Thursday, May 28, 2009

Dynamic Divas Inaugural meeting

I started my day today in the best way possible: with 9 dynamic, entrepreneurial, collaborative, creative, inspiring women! In a moment of alliterative thinking, I named us the Dynamic Divas and I think it will stick.

The original thought in bringing such energy and power together in one room was twofold: first, to give each of these wonderful women a chance to network with one another and exchange ideas and second, for me to selfishly absorb some of the brilliance simply from being in the room with such role models.

Our time together proved to be fulfilling, empowering, helpful, motivating and left us all desiring more time together! It was the perfect demonstration of the power and caring women have toward each other and the difference we can make with concentrated effort.

My vision for such groups going forward is to provide a regular forum for women of like minds (in this morning’s case, all women with businesses to run) to share, commiserate and help each other. My role as facilitator will be defined over time – I just know I love the energy and opportunity to be a part of it all.

As we began the conversation, it naturally led us to discuss as a group such topics as Twitter (about half of us are on Twitter and the other half still curious), being the bread-winner and/or sole financial provider, finding ways to delegate non-essential tasks in order to have 5 minutes of “me time,” and dealing with being a career woman PLUS all our other traditional female roles (mom, chef, maid, wife, girlfriend, etc.) As one woman expressed a frustration and/or need, another had the perfect suggestion to solve it – we all left with more than we came with!

I’d like to take this chance to send a public thank you to everyone that took time out of their busy schedule today in order to contribute to the Dynamic Divas inaugural breakfast: Jana Alverson www.lynnmcinturf.com/pages/meetourteam.htm, Debba Haupert www.girlfriendology.com, Val Jacobs http://tinyurl.com/kw9995, Krista Neher www.themarketess.com, Monika Roberts www.redkatblonde.com, Neysa Ruhl www.neysaruhl.com, Amy Scalia www.cincychic.com, Erin Schreyer www.sagestone-partners.com, and Stephanie Wallace www.blackbookemg.com.

Looking forward to our next meet-up and growing the group!

 

 

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Winners Walk Tall finale

I know it sounds cheesy and insincere when a volunteer tells you that they get just as much out of the volunteering as the recipients of the service, but today I’m going to be one of those people except I am anything BUT insincere.

Today was my last visit of the school year to the first grade students at Roselawn Condon school as a Character Coach for Winners Walk Tall. http://www.winnerswalktall.org/ I promised the kids a special reward for good behavior this week, and couldn’t wait to deliver on that promise!

A typical WWT lesson involves me revealing a character-building lesson printed on bright paper that I keep in my pink hat. I invite two students up to the front to help me read the lesson to the rest of the class. Examples of lessons we’ve covered include, “Shake Hands with a Firm Grip, Look People in the Eyes and Call Them by Name with a Smile,” or “Manners Matter,” or “Dream Big – the Sky is the Limit,” or my favorite, “Be Kind to Our Environment – Go Green!” We discuss what these things mean and how they apply in everyday life and why they make us winners. As I leave the classroom each week after group hugs, it is usually to chants of, “Miss Kel-LEY… Miss Kel-LEY!” I glow as I walk down the hall…

So today I switched it up a little for our last week and will treasure the day forever. After a quick review of the lessons throughout the year, I proceeded to call each child up to the front to be presented with a certificate of completion, customized with their name and signed by Yours Truly. As I called each name, the other students cheered wildly. The winner of the moment shook my hand (all with a firm grip!) and we posed for a photo. They were so cute about it – this little certificate means a lot to seven-year olds! Many were very shy, but I could see how they enjoyed the attention.

After each winner had received their accolades, I took my hat off to reveal a picture of my cat, Miles, fresh from the kitty salon and shaved down. I showed it to each student, explaining that this is what Miles look like after a hair cut. Then I asked, with a touch of drama, “Anyone want to see what he looks like with his hair grown out?” And the crowd went wild! I brought Miles into the room and gave each child a chance to pet him. 



I hate to think of how many allergic reactions are kicking in now!!! Of course we posed for a group shot before I left.


Anyway, it was a blast to share this special day with these darling children, and Miles was calm, patient and as sweet as ever. I have a feeling today was MUCH more about the volunteer than the recipients of the volunteering!!! 

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Fit tips

While I did not actually write these tips, I find them to be quite useful and you will certainly hear me quoting them while I lead my Urban Iron fitness classes. Read on, ladies, for some myth-busters on working out! (I don't know the original author, but this was copied from Urban Active's Monday Motivator - a weekly newsletter for Urban's fitness instructors)

FITNESS TIPS

DID YOU KNOW….
Lifting lighter weights will make your muscles more defined and toned. FALSE!

Muscle responds to overload. If you lift heavier weight with sufficient intensity, you will create more microscopic tears in the muscle. When the muscle recuperates, it will become tighter and stronger.

However, your supplemental nutrition must support your workouts. Reduced body fat is what creates the “lean and tight” look, not high reps (15 plus reps). Reduced body fat is a result of efficient weight training, proper amounts of cardiovascular exercise and nutrition that places one in somewhat of a calorie deficit (less than maintenance). That’s how you get defined and toned!

A lot of cardio is the most efficient way to lose body fat. FALSE!

Excessive cardio will strip muscle and body fat. This is definitely not the most efficient method to lose body fat. Once you begin stripping muscle tissue, your body becomes less efficient at burning body fat. Muscle is metabolically active, which simply means it stimulates the metabolism.

For each pound of muscle you put on your body, you will burn up to 50 additional calories per day. If you strip muscle tissue, all you accomplish is sabotaging your efforts to efficiently reduce body fat. The PROPER amount of cardio to accomplish your goal is what’s necessary!

A woman will get muscles as big as guy if she lifts heavier weight. FALSE!

This myth never seems to die. A woman has approximately one third of the testosterone of a man. Unless she is on anabolic steroids, growth hormone or other enhancing drugs, a woman will never achieve the muscular size of a man. However, she can get a degree of muscularity that makes her lean, toned and tight.

Muscle weighs more than fat. FALSE!

If I place one pound of muscle on a scale and one pound of fat on a scale, they will both weigh one pound. The difference is in total volume! One pound of muscle may appear to be the size of a baseball; one pound of fat will be three times the size and look like a squiggly bowl JELL-O.

The best way to lose fat is to eat very few calories. FALSE!

Always consider your body from the inside out. Your body’s main objective is to survive. It doesn’t care if you want to lose body fat. In fact, it would prefer to increase fat in case of famine. Internally, the body has no idea that it’s the year 2003. It could still be 10,000 years ago for all it cares. Survival is its number one objective.

If you eat very little (less than 1,200 calories), the body perceives an emergency and will accommodate you by holding onto stored body fat. As well it should, because it has no idea when it will be fed again.

The infomercial that has that cool looking, easy-to-use abdominal machine will help me to get a flat stomach. FALSE!

The infomercials barely mention nutrition when attempting to sell their miracle ab machine of the month. Nutrition is a huge component of attaining a flatter stomach! The key to a flatter stomach is proper nutrition, resistance exercise to increase muscle tissue and cardiovascular exercise to burn additional calories. Sensing a theme here? Its all about balance and consistency.

Monday, May 11, 2009

10 Tips for Staying Fiscally Fabulous

I recently had a request for a copy of the 10 Tips for Staying Fiscally Fabulous that I presented at the Recessionista Swap n' Shop in March, and thought that perhaps I would share it with readers as well. Enjoy!

Top 10 Tips for Staying Fiscally Fabulous                                                                                 

Recession-proof ideas for remaining fashionable without blowing your budget

1. Go Faux in Style

When purchasing trendy items that may only be worn once or twice before going out of style, seek out the bargains. Faux leather handbags or inexpensive accessories can be found at discount retailers that look very similar, if not identical to the real deal found on fashion runways. Save your hard-earned dollars for other fabulous purchases!

2. Invest in the Basics

Go ahead and splurge on timeless wardrobe classics in neutral colors, such as well-fitting black slacks or a seasonless trench coat. These items can be worn again and again as the foundation of your wardrobe. Mix them up with differing accessories and trendy items to stay in style. By spending a little more on quality, these items will last several years.

3. Dress for Success

A little black dress can easily go from office to happy hour to evening wear with a simple change in accessories and/or hair style. Plus, it is only one item and offers countless different looks depending on what accessories it is paired with. Find 2 or 3 knee-length solid-color dresses in fits that are flattering to your figure, and you can have a whole week’s worth of outfits or more!

4. Can the Credit Cards

If you can’t afford to buy something with the cash in your account, don’t even think about reaching for your plastic. Some stores will give you a discount for using their card, then allow you to pay the balance right there – this is a smart way to save some extra money. But if you aren’t able to pay the balance right there, it is not worth the 5-10% savings on your bill. By design, discounts often end up being paid back to the retailer in interest and fees.

5. Diminish Debt by Maximizing Minimum Payments

If you’re only paying the minimum balance due on your existing credit card debt it could take you up to 8 years to pay off the balance, depending on how much you owe. Discover what it feels like to live debt-free sooner by paying more than the minimum due. Even paying just $5 more per month makes a difference.

6. Recycle and Refresh Your Wardrobe with Resale

Clean out your closet and make some quick cash with gently-used fashionable items. Take those items you‘re no longer wearing to a consignment shop and receive some of your investment back. Resale shops pay you up to 50% of what they are able to sell your items for, sometimes paying you when you drop the clothes off.

7. Stay in Season with Color

Determine the season of your skin, hair and eye color, then stick to your season’s palette when purchasing clothes. For example, if you‘re an autumn, you‘ll look smashing in oranges, golds, browns and olives. But pastels will only wash you out and will end up hanging unworn in your closet. Springs, on the other hand, glow in pastels and should avoid the fall colors.

8. Beef Up Beauty Treatments

Extend the time between expensive beauty treatments with some expert tips on maintaining your manicure and hair color. To prolong the life of a natural nail manicure, put a top coat over your color at least every 3 days – this simple step could give you up to an extra week! Postpone the next fill on your acrylics by massaging oil into your cuticles and nails every night. This will keep your natural nails from separating from the acrylic and keep them on your nails longer. And if gray roots give you grief after even 3 weeks, ask your colorist if she will do an interim coloring just along your part, allowing you to go closer to 8 weeks between full color treatments.

9. Skip the Soda

Try ordering water with lemon when dining out rather than ordering a Diet Coke or Iced Tea. Most restaurants now charge upwards of $2 for a soda, which can end up being 25% of your total lunch bill! Save the beverage indulgence for cans at home or the office, and you will also experience some added health benefits from drinking more water.

10. Java Justification

If you simply can’t bring yourself to give up the daily $4 latte, at least try bringing your own mug. Many coffee shops give a discount for bringing your own, and it saves all those extra cups from their landfill destiny. A 10 cent discount each day for a month will save you enough for a free latte, and Mother Earth will thank you as well.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Healthy expectations

I recently became involved with a non-profit called Healthy Visions, which is a local organization dedicated to guiding people toward making better choices and cultivating stronger relationships. The mission reminds me of a class called Intimate Relationships that I took in college, where the professor shared the following reading with us. I have used it ever since as a sort of "criteria" for finding the perfect partner for me... I hope you find it as powerful as I do. For more information on Healthy Visions, visit their website at www.healthyvisions.org

The Invitation

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life’s betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, or to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn’t interest me if the story you’re telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. I want to know if you can be faithful and therefore be trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty even when it is not pretty every day, and if you can source your life from God’s presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of a lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, “Yes!”

It doesn’t interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done for the children.

It doesn’t interest me who you are, how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself, and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

Oriah Mountain Dreamer, An Indian Elder

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Urban farm

I had the good fortune of participating in the kick-off of the OTR Urban Farm on Saturday, which is the result of a fantastic partnership between several worthy organizations (see below for more details). The farm is located on a vacant lot on Walnut Street in the heart of the historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. We broke ground on construction of several raised vegetable beds made from recycled wooden pallets, as well as built a couple brick beds from bricks cleaned up from the property. Most of the materials we will use are recycled/reused, including a green house to be constructed out of 2 liter Coke bottles! 


Mayor Mark Mallory was a featured guest for the ground-breaking, much to the delight of the neighborhood residents and children in attendance. I approached a shy teen who was trying to take a photo of the Mayor from a distance with her phone saying, "Do you want your picture with the Mayor?" She demurred, but I offered again and she accepted. The Mayor was more than happy to pose with anyone! It was pretty cool. And the best part is that the garden promises to bring together the local community in a healthy, productive, sustainable project.


The experience really drove home one of my favorite quotes: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead


Healthy food, community cooperation, green initiatives… the list of positives about this project is extensive! But the highlight of it all for me was working with the huge labor force of children, ranging in age from about 3-15. The kids were hard-working, cooperative, excited, funny, and made my day… we constructed a 3-layer rectangular brick vegetable bed in about 30 minutes and there was tons of energy left over to do more! It was rewarding and fulfilling to be there, in the heart of one of the worst-reputed neighborhoods in the city, and find enthusiasm, energy, good behavior, and a desire to help and make a difference. I can't wait to go back and get to know these precious children better and help them to realize the impact they can have through continued involvement in bettering their community.

I'm attaching a couple pictures from the event:








*The farm, which will produce fresh vegetables out of a vacant lot on Walnut Street in Over-the-Rhine, is a partnership between the Mayor's Young Professional Kitchen Cabinet (YPKC), the local Service Employees International Union (SEIU 1), UC's College of Architecture, the OTR Community Council and the City of Cincinnati Urban Farm pilot program.