Interview with Christine

Spring is just around the corner!

I’m pretty sure that I speak for everyone when I say I cannot believe it is already March. I feel like 2020 Took off like a jet and it hasn’t slow down. However I am happy that spring is here. The sun is getting a little warmer and I’m starting to think about planting flowers in my garden. It’s such a bright and cheerful time of year and so that is why I have decided to highlight Christine this month for our stylist interview. If you have had the pleasure of meeting Christine then you would know that she is the epitome of spring. Let’s get to know her better and check out her interview below.

What is your favorite childhood memory?

I used to love having sleepovers at my grandmas house on the weekends with my sister.  She would take us to the grocery store where we could buy all the popcorn and hot chocolate we wanted. We would stay up late watching VHS movies while giving Grandma a manicure and a makeover. I remember one time she let us color her hair blue! Then in the mornings she would pack up a cooler and we would spend the day at her pool. I loved those weekends. 

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Rochester NY! 

What was your favorite thing about where you grew up and your least favorite thing?

Many school mornings I would open my curtains and know right away we were going to have a snow day. I have lived through blizzards, snow, ice and wind storms! The snow was my favorite thing when I was little (to play in and for the snow days) and my least favorite thing as an adult (I hate the cold). A few times the national guard would have to come clean up the roads! My parents still live in the house they built for our family and I have so many great memories in that house and family neighborhood. 

What is your favorite book/movie and why?

I love to read! I have my own little personal book club called “Lori’s (my mom) book club”. I joke and call it this because she sends me a few books a month right to my door! It’s so exciting when they arrive! I think my favorite book is and always has been Tuesday’s with Morrie by Mitch Albom. It’s a beautiful story with a reminder to cherish every day on earth and the people you love. 

What is one thing your guests probably don’t know about you?

Although most of you may know me as a real girly girl, I sort of “roughed it” during my summers growing. I’d spend every summer for 20+ years at a small, quiet lake with one local store and a few stop lights. I knew the names of almost every resident in the town! I fished with my grandpa, foraged for sticks for  bonfires, napped on a hammock, and washed my hair in the lake with my sister. And get this.... we had NO TELEVISION. I don’t think many of my friends or guests today could picture me in this environment!!! Honestly, I loved it. 

What are your hobbies?

Yoga is something I’ve enjoyed for years and has helped me feel more balanced, grounded and happy. Practicing yoga first thing in the morning is one of my favorite ways to start the day. I also know if I am feeling stressed or overwhelmed, an evening class will help me feel calm. My favorite posture is dancer pose! This is when you shift and balance all your weight on one foot, while leaning forward and lifting the other foot up behind your head! Give it a try!! Namaste!

Who is one person alive or deceased you would want to talk to and why?

I dream of meeting and talking to Taylor Swift. I just think she is America’s sweetheart and has so much talent. I truly believe if she would meet me we would be best friends!!!

Give us one fun fact about you

I am double jointed in my hands! 

When did you first know you wanted to be a hairstylist?

Maybe it all goes back to when I would color my grandmas hair blue?!? I don’t think there was a defining moment in my life where I knew I wanted to be a stylist. I remember hearing when I was young, “do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life”.  I knew I wanted to be around people, learn their stories, and make them feel beautiful.

What do you love most about this industry?

What I love most is the encouragement and empowerment that the Aveda family has for each other. It’s so exciting to be with girls everyday in the salon, and stylists and leaders virtually through social media, who are truly rooting for me. 

If you could say one thing and the entire world could here you, what would it be?

Dear world, we are all in this together

Christine is a level 3 stylist at LG Howard and company, and would love to help you feel amazing. 

I hope you all have stayed warm this winter and let’s pray the time slows down so we can get the most out of the best weather Florida has to offer!! See you next month.

-Ashley

Interview with Tayler

Happy February!!

It’s me Ashley and I’m back with another installment of our stylists interview! 

But first let’s talk about the holidays being behind us, and what 2020 has in store!

I’ve personally been excited for 2020 for several years. I don’t know why but it has just felt like it’s going to be a BIG year! Like this is the year something amazing is going to happen. The synchronicity in the number itself tells us that this is the year to be strong and bold, while maintaining a harmonious and peaceful stance. So if there’s been a change you’ve been wanting to make, or a stance you’ve been wanting to take, this is the time. Just remember to stay grounded. 

Now I’ve never been one for New Years resolutions, but this year I did prepare myself for the possibilities this year can hold. Staying grounded and open to new opportunities, lessons and ideas are my intentions for the year. What are some of yours? We would love to hear what your going for in 2020!

Now on to our stylist interview for February. This month we are featuring Tayler, she is 21 and February is her birth month, so wish her a happy birthday! 

Where did you grow up?

Sarasota, Florida

What is your favorite memory of your childhood?

My favorite childhood memory would probably be spending time with my cousins in Orlando and riding around on four wheelers and dirt bikes with them and my brother

So you were pretty outdoors Florida kid growing up?

I would say yes especially living close to the beach always being on the boat and fishing too.

What is a little known fun fact about you that you think your guest would be surprised to hear?

I think that my guests would be surprised to know that I am more outdoorsy than they may think. I spend a lot of time fishing and doing things in the woods like four wheeling and getting muddy and they probably wouldn’t expect that.

What is your favorite book or movie and why?

My favorite is actually a book and a movie it’s a dog‘s purpose and I love it because I’m an animal person and I love the story behind the dog finding his purpose in life.

If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be and why?

I feel like I’m torn between either going to Fiji or New Zealand because they both look very tropical and relaxing and kind of like you have your own private little area on the beach to spend time in.

When did you first know that you wanted to be a hairstylist? And what attracted you to at the most?

I first knew that I wanted to become a hairstylist my senior year of high school and I initially thought about it because I’ve always loved a Hair from a young age and loved make up and always doing my friends hair and make up for school dances and proms.

What is one thing you wish all of your guests knew?

I wish that all my guests knew how exciting it is to see them come in every time for their appointments and how much I really enjoy seeing them leave happy with their style and with their color and making them feel beautiful every time they come in.

Now that you’ve been behind the chair for a while what is your favorite thing about the hair industry now?

My favorite thing about the hair industry is that nothing ever seems to stay the same new styles are coming every day and new colors are coming every day that people are interested in and it always gives me something new to learn and look forward to

Taylor has been with LG Howard & Co since October 2017, and is a New Talent stylist. If you’d like to chat with her make sure to ask for her for your next appointment. 

Interview with Ashley

It’s hard to believe it is January 1,2020. As 2019 came to a close, I did something I like to do every year- a year in review. This time I even did a decade in review! As I teetered between reviewing the last 365 days and the last 10 years I kept getting hung up on the last four. Yep, you guessed it, since I've opened the salon. In case you haven't guessed yet- January 2020 blog is coming to you from me-Liza. Don't worry, Ashley our blogger extraordinaire is making her appearance here today and is back with something new starting February. But more about that in a minute.

LG Howard & Company has been a true labor of love for me. I often call it my baby because although separate from who I am, it is very much a part of me. From the moment I signed the lease I have been all in. Starting with 3 months of a build-out that held many surprises. Including finding money under the first tile I popped off the floor! 

Unfortunately, that’s all the money that was found.

Doing the buildout stretched me to learn about things I never thought I would. If you need help dry-walling, let me know, I’m your girl. Little did I know that was just the beginning. Despite that I had been doing hair for almost 9 years when we opened our doors, I still had a long road ahead of me. Over the course of those 9 years doing hair I worked at a lot of salons. I was a bit of a vagabond if you will and Florida was my 5th state to live in, in five years. Every salon I was at I would think either “yes! this is the environment I want to create in my own salon some day.” or “okay, mental note-NEVER do that.” Each salon I was at was successful in their own right and in no way a “bad” place. However, I knew what kinds of salons inspired their teams and had an environment of love and family. And so became my biggest endeavor. 

There are moments I feel we have grown slower that what others expected or even what I expected. But through our growing pains I kept my eyes on one target. The culture I wanted to create. While some salons would hire any stylist who would walk through their doors, or at least the ones with loads of experience and guests in tow. I would not.  You cant take pee out of the pool. Meaning once you allow a toxicity into your culture- its not as easy as letting that person go to  clean it back up. Unless a stylist has a servants heart, a willingness to learn and grow, and the desire to uplift others- they are not my tribe. 

I have a lot of guests who I have been seeing since we opened. They often comment what a remarkable team I have. How “lucky” I am too have such a great group of girls. But luck has nothing to do with it. I have been intentional about who I let on my team or in my pool. 

We are a family. We have each others backs. We celebrate each others victories and we grieve each others loses. They inspire me everyday to be better and I am blessed to know each of them. Which brings me to the purpose of our 2020 blog. I know when you come into the salon you are greeted by multiple smiling faces. You may even know each persons name. But I want to truly invite you into our family.

Each month we are going to dedicate our blog to interviewing a different member of the team. It will be a mix of both personal and professional questions. If you are already a guest of LG Howard it will give you context to some of our silliness. If you're a new guest, maybe it will help you to chose the right stylist for you. Either way, we hope you enjoy! We are kicking off January with none other the the girl behind the blog- ASHLEY!

THE INTERVIEW

Q: First, tell me a little bit about who Ashley is? 

A:I am 35 years old and a mother of two. I was born and raised in Port Charlotte Florida and lived here until 2011. After spending three years in the frozen state of New York, my family and I decided to move back to sunny Southwest Florida.

Q: What is one of your favorite childhood memories? 

A: Oh gosh I have a lot of childhood memories. I think my best memories are of my friends and I putting on music and we would make up dances, and then either put on a performance for our family or friends. Also just all the time I spent outside. I lived in a great neighborhood with lots of kids and we would always be riding our bikes between the houses climbing trees and making forts in the woods.

Q: What are your hobbies now? 

A: My hobbies now are pretty tame compared to when I was younger. I used to enjoy extreme sports like skateboarding, and wake skating. These days I spend my free time painting, mainly with acrylics. I also study theology and comparative religious practices. It’s always been a topic of interest for me that I’ve studied since my teens. Knowledge is like water for me. I can’t get enough.

Q: If you could have lunch with anyone, alive or deceased, who would it be?

A: Wow! Alive or deceased? Can I have two? I would love to see my grandmother again. She was like a best friend to me, and had the best advice, stories etc. I miss our conversations. The second would be the current Dalai Llama. I’ve read several books by him, and his knowledge mixed with his humor is a conversation I’d feel blessed to have.

Q:What is your favorite book or movie and why?

A: My favorite book is kind of lame, but I would say “The Giver” by Lowis Lowry. I read it for the first time in the 5th grade and probably 20 times since then. It was the first time I questioned society and the motives within. It had a profound effect on my ideals, and beliefs. If you haven’t read it, I encourage you to check it out. Not the movie though, they never get the movies right!

Q:What is a little known fun fact about you that you think your guests would be surprised to hear?

A:Fun fact, I’m kind of a hypochondriac! I’m probably dying from three unknown diseases right now!! Lol see knowledge can be good and bad!

Q: When did you first know you wanted to be a hairstylist? Did you pursue it right away?What made you want to become a stylist?

A: Being a hairstylist honestly always was the right fit for me. I’ve always loved doing hair since my mom had me do her highlights at our kitchen table when I was around 13 or 14. I would do all kinds of crazy stuff to my own hair and my friends. It didn’t “click” until I was 29 and didn’t really want to be an insurance agent anymore. My mom and husband both looked at me and asked “why don’t you do hair?” I thought to myself, why don’t I? That was it, I enrolled the following day and thank my lucky stars I finally found my passion!

Q: When you first became a stylist what was the thing that surprised you the most?

A:What surprised me the most was how much room for expression there was. I had total freedom to create. There were rules to follow but some rules are made to be broken.

Q:Now a stylist, what is your favorite thing about the industry?

A: There isn’t one thing in this industry that is my favorite. It’s the whole package. It’s exciting and fun, it’s outside of the box and a little badass!

Q: What made you choose LG Howard & Company?

A: I chose LG Howard because of the vibe. I don’t do well in environments with drama and ego’s. Everyone was supportive and fun. Like a family! The energy is so important in a workplace for me and I knew I found my home here.

Q:What is one thing you wish all of your guests knew?

A: I wish all my guests knew how important them and their hair are to me. If what I’m doing isn’t making you smile and feel amazing every time you style your hair then I’m not happy! That’s my goal to make every person in love with their hair.

~Liza

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Ahhh it’s time for hot chocolate, fuzzy slippers, and a good hallmark movie! Sounds peaceful doesn’t it? For some of us it can make us think of shopping lists, a million Christmas parties, and packing every holiday themed event in as we can. The latter doesn’t sound as peaceful does it? Why do we cram our schedules so full, overspend, and stress ourselves out, trying to create “ The perfect holiday”? When did we become so uptight about the happiest time of the year? 

This year I’m going stay sane, and truly enjoy my holiday by saying no! And you should too.

I’ve thought about some fun ways I can spend time with the kids, drink my cocoa, and stay in my slippers... well maybe not the slippers! 

To start, I’ve always wanted to string popcorn and cranberries with my family just as I did growing up. There’s something about the handmade touches that really bring the warmth into the decorations. Another idea I had was to gather the pinecones in our yard, that I’m normally very annoyed by, and give them a bleach wash. We could string these also, out paint them to look like Christmas trees! I’ve already told my daughter about this one, and she is pumped to go collect pinecones. Seeing that the simple things still excite her, tells me I need to nurture that. Not just for her but me as well.

 I really believe it’s the simple things that bring the most fulfilling joy. This brings me to my confession... I have indeed overspent on gifts, trying to buy for everyone I know, plus fulfill the kids wish list. At the end of it all I’m always left stressed, rushed, and broke! Now I’m not saying to not get any gifts. It’s the season of giving for sure! What I’m saying is to be mindful about your giving. If you’re a crafter, could you make some things for people who love your work? Just because something has a price tag doesn’t make it better! Those handmade decorating ideas could make great gifts too! I can’t go a whole post without mentioning Pinterest so let’s do it now. Look up DIY Christmas gifts and you will be amazed at all cool gift ideas that are inexpensive, personal, and fun to make. 

The shortened kids list can be a touchy topic, but let me share the changes we’ve made and why. 

Something they want

Something they need

Something to do

Something to read

If you sit in my chair you have heard me talk about this. And if you have read my blog before you know how much I cherish my childhood holiday memories. Here’s where the two collide. As a kid Christmas morning was ahhhmaaazing! Presents everywhere, I mean halfway across the living room! It was actually quite overwhelming. I’d sit there for so long un wrapping gifts only to have another one handed to me. Then when it’s all done, I had to bring it all to my room. Again overwhelmed at where to put it all. Sure it was exciting I’m not being all humbug or ungrateful here. Just honest. There was always the main gifts that got my most attention and that’s where I’m going with this trip down memory lane. A few that stuck out, that I spent the most time with. That I really really wanted. Ohhhh those made my heart so happy! 

Sticking to this little list is going to help me say no to all the other clutter during my holiday shopping. And say yes to enjoying my shopping by grabbing the few things they are actually going to love and head home! I think it’s important to remind children that less can be more, and to stay humble. Perhaps take them to shop for a couple toys to donate to Toys for Tots. And don’t let them get something for themselves in the process. Create less clutter and more memories on that special morning. Maybe a board game or two as family presents. That’s what counts at the end of it all. The memories with those you love. 

This year may your holidays be merry, bright, and peaceful.

Slow down, breathe, and say no to the clutter 

~Ashley

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice

Welcome back ya’ll! It’s finally fall, and for us in Florida that means less humidity... somedays! Lol I don’t let that phase me though. I’m still going to pretend it’s fall, and you should too! There’s so many ways to submerge yourself into the longer nights and cooler days even if you can’t pull out those hoodies quite yet. The title of this months blog should give you a pretty good clue a to where I’m going with this. Let’s dive in!

So as soon as Starbucks releases their seasonal pumpkin spice latte’s I’m all in. This year however they came out with a pumpkin cold brew coffee, and let me just tell you it is ahhhmazing! It’s creamy and rich, but you can still taste the distinct flavor of a cold brew. It also isn’t so sweet or loaded with flavoring. One cup of this and you’ll be sure to get in the spirit of fall. 

Coffee and pie for so long have been the staples for a pumpkin fix, but last year I explored several recipes that included pumpkin purée and definitely will be making another appearance this year! One that my family of picky eaters was surprised they enjoyed was a roasted apple and pumpkin soup. There’s a little sweetness, a little heat and yes pumpkin! Perfect for a chilly night to warm you up. A quick search on Pinterest and you can browse all the versions. Another favorite was pumpkin ravioli with a hazelnut brown butter sauce. This was like having dessert for dinner. The kids went crazy and my husband couldn’t believe it was actually a healthy dish when served with roasted asparagus. 

There are so many amazing pumpkin recipes out there, so go ahead and give them a try. Don’t forget about your fur babies either. Yes there are even recipes for them! A local grocery store here in Sarasota has pre-made pumpkin dog treats and my pup went crazy for them last year. 

So we have food covered what are some other ways you can pumpkin spice up your fall?

Well as a hair stylist the answer is your HAIR!

Every year in the salon we have women tell us that they like to go darker for the fall and winter. Totally makes sense. However knowing that our guest are going to want to be bright again in the spring, we thought about some fun ways to deepen their hair without compromising the integrity of their locks when we’re ready to go bright again. Luckily Aveda has you covered. We have a beautiful color line that is a semi-permanent so you don’t have to make a permanent commitment. I love putting a caramel gloss on my blonde guests this time of year to really show those rich fall tones and will allow them to maintain the dimension they loved with their blonde. They are as I said a gloss as well so you get beautiful shiny hair as well as a new color. The semi-permanent line is also fully customizable as well leaving you with endless possibilities. Make sure to ask your stylist about a Demi gloss when you come in and get that fall goddess hair! 

By now you all should know I love me some Pinterest. It truly is a mecca of inspiration at your fingertips. As I was scrolling a few weeks ago I noticed a major trend on pumpkin spice makeup looks. Like what?? Yes please! Some warmer blushes in golden tones and bright orange eye shadow, I was totally hooked. Plus I love experimenting with new makeup looks as they are constantly evolving. Ask your beauty expert for ideas or do I need to say it? Check out Pinterest. 

I hope you all have an amazing November and don’t forget to leave a comment and tell us what your favorite fall activities are! 

~Ashley

Halloween

When witches go riding, and black cats are seen. The moon laughs and whispers ‘‘tis near Halloween. 

Happy Halloween!

Anyone who really knows me, knows this is my favorite holiday of the year! I can’t pinpoint an exact reason why, it’s everything really. The spooky decorations, the fall inspired food, and seeing people dressed in wild costumes all just bring me such joy! 

Now I know most people’s favorite is Christmas, and I love it just as much as the next, but Halloween always has a way of bringing me back to my inner child. There’s no presents to shop for, or a million parties to attend, no stressful lists or cards to get out by a deadline. Just good ole fashioned fun!

Me, personally, I love scary movies, and I will binge watching all my favorites this month. But you don’t have to be a scary movie buff to get in on the fun! My family will place plastic spiders around the house on each other and wait for an unsuspecting victim to find it! We essentially “prank” each other with ghoulish objects, and even my anti-horror daughter gets really into it! 

The pumpkin carving is always the main event. We all get a pumpkin to design, and my husband and I do the carving. There’s no rules, it can be as ugly and deformed, or aesthetically pleasing as you want! It’s always so much fun to see what each other comes up with! Another fun pumpkin decorating idea is with “Puff paints” they dry hard and puffed up, and you can do some amazing designs with them! My daughter loves these the most.

I’ve mentioned before that growing up with my mother, every holiday got its shining moment in my house. Halloween was always the biggest aside from Christmas of course. She made the simplest things feel like Halloween all month long. I’m going to share a few ways to help bring some shrieks and screams into your days all month long! 

Stuffed bell peppers become stuffed jack’o peppers, cut out the little face before stuffing and voila a spooky dinner!

My mom used to always put the plastic spiders in the ice cube trays and that always brought a smile to my face! You can usually get a whole bag for a couple bucks! 

You can also place them around the house to scare your family! Muhahaha!

If your looking for a fun and inexpensive arts and crafts project, get a box of large black garbage bags, and head to Pinterest for a DIY trash bag spider web. Or some black construction paper for DIY flying bats.

I hope I’ve gotten you shrieking for Halloween! And I hope you lose your head with all these ideas!  Have fun and remember...

Halloween is not only about putting on a costume, it’s about finding the imagination and costume within ourselves- Elvis Duran 

~Ashley

Treat yo' self

-The wheel of life is in continuous motion. You can’t stop it, you might as well embrace the little moments along the way-

This “mantra” or “motto” is what I try to live by. There are certainly days that it’s harder than others. We’ve been gearing up at my house lately, getting the kids ready to go back to school. Getting physicals done, and checking off the school supply list. It’s been a little hectic to say the least. The kids feel the anxiety coming on too, they worry about their new teachers, how many friends will be in my classes? All the upcoming homework. Even our dog is wondering what all the bustle is about! It’s in these times that we yearn for a break, a little downtime to decompress.

Even if you live by yourself or with a significant other, this I believe is true for all of us. The wheel of life will have it’s tense moments, and it’s quiet moments. In every season I feel it’s important to take time for ourselves. To find a quiet place, to reflect, and unwind. When we take these moments we allow the spinning wheel to slow down for a bit, and allows us to catch our breath if you will.

Here at LG Howard &Co. we believe this so much, that it’s part of our culture. We understand that your haircut or color appointment may be one of your few moments to recharge. Which is why we are passionate about our complimentary “rituals” with our guests. Every guest is greeted with a smile, and every service starts with an aroma journey where we invite you to experience three aromas. Once you choose your aroma, we use it to provide a relaxing scalp, neck, and shoulder massage. Then while we are washing your hair, we apply your conditioner and we wrap a hot towel around your hair and perform an arm and hand massage. Sounds amazing right? It is amazing and we believe all of you are too!

Spending time on ourselves is important. It allows us to remember who we are, and it re charges our batteries.

“Within the confines of our ordinary physical form exists a subtler conscious body, so called because it is intimately connected with deep levels of consciousness. It is from these subtler levels that the potential energy of blissful wisdom arises, an energy capable of transforming the quality of our life completely.... It represents who we are, and what we can become.” -Lama Thubten Yeshe

My favorite way to recharge is to take a relaxing bath. I go all out on this process, lit candles, dried flowers, essential oils, and Epsom salts in the tub. My favorite pianist “yiruma” playing. For you it might be going for a pedicure, or walking along the beach and listening to the waves crash. Maybe it’s getting out your camera and getting some great shots of the sky.

How about a coffee date by yourself at Starbucks with a good book?

My husbands favorite moments are cutting the grass and going to the gym. He says when he cuts the grass the sound of the mower is loud enough to drown out his worrying mind. Now mowing the lawn in no way sounds relaxing to me, but this is my point. Allow yourself to discover what brings you joy, And do it with the intention to quiet the mind. To stop thinking about our to-do lists, and not worry about the needs of others for 15 minutes. It’s not selfish to fill your own cup back up. You deserve it and you are worthy of it.

Compassion is for everyone, including yourself. Have a blissful month

-Ashley

Time for a fresh start!

Once again it is the time of year that children dread and parents rejoice in. Back to School! Although I was never a fan of school itself, as soon as it ended for summer the count down for back to school shopping began; and THAT I enjoyed. ( I apparently have loved office supplies from a young age) My mum and I would have to pace ourselves to not go out right away and just buy everything right away. To this day there are few things I find more simple and pure joy in than a new box of crayons. However, if they were purchased too early on in summer, they wouldn’t be around come the new school year. Picking out all the matching binders and folders was always exciting and circulated around a main theme that I had chosen for that school year. Lisa Frank progressed into my favorite boyband, Backstreet Boys. ( AJ- you will always have my heart BSB4EVA). Next came picking out the perfect backpack. The one that was big enough to carry all of my books but had enough pockets to give the appearance of organization while simultaneously losing all of my pens.

Although as adults we may not find ourselves stocking up on notebooks and markers during this season, we are still affected with this change of season. It may not be fall quite yet, but we all sense it is near. The smell of sunscreen and salty hair is fading away, along with the easiness of summer. This summer during Summer Series we showed you how to love your natural texture by “Embracing the Undone”. Natural texture is great all yea,r however I find myself gravitating to it more during summer and then ready for a change as fall approaches. The actual style isn't the only thing I like to change seasonally. I love to see a change in wardrobe ( even if its only a slight change here in FL), a change in hair color, and a fresh cut.

Even if you aren't quite ready to make the change yet since its still 90+ degrees here, its still a good time to talk with your stylist and get a plan for your fall look. Changing your cut and/or style is something that can easily be done with just one appointment. Color on the other hand may require more than one appointment or a longer appointment than what you normally schedule. If you are on a 6 week maintenance schedule with your hair that is less than 4 appointments until CHRISTMAS and the new year! Can you believe it? Neither can I!

Sometimes I like to do mini changes on my guest as fall and winter approaches. This gives the opportunity for more change. Starting this month and next I will begin introducing some subtle low-lights to my high-light guests. Then in following visits begin glossing my highlights to a richer honey tone saying good-bye the icy blonde. For those guests that like to go with the shock factor of a big change it is time to schedule those appointments in the coming months that require larger blocks of time. With only 3-6 appointments left until the new year it is not only fun to imagine all of the possibilities but it is also the perfect time! If you are open to a change but not sure what you want, let your stylist know. Ask what they would do. So often we get stuck in a rut with our style. Change doesn't have to be massive. Sometimes a subtle change is enough to make you feel like you've gotten a whole new look. Pinterest is a great resource for finding inspiration from big change to subtle shift. Don't be discouraged if you cant find one photo of what you like. Sometimes it takes multiple photos. Think of it as a vision board. You can like the length on one, the layers on another, and the fringe on a third. The base color of one, the color of the highlights another and the effect of the highlights on yet another. If you get your cut and color done together there are six pictures. It’s about finding something that is right for your face shape, skin tone, eye color and lifestyle. Show them all to your stylist and let them help you put together the perfect look for you.

As school would begin you may have memories of picking out your first day style. What to wear? How to style your hair? Which lipstick? This outfit may define how you were seen in the coming school year. It was a fresh start. You got to make this decision (unless you wore a uniform like me). As an adult there is no clear “fresh start”- so why not today? Why not this week? Why not make your next hair appointment one that changes things up?

~Liza

Breathe in~Breathe out

Happy July everyone!

I hope you all have been having a beautiful summer so far. With over a month left of the kiddos. Being out of school, I thought I would share some challenges my own household has seen with the kids being home. Now if you don't have children, don’t click that back button just yet, the techniques I’m going to share below are for ages 5-95. 

Every summer we like to take a small family trip somewhere. In the past we have visited family in Upstate New York, or even just spent a few days at our favorite resort in Orlando just laying by the pool and relaxing. This year we decided to go to Tennessee. It’s been one of my favorite places since I was a kid. My mom would take us every year in the summer to visit one of her closest friends, and we would explore the forests and swim in creeks. I really wanted my own family to experience the magic of losing yourself in nature. Sounds blissful, right? Life is never that Hallmark movie that’s always got a good feeling to it. It’s never that perfect Instagram feed that only shows the best parts. It’s filled with messy chaotic moments too. Our trip was fantastic, but there were moments when were all crammed in the car 13 hours there, and 13 hours back that got hectic. There were moments in the hotel room that the kids having no bedrooms to escape to, ending in a he said she said battle. These moments are unavoidable, and are bound to happen. Expecting anything else will only set yourself up for failure. 

If you have a few techniques up your sleeve however, you can quickly de-escalate the situation and get back to the path of fun and harmony. Now like I said before, these Techniques are not just for kids, but adults also. If your having a rough day on the job, or running errands is overwhelming, the practices will save your sanity also. I needed this just as much as the kids on that trip….maybe more.

So what are the practices I’m talking about?

Body Scan meditation exercises

There's numerous ways you can do these, and really can be tailored to your preferences. There's just one main component you don’t want to change, and that is doing a full body scan, not just the breathing. I’ll share with you below a few different ways i use these for myself and my children, but first lets go over why these are important and helpful.

Our emotions are felt and experienced in our bodies. Intense emotions like anger, and frustration trigger body reactions that we may or may not even notice at times. Our bodies can also send us signals that tell us about how we are feeling even before our minds are aware of those feelings. 

The goal of the body scan meditation is to simply become aware of the sensations in your body. You should not try to avoid difficult or unpleasant sensations, but to accept them and let them be. Let them come and go, just be aware of the sensations and feelings as they arise.

Try it for yourself:

Get into a comfortable position (sitting or lying down). Close your eyes if you like or find a comfortable gaze that’s not distracting.

Focus awareness on the breath. Breathe in….Breathe out. Notice the rise and fall of your belly.

Feet

Bring awareness to whatever is felt in your feet: coolness, warmth, tingling, dryness. Notice whatever sensation is felt in this part of your body.

Legs

Scan up your legs and down your legs, your ankles, then your calves, your thighs and then your knees. Bring awareness to what is felt.

Hips, abdomen, torso

Feel all the muscles as you scan up and down, feel bones, or joints, Bring awareness to what is felt.

Lower, then upper back

Scan all the muscles, and all the vertebrae in your back, Notice your ribs expand with each breath. Notice your heartbeat, and bring awareness to whatever is felt.

Shoulders

Slowly scan from your shoulders down your arms, your elbows, lower arms, then hands. Scan each finger, then move back up to your neck.

Face

Scan your chin, cheeks, nose, eyes, eyebrows and forehead. Notice the sensations and bring awareness to them.

Head

Scan from above your forehead and all the way back to the back of your head, then move to the sides and scan your ears.

Whole body

Bring awareness to your whole body, from your toes to your head. Breathe in, breathe out.

As I said this exercise is just to bring awareness. What may at first present itself as anger after doing a body scan, other emotions might be found underneath. Fear, embarrassment, hunger. Other emotions are usually at the source of intense emotions. When we acknowledge them, they then can pass quickly.

I can honestly tell you that after doing these techniques with my own kiddos, they are much quicker to stop whatever behavior was causing distress, apologize and move on. Or even just to slow the excited frenzy they were in. Children tend to lump several emotions together, and they aren't able to sort them out as well as adults. Sometimes just taking a moment to breathe is enough to slow their busy minds and come back to a more natural flow.

I myself have a very busy mind. My husband often jokes that sometimes when he looks at me he can see the 1,752 open tabs in my brain! LOL It’s true though, I often am thinking about so many things I have to do, things that I want to do, schedules, grocery lists, and the families needs all at once. Moms are amazing, aren't they? We are, but too many nights I have found myself in bed unable to close all the tabs. I used to have many nights of insomnia because I just could not shut my brain off. Luckily since I've been doing body scans, I very rarely have that problem. Below I’m going to share the nighttime body scan method.

So as before your are going to get comfortable, this time lying down in bed, with your eyes closed. Starting at your feet again and moving all the way up to your head just like before.

The only thing your going to change is instead of focusing on the sensations your are feeling you are going to focus strictly on the muscles. Feel every muscle relax. You’ll be surprised with the muscles you didn’t even realize were tense. Keep your breathing steady and if you find yourself wandering in your thoughts, just return to your breath, and continue the scan. If you get to your head and still feel tense, turn around and work your way back down. You will be sleeping like a log before you know it.

Well i hope these tips help you and your family for the rest of the summer and all year long. Leave a comment below on your experience with the body scan meditation, or share your own version. 

Happy Summer ya’ll!

~Ashley

Summer is a state of mind

And since all this loveliness cannot be Heaven, I know in my heart it is June. -Abba Woodson

Hello everyone and welcome to SUMMER!!

We did it! We are finally here! The days are long, the Sun is warm, and flowers are blooming everywhere!

With all the loveliness of summer literally everywhere, I wanted to talk to you all this month about my favorite subject.. can you guess what that is?…..HAIR

I mean i’m a hairstylist and so of course I love hair, but let me tell you a few reasons why I love hair. I’ve talked before about how much i love the changing of the seasons, and changing our hair with the seasons I think helps us to really get in tune with that particular season. Now I could do a whole blog about seasonal hair, but today i want to stick with summer hair!

There's always been the trend of lightning hair in the summer, that for sure will never go away. That would be stating the obvious but there's so many new techniques to lightning hair and now were really seeing fashion colors making a big statement, adding just another dimension to the opportunities we can play with.

I don’t know about everyone else, but i also love to play with different updo ideas in my own hair. Summer just always gives me this boho hippie vibe that makes me want to put my hair in braids, messy (but cute) buns. I have so many people ask me basically the same question. “How did you come up with that cute updo?” To be honest i’ll let you in a little secret,…..PINTEREST it’s amazing! Like literally any idea you have, you can see it done on that platform. Now do i perfectly replicate every look every time No way, it will take patience, practice, and lots and lots of bobby pins. But you can also create something else in the process that you like even better. Just have fun with it. Hippi/boho hair is not meant to be perfect. That’s the beauty of it. Its’ whimsical, a little messy and free-spirited. Jus like the summer.

I’m going to share with you all a few hair color options this summer, that will brighten you up and maybe add a pop of color, also with the appropriate names so you know what to tell your stylist you’d like. Then i’ll have a few of my favorite summer boho looks at the end to help get you inspired.

So first let’s talk highlights vs. Balyage.

This is big question us stylist here at LG Howard get. What is the difference? Which one is better? Which one should i get? THe last 2 questions are very much up to you and your lifestyle, and which look you like better.

Let’s start with the 1st question, what is the difference? Traditional highlights will add brightness from root to ends. We take small sections and weave strands of hair onto a foil and apply a lightening product from root to ends. We can create a more blended look, or create a more noticeable “piecy” look. Either way just know that you will have brightness from top to bottom, evenly distributed

The other option which has been on trend for some time and i honestly don’t think is going anywhere is Balyage. The word itself means to hand paint. This technique can achieve so many different looks and the possibilities are almost endless. You can create a subtle sunkissed look, as if the sun lightened your hair, or we can be more dramatic and brighten up all of your hair. Or you can be anywhere in between. The decision is really up to you. You will have however a more “rooty” look. That means that your roots will not be as light as your ends. This is a great option for those who don’t want to come into the salon every 6 weeks for a touch up on their highlights. I usually say every 4-6 months is a great schedule for touching it up if you want to rock it all year round. If not, then we can create beautiful fall looks with the parts we have lightened. Below i will post 2 pictures of a balyage, The first being more natural sun kissed glow, the other a more dramatic look, and again there's thousands of pictures on Pinterest. Now the third question. which is better? Well again that’s really up to you. They are both great options, but try to take your lifestyle into account. Do you want to be really blonde, or just a little? Do you want to come in every 6 weeks, or do you have a busy schedule? Talk to your stylist and they can help you decide what’s best for you. I’m also going to post one picture of a little fashion color pop that you can play with. Most fashion colors are temporary and will gradually fade through the summer.

Now let’s talk about styling. I love my hair being down in the winter, but when the heat and humidity in florida set in, I want it off my neck!! A regular ponytail would do but I like to get creative. Getting a little creative can really add an extra element to your outfit, whether your at work, running errands, or going out to dinner. I really can’t say this enough but you have to get your inspiration somewhere. A magazine, an actress you seen on t.v last night. Or do i dare say again? PINTEREST. If you choose to check on the mega inspiration platform, just type in Boho braids, Boho updos, summer updos, Andy of those will lead you in the right direction. Next I would suggest to give yourself an extra 30 minutes to do your hair when trying something new. This way you’’ have time to start over if yo don’t like it the first time. Oh and definitely stock up on bobby pins, elastic hair ties, and the little clear elastic the size of your pinky. Below are some awesome easy looks to try, but be bold and try something a little more intricate. I bet you'll be surprised what you can create.

Hope you all have an amazing month. If your in the LG Howard area, give us a call and let us help you create your summer look!

Summer is a state of mind

~Ashley

May your flowers bloom

Who else is as excited as I am to finally have warm weather? I absolutely love changing seasons! When I was a child I remember every season and holiday change. My mother had decorations for every single holiday and season. I especially remember the handmade appliance covers she made. Beautiful hand quilted covers for the toaster, toaster oven, and mixer. It just felt like the final piece. In the summer it was Red white and blue themed, and I remember thinking beach season and backyard bbq are on their way.

As a mother myself now I try to carry on the traditions with my own family. Nothing would bring me greater joy than to hear them say “thank you for the traditions” when they get older. So what does it look like for us? And what can you do to enhance or start creating your own? I’m glad you asked!

I’m always looking for ways to get the family outside, I love being outdoors and I think it’s important to stay connected to nature so this year we amped up our backyard by building our own fire pit, added a few Adirondack chairs, some tiki torches and voila! Our own backyard retreat. The big box stores have fire pit kits you can purchase or you can build it yourself. They also have firebowls that are portable and can be brought in if need be. Can you smell the s’mores yet?? I may be an adult but when I think of a campfire I think of s’mores, and do you know what cannot eat my s’mores, or me? Bugs!!!

Bugs are in my opinion the only downfall to summer time. I suppose you have to take the bad with the good though... or do you? Insert super scary muahahah laugh... the bloodsuckers are out but I’ve got a few tricks to keep those vampy bugs at bay. The dollar store has plastic spray bottles that you can fill yourself, so grab a couple of those. Fill each bottle with water then add any of these mixtures of these essential oils.

Mixture #1

For bee repellent

Equal parts lemongrass and peppermint

Mixture #2

For wasps

Clove oil

I recommend spraying this around the area outside you’ll be enjoying. Clove is very strong and might be unpleasant if applied directly to clothing.

Mixture #3

Mosquito be gone

Citronella

Eucalyptus

Mixture #4

Alternate mosquito

Spearmint

Lemongrass

Lavender

Hopefully these will help you keep the bugs at bay so you can go out and play!

Now if you don’t love s’mores I have some other tasty treats to share with you to keep you and your family cooled off! Even a little something for your pup to enjoy!

DIY popsicles are so much fun to make and you can get really creative! Try using yogurt with chopped fruit, or even herbal tea with cut fruit. The kids can make smoothie pops or orange cream sickle pops. I’m telling you the possibilities are endless. Walmart, target and other places will have summer themed molds on the shelves that will beg to be filled! Amazon even has dog bone shaped molds for your pup! Fill them with plain yogurt and peanut butter, and your pooch will think they’ve gone to heaven!!

I hope you’ve enjoyed these tips for an unforgettable summer and I’d love to hear any traditions you had as a child or have started with your own family. Leave a comment below and share your summer stories.

~Ashley

-The one thing we all have in common is the Earth-

Happy April everyone! This month as you may or may not know is earth month, and it’s a great time to consider the environmental impacts you can make each and every day. I want to share with you ways you can make changes to ensure that we leave this earth better than we found it, for our children and every generation to come. But first a story.

When i was young every year at school we celebrated Earth month. We planted several trees, and would pick up garbage around the campus. Now even though I did not understand the extent of environmental challenges we had, I did understand the importance of preserving the beautiful planet that we have been blessed with.

I remember watching the children's movie “Ferngully” when i was around 8 and was horrified! I couldn't understand why people would be be so cruel to nature. Why did we need to tear so much down just to have more buildings? Didn’t we have enough? Didn’t they understand that we need oxygen to survive? That trees provide that for us and were tearing them down? I was so upset about this and at that moment was when i decided to always care for the earth.

Now as an adult I'm able to see so many more problems, and opportunities that make a difference. I truly believe that if we all cared for the earth all year long, we could leave it better than we found it. Below i’m going to share with you some ways that can you and your families can help. And then i’m going to share some exciting news about how AVEDA is helping people around the world this month, and all year long.

Plant a tree.

Now this seems like the most obvious and most talked about. Don’t skip this one just because it seems like the most popular. We need all the trees we can get. Plus this is an excellent way to provide shade for your home, and mature trees are great for re-sale value.

2. Invest in re-usable grocery bags. The amount of plastic bags in landfills is disturbing. Its probably one of the easiest things we can do to eliminate waste. Besides you wont have to worry about the plastic handles giving out when your trying to get your groceries inside.

3. Composting- Do you love to garden? You want to know a secret? Your garden loves your food just as much as you do! The best part it’s free!! Who doesn’t love free? Google has so many tutorials to building your own compost box, can, whatever you may decide to use. Your garden will thrive on this, and we wont need to pollute the environment with fertilizer either.

4. Spend an afternoon picking up garbage with your family. This is a great opportunity to teach children about the value of this planet we call home. You can literally leave a place better than you found it.

5. Ride a bike- Now listen I'm not saying to only ride a bike. I work 30 miles away from home. Im certainly not biking that. But if you live close to a grocery store or convenience store and you just need a soda or gallon of milk. Consider riding your bike. You'll get some sun, save gas, help the environment. It’s a win, win, win… LOL

6. Recycle- This is something that i know we have al heard for years and years, however is it a part of your daily habits? Are you consistent and thorough? I know I'm guilty of not always throwing the string cheese wrapper in the correct container. NO big deal right? If 1,000 people did that everyday, by the time we all finished our packages of 15 that would be 15,000 the reality is this is a miniature scale to what is actually thrown into landfills of non biodegradable products. Make a sign to remind yourself and family members, see if you can tip the scales of what goes into the actual garbage opposed to the recycling bins.

If you would like more ideas on how to help, Google of course knows all. Go check out more ways you can chip in to help make our planet happy again.

As I said before, I have some exciting news about AVEDA and earth month this year. I’m so proud of the company i work for because earth month is every month for AVEDA. During April every year AVEDA focuses on clean water. Not just cleaning up the oceans, but providing clean drinking water for people around the world. This year AVEDA has teamed up with ‘Charitywater’ to help reach more communities that are without life’s most vital resource. This company is incredible and i urge you to check them out and read some of the stories from people who have been blessed by this company.

You can also come into LG Howard& Co. during the month of April and pick up a limited time Shampure hand & body wash for $35 and all proceeds will go to Charitywater. If you are not local you can find an AVEDA salon, or experience store to help this amazing project.

This month is a time for new beginnings, new habits, new growth, new chances to make big differences.

“We do not inherit the earth from out ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”

-Native American Proverb

~Ashley

Time for a reset

“Springtime is the lands awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn”

- Lewis Grizzard

Happy March everyone! Can I just tell you how much I love this month? The few really cold days we get here in sunny southwest Florida are behind us, It's the beginning of march madness, and its time to start thinking about the summer that lies ahead. Now if your reading this and your NOT living in Florida that last statement probably left you confused. Trust me we are indeed moving into summer.

The holidays are behind us, along with the amazing holiday food, and it’s time for a reset. Around this time of the year, and also in October I like to do a full reset. This starts with a cleanse of my body, and helps get all the gunk out from all those amazing holiday indulgences! However I also like to do a few other resets. Have you ever just felt like you were slugging along with all this extra weight and baggage in life? I have a few tips that will help lighten your step and get you skipping into spring!

So lets start with a body cleanse.

There's so many products you can choose from, different methods, and lengths of time. Do your research and as always talk to your doctor before starting if you have any health concerns. I’m going to share with you a few methods I've done over the years, to give you some inspiration. Enter the jack lalanne juicer! If you are familiar with this particular juicer you know just how massive this thing is. However it is super powerful and in my opinion does a fantastic job of removing the pulp, which I CANNOT STAND! So the juicing method, I juice for 3 days and do not consume any solids, meat or nuts. I usually start with a green juice in the morning containing spinach, kale, cucumber, green apple, lemon, and kiwi. Then an orange smoothie in the afternoon which is my absolute favorite! That is carrots, peaches, nectarines, ginger, and oranges. This guy is the reason you'll want a machine that removes pulp, the carrots make A LOT of pulp{shivers} for a mid-day treat, i do a simple watermelon and mint smoothie, and a purple smoothie for dinner that has beets, grapes, blueberries, purple lettuce, banana, and blackberries. Now in between these smoothies its important to drink lots and lots of water to help flush all the toxins out.

This past year I felt a little lazy and wanted to make it simple to do this at work, so I simply drank chicken or bone broth for 3 days. I still had my protein shake in the morning and snacked on crackers, fruit, and veggies if I needed something with consistency. This cleansing method can really get things moving quickly and so you don't need to cleanse long. If you make it 2 days, then you've probably done your system a lot of good. Now i know this method isn't going to pack your system full of nutrients and minerals like the above method, but i like it because your body really gets flushed! Even though fruits are considered healthy they do still have lots of sugar in them. For me personally I like to give my body a chance to flush out everything. Our bodies change every 7 years or so, we develop sensitivities to things and lose some the same way. Just because its a fruit or vegetable doesn't mean your body likes it. This method helps to clear most build up and when you return to your normal diet you'll be better able to notice if something bothers you.

If you have a great cleanse method drop it in the comments. I'd love to hear from you!

Besides your body there's so many ways to reset your life as well.

Remove clutter anywhere you can.

Another thing I do twice a year is clean out my closet. Dun Dun Duuuun! I watched a documentary a couple years ago and it changed my view of the things I hold onto. Lots of people can go into their closet and find an article of clothing that they have had for 10 years or more. Why? Do you wear it? Are you holding onto it because it reminds you of a time you felt better? The big question is “Does it bring you joy?” This was the big question in the movie I watched and it made so much sense to me. I went through my closet and tried on every single piece of clothing and asked myself, “Does it bring me joy? Does it reflect my style exactly? If i were standing in a store, would i buy it again?” If the answer was no to any one of those questions it went out the door. Harsh?? No its not harsh, its freeing! What I was left with was only items in my closet that i absolutely loved, and a whole lot of space too! I could see the items in my closet and not have to dig! I then took this thinking and applied it to everything else in my house, my car, my friends list, my priorities and you know what? I'm left with friends, tasks, items, and memories that i absolutely love!

The truth is we change… several times over in this life, and there's no reason we have to carry around all the toxic waste of the past. Cleanse your mind, your closet, your body as often as needed. You'll be skipping again no time.

Show yourself some LOVE <3

Love looks not with the eyes,

But with the mind; and therefore

Is winged Cupid painted blind.

-William Shakespeare

Happy February everyone!

Hopefully all of you are still charging forward into 2019. February has long been known for two things.

1) The month a lot of people give up on their resolutions made the previous month.

2) Valentines Day

Both can be stressful! I’ve been thinking about this a lot since I made a pretty big goal for myself this year. But also because this is supposed to be the month of Loooove.. ( I hope you read that the way I intended) :) I mean if you think about it we spend so much time thinking about what we want to change about ourselves, whether physically, financially, or personally. All with the idea that we will be better tomorrow than we are today. I’m not saying that’s necessarily a bad thing, but what about our today selves?

-Take the time to stop and smell the roses-

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day, who is single. She was telling me that Valentines Day always makes her anxious because she doesn’t have a date. She then made a statement that made me question how we treat ourselves. Yes OURSELVES.

My friend said to me “you know if I felt better about myself, I’d probably have somebody in my life” when I asked her what she meant, she explained that she wanted to be more fit, wanted to be further in her career that she was, and overall felt like she was stagnant. We talked more and overall she just felt BLAH! She explained she feels like she’s not ready to put herself out there yet. Not until she feels better about herself.

I jokingly said to her, “why don’t you take yourself out on a date?” She looked at me as if I had just then decided to start talking to her in an unknown language. Truth be told I didn’t really expect my remark to be taken seriously, but she processed the idea and said “you know what? I am going to do it! I’m going to get all dressed up and take myself out!”

I went home that night and thought about this conversation over and over. Why do we forget about ourselves? Why do we work so hard to please other people, and lose sight of our own self- love? Why do we base our opinions of ourselves on the opinions of others? We give so much of ourselves to our families, friends, jobs, and communities, but what do we give to ourselves? Why do we let our future self stop us from enjoying today?

I think it’s important to find something that makes you happy that is just for YOU!

I recently started painting. Not because I ever desire to have my art showing in a gallery, or because I have a natural talent. I do it because it makes me happy. It’s something that helps me release stress, and allows me to be creative.

Take some time and think about something you’ve always wanted to do. It could be learning to kayak, go hiking, take an art class, or even just taking time for a pedicure. Whatever it is, will it bring you peace? Or allow you to discover a part of you that’s perhaps always buried? My friend decided to take herself out, because she’s a social person and enjoys being around people, but has neglected that due to her insecurities. But if we don’t get out of our own heads we may miss out on the best experiences of our life!

I encourage all of you to find a way to give yourself some love. Something that is for you and only you. If others benefit from it, then wonderful. Just make sure your doing it just for yourself. A so called date night. Let’s give ourselves more love, and fill our own cups.

Life goes by so fast, don’t wait to enjoy tomorrow, start loving today.

Ashley

New Year New Blog

Hello everyone! Welcome to LG Howard & Company’s new blog!!

I hope you all have enjoyed the holidays, and made some amazing memories.

I know I have had one too many Christmas cookies, but were going to get into that shortly. I wanted to start off and share a little bit about what this blog is all about, and what kind of things we will be sharing with you. As some of you know Christine and I do ‘Saturday’s with the Stylist’ on Facebook and Instagram. If you haven’t, check us out on Instagram at ‘lgowardsalon’ and on Facebook at LG Howard & Company, and don’t forget to follow us. Anyways we do fun videos going over hair tips, trends, and products that we love.

This blog will feature fun hair topics and also everything from beauty tips, meditations we love, health and fitness, and just about everything! I’d love to hear from all of you too, drop a comment on a topic you would like to read about. Seriously anything you’ve ever wanted to ask a hairstylist about, or just think would be a great topic, let us know.

Now that all of the introductions are out of the way, let’s get back to those Christmas cookies! Ya’ll don’t even know how much I love my cookies! We all have that one weakness around holidays that we can’t resist. It’s like kryptonite to Superman, we know its bad but Hey it’s the holidays! But then New Years sneaks up on us and BAM it’s time to cast away the folly of indulging in your favorite treats and set some new goals and get down to business.

“Success is goals, and all else is commentary” -Lloyd Conant

So here we are, ready to make some new goals, or New Year resolutions. Some may be getting back into shape (that’s my personal goal) or crushing a business goal at work, or maybe it’s just to stop and smell the roses more in life. Whatever it is I have some tips for you to stay on track, and be able to stay focused long after February.

I’ve been reading some material on goals lately and I’ve learned some really easy things to implement into my goal setting that kind of hit me like Whoa! How come I never thought of that? Thank goodness other people have because they are so helpful in visualizing and forming a plan to stay moving. Something I found rather interesting is an author wrote “goals without action are just wishes”. So how do you take a wish and turn it into a goal that is achievable? Make it a SMART goal.

Specific

Measurable

Achievable

Relevant

Time Sensitive

See that, smart isn’t it? LOL

So, when you are thinking about your New Years Resolution and what you want to come out of 2019 try using this method to clearly lay out what you want to achieve. Ask yourself these questions. Is it specific enough? Can I measure my progress or results? Is this achievable in the time frame I give myself or realistically at all? Is it relevant to your life goal, or 5-year plan? And what’s your deadline? 2020? 2021?

Every year all of us at LG Howard write a personal goal, and a professional goal using the SMART system. When I sit to think about what I want to achieve in the next year, using this system helps me to make sure I’m on the right track. The next thing to do is make an action plan

-What do I need to accomplish this?
-What do I need to learn to accomplish this? -Who can help me accomplish this?
-What’s my first step? Second, and so on

That’s really important, to map it out per say. It will help you create a solid foundation. Goals can get overwhelming, trust me I know. So many times, I have blindly made a resolution on New Years Eve after not even giving it much thought, and on January 1st already given up!! Pathetic I know but remember goals without action are just wishes. Another important tool is having someone that you can ask for help. A mentor, a friend, or co-worker. Someone that has either experience relating to your goal, or can provide contacts or direction to someone who does. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

I hope you all enjoyed, and hopefully I got you fired up to take names and kick butt in 2019! I’d love to hear some of your resolutions, drop them in the comments below. May this year be our best year yet!

Ashley