Love Not Lipo ... Live a Little, Love a Lot

It is not a coincidence or cause for concern that I haven’t written since (ugh) February 3rd!  In fact let me just clear the air and say I haven’t worked out in a week either!  This is one of those rare and special times when my goals were trumped temporarily by a new and broader goal.  10 days ago, I was sitting in a coffee shop with my mom, with the intention of just catching up, and being a support to one another on the various projects we’re working.  My mom was telling me about the new nutrition and wellness products that her company Arbonne had launched, and some of her plans regarding the marketing of this amazing line.

Have you ever had an experience where you suddenly feel incredibly connected to your center?  The noise around you starts to fade out, your mind begins to turn, your thoughts start to clear up to an incredible focus, and you know a new truth?  Well this is what happened to me, and it suddenly dawned on me.  O..m…g…, why was I not ready for this sooner?  For whatever reason, it is only now abundantly clear that being involved in this company is exactly what I need.

training day

In the last two years, I have been blessed by a journey of determining who I truly am at my core, what my professional goals are, but more importantly, what my philosophy of life is, and how that infuses the choices that I make in what I say to people and how I spend my time every day.  Since a windy October afternoon last fall, I have walked around with the voice of Arbonne President Rita Davenport echoing in my head and guiding my personal and professional practice.  And until last Sunday, I was unconscious of the fact that that this speech had propelled and fine tuned my belief that people succeed and find joy, abundance, and total fulfillment when they live a life of self care, discipline, and above all else, service and generosity to others.

It may sound rather silly to you that I am asserting that an anti aging skin care and wellness product line is the foundation of this emotional decision in my life; But it’s actually incredibly symbolic, because the philosophy of not just the business, but the actual products themselves are in direct line with my core beliefs that inform my life every day:  1) lovingly providing your body with the purest and healthiest ingredients is the absolute basic first step in radiating the love, energy, and generosity of spirit that brings one utter fulfillment.  2) you will always succeed in life when your mission is sharing the message of possibility, promise, hope, and empowerment.

Why ever would I not want to be part of a company where this is literally what they stand for?

my new bosses

In every free moment of my already very full life, I have spent the last 10 days immersing myself in both the products and the business and I have never felt more connected and alive then I do at this moment.  And the biggest irony, is that this has been a helluva week in terms of life fiascoes being thrown at me in every direction.  I feel that I’m glowing from the inside.  I am hydrated, and nourished, and my fine lines are dissolving right before my very eyes!  Body image issues/compulsive is the last thing on my mind…there is just no room for toxicity like that when your heart is full.

I have always been aversive to the sales industry, and never in a million years thought I would go that route.  The reason being, was simple:  I have a core belief that authenticity and truth is the only solution…But when you have fallen in love with a product and you talk about it, it is no longer “sales,” it is bestowing beautiful, life changing information.

Why it was last Sunday that the message connected, I’ll probably never know.  But I am eternally humbled and awestruck by the plans that unceasingly roll out in front of me, with their mysterious and interwoven complexities, when all I do is quite simply continue to show up every day, put one foot in front of the other, with the goal of being the best woman I can be.

I’ll admit it.  With all of my proclamations about getting my spending totally under control, I did fall prey to Cyber Monday.  Btw, has anyone ever heard of Cyber Monday before last Monday??  I hadn’t.  But for the record it didn’t take me too long to familiarize myself with it.  New York and Company had an incredible sale.  Every single item in the whole store, clearance, regular price, everything, was 50% off.  Online shoppping has it’s pros and cons.  Con, no instant gratification.  Pro, no crowds and or wasted Saturdays.  Con educated guess at what may look good, and which is often incorrect.  Pro, unlimited access to sizes and styles.  Con, you pay shipping AGAIN if your educated guess was incorrect.  Pro, coming home to find a package you forgot about waiting for you on your front porch after the kind of day I had today. 

Here are two of the fun necklaces I ordered, along with a perfect ivory ruffled T, some tailored stretch cropped black pants, and a twist knot black shirt which will be returned due to frumpiness factor.  All of those items for under a hundred, and only 1 return that was too BIG!! Love it. 

People who know me are aware that I am somewhat of a fashion junkie, and often compliment me for my “expensive taste.”  As tempting as it is to accept that compliment, I actually am always forthcoming about the truth because of my solidarity and loyalty to my fellow women.  I believe all women should share all tips with one another so we’re all happier.  When the girls are happier, the world is a much more pleasant place for everyone.  My number one fashion trick is to pair inexpensive items with more expensive items.  For example if I wear a chocolate brown blouse from walmart that I purchased for $8.98, I pair it with the exquisite chunky tear drop amber earrings my mom brought me back from Florence, Italy.  God knows the price of those.  If you wear your payless patten leather platforms, you best pair them with a conservative Ann Taylor dress.  Take this tip to the next level, buy your “expensive” pieces at Marshalls or TJ Maxx, and your entire outfit could cost $50 and look like $500.  If the pieces are INexpensive, less is more.  One piece of jewlry, go easy on the belts with scarves/jewlry/hats etc.  However, if the pieces are high quality, my stance is go all out!  Deck yourself out!  Layer textures and accessories with no limit as long as the pieces are all really special. 

PS- Clothes, accessories, and creating outfits has been far more fun for me as the scale is trending downwards.  The new ensemble hanging in the garment bag to go the gym with me in the morning will be a major contributing factor to my being able to drag my butt out of bed at 5:30 AM.  Just 7 short hours away…..Goodnite!! 

So which is your preference? Internet shopping?  Or store shopping? and why?

My Beautiful Mother

Her Beautiful Design

My mother and I spent a chilly fall afternoon together at the Desmond Hotel in Albany yesterday, as two entrepreneurs honing our craft by attending a potentially life changing talk by Arbonne President Rita Davenport.  First of all to put it in context,Arbonne is a pretty amazing high end European skincare and beauty product line.  My mother Patty Miller, who is an incredibly talented interior designer, is also is an Arbonne consultant, hence her invitation to me to attend the talk.  I’m sure I will also become a consultant at some point in the future to enhance my current business endeavors.  In the meantime, I can buy my products from this gorgeous woman who I am proud to call Mommy.   Because she has what they call the “Arbonne Glow,” you would never know that she was 62 years old.  And why would I consider selling Arbonne myself?  Because I already knew the quality of the products, but yesterday I learned the message and incredible culture of this billion dollar industry, delivered in the life changing words of Arbonne President Rita Davenport.  Arbonne aside, I have to tell you about the quality of Ms. Davenport’s speech.  I don’t know if it’s because I get distracted psycho-analyzing presenters, or if I get stuck in my own self-absorption or what, but I generally have a difficult time plugging into professional speakers in any kind of meaningful way.  This woman was absolutely amazing.  I have never been so emotionally moved by a talk in my life, nor have I taken more life changing information from a presentation then I did from yesterday’s.  She is one of those women who is talking to a gigantic audience, and you feel that you are the only one in the room, she is looking in your eyes, and these words are for you.  I could write volumes about what I gleaned from her talk, but I hope instead you will see it infused into all of my work from this point forward.  But I will tell you, Rita Davenport knows that a life where love, and generosity of spirit is the cornerstone of everything move we make, including and especially in business, your success is inevitable.

It was an hour drive to Altamont, and I had never been to the studio before.  Or any studio for that matter.  For a week I had prepared.  I shopped.  I lurked in my closet.  I took test photos in the mirror.  All this excessive preparation for my website photoshoot, trying to determine what clothing sends what message, and what message matches what website….trying to not notice anxiety bubbling within…trying to just stay busy and focused.  My bags were packed.  3 shoe changes.  2 lipstick changes. 1 garment bag.  4 outfit changes.  2 CD mixes burned. 1 hip/hop, 1 classic rock.  1 laptop. 20  sample photos. 1 bottle of klonipin. 

I pulled up to the quaint little studio, which was more like a country photography gallery, and immediately felt my heart drop like a lead weight to the bottom of my stomach.  I whipped my head around to look behind my seat, my heart pounding.  No garment bag.  I picked up my Blackberry and texted something angry to Todd.  (as if he can do something about it.)  I lay my head on my hands and exhaled slowly. 

My legs felt like jelly as I walked up the front stairs.  The photographer’s wife swung the screen door open to a big welcoming smile.  I managed a week one back.  “you’re never going to believe this…” I said, and told them what happened. 

You see to some people, forgetting a garment bag of outfits is not a big deal.  To a hyper-planner-type-A-basket-case like myself, this was a tough one to bounce back from.  I released a few expletives, and George of George Laing Photography tolerated my mini tantrum without batting an eye.  His wife nodded sympathetically, and he smiled, amused by my rant while calmly fiddling with his  equipment.  Once the hot-air was mostly expelled from my lungs, I suddenly noticed the afternoon sun streaming into the seating area of this funky little shop, and I started to feel safe and grateful with this cool calm and collected couple.  Surrounded by art, and Kathleen and George hangin’ out in their jeans and sandals, I started to breathe again.  “Hey that’s a cool chair!” I remarked, returning to my baseline.  Little did I know that would lead to it being dragged to the back of studio, set up in front of the back drop, and becoming the prop in my favorite shot. 

My return to basic emotional regulation actually eventually evolved into full blown bliss.  All of the stress, anxiety, and insecurity I had carried for the last week melted away as this amazing photographer did his thing.  George, (along with the pleasant company of his lovely wife Kathleen) found the perfect balance of all the key components.  Reassurance with encouragement.  Open-mindedness with artistic assertion.  Friendliness without cheesiness.  My family laughed when I told them George asked me if I had done modeling before.  I get the sense that my family was not as surprised as I was that I harnessed my inner-diva during the photo shoot. 

I was so impressed with George, and that was before I saw the pictures.  Then I was just amazed.  For all the people who complimented my photos and told me how beautiful I look, George really brought out beauty in his shots.  I’m not saying I’m ugly or something, but I credit his talent for these gorgeous shots.  George and I are in discussions about some business ventures in the future.  Stay tuned to Evolution Counseling and Life Coaching’s /George Laing Photography’s special ”Self Love Photo Packages” because every woman deserves a day where she gets to feel this beautiful, and have the photos to prove it for the rest of her life. 

A funny postscript: On Saturday Todd and I went to the lovely wedding of a beautiful bride named Nancy, and her new husband Todd.  When my Todd and I pulled into the parking lot, unbeknowst to me, George my photographer of all people was there to photograph the wedding!  Not that this fact stopped me from impulsively leaping out of the car and screaming his name.  Todd grabbed my arm and tried to pull me back into the car.  “He’s working Clairey!!” he exclaimed, horrified, yet so not suprised.   It still hadn’t clicked for me that George leaning into a limousine with a camera might suggest that he’s busy.  “Hang on Claire, I’m working…” George calmly explained, and then I finally got it.  Anyway, George does weddings too, and he does an awesome job.