Spirited Woman Blogger Team

Ali Magazine by Ali Brown is a Winner

As some of you may already know from a post I did last Fall on different types of style, I am a big fan of Ali Brown. If you don't know who Ali (Alexandria) Brown is yet, let me introduce you: she is a top Internet business owner who strives to teach others (mainly women) to create the same success that she herself has achieved. I have been following Ali for over three years now and the growth she has experienced in that time in nothing short of awe-inspiring. Ali has created an Internet empire all the way from her humble beginnings as the Ezine Queen to now being known as a top business woman and millionaire making mentor.

So why in the world would I be talking about business woman Ali Brown when my regular beat is Fashion and Beauty? Well, first of all Ali is one Spirited Woman so I could easily do a Spirited Woman profile on her but actually Ali does fit in the Fashion and Beauty category now too. Towards the end of last year, Ali launched her own magazine - Ali Magazine to help women to be their very best in all aspects of their lives. It is a wonderful publication and every time I get the latest edition, I read it from cover to cover in no time flat.

The magazine covers business but it also has its share of girly things as well. One of my favorite parts is the fact that Ali has now created her own online boutique. In each edition of her magazine she features some of the great gift ideas you can find for girlfriends, family and of course yourself, at her web based shop. Ali's boutique carries everything from handbags, to home items, to personal planners to clothing.  Each item is stylish without breaking the bank. There is also a special VIP list that you can sign up for so that you will know when new products come in and when special promotions are going on.

Though it may seem a bit of a stretch to go from helping women build businesses to offering them beautiful and unique items to buy, for Ali it just seems natural. Ali has a Richard Branson ( the famous Virgin brand founder) like drive and she is going to make the Ali brand successful in whatever direction she takes it. Lucky for us Spirited Women, Ali is always ready to take us along for the ride and the one element that she includes in all that she does is to inspire the best to come out in all that you do.

- Dawn Z Bournand  www.fabulouslysuccessful.com
Click here to read more of Dawn's posts. 

Perhaps Blondes Can Have More Fun in Paris

A few months ago, I wrote a post about all the trouble I had been having finding a colorist who knew how to do blond highlights properly in this the fashion capital of the world, Paris. One wonderful Spirited Woman reader, Jude Grimm, came to my rescue by sending me a suggestion to contact Patrick Ahmed owner of Medley Salon in the heart of Paris. Jude is a hair expert herself and has written Get Real Beauty, an excellent book on beauty so I knew her recommendation wasn't to be taken lightly. Though I had finally found a colorist I was fairly happy with, I thought I should at least give Jude's suggestion a try.

As I went to do an internet search on the Medley salons, I was impressed with what I found. Their internet site was professionally done, appealing and informative. I called the salon explained a bit of my history and then of course told them they had come highly recommended. I was assured that I would be put in very capable hands and a time was set for yet another one of my experiments with French colorists.

The Medley salon - Rive Gauche location - is in a nice but not over the top, fashionable neighborhood.  It is an area I had spent a good deal of time in when I first moved to Paris so I immediately felt comfortable as I walked up and out from the Metro station. Medley is not a large, bustling salon but has more of a friendly, cosmopolitan, neighborhoody feel. The decor is a mix of kitch, ethnic and stylish which blends amazingly well together to create an inviting place to pass a few hours. No off-putting, 'we're too good for you' vibes here. I was greeted with smiles and impeccable customer service.

Once checked-in I was led upstairs to meet my colorist, the charming Laurence. She was young and friendly yet for a moment I wondered if she would have enough experience to know how to deal with my hair. The question was immediately put to rest when I pulled out a fashion magazine to show photos of 'wants' and 'don't wants' for my hair color. For one particular look I liked, Laurence explained the full multi-step process it would require and how damaging it could be to my hair. She guided me on the best look and process for my particular color and hair type with the air of someone who had a completely mastery of her expertise. I was impressed to say the least.

Beth Ann Levendoski Creates an Environment to Make Healthy Eating a Way of Life

The saying "last but not least" certainly applies to the last Self Magazine Doing Good Award winner in my 4-part series. Her name is Beth Ann Levendoski and she is on a mission to educate the public about the value of local sustainable agricultural practices and strengthening the connection between people and their food sources. For 20 years she has been working to do good in one form or another and through her organization, the Tierra Miguel Foundation, she has helped create a truly winning formula.

The Tierra Miguel Foundation was started in Pauma Valley, CA in 1999 after nearly nine years of hard work by a dedicated team to actually bring it to life. Beth Ann and a hand full of other socially responsible members worked together to find and create - from concept to reality -  a perfect farming site. A  place to educate but also to offer highly nutritious organically grown food.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a hot topic these days, but when Beth Ann and the other founders started out in the early 90's -  it was a little known way of bringing the public and local farmers together. Beth Ann continues to lead the way today by using The Foundation to help educate not only the general public but also students studying agriculture and sustainable development. She opens the Tierra Miguel Farm doors to college groups to help them learn first hand, the many benefits of local sustainable agricultural practices for both the environment and personal health. The Foundation has also established a fantastic program for school groups K-12 to come to the farm and practice being a "Farmer for the Day."

I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Beth Ann and she told me that she is passionate about what she does because she believes that "food is the first type of health care. Healthy food comes from healthy soil and we need to reconnect with that value." She also said that interestingly, many cultural studies have found that when women's health care is addressed in local communities the whole culture flourishes. Therefore by making healthy eating a way of life, it will not only benefit individuals but positively impact  the whole community.

"Cool Globes" Moves Around the World - Thanks to Lindsay Guetschow & Her Spirited Team

Through my last two Spirited Woman blogs you have been introduced to the Self Women Doing Good Awards and to the first winner Erin Sprague, the amazing woman who ran 7 marathons on 7 continents for 7 causes. Today, I have the pleasure to introduce you to Lindsay Guetschow. For over four years now Lindsay has been on a mission to educate people the world over about the issues of global warming.  She first began with the organization Stopglobalwarming.org, a virtual  march against global warming, and has now moved on to the amazing project Cool Globes.

Lindsay saw the enormous potential of Cool Globes at its successful Chicago expo - and was so moved, she is now helping to share it with the world. Cool Globes is a traveling art exhibit that uses breathtaking six foot globes to share messages about environmental destruction, global warming and how you can play a part to stop both. The globes are created by professional artists, local artists and even school children and each offers its own unique and beautiful look at what is going wrong with planet Earth's delicate natural balance but also offers answers to how these things can be made right again. The organization's goal is to reach out to the public and to educate all people but most especially children on the importance of working to save our planet and to reverse the damage that has already been done.

With Lindsay's help the Cool Globes project has now traveled to a number of major cities in the U.S. This fall will see Cool Globes gliding across the Atlantic to become international. The first stop will be in Copenhagen to tie in with the UN Summit on Climate Change and then the plan is to travel throughout Europe with a "to be scheduled" stop that especially pleases me...Paris.

Seven Marathons, Seven Continents, Seven Causes - Meet Erin Sprague

In my last post I had the pleasure to share the names of the Self Women Doing Good Award winners for 2009. These women are all exceptional and I feel privileged to have this opportunity to introduce you to each of them in my four-part series. In this post, you will meet Erin Sprague, co-founder and CEO of In the Running - a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting global challenges such as HIV/AIDS, poverty and human trafficking.

At the age of 26, Erin has already accomplished things that most of us don't even accomplish in a lifetime. 

In July 2008, Erin became the youngest person to run a marathon on all seven continents, entering the Guinness Book of World Records. That feat in and of itself would be one worth celebrating for any human being but Erin, just 24 when she accomplished this personal challenge, is no ordinary Spirited Woman.

She had observed  before she began her two year quest to conquer seven continents, that marathons are actually community events and she wanted to give something back to each community she came in contact with as she pursued her record. Deeply inspired to do so, she co-founded In The Running to find grassroots organizations creating positive change in their communities, and then worked to support them through her running.

Since then, Erin and her team have raised well over $100,000 for the charities she's worked with as well as raise awareness and hope which are priceless additional contributions. Such organizations have benefited as: Girls on the Run in North America - to increase empowerment through sports, A Drop in The Ocean in South America - to stamp out poverty, Co-Operation Ireland in Europe - to create peace reconciliation, The Kenya Network for Women with Aids in Africa - to eliminate HIV/AIDS, The Polaris Project in Asia - to end human trafficking, The Silver Lining Foundation in Australia - to assist with Aboriginal advancement, Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition in Antarctica- to support Environmental Preservation.

Could You Be The Next Self Magazine Women Doing Good Award Winner?

We were thrilled when Self Magazine contacted Spirited Woman and wanted to know if we would be interested in covering the second annual Self Magazine Women Doing Good Awards. It took about a split second to make the decision...of course we would! Doing good is such a Spirited Woman kind of thing to do it seemed a natural topic for us to cover. It is a privilege to introduce you not only to the awards themselves but also to introduce you to each of the incredible women that were honored this year.

"The Self Magazine Women Doing Good Awards began in 2008 and grew from the 2007 Self Good Research Initiative," according to Yung Moon, Associate Publisher, at Self. "Through the initiative, Self surveyed consumers responses to cause-related marketing and how women feel about supporting companies that do good." The awards just seemed to naturally stem from the research findings and Ms. Moon and her team have since helped to plan the award events from point A to point Z.

The Self Women Doing Good Awards have proven to be so successful that the magazine plans to continue making them a yearly event. This year saw thousands of entries for the awards. Kimberly Anderson Kelleher, VP and Publisher of Self, said on The Today Show that "while the choice was difficult...", the three winners "were all so incredible and their achievements were so stand out, (that) in the end there really was no contest." I think that you too will agree with her assessment when you meet these three incredible achievers.

"The message that Self would like the Women Doing Good Awards to convey," Ms. Moon shared, "is that a person's passion can spur great change in one's self, the community and ultimately the world. Well  being starts from the inside out and extends beyond to effect change in everything that we touch. Feeling good about oneself can start the change reaction to do immeasurable good in the world we live in."

Summer Shoes....Chunky? Strappy? Shiny? - You Choose

Strappy, chunky, shiny, matte, dressy, casual... shoes come in so many shapes, sizes and styles to choose from, that sometimes, well...what's a Spirited Woman to do!

Summer opens up even more possibilities with sandals and open toed shoes that are each more beautiful than the last. Here are a few of my favorites for Summer 09:

These gorgeous summer boots from Chanel are a great example of a hot trend that you will see popping up all around you during the sunny days of summer:  open toed and heeled boots. These are done in a light, almost skin color to keep the look from being too heavy and the light natural wood heel is the perfect complement to any flowy dress or skirt you choose to pair them with.

Tory Burch created a simple but beautiful sandal that allows you to show your zen side. The "Holly Sandal" comes in both Beige and Black and is the kind of shoe that you can wear with most anything from a swimsuit to an evening dress and always look simply fantastic.

Pretty in pink is exactly the way to describe these playful Manolo Blahniks. These are nearly over the top in shiny pinkness but combined with just the right outfit, they can really make things pop. Makes me want to go out and eat some cotton candy. 

Nine West came up with the perfect throw them on when your in a rush and still look great shoe. The "Hades" model goes from beach to lunch with the girls to forth of July celebration without missing a beat.  Simple enough to be casual, pretty enough to be elegant.

Spirited Man - Yann Arthus-Bertrand - Creates "Home" To Raise Awareness About the Environment

Yann Arthus-Bertrand is one spirited man! Not only is he an amazingly talented photographer/videographer but he is perhaps one of the most dedicated environmentalists alive today. He is the genius behind the breathtaking book Earth from Above and he along with the famous french director Luc Besson and Henri Pinault, the owner of the French luxury group PPR, put together a celebration like no other for the United Nations' World Environment Day 2009, celebrated every year on June 5th. After 2 1/2 years of work, the gorgeous and profound film Home has been given to the public.

Today, as I write, Home is being shown around the world free of charge thanks in large part to Henri Pinault, his 88,000 employees and their generous donation of funds to make this worldwide event a reality. From the Champs de Mars in Paris to Central Park in New York City, Home will be shown in free open air cinemas for thousands of people to enjoy and more importantly to learn. The movie is also being shown in selected theaters with discussions on the environment to follow. Perhaps the most accessible way to view Home though is directly on your computer, iPhone or any other internet accessing device because YouTube is also doing its part to share this environmental masterpiece with the world.

Though the big screens will come down after June 5th you should still be able to catch Home on the internet for at least the rest of the weekend. This is a film you need to watch and to share with as many people as possible. As the website states: scientists believe we have 10 years to turn the destruction of our planet around before we deplete the natural resources and the catastrophic evolution of our mother Earth. Don't watch Home for those reasons only though, the film is beautiful and moving and you will learn to love our amazing planet even more once you have seen how truly magnificent it is.

I for one will sit down with my three precious sons and share this very important message with them,  How about you?  Who will you share Home with?  If you tell two friends, and they tell two friends and so on and so on.... perhaps we really can make an impact large enough to make a real difference.

Here is a preview:

To your Green and Spirited Style,

- Dawn Z Bournand  www.fabulouslysuccessful.com
Click here to read more of Dawn's posts. 

New "Fresh Start" Contest - Opportunity to Win $10,000

Are you in a funk? Has life taken on a bit of a monotonous tone? Would you rather stay in bed than face whatever the world is going to throw at you today. Well then you my dear Spirited Woman, you need a fresh start!

Change guruess Ariane de Bonvoisin, founder of First 30 Days.com and Carefree (protection liners) have come together to create a wonderful website and contest to help you get off on the right foot for that fresh start.  The CareFree Fresh Start Site is a one stop shop to give women tips on making change happen in any part of their lives: Style, Wellness, Relationships, Career... and there is even a special section for young girls. While there, make sure to download the free Fresh Start Guide that gives you 10 handy tips for getting started on that fresh start and living the life you have always wanted.

The most exciting part about this whole Fresh Start movement though is the fact that 10 deserving women will be awarded money to help them make the move that will change their lives. The grand prize winner will win $10,000 ...making the change potential pretty awesome!  If this sounds like something that interests you, head over to the website to get all of the details. You then can submit a 300-word essay explaining a long term goal that requires at least 30 days to achieve and that will bring about a "fresh start" for you. You still have plenty of time as the final submission date is not until July 10th. So get that pen and paper out and start writing!

I loved this idea so much that I considered entering the contest but sadly it is only open to US residents... sorry international spirited women. This lead me to a brainstorm though, why don't we share with each other what "fresh starts" we would like to make?  Even if you are going to enter the contest, it would be wonderful to hear from you and share with this fabulous community what new step you would take to make your life's dreams come true. You never know what amazing connections you can make right here at the Spirited Woman site. That person you need to help you move forward might be a simple comment post away!

So how about it - what is the "fresh start" that you want to make?  We look forward to hearing from you!!!

To your Spirited Fresh Start,

- Dawn Z Bournand  www.fabulouslysuccessful.com
Click here to read more of Dawn's posts.    

p.s  You can learn more about Ariane and her tips on the first 30 days of change in this You Tube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOSCkEeat2Q) 

This Spirited Woman Has Flipped for The Flip

Last month I posted about my wonderful new toy the iPhone. I am still thrilled with it but now I am chomping at the bit to buy my next play thing: a Flip video camera. Sadly, though I can create great photos with my iPhone, there is no video function yet. I imagine Steve Jobs won't let that improvement slip past for very long.   

So, the Flip it will be. Sure a lot of people argue that a digital camera can do the same thing as a Flip, but for me quick, easy and stylish are three strong reasons why the Flip is a winner. If you haven't seen a Flip in action yet, you will be surprised by how incredibly simple it is to use. I was in a presentation training recently and we used the Flip to record each participant's talk. We were then able to critique each presentation immediately afterwards thanks to the Flip's built in USB connection. 

The idea of being able to capture a special moment in full moving color fascinates me. I came to Paris to study photography so I will always have a special place in my heart for the magical instant a snap shot captures. Video though allows you to capture friends and loved ones in action. You can record their movement, their laughter, their voices and they will be with you whenever and wherever you want. 

Here is the part that I really love about the Flip though: You can design your own! Just upload any image you choose onto the Flip website and they will put it onto your uniquely personalized Flip Mino. Now that is not only fun it is smart. 

If you too are now dreaming of a Flip, surf on over to Daily Candy to participate in their contest (taking place right now) to win a free Flip Ultra HD.

Are you a Flip owner?  Would you like to share some thoughts on what you think of this incredibly popular but sometime criticized video camera? Help your fellow Spirited Woman readers out by giving your input.

To your Spirited Style,

- Dawn Z Bournand  www.fabulouslysuccessful.com
Click here to read more of Dawn's posts.