LOREN RIDINGER FEATURED IN COSMO’S FUN FEARLESS LATINA ISSUE!

Cosmo for Latina Fun Fearless Latina Award Winners!

• Michelle Rodriguez, Fun Fearless Latina of the Year
• Natalie Morales, NBC’s Today Show news anchor
• La La Anthony, actress and creator of Motives for La La
• Loren Ridinger, SVP of Market America and Shop.com, creator of Motives Cosmetics
• Marlen Esparza, Olympic boxer and businesswoman
• Maria Cervantes, community relations officer
• Erika Andiola, community organizer, Arizona DREAM Act activist
• Alexandra Wilkis, co-founder of Gilt.com
• Leticia Márquez-Magaña, Professor of Biology at SFSU
• Magaly Chocano, CEO and founder Sweb Development
• Shirley Diaz, reader winner! Grad student
• Al Madrigal, +1 guy winner! Comedian

For more on the amazing winners, pick up the May issue of Cosmo for Latinas or read more on their website. And check back tomorrow to see more from our event. xo

If you missed it, watch the video of Jodi Arias‘ opening statement to the jury below.

Jodi Arias Murder Trial: Pleads for Life in Prison

[UPDATE] Jodi Arias is found guilty of extreme cruelty, which makes her eligible for the death penalty.

[UPDATE] The jury’s unanimous vote in the Jodi Arias murder trial is in. Jodi Arias is found guilty in the first degree.

The live murder trial that has captivated America has finally reached a verdict today after 15 hours of deliberation. 32-year-old Jodi Arias has been on trial since January for the murder of her boyfriend Travis Alexander, whom she killed in June of 2008 at his home in Arizona.

Jodi originally told police that masked intruders shot Travis in the head and stabbed him nearly 30 times, however she changed her story two years later after being arrested, citing self-defense.

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Ray Roman Interview: the Artist Behind Amber Ridinger’s Wedding Video

1. Tell us a little bit about your background and when you started working in the film industry.
I started producing wedding and special event films in 2006 with my wife Jessica. We both worked full time jobs and filmed events on the weekends. Over the course of the next couple of years, this “side business” quickly evolved into one of the most successful studios in our area. A couple of years later, we decided to leave our day jobs to run the business full-time. Over the course of the next couple of years, we learned as much as we could about this new found craft. We were so passionate about being able to tell people’s stories through our films. After winning countless International awards for our work, in 2010, we were named one of the hottest and most influential studios in the world by EventDV Magazine. Today, we are widely regarded as one of the top 5 studios in the world. From 2009 to present, I have been fortunate enough to speak at every major video conference around the world for wedding and special events. I continue to give back to the industry and share knowledge through our International workshops and seminars that stretch across the globe. We are truly humbled by our success.

2. You’ve worked with everyone from Chris and Adrienne Bosh to having been featured on Oprah. Which career moment are you most proud of?
It is truly an honor (and of course really exciting) when high profile couples (such as the Bosh’s) decide to entrust us with documenting one of the most important days of their lives. We are so passionate about what we do and I know that the attention to detail we put into each film is second to none. I have no doubt (no matter who it is) that the film we produce will be a masterpiece that the couple will enjoy for a lifetime. I don’t think I can point to just one moment because there’s been so many, but I’m mostly proud of how far we’ve come in such a short amount of time. Every day is a blessing for us and we are grateful for every opportunity that we have been given.

3. When did you transition into your now-famous wedding films? Was it an aha-moment for you?
It didn’t take too long to become popular locally in South Florida, but becoming recognized Internationally took a few years of hard work and dedication. I know that everything in life is possible through hard work and dedication. I’ve always believed that if you work hard, have a good heart and stay humble, great things will come.

4. Tell us about your most memorable wedding to film.
We’ve had so many memorable weddings (including Amber and Duane’s Royal Wedding), but one that I will always remember was one bride whose mother was terminally ill, but had taken special medications in order to attend the wedding. Just to be able to document their last moments together was a true honor and a memory that will last forever.

5. You have created a story for Amber and Duane during the DNA Royal Wedding. What was that like?
If you ever imagined a true fairytale coming to life, this would best describe Amber and Duane’s amazing wedding. I knew this was a high profile wedding, but I had never met Amber and Duane before I was hired (so I really didn’t know what to expect). I was fortunate enough to produce a pre-wedding film for Amber and Duane, which we filmed in New York City prior to the wedding. As soon as I walked in the door, it almost felt as though I’d known Amber for years.. she was so down to earth and friendly. When I met up with Duane, it was like we had been separated at birth.. we had everything in common musically and our personalities were very similar. I was also looking forward to meeting Amber’s mom (Loren) and funny enough, I found her on the livingroom couch almost crying as she sat watching a film on my website. I couldn’t believe it.. what a cool family! Needless to say, we all connected perfectly and I was ready for the Royal Wedding!

The wedding at the Ritz-Carlton – Dorado Beach was nothing short of spectacular. The wedding design by Preston Bailey was shocking and the visual eye-candy sprinkled across this event was jaw-dropping to say the least. But beyond all the glitz and glamour that went into the event, Amber and Duane’s love for each other was the real magic. I’m beyond honored to have been given the opportunity to document this wedding, but I’m even more honored to now call Amber and Duane my friends. I can honestly say that the Ridinger and McLaughlin families are truly good people.

There is confusion over the official death toll as of Tuesday morning, but many of them are children, as two elementary schools were severely damaged. I am praying for their sweet young souls. Search and rescue is still underway.

REPORT: Oklahoma Tornado Death Toll Still Rising 

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Even though it feels like we are helpless, the best thing we can do is text the Red Cross and 90999 and donate $10. Please do and give what you can do the Oklahoma tornado victims.

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New Judges: Kelly Rowland & Paulina Rubio Join X Factor

Kelly Rowland: “I am very excited to be reuniting with Simon Cowell and The X Factor family. It feels great to be able to take this journey here at home in the states!”

Paulina Rubio: “I love The X Factor I can’t wait to find the next big music star here in America. I’m so thrilled to be part of the show as a judge. Simon, be careful what you wish for! Let’s see if you are ready to handle me. Empieza la fiesta, amigo!”

I just saw Paulina at my daughter Amber’s baby shower over the weekend and we are so proud of both her and Kelly! Congratulations ladies of course we will be watching when the next X Factor season premieres! xo

I had to share such a good cause and let everyone know that the “it” bag for summer not only looks good, but feels good. Rachel’s tote is available now on SHOP.COM for $78 with a portion of the proceeds dedicated to feeding children in India.

Rachel Roy’s FEED the Children of India Limited Edition Tote

Rachel Roy will donate proceeds from this limited edition bag to FEED Projects. Part of Rachel Roy’s Kindness Is Always Fashionable initiative, this casual canvas tote is detailed with an elaborate pattern and bright tassels. A ‘Feed 100′ patch accents the front.

Are you familiar with the FEED project? Do you have any FEED totes in your collection?

Many Tumblr users have taken to social media to share in their disappointment with David Karp for selling to Yahoo!, however the CEO said in a statement: , “Our team isn’t changing. Our roadmap isn’t changing. And our mission – to empower creators to make their best work and get it in front of the audience they deserve – certainly isn’t changing. But we’re elated to have the support of Yahoo! and their team who share our dream to make the Internet the ultimate creative canvas. Tumblr gets better faster with more resources to draw from.”

Marissa Mayer released a statement of her own, tweeting “We promise not to screw it up.”

The Yahoo Tumblr acquisition is also the first ever to be announced by the ever-popular gif, seen below.

REPORT: Yahoo to Purchase Tumblr for $1.1 Billion

What do you think about Yahoo buying Tumblr? Are you a Tumblr user?

Reflect on Your Mistakes to Find True Success

• Accept responsibility.
• Change the way you respond to your mistakes.
• Get a better understanding of the why behind the mistake.
• Take a look at how you could have changed the circumstances.
• Evaluate the factors that led up to the mistake.
• Get a better understanding of how your behavior could have been different.

Remembering Why Mistakes Are Important in Life

How do you feel about learning from failures and mistakes? Are you able to admit when you’re wrong?

5 Super Simple Ways to Take Better Care of Yourself

• Set aside time each day for a 10 minute walk. Getting some fresh air is totally refreshing!
• Listen to music you love every day. Put your most mundane tasks to music and you’ll feel great.
• Spend time with your friends (even if it’s a quick phone call) at least once a week.
• Replace junk food with energizing snacks – like fruit smoothies, whole grain crackers and almond butter.
• Try taking power naps (just 10-15 minutes) when you can get away. It might be just what you need.

Can you do it? Will you try to make these easy ways to take better care of yourself part of your daily routine?

One town in South Florida has urged its citizens to take some serious safety precautions after a local resident suffered a tumor above his left ear and thumb. While it’s not definite, the tumors could be linked to cell phone radiation. Rather than ignoring the possible issues, why not check out this list for practicing cell phone safety, today.

Ever Thought About Practicing Cell Phone Safety?

• Keep the phone away from your head. Use speakerphone or a headset whenever possible.
• Make calls when the battery is fully charged. A low battery makes the phone work harder, which increases radiation exposure.
• Store in your bag. Keeping your phone out of your pants pocket gives you a healthy distance, lessening your exposure to radiation.
• Don’t sleep with your phone right next to you.

What do you think – do you practice cell phone safety? Will you start now that you’ve read this post?

Between watermelon, strawberries, corn, tomatoes and peaches – all you have to do is look to the garden or your local farmer’s market for healthy on the go snacks for summer. Check out this guide to my faves, then grab a snack and hit the beach!

Healthy on the Go Snacks for Summer

• Watermelon
• Frozen grapes! (YUM)
• Pretzels + mustard (salty treat)
• A juicy peach + low fat string cheese (perfect combo)
• Sugar snap peas + hummus
• Greek yogurt with a little granola and fresh berries
• Cantaloupe
• Big glass of water with a slice of lemon

How about you – what are your favorite healthy on the go snacks for summer?

Top 10 Graduation Movies to Watch This Weekend

• Legally Blonde
• Post Grad
• Twilight: Eclipse
• Say Anything
• 21 Jump Street
• Adventureland
• She’s All That
• Like Crazy
• The Girl Next Door
• Love & Basketball

Have any other graduation movies to add to the list?

Rumor: Beyonce Pregnant with Baby Number 2?

Eva Longoria’s Sleek Ponytail at the Cannes Film Festival

Actress Eva Longoria attends the Premiere of ‘Le Passe’ (The Past) during The 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 17, 2013 in Cannes, France.

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Breathtaking baby! You looked amazing as always. The Queen of Cannes. xox

While they bake, the two chat about everything from Blake’s red carpet style to home renovations and redecorating. Watch the debut episode below!

Blake Lively Cooks in new Vogue Web Series Elettra’s Goodness

Candidly Nicole AOL Internet Series with Nicole Richie Gets 1 Million Views

Next up? You can expect to see Seth Meyers, Grace Coddington and Karlie Kloss in the upcoming Elettra’s Goodness episodes. If you love the new concept as much I do, make sure to tweet @voguemagazine using #goodness! xo

15 Things to Do After Work Today

1. Go for a walk on your favorite trail or park
2. Try a yoga class or yoga DVD
3. Cook a new recipe for your family
4. Go for a bike ride
5. Take a swim at the local community pool
6. Daydream about your next vacation
7. Read a book with your kids
8. Plant a garden
9. Start a blog
10. Go for a romantic sunset walk with your partner
11. Take a bubble bath
12. Get a mani/pedi
13. Take your dog out for a run
14. Go out to dinner
15. See a movie

What do you think of this list of fun things to do after work – will one of these activities get you out of your rut?

Do you think she pulled it off? Do you match your lip and nail color?

Cannes Film Festival Beauty: Cara Delevingne at the Opening Ceremony 

Cara Delevingne attends the Opening Ceremony and ‘The Great Gatsby’ Premiere during the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at the Theatre Lumiere on May 15, 2013 in Cannes, France.

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Most Talked About Topics on Social Media Right Now

TOP SHARED

• tech & social
• food, drink & travel
• movies & television
• music & arts
• health & sports
• fashion & shopping

TOP SEARCH

• Facebook: cooking, food, nutrition and fitness
• Twitter: technology, social media

Are you surprised by the most popular social media topics? What do you personally share the most on Facebook and Twitter?

Need More Info on Business Grants for Women?

• Develop a business plan. Give grant administrators a better understanding of your goals and strategy.
• Do your due diligence. Find the grants that suit your business plan.
• Check out grants.gov for local and national government grants.
• Stay organized and on top of the application process. Grant applications can be pretty demanding; make sure you know exactly what’s expected.
• Submit thoughtful and professional applications.
• Go for it!

Have you ever applied for a small business grants for women? How did it go?

Google I/O 2013 Keynote Features You Need to Know

• Google has revamped Maps adding more interactive features like Zagat reviews, discounts and offers.
• Activity Recognition is a new API that tracks fitness because it can detects if the user is biking, walking, etc.
• Google Cloud for synching devices
• Google Play Music All Access is a “radio without rules” for $9.99 per month
• Google Play will have Cloud save, allowing your games to synch on different devices
• Google + will have 41 new features including hashtags, single or multiple columns (similar to Pinterest!), infinite scroll, and a standalone Hangout app
• Photo effects include an auto enhancer, editor and GIF creator. Google can now pick out your best pictures and put together a highlight reel for you
• Data real time search, plus voice search will be available for desktop and mobile. Google Search also talks back to you. Start your Google Search conversation simply by saying “Ok, Google”

Did you watch the Google Keynote today? Were you excited or disappointed?

“The Great Gatsby” movie is one of the most anticipated films of 2013. The New York Times, Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times, Vanity Fair – and multiple media outlets have done various stories about the clothes, cocktails and culture of the 1920s. But there is more to the story of “The Great Gatsby” than meets the eye. Upon a deeper reflection, I noticed the abundant life metaphors woven throughout the script.

Watching this blockbuster movie or reading the famous novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, can inspire more than just a feel good time, deeply hidden within the characters are life lessons, and tales of tribulations. Here are the top ways “The Great Gatsby” can make you happier. And we aren’t talking about the lusty Leonardo eye candy, although he sure can make us smile.

The Great Gatsby cast in France for the Cannes Film Festival

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Top 5 Life Lessons Learned From The Great Gatsby

1. Always Try to See the Good in People

In the opening scene, Nick Carraway says that his father’s best advice was to, “Always try to see the good in people.” This helped his character meet interesting people and live a life full of rich experiences.

In our life, we can choose to focus on the good in people. When we spend our time in relationships looking at the flaws, what we don’t want and the bad aspects of the other people, we often feel separated and unhappy. Always give others the benefit of the doubt and see the good in them.

2. Focus on What You Want 

Every character in the story focuses intensely on what they want. Whether they want to be with the love of their life, find out the truth or protect their loved ones, each persons motive drives their actions. The most successful people in life focus on their goal, rather than pay attention to what they don’t want.

3. You Can Change Your Fate

Jay Gatsby did not let his circumstances define who he was. He was born poor but believed in the power of his dream, and with a surmounted amount of hope and optimism he created a new life for himself. He proves to us all that we always have the power to transform our dreams into reality.

4. Celebrate Life 

Jay Gatsby throws extravagant parties every Saturday night, and his guests come with one goal, to celebrate life! The parties are an attempt to make the most out of every moment and love life to the fullest. But you don’t have to live in a gothic mansion like Jay Gatsby to throw a “My life Rocks” party. Celebrating life and every moment can help you feel more abundant and happy.

5. Money Can’t Buy Love or Happiness 

Gatsby’s extravagant lifestyle and wild parties are simply an attempt to impress his lost love, Daisy. He creates a life of luxury in hopes of finding happiness. Using money as power proves to be unsuccessful. When we think about the American dream, “The Great Gatsby,” is ultimately a cautionary tale of the decadent downside, which can remind us that money can never buy us happiness. What really matters in life is the relationships we have, the contributions we make and the love we give.

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Remembering Why Mistakes Are Important in Life

• Remember that learning is a very important part of life and mistakes help us learn.
• Some of life’s failures can lead to some of life’s biggest and best opportunities.
• Always try and find the best part of the mistake – what was the takeaway that will help you become a better person?
• Mistakes are often the result of taking a chance – and where would you be if you never took a chance?
• Finding true innovation often comes from multiple mistakes – remind yourself all the successful innovators who have had to try, try again…

Can you see why mistakes are important? What tactics will you use to find the good in your next mistake?

 Getting Summer Ready with SPF Makeup

If you want to do double-duty

• Motives Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation SPF 15 ($24.95) is a foundation and powder in one that is also infused with powerful antioxidants. There is nothing like this product on the market – it’s a one step process with primers, silicone and SUNSCREEN for flawless skin.

If your foundation doesn’t have SPF

• Cellular Laboratories De-Aging Moisturizing Day Crème with Sunscreen SPF 20 ($65) helps protect skin from premature aging and free radicals. Moisture-retentive, plus great for a pre-makeup application leaving your skin smooth and hydrated.

How do you feel about wearing SPF makeup? Do you like the all-in-one or a separate SPF moisturizer?

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Angelina Jolie’s Double Mastectomy to Prevent Breast Cancer

“Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much I could. I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy. During that time I have been able to keep this private and to carry on with my work. But I am writing about it now because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience.”

I think it is incredible and amazing that she was proactive about her health and showing women the importance of taking preventative action and care. You can read Angelina Jolie‘s New York Times article “My Medical Choice” by clicking here.

If you have a family history of breast cancer, talk to your doctor about being tested for the gene and what your options are. You can never be too thorough when it comes to your health.

Loren Ridinger featured in Cosmo’s Fun Fearless Latina Issue!

Loren Ridinger’s Live Twitter Chat with Cosmo for Latinas

please tweet and share this! so excited to talk with everyone tomorrow

What I’m Reading! Grace: A Memoir by Grace Coddington

Filled with her own charming illustrations, Grace Coddington’s memoir charts her extraordinary journey from war-time Anglesey in Wales, to a swinging ’60s model, Vogue fashion editor and reluctant star of The September Issue. An essential read for fans of the inimitable stylist.

You can read along with me, if you would like! Grace: A Memoir by Grace Coddington is available on net-a-porter.com for $35. If you’ve already read the memoir, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments! xo

Drinking and driving is no longer the leading cause of teenage deaths on the road. A study done by the Cohen Children’s Medical Center has revealed that texting and driving is injuring over 300,000 teens and killing at least 3,000 of them each year, all due to texting while behind the wheel.

While 39 states in the US have a ban on texting and driving, a few only have a partial ban or no ban at all (you can view a texting ban state map here).

Texting and Driving Replaces Drinking and Driving as Number 1 Killer of Teens on the Road

Dr. Andrew Adesman told CBS News, ”The reality is kids aren’t drinking seven days per week — they are carrying their phones and texting seven days per week, so you intuitively know this a more common occurrence.” Adesman is the Chief of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Cohen Children’s Medical Center and leader of the texting and driving study.

Of course, texting and driving isn’t only a teenage-related problem. Everyone needs to be more aware of what a distraction their cell phone can be. Don’t keep the phone within arms reach while in the car so you aren’t tempted and don’t forget the harm you could do to yourself and others, all because of  a text or email.

It isn’t worth it.

Twitter Ads Now Available to All U.S.-Based Small Businesses

Throughout the last year, Twitter has been hard at work making improvements and taking in heaps of user feedback to find a way to make the advertising platform available to all businesses. By visiting the self-service ad page on Twitter, you can set a per-click budget and even promote your account or specific tweets. Your business will be charged when your promoted account is followed through ads, or promoted tweets are retweeted, favorited or replied to.

What do you think – would advertising on twitter help your business?

5 Motherhood Quotes to Share This Mother’s Day

• “A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.” Cardinal Mermillod
• “Love, as powerful as your mother’s for you, leaves its own mark.” J.K. Rowling
• “Mother is one whom you hurry when you are troubled.” Emily Dickinson
• “Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field since payment is pure love.” Mildred B. Vermont
• “No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you. After all, you’re the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside.” unknown

I hope you have a wonderful Mommy’s Day! Please tweet and share this post on motherhood quotes with your friends! xox

Creating Business Videos: The Tool You May Be Missing

• Tell a story. People love watching videos that tell a story because they can totally relate. Tap into that sense of human nature with your videos.
• Include a call to action. Sometimes you just have to spell it out if you want people to do something. A video is the perfect place for that.
• Utilize professional video production services. Set aside some money in your budget to have your video professionally produced. It will make a significant difference between a success and a flop and the ROI will be huge.
• Use multiple channels to market your video. Posting your video to YouTube or MeetOn is a total must, but don’t forget to add it to your blog, Twitter and Facebook too!
• Use analytics to measure the results. You definitely want to know how many people are checking out your video – and how they’re getting there so you can capitalize on those channels.

Have you had a successful video campaign? Do you have any tips for creating online video series for business?

6 Ways to Deal with Disappointment

• Ignore critical comments – you know how great you are.
• Don’t try to speed up the process – sometimes the best comes to those who wait.
• Persevere – you’ll come out stronger on the other side.
• Write it down – get your emotions from the experience out on paper.
• Try to get a bird’s eye view – step back and take a second look at the situation.
• Try, try again – you can and you will do it.

How do you turn disappointment around take on another challenge?

Freezing Your Eggs: What You Need to Know

1. How old should I be when I freeze my eggs? Younger eggs freeze better and are able to withstand the process. Your 20’s and 30’s is the best time.
2. It is possible that I could run out of eggs if I start freezing them? No. The eggs that are frozen are eggs that would have been lost.
3. Will my insurance cover egg freezing? Most insurance will not cover this process because it’s an elective procedure.
4. How long do the frozen eggs last? This question really can’t be answered. It’s new science and technology that’s only been around for about 10 years. It’s constantly being tested.
5. Will a baby created from frozen eggs be just as healthy as a baby who is naturally conceived? According to Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg, who was interviewed for the CNN special report, “Occasional studies examining the very fine health details of IVF babies versus their non-IVF counterparts have shown that there may be a very slight increase in birth defects or subsequent health problems in IVF babies.”

Celebs like Kim Kardashian, Sofia Vergara and Jennifer Love Hewitt have been open about the egg freezing process in the press, which has raised awareness. Have you ever thought about freezing your eggs? What’s been your experience?

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5 Ways to Find Time to Exercise

1. Wake up early. Sounds scary, doesn’t it? After a few days in a row, you can change your habits and make morning workouts (when everyone else is still asleep), the best time of your day.
2. Lunch break walking workout. This is an easy one – and it feels great! Spend your lunch break power walking – work up a mild sweat, get some fresh air and burn some calories while you’re at it.
3. Get an all-day core work out. If you sit at a desk all day, switch from a chair to a stability ball – it’ll be a little uncomfortable at first, but before long your core will be rock solid.
4. Try turning your commute into a workout. Ever thought about stuffing all your essentials into a fanny pack and jogging home at the end of a long day? If you can work it out – it’ll feel great.
5. Make it romantic. Instead of going out for drinks with your honey, try taking a walk, going for a run or trying out yoga for couples.

Can these tips on finding time to exercise help you figure out how to squeeze it all in?

Don’t worry – this post isn’t a beckon to crater to your inner critic.  Stick with me, and I’ll explain.

On any given day, women and men alike struggle with inner negative thoughts about how they’re showing up in life, on the job, and in their families.  It sounds like this:  “Am I doing enough?”, “Should I be doing more to help?”, or the dreaded “Why did they pick them over me?”  It can also say “you’re not doing it right”, “there’s no way you could”, etc.

You have two voices you hear throughout your day.  One is your purest, most trusted advisor.  It’s the voice that knows the real truth, and doesn’t mind doing what’s necessary to communicate that truth.  It resonates with love, compassion, confidence, and value.  It recognizes it’s place in the market, as a human being and as a business owner or colleague among peers.  It’s the wisest voice of reason within.

Then there’s another voice.  Some have called it the inner critic, some have called it the inner mean girl, and Steven Pressfield, in his book The War of Art, calls it resistance.  Resistance comes masked in many forms, and negative self-talk is definitely one of them. The typical advice you would get from a mentor, colleague, friend, or someone who wanted to just protect you from the doubt and pain might say “just ignore it” or “don’t listen to that noise.”  The real truth though, is that you really should be listening – not obeying, but listening.

Let me explain the 3 reasons you should be listening when your inner critic speaks up to you.

3 Reasons You Should Listen to Negative Self Talk

• The first reason is she’s showing you exactly what you should be doing.  Remember the reference to two different voices you hear in a day?  The negative self-talk, once you accurately learn to recognize it, is revealing exactly what you need to be doing.  How does that work?  The resistant voice doesn’t tell the truth.  It’s constantly in opposition to the truth of who you really are – your core.  This should be an automatic reference and motivator for your pursuits in any area.  When you hear words like just, should, shouldn’t, can’t, won’t be good enough, not really, you need more, what if, or anything similar, know that the exact opposite is your truth.  Let her show you the way by revealing her negativity.  Hear it and respond by saying “SO glad you’re here – thanking you for showing up – now I know exactly what to do!”  This is counter-cultural, and it will take some work on your part, but please stop resisting hearing it.  You’ll notice a HUGE change in your work and life.
• Your negative self-talk thinks she knows best.  It’s interesting when we’re young, how we jockey for position with our parents and push the limits every chance we get – to steal the cookie out of the cookie jar when no one’s looking or take the gummy bears without asking first.  This is an innate part of babies and children’s growth – learning the limits to challenge the boundaries already set.  When we get older for some reason, we stop challenging those limits.  Think of your self-talk like the parent from your youth you always wanted to push to the edge and always challenge.  If she says not to start a business because you won’t be good enough, you’re almost guaranteed success or at least pure enjoyment trying.  She really doesn’t know what’s best, so let her speak while you go write down plans to move forward.
• The negative self-talker only shows up when something is going to grow and stretch you.  In other words, the inner critic doesn’t show up when you’re about to clean house or get your car washed.  These are rote activities that require no sacrifice from you, no real growth, or much thought.  The critic doesn’t talk when you’re doing activities that aren’t going to push your life or work forward.  So, we need to pay attention to when we hear the voice because it’s there we know we’re on to something that could really stretch us into a new level in our work.  Usually, you’ll hear this when you need to ask for a promotion, start your own business, end a relationship, or say “no” to that invitation or person.  All very uncomfortable things where the negative self-talker LOVES to show up and roar.

The most important lesson, besides noticing and listening to your negative self-talk and getting intimate with its characteristics is to stop resisting it.  What you resist will persist.  Don’t talk angrily back to the voice when you hear it – deal in compassion and love.  Let your inner critic know you have things taken care of, and you actually can do what she’s telling you isn’t yours to do.  This is a very counter-cultural idea, but it’s usually in those ideas we find the greatest wisdom and growth for our life and work.  My hope is that this can really change how you’re showing up every day – after all, we need you to show up.

The Awesome Health Benefits of Probiotics

• Support healthy digestion by helping to produce digestive enzymes.
• Help to form essential vitamins like B and K.
• Support a healthy balance of intestinal bacteria (especially after a round of antibiotics).
• Stimulate the immune system – helping it to resist infection.
• Vital contribution to overall well-being.

Combined with digestive enzymes, these supplements can change your life. Any probiotics health benefits you have noticed and want to share?

 Downtown Cipriani: Waterfont Italian Restaurant Opens in Miami

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Aspiring to Be the Next Amazon

Combining Direct Selling with Online Shopping, Market Taiwan Is Building a New Engine for Growth

Market Taiwan came into the direct selling arena of Taiwan relatively late. This year about 15,000 people participated in its annual convention. More than 200,000 people shop on its website, and more than 70,000 distributors are looking to make a fortune with this business. What is Market America’s business model? How is it going to become the next Amazon?

On the first weekend of May, about 15,000 people thronged into Nangang Exhibition Center for the biannual convention of the MLM company Market Taiwan. Marc Ashley, Market America COO and founder JR’s brother in law, flew in from the US to participate in the convention and share the new EMP.

The ticket to this two-day meeting costs NT$3800. Market Taiwan told us that nearly 18,000 tickets were sold—more than Jay Chou’s concert at Taipei Arena. The next convention will be held in November. Market America founders JR and Loren Ridinger will be present too, which indicates they take the Taiwanese market very seriously.

Market Taiwan entered the Taiwan market in August 2005. In just 3 years, it reached a turnover of more than NT$2 billion. Entering the Taiwan direct selling arena relatively late, it made its way to the top 10 in the first year. How did Market Taiwan grow so rapidly in Taiwan’s intensely competitive direct selling market?

COO Marc Ashley, who also took part in the founding of the company, took time to be interviewed by Business Today in his hectic four-day trip in Taiwan, sharing the successful experience of Market America and the story of how it was founded.

The success of Market America in the US was established in three stages. Stage one is the initial stage when JR founded the business. Marc remembers that JR had been an excellent direct selling agent. But the system JR participated in was not sound, thus his business was struggling to go up to the next level.

JR’s wife Loren and his brother Marc therefore suggested “Why don’t you start your own business?” In 1992, with tens of thousands US dollars, he founded Market America Inc. in North Carolina, US. Two years later, JR found a revolutionary nutrition supplement, and it became Market America’s main product. “The biggest feature of our product is that the grape seed, pine bark, and red wine extracts are in isotonic form, letting the human body absorb it completely and getting the nutrients more efficiently than with ordinary supplements.” Marc recalls rapid growth when the product was launched.

When you have a successful product, you also need a good marketing method. Market America promotes the product through one-to-one marketing, and shares profit with distributors in the forms of bonus and commission. And in 2010, Market America acquired an online shopping company, SHOP.COM. This cross-industrial combination has made the Internet another force for growth of Market America. Marc says Market America utilizes the Internet, builds a powerful database, helps distributors understand market information, and establishes organizations that cross geographic boundaries by various types of information. Thus there is no time or boundary limit on shopping and business development.

For example, when a customer registers to be a member on a Market America website, the customer will be assigned a distributor for service to ensure the customer has satisfactory shopping experience. For consumers, this makes up for the lack of instant consulting—the major shortcoming of online shopping. For distributors with Market America, this is one major advantage “because they don’t have to worry about having no one to sell products to.” Marc says, customers shop on the online platform, while distributors can grasp consumer dynamics, creating a win-win condition for each other.

With their own shopping platform, all the registered customers and distributors shop here, creating enormous website traffic. In the world of the Internet, website traffic means cash flow. Take the example of Market Taiwan portal. Its ranking on Alexa is even higher than that of books.com.tw.

Although Market America is a direct selling company, with innovative measures and cross-industrial partnership, other products are available on Market America websites. Currently on Market Taiwan portal, consumers can find products from stores including GoHappy, EcLife, Hola, iHouse, and Taaze. In addition to the convenience consumers are enjoying, they can earn Cashback on these products just like they do on Market Taiwan branded products. This is incredible for many people.

“Actually, our goal is to become the next Amazon, providing one-stop shopping services,” Marc emphasizes.

The success in the US let Market America actively expand overseas, and Asia is an important target. Eleven years ago, the corporate headquarters got a surprising statistic figure—nearly 35% of the distributors were Chinese in the US. Thus, Market Taiwan was established in 2005, the second market in Asia after Australia. Market Hong Kong was established two years later. The reason is simple. “Because Chinese people in Asia are active, especially those in Taiwan and Hong Kong,” says Marc. As for the mainland Chinese market, Market America is still observing due to the legal restrictions.

As the Internet, social networking websites, and mobile web have become prevalent, Market America’s online marketing model may not be unique today. Therefore, finding the next niche in the ever-changing world of the Internet is a test to business managers.

“Our goal is to become the next Amazon,” says confidently Market America COO Marc Ashley.

Watch below for my roundup of video tutorials for the best Gatsby hair and makeup inspiration!

VIDEO: The Great Gatsby Hair & Makeup Tutorials

If you’ve mastered Great Gatsby hair and makeup, I’d love to see it! Tweet me a pic @lorenridinger. xo

Business Tips: Collaborating is Key for Success

• Try giving before you take – offer to help a coworker with a project before you enlist their help with your own project. Showing off your sense of team is a great way to start a relationship.
• Build meaningful relationships with people you respect. Being opportunistic is not the way to go – building long-lasting bonds will help develop a sense of team.
• Keep in mind that setting boundaries in work relationships is ok. You can’t and shouldn’t work around the clock and sometimes you have to make that known.
• Leave the office politics behind and focus on your ability to contribute to the team and the project.
• Learn from those around you. Remember that everyone you work with has something different to offer – and part of building relationships is a give and take of knowledge.

Do you find that setting boundaries in work relationships is tough? How do you make sure you’re creating solid professional bonds?