Motivation – Page 2 – For The Love Of She

Success, A True Definition

Once upon a time there was a little girl that had big dreams. How many stories start out that way and then for whatever reason fade into the background of just living? I am here to tell you that I am sure there are more than there are not. My question to you in today’s blog, is why?

I believe the number one reason we do not chase our dreams is fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of change and the biggest fear of all – the fear of failure. Fear is an emotion and we often are driven or in most cases, held back by our emotions in life. So, now that we have uncovered reason number one, let’s talk about how we over come it. The greatest disservice you can ever do to yourself is to not even try. You will never know, unless you at least give it a shot. What is the worst that can happen? It doesn’t go as planned, or it doesn’t work out at all? Then, you still learned something, right? You gained knowledge of what didn’t work. Success is built on failure. Now, on the other hand, what if it does work out? How amazing would that be? Can you imagine the thrill of achieving your dreams? Overcoming your fears? That is success.

The second biggest reason we give up on our dreams is that we let other people define who we are and what we believe we should be doing. This to me is the saddest reason of all. Everyone has a purpose in this life and it is up to you and only you to serve that purpose. NEVER LET ANYONE DEFINE WHO YOU ARE. You know what your strengths are, what makes you happy, what you truly shine at. Can you honestly say you are doing what you love? What you are passionate about in life? If you aren’t, then you probably are not where you are meant to be and more then likely you aren’t truly happy with what you are doing. The point, or moral behind this is that when you love what you do – when you are passionate about it, you are successful. That is your purpose, your passion, your dream. That is success.

The final reason I believe we give up on our dreams is because we think there is not enough time. We get so consumed in life going and coming, doing and being that we quite literally start believing we are out of time. We tend to forget that it is never too late to start over, to start now, or to achieve our dreams. The present is better then ever to decide to be and do what you were always meant for – to make your dreams come true.

In closing, I want to remind each and everyone of you that you possess qualities that no else has but you. Only you can decide to take the next steps and go for it! Believe you can and you will! That is my true definition of success! I would love to hear about you chasing your dreams! Please feel free to leave comments below! Much love to you all! xoxo – SheShe

May 21, 2019December 8, 2021

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Spring Swimmie TryOns

The temperature is rising and you know what that means, swimmie season is upon us! In today’s blog I am sharing a few of my favorite places to shop for swimmie’s! (And yes there are sales going on!)

First up is this adorable floral underwire bandeau top and ruffle side tie bottom from Venus Swimwear. The colors in this swimsuit are bright and fun! The top comes with straps that can be worn for extra support or removed for more of a casual look. The bottoms tie at both sides, so they have some adjustment to them as well. I am wearing a size 2 for reference. I have linked both pieces below for you and they are currently on sale!

https://www.venus.com/viewproduct.aspx?BRANCH=24~87~&ProductDisplayID=36162

https://www.venus.com/viewproduct.aspx?BRANCH=24~95~&ProductDisplayID=47033

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Another one of my favorite swimsuits from Venus Swimwear is the Enhancer Push Up Triangle Top and Sequin String Bikini Bottom in White. The sequin detailing on this piece seriously pops in the sunlight and shimmers in the water! This would be the perfect swimmie for a honeymoon! I have linked the top and bottom below for you and I am wearing a size 2 for reference.

https://www.venus.com/viewproduct.aspx?BRANCH=24~86~&ProductDisplayID=63866

https://www.venus.com/viewproduct.aspx?BRANCH=24~95~3206~&ProductDisplayID=43933

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Revolve Clothing is always a great place to find swimwear each year. They always have the latest and greatest styles and trends. In addition their selection is phenomenal. I am guilty of spending hours browsing through their vast inventory of amazing finds! This Tularosa Nina swimmie is one of the many awesome pieces they offer . I have linked the top and bottom (sold separately) for you below.

https://www.revolve.com/nina-bikini-top/dp/TULA-WX101/?d=Womens&sectionURL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.revolve.com%2Fswimwear-bikini-tops%2Fbr%2F0cdc53%2F%3Fnavsrc%3Dleft%26pageNum%3D2&srcType=dp_recs

https://www.revolve.com/tularosa-thessy-bikini-bottom-in-black/dp/TULA-WX102/?d=Womens&srcType=dp_style&sectionURL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.revolve.com%2Fswimwear-bikini-tops%2Fbr%2F0cdc53%2F%3Fnavsrc%3Dleft%26pageNum%3D2

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One of my all time favorite places to shop for clothing is Express, and I bet you did not know they sold swimwear! Yesss! They certainly do, and not just any swimsuits either, absolutely stunning swimsuits! The kind that will definitely catch an eye or turn a head! This particular swimsuit, I purchased last season for a photo shoot and did not get the opportunity to wear it because the shoot got rained out. I was completely bummed out because it was at the end of the season. Not to worry though, as it was my first go to this season! I am wearing an xs in size for reference and I have linked several of their one piece styles for you below! Trust me, you need to check them out!

https://www.express.com/clothing/women/cut-out-one-piece-swimsuit/pro/07551194/color/BLACK/

https://www.express.com/clothing/women/mesh-ultra-cut-out-one-piece-swimsuit/pro/07551385/color/BLACK/

https://www.express.com/clothing/women/strappy-wrap-deep-v-one-piece-swimsuit/pro/07551542/color/BLACK/

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Last, and certainly not least, is my local favorite swimmie shopping spot, Target! I can always find a cute swimsuit each season at Target. They carry a variety of one pieces, bikinis and cover ups to choose from. The beauty is that they are local, so if you are in a pinch and don’t have time to wait for shipping, problem solved! I am wearing an xs in this cute high wasted, striped two piece pictured below. I have also linked some of my favorites from their site for you.

https://www.target.com/p/women-s-strappy-knotted-high-waist-cheeky-bikini-bottom-xhilaration-153-black/-/A-53783001

https://www.target.com/p/women-s-lace-up-high-neck-bikini-top-xhilaration-153-black/-/A-53783043

https://www.target.com/p/women-s-plunge-one-piece-swimsuit-sea-angel-black-floral/-/A-54309072?preselect=54265216#lnk=sametab

https://www.target.com/p/women-s-ribbed-bralette-bikini-top-xhilaration-153-animal-print/-/A-53742306

https://www.target.com/p/women-s-ribbed-cheeky-high-leg-high-waist-bikini-bottom-xhilaration-153-animal-print/-/A-53742309

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This is our first look at swimmies of the season and I hope this gave you some good ideas! I will continue the hunt as the temperatures continue to rise and I would love to hear about your swimmie finds as well! Please feel free to leave me your comments and suggestions! As always, much love to you all, XoXo – SheShe

April 17, 2019February 12, 2020

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Loft April Try On Sesh

I am beyond excited for today’s post! The weather has warmed up a bit and I actually had a few hours to spare in between appointments, so I had the opportunity to visit the Loft store at Kingwood Commons. Let’s just say, I was not disappointed! I am sharing my try on sesh with you in today’s blog and hope you enjoy the pieces as much as I do!

To start, everything in the store was on sale! (and I do mean everything!) Score! The first item I am sharing is this fabulous Chevron Double V Sleeveless Swing Dress. I am wearing a size xs for reference. This dress is lightweight, flowy and versatile. You could easily wear it with sandals, tennis shoes or even dress it up with heels. A perfect staple piece for your wardrobe! I have linked it below for you.

https://www.loft.com/chevron-double-v-sleeveless-swing-dress/464576?skuId=24925617&defaultColor=4899&catid=catl000013

The next item is one of the cutest little dresses I have ever seen! This Floral Short Sleeve Swing Dress is pure perfection. It is probably the most comfortable dress I have ever tried on, no lie! The material is amazing and the print is just adorable! This piece is another item that is super versatile. It could easily be thrown on to run errands with some cute slip on tennis or worn to Sunday service with some nice sandals! I am wearing the xs for reference and have linked it below for you.

https://www.loft.com/floral-short-sleeve-swing-dress/499148?skuId=27143186&defaultColor=8446&catid=catl000013

This next item is by far my favorite piece from the entire try on sesh, and yes it came home with me! This dress is perfect in every way. I honestly felt like it was tailored just for me. That is truly how perfect the fit was. This is the Floral Button Down Flare Dress and I am wearing a size 4 for reference. The dress buttons down the length of the front , has delicate darting at the waist and a beautiful ruffle detail at the bottom. I have linked it below for you.

https://www.loft.com/floral-button-down-flare-dress/499788?skuId=27036389&defaultColor=0473&catid=catl000013

Nautical pieces are always a favorite of mine for Spring, so when I saw this next item, I was pleasantly surprised! This Striped Flare Sailor Skirt is darling! I am wearing a size xs for reference. This piece is another versatile item that could be worn so many ways! It would be super cute with a denim shirt or with a solid like pictured below. Either way, it’s gonna be cute! I have linked it below for you along with this top that is pictured.

https://www.loft.com/striped-flare-sailor-skirt/494230?skuId=27206003&defaultColor=0473&catid=catl000017

https://www.loft.com/lacy-yoke-mixed-media-top/495950?skuId=27029060&defaultColor=3616&catid=catl000011

Of course I found some casual pants options during my try on sesh that I am also very excited about sharing today as well! We all need some casual pants for those chillier mornings or late night baseball games or casual days at the office. Not too worry, I have got you covered today!

This first item is from one of my favorite brands, and it is the Lou & Grey Tie Waist Linen Pants. If you have been on the hunt for linen pants for Spring and Summer, your hunt ends here! These are the pants! These pants are light weight linen with a paper bag waist detail, button front and tie sash. The stripe detailing just adds that “extra” that we all love! I am wearing the xs for reference. I paired them with the Petal Sleeve Tee and this tee is amazing! It is so soft and I absolutely love the delicate detailing on the sleeves. Both of the items came home with me! I am also wearing an xs for reference in the tee. The tee is linked below for you as well.

https://www.loft.com/lou-&-grey-tie-waist-linen-pants/496157?skuId=27242261&defaultColor=0292&catid=cat1880002

https://www.loft.com/petal-sleeve-tee/501598?skuId=27111826&defaultColor=6640&catid=catl000011

Now let’s talk Chinos ladies! How hard is it to find the right fit? I am 5’2 and I have the hardest time finding a pair that are not too long, too baggy, too skinny… the problems go on and on. The search is over! Loft offers a petite chino! Yes! You read that right! I am beyond excited to find these Petite Roll Cuff Girlfriend Chinos and will definitely be investing in more of these. I am wearing the Petal Sleeve Tee with them. The link for them is below.

https://www.loft.com/petal-sleeve-tee/501598?skuId=27111826&defaultColor=6640&catid=catl000011

Last, but certainly not least is a good pair of white jeans for Spring and Summer. There are several cute options and styles at Loft. I am sharing the Modern Button Cuff Slim Pocket Skinny White Jeans today because they are so adorable and different. Everyone has the same white jeans, so it is refreshing to see something different! The button detail on the bottom of these is awesome! The only down fall is the smallest size is 26, so I ended up going with another white jean, that I have also linked for you below! I paired them with this Striped Weather that is perfect for Spring and is also on clearance right now! It is also linked below for you.

https://www.loft.com/modern-button-cuff-slim-pocket-skinny-jeans-in-white/498923

https://www.loft.com/modern-double-frayed-slim-pocket-skinny-jeans-in-white/496557?skuId=26793214&defaultColor=9000&catid=catl000015

https://www.loft.com/striped-sweater/488199?skuId=26735764&defaultColor=4899&catid=catl000012

There was a HUGE wall of clearance items in addition to the entire store being on sale, so major scores. I picked up this adorable Dotted Signature Cardigan in size xs! This is another staple piece that would look great over a cute dress or also with some cute linen shorts! I paired it with the Essential Shirt Tail Tank in white , wearing size xs and the Modern Button Cuff Slim Pocket Skinny White Jeans. I have linked both of these for you below.

https://www.loft.com/dotted-signature-cardigan/488722?skuId=26735900&defaultColor=0473&catid=catl000012

https://www.loft.com/essential-tank/464020?skuId=24776172&defaultColor=9000&catid=catl000011

This wraps up my Loft Spring try on session from today. I hope you enjoyed the items I shared as much as I have. I am linking the website below as well so you can shop online, or if you are interested in finding one of their locations. I would love to hear about your Loft favorites as well, so please feel free to share them in the comments! As always, much love to you all, XoXo – She She

https://www.loft.com/

April 7, 2019

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The Journey

The New Year is upon us and with that everyone usually feels pressure to put resolutions out into the universe or set some dynamic goals that you must meet by a certain date or you won’t feel accomplished. After having an eye opening year in 2018, I have chosen to take a new path this path this year in 2019. My motto for the new year is “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey!” In this blog I will explain the meaning behind this motto.

Our lives are broken up into a few different primary categories that we try and juggle on a daily basis: Professional, Family, Financial, Personal, Home and Charity. In looking at all of these categories together it does seem stressful and often times to be honest, it is down right overwhelming. Let’s try something new this year and take a look at them on an individual basis and examine them from a personal perspective, instead of from the perspective of what you think the world expects from you or what you think you must achieve to make someone else happy.

PROFESSIONAL – Is your job a career or is it just a paycheck? Does it truly make you happy? Are you utilizing your skills where you are currently? Are you being held back by fear of change? No one can answer these questions, except you. There is meaning behind each and everyone. You see, your professional life should not be a punishment or a mundane task that you just “get through” each day. You owe it to yourself to do something that you love because that is when you will truly be successful! You know what your strengths are, what you excel at and what drives you. Put it to purpose.

FAMILY – Do you spend as much time with your family as you wish you could? Your family is the heartbeat of your world. They are your support system. Your vitality. The reason you do everything you do, right? But, my question to you is, do you recognize they are there? Or like most people, you get into a daily routine of just go, go, go everyday. Deadlines to meet, games to make, practices to get to, the list goes on. Are you keeping up appearances for the sake of appearances? I am here to tell you that you can not get a moment of time back, no, not one. Stop and smell those roses. Listen when your child is telling you that story for the one millionth time and I mean really listen, because that just might be the first time you really hear it! Take more family vacations and live in those moments. Eat breakfast together, take walks after dinner. Value your loved ones while they are here!

FINANCIAL – Are you over extending yourself for the sake of others? Do you have a savings account? Are you comfortable with your financial situation? Do you have financial planning? These are all important questions, well because we all know that it takes money to sustain our daily lives. Your finances should not control your life. They should not be the sole reason you live and breathe. Is it nice to have money and to be financially stable, well of course, but bottom line is that you can not take it with you when you go. Do not let it control your life to the point that it controls your life. Learn to be responsible in small ways, such as a change jar. It may seem insignificant, but by year end – that could be a bill you could eliminate or a mini get away! Or, if saving is just not for you, look into a 401k that can be automatically taken out of your paycheck and you don’t even have to worry about it!

HOME – This is your safe haven, your place of rest, ultimately your happy place. You should treat your home with the same respect it gives you. When you have a clean , nicely decorated space to live in, you will find it it actually good for your soul. Live in a space that makes you happy. Why would you not? You are literally there everyday! If you do not like that couch, change it. Don’t like the color of the walls, paint them! Don’t be afraid of change. You will be surprised at how much fun it is to change up your surroundings on a regular basis, but also how much better it actually makes you feel.

PERSONAL- THIS is probably the most important category of ALL because it is solely about you. How do you feel about yourself, your health? Are you happy? How much time do you spend on yourself each day? Each week? Let’s stop here for a moment. I want you to think about something for the next second.

“You only get this one life, this one moment, live in it.”

Now, I want you to take a deep breathe in, let it out and continue doing that from this day forward. CARPE DIEM!. Seize the day. Each day. That doesn’t mean following a schedule or if that is what makes you happy, then schedule on! Is there a challenge you have been putting off because you were to afraid to try? TRY! A Bucket List destination you have been wanting to visit, but didn’t think you deserved to go. GO! A race you have been wanting to run, but didn’t think you had it in you. RUN!

Make it a priority this year to make you a priority. You were not put on this earth to be unhappy. The world is a big, beautiful place, live in it. The happier you are on a personal level, the more successful you will be in every other category in your life. That is a fact.

CHARITY- This is one of my favorite categories and I hope it becomes one of yours ,if it is not already. Giving back does not always have to be monetary. Giving back can be as simple as kindness. A kind word, a smile, an encouraging note, or just a hug on a bad day. We should all be putting back goodness into the world on a daily basis. There are other levels of charity that are beautiful ways of sharing too, such as volunteering at a hospital or a nursing home or even a homeless shelter. Giving of our time is one of the best gifts we can give to one another. It literally does a heart good. If you are struggling with where to find somewhere to give back, go to a local hospital, church or shelter and they can definitely steer you in the right direction.

If volunteering is not for you, that is ok. The next time you clean out your closet, think about those less fortunate and bag up those items and drop them by a clothing drop off location. Or, next time you are at the grocery store, pick up a few extra items and drop them in the donation barrels at the front of the store. These are just a few other simple ways of putting some goodness back into the world.

The bottom line is you never know just how much your kindness may mean to the person on the receiving end at that exact moment. Be kind.

This is New Year, full of new opportunities in each new day. That in and of itself is an exciting thought! My wish for all of you is that you don’t get weighted down with things that are not truly important to you this year. My wish is that you live the life that you are destined to live this year and that you live it to the fullest! I would love to hear about your new year, so please feel free to leave me comments below! Much love to you all – XOXO – SheShe

January 3, 2019

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Father’s Day: Celebrate the Man, the Myth, the Legend

Father’s Day is right around the corner and I am sure there are many of you out there wondering what in the world do you get the guy that does it all? The Super Hero, the man, the myth, the legend, that’s right…I’m talking about all those great Father’s out there. The ones that take care of us all! On today’s blog I will be sharing some great gift ideas just for these Rock Stars – The Father’s!

The Home Depot: This is a great place to start (and finish)! They are actually running so many different specials right now in honor of Father’s Day. From Tool storage (20% off) to Power Tools (multiple various sets to choose from on sale)

, to outdoor power tools (25% off), you literally can not go wrong! You can even purchase a gift card online! The dad in your life will be thrilled! The link is below:

https://www.homedepot.com/

and for gift cards: https://www.homedepot.com/c/Gift_Cards

The Butcher Box: The Butcher Box is the perfect gift for those Father’s that love to grill or cook! Those chef’s in the making or those that are already chef’s! And as an added bonus, if you order right now, you receive free bacon in every box you get FOR LIFE! How Awesome is that?!

Their website can be found at this link: http://www.butcherbox.com

FIXD Gadget: For those Father’s with a midas touch, this is the perfect gift! This little gadget is a diagnostic tool that is super user-friendly and easy to use. It connects to your vehicle and reads the codes to let you know what is wrong. Trust me, the mechanics or mechanics to be will love this tool! No more getting bad or inaccurate information from the body shop! You can find it on Amazon for $59.99! http://www.amazon.com

FIXD OBD-II Active Car Health Monitor - 2nd Generation

Etsy: This site has a ton of Father’s Day options. One of my favorites is the personalized docking stations for their cellular devices , as well as watches and keys! Some of them are even lighted to place bedside. The one pictured here can be found here:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/619080909/nightstand-docking-station-fathers-day

I hope this was helpful and saved some of you some time and stress! More so, I hope that all the Father’s have a wonderful Father’s Day and realize how much they are appreciated and loved! I would love to hear your Father’s Day gift ideas, so please feel free to share them in the comments! Happy Father’s Day and much love to you all! xoxo – SheShe!

June 12, 2018August 6, 2018

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Because Mom

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and if you are anything like me, your life is one gigantic moment. You literally are in constant motion. Do not fret though, today I am sharing some great last minute gift ideas that are sure to put a smile on every moms face and touch every moms heart!

I’m going to start with my favorite gift that I have come across this Mom’s Day season and I think the reason I like it the most is because it is the most sincere gift of all. One of the retailers I follow is: https://walkinlove.com/ . They actually posted a challenge on their blog, called the “#oneminutemomchallenge”. The purpose of the challenge is for you to record a one minute video to your mom and send it to her and then challenge others to do so as well. We all get so busy in our day to day lives that we lose sight of actually communicating with each other, so I love this idea! The video can be uploaded and saved by moms and replayed nonstop! I can only imagine the amount of tears of joy this challenge will be bringing this Mom’s Day! You can find the challenge through the website: https://walkinlove.com/ , or you can download the walk in love app from the app store on your smart phone, or you can find it on youtube at the link below.

The next best thing to your sweetness, is actual sweet stuff! That’s right, cookies! Mom is always cooking for everyone and never has time to make something sweet just for her. What better way to make her smile, then to send her something sweet! There are some great promotions going on right now at Cookies by Design and they do same day delivery! You can find everything sweet they have to offer on their website:

https://www.cookiesbydesign.com/

Every mom wants to be spoiled at least one day a year and what better way to spoil them then with jewelry?! It’s such a timeless gift that they can wear everyday or just when they want to think of you! One of my favorite places to get and give jewelry from is Kendra Scott. They are still offering shipping by Mom’s day if you order by today! They are also offering a few specials on their site today and have a variety of gift giving options such as this earrings and necklace set picture below! The link for their website is:

http://www.kendrascott.com

Last, but certainly not least, for those of you that have completely run out of time and options, there is the good old fashioned gift cards! I myself, as a Mom, can attest that I LOVE receiving them! There are literally so many options you can choose from nowadays that you practically can’t go wrong with this choice! From your mom’s favorite Boutique, to Spa gifts cards, Visa cards, Starbucks, Craft stores, I mean you name it and there is a gift card for it somewhere!

I hope this helps some of you out with your last minute ideas and took a little stress out of your life, even if for a moment! I would love to hear about some of your mom’s day gifts, so feel free to leave comments! As always much love and wishing all my mom’s a happy and blessed mom’s day! xoxo – SheShe

May 9, 2018May 9, 2018

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The Dreamers

As a little girl, I always had a love for fashion. I would sneak into my moms closet and play dress up in her clothes as often as I could, because I loved her “fancy” dresses and heels! Then, as a teenager, my sister and I would frequent the many shops up and down Montrose and Westheimer looking for the most unusual items we could find to wear to make a fashion statement. After getting married, having my beautiful children and a career, my love for fashion has never faded. When my daughter reached High School, we opened an online boutique and we had sooo much fun with it! However, she went off to college, as they do and it was too much for me to manage on my own at the time, so sadly, I had to close it. Wanting to still be involved and constantly being asked where I shopped or for fashion advice, I decided to start doing a OOTD Post through my social media sites. This was very enjoyable, as I got to play dress up everyday again and share it! Still wanting more out of my platform, such as being able to share inspiration, charities and health concerns, I set goals to expand to a blog.

In January of 2018, I achieved that goal, and “For the Love of She” was born. Through my various media platforms I have been able to share many Heart shares, as well as my true love, that of fashion. I have had many highs and lows throughout my journey and it’s far from over, but I have never given up on my dreams. I’ve been given so many great opportunities and met so many other amazing and inspirational people through this journey that have sustained my purpose!

The most recent opportunity being, to be a Brand Ambassador for an awesome locally owned business, LHTX Brand! I’m honored and excited to begin this journey with them and look forward to this adventure! They are based right here in the great state of Texas and believe in making their products here. Their line is both motivational and empowering, two of my favorite characteristics! I am a huge fan of theirs and their story, which can be found on the website:

https://www.lhtx.us

The moral of this blog is to never lose that childhood enthusiasm, those dreams you made a promise to go after, go get them!

“ To the dreamers, wide-eyed believers, hanging on to hope by a thread. To the soulful, heart open, hopeful keep on charging ahead!” To all of the little girls playing dress up in their moms closets, to the little boys playing races on their bicycles, never stop dreaming!

DREAM BIG! Xoxo-SheShe

May 3, 2018May 3, 2018

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Admin Professionals Day: In Appreciation

My dad had many famous sayings growing up, but one that always stuck with me was, “You should always take care of the people that take care of you.” He was a smart man! As an adult, and a Director of Administration, I know now exactly what he meant. On the daily, my day begins before I ever even leave the house. Phone calls, emails, text messages…. and then errands before I even arrive at the office. My life is generally a moving target from one moment to the next! That is at best. I try and organize my days and my week as best as I can, but as you all know, life happens, schedules change, issues arise. With all of this being said, I would NEVER get through one single day without the amazing support staff that I have. They are there each and every day, without fail taking care of details that I could never get to, so that I can manage the tasks at hand. My “tribe”, as I lovingly call them, think of the papers that will sit there for a month because they know I will never have the time to file them myself, the data entry that may seem minimal to them but saves me a million seconds each day, the filtering of phone calls so I am not wasting time on sales calls, the creation of invoices so I can quickly log in on the go and pay them, the purple pens (because they know that’s my favorite color) and of course the countless coffee runs to ensure I keep running! The list is honestly endless and I could not be more grateful and appreciative for them. Thankfully, there is a day that is dedicated JUST to recognize the amazing and awesome peeps these Administrative Professionals are!

In todays blog I am going to list a few ideas to help celebrate Admin Professionals Day! Hopefully this will give those of you that have some of these awesome individuals in your life as well, some great ideas to celebrate them!

Tiff ‘s Treats: Tiff’s Treats does fresh out of the oven cookie delivery! This is a great way to surprise them with something sweet for all the sweet things they do all year for you!

The website is: https://www.cookiedelivery.com/onlineordering/orderlogistics.aspx

Edible Arrangements: Edible Arrangements offers a healthier alternative, while still catering to their sweet side. They deliver fruit arrangements of all varieties and also offer chocolate covered options as well. The website is:

https://www.ediblearrangements.com

FTD Florists: Flowers are always a beautiful way of showing appreciation and they brighten up the day too! If you know what your Admin’s favorite flowers are, make it even more personal. Try and ensure they get their favs delivered to really give them a surprise! The website is : https://www.ftd.com

Gift Cards: Yes, simple and yet so appreciated. The list of gift cards that staff appreciate and would love to receive is countless. A few favs are Starbucks, Target, Chic Fila, and good old fashion Visa/Mastercards. These can be given in unique and fun ways as well, such as in a Starbucks coffee cup, or with balloons and place one inside one of the balloons! Just a few fun ideas.

Breakfast or Lunch: You can not go wrong by bringing the most important meal of the day, Breakfast! How about bringing some fresh baked muffins from a local bakery and some coffee! Or having a hot lunch delivered from a nice eatery? ! More than that, share some time eating with them and reminding them of your appreciation for them!

Cards Or Letters: This is one of my all time favorites. I love giving cards and writing letters to those in and out of appreciation. This is something they can read, keep and recollect on in the future. Absolutely priceless!

Words: Above all else, make sure you verbalize your appreciation. Words are by far the best form of appreciation you can ever give someone. Let the people who work long hours, late nights, early mornings, weekends, endless calls, meetings, through sickness, day after day, without hesitation, know they are important and valued!

And to all of my loyal tribe and to all of you faithful and hard-working Administrative Professionals doing what you do each and every day, I thank you! Happy Administrative Professionals Day!!! As always, much love and appreciation – XOXO – SheShe

April 25, 2018June 13, 2018

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Not Going Down Without A Fight

Today’s Blog is my story of strength, of growth, of learning and of hope. For those of you that are new to my blog, welcome! I am so glad you picked today’s post to stop in on, as it will be one of my most important and valuable. My name is Shelia, better known to most as SheShe and I have Epilepsy. I was diagnosed almost four years ago. Epilepsy is a disease that affects the nervous system. It is usually diagnosed when a person has had at least two seizures that were not part of another medical condition. Six out of ten persons diagnosed with epilepsy will live their lives without a known cause. 1 in 26 people in the U.S will develop Epilepsy at some point in their lives.

My journey with this disease began on an early January morning as I awoke in the back of an ambulance, not knowing where I was or how I got there. I was confused and very afraid. My body was sore and I had no idea why, as I had no recollection of anything leading up to arriving in the back of that ambulance. My husband awoke early that morning to me having seizures and he thought I was having a stroke. He had no idea what was happening and was frightened and called 911. This is what led to me awaking in the back of the ambulance and realizing that was the beginning of my life forever being changed.

I saw many doctor’s and had many tests ran over the course of the next few days. All with no answers as to why or how this could have happened. With no “conclusive” evidence of anything, the neurologist at the time, told me I was under extreme stress and I needed to “chill out”. I can not make this stuff up folks, those were literally his words. I was confused and upset, but he was the doctor. Needless to say, not even a month later, I ended up wrecking my car , due to what we now know was a seizure while I was driving. Then, the final straw was a road trip headed to visit our in-laws, I starting seizing in the car. My husband had to rush me to the ER, where once again I woke up not knowing how I got there or what happened. At this point, we knew something was definitely seriously wrong and we went to see my neurologist, Dr.Phillip Blum, MD.

It was confirmed. I had Epilepsy. How could this be? I was a thirty something, that had never had any serious health issues before in my life. I worked out regularly. Lived a pretty healthy life style. We were in shock.

Turns out, anyone can get Epilepsy, at any time. It does not discriminate. It can be caused from blunt force trauma such as concussions, or you can actually be born with it. There is no true cause for Epilepsy. And, sadly, there’s more, there is no cure. Once diagnosed, you will be on meds to reduce and or help eliminate the seizures. The meds are not guaranteed and the side effects are inherently awful. The first set of meds I was put on made me lethargic. I felt depressed and out of it on a daily basis. I could barely get out of bed. After discussing the side effects, I was switched to another medication. This medication was definitely better than the previous but still had side effects. My dosages have to constantly be monitored or I get extremely sick. Any metabolic changes, weight changes, hormone changes, all effect my meds.

This may seem simple, but yes, there is yet another symptom which adds to this medication dilemma, making it all the while worse. Another symptom is insomnia. My neurologist has prescribed meds to aid in falling asleep, however they give me nightmares. My brain does not want to shut down at night. It literally thinks it’s time to run the New York marathon come bed time. This leads to lack of sleep, which is a huge seizure trigger. In addition, my metabolism never slows down so I struggle with weight loss.

Again, issue number one million and one with Epilepsy, it leads to other health issues. I have developed a heart arrhythmia since being diagnosed with Epilepsy. On a good day, my resting heart rate is 90, most days it’s between 100- 120 the whole day. If that is not exhausting, I don’t know what is. I have been prescribed meds to slow down my heart rate, however we have realized that if I take them daily, versus every other day, it slows down too much. For those of you keeping up with the med count, we now are at three different prescribed meds for three different issues all from one disease, Epilepsy.

Slurred speaking is a symptom that is both embarrassing and frustrating. The simplest of words, I stumble over and I will ask myself, why can’t I say that word?! It is extremely embarrassing and I will have to stop and literally slow down my speaking like I am learning the word for the first time. It’s always random words and always unpredictable when it happens. The most recent episode was yesterday and the word was “newest”. You would think, what is so hard about saying that, right?. I don’t know. I can’t explain it. It literally can not be explained. These are part of my daily struggles, struggles that people can’t see or don’t know about.

Memory Loss is another symptom of Epilepsy and is by far my least favorite. I would rather be nauseous every day of my life and get to keep my precious memories. This symptom saddens me to the core. I get in conversations with friends, co-workers and family and I don’t recall things. In the beginning, it angered me, to the point of resentment towards God. These were moments of my life completely wiped out from my recollection. Why would He do this to me? I know now, He had greater plans for me to be a light for others walking in the dark. I began keeping a journal. I write down thoughts, important events, daily activities that happened. Happy thoughts, sad thoughts, trips taken. . .Memories. So, if the day does come when I can’t remember them, I can read them over and over again!

I am a firm believer that everything happens in our lives for a reason. This disease has by far been the most challenging obstacle I have ever had to face. There have been times I have cursed and cried and felt like giving up. There are days when I literally can not physically function out of pure exhaustion, but I do. I go on. I have learned that each day is a gift, each memory a bonus. I am not promised today, or tomorrow, so for this moment, I am going to live it to the fullest. Enjoy all of it. Travel to new places, be kind to those who need it, give with everything I have and above all else love with all I have in me. I will advocate for my disease and for all of those who are sick with diseases of all kinds. I can not promise you easy days are ahead of you, but I can promise you that you will not have to face them alone.