We are obsessed with ‘new’. Anyone with a sense of history knows that new is just a refreshed version of old. Very rarely does someone come forth with undiscovered goods like Columbus “finding” unchartered lands.

Artists and designers are usually exploited for their sweat equity by replacing and rebranding the tried and true with a sexy twist. Don’t fall victim to it. Define what is new to you. Mix classic with edgy and add a little movie star glamour to it. Throw on some aviators or oversized glasses and design your own sophisticated existence. What’s your signature style? It doesn’t matter if it fluctuates day-to-day. It’s like perfume – it fits whatever mood you’re in. Throw on jeans and a t-shirt with fabulous shoes and killer accessories. Make sure your clothes fit as well as enhance any assets and always be mindful of undergarments! Ladies, release your inner sex kitten and take it up a notch with lace. Men, ditch the old tighty whities and pull on some briefs that hug your buns of steel.

Play a character, create a role, and always edit accordingly. Channel your inner Marilyn Monroe and James Dean and get ready for the lead – lights, camera, ACTION!

Now that’s dripping sexy…

There is nothing sexier than a person who has his or her finances in order. Last week, we chartered the choppy waters of determining how much money we owed to others. We also took a hard look at the fact that a great deal of us work to pay the bills instead of enjoying life but that will soon change. With our new mindset, we are prioritizing our wants and needs and this carries over into every aspect of our lives…especially eating. Together we will shed the weight of debt and work our way towards healthy financial fitness.

Here are a few tips for the upcoming week:

1. Cancel the restaurant reservation! Instead of going out, dine in at home. Eating out all week adds up and it shows in your bank account and on your expanding waistline.

2. Subscribe to a fan page. If you have a favorite place to frequent, add yourself to their email list or follow them on social medias. You might receive coupons and invites to special events.

3. Stick to the plan. When shopping, make a list and check it twice. I fall victim to this at Target and Central Market – especially when the sample tables are out on the weekends. Now I find that getting my groceries and household items sans my daughter allows me to avoid the unnecessary junk food and “oh, I need this t-shirt” blues. I also avoid the crowds and can enjoy my Saturday and Sunday without chores.

4. Brown bag it! Bringing snacks, such as carrots and hummus, tuna and avocado, rice cakes and almonds, will save you a small fortune during the week. Prepare your items the night before to avoid the morning rush around la maison. It’s one less thing to worry about in the a.m.

5. Purchase off-brand. I admit…there are times when I struggle with this because I like packaging. It took awhile but I realized as long as it feels or tastes the same and performs as needed, I’m happy to be saving my l’argent. Who cares what the brand is for the whole wheat pasta and brown rice? Organize your pantry with lovely containers and it all looks the same anyway!

6. Scale back on the treats. There’s no need to eliminate them completely but switch up the frequency. That daily dose of Starbucks will put a huge dent in your wallet and those weekly mani/pedis do too. Make it a pocket of joy, not a habit.

7. Return the goodies! If mama ain’t happy, nobody is happy so look around the house and see what you’re not wearing or using. Maybe you can return the items, use the cash towards a debt and de-clutter your space meanwhile streamlining your life.

Managing your finances and taking control of your emotional health is one way to eliminate stress. Move past your fear of number crunching, stop keeping up with the Joneses cause they are probably broke as hell, and create the map towards your financial freedom.

Now that’s dripping sexy…

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Disclaimer: I am not a licensed financial professional. I provide information to be used at the reader’s discretion.

Are you having trouble remaining committed to your cause? Sometimes we don’t have it all together but we keep trying and that’s the important piece we should focus on. Don’t quit before giving yourself enough time to reach the goal so stay dedicated because transformation does and will take time.

Sometimes we need to take a step back and observe for a while. Tap into the creative side and make something happen. Sit in a different place, stand next to a good looking stranger (check for wedding rings before making this move), and strike up a conversation. My daughter is always complaining that I talk to everyone. I do…I find myself chatting it up with folks everywhere and I have met some truly interesting people.

Ask a co-worker to lunch and try a new place. If a solo venture is more your cup of tea, find the latest coffee house and make it an experience. I enjoy pretending I’m in a real city (Houston is a big town) and I find places that I can people watch. Last Saturday, I spent a few hours watching Le Week-end at the River Oaks Theater and strolled next door to the French café pre-show to have a glass of wine. As I sat at my table staring longingly out the window, I pretended West Gray was the Seine and the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and I was immediately transported to the romantic streets of Paris. Life is full of joy no matter what we face or where we are.

Find your red carpet and discover your raison d’être. It doesn’t matter whether people like it or not so feel free to flourish in your creative world.

Now that’s dripping sexy…

The good life is not a reward you get after reaching milestones; it’s something that nourishes you along the way. Believe that you can have it all and claim it…maybe it won’t be at once and that’s fine. Eventually you will check things off your life list. The choices we make force us to prioritize. It shouldn’t be a disappointment if you can’t holiday in Europe. Approach it from the position of timing being off a bit. You will get there. In the meantime, regularly take a few hours to pamper yourself. Make routine appointments for manicure and pedicures and toss in a massage. I was recently treated to the most amazing massage at a quaint spot in Houston. It was the mini-vacation I sorely needed and I almost forgot that I was in the city. Perhaps touring Napa Valley doesn’t fit into your budget or schedule. From one oenophile to the next, this doesn’t mean that wine glasses should ever be empty. Hop in the car and take a road trip to a local winery such as La Cruz de Comal or enroll in a few wine workshops at Central Market (take a class with Russ on Monday evenings).There are so many fun ways to enrich your daily life.

Striking a healthy balance requires effort and after a short while, it becomes your lifestyle. Determine what ‘having it all’ means for you. It’s easy to develop a pattern of measuring yourself against someone else’s success – don’t do it. Is it a career change that you seek? A relationship? What about getting in shape? Take baby steps. What’s the one thing that you can do each day to bring you closer to having it all? Begin with your health and appearance first. The diet industry wants you to think that popping a pill is the answer to being thin but it’s not. It’s truly simple – exercise more and eat less. You don’t need to pay Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers to tell you how to eat. The formula works if you stick to it. Next, focus on your mental state. Are you living your life with joy and purpose? If not, do something about it immediately. Dig deep with this next one…if your relationships and friendships continue to leave a void in your life, are you the root of the problem? Are you being the friend or partner that you seek? After you build a solid foundation, anything else you take on will seem painless because you will have reached a level of mastery and discipline to face the next set of hurdles.

While taking care of the body, make sure hair is coiffed and nails are lacquered. Wear your sexy lingerie – it should never be saved for a special moment. Boost your confidence levels and put your best self forward. It becomes a natural way of being. As time progresses, you will see that it’s effortlessly your lifestyle…chic and sexy. This transfers to any environment. If you work outside of the home, answer your phone with authority, walk into those meetings and sit next to the senior staff. You will draw energy and feel powerful from knowing you are stepping out of the comfort zone. If you happen to work from la maison, awaken early in the morning, check exercise off the list, and dress as if a guest might stop by. Sweat pants around the house are a sign of defeat.

Do you want to go to school and obtain your degree? Do it!! I completed two degrees (not on-line) with trois enfants in tow. Do you want to climb the corporate ladder? What’s stopping you? Just make sure you don’t look like the secretary!!  Dress for where you want to go, not where you are. Pay attention to your shoes, accessories, make-up and the fit and fall of your couture. Read your daily journals, meet the necessary people and lastly, don’t socialize with everyone. Ask your boss to lunch. Sit and have tea with him/her. Do whatever it takes to stand out in the crowd. The confidence to take on any goals comes from simply doing. You can absolutely have it all.

Now that’s dripping sexy…

Shift your priorities and assume the role of CEO/President. Surround yourself with a vice president and cabinet members to enhance and highlight your performance. Start off each day with the mindset that you will improve and be productive. You know what you want and need to accomplish so stay focused on the deliverables. Delegate when necessary…always delegate.

It’s a lifestyle; approach it from the angle of normality and perfection. I typically awaken at 4:30 a.m. during the week. I absolutely need my personal time to have green tea, respond to emails, and set the tone for the day. I head to the gym for an hour of cardio then come home to get my daughter ready for school. I jump in the shower, make green smoothies for her and my sons and finish my morning while they busy themselves around la maison. This is not helter-skelter to me – it’s controlled peace.

Find what works for you. There are times when my 13 year-old joins me at the gym in the wee hours of the morning (truthfully, I love those days because we find the silliest things to giggle about) and I don’t see it as taking away from my ‘me’ time. If you checked exercise off the list AND you shared quality time with le bebe, pat yourself on the back and hold your head a little higher. You’re one step closer to becoming the person you were destined to be.  No matter what obstacles are thrown your way, always remember to put your lip candy on, make sure your hands and feet are lacquered, eyebrows threaded, exercise done and go out on life’s catwalk. Take care of self and the rest will fall into place.

Now that’s dripping sexy…

For some, there’s a deeper desire. I call it the superiority complex. There’s an element of pride knowing that after birthing 3 children, having 3 c-sections, and spending countless hours in the gym, that I am still a double zero with an enviable body (flat stomach, visible hip bones, Pilates ass…in case you were wondering).

It’s the discipline of a four-star general. It takes sacrifice, work, precision, and skill to execute this look and I refuse to be relegated to the same category of the average, frumpy mothers of the world.

Now that’s dripping sexy…