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!

With summer just around the corner, you probably have home/garden maintenance on your mind, as well as your to-do list!  We’ve included some tips to help you out and keep you on track. Summer’s heat and dry weather can be tough on your home.  A little home maintenance can go a long way to keep your house in good repair.  Follow this checklist to stay on top of your home maintenance during the summer.

Outside
There are many home maintenance projects that you can do in the summer to keep the exterior of your home and your yard looking great. 

• Trim back any trees or shrubs that have grown too close to the house. This not only prevents damage from tree limbs but helps with safety, too, by eliminating any blind spots.
• Make sure no water pools or collects anywhere in your yard.  Stagnant water is a breeding area for mosquitoes.  There will be enough mosquitoes about during the summer without providing them a place to multiply.
• Maintain your deck or patio.  Thoroughly clean and scrub your deck or patio and apply a deck sealer the next day. You will need sunny, dry weather for this home maintenance task.
• Wash the exterior of your house using a garden hose.  A pressure washer can actually cause damage unless used by a professional.  An attachment on your water hose should be sufficient.  You can even buy an attachment that allows you to add a mild detergent to aid in washing your siding.
• Repair any cracks in the driveway or sidewalk with a concrete caulk for small cracks or a concrete patch for larger ones.
• Take care of your swimming pool.  Have it ready for the season and maintain it throughout the summer.

Inside
Don’t neglect the inside of your home. Here are some summer home maintenance projects.

• Service your air conditioner.  If you have not done so already, have the biannual service done by a professional.  Also, change out all of your air filters.
• Check the windows and doors.  The weather stripping may need some maintenance.  Cold air can escape through any cracks here.  Caulk around the doors and windows as needed as part of your home maintenance.
• Thoroughly clean the dryer lint.  Clean the lint trap as well as the exterior vent cap.  It needs to be clear to allow air to not be trapped.  It can actually result in carbon monoxide backing up into your house.
• Clean the icemaker.  You are going to need a lot of ice-cold drinks with the summer heat, so make sure that your icemaker is up to the task.
• Before you go on vacation, check your home’s security.  This is an important part of home maintenance that involves the interior as well as the exterior of your home.  You want your yard well-lit and your home easy to see. (With the trees and shrubs trimmed, it should be.)  Make sure all the locks work well on the windows and doors.  Test your alarm system.  Cancel the paper and mail or have a neighbor pick them up for you when you travel.  Leave a few lights on or better yet, have them on a timer.

A few hours of home maintenance can help improve the condition of your home and head off any potential problems.  A little preventative maintenance can save you lots of money in pricey repairs.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you moms!

Our wish for you is a day full of relaxation and pampering that is spent with the ones you hold dear.

Are you still doing some last-minute shopping for your mom? A gift card from Belladerm is a perfect way to show Mom she is appreciated! She will be delighted to schedule a time to come in for a beauty treatment or to purchase a much-needed product.  She may be excited to try Latisse, our new lash product.  We are offering a special 10% off discount for the month of May! Every woman would love fuller, longer, darker lashes! Treat mom to a gift that will make her feel more beautiful than she already is.  We’ve even made it easy for you to purchase a gift card online! Click here to learn more.

You may have seen this before, but it is so funny that we wanted to share it with you for Mother’s Day.  We applaud the hard work and dedication of moms everywhere! Have a special day!

JOB DESCRIPTION FOR MOMS

Position:
Mother, Mom, Mama, Mommy

Job Description:
Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an, often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

Responsibilities:
The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

Possibility For Advancement & Promotion:
Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

Previous Experience:
None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

Wages And Compensation:
Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and then wish you could only do more.

Benefits:
While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.

A once a day simple application delivers visible results in just 4 to 16 weeks. You’ll notice stronger, longer, darker lashes with continued use. Once you achieve desired results, the product can be used as little as once a week to maintain your current look! We have Latisse in stock right now and we know it will be a hot item! Stop in to get yours today!

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

What could be more fun than a cutest canine contest? Enter your adorable dog in Round 2 of the Star Tribune contest going on NOW! Check out what you could win:

TOP DOG: A $1,000 Visa gift card and publication in the Star Tribune and on StarTribune.com (WOW!!)

TOP 10 WINNERS: Get a $100 Visa gift card

TOP 30 WINNERS: Get a $25 Visa gift card

Don’t just pull out any old photo of your dog! Make sure it is one that stands out in a crowd! Also, make sure it captures your dog’s charm, personality and good looks! This may mean that you need to snap a new picture just for the contest! It will be worth it! Just look at what the TOP DOG wins!

When you enter the contest, you’ll need to come up with a title for your picture.  You will also need to submit a description of your dog.  You’ll have fun reading comments that voters will post about your lovable dog! The contest ends on January 23rd, 2009 so don’t delay!

Click here for tips on photographing dogs, if you need a little help to get you going!

Click here to go to the Star Tribune Cutest Canine Contest. 

I am going to ask all of the girls at Belladerm to enter, what fun!

Best of luck to you and your canine,

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