How to Design Your Dream Life and Why You Have No Other Choice

Yesterday I worked from home. I got up without an alarm around 8 am, and slowly made my way to the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee. I calmly and leisurely allowed myself to wake up, listening to music and playing with my dog. By 10 am I was starting my workout, followed by a refreshing shower with my new lavender bath gel. Next, I checked emails, did some work, and at around 1 pm, I went to a local bistro to pick up a piece of freshly prepared lemon caper salmon (my secret to preparing amazing meals is letting the restaurant do half the work!) I came home and made my own sauteed organic spinach with garlic and extra virgin olive oil and had a delicious lunch.

I mean, how delicious does that look?

Why am I telling you all of this? Because while it was all going down, it occurred to me that I am able to live my healthiest, happiest life when I work from home. I eliminate my commute and I get to work in a space that I designed with so much care and personality that it inspires me every day. I have time to exercise and take breaks and stay relatively active throughout the whole day.

Knowing this empowers me to make all the necessary changes to ensure that those days happen as often as possible for me. Can it be my every day? Not right now, but I'm working on it. Rather than sitting around bitching that I still have to commute some days, I focus on all of the energy and inspiration I get from the days where I'm working and living in my perfect space. I don't dwell on the days where it feels like drudgery. I know they are few and far between. I plan all of my vacation time to create shorter work weeks for myself so I can be at home, doing what I love. I work harder and harder to design the life and work I want to do in this world.

See where I'm going with this? It's on you to design the life that serves you best. The life where you shine, where you feel healthy and balanced, and fulfilled. It's going to look different for each one of us, so only you know how to get there. But you've got to get there. There's really no other choice.

So start today. Make one move. Write one plan. Dream one dream.

And if you need a buddy to dream and plan with you, I'm here.

With love,

Cara

PS - Maybe your dream life involves giving up dieting forever and living a life of health and happiness (for real this time)? If so, you do NOT want to miss my next phone workshop. I only have 6 spots left. Get the scoop here.

Announcing the "Healthy is the New Skinny" Workshop!

Summer is coming and if you're like 99% of the population you've stared at your ass in the mirror and thought, "How the f*ck did this happen?" You're probably cringing at the thought of putting on a swimsuit, and you're kicking yourself for eating one too many bowls of pasta this winter. You feel fat, so you've stopped buying cute clothes. You have so many things you want to do, but you keep putting them off until you "lose the weight."

Well you know what? It's time to stop the madness.

What if I promised you that you could look and feel fabulous, just by vowing to never diet again? What if I taught you how to eat for your health, and start going after all the things that make you sparkle NOW -- not 10 pounds from now.

My "Healthy is the New Skinny" workshop kicks off on Tuesday, May 21st and I have a few spots open. We'll meet every other Tuesday evening, via phone, for 8 weeks. We'll have open and honest discussions around yo-yo dieting, why we beat ourselves up over our weight, and why we need to stop, immediately. We'll have group coaching where we'll set personal goals to be our healthiest, hottest, happiest selves. There will be a private Facebook group for support and motivation.

Total investment for this 8 week program: $149

Workshop schedule can be found here. 

Interested? Email me at Info@LiveCreateSparkle.com to reserve your space! Seating is very limited so please get in touch ASAP to claim your seat!

xo
Cara

The Champagne Diet Book Coming this June!

I am so excited to announce that my second book, titled The Champagne Diet: Eat, Drink, and Celebrate Your Way to a Healthy Mind and Body will be out this June from Passionista Publishing!

Based on this blog which I've been writing for the past 5 years, The Champagne Diet will be a lifestyle and wellness guide for women who are done with dieting and ready to start focusing on their health and happiness.

Here's the official summary:

This book is for the woman who wants to feel good about herself and her body, and learn how to start incorporating healthy habits into her life. It's for the woman who doesn't want to trade in her champagne for skinny jeans. It's for the woman who is done with dieting, and ready to start paying attention to her health before that number on the scale. It's for the woman who is ready to stop letting her weight define her, and is ready to understand why it always did.

This is not a diet book. This is a lifestyle guide.

This book will change the way you view your weight and yourself forever. You will walk away feeling empowered, inspired, and downright sexy (and probably craving a glass of bubbly). You will learn how to celebrate yourself and your body. You will learn to make your health a priority, always. And most importantly – you will learn to love yourself, exactly as you are. So get ready to embark on a complete dieting and lifestyle overhaul, sister. You are now on The Champagne Diet!

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Of course there will be plenty of events around New York City, book signings, and giveaways to celebrate the book's release. You can pre-order your signed copy here and be automatically entered to win a fabulous prize pack worth over $500! Stay tuned for more updates!

xo
Cara

Introducing my WORK IT! Program: Small Biz Coaching & Consulting

via pinterest

Are you a small biz owner, coach, author, or entrepreneur with lots of ideas swirling in your head, but not sure which ones are worth bringing to fruition? Do you need someone to bounce concepts off of and give you honest advice and direction? Are you looking for a partner to help you effectively and efficiently strategize all of your fabulous ideas? Do you want to learn how to make your ideas pop both on and off the page so you can start commanding some serious cash?

With over five years experience building my own brand, securing worldwide press and self-publishing a best-selling book, I can give you raw feedback and tangible action items to get you on your way to bringing your brand to life the way I did. I've been there. I've learned my lessons. I've had my breakdowns. I've had my breakthroughs. And I want to share them all with you. By taking a true assessment of your current business, applying key concepts from The Law of Attraction (oh yes honey, that shit is magic), and developing a clear and vivid action plan, we will get you moving in the right direction to make your business (or dream business) a successful and abundant reality.

Together, we will:

- Assess your current business ideas/plan
- Figure out what the hell you really want to do
- Decide what's working and what's not
- Identify obstacles that are getting in the way of working your buns off to get to where you want to be
- Kick self-doubt to the curb
- Create and identify possible revenue streams for your biz
- Work on your sales and marketing copy so that it screams off the page
- Come up with actionable items for you to work on each day to bring your brand to life


Read my latest testimonial:

"A lover of champagne, I happened to stumble across the phenomenal world of 'Cara', author of ' Sparkle' and the creator of 'The Champagne Diet'.... I'm truly thankful and blessed that I did! A highlight and honor for me, has been personal coaching sessions with Cara.I have to admit that at first, I was a little intimidated, wondering what to expect from this 'kick-ass', phenomenal woman! Yet, I was bowled over by Cara's gentle approach - she quickly grasped my situation and in no time I had complete clarity around a difficult decision/cross roads in my life that has been tormenting me for months.  Moreover, Cara has helped me define my action plan and motivated me like no other to achieve my ultimate dream... this is now well on the way to becoming my reality. When I gush to thank her, Cara in her usual encouraging yet humble manner replies ...'I just brought out what was already there'"- Ruth

Are you ready to work it?

Investment: $250/hour
Discounted packages available for longer-term brand development. Email me at Info@LiveCreateSparkle.com and let's set up a 15 minute complimentary phone session to see if we're a good fit!

Vacation All I Ever Wanted

I'm still in recovery mode from my girl's trip to Montauk this past weekend. We had a blast and made memories -- some of which I will share in this post, some of which will be locked away forever in the backs of our minds, and in our text message logs.

We left on Friday, our hearts set on the surf and sand that awaited us at the Eastern most tip of Long Island. The LIRR became our own personal lounge as we spread out and enjoyed our 3 hour ride with hot pink cans of Champagne and girl talk.

If you've never been to Montauk, then you are truly missing out. It's a magical, sleepy beach town filled with some of the most pleasant people you'll ever encounter. Everything is in slow motion, and you can appreciate things like a beautiful sunrise or a cool breeze without choking on diesel truck fumes or listening to the brain-numbing sound of piercing ambulances that the city so generously provides.

But I digress.

As soon as we arrived, we made a bee-line for Gurney's to enjoy some lunch and cocktails on the outdoor deck that overlooks the ocean. We dined on lobster salad and soaked in the sun. We admired a table of women in their 70's, laughing and clinking glasses and toasting to themselves, and hoped that would be us someday. 

We slowed down, shut our brains off, and just lived in the moment for 3 days. You'd think an extended weekend of doing nothing wouldn't be much to ask for, but it was quite a feat to get five friends together - especially in our 30's. There are minor things like -- oh ya know, jobs, husbands and kids that take away the sense of freedom we totally took for granted ten years ago. You really learn to appreciate moments like the ones we shared this weekend when they are few and far between.

I've been out to Montauk quite a few times, and each time I have to leave I'm overwhelmed with a sense of sadness. I've been out there with my mom, my husband, and now my closest friends. Each trip was a unique experience, with different highlights for each, but one thing remains -- Montauk always feels right.

I'm usually thrilled to head back into JFK, or in this case, Penn Station, and take on the craziness of New York City after a trip. But something about being away from it all has really made me feel like I need to revamp a few things. I'm craving peace and quiet. I'm craving calm. Maybe it was the unlimited bloody mary's, or the smell of the salt water, but whatever has happened to me, I'm just not into city life...and I don't know if I ever will be again.

Wine-cation, Have to Get Away

It's pretty evident that I love wine. I mean, duh. Champagne (clearly), pinot noir, cabernet, and pinot grigio for summer - I'm not biased, as long as it tastes yummy and gives me that warm, fuzzy feeling, I am game.

And I have no issues with drinking wine regularly. Though I'll admit, that "glass a day" has turned into two lately, mostly three. On weekends, four or five. Maybe it's the added stress of working full time, going to school, being a wife, running The Champagne Diet and still trying to keep my sanity, but wine has gone from a treat to a crutch, and frankly, I feel gross. And I've gained a couple extra pounds, which has also in turn made me feel even grosser. That nightly treat has gone from making me feel giddy and relaxed, to making me feel tired, sluggish and fat. And sometimes, we need to check ourselves, before we wreck ourselves.

So for that reason I have decided to take a wine-cation for the month of May. Once you pick your jaw up from the floor, please continue to read on...

Yes, I'm doing it ladies. I just don't feel like myself. I need a serious cleanse. I need to shed these extra pounds and come out of my pinot noir fog. I need to learn to appreciate wine again the way it should be appreciated. And as they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder (and I plan to be pretty damn fond of it come June 1st.)

Now let me just add my disclaimer, there is nothing wrong with a good glass of vino. I love it, and it will always be a part of my life. Wine is amazing. Wine is friends, it is family, it is culture. But for now, mama needs to take a little break to get her bearings. Once I'm back, I'll continue on with enjoying my wine the way it's meant to be enjoyed - in a sexy outfit, 10 pounds lighter, at a nice restaurant on a Saturday night. The way I've always enjoyed it.

In the meantime, it's sparkling water for me (in a wine glass, of course), and this song, on repeat.

Event Recap: Cocktails & Crafts with Janet Lee and The Champagne Diaries

If you weren't able to make it out to The Bookmark Shoppe in Brooklyn this past Thursday, then I feel really, really bad for you. Totally kidding - well, not really. You missed a great event!

Janet Lee, designer and author of "Living in a Nutshell," and I hosted a night called "Cocktails and Crafts." We laughed, we drank, we crafted, and we laughed some more. A whole lot more. It was so amazing to see brand new faces - women that neither Janet nor I knew personally. And after a couple hours of Champagne mojitos, we were acting as if we had known each other for years. A true testament to the fact that Champagne truly brings people together! (Right, Le Grande Courtage?)

So for those of you who missed out on the action, here's how we kicked it off...

Bubbles? Check...

Glasses? Check...

 

And we wouldn't have Champagne mojitos without all the necessary ingredients...

But it wasn't JUST about the cocktails. We came here to craft! Right, ladies?

This gorgeous accent piece for the home seemed a bit daunting at first glance...

But after a few cocktails,Janet's direction, and a lot of teamwork, anything seemed possible!

The night was a sparkling success, and everyone was loving Janet's new book 

She signed copies well into the evening! (I took notes for the future...tee hee)

Cheers to a great night!

A huge THANK YOU to all the women who came out and celebrated with us. An extra special thanks to The Bookmark Shoppe, who is gracious enough to always open their doors to me and host all of these fabulous events. Thank you to Le Grande Courtage for providing the delicious bubbles that made our Champagne Mojitos possible (click for recipe!) and of course, our bartender Chris who served them up all night! And a huge thank you to Janet Lee of Living in a Nutshell for being such a wonderful co-host and teaching us how we can all add a little glamour to our homes and our lives!

Did Someone Say Cocktails & Crafts?

In a perfect world, I would retire to a beach house in Montauk and drink Champagne cocktails all day while doing crafts and designing my home. But mama still needs to pay the bills, so we'll have to table that - for now.

However, it doesn't mean we can't enjoy a night of it! Okay, we won't be at the beach, BUT we will be at the best bookstore in New York City, with the fabulous author and interior designer Janet Lee! You in?

Here are the details and the fancy schmancy press release:

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COCKTAILS AND CRAFTS:
An evening of bubbly cocktail demos and sparkling design DIY’s

With Cara Alwill Leyba,
Founder and Executive Editor of The Champagne Diaries

And Janet Lee,
Small Space Decorator and Author of Living in a Nutshell

Like a match made in heaven, Cara and Janet, who met and clicked in a book writing class, will combine their talent and enthusiasm for living an effervescent life. As a writer and life coach, Cara sees champagne as a metaphor for celebrating every day, flaws and all, reminding us to embrace the little luxuries that life has to offer…no matter the budget. Janet takes the same approach with design in her newly released book, Living in a Nutshell (Harper Design; $25), blog and finding affordable ways to add a little more glamour and dazzle in a small space, flaunting rather than hiding flaws in a room and focusing on what you have…not what you don’t.

Perfect for the season, Cara will demonstrate how to mix, shake and pour the perfect Champagne Mojito, courtesy of Le Grand Courtâge, while she shares her personal stories of trials, breakthroughs and triumphs.

If you ever wondered what to do with those gorgeous champagne corks---Janet will show you how to transform them into decorative paper tassels with pages from vintage books and velvet ribbon.  Everyone will make one while they sip on their bubbly and learn design secrets from the author.  It’s the perfect way to create and craft at the perfect bookstore, The BookMark Shoppe in Brooklyn!

And if that weren’t enough, one lucky winner will bring home an exclusive project designed for the Living in a Nutshell book.

WHERE:         The BookMark Shoppe
                         8415 3rd Avenue
                         Brooklyn, NY 11209
                         (718) 833-5115

WHEN:            May 3rd, 2012   
                         7:00-9:00 pm

GOODIES:      We'll have free gift bags (valued at $25) filled with Command Brand products for everyone  who buys a book on the night of the event. Janet Lee will personally sign all books.   

RSVP:              rsvpcraftsandcocktails@yahoo.com

PRESS:           Please contact Stephanie Scott to schedule any interviews: stephanie@stephscott.com

About Cara Alwill Leyba

Cara Alwill Leyba is a writer, lifestylist and wellness coach from NYC who empowers women to live their most effervescent life and celebrate themselves. Her blog, The Champagne Diaries, has a following of nearly 6,000 loyal readers and has been featured in Glamour, Shape, Cafe Mom, Daily Mail UK, MSN Australia, AOL UK Lifestyle, and a host of other publications worldwide. Cara encourages women to design the lives they desire and deserve, and swears that every woman can live a "Champagne life," no matter how busy she is or how tight her budget. Cara is currently working on her first book based on the popularity and extensive feedback from fans of her blog. She also regularly appears on the “Ask Dr. Fritz” radio show on WWRL New York, where she helps host Dr. Fritz answer questions from callers about love, career, family, relationships and more. When she’s not popping bubbly and penning her Champagne diaries, Cara spends her days leading a digital advertising team at MTV Networks. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

About Janet Lee

An Emmy Award-winning television show producer, Janet has styled and produced for leading home decorators, entrepreneurs, and designers such as Martha Stewart, B. Smith, and Thom Filicia. She spent ten years as a senior producer for The Oprah Winfrey Show, working closely with style legends like Nate Berkus. Since 2008, she has been writing a popular small space design blog, livinginanutshell.com. Named one of the top go-to sites for affordable modern design by the San Francisco Chronicle in 2009, Janet shares her experience from the decorating front lines having lived in a dozen different pocket-sized apartments over the past 20 years: “I’m a serial small space nester with a unique vantage point…Each apartment I’ve lived in—with its laundry list of list of lighting and structural flaws—has become a personal decorating lab where I’ve created and road-tested my ideas.”  Her book, Living in a Nutshell: Posh and Portable Decor with Harper Collins was released March 2012.  She lives in New York City.     

                                                                               
Media Contact:  Stephanie Scott
646.389.5569 /stephanie@stephscott.com

Spring Daze

photo via pinterest

Today has been the most perfect spring day we've had in New York City so far this season. A slightly cool breeze blowing around the petals from cherry blossom trees, a piercing blue sky perfectly etched with marshmallow white clouds, hot pink tulips in bloom. It feels exactly like a Friday in spring should feel; exciting, hopeful and vibrant. Everyone's appetite is whet for the weekend (not to mention a big fat glass - or bottle - of wine).

So naturally, I had to get out and enjoy it. Despite the fact that I work in Times Square, aka the devil's armpit, I am just blocks away from beautiful Bryant Park which is not only where Ryan and I got engaged, but where disgruntled midtown suits get away to take in nature and forget the fact that their job totally sucks.

I made my way to Hale and Hearty to grab my salad (beets, walnuts, carrots, broccoli, onions and feta cheese - yum!) and then set out to hunt down a table in the park. Finding a table during lunch hour in a beautiful park in this city is next to impossible, especially on a day like today, but I was determined. Within minutes I scoped out my space, laid out my lunch spread, pumped up my iPod, and entered nirvana.

As I chomped away on my salad, I felt such a sense of peace. I was thrilled to be in that exact moment. I wasn't thinking of this morning, or tonight. I was present. Fully, completely, and totally present. It got me thinking about something my ex once told my mother. I can't even remember what it was, but she had gotten something that made her really happy. Something small and insignificant to most - but to her it was everything. "I feel so bad for you, the littlest things make you happy," he scoffed. She turned to him and said, "Actually, that makes me very, very lucky."

And I have to give it to my mother, she raised my brother and I on her own, so the "little things" were all we had. I wasn't raised in a big house with fancy cars. In fact, the public bus was our family car. We didn't have much, but my mother never, ever let us feel like we went without. In my eyes, we had everything - an amazing family, endless support, more laughter than you could ever imagine, and each other.

So this afternoon, as I sat in the park, falling in love with the afternoon, I thought about what a blessing it is to appreciate the small stuff. The gorgeous sunshine, a delicious salad, a happy and satisfying life. Because when you really think about it, none of that is small stuff, at all.

32 Candles

Here's something nobody tells you when you hit your 30's: friendships fade. And they fade fast.

If you would have asked me five years ago what I'd be doing as I approached my 32nd birthday, I'd probably describe some elaborate party, complete with tiaras, balloons and cupcakes galore. I'd have meticulously plotted my outfit, and probably have two back ups in place should my mood, or the weather, change. Stilettos would be involved, the higher the better. Every last detail would be planned out, I'd be obsessively talking to my girlfriends about how excited we all were for the upcoming soiree. The next mornings, photos would flood every social media outlet as phone calls flew back and forth between the girls over morning coffee. Hilarious recaps would fill our morning, and we'd talk about how we couldn't wait to do it again.

Yet here I sit, turning 32, and all I'm interested in is a quiet, wine-filled dinner with my husband and possibly a day without work, school or the monotony of the day that seems to creep in so obnoxiously - phone calls, emails, bills. I just want a day to feel at peace.

I've been feeling a bit off lately when it comes to navigating the world of female friendships, and my birthday is what has really shed light on it. Things change as we grow and take our new places on the stage of life. Things are different. We're all moving in various directions; some with husbands, some with babies, some with exciting careers and others with none of that. I find that I've stayed close with a few girlfriends despite whatever life has thrown our way. We make time to talk and see each other because we genuinely want to. But for the others, it's almost as if there is an unspoken feeling that things are not that same...and it's alright.

I'm not really sure where I'm going with this. The same way I'm not really sure where I'm going with these friendships. I guess time will tell. Maybe we don't need a tribe of friends as we get older. Maybe we just need to few solid ones to have our back and be there for us when it counts most.

I couldn't love this more.

Healthy is The New Skinny! Check Out My Article on Mind Body Green

First of all I have to say - I am truly honored to contribute to Mind Body Green. If you read this blog regularly, you'll see how often I refer to their articles. They are a wellness wonderland. Chock full of inspiration, education and motivation (the three keys to success!)

Today they featured an article I wrote called "Healthy is The New Skinny: How I Learned to Love Myself and My Body." This is a topic I hold very close to my heart, and I truly hope that someone reads it and feels comforted. I surely wish I had read something like this 10 years ago when I found myself in the midst of a downward spiral. Luckily I pulled out of it and today, I am better, stronger, and happier than I have ever been. Changing the way you think and eat is one of the most challenging things you can do, but in the end the reward is so worth it.

So check it out ladies, and let me know what you think! And here's to your health and happiness!

XO,
Cara

Stay Happy! How We Mirror Moods

Did you ever wake up, feeling rested and relaxed, ready to take on the world, and then BAM. You see your overly dramatic co-worker, who starts ranting about how stressed out she is, or the "energy vampire" in your life calls (you know the one I'm talking about) and you regret ever answering the phone. You suddenly feel exhausted, irritated, and downright miserable. You've just been mood-bombed.

Now let's flip the script. Ever have one of those days when it literally feels like the walls are crumbling around you? You know, the days you actually burst into tears on public transportation, or at your desk at work? Yeah, we've all been there. But then it happens. It's almost magical. You meet someone, or hear someone speak, who moves you. They literally get into your bones. It's electrifying. This person is so positive, so vibrant, and so upbeat that it feels like you just got a happiness injection.

Moods are contagious. Just like a cold. When you see someone do something, your brain has these little neurons that automatically mirror what's going on around you. So let's say you're feeling the funk, and someone comes flying into your house telling this great story, smiling and roaring with laughter. Chances are, you're gonna crack a smile. And it's gonna feel good. Same goes for someone who starts crying and frowning in front of you. Without even realizing it, you will start to frown too.

So the next time that energy vampire calls, or that nagging co-worker wants to go to lunch, think about it. Is that a disease you want to catch?

Here's to your happiness!

Got To Be Real

Whenever people interview me, they always ask me the same thing, "How do you stay so positive and upbeat all the time?" And I tell them, "I don't."

I'd be lying if I told you I woke up every morning with a beaming smile and a sparkle in my eye. Do I try to view my Champagne glass as half full at all times? Absolutely. Do I try to see the positive out of negative situations, and focus on the good rather than the bad? You bet I do. Overall, I am a generally happy and optimistic person. But there are days when I am completely human, and for that minute, or hour, or even day - every. thing. sucks.

Today was one of those days. I was super tired from a long day yesterday. I've been taking classes at night, and working full time. Tie that into a 3 hour round trip commute every day and it's a recipe for exhaustion. Now don't get me wrong - I love my classes. I am pursuing my lifestyle and wellness coaching certification, and I could not be more excited. I know I'm working toward a bigger goal and the bags under my eyes will be worth it in the end. But the reality of it is, I'm working my ass off. And mama is tired.

I also tend to have guilt when I feel less than perky, and I know that's not good. I am learning to allow myself to feel like shit once in a while. It's human nature. Plus, without the lows, there would be no amazing highs, right?

So when this song shuffled on my iPod this morning on my way to work, I felt a sense of relief. It immediately reminded me of that Sex and the City episode where Carrie falls flat on her face on the runway and gets trampled by Heidi Klum. It made me giggle. Then I started thinking about the meaning behind that episode, and this song, and it dawned on me: you've GOT to be real. Nobody is perfect, no matter how wonderful your life is at that moment, or how content you are, shit happens, and there are gonna be moments where you feel the walls closing in on you. And you need to FEEL those moments. If someone tells you they never have a bad day (including me) they're lying.

So here's to being real. Here's to feeling it all, dealing with it, and moving on to better days.

Cheers girls!

BIG "Life Changing" Announcement :)

I have some BIG NEWS to share with you guys! In honor of Women's History Month, and as an early birthday gift to myself, I have decided to pursue my certification in Life Coaching!

This has been a passion of mine for quite some time now. There is nothing more heartwarming and fulfilling than connecting with and inspiring all of you -- and now I can make it official! I have always felt that the world would be a better place if more people followed their passion. We'd be happier, less stressed, and more satisfied with our daily lives. I am so thrilled to begin my coursework and learn the tools and techniques to help people do just that.

So, what is a life coach exactly? It's definitely not a psychologist, or even a therapist. A client would see one of those two people if they were suffering from a mental illness, or in a serious state of despair or chaos. A client would hire a life coach if they were truly ready to start living their best life. If everything else was going okay, but they wanted things to be great. A life coach helps someone reach their full potential by helping that person eliminate obstacles and start living their optimal life. Life coaches can help take you through a major career change, start focusing on wellness and leading a healthier lifestyle, coach you through a relationship issues (whether you're single, dating or married), or help you figure out what it is that you're passionate about and work with you to make it happen. They empower and inspire.

I will be specializing in wellness. This is something very close to my heart, having struggled with weight issues my entire life. Wellness is about physical health just as much as it is about emotional health and I am so passionate about both!

So buckle up, ladies! Coach Cara is comin' for you! I will surely be sharing my tips and tricks along the way as I pursue my certification through this spring. This experience is going to make me stronger and better at what I do, and I hope you will reap the benefits with me!

Can I get a Cheers?

XO
Cara

Domestic DIYva

I used to be super crafty when I was young. Bridges made entirely of popsicle sticks, dollhouse furniture made out of old pizza boxes - you name it, I made it. But as the years have gone on, I've run out of time, and I've made money, so the idea of creating things from scratch has fallen to the wayside. Now if I want something, I just run out and buy it. Who has the time!?

Until I recently learned that people actually make things out of WINE CORKS! *Ring the bells in Heaven* I can actually get artsy while I get my drink on!?

I have been collecting corks forever. It's a weird psycho habit that I have. It's not even like I collect the ones from special occasions, I just simply cannot throw them out. They are a part of me. Champagne corks have a special apothecary jar in my home too. I display them all proudly as if they are souvenirs from a small town in the South of France, as opposed to remnants of my growing alcoholic passion. But now I have a reason!

So, I want to know, what do YOU do with your wine corks? Does anyone make anything with them? Leave me a comment and let me know! This DIYva wants to get to work.

Monday MOETivation: The Spiritual Bitch

I started reading Deepak Chopra's "The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success" this morning. Now, before you go rolling your eyes and handing me a yoga mat, please understand this: I am not one of those hoity toity crazy meditating bitches. I do not set aside two hours a day to silence, and I sure as hell am not calm. But I'm working on it.

What inspired me to read this book was the fact that I could relate to it. I've been struggling lately with the word "success," and anything you read about success has to do with money and business 99% of the time. So when I saw that there was a spiritual take on it, I was in.

The word "success" can have many definitions. According to the dictionary, success is "the accomplishment of an aim or purpose." But what does that really mean? Are you successful when you are doing what you love? Do you have to be making money at what you love to really be successful? Are you successful because you have a big title at your job? Are you successful because you raised your child to be a law abiding citizen as opposed to a serial killer? Or is success just being able to pay your rent and bills?

Chopra has a really interesting point of view on spiritual success and it's something we should all pay attention to. In short, he wants us to look beyond the material wealth of success. He wants us to view success as the "experience of the miraculous." That means putting aside all the big houses, fancy cars, and shallow aspects of success, and finding the creativity and divinity within us. Success is about creating and cultivating fulfilling relationships, maintaining good health, and having energy and enthusiasm for life. DING DING DING! 

I literally felt as if a giant weight was lifted off my shoulders as I read that. I think we get so caught up in defining ourselves, our careers, and our passions by tangible items that we often lose sight of what really matters. I have definitely gotten caught in that vicious cycle more times than I can count. I do not make a living off The Champagne Diet, yet I continue to work hard by using this blog as an expression of myself and my creativity in order to connect with everyone who reads it. That is what matters to me. Would it be lovely to give up my day job and have a stream of income to do this all the time? Absolutely. But that is not the driving force behind it. And it never will be.

So I encourage you to really think about what success means to you today. If you can let go of all the BS and really get in tune with the creativity and passion deep inside of you, I guarantee you will uncover something amazing.

Cheers!

The Champagne Diet's Ten Commandments of Being Fabulous

Learn it. Love it. Live it.


I. Thou shalt be aware of thy best asset and work it like the rent is due tomorrow.

II. Thou shalt never leave the house looking like a hot mess. At the very least – apply a  little lip gloss. You can spare 35 seconds.

III. Thou shalt not compare thy self to others. You are a diva in your own right.

IV. Thou shalt find thy passion and make it a part of your everyday life.

V. Thou shalt never settle. Life’s too short. There are other fish in the sea. You know the drill.

VI. Thou shalt toast to at least one accomplishment each night. Preferably with a glass  of Champagne.

VII. Thou shalt take risks. Fear is not sexy.

VIII. Thou shalt indulge in only high-quality, nutritious foods. Fast food is so 1990’s.

IX. Thou shalt always leave room for Champagne.

X. Thou shalt believe, with every bit of thy being, that you are one fabulous bitch.

Toast to Hope

Up until last year, Valentine's Day for me was never anything special. As a chubby, freckle-faced kid, I used to sit by each year in school while the pretty girls got carnations sent to them by the boys I had crushes on. I always hoped that one of those "secret admirer" deliveries to science class would be for me, but they never were. Instead, I got a box of Russel Stover chocolates from my grandmother (not complaining, those things are fucking delicious).

Then, as I got older, I dated, but somehow never wound up with the guys who actually celebrated Valentine's Day. Instead, they'd either hide out or stage a fight with me to avoid the holiday, leaving me to either stay home or hang out with my girl friends at some "lonely hearts club" party at a dive bar.

If someone had told me back then that I'd not only wind up with a Valentine, but that Valentine would be waiting for me at the end of an aisle, ready to marry me, I'd tell you that you were smoking crack. Me? The awkward, nerdy girl who was obsessed with mixed tapes and John Hughes movies that nobody else my age related to because they came out when we were 5? I was not the girl who got the hot guy or the happy ending. But there I was last year, dolled up in a big white dress and feeling like the most beautiful girl in the world, getting married at the top of the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day. I was living out the ending to a cheesy romance novel, and I was loving every minute of it. The only thing missing was a black stallion. But hey, you can't have it all.

Photo by Aaron Almendral

And I know why I found my happy ending. It's because no matter how bad things seemed for me, I always had hope. I never once threw in the towel and expected that my life would be less than amazing. I knew there was something better out there for me, and I knew it was in my hands to make it happen.

My wish for everyone this Valentine's Day is that your day is filled with hope. Hope for love. Hope for a happy ending. No matter if you're in a relationship, teetering on the edge of a break-up, or single, this day is about the hope and excitement of love. Real, honest, genuine, love. Today is about looking at the little old couple that still holds hands after 60 years of marriage, and thinking, that will be me. It's about thinking back to your first date with your significant other and remembering how sweaty your palms were, and how you lost your breath when you first saw them walk into the room. It's about your husband eating like a slob in a stained sweatshirt and still being madly in love with him. It's about believing that love exists, even if right now it's just between you and your pug.

So get out there and take today on with an open heart. And tonight, toast to hope.

Cheers!

Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Better Than They Ever Were

It’s 8 pm on a Thursday night, and you and your girlfriends are on your second cocktail, sharing some fried calamari,shooting the shit. There are two main hot topics that monopolize Girls Night: Dieting and men. You start talking about how you hate your thighs, how you just can’t seem to lose these last 10 or 15 pounds, how you never have sex anymore, and then it starts. MEMORY LANE.

“I used to be SO thin when I was dating Brian, do you remember?”

“I never wore a size 14 before in my LIFE!”

“I used to run 5 miles and barely break a sweat, I was so in shape back then.”

The lies, the lies the lies. You were never really ever THIN. You have worn a size 14 or more than one occasion, that's why you have an arsenal of “fat jeans” at the bottom of your closet. And you ran 5 miles once in your life and couldn’t get out of bed for days afterward. Stop bullshitting yourself. You were never ANY of these things! You just think you were.

For some reason, it’s so much fun/torturous to romanticize these better versions of ourselves in our head. I’m not quite sure why we do it. Maybe it makes us feel like we were better at some point in the past so we shouldn’t feel bad about being less than perfect now? Or maybe we think it’ll somehow catapult us into starvation/exercise mania if we think we can achieve these unrealistic goals that we KNOW are impossible.

The same exact thing happens when talking about past relationships.

"But when it was good, it was good."

"He really wasn't that mean to me..."

GET REAL. You moved on for a reason. He fucking tortured you! Don't you remember how shitty you looked at work every day because you stayed up all night crying over this jerk? Do you not recall sitting on the floor in your living room in wine-stained pajamas lamenting over this break-up, wondering if you'd ever have the strength to leave the apartment EVER again?

But for some reason, we always make it sound better than it ever really was.

Whatever the reason may be, these fantasies will probably continue for the rest of our lives. In our minds, we will always have been skinnier, happier, had thicker hair, walked 5 miles to school in the snow, and had clearer skin. We all secretly know none of it was true. But you know what? It gets us through the day. And as long as it puts a smile on our faces to reminisce about these fairytale worlds, rather than be haunted by them, I’m okay with that.