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June 5, 2014
Inspiration is a virtue – 100th Illustrated Blog!!!!!

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100th blog! Read more for special discount code!!! 

This blog marks my 100th illustrated blog and I couldn’t be more proud.
(OF MYSELF!) Yes I said it! I am really proud of myself, and my blog of course but it took one HELL OF A commitment to do a new illustrated blog every week for almost 2 years!!!! I am taking this moment to CELEBRATE with a HELL YEAH! Four more blogs away from 2 years! I kind of cant believe it.  This blog started out on a flight across the United States on Virgin Airways as I was inspired by entrepreneur Richard Branson to just do it! This blog has been something I was toying with for a few months before that and something I started out thinking “why would anyone want to read what I have to say”, but knowing in my heart that I had something to share.
 
I started this blog as a tool to inspire myself because I noticed there were no other blogs mainly about inspiration. Now, almost 2 years later, I have not only pushed myself every week to get inspired, to carry my word through and never miss a week but also that I have inspired so many of you! I am so extremely grateful for all of your emails to messages and me. If anything I can do has helped you in any way then I feel extremely blessed.
 
Writing here, weekly, to you has been one of the most fun parts of my week, and one of my most challenging at times.  Pushing out content week by week that is not only inspiring, but different, vulnerable, real, close to my heart and what I’m going through at the time has been such a crazy ride.
 
I am so excited to say that this challenge keeps evolving and growing as I grow and will continue to do so.
 
Committing yourself to something right on the brink of ambition and resolve is such a learning and cultivating process and I highly recommend you do it in your life.  Setting the determination to carry out a long-term goal and publicly acknowledging it (to make sure people can call you out if you let things fall through the cracks) is one of the best ways to see things through. 
 
This process has not only helped me grow my business, but set the ground work to follow a 5, to some times DAILY workout routine, allowed me to plan out my goals, years, months and days in a much more efficient way, accomplish them, and so much more.
 
If you are thinking about committing to something daily, weekly or monthly – definitely do it.  It is one of the best things you can do for yourself. It will definitely increase your self-confidence too, which we all can always use an extra dose of, including me!
 
If you have something you want to start but think, like I thought at the beginning “Why do people want to hear from me”, realize your voice is special, unique and by the laws of the universe – people who need to hear what you have to say will find you some how. 
 
It is out there for the world to see when you do something like a public blog.  If I screw up, I do so on the internet and you can’t really erase it once it is out there.  This takes a lot of guts, I have to say – and I am not tooting my own horn but merely saying YOU can do it too!
 
Stepping out of the fear of “what if people don’t like it” and pushing through to knowing there is some one who needs to hear your message are two totally different motivations, one that will give you the courage to put it out there in a real way.  I’m not perfect. Sometimes I have NO CLUE as to what I’m going to write. Sometimes I plan it out way in advance.  EVERY TIME I am about to publish something I have that small ego voice telling me that it’s not good enough, that people wont like it and that it sucks.  But then, that’s where the faith comes in.  Knowing I feel this way, lets me know that there HAS to be someone out there that feels this way too and needs to hear this message, and that they will find it.
 
That is how I found so many things in life like blogs, mentors, friends, events that would lead to connections and so much more. It is the law of attraction at it’s best. You need it, it will come. 
 
So on this 100th blog, I would like to say to you, have COURAGE in what you have to say. Be brave in the face of uncertainty.  Stand tall in the space of the unknown and trust that you will be guided.
 
“When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it’s time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly.”-  Edward Teller.
 
In honor of my 100th blog, get 10% off any of my illustrations on etsy now through next Thursday. Use code 10100.  Also look out for this illustration available soon as a print as well as the one that it was inspired by that is Exclusively for Pink Pizza Events, my friend and fellow entrepreneur. 
 
As always,
Hope that inspires you!
xoxo
Emily  

Also don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @EmilyBrickel and my new account for all things fashion illustration @EmilyBrickelillustration

 

April 3, 2014
How to Live Life in the Fast Lane! – Tips from a fashion stylist!

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Illustration of Lindsi Lane, fashion expert, blogger and editor of www.LindsiInTheFastLane.com

So early this week I had THE best time over a brunchish-lunch with fellow Power Girl Lindsi Lane.  If drool worthy green and white omelets at Sarabeth’s with sides of fruit during the workweek isn’t enough to make these early spring days brighter – a burst of sunshine from this new gal pal certainly is! Fresh off the plane from her weekend in the sunshine state Miss Lindsi is a breath of fresh air and such an inspiration – my kinda girl!

Hours of chatting and getting acquainted later … we have so many similarities, from working at Gucci and Elle Magazine weeks apart, to our necessity to always have at least one evil eye bracelet on at a time.

Lindsi is an accomplished stylist and fashion expert having worked for many high-powered fashion houses including Michael Kors and Barneys New York in addition to Elle and Gucci. Lindsi was the youngest Personal Shopper at Barneys New York with a huge client following that parlayed her to launch her own styling company.  Signed as the first ‘By Appointment’ stylist for Ford Artists NYC  and now running her new business Lindsi definitely lives life in the fast lane! Lindsi has appeared on Fox5 Good Day NY, CBS Live on the Couch, Life & Style magazine, Page Six, Daily News, Daily Candy, Marie Claire, and more!

Lindsi is also the creator and editrix of LindsiInTheFastLane.com  (ahem name true to life), a lifestyle fashion website with style tips, styling videos and her take on just about everything fabulous!

I am completely obsessed with her daily ‘looks’, her style and apartment interior décor – which I was lucky enough to snag a tour of – right down to the custom silver and white butterfly wallpaper and flocked aqua side chair.

Such a power entrepreneur. Aside from styling, blogging and videos Lindsi has way more in the works.  She is pretty accomplished and completely rockin it. Mutually spoken, we love ourselves a Power Girl.

Here are Lindsi’s top tips to Live Life in the Fast Lane!

10 tips to live like a Fast Lane Girl:

1. Be inspired by others and an inspiration to those around you. 

2. Be organized, strategic, creative and interchangeable.

3. Be a good packer and a quick one! You never know when you will be on the move!

4. Believe that style shines from the inside out.

5. You have one name and one reputation to brand yourself around. Be on social media to build a platform for the fabulosity that you are!

6. Always have 8 glosses in your bag at one time-a new color can change your whole look!

7. You can never be too overdressed. Ever.

8. Strive to be a role model

9. Always stay poised and never let them see you squirm

10. Kindness shines brighter than diamonds

And on that note, TODAY is the day to live your dreams!

“Live your dream in your heart and let the Universe move everything to bring your dream to you. Feel your dream, feel the presence of the Universe inside you, know that the Universe is with you, guiding you, and then allow the Universe to realize your dream.” – The Secret.

“A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because her trust is not on the branch but on it’s own wings. Always believe in yourself.” – An anonymous quote hand written to me in a special card from my client Maureen.

You can follow Lindsi on Instagram @Lindsilanestyle and @Lindsiinthefastlane

Also don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @EmilyBrickel and my new account for all things fashion illustration @EmilyBrickelillustration

Hope that inspires you!
xoxo

Emily

September 19, 2013
20 Tips To Hit Rewind On A Bad Day.

 

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Ok admit it, we all have them.  A bad day comes around every so often and although we have 24 hours to hit rewind sometimes we just want to mope in our bad-day-ness.

Well, this blog is here to save the day.  20 ways to press pause and reset your brooding. Don’t we all need this once in a while?  That’s ok. Mope, then snap out of it. A better day is just minutes away.

*Just as a disclaimer: bad things happen, and sometimes they are very serious. I am in no way saying that any situation can be changed with these tips, but it is your reaction to the situation that can change into a more positive mindset.

1. Look to the stars. Literally. Go outside, go to your window or look them up online (if the clouds in your area have taken up that valuable real estate). Revel in amazement. Realize that life is fleeting and any problems you have are just a flash in the pan. Tomorrow is another chance to change your reaction. It’s not the situation… it’s how you handle it. Believe (if you choose to) that you are being guided and that everything is happening for a reason.  Your shit is being brought up so it can be dealt with and healed.

2.  Play with your pet.  Cats, dogs, furbies, whatever – anything furry and cuddly will do the job.  Put it in perspective that these furry creatures are just here to love you and it is your job to take care of them and love them back.  Give them a ton of love.

3.    Meditate.  For amazing meditations go to http://gabbyb.tv/meditate or sit in silence for 5-10 minutes with a deep breath in for 5 seconds, and a deep breath out for 5 seconds.  Seriously, this helps me so much any time I am stressed or distressed about something.  Meditating often increases your intuition and also helps you connect to the guidance system you already have inside of you.

4.  Take a walk outside.  Being in nature really changes your outlook on life.  The outdoors helps us humans connect with an innate sense of affinity for other living things. It is in our DNA to feel a decrease in blood pressure, anxiety and stress just by being outside, even for a few minutes.

 5.  Change your breath.  This is a new one I just learned. Gabrielle Bernstein of Gabbyb.tv (the meditation link above) prescribes slowly blowing air out of your mouth at any time of anxiety and in through our nose. You can use this trick in the boardroom or in any stressful situation with little detection from others.

6. Pray.  No matter what kind of higher power you believe in, just give it up and pray.  You can even pray to the stress Gods if you so choose. Sit for a moment and ask for help.  I like to say “Please guide me to expand in love, abundance and success today and every day as we inspire others to do the same.” – I took this phrase from the book “The Big Leap” by Gay Hendricks and it helps my perspective on so many things!

7.    Work out.

 8.    Do something fun.

 9.    Go shopping / faux shopping. Nothing hits the spot quite like a little retail therapy for the soul.  If you don’t have the funds, faux shop – it is so much more fun than you think – trust me.  Go online or into a store and pick out everything you would buy if you had all the money in the world. Think about how you would wear it, what it would look like on, keep adding to your imaginary shopping bag. Feel how you would feel if you bought it and then put a bookmark in it until a later date when you have the cash, or indefinitely.  You can do this whole thing in your head, you don’t even have to touch a thing.  The act of buying these items in your imagination will cue up the attracting power of those things that you desire and tell your brain it’s ok to receive great things. The science behind this is that shopping releases endorphins, which lower stress.  Same with…

10.  Chocolate and wine.  So go ahead, indulge.

11. Do something good for yourself. Try amani/pedi, massage, read a book, do something you’ve been putting off that will make you feel good.

 12.  Inspire someone.

 13.  Hug someone.

 14.  Follow through. Pick one small step and commit to it starting today. You will feel so good that you moved forward with something and that you are in control. Make the commitment to add this new step into your life and continue to follow through.

15.  Write down your non-negotiables.  It’s so important to feel a sense of self-respect when you feel you have been wronged, so write down some non-negotiables that you need to be happy in business and personal life.  If you are having a disagreement with someone or are faced with a big decision, go back to your non-negotiable list and see what matches your priorities. This will make your stance, and your decision a whole lot easier.

16. Stop complaining. There are millions of people who have it way worse than you do.  Get grateful for what you do have, food, shelter, etc.

17.  Take a bath. Baths are very healing and recharging for your body, mind and soul. Add salt to detoxify your body of harmful built up chemicals, negative energy and other toxins.  Sitting in a warm bath can clear your mind and create space to form solutions to a problem you couldn’t solve prior.

18. Do that thing you’re afraid of.  Sometimes having a bad day is what happens when things don’t go our way. Take the reigns back in your hands and take a risk. Take a leap. It can be small but just flex your fear muscle and let it grow stronger.

19. Accept failure.  Realize everyone fails hundreds of times and the people who succeed are people who failed ten hundred times and got up again and again.

20. Look ahead.  Look to the future and picture your life in 5 or 10 years or even 5 days. Think about the amazing things you have in store, and if nothing is planned yet – create your map. “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” – Lewis Carroll.

Hope that inspires you to have a better day, now. You don’t even have to wait for tomorrow!

xoxo

Emily

August 22, 2013
Pleasure vs. Success and dealing with Burn out

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“If you go for success, pleasure is 50/50. If you go for pleasure, success is guaranteed.” Quoted the founder of Boom, Cindy Joseph.

I recently read this statement and it was quite interesting to hear.

“Pleasure is suspicious in our society but if you are honest with yourself and what you really want your only hope of happiness is going for what gives you immense pleasure” Cindy said.

People are judged pretty heavily based on their successes and their enjoyment of life.  If you see a hard working person who is grunting and complaining of the pains in their life, but who appears to have it all, money, cars, a relationship, nice things, great job, etc. this person is most always regarded as successful even if they seem to not be enjoying the process.  Sometimes these people even go as far as complaining on purpose to even the playing ground, to make others around more comfortable and downplay their actual happiness and successes.

On the flip side when a person is successful BECAUSE they are enjoying life, having fun and living their desires they are almost always regarded with a negative attitude (or perhaps jealousy) and even deemed to have “stumbled upon success”, to have been “handed it” or worse remarks that are so far from the truth.

Why does pleasure have to be guilty?  If I want to have a mid afternoon chocolate break (instead of coffee) and also enjoy working out – what really is the problem?  But we as a society really enjoy making pleasure seem guilty.   After my chocolate break I am hard wired and programed (by society) to feel bad that I indulged.  Why?

I honestly have no idea but it is absurd! What’s the point in living life if you truly can’t enjoy it!!!?!!?

Whoever heard of the saying “You can’t have your cake and eat it too!?”  WHY WOULD YOU HAVE CAKE IF YOU CAN’T EAT IT TOO!?!?!?  This is perplexing!  I understand this proverb is about trade-offs in life but why does pleasure have to be a trade-off?

Why can’t we have it all?

Well.  My answer to that is we can, actually, have it all.  When following your heart’s desire you are on the path to success – headed towards living a life beyond your wildest dreams. So go for it, and keep on going for it.  You will always be successful if you are following your passion.

Now, in terms of burn out: “You run long and hard, you get tired. That’s a fact. Marathoners don’t criticize themselves after a race for being exhausted. They rest.” – Danielle LaPorte.

 

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

When doing your Passion work, you are highly likely to face burn out at one point or anther. That’s ok. It’s normal. You should.

Danielle goes on to say:

-As the legend goes, when the Phoenix resurrects from the flames, she is even more beautiful than before.

 

-“Life balance” is an insidious myth. Picasso, Oprah, Steve Jobs, Einstein, Maria Callas – they weren’t aiming for balance, they were aiming to rock their genius, and they’ve all had periods of burn out.

-On the seventh day, even God rested.

-Take stock of all you’ve accomplished. You’ve come far, baby. And you’ve got the road rash and the muscle definition to prove it.

And lastly

Burn out is a natural part of shining. Naturally. I welcome it now.

Thanks Danielle.

And now I invite YOU to go find your biggest desires and make them come true.  Do your Passion work, shine bright, burn out, rest, and do it all over again and then repeat. This is how you serve the world with your gift and keep on giving.

Hope that inspires you!
xoxo

Emily

July 25, 2013
Step it up!

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THIS WEEK is officially my 54th Illustrated blog (not counting client work)… do you know what that means? I’ve kept my word and reached my goal of doing a new illustrated blog EVERY week for one year!!!! It feels SOo amazing to accomplish this and I am so excited!!!!  – And, I’m going to keep it going! I LOVE doing this blog every week – it is something I look forward to so much and it always makes me happy to hear back from you about how my blog was “exactly what you needed to hear” and if it helped you in anyway!  THANKS for the responses!  It means a lot!

But it wasn’t always this easy…

I have been a master goal maker my whole life but only now in the last few years have I really figured out how to get serious and make strategic plans to follow through. Although I’ve always had the best intentions and pure desire, sometimes that is not enough.  When I was younger I didn’t really know how to carry it out and what moves to make.  Not that I have all the answers now, but I’ve definitely picked up a few steps along the way.

I have BIG DREAMS, I mean HUGE, and I know it is my life’s purpose to fulfill these dreams – and inspire others along the way to live their dreams!!!

Sure it can get a little disheartening when you have a goal and seem to be making no visible progress after such a long time chipping away at it but my Mom always says “all overnight successes were 10 years in the making”. So hard to swallow when I first heard that (since I was on year 1 at the time) but so TRUE!

1. You really have to trust the Universe.  Quirky and abstract as it may seem, it really is so strengthening to believe in something greater than yourself that has a master plan.  When you don’t – and I’ve been there – you feel totally lost and alone. When you think about all the people who have come before you and will come after you, you have to realize that things can be done that you may not have any evidence of. These are things you can only know from trusting.  There are so many people routing for you whether you know it or not, whether you’ve met them or not and whether they are with you right now in physical form or not.

2. Figure out how you want to feel. Maybe you don’t know exactly what it is you want to DO, but you know how you want to feel.  List it out.  Is it happy, successful, healthy, strong, beautiful, loved, supported, etc.  Whatever it is, really think about it and then decide WHAT would make you feel that way.  For example: If you want to feel strong, start lifting weights. If you want to feel successful, decide what would make you feel that way. This is different for everyone so it’s important to decide what would make YOU feel this, not what society thinks it means.

3. Decide exactly what you want to do. Once you know how you want to feel, what is the big picture of whatever you want to accomplish?  What do you need to do to make this happen? Break it down into phases, tasks and mini steps.  This will help it seem less daunting and more likely for you to take the first step.

4. Choose something that you feel is SUPER FUN to do.  If it’s not, you won’t do it.  You should be excited to do this task every time you have allocated it in your calendar.  If it’s something like doing your taxes early (not fun) make it fun by realizing that you are becoming an expertise and will know so much more about your personal finance situation.

5. Plan it out.  Figure out when you want to have this goal done and then work backwards. Divide the days or months you have until your due date and assign the smaller chunks of your goals into deadlines.  Be specific. How many times a month or week will you need to do this to accomplish your goal? By having an exact time frame and day in mind you will be able to stay accountable for it.

6. Announce it to the world (or at least your friends and family). This will REALLY make you feel accountable.  There is no turning back at this point and you will feel SO good when you get the job done!

Ok now, it’s time to really step it up world!  You have to take a bite when the fruit is RIPE.  You wouldn’t keep saving those strawberries in the fridge for next week, you need to eat them now before the opportunity ceases (and they get moldy – gross).  Carpe the hell out of that Diem!

Now go get um!

Hope that inspires you!
xoxo
Emily

May 16, 2013
Expand Always, in All Ways.

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The introduction line of one of my favorite characters from the show Million Dollar Listing New York on Bravo goes something like this:  “My motto is to expand always, in all ways.”  And every time I hear that, I love it!

It’s totally true that if you get caught in repetitively doing “what works” you will get fixated in the mundane and actually become ‘stuck’ – even if doing “what works” is what originally brought you success.

The formula for success is not necessarily doing the same thing that gave you ONE success over and over, but it’s in taking risks, leaps and in giving it your all that you got there in the first place.   And, in retrospect, it’s trying NEW things that will get you there again.

Expanding always, in all ways in your life is what will get you to live the life of your dreams!

In the process

Give yourself “permission to suck” when trying new things and know that

Mastery is a life long process. Each day you will get better and closer along on your path to “mastery” but you will never actually get “there” because each new step is the beginning step to your next phase of learning.

“There” is an illusion. Getting “there” is actually being “here”. Make the most of where you are right now because taking the right action “here” and “now” will become your tomorrow.

One of my allllll time favorite quotes (probably because my amazing, extremely educated, and multi talented grandfather who was a college Professor of Education, Cantor, Rabbi, swimmer, volunteer at multiple soup kitchens, and dedicated family man all at the same time and all while being retired from his previous career told me this one…) “He who knows all, knows that he knows nothing.” – Socrates.

And that my friend, is the truest of the truth.  Just think about all the things that go on in our world, in our solar system, in our UNIVERSE that even the most ingenious rocket scientists have yet to figure out.  We all obviously have much to learn.  We all have room to expand!

My mantra, and my mantra for you is this:

“I expand in abundance, love and success today and every day as I inspire others to do the same.”

This is from my new favorite book “The Big Leap” By Gay Hendricks, which if you have been reading my blogs; you know I like to rave about.  This mantra WORKS. It really puts things into perspective about what our main goal is as human beings.  Other than that, it also has this calming effect whenever I repeat it to myself.  It kinda makes me realize that I am hooked up, I am taken care of and that this is my purpose to expand in these ways.  When you realize that, you can revaluate what you have been centering your thoughts or worries on.

Unleash your inner demons.

In what ways are you not expanding? Get it out there. Talk about it, journal about it or just plain vent about it some how.  When you do it – go deep.  I recently did that last week and let me tell you, I released some more blocks I didn’t even know I had. This lead me to live even more fully, more passionately, more happily and more abundantly.

Do more fun stuff!

The way to expand in love, abundance and success is really to enjoy doing everything you do.  When you are having fun, you are immediately expanding in love because you love what you are doing.  When you love what you are doing it creates more wealth in your life, in all kinds of ways (financial and not financial), and when you have more wealth or abundance in your life that equals success.

Regroup

Taking time for “Morning meetings” with yourself are key to success.  Sometimes there is just so much going on in your day-to-day life and you have tons of things to do.  Tunnel vision grasps you by surprise and when that happens, good luck getting the important things done.  You will tend to focus on small, detail-oriented tasks that seem super important at the time, but in the long run will not create the life you want to live.  Taking your morning meeting seriously, just as seriously or if not more seriously than the one you may have with your boss will refocus you on your life’s big picture and will help you achieve your goals for expansion in your life.

That’s it for now but I hope all of that inspires you to live the life of your dreams!

Thanks to Mastin Kipp and Gabrielle Bernstein for some of these pieces of advice that I picked up along the way.

Xoxo

Emily

May 9, 2013
Everything you need for an inspiring Mothers day

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So it’s Mother’s day this Sunday and what better way to celebrate your Mom than to do something special and inspiring!

Moms are the people who inspire us when we are growing up to be the best that we can be and they are the ones that are the wind beneath our wings.  Celebrate Mother’s day this year and especially cherish all that your mom, and all the mother figures in your life have done for you!

When I was little my sister and I used to create treasure huts for my mom and hide clues sprinkled throughout the house.  We’d always start in the same room and always end in the same room because we wanted to keep some kind of order to the madness of our clues.  It was soo much fun for both my sister and I and for our mom as well.  We know she loved the creative touch we used to put on her special day (and sometimes we even did this for her birthday).

Now that my sister and I have both moved out of the house, those treasure hunts would not be the easiest thing to pull off.

Doing something from the heart is way better than buying a gift (any mom will tell you that), even though I’m sure your mom would love anything you got her.

Here are a few inspiring ideas (if you are bored of the usual dinners or lunches out) to do something really special for mom and the ladies that raised you!

1) If your mom: Loves to cook and host friends and family then…

Host a brunch or lunch in her honor! Take the time to set up a nice little gathering at your place, let your mom attend a get-together so she can revel in the fun of it, instead of doing all the leg work. This is what I will be doing on this mother’s day for my mom, grandma and my boyfriend’s mom!

2) If your mom: Is very visual, loves photos and/or especially cherishes memories then…

Make a collage or scrapbook.  Time flies by so fast and by taking the time to get out the glue, scissors and perhaps the glitter, your mom will be totally taken aback and appreciative of the hours you spent on this meaningful gift.  Added bonus: you will be able to spend some EXTRA precious moments reminiscing through your creation and being reminded of your great times together!

3) If your mom: Loves to catch up one-on-one to chat then…

Do a Mani-Pedi spa day. Make an RSVP at a fabulous day spa, book an in-spa-lunch between treatments, (some places will happily set this up for you) then relax and socialize together. What a fun way to spend the day!

4) If your mom: Works really hard and just wants to relax then…

Offer to do something nice for your mom that only you know she really likes, or offer to do something for your mom that you know she hates doing.

Here are some ideas:

-Offer to plant some flowers for her if she wants to do it herself but hasn’t gotten around to it.

-Treat her to a house cleaning so she can relax. Either a hire professional or do it yourself.

-Hire her a handy man and give them a list of all the things she has been meaning to get fixed and surprise her with it being done.

Be creative. Only you know what would mean something to your mom so find sweet and thoughtful ways to make her happy on her day!

5) If you are: going to your Mom’s house or out to dinner on Mother’s day…

Treat her to bath salts, body scrubs or at home beauty treatments. Buy something for your mom you know she wouldn’t buy for herself but that she would love to get as a gift.

Flowers are always a nice touch but make sure to write a meaningful and beautiful card to go along with it!

Obviously any gift would work just as well as long as you get to spend some quality time with your mom or mother figures in your life.

So go on and get inspired. Remember all the ways she was there for you when you needed her, let yourself get teary eyed (hehe), get creative and do something to show her your love on this Mother’s day!

Hope that inspires you!

Xoxo

Emily

May 2, 2013
Get Festive

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Original Fashion Design & Illustration By Emily Brickel

It is time to get festive and I have some major spring fever (you might have guessed from my previous posts.)

This weekend is Cinco De Mayo, a favorite holiday of mine, a celebratory day in the Mexican heritage, and furthermore a really good reason for us to grab some margaritas and guacamole and dig in! Also my puppy will be 2 years old so I have some extra celebrating to do!

For me it feels like Cinco De Mayo is really the start of the summer celebrations we are about to embark on. It’s the first time since the winter months that we are really getting out there to celebrate in spring weather for us folks here in New York.

But it’s more than just that, this time of year means it’s occasion enough to get up and celebrate what you have goin’ on in your life!

Lets face it, we worked hard all winter, we sowed our oats and now is the time to get really grateful for everything in our lives.

Some of you may be like, what? My life and my options are totally sucking for me right now, but the truth of the matter is “In any given moment you can choose to see what’s right about a situation or what’s wrong about a situation, and either way you’re gonna find evidence to support what you’re looking for….. Not having the best situation, but seeing the best in your situation is the key to happiness.”– Marie Forleo.

If your not feelin’ in the festive mood – go down your gratitude list and really feel grateful for every SINGLE thing you have from your bed sheets, the roof over your head, your six senses (I like to count intuition as the sixth – not the scary ghost stuff), the fact that hopefully everything is functioning right in your body, for your clothes, your internet, EVERYTHING and literally thank God or the Universe for everything you have, every single night!  This will make you super happy on the inside and it will radiate to the outside!

The more comfortable you get with being happy and experiencing gratitude for the little things and the things we take for granted, the bigger your heart threshold can grow.  What is your heart threshold you may ask? It is the amount of happiness you are comfortable with accepting and once you pass that threshold we sometimes start to self -sabotage.  (Read The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks, so many great points I will be quoting him for months!)

The more happiness you are comfortable accepting, means the more success, love and abundance that will come to you.

Finding reason to celebrate exactly where you are, right now, no matter what the circumstance is absolutely reason to Get Festive!!!

Now go on, get grateful and enjoy life!
Hope that inspires you!

Xoxo

Emily

 

April 4, 2013
Reflection

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Your outer world reflects your inner world

When you take the time to stop and look at what you are experiencing in the world around you, it becomes clear that your outer world tends to look a lot like what is happening internally to you.

If you stub your toe, spill coffee all over yourself (or the person next to you), even loose your voice or have a health condition – ask yourself if there is something you are avoiding or suppressing in regard to a specific area of your life. Are there emotions you are burying inside of you?

If you are feeling positive, thinking great and beautiful thoughts of the future, feeling gratitude for everything you have and where you are, if you are confidently dreaming about how you can do your job better and help more people in the process; beautiful things will sprout up, opportunities will present themselves, creative solutions will come to you and your outer world will reflect your inner thoughts.

What negative or positive experiences are happening for you in your life?

Reflecting on your experiences can provide major insight to you.  These clues can be pinpointing if you are headed in the right direction towards your goals or if the universe is trying to give you a knock on the head and telling you to turn around.

If things are going awry in your life, try to create an even more pleasant atmosphere for yourself.  Start small.  Decorating, cleaning, organizing, adding flowers, lighting candles, painting a wall or adding or a bowl of fruit are not just for external pleasures.

Setting the scene of your life starts with your immediate surroundings. If you are not inspired by or comforted by the room you work in or go to sleep in chances are you will not feel inspired or comfortable in your work or sleep patterns.

Simply being brought back to our basic fundamental needs, having them met and upping the anti by incorporating scents, spices, candles, visual stimulation and more are incredibly important for your brain and how it functions.

Deepak Chopra says “(Scents, textures, sights and sounds) Nourishes the brain, which takes care of us so we can better take care of our bodies.”

A positive outer environment allows us to make positive choices in the little things we do. The small choices become the things that fill our day. The days we fill become how we spend our lives.

When things are going haywire in your life it signifies that something is wrong, something is out of alignment.

Get comfortable with expressing your true and deep feelings. Become aware that everyone holds a difference of opinion and if you just suppress yours you will never feel heard or supported.  Accepting more love, abundance, and greatness is your job so that your internal abundance can reflect an outer abundance.

Hope that inspires you!
xoxo

Emily

 

February 13, 2013
Valentine's day love!

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This year for Valentine’s day, what are you going to do to show your love?

Whether you’re single, in love, attached, have a crush or just a fling; show your guy, girl, yourself, your friends, family or kids some major love this year.

We all need it and the love you share with those around you will be passed on through random acts of kindness! When YOU make others happy, their day gets a little brighter and they will in turn show love to those they love – even if it’s just a smile.

Sometimes you never know exactly just how much others need it. With all the suicides, crimes, hate and murders in this world, Valentines Day can be a day to show your love to everyone – not just romantic love.  It is our job as individuals to raise the energy of the world and improve even one person’s day. The love people in pain are shown may be just enough to prevent a suicide or horrific crime that may have taken place by those who feel lost and hopeless.

If you are feeling down that maybe you don’t have that romantic love you are pining for, just surrender. Let it be and trust that in time you will have that love that you are looking for. Sometimes there are lessons to be learned along the way, and maybe that lesson is to be grateful for all the love you have in your life. Be grateful for your friends, your family love, all of those unconditional loves you have – maybe from a pet, the love you have for yourself (and maybe that is the love you need to focus and work on in order to find romantic love.)

Show love for all that you have, for that Starbucks coffee you can afford, for the job you have, the coworkers that are there for you, even the loves you’ve lost.

Sometimes celebrating the loves you have had, relished and lost are enough to find hope and trust that the universe has something better in store for you!

“Sometimes it is better to have loved and lost, then never to have loved at all.”

Appreciate everything you have, and show love to that Starbucks barista because maybe they are having a rough day too.

No matter who you are, or where you are – we all just want love. So show it to every one you meet for this week and have the greatest valentines gift of all: The gift of inspiring others.

That, my friends is my greatest gift and my most favorite thing to do all week to have the opportunity to inspire even just one person!

Hope that inspires you!

Xoxo

Emily

 

 

Copyright Emily Brickel Edelson 2018. All Rights Reserved