Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Cloudy Mirror


Often times, we cannot fully see who we are because our lens have been clouded by the opinions of others, ridicules of society, doubt of self, and past mistakes.  There is only one way to travel down the path of self-awareness and that is to see past the smoke that covers and hides the person from behind.  The hard part is having the willingness to work through all of the smoke that stands before us.

What are some of the things that have clouded your view of yourself?  Could they be past mistakes that you continue to persecute yourself over? Or perhaps you have the fogs of disappointments clouding your judgments and your mirror.  Can we go a little past the surface?  Could the lack of forgiveness be the reason why you can only see the outline of your image?  Let’s dig even further.  Are you the reason why you can’t see you?  Have you been the key force in hiding the real you?  Be honest.  Have you been less than accountable to yourself?

Desperate times call for desperate measures.  Serious times call for serious answers.  Get real with you, all of you, the failures, mistakes, hardships, trials, triumphs, wins and celebrations.  So you made some mistakes, who hasn’t?  So you have faced some serious hardships and trauma in your childhood.  Who hasn’t?  These things are apart of you; they are not the end result of you.  Be courageous.  Look at yourself in the mirror tonight.  Deal with every physical nuisance.  Allow yourself to come face to face with every mental pain.  Stop hiding.  Stop running.  Stop lying to you.  You have the power to flip that switch, embrace the total package of yourself and move on.  Try it.  You are waiting on you! 

By: Diana Bridgett

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

3 Steps To Make Your Dreams A Reality

I found this article yesterday and I loved it.  I thought it was a great reminder for those of us who are making our dreams become a reality!  I know for me I always run into hurdles and setbacks and getting through those can be so tough...so tough that sometimes I just want to give up.  Setbacks can be so many things from a financial issue, to a negative person trying to bring you down or just a mental block and you feel like you are in limbo.  I always have to remind myself that no one’s dreams ever come true over night and that you really have to work hard for them...the hardest you will ever have to work.  I hope that these 3 steps can help redirect you or just inspire you to keep going for what you want!

Step #1 – Eat Your Dreams for Breakfast 
The mornings are the best times to start working on your dream.  Your mind is fresh, peaceful and you are free of distractions. I always say work on those things that are most important to you first and then the rest of your day will be a piece of cake.  Not only are the mornings a great way to start the day, but working on your dreams before anything else will put you in a better place mentally and creatively for the remainder of the day. Most people forget to make the time for what is most important to them so they will always make excuses because they feel they don't have the time.  Even if you don't have time to work because you have a 9-5, wake up early take an extra 20 minutes to work on your dream, this will truly make all the difference in the world. Each day, no matter what else happens, you have a commitment and this is to make your dreams come true.

Step #2 – Ignore Negative People
When you receive negative feedback, remember, it doesn’t matter how many people don’t get it, it matters how many do. Remember no matter how much progress you make there will always be the people who insist that whatever you’re trying to do is impossible.  Or they may constantly suggest that the idea or dream as a whole is utterly ridiculous because nobody really cares.
When you come across these people, don’t try to reason with them.  Instead, forget that they exist.  They will only waste your time and energy.

Step #3 – Commit To Your Dream
The harder you work the luckier you will become.  Stop waiting around for things to work out.  If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.
While many of us decide at some point during the course of our lives that we want to answer our calling, only an astute few of us actually work on it.  By “working on it,” I mean truly devoting oneself to the end result.  The rest of us never act on our decision.  Or, at best, we pretend to act on it by putting forth an uninspired, half-assed effort.

Remember, life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile.  Achieving your dreams can be a lot of work.  Be ready for it.

Hugs...

Annastina

Monday, April 25, 2011

10 things to think about on a Monday morning!

These past couple weeks have been so crazy and it has thrown me off track on my blogging...but I’M BACK!  I have had some amazing opportunities come my way and I have also had some setbacks...so it has been quite a rollercoaster.  This morning I woke up and decided it is time to put my “big girl panties on” and move these boulders out of my way.  Affirmations, motivation tools and prayer always helps me and gives me the strength to move forward and what a better time to do that then on a Monday morning!

Monday mornings are always hectic, crazy and sometimes they can be overwhelming. It's the beginning of school, work week and for some of us a new day to rewrite our journey.  I think having "Monday" morning rituals are helpful to help you reduce stress, clear your mind and make progress towards a successful day.  Reminding yourself of the simple things in life will keep you motivated and active to do more. Below are 10 things to think about on a Monday morning...

1. Everything I do is by choice.  There is always another option.

2. I must keep dreaming.  Wanting what I don’t think I can have is the first step to making my dreams a reality.

3. I will prioritize my obligations and do the important things first.

4. I will not try to read other people’s minds.  I will not make other people try to read mine.  I will communicate effectively.

5. If I want to remember it, I will write it down in a trusted location.

6. Everyone has a story.  There’s a reason why people are the way they are.  I will appreciate them just the way they are.

7. The biggest mistake I can make is doing nothing because I’m scared to make a mistake.

8. There are extraordinary things going on in my life.  I have a lot to be thankful for.

9.  The most important things in my life are my health, my family and friends, and my education.  Everything else is secondary.

10. Every mistake I make is progress.  I must learn from my mistakes and the mistakes of others.

Hugs...

Annastina

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Want Longer and Thicker Lashes?

Years ago I saw the commercial for Latisse, when Brooke Shields was endorsing the product, and I had always wanted to try it.  The reason I never did was because you had to get a prescription from your doctor and I was always scared of the side effects.  I had read too many bad reviews!
Then I found Revitalash.  It was being sold in a salon I had worked in and I decided to try it after reading about it online and the reviews.  Guess what?  It is amazing! No side effects!!  No doctor’s prescription.  You can buy this product over the counter and it works wonders!  I have been using it for quite awhile now and I constantly get asked if I am wearing fake eyelashes.  I haven’t worn fake lashes for months because I haven’t had too.  My lashes are long and thicker and I LOVE putting mascara on now.  It takes a month for it to kick in and I remember the morning I went to put mascara on and I could feel the thickness and it felt like my lashes never ended.  It was the best feeling!
The price at first can be a little scary but when compared to Latisse, it beats out its competitors.  It is $150 for a 6 month supply compared to Latisse which is $100 for a 1 month supply.

And I am not joking…NO SIDE EFFECTS!!!  Everyone I know that has used it loves it!  They also have RevitaBrow and RevitaHair to help thicken hair in those areas.
Revitalash has a very sweet story, it all began because a husband wanted to give his wife a very special gift…
RevitaLash was developed by Dr. Michael Brinkenhoff as a special gift for his wife, Gayle, while she was recovering from breast cancer. Intensive chemotherapy treatments had damaged Gayle’s once-beautiful eyelashes, leaving them sparse, breakable and fragile.

After extensive research with a team of talented cosmetic chemists, Dr. Brinkenhoff formulated an eyelash conditioner that, after just a few weeks, gave a renewed look of vitality to Gayle’s eyelashes.

Soon friends and family wanted to know Gayle’s secret to beautiful looking eyelashes. Gayle knew immediately the perfect name for the amazing eyelash conditioner that had given her eyelashes a renewed look of vitality: RevitaLash!
Thus, a new product was born; and a formula created originally for just one special woman has become a product available to women everywhere who want to have beautiful looking eyelashes.

Gayle and Michael are committed to donating a portion of the proceeds from RevitaLash sales to benefit non-profit breast cancer research and education initiatives.

Check out their website to see where you can purchase their products!  You will not regret it!

Hugs...

Annastina

Friday, April 1, 2011

GIVING BACK WITH AN OPEN HEART!

About 8 years I was going through a very soul searching time in my life.  During that time, my heart was telling me that it was time to give back.  I didn’t know where to start or exactly how I wanted to give back.  I wanted to do more than just write a check.  The company I was working with at the time had a Charitable Committee and I felt that if I joined it would give me some exposure to what charities are out there.
It was really funny actually because everyone in the beginning was telling me to see how I could help with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  And I remember (like some know-it-all girl) I said no, because I felt they already had all the help and I couldn’t make a difference.  So I started checking out different organizations and groups, months went by and I wasn’t attaching to anything.  I mean they were ALL amazing charities but for some reason I was waiting for my heart strings to be pulled and I wasn’t getting that.  And still all that time people were still encouraging me to check out Make-A-Wish and being so stubborn, I said “NO!”. 
Every now and then, charities would come into my work and pitch their organization to our Charitable Committee (which I was on) in hopes that we can help them.  We wanted to help each one, but our budget only allowed us to do so much.  So one day I found out that Make-A-Wish was going to come in and pitch their idea.  The day they showed up I can tell you I was a little guarded.  I didn’t know much about them, all I knew was that they were a national organization who did great things, but what could little ‘ol me do?  I actually don’t remember what happened in the meeting, being 8 years ago, but the moment that meeting was over, I do remember running to my computer and without thinking I was signing up for their training sessions.  My heart strings were finally being pulled and I have been volunteering with them ever since.
The cool thing about volunteering with them is you can do as much or as little as you want.  It is really up to you, your time and schedule.  There are different titles you can choose from and since day one I have had the same title, a Wish Grantor.   As a Wish Grantor, you actually get to meet the kids and their families.  You have an initial meeting with the Wish Child and that is where you ask them the most important question…”What is your dream wish?”
You have the opportunity to help plan their wish, throw them and their friends a send off party and really connect with them.  The difference that you make is with the kids.  You are the face they see and relate to when it comes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  You are helping these kids think of something else other than doctors, hospitals and medicine.  I mean how cool would it be if someone came to you and made your one wish come true!!!
I have done so many wishes over the last 8 years and of course I remember some better than others…but I can tell each one of those kids made a difference in my life.  I was the one looking to make a difference, I didn’t expect them to do that to me.  I wish I could show some of the pictures of the kids, but because of Publicity Rules we are not allowed to show them.
But some of the wishes I have helped grant are pretty cool!  There have been trips all over the place… Australia, Hawaii, Disney Cruises and of course the ever so popular Disney World!  I had one little amazing girl who was escorted around Disneyland personally by Cinderella for the day!  And I think it is so adorable when you ask them their wish and all they want is a puppy or a video game.
Life gets so busy and time passes us by so fast that I think it is important to give back.  If you are thinking of ways to give back but do not have a lot of time or even money, you can volunteer at your local food shelter, even animal shelter (someone needs to walk those dogs!), or look up your local charities and call to see how you can help.  I only take on 2 wishes a year…that is how much time I have!  I wish I could take on more, but after learning how many I can handle, that was reasonable for me.  But those 2 kids a year give me such a reward and fill up my heart!  I love getting hugs from them once their wish is fulfilled!  Tear jerker, trust me!!!  But so worth it!
If you are interested in the Make-A-Wish Foundation, then please check out your local chapter, they are always looking for volunteers!
See you in the next blog…
Hugs…
Annastina