Live in the Moment this Holiday

In my blackberry, I keep an on-going list of blog ideas. These inspirations might come from quotes, a deep conversation with someone I love, or a lesson that seems to keep reappearing in my life. Often ideas come to me in my dreams or those quiet thoughts right before bed so I have to wake myself up to write it down.
I'm not sure if it's because I am going through an extremely busy period with the transitions in my businesses, if my life's purpose is just becoming more clear or if the universe wants me to communicate my messages more than I have been on my websites, blog, and vlogs....
whatever it is, my blackberry notes department is overflowing right now.

So, although I am so busy that at times it feels my head might spin off -
I will take this as a lesson to get to work on today's blog.
(and truly, also a break. Writing this blog is one of my favourite pastimes, and releases)

One particular lesson that keeps popping up in the form of quotes, conversations and real life experiences is how importing living and being present in the current moment is.
Living in the moment. You hear it your whole life, but it is not until recently that I truly feel I'm understanding the importance.

When I first recorded down the idea for this blog, it was 2 weeks ago after I attended the Movember Gala. Myself and 10 other women sit on the 'Mo Sistas Canada' committee, which is a group of women who work hand-in-hand with Movember Canada to promote women getting involved in Changing the Face of Men's Health, even though we can't grow moustaches.

This group of women would likely have never met if it wasn't for this committee and dedicating our time to a great cause. It was such an honour to get know all of them and I love each individually for very different reasons. Our efforts and friendship were showcased in a popular TO blog just days before the gala. Read it here.
After this article came out, and we each took the time to reflect on how it was incredible to be part of a global campaign for men's health that had over 850,000 registrants and raised over $110 million worldwide. There were messages of pride, love and excitement going on between the 11 Mo Sistas from TO.

The Movember Gala fell a few days later and we had all purchased matching costumes as 1920's flapper girls. My core group of girlfriends outside of Movember were all busy on this particular Friday night. Tired from the month-of-Mo and never having attended before, I was unsure of what to expect. Especially without the safety blanket of my lifelong girlfriends.

The day had arrived and in a whirlwind of makeup, sparkles and feather boas I finally got to at the pre-party to meet the girls on the committee. I was all done up, with girls I adored and had nothing on the agenda except moustaches and celebrating with the beautiful flapper girls that filled the room.
Usually our meetings are documented, following an agenda and with purpose. Tonight though - the champagne and laughter were flowing... and there was no sign of stopping.

We were a little army of flapper girls. Looking out for each other, laughing hysterically and ripping up the dance floor until our feet hurt. It felt as though I had been friends with these girls for life.
Each moment of the evening was unexpected, unplanned and just coming at me as I enjoyed the company of those I had spent the past year with, making a difference.

I woke up the next day with a smile on my face and my fingers aggressively typing into my phone that this must be a lesson to us all.
LIVE IN THE MOMENT!

When you are younger and you go to a house party, local bar or school dance for the first time - you have those overwhelming feelings of excitement and the unknown. It's all so new. New experiences, new friends, new opportunities, new love interests...
New is such a cool feeling.

Then what happens? You get older and your experiences from this 'new' become old. You have been delivered lessons, you get broken hearted, your morals and values change. Whatever it is, all of the sudden what was cool a couple years ago is not enjoyable anymore.
Why? because you can never replicate living in the moment. You can't control circumstances.
Think about this: Girls cry at the end of a night out on the town all the time, right? Why? Because they were hoping to re-live a night exactly as they had in the past. But guess what, its not the past anymore. It is now!

Even I am completely guilty of this. (over the past weekend, actually.)
Another lesson in living in the moment that pushed me towards today's blog entry.

A few days ago I attended a Christmas party that is a tradition in my group of friends. Every year I am happily the appointed game planner. They are always silly, ice-breaking, belly laughing kind of games - and it really sets the tone for the rest of the evening.
Diligently, I spent the days leading up to the party planning and preparing these games. When the day came my car looked more like santa's sleigh, I threw in my overnight bag and off I went.

One thing you need to understand is that my girlfriends are all 28 going on 29. Only one of the eight of us is married and she has lived hours away from the rest of us for many years. No one has children.
So, the past 14 years of this tradition it was easy for us to live in the moment, get silly and not worry about anything but being in the moment and having maximum fun.

This year however, between boyfriends (soon to-be finance's, I am sure) waiting at home, work being demanding, personal life stresses, wanting to sleep in own bed's etc... the vibe was unlike ever before. Calm, adult like and completely opposite to my pre-detemined visualization of what this yearly Christmas party would look like. My games were a flop, some didn't get played and people were all gone by midnight.

I was being sensitive and really cared the night of. Which is when 'Live in the Moment' taunted me again. This is life now! I was not living in the moment and seeing what the night brought me. I was planning the events and assuming they would be as they were in the past.
Games, dance parties and pre-planned laughs aside: Nothing is more amazing than seeing my life-long best friends. We could sit in a bare room with nothing but each other and enjoy the company, and we always pick up as though we haven't been a part a day. This is why we always have, and always will be best friends. Learning to be present in the moment, as life changes and people grow is all part of that journey.

Welcome the new amazing 'Movember Gala' type moments. To find these you usually need to step out of your comfort zone. Do something different!
And, cherish and appreciate the times and memories you have with those who have always been in your life over the holidays. Don't try to control or pre-plan the event. Just enjoy the company for who they are today because you will love them for always.

I challenged myself to being 'Yes Girl' for the remainder of the year. When someone new or someone I want more of in my life asks me to get together, work on a new project or go for tea - I make the time no matter how busy I am.
Typically I would not make time, have a nice email exchange with them and be back to my work being number one.
The opportunities that have shown up in my life in the past few weeks since doing this self-challenge are absolutely mind blowing. If you want a change in your life - you must change and allow change.

Live in the moment, tell everyone you love them and express gratitude as much as you can.

Happy Holidays!

Mo Sistas Canada at the pre-party

life long besties. Holiday party in 2005 ♥ 

Be Thankful for Your Challenges??

"...find a new direction for Eating Pretty"
"...this guy is not good enough for you, move on."
"...I have 3 diets to write and an e-book in 3 hours. ahh!"
"...pretty sure this guy has turned out to be a full on sociopath, move on."
"...find another direction for Eating Pretty. Again."
"...emails, oh my lord emails. If Eating Pretty could find it's direction - I could have an email writer!"
"...ignore that bbm, ignore that text, ignore! ... aw, but he's so cute."
"...that sale didn't work at all, let's find a new direction!"
"...I have to give a speech on ____ in 30 minutes. I should probably write it."
"...it's ____'s birthday. But I have so much work!"
"...concentrating would be so much easier if I didn't have a broken heart"
"...I can't wait to tell Claire this!"
"...concentrating would be so much easier if I wasn't so excited."
"...is it the 1st already?"
"...I miss my family. I need to call Laura and bbm Daddy"
"...all I want to do is write, play with puppies and gossip with my girls - but, I need to find another direction!"


Welcome to my inner thoughts on a daily basis.


One could look at my facebook, twitter, linkedin, blog, website, youtube channel and think that all I do is think of pretty food, girlfriends, rainbows, puppies and magic all day. (which, is somewhat true.)


However, between being on Year 1 of my income solely from being an entrepreneur, seeming to be anywhere from unlucky or non-existant in the boy department, having to find new directions to take my business to the next level (and trying that again, and again, and again), attempting to manage all areas of a growing business alone, trying to refrain from being an anti-social workaholic and maintain my friendships, keeping up with all the volunteer work I do...
I guess it's needless to say: my brain is not all cupid, sunshine and sparkles.


But that is my ultimate goal. Sunshine, sparkles and making others lives better. And I will never stop being who I am and standing for what I believe in until I get there.


Last week was one of the most bitter-sweet weeks of my life. It was one of those weeks where in all areas of life you just want to crawl into a hole and hibernate, except I was working on my huge event Rock the Runway in support of Movember. So keeping positive through the weeks challenges was imperative.


On an especially stressful day I was trying to stay strong and keep it together at my office, but I took one look at my best friend Claire's face and burst into tears.
In my vent session my inner trucker took over and you would never have known I was a girl who thought swearing was a sign of a weak vocabulary. The cuss filled rant was rolling off my tongue like a drunken pirate.
Sparing you the $#^&'s ...
I told her that on my drive to work this morning I thought about how much easier it would be if I was one of those insecure, lost people who turned to drugs, alcohol, clubs, meaningless sex, bad food and designer things for validation.
Obviously, I did not mean it. My point was that sadly, in this world those things rule. I could literally walk out of my office and in 30 minutes be drunk and in bed with a new guy who wanted to buy me a Prada bag and take me for lobster. All my worries about companionship, finances and my business would be out the drowned out by booze and momentary validation.


But that is not who I choose to be, and I work so hard to be who I am.
It's not easy at all. In fact this journey is much more difficult then I could ever imagine. 
Following your heart, being daring, and passionate all while sticking to your core values has become next to impossible in this twisted world. Being reckless provides such immediate gratification that it's rare to find people that are truly who they portray themselves to be. And even more rare to find people who believe in that path and stick to it even on the days that bring them to tears.



If you follow my blog regularly, you will know I believe there is a lesson in every challenge. Once I began to believe that with everything I was - life just started to make sense.
Last week was the first time one of those 'lessons' blind sided me - my inner voice gave me NO warning and I can't for the life of me see what I must learn from it.
Claire said to me she thinks the series of events in my bad week are only making me stronger and ready for the best that is yet to come. She thinks with the week I've had it's right around the corner.
(I think best friends have to say that, it's in the code.)
But, that day I hoped she was right, today I believe it and (I hope) next week, I will know it.


Focusing on what I don't have or the challenges that feel like a punch in the face are only going to push me into that dark corner to be that girl I live my life trying not to be, and try to inspire you not to be.
On the days I am tempted to throw in the towel and conform to the 'easy' (and completely unsatisfying) way; I picture those that follow my career, attend my seminars, Rock the Runway, Live and Eat Pretty, and then I think
"What kind of example would I be sending? Not one I believe in."
So I focus on what a truly blessed life I live.

This week I feel more overwhelmed with true friendships, love and praise of making a difference than ever before. It made me realize no matter what the challenge, I am so very blessed to have all of you in my life.
Attitude of Gratitude has been my saving grace. The more I am thankful, the better I feel and the more love I seem to receive from those that matter most.


Never give up, and be thankful for what you have? 
Seems so simple, and yet in reality it is the most challenging.
But next week at this time, I know the things that made me be McTearsy last week, will be long gone and I will be faced with new victories and new challenges - leading me to the perfect place I am headed for, all for being exactly who I am.
Challenges are a part of life. They make you feel, fuel your passion and test your limits.


My challenge to you on this American Thanksgiving week is:
Spend 5 minutes a day being thankful for what you do have. Love, amazing friendships, family, a great job, a roof over your head, pets, a delicious meal, a lucky break... whatever it is. Be thankful.


Attitude of Gratitude always brings more to be thankful for.
Don't focus on the bad like I did last week - it only amplifies the pain and challenges.
Be thankful for the lessons the universe teaches you, too. Even if you aren't sure what they are in the moment. They take you where you are going. And if you let them... 
I will see you there!


Love you all.
xo A.
www.eatingpretty.com

Energy Vampires that YOU create!

A long time ago I learned to let go of toxic people who blatantly put me down, made me sad or lowered my energy. Once I established I was worth more than being treated that way it was easy to let go - and I found that almost immediately new fabulous people who made me feel great about being exactly who I am showed up  in my life.

Lately though, I have been receiving the same lesson - with a twist. 

Again and again from a multitude of sources: (boy)friends, acquaintances, (ex)coworkers... the list goes on.

All different relationships, all the same outcome: they are lowering my energy and cause upset in my life.

The problem: I truly loved them all.

These aren't the blatant jerks who tell you that you aren't good enough, or that your ideas are stupid, and let their big-fat-egos put you down. Nope, I'm way past those people...

These are actually people that love you too. These are people who tell you that you're wonderful and why they love having you in their lives. But for one reason or another you feel like your energy is sucked out of you by them. Energy Vampires, who love you? It's an actual thing, I swear! I have had enough show up in my life in the last few months to know. 

Work, love life, personal goals even my taking my own health first were all slightly altered by these key people. But they were my people, so I didn't recognize it.

(Or actual in truth, I ignored my gut.)

As always when you ignore that inner voice, repercussions follow suit. So, heartbreak, betrayal and anxiety followed each instance in different ways at different times. Each with it's own unique lesson.

...but in hindsight I realized there was one common denominator:
and it was ME!!

Yup, I was the one getting in my own way. I was using these people who did not serve me to hold myself back. To operate on an energy level I know I am greater than. 

I made it easy for the unavailable boy to put me on the back burner because I wasn't seeing that even though he may be wonderful in many ways, I am worth more than someone who is not ready for me.

I made it easy for the employee to betray me and play on my weaknesses, because I wasn't recognizing my own issues in business.

I made it easy for the person who has no self love to replace that with my love, because I needed it at the time.

This isn't them. It is me. My own fear took over and I unconsciously created these relationships to serve it.

The tough emotions I experienced from the people I truly love was not caused by them at all. It was the universe, and my inner guide saying "Wake up girl! You are worth more and you can do better!" 

and after I realized all of this - they are no longer vampires of my energy. I release them with love.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure." 

Recently, this saying has been showing up in my life again and again. And I'm starting to realize that the only person who can stand in my way of love, success and all the things my heart and mind desire, is me. 

We have all the tools to be and have everything we desire. Don't let your fear and ego create relationships and circumstances that get in the way of that. 

Someone doesn't have to be abusive or deceiving to be standing in your way. Let go with love and watch as incredible things happen.

When you let go and still recognize why you love the person, you create room for new relationships and opportunities that will serve you and propel you forward. You get that high that life should deliver to you daily, instead of anxiety. 

Most of all, you become who you are meant to be. 

Every girl has a little Regina George inside them...

One of the biggest lessons I have learned in the past month is how I am my own worst critic. I put so much pressure on myself to be, do and have it all - that 'it all' became too much.
The overwhelming feelings smothered my excitement and put me in a place of fear and defeat. After a lot of self reflection I am good with admitting this, learning from it...
and of course, using it as inspiration for my next blog and seminar series! ;)

I realized that the only person holding me back from being what I wanted to be was me. I cut out all the negative people who didn't believe in me a long time ago - so truly, the only negative chatter happening was in my own mind.
I would achieve something, and tell myself it wasn't good enough. I would sleep with my blackberry and laptop. I would focus on achievements above taking myself first. I would never be satisfied with the things I had accomplished.
"I'll be happy once I do this, too"
"I will make time once this is done"
"I am unworthy of (love, money, health - you name it) until I achieve _____"
"She has that. I won't ever be good enough unless I have that too"

What? Who am I?
The worst part is, I didn't even realize I was doing that to myself.
I was the star of the movie Mean Girls, Regina George. I was the meanest person in my life....
But only to myself!

Quite simply, becoming aware of this manifested into my latest Seminar Series theme.
Want to heat about it? Read on:

Mean Girls - We've all met them. Maybe we've even been them at times.
No matter how they influenced your life, we have all been knocked down, had our confidence shot and felt completely less than those girls who felt that putting you down was the one way ticket to popularity.
Now that we are older, we realize that those girls were just as insecure as you - channeling it in the wrong way to feel better about themselves. We become adults, we sympathize with what hardships must have happened in their lives to make them that way, and we move on.

But there is one Mean Girl that we never really quite kick....
it's that bullying babe that lives inside of YOU!

Yes, the Regina George of your high school lives in your mind whether you realize it or not.
She's that voice that's always telling you:
"Your too fat"
"You'll never afford it"
"No one will ever love you"
"You aren't good enough"
"You can never trust anyone"

I really never swear, but.... what a bitch!

It's true. That little voice inside of you that puts you down, makes you self conscious and scared of taking risk - is just like those Mean Girls who belittled you to hold you back in childhood. Now the voice lives in your head.... and we all have it ladies!

Inspired by the Pretty Book of the month, Louise L.Hay's You Can Heal Your Life, and my own personal journey comes the next series of Living Pretty Motivational Seminars where like minded women can come together to out that Inner Bullying Babe and teach her to Live Pretty!!

In my seminar series you will meet your own inner Regina George and her posse, which are the multiple personalities of the Mean Girls that live inside of you.
Regina (The Queen of Comparison) rolls with Libby Loveless, Patty Perfectionist, Negative Nance, Angela Accomplishment, and Scared Sally ....just to name a few!
In a 4-week journey we will work together to stop letting the mean girl inside of you dictate your happiness and what you are capable of.
We will stop the negative internal chatter and transform it into thoughts of everything Living Pretty - health, wealth, love, happiness and more!


Please email eatingpretty@live.ca to find out how to join us!

EatingPretty.com is getting a makeover!

"You have to love it more than anything else. It's so many little stepping stones. Very rarely is it that one thing leads to another, that leads to another followed by the end result. It's so many dead ends, and switching directions and going back and re-thinking. And, so many interviews, strategy meetings, management meetings and  PR meetings. It's so many things that are outside of what you love, that you have to love what you do SO much that your hour and half to two hours a day of actually doing just that, makes everything else worth it." - Taylor Swift

Above was an answer that Taylor Swift gave in an interview I recently watched responding to the question "What advice do you have to other aspiring musicians?" Her answer really resonated with me, as I think it can apply to anyone who chooses to follow their dreams. It was certainly a perspective I needed at the time of hearing it.

Starting your own business is one of the most exciting and fulfilling projects to undertake in the beginning. It's full of excitement, realizing an inner potential you have never tapped into and the universe delivers new amazing people who support you, offer guidance and become new friends.
That was certainly my blessed life for the past 4 years as I put myself through school and built Eating Pretty Nutrition starting from a small promotion I ran on facebook which has now led me to working with thousands women of nationwide.

Recently I have been struggling though, with my beliefs changing as far as women's health and nutrition stand. I originally wrote the program under the influence of the fitness world, as I was still competing at the time. Many of my mentors, coaches and people who influenced my views were of the same belief I portray in my diet plans. I certainly saw great results from what I was doing, so why wouldn't I share that with others who were inspired by my transformation?

Now though, retired from competing and with a lot more life lessons under my belt - my inner voice has been screaming at me to listen to my new views and follow a new path, and as I spoke about in my last blog... not listening to my gut got me stuck in a rut.

I have had the privilege of spending a lot of time alone with my thoughts, reflecting, reading and just listening to my inner voice over the past few weeks. For me, mediation and alone time are simply magical and that was something I really needed right now. Over this time I began to reflect on the moments of business that have made me the happiest over the past year. Without a doubt my year highlight was my 8 week Women's Motivational Seminar Series that I called 'Living Pretty'. Motivating women to be the best they can be, to love themselves and go after their dreams has been a passion of mine for years, beginning back in 2008 when a group of my girlfriends and I started a women's 'Goal Club'.

What I have come to realize about food and dieting is the same thing I feel about drugs, alcohol, spending and sexual addictions - they are all VICES.
I believe from the bottom of my heart if you love yourself first and change your self-deprecating inner voice to one of love and self-encouragement, that miracles truly appear in your life.
You don't need that blackout to escape, that numbing high or new designer purse to validate you. When you love yourself first the vices just fall away because you choose Love over Fear.
I truly believe that in my own life, and as someone who has used all the vices - I'm a veteran in knowing that loving yourself first, channeling your energy to positivity and following your dreams will let those vices fall away and be replaced with amazing little surprises in your daily life.
The exact same idea goes for food addiction and being overweight.

I wanted Eating Pretty Nutrition to be referred to as a 'Lifestyle' not a diet. I wanted women to learn the basics of Eating Pretty, and find happiness in loving themselves and supporting each other.
The principles of Eating Pretty Nutrition do get you results, but unless you love and respect yourself you will always have the chance of re-bounding back, as our demons have a way of not letting our bad habits go when we continue to focus on life's negatives.
This is where the importance of maintenance comes in, once you have reached your goal. I truly believe in the Eating Pretty Principles. I believe in eating whole, fresh foods that the universe provides. I believe in lots of water and exercise, and teaching women the power of properly fueling their body the way earth intended. However, I also believe that to keep your goal weight you must love yourself, channel your energy to doing things you are passionate about and most importantly NEVER become diet obsessive. Life is all about balance and what goes up must come down!
(... or what goes down must come up, if we are talking scale!)

So what do I plan to do to make a change? You will be seeing BIG changes on EatingPretty.com over the next few months. More information accessible to anyone, memberships geared towards weight you need to lose specific to your own case and a whole lot more self-love and Living Pretty!

Stay tuned for my video blogs and keep checking back to this blogspot as I listen to my inner guide and make incredible changes on eatingpretty.com, as well as launching LivingPretty.ca soon!

Thank you to everyone who has been along for this whole journey with me, I truly love you guys so much.

Missing-In-Action-McNally...

It's true. I have been under the radar and not keeping up my end of this blog bargain. Truthfully, I never meant for this much time to pass, but all of the sudden I sit here in a cozy blanket, drinking piping hot green tea and taking in the beautiful fall air. Yes, fall. Seeing how my last blog entry dates back to May, somehow, I have let an entire season pass me by.  

So, where have I been? The absolute truth of the matter is, I'm not really sure. Somehow between blooms blossoming and leaves turning colours 'Missing-In-Action-McNally' is really more a case of missing inspiration. Every time I opened up a blank page to start writing the words wouldn't flow, that buzz I get when I know I am writing something that will make a difference in someone else's life never appeared and I was longing for one of the little lessons I always like to base my messages around to overcome me, with no such luck.

Last night while I discussed with my best girls my recent general angst feelings with my life I admitted feeling like I have been ignoring my gut. My dear friend Lisa piped up and said "Excuse me Miss-your-gut-never-lies blogger! You know what you're doing wrong then!!" She was referring to a blog entry I posted back in February. 

(read that blog here)

Lisa then proceeded to tell me how she had read that blog repetitively while trying to make changes in her own life, and how much it helped her. 

Ladies and gentleman, that moment in time is why I am inspired to write this blog today. Truthfully, that feeling of knowing I contributed in making someone else's life a more positive experience by inspiring them to be better is why I do this. And that goes for everything I do, not just blogging. It's also the exact reason why I have felt uninspired this summer. It's a simple equation really, not listening to your gut = rut. And rut is exactly where I have found myself these past few months.

Don't get me wrong, I truly always have a great time with my life. There have been many magical and memorable moments since I haven't been blowing up your facebook newsfeed. But in terms of my 4 majors: Love, Business/Money, Health, Spirituality - I have not been making the progress that I know I should be. Fear, not listening to my inner voice, big changes and some poor decisions all can safely be named as contributing factors.
So why? The girl who makes a living of preaching love over fear, risk over complacency, taking your health and self first and connecting with your inner voice... why-oh-why have I been doing the opposite? To be honest people, I am still working that out. 

The reason I haven't been blogging, vlogging, expanding my businesses and doing all the other things that truly get me high in life, is because my ego said to me "How can you inspire, if you feel so low and confused?"

... and truthfully until Lisa said that to me last night it never occurred to me to just be honest! It never occurred to me to realize the reason people follow my blogs is because of my candidness and how I am always telling the truth. I thought that if I had no good or happy truth to share, I had nothing to say.

Writing this blog right now leaves me feeling the best I have in months. Because starting with something small that makes you smile is always the first step in an amazing direction. And I know that. I am so glad the message I once sent made a difference in someones life, and was re-taught to me on my dark day. How cool is that?

There are some big things going on in my life right now. I always say I think 23 was the most difficult age because you are done college or university and too young to be taken seriously to get the 'Dream Job' you have imagined and too old and educated to keep on working at your highschool retail gig forever and stay satisfied, or many just don't know what to do next. The initial decsions on career, city to live in, first home your parents aren't paying for, and everything else that comes with growing up are so scary and consuming.

Little did I know once you got that all down pat, you grow up and decide your path - you only need to make more decisions!

With huge changes happening in my business and new opportunities in love, I have found myself consumed with fear and doubt. That in turn leaves me not taking my own health and wellness first and clouds my connection to my inner guide. See how that snowball effect just knocked my top 4 most important life categories right out of the park? It happened without me even realizing it - and the domino effect took my inspiration with it!

For my respect for those involved in business and loves sake, I will have to spare you the details (for now... ;) 

I will say though, admitting to myself I have been ignoring my inner guidance has helped me make some big decisions, inspired me to be moving forward with the things I know I should be doing without letting fear get in the way, and letting go of others by special instruction of my tiny inner voice that seems to be speaking louder than usual today.

I promise you all this though: Doing amazingly or in a rut, you will be hearing much more from me and my gut.

:)

I want to instigate your happiness!

Happy Monday Pretty Eaters!

Many of you know from being on Team Pretty or following my Blogs, Vlogs and Facebook page that I'm a strong believer in mastering your mind in order to master your goals. Although Eating Pretty Nutrition could be categorized in the 'Vanity' department, we try and stay true to these beliefs in our coaching and teaching. In my opinion, the work you do on your interior is more important than the work you do on your exterior.

The inspiration for this weeks blog comes from many different areas. Personal beliefs, a new seminar series I'm launching next Wednesday, May 18th and the final force was a conversation that look place last night over green juice and vegetarian food between one of my best friends, a new friend, and myself.

The new friend was talking about one of his passions, and then asked me what my passion in life was. For someone who preaches following your dreams and desires for a living I surprised myself with hesitating on how to answer. "I'm a nutritionist and love it. But my real passion lies within my nutrition business, trying to improve the lives of others." It rolled off my tongue with some unsurety, not quite knowing how to put into words what I love to do. My best friend quickly added "You know what Angela is... she's a happiness instigator"
I had never really thought of it like that. But there it was. It made me smile to be thought of that way.

The conversation led into the topic of internal versus external happiness. My new friend said something that really struck a cord with me. He said that when you look for validation through exterior happiness such as youthful looks and material things that you are fighting a losing battle. Time and age are against you. You age, your material things outdate and you are constantly wanting more. But when you choose to work on your inside, you can only go up. The more work you do, the more you learn, discover and get rewarded. Abundance, love and health come to you for the right reasons and there is infinite amount to gain.

Hearing something I so deeply believe in put into these words was such an inspiration. I began writing my first seminar and it is just pouring out on to the paper. I truly can't wait to share it with you all.
New Living Pretty Seminar series will include:

• Positive mindset to achieve anything
• Goal Setting
• Meditation
• Authentic tools for Abundance, Happiness and Manifestation
• Opportunity for open dialogue and questions
• Pretty Exercise and Nutrition Tips
• Guidance on Career, Relationships, Addiction, Weight Loss and more

I'd love to take this opportunity to invite you ladies to join me for my first ever 'Living Pretty' motivational seminar series starting Wednesday, May 18th at 7pm EST.
The month of May will be absolutely free so you can see for yourself if Living in a Pretty mindset is for you!
You can attend in person at the Eating Pretty Nutrition Studios or tune in LIVE from the comfort of your own home on our Ustream Channel. If you are interested in attending at the studio or tuning in on our Ustream Channel please email angela@eatingpretty.com today to reserve your spot!

Looking forward to working towards an internally positive mindset and Living a Pretty Lifestyle with you all. Please don't hesitate to post comments or questions below this blog or on the facebook fan page.

So much love & prettiness,
Angela McNally

www.eatingpretty.com