How to Raise Your Glam Vibration

Hello gorgeous,

I think I've said it a thousand times, but I LOVE being a girl. My mother would even say it's been in my genetic makeup since Day One. There is photo evidence of me twirling around in my grandmother's blonde wig and feather boa at age three, declaring to my family that I'd be a "movie star" who lived in Hollywood someday. I like to think that three-year-old version of me still lives on and inspires me daily.

There is so much power in our femininity. When you learn to tap into that vibration, you unlock a world of inspiration and strength that you never imagined existed. I know that for me personally, I am my best self when I feel absolutely gorgeous. When I'm in that outfit that just makes me feel so beautiful and confident, with a few strands of vintage pearls strung around my neck, in a pair of heels, and spritzed in my favorite Chanel perfume (it's Coco Mademoiselle, for the record). I get my best work done when I'm in a luxurious hotel room, or when my apartment is spotlessly clean and there are candles burning everywhere. Nothing gets me going quite like a salon blow dry, and if there is one thing I love it's taking myself out to a beautiful restaurant for a glass of champagne. I call this raising my glam vibration.

When I designed my home study program, Glitter, Guts & Glam, I made sure to dedicate an entire week to this process. Some may see it as fluff, but if I showed you the flurry of emails I've received from women who did their "glam homework" you would die. In fact, I got the largest response about the "Glam Week" than any other part of the program. It just goes to show that we don't spend nearly enough time in this playful space. These women reported feeling a renewed sense of self, confidence, self-love, and the list goes on. These small tweaks to the way we look and feel are so much more powerful than they may seem. And I say small because it truly does not take much. I'm not telling you to parade around the supermarket in an Oscar ball gown, but a swipe of red lipstick or a few gold bangle bracelets can truly be a game changer.

For this week, think about how you can raise your glam vibration. What makes you feel your most beautiful? Make a list and write it down in your journal. And if you need a permission slip or a little extra push, let's work on it together.

With love, bubbles and pearls,
Cara

Look Out The Window

Confession time: I have a serious love/hate relationship with flying. Truth be told, it's been more love than hate recently, but give me some rough turbulence and a commuter plane and things can get a bit hairy for me...

Yes, I know. I'm the "fearless" chick. I even wrote a book about conquering your fears! You'd think I'd have this stuff down pat, right? Like I say in my book, Fearless & Fabulous, being "fearless" really just means embracing your fears, and doing it anyway. This doesn't mean it will feel amazing. This doesn't mean it will even feel comfortable. In fact, it will feel very uncomfortable. But that is where the magic happens.

I recently flew to Chicago for a business trip. I did a segment on Fox's Good Day Chicago and shared some strategies from Fearless & Fabulous, giving viewers tips on how to harness your fearlessness to turn your New Year's resolutions into reality. (You can check out the clip here if you missed it). I knew flying to Chicago required me getting on a small-ish plane, considering I was coming from New York on a relatively short flight. I set my anxiety aside and implemented my very own tools to tackle this flight and not let my fear get the best of me.

My husband and I got to the airport with about 2 hours to spare, so naturally we parked ourselves in the Delta lounge in Terminal A at LaGuardia airport (a seriously nice terminal, by the way. It's super quiet and you pretty much feel like a VIP). We had some time to kill and some nerves to calm, so naturally I hit the bar. A few mini bottle of Mionetto prosecco and I had already taken flight, so to speak...

Bottle #3 not pictured. Don't judge.

Before we knew it, it was time to board. As soon as we stowed our bags, I looked out the window and quickly realized we were inside of a snow globe. Wonderful. Snow was not in the forecast, but there it was. And oh so much of it. Our pilot announced that we were being de-iced, and we'd take off shortly. Immediately the paranoia crept in and I began rapid firing questions at my husband. "How can the pilot possibly see with all this snow?" "What if the plane freezes in mid-air?" "Do you think they'd just give me 3 ounces of wine before we take off if I tell them I am going to have a panic attack?" "I really only need like 3 ounces."

Before I knew it, we were up in the air, bouncing and bobbing up to 30,000 feet. Terrifying would be an understatement for the kind of take-off we experienced. So terrifying that the pilot was profusely apologizing for the turbulence and let us know that the seat belt sign would probably be on for the entire duration of the flight.

 

I thought my faux fur would give me superpowers. I was wrong.

I swore we were taking the train home and I would never do a short flight again. But naturally, after a few amazing days in Chicago, I had time to regroup and head home with a clear head and a fresh perspective. Doing live television definitely forces you to tap into your fearlessness, and I did just that. Suddenly that little flight home felt doable. Very doable.

We got to the airport that Monday evening and I felt...different. There's something about tackling your fears. The more you do it, the better you become. And the more you wantto do it. It's kind of like a domino effect of fearlessness, if you will.

As we boarded that plane, I told myself I was going to enjoy this flight home, no matter what. Luckily the plane was empty so my husband and I got to spread out, each getting two seats to ourselves. He immediately cozied up the window seat, put his headphones on, and stared out the window. I want to be that person, I thought, as I looked over at him. The person who fearlessly looks out the window. Not the girl with her head down and eyes closed, waiting for it to be over.

We began rolling down the runway, picking up more and more speed. I inched over to the window seat, and began slowly peering out at the ground below me. Keep looking, I told myself. What's the worst that will happen? You're going up anyway! Can't stop it now.

As I felt the plane lift off, I stared out at the city, lit up like little diamonds and breathtakingly gorgeous. My entire body filled with chills. I was smiling like the Cheshire cat, an ear to ear grin that came from a place inside of me I never knew before. That's the thing about becoming fearless. You get to meet a brand new piece of yourself every time you grow. 

Trust me.

I immediately began reflecting on everything. There's something about leaving the ground that gives you a perspective you just can't get any other way. As I stared out on Chicago, I felt so proud of what I had just come there to do. I shared my message with a new piece of the world. And with that bird's eye view, I suddenly realized I wasn't just "that person" who looked out the window. I was someone different. Someone better. Someone with a new view. Someone who gave herself the chance to experience absolutely everything.

As we all should.

With love and bubbles,
Cara

What My Makeup Taught Me About My Life {Hint: It Wasn't Pretty}

If anyone can teach a life lesson through makeup, it's me.

Are you ready?

I recently had a girls day with one of my best friends. We spent the afternoon brunching and bubbling, and afterward I decided to take myself shopping for some new makeup. I had declared it a total indulgence day, and I was super excited to splurge on myself. Buying new makeup has always been one of those things I put off. I'm not sure why, because I LOVE getting dolled up, but I am a creature of habit and I never get too experimental once I find something that works for me. So, for the longest time, I was wearing the same old stuff, which embarrassingly enough I had not replaced in forever. It was to the point where my bronzer was totally empty except for a few smashed up pieces in the corner of the palette that I tried to gracefully dig out every morning in a caffeine-less haze. (Can you see me covering my eyes in shame?)

In my taxi ride up to Lord and Taylor, I started digging through my makeup pouch to take full stock of what I needed. As I opened each palette, my eyes grew wider and wider. Compact powder? Nearly finished and way too old for my liking. Concealer? Couldn't even locate it and can't even remember the last time I actually used it. Lip gloss? Down to the wire. Barely a drop left. I shuddered to think about the last time I actually washed my brushes. Now, don't get me wrong, I love makeup and I wear it daily, but it quickly occurred to me that I had been dealing with the bare minimum for a long time. I was immediately reminded of another incident a few weeks ago. My favorite pair of nude heels started to get worn out and I went to the same store to buy an identical, brand new pair. You know when a pair of shoes fits so well they feel like they were built for your feet? When I got to the counter, I showed the girl the pair I had on. She gasped when I told her I wanted to keep them. "But you're getting a brand new pair! Throw those old ones AWAY! Look at them!" she shouted. I looked down at the pair I had been stomping around the city in and I was horrified. They were so beat up that the tips were beginning to fray. Why hadn't I replaced these shoes sooner!? They weren't expensive.

I was just putting myself off.

My life has been so absolutely crazy these past few years while I was working my full-time job and building my brand and coaching practice that a lot of things got sent to the back burner.  Like my makeup. And my nude heels. And at times, my health and wellness. Now that I've eliminated that full-time job, I realize how much of a block it was for me. I realize how much more clarity and energy I have. I realize what it's like to actually live (and sometimes, living just happens to come in the form of a very expensive trip to the Chanel counter). 

So, my loves, lesson learned here? Pay attention to the things that matter to you. There is always time to focus on yourself, even when it feels like you can barely come up for air. Don't be the girl with the broken bronzer! Figure out what's blocking you, and release it. It may not happen overnight, but you can absolutely start coming up with a plan to make it happen. And the minute you begin to do it, you'll feel more empowered than you could ever imagine.

So, $271 later at the Chanel counter, I began to piece my life, and my bronzer, back together.

With love and bubbles,
Cara

PS: I'm hosting ONE more group coaching workshop before 2015. Want to get a jump start on your vision for next year? Want to end this year with sparkling abandon and build a circle of empowering, inspiring women? Click here to learn more.

Are You Scared of Being Called Selfish? Read This.

During one of my recent group coaching workshops, we got into a pretty intense discussion about the topic of selfishness. Have you ever been scared to do something because you are afraid of someone calling you selfish? Or worse, secretly thinking it? Are you nervous to say no, or put yourself first because you feel guilty for it?

This is something I personally struggled with for years and I see it among many of my clients as well. First let me say this: it's not a bad thing to be worried about this. It shows that we are all caring, nurturing women who want to see others happy.

But when does other people's happiness put our own happiness at risk?

Think about that for a second. If you're miserable, unfulfilled, and exhausted, what's the point of being there for someone else? Doesn't it kind of defeat the purpose?

I am in no way saying you should stop caring about other people. But you've got to consider yourself along the way. What if you started replacing the word "selfish" with "self-love?" What if every time you beat yourself up for sleeping in, calling out sick, declining a dinner date, or spending a day indulging in whatever the hell you want, you viewed it as an act of self-love?

Try it out and see how it feels.

With love and bubbles,
Cara