How to Handle Body Insecurities

I’ve been getting questions about body image lately and let me start by saying this: everyone encounters issues with how they look at one time or another. I struggled with it big time in high school especially as a dancer so I can confidently say that the tools I give you today are what I use to overcome feeling insecure about my body. Ever wonder why we even have body insecurities in the first place? In this video I share why we beat ourselves up over our looks and what we can do about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV_J286ynkg&feature=youtu.be

What to do when Someone Annoys You

In this video I share what to remember when someone is getting on your nerves. Whether it’s your friends, parents, boyfriend or girlfriend, every relationship is a mirror. It’s a reflection of yourself. Examining how you get along with the people in your life helps is a great way to start self-exploration. At the end of the day the most important relationship is the one you have with yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ghQtkb-bvk&feature=youtu.be

Why We Shouldn’t Beat Ourselves Up Because We Don’t Look Like a Model

In this video I discuss why we shouldn’t beat ourselves up because we don’t look like models. Actresses and models have lots of help to look the way they do. I’ve worked on TV and at magazines so I know exactly what goes on behind the scenes and I’m spilling the secrets!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzI7zxHjcF4&feature=youtu.be

Paige of Paige Denim Shares her Advice!

Last week I was at Paige Denim for an event where the Owner and Creative Director, Paige Adams-Geller, was in attendance. She was incredibly gracious and as we were chatting I couldn’t help but ask her what advice she would give young women!

Click Play to Hear the Advice Paige Shared:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhHvMo_sxfc

As a Modern Mentor and girl with many mentors myself, I know the importance of having a positive role model in your life. Who do you go to for advice? What’s the best piece of advice you ever received? Share with us in the comments below!

3 Ways We Forget How Awesome We Are

I’m in the middle of my yoga teacher training and that means packed weekends full of classes! This Sunday we were talking about the ways in which we bury our awesomeness. When we look into how we’re telling ourselves we aren’t good enough we see that all we’re doing is clouding our greatness. In this video, I share the three main ways we forget how really great we are and here is the bonus… everyone does these things so you are never alone!

Click to learn the 3 ways forget how awesome we are:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSJKbdC6dno

What’s really cool about learning the ways we forget that we’re perfect just the way we are is that we get the great gift of remembering again. We’re supposed to forget! We’re human! When we see ourselves acting in one (or more) of these ways we can say, “Hey, wait. I know what this is. I’ve just forgotten that I’m awesome the way I am and all I’m doing is clouding my greatness.” Identifying the behavior helps you to heal it. In what ways have you been burying your awesomeness? Share with me in the comments below!

My Biggest Secret to Staying Healthy

Shhh. Today I’m sharing my biggest secret to staying healthy and it’s really so easy you’re going to wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. Everyone wants to look good for summer, but healthy habits are for life. This is especially important if you’re heading off to college soon (anyone want to avoid the freshmen 15?)!

Click play to learn how to stay healthy while eating all the foods you love:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uG6_AgrYkQ

Portion control isn’t about measuring out your food, restricting your intake or depriving yourself of the things you love. It’s being aware of how much you’re eating. Food is neither good nor bad. Food is fuel for your body and you NEED it! Everyday is going to be different. Somedays you’re going to need more fuel than others. Pay attention to when you’re hungry or full.

The biggest relationship you have in life is the one you have with yourself and that includes exploring your relationship to food. Get to know how much you’re eating. It’s all a lesson in self-discovery. Let go of the stress you have around food and start having fun getting to know yourself!

How to Find Out Who you are by Cleaning Out your Makeup Drawer

It’s finally starting to feel like spring where I’m from and for me that means cleaning out the old to make way for the new. As I moved from emptying my closet to cleaning out my beauty products I discovered I was having a hard time getting rid of the things I didn’t use. After struggling with what to keep and what to toss, I decided to explore why I was having such a problem!

Click play to learn what I found out about myself while I was spring cleaning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLeTottOGjI

When we take the time to look at different aspects of our life whether it be our closets, our makeup or bigger things like the relationships in our life, we learn a lot about ourselves. I want you to take this week to clean out just one drawer and see what comes up. What are your things saying about you? Where can you embrace yourself more? What can you let go of? The discoveries are endless!

Have your Cake and Eat it Too!

It doesn’t matter if you celebrate Easter or not, if you walk into any store there’s tons of candy all around tempting us into a sugar high! I’m all about healthy living and that means not depriving yourself of the things you love. Part of having your cake and eating it too is to make substitutions when you can so you enjoy a healthier treat. Candy is still candy, but when you make it yourself you know the ingredients that are going into it and can use portion control. Plus I love being in the kitchen! Dark chocolate peanut butter cups are one of my favorite candies so I decided to recreate my own. I used this recipe from the Sprouted Kitchen and substituted almond butter for peanut butter because that’s what I was craving.

Gooey melted chocolate!

This can get messy… Don’t wear white!

Make sure to press down the peanut butter mixture so that the chocolate on top dries flat.

Enjoy your sweet treat!

Why Expectations Get the Better of You!

Expectations. We all have them. We expect a situation to turn out a specific way. We expect others to act certain ways, do particular things, to fulfill certain needs for us and when they don’t, well, we get disappointed. The word “disappoint” is defined as “to fail to fulfill the expectations or wishes of.” Why are we using our time and brain power on wishing people would act certain ways?

Press play to find out what to expect when you have expectations:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TNdk9Q4wag

We have no control over what people do so why use your energy on it? Instead think about where your real power lies. You have the ability to control how you act and how you perceive a person or situation. In those moments where you feel let down by a friend, disappointed in a romantic partner or upset at a parent, remember that the only person you can change is yourself. Ask yourself, did my expectations of this person cause this discomfort? Expectations are super limiting. I wouldn’t want the pressure of living up to someone’s expectations of me so why would I put that on someone else?

The Real Way to Get Bikini Ready in Time for Spring Break

It’s definitely that spring break time of year when every magazine is telling me how to “Lose 5 Pounds in 5 Days!” or “How to Fit into your Bikini in Time to Hit the Beach!” Let me save you the trouble and tell you that those quick fixes don’t work. Wouldn’t you want to feel great about your body all of the time?

I know that it’s not always easy to love your body. I’ve struggled with it especially as a dancer, but these tips I share have completely changed the way I think about how I look and that’s why I know they can work for you.

Click play to learn about the real way to get bikini ready in time for spring break.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6jFSeU7RHs

As always self-love is a practice, which means some days will be easier than others, but focusing on your thoughts and actions can help you make a shift that you can stick with for the long run.