As you know, we kicked off 2020 with the theme of Self-Care and how critical it is for your overall well-being.  Never has this tenet been more true than right now, as we hunker down and navigate our way through a pandemic.

Some self-care practices don’t necessarily feel or look like self-care. They are confronting issues we don’t want to, or initiating tough conversations we’d rather not have. These are the life “tasks” that will negatively impact our well-being if we don’t cross them off our “to-do list.” By sticking our heads in the sand, we ARE failing to take care of ourselves.

One nontraditional area of self-care that often gets overlooked is financial wellness. It’s no secret that money is one of the biggest causes of stress in America – especially today in the midst of a global healthcare and now, economic crisis.  There are few people’s finances, if any, that haven’t been negatively impacted by the Corona Virus. Now, more than ever, it’s important to recognize that effectively managing your personal finances IS a form of self-care.




















On Tuesday, April 7th at 7pm, we are going to address this very issue in our first ever Virtual Sister Talk.  Joining us for this timely event is Joan Mistrough, Founder and Personal Financial Coach for Money Proud Financial Coaching.  In our one-on-one interview with Joan, we will discuss:

• the importance of your thoughts, beliefs, and emotions around money
• specific and simple shifts that will help you decrease debt, stretch our your dollars, and grow the money you already have...even in this time of crisis.
• creating a budget that reflects your current reality as well as your goals
• existing options and programs coming into place that can help you minimize or defer monthly outlay
• ways to mitigate financial stress and prevent it from affecting your health and relationships

This Sister Talk is definitely for you if:

• you've been directly impacted by the effects of the Corona Virus, such as job loss or decreased income
• you avoid looking at your credit card bills, bank statements, expenses, or any other financial paperwork
• you know it's time to put on your big girl panties when it comes to money, yet you continue to resist and procrastinate
• you find yourself unable to sleep worrying about money
• you and your significant other argue about money

There will be so much to unpack in this interview!  As always, we will dedicate time at the end to address YOUR personal questions and concerns. 

Please register below!  All you need to attend this Virtual Sister Talk is a phone/computer/tablet to log into Zoom Video Conferencing App.  You will need to pre-register in order to receive a Zoom Meeting invite from us in advance of the call. 

We know you’re hungry for a different financial reality than you may be currently experiencing.  But the best way to change a reality you don’t like is to look it in the eye and conquer it. And it’s good for your future self, too.  The sooner you get started, the more time you have to work toward your goals or rebuilding your goals. Taking action steps, no matter how small, will make you feel empowered. Plus, as with any self-care practice, the more consistent you are with it, the better it gets!

Please join us.  Together, we can emerge from this wiser and stronger.

With love and abundance,

C&C

P.S. We are offering this Sister Talk for FREE.  You just need to RSVP and we'll send you a personal Zoom link to join us. 

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Hello Herd,
We're just checking in with you all.  Crazy times, right?  We hope you are hanging in there. Who would have thought we’d be living a life straight out of a Sci-Fi movie?  It seems utterly surreal.
Challenging times call for ingenuity and rolling with the punches.  We just want you to know that we are here for you, and plan on continuing to share positivity and inspiring content to brighten up your newsfeed.  Here’s what else we are doing:
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Inspired Happy Hour: As you wind down from your day, check in to our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages and share something, that in the midst of this insane pandemic, you are grateful for.  Our sanity is going to be found in those sweet, simple moments.  We are asking you to share yours because gratitude, positivity and the feel-good vibes that go along with them are also contagious.  Corona does not have exclusivity rights on contagion!





Sister Talks: Our next Sister Talk and subsequent ones, for the time being, will be Virtual (hosted on Zoom) on Wednesday, April 8th at 7:00 pm EST .  The topic is Financial Wellness in Uncertain Times featuring Joan Mistrough, Personal Financial Coach and founder of Money Proud Coaching. 

Workshops: We have our Writing for Clarity Workshop rescheduled for May 3rd from 11:00 am – 1:00pm.  If need be, we are prepared to go virtual with this one as well. We will provide updates closer to the date.

Finally, we know some of you have been asking for guided meditations.  Guided meditations are one of our favorite tools in cultivating calm, compassion and clarity in the wake of change and uncertainty.  Be on the lookout – they are coming your way!  In the interim, here are some free resources for you:
Oprah & Deepak 21-Day Meditation Experience – Finding Hope in Uncertain Times
Hot Yoga Revolution Spiritual Reading & Meditations
YouTube Offerings – oodles to choose from here!
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Honestly, the best way to be in the know as we share resources and roll these virtual events out is to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

But what else, sweet friends?  What are we missing?  Would you like a virtual hangout/happy hour?  Are you in need of some coaching? Please let us know how we can be of service to you.  It is our utmost wish to provide you with support and guidance during this unprecedented time.  Honestly, it would help us too…to feel connected and be helpful to our Herd.

Connection is essential, especially during challenging times. Please, let’s stay connected.  We will get through this. Social distancing does not equate social isolation.  In that spirit, it is our hope that you join us in the coming weeks for these online gatherings. 

We send you all our best wishes for your health (physical, emotional and mental) and a shout out to our healthcare professionals, aka superheroes, who are on the frontline with little resources.  We are humbled by their dedication and bravery.

With so much love,

Carolyn and Cher

This Monday, we were interviewed by the wonderful Lynn Fitzgerald, local community leader and entrepreneur, for the We Love Metuchen Group.    

It was inspiring for us to see her tackle her passion project to provide uplifting/helpful content to with her local community during this time of uncertainty; and we were beyond honored she asked us to be part of the story.
  
Below we share with you (our trusted IE Herd) the unedited segment with all of it's technical difficulties, lighting mishaps, and "backstage" banter to showcase the "figure it out as we go" reality that these times may call for.  We hope that it inspires you to tackle something new or to push out of your comfort zone.   

Enjoy!  
​C&C 

Don’t let self-care go to the wayside during these changing times. Yes, a mani/pedi is not an option, a Spa day is totally out of the question and maybe even 30 minutes of solo time when home bound with the family is hard to come by BUT we got you covered.

Here are some ideas to practice self-care in short intervals

1. BREATHE: Stop what you’re doing and take a deep breath. Do not underestimate the power of a deep breath.

2. TECHNOLOGY TIME-OUT: Set a timer for 2 minutes. Turn off all technology and do something else on this list or just sit in silence.

3. MINDFUL MOMENT: Focus your eyes on something around you – a beloved coffee mug, a picture, your garden, just something that brings you joy. See how many details you can observe.

4. POST-IT NOTE INSPIRATION: No need for long prose just try 1 sentence journaling or write down three power words.

5. MUSIC MAGIC: Dance, listen or sing to your favorite song (album)
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We know you are doing so much for others. And, we are here to tell you that it is OKAY to squeeze in just a few precious moments for yourself. Give one or two a try and let us know how it goes.

​We get it, inspirational quotes aren’t for everyone.  And, for some they even find them to be ‘boring,’ ‘cheesy’ and ‘pointless.’ So, this week, I went on a quest to find funny, witty and genuinely smile worthy motivational one-liners, hoping to win over some cynics or just give quote fans a little laugh…enjoy.

​6. “If you let your head get too big, it’ll break your neck.” - Elvis Presley

​7. “The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking spaces.” - Will Rogers

​Did it work?  Are you smiling? If you have others to contribute to the collection, pass them along in the comments.  Also, let us know which # we should design as an IE quote card?

The other day, I ran into an acquaintance in Home Goods.  Funny enough, I hadn’t seen this person in months but she had recently called me a couple of times regarding work issues.  I mentioned the upcoming Get Inspired: Vision Board Workshop thinking she would enjoy it.  She had never heard of a Vision Board. Gasp!  I explained it to her and she seemed really intrigued by it.  I figured, she can’t be the only one so we just wanted to provide some insight into our favorite workshop.

So, what exactly is a Vision Board?  A Vision Board, also known as a Dream Board, is a visual representation of things that you want to have, be, or do in your life. But as simple as it may seem, it is also a really powerful tool for manifesting the life that you want.

How does it work? There are two ways to look at it, one more woo-woo and the other more practical.

The woo-woo aspect of a vision board incorporates the Law of Attraction: When you tell the universe what you want and when you visualize and feel what if feels like to already have it, it delivers.

The practical approach is pretty straightforward: Organizing your desires in this manner functions as a visual reminder, making you more likely to follow through on opportunities and stay on track to making your dreams a reality.

So basically, whether you’re a believer in the woo-woo or consider yourself a Practical Patty, a Vision Board works.

Why do it with us?  There SO MANY reasons but we are going to give you our top 5:

1. All you have to do is just bring yourself and maybe a friend or two. We provide ALL the materials.The board itself, magazines and catalogs galore, markers, glue, stickers, scrap booking materials. Hell, we even frame it for you. Our Vision Board Workshop set up is a crafter’s DREAM.
2. You are not in it alone. We are there to help: Does a vacation to Bali belong on your board?  We can help you find that!  How about a brand new, craftsman-style home?  We gotcha covered. How about a new career as a yoga instructor? Check!
3. It is INSPIRING. Imagine being in a roomful of women, each and every one carving out time to create their dream life. There is camaraderie, support, laughter, and there is even voluntary sharing of vision boards (never forced!).
4. We supply light snacks and drinks. Because you can’t have a roomful of women without apps and bevs!
5. Your vision board doesn’t end with the workshop. You will receive step-by-step tips and guidance on how to use your vision board to bring about those changes that your soul longs for.

So what will you ultimately gain from our VB workshop?

A sense of excitement and empowerment for the future that YOU YOURSELF are creating. Did you hear that?  YOU are making it happen.  That’s powerful stuff!

You are also likely to leave with newfound friendships.

Won’t you please join us and give your dreams the attention they deserve?  Your dream life is just a click away.

We hope to see you there!

Love and dreams,
Carolyn & Cher
 
 And remember....

Hiya Herd,
Last week, we shared our philosophy on resolutions (nay) and creating a mantra for the year (yay).  Cher’s word for 2020 is Balance. And now I will share mine.

My word for the year is Change.  They say that doing the same thing day after day and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.  I REALLY want my life to change this year, so I have taken a cue from George Costanza:

Do you remember this episode?  George is single (again), unemployed (again) and living with his parents (again).  He announces that every instinct he has is wrong.  Jerry suggests that the opposite instinct therefore, must be right.  George puts this theory into play and gets the girl, the job with the NY Yankees and out of his parents’ home into a great apartment. Okay, ok...so his luck doesn't last because he is afterall, George Costanza, but you get the picture.

To be clear, I am not literally purporting to do the opposite of what your instinct tells you to do.  But, to get out of mindless routine and old habits, I have started doing things differently.  And like George, it’s been working for me!

For example:
Instead of being practical with my car choice, I upgraded.  Nothing crazy but I’ve never allowed myself this luxury.  I’ve had the same base model car for 6 years.  To be clear, I leased the same make and base model 2x in a row.  How freaking boring is that?! That decision was coming more from a place of lack than financial prudence.  I decided it was time for a change and so far, I am loving my new ride.  I cannot remember the last time I loved my car which is crazy considering how much time I spend driving!

I am saying Yes! to opportunities that present themselves whereas before I would hesitate or say no.  Guess what? I am having more fun and meeting and connecting with more people. 

I am also actively seeking out new opportunities that my inner perfectionist used to tell myself I wasn’t ready for or had enough experience.  I notoriously wait till I have everything figured out before doing something. Screw that. Everything is figureoutable ( thank you @marieforleo!). So I am saying Yes, choosing to believe that I can figure it out.  If George can work for the Yankees, then I can certainly elevate my every day into new heights.

I am making myself and my health a priority this year by not jumping on the regimented, diet bandwagon.  Instead,  I am listening to science-based health audio-books/podcasts and mindfully changing how and what I eat.  The progress is slow but I’ve already chipped away at 5 holiday pounds and feel more energetic.

I gave hot yoga a second chance.  The steamy room combined with the heavy-metal blasting teacher of my first experience was so not my jam.  Instead of writing it off (like I used to), I sought out different teachers and now I am HOOKED!  I even go at 5:30 am.  On those days, I feel like such a boss.  A really sweaty, zen one but a boss nonetheless.

I quit my gym.  That’s right, people!  I am the one person who quite her gym in January!  George would be proud.  I didn’t like it!  Why would I pay money and go someplace I really don’t like?  The yoga studio feels so much more like home to me.

I am also resting more, something I never really allowed myself to do.  This feels like a greater luxury than my car. 

Do you see what I am doing?  I am giving myself permission to try new things, new methods of doing and being and believing.  Not only am I rewriting old scripts, I am investing in and taking a chance on ME. 

When I give myself permission, self-care, and space, I can create, do, be, and have anything.

You can too!  Self care is so important for implementing or reacting to any kind of change.  That’s why I am so excited about our upcoming Sister Talk: Self-Care Practices for a Healthy Mind, Body, and Soul.
Please check it out if you haven't already done so.

So, what's your word for the year?  Remember, our Herd come here to be inspired.  Please share and keep the inspiration flowing! We'd be so grateful if you did.

Here's to Change!

Carolyn

However, now that it’s 2020, I’m not going to make the same mistakes as before and try to work on a multitude of life-changing resolutions at once. Instead, I’m planning on introducing small goals at various points throughout the year. Though, to begin the year, I decided on a word that captures the essence of all my resolutions: BALANCE.

I’m going to try a balanced approach to New Year’s “resolutions.” I know the things in my life that I want to change, but I don’t feel a need to put myself on a timeline. Taking my time to make gradual steps towards self-growth, rather than cramming a year’s worth of personal development into January, will ultimately serve me better than a set of hard resolutions ever can.

If like me you’re a serial New Year’s resolution failure, I encourage you to join me on this new approach. Take on challenges as you’re ready for them. Find comfort in the fact that long term, sustainable growth never came overnight.  The goal is to just keep growing, learning, changing and evolving.   
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Happy New Year!
Cher ​