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July 21, 2014
Summer Vacation!!!

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Hello from Miami!!!!!!!

I am currently on vacation in one of our favorite spots, planning our destination wedding!!!! It is so exciting to think about personalizing our wedding from the small details all the way to the big picture and to be sure to incorporate both my fiancé’s and my personalities!

It is such a fun yet stressful time but we are trying to enjoy every minute of it!!!

Anyway – on with the blog!

You – go on vacation. Yes I’m talking to you!
Summer is the time to spread your wings, dig your feet into the sand and open up to possibilities.  So even if you cant get away from your day-to-day, take a few hours a week to get in vacation mode.

Step outdoors, get to the nearest beach or park and nurture your soul by taking time out for yourself. Eat dinner outside, walk around barefoot, and catch the sunset. Roast marshmallows, tell ghost stories, fall in love, fall deeper in love, giggle with your girlfriends and just be grateful. We wait all year for this time don’t we? Make sure you are making the most of it.

Plan your next moves, write in your journal, figure out your next path or adventure. Take the summer Fridays, leave early, get some drinks, be young and reckless (for a few hours at least).

So what are you still reading this blog for? Come’on get outta here!!!!

For me…. I’ll be around, …lounging away on the beach or maybe by the pool, having a cocktail, and planning up a storm of a life and a storm of a wedding!!!!!! And by storm I mean a fabulous, fierce and breathtaking one!!

Hope that inspires you!
Xoxo
Emily

If you wanna come along with me on my fabulous vacation …..
Follow me on Instagram @EmilyBrickel and my new account for all things fashion illustration @EmilyBrickelillustration

July 3, 2014
How to bounce back from mercury retrograde and fight overwhelm to have the best summer ever.

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FOURTH OF JULY – INDEPENDENCE DAY EDITION

I’m not sure how many of you follow astrology or believe in this sort of thing. For me, I know OF mercury retrograde and I know that that is a time period when technological things and agreements can go ary. I do know that as human beings, we are made up of 90% water, and I believe that the moon being able to affect the rise and fall of the tides may in some way affect the our body that is made up of water.  That said, astrology is something that I find perpetually intriguing and if I can understand it better or use it to my advantage I’m all for it! If you are too then read on!

I am not an astrologer by any means but to say I am on and off again obsessed with Elle.com’s Horoscope section is an understatement. I adore the Astro twins and always heed their advice. However it was brought to my attention that there is a shadow period after mercury retrograde which I had no idea about.

If you are feeling cloudy and overwhelmed, there may be good reason. Being that I write a blog about inspiration, I am all about getting OVER the overwhelm and helping you create a life and career that you are inspired by.

Here’s how to know if you have been effected:

Mercury is the ruler of communication and mercury retrograde happenings include any kind of technology mishaps from emails bouncing back, calls being dropped, verbal miscommunications and unclear plans. If you keep trying and trying to make that connection but your phone restarts, your computer is on the fritz and your intended point came out as fuhckuzt – don’t stress – you have been mercury retrograded.  It has been warned that you should not make major decisions or enter into contracts at this point, but now that mercury retrograde has ended as of July 1st, we are now in the much unknown shadow period where it is the “light” version of all the affects of retrograde. Things will start to fall back into place but the lighter effects of retrograde may still make a dent (as opposed to a heavy mark) in your plans.

What to do about it:

Cut yourself some slack and know that this is something beyond your control.  Stay in a heightened sense of zen when faced with transit delays, computer problems, or dropped calls. Know that this is your time to “repair and restore.”  Take advantage of this time to suss out unclear plans, take inventory of what you are grateful for (says my friend and a professional confidence coach Maureen Saladino), explore your goals for the next few months and hone in on what you want to accomplish.

Coming off a big project or event, it is likely that a clean slate can prove the cause of overwhelm, not knowing which option to choose in a sea of many. Stay in tune with your inner guide and determine the plan that is right for you.

Summer, like summer vacations back when you were in school is the time to expand into freedom, let go, sink into surrender and decide on the fun summer activities that will make your heart strings flutter.

Revel in the freedom and openness that this time creates and sink your teeth in with a relaxed way of being.  Know that whatever choice you make will be the right one.

It is Independence day this week after all –
Hope that inspires you!

xoxo

Emily
Follow me on Instagram @EmilyBrickel and my new account for all things fashion illustration @EmilyBrickelillustration

July 4, 2013
Fireworks

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Fourth of July is probably my most favorite holiday of all time! Something about the fireworks is always so magical, like the end of a Disney movie I always feel like dreams do come true. The fact that the fireworks are just so much “larger than life” and breathtaking makes them seem so ethereal!

Over the years I’ve had fights with ex-boyfriend on the 4th – and then the fireworks started and time stood still and nothing else mattered. I feel like fireworks shine some perspective on what’s petty, what’s not and what you deserve.

I remember being really little and after watching the Macy’s Fourth of July spectacular fireworks on TV with my family it would get to be my bedtime, but I was always so worked up from the splendor of the fireworks that I sat up in my (top bunk bed) and looked through my kaleidoscope to provide a visual as the booms of the neighborhood fireworks went on for hours. I would dream of all the amazing things I would do in my life and feel so overwhelmed with excitement and anticipation.

Till this day, fireworks do the same thing for me! My boyfriend, my friends and I all love the fireworks equally and have been planning trips months in advance to make sure we get the best views in town!

I always say, it’s not the Fourth until I see fireworks and I have on occasion, stopped at nothing to see at least a peek of them.

Fireworks are so fitting on Independence day because they celebrate our possibility, they symbolize bravery, potential, heart break and the American spirit to rise back up and make our dreams come true.

“You just gotta ignite the light, and let it shine. Just own the night, like the Fourth of July!” Katy Perry – Fireworks

So with a lump in your throat and starry eyes, I hope you enjoy the fireworks this, and every year with the same inspiration and wonder that I get from them!

Hope that inspires you!

Xoxo

Emily

June 6, 2013
How to be Juicy and Delicious

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Illustration of Nasty Gal Lush Life collection

Summer is pretty much here and I am inspired by the juicy and lush fruits of the season, the delicious raspberries, peaches, grapefruits and tropical humidity that we had last week – everything just seems juicier!

It’s time ladies to feel just like the ripe picks of the season that we are and just feel all around gorgeous!

Confidence boost #1. Werk that Body.  I noticed over the winter my workout routine totally took a nosedive and it really effected how I felt. I felt too tired to work out, I was eating all the right stuff but still couldn’t figure out exactly why I was feeling sluggish.

Over the last few months I decided to rev up my workout routine for the obvious reasons. Among them were to get in shape for summer, but most of all to feel good every day.

I decided to start working out in the AM instead of the afternoon or night as I had been doing for years and I noticed a HUGE difference in my motivation, my energy, my mood and more!

Side note* Ladies if you claim you have no energy or time to work out, working out in the morning is the best thing to do.  By working out in itself you actually create more energy through out the day!  When you wake up just jump into your gym clothes and get sweaty. The best time saving bonus is you don’t have to take an extra shower after your workout because your post workout shower is also the first shower of the day!

After my change in workout time I have been jumping up out of bed really excited to get my exercise in.  I end up working out more times per week and I start my day already feeling accomplished and proud of myself for ticking that off my list – how’s that for a confidence boost!

NOTHING is sexier than confidence and the toned curves you get from upping your gym time wont hurt either!

I personally workout in my living room to some fun DVD’s so I don’t waste time getting ready for the gym. If you want to save time I highly recommend it!

Confidence boost #2. Pop of color. Ok so we all have some clothes in our closet that are really bright and funky right. It’s been the trend plenty of times and for sure we have accumulated some fun vacation ready garb. Time to break it out. I don’t care if you are going to the office or only to get some groceries but forget that tendency to grab some neutrals. If you want to feel juicy and delicious inside and out add some color, even a bright lip gloss and stroll out that door. Confidence boost #2 right there!

Confidence boost #3. Unleash your inner sex kitten. Now that you are toning up and breakin’ out the brights, time to be unafraid of dressing for YOU.  You know… like you used to do when your mom let you dress yourself in pre-K.  Do the grown up version of that!  Wear fun dresses, don’t be afraid to be sexy, take fashion risks, pile on the accessories and “special occasion shoes”.  You only live once and your closet surely isn’t enjoying the clothes as much as you would be wearing them.  I am not saying to commit a fashion faux pas but stretch beyond your comfort zone and put more fun into getting dressed.  Oh, and when people ask you “Where are you going dressed like that” just smile and give them a mysterious glance.

Confidence boost #4. Taking “Me” time.  This is so important not only to cure anxiety, boost your mood and feel more fulfilled, it can actually save your life!  Taking time just for you to think or relax is crucial for women especially. It lowers cortisol levels, which is great for your immune system, weight loss, blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, decreased risk of heart disease and other diseases. Try things like reading a book, taking a walk, journaling, having an uninterrupted cup of tea, or set time aside to do something you really love.

Confidence boost #5. Feeling fulfilled.  Of course we all have projects that we wish we could do or wish we had the time to do but that are not really relevant to the demands our daily lives. When life gets in the way it’s so easy to keep pushing off the thing you really want to do most but then resentment will build up. Blocking out 30 minutes to an hour once a week or more, solely devoted to doing something deeply fulfilling will make you feel ravishing and really boost your happiness.  By slowly chipping away at the project you are passionate about and putting it FIRST before your daily grind is finished you will feel so much more fulfilled about everything in general making your other to-do’s so much more pleasant. Feeling delicious and juicy comes from the inside first so when you are really proud of yourself you will radiate confidence.

Confidence boost #6. Get your sexy on and dance. I just recently was invited to a day long conference where a few times through out the day we were lead to move and dance in really crazy ways. At first my mind was totally against it, not wanting to look ridiculous in front of other women but then I got into it (once I realized I would look ridiculous if I DIDN’T partake) and started to have SO much fun! Ladies, lock your doors and put some music on. DANCE like no one is watching (when of course, no one is watching… I’d double check on this one) and shake those hips.  Get into it, get your stress out and have some fun. By the end of it if you are doing it right you will probably be hysterical laughing or at least smiling, and either one will be a huge confidence boost.

Confidence boost #7. Work on that Posture.  Annoying as it may be, check yourself multiple times a day and roll your shoulders back. Do it when you are sitting, standing or walking and do it often. Good posture will make you look and feel more attractive, taller, thinner andddd you will breathe and actually digest your food better making you healthier which gives you glowing skin.  There’s research behind this.. check it out!

And now ladies reset and repeat. Do these things as much as possible and you will feel so juicy and delicious that your date/boyfriend/husband will find you irresistible. Just be careful… with power comes great responsibility – and you may have to try extra hard to thwart them off (or not!)

Hope that inspires you!

Xoxo

Emily

 

May 16, 2013
Expand Always, in All Ways.

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The introduction line of one of my favorite characters from the show Million Dollar Listing New York on Bravo goes something like this:  “My motto is to expand always, in all ways.”  And every time I hear that, I love it!

It’s totally true that if you get caught in repetitively doing “what works” you will get fixated in the mundane and actually become ‘stuck’ – even if doing “what works” is what originally brought you success.

The formula for success is not necessarily doing the same thing that gave you ONE success over and over, but it’s in taking risks, leaps and in giving it your all that you got there in the first place.   And, in retrospect, it’s trying NEW things that will get you there again.

Expanding always, in all ways in your life is what will get you to live the life of your dreams!

In the process

Give yourself “permission to suck” when trying new things and know that

Mastery is a life long process. Each day you will get better and closer along on your path to “mastery” but you will never actually get “there” because each new step is the beginning step to your next phase of learning.

“There” is an illusion. Getting “there” is actually being “here”. Make the most of where you are right now because taking the right action “here” and “now” will become your tomorrow.

One of my allllll time favorite quotes (probably because my amazing, extremely educated, and multi talented grandfather who was a college Professor of Education, Cantor, Rabbi, swimmer, volunteer at multiple soup kitchens, and dedicated family man all at the same time and all while being retired from his previous career told me this one…) “He who knows all, knows that he knows nothing.” – Socrates.

And that my friend, is the truest of the truth.  Just think about all the things that go on in our world, in our solar system, in our UNIVERSE that even the most ingenious rocket scientists have yet to figure out.  We all obviously have much to learn.  We all have room to expand!

My mantra, and my mantra for you is this:

“I expand in abundance, love and success today and every day as I inspire others to do the same.”

This is from my new favorite book “The Big Leap” By Gay Hendricks, which if you have been reading my blogs; you know I like to rave about.  This mantra WORKS. It really puts things into perspective about what our main goal is as human beings.  Other than that, it also has this calming effect whenever I repeat it to myself.  It kinda makes me realize that I am hooked up, I am taken care of and that this is my purpose to expand in these ways.  When you realize that, you can revaluate what you have been centering your thoughts or worries on.

Unleash your inner demons.

In what ways are you not expanding? Get it out there. Talk about it, journal about it or just plain vent about it some how.  When you do it – go deep.  I recently did that last week and let me tell you, I released some more blocks I didn’t even know I had. This lead me to live even more fully, more passionately, more happily and more abundantly.

Do more fun stuff!

The way to expand in love, abundance and success is really to enjoy doing everything you do.  When you are having fun, you are immediately expanding in love because you love what you are doing.  When you love what you are doing it creates more wealth in your life, in all kinds of ways (financial and not financial), and when you have more wealth or abundance in your life that equals success.

Regroup

Taking time for “Morning meetings” with yourself are key to success.  Sometimes there is just so much going on in your day-to-day life and you have tons of things to do.  Tunnel vision grasps you by surprise and when that happens, good luck getting the important things done.  You will tend to focus on small, detail-oriented tasks that seem super important at the time, but in the long run will not create the life you want to live.  Taking your morning meeting seriously, just as seriously or if not more seriously than the one you may have with your boss will refocus you on your life’s big picture and will help you achieve your goals for expansion in your life.

That’s it for now but I hope all of that inspires you to live the life of your dreams!

Thanks to Mastin Kipp and Gabrielle Bernstein for some of these pieces of advice that I picked up along the way.

Xoxo

Emily

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