1) Start planning early: Make a list of the things you need to do, buy, and prepare for the holidays. This will help you stay organized and avoid last-minute stress.

2) Give back. We get so wrapped up in the busyness of the holidays that we may overlook giving back to those who need us the most. Sign up for delivering meals, donate to food panties, buy extra items for toy-drives. Get involved in a local organization where you can be hands on.

3) Try setting a budget: Determine how much you can afford to spend on gifts, decorations, and food for the holidays! Or if you have time make homemade gifts: Consider making DIY gifts like personalized photo albums. These gifts can be very meaningful and more cost-effective.

4) Organize your holiday decorations: Sort through your holiday decorations, toss anything that’s damaged or no longer needed, and organize the rest so they’re easy to find.

5) Plan your holiday menu: Decide what dishes you want to serve and make a shopping list of all the ingredients you’ll need.

6) RSVP for holiday events: Check your calendar and only commit to one weekend night so you have the other to enjoy your family or to relax. If you attend a party or event on both Friday and Saturday nights in addition to your work week or a weeknight event it will take its toll. I only commit to one party a weekend and one weeknight event so I know I have a free weekend day/night to shop, wrap or unwind!

7) If you are traveling remember that it won’t always be convenient. Flight delays, busy airports, weather issues are all out of your control. Breathe into the chaos and let go of what you can’t foresee.

8) Prepare your guest room: If you’re hosting guests for the holidays, prepare your guest room in advance with fresh linens, towels, and toiletries.

9) Take care of yourself: The holidays can be stressful or joyful, so make sure to take care of yourself by exercising, getting enough sleep, and taking breaks when you need them.

10) Enjoy the moments, Look forward to this season instead of creating unnecessary thoughts of anxiety and stress. The holiday season is a fun and joyous time for togetherness. Create memories and celebrate along the way.

Happiness is not meant to be this big, all consuming “thing”. It is not something we should be in pursuit of; it is not always an “aha” moment nor is it infinite. Happiness is found in the smallest, little things. It exists in the acceptance of the fact that we will always balance the light in our lives with the dark. Happiness exists in the quiet, in a morning cup of coffee, in the sound of our children laughing, Real happiness is finding the humans that will take care of you and not in a materialistic way, but rather, who take care of your soul and become your tribe. True friends or significant others that “see” you. Happiness is all around us in the smallest ways, but we have stopped paying attention because we were searching for something more, something BIG. But it’s the flowers you see on your walk, it’s the rays of sunshine reflecting on the water, it’s the light snow falling to mother earth, it’s the way your face lights up when you hear your favorite song or when you spend time with people who fill you with the sunniest kind of hope!

Here are a few ways we can see the happy around us:

1.    Practice gratitude: Expressing gratitude for the small joys in life can cultivate a sense of happiness and contentment… Take a moment each day to reflect on the things you appreciate and write them down in a gratitude journal or simply mentally note them.
2.    Be present: Fully engage in the present moment and pay attention to your surroundings. Notice the beauty in nature, enjoy the taste of your favorite food, or savor a warm cup of tea.
3.    Engage your senses: Pay attention to the sensory experiences around you. Listen to your favorite music, dance around your living room, feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, or enjoy the aroma of your favorite scented candle. Engaging your senses can heighten your awareness and bring joy to everyday experiences.
4.    Find joy in simple activities: Take pleasure in activities that bring you joy, no matter how small. It could be reading a book, taking a walk, cooking a delicious meal, or spending time with friends and loved ones. Focus on the experience itself rather than the outcome.
5.    Cultivate positive relationships: Surround yourself with positive and supportive people who uplift your spirits. Enjoy meaningful conversations, a lot of laughter, and shared experiences.

Remember, finding happiness in the little things is a mindset and a practice. By shifting your focus and savoring the present moment, you can find joy and contentment in the smallest of experiences. Learning how to embrace the glimmers of light when the world seems dark.

1) To be present with friends and family

2) Celebrating enhances our memory

3)To feel grateful and to attract abundance

4) To appreciate the small along with the big moments in our lives

5)To reflect on how far we have come

6)To inspire yourself and others around you

7) Sense of pride and knowing you can accomplish anything you set your mind to

8)Forging new frontiers

9)To be thankful for traditions, holidays, epic events, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, accomplishments, victories, promotions, success, engagements, marriages, beginnings and even endings!

10) Celebrating evokes PURE JOY, fun, laughter and sense of togetherness and community.

CHEERS! 

Whether your raise a glass of our crisp, bright effervescent Blanc de Blancs or add our Glimmer Lotion for sparkling skin there is always a reason to celebrate.

Send a 3 pack to your STELLLARGIRL-friend to congratulate them or to celebrate them.

1 💪🏼 Exercise. Implement a daily fitness routine into your calendar. Actually schedule your workout, your power walk, your Pilates class etc. in your calendar. It’s non-negotiable. Whether it is a heavy lifting day, a HIIT day, a run, yoga, swimming, biking, whatever you need to do to exercise daily, do it. Get outdoors if you can and in addition to your scheduled workout try to go for a stroll after dinner and stretch 10-15 minutes before your night-time routine.

2 💤  Sleep.  We all know that 7-8 hours are recommended. Work backwards, figure out when you need to wake up and make sure you start your wind-down nightly routine 30 minutes before you actually need to be asleep. Your body needs sleep just as much as it needs to move throughout the day. While you sleep your cells regenerate, your immune system resets and you get sick less often. You are able to maintain a healthy weight. Having less than 7 hours of sleep a night increases your risk of serious health problems like diabetes, heart disease just to name a few. Getting adequate sleep reduces stress and improves your mood. Your brain activity slows down, so you are more productive at work, at home or at school. Aim for 8 hours daily and if you get 7 or 7.5 you are on the right path to improving your longevity and quality of life!

3  📖 Read. The more you read, the more you learn. Yes, audio books count but not as much as the act of reading off a kindle or a paper book. Dive into something you are interested in. If you don’t like the book, it is easy to put it down and start a new one. Reading exercises the brain, is a form of free entertainment (head to the library), it improves literacy, concentration, and the ability to focus. Reading is motivational, it reduces stress and improves sleep. The best time to read is 20-30 minutes before bed. It can’t hurt to try. Turn off Netflix and pull out a book.

4 ⛔💩 Cut out the crap. By this I mean cut out the toxic people and the needless scrolling on social media. These go hand in hand. Your energy field could be full of crap. If someone doesn’t cheer you on, champion you and is constantly negative or complaining all the time, it is time for you to not hold space for that person and make room for positive, like-minded people in your relationships. Same goes with social media. Stop scrolling, stop comparing and start cleaning out your "own four walls". Clean or organize one drawer, one closet, one room at a time. Reducing your time on social media dramatically reduces anxiety, depression, loneliness, and fear of missing out. Limiting time (set a 30-minute timer) may improve psychological well-being on multiple dimensions.

5 💰  If you don’t already save $$$ it Is time to start today. The first thing you need is to open up a savings account, have auto withdrawals every paycheck to your saving account even if it's only $50-$100 to start. After your first year of savings, open a Roth IRA and if you are under fifty years old, max it out at $6000.00 a year or if you are over fifty you can contribute up to $7500.00 a year. Roth IRAs allow you to pay taxes on the money going into your account and the withdrawals are tax-free. It is a starting point for those new to saving money. Being prepared, having 4-6 months of savings in case of a job loss, illness, emergency or otherwise will give you peace of mind and that is priceless. Seek out a financial advisor for retirement and long term financial goals but start today. Drop into your bank and start somewhere. Getting your finances in order must be a priority. Stop going out for your daily Starbucks, cut down to twice a week, whatever it takes. Make one of your daily self-celebration practices putting that $5-7 dollars a day in shoe box and by the end of the year you could have saved around $2000.00.

6 🍷 Limit your consumption of alcohol. This can often be a touchy subject. Some people drink a glass of wine every single night of the week. All their social outings revolve around drinking. Unless I am on vacation, I am extremely conscious of only drinking one to two glasses of sparkling wine a week. That could look like one on a Thursday night and one on a Saturday night or two glasses on one night. Social drinking 5 plus nights a week is detrimental to our overall health and well-being. Daily social drinkers have more anxiety, depression, feelings of being overwhelmed all the time, problems sleeping, problems losing weight and the list goes on. I allow myself more freedom on vacation with alcohol. I like to celebrate with a glass of sparkling of course!  This guide is to just be aware of how many drinks you may consume in a week. You may surprise yourself and think you are only having three or four but actually consuming 10 or more a week. Reducing daily consumption of alcohol will improve your sleep, your mood, your levels of concentration, you will be better hydrated, your memory will improve, you’ll find it easier to lose weight, your skin will be brighter and your will most likely have a lot more energy!

These 6 behavior habits are implemented daily by the most successful people and are critical for personal and professional growth. These are immediate behaviors that can improve your quality and longevity of life. Whether you implement all 6 or just a few you are heading in the right direction. Be proud of yourself for reading this. Start one today! xo

Ask yourself, “How bad do you want to feel good?”. Everyone has 5 minutes and it is time to take action, get out of your own way, you are ready. It only takes 5 minutes a day!

Journaling is new to me, I have practiced positive self-talk for about a decade but up until I started to write it all down it has been life-changing. It sets my days up for success and I get to self-celebrate all the positives every single evening before bed. It’s basically a snapshot of your experiences, it’s super simple. It’s a commitment you can stick with. It harnesses the healing power of gratitude to help you re-focus on the good. Think of it like brushing your teeth every morning and every night. It eventually happens without thought and it is effortless and crucially beneficial to your physical and mental health.

Here are 3 simple prompts for the morning   and 2 for the evening 

Morning 

I am grateful for
1.
2.
3.

What would make today great?
1.
2.
3.

Daily affirmation (this one was tough for me so I will give you an example…I am leaning into less stress & more patience.
1.

Evening 

Highlights of my day...
1.
2.
3.

What did I learn today?
1.

Simple right? No excuses! Wake up late/write anyway, late for work/write anyway, tired/write anyway, headache/write anyway. Write down what you can control. Your daily affirmation is a statement of what you want in your life. Repeatedly writing down the words leads to belief and action and a deeper conviction and then change!!!

Happy journaling! Start “brushing” your mind.

1) Your mindset needs to be functioning at an elevated level. You need to strengthen your brain and your subconscious thoughts. Think of your biceps, if you want stronger biceps, you need to workout and lift weights; simple. Same thing goes for the brain, it is a “muscle” that you need to exercise. You need to work on changing it and you need to actually do the work; aka “heavy lifting/mind strengthening”. It won’t happen overnight. The way you “see” yourself and talk to yourself on the daily, the way you wake up in the morning the way you set yourself up for success everyday need to be positive. If you constantly compare yourself to others, complain, talk negatively, you will not be living with an elevated, productive mindset. What your brain consumes is also just as important. Are you consuming “junk”, like always watching reality tv, mindlessly scrolling social media or surrounding yourself with energy depleting people? Or are you reading, learning, listening to inspirational /educational podcasts and surrounding yourself with people who will champion you and want you to succeed? The choice is yours. Remove the “junk” and replace it with joyful brain fuel.

2) Movement. I cannot stress this one enough. If you are not moving your body every single day you will not live a long, healthy life. There is no such thing as a day off from movement. You don’t have to run 10K or go to the gym every day but you do have to move every single day. You need to walk for 10 minutes after every meal, you need to stretch everyday and you need to get off the couch and find a hobby that is active. It could be bowling, table tennis, something that is not sedentary. The most healthy people in the world walk every day. Be grateful to be able to move your body. For those who cannot walk, you can still move the muscles you are able. Our bodies are meant to move. Movement is medicine. We live in a society that is not built around “health care” it is built around “sick care”. It is unfortunate. So, with daily movement and removing the “dead food/processed” food in your diet, your longevity with improve tremendously.

3) Here comes the magic. True fact, there is no “magic pill” to fix anything quick but everyone has this “magic” or “super-power” within themselves and once they tap into it, their possibilities for a fulfilled life are endless. Find your passion, your purpose, your “magic”; if you find what illuminates your soul and do that every day you will lead the most meaningful, magical life full of joy, hope and happiness. If you level up your mindset, if you move your body, if you choose you then there is nothing holding you back. If you live in the hopeless mentality you will stay there, If you are leading a life that is 1% better than the day before you are winning. You are creating magic.

STELLARGIRL is a mindset, wellness, style, travel & guide; a daily self-celebration practice where we celebrate our wins, own our worth and inspire others to do the same. Here are some ways to celebrate YOU every day! Self-admiration habits which will set you up for success every single day!

Smile as soon as you wake up, I swear it sets the tone for your day!
Before your feet hit the floor, say out-loud “today is going to be….” add whatever positive word to fill in the blank, amazing, productive, busy, fun filled, etc.
Stretch, exercise, walk, workout. Movement is key.
Take a cool/cold shower or at least end with 1 minute of cold water.
Put on your STELLARGIRL glimmer lotion.
Dress up and get ready.
Write yourself a love letter.
Take a selfie and don’t edit it.
 Call a friend and check in, don’t text.
Move your body every few hours if you can.
Drink a gallon of water daily.
Get a mid-day latte & cheers to your own company.
Organize your photos in albums, or clean out your space/closet/a drawer at a time.
Organize your music on your phone into playlists.
Plan your next adventure or vacation, it will give you something to look forward to.
 Elevate your legs against the wall for 10-15minutes and try to go to bed around 9:30/10 and put away your phone.

Try to stop stressing and being overwhelmed!  You can’t fix everything, and you can’t control anything.
The only thing you can fix is staring at you in the mirror. The only things you can control are your reactions.
If you start with yourself, take responsibility of your health, your happiness, your loved ones, healing past traumas to look towards your success in whatever that means to you, you will be living a full, stellar life.

When you better yourself, you can better those around you. Start with a smile, you will make your world more beautiful.
If you prioritize sleep and rest you will have more energy to make more of an impact in your daily and those around you.
if you laugh more, you won’t sweat the small stuff as much! Try smiling when you talk on the phone or when you are speaking to someone. Your positive attitude will inspire others!
Have fun, when was the last time you let go, enjoyed those around you, made plans with girlfriends or took your kids or yourself to the park and sat on a swing?
Sweat every day, we are not meant to be sedentary, move your body every 90 minutes and exercise first thing in the morning.
Celebrate the small daily successes, you win every day you don’t realize it!

Mediocracy has left the building! Only you have the power to control your thoughts, your words and your actions. So ask yourself why you would be okay with being “just okay”? Nothing changes if you don’t change it.Try these easy, free tips to shift from an “okay” day to a “stellar” day

 Do something hard first thing in the morning. Take a 2 minute cold shower, hustle during your workout until you drip sweat, or continue your fast until noon. One win leads to many wins throughout the day!
Limit non-work social media scrolling to 30 minutes a day.
Vent about JOY not about problems.
Smile when you talk. Seriously, try it. It automatically changes your intonation & sets the tone for a more productive meeting or conversation.
On a work day, get outside every 2 hours for 10-15 minutes a time. Walk barefoot on the grass, the ground or even the snow. Grounding to nature is healing for the body and the brain. Connecting to the earth’s energy rejuvenates our soul. So much of our days are spent indoors, in our cars and in our shoes, get outside and reconnect to the energy of Mother Earth. 

Let me know if you implement this into your day, send me an email at hello@stellargirl.com or slide into my dms. @stellargirlofficial. I would love to share your slay!

 Take responsibility for your life, it is one of the most powerful decisions you can make.
 There are 1440 minutes in a day, use them wisely and spend time with those who elevate you and reciprocate your energy.
 Grow & learn with educational and inspirational podcasts.
 Read more or escape with an audio book over watching Netflix.
 Spend time with people and not your phone.
 You are limitless, mediocrity is not an option in any aspect of your life.
 Smile when you speak, listen to how your intonation shifts  – your voice is full of kindness and positivity.
 Happiness is directly related to mindset & peace of mind is priceless. prioritize yourself.

I am never one for New Years resolutions but here is how to realistically set yourself up for an even better year!

Write down in your journal or type in the notes section of your phone the categories of your life you want to improve on and rate them on a scale of where they currently are and where on that scale you would like them to be.

Here are some helpful categories.

Wellness, physical fitness, your finances, your relationship with your-self, finding love, number of books to read, adventures, vacations, new business venture, start a 401K, plant a garden,  learn a new skill (example chess/a language), apply for a grant, start writing a book, get a pet, learn to play an instrument, follow a recipe, or start a new job or your own LLC.

Rate where you are in that category of your life. For example if you choose your physical fitness and it’s currently at a 3 and you want it to be at a 10. What are the 5 things you are going to go every single day to get it to that 10. Realistic implementations like like walking for  30 minutes a day; no excuses no matter what the weather, if you are tired, or even if you are traveling you must get 30 minutes of movement in every single day. You must take the stairs whenever possible, instead of waiting in the car while you kids are at dance practice or piano lessons you take a walk. If you work at a computer all day, set a reminder tone on your phone and stand up and get outside, do 20 squats, 50 calf raises and 10 deep breaths, stretch for 5 minutes before bed…See, easy right. Those are 5 daily realistic things you can do to better your fitness every single day.

Do that with all your categories. Start with only 3 categories so you are not overwhelmed. When you have accomplished them that day, take a moment to acknowledge them and self-celebrate. When they become incorporated in to your lifestyle on the daily, you can add another category.

Something as simple as this will give you instant gratification and reward instead of that “goal” that “resolution” that may seem too unrealistic and that you may give up too quickly.

Remember, it is all up to you. You have been given the gift of time, it is up to you how you use it!

1) Start planning early: Make a list of the things you need to do, buy, and prepare for the holidays. This will help you stay organized and avoid last-minute stress.

2) Give back. We get so wrapped up in the busyness of the holidays that we may overlook giving back to those who need us the most. Sign up for delivering meals, donate to food panties, buy extra items for toy-drives. Get involved in a local organization where you can be hands on.

3) Try setting a budget: Determine how much you can afford to spend on gifts, decorations, and food for the holidays! Or if you have time make homemade gifts: Consider making DIY gifts like personalized photo albums. These gifts can be very meaningful and more cost-effective.

4) Organize your holiday decorations: Sort through your holiday decorations, toss anything that’s damaged or no longer needed, and organize the rest so they’re easy to find.

5) Plan your holiday menu: Decide what dishes you want to serve and make a shopping list of all the ingredients you’ll need.

6) RSVP for holiday events: Check your calendar and only commit to one weekend night so you have the other to enjoy your family or to relax. If you attend a party or event on both Friday and Saturday nights in addition to your work week or a weeknight event it will take its toll. I only commit to one party a weekend and one weeknight event so I know I have a free weekend day/night to shop, wrap or unwind!

7) If you are traveling remember that it won’t always be convenient. Flight delays, busy airports, weather issues are all out of your control. Breathe into the chaos and let go of what you can’t foresee.

8) Prepare your guest room: If you’re hosting guests for the holidays, prepare your guest room in advance with fresh linens, towels, and toiletries.

9) Take care of yourself: The holidays can be stressful or joyful, so make sure to take care of yourself by exercising, getting enough sleep, and taking breaks when you need them.

10) Enjoy the moments, Look forward to this season instead of creating unnecessary thoughts of anxiety and stress. The holiday season is a fun and joyous time for togetherness. Create memories and celebrate along the way.

Everyone wants a fast fix, instant gratification. Well, here are 6 behavior habits that can change your life starting today!

1 💪🏽.png Exercise. Implement a daily fitness routine into your calendar. Actually schedule your workout, your power walk, your Pilates class etc. in your calendar. It’s non-negotiable. Whether it is a heavy lifting day, a HIIT day, a run, yoga, swimming, biking, whatever you need to do to exercise daily, do it. Get outdoors if you can and in addition to your scheduled workout try to go for a stroll after dinner and stretch 10-15 minutes before your night-time routine.

2 💤.png Sleep. We all know that 7-8 hours are recommended. Work backwards, figure out when you need to wake up and make sure you start your wind-down nightly routine 30 minutes before you actually need to be asleep. Your body needs sleep just as much as it needs to move throughout the day. While you sleep your cells regenerate, your immune system resets and you get sick less often. You are able to maintain a healthy weight. Having less than 7 hours of sleep a night increases your risk of serious health problems like diabetes, heart disease just to name a few. Getting adequate sleep reduces stress and improves your mood. Your brain activity slows down, so you are more productive at work, at home or at school. Aim for 8 hours daily and if you get 7 or 7.5 you are on the right path to improving your longevity and quality of life!

3 📖.png Read. The more you read, the more you learn. Yes, audio books count but not as much as the act of reading off a kindle or a paper book. Dive into something you are interested in. If you don’t like the book, it is easy to put it down and start a new one. Reading exercises the brain, is a form of free entertainment (head to the library), it improves literacy, concentration, and the ability to focus. Reading is motivational, it reduces stress and improves sleep. The best time to read is 20-30 minutes before bed. It can’t hurt to try. Turn off Netflix and pull out a book.

4 📵.png💩.png Cut out the crap. By this I mean cut out the toxic people and the needless scrolling on social media. These go hand in hand. Your energy field could be full of crap. If someone doesn’t cheer you on, champion you and is constantly negative or complaining all the time, it is time for you to not hold space for that person and make room for positive, like-minded people in your relationships. Same goes with social media. Stop scrolling, stop comparing and start cleaning out your “own four walls”. Clean or organize one drawer, one closet, one room at a time. Reducing your time on social media dramatically reduces anxiety, depression, loneliness, and fear of missing out. Limiting time (set a 30-minute timer) may improve psychological well-being on multiple dimensions.

5 💵.png If you don’t already save $$$ it Is time to start today. The first thing you need is to open up a savings account, have auto withdrawals every paycheck to your saving account even if it’s only $50-$100 to start. After your first year of savings, open a Roth IRA and if you are under fifty years old, max it out at $6000.00 a year or if you are over fifty you can contribute up to $7500.00 a year. Roth IRAs allow you to pay taxes on the money going into your account and the withdrawals are tax-free. It is a starting point for those new to saving money. Being prepared, having 4-6 months of savings in case of a job loss, illness, emergency or otherwise will give you peace of mind and that is priceless. Seek out a financial advisor for retirement and long term financial goals but start today. Drop into your bank and start somewhere. Getting your finances in order must be a priority. Stop going out for your daily Starbucks, cut down to twice a week, whatever it takes. Make one of your daily self-celebration practices putting that $5-7 dollars a day in shoe box and by the end of the year you could have saved around $2000.00.

6 🍷.png Limit your consumption of alcohol. This can often be a touchy subject. Some people drink a glass of wine every single night of the week. All their social outings revolve around drinking. Unless I am on vacation, I am extremely conscious of only drinking one to two glasses of sparkling wine a week. That could look like one on a Thursday night and one on a Saturday night or two glasses on one night. Social drinking 5 plus nights a week is detrimental to our overall health and well-being. Daily social drinkers have more anxiety, depression, feelings of being overwhelmed all the time, problems sleeping, problems losing weight and the list goes on. I allow myself more freedom on vacation with alcohol. I like to celebrate with a glass of sparkling of course! This guide is to just be aware of how many drinks you may consume in a week. You may surprise yourself and think you are only having three or four but actually consuming 10 or more a week. Reducing daily consumption of alcohol will improve your sleep, your mood, your levels of concentration, you will be better hydrated, your memory will improve, you’ll find it easier to lose weight, your skin will be brighter and your will most likely have a lot more energy!

These 6 behavior habits are implemented daily by the most successful people and are critical for personal and professional growth. These are immediate behaviors that can improve your quality and longevity of life. Whether you implement all 6 or just a few you are heading in the right direction. Be proud of yourself for reading this. Start one today! xo

Traveling for work and play takes me away from my “normal” eating regimen; when I get home I can’t wait to get back to fueling my body with makes me feel energized, keeps my gut healthy and my skin glowing. However, when I travel to Europe I do feel my best because there are no preservatives in their food, no dyes, no hormones in their meats and little to no pesticides in their fruit and vegetables.  Unfortunately,  that is not my “normal”. The processed foods in the USA are full of “crap” so I avoid them. I never eat fried food at restaurants or fast food.  I try to purchase my meat when I can locally and I wash my veggies and fruit in grapefruit seed extract to wash away any pesticides or bugs.

Here is what I  “normally” eat in day. It is one of the most asked questions I get when I speak publicly, conduct workshops, or questions that slide into my dm’s. 

Glass of filtered water upon waking, sometimes with lemon (I continue to drink 5 liters throughout the day).
One large cup of black coffee.
Home pressed fresh green juice with organic celery, cucumber, ginger and lemon (pre or post workout depending on how I feel).
Scrambled eggs with half or an entire avocado with sourdough toast or sometimes turkey bacon or pork bacon.
If I consume protein, veggies and healthy fat over fruit or yogurt and granola for breakfast, I am full for longer and do not crave anything sweet.
If I am hungry I eat, I will grab a unsalted almonds if I am at the office or at meetings or sometimes a frozen mango protein shake with a scoop of Jay Robb protein powder or Truvani vanilla protein powder if I am working from home.
I’ll slice a piece of cheese with maybe some crackers a few hours later if I am working from home.
Veggies with hummus is also another go-to snack.  If I don’t have access to veggie starters, I add a splash of organic apple cider vinegar into a little water to not have my glucose levels spike before I eat any meal.
If I have two snacks during the day after breakfast I am usually ok until dinner .
Dinner is always a large portion of veggies, protein in form of lean steak or salmon or turkey. I recently stopped eating chicken because it starting affecting my stomach in a negative way. I also add boiled potatoes or sweet potatoes with a little sea salt and freshly shredded parmesan. I love making homemade tacos too! 
I also just started to incorporate a cup of caffeine free tea to wind down before bed. I really enjoy chamomile, peppermint or detox tea.

I rarely eat dessert because I don’t crave sweets anymore. I used to but since I started eating around stabilizing my glucose levels I feel so much better and am full for longer periods of time. When I eat out, I am still careful of what I order. I will treat myself to the fresh bread or perhaps some pasta with clams or lobster mac & cheese but generally I eat a salad with a protein or a fresh sea bass or halibut entree. My weakness is guacamole and chips but I love cucumber slices or jicama with guac just as much. I love how clean, fresh foods make me feel and when I eat anything processed  I feel like crap within the hour, get a headache or get bloated. It doesn’t mean I don’t have a piece of carrot cake now and again I just limit it.

Wondering how to maximize your potential and start viewing your health promoting behaviors as priorities and not punishments? Read on. It is common to say, “I don’t have time”, “it’s too hard”, “it’s too expensive”…all of those are excuses and by simply shifting your perspective and your thought process to positive, purposeful promotion can be life changing.

• Moving you body daily, working out 5 plus days a week is a blessing, an opportunity to optimized health. Not everyone is physically able to move their bodies so going to a gym, working out at home on an app, walking 3-4 miles a day, stretching during your kids outdoor sporting events instead of sitting in a lawn chair, or while you are watching TV is movement you GET to do. It is a gift not a punishment.  Get it in anytime, anywhere. It is a privilege.
• Eating healthy is not expensive. Eating junk, processed fast foods is punishing yourself. It is not the answer. Don’t shop in the “dead” aisles in the grocery store. Alternatives to “cheap” drive throughs are apples with nut butter, eggs, avocados on fresh sourdough, almonds, every single vegetable is not more expensive than a $3.00 box of mac and cheese. A meal is an opportunity to nourish your body and brain properly. Don’t think healthy is expensive, it is not true.
• Getting more sleep reduces stress, optimizes your hormones, gives your body what it needs to perform the next day at 100%. Stop scrolling, start sleeping!

We have unlimited information to begin improving our health. Being accountable to yourself is powerful. Making excuses is powerless. Shift into that STELLAR mindset. Focus on building your lifestyle that will last your lifetime!!!

Amp up your exercise routine and get ready for the sunshine & outdoor activities! I am always switching up my workouts. It’s the only way my body effectively changes and reduces any boredom that may have set in during the colder months. I am always a huge proponent in suggesting movement that YOU love. Summer brings out the best in outdoor exercise & activities!
Time to workout at least once a day. In addition to your workout try to get a brisk walk in outside after lunch and after dinner too even if it’s 5-10 minutes.
 If you have kids, go for a bike ride after school or dinner, it’s good family time and after being inside all day everyone needs fresh air and exercise.
 Stretch whenever possible. It is something most people neglect. If you are watching a show at night, or even while on a phone call during your work day, put it on speaker or in your earbuds and stretch.
Its proven over and over again that exercise, especially outside, improves not only heart health but mental health. It reduces stress, anxiety, depression and improves mood. 
 Sweat, yes sweat, get that heart rate up! It is crucial to burning fat, reducing toxins and improves overall well-being. I love HIIT (high intensity workout training). I try to get at least 2-3 HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workouts in a week.
 Try something new like tennis or golf, schedule a lesson with a girlfriend…even better!
 Find some hiking trails near you and get out in nature.
 Swimming or water/pool workouts are low impact movements and excellent exercise.

 Yoga in the park, grab a blanket, an app and flow away under the trees & sky.

Your options are endless, being sedentary isn’t one of them! You can work around an injury, you can always find 10-15 minutes a day, if you are exhausted ask yourself why, maybe movement is your medicine. Happy sweating! 

I would like to introduce a new routine I’ve incorporated into my “daily”. Cold showers….yes, it may not sound pleasant but the ideal way to take a cold shower is to ease in to the habit.

Start by slowly lowering the temperature at the end of a usual warm/hot shower. Get the water cold enough that you start to feel uncomfortable. Then, stay underneath the water for 30 seconds to start and ease into increasing it to 45 seconds, one minute, 2 minutes and eventually 3 minutes by the end of 2 weeks. Breathing deeply will help decrease your discomfort in your mind. After two weeks of doing this exercise, make the water slightly colder.

Benefits of having a cold shower or ending your warm shower with 2-3 minutes of cold chill time are incredible for our overall health, it is easy to do, it doesn’t cost anything and here is why I have been implementing cold therapy…

• Wakes you up, when that cold spray hits your body, there’s a bit of shock. This shock increases oxygen intake, heart rate, alertness.
• Increases endorphins, if you suffer from mild seasonal depression, cold showers can work as a kind of gentle “shock” therapy. The cold water sends many electrical impulses to your brain. They jolt your system to increase alertness, clarity, and energy levels. Endorphins, which are sometimes called happiness hormones, are also released. This effect lasts into your day!
• Increasing blood flow circulation which is always health savvy.
• Decreases inflammation in the body, athletes have been cold plunging for decades.
• Reduces muscle soreness post-workout.
• It can calm itchy skin.
• Potentially boosting weight loss as it increases your metabolism but going from hot to cold.
• Glowing hair and skin… cold water closes pores and seals the cuticle in your hair. Cold water, unlike hot water, doesn’t dry out the sebum layer, a naturally lubricated barrier that provides protection for your skin and hair so you may experience more luxuriant hair.

Can’t hurt to try!  Let me know if meet or beat 3 minutes (Hello@stellargirl.com) or DM me @stellargirlofficial

relaxes your heart rate, sometimes I meditate during this time or I just put my phone away and listen to music
improves the quality of your sleep
it can help reduce headaches & back pain
⨐ improves circulation
reduces inflammation in your ankles and legs, relieves tension & fatigue your feet & even the hips
calms the mind, the nervous system, lowers stress and anxiety

“They” say it takes 21 days create a habit, so we have time.  Here are a few hacks to rethink the way you eat! I am on week 4 of tweaking my eating regimen and I know it works! I have wayyyyyy more energy because I have no glucose spikes therefore no mid-day crashing, I do not crave sweets and I have decreased inflammation and bloating in my tummy.

eat your bananas don’t blend them. Blending them breaks down insoluble fiber. We always need all the fiber we can get gals. Use blueberries or other fruit in your protein smoothies
after your green juice in the morning, have a savory breakfast 30 minutes later, like eggs and avocados instead of a sweet smootie (save your sweet protein smoothies for a snack)
always, yes always eat veggies FIRST at every meal. Eat in this order, all your vegetable first, then your all of your protein then your carbs last. It is key for your digestion. I used to eat in a circle, a bite of this, a bite of that. Now, I eat every vegetables on my plate before anything else
walk for 5 to 10 minutes after every meal. Don’t just sit. If you can get outside, that’s great, but just walk around your house, go up and down the stairs, tidy up, maybe do laundry, take a call but walk and talk or use your muscles in another way like stretching 
if you are able to have one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar diluted in a glass a water 10 minutes before lunch or dinner. Try doing it once a day, increase to two on the days you eat your meals at home.

Eating this way now will prepare your mind and body for the holiday season and create a healthier eating lifestyle.

5 Ways to Celebrate Galentine’s Day 

1) Host a girls night in: Pop open a bottle of our STELLARGIRL Sparkling Blanc de Blanc Wine , grab some Sweet Tarts, popcorn, take selfies & cheers to each other and the amazing bestie friendships you have! Watch your favorite romantic comedy or chic-flick. 

2) Pampering Session: Treat yourselves to a spa day!  Get facials, massages, sauna or plunge pool. This is a great opportunity to relax and rejuvenate together.

3) Brunch Date: Plan a brunch date at a favorite café or restaurant. Enjoy good food, endless laughter, and catch up on each other's lives. It's the perfect way to start the day and celebrate your friendship. 

4) Adventure Time: Embark on a fun-filled adventure together. It could be hiking, exploring a new city, or even trying out activities like snow-shoeing, maybe indoor skydiving, bowling or an escape room! 
5) Buy yourselves flowers, go shopping at Sephora or Ulta, grab some new lipgloss or contour stick, pick up take-out and come back home and turn on YouTube and do a pilates or a yoga class; try out a new viral make up or hair style, set up a picnic in your closet, light a STELLARGIRL Celebration Time candle, snack on your take out, put on your favorite playlist and unleash! Have a dance party and create a new traditions on Galentine’s Day! 

In essence, celebrating Galentine's Day with your besties is a beautiful way to honor the power of female friendships and create meaningful connections that affirm you can still get silly, laugh, dance and uplift one another through experiences and together-time! 

We at STELLARGIRL elevate and celebrate every day. There is nothing more celebratory than our Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine to pop open to celebrate all your special moments & our luxurious Glimmer Lotion that instantly makes you glisten and glow with its shimmering and glittering sparkles; it gives you that perfect “pick me up” when you apply it; like an instant mood-booster!

The action of popping open a bottle of bubbles, and the sound of the cork launching in the air evokes the imagination and conjures up ideas of celebrating and treating yourself. Adding sparkles to your skin and a smile to your face when you apply our lotion every day makes you feel like you are spoiling yourself whenever you put it on. We like to call it the ‘STELLARGIRL Sparkling State of Mind’.

We are on a STELLARGIRL Sparkling campaign to celebrate your wins every day, to prioritize pleasure, to raise a glass more often, and to apply our Glimmer Lotion on the daily to make you feel special & sparkling from daylight to moonlight. ✨

Sparkling wine is a symbol of celebration, joy and fun! Our crisp, bright effervescent Blanc de Blancs is the only thing you will need to “STELLARBRATE” all your special occasions. It is a joyful drink which elevates any occasion and experience. The simple act of popping the bottle never fails to bring a smile to your face. Every time you go through the unfoiling of the cork, the unwinding of the wire restraint, the anticipation of the overflow is the ultimate tradition of anticipated celebration. Every raise of a glass, every toast, every “cheers”, and every sip evokes celebratory joy and bliss! It is the ultimate beverage of celebration and never disappoints!

Think about stepping out to go out with your STELLARGIRL – friends, to the beach, the pool, the gym, or even the everyday errands that will draw strangers to compliment you on your sparkly skin. Your stunning smile and your confidence as you enter a room is infectious, genuine, and kind because we STELLARGIRLS always leave a little sparkle behind! It’s time…it’s time to believe in yourself, to normalize complimenting yourself, to prioritize pleasure, to be proud of yourself, and to champion other women to step into their STELLARGIRL Sparkling state of mind!!

Your most STELLAR moments await, and I cannot wait for you to sparkle up and share them with us @stellargirlofficial.

1) Host a girls night in: Pop open a bottle of our STELLARGIRL Sparkling Blanc de Blanc Wine 🍾, grab some Sweet Tarts, popcorn, take selfies & cheers to each other and the amazing bestie friendships you have! Watch your favorite romantic comedy or chic-flick. 

2) Pampering Session: Treat yourselves to a spa day!  Get facials, massages, sauna or plunge pool. This is a great opportunity to relax and rejuvenate together.

3) Brunch Date: Plan a brunch date at a favorite café or restaurant. Enjoy good food, endless laughter, and catch up on each other's lives. It's the perfect way to start the day and celebrate your friendship. 

4) Adventure Time: Embark on a fun-filled adventure together. It could be hiking, exploring a new city, or even trying out activities like snow-shoeing, maybe indoor skydiving, bowling or an escape room! 

5) Buy yourselves flowers, go shopping at Sephora or Ulta, grab some new lipgloss or contour stick, pick up take-out and come back home and turn on YouTube and do a pilates or a yoga class; try out a new viral make up or hair style, set up a picnic in your closet, light a STELLARGIRL Celebration Time candle, snack on your take out, put on your favorite playlist and unleash! Have a dance party and create a new traditions on Galentine’s Day!

We at STELLARGIRL elevate and celebrate every day. There is nothing more celebratory than our Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine to pop open to celebrate all your special moments & our luxurious Glimmer Lotion that instantly makes you glisten and glow with its shimmering and glittering sparkles; it gives you that perfect “pick me up” when you apply it; like an instant mood-booster!

The action of popping open a bottle of bubbles, and the sound of the cork launching in the air evokes the imagination and conjures up ideas of celebrating and treating yourself. Adding sparkles to your skin and a smile to your face when you apply our lotion every day makes you feel like you are spoiling yourself whenever you put it on. We like to call it the ‘STELLARGIRL Sparkling State Of Mind’.

We are on a STELLARGIRL Sparkling campaign to celebrate, elevate the every day, to raise a glass more often, and to apply our Glimmer Lotion on the daily to make you feel special & sparkling from daylight to moonlight. 

Sparkling wine is a symbol of celebration, prestige, and quality. Our crisp, bright effervescent Blanc de Blancs is the only thing you will need to “STELLARBRATE” all your special occasions. It is a joyful drink which elevates any occasion and experience. The simple act of popping the bottle never fails to bring a smile to your face. Every time you go through the unfoiling of the cork, the unwinding of the wire restraint, the anticipation of the overflow is the ultimate tradition of anticipated celebration. Every raise of a glass, every toast, every “cheers”, and every sip evokes celebratory joy and bliss! It is the ultimate beverage of celebration and never disappoints!

Think about stepping out to go out with your STELLARGIRL – friends, to the beach, the pool, the gym, or even the everyday errands that will draw strangers to compliment you on your sparkly skin. Your stunning smile and your confidence as you enter a room is infectious, genuine, and kind because we STELLARGIRLS always leave a little sparkle behind! It’s time…it’s time to believe in yourself, to normalize complimenting yourself, to celebrate the every day, to be proud of the stellar mindset you are in, and to champion other women to step into their STELLARGIRL Sparkling state of mind!! 

Your most STELLAR moments await, and I cannot wait for you to sparkle up and share them with us @stellargirlofficial.

The most important relationship you have in your life is the one you have with yourself. Why is it the one we work on the least?

We seem to work on all other relationships first; with our partners, kids, friends, colleagues…we work so hard trying to “fix” our marriages, our teenagers, perhaps work issues…we carve out time for everybody else first before ourselves, we want and crave love from others but we don’t always love ourselves.

We have fights and we say sorry to others but don’t forgive ourselves. We walk into a room and we greet our friends with hugs and smiles and huge hellos but we don’t show up for ourselves with that same type of love and effort. We constantly check in with our friends and family to make sure they are doing well but we don’t give ourselves the same grace.

When was the last time you asked yourself “What do I need?”. When was the last time you woke up and looked in the mirror and greeted yourself with a smile and said “I love you” to yourself in the mirror? We say it to our spouse, our kids, our parents, our friends but what about you? What would happen if you choose you? What if you put all that energy towards helping and loving yourself before anyone else?

It’s not easy but when the fierce self-love state of mind shift happens it’s beautiful and freeing.

Show up for yourself every day. Even if it’s for micro minutes of time throughout the day. For me, it’s 10 minutes of coffee alone with a quick outdoor grounding barefoot session; maybe some days it’s an hour of exercise; some days it’s listening to a podcast and learning something new, every day is different. Celebrate your smallest achievements every day.
Ask yourself what YOU need today.

Start today by giving the most important relationship you will ever have the love, respect, time, and care it needs. Start loving and self-celebrating YOU!

That’s the STELLARGIRL state of mind

Grab a small group of your closest friends, and prove that Valentine’s Day isn’t just for lovers.

Have a pajama party-sit around the fire place, watch rom-coms, drink champagne or hot chocolate and catch up with your besties, add a fondue tray with cheese, bread, veggies and/or chocolate with fruit.

Brunch or dinner with a galentine gift exchange, like secret santa with with your stellargirl-friends.

Make-over day, one of your make- up savvy girlfriends can teach you how to apply a cat-eye smudge free or your hair guru gal can show you how to do an updo or those beach waves you have been trying to perfect.

Clothing swap, everyone bring over a suitcase full of clothes they are not wearing and swap with your girlfriends, don’t forget shoes & accessories!

 Grab a latte and take a walk on the beach or lake side and if you aren’t near a body of water, take a trail walk or hike. You will get some movement in while catching up with your besties.

✨Create a vision board. It’s yours so make it bold, dream big but also sprinkle in some achievable wins so you feel accomplished in the short term.
✨Start a “Bright Ideas” journal. Keep it handy, jot down your ideas and then talk about them. Saying them out loud to someone makes you even more accountable.
✨Clean out your closets, kitchen drawers, pantry, fridge etc. Purge what no longer serves you.
✨Always give back, find time during the year (at least once a month) to volunteer, mentor, assist or serve others.
✨Once a day add in a self-celebration practice, it’s the STELLARGIRL way.

The Holiday season is a time filled with giving, magic and wonder but for so many of us it’s becoming more stressful, crazed and draining time of the year.

TO SIMPLIFY THE HOLIDAY HUSTLE…

Book only one party per weekend, don’t RSVP yes to Friday and Saturday starting now. Take one of the those evenings or days to get shopping, cooking/baking done to freeze for Holiday celebrations

If you are hosting a holiday meal,  send out a group text or email with a list of what others are responsible for. Be very specific. Do not ask what every one wants to bring.  Delegate efficiently. Assign a dish, a dessert, an appetizer to another friend or family member.

Reserve a day or evening for wrapping gifts but make it fun!
Light candles, drink some wine or champagne, put on a movie, have the fireplace on, and set up the wrapping, ribbon, tape, tags and scissors out on a the kitchen table and have you and your partner or bestie enjoy the process instead of wrapping last minute

Focus on making memories and have gratitude for all that surrounds you, remember the time you all get to spend together and don’t stress about the mess.

Your kids, family & friends don’t want a perfect mom, they want a happy mom. If you are not a mom, your guests want a happy host not a stressed one!

As we are in the busiest time of the year for businesses in Q4, holiday events, parties and festivities, remember to prioritize your sleep routine at least 4-6 times a week. Here are some “unwind from your day” ways to prepare for a good night sleep 💤

drink a cup of herbal tea an hour before bed
take a 20 minute bath, perhaps light a candle & enjoy your tea while soaking your body in a eucalyptus bath bomb or oil
have a good evening skin care routine
spray lavender mist on your pillow or in your bedroom
use blue light glasses if you are on your computer or phone in the evening,  til 9/10ish, then try to get off all devices
take a magnesium supplement
stretch or do yoga for 10 minutes and take at least 5 long deep breaths
stop scrolling & silence your phone 30 minutes before bed
set one alarm and wake up to it, hitting snooze it the first worst decision of your day!
⼉ legs up on a wall or the back of your bed frame for 10-20 minutes while you read or calm your mind before hitting the pillow. reflect on what you did accomplish & all the positive moments of the day – big or small
 aim to get at least 7 hours of sleep a night, 8 would be ideal!

You will awake more refreshed and ready for your day!

5 Ways to Celebrate Galentine’s Day 

1) Host a girls night in: Pop open a bottle of our STELLARGIRL Sparkling Blanc de Blanc Wine , grab some Sweet Tarts, popcorn, take selfies & cheers to each other and the amazing bestie friendships you have! Watch your favorite romantic comedy or chic-flick. 

2) Pampering Session: Treat yourselves to a spa day!  Get facials, massages, sauna or plunge pool. This is a great opportunity to relax and rejuvenate together.

3) Brunch Date: Plan a brunch date at a favorite café or restaurant. Enjoy good food, endless laughter, and catch up on each other’s lives. It’s the perfect way to start the day and celebrate your friendship. 

4) Adventure Time: Embark on a fun-filled adventure together. It could be hiking, exploring a new city, or even trying out activities like snow-shoeing, maybe indoor skydiving, bowling or an escape room! 
5) Buy yourselves flowers, go shopping at Sephora or Ulta, grab some new lipgloss or contour stick, pick up take-out and come back home and turn on YouTube and do a pilates or a yoga class; try out a new viral make up or hair style, set up a picnic in your closet, light a STELLARGIRL Celebration Time candle, snack on your take out, put on your favorite playlist and unleash! Have a dance party and create a new traditions on Galentine’s Day! 

In essence, celebrating Galentine’s Day with your besties is a beautiful way to honor the power of female friendships and create meaningful connections that affirm you can still get silly, laugh, dance and uplift one another through experiences and together-time! 

When you travel for work and play, preparing and packing can be stressful. Here are a few tips to “lighten the load”.

Developing a pre-travel routine means you can stress less and ensure you are ready to take off.

🧳 2 days before your trip check the weather for your destination and plan ahead. Try on your outfits complete with footwear, handbags and accessories. Lay them out.
🧴Organize your toiletries, make sure your travel size bottles are full and re-fill q-tips, cotton toner pads and medications.
💻 Load your iPad with a new series or movies.
🐶 If you have pets, prepare their food, toys, blankets for the dog sitter or daycare.
📲 Back up your devices to the cloud and charge your portable chargers.
🪴 Water your plants.
💵 Get some cash for tipping, bring some $5s, $10s and $20s.
👖The night before, pack your suitcase, use packing cubes and hanging bags.
💦 Drink more water than normal, travel is dehydrating.
🥪 Make and pack a sandwich of choice, (my fav is a peanut butter & banana). It’s always good to have some fuel to take with you.
🧣 Bring a shawl in your carry on or purse, planes are often chilly.
💤 Get a good night’s rest before you travel, put your mind at ease to know you are organized and ready to go!

Packing for a holiday can be a daunting task. I always check a bag on trips over two days, as I have yet to master the carry on situation but here are a few tips to take the worry out of packing for your summer trip 🧳

🌥 check the weather three days before you leave and try on every event or evening outfit including accessories, bags and shoes, you will stress less once you arrive knowing you are organized for each evening and day look. try to make sure your footwear and handbags can worn 2-3 times so you are only packing 4 pairs of footwear in addition to your travel day shoes. bring only your carrying on purse, two evening bags and one beach bag that can serve as double duty day bag if walking and exploring, only bring a backpack if you are hiking or taking day trips away from your hotel.
🧳 to arrive at your location with crease free outfits, go to the dry cleaners two days before you leave and have your dresses and evening looks steamed and put into separate dry cleaning plastic, I swear they will not be crease if folded in to your suitcase on top of every thing else in separate hanging plastic wrapped pieces!
👚roll your shorts, t-shirts and all casual attire you will fit so much more into your suitcase
👙 bring only three swimsuits that you can mix and match and use the bikini tops or one pieces as tops with wide leg pants for an afternoon or evening outfit
👝pack your sunscreen and over 3ounce toiletry bottles in a double ziplock baggie so they don’t explode all over your clothing
👟👠🩴 please bag your footwear. the airport and bathroom floors are full of 🦠 and also you never shake all the sand out so bag your footwear so they do not touch your clothing and intimates

Fall fashion is my favorite here are my 7 seasonal staples to elevate your style, stay warm and achieve a pulled together polished look:

• Oversized blazer is a must this fall, layer over a cozy knit or hoodie for instant street style.
• Finishing touch accessories are non-negotiable as well as adding texture to your ensemble. Try a long pretty scarf to instantly lift an autumnal color palette and our STELLARGIRL beanie with a fur pom to keep your head warm and your hair weather proof!
• Chunky Lug Sole Boots, practical, comfortable and can be worn with trousers, denim, leggings, maxi dresses and mini skirts with tights. 💥
• Cozy knit sweater whether is it a cardigan to layer over your transitional maxi dress or a statement cable knit over striped shirting with trousers, it offers laid back chicness only a statement sweater can provide
• Slouchy Shoulder bag is a must to carry our extra essentials like gloves, an umbrella, water bottle or coffee thermos. So having more storage is vital!
• Wide leg pants, as skinny jeans are taking their retirement this fall, transition to an ultra relaxed shape for your denim and your trousers. They are the most flattering when they are high waisted and perfection with a cropped leather jacket or a long button down cardigan
• Long Statement Coat is the most versatile piece in your closet. And the best part is that anything goes, so invest in one that fits your lifestyle. A luxe capacious wool coat, a sleek tailored neutral toned beauty, a shearling coat is key to a capsule closet, or a 3/4 length puffer with perfect hood to brave the weather

What ever your goals are for 2022, take a look inward and hopefully notice that what you wear affects your mood. You will feel more, confident, cute, comfortable, or sexy if you love what you are wearing. Getting dressed or putting on an outfit together doesn’t have to be stressful.

1 Once you have your schedule for the day whether it is a work from home day, travel day, office day, errand day, brunch date or dinner and drinks you can start thinking about what to wear.

2 If you are staying in and working at home put on a matching lounge set, put your hair up, add a little lip gloss and cute slippers. Getting ready for your self is not selfish. It’s self care.

3 Leaving the house? You have to factor in the weather. Also if you live in a city or it's a travel day and you are walking everywhere, please put on some fashion runners or comfortable walking boots to support your back, legs and feet. Be stylish but practical.

4 Layer up. If you are into basics, start with denim or black pants, add a tank, and blouse, hooded sweatshirt or sweater and layer with a blazer. A blazer elevates any look; if you are in leggings, denim, bike shorts, a midi dress or a maxi skirt, adding a blazer equals effort.

5 Don’t forget to accessorize. Add at least 3 multi length necklaces, stack some bracelets, add a scarf of a headband into your hair and voila, instant style on the go with minimal effort!

Here are some things that have inspired me lately..
Go the the book store, not amazon. spend time in your favorite aisle, mine is the travel, decor and fashion path... my bestie loves cookbooks and fiction novels.. but that’s why i love an actual book store. spend some time & flip through pages and “get lost”...
As NY Fashion Week wraps up, I love to look at WWD for street style images from independent photographers
Even if you think you can’t paint or sketch, you can still get creative, head to a craft store and get those brushes and a simple neutral palette and surprise yourself
Surround yourself with simple home decor updates that make up your happy place
Take polaroid photos or get some of your favorite images printed, buy some frames and create your own art wall of your favorite places, people or self portraits
Nature is my favorite art gallery, get outside and really look around, walk through your city, town or country side

A perspective of the difference between style & fashion

A piece of clothing tells a story when you can revisit the place where you found it just by putting it on or pulling out of your closet. When I travel, I purposefully seek out locally owned boutiques so that whenever I put on that piece of jewelry from Dubai, my favorite sundress from Ibiza, or my leather and fur crop jacket from Florence, I am instantly transported back to that special time and place, and all the wonderful memories that come along with it. Finding your personal style reveals genuine authentic-ness without saying a word.

I look at style separately from fashion. A fashion trend may or may not suit me but the experience of how a glamourous gown with the perfect stiletto can affect my demeanor and translate into taking a fearless stride into a room is an influential feeling. Rockin out my favorite Old Gringo boots with my G-Star moto denim at a concert edifies my exhilaration and a style snapshot is taken. Fashion evolves with trends. Elements of fashion are woven into one’s personal style.

I am a curator of fashion. I buy an item of clothing because of a unique weave or an unexpected cut out in the fabric. I collect vintage clothing and jewelry as well as accrue iconic designers’ pieces like timeless art. When I purchase an accoutrement from one of the students at the School of the Art Institute of Fashion in Chicago, I know it is the only one with no other duplicate in the collection. I am in awe of these young talented designers. They are stellar at their craft! The students were inspired to design by perhaps their ancestors, a sunset, a road trip, a doll collection, or a dream. Their vision was translated to fashion. I get to wear the designs that came to fruition from that mood board of inspiration, and I do not take that for granted. I am blessed to cover my shoulders with their creations and to know what inspired them. This is one of the reasons style and fashion have a sacred place in my memory and my closet.

Dress for yourself but fashion captures the time and place in which people live. Remember how confident you feel when you own your style. Fashion speaks to us all in different ways but personal style matters. How you present yourself in a room matters. Your posture matters. Your facial expression matters. You matter. What you wear reflects how you feel and that really matters.