Category Archives: Lifestyle and Beauty

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Obsessive Spring and Beauty Everywhere

I think it’s spring,  right?

I mean… it’s cold out, but I’m feelin it, so I hope you are too.

Lately, I’m feeling beauty everywhere and feeling very ‘at home” in my body.

Lots of things to say- but mostly, that I’ve been remiss in blogging based on the fact that I’ve been very “absorbed” with some house projects! When I get my mind on something I have single-focusitis. I have been known to border “obsessed” when I get an idea. ( I know all my friends and loved ones are right this moment saying… nooooo! not you! – shut it people!)

Most of my time the past few weeks has been spent bringing new clients on board for my social media business: Revelation Media ( no web page yet) and getting their preliminary research and strategies together.

I’ve also been updating my house with new furnishings, and decor- which has been an amazing guilty pleasure!

I feel like so much of my adult life was spent inside the mentality of scarcity. Scarcity is a scary and anxiety producing place i’ve decided.  Always worrying about the “what ifs” and feeling pinched about spending $, and where the next paycheck will come from.  I love to shop, but I have to say- I’ve become extremely resourceful these last ten years and have collected my wardrobe and belongings via consignment stores, Marshalls, TJ’s and all that good stuff.   When the Goodbar and I moved into the Hobbit House we waited till now before we started to “invest” in pieces that we both really liked, and that also make sense for how we live.  It’s been about eighteen months now, and recently a decision to recover an innocent little window seat area set me on a path of resurrection around my love of decorating, and so… suffice it to say… I’ve been sweating all things decor while face-lifting home with newer furnishings while getting rid of pieces that have “gotten me by” – YAY!  Buh-bye!

I’ve splurged a bit, and had to talk myself though a few larger purchases with the help of some friends, but the rest i’ve gotten with the proceeds of sales from the old stuff, and I’ve paired old with new in more creative ways-  I can’t wait to show you!

This Sunday, Apartment Therapy is coming to shoot the house… I swear it’s coincidental- and a very pleasant surprise.
I’ll let you know how it goes and I will be sure to share the feature when it comes out.

I have lots to catch you up on, but till I can sit down again I just wanted to say HI! and let you know I’m still alive, and SO excited for this TRP season.  It’s going to be AMAZING.

If you’ve not yet checked out our latest album, I’d like to introduce you to a very special woman whose photographs barely begin to show the depth of her beauty.

Holly Parmenter

Holly Parmenter

Check it out here and be sure to “like” and share our page with other women ( or men!) you think might like to “join the revelation”.

XOXOOXOXOX

 

 

In Her Glory; The Magnificence of Karen Carey

You never know who you are going to meet, or how.

Karen and her beautiful family

Karen and her beautiful family

This poem was written by a friend of mine who is a photographer in Pennsylvania.  She became my friend through an introduction made by one of my favorite people and when we had our very first call, I learned that we were similar in many ways. Then she made me laugh, and well- that’s all it took.

She’s one of those rare souls who can actually “produce” what she says she wants to… in record time. This always leaves me feeling a little bit like a tool, and a slacker.  *Sigh, then I have to remember that I’m not in a competition and yada yada yada….

Any who – she is also doing a project for women,  and she’s calling it “In her Glory.”

I should mention however, that this is just one of the many projects she has her hands on. Check her out in her studio makeover reality program ( huh? – yeah exactly) which I’m sure she will take prime time-  here.

You can also sign up for her blog posts at YO BIG MAMA’s guide to living a BIG ASS LIFE. 

In her spare time (ha!)  she is a photographer, and a consultant to other photographers,  offering a thriving workshop series called, THRIVE. 

About this time last year, I was honored to help her,  and we some spent time by phone (we’ve never personally met) mapping out a few things she wanted to learn, specifically:

  • How to grow her social media audience around her already wildly successful brand.
  • How to create a content engine (blog) to introduce her writing voice inside of an idea she’d been percolating on a while.
  • Understand why growing a social media audience is critical to business marketing.

Talking with her is a wild ride, because she’s a whirling dervish of energy and ideas, and she’s raw, and edgy and full of life, and deep. I helped her where ever i could, but she’s one of those rare souls who need just a little push in the right direction and then BAM! She’s off and running.

She’s gutsy, determined, and talented, and I know she will travel to amazing places.

I wanted to share this with you because I think it’s so beautiful, and if you get a chance, look her up on facebook and follow her progress- I love that I’ll be able to say; I knew her when…..

Glory

Seek out praise for your worth.
Tell the world about your gift.
Don’t be afraid that your gift will not be welcomed.
It will be embraced!
It will be appreciated!
It will be seen! For all of it’s splendor.
It is His splendor and the world seeks to see Him.
The world basks in His glory!
Honor Him by honoring yourself!

He gave me this gift and asked me to share it.
I have for so long acted as if it was not glorious.
I have for so long pretended it was not valuable.
I have for so long not acknowledged it’s beauty…
All the while, unintentionally putting out the light
That He intended to shine.

In the darkness I have struggled to find the way and beauty of my life.
Seeking out the light of others, looking to find a light of my own.

All the while the light flickered in my accomplishments.
Remaining lit even in my attempts to put it out.

Today I have rekindled the flame.
I have torched my soul and it glows brightly for all the world to see.
My gifts are glowing. I want to light up the world with them.
I want to honor my God by emerging as the brightest star.

I will shine in His name.
I will shine for others to see.
I will shine in order to light my own path.
I will come out of the darkness and into the spotlight.

Where I have belonged all along.     ~ Karen Carey

Where Life Lives

I have always loved the english language.  I love the very precision with which someone can use a word to define an emotion, experience or viewpoint.   I love how words can be intricately sewn together to conjure stories and pictures for someone to to follow- like a thread that has the power to weave storyteller and listener into the close embrace of relationship that can leave the two connected at a heart level forever more.

Words can also be used for harm and it’s the power of these dark and reckless utterances that cause misunderstanding, dis-ease, and even war.

Sticks and stones?  I’d choose them any day over “the names can never hurt me” part.

Words have the power to kill… or heal, and the in between places between these two disparate lands is where life lives… the conversation.

Life lives inside of a conversation.

This is what I believe.

If you don’t like the way your life is… it might help to look at the conversations you are having.

As human beings we have free will at all times. Even when we are being held physically captive we can “choose” a way of being that no one can ever take from us.  I think of historically of Gandhi, Susan B. Anthony, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King Jr..  I think of  writers and poets who lead our conversation down new realms of thought like Rumi,  and Walt Whitman, Eckhart Tolle,  Artists who invite us into their visual conversations like Georgia O’Keefe,  Picasso, Frida Kahlo and Today we see business and Life conversation leaders such as Seth Godin, and Danielle LaPorte  or Steve Jobs. Locally we have conversation leaders who have something to say about life and and way’s of being that help others live more joy and self expression like Erin Goodman, Bethany Harvey Stewart, and Miquette Bishop. who are all creating new conversations inside their communities through their work and creativity, their blogs, and their willingness to show up for community events that they personally align with and support.

Everywhere you look and at every turn people are “talking” – but what are they really saying?  Is the conversation worthy of your time? Your input? Your support?

And how about you?  What is your conversation?  It’s interesting to stop and listen ( and can take some time and practice) to hear ( deep inside) what you are saying in there.  Also – if you listen closely there are some dominating ones….

Until you stop and really listen and distinguish what they are – it’s very difficult to change them, and because we can really only be focusing and thinking of one thing at a time – sometimes we have endless conversations about the same thing in our head all day long.

Some conversations are what I call “small”- meaning…  the conversations won’t go anywhere, don’t shift or change or grow a perspective, and box us into a way of being that is disempowering.

For example it could be the “I’m Fat” conversation. Kind of limiting right? I know it sounds silly but if you are laughing you know exactly what I am talking about.  You may not realize how much of your day this inside conversation monopolizes.. so start paying attention.

It may be the “I’m getting old” conversation or the ” I’m broke” conversation or the “I need a boyfriend conversation…”

Unfortunately many of us actually engage others ( when we can) into this conversation that never really goes anywhere… it’s just inner dialog turned outward and usually we are just telling our inner “story” about it which feel’s a lot like getting barfed on over time. If you are a friend whose heard a familiair story from another over and over and over and over… and over… well I think you are probably nodding your head yes?

Imagine if that was no longer your conversation?  What could you fill it with instead? Something positive? Inspiring? Reaching? Stretching? Life Giving?  YES!  Here in comes the BIGGER.

YOU have free will.. and can create a NEW conversation to focus on that can shift your entire being, perspective, access to joy and fulfillment…. it also has the power to then shift how you relate to others and how others relate to YOU.

So… what would that be like?

Exciting isn’t it?

I’d love to hear about the conversations you are having in the world and how they motivate or inspire yourself and others! Are they changing and growing you? How? Please comment – I’d love your participation on this one! XO

 

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The Mirror of Greatness

How do you know when you are in the presence of greatness?

I remember when I was in my late twenties I thought greatness was when people who’d achieved some great feat had fame or notoriety:  Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks, Columbus, or Picasso.

I remember thinking that someday I wanted to be like them… you know, great.

Noted.

As the years went by, my definition of greatness changed.

I saw it as superior in some way – ie; great businessmen, great buildings, great idea’s- and then later as human beings who had against all odds achieved what others thought was impossible, and in fact- it was their very humanity, that made their achievement that much more astonishing.

As I’ve grown older and wiser still,  the concept of greatness has changed in my eyes yet again…

I went to Wikipedia for the Definition:

Greatness is a concept of a state of superiority affecting a person, object or place. Greatness can also be referred to individuals who possess a natural ability to be better than all others. The concept carries the implication that the particular person or object, when compared to others of a similar type, has clear and perceivable advantage. As a descriptive term it is most often applied to a person or their work, and may be qualified or unqualified. An example of an expression of the concept in a qualified sense would be “Winston Churchill was one of the greatest wartime leaders”. In the unqualified sense it might be stated “Winston Churchill achieved greatness within his own lifetime”, thus implying that “greatness” is a definite and identifiable quality. Application of the terms “great” and “greatness” is dependent on the perspective and subjective judgments of those who apply them.[1] Whereas in some cases the perceived “greatness” of a person, place or object might be agreed upon by many, this is not necessarily the case, and the perception of “greatness” may be both fiercely contested and highly individual.

As I walk my life path and experience amazing life changes and trials and triumphs, I am reminded that greatness is all around me.

Now- I’ve experience greatness by it’s essence:

  • The willingness to be vulnerable (Rosa Parks)
  • The willingness to take responsibility  (Marten Luther King)
  • The willingness to see a different perspective than ones own (Columbus)
  • The willingness to be true to one’s self (Picasso)
I realize that in doing this project, I am in the presence of greatness all the time.  The women who come to TRP do so as an extension of the very “essence” of greatness.
If we look in the mirror of greatness, we can all stand there and see our selves reflected… the question is;  are you willing?
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Appearance Matters – Even When There is Nobody Looking

Even though we don’t like to label ourselves as judgmental, we all do it.

In my perfect world, it really shouldn’t be this way, and we should look past what is on the outside and instead focus on what is on the inside,  but the real world does not operate that way.  We judge a book by the cover, a house by its curb appeal, a product by its packaging, and people by how they look.

Studies show that first impressions make all the difference in the world when it comes to doing business with someone you just met, and since you only have three seconds to make this impression … it needs to be a good one.  Basically if you want them to find out how wonderful you are on the inside, you first have to wow them on the outside.

Think of how many times you catch sight of your own image on reflective surfaces; toaster oven, elevator, sunglasses.  In just that moment you are making a mental assessment of yourself that either gives you a positive or negative feeling.  You may not be aware of it, but if you are donning sweats for the day, have not bothered to brush your hair, or pretty much think you “could care less” what other people think of your appearance then you may be surprised to learn that you give your self esteem a negative hit several times throughout the day and that how you look or appear on the outside… even to yourself, may just be exactly what you need to build confidence and professional relationships.  When you look good, you generally feel good- making you an overall much more productive person.

Don’t believe me?  Try it for 30 days and let me know if it works!
Please share any tips on what you do to start the day looking good, and why.