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Stand while I work

2/21/2021

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PictureClick to buy Yellow Floral Jumpsuit.
MY STANDING DESK
When I made the transition to working online 13 years ago, I was very concerned about the amount of time I would spend being seated during my day.  Working at home has many benefits, but without a plan, it can take a toll on your health. With meetings and work demands, you may spend hours at a time sitting if you are not aware.  I hope this post is helpful for those who are working at home because of the pandemic.  ​

It is recommended that every hour you spend 45 - 55 minutes seated at the computer and 5-15 minutes of moving around.   Well, I've tried that for years.  I tried it with a timer. I've tried it with an app.  Regardless, I end up spending 2-3 hours sitting and working at a time.  I've heard about standing desks and treadmill desks for a while now. Well, the treadmill desk was not an option - imagine the complaints I would get from my clients hearing the heavy breathing LOL. Five years ago, the price range for standing desks was $250 - $400. Now, the prices are finally coming down.  Today is my first day working at my new desk and I love it. I'm excited about burning the extra 24 calories per hour that standing uses compared to sitting.  I'm also excited about the improved circulation in my legs and being able to do a few squats while waiting for the voicemails to pick up.  I think this new office design is really going to improve my health and quality of work. So from now on, I will be standing and not whistling while I work. 
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GoodBye 2020

12/28/2020

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What once was will never be

"2020" We may never ever need to say that again. In a few days, we will be starting a new year. I'm so looking forward to it, but I hope I'm not the only one who can say that despite the challenges of 2020, I experienced the most growth both personally and emotionally than I have ever done throughout my 46 years. Let's dive right into it!
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Here's my going-into-2020 family photo. One year ago, I was newly divorced with new dog and two amazing adult children. I was focused on starting a new life and my independence - I was tightening my boots for an exciting era of growing my work life and my business, bringing stability to my family, and possibly entering the dating scene. To be honest, it was a little scary and delightful at the same time. My new normal was ready to emerge into something wonderful, then the pandemic hit. 
My first thought was that nothing really would change. I was working from home for the last 12 years, so I was accustomed to being at home most of the time and what's a little mask wearing going to do. 
Well, the challenges started to roll in. First, I was starting a new relationship with an amazing man, and as we were just getting to know each other, there was a statewide mandate to stay at home. Additionally, my daughter was in college in an area deemed as a hot spot for its growing rate of viral cases. Each time my son left for work, I was very worried about the risks he faced too. My hopes for an amazing year began to crumble.  I was Blessed to still have steady income, but the unforeseen challenges began to pile a mile high.  I couldn't do events with my clothing business which was the majority of its income source. I couldn't visit my friends and family like I wanted to. I couldn't even find toilet paper and it was running low!
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Then the voice in my head said the most important words I needed to hear, "Stop focusing on what you don't have and focus on what you do!"  Pushing out the negative thoughts led to a movement inside me to focus on positivity.  I made my glass half full instead of seeing it as half empty.
Seeking positivity allowed me to have more creative thoughts. Challenges began to generate opportunities.  I began to focus on my needs and how I was going to stop worrying and do more praying. Building stronger relationships with God and self was the goal. 
These challenges are temporary and what once was will never be again. Even if history starts to repeat itself, I'm stronger and different from my 2020 self. ​So how do you make it through a global pandemic and say you are better than before it started? I discovered three things:  Maintaining what works, Trying new things, and Promoting Self Love.
Maintaining what works - In the absence of being physically present, you can show and interact with love ones by answering when they need you, using Facetime, and reaching out through cards or texts. I remember when my son and I were doing a walkthrough of a house I was thinking about buying.  He and I included my daughter by having her on Facetime. She was able to see what we saw and hear our thoughts about the house in real time. She also asked questions to the realtor. She was in a sense there. Yes, it was different, but it worked. 
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Trying something new -Another challenge was the lack of social interaction. I'm an outgoing person. I imagined myself visiting museums, going on vacations, enjoying new restaurants and attending festivals and concerts especially with my new guy. Unfortunately, a lot of the activities were canceled. Luckily, I  could still go on walks with my dog, spend the day at the beach, and learn new things too. One new skill I wanted to master was baking cakes. I could never make the layers the same size or make it stand up straight. With the pandemic encouraging me to stay home, I started practicing with my favorite, the jelly cake. All of my baking challenges were just opportunities to build my strength in trying. Growth often occurs from failure.
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Promoting Self Love -I've had a lot of time to reflect during 2020.  So many things happened that were beyond my control that I had to rediscover what at the end of the day makes me happy.  Sitting down to a movie with a glass of wine, studying a different language, reading a book, treating myself to a bubble bath in the middle of the day, enjoying a walk on the beach, or even having a quiet moment of meditation were all ways I showed myself self love.  When you try, you can make something beautiful from very little. For example, I began to mix lavender oil and shea butter with cane sugar, honey, and coconut oil to create an all-natural scrub. Along with warm water, my bath tub became an oasis for refreshing my soul and exfoliating my skin. 

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What once was SHOULD NEVER be again... The most important thing I gained from 2020 is that despite whatever hardships I will ever face, I possess everything already inside me to overcome them.  I am a warrior, I am a fighter, I am a lover, I am a protector, and most of all... I AM ENOUGH!
May all new experiences brighten our present and tomorrow. Happy New Year to you and your family!
Many Blessings to All in 2021!
​Wishing you all the love - Carla
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Say What No Assembly Service

9/23/2020

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My Garage GYM Is Growing

I totally get doing things yourself, but I like my stuff put together already.  I don't mind paying a little extra.  With the current pandemic, I find that with many companies, assembly service is not available.  They just want to leave it on the curb! Sometimes they won't even ring the doorbell to let you know your package was delivered.   I had to pull out the tools and with a little help from my dog, we did it. Ok, I may have also had a few glasses of wine too. LOL 
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So what did I buy?
I love working out.  I walk almost every day but some times the weather does not cooperate.  I know that my leg strength is important for keeping my knees strong to carry my curvy figure. Squats is one way to help build and protect my leg muscles, but I find doing them challenging - the whole no-leaning thing.  Well, I feel like I cannot master doing a squat correctly no matter how hard I try.  But wait... this tiny machine is perfect. It guides you down for the perfect squat.  All you do is push with the legs.  You can make it a full body workout to by pulling with the arms. There are also resistance bands to allow you to build your strength gradually. I am in love with the range of motion of this machine!

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Two Month Update
This post was long overdue. I purchased my squat machine in July and I have to say that it has been an awesome experience. I feel stronger, more confident, and motivated to get on it.  I use it about 3-4 times per week combined with a simple cardio dance routine.
When you find something that works, embrace it and share it.  I no longer feel like squats are difficult.  The guided assistance of this machine makes doing squats literally as easy as pie! 
Comment below if you are interested in getting one.  And remember... Keep your chin up, show yourself love, and do those squats correctly. Hugs, Carla

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Create Your Space

7/30/2020

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your environment matters

I've spent my whole life thinking of others and mostly, putting others' needs before my own.  It was part of my upbringing, the culture of what I was learned to do. Don't get me wrong, taking care of others is not a curse; it is, in fact, rewarding on many levels. It is still instilled in me, but that priority has changed.  
In 2016, I started my metamorphosis.  It was not on purpose.  I've always desired to own my own business, but I knew I could not afford to support my family if I quit my main job.  Instead, I started growing my business on weekends and late nights.  Many people will call it a "side hustle"; I now call it my expansion period.  Having the ability to change your work habits to gain what you need in order to grow is HUGE!
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Here in 2020, I have allowed myself to flow. I embrace change and I am comfortable in it. I'm also more aware of what I need around me to facilitate growth in my personal and professional life. I have long envisioned my SPACE - a space where I can enjoy my love of the outdoors, pray, eat, work, and a place that radiates my personality and level of comfort - A SPACE TRULY FOR ME!
The transformation of my space is not just physical.  It was necessary that it feeds my emotional side. A friend recently told me that "you have to let people do their thing and just watch and support".  When I seem to fall back into the overly protective mom rituals (that's a tough habit to break) - I am reminded to  "Let them kids be!"
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It has a Breakfast Cafe feel where I can relax before starting my busy dayl!
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The sound of the outdoors is my background music while I enjoy a comfortable home workspace.
PictureBirds in flight show the ability to embrace movement and change.
  • Taking a more hands-off approach has truly helped me refocus my energy into my self-growth. My space reminds me that I embrace change because growth is often uncomfortable.  My space is my sanctuary, so I can be relaxed in my thinking and creative modes.  This decoration of space means a lot to me, since everything and anything I do is always reciprocal of many hours of prayer.  I put God first in my decisions.  I am well aware of what God has done in my life and fully acknowledge that if it was not for Him, I would not be the strong, independent woman I am today.  This space was created for me to growth my life and faith. ~ Carla

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Guess Who I'm dating

7/9/2020

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WHY I DATE MYSELF On Social Media

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Many coaches and trainers start their sessions by asking, "Who is your target audience?" Well, I know who my target audience of one is.  It is ME.  It's like I'm dating myself.  I want my posts to represent the best parts of ME, so that if I want to go and see how BLESSED my life has been... I just click on my profile. I don't have to wait for the Facebook algorithm to show me a positive post.  My digital journal of self reflection  is easily accessible, so I can review and reflect on how I will be better the next day or moment. Others can also access this love story and be encouraged to build their own. 

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I love dating myself.  Just like the saying, you are what you eat! You should filter what you allow yourself to be reminded of about you.  Keeping your living space positive will keep positive people around you. A person's character is defined by what they allow into their lives. If you want to see a person's true character, look at the people they are closest too.  How do they treat their mom or siblings or kids?  How do they interact with their friends?  Where do they hang out?  What do they do in their spare time? I'm loving all that about myself!


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These are simple observations... A few months ago, I remember seeing a list of questions in a magazine that every woman should ask a guy when dating them.  I laughed, because I don't want to interview anyone.  All you need to do is look at their interactions on social media or ask who is the most important person in their lives or even talk about what they did today.  You will know if a person has a growth mindset or if they are stuck in the mud.  

Growth is something that occurs once your tolerance level breaks.  If a person is tolerating a mediocre level, their life will reflect that.  They cannot change how they live overnight.  There will be some evidence of who they really are reflected in what they allow in their surroundings.  ​
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​In dating myself, I've found that I'm totally awesome.  My self-confidence is high, I'm not afraid to be ME, and best of all - I KNOW HOW TO ENCOURAGE MYSELF WHEN I'M DOWN.  I like to eat. I live an active life.  I love my kids and my dog! Each time I review my page, I'm reminded of the people and things I love most!  My life has its ups and downs, but I know that my ups will be greater than my downs.  I'm not a perfect person - I don't want to be.  I just make sure that whatever life throws my way, I will become a better person because of it! ​​

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Six Months!

7/5/2020

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WOW! My last post was back in January! Has it really been 6 months?  Time literally flies. Well, you are probably wondering why a blogger disappeared from the scene for six whole months.  Sometimes you have to try a few different things and work on yourself.  During my "timeout" from blogging, I have realized three things in becoming the Best Me I can be.  I hope they help you become the BEST YOU!
1. Give others space to grow.
2. Do not procrastinate.
3. Know your worth.

NOTE: All Clothing in this blog can be found on www.bestyoubyhts.com

#1 As a MOM - give your children space to grow.

Being a mom is not easy. I am one of those moms who was determined to help my kids. You see, my mom was totally amazing, but I would get so frustrated when I would ask her to tell me what to do, and she said, "you will figure it out".  I realized that she would never tell me so I figured it out. During the younger years, I tried to help my kids in rebellion of what my mom did. Now that they are adults, I have found that I'm much like my mom. She was a very wise woman indeed! When I let go of trying to play Ms. Fix-It, my adult children were given the opportunity to growth as the awesome adults they are. They literally gained their wings. Being a mom is so easy for me now, because they have stepped up to the plate and are embracing adulthood most amazingly. 
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#2 As a professional - do not procrastinate.

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It was difficult coming back from my February vacation. I had tons of work to do to get caught up, but my mind and body were still in vacation mode. I became the ultimate procrastinator.  If you know me, I like to get my work done by front loading my week so my Thursdays and Fridays can be low-scale chill days. Well, I fell off that bandwagon. I procrastinated most of the week and was working up to 8PM on Fridays to finish what I should have done already.  It was stressful. I lost productivity in my week and sometimes had to work on the weekend to make it up.  I fell like I was working all the time, but my workload was the same.  As soon as I started managing my procrastination, I found time to work out and enjoy life.   My week became less stressful and I wasn't working on weekends. To overcome procrastination, I created both a daily and weekly to-do list. For larger tasks, I spread them out over three days so I could get other things done.  Planning was the key to healing me of my procrastination habit. 

#3 As A woman - know your worth.

I've always been a confident woman, but I tend to have a lot of empathy for others.  This empathy allowed me to tolerate a little more than I should have in relationships.  What I've found over the last few months is that I have been very wrong.  Your worth is not about how you treat others.  Your worth is all about how you love and value yourself. You can be confident but still have to work on realizing your self-worth.  Self-worth is defined by both your potential and who you are.   Only you can set that value. When you know who you are and set the expectation to be treated accordingly, you know your worth. Over the last few months, I have been working on my "value".  I have re-evaluated my goals for myself and my relationships. I'm so proud of the progress I have made and will continue to make. 
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​So this is my comeback to blogging. I'm so excited for the opportunity to share with you over the next few months some of the really cool things I have been working on. As always, keep working on being your Best YOU and I will too! STAY SAFE and be Blessed! ~ Carla

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    Author

    Hello There!
    I'm Carla - mother, educator, business owner, and Certified Life Coach. I have a blast exploring new ideas, products, and services.  I love to share and hope to inspire you to do the same. Remember to enjoy life every day and always strive to be a BETTER YOU!

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