Hello, 2017! We're ready to rock! The Contributor Committee and I have super cool news to share. All month long we will dropping nuggets of news on our Facebook page. 

​Here's a sneak peek into our 2017 goodness...

Special Events

Let the good times roll! After a magical and successful workshop series in 2016, we decided to launch our second workshop series!!! Awesome, right!? We will be announcing the big reveal of the workshop series theme, date, and location, LIVE on Facebook on Wednesday, February 1st, 2017. Sign-up for for our "Workshops 2017 News and A Sweet Deal" on our Events page, to be the first to hear about the speaker line-up, special surprises, and access to a sweet deal. 

More Inspiring Interviews

We have a crazy exciting new campaign to celebrate more inspiring everyday women, and we can not wait to share it with you! Best part, YOU can get involved. Your dad, co-worker, brother, sister, friends, and neighbors, can get involved. 

Contributor Community Success

Big things are happening for the women that volunteer their professional expertise and their time to support I Admire U's mission. We are excited to share the amazing news with you!

Don't miss out on all of this 2017 goodness, follow us on Facebook and sign-up for our newsletter. Cheers to spreading love and positivity this year! Cheers to celebrating inspiring everyday women! 

Who?
YOU!!! 

What? 
Each day in November, search through your Facebook friend list and choose an amazing woman or woman-owned business and create a post with her picture, why she rocks, and of course, add the hashtags, #30daysofadmiration #iadmireu. 

With a Copy of the 30 Days of Admiration Image...

​Day 1: Lis Heeman, you and your husband, inspire Craig and I to live life to the fullest. The way you live your life reminds me how important it is to carpe diem! On top of your sense of adventure, you are my health inspiration. You are an incredible mom, a total class act, and you have the purest heart I've ever come across. You are filled with a special type of kindness, and I'm so grateful to know you.  #30daysofadmiration #iadmireu

**If you love this option, copy/save the image and use it for all of your posts. 

​Without the 30 Days of Admiration Image...

​Day 1: Lis Heeman, you and your husband, inspire Craig and I to live life to the fullest. The way you live your life reminds me how important it is to carpe diem! On top of your sense of adventure, you are my health inspiration. You are an incredible mom, a total class act, and you have the purest heart I've ever come across. You are filled with a special type of kindness, and I'm so grateful to know you.  #30daysofadmiration #iadmireu

​
​When? 
The whole month of November, from Nov. 1st - 30th. If you are unable to start on November 1st, NO PROBLEM! This is meant to be fun and awesome, so if you can start your 30 days on November 11th (November 11th - December 10th), we say GO FOR IT! Why not!?

Where? 
On your personal or business Facebook account. We are sticking to Facebook, but rock it out girl and celebrate your friends on other social media platforms. Remember, use the fancy hashtags!

Why? 
​Friends, co-workers, family members, mentors, and business women can all benefit from a friendly shout-out. Trust us, you will make her day!
​​

I get it, I should give instead of receive. These "badass" gifts are the kind you order and think,
"This is perfect, so her, she'll love it!"
Then you open the shipment box, and decide I'M KEEPING IT!
(You should still get one for someone you adore and admire, you'll feel better about it.)

My doctor said, "I'm not releasing you to debauchery." (No adult beverages for another month!)

I asked, "Why the hell not?"

He gently responded, "Take it slow. Accept that you are better."

Two concussions in less than a year later, I'm over taking it slow. I've laid like a blob for the past three-and-a-half months in a dark room with the blinds down, curtains closed, and no electronics. (Sigh) I've taken time to ponder, reflect, create new goals, dream bigger dreams, and question every ounce of my existence. I've been socially stripped bare to where I resorted to talking to walls, the dogs, and my saving grace, a smiley face balloon.

I've spent the past few months beating myself up for not being able to do simple crap.

​I've nagged at myself for not being able to paint our new house, create curb appeal, tend to I Admire U, follow-up on emails, join events, help friends, help my family, meet our new neighbors, make new friends, make a difference in our new community, explore our new community, plan new workshops, and oh yeah, for gaining weight and looking a hot mess.

My husband, my doctor, my friends, and my family told me consistently give myself time.

They all said, "Don't be so hard on yourself."

I counteracted their encouragement with doubt and my intense fear of missing out (FOMO).

Two days ago, I was fully released. After being released I spent an entire day alone. Happy. Grateful. I noticed an elderly man pushing his bike up a hill, followed by a 3-legged dog walking with a smile. That was my moment of clarity.

 I choose to accept that I am waaaaaay behind in every project in my life. Screw it! I have plenty of time.

I choose to accept that our house looks exactly the way it does when we bought it. Screw it! We have decades to get 'er done. I mean who doesn't like fluorescent lighting?

I choose to accept that we don't know the names of our neighbors and that I only have one friend so far. Screw it! Valerie is awesome and our neighbors aren't going anywhere. 

I choose to accept I'm squishy and weening from a sugar addiction. Screw it! The stuff tasted good, and I have all summer long to get sexy.

I choose to accept that I was insanely sensitive and said stupid crap to people I love and was selfish and forgot to ask people how they were doing. Screw it! Crap got dark. If they allow me, I'll enjoy showing them my love for a lifetime.

I choose to accept that I missed out on making memories with my family and playing everyday with our son. Screw it! We have tons of fun planned: camping trips, lake walks, fishing, wagon adventures, beach trips, and daily random fun.

I choose to accept that I missed out on a lot of fun bonding with my crew of friends, and that even without a concussion, I will never be available at 3 p.m. for a park play date. Screw it! I will enjoy the time I do have free, be grateful for every thoughtful invitation, and enjoy the new chapter of life our family is in.

I choose to accept that I am so tired after 4 hours that I have no energy to stay up to post incredibly awesome social media posts and write inspiring interviews. Screw it! I'm an everyday woman who faced a very serious injury and there is plenty of time to celebrate more inspiring women. 

It has been a loooooong vulnerable journey. Screw it! I choose to accept myself. 

There is something about the word "influence" that connects to me. I find it sexy and very mysterious, which I imagine is an odd way to describe a word. While brainstorming ideas for our anniversary month, I realized I was dying to know, "What makes a woman influential?" To answer this question, we invited the inspiring everyday women we interviewed this past year to share their thoughts. 
A huge hug to all the ladies who participated. Thank you for inspiring us once again.
  While I'm still discovering what "influential" means to me, I find beauty in each of the answers below. What do YOU think?...

5. “I believe that what makes a woman influential is her character and kindness. Her example of how she interacts with the cashier at the grocery store or the person sitting next to her on the bus can be revealing and impactful.” – Liz Meyer

6. “To me a woman who is influential is one who inspires hope and greatness in others so that the world will be a better place.” – Marta Berry

7. “Women who are influential are those who are kind and open-hearted, who generously share their knowledge, their access, their friends and their connections.  It’s women who open their homes to your family and who welcome you in.  These are the most successful women to me because they are comfortable in their own skin and they are the ones I admire the most and this is the type of woman I strive to be.  I couldn’t care less about accolades, titles and awards – what I want is authenticity.” – Kristine Sperling

8. “I think having a thought or idea to do something, and having the courage to act on it!” – Mary Miller

9. “Men may believe that power, money and strength lead to influence.  But the women I know are influential in a more nurturing manner (support, thoughtfulness, awareness and presence), which may in reality, make them more influential than many men.” – Kristine Konrad

The big dream is a conference. A badass 3-day experience.

A more realistic slice of the dream, an I Admire U workshop series.

Picture this:

Thirty women, thirty women with their hearts and minds wide open to learn, listening to three different women experts in their fields. Each expert sharing their knowledge and talent. Each speaker paying it forward. Thirty women with the opportunity to learn from a panel of three inspiring women.

A special opportunity, an opportunity that should cost a fortune, that only costs the investment of time.

Two hours. 

A two-hour event with an hour of enrichment and an hour of networking with like-minded ladies. Every month a different workshop theme. Every month a chance to grow. Once a month for three months, a chance to open their hearts and ignite their minds.

How does that sound? Dreamy?

Currently, the Get Inspired Girl workshop series will be held in Chicagoland. The details are being finalized. We are so pumped! We've booked some seriously talented everyday women. We are aiming to open registration for the workshop by April 8th. Follow I Admire U on Facebook to be the first to know when registration opens.

If you live in Chicagoland, hope you'll grab a friend and join us. If you don't live in Chicagoland, one day my friends, one day; the big slice, the enchilada...the I Admire U conference.

Yup, I'm a mom and it's the year of me. This probably sounds awful and selfish, and against every fiber of what being a mom should be, but surprisingly, it feels awesome.

That's it, I'm doing and going to do things this year that feel good and fulfill my individual interests. Key part, I'm going to own it.

For three years, my interests have happily been...

Fitness:  Playground playdates (running after our son to make sure he didn't eat sand or push another kid) and I accepted that paying for our gym membership every month was more a donation to the community

Social life: Lunch dates dubbed "Kamikaze lunches" (think three 3-year-olds "sitting" while their moms attempted to have a conversation, I mean a string of unfinished sentences)

Dream work: Desperate to not miss any family time, I worked on I Admire U until 4 am many, many nights

Why the aha moment?

Last year, I remember being totally dressed for the gym and in the parking lot, when a friend texted me to meet up for lunch. Snap. I backed up the car and drove to have lunch in my active wear. Yes, I made time for a friendship I value, but later I felt awful about skipping the me time.

Also, I remember having many days where Truman was at school and I felt lost without him. I felt paralyzed. I didn't read. I didn't exercise. I didn't catch up over the phone with dear friends. I didn't watch a guilty pleasure TV show. I waited. I sat on the couch waiting to pick our little nugget up from preschool.

Not this year. Nope. It is the Year of Me. I'm going to claim my interests. I'm not going to wait for a friend, my family, or the perfect timing. I'm setting myself free, free to be me, do me.

This year...

Fitness: I've been consistent with doing 10 minutes of yoga a day (distress my mommy parts). Major bonus: Truman and our Rottweiler do yoga with me.

Social: I am making less of a deal on meeting up with people (I've already finished listening to two audio books). I'm channeling my 20s and enjoying breakfast and lunch alone.

Dream work: I'm still struggling with this part, but I have a plan (I think).

Fun stuff: I've gotten back to mailing hand-written cards and journaling.

Three women I know are experiencing a similar mind shift. Three women are claiming their Year of Me. One friend spent 10 days on staycation reading books on finance and exploring her interest in the stock market. Another woman decided her attempts to get healthy with someone or for an occasion, wasn't working for her. She is 10 days in on the 21 Day Fix. Why? Why not.

I might be rambling, but in the year of me, I'm less perfect and more accepting that I am who I am. A woman with interests, and yes, a mom with the desire to be interesting to herself. 

Wow! July was a crazy month. I felt like I really never got my footing, between organizing a Rescue Bot birthday party for our three-year-old son in six days for twenty-six guests, to balancing personal goals, to squeezing in a bunch of to-dos before heading to Door County for a mini vacation. Towards the end of the month I started to feel a bit nutty, that I posted on a local Working Moms Group page a request for a referral for a life coach. I didn't receive any referrals, but I did receive a kick in the butt. I decided...

I got this. I know I do. I can refocus. I mean, I will refocus. I don't need a life coach, I will use the tools below. Below, are two ideas I came up with to help get my footing on some personal goals.

Please share your ideas to refocus this month, under Comments.

A friend/co-worker gifted me this book. She was at Target a week and a half ago, and it called out to her. She too is a self-help junkie. She was super enthusiastic to share with me how excited she was about the book. She let me borrow it even after I told her I was rough on my books. Later in the day she texted to let me know I could keep it as a gift. I started it on vacation and already it has my mind churning. My favorite part is that it's like a workbook, you are encouraged to do certain exercises to match the topics throughout the book. I am only a third of the way through, but already I feel more refocused. I am fully engaged and excited to learn, "Where could I be in 5 years?"

Two of my Facebook friends have tried 21 Day Fix. Leslie Nicole Smith, posted her two rounds of 21 Day Fix before and after pictures last week and....WOW!!! Her entire body is transformed into a strong healthy body. She looks absolutely fantastic! Bess Freas, I think is 13 days into the 21 Day Fix, and she posts her progress often. She even had a friend from out of town get on the floor and do a workout with her. Both of these women inspired me to do some research.

What is this 21 Day Fix all about? Is it humane? Am I going to die? Will I be able to squeeze it into my schedule? The concept is to do a designated 30-minute 21 Day Fix DVD workout every day for 21 days straight, all while eating portion controlled meals.

After asking myself all those questions, and after some research, I decided to buy the 21 Day Fix on a resale site. So... DVDs, check. Five pound weights, check. 10 pound weights, check. Colored portion eating cups, Amazon Prime delivers them tomorrow. Well, my before pictures are snapped. I'll post in 21 days how this idea turned out.

This is a short but sweet list to help you stay motivated to chase your dreams, no matter your circumstances. Listen to them all or to just one, either way, be ready to dream big. And, for the life of me could not find who sings, or where I heard: "I'm gonna be somebody. I'm gonna go somewhere. I'm gonna make it happen." I wanted to add it, because I have belted it out in so many elevator rides. There are many others I could've added, but to keep it simple here you go...

This is a hand to chest, eyes closed, song for me. When it comes to family and friends adversity, this song helps remind me to keep my feet planted. Don't be restless, dig my heels in, stop and listen to words being communicated (and even those not being spoken), and make solutions with an open heart. That dream house, awesome school for Truman, and long-lasting friendships will come, if I don't give up on the relationships in my life.

Listen to it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1-4u9W-bns

I am a dreamer, always have been, and will die as one. I love talking about dreams. Love it! This is so morbid, but to be honest, I want this song at my funeral. This song is a celebration of a life living with Him, and that means, celebrating, learning, and growing through a lifetime of attempts and trials and wins at going after our family's dreams.

Listen to it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxZD0VQvfqU

This is an anthem for going after your dreams. The words are worth memorizing, and beware, you just might stand on your couch (your mountain) and feel indestructible. This song has gotten me through many wandering moments and "in a boat with out a paddle" seasons.

Listen to it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG2zyeVRcbs

Shine bright. Be free. Let your dreams be the biggest, boldest, brightest firework ever. Sing this with a girlfriend, a guarantee mood lifter.

Listen to it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw

This song isn't necessarily a "dream" song, but it is a work hard, kick butt, don't let anything set you back song. Survive and then thrive.

Listen to it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmc8bQoL-J0

Simply said, let your light shine. Don't let anything dim your journey towards your dreams.

Listen to it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCN893hzueQ

I am not an avid reader, but I am a picky reader. I love self-help books, always have, and always will I'm sure. The last nine months has been nuts. I blew out my back and was in therapy for two months, followed by recovering from a concussion for two months. During the rest periods, I snuck in audio books and good old fashion soft cover books. Below, are five books I read that helped create positive changes in my life. They all are wonderful resources, and I have provided links to learn more about each one. Please share a COMMENT if you have read one before or plan on giving one a try.

I am a true believer that it depends on where my head space is at, that determines if I can receive and act upon great wisdom. Luckily, I am in a season of listening and receiving as much knowledge as I can. This book takes basic financial principles and translates them into stories set in the Babylonian era. The stories help remind me; pay myself first, save for the future, and trust those with expertise. Perfect read for someone who needs an extra kick in the butt to smarten up when it comes to money. Learn more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Richest_Man_in_Babylon_(book)

To say I am obsessed with influencing everyone I know to take the quick three-minute quiz on-line at http://www.5lovelanguages.com/profile/, is a HUGE understatement. I am inspired by the winning philosophy that we all love and feel love differently. Once we are aware of such, it can encourage stronger communication, understanding, flexibility, and forgiveness in all of our relationships. If you read the book, and are curious, my love language is Receiving Gifts. I will receive dark chocolate any day of the week. Perfect read for anyone who has human interaction. Learn more at: http://www.5lovelanguages.com/resources/books/

A Beautiful Mess is my all-time favorite site, outside of I Admire U of course! Elsie and Emma rock at do-it-yourself projects: start a blog, stay organized, make a memorable meal, and make awesome home décor. I bought their E-course, Blog Life, to be inspired by their growth and their tenacity. Their blogging tips help teach me flexibility, organization, and how to think outside of the box. They are a big inspiration to how I think creatively, and how I maintain calm and patient during the growth and evolution of
I Admire U. Perfect read for someone interested in starting her own blog or adding a blog to her company's website. Learn more at: http://shop.abeautifulmess.com/shop/classes/blog-life

My husband brought this home to read, and I snatched it to read! I was robbed at gunpoint while our baby was three-months old. Even today, the past experience affects how I choose to do or not do certain things. This book has inspired me in two ways: one, a reminder that I have to continue growing beyond the circumstances of that day; two, to get off my butt and stop making excuses for not starting or completing life goals. Perfect read for someone who experiences loss, change, or tragedy. Learn more at: https://www.ozprinciple.com/info/wisdom-of-oz/
                                                                

Yes, I am a vegetarian, but no, that is not why I recommend this book. The information is insightful and empowering. I believe it empowers the reader, the consumer, to make educated choices. I love how the author's main goal isn't to promote veganism, but to share eye-opening facts in a non-pushy tone. Perfect read for anyone who consumes food. Learn more at: http://www.eatinganimals.com/