Love is Louder

Love is Louder is such a powerful movement. It is a movement of all types of people who have come together to raise the volume around the message that love and support are louder than any internal or external voice that brings us down.

Individuals, communities, schools and organizations have embraced Love is Louder as a way to address with issues like bullying, negative self-image, discrimination, loneliness and depression.  Even as we work to stop negative words and actions that hurt us, we can strengthen our abilities to cope with hard times, focus on the positive, support the people around us and reach out for help if we need it.
I have really embraced this movement. Bullying is something that exists well past grade school. I see bullying going on around me constantly and it breaks my heart. The bullying is being done a large percentage of the time by girls, and girls who are well into their twenties. 

Why Do Girls Bully?

• They've learned the habit of bullying at home. Bullies often (but not always) come from homes where they are bullied by parents, siblings, or even significant others. Bullying is a way for them to regain some of the control they have lost at home.
• They're insecure. In many cases, bullying is a cover-up for insecurity. A bully may be sensitive about her weight or the clothes she wears, and bullying other girls allows her to attack them before they attack her.
• They need to feel powerful. Girls who bully need to control and exert power over others. To make themselves seem more powerful, girl bullies often target girls who are passive, or easily pushed around. They often gang up on another girl to demonstrate their control.
• They want to get attention. Many girls bully to gain attention from their peers. They think that by being mean to others they will become more popular with people. Unfortunately, this is often true, which makes bullying even more tempting to many girls.
• They have personal issues. Quite often, a girl may bully because she is having troubles at home or in some other aspect of their life, which causes her to act out against other girls. Underneath her tough exterior, she is likely to be angry or depressed about other issues in her life.

Gossiping and insulting someone is a form of bullying. Also, getting together with a group of friends and specifically leaving someone out on purpose is bullying. Cyber bullying is also another huge issue; using the internet and social media like facebook to put someone down. I see statuses all the time on facebook which are clearly directed at someone specific putting them down and then people actually “like” that status. It’s hard to watch other people pretty much give someone a hypothetical high five for saying something mean. Not impressed. 

All the time spent talking about another girl and putting her down, is time where you can spend working on yourself and trying to figure out why you are unhappy and what you can do to feel good about yourself. No one should ever get to the point where you need to bring down others just because they are happy and confident. Happy girls are the prettiest girls and jealousy is just plain old ugly.  

With your help, we are getting even louder. 

 

Love & Pink,

Lisa 

I AM THAT GIRL

 Please join and like my facebook page of  my local chapter of I AM THAT GIRL!

 WHO’S THAT GIRL?
THAT GIRL resides in all of us; all ages, ethnicities, classes and religions.

THAT GIRL is the best version of each of us. She’s compassionate, honest, and contribution-minded. While she is forever a work in progress, she seeks to be confident in her own skin. She thinks for herself


 The mission of I AM THAT GIRL is building a community that inspires girls to discover their innate worth and purpose.By building community and providing girls with a safe space to have meaningful and mindful conversations, we enable girls to have a higher sense of self worth. Inspiring girls to think for themselves, speak their truth and discover their purpose will ultimately leave them pursuing the best version of themselves. This program builds a support network for your community, enhances personal and professional development, and gives you the opportunity to make a difference in this world. By meeting regularly and actively reaching out to other girls, we can stop breaking each other down and start building each other up. We can start thinking about the world around us and what it means to be a girl in it today. We will think for ourselves, speak our truth, and discover our purpose.

http://www.facebook.com/IAMTHATGIRLDowntownChicago 

Big Dreams, Good Music, & Expensive Taste

New Year's Eve. A very sparkly dress, a glittericious party, a bubbly drink, and if you're lucky, a kiss that lingers minutes past midnight. What better way to send off 2012 and bring in the New Year? The biggest decision on your mind currently is where am I going to find the perfect sequined dress and where am I going to be wearing it to? Both very legit concerns for the average girl. New Year's Eve is one of those days where it's ok to dress up and drench yourself in glitter and sequins. I think that is the appropriate attire for any day of the week, but especially on NYE. Glitter makes the world go round (it's true). If you normally find yourself dressing in 50 shades of grey (and black) everyday of the week, it's time to live a little! Step out of your comfort zone and get ready to paint the town red with your daring wardrobe choice. Like Avril said, who wants to be ordinary in a crazy mixed up world? So profound. 

Men: Wear a suit or even a tuxedo! Dress like James Bond, even if you are not going to a black tie event. You know people will want to take pictures with you. Looking hot is fun. Did you know that you can dress up every weekend of the year and not just on NYE? Just sayin. 

Choose to go somewhere with people that you actually want to be with. Strangers sometimes make for an interesting evening, but being in an incredibly crowded place with people you don't know, and being stuck there for the entire night is not always the best choice. Also, don't make the mistake of leaving you decision up to the last minute and ending up going nowhere. How boring, yawn. The night is of course totally overrated but all that matters is that you are with people you care about and you have really cute pictures to post the next day. I only have like 3,600 pictures currently on facebook....I'm officially addicted to pictures and it makes me really happy. (Cute pink cameras take the best pictures, duh.) 

Before it's the New Year, here are a few things I suggest: 

Go ahead and break the rules a little: If it's chocolate you deprive yourself of all year long, then go crazy and sugar yourself up! Chocolate covered gummy bears are a personal fave of mine, but I will always love love loveeeee my sour gummies. If you've skipped out on fast food for a while, drive through more than one place for your favorite food and bring it all home to enjoy. You will be in the comfort of your own home, people won't judge you. 

Pamper Yourself: Take a long, hot bath. Give yourself a pedicure. Dye your hair. Choose one or two things you don't usually have time for or can't always afford, and give yourself a mini-makeover. Or make an appointment to get your hair or makeup done if you aren't a master at doing either. I think choosing the right lipgloss is most important; I never leave the house without my glossy lips. Look completed. 

Have Beauty & Brains: If you're going to drink, don't be stupid. Make sure you have a designated driver or chip in for a group cab. The same rules you use on any other night apply on New Year's Eve: don't accept a drink from anyone you don't know and never leave it unattended. Personally, I would much rather spend my evening taking an insane amount of pictures then drinking to the point where I don't remember my night. Also, with all of the excitement it's easy to forget to eat beforehand but why not end the year with an incredibly delicious dinner from one of your favorite restaurants? I love food and I can't wait to go try a new restaurant that opened in Chicago with my boyfriend before all of the festivities! 

Get ready to dance the night away, a.k.a give Ke$ha a run for her money: So many people are embarrassed to have fun. So maybe you don't have an ounce of rhythm in your body, who cares? Or maybe you can't wait to get low, which is always fun to watch. Please don't tell me "I'm not drunk enough to dance". That is like nails on a chalkboard to me. What a lame excuse!! Live in the moment and whip that hair back and forth girl. LONG HAIR DON'T CARE. 

When you are getting ready that evening just remember; a smile is a woman's best accessory, sequins are appropriate no matter what the occasion, and some days simply require a glass of champagne. Have a fabulous and safe New Years Eve all of you beautiful people! 

P.S. I can't wait for my midnight kiss : ) 

Love & Pink,
Lisa

Think Big, Dream Big, Make it Happen

Have you ever marked another month off the calendar and wondered where the days went? (Yes, every month I do that) You feel like your life is a repeat button. You get up, go to work, come home and do it all again. There’s no time to just stop and catch your breath, let alone figure out how you really want to be spending your days. You’re too busy just getting through another day. It is very important to find time for yourself. You need this time to gather all of your thoughts. If you want more from your life; then change it. This video clip shows us that this is our life and we just need to live it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QDmt_t6umoY

In order to achieve big things in your life, you must be willing to think big. You should always dream big and envision your goals so that you can make them happen. Close your eyes and imagine your future. Where do you see yourself in five years or even ten years? Let your dream come to life in your mind, showing you what matters most to you right now. 

Visualizations, dreams, and hopes change over time. It’s okay to change your dreams and goals based on your needs and desires as they change. Visualizing the “dream you” is an excellent way to bring your goals to the forefront when you’re trying to determine what matters most to you.

Realize your fears are just excuses and that you do have choices. You can choose to follow your dream or not. To take up the challenge or to play it safe. Keep your dream in front of you to inspire and motivate you and believe that you can achieve it.Asking yourself what is the worst that could possibly happen puts your fears into perspective. You won't know the outcome until you try. You can't have regrets in life, instead you have to make the most of every moment and understand that everything that happens in your life is a learning experience and a way for you to grow. 

Enjoy the journey. No one will ever have a perfect life, instead they will create a life that is perfect for them.  

Love & Pink,

Lisa

Being thankful is so in right now

I received inspiration earlier after seeing someone post about Thanksgiving approaching and what they are thankful for. Everyone should be thankful for so many things and with the holidays coming up it is nice to be able to reflect about everything.

How often do you pause to appreciate what you have in life? There are some of us who take things for granted while others are constantly thinking about how lucky they are and how appreciative they are for many things. It is easy to get caught up and be someone who is always wanting more and sometimes forget to slow down and realize you should be happy with what you have now but know that there is always room to grow and gain more. 

There are some things we don't stop to realize like how lucky we are to be educated and go to wonderful schools. I completely value my education that I received from childhood all through college, and I am still learning new things every single day. Education can never be taken away from you, it's something that you will always have to learn and grow from. 

Here are a few things to be grateful for: 

Parents - they gave you this life and will always be there for you no matter what

Siblings - the best friends you will ever have in life

Your significant other/Soulmate - For making you see that nothing could ever be bad with them by your side 

Your friends - for bringing out the best in you

Love - for letting you feel what it truly means to be alive
Your health - I could talk about this forever. Having your health is everything, it allows you to do everything you want to do now and in the future. Making healthy decisions = a long wonderful life

Your mind - for the abilitity to think, store memories, and create new solutions 

Happines - the ability to soak in the beauty of life 

Your job - for giving you a source of living and where you can feel a sense of accomplishment each day 

Music - for lifting your spirits each day when you are down and for putting a smile on your face

Your enemies - for helping you uncover your blind spots so you can become a better person

Your mistakes - for helping you improve and become better

Laughter- for serenading you with all the joys of life

Life - for giving you the chance to experience all that you're experiencing, and will be experiencing in time to come

Last but not least, be thankful for YOU. For being who you are and touching people's lives with your presence. For also letting other people touch your life in some way and showing the world how important you are. Without knowing it, you are making an impact on other people's lives. You are a role model to someone and a breath of fresh air to another. If you can learn to love yourself and all the flaws, you can love other people so much better.

Sometimes it's easy to feel bad because you are going through a tough time in life. However, remember no matter how bad your situation may seem, there thousands of things to be grateful for in life. 

Love & Pink,

Lisa

On Wednesdays We Wear Pink

It's safe to say that a lot of girls have lost a friend either temporarily or permanently over a guy. There's just something about new relationships that causes some girls to suddenly forget all of their friends. You should never ditch your girls for a guy. Guys do it to their friends too. It's a universal incident but when it happens, it's hard to deal with.

The Golden Rule hasn't changed since your parents taught it to you when you were little ladies: One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself. And think about it, would you really want your friends to ditch you if they got a new guy? Odds are no, so try to think about their feelings before you jeopardize a great friendship. 

There is always a chance you might not last with that guy. But when/if that happens, your friends might not be around to help you get through the breakup. Friends can only have so much patience and be burned so many times before they just start to give up. If you continually make it a habit of ditching your friends for a new guy, people might give up on you. Harsh but true.

I can tell you right now that she’s going to flake on you. You’re going to set up something that you are really excited about and she’s going to blow you off to be with her new boyfriend. It’s going to happen and you are going to get hurt. The best way to handle it is tell her the truth. The truth is: your feelings are hurt, but you feel like you can’t say anything because you want her to be happy with this guy. She needs to know that your feelings are hurt. Whatever she is in love or lust, it blinds her vision for a short amount of time. Suddenly the only person she is hanging out with is him. When she does go out with friends in a group setting they end up leaving early and going home. I personally will never be a couple who turns into homebodies. I am always up for going out and cherish all the time spent out with friends, I love my boyfriend more than words could say but we both enjoy being out with all of our friends! After being together for four years, we learned how to create a good balance of together time and time doing our own thing. I would love to be with him 24 hours a day but that's not realistic and he pointed out to me that it's not healthy either :) Of all people, I would understand what love is like and how you want to be with that person every second. At the same time, there are those friends of mine who also help to keep me grounded and I love me some girl talk and gossip every lil bit! 

If you are lucky enough to have friends who really care about you, you are luckier than most. So the less you see them, the more change you will see in the friendship. We're only human, and humans get hurt. So don't be upset when you see two of your friends getting closer without you. Um hi, you won't hang out with them so you want everyone to not hang out just because you choose not to? It doesn't work like that. There are some people who try to spend as much time as possible with friends. Take their lead, you might learn something.

I know everyone is busy but it takes literally two seconds to text someone and say hi or hows your day going, it takes two seconds to g-chat a friend, and it takes that same time to send an email or call. People will always make time for those they want to keep up with. I know way too many girls who have found themselves in this situation. As we get older things change, yes that is true. BUT, remember to have a mind of your own. If you want to see friends without your boyfriend around then do it. Don't ask permission. I'm positive that his life won't collapse with you being gone for one night. And if that's the case, there's a bigger issue with him and maybe you should run away fast :)

Some pointers: Buying someone materialistic things should not make them love you more, and if it does then would any guy buying you things make you love them? Last time I checked, love was a little deeper than that. Of course it's amazing to receive gifts from a guy but don't let that be the reason why you enjoy being with him. And when you truly fall in love with someone you should be the happiest you have ever been. Being angry and stressed all the time seems a little strange.

No matter how great your new guy is and how happy he makes you, remember one thing: Nothing can replace the bond you have with your female friends. Our girlfriends understand and support us in a way that most men can't and it's important to maintain a balance between girl and guy time.

Love & Pink,

Lisa

100 Lessons Life Has Taught Us

This is YOUR life, you have the option of making the most of it so what are you waiting for? Think about your own life and ask yourself "what has life taught you?"

1. Spend more time with those who make you smile and less time with those who you feel pressured to impress.
2. Never tell someone their dreams are impossible. You’ll feel like a fool when they prove you wrong.
3. No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.
4. Pursuing happiness by acquiring material things (fancy cars, expensive jewelry, designer clothing) is like jogging to the grocery store on your treadmill: it won’t get you anywhere.
5. Laugh at stupid jokes. Apologize. Tell someone how much they mean to you. It’s the small moments that make life grand.
6. Life is way more enjoyable when you stop trying to be cool and simply focus on being yourself.
7. Start by asking yourself whether each of your relationships drags you down or lifts you up. Surrounding yourself with positive, loving people is half the battle of living a happy, successful life.
8. When the ‘want’ gets stronger, the ‘how’ gets easier.
9. Too often we judge people on too little information. Instead of judging someone for what they do or where they are in their life, figure out why they do what they do and how they got to where they are.
10. If you want to feel rich, just count all the great things you have that money can’t buy.
11. I have taken noticed that the deeper I know about myself, the clearer I understand others.
12. You can’t change who you are. You can only change what you know and how you apply this knowledge.
13. I don’t need a certain number of friends, just a number of friends I can be certain of.
14. People who are meant to be together will find their way back to each other. They may take detours, but they’re never lost.
15. You can press forward long after you can’t. It’s just a matter of wanting it bad enough.
16. Complaining is like slapping yourself for slapping yourself. It doesn’t solve the problem, it just hurts you more.
17. Embrace change. As uncomfortable as it is sometimes, change allows us to stretch and grow. New things feel awkward and scary at first, but those feelings go away, and you are left with something bigger and bolder in your life.
18. Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow emotionally and intellectually. They force us to stretch ourselves and our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first. And when we don’t feel comfortable, we don’t feel ready
19. No matter how bad your heart has been broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief. The sun comes right back up the next day.
20. Supporting, guiding, and making contributions to other people is one of life’s greatest rewards. In order to get, you have to give.
21. Learn to adjust the sails of your life to unpredictable winds, while keeping your focus clear on your destination. And keep sailing until you get there.
22. As you strive to achieve your goals and dreams you can count on there being some fairly substantial disappointments along the way. Don’t get discouraged, the road to your dreams may not be an easy one. Think of these disappointments as challenges - tests of persistence and courage - that life throws at you during your journey. They are necessary and are meant to help you grow as a person.
23. Spend less than you earn, go without until you have the money in hand.
24. Freedom is the greatest gift. Self-sufficiency is the greatest freedom.
25. Even when you feel like you have nothing, someone else likely has far less. Find them and help them. You’ll see why.
26. Negativity breeds more negativity. When you focus only on the negative, obviously that’s all you will see. You will not seek out positivity, and even when positivity comes into your life, you’ll look for the negative side of things.
27. If you want something in your life you’ve never had, you’ll have to do something you’ve never done.
28. It’s not so much what you say that counts, it’ how you make people feel.
29. Figure out what you want. Set real goals and make a logical plan to achieve them. It’s like the old saying, “A goal that is never written down is nothing more than a New Year’s resolution.” And we all know what happens to New Year’s resolutions.
30. Being open-minded is the key to more knowledge. If you want to know more about the world you have to keep an open mind. You have to give people and things a chance.
31. If you want love, give love. If you want friends, be friendly. If you want money, provide value. It really is this simple.
32. If something won’t be significant to you 3 days/3 months/3 years from now, don’t waste all your time worrying about it now.
33. Manage aging, but why fight it? You can spend a fortune on face creams, plastic surgery, hair growth formulas, and Botox, but eventually you realize you are fighting an uphill battle. Groom yourself nicely. Stay fit. Have unsightly things removed. But accept the beauty of aging. A striking mature man or woman is much more attractive than someone who looks overly taunt, tanned or top-heavy.
34. Never regret. If it’s good, it’s wonderful. If it’s bad, it’s experience.
35. Being busy and being productive are two different things.
36. Life is unbelievably brief. When you’re young, you might feel like there’s a huge mass of time ahead of you. But it passes much faster than you think.
37. Mistakes teach you important lessons. Every time you make one, you’re one step closer to your goal. The only mistake that can truly hurt you is choosing to do nothing simply because you’re too scared to make a mistake.
38. Your health is your life, keep up with it. Get an annual physical check-up.
39. Change is the only permanent thing in life.
40. Having a thousand credentials on the wall will not make you a decent human being. But genuinely helping one person everyday will.
41. You must create and look for opportunities. Opportunities rarely ever come knocking on the door of someone who’s not seeking them. You have to create and seek opportunities for yourself. You have to take the initiative to get the ball rolling and the doors opening.
42. Keep your brain active. Don’t get into a mental rut. Do new things, learn new things, and explore new ideas in all areas of your life. Keep challenging yourself and your mind. Be curious and interested in the world around you.
43. Someone always has it worse. At times you may be having a bad day, but stop yourself and think about it; there are plenty of other people who have it worse off than you do.
44. In work and business, when they need you more than you need them, you have succeeded.
45. Trying to be somebody you’re not is not sexy. Be you. That’s when you’re beautiful.
46. Truly ‘rich’ people need ‘less’ to be happy.
47. Your ability to select a suitable spouse will greatly influence your financial and emotional well-being. Three common sense guidelines: 1. Pick someone who’s a joy to be around and who makes you happy. 2. Know the person well. 3. Ensure compatibility beyond physical attraction because beauty and youth are fleeting, while the mind and heart endure.
48. No matter how much progress you make there will always be the people who insist that whatever you’re trying to do is impossible. Or they may incessantly suggest that the idea or dream as a whole is utterly ridiculous because nobody really cares. When you come across these people, don’t try to reason with them. Instead, forget that they exist. They will only waste your time and energy.
49. We are all weird. And life is weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we call it love.
50. Saying “no” to right people gives you the time and resources required to say “yes” to right opportunities.
51. Living a life of honesty creates peace of mind, and peace of mind is priceless. Period. Don’t be dishonest and don’t put up with people who are.
52. If you catch yourself working hard and loving every minute of it, don’t stop. You’re on to something big. Because hard work ain’t hard when you concentrate on your passions.
53. Bulls**t might help you get you to the top, but it won’t keep you there. The truth always rises to the top and buries the bulls**t eventually.
54. Sooner or later, you just want to be around the people who make you smile.
55. Forgiving yourself is far more important (and difficult) than getting others to forgive you.
56. Simplicity is often a major factor of success. But the process of simplifying things is rarely easy.
57. There are few joys in life that equal a good conversation, a good read, a good walk, a good hug, a good smile, or a good friend.
58. Laughter is the best medicine for stress. Laugh at yourself often. Find the humor in whatever situation you’re in.
59. Everything that happens in life is neither good nor bad. It just depends on your perspective.
60. When you spend time worrying, you’re simply using your imagination to create things you don’t want.
61. Maturity is more about education and life experience than it is about age.
62. When passion and skill work together, we’re often left with a masterpiece.
63. You’re not alone. Everyone has problems. Some people are just better at hiding them than others.
64. True friendship and true love do sustain the tests of distance and time.
65. It’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary. I believe this to be true and have experienced this with my own family. When I think of the times where we laughed the most or had the most fun – it was when we were doing simple, everyday things like going on a vacation, playing a board game or sharing a delicious meal.
66. Get up 30 minutes earlier so you don’t have to rush around like a mad man. That 30 minutes will help you avoid speeding tickets, tardiness, and other unnecessary headaches. 
67. It is okay to be angry. It is never okay to be cruel.
68. Arguments are natural. An argument between two close friends doesn’t show a lack of love or respect, it’s simply a disagreement. In fact, quite often, the only reason we get frustrated with people and argue with them is because we care about them. Which is why we need to remember not to get too carried away.
69. Money and stuff are not all that important. Yes, you want enough to be comfortable and do the things you want to do. But accumulating for the sake of accumulating is boring and empty. Trust me, it gets old fast. So feed your soul, not your ego.
70. There is nothing to hold you back except yourself. There is only one question to ask yourself here: “What would you do if you were not afraid?” Think about it.
71. No matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should be. Either you succeed or you learn something. Win-Win.
72. Either you’re going to take action and seize new opportunities or someone else will. You can’t change anything or make any sort of progress by sitting back and thinking about it.
73. Your years spent at school, reading and learning will seem short compared to a lifetime of minimum wage jobs. Get a good education, concentrate on areas that interest you and pursue your dreams.
74. Keep six months of your salary in an emergency savings account just in case you lose your job or have an emergency that prevents you from working for a prolonged period of time. And keep a few extra hundred dollars on hand for unexpected expenses, such as car and home repair.
75. A hero is someone who makes a positive difference in someone else’s life – even if it’s only one other person’s life.
76. You’re never too old to follow your dreams, whatever they may be.
77. Be vulnerable. Allow yourself to feel, to be open and authentic. Tear down any emotional brick walls you have built around yourself and feel every exquisite emotion, both good and bad. This is real life. This is how you welcome new opportunities.
78. There’s no such thing as ‘risk free.’ Everything you do or don’t do in life has an inherent risk.
79. Take a step back to gain some perspective. Usually when we’re worried or upset, it’s because we’ve lost perspective. In the grand scheme of things, this one problem means almost nothing.
80. Every mistake you make is progress. Mistakes teach you important lessons. Every time you make one, you’re one step closer to your goal. The only mistake that can truly hurt you is choosing to do nothing simply because you’re too scared to make a mistake.
81. The greatest “adventure” is the ability to INQUIRE, TO ASK QUESTIONS. Sometimes in the process of inquiry, the search is more significant than the answers. Answers come from other people, from the universe of knowledge and history, and from the intuition and deep wisdom inside yourself.
82. If it were easy everyone would do it. This is why get rich quick schemes will never be true. If it was so quick and easy then everyone would be millionaires. Making money and accomplishing tasks is hard work, but well worth it.
83. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.
84. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.
85. Count your blessings every day. I know, this is a refrigerator magnet line, but practice it daily anyway. There is so much good, so much beauty, so much love in your life. What more do you really need? You have so much right now, you just need to pause long enough to appreciate it.
86. It’s not about getting a chance, it’s about taking a chance. You’ll rarely be 100% sure it will work. But you can always be 100% sure doing nothing won’t work. Sometimes you just have to go for it!
87. The one with nothing to hide is always the one left standing tall.
88. There is only one way to learn, and that is through action. Trying to learn without doing is like trying to lose weight by watching someone else exercise. It’s just not going to work.
89. Change happens for a reason. Roll with it. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.
90. Experience life before you settle down. Whatever it is you want to do or experience, do as much of it as you can before you have children. Especially travel. Live in a hostel in Costa Rica for a month or drive across the country from coast to coast if you have to. But go have some really great, amazing, mind-blowing experiences.
91. Life gives and takes away. During difficult times, be committed to resolving problems, but also lighten up and ride the waves of impermanence. What is a monster problem today will be a forgotten thought in the future.
92. When two people cooperate instead of competing against each other their teamwork accomplishes far more than either of them could have achieved on their own.
93. Between what happened and what will happen is your choice. So choose to be positive in everyday tasks.
94. Good looks attracts the eyes. Personality attracts the heart.
95. If you’re smiling right now, you’re doing something right.
96. If you live your life consumed by the past, you waste the great moments you still have left to live.
97. Treat every small interaction with another person as an opportunity to make a positive impact in both your lives.
98. There’s a big difference between knowing and doing. Knowledge is useless without action.
99. If it’s out of your control, why fret about it? Concentrating on things you can control is how you make good things happen.
100. Falling in love with someone completely changes your perspective on life. Suddenly everything you have ever wanted is standing right in front of you.

 Love & Pink,

Lisa

24 Sugarcoated Years of Love, Pink, & Glitter

I’m the birthday girl tomorrow and these are the reasons why I love my life 

1. My family. My best friends in the whole entire world are my dad, mom, and my two older sisters. They are the number one reason why I love my life so much. It’s never a dull moment with all of us together and every single one of them amazes me every day with their incredible kindness and love towards me. They support me with anything I choose to do in my life and most importantly, they believe in me.  They are by far my biggest cheerleaders and push me to achieve every single goal that I set for myself.  They are the strongest people I know and never ever have let anything get them down.  My sisters and I all live in the city while my parents do not, but they still go out of their way to see us every single week (usually multiple times). I sometimes can’t comprehend the things that my parents will do and have already done for my sisters and me.  They always say that they live to make the three of us happy. They have always put us first and they are the best role models anyone could ever ask for. I am so excited to start a family of my own in the future where I will be able to teach my children all of the amazing values and morals that my parents instilled upon us. My family has so much love to give and that’s all I could ever ask for. 

2. My boyfriend. Throughout life you will meet one person who is unlike any other person in the whole entire world. This person is the one person you could talk to forever. They understand you in a way that no one else does or even could. This person is your soul mate, your best friend. When there is a moment in your life when you are with someone and you feel like the world has stopped and your life seems perfect, make sure you never lose that person. “I love you” means that I accept you for the person that you are, and that I do not wish to change you into someone else. It means that I will love you and stand by you even through the worst of times. It means loving you when you're in a bad mood or too tired to do things I want to do. It means loving you when you're down, not just when you're fun to be with. I love you means that I know your deepest secrets and do not judge you for them, asking in return only that you do not judge me for mine. It means that I care enough to fight for what we have and that I love you enough not to let go. It means that these have been the best four years of my life with you and thank you for loving me for me. 

3. My Friends. It is so nice to have people in your life who you can just have fun with. Every time we are all together it is a chance to create new memories. I have had some amazing times these past few years with my friends. With any emotion you are ever dealing with good or bad, a friend can help you. There are certain people I go to when I want to get advice, those who I go to gossip with, and those who I love to just go out with and have fun. Every single one of my friends is different and unique in their own way. I have had many different groups of friends throughout my life and will continue to because things are constantly changing. The friends who are long lasting will always make time for me and I will always make time for them. A friendship is whatever you make it. If you don’t see each other often you can easily lose touch but going out of your way to see each other makes a huge difference. Sometimes friendship is not about thinking its just about doing. If you have to think about going out of your way for a friend then are they really your best friend? I take all relationships extremely seriously including friendships. It does take me a while to trust someone and I may open up to a person right away but I still have some of my guard up because I know that there is a chance that the person in front of me will walk out of my life just as fast as they walked into it. But thank you to all of my friends who have been there for me. It is a great feeling knowing that there are people out there who can understand you as a person, and embrace everything about you. 

4. No one decides my fate but me. If I "feel led" to change careers, or move to another state, or take up a time-consuming activity, no one's stopping me. My goals, dreams, and interests aren't secondary to someone else's. I am constantly starting new chapters in my life with every decision I make. I am 24 yet I can still be whatever I want to be, I can go anywhere I want, and I can experience anything that I know will make me happy.  If I ever find myself in a situation where I am unhappy, I can change it. The sky is the limit with possibilities of what to do next. 

5. I can choose how I want to spend my time. I'm very flexible to drop everything to be there for a friend or family member if they need me, or just want to do something spontaneously. I don’t have to focus on nurturing one relationship; I can give my time and attention to multiple people. I can make new friends. I can get involved in many different things.  I can make time for anything that I want to. I will never ever miss out on something important that goes on in the life of someone who I care about. Friends and family come first always. I love that I live in a location where I can go shopping at hundreds of stores all less than one minute away. It’s dangerous to my bank account but you only live once! 

6. I can be happy for other people. I get so much happiness when something good happens in my friend’s and family’s lives. Jealousy is nowhere to be found in my little pink world. If you mean something to me, I am your biggest fan. I will go out of my way to make you feel special for something positive that you had happen in your life. I am proud to have people in my life who have achieved their goals, have gotten promoted, are in happy relationships, made an exciting purchase, etc. Seeing people having positive things happen in their lives makes me want to work harder to achieve my own goals as well! 

7. Volunteering. I decided that this would be the year that I start giving back. I am an incredibly lucky and fortunate girl who has been blessed with practically anything a girl could ever want and I do not take health, happiness, or love for granted. I have been on a waiting list for months to become a Volunteer at a hospital near me, and I finally have completed all of my interviews, health screenings, and background checks to officially work there! This is something that I have really wanted to do for a while and because I work full time, I’ll be able to work it around my schedule and volunteer at night. I’ll be working/volunteering almost 12 hour days but it will only be a few times a week and it will be such a rewarding experience that I don’t even care about the long days! It is very important to me to bring happiness to another person who is going through a hard time in their lives. I think everyone should volunteer at some point in their lives; you can make a difference in someone else’s life without even realizing it.   

8. The color pink, lipgloss, glitter, cupcakes, & reality TV. Those are a few of my favorite things. I don’t care what anyone says; a life without pink, lipgloss, glitter, cupcakes & reality TV is a boring life! I can still be a hardworking, smart, and mature girl and still love all of those things. They literally bring a smile to my face. Thank you to Victoria’s Secret for creating the Pink clothing line, to Bonne-Bell for creating Cappuccino lipgloss, to Ke$ha for showing everyone that being immersed in glitter soothes the soul, to every single cupcake shop in the world for bringing me a little ball of heaven to eat during the week (and especially Molly’s cupcakes for having a sprinkle station, best idea ever!), and to MTV/Bravo/VH1 for filling my nights with lots of laughs and craziness. I am still trying to get on a reality show because I feel like that would complete my life.  I wish everyone agreed with me but I realize that most people do not see things the same way as I do and I’m ok with that! 

9. Dancing. I think dancing is the best way to express yourself. I danced on the Hip Hop Dance Team all through College. I love every single memory that I have from my four years at College. Dancing got me through a lot of difficult times and still does. Yes, I am that girl who will blast music and dance around my room when no one is there and absolutely will still do that with lots of people around. If you don’t have something where you can escape into your own world and forget about all of the stress in your life, you should take up dancing. Get your creative juices flowing! Try something you’ve never done before like sign up for a class at a nearby studio or get up on the bar one weekend and strut your stuff. I’m a fan of both and sometimes you just have to say what the hell! 

10. I choose to be above the influence. Like I said in a past post, “many people who know me know that I do not drink ever and assume I do because I always have SO much fun when I go out on the weekends and I am always the first one on the dance floor. Dancing all night and having fun does not equal being a mess in a dress. Being sober is not a bad thing and its ok to not be drinking even if everyone is. I'm pretty sure we all learned how to say "no" way back in the day. There are so many things I do with my time instead of drinking. These are activities that are fun and require you to be sober. They also make for better stories than those drunken nights filled with useless drama. I value my amazing life and will continue living my life with the idea that you never know what tomorrow brings so why keep having those crazy drunk nights when you won't even remember them the next day?” My body feels so great without any alcohol in it! I’d much rather fill it with sugar J I bet you are thinking that sugar isn’t good for my body either but I can control myself and I fill my diet with lotssssss of healthy foods too!  

There are some people who look at me or who know me and think that I live in a perfect world. I made my own happiness with the help of some very special people in my life. Life is not easy for anyone. It just comes down to the fact that I feel so lucky to be healthy and alive that I refuse to spend my life sad. Can I be sad some days and am I sad some days? Absolutely. There’s no rule that says I’m not allowed to have a bad day. What I’m saying is that I can’t take all the negatives from my life and dwell on them. I will do whatever it takes for me to live my life incredibly happy. On that note, even though it is my birthday tomorrow, I hope all of your wishes come true too! 

Love & Pink,

Lisa