CityGirl Guide……Detox Your Wardrobe for Greater Success!

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Grace

“Your Image is Your Brand”

It’s true to say that I love a good Detox, in Body, Mind and Home, however I never thought I’d advocate Detoxing one’s Wardrobe!

Now having been through it , (I really had no choice, I had to fit my entire life and London wardrobe into my very small 4×4 to move to Italy!) I’m feeling the benefits of this sassy  Style Cleanse.

I highly recommend a good Wardrobe Detox to any Woman, whether you are career centered or searching for the love of your life or simply more abundance and energy.

By letting go of the old you make way for the new, I regularly remind women who seek advice on body and image that Your Image is Your Brand so regular refinement is a must!

Enjoy this interview with Tips on How To Detox Your Wardrobe for Greater Success, from Super Stylist Ruth Keel.

Can you tell us what your typical day looks like as a super stylist Ruth and how you began doing what you love most in life?

I started my company Superstyling a few years ago after working in healthcare for 15 years .I wanted to do something a lot more creative whilst still working closely with people, to help them change their lives and their confidence. I love my work and literally jump out of bed each day!

My typical day starts at 7am when I leave the house for a walk, jog or cycle down to the River Thames,  I find this clears my head and means I come back to the office smiling and full of energy.

The day is then spent at a client’s home or out and about with a client implementing techniques to enable them to ‘create their own unique style’.

What do you feel are the top 3 mistakes Professional Women make when it comes to their wardrobe?

1. Professional women don’t feel confident to experiment enough with their work look.

There is a corporate image that women think they need to conform to, to ensure they get ahead.

2. Professional women are not updating their look regularly.  Busy city women have a lot on their plate and need a reward for working so hard. A regular ” feel good” styling update keeps you feeling ahead of your game and helps boost your self-esteem.

“Dress for the job you want not the job you’ve got“.

3. Finally you need to dress for the level above your current level at work and let your clothes and image do the talking for you!  If you wear a uniform, ensure you always have immaculately groomed hair, nails and make-up and you will be surprised how this can catapult you up the career ladder faster than you can say “shiny shoes”.

Why should we Detox our wardrobe regularly and how do we deal with fears of letting go?

“One in and one out!”

A strict door policy for clothes means that you won’t end up with an exploding wardrobe full of things you don’t wear.

Detoxing your wardrobe means setting free items that you don’t use, like or wear anymore and trusting that you don’t need them!

Feeling good about your clothes and your wardrobe is a learning curve and you need to know who you are today to work out which clothes to get rid of,  that’s why I teach the Superstyling Wardrobe System to enable women to make the right choices for who they really are, saving them ample money, time and energy on shopping trips in the long run!

“Always, always, always have a wow factor in your outfit. A piece of statement jewellery, a great pair of shoes or a bright lipstick or eye colour.”

What are some tips, tricks and techniques for Women on the go who have to go from 9-5 day-job to evening social butterfly?

Firstly, if you bring your unique style into your work clothes then moving from office to social event can be a lot easier with a quick slick of lipstick, a well-positioned piece of jewellery and some different shoes. I would recommend choosing outfits that blur work chic with going out chic.

“Life is too short to live in black, white and grey. Be brave and bring yourself to life with colour”

What about those who scared of bright colour and always end up in black?

The best way to dip your toe into the colour pool is quite literally to try colour in a small way.

  • On nails
  • Toenails
  • In a ring or with earrings
  • Eye colour or
  • Lipstick

What’s your one fail-safe styling tip for CityGirls out there?

Don’t buy anything you don’t really love. If in doubt, leave it in the shop.

Thank You Ruth for these great insights!

Ruth Keel styles professional women and busy mums ,in fact any woman who wants to move from drab to fab , stylishly. More on Ruth’s work is available via  the link below and I highly recommend the Superstyling Wardrobe System to any CityGirl out there!

http://superstyling.me.uk/what-is-super-styling

So what are your thoughts on aligning your Style with your authentic self , your brand and Detoxing your wardrobe for greater success?

Recommended Reading: CityGirl Style


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CityGirl Guide….Lessons Learnt From A “Burn-Out” Queen: Audrey Hepburn

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Grace

Audrey Hepburn certainly knew a thing or two about burn-out, having lived through the horrors of World War II; she developed serious malnutrition as a child, which created a mass of health problems right into her later life.

Not believing in any “God given talent”, Audrey often over exerted herself at work,  she fell ill regularly on-set and often needed ample recovery time between productions.

In many cases Audrey reluctantly had to cancel or turn down work, she discovered through repeated exhaustion and burn-out that her health was her only true wealth.

So what can we learn from this graceful, sensitive and highly successful woman?

Well what’s most inspiring is that she still made it, despite any health set backs, despite the regular burn-out, she fulfilled her destiny and is a wonderful reminder to all over-worked, exhausted, busy women that you can do it too and with a little self-care you’ll be an even  greater success!

Lessons From Audrey, the Burn-Out Queen!

1. “I have to be alone very often, it’s how I refuel”

This was Audrey’s way of generating the energy needed to keep up her busy and high profile life, she took the time to refuel often. Are you re-fueling often enough by spending time alone?

2. “People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed.”

You can spend all day restoring your home and office but what are you actually doing to restore and revive yourself? Start implementing Simple strategies on a daily basis , rather than reaching the exhaustion stage before taking care of yourself.

3. “Let’s face it, a nice creamy chocolate cake does a lot for a lot of people; it does for me.”

Pleasure is the true purpose of life, enjoy yourself a little, don’t do anything in extremes, it breeds it’s polar opposite!  Your body and soul will respond with vitality when you treat yourself right.

4.  “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!”

I love this Audreyism ! Ignore other peoples limitations, they are not yours, all is possible even if you are not at your best now in body,  mind or soul,  know that it’s a wake up call to reconnect with yourself and make all possible.

5.  “I’ve never believed in this ‘God-given talent.’ I adored my work and I did my best.“

Find the work you really love,what you were born to do, and simply do your best, there is no need to over-exert yourself, (as Audrey later learned) when you do what you love life is simple.

6. “Laughter is a great calorie burner”

Happiness is health in every sense, find ways to enjoy yourself, have fun, let go, and find a man who can make you laugh!

7. “Most of the time life just happened to me without me ever seeking it”

There is “no rush, no fear and no competition” when you do what you truly love. Are you allowing life to happen for you, gracefully or are you pushing to the point of burn-out?

8. “For my whole life, my favorite activity was reading. It’s not the most social pastime.”

You don’t have to be social all the time, in fact if you are ultra busy all week and constantly “connected” and available it’s time to have some slow time. Do something pleasurable that doesn’t upset the balance of your already over exerted system!

Recommended Reading: The CityGirl Detox

Audrey Hepburn A Life in Pictures 8

Get in touch let me know what you do to refuel and how you feel about knowing that someone as iconic as Audrey Hepburn also had to find ways to deal with illness, burn-out and an exhausting busy life!?

Grace xx

Posted in Life Lessons, Uncategorized, career, health | Tagged , , | 20 Comments

CityGirl Guide…..Lady Gaga’s Right, Baby You Were Born This Way!

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Grace

“ Rejoice and Love yourself today ‘cause baby you were born this way” Lady Gaga

You were born with purpose.

And

There’s no competition with others when you embrace your true purpose.

From the age of 7 I imagined myself as a Teacher,  I would visualize myself with an audience of students eager to learn with me.

I often returned home from school and went straight to my room, excited to start my  homework because this was my chance to play school and be the Teacher!

I would dress up as the Teacher,  organize my “classroom” and call a register with my imaginary students so we could all do the homework together.

My vision was crystal clear and yet I was only a child imagining things, interestingly all that I ever imagined one day became real!

Having manifested this vision and now having taught hundreds of Children , I am certain that your true purpose in life reveals itself in childhood and is always related to what brings you the most joy.

Joy should be your purpose is life!

There is something you start seeing or start doing , particularly between the age of 7 and 11, that sets in stone your future leadership and reason for being.

Sadly many children have their vision and ideas crushed by adults , parents and teachers around them,  who like to throw in  a mix of fear or critical opinions.

But remember  you were born this way , so no matter what anyone else says or does,  your purpose can never be taken from you.

I left my day job as a Teacher after 7 Years, not because suddenly my purpose changed but because my vision  transformed.

I’ve learned that it’s the vision that propels your destiny, if you can see with clarity what you would love to create and you commit to enduring whatever it takes, you’re going to get there.

I’m sticking to the new vision of a different audience as a new style of Teacher and it’s emerging!

Guess what? You can too!

Tips Tricks and Techniques to Propel Your Purpose

1. Be Who You Were Born To Be.

That means finding out more about yourself, commit to investing in yourself and discovering your structural values. Return to your childhood and decipher what repetitive ideas , patterns or actions you can recall.

2. Find your biggest Why.

How you act on purpose is very different to why you do it!  Most people don’t know why they are doing or loving what they do . My how is Teaching but I only recently discovered why I do what I do after much searching. This has had a huge impact specifically on the clarity of my message and where I am headed next.

3. Take time to visualise.

If you can’t see it you can’t be it! What are you visualizing most? Make a conscious effort to do it more and add lots of details for your future life.

4. Boredom leads to Burn Out, recognize your body’s signals as a time to change.

You’re always on Purpose but if you find yourself suffering or stuck despite doing what you once enjoyed, perhaps it’s time to transform it,  as I have done , towards what you’d really love.

5. Act as if

Remember as a child I was acting as if I was the Teacher when I got home from school? When you act “As If ” you send out an energy that says “Nothing is Missing” so the Universe responds in kind by gifting you with what you desire!

6. Endure pain as well as the pleasure

If you can’t bear the challenges and the hurdles that arise along the way and you’re not willing to embrace both sides to fulfil your dream,   then you’re not pursuing what you’d truly love.

7.Read “Brand You” by (CityGirl Business Mentor) John Purkiss.

Mentors are great when it comes to your career but only if they have experience related to your search and if you’re willing to invest in their expertise.Books like Brand You can help you gain clarity and understanding about yourself and what you uniquely are here to do .

What are your thoughts on Career,Life and Purpose?

Grace xx

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CityGirl Guide……Little Steps Along The Way to Ditch Toxicity and Heal Today!

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Grace

” If it is to be it is up to me” D.Tolman

Disease in the body is caused by two things:

1) Insufficiency

2) Toxicity

At least according to Whole Food Medicine Man, Don Tolman and I trust his interpretation, based on ancient wisdom and truth,  over the modern Medical Industry’s ideas.

I would like to build on Don’s findings and suggest that:

Insufficiency relates to an insufficient amounts of Pleasure, Joy and Inspiration in one’s daily life and an  insufficient amount of Nutrients required to keep the body clean and strong.

Toxicity relates to Toxic thoughts about Self, as well as exposure to toxic Relationships, Foods and Environments.

Where in your life are you creating Insufficiency and/or Toxicity right now? And do you realize this could be hindering your health and ultimately leading to dis-ease?

Insufficiency seems easily corrected, after all it’s easier to add more pleasure, inspiration and nutritional yummy foods into your life than to give up things that are toxic .

“Every time you want to better your life you have to give up something.” The Dog Whisperer

Yet giving up something doesn’t have to be difficult, regardless of what you think, you’re NOT your addictions, habits and desires!

You’re an enlightened and powerful Woman waking up with opportunity to create anew each day, nothing has control over you except the thoughts you generate.

Despite my own love of a good Detox  in Body, Mind and Environment, I still recognize the value of keeping things in moderation( what you do to an extreme creates it’s polar opposite)  so when I want to give up something I always make it easy by replacing it first, adding something new .

So to help you experience your greatest health, and much more ease than dis-ease here are a few ways you can give up the toxins and begin to heal today.

Little Steps Along The Way To Ditch Toxicity and Heal Today!

1. Embrace Nature at all times. The fastest route to lower toxicity is by surrounding yourself in Nature, add some fresh air to your day. Every City I ever lived in provided some mass of greenery somewhere, find yours and get to it daily.

Nurturing Art by Rita Llyod: Nature

2. Switch from pharmaceutical pain- killers (they are called “killers” for a reason!)  to Natural Remedies.  Add Aromatherapy and herbs such as parsley, mint and basil when you’re next in pain.

3. Give up spending time with people you don’t like. This isn’t always possible but unless you’re going to embrace them for who they are (your reflection anyway) you will feel crap being around them , creating toxic emotions! Instead add time for yourself and anything that truly inspires you, even if it means hiding in the toilet to avoid colleagues at work!

4.Consider Animals .I am trialing life with less meat that means I’m adding many more vegetables to my diet, easy to do here in Italy. Animals release all of their own toxins as they are slaughtered; we then ingest their toxins via our plate!

Nurturing Art by Rita Llyod

5. Add serenity to your home and office. Anything that creates Brain Noise in your mind is essentially toxic; a messy home for example creates lots of noise in my head. Aim to give things away, tidy as you go and avoid chemical filled cleaning products.

6. Get out of the City and add some country. Toxicity contains the word City for a reason Girls!  So add regular breaks to the countryside ( preferably with a hot man )or consider coming to Italy on The CityGirl Detox programme Autumn 2012.

Recommending Reading Resources: Farmacist Desk Reference Don Tolman

3 Simple Steps To Detox Your Mind

10 Ways to Reduce Your Chemical Burden Today

Nature’s Pharmacist on Facebook Sue Hardman

Grace xx

Posted in Detox, Vitality, health | Tagged , | 4 Comments