It’s barely October, but I assure you Christmas is just around the corner. Walk into your local shopping center and you will start seeing the signs – the holidays are coming! Every year the holidays seem to show up earlier and earlier and you can’t deny the energy that comes like a freight train with it! Now, I’m all for the PSLs (Pumpkin Spice Lattes), boots, and cozy afternoons on the couch watching movies (HA! That’s funny, right? Hang with me for a second!), but I hate the “hustle, bustle” …
Business
An Interview with Ellie Coburn of “Olive & Annie”
Olive and Annie is a line of handcrafted children's apparel made in Kenya. Every purchase supports initiatives to end sexual violence in and beyond East Africa, a location where Ellie Coburn has lived and traveled. I want to introduce you to Ellie, Creative Director for Olive and Annie! When you were 18, you planned a ten-day trip to South Africa that turned into two and a half months in Zimbabwe. Tell us about your connection with this country. Growing up I had always been …
How to Listen Like a Therapist & Sell Like a Boss
One of the most necessary and yet most difficult skills to master in this day and age is the art of listening. Let’s face it...we live in the generation of instant answers, google everything, ask Siri and get it done now. We are often so engrossed in social media that we neglect to truly listen to one another in a way that communicates “I am fully present with you and following”. Being able to actively listen is really an art form and takes some training but the payoff in your …
Jesus and Yoga: How yoga is good for my relationship with Christ
As a Christian of 20 years, a yogi for 7, and fitness instructor for 2, I’m hosting a Christ-Focused Yoga session because I want to share the powerful experience of using yoga for prayer, worship and praise of the Creator. But, I know there are a lot of questions about yoga and spirituality, so I thought I’d share why, theologically, and how I personally and practically integrate the two. First off, there are many different types and styles of yoga. Even within the same style of yoga, an …
Confessions of a Working Mother & Wife
I don’t know when it really hit me, but when it did I felt a sense of both relief and terror. The realization that I was a great teacher, a fun mom, a mediocre wife, and a horrible homemaker. To make matters worse, my priorities were exactly in the same order… except for wife and homemaker, sometimes those were interchangeable at the bottom of my priority totem pole. How did I let this happen? When did I let my home, my husband, my family come after my job? Okay, if I am being completely …
From a Place of Emptiness
Being in a place of emptiness is teaching me a valuable lesson. What I am putting into my mind and heart is what will come out. For the last few weeks I have been trying to write blogs and be more loving and encouraging to my family. Instead, I have found that I am mentally and emotionally dry, used up and exhausted. But why? After going through the She Reads Truth Lent Bible study, I stopped reading my Bible. I got busy and tired, and my daily reading of inspiration and truth fell out …
Autism Awareness ~ One Mother’s Story
“Through the blur, I wondered if I was alone or if other parents felt the same way I did - that everything involving our children was painful in some way. The emotions, whether they were joy, sorrow, love or pride, were so deep and sharp that in the end they left you raw, exposed and yes, in pain. The human heart was not designed to beat outside the human body and yet, each child represented just that - a parent's heart bared, beating forever outside its chest.” ― Debra …
Favorite Things Giveaway!!!
FAVORITE THINGS GIVEAWAY CONTINUES!!! Enter {HERE} One lucky winner will be chosen and they will receive their choice of our Spring 2016 Lifestyle Apparel Line for Week #2 of our Favorite Things Giveaway! We kicked off April with Silk & Stone Designs Jewelry in our Insta-Loop Giveaway and we are thrilled to announce the winner is.... Ashley will receive this lovely wrap bracelet as the winner of our week one Insta-Loop Giveaway! Congratulations Ashely! …
The Pursuit of Happiness
Confession: I get inspiration from the sides of Lulu Lemon shopping bags. I admit it--I’m compelled to live in light of the words on the bag. There’s one part of Lulu Lemon’s “manifesto” that leaves me feeling more discouraged than inspired, though. The saying says, “The pursuit of happiness is the source of all unhappiness.” I think I understand where the Lulu team is coming from--I agree we could all learn to be a little more content and grateful right where we are. Another Better …
Five reasons to be a guest blogger on The Better Business Babe
I began blogging last year for The Better Business Babe and I wanted to share 5 Things I have learned from this experience! It may seem challenging to find the time or the content to be a guest blog contributor but I feel it has helped push me to achieve some of my professional and personal goals and may help you as well! ~Cristina Demonstrate your thought leadership. Translation: “look good and show how smart you are!” Positive public relations is always great. Individuals think more …