How to Survive Your First Bloggers Meet Up

Heart racing.
Temperature rising.
Palms sweating.
Convoluted thoughts about bolting.
"It could be a trap! A group massacre - like that couple on craigslist!"
Double slap to the face *Home Alone after-shave-scene style*
Self pep-talk.
Inhale.

At some point as a blogger you will need to slip on your big girl heels and walk the talk - meaning - step out of your virtual world and into the world of friendly, sociable réseautage (networking). It's not as intimidating as it sounds, as the result you get is making connections with other babes (& dudes) who are fanatical about the same weird things online as you are!

Needless to say, it can be gnaw-every-nail kinda nerve-wracking - especially when you think of the walk-in moment. I have actual panic attacks imagining the walk in. The close second is suddenly finding yourself alone, with no one to talk to pretending to look busy. Ugh, #girlproblems.

Image by Katerina Darling

Like for instance let's use today as an example. I attended my very first bloggers meet up (or as I should say #brunchclub) for a festive feast at Chuffed Coffee.

Created by Madi, Lizzy & Laura - who are three of the loveliest girls I've met - the brunch is an informal monthly meet up for bloggers to make new friends, drink coffee, chow down and swap blog tips & tricks.

As I entered the cafe - which instantly made me feel at home with it's country/panama feel to it - all three girls gave me a warm greeting without hesitation. I found a spot, nestled in and struck up a conversation with Kelsi who is the author of Katerina Darling.

As more and more people poured in, we found our place settings and began with a glass of champagne - naturally. The Christmas feast that followed was beyond words. The flavours, the freshness, the savoury & sweetness. As you can tell I'm not a food critic. But, if you want real wholesome food that most cafes don't serve anymore, you need to eat at Chuffed - like last month. I'm talking borderline better-than-Christmas-Day kind of food.

Image from Brunch Club

For those who are still trying to jump that hurdle of showing up to your first blogger event by yourself, here's 5 survival tips to make it easier on your sweet little cotton softs.

Get smart & rock in early: This is actually strategic action at it's finest. If you're early, you're usually one of the first there, which means you have ample opportunity to meet most people before it gets busy, secure a sitting post and start a conversation. If you show up fashionably late, it can be quite overwhelming walking in to a busy room full of people already partaking in deep conversation.

Snap yourself silly: You're at a bloggers event - probably the only place you have 100% clearance to whip out your phone, camera, ipad or laptop (kidding) and take snaps for a blog post you'll no doubt write about later *wink wink*. Try updating your social media in real time - it's a great distraction for when you're feeling a little awkward & don't know what to do with yourself.

Muster that courage, grrrl. Mingle! How else are you gonna meet other like-minded bloggers? Compliment those whose blogs you read often, find out about others you've just met. Learn about someones life, goals & wishes, crack jokes, find common ground - maybe someone else has a french bakery obsession. Be interested and you will be interesting.

Be a questions kid: Forget everything they taught you in school. Genuine unrelenting questions is how that courage gets channeled into action. When you're mingling, it's natural to talk shop and ask questions, but when you get stuck use these simple ice breakers. What's your blog about? How long have you been blogging? What made you want to start? What are your blog goals? Do you plan to monetize? What blogs do you read? You'll learn a lot about someone, but also start to form a slowly-but-surely friendship.

Also, wear something you wont sweat your butt off in. Just sayin..

Image from Brunch Club

At the end of the day, you've gotta push yourself out of your comfort zone. Yes, the initial anxiousness you feel beforehand could very well be worse than a first date - this is where you have permission to down a shot of your favourite spirit for a little liquid courage - but, it really is worth your while. You'll meet some amazing people with fresh, new and inspiring ideas like the ladies I met, and then you'll wonder why you even had a panic attack in the first place.

Exhale.

I wore this maxi, denim jacket & fedora (because Indiana Jones will always be cool).

xo Elise

20 Tricks for Acing Your Job Interview

It's that time of year when all the kids are flooding back into the cities searching for work, or those who have had enough of their current jobs have decided to look for a new & shiny position in something they're more passionate about. Are you one of those people?

I've seen my fair share of jobs - who hasn't!? - and I've always been really lucky to land every position I've ever wanted. That being said, I've learn't a ton from interviewing and I think you could totally use some of the tips I've got to share if you're on the hunt for a job.

1. What's Your Why?

Why did you apply for the job anyway? Hint: Don't say because you're on your last packet of instant noodles, have $2 left in the bank & are going to start selling limbs to pay off your student loans. It's not amateur hour. Regardless of whether it's your dream job or not, you wouldn't apply for a job you don't actually want to do, so why are you applying for that position in that industry? What about it lures you? Where are you hoping to go? Everybody out there is driven by a 'why'. I'm building my own business. Why? Cause I want to enjoy my flippin' life. Eric Thomas knows his 'why'. Figure out yours, and you'll be kilometres ahead of the other job huntees.

2. Do The Research That Most Job Hunters Don't Do Anyway

There's gold in knowing all you can know about the company you're getting into bed with (metaphorically speaking). Employers love when you come into the interview gushing about their company - it reaffirms their own reasoning for arriving at the doors 9am sharp every day for the last 15 years. Google the usual: What their company is about, how they started, what drives them, social media pages and who the head honcho's are. This is the quickest way to find out if you'd even like the company.

3. Prepare For The Questions You'll Be Asked & Become A Pro At Answering Them

Arm yourself with intelligent thought-out responses to these questions and you'll have your interviewer in the palm of your hand. What do you know about our company? Why do you want to work for us? Tell us about a negative situation that arose in your last position and how you handled it? What did your previous manager do that you disliked? What do you believe are your strengths & weaknesses? Why do you think you're the best candidate for this role? How do you want to be managed? Tell us about your experience in this industry? Bonus Round: Suit up on behavioural questions.

4. Get Amped Like You're About To Carve Up The Clubs

Modesty aside - make a 'hell yeah!' playlist. I know you more than likely already have one. Listen to it on your way to the interview. Actually. I know you're nervous. But not only will fist pumping in your car amp you up, but it will ease the nerves. It's also a form of power posing, which Amy Cuddy explains so eloquently.

5. Dress Like A Boss - Literally

I'm actually incredibly laid back when it comes to managing a team. But when it comes to interviews, if you wear jeans, I'm not hiring you. In saying that, don't play it safe, play it smart. Dress for the role but treat your outfit like an extension of your personality. Think of it like this, the 'standard' interview outfit is vanilla ice cream, your personal style add-ons are the chocolate chips, rainbow sprinkles and caramel sauce. ASOS has a great workwear section where you can find a faultless interview outfit like these examples below.

6. Get To Your Interview Embarrassingly Early

Arriving late doesn't look good. It really doesn't. And arriving late in jeans is just icing on the damn cake - you're still not getting hired. But arriving early? Gives the interviewer a very good first impression of you. Getting to your interview early has a lot of benefits - you have extra time incase traffic is bumper-to-bumper, you haven't applied your makeup, your boyfriend forgot his lunch & you're on girlfriend duty to save the day or your nerves are getting the better of you.

7. A Smile Is All It Takes To Make or Break Your Interview 

This is where some of you will get caught out. If you're rude to the receptionist and the staff member you passed on your way in and then act all sweet-Lucy-kiss-ass when you meet your interviewer, you've already lost the fight. Staff talk to each other. And they have no problems voicing their opinions about you, and because the interviewer knows and trusts them over you, you'll lose. So whoever you meet from the moment you leave your house till the moment you're back in it again, give them your warmest smile sweetheart.

8. What's Your Story?

Your story is your marketing goldmine. Are you gonna be a personal trainer? Were you severely overweight and then dramatically lost it all to pursue your dreams? That's a story. Have you been obsessed with dresses and notebooks since you were in diapers and want to sell them to the world? That's a story. Stories sell, so make sure you bring yours into the mix. Make it passionate, inspiring and also humbling. You'll have them begging for more. Bernadette Jiwa is an expert at helping you unlock the value in her story.


9. Let Your Personality Do The Talking

If you're predominantly cocky, nice, snobby, energetic, laid back - be it - and don't be afraid to be either. Show your personality, don't be timid, there's no reason to be. There is a place for everyone. Yes, even the douche bags *cough*carsalesmen*cough*.

10. Passion Goes A Long Way - And So Does Personality

I do hope you actually really want the job you're interviewing for, and not just the pay check. You can fake passion for an hour, but you can't do it for months or years. And your employers will notice that, and they'll feel cheated by you. When you speak, speak with passion about the company, the position and about yourself. Let your personality ooze through you and everything else will fall into place.

11. Ask Questions You Know Will Make Your Interviewer Get A Little Sweaty

It's not just an interview for you, you're also interviewing your potential employer. You want to know if this is going to be a profitable business decision for your wellbeing, your pocket and your future. When they ask you if you have any questions, intelligently ask them these: Can you describe a typical day in this type of role? How long have you been with the company & what has made you stay for so long? How would you explain the work environment/culture? What are some of the goals for the company in the short & long term? How would my performance be measured? What is the companies initiatives regarding learning & development? Bonus: If the pay rate wasn't advertised - you have every right to ask how much the role is worth.

12. Take Your Resume & Send It To Extreme Makeover - Job Edition

We're all guilty of still having a sleep-inducing black and white 90's style resume - so you can come out from behind the sofa now. Want to know a secret? 99% of all resumes submitted for jobs are unedited, undesigned and uncoloured. That means that a small touch up of your own resume will literally place you in the lead for getting an interview and the position. Your resume should also be an extension of your personality. If you're zippy, charismatic and full-of-life, a black unedited resume does not reflect who you really are. So add some colour! Underline your headlines, introduce white space, add a professional photo of yourself, be YOU in written form. Loft Resumes is great for the non-creatives or those without time to edit or design their own resumes, (that's their handiwork in the image below), you tell them what you want, pick your template, and a lovely professional creates it all for you. And then watch how employer after employer is calling you the very next morning for an interview.

13. Sell YOU Inc. (the best company in the world!)

Think of the job application process like dating someone you really like. You don't want to screw up anything - especially on the first date. You think of every tiny detail that will make you look desirable before you've even met at your favourite restaurant - you know the one with the waiter that always makes sure you get extra fries with your burger. You prepare your hair, your shoes, your outfit, your perfume, what you talk about, what you say in a text, the language you use, the way you laugh, your body language, your facial expressions and even your smile. All so that you're presenting the whole package of yourself. The selling starts the moment you learn of the position advertised.

14. What's Your Edge?

Thinking outside the box for the position will be a brilliant asset for you.  Write a list of skills and experience you have officially and unofficially - and don't sell yourself short either - I know you oh modest one. You could be going for a position as a lifeguard and also be a whiz at social media. Float the idea that you could use those skills to promote the pool online 24/7 with updates on swim lessons, aqua fitness classes, pool closures, when maintenance will take place and staff and member updates. And boom! you've suddenly become a 1000% more valuable to your potential employer.

15. Step Out, Be Bold & Share Your Ideas

Could the company consider adding an incentive structure to motivate employees better? Do you know a shortcut way to slice their costs in half? Did you use a great system in your previous job that would fit extremely well into this new company? This is how you demonstrate your usefulness to the company. Don't be afraid to express your ideas. Being bold is what makes you stand out!

16. Leave An Impression - But Not So Much You Break The Internet Like Our Friend Kim K

Right from when you submit your application to the moment you leave the interview room, plan to leave a lasting impression. Smile, be creative, communicative and enthusiastic - but don't kiss ass - and know your shit. A lasting impression is worth more than a resume with loads of experience, and a person with no vivacity. Head hunters and employers want to know you understand their company and that you actually give a damn. Don't give them a chance to doubt that.

17. Ask When A Decision Will Be Made

You're a busy girl (or guy), you've got hearts to break and other employers to impress. There's nothing worse than leaving an interview with the ball 100% in their court - what you're surprised? You still have some pull my dear - and having no idea when or if they'll get back to you. Muster some and ask. Peace of mind is a lot more fun than being left in the dark.

18. Self-Five & Throw Back A Beer

You've got to celebrate the small things darling, otherwise it just becomes a treacherous game no one likes to play. You made it to, through and out of your interview - that's *insert alcoholic poison of choice here* worthy. Congratulations, big girl! The hard part is over.

19. Everyone Loves The Chase - Except When You're The One Doing The Chasing

Muster some guts guts and use them when you haven't heard back from the employer and it's the day after they've said they'll call you. Take a deep breath - a shot of vodka (optional) - and make the call.

20. Move Forward

Some of you have a tendency to take what was said in the interview harshly. Stop stressing about whether you said the right things or not. It's an absolute waste of your time. Just get on with life, apply for more positions, do vodka shots with your friends, live your life (heeeeeeeeeeeey). And when they do call you to let you know that the job is YOURS. You can be one of the cool kids and act like you knew you'd get it anyway. Piece of cake. Mmmmm, cake.

How To Love Your Flaws & Adore Your Body

So, you got flaws?

Damn girl, I got them too! If we really wanna get into a contest about it, I've had mine since I was 8-years-old. What about you? Can you beat that? Can ya? Can ya!?

Okay, childishness aside, can we have a REAL conversation about this please? Body image. Argh! Single most important thing to a woman's mental health is how she feels about herself. Takes years to build confidence up, and a moment to tear it down.

That 'tear down' infests every area of a your life from the clothes you wear everyday, how you interact socially, when you see your friends, how often you have sex, how well you perform at your job, your own personal happiness to the relationship you are constantly creating with yourself.

Adoring your body, loving your flaws & seducing yourself goes far beyond self love. It's about creating a healthy body image regardless of your size.

When you learn to do this (through my AWESOME steps below) you will touch every part of your life. You'll gain strength and lighten the load of your heart with each step you take. Think of how much more time you'd have on your hands if you can successfully replace your self-loathing with joy, bliss, love & fun!

Another point I want to make out is that everyone no matter how thin, thick, short, tall or 'normal', have body image issues. Let's start changing that today shall we?

• Whatever your flaws are, FLAUNT THEM: Oh god *cringe* - "I can't stand looking at them, why the fuck would I want to flaunt them!?" you say? It's in bringing those things that we hide, are ashamed of, make us feel less out into the light to heal, and be okay with. Turn what you can't stand into your greatest asset.


• Buy clothing & underwear that makes you feel uber sexy/happy but also FITS: If you're worried about how big you are, but you're still cramming your voluptuous frame into a tiny piece of material, it's time to go out, honor your body & buy yourself some bigger clothes that look sexy as hell on you & make you feel so comfortable. If you're worried about how small you are, you get yourself some stunning numbers that'll make you feel beautiful! In other words, STOP WORRYING ABOUT THE SIZE ON THE LABEL. It doesn't matter!


• Drop the story & write a new one: "Soooooo like, I've had body image issues since I was 8-years-old..." It's time to let this story go hun. Plus, it's probably gotten a little boring and repetitive. Invent a new story, c'mon we could do it a thousand times a day when we were kids! How do you wanna feel in your body in this new story? What's the kinda relationship you wanna have with your body?


• Move your body. I don't mean go to the gym and run on the treadmill for 3 hours while you simultaneously slate every inch of your body. No no. What I mean is make your body active. Dance around your house, do some zumba, go for a lovely bush walk with your hunk-o-manflesh or take a shopping/gossip date with your girls. Do things that make you happy, that also combine being active. You will feel amazing for it!


• Learn the art of Charm & Cheek: Kitty Cavalier's School of Charm & Cheek is for women who want to learn how to reclaim those two elements as a source of power and to know themselves more deeply and intimately. She explains that Charm is the sensation of pleasing or delight, and Cheek is endearingly irreverent. They're the Ying & Yang of living a really fun & joyous life. Too much charm can be cute & pretty but you always need a little cheek.


• Ignore the haters: There's one in every town. But that in no way means you should buy into their crap of what they say about you. If someone in your life doesn't make you feel loved, beautiful or worthy it's better to distance yourself from them than put up with their own insecurities they're projecting on you.


• Join a Burlesque Class: Burlesque is such an intriguing, alluring form of entertainment that involves getting on stage and flaunting EVERYTHING (& yes includes a strip tease). Before you say "There ain't no way in HELL that's happening!" you can first learn Burlesque from the comforts of your own home (or bedroom with all the curtains closed if your so inclined). Channel your inner Carmen Electra or Jo Weldon. Burlesque isn't just about stripping, teasing or seducing, it's actually a form of therapy exploration for someone whose dealt with body image issues, eating disorders or just feeling dirty because your a woman. It helps heal those wounds.


• Be unapologetically YOU: You are who you are and as much as you want you can't change that (unless you really try too). Living an authentic life isn't about 'being the best version of yourself', it's actually about living in the polarity of your flaws and assets and not making either one right or wrong. It's about wearing both of them unapologetically & having a wild time!


• Love what's unlovable: Re-tune your relationship with those parts of yourself that you find unlovable. If you struggle with a particular body part, say your belly. Start telling yourself your belly is the hottest thing about you. Or if it's your thighs, tell yourself your thighs are your sexiest asset. The only thing less attractive than "flaws" is not liking those parts of yourself that are considered flaws. 


• Sweet talk yourself. Okay, TMI time. Before my shower every night, I spend some time just being naked in my bathroom. I turn on my fancy shower radio I got when I was 14 and I dance andflip my hair round (it actually feels AMAZING on the skin of your back, did you know that?!). I take time just to enjoy my body and talk to it sweetly, tell her she's beautiful and that she's sexy as hell. Doing this has greatly improved my body image, so I dare you to do it too.


• Seduction = attraction: Oh yeah, seduction is actually a great tool for law of attraction! But first you gotta change your personal definition of seduction (which will more than likely be about sex, being perfect, a way to get what you want or being cold). Seduction as a way of life is living with the utmost authenticity, boisterously. And when you do (be) that you naturally attract or seduce what you really want. You bypass your egos need for control and you attract your souls true desire.


• Give up the bitch fest: Sitting round with your friends, family and colleagues bitching about your bodies is the WORST thing you could do to yourself. It psychologically affects you deeper than you realize & completely warps your relationship with your body. STOP IT. If you've got nothing nice to say about yourself, don't say it! Instead, print this page out and do at least ONE of these steps to making yourself feel better!


• Love yourself no matter what size you are just for the f*ck of it: Be a rebel without a cause. Love yourself till the end of time, just because you f*cking can!

Are you yourself dealing with your own body image issues? Or have you worked through your body issues & have a great relationship with your body? Please tell me in the comments below!

Oh and if you know of someone who is struggling with her own self image, please share this post with her. It may just change her life. xx

A Weird Birthday

Yesterday was my birthday.

It was full of delightful moments, over-flowing champagne, joyful company and a ton of gifts. The day was magnanimous to say the least. I am completely tickled pink with joy.

That's what you're supposed to say right?

I'm gonna level with you - it wasn't anything like that at all.

You generally have a ritual of how your birthday begins. For me it's being woken with a stolen kiss and a whispered "Happy Birthday my love.." while having gifts lovingly laid by my side. Then it's a 7:30am birthday call from Mum, a delicious breakfast cooked by my love followed by texts, messages and calls from loved ones wishing me a beautiful day.

NONE OF THAT HAPPENED.

Scott went to work at 5:45am, Mum facebooked me happy birthday not wanting to wake me on the phone, I opened my presents by myself, had to go to a meeting, no one at work wished me happy birthday - or even knew it was my birthday - and everyone I came across was in an 'off' mood.

It was a blow to the ego that's for sure.

All that kept running through my mind was, "This sucks".

I wanted to escape to a new reality where I had a beautiful party to host with my favourite people, and a dessert table adorned with pretty decorations. I imagined waltzing off to the beach where we spent hours splashing around, soaking up the sun, sipping cocktails and eating food that was made for the gods.

It felt good to escape for those few minutes, it felt fresh and new and fun - and that's when it hit me square between the eyes.

It felt good because it felt new.

"That's it!" I thought to myself, I've been so (unconsciously) stuck in the same place for quite a number of months now, nothing new has happened. In other words, I haven't been growing.

I immediately course-corrected my attitude, because I knew what I needed to do. Life is about growth and change and sometimes we get stuck because it's comfortable or because it freaks us out to do things differently.

I'm not saying everything will change in a matter of minutes, but there's 365 days to go till my next birthday and I'm going to make it a magical year of firsts, or, a year of growth.

And once I made my mind up, it was like everything slotted into place. I arrived home after work with my favourite people waiting for me, we snuck off to get vietnamese, watched our childhood classics, Jumanji and Space Jam, gobbled french birthday cake and trumpets.

None of it is what usually pans out on my birthday, it was all brand new, the perfect start to an exciting purposeful year.

Bring on the year of firsts!

Elise xo

Image from A Beautiful Mess

A Fresh Start

Here's to failure, mistakes and imperfection.

To lessons learned, and learned, and learned, and learned.

To the many excuses made.

And the many reasons believed.

To stubbornness, and all that it entails.

To fear and it's validated presence.

To the breaking of bad habits.

And the making of an iron fist in a velvet glove.

It's a brand new day.

It's time for a fresh start.

Bring on the creativity.


xo Elise

What's your unspoken relationship rule?

One thing I love about us is we instinctively know when we need to step up each other.

Like for instance, the other day - oh, who am I kidding - yesterday, it was the day from hell. All my plans and ideas shattered to smithereens - and all before lunch time might I add. I was so defeated, like a 7-year-old who just lost his 10th consecutive little league game. I just wanted to nail all the doors in my house shut, blind the light beaming into my room and hide under the sheets until the day was surely gone.

I moped and even added in a flood of tears for dramatic effect. I was relishing my victim mode. But no matter how much I tried to stay a victim, I couldn't.

Why?

Because Scott and I have an unspoken rule, that when one is spiralling downwards, the other becomes the strength to lead them back up.

So he picked me up off the bed (literally picked me up like I was 7-years-old), wiped away my tears, gave me a loving pep talk, helped me problem solve and instilled the courage within me that I needed to face this day.

Because in a relationship, sometimes you've gotta be the parent, the teacher, the therapist, the tough guy and the one that leads the way (even if you don't actually know the way).

I love this about us.


What's your unspoken relationship rule? Do you have one? Does it make your relationship stronger?

xo

7 Ways to Fall Madly In Love With Yourself

As you may well know, it's important to give your love to your friends, family and partners but it's also just as vitally important to give the good lovin' to yourself .

The saying goes "You gotta fill yourself up with love, so much so that you overflow and have an abundance to give to others". I read that somewhere but I can't remember where! Here's how you do it for yourself.

Create a morning ritual for yourself // Rituals are what you do every day, good or bad, that determine your life's conditions. So it's better to consciously do them than unconsciously. How to create your own morning ritual? Decide how you want your day to go and what you wanna feel like. Energized? Blissful? Badass? Sexy as hell? Then choose 1 - 3 things to do with your body, your focus and your words. So that could be getting straight out of bed, putting your trainers on and going for a run, or making a green smoothie, or singing your favourite song in your underwear. Whatever is gonna make you feel the way you wanna feel.

Eat and drink the foods that ACTUALLY make you happy! // I know you have them, so what are they? What beverages make you feel really good. Perhaps a soy latte? Maybe cucumber and grapefruit detox water? How about foods? What foods put you in a really good state? Is it carrots? What about sun dried tomatoes & feta on crackers? Monitor yourself for the next week on the food and drink you consume and how you feel after consuming them. Note down which of those made you feel good, then keep consuming more of your feel good foods!

Take breaks from technology // No BUTS! Too much of a good thing is always a bad thing. How often do you watch TV, listen to the radio, use the computer, laptop, ipad, ipod and cell phone? Every day I'm guessing? Shit, every minute I'll bet! Spend some time apart. Not only does this make you feel really good but you actually get that time to indulge in what you like (shopping, coffee with friends, one-on-one time with your beau..) I usually take the weekends off. I'll check the occasional email and fb update but I'm never on for more than 10 mins because the weekend is MY TIME.

Keep your negative thoughts on the downlow // A toughie but a goodie. Negativity can be like a virus, once you catch it it's bloody hard to get rid of but if you keep yourself healthy and well nourished, you won't get hit by the doom and gloom of it all. This TOTALLY applies to negative thoughts, negative talk, judging, gossiping and complaining - it's all the same. If you have a negative thought pop up, intercept it by placing a positive thought there instead. You can only think one thought at a time so make your thought space a positive place. You do that by focusing on your surroundings and finding something small that's positive to you. Maybe a flower, painting, the sky, a couple, anything.

Spread your love around with THICK layers // One of my favourites! Express your love to the people in your life. Whether it's your mum, dad, bff, siblings, partner, friends, pets, aunts, uncles, the person you passed while out running earlier today or the birds you fed on your lunch break. Spread it around because it is infectious and it attracts the good stuff. Remember how good you feel when you do something nice for a person and they are so grateful you literally fill up like a balloon of hot gooey caramel air? Yeah that's the good stuff, but imagine if it was 24/7??

Get your dancey dance on! // What girl doesn't love to jiggle her ass around a room? It doesn't have to be anywhere near perfect nor do you have to join a class. All you need to do is put on your favourite tunes and move that body in the most freely, loosely and un-co way. Go bat-shit! Go Will Smith!

Wear clothing that truly expresses who you are // None of these black, toned down layers BS. You are one hot, badass babe who has one sexy body to flaunt REGARDLESS of your size and shape. It makes a HUGE difference to a woman if she feels sexy in what she's wearing, so don't hide away or cheap yourself out of a hot outfit. You always deserve it.

What's one thing you're taking from this post and implementing into your life today? Get on it!


xo

How to Follow Your Dreams (& make them come true)

There are those who stopped searching, those that stopped believing, those who vanished in the dark - forever - never to return again. Are you one of those people?

Come back.

Come back to your dreams.

There is so much magic and wonder waiting for you.

The path is just around the corner.

Follow it.

Follow the path to your dreams..

1. Follow YOUR dreams, not others: Well duh, right? Yet sooo many people find themselves chasing what someone else wants or has told them to want. i.e people in relationships, well meaning parents etc. NO! No more! Get your own damn dream :P No but seriously, I hope you already have one. You gotta pursue what your gut wants.


2. Know that you're good enough to have your dream: So like, there's a lot of you out there who believe you don't actually deserve what you want. Wtf is that about? Um, you do, you always did, stop making excuses you dork. You're good enough. Always were. And I need you to believe it. 


3. Get excited about beginning: The beginning is the best bit! Everything's new and exciting, you get treated pretty special too and things just seem to fall into place easily to help you get on your track. 


4. Ignore the pessimists, critics and haters: When you're out there with your armor, your shield and your swords - you're always going to come across some bastard who wants to fight. Because it can't just be all rainbows and bunnies, can it? Some will say you shouldn't be there, others will hold you back, some will try to suck the life out of you - some will succeed. You gotta practice what I call, selective ignorance. Works like a charm.


5. Create a personal incantation: Like an actual pump yourself up pep-talk.


6. Stop comparing yourself to others: It's hard, I know. Your ex bestie just seems to have everything falling effortlessly into her lap, or so it seems from the outside. Just go do something else that gets your mind off it, cause it's a waste of time focusing your attention on something you can't change. Use those energy sources for YOUR shit, your dream, your path. Not someone elses. Wtf!?


7. Create a 'Dreams & Goals' Journal: Not only is it fun to have something to create, design and take with you everywhere but it's always a BOAT LOAD of fun to track your progress and have that constant positive reinforcement of your goals and that they are 100% real and valid. If that's too much of a hassle, use post-it notes and annoyingly stick em' up everywhere.


8. Write BIG clear goals: Write your goals out in your journal and make sure they are clear, specific and measurable. Think of how much and by when? Combine the SMART and BHAG goals and you've got a strong Mojito for success.


9. Create a Daily & Weekly Task List: Buy or create your own weekly calender with small tasks you can complete throughout the week towards your dream. Whether it's saving for your big OE or studying monologues for the theatre show you're in. Make sure you have at least 1 thing each day to work towards. Although it seems small to begin with, once you add them all up, you realize it's quite a big task you've completed.


10. Create your own motivation blueprint: Whatever it is that you believe that makes you work harder, better, faster, stronger - DO IT. This can be anything from having a specific ritual that you do each day like playing tennis, gardening or running naked around the house. Just do it.


11. Celebrate the small accomplishments: I'm all about celebrating the little pleasures, so it's no different here. Celebrate the little stepping stones in your journey to success. It's one of the most liberating things you can do for yourself and your sanity.


12. Find others just like you: No matter where you are or how much you believe you are on your own - this is a lie. There are maaaaaaaaaany others just like you who are pursuing their dreams and who want to know YOU. Search for facebook and linkedin groups, find inspirational people on twitter to follow, look in your local newspapers and magazines and read the local-spotlight articles, get in touch with those people who sound like someone you'd like to know. There's a huge big world out there just dying for you to dip your toes in, so let's get to it shall we?


13. Make a dream board on Pinterest: Getting creative is one of the funnest things about following your dreams. If you've got a Pinterest account, create for yourself a new board on your Dreams. Then search around on pinterest and google and find yourself inspirational images that show the essence of your dream to you. Then look at the board as much as you can and continue to add to it as your goal progresses on and gets bigger.


14. Study a role model you aspire to be like: Find someone that inspires you to be better. Someone who has morals, ethics and values that resonate with you and what you'd like to have. Study their success strategy, find out what they did, write to them, praise them and soon you will find yourself becoming someone as great as them - if not better.


15. Learn enthusiasm and confidence: Making your dreams come true is no doubt going to require some help from other people, directly or indirectly. To attract the right people to help you get there you need to start oozing enthusiasm, positivity and confidence - with a sneaky dash of smartass charm. We've all heard the saying 'fake it till you make it' and in this case it is most definitely true!


16. Use Visualization: Go a few years ahead from now and imagine where you will be after you've pursued your passions after all this time. How do you feel? Where are you? Who is with you? What can you smell? Taste? See? Go there and then rewind it back through the years to the present moment. While you're coming back, see the steps you took to get there. Now go out and take that action!


17. Open your heart and be authentic: Let your authenticity and creativity shine through with an open heart. It does amazing things for you.


18. Stay true to yourself: Don't be that guy who gets all famous and turns into a douche bag. Because once you've obtained that title, it's really hard to shake. So no matter what happens, how much success you obtain or who you know - ALWAYS stay true to who you are. Don't get blinded by the shiny pennies that will dazzle their way in front of you. Remember your purpose, remember your passion and remember who you really are.


19. Practice gratitude: It's not a hard task to say 'thank you' and mean it. Doesn't require much time or energy from you. Get thankful for everything that you have, that you've had and that you're going to have. This is the actual secret recipe to getting every single thing you want. But the trick is, you must FEEL the gratitude. Feel it in your heart. It really does make you happier, thus easier to keep pursuing your dream.


20. Become the apprentice once again: Educate yourself, learn new things, read books that speak to you, take courses that resonate with your desires, learn about those places you always wanted to go. Don't be afraid to become the student once again. Personal growth is the key to a fulfilled life.


21. Spread the word: You never know who is out there who might have the perfect opportunity waiting for you or perhaps is dying to be a big part of your support system. You have to let others help you.