5 Things #Girlboss Taught Me

Nothing gets me more excited than when I receive a notification from Netflix on new releases. I got the notification for #Girlboss about two weeks ago. I started watching it but for whatever reason, never made it beyond episode one. Last weekend, recovering from a champagne hangover and enjoying the island breeze, I started the series from the beginning and was so inspired by Nasty Gal's founder Sophia Amoruso. Not only is she a super cool #girlboss but she goes through some real life moments that has inspired me to do things a lot little different. The realness in the lessons taught in each episode bring the perfect insight on life as a #girlboss. Some of my favorites include:

Your Word is Your Bond
From the very beginning of the show, Sophia promised to deliver a wedding dress to a bride. She was able to put the dress in the cleaners and was promised a completion date with enough time to spare to have the dress to the bride in time. When she picked it up, she got the surprise that jewels from the dress had to be replaced. Without sharing all the details of the episode, time was limited and a lot of distractions; BUT despite being wasted, afraid of bridges and having no ride, she got the dress to the bride in time (well barely).


Competition Breeds Creativity
A couple episodes in, Sophia realized that sales were slowing down, trying to determine the best way to get things back on track, she identified her biggest competitor. After researching the company and items sold, she decided to purchase the long pants that were a hit with the competitors cut. She purchased the pants cut and style them differently, then posted it for twice the price she paid, pure genius! Needless to say, things began looking up again, go #girlboss.

Never Forget Your Tribe
You know the kind of friend that would turn down a promotion and quit a job to help you to reach a goal? That was the kind of best friend that Sophia had, but could not appreciate once Nasty Gal became "big". Despite her being there for Sophia as a personal assistant, stylist, and all the in between, when she asked to be hired by Nasty Gal, she got the biggest slap in the face and dismal from Sophia. Sophia only realized the impact her bestie made to the business and her life as a whole after she was gone. Luckily, a few episodes later, they reconciled and all was well with the world again.


There are so many other lessons I got from the first season that I binged watch like "don't allow bum boyfriends to dull your moment" or drugs is scary, bottom line, but that would take forever to get into. I love the truth and story told in this series as it reveals the not so glamorous elements of being a girl boss. Have you had a chance to check it out? What's your favorite lesson?


xoxo,

Girlboss to Be

30 Before 30

This weekend I officially turned 30 and as I sit in retrospect on the past 29 years of my life, I can't help but to think how amazing life has been. There has been heartache, amazing moments, successful moments and moments I simply wish I could undo. Despite it all, the best part of my 29 years in this world is that I lived, every moment. I made mistakes (a lot of mistakes), I've stumbled and gotten back up and here I am, days away from the start of a new chapter.

Experience is the greatest teacher of life; here are 30 things I did before 30 that has taught me my greatest lessons:

1. Accept that there is a Greater Power that controls the world. 
   No matter your religion, understand that there is a divine power beyond you and I.
2. Fall In Love
   You haven't experienced life until you have had that one person who stole your heart and then broke it into a thousand pieces.
3. Learn A New Culture
   Whether its through a book, blog or article, learn about somewhere new and see how people outside of your immediate circle live.
4. Travel 
   If you are lucky enough to travel, do it. DO IT OFTEN!
5. Travel Alone
   Nothing says vacation like waking up in a hotel room in the afternoon, not having to walk the dog or wake up at the "crack of dawn" to take your daughter to ballet.
6. Visit these amazing placeTake a European Tour , Climb the Mountains in Colorado, Drink Ice Wine in Niagara Falls.
7. Learn a Language
   Beyond making yourself attractive in the job market, having multiple languages under your belt can prove beneficial, especially if you are like me and into foreign men ( wink wink).
8. Learn to Cook 
   I am fortunate to have grown up with parents who taught me how to live independently. Nothing makes an evening perfect than cooking while enjoying a glass of wine. It's also a plus when dating, men like women who cook.
9. Eat to Live 
   It's fun to eat fries at 2am after a drunk night in the club, but it will catch up with you, and when it does, you can not get rid of it! ( Experience speaking)
10. Make Mistakes
    My best lessons in life were made after doing some really dumb things. I mean really, really dumb.
11. Go on a Blind Date
    Speaking of dumb things......
12. Learn a New Hobby 
    I never liked wine, after taking a few wine classes and learning of its complexities, I became a wine lover. Ask me about any grape variety and I can tell you its history.
13. Love Again 
    I truly thought the father of my child was the man I would spend forever with (BAHAHAHA). The best thing about love is that it happens often, Experience it, Live it, love it. 
    
14. Learn Yourself 
    In my teens, I wanted everyone I met to like me. In my twenties, I completely stopped giving a s$*t. As I approach thirty, I understand that the more self aware you are, the more fulfilling life will be.
15. Live in Balance
    There's no right or wrong way to experience life; what's most important is understanding balance.
16. Vent 
    Keeping your struggles and frustrations to yourself is never good. Speak to someone about it. Get it out of your system and move on to something greater!
17. Visit a Strip Club 
    LOL, just trust me on this one. There are lessons to learnt at the strip club.
18. Meditate 
    There is something beautiful about clearing your mind and expressing considered thoughts on a particular subject.
19. Have a baby
    Ok this may not be an experience for everyone, but my life COMPLETELY changed after having my chocolate dropped. Motherhood is the greatest empowerment.
20. Watch a Luche Libre 
    Mexican Wrestling. That is all.
21. Drive and tumble off an ATV in the desert
    Everything looks good on TV, in real life, different story.
    
22. STOP GIVING A SHIT 
    If all it does is bring you headache, let it go.
23. Drink Until you throw up 
    This isn't exactly good advice, but there is a lesson to be learnt with your face smothered in the toilet and covered in vomit.
24. Enjoy Your Freedom
    I never understood the importance of time alone until I had my kid, even showers are with an audience. 
    
25. When Someone tells you who they are; believe them
    If it looks like a duck, smells like a duck and moves like a duck; guess what, it's a duck!
26. Singleness  is okay
    All my closest friends are married, my co-workers (well the ones I like), my sister and the list goes on. I remember many nights sitting up red eyed and running nose because no one wanted to marry me. Then I had my 'aha' moment. Marriage (if its for me) will come, but for now, I will enjoy my singleness. Every. Bit. Of. It!
27. When Life gives you Lemons 
    Make lemonade, scrub your face with the lemon peel and use the lemon skin to freshen the air in your apartment! There is no one path in life, use the resources you have to create the life you want.
28. Never Doubt Yourself 
    If it feels right; do it!
29. There's always tomorrow
    Days will become hectic, priority lists may not be completed; relax there's always tomorrow.
30. HAPPINESS IS A MOVING TARGET 
    Once on task or goal is completed; know that the journey does not end, it simply change course.

Champagne and Character: Here's to 2016

Could you believe that we are almost done with January? I can't with the speed at which this year is going, already.  Seriously, where did the time go? 2015 flew pass quickly for me and in some instances, I barely kept up, but 2016, 2016 will be different, it's my promise to myself. 

To recap, in 2015 I started my "dream job" for this season, completed four semesters of grad school, became a college drop out, climbed the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, had lunch with the prime minister of Mexico, took my daughter on a chartered plane to an island (yup a mini plane with a total of six seats inclusive of the pilot 😁), became the brand manager for a major portfolio within the organization, drank beers for the first time and consumed alcohol, way too much champagne; in short, 2015 I lived! 

The funny thing about living is the more you do it the more you want. I remember when a basic life was quite sufficient for me, mundane job, basic bae, barely there friends and the list could go on. However, the more I experience new things, new culture, new people; I can not help but to want more. More goals, more results, more travel, more food, more fun, more love, more life, more relationships, more God, more more.

To be quite honest, as I approach thirty years on this earth, I'm filled with mixed feelings. I'm still single (for what seems like forever), my business that I thought would be an empire by now still only has the "e", I can not boast of being the world's greatest mother and the list goes on. However, despite it all I celebrate. I celebrate the baby steps that are pulling me more each day to my purpose, the happiness of teaching my daughter something new, getting out of bed on a Saturday morning  to catch a yoga class; substituting a burger with a salad, being 'social' on social media at least once a week; small victories catapulting me to where I need to be; and for that I celebrate!  

For 2016 my goal is simple, to live the most fulfilling life I can, while celebrating along the way. That means more mistakes, more risks, more opportunities and ofcourse more champagne and I'm game! What are your goals for 2016?