Above the Clouds

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Kerry

I have been traveling for business for the last couple weeks now. I am a hermit at heart, so all this travel has been a lot for me. But, as I’ve often stated…It’s important to know when to say “yes.” And it was that time for me.

As my plane took off for Los Angeles this week, I was reading a book. Unfortunately, I suffer horribly from motion sickness. So, I have to distract myself while on a plane, and even more so on the take-off and landing. Suffice it to say, I do not make a fun ride-along partner. If it’s moving (planes, trains, automobiles, rides, etc)…My focus is on not making a scene!

As I read my book, a light gradually crept across the pages. It occurred to me as we ascended toward heaven that, although it had been a grey, winter-y day below…The sun and the light are always there, up above. It’s always waiting for us – it never leaves. It really made me think. The sky is always blue. We may not be able to see it; it may be concealed (by clouds), but it’s always, always blue.

The light is always there for us to draw upon but it’s our responsibility to remember it’s there.

My aunt bought me a “Blessing Bracelet” for Christmas (below is a picture of many blessing bracelets). It has 5 gorgeous grey pearls on it. The card that came with the gift stated that any time I came across the bracelet I should take pause and quietly express 4 things (1 for each pearl) for which I am grateful. I do this ALL the time. I wear jewelry every day so I am in the jewelry box morning and night. I see the bracelet almost every day and give thanks. This works WONDERS on my mood, my intention and the overall flow of my day. It was an extremely valuable gift in ways far beyond the price.

Exercise:

Find something to remind you of your blessings. It should be something you run across regularly and something you can easily access if you need to. Decide that you will express gratitude each time this “something” comes into your awareness. It’s simple and powerful!!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on how you consistently remember the silver linings in life. Do you have a reminder? Are you so practiced that it’s automatic? Please do share:)

6 Steps to Reboot in Business

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Kerry

I recently had the opportunity to participate in a small mastermind meeting with 3 other women. I was overdue for some business TLC and feelin’ it.

Do you ever get that feeling? Like you’re kind of “floundering” day after day? If so, know that it’s normal. And know that these times are inherent for growth. I’ve become so good at detecting the onset of these evolutionary periods, I can now pre-schedule the attention my business craves before becoming too frustrated (as it seems to happen to me a few times a year).

So,with 3 other women, I holed up in a historical inn located in, what is referred to, as situated within an “energy vortex.” There are 3 mountains situated in a tight triangle around Stockbridge, MA. Believers say the positioning of the mountains creates a magical energy force field that has long attracted all kinds of change makers. So, it was a perfect setting (pictured throughout this post).

There is healing power in nature and I’m always a proponent for aligning yourself as intimately as possible with the wonders of the world.

If you’re feeling restless or like you are “spinning your wheels,” consider the following ideas for moving through the discomfort.

However you write most naturally, whether it be in a journal or on a post-it..Just write. Jot down between 3-5 specific goals for the next 90 days. Also write down the most ideal outcome to those goals (is it an increase in list size, revenue, contacts?). It’s so important to state and solidify (to yourself & the universe) your desires and intentions. Focus solely on the goals, and don’t fret about how those goals will be achieved.
Next focus on what roadblocks are holding you back. Write down the blocks you deem as holding you back (money, environment/surroundings, time). Let that digest for a little while. I like to sit on these ideas for a couple hours….Mull them over, if you will.
Now come up with 1-3 strategies to get past the roadblocks. Again, this is not the time to stress about exactly how you will accomplish your goals. This is brainstorming about YOUR BLOCKS. If you have someone in your life to whom you feel comfortable talking business, enlist their help (and if you don’t have someone in your life like this, that’s a-whole-nother post, but DEFINITELY connect with my girls at Life Business Growth. We are an entire community of conscious women entrepreneurs…Ready & willing to support you).
Come up with the 1st action step for each of your 3-5 goals. Notice I didn’t say “come up with your entire plan.” THE 1ST ACTION STEP is all that’s require to get started. Can you see the 1st step? If so, jot it down. If not, sit with your ideas for a few hours.
While you’re thoughts are marinating, I invite you to ASK FOR GUIDANCE. Whatever your spiritual beliefs are (and most of you know mine), ask for guidance. This is a critical step and 1 that people often leave out because we simply forget to ask for help.
Now it’s time to implement. I have found that once you hold the space for growth and evolution, it happens! There have been a couple times where I was forced to wait a little longer for clarity, but generally, when I follow the system aforementioned, I can begin moving forward again. No more floundering!

Remember, as previously mentioned, I find myself in the throws of evolutionary beckoning a few times each year.

It’s not easy to become cozy with discomfort, but it is necessary.

I’d love to hear your strategies for moving through the requisite discomfort of growth. How do you handle the restlessness?

Much love,

Some of my Favorite Products

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Kerry

A while back, I was asked to disclose my current favorite beauty products for 1 of the top beauty blogs, 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic. It feels like this was ages ago, but when I revisited the feature, I was pleasantly surprised (as one such product junkie as me) that these are all still my favorite products. So, I thought I’d share the feature with YOU!!

Rene Furterer Dry Shampoo
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray
Rene Furterer Complex 5
Rene Furterer Karite Intense Nourishing Hair Masque
Bio-Ionic Style Winder Curling Iron
Being True Restoring Deep Cleanser (I use this EVERY day)
Being True Anti-Aging Youth Revealing Complex
Phineas Stout’s Sweet Caramel Lip Scrub
Phineas Stout’s Organic Oatmeal & Honey Soap Bar

Here is the link to the article if you want to read more about any of these products. I’d love to hear what your 1 “can’t live without” product is….

You Go Girls!

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Kerry

This is REALLY fun information (particularly for women entrepreneurs)!

The following infographic takes an in-depth look at the women-owned movement we are hearing about, seeing and feeling from everywhere. It contains tons of great information. I feel quite proud when I start looking at all the ways women are not only contributing in the work-force, but we’re grabbin’ that force by the horns That force is going to be working for us soon! OK, ok, I’m being obnoxious:) Hope you enjoy!

A Tween’s Oasis

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Kerry

I have 2 little boys (whom I love and cherish mind you), so when asked to redesign a tween girl’s bedroom, words can’t express my giddiness. Yes, I fish and cuss but I’m totally a primping, pampering, girly girl. This project was TOO fun. I wish I had the before pics to show you because the change was DRAMATIC (fitting, no?)….Check it out:

We painted & added the beadboard throughout. We also replaced her old sliding wood closet doors with some fresh new mirrored doors.

I added the brown dot in lieu of crown moulding. And we used chocolate brown velvet drapery panels.

No pre-teen girls’ room would be complete without a posh desk, right?

Below you can see how big a difference the mirrors make. This room was so dark before – everything was strategically done to brighten it up.

Gorgeous bedside table (if I do say so meself)!

Accessories! I painted those little letters & the little flower designs on the shelves.

I found this chest as a floor sample. It was a walnut color when I found it. So, I painted it cream and then added the polka dot by hand.

And, more accessorizing! What do you think? She loved it…At least for a few months anyway. LOL! Thanks for checking it out….Happy Monday Everyone.

My Nana

Posted on January 20, 2013 by Kerry

Piggybacking on yesterday’s courage post

My Nana & me:)

My sweet Nana died in March of 2012. Although she had Leukemia for more than 10 years, she ended up dying from an infection to her leg after hitting it on a filing cabinet. She had just finished up a round of chemotherapy for the Leukemia and seemingly her immune system was very weak. So, when she hit her foot and it became infected, her body simply could not fight. The doctors told her they could amputate her leg from the knee down and she might live. At 80 some years old, my Nan refused. She didn’t want to depend on anyone else as she was completely self sufficient before this. So, she became very sick, very fast and was in A LOT of pain as the infection ravaged through her body.

Up until this point in my life, I was one to shy away from visiting anyone on their “death bed.” Alright, so those aren’t the right words. The truth is, I ran. LIKE HELL from seeing people who were about to die. I didn’t want to see them this way. I didn’t want to remember anyone this way. I preferred the memories to be full of life. Yet, when I knew my Nana was going to die, I don’t know why, but I felt I needed to go to her. Maybe it was my age, maybe it was because it was her…I don’t really know. I just knew that I had to be with her. So, I flew to Pennsylvania and spent a week by her bedside. And it took a whole lot of courage to fight through that which I had been so afraid. I didn’t want my memories of her tainted with sickness or hospitals or anything dark. But I was willing to risk it – for her. And I’m so glad I did.

The last time she was at my house – she loved animals just like me!

Although she was no longer coherent during the final 3 days of that week, the first 4 were some of the most precious of my life. My grandmother was not an overly emotional woman. She was lovely, but not highly touchy-feely or emotional. But these 4 days she and I had a chance to connect on a deeper level and share loving moments that the false ideas of health instill had not allowed before. We spoke as if those were her final days. We shared stories and held hands and said all the things we felt in our hearts. I brushed her hair and we whispered like little girls. I will cherish those days for the rest of my life.

And I learned something: The peace received from those final days with her far outweigh any thoughts of seeing her sick and dying.

When I returned home I made some tremendous strides in my business very quickly. And one day, about 3 months after my grandmother died and at a time when I was seriously questioning whether I was doing the right thing in my business, my 10 year old asked to straighten out our “junk” drawer in the kitchen (we can go on about that later:). This is a drawer that we use daily by the by…For pens and paper, scissors, tape..Whatever. We use it ALL the time. My little boy brings me this little wrapped present w/ a stick-on bow. I say, “what is that?” ”I found it in the drawer,” he replies. I take it in my hands and see that the sticker reads, “love, Nana.” WTF, I think. How incredibly weird is this. I unwrap & open the little box and in it is a gold necklace with 3 tiny charms on it: a horseshoe, a 4 leaf clover and a dove. It was overwhelming to say the least. My heart ached from pain & happiness. I am not one to get too woo-woo, but I am spiritual and becoming more-so daily. This was over the top. As I said, we were in this drawer constantly. I never saw that present before. Furthermore, I would never place a fully wrapped present from my Nana in a drawer. I would’ve opened it…Immediately. It was crazy, but I wore that necklace for more than 3 months until I launched the business of my soul. Nothing like that had ever happened to me before (or more likely, I had never paid attention to anything like that happening before). I love that necklace. I mean, I LOVE that necklace!

Thanks for listening to my story!