Do You Have A Hard Time Saying No? READ THIS!

Adjectives, Nouns and Verbs…Oh My!

By Susan Bock

Do you have any special memories about a favorite (or not-so-favorite) English teacher from your early school years?  I do – her name was (I say was because she seemed ancient at my tender age of 9) Miss Clausen, and I have very fond memories of her.  Her wrinkles, gray hair and ‘old lady shoes’ could not compete with her warm smile, words of encouragement and caring manner in which she patiently taught us the building blocks of constructing a sentence. Although I may have loathed the drills, memorization and effort required, today, I am grateful.

The words we chose to use, the sentence construct, and the pesky punctuation, come together and send a message – to ourselves and to whoever is listening.  Where am I going with this?  To a subject that emerging business owners need to take seriously….setting goals.

Here is the question: Why do we need to set goals?  Author Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland) provides us with the answer; “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.”  Goals give us direction, clarity and a map.  I recently read an article by Martha Beck where she talked about the importance of adjectives when setting goals.  A common occurrence is to set a goal using nouns and verbs – ex. I want my business to succeed, or I want to find a life-mate.  The noun – success or life-mate, often leads to disappointment or outright failure.

Dictionary.com provides this definition:  An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun by describing, identifying, or quantifying words.  The key words are describing, identifying or quantifying.  When we utilize specific, descriptive words in our goals, they become much more powerful, alive and meaningful.

Here’s a tip, after writing your goal, add one more sentence about how achieving that goal will make you feel.   Again, use adjectives to describe what you will experience when your goal is achieved.  Business success may give you financial security, a means to travel or provide a life-style you desire.  A life-mate will make you feel loved, cherished, have companionship and be a trusted mate.  See how powerful the adjectives can be?  Another benefit is that in listing the adjectives, you may discover that what you thought you wanted is not what you ‘really’ want.  Again, a powerful discovery to make.

Here are the steps suggested by Ms. Beck to help you achieve the experiences you want.

1. Pick a goal: Think of the typical noun-verb goal, such as I want to lose weight.
2. Look forward: You do not need a crystal ball.  Use your grey matter – engage your brainpower and imagine what your life would be like if you realized your goal.  Create details, get specific, and live there for a few moments to take in the powerful feelings.
3. Adjectives on stage: Here is the heart of creating successful goals.  List all of the adjectives that describe how you feel in #2 – again, be specific.  Spend time here and wander through the various emotions, sensations and feelings such as energetic, focused, delighted, powerful.
4. Focus: Now, step out of the fantasy and back into your reality while you concentrate on your list of adjectives.  Is your stated goal sharper, more defined?  Does it feel real? If your goal is to lose weight and your adjectives are strong, confident, and healthy, you might realize that your actual goal is to get fit.  That rules out crash/fad/short-term fixes.  Rather, you might what to consult with a nutritionist, hire a personal trainer, and create new experiences around eating.

Sounding a little woo-woo?  Yes, it is.  And, that does not negate the fact that it works!  Our words are powerful – to us and to others.  When you find yourself longing for some unrealized circumstances, indulge yourself and search for the meaningful adjectives.  One day, perhaps in the near future, you could find yourself experiencing those very words.

Guiding women through the halls of uncertainty toward the successful future they are destined to create.

Susan@SusanBock.com

www.SusanBock.com

714-847-1566

As little girls we dream about our fairytale future …as teenagers we vow to do everything better than those before us …then something incredible happens. It’s called life, and it takes us for quite a ride. Sure, some of us get the fairytale …whatever that is… but what about the rest of us, OUTSIDE the castle?

At the age of 48, I chose to leave the corporate world and embark on a more selfless path of helping other women find the confidence to handle their problems. I pride myself on being both a mentor and guide to women who question their own strength. I am passionate about helping my female clients discover and harness their true decision-making potentials.

It’s Never Too Late For a Game Changing Resolution

By Cindy W. Morrison

It’s never too late for a game changing resolution…even in the middle of March. If you haven’t noticed we seem to make the same resolutions over and over again: Lose weight. Quit smoking. No more cussing. Maybe we opt for the same things every year because it’s easy and comfortable. Maybe we target a vice because TV commercials and society tell us we “should”. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with dropping a bad habit, but what if this year, you resolve not to lose but instead gain?

That’s why I decided to up the ante and tackle something for my 2011 resolution that would really change my life: make more money in 2011. And I’m not talking about a 5-10% increase, like those obligatory 5-10 pounds we discuss year after year. I’m talking about adding a zero on the end of my annual income. Want to join me because with the right plan, it IS attainable in 2011.

Step One: Getting the RIGHT Coach

Sorry to burst your bubble, but there is NO magic pill. No matter what your resolution, there is no easy way to make it instantly happen. But getting the RIGHT person to help you come up with a game plan is vital. As for me? I don’t mess around. I got two of the best coaches in the country to help my 2011 resolution come true:Tory Johnson from Good Morning America and small business coach Michelle Pippin. Tory and I met through twitter a year ago and I got to know Michelle when I attended their firstSpark and Hustle conference in Atlanta last summer. The conference is all about helping women entrepreneurs and small business owners make sure their profits equal their passion. I loved what I learned so much that I made the investment to do their income intensive.

They helped me realize I’d built a wildly popular brand in record time with zero budget and I sold more copies of my book“Girlfriends 2.0″ in the first month of release than the vast majority of first time authors EVER sell. But if I want to truly add a zero on to what I’d already done, I needed to develop programs to coach others how to do what I’ve done. We put the wheels in motion for my new consulting business called SOCIALVENTION: coaching folks how to reinvent or up their game by strategically using social media and networking.

(Remember.. your coach is an INVESTMENT! Don’t agree to get training wheels from the chick down the street who thinks she might be a great life coach. And you’re never too old, good or wealthy to have a coach. The best coaches I know have a coach themselves to stay on the cutting edge, be accountable and stay on their game.)

Step Two: Put Your Hustle In The RIGHT Place

I learned from my coaches that you need to put your hustle in the RIGHT place, not just any place. In 2010 I hustled for everything everywhere because I was starting my own business from scratch after a 20 year career as an Emmy winning TV news anchor and investigative reporter. In 2010, I felt like I was one dog and pony show away from being a country singer. I pledged no more exhaustion, but instead strategy.

So, what hustle will add a zero? With 22,000+ followers, strategically utilizing social media continues to open doors, create a loyal following and build my new consulting business. On the other hand, client lunches are time suckers. Where would it best pay off to put YOUR hustle? Where are you spinning your wheels? Chart out your week and I think you’ll be surprised by the time suckers and the big payoffs.

Step Three: Take “Should” Out of Your Vocabulary

Sometimes do you feel like you’re being “should” all over? How often do you do something for your business because you’re told you should.  Strike the word! It will cost you time, effort and money. For example, you’ve spent years with a networking group because you’re told you “should”. Have you ever gotten a client or earned a dollar because of those events? Maybe YOU need to decide what’s right for your business or which networking group (if any) is right for you.

These are just a few of the things that can help you GAIN in 2011 instead of LOSE. The right coach, the right hustle and doing what works for you can and will make a difference in this new year. But remember don’t just plan to do those things but instead actually DO them. It’s not an easy resolution for 2011 but it’s a good way to make this your best year ever! Good luck! And I’d love to hear from you what’s working and the gains you make: Cindy@CindyWMorrison.com.

Cindy Morrison is the Emmy award winning TV Broadcaster who has successfully reinvented herself after the economy lead to corporate downsizing. Leaving a 20 year news career behind, Cindy wrote a book called, “Girlfriends 2.0”  and hit the speaking circuit and created her own consulting business. She now coaches entrepreneurs to corporate executives to reboot, upgrade and reinvent by using powerful tools like social media, branding and video presence. Tory Johnson, the founder of Spark and Hustle and the workplace contributor on Good Morning America calls Cindy her favorite social media strategist and Stiletto Magazine named her one of the Top 25 Most Amazing Women in America. Cindy’s story has been featured everywhere from FOX News to CBS’s “The Talk” and The Wall Street Journal to the Times Square Gossip page. Twitter @CindyWMorrison

Big Changes in Life, Business, My Waistline & My Wardrobe

At this time last year, I had a 3 month old baby and was just getting back into the groove of work and life.  I’d lost almost all of my baby weight, but let’s be honest, I was heavy to begin with pre-pregnancy.  I remember one day complaining to my husband about my weight and he laughed as he reminded me about all the cupcakes I had eaten during the month of February.  The new cupcake shop and I had become close friends and the employees knew me by name (they’d even call me when my favorites were the Surprise Flavor of the Day)!

My husband Aaron and me before I lost weight.

I started to think about my weight a little more, but it was May before I got serious, joined a gym and went to work.  Turns out, exercise works!  I didn’t do any specific diet or program, just watched what I ate and exercised 4-6 times per week.

I’ve lost 35 pounds to date, and though I have more to lose, even 35 pounds has made the biggest difference in my life and my business.

In October when I had lost 25 pounds.

Now I’m excited to get dressed to go to business meetings and I take a little extra time to put something nice together.  I’ve carefully added new pieces to my wardrobe because I care a little more now about how those pieces go together.  Finding flattering and professional (and keeping in line with my personal style) business attire has always been a frustration for me.  And it’s even harder now that I have nothing to work from and need everything: new slacks, jackets, shirts, shoes and accessories.

An image consultant has helped me pick some things from TJ Maxx, Ross and Macy’s to get me started.  Since I have another 20 pounds to lose to hit my goal weight, I can’t afford to spend a ton of money now since I’ll need new clothes, again, in a couple of months.

I’ve got my eye on the White House Black Market 2011 Work Kit.  Have you seen it?  The kit includes tops, jackets, skirts, pants and accessories that allow the “fashion-concious career woman to create and extensive chic wardrobe without breaking the bank”.   Maybe someday I’ll look as chic as her*:

If nothing else, it gives me something to work for, right?

I have a quote hanging in my bathroom that says “I can do hard things.”  Five words have helped me lose 35 pounds and run a 5k, but they’ve also helped me reach out to fortune 500 companies, get speaking engagements and give me overall confidence in my day-to-day business to do’s.

It’s changed the way I live and more importantly it’s changed the way I feel about myself, and that self-confidence oozes into all aspects of my life and my business.  As women and exceptional muti-taskers we think that we can juggle all the balls in the air independently from each other.  In reality, each compartment of our life can ooze into the next – especially when it comes to physical and emotional health.  I didn’t realize this until I started to work on my physical self.  I always thought that what I weigh has no bearing on my professional life, and what I weigh DOESN’T.  How I FEEL about myself and my weight DOES.   I’m more confident in the decisions that I make for my business and I see the role I play in my business differently.  Kelly has always talked about being “Fit and Fabulous and ready for media at any moment.”  Before I lost this weight, being ready for the media wasn’t a concern because I didn’t want to be seen this way.  Now I say, bring it on!

Michelle McCullough: Michelle is the Startup Princess Business Development Director.  She has spent the last 12 years working in marketing and advertising. She’s worked in all aspects of the industry from production to creative and sales to management. On top of her full-time jobs, Michelle has cultivated her love for entrepreneurship by running a successful side business, Doodads Promotional Products, and raising two kids ages 3 and 1.

* Photo courtesy of White House Black Market, though White House Black Market, or any other mentioned companies did not pay for mention in this post.

How QTips Inspired Me to Become an Entrepreneur

QTips inspired me on my entrepreneurial journey not because they are an amazing, useful invention, but because in 2004 I was so broke I couldn’t afford them and I had a complete emotional meltdown. Really.

At the time I was working 25 hrs a week as a volunteer with One Heart Bulgaria organizing a container shipment of humanitarian aid and school supplies to send to orphans plus going to graduate school in Theatre for Young Audiences. My husband was working in a startup and we were seriously struggling financially, living mostly off student loans. I had 4 garage sales that Summer to buy gas. We were getting help with our groceries from our church. I remember desperately wanting 2 things- rubberbands for my baby’s hair and QTips for myself. Thinking back now on this experience really is a shocker to me because these items are under $5 and I can afford to buy them in bulk without any stress. It was a pathetic time for me. I felt so out of control and hated my situation. I was humiliated that we were so poor, I couldn’t even donate anything to the container I was collecting items for the children in Bulgaria. I realized that either I needed to get a real job or I needed to start my own business. I had worked previously in marketing and as a publicist and considered doing that again but it wasn’t right so I explored some other options and within a couple months I had my a-ha moment that I would start a Princess Dress up & Party Store for little girls. Of course I needed funding so I started looking into loans and found out about the BYU Business Plan Competition at my university which was giving away $25,000 so I decided to apply even though I had never taken a business class and didn’t know what I was doing.

I worked hard and did well at BYU, making it to the top 10 and then was invited to global competitions and won 2nd place nationally at the Wake Forest Elevator Pitch Competition (76 MBA schools) and 12th at the Rice  competition  (160 MBA schools). I caught an intense passion for entrepreneurship and never looked back. I just KNEW I had to move forward in this field. While I didn’t ever get the funding for my Princess store (thank goodness, it wasn’t the right fit for me) I did discover that when I take responsibility for my own life and build my own dreams instead of waiting for life to happen to me I’m a lot happier and enjoy life more fully. Startup Princess evolved because I saw a need for women in startups to connect, learn, and share and I wouldn’t have ever figured this out if I continued to complain about my situation and stay apathetic.

There are women all around me that inspire me because they are out there creating their lives. I hope you’re creating yours. If not, ask yourself, Why am I settling for life to ‘happen to me’ instead of choosing differently? I know your power to create is infinite and that you have passion burning inside you to realize your dreams. What is your dream? Don’t Wait. Wayne Dyer said, “I don’t want to die with my music still in me” I feel the same way and the power of entrepreneurship is that it’s all about- creating your path, your vision, your way of doing business and the money will follow. It has for me. Now, six years later I don’t have garage sales anymore- I donate to charities and contribute substantially to my family’s income. I run Startup Princess, am successful in other business ventures and couldn’t be happier with being an entrepreneur. It feels so beautiful to be in my power and celebrate it. Thank you, God for stretching me and showing me how I can be co-creator of my life.

Tell us about your a-ha moment to be an entrepreneur, we’d love to hear about it.

Make a Wish, Make it Happen!

Kelly King Anderson, Founder of Startup Princess

Three Critical Strategies for Effective Life Planning

By, Karen Pool

A study of the responses of 4,000 retired executives over the age of 70 by Dr. Gerald Bell revealed a common regret: They wished they had done more life planning. “I would have carved out life goals and owned my life.” I should have taken charge of my life through goal setting.” “I would have spent more time on my personal development.” If we want to start on the path of life planning, we must listen to our hearts. The truest answers for what we want come from our hearts. The three critical strategies for effective creative life planning include brainstorming, going for detail, and setting plans in time.

Brainstorming

Brainstorming helps us expand our thinking to include dreams, goals, and aspirations that can be integrated into our daily lives. Our imagination unlocks possibilities and options. We can invent the future in our imagination before creating it tangibly to discover possibilities—moving ideas from vision into form. Use the following open-ended sentences to generate 8-10 new ideas: • If I could do, be, or having anything, what would my heart say? • What would I do if I could do anything without training? • What would I do for fun?

Brainstorming helps you get past the surface to the deeper levels of knowing and thinking where insight and the best ideas originate.

Go for Detail

When we create dreams without the particulars, what we want is usually too large in our heads. Our desires need to be broken down into smaller tasks or amounts, just as we make smaller monthly payments to pay off a large loan, for example. Identify the smallest piece that you can bring into the current week to move your idea forward

Set Plans in Time

Creating a structure, framework, or blueprint offers a view of what lies ahead before you move forward. Follow through is essential; it includes creating timelines and dated action plans for managing the details of dreams to ensure continued progress. Once we have specific detail, we can clarify the priorities and identify the smallest action that fits into our weekly and monthly schedules. We begin to bring our dreams into reality.

Choosing to develop your creative imagination and engage in life planning will transform your life. As your thoughts and dreams become visible, you will discover pathways leading to their fulfillment . . . and a life free of regret.

Karen W. Pool, M.S., a former university and teacher educator, presents workshops that encourage the development of creativity and imagination. She is President of lifemagination and works as an instructional writer. For more than two decades she has taught a Life Creation Process and encouraged individuals to invent their lives by creating a flexible 20-year plan. She is the author of Transformation Thinking, Celebrating Women’s Voices, and Designing Your Life Vision. You can follow her on www.karenpoolblog.com.

Why You Need to Drop the Guilt

By, Cindy W. Morrison

As I sat at my daughter’s rehearsal, I should have been all smiles and full of pride. But I wasn’t it. I wasn’t watching her steps and enjoying her smile. No… instead I was tense, preoccupied and frantically answering emails on my iPhone. Why? Well, I really didn’t have a clue that anything was the matter until the lights came up and all the other mother’s were applauding. (What?! Did I really just miss EVERYTHING! Oops…). As my eyes began to adjust to the bright auditorium, only one thing came to mind: Guilt. Yep, I felt guilty for working when I should have been playing. But hey, maybe I was working BECAUSE I felt guilty for playing when I should have been working. Did I lose you? Welcome to the world of GUILT.

This feeling is nothing new to me. I mean, I grew up in the South, where there is plenty of guilt to spread around! Let’s see… where should I start? Leave the house without lipstick? Guilt! (If you doubt that? Ask my Mom! Speaking of my Mom…) If I don’t call my parents in Texas enough. Guilt! Since I’m a People Pleaser, I can’t say no and I generally end up over-scheduling my schedule. Guilt! After all the stress of reinventing myself, I’m too tired for a little something-something with my husband. Guilt! But I thought my guilt of being a working mom would go away when I could “work the schedule around my kids” after my lay-off. Ha!

For 20 years, I worked morning until night as a TV news anchor and investigative reporter. At a moment’s notice I was ready to leave because of breaking news and always had a bag packed. I’d spent nights at the station when major storms rolled in. And I thought I always had to be reachable 24/7. Uffda. (That’s a hat tip to my great Minnesota friends…) Being ready to leave meant a babysitter on-call. Spending nights at the station meant a fab husband. And being reachable 24/7? That meant I wasn’t always there for my kids. Was I a journalist or a Mother? Oh dear… more GUILT!!

That’s why I thought things would change when the economy took a turn and I got laid off. As an entrepreneur, I could structure my work around my kids, right? Seriously… How hard could it be? I’d be working from home, for goodness sake! Lol! I soon learned, beginning my “work” after they went to school and then stopping by the time they got home didn’t leave much time to write a book, create a business and market the whole dang thing by myself. Even my hubby (God bless him) wondered why I hadn’t cleaned house since I was working from home. Seriously?! DOUBLE GUILT!!!

What I finally realized today? We CAN’T do it all! Superwoman is a GREAT idea but that’s why she’s a cartoon character! The fact is, we are REAL women who are trying to do all the right things while going in a thousand different directions. So, let’s STOP the guilt, take a deep breath and try to do one good thing at a time. Hmmmm… maybe we could even enjoy that one thing while we do it! What a concept!

I vote we take an oath right now:
WE ARE *NOT* GOING TO FEEL GUILTY JUST TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING!!!!
Let’s say that all together…
WE ARE *NOT* GOING TO FEEL GUILTY JUST TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING!!!!

Yes, feel guilty when you do something you shouldn’t. Feel guilty if you screwed up. But DON’T feel guilty for trying to do it all, Girlfriend! Sometimes our personal lives and work collide. But as much as you can, give yourself permission to ENJOY life! For me? How awesome that my new “situation” means I can set my own hours! That’s right, I can enjoy spending time at my daughter’s rehearsal, even if it means staying up later to get work done. I don’t have to feel guilty because I’m not working during traditional work hours. Sure… I might get less sleep.. but it doesn’t mean I have to feel guilty! Create the life that works best for YOU!!

So, shed the guilt and live your life the way you want to live it! It doesn’t mean you have to do it the way your neighbor does it or the way your mother did it. Chart a new course and ditch the guilt! As long as you’re living life fully and trying to do what’s right for you, the word guilt shouldn’t even be a part of your vocabulary. I can promise you… the next rehearsal I won’t be checking my iPhone for work emails. Instead I’ll be using that cool gadget to take pictures because work will always be there. I now know there should be no guilt for doing what I need to do but also I’ll have no guilt for living in the moment.

Cindy W. Morrison is the Emmy award winning TV Broadcaster who has successfully reinvented herself after the economy lead to corporate downsizing. Leaving a 20 year news career behind, Cindy wrote a book called, “Girlfriends 2.0”  hit the speaking circuit and created her own consulting business. She now teaches people how to reboot, upgrade and reinvent through networking, social media and branding so they can make more money and live a better life. As a consultant, Cindy’s clients range from TV stations to major universities to heavy hitting corporations. Twitter @CindyWMorrison

Are You Building Blocks or Knocking Them Down?

Here we go. Deep breath.

Ironically I used to write posts easily and swiftly every single day on StartupPrincess.com and then I got really super burned out. I solicited the help of multiple guest bloggers to keep up the pace and wore different tiaras for a while (planning events, working on PR, etc.) and wrote occasionally here and there and then last year it became rare for me to write at all. I realized recently how I miss being a teacher through my writing. I missed sharing what’s in my heart and what I’m learning. I interact with you via email, phone, twitter and facebook all the time, but here- the blog where it all began in 2006, I have not been present lately and I apologize.

I decided to look at my business blocks last week in a coaching call with Heather Madder. It was a brave moment to acknowledge to myself and to our group that I have blocks in an area where “I’m supposed to be an expert”. Of course I have blocks! I’m human. We all do! We are all here on a path of learning. So as I opened up deeper and wider I realized what I really wanted. I wanted to create. I wanted to share in this capacity again but there was fear. Big fear with a capital “F” especially surrounding the biz book I started a couple years ago that still nudges me to finish. I had to be very introspective to consider why I lost my desire to write. I realized that my first draft was trashed by an editor and I lost my momentum to refine, rewrite and try again, so I not only stopped the book, I basically stopped creating all together, including blogging. But tonight as I thought about what I’ve been learning about myself and my creative block I was given a gift, a desire to share and be honest so I seized the moment and now I’m here in the trenches again and it feels good to call myself a blogger tonight. And not only a blogger, but a creator. I am a creative being and so are you.

I used to do Tae Kwon Do and my instructor who was an international champion used to say, ‘”every time I step onto the mat to fight (full contact) I am scared, but I feel the fear and do it anyway.” Not that blogging is scary for me but whenever we put ourselves out there to do something where people will have an opinion it requires confidence. Will I have anything of value to share? Hasn’t everything in business already been said? What more can I do to contribute? I’m not enough. I’m not qualified, blah, blah, blah.  Maybe you’ve felt this way… you allow others’ opinions of you shape your decisions or define you. We must breakthrough the block of caring/worrying what others think of us so we can truly have influence and be a leader.

Being a creative genius requires faith and confidence (thanks Seth for Linchpin), A LOT of it. Doing a teleseminar requires confidence. Trusting your gut and giving feedback to a graphic designer requires confidence. Being a business owner requires a TON of confidence. Don’t you agree? And, isn’t it awesome? Isn’t that why we’re HERE? Feel the fear and do it anyway…that’s the first step in knocking down the blocks. And prayer, that’s a big part of it for me. Seriously. I love to pray through all parts of my life, including business, especially business. When I don’t know what’s next, I ask. And when I humble myself to ask, I receive Godly confidence (giving credit to heaven) because He provides me with the answers. I am clear that is precisely the ONLY type of confidence that will result in success longterm…because anything that doesn’t look, feel or act like Godly confidence  is Ego and well, there’s no love in that. My deepest desire is to support and cheer others onto success and that my creative efforts will benefit them on their journey. I’m committed to this mission so I know what I need to do next. CREATE. I will listen and the words will flow through me. I am confident that it will happen when I trust and give faith to the process.

I realize the task of tearing down the blocks boulders won’t be easy and will require time, sacrifice, and humility. I’m up for confronting the fears, what about you? Are you in?  How do you knock down your blocks? Let’s inspire each other.

-Kelly King Anderson, Founder of Startup Princess

Infusing Personal Style To Professional Attire in 2011

By Sarah Ward

When you think of professional attire, is a traditional navy blue pantsuit with a predictable white collared dress shirt the first thing that comes to mind? It very well may be! As an image consultant, I’m happy to tell you that dressing professionally doesn’t need to be boring or predictable. For 2011, let’s infuse personal style into your business attire.

There are several things you can do to bring personal style into your professional attire. In the photo sequence below, we’ve shown you five different ways to style a versatile black blazer, infusing personal style into each. From left to right:

1. A traditional black suit gets an infusion of personality with a red top and matching obi belt, providing drama and pizzazz with the color contrast and unique styling.
2. A black skirt suit can be easily paired with a vibrant teal turtleneck. When you take the jacket off, you have an attractive hourglass silhouette.
3. A satin empire waist blouse with abstract shapes blends beautifully with the black blazer and the brown pulls out the color of her eyes. As an unmatched suit with white pants, the look is professional, yet accessible. (My black kitten, in the bottom left corner of the image, matches perfectly!)
4. Rolling up the sleeves on the black blazer gives this traditional staple a trendy, relaxed look. Combine that with dangly earrings and a billowy silk blouse in a floral floral print and the look becomes more informal.
5. With the rolled up sleeves, the jacket is right on trend with on the boyfriend blazer look and is a fun combination with the vintage tunic and dark wash skinny jeans. The look is youthful and decidedly creative.

As you can see, it’s not just what you wear, it’s how you wear it.

Here are some ways that you can add personal style into your professional attire in 2011:

• If you’re required to wear a suit jacket but you feel overwhelmed wearing the traditional style jacket, look for one with a curved collar instead of the standard angular lapel. The rounder shapes will soften the look for you.
• To spice up your suit jacket, try accessorizing. A brooch, matching belt, or colorful scarf will go a long way in adding some flair.
• To soften the professional look, trade in your collared shirts for blouses in colors that complement your personal coloring. For example, if you have brown hair, blues will look great on you.

• Wear a vest. The vest has made a major comeback recently. Buttoned up, a vest can emphasize a great waistline, or be left unbuttoned for a more relaxed look. Vests even look terrific over Tees.
• Try a cardigan. The softer version of the suit jacket, a cardigan will provide you an extra layer to help you look more capable, but can also give you added warmth and coverage to hide any figure variations like a full bust or leftover baby weight.

Do you still feel clueless about personal style? If you’re dying to discover your personal style, I have an easy exercise for you.

One thing I recommend for my clients to do is go through fashion magazines, pulling out pictures of clothes, accessories, and looks they love, then start a Personal Style file. This simply exercise is a great way to help you recognize what your unique personal style embodies. Starting a Personal Style file will allow you to identify your personal style preferences and give you ideas for items you can add into your wardrobe this year.

Nobody said business attire has to be boring. Add some personal style to your work wardrobe and create a look that’s that uniquely yours!

Images & Text Copyright 2011 Sarah Ward & Cable Car Couture

Sarah Ward is the owner of Cable Car Couture Image Consulting and is passionate about making you magnificent! She enjoys working with business owners, brides, entrepreneurs, work-at-home moms, and teenagers alike.

Sarah received her formal image consulting training from the Conselle Institute of Image Management, the nation’s premiere image institute, and is an active member of AICI, the Association of Image Consultants International. She has been featured on Good Things Utah, Bride Access TV, and Job Talk Radio.

At Cable Car Couture, we help you flatter your figure, express your one-of-a-kind personal style and be your best self. We’ve got you covered. Email: sarah@cablecarcouture.com

The Evening Routine

Heather Ledeboer

As a wife, mom and business owner, my day can get filled up and stressful pretty fast.  In order to prevent it from swallowing me up, I have found that I need to be proactive about keeping things organized.  Surpassingly, what I do before I go to bed has some of the largest impact on how smoothly my day progresses.  Just as you have often heard that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” I believe that the morning hours are the most critical in setting the stage for how the rest of the day will unfold.  As such, the better I can plan for a smooth morning, the more productive and stress free it can be.

In the past it never occurred to me to write about the things I do at night before I go to bed because they have become natural to me and I often assume they are in turn natural to others as well. However, this routine has developed over time and as such perhaps some of you might enjoy a peek into what I do and in turn, have parts of your routine that you would be willing to share with me! Together we can become more organized and productive with our day. Sound good? (Envision us in a small football huddle with our arms out stretched toward the middle ready to cheer) ”Goooooo Team Mom!”

For the purpose of comparative info, Hunter is seven and Ashlyn just turned five. Hopefully this will help you gauge your own kids and how you might be able to adapt this to your own family. Ready?

Evening Routine:

I will start of by saying that putting the kids to bed is potentially the most stressful part of my day. I am not sure why. No one is standing over my shoulder asking if my kids will be in bed by ______? And I don’t have an appointment I need to get to once they are asleep. Perhaps it is the knowledge that once they are in bed “my time” begins and I feel selfish with this part of my day since it is so fleeting. On many nights I am blessed that my husband is an active part of putting the kids to bed which really helps to make it less stressful. I blogged about our typical bedtime about a year ago. A few things that I have found to help us with putting the kids to bed:

-I have recently moved up dinner time from 6:00 to between 5:00 and 5:30. We aim for a 7:00 bedtime with the kids and I found that in starting dinner at six, I was simply asking to feel “behind” before we even got started. The earlier dinnertime has really helped me feel more relaxed and less rushed in moving toward bedtime.

-After dinner I start the dishwasher (if needed) and unload (later, before I go to bed) so that in the morning it is “open for business” which prevents the sink from filling up with dirty dishes.

-When it is time to get ready for bed, I set a timer for Hunter as I found that he responds well to the forced focus of being held accountable to the clock. I give him 3-4 minutes to put on his PJ’s and 2 minutes to brush his teeth.

-Ashlyn does not do well with a timer, in fact it produces the opposite effect for her and she freezes up and can’t seem to do anything as she gets so upset and stressed out by it. For her, I find that giving her one task at a time and having her verbally repeat back to me what she is going to do works well.

“Ashlyn, go put your PJ’s on. Now say, ‘Mommy I am going to put my PJ’s on now.’”

Asking her to repeat back to me what she is going to do seems to help cement in her mind her next action which is helpful as she tends to be a bit “flighty” in her thinking otherwise and is easily distracted. Therefore I think it is best to feel out what works well for your child’s personality here.

-We take a few minutes each night for the kids to go check their room and make sure it is cleaned up. Making a point to straighten their rooms each evening for a few minutes helps prevent disasters from occurring.

-Hunter’s uniform (including socks and underwear) are set out at night so that in the morning he can quickly and easily get dressed without hunting for a missing shirt or sock or. . .

After the kids are in bed (yeah!):

Our bedtime goal for the kids is 7:00PM and I shoot for a personal bedtime of 10:00PM. So on an ideal night I would have three hours after the kids go to bed to accomplish the following and still have some remaining “down time.”

-I pack Hunter’s lunch and put it in the fridge. I include a short handwritten note. He seems to like these . From time to time I will also include a picture that Ashlyn has drawn for him. When he brings his lunch bag home after school and I unpack it, I store the notes in a little box in the cabinet. I think he might enjoy browsing through them some day in the future.

-I clean the kitchen and wipe down the counters and sink. After I clean the sink, I use the same wash rag to quickly wipe down the sink and counter top in the kid’s bathroom before putting it in the laundry. Then I do a general straightening of the house. If I wake up to a clean house, it sets the mood in a much more positive, productive tone and I don’t feel that I am already starting the day “behind”.

-I decide what I will do for breakfast in the morning.  Some popular choices include:

cereal–when I don’t feel like doing anything “fancy” or time consuming.
crepes–these take some time to prepare but are great for making ahead at night and are super yummy!
pancakes or waffles–they can be made ahead and frozen and then simply put in the toaster in the morning. I like to mix up a large batch of my own pancake “bisquick” mix (see recipe at the bottom of this post) in order to use whole wheat.  Although I like my current recipe, I am going to try this soaked version next time and compare.
oatmeal–I chose to soak the oatmeal overnight.  Not only is it better for you (read the link) but it makes it QUICK and easy in the morning.  Below is my oatmeal soaking for tomorrow’s breakfast (I cover it overnight and then simply warm it up in the morning).

-I get the kitchen ready for morning by setting out their dishes, vitamins and a list of tasks that they need to complete before we leave the house for school.

-Ashlyn cannot read much yet but she still gets a list.  It is sort and mostly the same each morning (get dressed, make bed, eat breakfast and put away dishes and brush teeth).  I feel that the repetition of seeing this list helps her learn the words and feel “old enough” to be responsible for her one routine like her older brother.  Hunter’s list is set up to require him to be fully ready for school by the time he is finished and includes things like putting his lunch (from the fridge) into his backpack.

-As a side note: The “do homework” part of Hunters list that he does in the morning includes a daily timed reading list of words (it takes him 1-2 minutes) and writing out his spelling words once (this takes about 2-3 minutes).  Although he could do these things after school, I find that doing them before makes the after school time easier.

-If I have any clean laundry in the dryer (I try to start a load to wash in the morning giving me all day to get it finished and put away) I will fold it and put the piles of clean clothes in the kid’s rooms to be put away the next day (I have them put away their own laundry).

-I set out what I am going to wear in the morning and take a shower if needed.

-RELAX knowing my morning is ready  !

“Pancake (or waffle) Master Mix”
8 cups whole wheat pastry flour (this is soft white wheat for any of you who might grind your wheat)
2 cups unbleached white flour
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/3 cup baking powder (try to find a kind that doesn’t have aluminum in it)
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 Tablespoon salt
2 cups shortening that does not require refrigeration (you can use Crisco, but I have switched to using coconut oil because I believe it is much healthier. In the summer months however, I may have to keep my mix in the fridge or freezer though or else my oil will be liquid as coconut oil is a solid for me this time of year but melts at 76 degrees).

In a large bowl, combine flours, wheat germ, baking powder, brown sugar and salt.  Cut in shorting (or coconut oil) until the mixture resembles course crumbs (when using solid coconut oil I mix this all in my food processor and it does a great job).  Store in a large container for up to 6 weeks.  Makes 12 to 14 cups.

To use for pancakes or waffles:
-2 cups “master mix”
-2 eggs
-1 cup milk (or buttermilk)

Beat the eggs, add milk to desired consistency with this master mix, stirring until blended but still slightly lumpy.  Pour about 1/4 cup batter onto hot griddle or pan. Cook till golden, turning to cook other side.  Makes 8 pancakes.

I love using my coconut oil for frying too by the way.  Here is where I buy my coconut oil and so far this is the best price I have found for the quality (including the shipping cost which is fairly reasonable). I get the 7 pound bottle of extra virgin coconut oil which is $3.90 per pound).  7 pounds may seem like a lot, but because it is so versatile (you can use it in place of any kind of fat in recipes and it is even great as a skin moisturizer or make up remover) that after only 6 weeks I am ready to order another bottle!  In fact, I just realized that my good friend Selina just put up a new post about coconut oil so I will simply encourage you go click on over to her blog and read more if you are not yet using this stuff but are intrigued about why I think you should consider it!

Ideally, something about my routine sparked something in you that will help your evenings (and therefore your mornings) go more smoothly.  If you have any tips of your own, please share!  And if you have any questions, feel free to ask away!

Heather Ledeboer, Mom4Life, Heather Ledeboer is passionate about helping other moms succeed in business. Her passion is directed at finding fantastically fresh mom invented products and offering them on her website, http://www.mom4life.com with free shipping to all US locations. She also enjoys writing on the topic of business and has a particular pet peeve about providing excellent customer service. Twitter @mom4lifecom

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