One Little Word: Elevate

January 2, 2024 by Leave a Comment

I first started choosing One Little Word for the year in 2019, and it made all the difference! Ever since then, I’ve chosen a word every year that helps guide me and gives me direction.

  • In 2019 it was Accomplish and I started my own business.
  • In 2020, it was Discipline, which helped me stay focused during the pandemic.
  • In 2021, it was Prioritize, as we were welcoming sweet Cassie to the world I wanted to make sure I was focusing on the things that mattered.
  • In 2022, it was Savor as I strived to soak up every little moment of motherhood.
  • In 2023, it was Consistency, to try to stick with things instead of starting new things and not seeing them through. I feel like I’ve done a good job with this one as I’ve stuck to so many new habits and processes that I’ve brought into my life. Which is what has led me to choose this year’s word.

2024’s word is ELEVATE!

When I was thinking about my word and what I wanted to accomplish in the new year, I kept coming back to the idea that I’ve been stuck doing the same things over and over again, but that I’ve not necessarily made any progress in some of the things I’ve been trying to be consistent at. I wanted 2024 to be the year that I took things to the next level.

Each word has helped push me forward, but I want this to be the year that I make radical change. I don’t want to get to December and realize that I have the same goals for 2025 that I’ve had every other year. One of the books that I’ve read recently that has helped me dig into this word is Atomic Habits by James Clear. In the book, Clear talks about getting 1% better and states “If you get one percent better each day for one year, you’ll end up thirty-seven times better by the time you’re done.” Between this theory and habit stacking, I can take that consistency and discipline to the next level and get incrementally better at reaching my goals one step at a time.

The other part of this is to not let outside factors affect my goal trajectory. This includes getting distracted and derailed by the little dramas that happen each day. And let’s be honest, there will be lots of life distractions, especially with a toddler, but the important thing is to get back to the goals as soon as possible and not let the distractions derail me.

For each word, I like to get myself a piece of jewelry that constantly reminds me of my focus for the year. I’ve done bracelets before, but this year I went with a gold ring from Lemon Lime Creations on Etsy. I’m loving it so much, I’m considering going back and getting rings for the other words.

What’s your word for 2024? Let me know in the comments.

For more Be the Best You posts, click here.

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Thoughts on 38

July 6, 2020 by 3 Comments

Tomorrow I celebrate my 38th birthday! Finishing out my year with a global pandemic wasn’t really what I had in mind, but it’s helped me to focus on what’s important and where I want to go in my 38th year. Before I get into celebration mode, I wanted to reflect on what it means to me to have 38 years of experience under my belt.

There’s a popular TikTok sound going around about romanticizing your life and it goes “You have to start romanticizing your life. You have to start thinking of yourself as the main character because if you don’t — life will continue to pass you by. And all the little things that make it so beautiful will continue to go unnoticed. So take a second, and look around and realize that it’s a blessing for you to be here right now.” You can read more about the trend here. I really LOVE this trend and thought that I would make it my theme for my 38th year. So here are 38 ways I’m going to “romanticize my life” this year.

1 Treating myself at least once a week

I have a few things that I consider “treats,” just little things that make me feel fancy. This doesn’t have to be expensive, it could be something small. They include getting macarons, going for a pedicure, stopping by Sephora for my PERK facial (if it opens up again), or anything that makes me feel special. I will start sharing these on my Instagram with #TreatYoSelf!

2 Keep putting myself first

After I started the Miracle Morning I saw some amazing changes in my life. I am committed to doing the SAVERS as many days as I can and I can only hope to keep growing!

3 Meet a friend once a month for tea

You all know how much I LOVE my tea time so I thought it would be fun to meet a different friend for tea every month. It could be at one of the amazing tea rooms around town or at my house or on a Zoom call.

4 Celebrate the small (and large) wins

When I first started my business, I would bring home a bottle of champagne for every small win. I’ve stopped doing that along the way and need to get back in the habit of celebrating every small victory. I heard Rachel Hollis mention naming your bottles of champagne for different goals which I love!

5 Plan a monthly brunch date

I LOVE having brunch with the girls and/or John. It makes for such a fun Sunday that I always end up wondering why I don’t do it more.

6 Spend time outdoors everyday

I was listening to Kelly LeVeque’s podcast a while back and she interviewed a cognitive neuroscientist about memory. He shared how important it was to start your day by getting outside and seeing actual sunlight to help boost your Vitamin D production. I could take my morning tea outside or just stand outside when I let Sport out every morning. I also love the idea of connecting with the outdoors on a daily basis.

7 Fresh Flowers

would love to have fresh flowers around the house all the time! Even if I just pick up a bouquet at the grocery store, it’s enough to really brighten up the house. Maybe this is the year that I get a monthly flower delivery like Flowers for Dreams or one of those everlasting flower boxes.

8 Enjoy every second with Skyler

I adore my 2 year-old niece Skyler! She loves to play and get into all sorts of things. I want to remember to always make time to play with her and not get too busy and to get into the sandbox or play in the water with her even if it means I get dirty or ruin my manicure. These are the things I’m going to remember when she’s older.

Getting my feet buried!

9 Schedule regular spa appointments

I LIVE for massages and facials and as soon as I can get back into my favorite places I want to start getting a monthly massage and Hydrafacial. Or at least try to alternate and get one every other month.

10 Read more books

As a child, I was always reading. As soon as I opened a book I couldn’t put it down. That’s why I’m so excited about my “The Book Was Better” Book Club to hold me accountable for reading more this year. If you haven’t joined yet, get to it! We started out with Little Fires Everywhere.

11 Invest in a magazine subscription

When was the last time you spent the day reading through a magazine front to back? I used to get so many magazines in my youth, but sadly I only get them now when I’m at an airport or maybe pick one up in a waiting room. This year, I want to find an awesome magazine that I can take with me to all my appointments and really enjoy. Let me know your recommendations!

12 Celebrate every holiday like crazy!

This year I want to go all out for all the holidays, even the little ones like French Fry day! Sometimes I get lazy and forget to decorate or don’t get as into the fun of each different celebration. This year I want to throw all the parties, wear themed shirts and really enjoy every moment! What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?

13 Monthly Godiva

Did you know that you can get a free Godiva truffle every month as long as you sign up for Godiva’s reward program? Every year I tell myself that I’m going to take advantage of the program and I always forget. This year I’m going to treat myself!

14 Eat at the table

We have a nice dining room table and I own five sets of china (with a sixth set on the way) and most nights, we eat in front of the TV. Even if it’s only once a week, I would love to get the table set and dinner ready to go for my husband and make it a big production. John does most of the cooking so this would be a treat for him!

15 Stock the bar

For a while in quarantine, I was trying to make a new signature drink every week. I tried an Aperol Spritz, a blueberry cucumber Collins, and a Mojito. I would love to have a few things on hand to make these during happy hour or when a friend stops by to visit. I also want to work on my wine collection and collecting wines that age well.

16 Try something new

I’m a creature of habit and tend to stick to a lot of the same foods and routines. This year I want to enhance my experiences by trying new experiences. Maybe this will be taking a class and learning something new like going to the shooting range or it could be trying a new type of food. I am open to ideas!

17 Build a sleep wardrobe

Who else sleeps in leggings and a t-shirt? Or the oldest pajamas you own? This year I want to commit to getting a new set of luxurious pajamas each month (a set that I would not be embarrassed to get the mail in). Did anyone watch Revenge? I always LOVED Victoria Grayson’s sleepwear. She looked fabulously put together 24/7.

18 Date Night

I’ve been 50/50 about planning date nights with John. Sometimes I’ll get in a good grove for a while and other times it might be weeks before I plan something special. This year I want to make sure I have something special planned for us every week, even if it’s a movie date with special snacks and a theme.

19 Set phone/screen limits

I just discovered that you can set up screen time limits on your phone. I sometimes find myself mindlessly scrolling and I loved the idea that my phone can snap me out of it and tell me I’ve had enough for the day. I have SO many other things to do and don’t want to waste all my time reading comments on Facebook

20 Enjoy my house now

We’ve done some great updates to our house during quarantine, but I’m terrible about getting furniture on the walls and updating the decor. I also have dining room chairs that I’ve been dying to recover into something more modern. My goal this year is to start enjoying my house and make small improvements instead of waiting to finish a room in one big sweep.

21 Gratitude

I’ve started a little bit of a gratitude practice with my Start Today Journal. Every day you have to write down five things you’re grateful for. I’m trying to do a better job of really being in the moment and enjoying the wonderful things I have.

22 Take more pictures

I’ve been horrible about taking pictures of myself or me with friends as I get older. On my birthday this year, I had to remember to snap a few with Skyler because I always end up with a bunch of pictures of her, but us together. I don’t want to look back on these years and not be in any of the pictures. At the beginning of every get together I need to snap one with me and whoever I’m with to memorialize the moment.

23 Correspondence

Over the last few years I had started sending close friends birthday cards and special holiday cards in the mail so they would have something fun to open on special occasions. Plus who doesn’t like getting actual mail (that’s not bills or junk)? I’ve let it fall off a bit and REALLY want to get it going again. It was such a fun thing to do.

24 Music/Playlist

I rarely listen to music because I’m obsessed with podcasts but I’ve been thinking that I should add more music to my life. I mostly work at home now and want to start curating a few playlists for myself for work and for when I’m driving with people in my car. For now I’m partial to the French Cooking Music Radio on Pandora.

25 Have more fun

Most of the time I tend to stay at home and do work just because it’s there. If it’s not work for my business then it’s blog work or some other chore that needs to be done. I want to be more mindful of taking time out for fun activities instead of only working or spending my free time scrolling social media. This could be playing a board game at home, reading a book, or planning happy hour for my husband.

26 Channel Creativity

Creativity breeds creativity. To come up with more creative ideas for work I need to spend more time being creative during my personal time. I mentioned a few of my passions in this post including practicing the piano, calligraphy, and cake decorating.

27 Romanticize my relationship

Many years ago a friend told me about a website called The Dating Divas. I was trying to come up with some fun date ideas early in our marriage and let me tell you they have TONS of great ideas. I’ve seen their emails for years and want to try a few this year.

28 Start a weekend ritual

I love the idea of having something we do (or I do) every weekend. Whether it’s strolling up to the farmer’s market every Saturday, visiting a patisserie on Sundays, or having a spa day every Sunday night, I want to come up with something great. Let me know if you have ideas on this one!

29 Volunteer

During the first eight weeks of the pandemic, I volunteered at the Michigan Mask Donation Center on behalf of The Glamorous Moms Foundation. I loved being able to help during the crisis and hopefully can do more this year.

30 Friend dates

This year I wanted to make a special effort to see all of my friends on a good rotation throughout the year. Whether that’s over dinner, drinks, or brunch just making a plan seems to ensure these outings happen more regularly.

31 Pump my own tires

As someone in public relations, you think I would have an easier time of pumping myself up, but when it comes to writing bios, updating my career page, and promoting myself I find it difficult. Unfortunately, I don’t have that luxury now that I’m a business owner. This year I want to push past my comfort zone and really start to get out there as a business owner.

32 Shop local

I’ve been wanting to start a new series called Sip n’ Shop where I visit a new neighborhood each weekend for a cocktail and to hunt for amazing items. Supporting local businesses during this time is so important. Stay tuned for that new segment coming soon!

33 Enjoy the local arts and cultural activities

To add to #32, I also want to spend more time enjoying arts and culture at the great places we have around town. I can’t tell you the last time I was at a museum and that definitely needs to change!

34 Do nice things for other people

I always try to do this, but I want to be more intentional this year. Throwing in some random acts of kindness and also doing things like sending cards to friends, dropping off a casserole during a time of need, or offering help to a new mom. Let me know if you have any ideas!

35 Take time out for meals

I don’t know about you, but most of the time I find myself eating in the car or in front of the TV. I would love to have breakfast al fresco in my backyard or take an actual break for lunch instead of trying to do five things at once.

36 Travel

This will be a different year for travel, but just because we probably won’t be leaving the country doesn’t mean I can’t travel throughout Michigan and still explore our great country! There are so many places I haven’t been yet!

37 Get organized

Your space can reflect your mood! If you have clutter in your house or your favorite spaces it can make you feel stress. I have seen so many organizer TikToks lately and it is motivating me to get my spaces organized and create a fun ambiance so I can enjoy them.

38 Invest in a special scent

I have SO many perfume samples, but I don’t have one special scent that’s my go-to. I would love to invest in a fun one that I wear on special occasions or when I’m having a big day. Maybe even different scents for different occasions as I build up my collection.

What are some ways that you’ve romanticized your life?

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The 5-Hour Rule

February 3, 2020 by 1 Comment

I read this article last year, about how the majority of self-made millionaires spend an average of five hours a week (one hour a day) learning or practicing. This article mentions titans like Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, and more that all adhere to the five-hour rule.

I’ve been doing some of this with my Miracle Morning practice, but wanted to do more. In my youth, I took a number of classes and learned a ton of different skills that I’ve let lapse over the years. I thought a great goal for 2020 would be to bring some of these talents/skills back to life. I also find that having creative outlets helps to inspire me in my daily work.

Piano

I took piano lessons for many years, up until we moved to Michigan and I started high school. A few years ago, we moved the family piano to my house and part of the reason I wanted it here was so I could pick it back up again.

I can still read music pretty easily and have a number of songs I can play, the problem is all of my instructional books are for children. I can play plenty of rounds of Hickory, Dickory, Dock, but I’d rather play something more in line with my age. I found this book, called Returning to the Piano: A Refresher Book for Adults ($19.99) and it’s perfect for someone like me who can already read music. It has a number of adult songs like “What a Wonderful World,” Sweet Home Alabama,” and “Stand by Me.”

I figure if I commit to 30 minutes of practice a day, I could definitely master some of these songs.

Cake Decorating

My sister and I spent a few summers taking these fun classes offered at our school, which included Wilton Cake Decorating courses. I didn’t do much with it after that until after I graduated college. I really got into it then and made a number of fun cakes. I stopped before we got into fondant, but I can do flowers and roses. People LOVE a themed cake, the reaction you get is always the most fun. I think it would be fun to do a monthly baking project to keep my skills up-to-date. It’s been so long since I made a cake that all my impressive creations are in a shoebox somewhere. I once did this insane cross cake for Easter with tons of little flowers and roses that I spent so much time making in advance.

Horseback Riding

In the summer after the third or fourth grade (I can’t remember exactly), I started attending horsecamp with the Girl Scouts. I spent weeks learning to care for and ride horses. I loved it so much that I started taking lessons, until we moved and I started high school. I was at the point where we had started to do some small jumps. Unfortunately, I haven’t ridden in SO long, but I would love to get back into it. Not just the riding part, but grooming and caring for horses as well. I found a few places in Michigan where I could get back into lessons. It might be something Skyler and I could do together once she gets older. First things first, I need some ducky boots and a riding helmet. Ducky boots are great for riding, because you need a heel, but you can also wear them to muck out stables and anything else. I liked these Liyuandian Womens Lace Up Duck Boots Waterproof Two Tone Combat Calf Rain Shoes ($40.98).

Calligraphy

Ever since I found out that Meghan Markle used to do calligraphy to help out when she first started in the acting business, I’ve been wanting to get back into it. This is one of those things I took a class on in my childhood and loved it! My pens are all old now, so I would need to get some new supplies, but I think it would be really fun to start practicing with my Start Today Journal. I found this Modern Calligraphy: A Beginner’s Guide to Pointed Pen and Brush Pen Lettering ($24) on Amazon to get me started.

Softball

I’ve mentioned before how I’m a big Yankees fan, it’s a fun tradition between my dad and I. When I was younger, I used to play softball and would practice all the time with my dad. I wasn’t a star athlete by any means. but always made up for it with enthusiasm.

Look how cute I was!

A while back, I heard that the Yankees organization runs a fantasy camp for women and I thought it would be really awesome to go one year. BUT, I am totally out of practice and would have to work on it. I definitely need a new glove so I could practice with my husband. I love this Rawlings Player Preferred Adult Baseball/Softball Glove Series ($40.27), it’s classic.

What skills do you want to brush up on or learn in 2020? My goal is to spend five hours a week working on each of these things, I will probably re-master one at a time instead of trying to do them all at once. How can you make the 5-hour rule work for you?

For more Be the Best You posts, click here.

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One Little Word: Discipline

January 6, 2020 by 2 Comments

Last year was my first year choosing One Little Word and I had a pretty mind-blowing year. It’s one thing I can definitely credit to my word selection. In 2019, I chose Accomplish as my word, and boy did I Accomplish some stuff. My biggest accomplishment was starting my own business, something that I had been dreaming about ever since starting the Miracle Morning. So let’s just say 2019 will be a hard act to follow.

Now that I’ve “accomplished” some pretty big things, 2020 is more about maintaining and building on these accomplishments. I wanted a word that embodied hard work and consistency. One of my favorite quotes from Jim Rohn is “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” This sums up what I need to do in 2020.

For 2020, my word of the year is Discipline! This year is all about staying on track and keeping the momentum from 2019. I hit up Target right away to get my own Rachel Hollis Priority Planner, Start Today Journal, and 2020 Vision Calendar so I could stay motivated. I’m loving them so far!

Last year I had a fantastic bracelet that helped keep my word top of mind and pushed me forward. This year I need something similar and I found this great bracelet on Etsy with an Abraham Lincoln quote that’s speaking to me, “Discipline is choosing between what you want now, and what you want most.” It’s only $25 and you can find it here.

Here are a few additional quotes and bible verses that reinforce Discipline for me:

What’s your word for 2020? If you are using Discipline this year I would love to see any other quotes you’ve found for it! Cheers to a fantastic 2020 everyone!

For more Be the Best You posts, click here.

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Accomplish: Body Love

December 16, 2019 by Leave a Comment

We are coming to the end of my year of “accomplish,” but I’m not done making my mark. Getting my health in check was also a big goal of mine and with my business up and running it gave me some time to focus on myself. I first heard of Kelly Leveque from Rachel Hollis and ordered her book, Body Love, back in January with the best intentions. She also interviewed Kelly on her podcast in April (you can listen to the episode here).

I didn’t end up starting Body Love until November, but hey, I still have a little bit of 2019 left! Kelly is the nutritionist to one of my favorites, Jennifer Garner, as well as Jessica Alba, Molly Sims, Chelsea Handler, Kate Walsh, Emmy Rossum, and more! If you read Kelly’s book, you will quickly discover that she really knows her stuff. She’s a certified holistic nutritionist and has a postgraduate degree in clinical nutrition.

The main tenet of Body Love is to include the Fab Four in each of your meals. This includes protein, greens, fiber, and fat. She also encourages a daily smoothie and has a ton of fantastic recipes.

I loved the concept, and the book, and had been looking for a way to get healthier for a long time. She talks about all the damage sugar does to you and how it takes you on a crazy roller coaster of fake energy all day. Some of the symptoms she mentioned really resonated with me and made me want to try her plan for myself. Since I had pretty much been eating a bunch of garbage for months, I figured it would be quite an investment to get all the food and accessories to get started on this plan. I decided I would take a week to get used to each part of the plan before I added in something else. So the first week, I started by just making the Fab Four Smoothies for breakfast. This one was her Almond Joy recipe and it was DELICIOUS!

The second week, I added in lunches, which took a little more prep work, but I now have some great staples. This egg salad one is one of my favorites right now for lunch.

In the third week, I finally added in dinner which wasn’t too difficult because my husband has been doing Keto for a while. He had a lot of the ingredients on hand. Kelly’s Cowboy Skillet is my go to dinner recipe! It is quick, easy, and yummy! John loves it too so that makes it a win-win in my book.

One of the tips I received early on was to search for Kelly LeVeque in my podcast app and go back and listen to all of her various interviews for inspiration. There are some good ones! Kelly is also releasing a new book, Body Love Everyday, on December 30. It’s supposed to have a lot of new recipes in it and I can’t wait!

My goal was to be fully on the Body Love plan by the end of the year so I could hit 2020 running. Now that I have all the supplies on hand it has been pretty easy to stick to. I’m hoping to see some great initial results by the end of the year and will give you an update after I read the new book.

If you’re doing Body Love yourself, I would love to hear and tips and tricks you have.

For more Be the Best You posts, click here.

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Accomplish: Entrepreneurship

November 11, 2019 by Leave a Comment

When I chose “accomplish” as my one little word for 2019, I knew this was the year I would finally take the leap and become an entrepreneur. My entrepreneurial journey has been a long time coming. Even with the creation of this blog in 2013, I had entrepreneurship on the brain. I’ve always had business ideas pop in my head, but it wasn’t until I read Rachel Hollis’ book, Girl Wash Your Face, in summer 2018 that a plan started to form.

As a 15-year veteran of the PR industry, I had worked for a number of agencies and companies throughout my career, but one thing always weighed on my mind. Whenever you made a move to a different company, you couldn’t take your clients with you. After spending years building brands and relationships, you had to leave that all behind and start over again from scratch. I liked the idea of building something that I owned. After working at other agencies for years, I wanted to build something different. A way to help clients and future employees live their dreams.

For years, I had been inspired by the entrepreneur community. I started my Be the Best You Campaign after reading The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod and listening to the Side Hustle School podcast by Chris Guillebeau. All of these things were pushing me to just get started. So in 2018, I started making a business plan. I developed a concept, a name, and a plan of action. When Christmas rolled around that was pretty much all I could talk about at every holiday party we went to.

Every business owner I spoke to kept pushing me to get started. “What are you waiting for?” was asked frequently. It ended up being a few things that pushed me to take the leap, but even then I wasn’t exactly ready. What did give me confidence was having a solid business plan outlined and ready to go. As soon as I left my previous position I had a clear list of things to do get started and keep the momentum going.

As I approach the six-month mark of launching LINC Detroit, I wanted to encourage everyone out there to start making a plan to live your dreams. The reason I was able to move forward with such conviction was because I had the plan ready to go. I was talking to a few friends that are dreaming of starting their own businesses and my best advice is to just get started. Buy your website domain, start on a small scale until you’re ready to take the big leap. The more details you have mapped out, the more comfortable you will be making the change.

If you’ve started your own business, I would love to hear your journey. What inspires and motivates you to keep moving forward every day?

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Fitness Fashion

August 26, 2019 by 1 Comment

At the beginning of the year I wrote about my one little word, accomplish. One of the things I wanted to accomplish was establishing a more consistent workout routine. I’ve had a lot of starts and stops over the past few years and have been working hard to get consistent. One of the fun things I’ve been doing as part of my year of accomplishments is trying out some fun workout classes. So far I’ve tried out some kickboxing and Barre classes but I can’t wait to try more. The city I live in has a TON of different types of classes so I fully intend to try them all. What I am lacking in is cute workout clothes. I’m used to working out at home where nobody sees me so I definitely need to step up my outfits. I found a few things to keep me motivated for the next few weeks!

No Pain No Champagne ($16.99)

This is me in a tee! I am just doing this for the champagne, don’t let me fool you!

Zella Live In High Waist Pocket 7/8 Leggings ($59)

I am obsessed with Zella leggings, but these new ones are even better because they have pockets. Finally a place to put my phone instead of trying to stick it in my sports bra.

Heels Off Gloves On ($15.99)

This would be perfect for kickboxing…and it matches my pink boxing gloves!

Barre Socks ($12.99)

You need to wear special grippy socks for Barre classes and I loved these ombre ones.

Barre Hoppin‘ ($24.99)

I thought this shirt was cute for Barre class too.

Champion Spot Comfort® Sports Bra ($36.99)

I am in desperate need of some new sports bras. The girls are flying all over the place! What I discovered is that you have to search for “High-Impact Sports Bras” if you are doing cardio. Your walking sports bras are probably low or medium intensity and are not meant to secure the ladies when you are jumping around. This is next on my test list, but I would love to hear more of your recommendations!

Workin’ on My Fitness ($14.98)

If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I LOVE a graphic tee! Literally the one thing I can’t resist! Fabletics has some cute ones.

Nike Cortez Sneakers ($69.95)

So we know Meghan Markle is a fan of the Cortez shoes which means I need a pair! Meghan has the red logo ones, but I decided on the black ones instead.

Rise and Slay ($14.98)

Any self-respecting Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan needs this one…if only it came with Giles as your personal trainer.

I Don’t Sweat, I Sparkle Gym Towel ($9.31)

These classes kick my butt and I sweat a ton, so a sweat towel is necessary…especially in a barre or yoga class where you can’t have a slippery mat. Who knew that Etsy was the place to go for really cute gym towels?!

I would love to hear more tips on how you stay motivated to go to the gym and if you have any favorite workout gear. Let me know in the comments.

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The Miracle Morning – One Year Later

January 23, 2018 by 1 Comment

It’s been a whole year since I started doing The Miracle Morning and I’m amazed at the changes I’ve made in my life because of it. As I mentioned in my previous posts, I had a lot of personal changes going on and The Miracle Morning gave me a way to focus on my priorities and not lose myself in the process. If you missed my introduction post, you can see it here, my 60 day post here, my 90 day post here, and my 180 day post here.

Here are a few things I added to my morning routine over the last 365 days:

Silence

I’ve upped my Headspace meditation to 15 minutes from the original 10 minutes. I’m currently working through the focus pack. I also started reading the One Year Bible and I love everything I’m learning. I’ve never read through the Bible in its entirety and it is a breath of fresh air. I also have been trying my hand at memorizing Bible verses. So far I’ve memorized Psalm 23, John 3:16, Mark 12:30 and Psalm 1:2.

Affirmations

I’m still using the Think Up app for my affirmations, one of which has been to drink a gallon of water every day. Since I’ve introduced the Hidrate Spark into my day I’ve gotten a lot closer to hitting that goal on a consistent basis.

Visualization

This Tony Robbins is currently my visualization jam. I want to be a millionaire and I want to go to Fiji and this video has it all. Plus Tony is amazing:

Exercise

Since it’s been so cold out, Sport and I haven’t been able to walk too much so I’ve been hitting up my Gaia app and working out to old “The Firm” videos. I need to buy a set of 8 pound weights and move up to the next level from my 5’s and 3’s. I love doing Cardio Party on Fridays. I currently have this set of 20 pounds total, which are handy to have around.

Reading

Since my last post I’ve read The Body Book by Cameron Diaz, You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero, Let it Out: A Journey Through Journaling by Katie Dalebout, The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Gary Chapman, and Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life By What You Give by Jean Shafiroff.

Scribing

This is been the hardest thing to get into over the past year, but reading Katie Dalebout’s book really helped give me some direction.

This journey I’ve been on for the past year has changed me for the better in so many ways. If you’ve read The Miracle Morning and are looking for a time to start, now is the time. Join me on the journey for a brighter future! I promise you won’t regret it.

If you’ve already started your Miracle Morning I would love to hear how its been going for you.

For more Be the Best You posts, click here.




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Just Drink It with the Hidrate Spark

November 26, 2017 by 5 Comments

One of my long-term goals has been to drink more water. If you need more reasons why you should drink a gallon of water every day, here are some of the most beautiful celebrities in the world espousing the benefits.

I’ve tried a number of apps, like Plant Nanny (which I talked about here) and bought fun water bottles but nothing was really getting me to drink more water. When I started doing my Miracle Morning, I added a water-drinking affirmation “I will drink a gallon of water every day.” This has been hard for me to stick to. I started chugging water at certain points in the day if I hadn’t hit my hourly goals.

Back in December 2016, I started seeing ads for the Hidrate Spark, a smart water bottle and I saved the ad on Facebook to go back to later. When I added the goal to my Miracle Morning, I remembered the bottle and decided to try it for myself.

The Hidrate Spark was created in 2014 by a group of U of M students for the Google Startup weekend in Minnesota. They built this bottle in just 54 hours! That is amazing! About a year later, they were able to launch their business. Go Blue baby! After reading that, how could I resist springing for my own bottle? I settled on the teal color and waited for it to arrive.

The first day I had the bottle, I hit my water goals no problem. It was so fun! After the novelty wore off, I went back to my average daily amount and had to work up to hitting my goal. That’s where the Hidrate Spark really shows its value. You can set the bottle to light up when you are behind on your water goals with a variety of settings. It is pretty funny to be in a meeting and your water bottle starts blinking. I’ve received so many funny looks about this bottle at work. The second part and my favorite, is that the bottle texts me with all sorts of funny things to remind me to drink up. Here are some samples from the past few days:

The bottle is powered by two coin sized batteries that you can get at the drugstore. The company gives you an extra set to start with. I also loved that the Hidrate Spark connects with my Fitbit app so you can keep everything in one place. Another cool feature, is that the water intake goal changes based on your weight and the temperature. So if it’s hotter outside your goal will increase.

This app has the capability for you to compete with friends too. Unfortunately, I don’t have any friends with the Hidrate Spark yet so let me know if you get one and we can be friends!

After about 3 or 4 months after getting my first bottle, Hidrate Spark came out with a limited edition blue bottle and I couldn’t resist getting it. I figured it would be nice to have a second bottle so I could wash one and use the other and then swap them out. You can put the bottle and the top in the dishwasher, you just have to take off the sensor stick. I usually remove the little tie on the back too. They bring back this blue color every so often, so if you want to get that one, just sign up for their emails to be notified when it comes back.

On a side note, this is not a sponsored post, I purchased both of these bottles myself and love them. A few months ago I dropped my teal bottle one too many times and my cap broke and wouldn’t snap shut. I contacted the company about a replacement cap (which I would have purchased) and they asked me a few questions and ended up sending me the replacement for free! Talk about great customer service.

If you’re looking to increase your water intake or for a great gift idea for that health conscious person in your life, I highly recommend the Hidrate Spark. Let me know if you have any questions about the bottle and I would love to answer them.

For more Be the Best You posts, click here.




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The Miracle Morning – 180 Days

July 21, 2017 by 6 Comments

I just hit the 180 day mark on my Miracle Morning journey and thought I would give you a little update! In case you missed my introduction post, you can see it here, my 60 day post here, and my 90 day post here.

Something amazing is happening! Since my last post, a few of my friends have starting doing The Miracle Morning after seeing my process on a recent girls trip. I love that we are all pushing each other forward! Our texts have changed to sharing fun motivation posts and asking meditation questions. This by far is one of the best outcomes of starting this journey.

Achieving 180 days of The Miracle Morning requires a lot of discipline. When I get questions about my routine, many people ask how I have time to focus every day. My answer is that some days are more hectic than others. The important thing is consistency. If you can’t do a full blown workout – do a 10 minute ab workout. It’s about quantity more than quality on some days. The second you stop doing it, the easier it is to not start back up again the next day.

Here are a few things I’ve added to my routine in the past 90 days:

Essential Oils

I wrote a post on adding essential oils to my meditation and morning routine. Right now I am using peppermint, lavender, rosemary and lemon in my diffuser, but hope to add more to my collection soon. I had a lot of trips scheduled in June and brought peppermint along for the ride. It was so helpful to get me in the Miracle Morning mindset when I was in a different place. Smell is really powerful in bringing you back to your routine.

Meditation

I’m still loving the Headspace app and it recently received an update. One of the great new features is that you can change the time of your meditation daily instead of sticking with only 10 minutes for an entire pack. For example, if you have extra time you can up your meditation to 15 or 20 minutes and then go back to 10 minutes the next day. Headspace also shared this new video – if this doesn’t convince you of the importance of meditation I’m not sure what will:

Reading

I completed The Power of Consistency by Weldon Long and I highly recommend it. Weldon has an incredible back story as a 3-time convicted felon. If he can make affirmations and visualization work in an 8×8 prison cell, what’s your excuse? I would love to read his other book, The Upside of Fear which shares more of his personal journey.

If you’re still not doing The Miracle Morning, what’s stopping you? Watch the following video with Hal Elrod himself explaining how The Miracle Morning can transform your life:

How are you sticking to The Miracle Morning?

For more Be the Best You posts, click here.





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