How to Add Luxury to Your Life

HOW TO ADD LUXURY TO YOUR LIFE

Article by Amber Podratz
Photo Credit: Sajas Minrah
Magazine: Issue #34

How to Add Luxury To Your Life

We all deserve a little luxury in our lives regardless of our income level. That’s why we’ve put together a list of three simple steps that you can take to create your own luxurious life.

STEP 1 :: DEFINE WHAT LUXURY MEANS TO YOU

Everyone has a different idea of luxury for some it’s a designer handbag, or maybe it’s being able to take the time for a dream vacation, or for others it’s being able to treat themselves to spa treatments. Why is it important to define your own idea of luxury? Well, for the simple reason that this is your life and you should state your preferences and own what works for you. Once you get honest with yourself you can stop buying into someone else's idea of luxury and work on attaining what you want. It takes the pressure off to compete and gives you the satisfaction of achieving your goals. For example, if you are not clear with your definition luxury it’s very easy to fall into the trap of feeling competitive or not enough because maybe you are not quite able to get that Louis Vuitton bag yet. However, if you are clear of your own meaning of luxury, and say it’s spa treatments, then wouldn’t you know it, when you get that facial you will get more satisfaction out of it than you would by getting an expensive bag. It's because it’s your goal, your preference, and you are owning your life! How exciting and freeing.

STEP 2 :: START WITH SMALL UPGRADES

For me luxury means quality craftsmanship, beautiful aesthetics, and life upgrades. There came a point in my life where I decided I deserved some luxe and committed to making small upgrades throughout my life. For example, I got sick of putting up with a cheap flat iron that kept breaking and then I kept replacing. So I spent an extra $50 and bought myself a nice Chi flatiron. It might seem silly or insignificant but you know what I was doing when I bought a better flatiron? I was changing my mindset to what I deserved and that I could achieve my goals. I elevated my mindset and started attracting better things in life. Plus, 5 years later I still have the flatiron and it works like a champ.

STEP 3 :: FOCUS ON ONE AREA OF YOUR LIFE AT A TIME

Day-to-day life is busy enough, no need to overwhelm yourself with trying to do too much at one time. This is all about adding little luxuries to your life, not more stress. So let’s start with one area at a time! Start with making a list of where you would like to add luxe to, get creative! Here are some ideas to get you started:

SELF-CARE
• Get regular manis/pedis.
• Treat yourself to monthly spa treatments. • Upgrade your skin care products.
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
• Take yoga sessions from a superstar instructor. • Take a walk outside at lunchtime.
• Invest in a therapist.

HOME
• Indulge with a set of high-thread count sheets.
• Hang up a beautiful poster that speaks to you.
• Send a handwritten note, just because.
• Have a cleaning service come once a month.
• Buy flowers for the house every once and awhile.

FASHION
• Invest in a perfect pair of jeans.
• Buy quality over quality. Are those 5 shirts at $9.99 each a really good deal if they loose their shape and shrink
after one wash?
• Choose an investment accessory.
• Get that bag that will last forever.

FOOD
• Stop eating fast food and treat yourself to a nice lunch at a cute café.
• Stock your pantry with sparkling water.
• Indulge in some fancy chocolates from Belgium.
• Shop at a higher-end, boutique grocery store for a few specialty items you can’t get at chain grocers.

RELATIONSHIP WITH SELF AND OTHERS
• Show more gratitude.
• Tell someone you are proud to be in their life.
• Treat your friends to coffee for no reason.
• Surround yourself with positive people that inspire and lift you up. • Treat yourself the way you would your best friend.
• Love yourself.

Featured Interview: Sajas Minrah

FEATURED INTERVIEW: SAJAS MINRAH
{MODEL, BLOGGER & INSTAGRAM MAVEN}

Interview by Angel Quintana
Photo Credit: Sajas Minrah
Magazine: Issue #34

How did you first get into blogging & modeling?
I started modeling at the age of 15, spotted by a model scout in Milan.. traveling around the world for some years was probably the best time of my life so far. Only one year ago I started posting regularly on Instagram, beginning to enjoy stage-managing my own styles and sharing them with others.  

What inspired you to start your blog?
Friends of mine encouraged me to push it a little further and surprisingly soon my account began to prosper.

Who was your first style icon?
Oh that’s so difficult to say.. to be quite honest my very first style icon was probably posh spice, for I was a big fan of the spice girls as a child.

What or who is your current obsession?
I’m obviously totally obsessed with CHANEL, especially the vintage styles.. I just love to combine classy bouclé blazers (many of those inherited from my granny) with modern styles such as leather leggings and fancy boots for example.

How would you describe your personal style?
#vintage #chaneladdict #russianprincess #glamgrunge #preppy

What music track or album do you currently have on repeat?
Janis Joplin (over and over..)

What would you say that is the biggest challenge about fashion blogging (modeling)?
Just do it and don't let other people's opinion make you question what you're going to do.

If you could only wear one fashion line for the rest of your life - who would it be?
CHANEL <3 <3 <3

What would you say that is the greatest satisfaction of being a fashion blogger (model)?
I just LOVE fashion so much, that I’ll always enjoy everything associated to it. The power of fashion has always inspired me, so i’m always very glad and honored if people are interested or even inspired by my styles.

What advice to you have for other fashionistas looking to start their own blog or grow their Instagram accounts?
Always try to develop your very own style, that makes you feel comfortable.. mix and match old and new, casual and glam, casual and luxury according to your current state of mind. For me a great outfit, that makes me feel happy self-confident is the best precondition for a great and successful day.

How to Pronounce Designer Names

HOW TO PRONOUNCE DESIGNER NAMES

How To Pronounce Designer Names

Article by Amber Podratz
Photo Credit: Sajas Minrah
Magazine: Issue #34

You have finally taken the leap to invest in yourself and your wardrobe and are out shopping, eyeing some fabulous designer garb and then it hits you, you have no idea how to pronounce the brand! Never be stumped by a designer name again. Here’s a handy A-Z list of how to pronounce some of the toughies out there.

A
Agent Provacateur: AH-ghant pro-VAC-a-TOOR
Altuzarra: al-tu-ZAH-ruh
Ann Demeulemeester: ANN de-MOO-leh-meester
Armani Preivé: ar-MAHN-ee PRE-vay
Azzedine Alaïa: AZZ-uh-deen a-LYE-ah

B
Badgley Mischka: BADGE-ley MISH-ka
Balenciaga: ba-len-SEE-ah-guh
Balmain: bahl-MAHN
Bottega Veneta: boh-TAY-guh VIN-un-tuh
Bvlgari: BUHL-guh-ree
Burberry Prorsum: BUR-bur-ee PROR-sum
Boucheron: BOO-sher-ohn

C
Camilla Skovgaard: ca-MILLA SKOVE-guard
Carolina Herrera: caro-LEE-na herr-AIR-uh
Cartier: KAH-tee-ay
Céline: seh-LEEN
Christian Dior: KRIS-chen dee-YOR
Christian Lacroix: KRIS-chen la-KWAH
Christian Louboutin: KRIS-chen LOO-boo-tahn
Commes de Garçons: KOM day gar-SOHN

D
David Yurman: DAY-vid YUR-man
Dior Homme: dee-YOR OHM
Dolce & Gabbana: dol-CHAY and ga-BAH-na
Dries Van Noten: drees van NO-ten

E
Emilio Pucci: un-MEE-lee-oh POO-chee
Erdem: ERR-dem
Ermenegildo Zegna: ERR-men-Gil-do ZAYN-ah
Etienne Aigner: eh-TEA-yen AHN-ay
Etro: ET-row

F
Fendi: FEN-dee

G
Giambattista Valli: JOM-ba-TEE-sta VA-lee
Giuseppe Zanotti: gi-SEPP-ee za-NO-tee
Givenchy: gee-VAHN-shee or zhee-von-she
Gucci: GOO-chee

H
Hermès: err-MEZ
Hervé Léger: ERR-vey Le-JAY

I
Isabel Marant: IS-a-bel MAR-ant
Issey Miyake: ih-SEE mee-YAH-kee

J
Jean-Paul Gaultier: JOHN PAUL GO-tee-ay
John Galliano: JOHN gal-ee-AH-no
John Varvatos: JOHN var-VAY-tos
Junya Watanabe: JOON-ya wa-tah-NAH-beh

K
Karl Lagerfeld: KARL LAH-ger-feld
Kiki de Montparnasse: KEE-KEE day MONT-par-nass

L
L’Occitane: L-OSS-i-tayne
Lancȏme: LAHN-cohm
Lanvin: lahn-VAHN
Laura Mercier: LOR-ah mer-see-AY
Loewe: LO-ay-vay
Louis Vuitton: LOO-ee VWEE-ton

M
Mackage: MA-cahge
Maison Martin Margiela: may-SOHN mar-TEN mar-GELLA
Manolo Blahnik: ma-NO-lo BLAH-nick
Marchesa: mar-KAY-sah
Missoni: miss-OH-nee
Miu Miu: MEW MEW
Miuccia Prada: MYOO-cha PRA-da
Monique Lhuillier: mo-NEEK lool-YAY
Monse: mon-SAY
Moschino: mo-SKEE-no

N
Nanette Lepore: na-NET le-PORE
Narciso Rodriguez: nar-CIS-co rod-REE-gez
Norma Kamali: NOR-ma kah-MAL-ee
 

P
Perricone MD: pear-i-CONE M-D
Piazza Sempione: pee-AH-zah SEM-pee-oh-nay
Pour La Victoire: POOR lah VIC-tor-ee
Prabal Gurung: PRAH-bal goo-RUNG
Prada: PRA-da
Prevage: preh-VAHGE
Proenza Schouler: pro-ENZA SKOO-ler
Pucci: POO-chi

R
Rebecca Minkoff: re-BECCA MINK-off
Riccardo Tisci: ri-CAR-do TI-shee
Roberto Cavalli: RO-ber-TO cah-VALL-ee
Rochas: ro-CHAS
Rodarte: ro-DAR-tay
Roger Vivier: RO-ger viv-VEE-yay
Roland Mouret: RO-land MOO-ray

S
Salvatore Ferragamo: sal-va-TOR-ay fair-ah-GAH-mo
Sergio Rossi: SER-gio ROSSI
Shiseido: shi-SAY-do
Shu Uemura: SHOO oo-moo-RAH
Sonia Rykiel: SO-nya REE-key-el
Swarovski: swar-OV-skee

T
Tag Heuer: TAG HOY-err
Thakoon: TA-koon
Thierry Mugler: TERRY MOO-gler
Trovata: tro-VA-ta

U
Uniqlo: U-NIK-lo

V
Valentino: val-en-TEE-no
Van Cleef & Arpels: van CLEEF and ar-PELLZ
Versace: ver-SAH-chee
Via Spiga: VEE-AH SPEE-gah
Viktor & Rolf: VIK-tor and ROLF
Vionnet: VEE-oh-NAY

Y
Yigal Azrouël: YEE-gal AHZ-roo-el
Yves Saint Laurent: EVE sahn LO-rahn

Adaptation for the Holistic Entrepreneur

ADAPTATION FOR THE HOLISTIC ENTREPRENEUR:
{NATURE DOES IT, WHY CAN'T WE?}

Adaptation For The Holistic Entrepreneur

Article by John Scardina
Photo Credit: Sajas Minrah
Magazine: Issue #34

Knowing where your money comes from is one of the most important events as a holistic entrepreneur. It’s easy to start a holistic business but most difficult to maintain a profitable holistic business. Adaptation is one of the most powerful tools in nature and for the entrepreneur. Clients and customers are forever changing/adapting to new trends, new education, and new holistic ideas. You must change/adapt right along with them in order to succeed in business and keep that flow of money coming in. 

As business owners we educate ourselves in our own niche market, by whatever means we have.

We have brainstormed and know that the niche market we created is the one the business that will out do all other businesses, at least at its conception. But is that enough, how long will this niche last? Who will catch on to this niche and copy every article of your efforts leaving you on the trail of little profit. People love to follow you and your money, “if you can do it” so can they. How many clients will become bored with this new niche when everyone else catches up to your business. It is always best to adapt to creating a niche that evolves, grows and changes quickly. If you are offering a single service that is your niche, is that good enough? Imagine your niche on steroids. A niche that adapts and evolves allows you to stay a head of the pack and continue to serve your clients offering them a living marketable service.

With holistic consulting or coaching we sometimes limit ourselves to whatever modality we have trained at to an expert level. This holds true for so many practitioners in the holistic field. Nutritionists, Energy Workers and coaches teach/sell one service and keep on riding this out until the business becomes lifeless. “A lifeless business is not profitable”. If you are nutritionist and you offer coaching, is that all you do? Be conscious at every level and ask yourself (daily), what else can I offer, is there an up sell to what I do? What else do my clients need? This holds true for every practitioner who is awesome at what they do, but being great at one thing limits you and does not set you apart from any other practitioners. If you plan on being profitable in the holistic realm, you need to not just practice, but manifest adaptation at all times.

I have found out through trial and error, (mostly error) that I cannot just be an expert in nutrition or just a Reiki Master, I need to be flexible and adaptable in order to better serve clients and keep the flow of money coming to me.
Some key points to breathing life into your business:
1| Treat your business as it is alive, nurture it every day ask it what it needs and provide it
2| Research the trends that bring people to your particular service and see if there is another niche available that brings new clients that not yet ready for that service.
3| Don’t wait things out during lean times, question why these times are lean and ask your business what’s missing (yes I do converse with my business)
4| Adapt and provide what’s missing

A holistic business is not a cookie cutter business, you need to apply adaptation just like nature does with plants and animals. I you want to survive time, you must always change and grow.

Time is Money: How to Work Smarter, Not Harder

How to Work Smarter, Not Harder

TIME IS MONEY:
HOW TO WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER

Article by Cinthia Singleton
Photo Credit: Sajas Minrah
Magazine: Issue #34

Work smarter not harder. All business mavens are taught this. As single proprietors… sigh… the pressure’s always on to put pedal to the metal and PERFORM. It’s impossible to do everything and yet they think they must, from parking valet to Communications Director to CEO.  

Their business is theirs and theirs only.
Only they can possibly care that much about it, its success.
So much is at stake if it does not flourish or, hopefully not, fails.

The single proprietor is juggling so much, they often can’t see this “smarter” if it were to come up and bite them. Sound like you? Relax and slow down that clown car! There is only one of you and only so many hours in the day. Plan for it. Seek methods to attain the best possible work flow. Do the best you can. Learn from what does and doesn’t work. Make choices about how you spend your time. Delegate tasks when you can. Plan for that too. And don’t forget… time IS money and and it’s finite too. This is what needs to “work smarter” actually, acceptance of this as credo.

Start by keeping closer track of your time.

Tax preparation for example… It’s something you can do, don’t really like to but you feel, as many, that if one can, they should. It’s like tax preparation machismo (lol). Are all the receipts and invoices in one place and properly filed? Got all data, the correct forms? Procrastinate for days on end? Of course! Sit down and procrastinate some more 'til… it’s… finally… done. Proper supporting documents and forms attached? Is it signed? You do this quarterly, annually… it’s a rabbit hole of anxiety for many. The IRS says the average small business taxpayer spends approximately 24 hours on tax preparation. You? Isn’t your time worth implementing a few things to shave off some time from a task you don’t really enjoy?

1| Use a credit card for only business expenses.
2| Get a business software that pulls all your info into one place throughout the year so reports can be pulled easily.  Income. Expenses. Quarterly taxes paid. Link it and that business expense credit card.
3| Consider getting a qualified tax preparer so all you do is hand off to them the information from #2 and look over the final return before signing off.

These steps could save you several hours.

Streamline. Organize. Break projects down into the sum of the parts. Delegate. Same goes for designing the webpage, editing an article, painting your office… Delegating tasks - large and small, portions of them or as a whole - buys time that can be thrown into new, ‘growth’ projects that earn.

A Time-is-Money Mindfulness Exercise to perform.

1| Give yourself a hypothetical hourly wage as if you were just another employee at You Yourself and You LLC. For discussion purposes here, let’s say it’s $10/hr.
2| Begin tracking your tasks. How much time is spent on each? Track them in 15 minute blocks.
3| At the end of the day or week, add up the similar tasks and calculate your “wage” for each of them. 2 hours a week for, say, invoicing at $10/hr is $20/week, and over a year about $1000. 

So maybe during crunch time part-time help can be part of Team You Yourself and You; it frees you up to work on a presentation, for example. Where is your time most valuable? At the $10/hr invoicing assignment or pitching a new client?

In time, this ‘bought time’ can be used to help you re-boot your creative mind, provide it a clean canvas. Time - such a commodity and yet it’s not traded on the NASDAQ. Lunch out of the office. A design class. Maybe an hour consult with an expert in your field. Put it on the calendar so it becomes an event. Events aren’t found on the treadmill of work, Work, WORK. Numbers there in black and white, see how a “time penny” saved could truly add up to money earned?

So much smarter; work THAT.

“Time is the most valuable coin in your life. You and you alone will determine how the coin will be spent.”
-Carl Sandberg

How to Become Completely Turned on by Your Body {and your Life}

HOW TO BECOME COMPLETELY
TURNED ON BY YOUR BODY
{and your life}

Article by Nikka Karli Salifu
Photo Credit: Sajas Minrah
Magazine: Issue #34

When was the last time you were actually turned ON by every area of your life and were completely in touch with the wisdom of your body and all of her power?

A while?

We spend so much of our time here on this planet trying and forcing. TRYING to be who we think we are supposed to be in order to not rock the boat, to save other’s feelings, to be a part of our tribe. FORCING our lives, our work, our relationships, our health.

But what if there was a different way?

One where you actually could love your body, speak your truth unapologetically, and be deliciously fulfilled on every level?

Well, Gorgeous, you’re in the right place because I’m about to share some fabulous tips to set you onto your path of smokin’ hotness.

1 :: Give Up The Idea That You Need To Look Like Someone Else In Order To Be Beautiful
Who cares what that one chick in the magazine looks like or how perfect that fitness competitor’s ass is while she’s maxing out in the squat rack?... Oh wait. You do. And that’s why you’ve been beating yourself up about how you’re not ready to follow your purpose, meet your soulmate, speak on sold out stages, start your tv show... Because you still think you need to be something other than you are to live your dreams. Hint: You are already more than enough and it’s time to own your freakin brilliance.

2 :: Release Your Hold On Your Old Habits And Limiting Beliefs Surrounding Soul Care
What do you think is going to happen if you start taking exquisite care of yourself?

…Unwanted attention?
…You’ll be spending all your money at lulu?
…The chicks at the yoga studio are horrid creatures who will judge you and call you names?
…Taking a bath is just a waste of precious time that you could/should be spending making money?

Whatever B.S. you’re telling yourself about why you shouldn’t go to yoga, start running again, meditate, or shake your gorgeous groove thang is all just resistance standing between you and your most lusciously confident self.

So stop worrying about why you shouldn’t nourish yourself and start making it happen.

3 :: Cultivate A Mindset Of Commitment And Discipline
We’re so used to living below our potential. We spend a bunch of time and energy thinking about the things we DON’T want in our lives and not nearly enough on the things we actually desire.

Begin taking a deep look at the things you are currently committed to… Your mediocrity. Your people pleasing. Your TV. Your addiction to struggle.

And now think about the things you need to be spending your time and energy focusing on if you want to become the smoking hot, turned on, sensual goddess you know you want to be.
And then- here’s the kicker- start becoming that woman. Act as if you already have what you desire. Think the way she would think. Cultivate the daily discipline towards your dreams and freedom. Show up as HER and commit to her way of living.

4 :: Tap Into Your Gratitude And Love Multiple Times A Day
If you are always waiting for something to happen before you are happy, before you love more, and before you appreciate your life, you will never be satisfied. Never be turned on. Never be fulfilled.

And, in turn, you will not become the paradigm-shifting leader you were placed on this planet to be. Show gratitude for your journey, blessings, and miracles you’re manifesting every single day.

5 :: Give Yourself Permission To Receive Pleasure
Pleasure. In all of her glorious forms. Orgasms. Dancing. Kissing. Yoga. Laughing. Watching the sunrise. Sitting under the moonlight. Release the automatic “no” that seems to escape your lips when someone offers you a joyous and delicious experience. Feel into it. Let it sit with your body. And then say “yes” to everything and everyone who speaks to your soul. Without shame or guilt or fear.

6 :: Trust In Your Desires
If you always second-guess what you want, who you are, and whether or not you are provided for by the Universe… you will always remain on the other side of your greatest passion in this life.

You can have what you desire, but only if you believe. Trust in who you are and trust that you are enough to have what you are asking for. When we lack trust in ourselves, we also lack trust in our partners, our creativity, and our own success. Give yourself the space to heal the wounds that are holding you back from accepting your desires and pleasure.

So, Lover, if you want to be turned on, you must turn yourself on. With the way you show up in the world. In the way you carry yourself in your conversations and relationships. With every thought you allow in that incredible mind of yours.

Only one go round in this life.

Why spend one more day as anything less than the beautiful, sexy, kickass woman you were born to be?