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

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....

Yesterday while sneaking in a quickie manicure, I had the good fortune of running into one of our upcoming panelists for our May Sister talk: From Hobby to Hustles...The Life Changing Realities and Possibilities of a Side Hustle

If you don’t know Phaedra, she’s got that effortlessly stylish thing going on whether while getting her nails done or cheering on her kids on a field.  An oncology nurse by day, full-time mom and wife, Phaedra side- hustles for her passion which is fashion.  As a Stella & Dot Stylist, she gets to fulfill a desire that is otherwise left unmet in her day to day.  

Are you jonesing for something that’s not in your life right now? 
What is it? 
Wouldn’t it be nice to pursue it and make some $$ on the side? 
What’s holding you back?  Fear? Lack of time? A boatload of excuses???

If you are remotely curious or maybe you've even started a side gig for yourself, please come hear Phaedra (and our other awesome panelists!) as they share their experience, wisdom and if we are lucky, Phaedra's fashion tips with our Herd on Tuesday, May 14th from 7-9 at Creative Twist Events.  After the panel discussion, there will be plenty of time for mingling with other like-minded souls.

Haven’t registered yet?  RSVP here!

XO,
Carolyn

#sidehustle #pursueyourpassion #inspired #sistertalks

Do you start your sentences with, "I'm sorry but..." or "Can I please just say something here?" You are not alone, Sisters!

Come hang with us for our next Be Inspired Sister Talk: FINDING OUR VOICE: Stop Asking for Permission scheduled for March 12th at 7pm at Creative Twist Events.

In a cozy and supportive setting, we'll address the small, often subconscious things that we (as women) do every day that significantly reduces our personal authority and success in the workplace and in our relationships. Our goal is to help you to:

1. stop apologizing for what you are about to say
2. stop asking for permission

Wanna know why? 

Because you don’t need permission to live how you want and nor should you feel badly about it. 

It's one thing to be aggressive (which we are not promoting).  It's an entirely other matter to be ASSERTIVE. 

It's about owning who you are and living life on your terms.  It's about not giving away your personal power. 

There is a fine art to female assertiveness. It's innate in all of us. We're just going to bring out your masterpiece on March 12th!

Join us as we explore:

• Why in this modern day and age, women are still apologizing or trying to make themselves seem small
• How to break the cycle of asking for permission
• Female communication patterns (both verbal and non-verbal) including upspeak and how that goes off the wrong impression
• Practicing assertiveness skills with each other
• Your concerns/struggle around this issue in a supportive and encouraging environment

And for those of you not familiar with our Sister Talks, we are not going to talk at you or give a formal presentation.  A Sister Talk is merely carving out a sacred space where we can all come together and explore all of the ways we can grow and thrive as women; where being a woman is supported, revered and celebrated.

It’s the book club where you don’t have to read the book.  Just show up and talk. Or just listen.  Have a glass of wine. Stay for a bit or for the entire duration (from 7pm-9pm).  Register online here or just show up at the door. It’s all good.

We created Sister Talks and this topic for YOU.  Will you join us tonight?

You will feel empowered and so liberated when you finally stop saying sorry for something that isn’t your fault, stop using too many “please and thank yous”and stop asking for permission.

Unapologetically yours,
Carolyn & Cher
Register here or just show up and pay at the door.

Hiya Herd,
We’ve been getting some questions and lots of interest in tonight's Sister Talk: Saving NO to Busy...How to Do More by Doing Less.  Here is what you can expect at Creative Twist Events, 7pm tonight:

• A roomful of supportive like-minded women in a relaxed, cozy atmosphere with apps & bevs
• Learning how to #konmari your way through your calendar
• Interactive discussions where we get to practice saying no in situations that appear and reappear in your life
• Great conversation and valuable insight from your sisters who are all walking the walk, just like you

As we know, obliging others is a slippery slope to overwhelm. It’s not that there aren’t enough hours in the day, it’s that we’ve said yes to too many things and now we don’t have the space nor the energy for the things in our life that we really want.  And, being as busy as we are, we may not even be able to discern what those things are anymore.

And yes, we totally see the irony that we are asking you to SAY YES to this so you can SAY NO to the busyness in your life.

We just want to be clear.  We are not going to talk at you or give a formal presentation.  A Sister Talk is merely carving out a sacred space where we can all come together and explore all of the ways we can grow and thrive as women; where being a woman is supported, revered and celebrated.

It’s the book club where you don’t have to read the book.  Think about it!  This topic is a big, fat chapter in your own life story. Just show up and talk. Or just listen.  Have a glass of wine. Stay for a bit or for the entire duration (from 7pm-9pm). RSVP here or just show up at the door. It’s all good.

We created Sister Talks and this topic for YOU.  Will you join us tonight?

You will feel empowered and so energized when you finally start SAYING NO, and living a life that is LESS busy but MORE fulfilling.

Your time and energy are two of your most valuable resources.  Let’s replenish both tonight.  Together.

Lots of love,
Carolyn & Cher