Category Archives: Fab Self

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10 Attributes of a Fab-YOU-lously Wealthy Life

That DON'T Require any Money

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We’ve all heard the saying “money can’t buy happiness” and like it or not–it’s true.  I personally know several people with exorbitant amounts of money who are miserable and I also know a few people who are financially destitute and yet, truly happy.  I for one,would prefer to have exorbitant financial wealth and a happy heart–two things that I believe to be entirely possible.  However; as someone who has been both, a struggling single mom and a successful professional woman, the biggest lesson that I’ve learned about money is that having more money doesn’t make life better, it simply makes us more of what we already are. If we are happy, joyful and generous individuals to start out–more money will simply enable us to be more happy, joyful and generous. If, on the other hand, we are greedy, grumpy and mean–more money will just provide us with opportunities to be more greedy, grumpy and mean.  

This tells me that it isn’t money that leads to a life of FabYOUlousness, rather it is a combination of other factors that leads to a truly wealthy life.

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Fitness Fun in the Hot Summer Sun

846f76_b0961d0b4bb04699a54ae761ffafdb35Whew! It’s August here in Colorado and it is HOT. Okay–maybe our elevation and low humidity levels help to keep us from really burning up like some other states–but still…it is plenty warm here at the base of the Rocky Mountains.

Fortunately for me, summer happens to be my favorite time of year. I love the fact that the days are long and the warm weather allows for lots of fun outside activity. I especially love the fact that so many of my favorite summer activities also happen to be good for me. I mean, can you believe it? Fitness that is actually fun?  Oh sure–I know that there are those of you out there (you LUCKY ones!) who actually enjoy working out, but for some reason, I didn’t seem to inheret that gene. That’s why I am so thankful that all of this warm weather fun has numerous emotional and physical health benefits. For instance–did you know that sunlight can help you to fit into your skinny jeans more easily? Yep–it’s true! When sunlight hits your skin, it triggers the production of nitric oxide, a compound that helps to regulate glucose and insulin levels in the body. This helps you to burn more fat rather than storing it. Additionally, adults who get Vitamin D from the sun are far more likely to live into their 90’s because Vitamin D helps to produce telomerase, an enzyme that protects DNA from damage.

If you are looking for a few great ways to enjoy what’s left of summer while also boosting your physical and emotional health and having a FabYOUlously good time, give a few of these great outdoor activities a try–you’re bound to find one that’s right for you.

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Putting the Power of Gratitude to work in Your Life

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The practice of gratitude as a tool for happiness is nothing new. Mainstream media has been touting its benefits for years (thank you Oprah!) and long term studies support gratitude’s effectiveness, suggesting that a positive, appreciative attitude contributes to greater success in all areas of personal well being. In fact, researchers at the University of California, San Diego have shown that an attitude of gratitude can help to ease chronic stress which leads to improved immune function and a reduction in unhealthy inflammation in the body.

Unfortunately, despite the many proven benefits of gratitude, it can still be a difficult mindset to sustain. So many of us are trained to notice what is broken, undone or lacking in our lives rather than appreciating our many blessings. We get so caught up in the yuck of life that we barely take the time to notice all of the good that we are blessed with.

This is why practicing an attitude of gratitude makes sense. Football players practice their sport to improve their odds of winning. Flute players practice their instrument so that they can produce the most beautiful music, kindergartners practice tying their shoes in order to stop tripping over their laces. The only way that we can become better at something is to practice it. The only way that gratitude will meet its full potential in our lives is if we practice it so that it, in time, becomes a habit.

When talking about gratitude, it is important to remember that gratitude isn’t a blindly optimistic approach in which the bad things in life are whitewashed or ignored. It’s more of a matter of choosing where to put our focus and attention. Clearly, pain and injustice exist in this world–no one is denying that, but when we focus instead on the positive aspects of life, we gain a feeling of well-being. Gratitude balances us and provides a sense of hopefulness. I also believe with all of my heart that the more I express gratitude for the positive things in my life, the universe answers by providing me with even more things to feel grateful for.

Don’t worry though-even if an attitude of gratitude isn’t your natural bent, you can still learn to cultivate more gratitude into your life and therefore experience its benefits…we all can. All it takes is a little (you guessed it) practice.

Seven FabYOUlous Steps for Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude.

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Happy New Year in July!

Six Tips for Creating Your Most Fab-YOU-lous Year Yet

846f76_2ee076316c7b422f9b0c1324619e6960You’ve heard of “Christmas in July” right? Well how about New Years in July?

Yeah yeah, I know. New Year’s Day is in January. We’re supposed to think about resolutions, fresh starts and goal setting in January not July…right? WRONG!

I love the idea of saying goodbye to the old year and welcoming in the new year in January when I hang up my fresh new calendar that is so full of hope and possibility. The problem for me however; is that January 1st is a difficult time for me to truly sit down and commit the kind of time and attention to resolution making/intention mapping/and goal setting that I’d like to. Rather than feeling contemplative on January 1st, I’m usually busy recovering from the holidays and exhausted from being on the road (we head to Kansas every year to celebrate Christmas with my family) so I’m simply not able to plan my year the way that I’d like to.

So…I have designated July as my personal New Year. July works well for me because 1.) it is my birth month (why celebrate just a birth day when you can celebrate a birth month?) 2.) It is roughly mid year and 3.) My summer schedule is less hectic than my winter schedule thus I am able to commit more time to planning and goal setting.

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Networking that Actually Works

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Whether you realize it or not, you are in the marketing business. We all are. Some of us are out there every day trying to market our company/organization to potential clients while others are doing their best to find a new job and are therefore marketing themselves to potential employers. Even the stay at home mom does a bit of self-marketing when she joins a new mom’s group in search of new friends.

The American Marketing Association defines marketing as

the activity, and processes for creating, communicating,

delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers,

clients, partners, and society at large.

By definition, marketing is something that all of us do from time to time–whether we realize it or not.