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

So often we hear women putting themselves down and not believing that they are destined for great things.  They look at their lives and say, “This is it for me. I’ll never lose that weight.  I’ll never write that book.  Oh well. It is what it is.”

We say, “Girl, get your cape on.  You’ve got a superhero in you.”

Self-confidence is the rocket fuel you need to stoke the fires of your inner Superhero. Your thoughts and expectations are your strongest motivators.  You’ve got to keep your thoughts pure and keep them positive.  Don’t berate yourself and certainly do not talk yourself out of your dreams.  That’s Kryptonite seeping into your soul right there!

Expect great things of yourself.  Set that bar high.  You are not here to live an average or sub-par life.  You may experience some set-backs but that’s what sometimes happens on the way to Greatness. 

Extraordinary individuals throughout history have utilized this concept of positive thinking.  Of BELIEVING. 

So can you. You are capable of so much more than what you give yourself credit for.

Believe you can. We believe you can.

#TransformationThursday #ExpectGreatThings

Let’s help each other find our inner courage and be brave. These are 10 techniques that have help "the herd" fear less and embrace bravery. 

1. Fear is always going to be there – C.S. Lewis said that “Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it”.  In the same way, courage cannot be the absence of fear.  In life, we are going to be scared many times.  The key is to learn how to manage and face our fears.
2. Be grateful for our fears – We are designed to feel fear.  It is a survival instinct or response.  When we start feeling anxious about something, we evaluate the situation and have it be our motivator to make a decision.
3. We chose bravery – Every person reacts different to diverse situations.  There is not a magic recipe to manage our fears.  However, the first step is to make decision. We decide to be brave, courageous, audacious.  We decide that fear is not going to control us. 
4. Accept our limitations – We are not super-human.  We are not going to be able to do all things, all the time.  So, it is OK if we decide not to do something.
5. Forget about what others think or say – Do what feels right to us. We don’t have to prove anything to anyone.  People who truly care for will respect and support our decisions.
6. We recall our most daring moments – We focus on the times we have been able to break free from our fears.  The moments when we felt powerful, invulnerable, on the top of the world.  The more we think about those proud moments, the more fearless we become.
7. Count on others – It is fine to ask for help.  Using or asking for somebody’s help is not a sign of weakness.  
8. Ask for and only focus on the specific details – Ignorance only worsen our fears.  Don’t hesitate to ask and don’t assume things (which leads us to technique #9). 
9. Don’t cross the river before getting to the bridge – In other words, don’t make up a big list of fatalistic scenarios.  Do you know that about 95% of our worries don’t ever materialize?  Don’t torture yourself.  That is why we suggested asking for details.  That is how we separate what is real from what is not.
10. Be tougher than we think we are – All of us have gone thru a lot of daring moments but we usually don’t credit ourselves for them. We may have gone away to college, given birth (oh my), overcome illness, traveled alone, changed careers. These don’t sound that exiting but they are!!!  Cowards out there turn their back at living life.  So, we are stronger than we think because life has its own way of pulling the best out of us.  We just need to brave enough to accept the opportunities.  

​#FearlessFriday
 

The difference between being fearless and standing up to your fears lies in refusing to allow your fears to make your decisions.

Don’t pretend fears don’t exist, be thankful we can learn how to push through them. You push through with the help of:

PERSPECTIVE – How bad can it be? What’s the worst thing that can happen? If the world won’t end and no one will die as the result of your actions, you might as well take the leap

EXPERIENCE – Those times when you stood up to fear no matter how small

REPETITION – Understanding what to expect when you step out from the ordinary by frequently standing up to your fears

It is quite conventional to give in to fear and always wonder if something could have been different. But if like us you are inspired to live life to your fullest potential then you must do whatever it takes to overcome your fear. 

But let’s be clear: fearless, that may be asking the impossible. Fearing LESS that is realistically attainable. Start pushing through, it will be worth it. 
​
We’re always looking for inspiration.  Let us know a moment you pushed through and feared LESS. 
#FearlessFriday