Remember the saying, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder?” It is time to remind ourselves everyday as we look in the mirror beauty is starring right back at us. As woman we tend to forget the true definition of beauty. We read magazines, watch TV, compare ourselves to others and forget the true being of who we are. It is not about a dress size, but the size of our Heart & Character. Beauty is about confidence, no matter what size you are, you can walk into anywhere, own every step, every move and love who you are! Curved Beauty is about loving your curves, embracing them and not being afraid to show them off …It’s time to Curve your outlook on who you are and to focus on the elements you love about yourself.

After working as a Makeup Artist for over 6 years, I have seen women of all shapes; sizes and looks sit in my chair. Yet, there is one thing they all have in common …everyone has at least one beautiful feature about them. Whether you are a stay at home mom, a teenager, a celebrity or a career woman, each demographic represents a form of beauty we can learn from. Also, I can guarantee we all have imperfections. Marilyn Monroe once said “Imperfection is Beauty”, a true statement just to think if everyone was “perfect” how exciting would the world be.

Unfortunately, we have been programmed to want to immediately change our flaws …nip, tuck, refine, and replace. I am all for wanting to improve and define what God has given us, but it is important not to lose a sense of who we are along the way and become obsessed with outer beauty. People tend to forget, no amount of makeup, surgery or clothing will upgrade your beauty status. If inner confidence and self love is not present, it will overpower any cosmetic alterations attempted.

As woman it is important for us to define a sense of WHO we truly are and teach generations to come that beauty is not something you buy, it is something discovered inside. If not, beauty will lose all sense of meaning. So next time when looking in the mirror, picking apart your flaws or “imperfections” , remind yourself “Imperfection is beauty” and those aspects contribute to who you are, embrace them and remember to be a beautiful, confident, you!

This blog post was written by Makeup Artist, Tiffany Hall-Scarmana. If you would like to connect with Tiffany directly visit her on the web at http://www.curvedbeauty.blogspot.com . We would like Tiffany to invite her clients to check out http://www.bangleandclutch.com/jewelry . This post is part of our guest blogger series meant to inspire and motivate women. They do not necessarily reflect the political, religious or other view points of http://www.bangleandclutch.com , Nannette Bosh, Nannette Bosh Inc., AskNannette Bosh, http://www.asknannette.com  or http://www.nannettebosh.com . Thanks for the female inspiration Tiffany, we like Look in the Mirror: Who Do You See Looking Back at You!!!

Over the years I’ve discovered that most things in life can be improved with a good spring cleaning. Your business is no different. After all, you choose to do a spring cleaning because stuff accumulates. Whether it is dust or dirt or junk mail or clutter or just “stuff” in general, it is good to get rid of it all. Then you can start fresh and clean. Your business is the same. Piles of old files that need to be thrown out or relationships that are no longer serving you, sometimes it’s good to take stock on what’s working in your business. And yes, this sounds sort of woo-woo, but it actually does work.

Environment :

1. Get rid of your stacks. File them, toss them or delegate them. Do something with them, but just get rid of them. 2. Clean out old client files. This works like a charm. The moment you clean out old client files, whether it is long-term storage or tossing them, you’ll discover new clients starting to contact you. 3. Get rid of the clutter in your office. Mail it, donate it, box it up and ship it out!  

Relationships:

1. Are you in relationships that are no longer serving you? Be honest here and be thorough. Look at your friends, associates, biz partners, JV or affiliate relationships, clients (yes even clients) and team members. If something isn’t working, you probably need to move on. 2. Are there some difficult conversations you’ve been putting off? Maybe someone owes you money or didn’t live up to some other promise. Maybe they did something you don’t agree with, whatever it is spring cleaning is a great time to clean it all up so you can move forward.

Habits:

Are there things you’re either doing or not doing that you know would move you forward? Or maybe you’re wasting a lot of time on things that aren’t serving you or moving you forward in your business. Take a look at what you’re doing on a daily basis to see if that is helping you or hindering you. None of these tasks are necessarily things you’re going to enjoy, but once you do them, you’ll be amazed at how good you’ll feel (and how much energy it frees up for you).

This blog post was written by marketing strategist Michele Pariza Wacek. Would you like to connect with Michele? Try http://www.michelepw.com/blog. This blog post is part of our guest blogger series. These posts are meant to inspire and motivate women. They do not necessarily reflect the political, religious or other view points of http://www.bangleandclutch.com , Nannette Bosh, Nannette Bosh Inc., Ask Nannette, AskNannette Bosh, http://www.asknannette.com  or http://www.nannettebosh.com . As always we welcome your thoughts, comments and questions. This post was provided courtesy of AskNannette.com. Thanks Michele!!!!!!! We think you might look nice wearing http://www.bangleandclutch.com/jewelry/necklaces/roselle-fresh-water-teal.html/

A woman’s fortune, darkness and light is a woman’s fortune. It’s our ability to cherish our salty tears and own that we are made of love and rage; it’s our ability to dance between the polarities and go from a night of celebrated debauchery followed directly by a holy day of rest tireless to turn our fury into fuel and expression and instead of lash and cut, inspire. It’s our ability to be the stewards of rebirth with grace, to be in the presence of the miracle of evolution weather it comes with blood, wind, rain or war: to face death with ceremony, respect and acceptance. A woman’s fortune is her ability to be and show she is God’s expression of herself and each choice we make to define ourselves feeds the collective freedom we so crave: by way or written expression, dance, mantra, poetry, questioning, moving, birthing; by the colors we wear and the wildness of our clothing. A woman’s fortune is that we forgive the limitations of ourselves and our neighbors, the seeming differences with other living beings, and silently witness generations of deconstruction and a slow awakening of man’s spirit. Like the deities and goddesses who kept the wise secrets of love and sex unafraid of the blood of birth or the chaos or the beauty of our heaven, who here now walks silently with sweet secrets, weaving the opportunity for the world to honor wisdom in all forms.

This blog post was written by Kahshanna Evans, if you would like to learn more about her you can visit her on the web: http://www.holisticanywhere.com/profile/kahshannaevans .This blog post is part of our guest blogger series. These posts are meant to inspire and motivate women. They do not necessarily reflect the political, religious or other view points of http://www.bangleandclutch.com , Nannette Bosh, Nannette Bosh Inc., or asknannette.com. As always we welcome your thoughts, comments and questions. This post was provided courtesy of asknannette.com. Thanks Kahshanna, we think you would look fabulous wearing http://www.bangleandclutch.com/jewelry/necklaces/riverside-gold.html/

I heard a great story on NPR’s Talk of the Nation about the storytelling skill of Ernest Hemingway. When asked if he could write a story in six words, he came back to his challenger the next day with these lines: “For sale, baby shoes, never worn.” Although the story you see when you reflect on his words may be different than the one I see, the images that come to mind are emotional and memorable.

Here’s my challenge to you: Describe your life’s mission or current focus in ten powerful words or less. Choose words that tell the story you are creating. Then test your lines out on the next stranger that asks you what you do. Here’s my business line, at least for today:  “Master or victim of your brain? I help you choose.” My life line is: “My life is a gift that I love to share.” The line that characterizes my life is: “If I find my way, push me over the edge.” As motivational speaker and songwriter Jana Stanfield says, “I’m not lost, I’m just exploring.” She said it in six words! There is actually a book of six-word memoirs called, Not Quite What I Was Planning.

One of my clients offered, “If you’re gonna do it, do it right”. Another said, “My story is funny to read.” One of my best bits of advice is “Pause, smile and blow the fog out of the way.” What are the 3 to 10 words that sum up your mission or life story? If you would like to read more one-line memoirs you can find them at http://nrp.org . You can share your lines here. The game is as enlightening as it is fun.

Marcia Reynolds, PsyD is a coach, speaker and author. Her new book Wander Woman (How High-Achieving Women Find Contentment and Direction) will be released June 2010. If you would like to read more from Marcia visit http://www.WanderWomanBook.com  or email her directly at marcia@wanderwomanbook.com. This blog post is part of a series of posts we will run from female guest bloggers. These posts are meant to inspire women and do not necessarily reflect the political, religious or other view points of http://www.bangleandclutch.com , Nannette Bosh, Nannette Bosh Inc., or asknannette.com. As always we welcome your thoughts, comments and questions. This post was provided courtesy of asknannette.com. Thanks Marcia we would love to see you in http://www.bangleandclutch.com/jewelry/earrings/danon-2.html/

Gone are the days of doctors making house calls. Let’s face it there are doctors and medical specialists for everything. Want to see one? You will wait health insurance or not it doesn’t matter. Doctors are overbooked and their expertise in high demand. Treating a countless number of patients it is not humanly possible to keep track of every individual health issue of every single one of their patients. While we long to be treated as a paying customer at the doctor’s office we are instead squeezed in with only a few moments to state what it is that is ailing us. We fumble get confused and are afraid to waste the doctor’s time. What about our past health history, the meds we take along with our supplements?

Our society has gone from the doctor making the house calls to the patient doing their own medical research from home on their computer. Not getting the results you want, do your homework. That’s right our health our responsibility. A staple resource I often use is http://www.webmd.com . Here you will find most all the information you need to research your medical conditions, meds, supplements, symptoms etc. Have a parent or child who cannot do their medical homework or is unable to ask the right questions during their visit to the doctor? Guess what you’re up! Read up and accompany your loved one on their visit. If you are shy or intimidated then have a loved one accompany you on your visit. Asking the right questions based on your recent research is the best way to ensure the patient (you or your loved one) gets the most out of the visit to the doctor and is a crucial step in receiving the proper medical attention.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions it is after all your appointment. Don’t be afraid to take your time, YOU ARE A PAYING CUSTOMER. Can’t remember everything bring a list and refer to it during the visit. I bring a list and cross things off as they are addressed. In fact I often take notes when the doctor speaks in case I need to refer to them at a later date. If the doctor uses a term I don’t understand, I ask what the term means. Are you unsure what it is the doctor is actually telling you? Ask the doctor to repeat it or explain it in a way that you can understand. When you leave you will not only be well informed you will feel better knowing  that you did everything in your power to acquire the best possible medical opinion for a loved one or yourself.

This Bangle and Clutch blog post was provided courtesy of AskNannette.com and written by Nannette Bosh. Please let us know your thoughts in the comment section.

Remember your prom night? Remember who was there, the guy you went with, what you wore? I do and I realize as a write that twenty-five years later I still talk about my prom. My guess is you do too. When I get together with my best friend from high school we sometimes look at our old prom photos and laugh. We were over tanned the guys wore top hats and we wore southern bell dresses. LOL! Life is the memories we make, good and bad they shape us and guide us throughout the years, memories are the fiber that make us who we are even if we often prefer they did not. The prom for a young girl is a night of beauty, a time to shine. For most of us the only other opportunity to be a beauty in the spot light is our wedding day. As a young girl attending your prom, the dress you wear, the way you look and feel that evening is a wonderful memory you have for life and a staple one in our society. Your entire life ahead of you it is not only exciting it is an exhilarating experience. What about the girl who cannot afford a dress for the prom?

I consider myself an advocate for women and causes that involve women and even impressionable teenage girls are the ones I find dear to my heart. I believe if you are going to give it should come from your heart. Sometimes even the smallest gesture of support can be very rewarding. Last year Bangle and Clutch was approached by an organization with a cause I simply could not turn down. Princess And The Prom http://www.princessandtheprom.org/ is a nonprofit organization that collects gently used gowns, shoes and accessories distributing them to girls in need who otherwise would be unable to attend their prom.

Curious about how Princess And The Prom started, I recently spoke with one of the founders of the organization Cheryle Podgorski.  The inspiration of the organization actually came from Cheryle’s daughter Lauren and a few of her friends working on a service project for school. Lauren and her friends teamed up with their mothers and began collecting prom dresses in late 2006. Arrival prom season 2007 this group of moms and daughters had a goal of dressing 50 girls, much to their surprise the need was greater than they realized. In their first year they doubled their goal suiting 100 teens. A discombobulated house full of dresses, shoes and accessories along with transportation to the suiting site was a little overwhelming for Cheryle and her small crew of volunteers. What comes around goes around and for all of the crew’s kindness and giving, in walks Shawn McCann owner of Best Cleaners http://www.bestcleaners.com/ . He kindly offered not only to donate the cleaning, storing and transportation of the gowns in the future but also storage and transportation of the shoes and accessories!

The work is extremely rewarding Cheryle says.  She loves to see the many past recipients stepping up to the volunteer plate to pay back the organization for the impact it has made on their lives. At the suiting event this year Princess And The Prom will dress a whopping 600 girls! Maybe you do not have time to volunteer or perhaps your family funds are a little tight that’s understandable. However you, your daughter or someone you know might have a prom dress hanging around that can be donated. Help make the prom a memory for a teenage girl that without your help might otherwise miss out on her day to shine. Twenty-five years later will she look back and laugh at her prom photos or will she remember she couldn’t afford to go? If you would like donate or learn more about the organization you can visit them on the web at http://www.princessandtheprom.org/ .

This blogpost has been brought to you courtesy of AskNannette.com