The perfect “treat yourself” shoe and a simply elegant “thanks” will prove you to be the chicest, most tasteful lady in town.

{giuseppe zanotti draped bow heels & sugar paper thanks cards}

We don’t touch each other enough.

We’re all getting more socially connected through technology, but we’re neglecting the benefits of real, physical contact. We used to make a point to congratulate friends in person, but not we’re more likely to shoot them a “Congrats!” on facebook. It’s a double-edged sword, since it helps us stay more connected while depriving us of essential physical contact.

I’m latina and live in South Florida, so touch is a part of greeting most people; we kiss cheeks and hug just about everyone. Still, because of technology, I have less of an opportunity to do so. Unrelated to technology, I made a self-observation recently: The older I get, the less I touch and hug people. I don’t know what to think of that change, other than that I think it kinda sucks. Of course, I hug and kiss my son constantly. I’m affectionate towards my very close friends and family, although less now than before. So, I’m making a point of randomly giving out warm hugs and pats on the back.

It’s such an awesome feeling to be welcomed openly with an embrace or to receive an unexpected rub on the back. I think we tend to get too busy to realize how much we’re missing it. {Granted, American culture has a different comfort zone than my own heritage and many other cultures, so if you are from one of those cultures you may or may not identify with this post.} Physical contact with another helps us process our connection to that person better. {There’s a reason why touching a person’s arm when talking to them will make them feel closer and find you more persuasive.} Research has shown that touch is an integral part of infant development and can increase survival rates in premature babies; talk about the power of touch! There’s even hugging meditation.

So, when was the last time you randomly hugged a friend? When was the last time you laid your hand on your mom or dad’s back just because you were near?

{around the web}
+The absolute best 404 error page ever
+ You can learn more about the Free Hugs Campaign here.

Typically, when we think of beauty we imagine the red-lipped woman who confidently struts down a New York sidewalk in her best heels, her long brown hair swaying back and forth behind her, along with all of the men she leaves speechless along her path.

Typically, when we think of beauty we imagine bold, breathtaking artwork that speaks to our souls in just the right way, that we just know we have got to have it.

Typically, when we think of beauty we imagine a vivid blue sky & a garden of bright orange tulips that run for miles beneath it.

Typically, when we think of beauty, we think of sexy aesthetics.

But there’s another kind of beauty—one that we often overlook because it isn’t tangible beauty, but rather, is a beauty that comes in the form of peace, of soul and of validating self-love.

It’s the beauty of living up to your potential.

So often, as we rush around in this life, trying to meet everyone’s demands, the days start to turn into weeks, the weeks into months, the months into years, and before we know it, we’ve woken up one day to wonder, “My goodness, where did the time go?”

It’s rare that we take a time out & ask ourselves hard, but valuable questions such as whether or not we actually are living up to our potential, or whether we’re just lettting life pass us by, and hanging on as tight as we can in the meanwhile.

But we should be asking ourselves these questions, because it’s only by asking the question that we can ever arrive at an answer.

And if the answer is no—that we aren’t living up to our own potential—then we’ve got to make some changes, and fast, because the beauty that lies behind our own potential is so well worth it, in every sense.

Because when we aren’t, we’re bound to experience prolonged feelings of anxiety, angst and disappointment—sometimes without ever knowing why.

And there’s nothing beautiful about that.

For me, I’ve been fortunate to have found my potential through creative entrepreneurialism—I write, I blog, I connect, and I make my living by doing so.

For years, I worked in corporate America, disillusioned with every single moment of it. I remember sitting at my desk at my very first job, looking out the window and thinking, “Is this it? Is this what I’ve worked my entire life for? This?”

But that’s where I thought my potential was. That’s where I had been taught my potential was. That’s where I had been falsely led to believe my potential was—through years of schooling, teachers, parents and the media, all telling me that I could do “be somebody” and do “big things.” Unfortunately, “being somebody” and doing “big things,” to them, meant surrendering myself to the system, working in the name of someone else’s profit, and generally doing what I was told, from now until the day I retire.

Looking back, I should have been insulted that this was all of the potential that anyone ever saw in me. Because to me, knowing what I do now, none of that is much of an accomplishment. That isn’t potential; that’s the equivalent of playing Monopoly everyday. You know the steps you have to take to succeed, and you take them without ever really thinking about it. At best, it’s a simulation.

I needed more from life.

I needed more from me.

I needed to start tapping into my own potential

if I ever hoped to do anything meaningful.

And as I started experimenting with what things made me feel ALIVE—what made my heart beat a little faster, what made me jump out of bed ready to throw punches at the world, and what made me proud of myself—I soon realized that writing & blogging & sharing my ideas with the world was that thing.

Admittedly, it took some time before I was able to accept this as a valid career path—as something that I could legitimately turn into a business, and learn to make a living doing what I loved—but once I wholeheartedly made the decision to go forth & give my all to the world, the world didn’t hesitate to reward me for doing so.

Ah, the beauty of potential.

I now look forward to each day, and can’t wait to begin “work.”  I feel as if I truly am working toward my potential, and I feel as if I’ve just barely scraped the tip of the iceberg.

And it feels amazing.

This feeling is hard to describe—it’s a mix of passion, of pride, of excitement and of relief—but most of all, the best way to describe it is simply as beautiful.

There’s a powerful, untapped beauty that lies in striving to live up to one’s potential, and while we may not be able to see it, like we can a mysterious red-lipped woman, a piece of artwork or a field of orange tulips, that doesn’t matter because one thing is for sure: We can FEEL it.

And at the end of the day, that’s really what beauty comes down to in its most basic form, doesn’t it?

Add these gorgeous earrings to anything from jeans & a white tee to your little black dress for a touch of Fitzgerald era glamour.

{use code Holiday10 to get 20% off the earrings}

What will you touch?
Or better yet, who?
What will you see?
Who are you now?
Who will you become?

On a related note, my amazing blogger friend Ashley has written a kick ass book that you NEED to read.

{image via dear inspiration}

I know many of you are bloggers, crafters, freelancers, or have a little business on the side. Most of you would like to know how to make a full-time living off this. Because of that and the fact that this post has been so popular, I’m going to share a little bit on how I’ve been doing this for myself.

My Personal Madness

A little over a year ago, I’d just been fired from a job I hated. I shouldn’t have stuck around there so long, but it was safe. The job market sucked when I got out of college, and I’m a single parent. I was thinking of law school, but I’d heard the horror stories of lawyers who went straight to law school only to find they hated being a lawyer when they got out. So, I got a job at a law firm, quickly realizing that I did NOT want to be a lawyer. Instead of quitting, I kept the job. Be happy to have a job, right. So when I got fired it was a HUGE relief, but it was also ridiculously stressful due to those things we like to call bills. I didn’t have anything liquid {like an emergency fund}, and I had a load of debt.

Lucky for me, I’d started this blog and had experience in marketing and event planning. I offered ads here and sold a bunch of stuff I didn’t need or had never worn. Thinking back to a conversation with Lisi, I looked for work as a writer. I also picked up a gig with a big entrepreneurship conference in Miami, where I met some amazing people. All this helped me cover the bills while I started offering my services as a freelance writer and social media specialist.

Fast forward to today. I’m a full-time freelance writer, social media specialist, and consultant with a variety of clients, one of my most frequent being a Fortune 100 company. I donate my spare time and services to a really cool charity. I’ve written and had a book published. I’m in the process of writing another book. I’m not rolling in dough, but I’m making just as much as I did at that job I hated. I’ve managed to pay off most of my debt, have an emergency fund, and now have a retirement fund. I work fewer hours, and I do it from wherever I want, which means more time with my son and a more comfortable wardrobe.

And, you’re saying “That’s great, but how does this help me?”

So here is where I tell you the super helpful stuff. I read through plenty of blogs and books out there that helped inspire me, some of which you will find in that post I mentioned above. However, if I had to tell you to pick just one, I’d tell you to go for Chris Guillebeau’s Unconventional Guides and $100 Business Forum. For someone looking to start a very small business {full-time or on the side}, I think his stuff is the best. I was part of his and Pam Slim’s first group of $100 business students and it was amazing. I’m applying everything I learned to a current project that is set to launch next year, and it’s helped keep me focused.

I believe in his products so much that I’m offering 15% off any service on this page to anyone who purchases anything from the Unconventional Guides.

If you’re interested, but still not 100% sold on the idea, keep reading. {FYI: There’s another discount at the end of the post.}

Does any of this sound familiar?

“My Etsy shop and blog rock, but I have no idea how to make serious money off this.”
“I’ve got so much freelance work, I hardly have anytime to sleep, but I’m still not getting paid!”
“I have so many ideas, how do I choose which one to execute?” <– This one is soooo me
“I want to travel the world, but I don’t have the money!”
“I know I have talent, but I’m not sure I have what it takes to make money off it.”
“I’m a creative, I can’t run a business!”
“God, I HATE my job, but I don’t have the time to start my own business.”
“I can’t leave my job because the economy sucks right now.”
“I have a great idea, but I just can’t figure out how to get started.”

I thought it would. We’ve all heard them or said them. I’m dead serious when I tell you that there is a guide that will help you solve each of those problems and rid you of those doubts. I’m talking worksheets, exercises, one-on-one time, and then some.

This is where I gush…

Let me tell you that I have a huge admiration for Chris Guillebeau. He’s a big advocate of tiny businesses, has traveled around the world, and he believes you can do both with ridiculously small amounts of cash.

I highly recommend you read his blog if you’re a freelancer, travel lover, artist, or contemplating becoming any of the above. As for the guides, if you know someone who is itching to strike out on their own, but doesn’t have too much cash or seems a little lost, this is the gift to give.

Do it. I’m serious. You’ll never regret it.

{p.s.} From now until Monday, you can get 15% off EVERYTHING including gift certificates, the Empire Building Kit, travel hacking guides, and freelancing guides. Plus, 15% of profits will go to Charity:Water, so when you really think about it, your changing more than one life by gifting any of these guides or buying one for yourself. Just use the code Pumpkin at checkout.

A little golden spoon and a rose gold sequined top make every day glamorous…

Proof that thoughtful styling and the absence of clutter can make even the tiniest of spaces feel luxurious. This chic studio is only 150 square feet! Can you believe it?

{images via apartment therapy}

{blueberry lavender & peach orange blossom honey}

{creamy coconut and banana & dark chocolate date and sesame}

{spicy cantaloupe and ginger & orange buttermilk mint}

images {via} the LA Times edited by Ms. Jenn for {bits of beauty}

2. End the day before a bit earlier. That way you can wake up earlier, which means you won’t rush and be in a pissed off mood.

3. Let there be light. Picture it: You wake up all on your own. No annoying ring or cell phone going off. It’s quiet and just bright enough. Doesn’t that sound pleasant? Here’s the thing. Our bodies are made to respond to cues like warmth and light to raise us from sleep. If you’ve gotten an adequate amount of sleep (at least 6 hours), then it’s very likely that you can get used to waking up without an alarm clock.

If you’re in the market for a new alarm clock, there are some light emitting versions that mimic daybreak, slowly emitting more light to help you wake up. Don’t want to spend the cash? Put a lamp on a timer and set it to turn on about 15 minutes before your alarm clock goes off.

4. Now that you’ve woken up a bit earlier, make sure to do something for yourself.

5. Create an environment of good vibes in the morning. No screaming {unless you’re into cheering in the morning… that works, too}, no TV, no nagging. If you must, give yourself 5 minutes to check for emergency e-mails or weather reports online. That’s it. No more. Instead, of paying attention to all the noise clutter and info clutter that can swamp our mornings, take time to be present in what you’re doing. Sitting, eating, cooking… Look out the window. Look at your family. Talk to your cat. Whatever does it for you.

6. Work on one task at a time at work. The world isn’t likely to end if you don’t check your e-mail every 5 minutes. Pick a task. Get it done. Move on.

7. Hit your refresh button. Shift your position. Focus on nothing. Focus on a different sense. Go outside if you can. If you can’t do this at your current job, then it’s time to fire your job.

8. Avoid people with bad behaviors. Unless you’re the type that never picks up anyone’s habits, say goodbye. Studies have shown that we really are who our friends are. If you hang out with smokers, you’re more likely to pick up the habit. Trying to lose weight? Hanging around friends who are heavier will actually increase your chances of being heavier, too. On the flipside, if you’re a strong personality who tends to be the influencer, your presence can benefit those with bad habits.

9. Do everything as slowly as you can. ALL. DAY. LONG.

10. Don’t watch TV, or skip a day on the internet.

11. Get rid of something you aren’t using. Throw it in the garbage or donate it. Don’t even let yourself think twice about it. Just do it.

12. Tell someone you care about that you love them, even if they won’t say it back. Love is something that isn’t meant to be bottled up and crushed inside of us. It turns into a weight, a burden, when we do. So let it go. Write it or say it, just let them know.

13. Make room for playtime. It’s in our nature to play. Play is a form of communication, learning, and expression that is clearly visible in childhood. Somewhere along the line, we tend to have this inclination beaten out of us, er, I mean, we “mature.” I’m not sure where the idea that being playful is bad for adults came about, but I think it’s bollocks. {Yes to British terminology!}

Play leads to creativity. It relaxes us. It can challenge us. So, whether it be kickball, coloring, pretend {my favorite} or puzzles, make a little room for it in your schedule.

14. Speaking of making room in your schedule: Don’t overplan. Don’t box yourself in like that!

15. While you’re at it, get rid of the words try, but, and perhaps. Replace them with do, yes, and no.

16. Do something to make your home more sensual.

17. Be like buddha. Take time to acknowledge the thoughts that flow through your mind and then let them pass. Be aware of yourself, physically. This will lead to an awareness of your inner divinity. Doesn’t matter what religion you practice, if any. It works for everyone.

18. Ponder an aspect of nature. Rain, currents, wind, life, soil… Pick something and thoroughly explore it. Turn it over in your mind {or in your hands, if you can} and wonder.

19. Give yourself authority. You’re in charge of your own actions. You are important. It’s up to you to take care of yourself and to know yourself. You can make decisions. Don’t just ask for suggestions; give them. Fight for what you want, even if you lose. Be enthusiastic.

20. Do something without expecting anything in return. Not keeping score will free you.

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