This morning I had another reminder about the impact appearance has on a situation. It’s not new news to me but it’s always amazing to me to realize just how big a difference it can make.
Here’s the thing, how we feel is directly related to how we look. The things we do each day and more importantly how we do them are directly related to how we feel. Therefore how we look becomes a fundamental part of our outcome. If we feel frumpy, we will act frumpy and perform frumpy. In turn if we feel confident, we will act confident and perform with confidence. I often find the times when I feel the least like dressing up or making myself look nice are the times I need it most.
When you understand the power that comes from simple things related to your dress and appearance you’ll never put yourself in a situation where give that power away or ignore it. As a poise and charm coach I’ve taught several classes on basics from coordinating clothing to hairstyling to little tricks like using the power of color to your advantage or how to count points to know if you’re over or under dressed. But here’s the basic equation: if you want to feel _____ you need to do all you can to make yourself look _____. You can fill in the blank for whatever emotion or style fits your circumstance.
This morning, I found myself trapped between needing to be available for an important phone call and needing to get showered and ready for the day. (I know, if I could pull my mattress over mind backside out of bed at 6 AM the problem would be solved, but I’m not an early riser. It’s all I can do some mornings to be dressed with teeth brushed and out the door by 7:30 AM to get my son to school on time!) So when I got home just after 8 AM this morning I was stuck. All I knew was the call was expected “first thing in the morning.” Now, you all know how this waiting game can go. It’s like waiting for the cable guy or service repairman; a game of Russian Roullete. You may luck out and have it hit early in the time window or you may waste a lot of time waiting to the bitter end. As I pondered on things I realized that I would also need to be armed with professionalism and confidence in my conversation, therefore I really couldn’t afford to sit around with only my teeth brushed waiting. Further, if the gamble ended up pushing to the later limit I’d still be in this position when it’s time to pick my son up from school - that won’t work! So I prepared myself for the worst keeping the phone right by my side and hoping it didn’t come down to me figuring out how to answer it with soap in my hair. Fate was on my side this morning.
When I looked in the mirror and realized how much better I felt about everything and the impact it would have on my expected conversation I was supremely grateful I’d made the decision I did. I remembered reading some advice once for stay at home moms that the first thing they should do every day is get themselves dressed and ready right down to their shoes. Some women argued this because if you’re not going anywhere or only doing housework why bother? That’s the very point…with that attitude everything in your life will reflect a why bother quality.
So harness that power and use it to your advantage. Dress yourself and appearance for whatever strength/help you need most and you’ll be amazed at what that little step will do for you.
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I snatched this photo last night when the most perfect moon and colors were displayed on the horizon.
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Well, you may have noticed some new changes to my blog! With my hubby’s help my new navigation bar is up. There are still a few weird IE browser things but in general it’s working great. I’ve been busy finishing the tail end of some of my organization tasks in relation to the new navigation options and figure as long as we’re experimenting let’s add one more. *wink*
A short while ago I signed up to become an Independent Avon Representative. The reason was purely personal. My mom used to sell it when I was a girl and there are a few products I enjoyed and would buy if available. The problem is that most representatives are too gung ho or too flaky. Then as fate would have it I actually had a few people in the past couple months ask me if I sell it. So I decided to at least inquire about it. I figured if I could get my hands on it easy and get a price break as well all the better right? Talk about your no-brainer. There was a $10.00 sign up fee. No inventory requirements, no big sign up fee - benefits of a HUGE empire business. So I signed up. *smile*
The best part is that I can have my own website making it possible for anyone to order anytime. For anyone interested, the link is www.youravon.com/hschwendiman. So here’s the experiment. Now that I have a page on my blog specific to beauty stuff I’m going to incorporate a few things with articles when and as they fit. I’m going to try to link back to the specific item on my website. I’d love some feedback to know if anyone runs into problems with this as well as if it works the way I hope it will. For example, one product I’ve really fallen in love with is a foot file. Living in a climate where socks and shoes are a rare item indeed, I’m more conscious about my bare feet. And it only takes a short time in a warm climate to realize how quickly the heels of your feet can become dry and ugly! This little guy works like a charm. I added him into the end of my bath and in a few minutes easily worked away all the dead, rough and calloused skin. It immediately looked and felt better. I put on some lotion before bed and they felt as good as new. As a cosmetologist who has both given pedicures and tried many products in the past, I was truly impressed with my $5.00 purchase for both items. Not only is it a fraction of the cost of a full pedicure, it was a huge time saver to boot! Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about a long foot massage especially if I’m on the receiving end, but this busy mom is lucky to get a few minutes to herself for a bath these days so I appreciate making the most of my minutes. *grin*
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Well, I’ve been working on the backstage aspects of my blog since my post about wanting to streamline what I do, write and share into the ‘many sides of me’ concept. It’s slow going but coming. I’ve gotten a few of my pages ready for the general areas that I’ll be tackling and I’ve finally designed a navigation bar I think I’m happy with. I hope to have it all implemented in a few more weeks.
It’s fun to see how many things I have to organize even if it is a little daunting. One of the things I’ve been getting excited about is sharing some tips and ideas for how to keep relationships nurtured and growing. I’m also excited about sharing some of the best stuff I’ve written and created over the years in a way that makes finding and using it useful. Sometimes I wish I could just hold up in a room with my husband’s brain and my computer for a solid couple of weeks.
Until then I’ll just have to keep sneaking in a moment here and there where I can until I get the job done. It’s amazing how much work bite size implementation can be.
Update: Thanks to the hubby I’m reminded of the things that really matter today. *wink*
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Who knew something so little could create such a big deal? This little frog and friends caused some serious grief at our house yesterday. Personally, I’m not a reptile or amphibian lover, but apparently my kids think these guys are “A-OK”.
When it rains, the greenbelt by our home becomes inundated with these little barking frogs. I didn’t believe my kids who told me what I was hearing were little frogs. It sounded more like a herd of unhappy geese. But it was just that annoying sound that allowed me to confirm I’d found the right information online by matching their sounds to sound bytes on websites. Crazy the stuff you can find online these days.
Well, there are some neighbor kids who dearly love catching these little critters and they were showing off their prize collection earlier this week after a rain storm brought the little guys out in droves again. My kids were bugging me about having one as they played with them on the front lawn. I skillfully headed off the requests and came home frog free. However, a few hours later my darling husband was out with my kids and he was apparently much less skilled at this critical parenting skill. The next thing I know, my four year old son is bouncing up and down telling me all about his new frogs that were in one of my pots out back. Suffice it to say Mom was less than impressed with the news and no where near as jubilant over the recent acquisition. But Dad had helped create a happy new abode for the trio so it was obvious that for the time being the little critters were staying put.
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Sometimes when I get feeling a little down that I’m falling behind on my expectations and tasks, I take a deep breath and focus on the good things. It’s amazing what a little change in perspective can do for you. So this morning, I’m pausing to think on the good things and how grateful I am for such great support all around me.
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Last week my friend Kelly issued a challenge to blog about our goals and resolutions for this school year. Like her, I find that so much of my calendar rotates around school that it sure makes sense to give some attention and direction to it.
I’ve decided my primary goal this year for both my kids is to keep focus. By doing this I’ll be able to keep things more relaxed and hopefully feed the fun of learning. It has taken me a few years to realize that the push and stress of my children’s teachers and schools do not have to be owned or accepted by me; that my role of homeschooling is to keep my kids happy and healthy, enjoying learning without pressure and/or stress. They’re kids for crying out loud and they have their whole lives to master the concepts they are being exposed to now. You won’t get that from today’s education system in the states though. Everything continues to be pushed harder, faster, and earlier with more regulation and emphasis on the testing. Never mind actually learning or understanding that content. I believe wholeheartedly that our kids are smarter than we often give them credit. And I further believe we tend to underestimate their capabilities, but that doesn’t mean that developmentally they are ready for the regimented curriculum and tasks we are throwing at them earlier and earlier or that it’s in their best interest.
For example, this year I was looking over the performance expectations for Kindergarten. It didn’t look like Kindergarten requirements to me. My son’s teacher confirmed my concerns by telling me that this year’s Kindergarten curriculum is last year’s first grade curriculum. Check it out:
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This morning I’ve had several moments to stop and ponder on the sad day of 2001. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the many US troops, leaders and volunteers who fight the war on terrorism every day.
I’ve recently been reading Brad Thor’s books. They all touch on terrorism much in the way TV’s 24 does. Scot Harvath is the Jack Bauer of Brad’s books and they are as engaging to read was 24 is to watch. It may be fiction, but I’ll bet there are people who experience much of the constant stresses that the characters in Brad’s book face every day. Anyway, it adds to my awareness of the many people who serve to help keep me and my family safe from the constant threats of terrorism.
This post is left in loving memory of those lost and all those who remember.
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