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Friday Fun: Success Strategies from the Road

6/27/2014

The road. It can be an amazing place. It can also be a minefield of temptations if you don't prepare yourself ahead of time both mentally AND with a few healthy snacks in your bag for those moments when "the munchies" strike. My favorites are Quest bars & pre-portioned baggies of nuts. Delish!

Besides being well equipped to fight the munchies, here are a few other tips I learned on the road this week as I navigated a client site I affectionately call "Candyland" & three meals out each day with team members whose main priorities were most definitely NOT balanced meals & a healthy lifestyle.

Passion Fruit Tea & Spinach Feta Wrap!

Tip #1--There is ALWAYS a Healthy Option:

The first day we did a Starbucks run I got my normal morning beverage (a skinny vanilla latte @ 120 calories) & Pumpkin Bread (390 calories)--because who can resist pumpkin ANYTHING in the fall?! Not horrible...but not great either. And quite honestly, once I get too far behind on calories, I get this kind of, "Well...this day is a loss. Why not go completely nuts?! Pass the chocolate..."

SO...on day 2, when we did our Starbucks run, I made a different choice. Passion fruit tea with sugar-free vanilla syrup (ZERO calories) & a spinach feta wrap (290 calories). A better start to the day put me in a better mind space to decline chocolate. Well...sometimes. :-)

So many flavors so little time!

Tip #2--Tea Time for Two (or Three or Four) Cups:

Am I the only one who thinks coffee without half & half is a form of cruel & unusual punishment? Seriously...that creamy goodness & a little sweetener makes coffee one of the best things on earth. Love, love, love, LOVE!

BUT...half & half has calories...quite a few of them, actually. And the way I drink coffee, that adds up to a full meal across the course of the day. And so I figured if I wanted to keep drinking hot beverages to get me through the 8-10 hours of standing on my feet, I should switch to tea. Six cups later, I'd tried every variety without adding a single calorie to my daily total. SCORE!

Find a healthy eating buddy!

Tip #3--Find a Healthy Eating Buddy:
When there's someone else who wants to eat healthy, find that person & make a pact! I found out one of my students has the same love of rice cakes that I do. SO...we agreed to skip the bowls of candy & sugary granola bars to share something we knew we'd enjoy & feel better about...rice cakes with Justin's Nut Butter (we choose honey peanut butter...yummm!!!). Even when I wanted to grab a mini-Snickers, my buddy kept me on track. Brave man to get between me & the chocolate!

So there ya have it. A few tips I learned during a VERY challenging week. Did I fall prey to the "Candyland' temptations? Yes. I am only human, after all. But did I also find a way to make better choices as often as I could so that my foray into Candyland wasn't such a big deal? You betcha!! Make the road a place you love...especially if your life requires you be on it frequently. The adventure is a great one if you cut yourself a break when you find yourself smack dab in the middle of the Gumdrop Forest!

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Aloha, Healthy Desserts!!!

6/25/2014

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Perhaps you have heard of a mug cake? A single serving of yumminess that satisfies your sweet tooth without being left with an entire pan of said yumminess to tempt & taunt you for days to come?!

Personally, I think this idea is genius! And in my effort to continually refine what it means to eat healthy & live an 80/20 lifestyle (eat what makes my body happy 80% of the time & whatever the heck I want the other 20% of the time), I am constantly trying new ways to make mug cakes healthier, more delicious, & something I can be proud to eat!!

And I am happy to report, I have recently whipped up my mostest-bestest-awesomest mug cake ever! No…like ever, EVER! This puppy is to die for! I got the idea from a fresh pineapple, a can of pineapple juice, and the rum extract in my cabinet. Sounds like a cake-a-colada to me!

All of my mug cake recipes start off the same way, with 2 tablespoons of protein powder & 2 tablespoons of some other kind of dry mix (anything from various flours to cocoa powder to powdered peanut butter). Next I add some egg whites, Greek yogurt, stevia drops as needed, & extract of choice (vanilla is the default but there are some AMAZING flavors out there!). Finally I use water to get the batter to the right consistency before adding any chunky things to spice up the mix (carob chips, fruit, nuts, etc.) and pouring it in a coconut oil greased mug to pop in the microwave to bake (I use the term “bake” loosely as I do recognize real bakers may cringe at the idea of microwave baking. But I’m a girl on the go who refuses to let my sweet tooth get the better of me! So microwave baking it is!).

I TOTALLY invite you to use the guidelines above & create your own awesome variations. And do share when you make a particularly delicious one!!!

Now, without further ado, here is the recipe for my most favorite mug cake to date!

Ingredients for Cake:
2 tbsp. vanilla protein powder
2 tbsp. coconut flour
½ tsp. baking powder
2 tbsp. egg whites
2 tbsp. plain Greek yogurt
2 tbsp. pineapple juice
½ tsp. rum extract
Liquid stevia drops to taste (I use 5-6 drops)
2-3 tbsp. diced fresh pineapple

Mix dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients & mix well. Use extra egg whites or juice if it needs to be more “cake batter-y.” Fold in pineapple chunks & pour into a greased mug (I like to use a tall one so it doesn’t bubble over the top). Microwave for 1.5-2.5 minutes (depends on power of your microwave…start with 90 seconds & add time in 30-second increments until you find the right timing for your microwave). Once it is done, flip it upside down onto a plate & stick in the freezer for a few minutes to do a quick insta-cool before adding the frosting & garnish.

Ingredients for Frosting:
2 tbsp. plain Greek yogurt
2 tbsp. Walden Farms zero-calorie caramel dipping sauce
½ tsp. rum extract
Stevia drops to taste (I only use 1-2 as the caramel sauce is quite sweet)

Mix all ingredients & top cake when it is cool enough not to melt the frosting into a pool of goo.

Garnish:
If you wanna be fancy about it, add a pineapple slice & shredded coconut as desired for looks & the “ooh-la-la” factor. Now… eat that and tell me you don’t feel a cool breeze of deliciousness blowing through your kitchen!!

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Mommy Monday: Stubborn Swimmer

6/23/2014

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Forget terrible twos, THREE is really the most stubborn age. Our girls learn by age three that Mama & Daddy mean no the FIRST time they say it. By this age, they also learn what the term consequence means. My hubby and I (both first borns) used to grumble about our parents spoiling our younger siblings; we now understand why they did, and are guilty of it as well.

Enter baby girl #3; she was destined to be a princess. We are almost a decade older than when we began this parenting journey; more financially sound, way more tired, and much wiser as to how quickly each childhood stage slips away.We’ve enjoyed EVERY stage with our baby. She dresses to the nines when we run errands (and sometimes that means wearing a dinosaur costume to grocery shop). She ADORES her “seesters” and is always open to the next experience. Her latest adventure was swimming lessons, and this is where the term consequence was cemented into her vocabulary.

Day 1 Happy as a clam errrr Mermaid

Lesson 1: She’s beyond the moon excited to swim in the pool! She is going to swim “like a mermaid!”

Lesson 2: She’s not thrilled to lay on her back and float, but still thinks swimming is fun!

Lesson 3: So excited to get there to practice mermaid skills, and surprisingly, so ready to leave!

So stubborn!

The day before swim lesson #4, I casually mention she gets to swim the next day. Her response, “I do not like swimming, I am not going.” Honestly I ignored her in that moment.

The next day I tell her to hurry up and put on her favorite pink “polka-not” swim suit so we’re not late for lessons. She threw herself to the floor and SCREECHED, “I’m NOT swim!” The meltdown turned into a full blown tantrum on the drive to the pool.

I calmly replied, “You WILL attend your swim lesson. I don’t care if you sit there the whole time, but you will go.”

The Magical Mermaid Fins

Until that day I had no clue just how strong her will was. She sat at the edge of the pool, and no matter what her teacher said, my girl was not getting wet that day. After 15 minutes of stubbornness I whispered in my baby’s ear “if you do not get in the pool, your consequence will be grounding. That means sitting in your bed all day long as soon as we get home.”

She just sat there. And then her instructor brought out the MERMAID fins. Whatever fear or stubbornness was holding my girl hostage-could not stand against the opportunity to swim like a REAL MERMAID.So she got in the water. Five minutes later we found out why she was so difficult, she did not like JUMPING off the wall into the pool. The teacher convinced her to try, and this time, she did not let her head go below the surface. And just like that baby girl was swimming again

Super Swimmer!

On the drive home, I asked about the mermaid fins. She told me she really likes them, we need to buy her some, and that she can’t wait to come back to swimming again. Then she remarked about how she got in the water so no “cons-qwenzs” today.

Lesson 5 - I did it mom!!! I jumped! Jumping’s not my favorite. I swam like a mermaid! I love swimming! When will we swim again?

It’s humbling to watch your child conquer her fears and learn obedience at the same time.

This post brought to you by MH, mega-momma by day and blogging mammarrazzi by night! If you liked this story, please feel free to share with all the stubborn swimmer Moms/Aunts/Grandmas/Parents you know!

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Mommy Monday: Half-Crazy Part Five

6/15/2014

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Top 10 Things Needed To FINISH a Half Marathon:

1. Train. Even if you don’t follow it perfectly, I’m proof that a couch potato can complete a half marathon with 5 months of training. I have a friend who seems to be perfect at everything she attempts. She recently shared that she did not train for her first half marathon, and was disappointed with her results. I’m probably 3 dress sizes larger than her and I enjoyed my race way more than she did.

2. Have Fun. I stopped to take took tons of photos along the route and this helped the miles fly by.

3. Ask For Help. Friends will share music, but more importantly they will encourage you along the journey with texts, and rejoice with you on Facebook when your finisher photos upload. This is a big deal and your friends are there to celebrate with you!

4. Remember the first two miles are going to suck, so don’t start counting until mile 3.

5. Music makes the world go by. Faster. Add new songs to your play list right before your race.

6. Weird things happen to your body at mile 11. Expect it, embrace it & move on.

7. Trip Advisor is your friend. Take time to research the city you plan to visit. Life is short, plan ahead so you can eat where the locals eat. And if you’re in Cincinnati, OH or Covington, KY eat at Otto’s on Main.

8. Go Kid-Free. (if you can). I love my girls dearly, but I know they would have whined during the long walks across the city (I know because I did on the way back from the race). If you have this option, it’s a great way for you to take care of yourself for a weekend whether it’s with your hubby or a buddy, take a little time to focus on you.

9. A meltdown will happen ( just try to let it happen before the race).

10. Run For a Reason. I saw many great causes and memorials represented on numerous shirts. Every time I noticed one I said a prayer for the person they were running for. Pain leaves the body when you focus on a higher cause.

11. BONUS- if you’re looking for a fun race I highly recommend the FLYING PIG!

This post brought to you by MH, mega-momma by day and blogging mammarrazzi by night! To read Half Crazy Part I & II please visit:

Mommy Monday: Half-Crazy Part I: CLICK HERE!

Mommy Monday: Half-Crazy Part II: CLICK HERE!

Mommy Monday: Half-Crazy Part III: CLICK HERE!

Mommy Monday: Half-Crazy Part IV: CLICK HERE!

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Mommy Monday: Half-Crazy Part Four

6/9/2014

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After a 5AM wake up call, I drank some coffee, ate a little oatmeal, and got dressed. I probably went to the bathroom 5 times before we left. I’m a nervous pee-er (probably TMI). Hubby lugged the good camera in his backpack and we and 35,999 other people headed over to the race. I just happened to be at the start line when they played the National Anthem. I stopped with my hand over my heart and sang, and then I waited in line for the porta-potty for 25 minutes. There were still 5 people ahead of me when it was our turn to run. So I left the line and got started, only to stop 15 feet past the chip activation line so I could go to the bathroom. (Please save your judgment until after you give birth three times). And then I took off. I was so happy. The race atmosphere was buzzing with excitement. Miles 1-6 flew past me. Along the journey I saw: People waving happy face signs (just for me), hubby, Captain America, awesome back of shirt quotes, 60 year old “College Roomies” running together, Elvis, and more pigtails than I could count.

Another potty break and I was golden. Then I made it up a HUGE hill faster than I should have. I allowed myself to walk the hills guilt free. One unintentional stroke of genius was waiting until the last minute to do a Facebook poll of favorite running songs, and adding those to my playlist just before the event, so I had many new tunes to entertain me. And even without my high-speed music device, Cincinnati also brought out many of its talented musicians to serenade the participants. Fun and happiness was anywhere I looked.

Along the route, I was offered a plethora of Gatorade/goo/gummy fish & oranges. I was encouraged to tap a piece of poster board for more power (it worked), AND I wore blue to remember my fallen classmates in case I ever felt sore or tired along the way. I texted family and friends as I walked up the hills, and it was wonderful to receive their encouragement during the race. I was on cloud nine until I hit mile 11.5. Thankfully that was where they handed out the oranges, and my college roomy already prepared me for weird body experiences at this mile marker. I reminded myself I was wearing blue, I took a pic to document it, and moved out. A couple miles later I saw The Finish SWINE!

I crossed the line/Swine with my ARMS UP HIGH! I got my bling & took a picture with the PIG! What a moment. My aunt always sent me care packages when I was a cadet at West Point. On the outside of every box she used a stamp to write, “YOU CAN DO IT!” I saw a sign along this run, that said just this, and at the finish line I said to myself, “ You. DO. It!” I grabbed lots of food goodies, took some more YOU DO IT pictures, and then limped back to the hotel for some food and a hot shower.

It felt great to check this item off my list. What are you DOING that deserves an ARMS UP HIGH moment? I’d love to know.

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A Happy Accident With Mini-Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins

6/6/2014

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Ingredients purchased & ready to bake!

Not all success is intentional. I mean, it's not like we ever set out to fail... but if we are WILLING to fail at some things, we end up succeeding at others... sometimes accidentally!

This is what happened as I set out on a quest to make pumpkin biscotti the other day. Inspired by fall (and my sister bragging about the awesome batch she had made, yet conveniently run out of right before my last visit), I was hankering for some pumpkin goodness!!

But I've also been hankering to eat a little more cleanly. To cleanse my body after a week at the client site I now affectionately refer to as "Candyland." So, maybe biscotti & all the sugar contained within wasn't such a grand idea after all.

Enter Greatist.com & their fantabulous blog post about 83 healthy recipe substitutions. YES! This is just what I needed! Inspiration to make biscotti...only HEALTHY!

So off I ran to the store to buy canned beans (to use in place of white/bleached all purpose flour), unsweetened apple sauce (to use in place of white sugar), & flax meal...just 'cause I saw it in the baking aisle and thought it would add a little somethin'-somethin'. Back to the Batcave! Once there the whipping, mixing, chopping, counting, & SUBSTITUTING began!

Could this really be a failure score.

It was awesome...until I realize that substituting 2 wet ingredients for 2 dry ones would NOT yield a dough suitable for biscotti making.

BUT...all was not lost. For some bizarre reason I'd been drawn to 2 things that weren't on my shopping list...dark chocolate chips & a mini-muffin tin. So... I figured since I'd purchased them, I might as well put them to good use.

I poured the batter-like substance into the pan, sprinkled in a few chocolate chips, & 31-minutes later (I had to keep checking every 3 minutes because CLEARLY following recipes is not my strong suit, so I was in uncharted territory here), I had 24 of the most AMAZING and HEALTHY mini-muffins EVER (46 calories each--2g fat, 7g carb, 2 g protein & only 3g sugar!!)! Bite sized snacks that are good for you AND outrageously delicious!

I ended up getting more requests to share this recipe than any other I've

ever posted...and it was all because I'd failed!

LESSON:
Failure isn't always failure. It may be a raging success in disguise. If you are willing to fail, you try new things because you KNOW something great could come of it. And if not, well...at least you've got a good story to tell at your next cocktail party!

Please look below for full recipe. Make it as is or use it for inspiration to create your own raging success! But come back & share it...we wanna hear what you make!

RECIPE INGREDIENTS

1 can of Bush’s Cannellini beans (white kidney beans), drained/rinsed & patted dry
¼ cup Flax Meal (or your choice of flour...but this one’s lean & has great health bennefits!)
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
¼ cup of pumpkin purée
2 egg whites (or 3 tbsp of egg whites from a carton)
½ teaspoon teaspoon of baking powder
½ teaspoon of cinnamon
¼ teaspoon of nutmeg
Pinch of ginger
Pinch of cloves
Pinch of salt
½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
8 tbsp dark chocolate chips (or cacao nibs)
No-stick cooking spray

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix beans, applesauce, pumpkin puree, egg whites, & vanilla in a food processor (or mash up the beans really well first in a bowl & then add in the other wet ingredients).
Put flax meal, baking powder & spices in a small bowl & mix well. Dump them into the wet ingredients once both are well mixed. Blend thoroughly.
Use mini-muffin papers or non-stick cooking spray to coat your mini-muffin pan. Drop about 1 tablespoon of batter into each cup. Add & stir in 1 teaspoon of chocolate chips to each muffin. (that’s 11 chips if you wanna count ‘em out to ensure consistency like I freakishly did! Haha!!).
Bake for 30-35 minutes (depending on if you want them a little doughy in the center!!).
Makes 24 muffins. Nutrition info: 46 calories per muffin--2g fat, 7g carbs, 3g sugar, 2g protein.

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this post or think this nummy recipe might help a friend in need of a serving of sweet happiness please share. This post brought to you by Leslie Stein & the number 10. Because YOU...are...a...10!!!

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Weigh In Wednesday: The Bridesmaid Who Didn't Lose 40 Pounds

6/4/2014

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One of my best friends from childhood calls and pops the question, “will you stand up as a bridesmaid in my wedding?”. “YES!” I said to her as I secretly said to myself...

“I have 4 months to lose 40 pounds”

I’d moved away from my hometown after high school and hid my 180 pound weight gain from everyone. But, by the time this phone call came I had already found my journey back down the scale… with about 40 pounds left to lose. It didn’t matter what I had accomplished, this phone call put me in a panic. I felt that rush of anxiety of how people would talk back home once they saw that I was overweight. And… back came old habits. I began my search for the quickest way to lose weight.

Then came the next phone call. To send in my measurements for my dress. No problem! I got measured and decided to shave some inches from each measurement. Ok maybe more than some.

"Fast forward four months"

After crash dieting for the past few months, I found myself at the same weight. So the week before I left, in a last ditch effort, I drank tea. Which only left me feeling starving and weak as I left for the wedding a week later.

Arriving to the wedding destination, we all took a trip to pick up our dresses. As I carried mine to the dressing room, I was hoping my tea drinking week would help me fit in the damn thing. Not so much. After ripping the side trying to get it over my hips, I realized the zipper was miles apart from being able to connect. Since there wasn’t a window to crawl out of, I carried the dress out to my friends and explained that it was “a little tight”. Understatement of the year! After some confusion about how the measurements were so off, I acted as confused as them. We left with the dresses and drove straight to my grandmas house. After adding a huge sash and some awkward bows, we’d officially turned a pretty dress into a bridesmaids worst nightmare.

Wedding day came and as the girls stood there in their sexy dresses, I got strange looks as to why I was the only one in a dress that looked like a “prom dress gone wrong”.

By this point I was so hungry from drinking tea for a week, I felt like I was going to pass out. As the cake ceremony came, the bride had charms in the cake for us to choose from. Then we stood in line as she went to each one of us to explain what our charm selection meant to the huge crowd. I couldn’t stand it any longer and started eating the cake off my charm as she talked. “Heaven!! Cake!! Oh how I missed you!!” Then suddenly, I felt the charm slide down my throat. When the bride got to me, I had to quietly explain to her that I ate the charm.

Everyone just laughed, as I tried to hide the tears welling up in my eyes.

The wedding was beautiful and looking back I realize I made this a bigger deal than it actually was. We spent the next week having a great time with family and friends, ending the adventure going to Disneyland. That’s when I realized that my issue with weight was my own. That my friends didn’t really care if I’d put on a few pounds, they loved me for who I was.

To say I don’t try and look my best for monumental events would be a lie. But, to try and lose significant weight for a wedding, by starving myself, was absurd. How absurd is it really though? We put so much importance on what we weigh, what others will think of us, and wanting to be not just accepted… but dare I say it… envied by our peers. I admit, I’ve fallen victim to it even after this wedding fiasco years ago. But, as I get older and surround myself with people much wiser than me, I’m learning a very important tool…

I’m learning to love myself, unconditionally.

And…

Changing my lifestyle became more important than changing the scale.

This blog brought to you by our resident fitness goddess and trainer! Spreading the fun in fitness one squat, plank, yummy recipe, goofy story, and healthy tip at a time!

Thank you for reading my blog and if you find that this article has served you or if you know someone who is on their own fitness journey that might also be supported by this blog please share.

- Mel

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Mommy Monday: Half-Crazy Part Three (Kid Free)

6/2/2014

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One of the best parts of the weekend was dropping the girls at Nana & Papas. Seriously, kid-free weekends are the life blood of any marriage, and if it meant I had to run more than 13 miles to earn one, I was in. Incidentally this is our 13th year of marriage, so I was HALF hoping Hubby would run with me. As it turns out, I’m glad he decided to be my one-man support battalion instead. Hubby worked a full week, and then drove 5 hours to and from “The Queen City” (I later found out the hard way that Cincinnati is also known as the “City With Seven Hills”).

FRIDAY
This city is so amazing it welcomed us with FIREWORKS! YES, I’m narcissistic enough to claim those fireworks were just for me and my first half marathon! We stayed on the Kentucky side of the river, and minus a shower leak that flooded the carpet and sent us to a new room at midnight, it was delightful.

SATURDAY
I grabbed the good camera and we hiked the 1.25 miles up to the very exciting Expo and Packet Pick up. This included a jaunt across the beautiful blue John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge.

The Expo was electric & full of excited runners (many wore pig wings). I loved all the motivational t-shirts. I bought a few new sweaty bands and wore the blue one on race day. I also got a new running skirt. If you haven’t heard of this and aren’t in love with your thighs being on full display, I highly recommend them. At the race I was introduced to a new brand: Sparkle Skirts. Hubby laughs at my tendency to hoard “free” stuff, and this event sent us away with two bags full.

On our way back we enjoyed a Cinco De Mayo party at Fountain Square that included pics of some freshly shorn alpacas. As a mom, I always take pictures of fun stuff I know the kids would like. Back at the hotel we dropped our stash of goodies and prepared for dinner at Trip Advisor’s #1 recommendation: Otto’s Deli on Main. If I could teleport myself there right this second I would, and I’d swim in their soup.

And the serendipity was thick. Hubby noticed they handed him a menu of sheet music from Glen Miller. None other than, “I’ve Got a Gal in Kalamzoo!” Yes there really is a Kalamazoo, and yes I am a freckle-faced gal who lives there.

Back at the hotel we dropped our stash of goodies and prepared for dinner at Trip Advisor’s #1 recommendation: Otto’s Deli on Main. If I could teleport myself there right this second I would, and I’d swim in their soup. And the serendipity was thick. Hubby noticed they handed him a menu of sheet music from Glen Miller. None other than, “I’ve Got a Gal in Kalamzoo!” Yes there really is a Kalamazoo, and yes I am a freckle-faced gal who lives there.

Me: Bowl of Tomato Dill Soup (I would have licked the bowl if Hubby wasn’t with me) & Brie Berry Salad

Hubby: Shrimp & grits (best he’s had since Charleston; I hate shrimp and grits and he had to growl at me so I would stop taking bites);

It was so good we made a reservation for brunch the next day. We walked back to the hotel, and I nervously prepared my race day outfit and went to bed.

SUNDAY
The Race! (to be continued)

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Afraid To Be Beautiful

5/30/2014

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Is it better to be "good" than a "sexy little devil?"

I spent the past week with 4 of the most amazing women on the planet. Each brilliant, dynamic, & deeply soulful in her own way. Lots of cross over & similarities... but also a wonderful mix of differences that helped us grow each other in our desire to serve the world.

I came here because I am all about leadership. Not in the traditional sense, but in a new way of thinking about & looking at leadership. I believe everyone is a leader. AND... I have a hard time being a leader myself.

Leadership can be scary. When I do something I feel strongly about that someone disagrees with, I get criticized, which is no fun at all. In fact it has happened recently and made me pull back from who I am as a leader. Whispering truths instead of shouting them. Editing myself instead of letting my words & ideas flow. Hog tying my inner leader & throwing her in a closet to wait out the criticism.

Why be embarrassed!? I am the master of GOOF!

But the criticism isn't stopping. In fact, I think I've joined the band wagon. In order to not be seen as an arrogant, self-righteous know-it-all, I have spent more time highlighting my mistakes, sharing my flaws, and dimming my light to make sure the nay-sayers don't get any more annoyed.

While I'm not sure what the nay-sayers are thinking post light-dimming, I do know I've annoyed another group...the people who love me. The people who want me to shine bright & share what I know. The people who accept my flaws, acknowledge my mistakes & know that behind them lays depth, wisdom, & something else I've been wary of sharing. My beauty.

Does it get more arrogant than to say I am beautiful? Good heavens... what a jack ass, right?

Wrong.

Because if all I do is share the other side of me--my goofy, silly, who-needs-make-up-or-a-hairbrush side--I am in essence saying beauty doesn't matter. That it's not ok. That people who strive to be beautiful, both on the inside & outside, are somehow less than those who are willing to be vulnerable & share their flaws.

I realized that once I have become really good at something (like sharing my goofy, silly, flaw-ridden self), it is no longer vulnerable to do so. Now it's second nature.

What would be really vulnerable is to admit that when I stand in front of the mirror... I like who I see. That I love my long shiny hair & full pouty lips. That I think I have a cute butt and great legs. That my B-cup boobs make me really, really happy because I can go bra-optional & not worry how they look. That for the first time in my life, I am super proud of how I look in a bikini.

It's far more vulnerable for me to share a picture of me looking sexy & desirable at 39 than it is to show a collage of my make-up removal gone awry (which I took pictures of, for goodness sake!!). Being goofy has become my protection mechanism.

Scared to be seen this way... what will people think?

No one wants to hurt a harmless goofball.

But lots of women find their "inner mean girl" and start a "who does that bitch think she is?" dialogue when a beautiful woman walks in the room. I know because I've done it. And I also know because I've been hurt by it.

So I wrapped myself in a sea of goofy costumes, silly faces, & things many people find outlandish. They would never do it, so they call me brave. It might have been when I started & didn't know how it would go over. But now I do it all the time... so I am not sure it's brave anymore.

Leadership isn't about being comfortable (which I totally am in my silly, goofy, crazy mode). Leadership is risking discomfort for a bigger conversation. It's opening up to the possibility that someone might unleash her inner mean girl on me... but knowing the risk is worth it if owning my beauty, my brilliance, & my light encourages even one other woman to do the same.

I will keep claiming, being, & doing the things I am comfortable with... mostly because I think the world needs them. But as of today, I am declaring my intention to claim the stuff that scares the crap out of me too. My beauty. My power. My brilliance. Not out of arrogance... but out of service.

Because if I'm scared to do it, someone else is too. And maybe seeing this post will inspire her to claim her own utter freaking AMAZINGNESS!!

My Scary as Hell Leadership Declaration

I love myself.
I love my life.
I love my body just as it is.
I am beautiful.
I am powerful.
I am sexy.
I am desirable.
I am brilliant.
I inspire people.
I spread joy & delight.
I am a shining light.
I make the world a better place just by being me.

Thank you for reading!! If you enjoyed this post or think this declaration might help a woman you know claim her beauty, brilliance, power, or more...please share!! Special thanks to Stacie Frazier of Haute Shots Beauty & Boudoir Photography for helping me find the outer beauty that matches what I know to be my inner beauty. I cannot recommend her work highly enough!!!

This post brought to you by Leslie Stein & the number 10. Because YOU...are...a...10!!!

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Take a Dip Into Self-Reflection: I Am a Swan

5/29/2014

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Swans look calm, beautiful, and poised... BUT underneath it all they're paddling like hell trying to look good and get it right! They are known to have fierce temperaments and extremely strong wings that make for swift actions when either threatened or passionately motivated to fight or take flight.

Vulnerability is the swan's kryptonite and often times the hardest emotion for them to display on the surface. They are also considered sophisticated, gentle, and noble creatures linked to those in their lives that have imprinted on their hearts. Yup... that's me! My own personal profile, my inner animal spirit, and the reflection I see staring back at me from the water below.

As the youngest of three siblings (with two older brothers) I took a lot of pride in bringing home straight A's, going to band camp (yeah I played the flute), getting the most awards in school for perfect attendance, and gaining acceptance and admiration from my family and friends. The outer appearance of my swan like persona used to be so much more important to me in my 20's when I aimed to have the nicest car, make as much money as possible, and portray perfection in both my personal and professional life. Mistakes used to drive me crazy and constructive criticism used to make me stay up burning the midnight oil wondering how it couldn't possibly have been me... definitely A CONSPIRACY! Don' worry I'm not kidding myself with this blog, I still try to look good and get it right...

BUT I have gotten a lot better about embracing my imperfections perfectly.

Although I am arguably one of the most stubborn of all the kids in my family my DIPS underneath the surface (with my rear end exposed) have taught me a few things along the way and given me valuable perspectives.The most valuable lessons that I have learned have come from all the RIGHT MISTAKES I have made in my life. Every fight I have been in, failed marriages or relationships, and the bankruptcy that followed have ultimately shown me VULNERABILITY is not a sign of weakness, that relationships have no DRIVERS MANUAL, and the tangible things in my life never brought me as much happiness as the PEOPLE in my life do.

Looking up from underneath, from inside of you, what do you see? What animal do you most resemble, what is in your reflection? What have your DIPS taught you and how have you let them serve you in your life?

Thank you for reading my blog and if you find that this article has served you or if you know someone who might also be supported by this blog please share.

- Tricia

This blog brought to you by Tricia Sarahs, Super Geek and Chief Optimism Officer!

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Afraid To Be Beautiful

Take a Dip Into Self-Reflection: I Am a Swan

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It felt great to check this item off my list. What are you DOING that deserves an ARMS UP HIGH moment? I’d love to know.

BLOGGERS

Leslie RileyAKA SUPERSOL

MH AKA MAMMARAZZI

Archives

Categories

Leslie Riley
AKA SUPERSOL

MH
AKA MAMMARAZZI