Top Ten Takeaways From SHINE 2010

Branding and marketing expert, Liz Dennery Sanders, shares highlights and words of business wisdom from her experience at Ali Brown's Annual Shine Conference for female entrepreneurs.

Top Ten Takeaways From SHINE 2010
by Liz Dennery Sanders

From the amazing networking, to the main stage and breakout sessions, there were many excellent nuggets of wisdom to be had at Ali Brown’s SHINE 2010. Here were the ten that most stood out to me:

1. Decide why you are in business. In other words, what’s your WHY? Is it money, lifestyle, fame, giving back, helping others or perhaps a combination of reasons? Whatever it is, you’re more likely to stay in it for the long haul if you’re connected to your bigger WHY.

2. Evaluate where you are in your business and make your decisions from there. If you’re just starting out, you need to focus on different things than if you’re already established with a full practice. When you’re still building your foundation, it’s important not to get swayed by “bright, shiny object” syndrome. Focus on the basic building blocks before you move on to more advanced strategies. Honor the process and exactly where you are.

3. If you want to be successful you’ve got to get the money handled. You don’t have to be a CPA, but you need to know exactly how much money is coming in and out of your business every single month. You’ve got to track your expenses and be able to read a profit and loss statement. Why would the universe give you more if you can’t take care of what you’ve already got?

4. Take action. You can talk and strategize all day long, but if you don’t actually implement, you will never be successful. Money loves momentum.

5. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. You’ve got to be willing to put yourself in new situations – some of which might make you feel rather uncomfortable at first. Yet that feeling of discomfort is a signal that you’re growing and probably moving to the next level in your business. Be willing to take chances and try something new.

6. Create systems. The most successful entrepreneurs learn how to delegate those tasks that aren’t the best use of their time and genius. They do this by creating systems – financial, client services, operations, etc. – that others can use and implement over time. Start small and select one area of your business to focus on at a time. Write down each step and the exact process (saving emails and templates along the way) and save in a computer or hard copy file so that your team can access at a later date.

7. Branding isn’t optional (yes, I’ve been talking about this for a long time, but it’s worth repeating!) If you don’t craft and create your own powerful personal brand, someone else will do it for you. Your brand is a living, breathing organism that needs nurturing and constant care. Tell your story and show up.

8. Don’t feed the trolls. The more successful you become, the more likely you are to receive criticism. Learn to discern the constructive from the crap. Respect and listen to the former and ignore the latter. Life’s too short to be in a constant state of negative reactivity.

9. Be authentic. Your potential clients want the real you. Use your own voice. Life is full of copies, so dare to be an original. You’ll find that you are able to more easily connect and engage with others when you are coming from a sincere, authentic place.

10. It’s how you make people FEEL that leads them to buy (or not.) Emotions are the cue that makes the brain sit up and take notice. Appeal to your clients’ emotions, find out what’s most important to them and deliver THAT, over and over again. Be an excellent listener, show them how much you care and add value to their lives. You’ll never have to worry about your rent check again.

©Liz Dennery Sanders 2010

Liz Dennery Sanders wants you to build your buzz and be successful beyond your wildest dreams. As the CEO of Dennery Marks Inc., a brand development and celebrity outreach firm, she founded SheBrand, to help female entrepreneurs build powerful personal brands, attract more clients and position themselves as experts in their industries. You can reach her directly at info@shebrand.com or www.shebrand.com.

It's No TRICK, Six Ways to TREAT Yourself with Love

As the holiday season kicks off with Halloween, it's easy to get caught up in the hectic pace of parties, shopping and trying to fit more than we can handle into a single day. Often in the middle of the mayhem, our healthy habits and nurturing self care gets tossed to the wind. Here are some suggestions to stay on track with treating yourself with love.

1. Breath
Breathing is essential for life and restoring your body's energy. However, when you're feeling overwhelmed or stressed you tend to take short shallow breaths which causes the body to become even more stressed and tired. I invite you right now to try something. Take a moment to pause and take a deep slow breath in through your nose, and gently exhale through your mouth. Do it two more times. Notice how you're feeling. Are you feeling more relaxed? Are you more aware of your body? Taking time through out the day to stop and breath, is a great way to recharge your energy, refocus your mind and connect with yourself.

"For breath is life, and if you breathe well you will live long on earth." –Sanskrit Proverb

2. Be Patient
Do you ever find yourself wishing you could do something quicker, learn something faster, or reach your goals right this minute? Insisting on quick results or having unrealistic expectations puts unnecessary pressure on yourself and only creates stress and overwhelm. This limits how well you function and depletes your energy. Life, learning and growth is a process, not an event. Like a child learning to walk or talk, it happens over time, and is usually celebrated. Love, accept and celebrate your life and trust in it's natural flow and timing.

"If I have ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been owing more to patient attention, than to any other talent." –Sir Isaac Newton

3. Schedule a date night with yourself
Inspired by one of our Get Up Girl grads, I love this idea for making time to nurture and pamper yourself. Do those things that you rarely have time for, but truly enjoy! You could take a luxurious bubble bath, listen to music you love, put on that cozy robe and curl up with a great book, or rent your favorite movie and order take-out. Whatever you choose to do, schedule your date night with yourself in your calendar and enjoy a special evening with you!

"I restore myself when I'm alone." –Marilyn Monroe

4. Say NO
I don't know about you, but sometimes it's hard for me to say 'no'. I like being supportive and pleasing others, but over the years I've learned that saying 'yes' when I really want to say 'no', is a way I dishonor myself. Take time to check in with yourself and what your heart is really telling you before saying 'yes' to the people and the many requests in your life.

"A 'No' uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a 'Yes' merely uttered to please." –Mohatma Ghandi

5. Be Playful
You were born to play. Playing is instinctive and fundamental to human existence. Easily forgotten as an adult, engaging in playful activities nurtures you physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Playing is good for the brain and can support you feeling light, relaxed and engaged in life. Whether you enjoy a good game of Monopoly, doing arts and crafts, or playing tennis, make time to play and enjoy some serious fun!

"What do most Nobel Laureates, innovative entrepreneurs, artists and performers, well-adjusted children, happy couples and families, and the most successfully adapted mammals have in common? They play enthusiastically throughout their lives." –Stuart Brown

6. Do less
In this fast paced, over scheduled, multi-tasking, social networking world, daily life can sometimes feel very busy, but not necessarily fulfilling or meaningful. One solution is choosing to do less. Often by doing less, the quality of your efforts increases. The reason is your energy isn't split or spread to thin. You're able to focus your attention and energy at a higher level, which also increases how satisfied you feel. Doing less also translates to less stress and greater peace of mind.

"Being selective, doing less –is the path of the productive. Focus on the important few and ignore the rest." –Timothy Ferris

by Margalit Ward

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How To Create a Successful Mind-Set

by Margalit Ward

What is the mind-set for creating what you want? Is it just having a positive attitude? Reading the right books? Listening to inspirational teachers? These things do help, however there is more to creating success in your life that many happy and fulfilled people have in common. How can you take charge of your life and success? Below are four keys to remember when asking that all important question?

1. You are responsible for our own happiness & success.
Start with knowing you have the power, energy and ability to be responsible for everything in your life. Taking responsibility is the starting point for personal growth and empowering yourself. It is choosing to look inside and realizing that if you want the world around you to get better, you have to make changes within yourself first.

2. You have all the answers inside of you.
Trust your inner knowing by taking the time listen to your own insight, wisdom and guidance. Use helpful techniques that support cultivating a dialog with yourself. Such as, journal writing, meditation, walks in nature, etc. Find what works for you.

3. Use everything in your life as an opportunity to grow and uplift yourself.
Many of you have had the experience that even the most challenging times in your lives have been a time of growth and learning. Each experience has the potential to bring forward a blessing, when we choose to find it. "The block of granite which was an obstacle in the pathway of the weak, became a stepping-stone in the pathway of the strong". ~Thomas Carlyle

4. Take good care of yourself, physically, emotionally, mentally & spiritually.
When you fill your own cup with self-care first, you have more energy, creativity and the ability to give from your overflow. Below are some suggestions on how you can take care of yourself on all four levels. Find what works best for you and create your own self-care routine.

Physically: Take care of your body, with healthy nutrition, exercise and plenty of rest. Clear your space in your home environment and create and nurturing environment for yourself.

Emotionally: Speak kindly to yourself, appreciate & acknowledge yourself often.

Mentally: Be mindful of your thoughts and where you’re placing your attention. Read interesting and positive material that nourishes your mind and deepens your understanding of yourself and the world.

Spiritually: Make time for being quiet (meditation, walks, listening to inspiring music, recharging yourself, etc.)

You can't always control what happens in your life, but you can choose how you respond. This is where your power lies, in choosing your attitude and doing more of what works for you and less of what doesn't. So girlfriend, remember you have the power to make positive changes, trust your inner knowing, be open to seeing the blessings in your life, and take really good care of you. You deserve it!

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Simplify, and Savor Life

by, Leo Babauta at Zen Habits

Photo by: Margalit Ward

These days we have an abundance of luxuries, but I've found that excess actually decreases my enjoyment of life.

Sure, we can get massive amounts of rich foods, feasting to our heart’s content, stuffing ourselves in alarming displays of gluttony … but is that really enjoyable on a regular basis?

And yes, television can be fun, and so can ridiculously large parts of the Internet, but if it’s always on, if we’re always connected, doesn’t that lower the fun factor?

Excesses lead to all kinds of problems, but the biggest problem is that life is less enjoyable.

I’ve been finding that simplifying things means I can savor life more fully.

Savoring life starts with a mindset. It’s a mindset that believes that excess, that rushing, that busy-ness, that distractedness, isn’t ideal. It’s a mindset that tries instead to:

• simplify
• do & consume less
• slow down
• be mindful & present
• savor things fully

It’s the little things that make life enjoyable: a walk with a loved one, a delicious book, a chilled plum, a newly blooming tree.

And by simplifying, we can savor life to the fullest.

Some ideas I’ve been considering lately:

1. Coffee: Instead of ordering a latte, mocha, cappuccino with whipped cream and cinnamon and shavings … simplify. Just get pure, good coffee (or espresso), brewed fresh with care and precision, with quality beans, freshly roasted. Make it yourself if you can. Drink it slowly, with little or nothing added, and enjoy it thoroughly.

2. Tea: I recently had tea with Jesse Jacobs, the owner of Samovar Tea Lounge, and he poured two different teas from tiny tea pots: Nishi Sencha 1st Flush and Bai Hao Oolong tea. It was fresh, hand-made tea from real leaves, not a tea bag, and it was simply delicious. Drink it slowly, with your eyes closed, fully appreciating the aroma … wonderful.

3. Workouts: I’ve been a fan of simpler workouts recently. While others might spend an hour to 90 minutes in the gym, going through a series of 10 different exercises, I just do 1-3 functional exercises, but with intensity. So I might do some sprint intervals, or a few rounds of pushups, pullups, and bodyweight squats. Or 400 meters of walking lunges. Let me tell you, that’s a simple but incredible workout. Another I like: five rounds 85-lb. squat thrusters (10 reps) alternated with pushups (10 reps). Today’s workout was three rounds of 15 burpees and 800-meter runs. No rest unless you need it. These are great workouts, but very simple, and very tough. I love them.

4. Sweets: I used to be a sugar addict. Now I still enjoy an occasional dessert, but in tiny portions, eaten very slowly. What I enjoy even more, though, is cold fruit. A chilled peach, some blueberries, a few strawberries, a plum: eat it one bite at a time, close your eyes with each bite, and enjoy to the fullest. So good.

5. Meals: While the trend these days is super-sized meals of greasy, fried things (more than two people need to eat actually), I have been enjoying smaller meals of simplicity. Just a few ingredients, fresh, whole, unprocessed, without chemicals or sauces. My meals usually include: a breakfast of steel-cut oats (cooked) with cinnamon, almonds, and berries; a lunch of yogurt, nuts, and fruit; a dinner of beans or tofu with quinoa and steamed veggies (or sauteed with garlic and olive oil). These simple meals are better because not only are they healthy, each ingredient can be tasted, its flavor fully enjoyed.

6. Reading: While the Internet is chock full of things to read, I’ve been enjoying the simplicity of a paper book, borrowed from the library or a friend (borrowing/sharing reduces natural resources consumed). When I read online, I read a single article at a time, using either the Readability or Clippable bookmarklet to remove distrations, and in full-screen mode in the Chrome browser (hit Cmd-Shift-F on the Mac version or F11 in Windows). It’s pure reading, no distractions, and lovely.

Read more about simplicity in Leo’s books, The Zen Habits Handbook for Life & The Simple Guide to a Minimalist Life. More here.

Congratulations Shannon!

Congratulations to Shannon on completing her Masters in Spiritual Psychology from the prestigious University of Santa Monica this summer!

The two year program culminated with a beautiful and inspiring graduation ceremony held at Royce Hall at the University of California Los Angeles. Shannon's family was in attendance, including her parents traveling from Vermont, two sisters, her five year old daughter, and her brother who is studying acupuncture in Hawaii. We were all treated to an enthusiastic commencement speech by the exuberant, funny and profound Iyanla Vanzant, sharing her message of 'Taking it to the Streets'.

It was a day of joyful celebration!


Love and blessings to you Shannon as you continue on your path, opening your heart and mind to many new and beautiful adventures of your life's journey!

How Do I Love Me?

Let me count the ways…

1. Make time for activities I enjoy

2. Surround myself with positive and supportive people

3. Spend time in nature

4. Listen to my feelings with compassion and understanding

5. Sing in the shower

6. Cook delicious and healthy food that nourishes my body

7. Listen and honor my intuition
   

8. Spend time with people I love

9. Rest my body when I’m tired

10. Dance in my kitchen

11. Speak to myself with kind and loving words

12. Make time for silence

13. Express my creativity in fun and enjoyable ways

14. Walks in the fresh morning air in my neighborhood

15. Listen to music that moves me

16. Share love and appreciation with others

17. Take hot bubble baths

18. Sit in the shade of an old oak tree on a hot summer day

19. Smile at strangers
    

20. Having an adventure, going some place new

How do you love you? Share with us if you like.

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What’s Going on in Your House is Going on in Your Life

by Karen Rauch Carter

What’s going on in your house is going on in your life. If you understand this concept, you get one of the most basic premises of feng shui. The poor guy doesn’t live in a castle and the king doesn’t live in a cardboard box. The living environment tells a BIG story.

As a feng shui consultant, it gets pretty easy to "read" a person just by taking a look at their home. If there’s clutter, there’s ignored issues like guilt. If there’s uncleanliness, there’s some level of unworthiness. If there’s ten million feng shui cures in one corner, there’s doubt. If there are a lot of skeletons, skulls, etc., there’s a tendency for addiction or unhealthy habits.

The good news is that just being aware of the issue is a great first step. Because once you become aware and then commit to yourself to finding a change (that is if you indeed want to change) then you’ve got providence — AKA energy or chi — working on your behalf. And once the ball is rolling, it gets easier and easier to make the shift.

So, if you can walk through your home with brand new feng shui eyes, you’ll be able to see it - and create a plan of action. That’s what I hoped to accomplish with Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life. If you are having trouble doing this basic "sight-seeing" task, or even if you’ve got a funky space that you have no idea what’s wrong with it, try taking pictures of your spaces and looking at them to try to see what your home is saying....quite often, disassociating from the real space is all you need to be able to see it objectively.

For more info on Karen Rauch Carter, go to her website at: www.fengshuipalace.com

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The One Deadly Sin of Changing Habits

“Eighty percent of success is showing up.” ~Woody Allen

Post written by Leo Babauta

Often you’ll read an article called “The Seven Deadly Sins of...” (fill in your topic here). But when it comes to changing habits, there aren’t Seven Deadly Sins.

There’s just one.

You can do a lot of things wrong when you’re trying to form a new habit — just jumping into it without a plan, not having public accountability, not having the right support, etc. But there’s just one thing you can do wrong that will cause the habit change to absolutely fail.

The One Deadly Sin of Habit Change?

Not doing the habit.

If you don’t do it, it won’t become a habit. As obvious as that may sound, too many people fail at this one thing. They start the exercise habit (or flossing habit, or filing their papers habit, or waking early habit) and they do it with enthusiasm for a week or two, and then they stop. For whatever reason — work, or family problems, or other interests taking over.

Life gets in the way, right? Well sure, but if you’re not doing the habit, the habit will never form. If you want to form the habit, you have to do it regularly.

Let’s repeat that, and then talk about how to actually do it: If you want to form the habit, you have to do the habit regularly.

That’s how habits form. You do it one day, then the next, then the next, then the next, right after your habit trigger. Soon, it becomes so ingrained that … it’s a habit.

How To Avoid the Deadly Sin
So it’s easy to state the blindingly obvious, but it’s harder to put it into practice, right?

Sure. So I’m here to help. Some tips for avoiding the One Deadly Sin:

• Just start. Not feeling like doing the habit today? Tell yourself all you have to do is take the 1st step. Usually the 2nd step will follow, but if not, at the very least you got started. And that’s what matters most.

• Do it, no matter how small. Need to exercise but don’t have much energy? Do it for a few minutes at least. Need to meditate? Three minutes will do.

• Do it, no matter how badly. Want to form the habit of blogging? Write a quick and dirty post that takes five minutes of writing, no proofreading or formatting. Quality doesn’t matter when you’re forming habits — doing it matters.

• If you fail, don’t beat yourself up – do it the next day. Let’s be clear: missing one day won’t kill your habit. Feeling discouraged about missing one day, and then missing the next and the next, is what will kill the habit. So let go of the guilt and just get back on your horse. Start again, immediately.

• If you don’t do it the next day, do it the day after. If you miss two days, don’t let yourself miss a third.

• Figure out what’s stopping you. If you find yourself struggling and missing a day or two, think about why. What’s getting in the way? How can you adjust for that?

• Plan ahead. Life gets in the way, but if you know something’s coming up, think ahead and be sure to get your habit in.

• Engineer success. Knock down the barriers and set it up so it’s harder to fail than to actually do the habit. Public accountability is a good way to do that.

In the end, all that matters is doing it. So go do it already.

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." ~Aristotle

by Leo Babauta, from zen habits | smile, breath & go slowly

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Buckle Your Seat Belts!

Our favorite Get Up Girl Astrologer and Author of You're Every Sign, Phyllis Firak-Mitz shares with us about some major astrological changes coming our way.

Buckle your seat belts! Some of the most active astrological energies of the year – if not the decade – are happening between now and August 7th. Many of us could alter our life’s course, shake up our relationships, or do other significant acts…all to become in better harmony with new perspectives we are gaining. Some of us are finally realizing long-pursued dreams. Others are deciding to start over in a new direction all together. Many can be doing both!

Truth is, the astrological energies are so unusual it’s very hard to know exactly what to expect. We’ve never experienced this particular complex of astrological energies. It’s new territory – both in our own consciousnesses as well as in world events.

The intensity of these constellations do signal quick, “Out with the old, In with the new” experiences are likely. Life could flip-flop: Some might find the rug gets pulled out from under them only to discover a better choice can be made. That’s because these alignments can help us jump out of what won’t work into new goals, strategies and options that will.

For those who like the Astrological Details, Here’s a brief rundown of what’s energizing us:

Jupiter and Uranus in Aries are initiating preliminary growth spurts to our Aries areas. These planets combine to awaken our trail blazing, “I can do this my own way!” innovative energies. Opportunities that started stirring this summer could gusher growth (and bring surprising change) in 2011.

Saturn and Mars in Libra are initiating restructuring in our Relationships and areas of our lives ruled by Libra. The picture is changing there. New responsibilities are forming. Often, Saturn in Libra means that working in harmony with others is a mandatory for worldly success. Some may experience a push-pull between the “I’ve got to be alone and do it my way” Aries energies and the “I want be with others and do what pleases them” Libra energies.

Try thinking outside the box to invent new ways to satisfy both your personal calling as well as your love and responsibilities to others. Remember: Others may be needing a change as much as you do.

Meanwhile, Pluto in Capricorn is urging us to look very deeply at our use of power and authority – with ourselves and with others. Specifically, if we are misusing, including under-using, our power or authority in any way, Pluto will make us undeniably aware of it.

Pluto is an incredible tutor for Authentic Power. Time and again, it’ll show us that Going for the Highest Good of All Concerned is an extremely effective way to channel the “Force” and experience transcendent empowerment.

Now through August 7th can be particularly revealing. We may discover something operating behind the scenes that has been influencing our consciousness, lives and/or relationships. If something bugs you, remember Forgiveness can lead to Healing and Liberation. Forgiveness can also allow that higher perspective you’ve been working towards to take hold.

The emotional Moon in Cancer August 7th and 8th can bring an additional, family interest into this mix. Whew! That’s a lot!!

The Bottom Line: Get ready to move to the next step life is taking you to. Let yourself “see” yourself and your life differently. Remember to look for the Blessings, which undoubtedly are there.

To contact Phyllis for a personal consultation, call 303-730-6680. Or go to www.astrologerphyllis to learn more.

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Get Up Girl Featured in CRAVE LA!

What do you CRAVE? You can find it (and Get Up Girl) in the new stylish LA Guide for women, CRAVE Los Angeles: The Urban Girl’s Manifesto. We are thrilled to be included in this newly released book with 125 other awesome women entrepreneurs.

We attended the CRAVE LA Launch party in June, which was held at the very cool and creative Urban Craft Center and super stylish Weego Baby stores in Santa Monica. It was a great event, and we enjoyed meeting some wonderful people, while dining on some kick-ass appetizers from pinksalt, and delicious desserts from our good friends at Gotta Have S’more.

Contact us to reserve your copy of CRAVE LA at our website. Go to getupgirl.org, and click contact us.

Wake Up: A Guide to Living Your Life Consciously

We enjoy a wonderful blog called, Zen Habits, by Leo Babauta. Zen Habits is about finding simplicity in the daily chaos of our lives. It’s about clearing the clutter so we can focus on what’s important, create something amazing, find happiness. He's also the author of The Power of Less: The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential, in Business and in Life.

Wake Up: A Guide to Living Your Life Consciously.

A life lived of choice is a life of conscious action. A life lived of chance is a life of unconscious creation. ~Neale Donald Walsch

As much as possible, I try to live my life by bringing to my consciousness what is bubbling up from my unconsciousness.

I try to clear the fog through which we often drift, to see where I’m going, to make conscious choices instead of automatic ones.

Do you ever have a feeling that you’re drifting through life, and not going where you want to go? Or that you don’t know how you got where you are today?

Living consciously is about taking control of your life, about thinking about your decisions rather than making them without thought, about having a life that we want rather than settling for the one that befalls us.

If you’re drifting through life, or feel out of control, or don’t know how you got here … deciding to live consciously could be the single most important thing you do.

Are you living unconsciously now?
Ask yourself the following questions … if you find yourself saying yes to many of them, you might want to consider trying conscious living:

1. Are you in a job that you fell into rather than the job you want?

2. Are you doing things that are given to you rather than what you love to do?

3. Are you spending your time doing busy work rather than what you want to do with your days?

4. Do you wish you could spend more time with loved ones?

5. Do you find yourself overweight because you’ve been eating the food you’ve been eating for years and stuck in a rut of not exercising?

6. Do you find yourself living from paycheck to paycheck or in debt, not knowing where your money goes?

7. Do you find yourself wasting your time doing things that aren’t important rather than focusing on completing the things that are very important?

8. Do you go through your days not thinking about what you want out of life and how to get it?

If you answered “no” to all of these questions, you’re probably already living consciously, and you don’t need this article at all. For those who would like to live more consciously, read on.

How to Live Life Consciously
It’s not something you can change overnight. Living consciously is a lifestyle, a skill, an art. It’s not something you do just once, but a habit that you can form for the rest of your life.

But it is deceptively simple: Be conscious, and think about, everything you do. Make conscious choices rather than doing things without thinkings. That’s all.

It sounds simple, but it’s amazing how few people actually do this, and it’s amazing how easy it is to live life on autopilot, and just do what we always do because that’s what we’re used to doing. And it’s easier that way, even if our lives are difficult.

It’s not easy to changes our lives, to break out of our routines, to begin to live the lives we want.

It takes willful effort, energy and constant vigilance to think about our choices … all of them.

Here are some key tips that have worked for me:

1. Make reflecting on your life a regular routine. Whether you keep a journal, or make reflecting on your day part of your evening routine, or have a weekly session where you review your life or take some time away from the office to reflect on everything … it’s important that you give things some thought. Regularly.

2. At least once a year, set or review your life’s goals. What do you want to do in life? What is important to you? What do you want your life to be like? And how will you get there? Write it down, and keep it somewhere you will see it often, and take action.

3. Also review your relationships. The people we love are among the most important things in our lives, if not the only important things. You need to think about your relationships. Do you spend enough time with them? Do you show your appreciation for them? Is there a way you can improve your relationship? Do you need to forgive or apologize about anything? Are there barriers that can be removed? Communication that can be improved? Also review your relationships with others, such as co-workers.

4. Consider your impact on the world. How does what you do, what you consume, and how you live, impact the environment? How does it impact poor people in Third World countries? How does it impact the poor, the powerless, the voiceless? How does it impact your community? Your life has an impact, whether you think about it or not. Being conscious of how your decisions affect others is important.

5. Consider the real costs of each purchase. We often buy things without really thinking about what we’re doing or what they really cost. Sure, it’s just $30 … no problem, right? But that $30 might represent several hours of your life … hours that you’ll never get back. Do you really want to spend your life earning money for trivial purchases? Is that what you want to do with your life? Worth some thought, I think. Read Your Money or Your Life for more.

6. Consider the real costs of the things in your life. Our lives are filled with stuff … our houses, our offices … and beyond just the cost of buying the stuff, this stuff takes a toll on us. The stuff in our life must be arranged, cleaned, moved, taken with us when we move … it takes up the space in our life, it is visual stress. Later, we’ll have to get rid of it, sort through all of it, take time to throw it away or recycle it or donate it. If having the stuff is not worth all of that, then get rid of it.

7. Review how you spend your time. Until we do a time audit, and keep a log of our day, even if it’s just for one or two days, we don’t really know how we spend our time. And if we do audit our time, it can be very surprising. And if we know how we’re spending our time now, we can make conscious decisions to change how we spend our time in the future. For computer-based time tracking, try Rescue Time.

8. Explore yourself. Not in a dirty way. Take some time to think about what kind of person you are. What your values are. Whether you live your life according to those values. How you treat people. How you treat yourself. Think about this: what do you want people to say about you when you die? Read more: The Key to Dying Happy.

by Leo Babauta, from Zeb Habits

Photo by: Margalit Ward

Modern Mom- Contributors

Get Up Girl founders Margalit and Shannon have been asked to become regular contributors to Modern Mom- an amazing online resource for mothers.

Check out our latest articles:

How to Find the Best Childcare for Your Family by Shannon Bindler



















When I decided to go back to work after my maternity leave, I felt terrified about finding childcare for my daughter. What if my daughter felt neglected? Was I really going to entrust someone else to make the right decisions regarding my child? From mom to mom, here are six keys to finding the ideal childcare situation for your family... click to read more

Nurturing Creativity in Your Children by Margalit Ward
In this age of video games, Internet , and TV, do you ever wonder how to encourage your child to be more creative? All children are creative and creativity can be expressed in many ways. Your child doesn’t need to show signs of being the next Picasso, Beethoven, or Frank Lloyd Wright in order to be creative. How they build with blocks, solve jigsaw puzzles, or even how they dress their dolls are unique ways they express themselves. Here are 5 ways to nurture your child’s creativity: ...click to read more

Create Spark Between the Sheets (Sans Sesame Street) by Shannon Bindler

Having a child, it’s often remarked, is the ultimate gift. The follow-up should be (but never is) that it can come with a price. Often, when a couple has a child something gets lost between play dates and changing diapers. Free time becomes more about grabbing a couple of extra hours of sleep than making love. How can you and your partner rekindle your romantic relationship after having a child? ...click to read more

Help Your Child Through Disappointment by Margalit Ward

One of the most difficult moments I’ve experienced as a parent is watching my child go through the feeling of disappointment. Witnessing the long sad face, red eyes, and tear-stained cheeks are almost as challenging to go through as the pain of giving birth! My first reaction was always to be overwhelmingly protective (the mama lion is on the prowl!) and wanting to find the person responsible and make them pay...click to read more

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Girl’s Night Out: Beauty from the Inside Out

Get Up Girl co-hosted a great event last month, a Makeover Mixer: Beauty from the Inside Out at the EM&Co Boutique. Three beautiful women, Leila, Becca and Alaia, received makeovers from fashion stylist, Kallah Maguire; make-up was done by Joanna St. Claire and Shahada; and hairstyles were provided by the Paint Shop Beverly Hills.

While the women were getting their makeovers, guests enjoyed a short Get Up Girl presentation, The 3 Secrets for Looking and Feeling Beautiful; cocktails provided by Star African Rum, appetizers, networking and of course shopping for fabulous clothes and accessories at Em&Co Boutique.

Click here to view more photos from the Makeover Mixer event.

A New Expansion in 2010

A new perspective on what is ahead for 2010 from our favorite Astrologer and Get Up Girl, Phyllis Firak-Mitz, M.A.

A whole new area of your life can come alive now that Jupiter, the planet of fortune has entered Pisces. Jupiter’s trip through this sensitive sign can make us more romantic, intuitive and creative. The area of your life ruled by Pisces can be especially rewarding and exciting this 2010.

How Jupiter in Pisces will affect your Sun Sign is listed below.

Pisces has an exceptionally strong vibration of spirituality and compassion. Jupiter’s transit through can enhance your awareness of your spiritual path. Importantly, since Pisces also resonates with the redemptive power of forgiveness, sacrifice and service, 2010 could be a year when you heighten your connections with others via compassion, love and/or service.

Let your inner mystic, artist, and healer soar! But remain discerning as Jupiter can also intensify Pisces’ tendency towards gullibility and duplicity. It’s a good idea to insure you aren’t being so wooed by an image of success that you forget to check to see if it’s actually happening.

And, since Pisces resonates with suffering, this could be a year when our awareness of suffering is multiplied. Many of you will reach out to give to others and be completely lifted and transformed as a result. Many others will be lifted and transformed by receiving unexpected assistance. The challenge is to take care of yourself so you can assist others in a way that is healthy for you.

Of course Jupiter means that most Pisces, (and Pisces Risings and Pisces Moons) will have a remarkable (and surprising!) year. Jupiter is famous for bringing lucky, heady, promoting experiences. Plan on amazing relationships, travel, education, and even material gain this 2010. Life can seem more alive and meaningful for you Pisces, if not out and out fabulous.

Scorpios and Cancers – you’ll also be quite blessed by Jupiter in Pisces. You’ll enjoy outstanding opportunities, magnetic confidence, and positive focus. Go for it Scorpios and Cancers: It’s time to expand something important in your life. Rewards are coming. Let your talents and charisma shine!

Tauruses and Capricorns – You will also benefit from Jupiter in Pisces. New opportunities to enhance your security, improve your environment, to communicate effectively and to connect with inspiring people can cycle through all 2010. Use Jupiter’s expansive energy to make some headway in something truly meaningful.

Virgos, Geminis and Sagittarius: Get on your running shoes! Life is going to be busy and big this year…but might be so in a way that forces you to grow. In other words, activities this year might keep you out of your comfort zone. …so don’t bother looking for it. Life might deliver surprises that spark your stretching from one end of the earth to the next to handle all that’s erupting. You’ll certainly enjoy opportunities but they might all happen at once!

Aquarians might see dramatic shifts in their finances and/or definition of security.

Aries: It’s a terrific year for understanding and healing yourself. Jupiter in Pisces heightens your spirituality, intuition and ability to tap into your deeper motivations. You may gain the satisfaction of completing something you began around 11 years ago this 2010. Unfinished business with someone or something could resolve in 2010.

Here’s where your Sun Sign might experience Jupiter in Pisces’ Romantic, Mystical, Magical, and Creative Enhancement. (Just don’t go overboard!)

Aries: Your expansion is in Spiritual/Psychological areas: Awakened dreams, enjoyable solitude, satisfying spiritual experiences. More Service, Sacred Sacrifice.

Taurus: Jupiter will help expand you through intriguing Friendships, Helpful Groups and Organizations. It can help you succeed in achieving Goals. Importantly, Taurus, Jupiter can help you Receive Love!

Gemini: Growth in your Career, (likely very Positive), your Status in your community. More Authority and Leadership opportunities.

Cancer: Time to Travel, learn something inspiring, write that book, or otherwise reach out to mind and consciousness-expanding endeavors.

Leo: You may benefit by other people’s transitions this year. Your sexuality can be heightened as well as you ability to attract other people’s money. Inheritances, taxes, insurance can be a focus.

Virgo: Jupiter is all about Relationships for you: it can enhance your Partnerships, awaken your Marriage, and basically bring Impressive People into your innermost circle. Relationships are far from hum-drum this year – if something isn’t right, it’ll change.

Libra: Jupiter might bring you more of the Work you Enjoy, Good Help, and Positive focus on health matters.

Scorpio: Jupiter brings delicious oomph into your Love Life: more love affairs, children, grandchildren, creative projects are likely. Want more attention? Go for it this year. All in all, it’s a year when self-expression and Love can go quite well.

Sagittarius: Jupiter expands your home or family in some ways. This might mean an addition to your family, a move, a remodel or simply more people coming through your doorway.

Capricorn: Jupiter’s expansive energies can help bring lucrative contracts, a positive environment, and trips that satisfy. It’s also a good year for communication and education.

Aquarius: Jupiter in Pisces can bring expansive action to your finances, your self-value and sense of security.

Pisces: Yipeee!!! Jupiter in your sign can bring you love, money, spiritual awakening, fun, a knowledge, new (foreign?) friends and/or countless other uplifting experiences. (depending on your unique karma.) Invest in what really means something to you (versus lingering what’s easiest.) In that way you’ll make the best use of Jupiter’s gift.

Each of you will receive the Jupiter’s Fortune uniquely according to your own Birth Chart. Phyllis would love to share with you where and how to use this rare energy of luck and inspiration. You can call 303-730-6680 to arrange your personal consultation. Or contact her at www.astrologerphyllis.com

3 Ways to Build your Cash Reserves

photo courtesy of FindBliss.com

Find Bliss Magazine (one of our favorite lifestyle publications) recently published this timely article with 3 important tips to rebuilding your financial reserves.

If getting in good financial standing is on your to-do list in 2010, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans are looking to save more in the wake of the financial crisis. See how you can get started.

1) Get Real
Often the hardest thing about delving into your finances is actually getting started. It’s daunting to take a long hard look at what you have and what you don’t. But, if you’re going to start saving, you need to get real. And that entails pulling your head out of the sand.

Consider using an online tool such as Mint.com, as it’s a great resource for putting your financial status in perspective with easy-to-read pie charts and graphs. Once you’re a member (it’s free!) you’ll be able to track your bills, spending and saving patterns.

2) Assess your Needs and Wants
Once your finances are organized, you can really assess where your money is going. Eliminate frivolous spending where you can. For example, if you discover that you spend $75.00 a week on lunch, resolve to cut that number in half by bringing your lunch a couple of times a week.

Another place to look is at your bills. Many people don’t realize they can lower their bills with a quick phone call. Contact your cable company, car insurer or Internet provider and see if they’re offering any specials. Saving $20 a month on just one bill nets you $240 a year!

3) Make Saving Automatic
The best way to save is to do it automatically, since it takes the pressure off of you to watch every cent that comes into and out of your hands. First, find out if your employer offers a retirement plan such as a 401K. If they match your savings up to a certain percentage, (usually 7%-9%), sign up to save the maximum. Not doing so is like throwing free money away!

Next, look into opening a high yield savings account. Create a savings plan where you allocate money from your checking account into this savings account every month. A good strategy is to have the account deduct money on payday, when your checking account has some padding.

With a high-yield savings account, you’re on your way to creating a healthy emergency fund. Once you’ve saved enough to cover four months of living expenses, think about investing your money elsewhere, such as in money market accounts, bonds, or a Roth IRA.

Click here to find other great articles on Find Bliss Magazine

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How We Can Help in Haiti Earthquake Relief

Millions of people all over the world are supporting the relief efforts in Haiti. One easy way is to use your cell phone to make even the smallest donations. MSNBC recently posted a list of cellphone options that we've included here for you.

The mobile giving effort is organized by the Mobile Giving Foundation in concert with the mGive Foundation.

In the Red Cross' case, phone users can text the word "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10," and when prompted, hit "YES" to confirm the donation.
The donation is added to the cell user's bill, and receipts are available.

• Text the word "YELE" to 501501 to donate $5 to the Yele Haiti foundation.
• Text the word "HAITI" to 20222 to donate $10 to the Clinton Foundation Haiti Relief Fund.
• Text "HAITI" to 25383 to donate $5 to the International Rescue Committee.
• Text "HAITI" to 85944 to donate $10 to the International Medical Corps.

© 2010 msnbc.com reprints

Additionally, on the Huffington Post is a great article listing all the organizations supporting the relief effort. For more of the article, click on read more.

Huffington Post Impact has put together a comprehensive list of links to donate and get involved in relief efforts for victims of Tuesday's devastating earthquake. You can also go to The Goods: Help Send Relief To Haiti, an online store by Causecast and HuffPost Impact, where you can purchase products for organizations that will be directly used on the ground in Haiti.

The U.S. State Department Operations Center has set up the following number for Americans seeking information about family members in Haiti: 1-888-407-4747

NOTE: We will continually be updating this page. The best way for you to help right now is to give through one of the organizations below.

•The American Red Cross is pledging an initial $200,000 to assist communities impacted by this earthquake. They expect to provide immediate needs for food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support. They are accepting donations through their International Response Fund.

Read more...


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