The beginning of a new year is always revitalizing and can really get you moving.  Sometimes keeping the motivation up is the problem when it comes to tackling a huge task.  Just keep focused on how good you will feel once that insurmountable task is completed and crossed off of your list! If you need some encouragement on getting organized in the year ahead, look no further! Read on and get going. Best of luck!

SET GOALS WITH DEADLINES. The first step in getting organized is goal setting. Do you want to organize your home? Your office? Your exercise program? Your family? Your time? Jot down exactly what you want to do and designate a deadline for accomplishing that goal. The deadline should be as specific as possible, like March 6, 2010.

MAKE MINI-GOALS. Break your goals down into small, bite-sized pieces. For instance, instead of a large goal, such as organizing your entire house, choose one room at a time. Or, instead of organizing all of your business files, start with one drawer. Smaller pieces are easier to accomplish.

DESIGNATE REWARDS. Always designate an enticing reward for each goal you accomplish. The reward acts as your motivator and helps you achieve your objectives. (Ohhh–we can’t think of a better reward than being pampered at Belladerm!)

USE A CHEERING SECTION. Inform your family and/or friends of your goals. Ask them for their support. Ask them to ask you about your accomplishments from time to time, so you stay on track.

LAUGH AT MINOR SETBACKS. Don’t expect everything to run perfectly smooth. As with any improvement you’re trying to make, there are bound to be bumps in the road. Don’t get discouraged. Ask questions. If it looks like you’re not going to accomplish your goal by your deadline, simply reschedule. It’s better to get back on track than to give up.

KEEP A ‘CAN DO’ ATTITUDE. Attitude is everything. If you think you’re going to fail, you will. If you think you’re going to succeed, you will. Zig Ziglar, a motivational speaker, always says that to succeed, you must get rid of that ’stinkin’ thinkin’ and set your mind to achieving your goals.

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU. Sometimes the motivation you need comes from focusing inwardly and recreating your look or doing something special for yourself.  Belladerm’s New Year, New You promotions were designed with you in mind and we’d love to help you achieve the momentum you’re looking for in the year ahead! When you look good, you feel good – and you accomplish more! We’ll see you soon!

Many of us kicked off 2009 with New Year’s resolutions.  As we near the end of January, it is a great time to assess how we are sticking to our goals! Don’t get discouraged if you’ve fallen off the wagon already! Pick yourself back up and get back on.  Here are some tips to help:

 Resolution Tip 1: Set resolutions that are realistic and based on your personal history.  Learn from your failures.  If you want to exercise five days a week and you haven’t done it in the past, vow to work out twice a week.

 Resolution Tip 2: Set interim goals.  You can’t lose 100 pounds or get a PhD overnight.  Lose two to three pounds a week, and work toward your doctorate a few credits at a time.

 Resolution Tip 3: Track your progress.  Keep a ledger of some sort–whether it is on your computer, PDA or just a note book you have lying around.  Short term goals are easier to attain. (see our list of helpful websites below!)

 Resolution Tip 4: Use positive language.  The way you talk to yourself really affects your ability to attain your goals.  Try to develop a “can-do” attitude.

 Resolution Tip 5: Get support.  Reach out to your family, friends or a group of people who share the same goal and who can encourage you if your resolve weakens.  Don’t underestimate accountability!

 Resolution Tip 6: Celebrate your “successes” and rebound from your “failures.” Take credit for success when you achieve a resolution.  If you fail don’t blame yourself, just see how you can do better the next time.

 If you’d like a little support and help tracking your goals, I’ve included some great websites that provide helpful tools.  Check them out and let us know if any of work for you! They are free!

 FitDay—helps you lose weight by keeping an exercise log and food diary

Traineo—another one for weight loss and fitness goals

Daily Plate—compare to FitDay—keep a fitness journal and more

Wesabe—organize your finances and save money

Mint—finance tracking

Ben Franklin Virtue Chart—daily habits

Backpack—get organized

Bellygraph—public progress tracker

Don’t Break the Chain—Jerry Seinfeld’s way to reach success

Joe’s Goals—daily goal tracking—people really love this one

We’d love to hear about how your resolutions are working out! What helps you stick to your goals? What is the hardest part about keeping your resolution? 

Wishing you success,

Robin

Merry Christmas from Belladerm!  This time of year we reflect on how blessed we are and our hearts and minds turn to those less fortunate.  Opportunities abound to reach out and help others at Christmas time.  Maybe it means inviting someone to share in your Christmas celebration or just volunteering your time at a soup kitchen.  There are so many little ways to make a big difference.  One of the easiest ways to give is by taking some/all of the money you would have spent on gifts for each other and donating it to your favorite charity or a needy family.  It is an especially meaningful idea for showing the little ones that it is more important to give than receive! For me, a special little girl’s (Taylor Strand) horrible accident opened my heart to giving this year.  Learn about her here.

Did you know? Minneapolis and St. Paul have the highest percentage of adults who give time to volunteer work in the nation: almost 40% of us did some volunteer work last year! Way to go, Minneapolis/St. Paul! Keep up the good work! Are you planning on volunteering or doing something special to give to others this holiday season? We’d love to hear your ideas and plans! Please share them with us.  A couple of wonderful places to learn more about volunteer opportunities are: Hands On Twin Cities and VolunteerMatch.

Feeling frazzled?
Don’t forget to de-stress this holiday season by stopping in to pamper yourself at Belladerm! While you’re here, consider getting gift certificates for the people you love so they can get pampered, too–and it makes shopping easier for you!

Wishing you happy and healthy Christmas,

Robin

The Buzz From Suzy, Suzysaid.com: Click to sign up and select your location

The Gossip, Lola Red PR (Alexis “Lola Red” is also one of the Shop Girls on FM107!):  Click here to sign up for The Gossip

Jimmy May’s List, thesocialfly.com: Just email your request to to be added to the list directly to Jimmy at jam503@visi.com (and don’t forget to check out all of the cool info on his website, too, at www.thesocialfly.com)

Thanks for checking in and enjoy your holiday!

Toni

From our very own Flora at Belladerm, a “Safety 101″ tip (in her own words):

I read in a magazine a helpful tip for those of us who do not have an alarm system at home but have an alarm on our car. Bring your keys in the house with you and keep them in your bedroom, if you hear something or suspect an intruder push your car keys and your alarm will go off and alert neighbors and also will probably scare off the intruder.

Thanks for sharing this smart safety tip, Flora!  Have a Happy and safe 4th of July holiday!

Now for the really fun stuff! All of us at Belladerm are proud pet parents, many of you probably have heard us gushing about our “babies” while chatting at the spa. While there are cats in the family (Theresa’s are pictured in my latest email blast!), I’ve only attached photos of our dogs, maybe cats will be a whole other blog? From top to bottom: My little ones, Tula and Lola. Theresa’s Hannah (who will be joining her at this years walk, of course!). Robin’s sweeties Duchess and Juno. Tammy’s darling Tia (pictured with her other darling, daughter Alyssa hiding behind Tia). Floras “noisemakers” Robby and Maxine. And, Amy has a sweet new girl, Zoe, who is so new to the family we don’t even have a pic yet. Congrats, Amy!

Last, but not least…did you know that you can sign up to automatically receive my blog via email each time I post a new one? Stay up to date on all of my chats by registering today! And, better yet, I’m going to do a contest for all of the folks that sign up by the end of April. On May 1st I will randomly draw one name from those registered for my blog and that lucky winner will receive a package of 3 Ultrasonic Microdermabrasion treatments! So, hurry and sign up today!

Give your pets some extra love from all of your friends at Belladerm!

Check out these pictures of Robin Bernens, RN and owner of Belladerm MedSpa. On 11/27/07 she started testing a new Glo Minerals product we had just gotten in, gloLash Enhance Eyelash Serum. We were familiar with similar products as we have a client that had outstanding results with another brand. However, we wanted to be sure the Glo product stood up to those results. Boy, did it ever!

Check out Robin’s after shots taken on 12/7/08 – just over two months later. I was speechless when I saw the before as I’d gotten so used to Robin’s long lashes I didn’t even realize how well it had actually worked. We are thinking that she will go in to maintenance and just use it once a week, as they are now PERFECT. Read on to learn more about it. And don’t forget, we’ve chosen it as the product of the month so you get 10% off the $145 price! Makes so much more sense than extensions or falsies, doesn’t it?

A once a day simple application delivers visible results in just 3 to 8 weeks. You’ll notice stronger, longer, healthier lashes with continued use. Once you achieve desired results, product can be used as little as once a week to maintain your current look!

Other benefits:

FDA-certified formulation to safely enhance eyelashes.

• helps promote longer, stronger, more beautiful lashes
• ophthalmologist-tested, safety tested, suitable even for contact lens wearers
• hypo-allergenic
• gentle enough to use every night
• nourishes with essential proteins, vitamins and minerals
• eyelashes appear fuller, thicker and stronger
• strengthening agents help protect lashes against breakage