WOWednesday: Things that make you say "WOW"

It's WOWednesday, and it's our favorite time to spread some good news that'll make you say WOW!:

• Pink Heels' post about D.C.'s effort to reduce the amount of bags used shows that we can even help us save the environment by shopping. WOW! (Read the entire post)
• hello beauty blog shed light on Bobbi Brown's new Pretty Powerful campaign that is changing the face of beauty, using real everyday women, representing a variety of shades and shapes. WOW! Now that's beautiful (read the entire post)
• Imagine if there was a way to travel AND give back. There is, and it's called voluntourism. It's genius! Voluntourism has continued to become even more popular. Take advantage of one of countless opportunities to give back and see the world AT THE SAME TIME! WOW!
  
• According to the Associated Press, the Hope for Haiti Now telethon raised $57 million.
  (read the entire article) WOW! The Associated Press also complied highlights from the event as well as some commentary from some of the celebrities. It's such a beautiful thing to see how many people shared their time to come together for this effort.

Wyclef closed the night with a uplifting performance that reminded everyone of the Haiti's undying spirit. "Earthquake. We've seen the earth shake. The soul of the Haitian people will never break."


This is only the beginning of the rebuilding of Haiti. Please go to www.hopeforhaitinow.org to make your contribution. This is something you definitely want to be a part of. In 5-10 years, we'll be able to say "WOW, look at the new Haiti!"

What made you say WOW this week? Please do share the good news.

Using a Vision Board to Achieve your Goals & Dreams

The New Year, the new year, the nw yr. No, the last spelling of the New Year is not a mistake. It's intentional.

You see, I've noticed over the years that if you don't set strong intentional energy for yourself at the beginning of the year, you can end up with something missing in your life as the months fly by. (Feel familiar?) Well, if it does even just a little bit, that's where using a Vision Board comes into play. What's a vision board you might ask. Well, I'm glad you're asking because I'm in the mood to let you in on the secrets to using a really cool manifesting tool. People like Lisa Nichols, Jack Canfield and yours truly (me) use vision boards to achieve our goals and dreams.

If you don't know what a vision board is, you're not alone, because when I recently surveyed my clients one of the things that was a repeated request was how to use a vision board.

A vision board is a powerful transformation tool that has been used by many successful people throughout the ages. It helps you to create more of the positive energy centered on very specific goals you have for your life and/or your business. I've used them for years and at the University where I'm a professor. I teach this powerful tool to my students, and they still use it years later. Several of them commented on my Facebook page on 12/28 that they had to get their vision board done. How cool is that!

Some people mistakenly think that a vision board is just a large collage with pictures on it. Yes it is that, but it ought to be so much more. That's where the intentional part comes in. You must set specific intentions for your vision board in 4 areas:

1. What kind of board you're going to create

2. What you need to gain from the experience (both inner and outer goals)

3. How often are you going to interact with the board

4. When you will make changes to your board

If you have a desire to create your own vision board you can get really clear directions in this insructional report I've put together that: explains how to create and how to use a vision board to live your personal best.

Click the link to purchase your report and you'll have all the step by step instructions for how to create and effectively use a vision board! http://tinyurl.com/yzz8l35 There's an extra special DISCOUNT for Her Journey readers. Get 50% off when you use the purchase code: Her Journey.

Here's to your continued happiness, success and joy all year long,

Denise J. Hart
The Motivated Mindset Coach!

Fun (Foodie) Friday: NYC Restaurant Week

It's that time again.


It's NYC Restaurant Week! (January 25- February7, 2010)

This is the time when you can enjoy finer dining at a discount. Yup, you heard me. Participating restaurants are offering three-course dinners for ONLY $35 (and lunch for less than $25). Also, this year is the first time we'll be seeing the Restaurant Week Truck, which will be offering lunch time specials on soups on street corners around the city.

Which restaurants are you looking forward to trying?

WOWednesdays: Things that Make You Say "WOW"

The breathtaking images and jaw dropping coverage since the earthquake in Haiti have certainly caused us all to say "wow" at one point or another. The past few days have been devastating, and it is hard to fully comprehend or imagine what the current state of the island really is. This tragedy has opened the world's eyes to a country that was in dire need before the quake. Although Haiti is a land that is considered poor in riches, it has always been undoubtedly rich in culture. The tremendous support is comforting. However, the reality is that this is only the very beginning of Haiti's recovery. When the media coverage dies down and the immediate hype fades away, it will be even more important to support. (We will continue to keep you updated on how you can do that.)

In these crucial days following the quake, basic needs like food, water and medicine are immediate priorities. (Click here for a full list.)

With all of the many efforts, it can be overwhelming to figure out how to support. Here are a few tips to help you help Haiti:

• It's always wise to give to reputable organizations. The Red Cross has proven themselves time and time again in countless crises, and of course they have been instrumental in Haiti's relief.
• Check with your employer to see if they will match your donations, which can easily multiply your efforts.
  
• A gift of any size is still a gift. Give whatever you can. (You can text "Haiti" to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross.)
• Look for local projects where you can donate food, clothes, supplies and time.
  
• Spread the word! Some people feel removed from the situation and just need a little encouragement. If you get 9 of your friends to send a text, it's like you contributed $100. Doesn't that feel good?)
  

This is only the beginning of a long journey, but there are glimpses of hope with each person that is rescued and with each volunteer that supports the effort. Call me idealist, but I see this as our opportunity to build a new Haiti. I'd love to see the crowd of proud Haitians who dance along Eastern Parkway on Labor Day march through the streets of Haiti with helping hands. I'd love to see a Special Rescue Series of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition rebuild Haitian homes. And I'd love to see Haiti transformed into an island paradise that welcomes visitors and shares the beauty of its culture.

The reality is that this is a tragic situation, and it will take as many people as possible to make this better.

Motivational Monday: Look the Part

Work attire is different from those college days of wearing pajama pants and sweats to class or work-study. Though everyone likes to dress comfortable, what you wear to work reflects on your personality. Let’s face it, what people think of us does matter-even if we say it doesn’t. However, there is a way to dress chic-comfy but you must follow your employers’ dress code, as well as industry guidelines.

For example, do you work in advertising, media and/or public relations? Most professionals in these fields dress very trendy and fashionable! Suits are okay but you really want to shop for:

• Funky outfits
• Cute and sexy shoes
• Funky but chic accessories.

Most people who work in advertising or related fields are flashy but classy dressers.

Speaking of classy dressers, accessories are important…especially depending on what field you work in. I don’t care if you are a lawyer, accountant, marketer, clerk, teacher, professor, etc; do not wear clunky or offensive jewelry to work. When I say clunky jewelry, I am talking about Wilma from Flintstones clunky!! Funky accessories are great but be very wise in your choices. Coolcat in Brooklyn, NY has great and inexpensive accessories. Casual accessories are great and you don’t have to wear them but they make outfits stand out.

Employers have problems with “casual Friday” because there are some employees that feel they can wear whatever they want as long as they are hygienically clean. I never wear anything less than jeans, slacks and sometimes a nice dress to work. But from what I’ve seen around me, I would advise others not wear:

• Sweat pants
• Jogging suits
• or clothes that are too little or too tight to work.

Once you do this you ruin it for all. I would suggest:

• Wearing a nice pair of jeans with a cute top with flats or kitten heels.
• Dress down but you can still be cute and casual.
• If you are not sure what constitutes casual, ask your human resources director or your supervisor.
• There may be others that do not follow the dress code but don’t follow in their footsteps.

I would also advise others not to dress casual every Friday; maybe dress up a one or two Fridays a month. Reason being you don’t want to seem too comfortable and you want to show that you are a fantastic employee. Just because the “casual Friday” policy exists doesn’t mean you have to exercise your option to dress down.

The last bit of advice is to be a trendy but thrifty shopper. I am not a fashionista but I know the basics. If you want to learn more about style and fashion, visit http://www.womensmafia.com/. Also, find out more about dress code policies or guidelines in your industry—each employer has a different overview so check with both.

Tell us your thoughts! What are work attire dos and don'ts?




Desiree Frieson, 24, is a marketing and PR manager at Odyssey Networks, an interfaith media production company located in New York City.

Fun (Foto) Friday): Where in the World is Miss Journey?

Do you know where this is? Look out for a post about Miss Journey's latest adventure!

WOWednesday: Things that make you say "Wow"

Photo source: http://www.marcystahl.com/images/iStock_Megaphone.jpg

It hurts our hearts to see the devastation caused by the 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti yesterday. We encourage you to stay abreast of what is going on and do what you can do to support Haiti and all the families affected. We will do what we can to keep you updated on how you can support. History has shown that in times of crisis are when people show the greatest support, and we are hopeful that we will all unite to help one of our fellow countries.

CNN has shared a hotline to find information about those in Haiti for anyone with family and/or friends there: 1-888-407-4747. If you have any further information please do send it our way, and we will share it.


In the midst of all the craziness, we also need to acknowledge the good things happening around us. It reminds us of the glimpses of hope and inspires us to create even more. On WOWednesdays, we're going to spread the good news:

• The Black Socialite blog recently shared the story of Black Quadruplets that got accepted to Yale. Yes! That's +4 for the Get an Education team!

• The Meanest Mom shared a heartwarming story that shows that people still really do care about others, and it all happened at the Target checkout.

• Teen Nick and Nick Cannon have started a great initiative with the HALO (Helping and Leading Others) Awards, when celebrities gave the awards to teenagers who have made extraordinary volunteer efforts within their communities. They have taken it even a step further with the Do Good in Your Hood campaign.
  

Motivational Monday- Keep your Mojo Flow in 2010!

Happy New Year!

The New Year is upon us and time is quickly doing its thing. We're already 11 days into the year and if your life is anything like mine, things have taken off with a bang!

Welcome to Motivational Mondays here on the Her Journey Blog. These posts are here to help and support you on the highways and byways of your life experience.

I'm Denise J. Hart, The Motivated Mindset Coach! and I'll be chiming in every other Monday to share simple and practical tips you can use to stay Mindset Healthy and Moti-Fabulous in 2010!

Here's just a little about me: I'm a mom, a blogger a tenured college professor and a coach who trains and coaches women, other coaches and entrepreneurs to Get Things Started & Get Things Done for more profits and more satisfaction in life. I have a pretty cool gift: I can see the BIG picture and know how to break things down to the bare nuts and bolts; you know, I've got the right brain-left brain mix going on!

Here's a little motivated mindset mojo to help get you through the second week of the year:

Never Practice Positive Thinking Without...

Never practice positive thinking without the positive action of application. So many people get Positive thinking confused. Recently everyone has been on the Law of Attraction band wagon. They've started thinking more positively so they can attract what they want more of into their lives. However, I have coached and trained many people who were completely confused about how to actually use the Law of Attraction.

Just the other day I was guiding one of my clients through the Get Things Started & Get Things Done system and she said she didn't think she should say no she wouldn't be able to achieve one of her goals because she wanted to leave room for the Universe to bring it to her. I pretty much said "Pump your brakes my dear," and repeated my quote from above: never practice positive thinking without the positive action of application. She got the message quickly and we moved away from airy fairy thinking and got practical with the application of a powerful tool to improve our lives.

As you are mindful to follow this rule you are less likely to end up in the negative energy of self sabotage so many experience when they are merely practicing positive thinking and then get bummed out when they don't see magical results.

Well, that's it for this week.

As always I encourage each of you to: Live Well By Design!

Denise, The Motivated Mindset Coach!

P.S. If you'd like to really stay Moti-Fabulous in 2010 join me and a group of other women in The 2010 Mind Spa Success Series starting in Feb. Check out all the goodies here: http://www.yourmindspaonline.com/

A New Journey

With the New Year comes the great opportunity to embark upon a new journey or to get a fresh start on an existing one. We, at Her Journey, are excited about the New Year, and we invite you (and your friends) to join us on this new phase of our journey.

In 2010, look forward to:

• Motivational Mondays
• Travel Tuesdays
• WOWednesdays
• Fun Fridays

Thank you for visiting our blog, and we look forward to seeing you again soon. Stay tuned for even more, including contests and prizes!

Happy New Year

and

Cheers

to a new journey!

(Photo credit:

http://blog.wineenthusiast.com/category/champagne/)