they had given up playing with dolls.  The moms did not know how to broach these sticky subjects with their girls either because they did not have all the information or were just too embarrassed to talk about it.  So, I decided to write a book to tell moms what to say to their daughters and how to say it.  I wanted this difficult time in a young girl's life to be a bonding experience with mom rather than a series of door-slammings and "mom, you just don't understand."

Personally I am a huge advocate of improving the self confidence of teens and adults. Having confidence is a must have tool for our life. What do you suggest to mothers who are having a difficult time with their daughters who are entering into the sometimes "dreaded" stages of "tween" or teen hood? Self-esteem is the biggest gift you can give your daughter.  We don't realize how little comments can take it away.  For instance, I have a friend who has always hated her curly hair and has ironed it since we were kids.   One day she was brushing her daughter's knots and commenting how her daughter's hair is difficult just like hers.  I saw her daughter's face drop and she felt bad about herself.  But, my friend was so obsessed with straight hair and hating her own curls she couldn't see the beauty in her daughter's curls.  Comments should always be positive. Instead of telling her daughter how difficult her hair is, she could say something like " I bet we could get those curls bouncy and beautiful with a little conditioner or detangler.  You are so lucky to have such lovely curls."  

What advice can you give to the "tween" or teenage girls who may have friends with low self esteem? How can they help their classmates feel good about themselves? Empathy is something we need to teach our girls.  If your daughter has a friend who is struggling with an issue and other girls make fun of her, teach your daughter not to participate in that and never text, email, or facebook mean things about another girl.  Friends can help other friends by standing by them, telling them how much they value their friendship, and just by treating them well.  Moms can also help their daughter's friends by listening to their feelings and trying to help them through difficult times.

As a recovered anorexic and the mother of a little girl, I still question even myself on how I will approach the issues of eating disorders. She's only a baby, so I have a long time before I have to deal with this but what's your opinion on discussing eating disorders with your daughter....whether it be from an underweight or overweight situation? It is really important not to put your eating disorder on your daughter.  If you obsess over weight your daughter will learn that behavior.  If you pick at your food or binge on junk, that is the example you are setting for your daughter.  The best thing you can do is tell her if you want to look healthy you have to be healthy.  That means eating protein, fat, and carb at every meal - not diet soda and chewing gum to keep your weight down, or fat-free processed foods.  The notion that fat makes you fat is a marketing ploy by the packaged food companies to get people to buy more junk food.                                                                                                                                              

 If you feel your daughter is starving herself or purging psychological counseling is a must.  Oftentimes pubescent girls do not like or understand their changing bodies.  The larger hips and breasts are "fat" to them instead of womanly.  Moms should tell their daughters how nice their curves are not lament that something is not perfect.  It is important not to pick apart figure flaws in others because this could also have a damaging effect on your daughter.

 

What are your thoughts on the latest "craze" over eyebrow waxing and botox for the younger girls? I personally am not a fan. What's your take on this growing trend?  Botox is for wrinkles.  Children do not have wrinkles.  The teen years are when your skin is producing collagen.  If a doctor tells them to do it to "prevent" wrinkles, the doctor is unethical.  There is no reason (unless of course there is a severe medical condition) to inject a child with Botox.

Eyebrow waxing- I think if a girl has a unibrow, shaving between the brows is a good way to get rid of the hair without the pain.  However, if she is okay with the pain and the eyebrows look like a character from Sesame Street, I am all for it.  But, moms should not insist on something as painful as waxing in the name of beauty especially before puberty.  In my book, I explore alternatives like shaving and depilatory which are painless.  But, I personally would not leave the unibrow nor any other facial hair on a young girl.

I can't interview you on Pretty in the Queen City and not ask......What is your beauty product must have? I don't think I can just say one product because I am a bit of a beauty junkie so here are my top five:

Trish McEvoy mascara- never ends up under my eyes

Laura Geller or Lancome Tinted Moisturizer- love the coverage while still feeling so light

Cover Girl Wetsticks Minty lipgloss - minty and fabulous

Jo Malone Orange Blossom body cream- smells like heaven

Mario Badescu Bee pollen night cream- I swear it’s why I don't have wrinkles

You are super busy....but you still have to take time for yourself......do you have a favorite spa service?  I love getting an aromatherapy deep tissue massage. I bring Aveda Active  Composition to put on tired, aching muscles.  It feels amazing! 

What is your definition of Beauty? Beauty is a confidence you exude when you walk in a room.  Look at the most beautiful models and actors.  Often times their nose is a little too big, their smile is not even, and yet they are beautiful because they walk in a room as if they own it.  A woman who walks with her shoulders back and her head high will always trump someone who is slouched over and peering out at you under her hair.

Any final words? When discussing beauty related issues with your daughter, keep the conversation light, tell funny stories about yourself and your friends so she understands she is not the only one in the world going through this difficult time.  To learn more about Bonding Over Beauty, please go to my website at www.bondingoverbeauty.com.  My book is available online and at bookstores nationwide.  

 

 You can also find Erika on Twitter and Facebook

  

iMpact color cosmetics Glam Studio (Review)

I survived the thunderstorms in Charlotte yesterday but honestly I was having so much fun at the iMpact color cosmetics Glam Studio that I barely noticed the torrential downpour, thunder and lightening outside. 

You've heard me talk about iMpact color cosmetics in the past and they were even a part of the recent Une Belle Femme Event but I thought it was about time that I tell you more about this unique, inspirational and fabulous brand. 

iMpact’s philosophy is that true beauty and real confidence come from within – when a woman looks good, she feels good. Makeup should enhance and highlight a woman’s natural features. 

The mission is simple. Offer a flawless clean look paired with an uplifting, inspiring experience. The first of its kind : Fusion of Makeup and Ministry. A beauty brand created by Stanley Owings to revolutionize the Beauty Industry. 

So other than offering inspiring messages with each product, what is unique about this brand? Each product has self-adapting pigments, skin-improving complex and color-matrix technology.

 

Color-Matrix Technology ~ Based on the principles of color theory ~ Creates pigments that evenly match skin’s undertone and are able to color correct imperfections Skin-improving complex ~ Powerful cocktail of potent anti-oxidants including Vitamins A, C, & E to improve and protect skin ~ Provides Anti-aging benefits not usually found in color cosmetics ~ Skin benefits even after make-up is taken off ~ Customer will see a noticeable difference in her skin from using iMPact color cosmetics Self-adapting pigments ~ The encapsulated pigment delivery system allows for the product to immediately blend to match the skin tone, allowing for an effortless application, perfect match, and all day wear “WOW” factor ~ Every product has its own unique, special ingredient and/or technology  ~ Example: tinted moisturizer with SPF has hyaluronic acid ~ Example: foundations have pistachio vera seed oil ~ Example: all powder products are silk milled  Having held top positions for the most prestigious beauty brands in the business (YSL, Dior, MAC, and Prescriptives), Stanley Owings is in an enviable position to parlay his vast network of beauty editor contacts, A-list clients, and celebrities into talking points and recognition for the brand. Stanley is ready to demystify the smoke and mirrors behind makeup and reveal all of the tips and tricks from behind the scenes and teach them to the everyday woman. Enter : The iMpact Glam Studio which is located at Fuze Salon. This isn't your typical makeup counter. You are working with a true artist. You aren't working with a hired assistant. You work directly with the man behind the brand.  Each product has an inspiring name such as "i'm free", "i'm blessed" "i'm confident" and products come with a wristband that says "i'm world iMpact" as a reminder to use YOUR life to iMpact someone else.   Photo by Erin Hubbs (www.erinhubbs.com) I have had the pleasure of spending time with Stanley on a couple of occasions and he truly makes everyone feel beautiful and the light within him shines through offering love, peace, inspiration and truth. Not only is he an amazing individual but his brand is one of the most unique brands I've ever seen and the first I've seen that offers such an inspiration.  Not only does the brand have a beautiful mission but the quality is amazing. I personally use iMpact on a daily basis. My loyal readers know that I am a HUGE fan of red lipstick, especially Chanel Dragon #75, but I have set Chanel aside for "i'm confident" from iMpact. I LOVE it and get so many compliments. Not only am I fan of the lipstick but the foundation is unbelievable. My skin looks absolutely flawless after application. Check out this photo of me after Stanley worked his magic I'm not going to share much more because you need to check it out for yourself. If you live in Charlotte, Stanley's iMpact Glam Studio is located at Fuze Salon (1819 East 7th Street Charlotte, NC 28204) or you can purchase products on ShopNBC.com  . You can also follow Stanley and iMpact at  http://Facebook.com/iMpactcolorcosmetics and http://www.twitter.com/stanleyowings  Me with the man behind the brand, Stanley Owings "love yourself. love others. make an iMpact." ~ Stanley Owings

 

It's MY Body (Guest Post)

Photo Credit: Alex Bramwell

It’s my body. If I am overweight by societal standards or some height/weight chart, my body does not need to be starved in order to fit in. My body will be the size it is supposed to be if I am taking care of myself. I will not fight it.

 

It’s my body. If I go out on a date and a guy buys me dinner, I do not owe him a kiss or anything else. A simple, “thank you,” does the job just fine. Despite what society might say, my body is not my currency. 

 

It’s my body. If I overeat at a party today, because the food is just so good, I do not need to restrict or over-exercise tomorrow. My body needs to be nourished, everyday, and never deserves to be punished.

 

It’s my body. If I have been abused, my body does not deserve to be hated. My body is not disgusting because of what someone else did to me. My body is not something to feel ashamed of or to hide. I cherish my body.

 

It’s my body. If I am sick, I need to give my body rest and do whatever it takes to get well. My body is not invincible. It is fragile. I must not abuse it with food, alcohol, drugs, or anything else. I must take care of it.

 

It’s my body. Today my organs are nourished and can function properly. I get enough sleep. I am strong. I do things that feel enjoyable like hiking, swimming, getting a massage, yoga, or even kissing my date --- when I choose to do so.

 

It’s my body. I do not look like you or anyone else. You might be taller or thinner than me. By societal standards, you might be prettier than me. But you are not me. And I am not you. 

 

It’s your body. Respect it. Nourish it. Love it. 

 

By: Jenni Schaefer

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Appointed to the Ambassador Council of the National Eating Disorders Association, Jenni Schaefer is a singer/songwriter, speaker, and author of Life Without Ed and Goodbye Ed, Hello Me. She is a consultant with the Center For Change in Orem, Utah. For more information, visit  http://www.jennischaefer.com

 

Queen City Pretty: Lindsay Maddox

This week's Queen City Pretty is lifestyle blogger, Lindsay Maddox. 

Lindsay Maddox is the chic geek behind Designer Wife, a blog dedicated to her attempts at designing a healthy, balanced & beautiful life. Her words were first published at age 8 when she was accepted in to a Poetry Society's annual publication-- since then she's always craved seeing her work in black & white. Most recently, she contributed a chapter to a healthy living book that will be on bookshelves in the summer of 2011. She's an espresso aficionado, frequent flier, book worm, and social butterfly. When she's not blogging her entire life story, she works as a freelance writer, designer and amateur photographer. Mostly, she just stands around being fantastic.

What is your beauty product must have? Super Mel C, which was developed by Jennifer Flavin Stallone and is sold in her Serious Skin Care line. I've tried many of the melon products over the years, but none can compare to hers-- it gets all the credit for the compliments to my complexion. 

If I were to peek in your makeup bag, what would I find?  Since switching over to my spring-y, summer-y colors, you'll find a lot of nudes and peaches. I'm really in to the "barely there" dewy, sun-kissed look right now.

My make-up bag looks like this:

MakeUp Forever HD foundation (shade #118) - A friend who does the makeup for Real Housewives of Orange County recommended this to me when I asked what would give me a flawless, glowing look. This stuff is AMAZING and you'll never catch me without it! 

Benefit Hoola - I've never been so in love with a bronzer... it gives the look of just getting back from a week on an island.

Benefit High Beam - A dab of this on your cheeks (over top of Hoola) and under your brows really gives your face a pretty boost. They lady at Sephora told me that it's lovingly been dubbed "Super Model in a Bottle" 

MAC Eyeshadow in Retrospeck, Naked Lunch & Sable - you just can't go wrong with MAC shadows.

MAC eye liner kohl in Teddy - I love this with blue eyes and it's my "go to" through any season. 

DiorShow 360 Mascara - I searched yeeaaarrrsss for the perfect mascara. I'm picky about the way it feels, if it makes my lashes long enough and, the true test, if it keeps my lashes pretty through my long days. This, folks, is a winner. 

Benefit Brow Zings - I'll be really honest with you (and what I tell you here is just between you and I,) I don't know if it's stress or too much time at 30,000 feet, but I seem to be losing my eyebrows. Luckily, I've found this stuff that allows me to draw in the bare parts and keeps them looking natural. 

MAC Lipglass in Docile - I just picked up this beauty a week ago and I'm in LOVE. This season's new shades are some of my favorites in a while.  

What spa/salon service can you not live without and where do you go to get this service done?
I change hair color like I change handbags. That being said, I couldn't live without FRESH Salon and my colorist, Kaia. 

Who is your beauty icon? Audrey Hepburn. I love classic beauty. My office looks like a shrine to her. 

What is your definition of Beauty? A balance between physical attractiveness and charming personality that's timeless and outlasts any trend. 

Any last words? I'm honored (and extremely flattered) to be among the other Queen City Pretties here. Our city is filled with amazingly beautiful and interesting women and I'm so thankful we have a resource, here on Pretty in the Queen City, to showcase and share. 

Make sure you check Lindsay out at DesignerWife.Com as well as on Twitter and Facebook by clicking the images below.

 

 

Relationships and Confidence: Interview with Dr. Dar (Relationship Expert)

Dr. Dar (Darshana Hawks) is a Relationship Success Expert. She helps put the pieces back together and makes sure you are getting the relationship you desire. According to her website, Dr. Dar has spent a decade creating a system that will help you communicate better, leading to harmony and understanding. Ultimately, this affects your inner beauty, your self confidence and who you are as an individual. 

Currently, you can see Dr. Dar share tips weekly on Fox News Rising (Charlotte). She took some time out of her busy schedule to share with us how your relationship can affect your inner beauty as well as share a few personal beauty secrets. I love her definition of True Beauty!!!

 

What led to your interest in becoming a relationship expert? Honestly, being tired of experiencing one bad relationship in my 20’s and 30’s after another.Seeing that family history plays out in our relationships. 

I found out about this new thing called ‘coaching’ 15 years ago and I was all over it, learning how to excel as a coach and hiring my own coaches to help me personally and professionally – I loved that coaching is about meeting you where you are and catapulting you to where you ultimately want to be using tried and proven principles that work in business.

About 10 years ago, I was facilitating a group workshop and a gentleman approached me saying he had a feeling that I could help him.  His wife was packing up and leaving him that very weekend and he asked if I would help them.  I agreed as I viewed this as somewhat a Divine Appointment.  His wife agreed as well.  I spent 24 hours with them and they are still together today, happily married.  This really catapulted me into owning that I am a Relationship Expert.

In what ways can our relationships affect our self-confidence (inner beauty)? Our relationships have everything to do with our self-confidence.  It does not matter if the relationship is with friends, parents, other family members, a boy/girlfriend, spouse, or even our relationship with ourselves – the degree to how self-confident we are is in many respects a reflection of the health of our relationships. 

More importantly, what we do about our unhealthy relationships and who we select to help us make them healthy contributes to the expansion or reduction of self-confidence.  Working with a trained professional Relationship Expert can expand how you feel about yourself, help you identify the unhealthy aspects of your relationships so that you can take charge of making them healthy once again or make the choice to let the relationship go – much faster and compassionately than you can do so on your own or with friends and family.

Some women (and men) stay in relationships for fear of being alone. What tips do you have for these individuals so that they may have the strength to move on from a negative situation? First you have to make the definite choice to leave.  It is less about strength and more about choice and the reasons why you desire getting out.  The reasons can be very compelling.  The first question I ask women and men who come to me with this concern is ‘Is being alone worse than what you have right now for the rest of your life?’  because usually the answer is yes, it is.  But that is a reactionary response.  Usually the fear of being alone is tied to something else such as not being able to financially provide for oneself.  Fear of not having money is a real reason people stay in their existing relationships. 

It usually is not a fear of being alone when we dig deep to understand the inner workings of what is really transpiring.There are some cases where people stay in their relationships because it is better than nothing.  My take on that is these individuals are actually resigned and don’t want to take the extra step in working on themselves and spend the time and energy to learn how to find a person that is a better fit for a long term relationship.  They would rather not put out the effort to cause a change in their lives but would rather take what they perceive as the easy route and stay where they are.   Having the strength to move on from a negative situation is directly connected to who you have working with you side by side every step of the way getting you prepared and strong to move out and on with your life.  Hiring a trained professional who has expertise with helping someone in your situation is critical.  Doing it yourself is the hard way.  Getting assistance offers support and ease that otherwise would be daunting.

For those who have recently ended a relationship, do you have advice to help them think positively and look toward the future rather than focus on the past? The best thing a person can do is to not work through this on their own.  The tendency is to shut yourself out of the world for a while OR to go to your girlfriends or family for consolation.  Having support from friends and family to keep you engaged in activity is one thing but having their support to sort through the intricacies of that relationship, why it ended, what went wrong, etc. is better left to the trained professionals who know how to help you heal and move forward much faster than having a consoling friend or family member by your side. 

I am shamelessly promoting the work of Relationship Experts and Coaches because I know how quickly I recovered in my relationship history with a coach by my side versus when I did not work with one…so this is a testimonial from personal experience.

Dr. Dar, I can't do an interview with you and not ask what's in YOUR beauty bag? Jane Iredale lip gloss – cannot live without her lip gloss in candied rose or her lip stain, Bad Gal Mascara by Benefit, Urban Decay eye shadow – of course in a shade of purple and Mary Kay skin care and foundation – cannot live without the natural feeling makeup

You spend your life helping others improve their relationships. You must take time for yourself. What's your favorite spa/salon service and where do you get it done? Voci Spa is my favorite for facials and beauty treatments. Elegant Nails is my favorite, currently, for mani and pedi’s. Timeless Touch is my must have massage therapist.

How do YOU define true beauty?  I define true beauty by the degree with which you own who you are, know yourself inside and out, and honor yourself with compassion, self-love, grace, authenticity, and the health of all of your relationships.

Do you have any additional tips/comments? I invite you to sign up for the Attracting Love ecourse for Singles or Relationship Repair (even if yours does not need repair) for couples on my website  http://www.RelationshipSuccessExpert.com

For singles who want to fast track having love in their lives and be in love by Christmas or sooner, reserve your seat for the Fast Track to Lasting Love workshop that starts next month. 

 

 You can also find Dr. Dar on Facebook and Twitter by clicking the images below! 

   

A Flower is a Flower

 

 

Beautiful inspiration to start your week! 

 

              

Video Interview with Cindy Joseph (BOOM! by Cindy Joseph)

BOOM! by Cindy Joseph will be one of the many unique brands displayed at our upcoming Une Belle Femme event on April 27th. I recently had the opportunity to interview Cindy , the lady behind this amazing brand. Not only is she absolutely gorgeous on the outside but her inner beauty shines through, as you will see from this interview. I hope you enjoy our inspirational chat and learn more about what these three sticks, called BOOMSTICKS, can do for you!!!  

It's about women. It's about beauty. It's about time. 

 

About Cindy Joseph

"In high school, Cindy poured through all the beauty and fashion magazines she could get her hands on. She was searching for make up techniques to change the way she looked. She wanted to look like the cover models and hide what she judged as her "flaws." She spent hours playing with new products and practicing techniques on herself and her friends. Makeup was her passion.

A few years later, being highly influenced by the emerging ideas in the San Francisco Bay area during the 60s, she had a dramatic shift of perception. In 1969, her senior year of high school, she chose to throw out all her cosmetics in rebellion to what she thought was society's dictate to superficial beauty. However, she found herself in conflict about her desire to look her best.

After realizing most teenage girls deal with issues of self esteem, she decided to go head on into the very world she was rebelling against. She believed she would have more influence if she was "in the game." Using the skills and talents she had developed from working with local photographers, she began her career as a makeup artist for fashion and beauty in the late 70s. After working for the Esprit de Corps ad campaigns with Oliviero Toscani, she was encouraged to go to Paris to work with the European magazines and advertising clients. After three very successful years in Paris she arrived in New York at the top of the industry. She worked with fashion and beauty photographers making up the super models and celebrities of the time.

Cindy's natural makeup style influenced the face of beauty for 25 years. Her preference was to allow the character and personality of the woman to come forth, having the makeup enhance rather than mask their natural beauty.

As her career was flourishing, Cindy was studying human behavior, psychology and philosophy along with health and fitness. She was inspired to do so by her desire for self knowledge and to define true beauty. Becoming healthier and more self aware as time passed, Cindy embraced her age with enthusiasm and appreciation.

In 1999, at the age of 49, Cindy was approached on the street by a casting agent to model for Dolce and Gabbana photographed by Steven Meisel. That ignited her modeling career with Ford Models Inc. , which continues to flourish today. She is traveling the world once again, now working in front of the camera, for many of the same clients and magazines she had during her make up career. Her face has been used in beauty campaigns for Garnier, Olay, Elizabeth Arden and Aveda to name a few. She has modeled for fashion clients such as Macy's, Sundance, Bloomingdales, Target, J.Jill, Shopbop, Ann Taylor, Liz Claiborne, Anthropologie, Banana Republic, J. Crew and the list goes on. Her face has graced covers and pages of Oprah , More, Glamour, Mademoiselle, Real Simple, Brigitta Woman, Marie Clair, Amica, Experience Life, European and Japanese fashion and beauty magazines. From beauty and fashion to hotel and real estate, from banking to pharmaceuticals, Cindy represents the healthy life style choices of the female Baby Boomers around the world.

Along side her modeling career, Cindy writes a monthly blog, "Just Cindy", for Experience Life Magazine, as well as a column in their news stand issue. She brings a new voice to the magazine, with a fresh and provocative perspective. http://blogs.experiencelifemag.com/just-cindy/    "

 

About Une Belle Femme:

 

On April 27th, 2011,  Joy Randall (Flawless Makeup Art) , T. Strong (StyleMayvin) , Candice Johnson (CJ Wax Studio) and myself, Amelia Keith (Pretty in the Queen City) , will present a unique night of beauty from around the world. Join us for Une Belle Femme at Apostrophe Lounge on April 27th from 6pm-9pm. We are excited to come together to bring you a rare experience; an opportunity to experience beauty products from around the world while giving back to the community. Please bring a woman's business suit or a business separate (a pair of slacks,blazer,dress,etc) for entry into this event. The clothing will be donated to a local charity to help no/low income women enter back into the work force.

 

Power Walk for Dress for Success Charlotte:May 7th

One charity that is close to my heart is Dress for Success Charlotte. The mission of Dress for Success is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. 

Did you know that Dress for Success Charlotte helped 811 new clients in 2010 and saw a 70% increase in new interview suitings over 2009? Show your support May 7 with the 5K Power Walk for Dress for Success Charlotte!

I hope you grab your walking shoes and join me and other individuals in over 30 locations to support the empowerment of women. 

 

 *Please note Jillian Michaels will NOT be present at the Charlotte Walk. She is the National Spokesperson of this event.*

 

Now grab your walking shoes, get your team together and join us on May 7th!

 

Freedom Park, Charlotte
Saturday, May 7, 2011

Registration: 7:30 AM
Walk Start: 8:30 AM

~ Rain or Shine ~

Register to walk or create a team by visiting this link:

 http://www.dfspowerwalk.org CharlotteNC/

Unable to attend or walk? That's ok! Sign up to be a Virtual Walker or become a sponsor!

For more information about The Power Walk for Dress for Success in Charlotte,

please e-mail:
powerwalk@dressforsuccesscharlotte.org

 

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Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Since 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to more than 110 cities in the U.S., Australia, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, the UK and the West Indies. To date, Dress for Success has helped more than 550,000 women work towards self-sufficiency.

Dress for Success recognizes that in order to gain employment and become self-sufficient, it is critical that women are also healthy and well. In 2010, Dress for Success launched a Health & Wellness initiative with the Professional Women’s Group to empower women to make healthy choices in work and in life.

In 2009, 95% of all contributions received by Dress for Success supported our programs and services. It is very important for us to minimize our administrative and fundraising costs to ensure that we are serving disadvantaged women with the best possible programs and services to help them achieve economic independence. Dress for Success Worldwide has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for seven consecutive years for sound fiscal management. Dress for Success Worldwide has also obtained GuideStar Exchange’s Seal-Holder status and is recognized as a valued “partner in trust” for transparency and fiscal responsibility. Dress for Success Worldwide meets the BBB Wise Giving Alliance's Standards for Charity Accountability. For more information, please visit: www.dressforsuccess.org

 

 

Total Beauty Thursday:What Do you Want to BE When you Grow up?

What do you want to BE when you grow up?

Do you want to be a doctor?

A lawyer?

 

Or even the President?  

This question is a common question asked as an individual is going through childhood and their teens. When we turn 18, we are expected to go to college, obtain our degree and enter adulthood. While I think it's great to encourage children to keep their minds open, be creative and create dreams, I do not think an 18 year old knows what he/she wants to BE for the rest of their lives.

If I had of gone through what I thought I wanted to be and was expected from me, I would be a college graduate deep into my career by now.

Some people know from day one what they want to BE. It's deep within them. They KNOW they are meant to be a doctor, a musician or even a missionary. It's their calling. For others, they have no clue what they want to be and spend their life trying to figure it out. 

I accepted a long time ago that I would never BE just one thing. My mind doesn't work that way. There is so much out there, so much to learn and so much to experience. There is no "Box" to step out of. The "Box" shouldn't exist. Why should we BE just one thing?! We are gifted with many talents and many skills, I think the important thing is focusing on building those and sharing them with your community.

Guess what, you don't have to BE just one thing for the rest of your life! Why limit yourself? Sure your bills have to be paid and your family has to be taken care of (those are priorities) but aside from that take time to have additional projects that interest you. 

Since the age of 15 when I got my first job, I have always had multiple jobs and multiple projects going on at once. I've been told "Why don't you settle down with just one job?"   "You always have so much on your plate, I don't know how you do it!"  I do it because that's the way my mind works. If I only had one project to focus on, I would be depressed. That is not who I am and I am not talking about solely "jobs"......I mean projects......whether you have multiple projects that bring in money, or you volunteer for your favorite charity, or you take those dance lessons you've always wanted to take........there's so much you are missing when you are settled in your 8-5.

This WORKS for some but if you are unhappy and you feel like you are still searching for who you are and what you want to BE when you grow up it's because you have a creative mind.....you want to learn and experience life. That's what life is about. 

If God wanted us all the same, he would haven't made so many of us. It's ok to BE who you are! It's ok to try new things. If it doesn't work, that's ok! Failure is part of life. We don't enjoy failure and I personally have a hard time with failure but it's part of life and it's going to happen. 

Don't spend your life searching. If you have a dream (and we all have them), pursue it, you will never know how that that scenario will play out. You don't know if you don't try! 

My challenge to you is to just BE YOU. If you have found your calling, then that's wonderful! Keep doing it. That's what you are meant to do.  If you feel like you STILL don't know what you want to be when you "grow up", guess what, that's ok.......as long as your priorities are met........you can just be YOU.

Experience what life has to offer. You aren't horrible because you didn't graduate college (I didn't!....It wasn't for me) , you aren't strange because you are 35 and are unhappy in your career choice, it's because you have a creative mind....you want more in life. You have a heart that has a strong desire to experience more. I encourage you to BE WHO YOU ARE.

And remember when you hear the question or when you even ask the question yourself.........What do you want to BE when you grow up? Why do we have to choose one thing?! Great thing is.....YOU DON'T! You don't have to choose one career unless your heart desires. Go after your dreams. You will never know the outcome if you don't try.