My Secret Recipe

I wasn't born glamorous and successful. Ok...maybe glamorous, but not successful. In life, successful people get that way because:

1. They believe in themselves
2. They have people who believe in them
3. They get lucky
4. They don't let fear keep them from relentlessly trying
5. They model themselves after other successful people

I have been blessed to experience all of the above in my life. Yes, crappy things have happened along the way. Crappy things happen to everyone. I don't let it stop me from bettering myself and my life. In fact, I try to use all of my experiences to learn from and help others. I have also been blessed to know some amazing women who I strive to be like. Here are my top seven (since 7 is my lucky number) role models and why:

1. Mary, mother of Jesus. Mary had to give her son up for the world and watch him suffer a slow, terrible death. She raised him just to give him up. She is the perfect example of good mother and a servant of God. Mary in one word: SACRIFICIAL.
2. My mom. She has suffered so much loss in her life, but has a fighting spirit like I've never witnessed in any other person. NOTHING, it seems, can stop her from trying. I am so lucky to inherit that spirit from her. My mom in one word: STRONG.
3. My mother in law. She raised thirteen kids and without any Prozac. That amazes me. I have only 7 and I need to be medicated in order to keep up my sanity. This woman loves being a mom and grandma. It is her utter joy to watch them all grow up. I want to be like that. My mother in law in one word: JOYFUL.
4. My grandma. She lost her best friend and soul mate last year and I have watched her battle depression since then. She leans of God alone to restore her sense of peace and shelter her from the fear that so easily slips in. She is a woman of immense strength and faith. Grandma in one word: FAITHFUL.
5. My business partner, Danielle. A visionary. A die hard. A fashionista. A true cowgirl. A real friend. Danielle in one word: GENUINE.
6. Clarissa Nassar aka Poshpreneur. This lady never ceases to amaze me with her talents. She runs a business, runs a family and runs to church every Sunday. I'm gonna have to run a little faster if I ever want to catch up with her success! Clarissa in one word: DRIVEN.
7. Trisha. MEO, Founder of MomDot, Momblogger Mentor. I seriously do not know if there is anything this woman cannot do. She inspires greatness in thousands of women and she does it FOR FREE. Who does that now days? She also tells it like it is...which I love. Trisha in one word: DYNAMIC.

These women represent everything that I aspire to be: Sacrificial, strong, joyful, faithful, genuine, driven and dynamic.

I'm My Own Worst Enemy

Pink is right. Most often, we are our own worst enemies. We expect others to respect us, but do we respect ourselves? Today I'm talking about respect for your skin. Skin is the body's largest organ. It is our protection from the brute forces of nature and man. However, it is greatly mistreated and overlooked. I am not innocent. I take my skin for granted all the time. So here are a few tips that I will be following this summer to repay my skin for being so good to me.

• Use sunblock DAILY, reapply if you are out in the sun for more than a few hours.
• Buy foundation with a built in UV shield factor of 15 or higher.
• Remember your skin's best friend is water. Drink plenty of it or your skin will suffer.
• Steer clear of tanning beds.
• Do not smoke! The carcinogens in those cancer sticks will not only kill you, but make you age significantly faster while you are on your way out.
• Moisturize morning and night.
• Wash your makeup off before bed. I'm so guilty of not doing this. Makeup, dirt and oil will collect on your pillow, creating a lasting bacteria playground for you to sleep on.
• Wash pillows, towels and linens regularly. Weekly, is recommended.
• Wear a hat outdoors. Preferably, a wide brimmed one. Straw cowgirl hats are both functional and stylish!
• Throw out old makeup and face products. Check the normal shelf lives of cosmetics here:

Oil-Free Foundation: 1 year
Cream or Compact Foundation: 18 months
Concealer: 12-18 months
Powder: 2 years
Blush and Bronzer: 2 years
Cream Blush: 12-18 months
Powder Eye shadow: 2 years Cream Eye shadow: 12-18 months
Eyeliner: 2 years
Liquid eyeliner: 3-6 months
Mascara: 3 months
Lipstick: 2 years
Lip liner: 2 years
Lip gloss: 18-24 months
Nail Color: 1 year

*Products without preservatives need to be discarded sooner.

Be good to your skin and it will be good to you!

Live Glamorously~ Kadi