I found this gem on a website called She Is More.
It is fabulous advice that I wish more girls of all ages - not just teens, would know and follow.
Definitely share this post with your girlfriends!

21 Lost Lady Traditions That Still Apply Today

by Kristen Dalton Wolfe on January 2, 2015 in Inspiration

Acting like a lady is carrying yourself with dignity, which also empowers a man to be a gentleman.

Many of us want a true gentleman, but I believe we hold the power to the way we are treated in our hands. It’s the law of attraction and common sense: If we want a gentleman, we must be and act like a lady.

In all areas of life, I believe being a lady displays self-respect, class, appreciation and etiquette. It also allows you to enjoy the niceties of life with the ease of knowing how to act in all situations. You don’t have to come from wealth or be wealthy in order to conduct yourself like royalty.

After doing some new research and also recalling my southern roots which included cotillion and etiquette classes, here are 21 lost lady like traditions that still apply today:

Make 2015 your year to rise up, princess.

Manners:

1. If a man knows that it is etiquette to remain standing until you are seated, be sure to sit promptly as to not leave him standing too long.

2. No rude or shocking language, especially at the table. Your language is a representation of your mind and heart.

3. Don’t talk with your mouth full. I don’t need to explain this one.

4. She dresses tastefully: A lady dresses appropriately for the occasion.

5. Phone calls: When in doubt, a good rule of thumb is not to make phone calls before 9 am or after 9 pm.

6. She is gracious: She never just says, “hello” when being introduced to someone. She offers a kind greeting like, “it’s a pleasure to meet you” or “how are you this evening?”

7. She turns her phone on silent and puts it away for meals, meetings and church.

8. She says, “yes, please” or “no, thank you.” She does not say, “yep” or “nope.”

9. She gives compliments with sincerity and only when she means it. She does not say things just to say them. Insincerity is easier to read than we think.

10. A lady offers to help someone in need. Being a lady starts with how you treat yourself and others. She offers her seat to the elderly, disabled or a parent with small children.

11. She RSVPs promptly, reads an invitation thoroughly and does not ask for exceptions. She always promptly sends a detailed thank you note to anyone who has shown her hospitality.

12. She never arrives empty handed. Bringing a small hostess gift shows your appreciation for the preparation your host has done.

13. Her word is her bond. A lady warrants a respectable reputation purely by the consistency of her word. She always keeps her promises.

The Dating Lady:

14. Don’t call him, he’ll call you. A lady knows that she deserves to be pursued and does not do it or him. If you are in the position that you have to initiate contact in order to communicate, then you should know that you are not dealing with a gentleman and can move on.

15. Time frame: no one gets to call you on a whim to hang out. Your time is precious and valuable and you are clearly booked days in advance. Someone who honors your time will plan ahead and ask to take you out with at least a 48 hour request.

16. You don’t meet a guy anywhere. He comes and picks you up, especially on the first date. It can be inconvenient, but is it your job to make dating you convenient? No. The last thing you want to be is convenient. However if  you are meeting someone in person for the first time, meeting in a neutral location is a smart, safe move. Always honor your intuition.

17. Curfew: Mama always said nothing good happens past 10 o’ clock and she’s pretty much right. So set the time you need to be home in advance and let your gentleman know about it ahead of time.

18. Appreciation: Being a lady and acting lady-like does not mean that you are entitled or snobby. Practice having a heart of gratitude and always say thank you for specific actions or generosities.

19. How to order: Have respect for your gentleman and do not behave with entitlement by ordering the most expensive thing on the menu. If he wants to treat you to a fine bottle of wine, he can order it or offer for you to make a selection.

20. Be a good listener and conversationalist. Put your phone away and be present. A lady is not boring, rude or dismissive.

21. Be prepared. If you are going out with a gentleman, he will cover your date. However, you should always be prepared to pay if the date does not go well or he forgets his wallet. The gentleman version of this article on GoodGuySwag.com says,

“An English gentleman never split the meal with his date. The English used the term “go dutch” in “derisive application,” as they stereotyped the Dutch as being cheap, or “stingy.” Today, the gentleman always picks up the tab, especially on the first date, and with no expectations.”

30 Characteristics of a Modern Lady explains that ultimately etiquette is the natural byproduct that flows through a lady’s character. These traditions are mostly common- sense that simply allow you and others to enjoy life more.

If this article intrigued you, please share to inspire others.

Join the She is More Facebook community here.

How To Have A Happy And Productive Day

Have you ever noticed that if you wake up late, race to get out the door on time, start your day frazzled and frantic, the whole day seems to go downhill at the speed of light?

I'm borderline phobic about being late for anything, so to avoid starting my day out with an I'm-running-late stress-bomb I started working out ways to make my morning flow nicely. The more steps I added in, the better my entire day became. I found myself happier, more productive and more relaxed all day.

10 Steps To Make Sure You Have A Happy And Productive Day.

1. Go To Bed Early.
Well, I would love to get to bed early, but that pretty much never happens, so I focus on getting to bed a half hour earlier than usual. Sometimes its only 15 minutes earlier, but every little bit counts.

2. Plan Tomorrow's Outfit Tonight.
Lay out tomorrow's clothes before you go to bed, or at least think them out. Mornings move more smoothly when your wardrobe is at least mentally sorted ahead of time.

3. Wake With Gratitude.
Get into the habit of starting your day by acknowledging 10 things you are grateful for. Think them out before you get out of bed.
If you start your day with gratitude you will automatically be happy. There's magic in this madness too - the more you tell the Universe you are grateful for, the more things it will give you to be grateful for. 

4. Stretch.
Whether you do sun salutations or just simple stretches, your body, your mind and your soul will love you for it.

5. No Screens For 30 Minutes.
There was a time when I would automatically click on CNN and start scrolling through emails as soon as I woke up. Now I have a no screens policy.
When you don't have news hysteria hijacking your brain, and you wait 30 minutes before even considering opening email, your mind can ease into your day.
I used to think that I needed to be informed and know what was happening in the world, but then I realized that CNN doesn't give you world news anyway, and they just regurgitate the same stories over and over for the first few hours of the morning, so you won't be missing anything if you wait 30 minutes.

6. Play Music.
With news television out of the way, start your day with beautiful music. Or invigorating music. Something happy and inspiring to lift you up.

7. Drink Water Before Coffee.
Start your day with a large glass of cold water infused with lemons.
Lemon water is good for your skin, good for your immune system, detoxes your liver, relieves stress and much more.

start your day with lemon water

8. Exercise. (if you can)
Anytime that I can exercise in the early morning I feel fantastic all day. As a makeup artist I have so many super early starts to the day that I hardly ever get to work out as early as I would like. Even doing just 10 minutes of yoga will lift your spirits, but if you can get outside and run or bike or power walk, mother nature will lift you even more.

9. Live With Intention.
While you are getting ready visualize the day ahead, seeing everything going the way you want it to. Over time you will find that instead of worrying about deadlines and meetings, reviews and potential problems, your brain will automatically plug into the most positive potential outcome. Not only will you walk taller and with more confidence, but instead of worrying about what might go wrong your mind will move to problem solving mode, priming you for success.

10. Make Today Count.
I love this quote from Steve Jobs' famous commencement speech at Stanford in 2005. 
If it was my last day in the world I would spend it traveling somewhere fabulous with those I love most...

For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Have yourself a happy and productive day my friends.
xo

The 6 Physical Features That Men Can't Resist

I couldn't resist reposting this article!

And who better to pair it with than sex-bomb Christina Hendricks?

I'm pretty certain most men would have a very hard time resisting her...

The 6 Physical Features That Men Can't Resist

via Redbook

We all know that every time a man gives us the once-over, he's probably thinking about sex. But now, science can explain why men are constantly checking us out. Turns out, there's a specific formula for their once-over. Some of it's silly, but most of it you can easily nail. According to Business Insider, every time a man checks out a woman, he's performing a reproductive fitness assessment. Men were designed to look for key features in women. These features make women attractive because they are associated with good health and fertility. When men notice these features, they are subconsciously thinking, she could have my babies! Making them subconsciously, or very consciously, attracted to you.

Science has proven men to be attracted to women with these 6 features. According to the data, here's what it takes to be "attractive:"

A Wider Waist to Hips Ratio.

A ratio of 7:10 is particularly pleasing, apparently. The waist and hips are related to childbirth, making men think, those big hips would be great for delivering my baby! This one's pretty obvious– men like small waists and big butts. I guess that would explain why waist-trainers and the Kardashians are trending.

A High Voice.

According to a study cited in the video, a high-pitched voice evokes youthfulness and signifies a small, feminine body, both of which are attractive to men. Let's just say our high-pitched shrieks at the scandalous happenings on the Real Housewives is a sign of evolution at work.

Healthy Hair.

Shiny, full, and long hair is very attractive. Again, it's a sign of health and fertility. And thankfully, very fake-able with regular salon visits and blowouts. Remember, it's for the future of the human race.

Smiles.

Well obviously, happy people are attractive people. But science has also proven the whiter the teeth, the better.

Less Makeup.

You may think that contouring, layers of eye shadow, and bold lips are making you more beautiful, but it turns out, the natural look is more appealing to men. The video says that men prefer women who use up to 40% fewer cosmetics. But it shouldn't take science to tell you that the natural you, is the best you.

Wearing Red.

There's a reason red is associated with lust. Scientists have proven that wearing red enhances attraction. In fact, they've found this phenomenon to hold true in other animals as well. Note to self: dry clean red dress for Saturday date night.This all said, there's plenty of counter research that men are just happy to be getting laid at all. One thing's for sure– they're lucky to have us, just the way we are.

Is He Cheating On You??

The very best piece of advice I have ever received from a man (actually from anyone) was given to me by the head of the largest private security firm in Los Angeles, shortly after I arrived there from London many years ago.
 He said: always trust your intuition. Always.

image via superawesomecoolclub.wordpress.com

Admittedly he was talking more about being attacked or followed, but it also applies to the study of people. And I have never forgotten that advice.

I have always been an inveterate studier of people. I find people completely fascinating. I work with some of the most intriguing people in the world. I also work with some of the greatest philanderers on the planet and get to watch them in action. I watch the dad's at the park (with their kids) in action too - it's all the same.

This past weekend my phone was literally blowing up with 2 friends going through the "I think he's cheating" routine. Which in turn made me bring this post forward - It was originally scheduled for March.

So if you are wondering if he is cheating on you or not, here is the advice I give and have given for years to girlfriends all over the world. (and being that most of you reading this blog are girls, you have no doubt participated in this same conversation hundreds of times too)

image via Seunsblog

1. Trust your intuition.
If you suspect he is cheating on you then he probably is.

2. If you are snooping through his emails, his social media, his phone and aren't finding anything, but your intuition is telling you there's something not right, then he probably is. 
Plenty of men have secret social media profiles and email addresses, even secret phones. 
** It should be noted though that if you are indeed snooping through his devices you either need to work on your self esteem or move on. There is nothing healthy about feeling that you need to spy on your partner.


3. The relationship re-evaluation.
How much of it is about really enjoying each others company and wanting to find quality time together? Does he choose to spend his spare time with you, or are you forcing him to? I have an aquaintance who keeps her boyfriend on the shortest, tightest leash you can imagine. She controls where he is at all times and he isn't allowed any friends that aren't her friends. But he still finds ways to cheat.

4. He changes his weight or his appearance.
I don't think the constant cheater necessarily changes his appearance, but the guy who has recently found a side interest frequently will trim down, take more interest in his appearance, make an effort to look good for no apparent reason.

5. His memories are wrong
He refers to movies that you saw together, but that you didn't see with him. Or maybe wine bars you've never been to. As he spends more time with her his memories blur into one another and he can't quite remember who he did something with.

6. He suddenly gets defensive.
If you question something and he gets defensive instead of mildly annoyed there's a good chance something is up.
Although I have watched serial cheaters in action over the years, and their absolute cool when under fire is borderline scary.

image via idealmagazine.co.uk

7. He needs a lot of privacy, especially with his devices.
If your guy suddenly needs privacy when he's texting or typing away on his devices, chances are something's up.
I have a few clients though who sit there texting their side pieces while their wife is in the room, completely oblivious. They know that I know, but the wife is either in major denial or completely unaware. #awkward.

8. Pay close attention to detail.
One of the most successful cheaters I have ever known told me that the trick to successful lying is in the details. He said that what trips most men up is that they haven't fleshed out a good, detail specific story ahead of time, and if they have done then they forget it a couple of days later.
Rather than go through his phone, randomly pick your guy's brain. If he was actually where he says he was he will naturally remember things about it, who he was with, random little things.
If he gets evasive or irritated there is a strong chance he's lying. 

9. His provenance.
I know you can't generalize, but there are certain nationalities for whom cheating is a national pastime. Especially the frenchies and the italians! I recently sat next to the most glorious Parisienne on a flight home from France. She told me that Parisian women aren't thin because of any diet - she said it's the endless stress of wondering who of your friends are sleeping with your husband! She also told me she's never met an Italian who isn't a cheater, but I like to think I know at least a couple.

10. Body language.
People give their game away with their body language. Even just learning the basics will serve you well in business, in life, and in telling whether or not he's cheating. Unless he is a pure sociopath his eye movements alone will tell you when he's lying.


The perilous terrain known as Cougarland
I know a few women in their 50s dating boys in their 30s. In every case she is the one with the money, and in some cases there is a green card in it for him. I feel like beating my head against a brick wall when they start questioning if I think he's maybe cheating on her. Um.. yes. He is!!
I'm sure there are cougar relationships that work well, but back to my first point, if your intuition is telling you something's not right, it's not right.
I know one young fellow in a relationship with an older woman who told me he cheats on her all the time because she emasculates him. She always talks down to and about him, which also makes it uncomfortable to everyone else in the room. He was showing us his holiday photos the other day (she pays for great vacations) and one of the guys said it looked like our young friend was at an AARP convention. 
I'm not anti cougar by any means, I just have never seen a cougar based relationship work for particularly long, unless she's really not much older than he, and he is the primary bread winner.

 Don't blame the side action.
The female reflex seems to always be to blame the side-girl that he's involved with, instead of blaming him. If he's not loyal to you then he is the problem, not her.
And if you are the side girl always remember if you do manage to oust the wife/girlfriend and become his number one, the side girl position is now open...

Midweek Wisdom #5

Don't you just love this image?
Shirley Maclaine looking entirely fabulous in long black gloves and rhinestone glasses,
rocking a little PanAm-glam in 1960 at Idlewild airport,
on her way to Italy.

Shirley Maclaine traveling to Italy from Idlewild, 1960

Midweek Wisdom quote #5

"Don't let your past steal your future.

Move on."

Midweek Wisdom and Airport Celebs # 4

Happy Hump day!

Here is some midweek wisdom

that you should take to heart...

Frank Sinatra 1956

"Always be careful of what you hear about a woman.

Rumors either come from a man

who can't have her,

or a woman who can't compete with her"

xo

Midweek Wisdom and Airport Celebs # 3

Happy hump day!

It's time for a little midweek wisdom

paired with a vintage photo of a celeb at an airport.

This week is the irrepressible Liz Taylor

arriving in New York in 1968.

I'd love to think that this is something she would have said.

Liz Taylor arrives in New York, 1968

"Once in a while

blow your own damn mind"

xo

37 Life Lessons

37 Life Lessons In 37 Years

I love this.

Dawn Gluskin is a contributor to the Huffington Post

You can follow her here, and on her twitter link at the bottom of the article.

image courtesy of Daily Mail UK

37 Life Lessons In 37 Years

Today is my 37th birthday. And, I must say, it's been a pretty interesting ride so far. As I look back over the years and many phases of my Iife, I realize how each stage, success, stumble, triumph and heartache has had a significant impact on where I stand right now. And despite the rough patches, I love it all.

From a shy yet studious little girl, to an artsy and somewhat rebellious teenager, to a happy-go-lucky big-dreaming 20-something with a bit of a wild side, my metamorphosis were plentiful in my early years. Now into my 30s, my heart has grown a few sizes larger and overflows with motherly love as I've discovered what matters most in life. And my entrepreneurial experiences have been a crash course in lessons of life, business and self that, at times, brought me to the brink of what I thought I could handle, only to be rewarded nicely for sticking it out and seeing it through.

As I continue to step more fully into myself each day and bring to light my mission of helping others build their own dreams with joy and ease, I've racked my brain to think of my top 37 life lessons so far. On this day of celebrating another trip around the sun, I share these with you and hope you find inspiration as I have. Enjoy!

Top 37 Life Lessons So Far...

1. Happiness comes from within. We spend way too much of our lives looking for outside validation and approval that eludes us. Turns out, it's been an inside job all along. Go inward.
2. Be grateful for everything. The good, the bad, the ugly. Our entire life is a precious gift. The pleasure, the pain -- it's all part of our path.
3. Subtle shifts in perception will transform your entire life. When feeling fearful, angry, hurt, simply choose to see a situation differently.
4. In being true to yourself, you can't possibly make everybody else happy.Still, it's better to risk being disliked for living your truth than to be loved for what you are pretending to be.
5. The world is our mirror. What we love in others is a reflection of what we love about ourselves. What upsets us about others is a strong indication of what we need to look at more closely within ourselves.
6. Everybody comes into our life for a reason. It is up to us to be open to the lesson they are meant to teach. The more someone rubs us the wrong way, the greater the lesson. Take notes.
7. Trust. In troubled times, just know that the Universe has your back and everything is going to be alright. If you're not there yet, trust in hindsight you will understand. Your higher good is being supported, always.
8. Never take things personally. What others do is a reflection of what's going on in their own life and probably has little or nothing to do with you.
9. A walk in nature cures a lot. Taking in some fresh air and the beautiful landscape of this earth is amazingly head-clearing, grounding, and mood-lifting. Bonus: You can learn a whole lot about life in your observation of the awesomeness which is nature.
10. Hurt people hurt people. Love them anyway. Although, it's totally okay to love them from a distance.
11. You have to feel it to heal it. Bring your fears and weaknesses front and center and shine a blazing spotlight on them because the only way out is through. The hurt of facing the truth is SO worth it in the long run, I swear.
12. Perfectionism is an illusion. A painful one at that. Ease up. Strive for excellence, sure, but allow yourself room to make mistakes and permission to be happy regardless of outcome.
13. Take the blinders off. Don't become so laser-focused on your own goals and desires that you miss out on the beauty in life and the people around you. The world is stunningly beautiful when you walk around with eyes wide open.
14. Celebrate the journey. It's not all about the destination. Savor all of your successes, even the small ones.
15. Forgiveness is not so much about the other person. It's about you and for you so that you can gain the peace and freedom you deserve. Forgive quickly and often.
16. We are all incredibly intuitive. When we learn to become still and listen, we can tap into some pretty amazing primal wisdom. Listen to the quiet whisper of your heart. It knows the way.
17. Let your soul shine! Be authentic. There is nobody else on this earth just like you. Step into your truth wholeheartedly and live and breathe your purpose.
18. We are powerful creators. Seriously, bad-asses. With intention, focus, and persistence -- anything is possible. Know this.
19. I am full of light. You are full of light. We are all full of light. Some cast shadows on their own brightness. Be a beacon of light to others and show them the way.
20. Don't take life too seriously! Nobody gets out alive anyway. Smile. Be goofy. Take chances. Have fun.
21. Surround yourself with people who love and support you. And, love and support them right back! Life is too short for anything less.
22. Learn the delicate dance. Have big beautiful dreams and vision. Chase them with much passion. But, also hold on to them all ever so lightly. Be flexible and willing to flow as life comes at you.
23. Giving is the secret to receiving. Share your wisdom, your love, your talents. Share freely and be amazed at how much beauty in life flows back to you.
24. On that note, be careful not to give too much. If you empty out your own cup completely, you will have nothing left to give. Balance is key.
25. Say "YES!" to everything that lights you up. Say "no", unapologetically, to anything that doesn't excite you or you don't have the bandwidth for. Time is one of our most precious resources that we can never get back. Manage it wisely.
26. Sometimes we outgrow friendships. It doesn't mean they're bad or you're bad. It just means you're on different paths. Hold them in your heart, but when they start to hurt or hold you back, it's time to give space or let go.
27. Fear is often a very good indicator of what we really want and need in our life. Let it be your compass and enjoy the exciting adventure it leads you on.
28. Overcoming your fears is one of the most empowering things you can ever do for yourself. You'll prove to yourself you can truly accomplish anything! Major self-confidence booster.
29. Our bodies are our vehicle to our dreams. Treat them with love and fuel them with the best health to feel vibrant and energized. But, never obsess over image. Looks are subjective and will fade in time, anyway. Feeling good, healthy, and comfortable in our own skin is what matters most.
30. Let those that you love know it often and enthusiastically. You can never say it or show it too much. Your time, total presence, love, and genuine concern for their wellness is the greatest gift of all.
31. The present moment is where it's at. It's the only one promised to any of us. Learn from your past & enjoy the beautiful memories, but don't cling or let them haunt you. And, dream big and be excited about the future, but don't become obsessed. Love this moment, always.
32. Life is full of highs and lows. We need them both to grow to our fullest potential. Just hang on tight and enjoy the ride.
33. We are all connected as one human family. Nobody is better or worse than anyone else -- just at different stages of our journeys and dealing with life the best way we know how. Recognize that the other person is you.
34. Practice daily gratitude for all the blessings in your life, large and small. Not only is this a high vibe practice that feels amazing, in practicing regularly you are creating space for even more abundance -- of joy, love, health, and prosperity.
35. We are not the center of the universe, although our ego can make us feel that way at times. Step outside of that way of thinking and see the world and other people's perspective in a whole new beautiful light.
36. The world needs more love, light, and laughter. Go be love.
37. You are the guru. For much of our lives, we have been told what do, how to think, what looks good, what "success" is. You don't have to buy into any of it. Feel free to peel back the layers. Think for yourself. Break the mold. When you stop doing what everybody else wants you to do and start following your own intuition, you will be ridiculously happy.

In looking back at your own life, realize that every high and low is all part of your amazing story. Own it! Take cues and guidance from the universe and you will continue to go on an incredible ride as you fully step into your truth and power.

Age is just a number, but the higher it gets, the more wisdom and life experience we've amassed. You are never going to be younger than you are in this present moment again. So embrace it, love it, and enjoy it fully!

Here's to many more beautiful years of seeking-truth, questioning all that does not sit right, and making your greatest impact in the world! I look forward to adding more lessons as life continues to give me the opportunity to learn, grow, transform, share and expand. Hope you will too.

With much love,
Dawn

For more inspiration, visit the Dawnsense site and sign up for weekly love letters. Also, join the supportive Dawnsense community on Facebook and Twitter .

 

Follow Dawn Gluskin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/dawngluskin

End Of Year Wisdom

The year is nearly over.

As you contemplate the year to come and reflect on the one that's ending, here are some words to think about.

The only time you should ever look back

is to see how far you've come

xo

There's A Cold Winter Coming...

If flowers can teach themselves how to bloom

after the long, cold winter passes,

then so can you.

Sunflowers in Cortona, Italy

Your winter will pass,

there is a springtime coming.

Happy Monday

xo