This weekend a wonderful group of women came together to celebrate who they are at the 3rd Annual "Madly In Love with Me" celebration.  This year was unique as I had the distinct honor of Co-Hosting with Western Washington Woman, Fralisa McFall.  Together with the help of guest presenters:  Esther Alley, Kelly Morrison, Sonja Morgan and The Jeweled Scarab Dance Company the women in attendance had a transformational experience.

Belly Dancer's, Shelly and Nona, really rocked the house showing women that belly dance is a wonderful way to reconnect with your body and YOUR sexy.  At the end of their session the ladies were able to do a 5-minute choreography.  It was so much fun shimmying our hearts out!

Happy New Year!!!  Can you believe it is 2013?  I hope your holidays were amazing!  I wanted to take a moment and share one of the things I enjoy doing the most every year, DREAM BOARDS.

Dream boards have been instrumental in my life over the past 5 years.  Something happens energetically when we put our goals down on paper.  As a teen my father always told me to write my goals down but I never understood the power of that lesson.  I don't even think he knew the power of what he was teaching me.    

Today I ask , "What do you want to manifest in 2013?"  Peace?  New Career?  New Customers?  New Body? Health?  Relationships?  YOU MUST BE SPECIFIC.  

What you THINK about, YOU BRING ABOUT. 

Here's how to do it!

Get yourself a bunch of magazine, print pictures from online, cut out words and quotes that touch and INspire you.  Once you have pulled your photos and words, review and narrow them down to the ones that reallyresonate with you.  Here are some other tools you can have on hand to make this process creative and fun:

• Glitter, Glitter Pens
  
• Scrapbook background sheets, Construction paper
• Stickers, Glue sticks 
• Markers, Colored Pencils, Chalk, Paints

You can organize these pictures/words on a poster board, foam board or in one of my favorite places, A VISION JOURNAL.  I make my own Vision/Dream Journals.  Buy an 8.5 x 11 journal from somewhere like Barnes and Nobles or use a scrapbook.  You can glue your words and pictures throughout the journal.  Then use the journal over the year to document your year's journey.  HAVE FUN!  

Feel free to share your vision boards with me on Facebook.  

When you’re making your videos NEVER FORGET you are the STAR of your channel. Just like you make first impressions in real life in the blink of an eye, people will decide quickly whether they want to keep watching your video or move on. By showing up like a STAR, uniquely YOU,  in your videos, you're going to stack the cards HIGH in your favor.




Here are FIVE secrets to looking like a STAR in your videos:

1.     Add a little more of the beauty accessory called "makeup". When applying your makeup prior to the video, think of how much makeup you wear on a daily basis and then double it. The lighting is going to mute the coloring so you will require more blush, eye shadow, and eye liner than usual. The key to wearing more makeup is to blend, blend, blend! The lines of demarcation show up more clearly on camera, so make sure you blend. Before shooting the video, don’t forget to take a test photo to make sure your makeup looks ready for the limelight.

2.     Have good lighting. Lighting is key. It’s your spotlight, after all! To ensure there are no unflattering shadows on your face, turn on the ALL lights, and bring in extra lamps if necessary. When using indoor lighting, one thing to pay attention to the temperature of the lightbulbs. Some lightbulbs emit a warmer orange-like light, while others emit a cooler blue-like light. Make sure any lighting you use shares the same temperature so it’s consistent on-screen. Another lighting alternative is opening the shades during the day for some diffused daylight – just remember, it’s diffused light you want, not direct sunlight! Direct sunlight makes people squint and produces shadows.  Not flattering!!

3.     Style your hair nicely. Just as you pay extra attention to your makeup, take care to make sure your hair is camera-ready as well. Use a little more hair product that normal to prevent fly-aways. Especially if you are filming in high definition (HD), any hair out of place will become more visible.

4.     Pay attention to your background. Everything in your video is speaking to your brand, including your background.  If you are doing fun videos like out on location or letting your audience in on your world spontaneity is okay.  Just don't let that be the norm unless that is  your brand.  You’re a STAR, remember?  Whether you stand for simplicity and elegance, or glamour and glitz, always choose a background that will reflect your brand.  

5.     Be personable. If you’re scared of the spotlight, pretend that you’re having a one-on-one conversation with one of your favorite people when speaking to the camera. That means smiling and lots of eye contact. People do business with those they know, like, and trust, so you want to make sure you come across personable so your audience can connect and subsequently, want to do business with you.  Something I do to shift my energy is DANCE!  Put some jams on and rock out for a minute and get in front of the camera and ROCK YOUR STAR POWER. 

***Need some help?  Check out my program "Simply Gorgeous:  Celebrity Edition" at http://www.connectwithbeauty.com

A while back I was at a local firm where I was introduced to one of their consultants. This young man had a friendly manner to him and had evidently taken care to dress in a dress shirt, tie, and slacks and present himself professionally when working with clients. But there was one glaring oversight: head to toe, all of his clothes were wrinkled. In fact, they looked like they were just pulled from a pile of clothes on the floor.

Now you may think that a detail like wrinkled clothing could easily be overlooked. But imagine you are meeting a consultant you hired for the first time and he shows up looking half-baked wearing wrinkled clothes? Deep down, you may find yourself wondering, “If he has this lack of attention to detail in the way he presents himself, what else may he drop the ball on down the road?”

As professional women and entrepreneurs, we need to show up looking like who we say we are. Our words, mannerisms, and professional image need to be in complete alignment in order for clients to trust us and be willing to do business with us.  

If you are a financial planner and showing up looking like a gypsy, do you think your clothing is going to give your clients the confidence they need to entrust you with planning their retirement? No. As a financial professional, they are going to expect a certain degree of decorum and tailored styling. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting that you stifle the gypsy altogether – I’m simply saying there’s a time and a place for everything. And for the record, your pinstripe suits will do far more to garner your clients’ confidence that you can get the job done than an armful of bracelets and a broomstick skirt.

It is my purpose to help align women’s inner and outer beauty. If you are feeling out of sorts and out of alignment, you are in the right place. Right now I am getting ready to debut an exclusive program “Be YOU, Be BEAUTIFUL, Be BANKABLE™” that will help you attract your perfect clients by simply showing up as your authentic self. Let me help you take your beauty all the way to the bank! 


NEW MENTORING PROGRAM UNVEILS:  JULY 25TH @ 1PM PST

So... this has been on my mind for AWHILE!  So today after being called Dorothy one more time, I just decided to share it. Many of you may be saying, girl you are crazy, but that's ok.  lol

In America, we tend to want to shorten peoples names instead of Susan, we say Suzie, Joseph, we say Joe and instead of DOROTHYINEZ, we say "Dorothy" without even asking if they mind.  I have found as I have tried these past few month to "correct" people that is is VERY UNCOMFORTABLE to do but it must be done because it's apart of my branding, just like Minister of Beauty™.  In fact, several women who also have difficult names told me it doesn't even matter to them anymore because they are used to it.  USED TO IT???  REALLY?  Why do we have to get used to be called anything but our name.  If someone decided to call you _______________(you fill it in) would you just go with that too?

For 40+ years I was called Inez, which I love! But when I was called to start a business to serve  women, I felt God inspired me to use my first and middle name TOGETHER, Not Dorothy, Not Inez, DorothyInez. My close friends and family call me Inez of course and that's ok. 

I believe our names are divinely given to us.  Most parents take the time to specially choose your name, they think long and hard some even have arguments about it.  I think it is a disrespect to that person to call them anything other than their given name without their permission.  I know NONE of you meant ANY disrespect, but I am just making a point.  I often feel bad for immigrant Americans who come up with "American" names because no one want to try to pronounce their given name.  It breaks my heart that Min Joo has to be "Helen" because we refuse to TRY to pronounce her name or Mary Susan has to just be Mary because it takes too long to say her full name.

Our names have meaning and I bet if you looked up yours, you would find that in some way you are living into that name because you have been called it for however many years. My name is Dorothy (Gift of God) and Inez (With A Pure Heart) that is who I am called to be to EVERY woman who works with me. Each time you say my name, I am reminded of my purpose and calling. It may seem long but its pretty easy to say once you get it. :-) 

I encourage you the next time you meet someone to ask what they like to be called don't just assume Suzanne wants to be called Suzy.  She just doesn't have the courage to correct you.  I can testify that it is so hard to do.  

Here's a video also explaining my logo AND name. I hope you understand where I am coming from. So please No more DOROTHY'S I share this with you in ♥