A Confession

It's taken me some time to realize, and come to terms with, but I am a product of my generation.  I want things to happen easily and in a flash.  I have had a series of rude awakenings since graduating college.

What? I'm not going to get some absolutely fabulous job be cause I have a bachelors degree?

 

What?  I am not going to be a magazine editor, event planner, publicist, author and CEO all at the same time and all before I am 25, with very little work?

 

What? I went to the gym (once and for an hour and then ate a chocolate dipped cone and a tub of mashed potatoes) and I didn't lose any weight this week?

 

What? After writing my first blog post, I will not instantly have 10,000 followers and a book deal?

 

What? Life isn't always going to work out like I had planned?

If you're being honest with yourself, you have had similar "what?!" moments too!  And if you are really being honest with yourself, you have probably pushed them to the back of your minds closet with the jeans that are still too snug.  Yes? No? Maybe it's just me. 

Recently I had a revelation that I am somewhat nervous to share.  I don't work hard enough for the things I want.  In fact, I'm not sure I work hard at all.  Wait, let me dissect that a little.  I work hard enough.  Hard enough to be on top of my work.  Hard enough to meet deadlines.  Hard enough to be good at what I do. 

But I don't work hard enough to be great.  I don't work hard enough to make a difference. And I don't work hard enough to be remembered.

  So, I've decided to make a change.  (Did anyone else start singing Michael Jackson, Man in the Mirror right there?  No?  Just me again huh?)  I am seeking expert advice from Kelly Cutrone, Laura Casey, successful blogger friends, some of the 50 most powerful women and anyone else that has written, blogged or taught about finding balance, working hard to achieve your dreams and not giving up on yourself. 

Damn it, I want to leave my mark.

Goodnight lovers.  I've got some reading, wine drinking and yogurt eating to do!  You don't drink wine out of a coffee mug? No? Just me again?

How are you leaving your mark? Are you a product of the instant gratification generation too?

Women That Inspire Wednesday- a day early

Last week, a bright literary star from the writing heavens was ripped from us.  A truly great writer passed away leaving only her laughably honest screenplays and eloquently relatable pro's for us to remember her by.  Today I salute you, Nora Ephron.  You may have single handedly made entire generations of women eager to experience the za-za-zing.  Nora, you made women believe in a modern fairytale and I can't thank you enough.  She captured all the wonderful and not so wonderful feelings we have falling in and out of love and put them on the page and screen for us to enjoy and learn to cope.  She was a fighter, not just through heartbreak, but also through cancer.  Sadly, she lost her battle with leukemia last week, but one thing is certain, Nora and writing went together like a wink and a smile.

“Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.”
― Nora Ephron

Let's all relive some really great moments scribed by Nora:

When Harry Met Sally

Harry: "I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."
      -I mean, who hasn't felt like this or longed to feel like this. 

Sally: What's she look like?
Marie: Thin. Pretty. Big tits. Your basic nightmare.
     -Any good girlfriend will give you this kind of truthful feedback.

Marie: All I'm saying is that somewhere out there is the man you are supposed to marry. And if you don't get him first, somebody else will, and you'll have to spend the rest of your life knowing that somebody else is married to your husband
     -I just love this scene and the look on Sally's face when confronted with this typical female nightmare.

[after Sally fakes orgasm in a deli]
Older Woman Customer: [to waiter] I'll have what she's having.
    -Iconic.  Absolutely iconic.

Sleepless in Seattle

Doctor Marcia Fieldstone: Tell me what was so special about your wife?
Sam Baldwin: Well, how long is your program? Well, it was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were supposed to be together... and I knew it. I knew it the very first time I touched her. It was like coming home... only to no home I'd ever known... I was just taking her hand to help her out of a car and I knew. It was like... magic.
     -Don't all women hope a man describes us this way?

Annie Reed: Now that was when people KNEW how to be in love. They knew it! Time, distance... nothing could separate them because they knew. It was right. It was real. It was...
Becky: A movie! That's your problem! You don't want to be in love. You want to be in love in a movie.
     -Story of my life, I want to be in love in a movie!

You've Got Mail

Kathleen Kelly: [writing to "NY152"] Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around? I don't really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So good night, dear void.
     -Dear void, I have been struggling with the same questions, where is a good Godfather quote now?
Kathleen Kelly: What will NY152 say today, I wonder. I turn on my computer. I wait impatiently as it connects. I go online, and my breath catches in my chest until I hear three little words: You've got mail. I hear nothing. Not even a sound on the streets of New York, just the beating of my own heart. I have mail. From you.
     -the perfect beginning to a perfect movie.

Joe Fox: Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. On the other hand, this not knowing has its charms.
     -sharpened pencils...ah!

Kathleen Kelly: [writing to "NY152"] Once I read a story about a butterfly in the subway, and today, I saw one! It got on at 42nd and off at 59th, where, I assume, it was going to Bloomingdales to buy a hat that will turn out to be a mistake, as almost all hats are.
     -I have this perfect mental image of what she describes here.  Thats silly butterfly!

Kathleen Kelly: When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does.
     -For me it was The Silver Slippers

Kathleen Kelly: [in an email to Joe Fox] The odd thing about this form of communication is that you're more likely to talk about nothing than something. But I just want to say that all this nothing has meant more to me than so many somethings.
     -Funny how it's the nothings that usually do mean more than the something.

Nora Ephron. A woman who inspired us in life, and will continue to inspire us to live, love and never miss the laughs.

Women That Inspire Wednesday - A day late, but what's new?

Maybe it's because I love that she lets the world in on her life, good and bad.
Maybe it's because she is the type of business woman I always believed I would be (but have yet to become).
Maybe it's because she has found a way to balance career success with family success.
Maybe it's because she is a fighter.
Maybe it's because she is dedicated to helping other woman find success.
Maybe it's because she is taking over the world one cocktail at a time.

Whatever it is, Bethenny Frankel is one of the women I am most fascinated by and thus she is this week's Woman that Inspires!

Bethenny Frankel

“The business of being happy requires making a conscious choice. People think being happy will
just happen to them someday, if only they do this or that right. But it doesn't - you have to choose it.
You choose happiness, you don't wait for it to choose you.” - Bethenny Frankel

So I finally remembered to record Bethenny's new talk show yesterday.  As I pressed play on the DVR list I was a little worried.  What if I didn't dig it?  Would it end my mogul crush?  Well let me tell you ladies, Bethenny didn't disappoint.  The show is awesome!  It is honest and and talks about the things that aren't always out in the open.  She answers tough questions with humor and class.  Do yourself a favor and tune in.

Her talk show aside, this woman is the epitome of what I try to be every day.  A driven fighter.  A creative entrepreneur.  An inspiring writer. A passionate female supporter. A caring and loving mother and wife. A woman that speaks her mind and doesn't get stepped on. 

She has written books, started a hugely successful company that has developed into an empire and she has not only survived but thrived and maintained her dignity on reality television.  What can't this woman do? 

If you don't know and love her, get to know and love her.  Put on your Skinnygirl shape wear, sip a skinnygirl cocktail and watch Bethenny on her talk show.  It's sure to be a fabulous experience.

And hey, if you'd like to be a guest blogger for Women that Inspire Wednesday, shoot me an email, I would la-la-la-love to have you!

Women That Inspire Wednesday

It’s my favorite day of the week!!!! WEDNESDAY!  Why Wednesday? Because I get to share about an inspiring woman.  

This week I was all set on a woman.  I had started writing and everything, then I heard a speech at the MTV Movie Awards.  Don’t worry, I will go back to the other woman I chose next week, but this week lets talk about the lovely Emma Stone.



I have loved miss Emma since her debut in Superbad.  Maybe it’s because she is an Arizonan like myself.  She drew up in Scottsdale performing in productions at a local theatre.  She persuaded her parents to move to Los Angeles by creating a power point she called , “Project Hollywood” when she was just 15.  From there she spent her days auditioning and her evenings home schooling with her mother. Since then she hasn’t looked back.

I love how she has tried a lot of different types of roles and pulled each one off flawlessly.  Who doesn’t love her in Crazy, Stupid, Love, Zombieland or The Help.  As far as movies go, we are going to see Emma around for a long time because of her versatility and onscreen confidence.  And girlfriend can pull off just about any hair color!

   

She’s also pretty darn fashionable too!

What I love most about Emma is that she seems to have a good grip on who she is.  She’s got the courage to be funny and the confidence to risk looking like an idiot (Check out her chic fro and braces in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past).



I don’t see Emma Stone taking the path of other young starlets like Lindsey Lohan or Paris Hilton. She is the type of strong young woman that I hope my sisters grow to look up to. (Aren’t they cute little nuggets?) She is always encouraging her fans to be themselves.

“Confidence is the only key. I know a lot of people who aren't traditionally 'beautiful' - not symmetrical or perfect-bodied or perfect-skinned. But none of that matters because all that shines through is their confidence, humor and comfort with themselves. I can't think of any better representation of beauty than someone who is unafraid to be herself.”

With quotes like these, it’s no wonder that MTV gave her the very first Trailblazers Award.  Her her engaging and honestly grateful acceptance speech is what made me name her this week’s Woman that Inspires. 

Her eyes already glistened with emotion as she took the stage, she proceeded to impress me with her words of wisdom that I imagine really impacted her many young fans.

"So, I looked up the actual definition of trailblazer, and it means someone who blazes a trail to be followed by others. And that's an honor to hear you're being associated with a concept like that. The only thing I can hope that an award inspires is originality,because the trailblazers I've looked up to and been inspired by are people like Gilda Radner and Bill Murray and John Candy and Charlie Chaplin and the Beatles and J.D. Salinger. Lorne Michaels, who reminds me the importance of comedy, and Cameron Crowe, whose work consistently reminds me of why I want to be an actor. "Those people are my creative trailblazers, but I'm not following any of their paths, and what's incredible about them is they help make me want to be more myself because they're all originals, and I hope that you'll find your trailblazers. And, trust me, I do not need to be one of them. I probably shouldn't be one of them, but that you'll continue to harness your own originality and what makes you unique 'cause I know that when you're a teenager — sometimes when you're an adult — what sets you apart can sometimes feel like a burden and it's not. And a lot of the time, it's what makes you great. I am deeply touched and grateful for this.”

Emma, thank you for being both a trailblazer and an inspiration.  I hope all of us young ladies can take a cue from your confidence and grace!

Women That Inspire Wednesday

Yes, I know it is no longer Wednesday.  Things have been really busy the last few days, so I am a day late, but that doesn't make this weeks lovely lady any less inspiring.

Sara Blakely at age 41 has done something no one else has.  She is the youngest female self-made billionaire- yes I said billion. And how did she do it?  She got annoyed with with pantyhose- who hasn't?  Well Sara did something about it. 

Sara Blakely

"I think failure is nothing more than life's way of nudging you that you are off course. My attitude to failure is not attached to outcome, but in not trying. It is liberating. Most people attach failure to something not working out or how people perceive you. This way, it is about answering to yourself." - Sara Blakely

After graduating college from Florida State University (where she was a Tri Delta!!!) and scoring poorly on the LSAT's she got a job selling fax machines door to door.  She quickly became accustomed to the word no and doors slamming in her face.  That just fuelled her to become not only a successful saleswoman but a fighter. What she couldn't stand was the seemed-toe pantyhose she was forced to wear.  She tried to make adjustments by cutting the foot off of her stockings, but that just made them roll up.  She designed something to solve her own problem- Spanx.  You know, the savior to cellulite and muffin tops.  While she continued to work a full time job, she began pitching her product to hosiery manufacturers.  In time, someone took a chance on Sara and her footless pantyhose.

 But the fight wasn't over.  She designed her own packaging on a friends computer.  She bought a book from Barnes and Nobel and saved herself legal fees by trademarking and incorporating herself.   Sarah put her whole self (literally) into her product. She took pictures of her own butt in a pair of cream dress pants to show the difference between underwear and Spanx and used those pictures on all of the initial marketing materials.  She sold to Bloomingdales and Neiman Marcus out of her apartment.  She pitched stories to the media and sent her product to media moguls and magazines.  Then Oprah's people called and said to get her website ready for lots of orders.  What website?  Sara then became her own IT department. 

She invested $5000 into her company and now 12 years later she is 100% owner of a billion dollar company.  She has no debt.

What inspires me about Sara is her tenacity, passion and drive.  Sara proves the American dream is real and not just for the already affluent.  With hard work anything is possible.  Today she still tests every product.  She is a part of every item she puts out.  She is constantly adding new products and expanding her hugely successful business.  She has never let failure define her.  If anything failure has only fuelled her fire.  Who knows what you can do if you never give up?

Women Than Inspire- Part Six

When I came up with this little project, I had no idea how much fun it was going to be. More importantly, I had no idea how inspired I would be from it. Believe it or not, I kind of think my blog might have begun to found it’s stride this week . 

I have to admit, after reading all the fabulous posts by Jordan, Molly, Nikki, Maggie and Elisa, I was really nervous to start writing. What direction should I go? Well, I started think about some of the women that inspire me. I just couldn’t pick just one. I realized rather quickly that I am inspired by different women every day for different reasons. There is only one solution. I am going to have to make this a weekly feature. I’d love to feature other bloggers too, so don’t be shy if you want to share!

I learned a lot this week. Each post was so unique and so perfectly showed exactly why I asked each of them to contribute. Throughout the week, I was finding myself motivated by women. I mean let’s face it we’re awesome. Here are some of the incredible women that have inspired me this week.

Diane Keaton

"When I was younger I had these enormous vanities about what I expected from myself.
I'm glad to have a comfortable and fascinating life, but now I see it for what it is, so I can be braver and
more spontaneous and say to myself, Oh, screw it, just go out there and do it."- Diane Keaton

This week I watched Father of the Bride 1& 2 and Something’s Gotta Give. If I had had Because I Said So and The Family Stone within reach, I would have watched them too. What do all these movies have in common? You guessed it, Diane Keaton. Keaton has consistently chosen roles depicting free spirited women. These characters have all had to face struggles, but found the strength they needed, not just to get through something, but to find success and even themselves in the fight. I mean seriously, First Wives Club, Annie Hall and all the rest, are great movies about women and how we stay strong even amidst chaos.  She makes all these characters amazing with their subtle strength and perseverance.  Diane doesn’t just inspire me in her roles, but in her life as well. The woman dated Woody Allen and Warren Beatty, but never married. She said it never felt right. She adopted two children later in life and cherished being a mother. This week Diane inspired me by reminding me that I can live the life I want, not the one I am "supposed" to live and her characters inspired me to remember that every struggle will build character and strength.

Dara Torres

“I'd proven to the world that maturity, experience, dedication, and ingenuity can make up for a
little senescence. Muscle tightening is not the only thing that happens to our bodies over time.
We gain knowledge, focus, and understanding, and those things can help us win.”- Dara Torres

Maybe at first you didn't recognize this incredible woman. You have probably seen her more often in a swimsuit and a swimmers cap or loaded up with Olympic medals. With the Summer Olympics right around the corner, I have seen a couple of stories about this extreme athlete. I mean for one, this woman has competed in five, yes I said five, Olympic Games since 1984. If you are doing the math in your head right now, then you know that means she has been an Olympian since before I was born. She's won 12 medals, three of which were in Beijing in 2008, when she was 41 years old, the oldest swimmer ever to have a place on an Olympic team. SAY WHAT?! Oh yeah, and she won a gold medal at the US Nationals just 15 months after having a baby. Is she even human? Now she is attempting to qualify for her 6th Olympic games at 45. I hope she does. This week Dara inspired me to never give up no matter how many people tell you you're crazy and do what you love.

Sofia Grace and Rosie

Technically, my Sophia Grace and Rosie obsession started last week, but their impact is still with me. Okay, lets first talk about the serious set of balls Sophia Grace has. She's 8, rocking a tutu and belting out songs... on Ellen. Girlfriend is freaking fearless! She loves life and thinks everything is "Sooooo good". She is just a positive little bubble of talent. Then we have Rosie. She doesn't talk much, but little miss thang can wiggle. She knows what she does best and she owns it. P.S. if you can make a career out of being a "hype girl" at age 5, you are my dream realized! This week Sophia Grace and Rosie inspired me to love life and do what I'm good at without fear. Oh, and that I need to figure out a way to have British children so that they turn out this stinkin’ delicious.

Thanks for joining me this week. Be sure to check back on Wednesday when I official kick off my first week of Women That Inspire Wednesday!

Women That Inspire- Part Five

Well we have almost reached the end of my week of female inspiration. Don’t worry, tomorrow I will be posting about a women that inspires me… I better start writing huh?
 

Today Elisa has agreed to be my guest. Elisa writes Fulfilling A Ubiquitous Need, a blog about the life and times of a twenty-something. Elisa’s blog is fun and sometimes sassy and always honest. Read it and follow her!

Writing about someone who inspires you is a tougher assignment than it seems. I quickly accepted Ashley’s invitation to create a guest post, and then realized this would take some serious thought. “I just signed up for homework?!” To discover my woman of inspiration, I first considered all options: current friends, deceased relatives, talk show hosts, mothers, celebrities, previous teachers, reality show stars, and bloggers. A list of options began to form and I noticed a theme amongst these women; they all exude an I-am-so-comfortable-with-myself-this-is-just-who-I-am-and-don’t-care-what-you-think attitude. Seeing this theme come to light was satisfying and made sense to me; these are the kind of women whose behaviors I study and try to embody. I am inspired by them.

Within this list, one woman stood out who had other qualities I also admire…including her usually obnoxious bright lipstick…

Laurie Keller (aka Busy Phillips) from Cougar Town! I think of both Laurie and Busy as having very similar personalities, almost one in the same. This is probably because I follow Busy on twitter and she tweets things like, “Oh no. I accidentally got drunk last night and now I’m accidentally hung over. And my kid wants me to make pancakes from scratch. Ugh.” That’s a very Laurie/Busy comment.
You may be thinking, “Um, seriously? This was supposed to be a post about inspiration, not liquored up blondes.” But hear me out.

Risk taker.

"You know, Katy Perry wore 12 different outfits at the MTV Music Awards.
I'm gonna beat that tonight." - Laurie Keller

Laurie isn’t afraid of following trends or starting new ones, and she is over-dressed for every occasion. She has fun with her clothing and make-up and wears what works for her body type. Lately this has consisted of a lot of side ponytails, neon, and daytime hot pink lipstick. It is easy to see she is comfortable in what she has on, which creates an unmistakable air of confidence.

Good friend.

"Jules, slap out of it." - Laurie Keller

This girl is an active listening pro. She knows how to put her friends first, and give solid advice (although she usually doesn’t follow her own advice, but who does?). Laurie is a friend who can always be counted on even when it’s not convenient, and that is the kind of friend I try to be.

Dish it and take it.

"Okay, say something judgmental about me.
That always loosens you up." - Laurie Keller

Laurie doesn’t mind being made fun of, especially for being somewhat of an airhead. She embraces this quality about herself, creating a confidence that is difficult to take down. Do you feel so good about yourself others can poke fun once in awhile and get away with it? Yeah, I’m working on that one too.

Dream follower.

"I'm writing a screenplay. It's a cartoon about a plucky termite princess named Molly,
who gets kidnapped and sold into sex slavery. It's not a kids' movie." - Laurie Keller

Okay, we need to be a little realistic here…she started up a successful cake shop in a matter of a few days thanks to the magic of television. But, she left a comfortable job and went for it! I always try and remind myself, if you change nothing, nothing will change.
Accepting.

“Since you recently found out you're a dad, I baked you a congrats on your 
baby-that-you-had-with-a-drunk-that-picked-up-at-your-bar-before-you-started-dating-Jules cake!”

Laurie is accepting of all walks of life. Even though she may seem to be somewhat of a “dumb blonde” she is aware of others feelings, and likes to make everyone feel welcome. I always appreciate a person who can create a sense of hospitality no matter where they are.

See? I told you to hear me out. And in case you are thinking, “whelp, ABC dropped that show, so forget her for inspiration,” it was picked up by TBS. So you have at least two more seasons of Laurie-isms to keep you inspired, even if it just triggers a new lipstick purchase.

Check Out Elisa’s blog HERE!

Women That Inspire- Part Four

Today I am welcoming Maggie from A Few of My Favorite Things. Maggie is a sorority sister of mine. Maggie is very quick witted and spunky and she’s always up for an adventure! Check out what inspires her!

I spent spring break visiting my sister and her family in Nashville this year, and since I don't have a TV at home, I spent a lot of time absorbing as much reality TV as I could. Mob Wives? Caught up. Oh what's that History Channel? There's an American Pickers marathon on? I need that in my life. And most importantly I got super obsessed with The Voice. Can we take a minute to relish in Christina Aguilera's RIDICULOUS plastic, UFO shaped, sparkly headband that she wore for WEEKS? Oooh girl.

So when Ashley asked me to write about inspirational women, the first thing I thought of was Juliet Simms performance of It's a Man's World. For the record, Juliet Simms does not inspire me. She might even de-inspire me. All her talk of "Oh, it's so hard making it in rock-n-roll. It's full of boys." Blah blah blah. What about Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, Stevie Nicks, Heart, Brody Dalle, Cyndi Lauper, Meg White, Amanda Palmer, and Siouxsie Sioux? Regardless of her de-inspiration, girl can sing.

Honestly, I've never really thought the world was "a man's world." Yes, women are making something like 60 cents for every dollar a man makes, but ladies are getting things done. I graduated in May 2008 with a degree in geology, which has always been a boys club. Notice anything about my fellow graduates?

It's not like there were 15 guys standing around that didn't want to be in the picture, that was it. 6 girls, 1 guy.

I've never been able to pin down an inspirational person, man or woman. Not because I'm not inspired, but more because I admire the qualities of lots of different people, for different reasons. So instead of writing about specific women who inspire me, here are some qualities and skills I've learned (and try to practice) from those women:

1) Ingenuity - there is nothing more useful than ingenuity. It means being able to get yourself out of sticky situations, whether that be a broken fan belt or a shortage of cake flour.

2) Knowing the difference between standing up for yourself and being a b---- - There's a fine line, and I think all women should learn where theirs is. You can be strong without being a hell in heels. (The opposite is true as well.)

Meryl Streep could be a role model, her character Miranda Priestly, maybe not so much

3)No whining - Sure you might be making 40 cents per dollar less than your male counterpart, but are you going to whine about it or do something about it? Whining won't get you anywhere.

4) Knowing when to ask for help - Yes, women can do anything they set their minds to. We can be astronauts and physicists and moms and president, but that doesn't mean we can't ask for help. Lord knows I can't open a jar to save my life. Asking for help doesn't make you weak, it makes you smart.

5) Classiness - Is that a word? Anyway. Classy women command respect without having to ask for it. They are polite and friendly without being fake. They know what to say and what NOT to say and speak accordingly. Everyone should strive to be a little classier.

Love Maggie? Follow her HERE!  Want to stay up to date with all the inspiration?  Follow me too!  Choose an option over on the right side of the screen!

Women That Inspire- Part Three

Can you believe it is already day three of my little project?  I hope you all are enjoying reading who and what inspires people as much as I am!  I have been so excited all week as the posts have come in!  I almost feel like a little kid at Christmas as I dive into each post.

To keep the excitement going, I want to also invite anyone that wants to share their inspiration to comment below.  If you'd like to be my guest, and share your inspiration with Oh Wells Instead of What Ifs, email me! I am thinking of making this a weekly feature.  Send me a note at ashley.ohwellsinsteadofwhatifs{at}gmail.com!  Anyway, lets get started!

Today's Guest is Nikki.  While I haven't seen Nikki in some time, I do regularly stalk her on Facebook.  She is one strong, positive, passionate woman.  I just couldn't wait to see who she'd pick!  If you want to follow Nikki, you can find her at her blog Blissful Living.

A “Little” Inspiration

When Ashley first asked me to write a guest post I felt both honored and challenged. Of course there are many women I find inspiring – Mom, Grandma, Oprah, Emily Blunt, and the list can go on. I inevitably found myself stuck and racking my brain for the “perfect female” to feature. Although I am able write many beautiful things about the women previously mentioned, I wanted to write about someone who has inspired me on a less obvious level.

So, who exactly is this little inspiration? She’s a very powerful female. A four-year-old covered in smiles, cuts, and marker stains. She laughs a lot and rarely knows the difference between Monday and Thursday. Wish I could get away with that… but, I digress.

I have been Samantha’s nanny for two years, and she is hands-down the cutest little girl I’ve been able to share my days with. In fact, my most recent blog post touched on her ability to teach me a lesson in the midst an afternoon thunderstorm. I’ve undoubtedly been reminded that toddlers can teach adults some of life’s greatest lessons. For the sake of time and simplicity I want to share 5 things Sammy has taught me - which have more than inspired me. We’re human and definitely need a refresher every now and then!

1. Laugh at yourself: At first glance this may seem pretty easy, but if you’re anything like 99% of the female population… you’re far too critical of yourself. As we age we are taught to become more responsible, professional, and possibly even more “serious”. It’s a natural progression, but also something that is certainly ingrained in us by society. Sammy laughs at her own jokes, giggles when she falls down, and even chuckles when I have something stuck in my teeth. Next time you make a mistake or feel embarrassed, I urge you to just embrace a deep belly-laugh. I promise it’s therapeutic!
2. Don’t sweat the small stuff: Ever stress over something that is minuscule or out of your control? You have two X chromosomes – of course you do! Time and time again I find myself fretting over the silliest things… i.e. – slow drivers in the left lane and Sunday mall hours. Just last Thursday, Sammy and I had planned on going to the Denver Public Library. Much to our dismay, we found the window decal stickers reading “Thursday: CLOSED”. My mind immediately went to What the Hell Mode. “That has got to be the dumbest thing I’ve heard of… closed on a Thursday!?” Meanwhile, Sammy says aloud, “Oh well Nikki, there’s always tomorrow. Let’s go to the park!” Sometimes I wish I could have her by my side permanently. Kids have this innate ability (most of the time) to rebound from just about any experience. I encourage all of you ladies, and gentlemen, to take a chill pill and tell yourself “there’s always next time” when things don’t go as planned.
3. Play: One word, numerous opportunities. Children don’t think about playing - they just do it. Often times as women, we feel it’s necessary to have a purpose behind everything we do. When’s the last time you really let loose and played around? And I don’t mean day drinking for Cinco de Mayo. You know, the kind of play that entails getting creative with chalk, tossing a Frisbee around, or one of Sammy’s favorites – hop-scotch! You’ll instantly feel young at heart and be proud of yourself for doing something out of the norm.
4. When in doubt, SMILE: There’s no disagreeing with Elf here. I think smiling should be everyone’s favorite! It’s a positive gesture that not only has you happier within seconds, but it’s also contagious and can make a stranger’s day. As growing women we deal with a lot. Dreams to follow, bills to pay, hormones to tame, and a biological ticking clock (a.k.a. – Mom asking when she’s getting her grandchildren). It’s easy to let our racing thoughts take over, and suddenly, we’re wearing our not-so-happy emotions on our sleeves. I’ve been fortunate though. Samantha probably has me smiling 20 times a day. Just this morning we picked Fisher up from school - another little one I nanny for – and he was in absolute tears because he bonked his head pretty hard. Leave it to the wisest little girl I know… “Fish, give a smile on that face!” Now, although there are some grammatical errors in her statement, the meaning is all the same. Make a conscious effort to smile more often. It’s a gesture that every person – regardless of their age, race, or gender - can identify with.
5. Enjoy the simple things: 7 For All Mankind, Gelish nails, $150 bottle of designer perfume, and/or a steak dinner at Elway’s. All great things. Kids; however, don’t need the best selling toys in order to have fun. I’ve watched Sammy enjoy the sprinkler for 30 minutes, play with a roly-poly like it’s her new best friend, and almost wet her pants from one of the most intense tickle sessions. All for free! This serves as a good reminder that some most of life’s treasured moments are raw and simple. No price tag attached.

Thank you for reading – have an inspirational day!

Lots of X’s and O’s,

Nikki

Spring 2011 – Sammy laughing at herself for making a “cream cheese nose”.

 

Summer 2011 – Sammy and I playing in the backyard together.

Fall 2012 – Sammy loving every minute of “crunchy” leaves.

Don't forget to share who inspires you!  And check out Nikki's blog HERE!

Women That Inspire- Part Two

Today I am thrilled to have my friend Molly as my guest.  In addition to being one of the funniest women I know, she has also always been a support system when I really needed it.  Molly has recently started a blog (I’ve been waiting for this blog for years.) She has the best stories, seriously witty commentary and a blunt tell it like it is personality that I just adore.  Get to know Molly at A Certain *Je Ne Sais Quoi

I N S P I R E

By: Molly Fuzat

So I’m supposed to write about a fellow woman that inspires me. There are SO many options, how could I possibly choose just one?

I’m inspired by Reese Witherspoon’s bangs because they’re just gorgeous.

I’m inspired by Rachel Zoe’s ridiculous and amazing style, even though I secretly hate half of what she wears and wouldn’t dare attempt to try the other half.

I’m inspired by Diane von Furstenberg and her iconic wrap dress that launched an amazing career and can only hope I have my own “wrap dress” moment in this lifetime.

I’m inspired by Julia Roberts’ grace and beauty and all of her amazing roles throughout her career that she plays so well I can only assume she is made up of bits and pieces of them all.

And speaking of fictional characters, I’m inspired by Carrie Bradshaw’s perspective, insight and attitude.

I’m inspired by the women in Paris who can run around in Louboutins like they’re walking on a cloud and girls that have the willpower to say no to seconds and dessert. I’m inspired by girls who refuse to settle for anything less than the best and girls that chase after their dreams with reckless abandon. But who takes the prize pig?

Meet my sister, Annie. AKA Super Mom.

She’s a year younger than me and about a million times wiser (and that’s a conservative estimate). She is a wonderful mother of four little angels – Caden, Connor, Avery, and Lucien – and I mean it, they’re absolute angels because they are being raised by a saint.

She’s even the cutest little pregnant gal ever!

Raising four kids that are 3 months old to 6 years old is quite the task. It takes some crazy kind of mom to be able to live to tell the tale of raising all of these little rascals. But somehow she does it brilliantly with endless patience and love and so much grace and ease that sometimes it gets to be a little annoying. I mean come on sister, no one would blame you if you lose your shit for once.
Her days are a whirlwind. Driving Caden (the oldest) to school with the three other baby Rangels in tow. Dealing with lots and lots of diaper duty – three out of four are in diapers – and lots and lots of hungry babies. Keeping such a clean and organized home that you just hope to catch her OCD walking around the house (and man does she give me crap about hiring a cleaning lady because I of all people “don’t have enough time”). Making sure that each boy gets all the love and attention they deserve and never playing favorites. Somehow surviving Costco or the movies with all four kids by herself while her husband is at work. Frankly I think Costco is a pain in the ass no matter what and the thought of going there makes me cringe, so for her to take on that venture with four kids? Like I said…a saint. (But aren’t they so stinking cute?)

Caden

Connor

Avery

Lucien

Oh yeah…and she is a baking wonder because she knows the kids love it!!!

  

I can’t even imagine being in a place in my life right now where I am in charge of another person. I can barely manage being in charge of myself sometimes. Maybe that’s why I love being an aunt so much – because I don’t ever have to say “no” and be the bad guy, I still get all the hugs and kisses I want, and then the parents take over when there’s a meltdown (or dirty diaper – which I hate to brag, but I have only had to change three diapers out of six nephews which I think is a pretty impressive record). But my sister makes it look so easy to be a mom (don’t worry, I know it’s not) that I am eternally grateful that she’ll be on retainer for that day in the faraway future when little Mollys are running around. Yes, dear family, I will do everything I can to have girls to help balance out the army this family is breeding.
So cheers to you, Annie aka Super Mom. Thank you for teaching me the value and fulfillment that being a mother can bring, because one day I will be ready for that too. Thank you for having the cutest little babies and even though we are not biologically related (we’re both adopted) you have given me hope that I will have the cutest little Asian babies someday too! Thanks for showing me how to be more patient with the hidden message that I need to be more patient (I’m working on it). Thank you for being an amazing role model for these kids and giving them every ounce of love you have. You’re the second best mom I know – only second to our own mother, of course.

Thank you for being an incredible woman whose legacy will live on in her children and through all of us who have been lucky enough to know you. You truly inspire me (along with everyone that you leave awe struck and speechless because they’ve witnessed the miracle of four extremely well behaved children in public). I LOVE YOU!

Love her post?  Follow Molly’s blog HERE!