Nominate NicoleInk for Best Mommy Blog!

Hi guys!

Just got back from doing my keynote in San Diego. I'm so glad to be home! I missed my family like crazy! I did meet some wonderful people at the conference though and enjoyed beautiful San Diego - I want to go back one day when I don't have a 6-week-old at home, and I actually have the time to enjoy it! :)

I saw this contest sponsored by http://www.thebump.com/ and thought I'd give it a whirl. If you enjoy this blog please nominate me for the "Working Mother" category!



Love,
Nicole!

Monday Morning Mantra - 9/21

Happy Monday!

Last week I was given some bad news regarding a consulting job I've had for some time now. The economy is affecting everyone these days - including me! While it was hard to hear, I know that setbacks and challenges will only make me stronger. So I picked a mantra for the week that tells us what to do when things get rough:

"Anytime you suffer a setback or disappointment, put your head down and plow ahead." -- Les Brown

This week, when confronted with a setback, "put your head down and plow ahead." You WILL be stronger!

Want to receive mantras in your inbox each Monday? Click here to sign up!

Have an outstanding week!

Love,

Nicole

Three Ways to Deal With Rejection

Rejection isn't an easy thing to deal with, but let's be honest, it's something we're never going to be rid of! From relationship rejections to job rejections, it's here to stay. So how can we deal?

It Wasn't Meant for Me
Everything isn't for everybody. Accepting a rejection is easier if you realize that it might not have been the best thing for you after all. Sometimes something seems like the perfect opportunity, but that may not be the case. Think of it as life's way of steering you in the right direction.

Something Better Awaits
While this didn't work out for you, something else will, and it will be even better. Concentrate on the excitement of better things to come and let that fuel your efforts. Staying positive takes the focus off of the negativity.

Everyone Gets Rejected - EVERYONE
Sometimes we forget that even the most accomplished people have dealt with rejection. No one is immune, believe me! You'd be surprised at how many famous authors, singers, athletes, politicians, etc., were told NO before they got their big break! So don't take it personally.

I'm Baaaack!

Seems like it's been forever since I've posted on here. On the other hand, this past month has whizzed by. As you know, I gave birth to my second daughter, Naya Nicole Lewis, on Saturday, August 15th at 1:04 AM.

It still hasn't really sunk in that she's here. I look at her, and I'm amazed. It's as if I have never been through this before. The miracle of life never ceases to amaze me.

Other amazing things: how wonderful and supportive my husband, Donte, has been, and how doting my older daughter, Nerissa, has been. We feared that Nerissa (who is very much a Mama's girl) would be overcome with jealousy, but so far so good. She loves Naya and enjoys picking out all of her outfits. :)

It's funny how bringing a new life into the world changes your perspective on things and makes you reevaluate what is most important. I just want to be the very best I can be for my girls. And so I am back on the grind...

Love,
Nicole

The Best Way to Break Bad Habits

The other night I was watching a documentary on a female chain gang at a jail in Arizona. It was a really eye-opening look at what it means to be on a chain gang, and how these women dealt with life in jail each day. The leader of the chain gang was a young woman who landed in jail because of her addiction to Methamphetamines (sadly, the majority of the women on this chain gang were in jail for meth-related crimes). However, she was thriving as a model inmate, and she took her job as chain gang leader very seriously.

So when she was released from jail everyone had high hopes for her - even the guards. Her mother made arrangements for her to live in a halfway house that would help her get her life together. Unfortunately, the halfway house wouldn't admit people on the weekends, and she was released on a Sunday. This meant she had to wait an entire day before she could begin the program at the halfway house.

When she showed up the next morning, she was high. She was so belligerent, the halfway house had to call the police to have her removed from the property. With nowhere to go, she taunted the police until they finally arrested her and brought her back to the prison she had just left a little more than 24 hours before.

When asked how she could fall back into the trap of drugs after having come so far, she said simply, "Stay away from your old friends and your old hang-outs."

This seems to be one of the best ways to avoid succumbing to our old bad habits. We need to stay away from the familiar. It's very rare that we're strong enough to resist temptation when we go back into environments that surround us with the things we're trying to stay away from. It's also extremely difficult when the people we are with are participating in those bad habits.

If you're trying to turn over a new leaf or to make some positive changes in your life, remember to "stay away from your old friends and your old hang-outs." You're fooling yourself if you think you can break a bad habit any other way.

Nicole

Monday Mantra - 8/10

Hello My Dears!


Happy Monday to you! Sorry for the delay with the Mantra, but this week is a crazy one!


"Your chances of success in any undertaking can always be measured by your belief in yourself." -- Robert Collier


This week, imagine how much you could achieve if you fully believed in YOU!


To receive our Mantras in your inbox every Monday morning, click here.


Love,
Nicole

Monday Morning Mantra - 08/02

Happy Monday guys!

As this baby gets bigger, my energy is dwindling so I looked for a Mantra that would help us tap into some much-needed energy this week, and I found the perfect one:

"Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you."

Oprah Winfrey

Have an awesome week!

To receive our Mantras every Monday morning via email, please click here.

Nicole