confidence build – Be That Girl Now

Treat Yourself Absolutely Fabulously! Spa Review and Giveaway!

Enter to WIN a Massage! See details on how to enter below!
Back in January 2013, I had the pleasure of traveling to Vancouver on my Be That Girl™ book tour. I was fortunate enough to have my amazing cousin, Julie, accompany me on the trip. She celebrated a big birthday while we were there, so we took the opportunity to book ourselves a spa day! Any excuse to book a day at the spa is a good one!

We booked into a spa called Absolutely Fabulous Urban Spa., conveniently located directly across from the hotel we stayed at, 910Beach.

We arrived early afternoon and were warmly welcomed at the door, and promptly escorted into the quiet room to fill out our client forms.

The dark wood elements, warm Egyptian rugs and furnishings, soft lighting, calming music and cozy chairs really set the mood for our spa day getaway. There was water and chocolates on the table, and we were offered hot ginger tea. I loved that tea…it was spicy, sweet and soothing.

We booked in for the Fabulous Escape, which included a 60 minute Relaxation Massage, Express Manicure and the Absolutely Fabulous Pedicure ($165, 2.5 hours) Just to make it even more delectable, we each added on a facial ($100).

I changed into my robe in the elegant massage room (complete with fireplace) while Julie got going with her facial. I opted for a Deep Tissue Massage with Fuku. It was an extra charge for this option over the Relaxation Massage included in the package, but it was totally worth it. If I lived in Vancouver, Fuku and I would be seeing each other on a regular basis. Her personalized, sensitive touch and incredible massage techniques not only relaxed me, but healed me and straightened me out! Julie also enjoyed her massage with Fuku, but did comment that she could hear the traffic quite loudly in the room.

Our estheticians...Barbara and Fuku — Our estheticians…Barabara and Fuku

The facial was next for me (Julie moved on to her massage), and I was introduced to Barbara, my Esthetician. The facial room was similarly calming and had white billowing curtains on the ceiling that made me feel like I was in a far away land of sand and sun. Barbara’s facial was so relaxing, it almost made the exfoliation portion fun (almost…and I know that deep cleaning is so important for vibrant skin). I really enjoyed the smell of the products they used. Barbara made sure to educate me on my skin type and help me select the right foods going forward to make my skin even more radiant.

Onto the pedicure. I was escorted to a large reclining, leather chair for my pedicure. The chair was very comfortable. Julie had her pedicure at the same time, but was seated in a reclining bed…no buzzy, vibrating chairs here. My room was packed with lots of great magazines, but of course I was writing away in my journal! The foot bath was a large steel bowl filled with warm water, and when I put my feet in I was pleasantly surprised to feel several small rocks in the bottom of my bath. It felt very natural and calming to my feet. The attention paid to my feet was lovely. This was not a traditional scrub and rub pedicure.

They have a no cell phone policy at the spa, and for good reason. At one point during my pedi, I answered my phone and was politely reminded of the policy…there was a massage in session. A spa is supposed to be a getaway from your life for a few hours!

The finale of our spa day was the manicure. Again, there were smooth rocks in our hand soaking bowls, a touch that I thought was very appealing. By this time, Julie and I were ravenous! We hadn’t eaten in hours. The spa staff took care of us by serving us handfuls of chocolate and sparkling pink wine! What a way to top off an incredible day at the spa. Next time, Julie and I agreed that we needed to bring food, or order something. Hours in the spa can really work up an appetite.

We left the spa feeling a little tipsy and a lot more relaxed and pampered. We were thankful that my niece Brooke had prepared a snack plate for us to chow down on as soon as we returned to the hotel.

The prices were very reasonable for the level of service we received. The warm and friendly staff and the cozy, elegant atmosphere at Absolutely Fabulous Urban Spa make this a place I’d go back to again.

Located in downtown Vancouver, BC right by the Granville Island Ferry terminal, this spa is fantastic for visitors and locals.

Check out Absolutely Fabulous Urban Spa at www.myspa.ca for more information.

My Vote: [rating=4]

Julie’s Vote: [rating=4]

From One Spa-Worthy Girl to Another…Until next time!

Tina
Here’s your chance to WIN a 45 Min Massage! To be entered, follow these easy steps:
1. Like Be That Girl on Facebook.
2. Like Absolutely Fabulous Spa on Facebook.
3. Leave a comment below, or on facebook, stating whether you have ever had a professional massage.
Contest closes on May 28, 2013. Good Luck, and may the spa be with you!

Success Law: It is as it should be.

One of the most important Success Laws of our Universe is that what is right now is exactly as it should be. Accept what is today, no matter what the situation is. Just accept it as it is right now.

The next step is to know with every part of your being that you can attract whatever you want to your life. It starts with being aware of the vibrations that you are putting out to the Universe. Be conscious of the energy that you are sending out. If you are worried about a current situation, you will be giving off worried vibes, which can create more of the situation you are worried about. Instead of worrying, focus on the future and all of the amazing feelings you have surrounding the creation your dreams. Do what you need to do right now with pleasure, and send out those amazing positive vibes. You will get back what you send out to the Universe, so make sure you are sending out only good vibrations! Everyday when you wake up, smile at the fact that you woke up and tell yourself that you can handle everything. YOU CAN HANDLE ANYTHING. One of my favorite quotes from this week… “Breathe. The Universe is taking care of everything else.” Have a fantastic week! Namaste.

Reach Out.

The Best Books on Self Help Encourage you to Reach Out!

There is someone in your life that needs you right now. Reach out to the people around you, and do whatever you can to help them. Sometimes, a phone call or a hug, some ice cream or some flowers, a card or a note can change someone’s day, and even their life. Don’t limit this to the people closest to you. Perhaps there is someone sitting on the outskirts of your life that you had a falling out with, or just someone you haven’t seen in a long time. Now is the time to reach out to them.

This week presented me with an opportunity to make someone smile just a little. This was someone who was previously quite close to me, but due to a large change in her personal life, had ended up skimming the perimeter of my life. I received a phone call from her early one morning, and the phone call did not go well. She was sad and angry, and she lashed out at me. Realizing that she was not in a good place, I decided to take some action. After a quick stop at the grocery store, I arrived at her home with some flowers, some ice cream, and a hug. One of her first comments to me was “It took some guts to come here”. After a quick conversation, lots of tears, and several hugs, any misunderstandings that had been between between us were resolved.

I don’t think what I did took guts. I think it took compassion, and an understanding that her behavior toward me was not personal. I felt an intense desire to help in any way I could. Life is too short to let fear hold you back from doing great things.

Reach out to someone today, even if you are afraid of the response. You may end up pleasantly surprised in the results. Namaste.

How Can I Deal with Stress? Do Some Spring Cleaning.

Well, it’s Spring. Time for Spring Cleaning. We all think about cleaning out our closets and clearing the clutter in our homes when it’s Spring. But what about the vessel that houses our soul? It’s time to Spring Clean your body! No matter who you are, where you live, or how you live, your body is exposed to toxins everyday.

Take some time this week to assist your body with eliminating some of the “clutter” that it has collected through the winter, and do a little detoxification program. Below are some things you can easily do for 1 to 2 weeks to help cleanse your body in time for spring. All of these things will also help you create that perfect swimsuit body just in time for summer! Commit to at least 1 week of at least 1 item listed below. If you want to go longer, by all means do! The longer the healthier!

Drink 8 Glasses of water or herbal tea per day. Actually keep a tally. This is one of the most effective ways to give your body a boost!
Change your diet. Focus on eating only fiber rich foods. Great sources of fiber include oatmeal, flax (super grain!), apples, oranges, pears, strawberries, blueberries, whole wheat, whole whole grains (brown rice), nuts, celery, carrots, broccoli, green, leafy vegetables (lettuce, kale), grapes, cucumbers, tomatoes, lentils. OK, so more fruits and vegetables and whole grains! Eat smaller portions of meat and dairy.
Omit sugar from your diet. (It’s only 1 week!)
Omit Alcohol. (I know, I know. Food tastes better with wine! It’s just a week…give your liver a break!)
Quit smoking. OK, this one needs to go on for the rest of your life, but start with committing to a week. Allen Carr’s Easyway to Stop Smoking can do the trick!
Eliminate deep fried foods completely.
Try an herbal detox program that can be purchased from your local health food store. These kits assist with the elimination and cleaning of the most important home you have… your body! Ask the staff to recommend one based on the results you want.
Do 20 minutes of yoga everyday. Simple yoga poses effectively help to eliminate toxins and keep you calm, focused and flexible. Be sure to drink lots of water afterwards.
Get a massage! Massages also help to release toxins from their long term storage bins. Again, drink tonnes of water to help eliminate them so they are not reabsorbed. Perhaps a massage swap with someone close to you? Ooooh, detoxing can be amusing also!

Please note that you may experience flu like symptoms, like headaches and a decrease in energy for the first few days of any “detox” program. This is a result of a large amount of toxins being released into your body. Be sure to eat tonnes of fiber and drink lots of water to help eliminate those toxins and avoid them being reabsorbed back into the body. I was recently looking for a fiber rich cereal when I noticed one called ‘Holy Crap‘. I had seen it on Dragon’s Den and was excited to see it on the shelves of my grocery store! I bought it and it tastes fantastic. Does it live up to it’s name? I am on day 1, so I’ll let you know! Enjoy your week or 2 of spring cleaning. Namaste.

Listen to the Best Books on Self Help and Give Yourself Permission.

Success Law: Give Yourself Permission to do less.

There are so many social molds that we, as a society, squish ourselves into everyday. Our vision of what success is may put us into a mold where we are overwhelmed with things to do, we feel stressed out all the time, and we are on our phones all the time. We see these things happening around us, and we begin to believe that it is the only way. We form a perception of what things should look like based on what we see.

Alas…there is more to life than what we can see with our brain washed eyes. ‘Tis true!

It is important to realize that You define what success is in your life. This is your dream…your reality. Why not make “less stress, more fun” your new success mold? Give yourself permission to enjoy life a little more. Permission to worry less and be more excited. Permission to procrastinate a little on some small day-to-day things, which allows you time to explore your other passions.

Stop restricting yourself. You do deserve to be happy, relaxed, and excited. You deserve to be rich with love and money and health.

Remember Pareto’s Principle that 80% of our results are derived from 20% of the activities we do. So start doing less! Just keep your eye on the prize.

Know where you want to go and then focus solely on that goal. Do not allow anything to distract you from that end goal. Relax and enjoy the journey. Keep taking action everyday, but do not force it. Everything takes time. You know you are going to get there when the time is right, so enjoy everything you have right now! Slow down. Take deep breaths. Take in everything you have created so far, and be proud. Allow yourself to feel good now. It is all in your control. Have a wonderful week! Namaste.

Let Go.

Throughout our lives, we take things on because we think that these things will fulfill us. We may end up spending our time doing things we don’t really want to do because we feel obliged. We may be hanging onto certain objects because we feel obliged, or emotional about them. I would encourage you today to think about how you fill your time, and how you fill the spaces you live in. Choose to let go of something today that is just no longer fitting in your life, whether it is a thing, or an activity. Releasing yourself from the emotional ties that you have to certain things in your life is an incredibly freeing experience, and one that will open you up to the possibility that less is always more. Give yourself more by letting go. Freedom is yours for the taking.

Success Laws: Know yourself.

Knowing what you want, and when you want it is the key to your success.

What I want is exemplified by a few simple lyrics in a Queen song…

“I want it all, I want it all,I want it all, and I want it now!”

Funny, but absolutely true. Wanting it all NOW creates an interesting dynamic in my life. The frustration and stress of waiting for the things I want forces me to have more patience, which is something I need to consciously work on everyday. Wanting it all now is also extremely motivating and it inspires me to take actions everyday towards getting what I want. The results are incredible, and usually worth the wait.

Today, I would encourage you to really think about what you want, and when you want it. Realize that you deserve to get everything you want and it is totally in your control to get it all. You may not have full control over when you get it, but the more effort you put in, the quicker it will happen. So, what are you prepared to do to fulfill your dreams in a timely fashion? What are you prepared to give up right now to secure your dreams? Just start doing it and you will amaze yourself in the near future. Action = Results. Go for it! Namaste.

You get to decide.

4 years ago, I felt like the rug of my life had been pulled out. To avoid a complete mental breakdown, my wonderful mother suggested that I get a babysitter and go out for lunch with her. I agreed, found a sitter, and away we went. I had the most awesome afternoon, and I felt so much better. The following week, we met for lunch again, and my sister Brenda joined us. During that lunch, we asked ourselves if we could make this sort of thing work every Wednesday. Could we really pull off lunch together every week?

I am happy to report that 4 years of Wednesday lunches later, we have made it work almost every Wednesday, and we only reschedule if someone is out of town. We make Wednesdays a priority, and we have all consciously made a choice to find a way to make it work.

You can make these kind of choices in your life too. Start by asking yourself a question, like “could I write a book?, or could I take 1 afternoon off a week?, or could I work from home?” As soon as you answer yes to the question, you will be on track to actually do it. Make your dreams a priority. You can have, and do whatever you want if you think you can. So go for it! Namaste.

Activate your opportunities.

How can I become a millionaire? The best books on self help encourage you to activate your opportunities!

This weekend, Ryan and I attended the Calgary Women’s Show and actively promoted Be That Girl in our booth. At the end of the show, we had a tonne of stuff to haul out. I went looking for a trolly to help ease the move out process. There were trolly’s available, but there was a wait list with 15 people ahead of me. “No problem”, I thought. we’ll just make 3 trips out to the car together. On my way back to our booth, I noticed a girl still actively taking down her booth and a very empty trolly sitting inside her booth. Now, I could have just kept on walking past, but I didn’t. I stopped and asked if I could borrow her trolley. She was hesitant, at first, but then agreed to let me use it as long as I was really fast.

Opportunities are presented to you all the time, but you need to be watching for them. Recognize each opportunity, and then do something about it! Do not be afraid to ask for what you need, or want. Grabbing onto opportunities as they are presented is the key to your success. Keep your eyes open and don’t second guess yourself by just walking past opportunities that are being handed to you. Things are put in front of you for the taking if you are daring enough to take them. Activate your opportunities and you are guaranteed to succeed. Namaste.

Hang in there.

That moment that you want to give up, and often do give up, is also the moment when things are about to turn around for you. You have got to hang in there. Do not give up. The Universe always provides, but only at the last second. If you give up, you will miss it. Your patience and your strength will be tested. Stay the course. It is all within your reach if you have enough faith to stand strong, and persevere. Namaste.