Fashion & Style How To Tell Your Hairdresser What You Want 9:17 PM I think that the most important thing a woman can have- next to talent, of course- is her hairdresser. -Joan Crawford How often have you left the hairdresser with a hairstyle you don't like because you were too scared to say that you wanted something else? For example, you asked for a change in hair color from your natural blonde to red. But you're unsure if your hairdresser gave you the right shade after. It's quite lighter than you expected. Do you dare ask your hairdresser what's the difference between a redhead vs ginger? Here are some tips on how to be firm and stand up for yourself and tell your hairdresser what you want. How To Tell Your Hairdresser What You Want Why do so many otherwise self-possessed women feel intimidated by hairdressers? Hairstylists are on a pedestal, and we are quailing below, afraid that if we say the wrong thing before we put our heads in their hands, we will emerge looking ridiculous. Not that hairdressers will actually take revenge and deliberately make you look that way, but that, artistic egos wounded, they will lose interest and do a half-baked job. We've had too many experiences with hairdressers who act as though they are doing us a favour: that we are the merely raw and poor raw material. Well, a hairstylist wants to style, create, take your hair, and do something extraordinary. The problem occurs when she or his idea of something special does not coincide with yours. The hairdresser may either be fixed on the current trend or not possess an excellent eye for what flatters a face. It is your responsibility to communicate your wishes. Some hairdressers have become like spoiled children. Dealing with hairdressers involves an extra psychological dimension. A hairdo has to be a collaborative effort: the stylist's expertise, plus your personal preferences, in light of what's possible. Simply putting yourself into someone else's hands is an odd way of behaving. Would you call in a house painter and say, "Paint the living room any color"? Too often, women approach hairdressers as if they wield a magic wand instead of a pair of scissors. It's scary to confront your own looks analytically, but force yourself! It's not vanity, just common sense. Going to a hairdresser with a vague fantasy is simply unrealistic. You lay open to having the hairdresser plant her or his ego on your head, and the chances are you'll be disappointed. To get on the right track, here are some helpful tips. How to find a hairdresserBest results come from dealing consistently with someone who knows you and your hair.Get recommendations from friends whose hairstyles or cuts you like. What you are looking for is a general indication of expertise, not a replica of how you would like to look.Ask for the head of the salon or for the head stylist.Ask the receptionist for a person who is good with your type of hair or hairstyle.Meet your new hairdresser before you change into a smock and are shampooed. Seeing you in your current hairstyle and clothes helps a stylist to give you advice.Check out a hairdresser first for a shampoo and set or blow dry. It's a perfect opportunity to talk long before severe cuts or colouring.Avoid the fashion dictator who gives every customer (regardless of age, face, or hair) the same style. What to discuss first with a hairdresserTell the hairdresser as much as possible about your hair: how often it needs washing and how long it holds a set.Be honest about how much upkeep you can give a hairstyle. Can you set it or blow it dry or do you only have time for a wash and wear?Make sure that you are perfectly clear in describing what you want. Leave nothing to chance; don't forget to state the obvious.If you want a change but are unsure what and want the hairdresser's expert advice, you should at least say what you don't want.Confront your expectations and keep your wishes within the bounds of reality. Don't fall in love with a hairstyle that is impossible to have with your hair. Beware of big changes.If you are contemplating a dramatic change of length or color or going from straight to curly or vice versa, go somewhere and try on wigs first.In the case of a perm, set your hair on lots of little curlers to try out the effect. And if you achieve just what you want, get it right before you go to the hairdresser.It is worth the effort to test the look of permanent waves, straighteners, and hair color because these are chemical processes. The results can continue to affect your hair for as long as two years, and no magic will take them away.Take pictures of the hairstyle you want, but remember, it's only a starting point.Feel free to complain to your hairdresser.If things don't turn out entirely to your satisfaction, complain to your hairdresser, not to your friends, and if you continue to be unhappy, it's time to switch.Don't be afraid to go back for a correction to a cut.If you're not much at handling a hair dryer, ask to be shown how to blow-dry your hair. Or how to set it or comb it. The days of the weekly shampoo and set visits to the hairdresser are pretty well past; today, hairdressers mostly do the big stuff (cut, curl, straighten, colour) and are happy to help you learn how to maintain your hair between visits. About the author: Scarlett Hilton is a lifestyle blogger at Life Tips. She has the heartbeat of one passionate to share her beauty secrets on how to look pretty.
Guest Blogger Important Vitamins For Damaged Hair 8:00 PM Important Vitamins For Damaged Hair Don't you wish you have beautiful long hair that's shiny and healthy? Nobody wants to have damaged hair. 🤷On average, human hair grows about six inches each year. When your hair becomes damaged and broken, hair growth diminishes. There are important vitamins and supplements you should take especially if you have damaged hair. Now that more people are taking better care of their hair, there are a lot of companies to choose from when it comes to purchasing vitamins. Many private label vitamins Manufacturer companies are becoming more successful than ever. 7 Important Vitamins for Damaged Hair and a Bonus Here's a list of essential vitamins for healthy growing tresses:Vitamin C Vitamin B Biotin Niacin Vitamin A Vitamin D Vitamin E Let's learn a little bit more about each of these vitamins. Where to find them and what they can do for your hair.So you can flip it sexy like Denise Richards over here. ⤵ Giphy1. Vitamin C Vitamin C is a popular vitamin found in everyday food.orangesbroccolikalebrussels sproutspapayastrawberrieskiwired bell peppers Vitamin C is known for boosting the immune system to protect us from cold and illness. What many people don’t realize is that it works well to strengthen and help hair grow because it contains collagen---a vital protein for healthy hair, skin, and nails. Along with eating vitamin C-infused food or supplements like Vitamin C powder, there are also hair products that contain this ingredient. 2. Vitamin B There are 8 different types of Vitamin B and they each have their own benefit (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12). Vitamin B 12 is the most important of the vitamin B complex. Some sources of Vitamin B are:nutsgrainsvegetablesnutritional yeastfortified plant-based milkB vitamin affects our metabolism, energy, nerves, skin, nails, and hair.The main role of this vitamin is to promote cell growth hence it is essential in hair growth. 3. Niacin Niacin is still part of the Vitamin B family (Vitamin B 3) but is indispensable that it needs to be mentioned separately. It helps nourish your scalp and promotes hair growth. Without the correct amount of niacin, there is a risk of your hair becoming dry and brittle. This vitamin can be found in:avocadopeanutswhole grainsmushroomsgreen peaspotatoes 4. Biotin Biotin is Vitamin B7 and plays an important part in hair growth.It creates glucose which breaks down the protein into amino acids that helps strengthen and protect your hair. It's important to combine a mixture of both biotin-enriched foods and hair care products that contain it.The best foods sources of Biotin are:mushroomsavocadopeanut buttersweet potatoescauliflowertomatoes5. Vitamin AVitamin A is necessary to add to your diet especially for your hair. It promotes the growth of your hair cells. Vitamin A contains sebum which is an essential oil that hair needs to grow healthily. Foods that contain this are:(orange) sweet potatobutternut squashcarrotspinach and other green leafy vegetablesdried apricotskalecantaloupe melonspring greens 6. Vitamin D You know well that Vitamin D comes from the sun. A few hours a day is enough to give us healthy and nourished hair. This is easy to fulfill when it's the summer months. It becomes tricky during winter though.Here are some foods enriched which Vitamin D you can consume during the gloomy season: soy milkmushroomsalmond milkorange juicerice milkfortified cereals 7. Vitamin E Vitamin E is vital for healthy hair, skin, and nails. It helps promote hair growth because of its antioxidant properties.These foods are rich in vitamin E:seedsnutsavocadoalmondbroccoliIt's not only beneficial to take this vitamin internally but it's also known to be good when rubbed onto your scalp. This leaves the hair healthy and shiny. Bonus: Important Minerals for Damaged HairIron for damaged hairAlthough iron is not a vitamin it is an essential mineral that we need for our body to function correctly. Without enough iron, our hair would become dry, dull, and brittle. Foods with iron: lentilschickpeasbeanstofucashew nutschia seedsground linseedhemp seedspumpkin seedskaledried apricots and figsraisinsquinoa Magnesium for damaged hair Eating rich in magnesium food helps make sure you're giving your scalp what it needs to stay healthy. It also helps your hair grow strong and shiny. Foods rich in Magnesium:beanspeasgrainssoyseedsnuts Proteins for damaged hairProtein is an essential mineral for hair. When you're protein-deficient, your hair gets damaged and breaks off. Adding protein to your diet fills in gaps in damaged hair follicles. Foods that are rich in proteins are:tofu, tempeh, and edamamelentilschickpeaspeanutsalmondsspirulinaquinoamycoprotein What's your favorite hair food? About the author: Francesca Jaques is the author and editor of www.hairday.co.uk. Beauty therapist by day and writer by night, she reviews every hair product available, finding the best of the best and giving you all the tips possible to make life easier for you. For hairstyle ideas, tips and reviews, you can find them on her:Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
For Moms 4 Ways to Be a Traveler When You Can’t Actually Travel 8:31 AM The pictures were beckoning and mocking at the same time. Clear blue water, umbrellas in the soft sand, beautiful mountains in the distance. I wanted to be there. But then came the reality check. You can’t go. Who would watch the kids? You have work. It’s impossible to get time off. Who would pay for this? And I closed the tab, feeling like I was shutting down a dream. Again. Can you relate? Maybe it’s not the kids holding you back or the job issues. But there’s something preventing your globetrotting heart from leaving home. Here are 4 ways you can be a traveler when you can’t actually travel. 4 Ways to Be a Traveler When You Can’t Actually Travel 1. Get Out – Locally. Find a new part of town. Take a Sunday drive and get coffee. Just change your scenery to someplace new. If you can’t make time for an hour long drive you’ll never have time for a week vacation. Baby steps. You can even go somewhere locally that you’ve been before and try to experience it in a new way. Sit somewhere different. Go for breakfast instead of dinner. Be open to seeing what’s close to you with a traveler’s eye. 2. Stay In – There are so many possibilities! Learn about a new place right from your couch or that armchair at the library. Watch a travel show. Read a travel guide. Absorb this new place. Then have a party. Make the food you might find there. (It may even require getting out and heading to a grocery store you’ve never been to!) Invite friends and make it an adventure. 3. Relive Travels – Maybe you did travel once upon a time before family and job and life took over. Look at your pictures. Really sit down and remember your experience. Watch your videos and allow yourself to remember what a beautiful, crazy, fun, adventurous, or even disastrous trip it was! 4. Play Someday – If you could go on a trip, where would you go? What would you do there? Where would you stay? What food would you want to try and what places would you visit? This can be a dream trip or a practical plan. Share it with someone who knows you. Dream together! If you have a vision for the trip it is more likely you will make it happen! Side Tip – If it’s about the kids… Kids are great to travel with. Seriously. No, it won’t be perfect, but it will help instill a little wanderlust in your babes. Check out how this family traveled the world! If you really can’t go far, stay close-ish. Kids can find adventure in anything, and you’ll see things through their eyes. Plus, cars are great for naps! Know the world. Hang a map. Have a globe handy. Plant seeds in your kids that the world goes far beyond their four walls. Not all travel can look like a magazine. Find what works for you today and let your heart wander! About the author: Becky believes in embracing grace in the messy real of life. At My Ink Dance, she captures hard, uncomfortable, often unspoken feelings and brings light, honesty and God’s truth to them in a relatable way. Becky is a wife and mother of three in Connecticut writing imperfect and finding faith along the way. LINKS: My Ink Dance: http://www.myinkdance.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MyInkDance Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/myinkdance Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Guest Blogger 8 Makeup Hacks You Need to Know 2:04 PM Sometimes, you get stuck in the same rut of using your makeup. You don’t try anything new. You just accept that the way you’ve done it is the way you must always do it. Look through these eight makeup hacks, and you will see that they can change the way you apply your makeup. There will be no need for fighting to put on fake eyelashes or redoing your winged eyeliner over and over. (Click individual photos to view in full size) 8 Makeup Hacks You Need to Know 1. Removing Nail Polish without Nail Polish Remover credit: http://www.beautyjunkees.com Many times, you just accept that glitter nail polish is not going to come off easily. If you are trying to pick it off, it only comes off in small chunks, and it never looks good. Using nail polish remover can take a long time. However, if you put a thin coat of white glue on before you put on the glitter nail polish, you can simply peel the nail polish off when you are done with it. 2. Makeup Fell on my Carpet! credit: https://www.bisselldirect.co.uk/ Don’t worry. This is no longer the end of the world. Depending on the type of makeup on your carpet, you will need different materials. In the case of lipstick, you will need rubbing alcohol and dry cleaning fluid. You will apply the cleaning materials to a clean washcloth. Blot the stain without rubbing. Check out this article on how to clean makeup from the carpet so that you can know the specific ingredients when it comes to different makeup solutions. 3. Intensify Your Eye Shadow’s Color credit: http://images.wisegeek.com/ If you are going with a bold eye shadow color, you want to make your eyes stand out. However, what you are using may not be as bright as it could be. Apply white eyeliner across your eyelid before you put on the eye shadow. When you are done applying the makeup, your eye color will appear brighter and bolder. 4. Remove Makeup without Makeup Remover This tip is a good one for when you are traveling and you forgot your makeup remover or if you simply run out. These solutions are also a bit more natural and do not contain alcohol. First, you can choose to use Vaseline. Using a Q-tip, you can apply the Vaseline, rubbing in small circles as you go. Because Vaseline can be oily, you should be careful to remove the Vaseline when you have finished with your makeup. Vaseline is one, but not the only, option for removing your makeup without makeup remover. To read about a few more options, check out this article about removing makeup without makeup remover. 5. How to Easily Make Winged Eyeliner credit: http://www.wikihow.com/ Sometimes, you have seen a great look on a girl, and you want to know how to do it. Maybe you look up a Youtube video, but when you try it, it turns out a little funny. Winged eyeliner can be one of those things that is a bit tricky to do. One way that you can make your winged eyeliner look great is by using the edge of a spoon against your eye. Slowly move the spoon outward with your eyeliner following it. You can also draw the cat eye with your eyeliner. Fill the middle space with liner to complete the winged look. 6. Look Slimmer in Photos credit: http://makeup.allwomenstalk.com/ Photos can cause your face to look shiny with grease, and that problem can be taken care of along with the problem of making you look thinner with one simple trick. Apply a attenuated line of mineral powder down the center of your face. If the powder is too thick, it will be noticeable in the photos. Try taking a few test photos on yourself at home to see if you got the line right. It make take some adjusting before you get the look you want. 7. Make Those Lashes Thicker! Who doesn’t want thicker eyelashes? If you are trying to draw attention to your eyes, you may need more than mascara. After you apply the first coat of mascara, sprinkle on some baby powder. Apply a second coat of mascara, and you are ready to go! The powder will stay in place from the second coat of mascara, which acts as a sealer. You will have thicker and bolder eyelashes. 8. Apply Your Eyelashes If it is a battle to get the glue on your fake eyelashes correctly, then this hack will help you. Put the glue on the end of a bobby pin, and use the bobby pin to apply the glue. It will get just enough glue on the eyelash to make it stick well, but it will not create pools of glue that make a big mess. You can clean the bobby pin off and use it again later. If you enjoyed these makeup hacks, let me know in the comments below. I love making your life easier by sharing a few tips that have changed mine. Go try them out! About the author: Kaylee Young is a blogger at Kayleebeauty.com. She has a lot of beauty and skincare tips in her pocket. Find Kaylee on Twitter at @kayleebeauty19 Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Food Tips To Finding Best Restaurants Anywhere 8:00 AM No matter where you go, food is something that we always seek. And finding best restaurants is the key to enjoying good food. A quality eatery is a place where you are guaranteed satisfaction when it comes to tantalizing your taste buds. A delicious meal in a place that is unknown is a pleasure. But how do you know what’s best? Here are some tips- Tips To Finding Best Restaurants Anywhere Head Out It is time to get out of the hotel and look beyond what is there in the neighborhood. One of the most common mistakes that people make when hunting for the best restaurants is that they don’t even make that effort. Staying inside your hotel is not going to be of any use. What you need to do is head out and venture into the streets. Sometimes it is the oddest locations where you find the best foods. This literally holds true for sea-food which is served best when fresh. You could be staying at some of the most luxurious hotels in town but it doesn’t assure you of quality or premium food either. Use Your Technology Gone are the days when you have to wait for the reception desk to bring you a list of some of the best restaurants. Or go through the yellow pages! With the advent of technology, life has become simpler. You can use your smartphone or computer to browse through some of the available places and deals in restaurants. However, there are two main aspects to consider here. Don’s just go by the ratings. Different people have different needs and taste. It is possible that someone may rate a dish poor while you enjoy it. But do read through carefully because if most people are rating the food quality poor, chances are it is not worth visiting. Also, look for the number of people visiting that restaurant on a general basis. Ask Around Step out of the hotel; ask around for the best restaurants not based on the place ambiance or ratings alone but by the kind of food served there. It is possible that you may come across a small family-owned Italian joint that has the best pizzas and simple heartwarming food. It might not be a fine dining place but the food is awesome. The locals are the best people to provide you guidance on the food available. You can ask a few people about the popular restaurants around based on the cuisine you want to eat. Don’t Be Scared to Explore Don’t be restrained with the risks of exploring. After all that’s what food is all about. Some of the best restaurants that you are visiting could be in the dark alleys or a small joint. But the food quality could be awesome. They could be using fresh produce including meats, vegetables, etc. that enhance the food quality. Also, look around for the specialties of the area. If you are near the beach, then chances are you will get a premium choice of seafood as compared to may be poultry or meat. So, do explore and try out the local delicacies. Sometimes, items that you think sound scary taste a lot better. Then there are times when chefs from other cities or countries are visiting, so for a short duration the food of a restaurant can change completely. So, don’t judge the best restaurants based on their ambiance or their overall costs, but also explore other avenues. This post may contain affiliate links. All images were provided by the author. About the author: Zac Ferry is a good experienced writer, blogger and social media promoter by providing valuable information which help readers to get more ideas. Follow him on Google+ and Twitter. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Fashion & Style Best Hairstyle Trends for Fall 2016 7:45 AM Life is too short to have boring hairstyles. Guest blog by Maureen Mizrahi Fall is here, and the season is welcoming a whole new trend of beautiful hair. Say goodbye to the prim and proper stick straight locks. Thanks to 2016 New York Fashion Week, diverse hairstyles are in. From all new colors to cuts and hairstyles, it seems a care free look is making a comeback this season. Best Hairstyle Trends for Fall 2016 Curls Curls are back in every way shape and form. From tight ringlets to loose waves, crimped styles, and big curls, these careless styles are sure to add character whether one has short or long hair. Step away from the straightener, and embrace the curling iron, or just go au natural! Buy some hair mousse to enhance curls and add volume. Short Cuts Forget about last year’s A-line, the Pixie cut is making waves across the nation. Ruby Rose rocks a new short do’ with a cheekbone length cut. Kate Mara looks stunning with her swept away auburn color pixie cut. Taylor Swift has also embraced a trendy little strawberry blonde shag recently and let's not forget about Kylie Jenner and her wig collection of powerful looking bobs. For those interested in taking their length to a whole new level ask for a mid-length cut with choppy layers. Bun Updos Say goodbye to the ponytail and welcome the knotted bun. Through intricate twists, custom loops, and sleek back looks, these cool updos are here to stay. Instagrammers are even taking videos showcasing their beautiful long locks by tying knots in their hair and letting it loose! These fun knots can be customized to fit anyone’s personality whether wearing two buns on top of the head like Miley Cyrus, or a fixed knot in the back appropriate for work. Reds The colorful hair trend continues to be on the rise. Fall reds are still in. For those with blonde hair opt for a strawberry champagne color. Another popular right now is the pumpkin spice, and no, it's not a latte. Pumpkin Spice has shades of blonde, chestnut and copper to add a dimensional look similar to the many hues of fall leaves. For those looking for something a bit brighter, a "warm peach" is a vibrant look that looks excellent on all skin tones. For brunettes, opt for auburn or burgundy hair colors. Grey Colors The grey ombre is another hot style to look out for during this dark season. Shades of dark grey lead in lighter shades creating a chic alternative look to color. Or add a dash of color with the Smokey Lilac which appears as a deep grayish purple down to a pale foggy lavender. As if the hair pastel trend wasn't reminiscent of Candyland enough, now there's Watermelon. Just like a watermelon, deep shades of green transition into bright pink. Platinum Blonde Platinum blonde may be making a comeback in Fall 2016. How ironic it crept right over summer? Kylie Jenner, Fergie, Orlando Bloom, and Justin Bieber are some of the many celebrities to rock the light bold shade. Or, for those who aren't ready to go quite that bright, Bronde is another it color celebs are gravitating toward. Selena Gomez recently stepped out wearing the caramel mixture of brown and blonde colors. About the Author: Maureen Mizrahi Passionate writer, yogi, coffee drinker, and wanderer. Loves to write about beauty, fashion and travel. Follow Maureen on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Visit her website Indie Travel Photos provided by guest blogger Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Fashion & Style Trending Now: Boho Chic Style 8:00 PM Fashion is OK for five days, one minute, six months, but style is for the rest of the life. -Stefano Gabbana A guest blog by beauty & fashion writer Peter: Boho has been really popular in recent years and it continues to make its way in fashion. This summer, boho chic style made the streets and shops filled with colors and stylish combinations. Like any other style reminiscent of the past times, boho chic also added its own twist to the whole concept of expressing one’s individuality. Why is this trend so popular? Not many fashion trends managed to survive as long as boho did. This is most probably due to its versatile nature and open declaration of individuality. While many other styles have to be adjusted or completely cast away for different occasions, boho can make its way through to the most elegant and important of events, as well as serve as a casual laid-back style on lazy days. Casual boho chic This style is not only popular among younger generations but also finds its respective place in the wardrobe of more mature ladies. This is precisely because it is so easy to throw on an outfit that will express the fine fashion sense and all its details perfectly. Loose tops with lace or colorful patterns are appealing to a vast number of fashionistas regardless of their age. The same goes with flowy and flattering maxi dresses that are really comfortable in the summer. Of course, denim or lacy shorts are also a big hit this season. Paired with a bunch of jewelry depending on one’s personal tastes and preferences, this is truly a style that anyone can make their own and unique. For a complete casual feel, opt for flat footwear such as converse shoes, strappy sandals or even loose boots. Elegant boho chic Moving from the casual, almost subculture kind of vibe is exactly what made this style so timeless and popular. Dresses, skirts, tops and even pants are designed in such a way that they are perfectly suitable for a more formal occasion or generally for those who value elegance above everything else. Colors are usually neutral while patterns are achieved with different shades of the same color. Lace is really big part of the romantic look in this case. What’s more, flat footwear is not the only option anymore. With new designs and cuts, it is absolutely possible to complete your boho look with some stylish wedges or cool high heels. Great accessibility What makes boho style so cool and unique, apart from this trend being made to express one’s personality, is the fact that different bits and pieces of clothing that might even belong to a different style are easily incorporated in a perfect outfit. Folk, tribal prints, grunge, vintage and many more styles can be considered boho nowadays and paired with anything. No wonder thrifting has become so popular and there are even many stores and online boutiques that strictly sell vintage clothing. What’s more, one can visit handmade goods marketplace in search for some of the high quality yet completely unique garments that would enrich any outfit with the intricate details, amazing patterns and spectrum of colors. How to make this style your own The important thing about boho is the already mentioned aspect of strong individuality and personal touch. Therefore, never try to simply copy what someone else is wearing but put some effort in choosing your own preferred garments that you will feel most comfortable in. With so many choices in the stores you’ll definitely find something that suits you. The essence of boho style is being able to enjoy yourself as well as your sensibility to the fullest. Shopping for clothes and putting together an outfit isn’t a tedious task anymore but a fun and engaging endeavor that helps you show your true colors to the world without fear. Every time you go on a hunt for a new piece can become a little adventure where you get to know yourself even better. That’s the true beauty and glory of chic boho fashion. About the author: Peter is a beauty & fashion writer at Shlur LAPALME magazines, living in Brisbane and London! Besides that, he worked as a fashion intern for many fashion events and magazines. His future plans are in creating a personal business for beauty & style advising. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Guest Blogger What Failure Taught Me 6:55 AM A guest blog by Kristal Marie: "I have just started this new project. I am so excited; I have so many great ideas. I really hope it fails!" Said no one ever... Nobody sets out to fail, but it happens. The reality is if you desire to be successful you are going to fail at some point. Yes, failures are tough lessons, but they are also invaluable. The key to finding value in your failures is not to settle at failure's feet. Rather, if you learn from it, your failure is only one step along your path to success. What Failure Taught Me What failure really is Failure is nothing more than the omission of expected or required action. This is the literal definition. Failure is not the end unless you settle. You tried something and your expectation was not met. It is not over; it just means you try something else. Pick yourself up and try the next thing. Failure encourages change When you fail at something, you quickly realize that you need to change, your expectation, your process or sometimes both. Far too often we resist change, because change puts us outside our comfort zone. It took me many years to learn to embrace change. I avoided change like it was the plague. But, I have learned that change, in reality, is a good thing. Yes, it puts me outside of my comfort zone, but without change I can never improve. Improving life necessitates some kind of change. So it is when you fail. Unless you settle for your failure, you will change something, and that change will lead to improving you or your circumstances. Failure causes growth Here's the thing, success is great but the truth is, we don’t grow through our successes, we grow through our failures. When we are successful at something, we keep doing it over and over again. You don’t fix something that is not broken. But when we fail, it gives us an opportunity to learn new things to grow stronger and persevere through our failure. We learn to combat our fears and keep swimming forward. I was listening to an interview with Mary Shenouda, founder of the wildly successful Paleo Chef website and Phat Fudge. Shenouda was asked, “What if plan A doesn’t work out?” Her response was simply, “Sharks don’t swim backwards.” That attitude has made her the success she is today. No matter what obstacles or failures you encounter, like the shark, you keep swimming forward. Have this mind set, and your failures will propel you forward. Think of Michael Jordan, referred to as the best basketball player of all time. Guess what. He was cut from his high school basketball team.Thankfully, for millions of basketball fans, he did not settle for this failure. Jordan has said of his own career, “I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” Failure creates new opportunities When something works for us, we tend to stick with it. It is not very often that we go out looking for new opportunities when things are going well. But when we fail we will encounter new and better opportunities. We can be so busy saying ‘yes’ to every little opportunity because we are afraid to fail, that we miss better opportunities. Did you know that Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard to start his own business? No, it was not Microsoft. He started a business with Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen called Traf-O-Data. Never heard of it? I am not surprised. The business was a complete failure. But this failure created the opportunity to create the global empire that is Microsoft. Failure forces reflection A failure is an opportunity for personal reflection on your goals and what you are doing to achieve them. Ask yourself, “Am I doing what I should be doing? Is there something I could do differently that would suit me better? What other avenues can I pursue?” Often, when we stop and reflect on a failure, we see the failure occurred because there is something better suited for us. Do not be afraid to change and do something differently. It is your failures that lead to your ultimate success when you don’t settle at failures feet. Learn the lessons uniquely provided by your failures and enjoy your new opportunities you are sure to encounter on your path to success. Gifs from Google images About the author: I’m Kristal Marie. I blog at www.itsmyfavoriteday.com where I aim to inspire you to make each day your favorite day, whether by encouraging a simple frugal life, new ways to manage your time, and pursue your goals. I am all about turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
