Success is Calling with TracFone and Dress for Success

Thank you TracFone for sponsoring this post and for the difference you’re making.

A few weeks ago I shared my memorable afternoon at the Dress for Success empowerment luncheon celebrating the Success is Calling program created in partnership with TracFone. Check out the post or watch the video above to see the difference they are making!

The Success is Calling program is designed to help women with employment and achieving economic independence. In addition to the program, which teaches interview skills and job placement support, TracFone empowers women with a new smartphone and a year of service. That is an amazing gift and tool to help these women prepare to enter the workforce and conquer the phone interview.

Don’t underestimate the importance of a phone or the phone interview! According to a recent survey conducted by TracFone, an interview candidate’s phone etiquette is increasingly critical to advancement in the interview process:*

  • First Impressions Stick: 85% of hiring managers and working professionals say that first impressions made via phone interviews follow the applicant through the entire interview process.
  • Confidence Counts: 82% of hiring managers use phone interviews to gauge a candidate’s confidence in their professional capabilities.
  • Phone Skills Are Essential: 82% of hiring managers say phone skills are key to landing and maintaining a job.

As one of America’s leading no-contract cellphone service providers, TracFone has not only raised funds, donated phones and service, this year they are expanding the program by offering it to twice as many women across the country.

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Meet Charlie

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I have a big announcement, today we’ve added a new member to our family, Charlie Westin King! He’s a 10 year old Pomeranian that was found in a kill shelter before being rescued by Animal Samaritans — who I like to call Charlie’s Angels. And yes, he already has a profile on Instagram @PomPomCharlie (you know I had to!).

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Instead of heading to LA in between both weekends of Coachella, James and I decided to stay in Palm Springs at The Westin Mission Hills to explore all of the amazing sites in the area before heading into weekend two of the music festival.  The Westin has a partnership with Animal Samaritans and had Charlie living in their lobby allowing guests to play with him and take him for walks. I walked him everyday.

It can be really hard for older dogs to get adopted and I just fell so in love with him so after some nudging, James agreed that we needed to give this little guy a home! He came with the name Charlie so we didn’t want to change it but added Westin after the property for his middle name, and then gave him James’ last name since Charlie Westin King sounds better then Charlie Westin Eurdolian.

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The Westin is an incredible property, set on a golf course with multiple restaurants and pools. Our favorite part was all of the activities they offered and the amount of animals on the property. Walking the grounds they have giant bunnies, tortoises, black and white swans, ducks, iguanas and a bee tour! They have a whole bee keeping program where they make the honey used on the property. And as some of you know bees are crucial to our survival and have been on the decline since 2006. On Sundays they even offer bee tours, which of course we had to do!

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We owe a huge debt of gratitude for this property for all that they do with Animal Samaritans and for bringing Charlie into our lives!

Celebrating Earth Day in the Desert with Neutrogena Naturals

neutrogena-tree-huggerHappy Earth Day! While we should appreciate and take care of our planet everyday I hope everyone takes a moment today to be outside or do an activity in nature to really appreciate what an incredible world we live in.

I’ve been doing just that this week. I had a 2 day break in between Coachella weekend 1 and weekend 2 and instead of hightailing it back to LA, I’m partnering with Neutrogena Naturals to explore all of the amazing wonders that Palm Springs has to offer and set off on an outdoor adventure.

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Neutrogena is the #1 dermatologist recommended skincare brand and for anyone not familiar with Neutrogena Naturals collection, it includes the Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Facial Cleanser, Purifying Pore Scrub, Purifying Cream Cleanser, Purifying Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes, Muti-Vitamin Nourishing Moistuizer, Acne Cream Cleanser, Acne Spot Treatment, Muti-Vitamin Nourishing Night Cream, Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover, Acne Foaming Scrub.

The products embrace the brand’s rich heritage in dermatology and clinically proven results; combined with advanced technology to harness natural ingredients and bionutrients to offer efficacious products that are the perfect balance of science and nature. Packaged in recycled paper, they even power the brands website on a green server, the first of its kind to reduce their carbon footprint that is self-sustainable, sun-fueled and wind-powered – how cool is that?!? I wish all brands and sites would follow suit.

Neutrogena Naturals has also partnered with the Nature Conservancy on programming that will ensure clean water is available to those who need it, animals and people where sources of fresh water are vulnerable or contaminated. For Earth Day (and everyday) they want to know how you connect with nature so use the hashtag #LiveNature or you can upload your photos to their site HERE.

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For my Palm Springs #LiveNature adventure I packed my three essentials, the Purifying Facial Cleanser, Muti-Vitamin Nourishing Moisturizer and Purifying Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes. I’m really into the cleanser, it’s so gentle and effortlessly washes away makeup and dirt without stripping or drying out my skin and leaves it so soft. They nailed the whole experience of washing your face, this cleanser feels amazing on! Everything is dry out in the desert, so I’ve been bathing in the Multi-Vitamin Nourishing Moisturizer. It replenishes essential skin nutrients and is formulated with vitamins B, C, E and anti-oxidant omega bionutrients to provide continuous moisture and is clinically proven to boost skin’s defense against dullness and roughness. I’ve actually been using extra on my hands as well to moisturize and it smells so good.

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Don’t even get me started on Purifying Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes – I’m currently residing in the desert and have been playing with animals. My intake of hay, fur, dust, sand, dirt has been at an all time high and I have makeup remover wipes with me at all time. Virtually every ounce of exposed skin to the elements from my feet (sandals are not my friend, so much sand!), hands to face have been constantly wiped down. Formulated with unique emollients to help dissolve oil and makeup and made from 97% naturally-derived cleansing ingredients without any harsh chemicals, sulfates or parabens I feel good about using them all over my face and body. They are also so refreshing behind my neck for some relief from the 100 degree weather.neutrogena-aerial-tram-palm-springs

The view from Mt. San Jacinto State Park

Palm Springs isn’t short on natural wonders. Living in the desert surrounded by mountains, with natural hot springs and Joshua Tree just an easy drive away I’ve never felt so connected to the Earth. Day one we took the Aerial tram up 8,516 feet to hike Mt. San Jacinto State Park and take in the views and sunset. We visited the Living Desert, which is committed to conservation through preservation of desert plants, animals, and desert ecosystems and played in their butterfly garden (which is not enclosed) and fed the goats. We then drove to Joshua Tree the next day to bask in it’s magic – it’s one of the most breathtaking sites. I’ll have a full guide to Palm Springs up soon for anyone planning a visit.
neutrogena-joshua-treeJoshua Tree at sunset

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Feeding the goats at Living Desert

Happy Earth day everyone! And don’t forget to tag #LiveNature and @Neutrogena and tell us how you’re connecting with nature today.

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Getting my Bikini Bod on in Style Watch Magazine!

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I’m so excited that my bathing suit shoot (words I never thought I’d say!) for Style Watch magazine is finally out! Some of you saw the sneak peek I posted a few months ago and know I worked extra hard on getting bikini shoot ready. I’ve always been terribly self-conscious about my bust size. I’m a legit 34D/32DD which translates into an XL top if I’m lucky — and my rib cage is too small to cross over into the plus size arena unless the suit is a string tie in which case I have hope but the fit is usually still off. This bikini from Jessica Simpson fits all my requirements and gives me shape without making me look like I’m trying out for Playboy or worse, falling out of my suit. I think I can even pass for a “C” cup to the untrained eye.

I’ve been in my fair share of photoshoots but this one was a personal challenge since it’s a whole other ballgame when the clothes come off! Style Watch is one of my favorite magazines and this shoot helped me persevere with my fitness and health resolutions for the new year. I actually feel really grateful for the opportunity since it gave me the motivation I needed to take care of myself. It’s very easy when you’re constantly busy and people are asking favors from you non-stop to prioritize everyone but yourself. This forced me to put me first. Many have asked how I did it and the short answer (I’ll do a more involved post soon!) is I quit drinking for 2 months, started cycling at Cyc fitness 2-3 times a week, took HUM Cleanse to the Rescue 21 Day Cleanse supplements and started my day eating a banana (prior to this I could not get in the habit of eating breakfast).

The issue is now on stands through May 13th. Check me out on page 104!

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