The Best Ever You Network

Is Your Suit of Armor Weighing You Down | Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Fri, 04 May 2012 05:23:00 +0000

Best Ever You Named StartUpNation Top Company

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:10:02 +0000

Clear the Fear | Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:19:20 +0000

Best Ever You Magazine - April/May

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:33:20 +0000

Meet Elinor Stutz | Smooth Sale | Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:42:13 +0000

Your Warrior Within | Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 14:57:08 +0000

Turn Your Passions and Talents Into Success

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 12:32:26 +0000

Is 2012 the Year You Bring Your Book to Life?

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 11:07:00 +0000

Lisa Tener and Linda Joy will be guests on The Best Ever You Show on Blog Talk Radio, March 6 at 1pm EST. To listen anytime click: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/besteveryou/2012/03/06/bring-your-book-to-life-with-lisa-tener-and-linda-joy

On March 7th, Linda Joy and Lisa Tener will demystify the process of becoming a published author.

In this highly interactive forum, they will share the secrets for guiding clients who got 5- and 6- figure publishing deals.

Their special surprise guests will bring you their experiences and insights into the publishing process.

They'll answer your most burning writing and publishing questions, as well as share:

• Strategies for becoming a published author.
• The most important question to ask BEFORE you start writing.
• How to complete your book quickly.
• How to make time and stay committed.
• How to write a book that can attract top publishers.
And much more.

Be on the LIVE CALL and you could hear YOUR NAME called as the winner of one of their prizes, including copies of Quick Start to Kick Start Your Book, Lisa's Inspiration to Author in 8 Weeks, a blog interview and announcement about your book in the Write Your Book newsletter, and a three-hour Platform Building for Authors virtual retreat with Publisher Linda Joy. But you can't win unless you attend the call LIVE.

Click here to register: REGISTER

About Lisa Tener

Lisa Tener shows you how to become a published author and the go-to expert in your industry. She specializes in helping entrepreneurs, doctors, therapists, and coaches shape their expertise, ideas and unique gifts into a book that attracts ideal clients, opens up new opportunities and raises your profile.

Lisa has been quoted nationally in USA Weekend, Glamour, Family Circle, The Boston Globe, WebMD and has appeared on ABC World News with Peter Jennings and PBS-TV. Her clients have been published by major publishers and have appeared on Oprah, CBS Early Show, Good Morning America and others. Lisa has served on the advisory board of the International Association of Writers and currently serves on the faculty of Harvard Medical School's publishing course.

About Linda Joy

Best-selling Inspirational Publisher, Conscious Business Catalyst, and Inspirational Speaker Linda Joy is dedicated to inspiring women to live deeper, more authentic and inspired lives both personally and professionally. As the publisher of Aspire, the premiere inspirational magazine for women – Ms Joy has created a respected and established voice in the women’s inner empowerment movement and reaches tens of thousands of women around the world through their ‘Mission to Inspire 100,000 Women’ campaign. Ms Joy is also the Founder and Publisher of Inspired Living Publishing, bringing women’s stories to life and to the world with its series of best-selling inspirational books written by women and for women.

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About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network and Executive Producer and host of The Best Ever You Show.

Relationship Mastery - Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award Winner

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 09:01:00 +0000

I am proud to award the book "Relationship Mastery" our Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award. The author Dr. David Fraser has written a book that appeals to my husband, so even on that basis alone, we are giving this book a nod! My husband is reading it and loves it and said, "Now this is a great book!" (Years of law school have crushed my husband's love of reading books.)

Ok, all fun aside for a moment, Dr David has created a masterpiece. This is a book you can read and apply the concepts to business, home, sports, children and any other aspect of your life. The book shows you how to get along with people better in a method that is easy to understand and easy to apply to your real life.

Dr. David recently joined me on Best Ever You Radio. Click to listen. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/besteveryou/2012/03/01/dr-david-fraser--relationship-mastery-1

David was also a featured speaker for the Motivation Marathon and is an expert on The Best Ever You Network.

An Interview with Dr. David Fraser, author of Relationship Mastery

How did you get to be where you are today?
By working hard, making the most of what I have, being fortunate in the first place, finishing virtually everything I started, having great parents, great friends, and great teachers (still), finding a strong sense of purpose and sticking with it, having the courage to take risks, and stepping out of my comfort zone.

Have you ever been fired?
No. I fired myself once after I had been in a job two weeks because I realized it was wrong for me and I was going to hate it.

What are your real passions?
Helping other people be all they can be, getting people working well together, leading teams in a work situation or a leisure activity.

If you won the lotto what would you do?
Much the same really, but it would be a bit easier perhaps.

What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
I want to make a significant impact on the effectiveness with which people interact with each other because it can make a real difference to individuals, families, organizations, the world even. Write some more books.

What do you like to do in your personal life?
Spend time with my family, go sailing amongst the islands of the West Coast of Scotland, get out into the country, walk, spend time with close friends. I also like music, especially Scottish traditional music, and I am a piper, though I mainly play the smaller versions of the instrument these days.

Please give us one or two shameless plugs.
My first shameless plug is my book “Relationship Mastery: A Business Professional’s Guide”, and my second is just connecting with my work in some way at www.drdavidfraser.com.

Please give us one plug for someone else or your favorite cause or charity.
Rather than plug a specific charity or person, I’d like to ask us all to do that bit more to help and understand other people with special needs. I’m thinking particularly of children and adults with Autism but it could be anything like that.

What do you do to help stay your best ever?
I’m always learning, looking for the next thing I need to know, and at the same time trying to be authentic in everything I do - walking the talk, as much as I can.

How do you help other people be their best?
By supporting them and creating the context in which they can learn what they need to learn.

What is your favorite book to recommend to someone else to read?
Difficult, there is no one book, but for people who want to “put a ding in the Universe,” as Steve Jobs put it, I’d recommend Seth Godin’s book “Linchpin.”

Tell us a secret ;)
I want to put a ding in the Universe around how well we relate to each other and ourselves.

What would you say to someone starting out?
Have the courage to find your own way. Believe in yourself. There are no limits on what you can achieve.

If you had 15 seconds to something to everyone in the world, what you say?
Make good use of the insights available to learn about yourself and other people because it makes a great deal of difference to how your life turns out.

About Dr. David Fraser

David Fraser, PhD, is a leading authority on relationship skills in professional and personal life and author of the well-regarded book “Relationship Mastery: A Business Professional’s Guide”. He is an international speaker with a senior professional background and deep insight into the human side of life gathered from a wealth of sources.

David has a track record of pioneering new approaches. He has delivered major projects for government and private sector clients in challenging situations and set up a number of entrepreneurial ventures. He is a business owner, and a Chartered Engineer with a First Class Honours degree and a PhD from Glasgow University and an MBA from Strathclyde University. He is a qualified commercial mediator and a NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Trainer and has studied with leading proponents of these disciplines.

David applies his unusual blend of expertise to supporting disparate groups working together in complex circumstances. He also runs workshop and coaching programs on personal mastery and relationship skills for both organizations and individuals, focusing on the potential to leverage results. The effects are profound—quite simply life-changing for the individuals and their organisations. David also finds the approach set out in his book to be extremely helpful in the home and family environment.

David lives with his wife and three children in Glasgow, Scotland and sails on the West Coast of Scotland when time permits.

www.drdavidfraser.com

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network and host of The Best Ever You Show. She is watching her husband read David's book and he has even dog-eared pages. :)

ps- Elizabeth is the queen of types, even on famous author pages such as this. If you see one, just let her know. Our editor Liz is shoveling snow. See she can't even spell Typo right. LOL. I'm leaving it.

10 Turkeys in the Road - Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award Winner

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:58:00 +0000

I am pleased to award the children's book 10 Turkeys in the Road my Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award. This book is just delightful and has won a Gold Mom's Choice Award. The story is beautifully written like a true poet and the illustrations are delightful!

Join these 10 troublemaking turkeys while they perform a circus in the road, which causes a farmer to become increasingly frustrated. Count down as these turkeys fly away one at a time, UNTIL the clever turkeys get what they are really after all along!

Listen to more about Brenda, 10 Turkeys in the Road and about how to write and publish and children's book on The Best Ever You Show.

Click to listen: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/besteveryou/2012/02/27/the-world-of-childrens-books-best-ever-you

About the Author

Brenda Reeves Sturgis is the author of 10 Turkeys in the Road, a count-down book for children ages 3-6, which just received a Gold Mom’s Choice Award. 10 Turkeys in the Road was published in September 2011, by Marshall Cavendish, and also by Scholastic Book Clubs in November 2011, as well. Brenda lives on a lovely little lake in Maine, and enjoys spending her free time writing for children, being a grandmother to her 4 grandchildren, a mother to her 4 children and wife to her husband Gary. She also works as a nanny for Portland Nannies, which combines her love of children, and her love of educating them as well. You can read all about her at www.brendareevessturgis.com

Pinky Doodle Bug Wins Gold Mom's Choice Award

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:18:00 +0000

Pinky Doodle Bug: (ISBN: 978-1-1-5-18923-4) is an award-winning children’s book by Best Ever You Founder and CEO Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino and is Illustrated by Sandra Waugh

Pinky Doodle Bug has won the Gold Mom’s Choice Award!

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino of Falmouth and Sandra Waugh of Limerick have teamed up to bring this delightful story to let your child's imagination soar!

Join Pinky and her friends on a doodling and writing adventure in the perfect book for children learning to read and parents wanting to share the joy of reading, writing, drawing and dreaming.

Along with the charming verse, every page has a delightful illustration that is sure to make this wonderful tale a favorite of both children and parents alike.

Author, Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino and illustrator, Sandra Waugh, hope Pinky Doodle Bug will inspire children (and adults) to follow their dreams. They would also love for everyone to create their own stories and doodles, sharing them for all the world to read ...and see.

Where to find Pinky Doodle Bug: ISBN: 978-1-1-5-18923-4
Wherever books and ebooks are sold. Prices vary. Discounts often apply.
Amazon: Pinky Doodle Bug

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
Elizabeth is the CEO and Founder of The Best Ever You Network and the host of top-rated “Best Ever You Show” on Blog Talk Radio. Elizabeth is a certified professional life coach, journalist, actress/on-air personality and author. Elizabeth and her husband Peter live in Maine with their four boys, 3 cats and enormous Labradoodle. Elizabeth was appointed as the Ambassador to Maine Reads in 2006 and has toured the country with her story times and has visited many Maine schools and libraries.

Sandra Waugh
Sandra Waugh is a freelance artist and children's book illustrator. As the child of an Army officer, Sandra was raised in several countries as well as much of the United States. Her travels continued when she married a Coast Guardsman and moved from coast to coast absorbing the many cultures of our wonderful country. During those years she honed her skills and gained much experience as a Graphic Designer, Fine Artist and Children's Book Illustrator. She is best known for her realistic, luminous watercolors. Her latest children's book reflects her more whimsical side featuring colorful, quirky, fun-loving watercolors accented with pen and ink details. Sandra has spent much of her adult life working with children. She has been a preschool teacher for the last seven years, taught art classes and Sunday school and was an elementary school substitute teacher. Her love of children and books (especially picture books) shows in her art. She now resides in southern Maine enjoying the great outdoors, painting the beautiful scenery around her and working on her next children's book.

For Media Download or High Res Photos of Pinky Doodle Bug, please contact elizabeth@besteveryou.com

For School Author/Illustrator visits, please contact us at pinkydoodlebug@gmail.com

Learn the World of Writing and Publishing Children's Books - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 13:22:00 +0000

Best Ever You Radio takes an hour long focus on children's books with guests Emma Dryden, Karen Grencik and Brenda Reeves Sturgis and Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino.

Click anytime to listen to the show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/besteveryou/2012/02/27/the-world-of-childrens-books-best-ever-you

Meet Emma Dryden

Emma D. Dryden was born and raised in New York City. She started her career in children’s publishing at Viking and Random House, followed by a position with Margaret K. McElderry, whose eponymous imprint was a part of Macmillan Children’s Books. After McElderry retired, Emma was made Vice President, Editorial Director of McElderry Books, and in 2005, Vice President, Publisher of Atheneum Books for Young Readers and Margaret K. McElderry Books, imprints of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, a position she held until May 2009.

Emma’s edited over five-hundred books for young readers, ranging from board books and picture books to poetry anthologies, novelties, non-fiction, middle grade fiction, and young adult/teen fiction and fantasy. As publisher, she oversaw the annual publication of over one-hundred hardcover and paperback titles. Authors and illustrators whom Emma has edited include Ellen Hopkins, Karma Wilson, Susan Cooper, Alan Katz, David Catrow, Raul Colon, Shelia P. Moses, Marjorie Priceman, Lee Bennett Hopkins, David Diaz, and Paul Zelinsky.

In March 2010, Emma launched her own editorial consulting firm, drydenbks (www.drydenbks.com), through which she edits children’s books; consults with authors, illustrators, agents, and foreign publishers; is a creative consultant with several e-book and app publishers; is a collaborative writer; and does some of her own poetry and fiction writing, as well as keeps a blog (www.emmaddryden.blogspot.com) . A highly sought-after speaker for regional and national conferences, where she often speaks about story and the digital landscape, Emma is also on the Society of Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI; www.scbwi.org) Board of Advisors.

Meet Karen Grencik
Karen Grencik’s path to agenting was a serendipitous one. Her first sale, Double Luck, Memoirs of a Chinese Orphan, written by Lu Chi Fa with Becky White, came about as a result of a friendship with a man whose life she wanted to see memorialized. From there, numerous doors opened up, and she knew she was following her destiny.

Karen met Abigail Samoun, an editor with Tricycle Press, in 2002, when Abi acquired Sarah Wilson's manuscript George Hogglesberry, Grade School Alien. It was Abi’s first picture book acquisition and Karen’s second picture book sale. George Hogglesberry went on to win the prestigious Golden Kite Award for Best Picture Book Text in 2003.

Karen and Abi then reconnected at the 2010 summer SCBWI conference when Karen was thinking about returning to agenting after semi-retiring in Costa Rica for several years. However, it was at a Tricycle Press going-away party in spring 2011 where the seed was planted for a possible collaboration.

Karen and Abi launched Red Fox Literary on 6/14/11, which went viral overnight after being featured in Publishers Weekly. Karen represents picture books, middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction. Abi represents author/illustrators for picture books, and middle grade and young adult fiction. They look forward to bringing many, many wonderful books to children’s bookshelves!

www.redfoxliterary.com

Meet Brenda Reeves Sturgis

Brenda Reeves Sturgis is a children’s picture book author. She lives on a lovely little lake with her husband Gary, and daughter Stacie. She is the mother of four children, and the grandmother of four grandchildren. Brenda served in the United States Air Force, and traveled to quaint country sides in lands far far away. She enjoys imagining, and creating, and loves reading her stories to anybody that wants to laugh and listen.

10 TURKEYS IN THE ROAD

Join these 10 troublemaking turkeys while they perform a circus in the road, which causes a farmer to become increasingly frustrated. Count down as these turkeys fly away one at a time, UNTIL the clever turkeys get what they are really after all along!

10 Turkeys just won a GOLD Mom’s choice award!

http://www.brendareevessturgis.com

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network and is the author of the award-winning children's book, Pinky Doodle Bug, which was self-published on LULU.com in 2011 and is now available wherever books and ebooks are sold. http://www.pinkydoodlebug.com

25 Ways to Reduce or Eliminate Sugar From Your Food Choices - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 13:51:00 +0000

I've been on a sugar detox for 34 days. I've lost 12 pounds. Thank you for all of your emails and tweets and facebook posts in support. I've writing this blog because people having started to ask me "How are you doing this?"

Well, I've changed my food choices. Here are 25 ways I've changed my interactions with sugar.

For more information, please see our ebook called Ten Steps to a Healthier You.

1. Drink green smoothies Watch our segments on Fox and see our health and wellness section.

2. Don't eat sugary cereals or add sugar to it.

3. Eat fresh vegetables

4. Eat fresh fruit

5. Eat brown rice instead of white rice.

6. Eat whole wheat pasta instead of regular pasta.

7. Eat wheat bread or whole grain bread instead of white bread. Say no, when possible to white flour based foods.

8. Nix the honey habit.

9. Watch your coffee with sugar, tea with sugar intake.

10. Stop the ice cream intake.

11. Watch your peas and carrots. They are very sugary.

12. Change from white potatoes to sweet potatoes

13. Candy, Candy, Candy, No. No. and more No.

14. Dark chocolate in handfuls = sugar don't kid youself

15. Pass on the donuts, muffins and other breakfast sugar monsters.

16. Eliminate dressing on your salad and switch to freshly squeezed lemon.

17. Oatmeal. Just oatmeal. Hold the raisins, maple and brown sugar and milk.

18. Say no to processed, packaged foods, such as granola bars, fruit roll ups, fruit snacks and other sources of hidden sugars.

19. Hold the cream and dairy products.

20. Say no to fruit juices, soda and diet soda too. Drink water or decaf tea.

21. Pancakes with fruit and better than pancakes with syrup. No pancakes or waffles with white flour would be the best choice.

22. Eat spinach.

23. Don't drink alcohol or limit your intake.

24. Know where sugar lives and hides out. Here is a list of some of the possible code words for “sugar” which may appear on a label. Generally, anything on a label ending in “ose” can usually be assumed to be “sugar”.

.•Agave Nectar
•Barley Malt Syrup
•Corn sweetener
•Corn syrup, or corn syrup solids
•Dehydrated Cane Juice
•Dextrin
•Dextrose
•Fructose
•Fruit juice concentrate
•Glucose
•High-fructose corn syrup
•Honey
•Invert sugar
•Lactose
•Maltodextrin
•Malt syrup
•Maltose
•Maple syrup
•Molasses
•Raw sugar
•Rice Syrup
•Saccharose
•Sorghum or sorghum syrup
•Sucrose
•Syrup
•Treacle
•Turbinado Sugar
•Xylose

25. Pizza with veggies is still pizza. Watch how much you eat and try to use whole grain crust instead of regular white flour crust.

Love,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth is the CEO and Founder of The Best Ever You Network. She used to be a chocoholic and is now blending spinach instead of chocolate shakes.

ps- Elizabeth is the typo queen. If you see one, just let her know. Our editor "Liz" is reading labels.

An Aardvark and a Platypus

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 01:22:00 +0000

An Aardvark and a Platypus

By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

What if, as a child, A wasn’t for Apple, but instead A was for Attitude? Would it be as catchy?

What if, as an adult, A wasn’t for Apple, but instead A was for Attitude? Would your brain retrain?

The alphabet is one of the first things we learn in school. We have all sorts of songs ingrained in our heads to learn it, ways of remembering it and more. Think of the time you invest in a child teaching them to write the alphabet, memorize it and learn. Apply that concept to positive thinking and retrain your brain to think positively. It’s as important as learning the alphabet.

I encounter a number of people who are stuck for a variety of reasons. They are stuck in “I can’t mode. When I hear, “I can’t because” my brain translates that immediately into positive thinking llike “You can and here’s how”, especially after seeing my dad recover from medical issues.

In 2005, I sat with my dad, Jim Hamilton, at Sister Kenny Rehab Institute in Minneapolis. He was there recovering from a stroke and subsequent Coumadin induced brain hemorrhage, which required 3 brain surgeries. It was very unclear during those moments if all of his faculties, such as eyesight, speech, hearing would return.

One day the speech pathologist came into his room and said, “Jim, time for speech therapy. Let’s wheel you down to that area.” Now, my dad is around 6’4” and 280+ pounds and was in rough shape. I think at the time, he couldn't really even sit up, let alone carry on meaningful conversation. I think the last thing on his mind was speech therapy, but cooperation is key in the hospital, so nurses helped him out of bed, into the wheel chair and down the hall he went.

Now, my dad is very very smart. When he was in his coma from his stroke or unable to speak at other moments, my mom and dad had a code of blinking twice if he could hear mom or squeezing hands for pain. Mom and I were about to learn a new code.

So the nurse wheeled him into the speech pathologist room and was talking to him in this gentle, baby talk voice. We all found it so Pre-K and my dad, we could tell, found it completely annoying.

In that trying to be comforting voice, she said something along the lines of, “Now Jim, to gauge your speech capabilities, I am going to say a letter of the Alphabet and I’m going to have you say the first word that comes to mind. What do you think of when I say the letter A?”

Now, she was expecting words like “at, a, and” from a stroke patient who has had this bad of a stroke and this many surgeries, coma and all.

My dad said, “Aardvark.” and then rolled his eyes. That was our new code. The roll your eyes “do you think I am this debilitated that I’ve lost my mind too?” code.

He played along though.

She next said, “B” for which he responded, “Benevolence.”

Next came the letter “C”. His response: Courage.

Then D. Determination.

M was Movies, his favorite thing, but you could see his will power and positive thinking come through. I do believe F might have been choice profanity though. We blamed in on the drugs though. P was Platypus.

My dad was saying, “I can and I will.” It was a moment for all of us. A moment of hope, courage and also laughter, which is so key in these dreadful situations. He had not only had a stroke and three brain surgeries and was so ill, but through it all he maintained his wit and humor and it was his way of telling us he was going to be ok.

We aren’t born with our first words being, “I can’t”. It isn’t until we have a few life experiences that we learn what we are capable of or what other people think we are capable of.

Sometimes our successes get lost in life and we feel start to feel like we can’t or it’s too late to be that writer I always wanted to be, or that painter or that trip taker and we become stuck and often giving up.

When someone tells me, “I can’t” I go to the walls of Sister Kenny Rehab Center in Minneapolis and often want to take the “I can’t” person along for a field trip to show just what people can do with a lot less. When my dad had his stroke in 2004, we spent months in this facility wondering if dad would ever speak again, walk again or even see again. During those darkest moments, my mom and I would go for hospital walks. The art work displayed all around the hospital was beautiful and we would admire it. Then upon closer examination, we became inspired by what the people who couldn’t and had nothing left were doing to make the best of it. The blind were painting from memory. The Thalidomide babies were painting with their feet or stubs. The paralyzed painted with their mouth. People painted even with eyelashes and elbows. Not just average art work, but works of art. The Best of the Best. We came to life because of it. We thought, "It isn’t what you’ve lost, but what you have left." Just describing them to my dad, gave a will and how wonderful and thoughtful of Sister Kenny to make the entertainment match the moment.

You can.

I also constantly think about children and some of the things they endure to become adults.
For example, I have this mish-mash of emotions when I see all of these children on TV left down a parent or two by 9/11. I always think about the kids and how resilient they are.

It just sucks. Seeing a 10 year-old sobbing on TV because his father was killed.... He's now in his 20’s and while still sad, for some baffling reason he's not stuck in sorrow. He's productive? positive? Dealing with the punch? How?

But as I saw that all unfold on TV during the 9/11 Anniversary and am disgusted that it all happened, I was baffled that you don't hear the anguish in incredible rumblings and anger from the 10-year old above (now 20) who you would think would be as bitter as bitter gets, you know like become Mad Max or something.

Here is another: A while back here in Maine, someone here drowned in the river in our town. That someone was a 17 year-old boy. I don't think his parents or friends got up the next morning with smiles on their faces or gratitude for the days ahead. At some point they will need to again.

Same with the 20+ some people who were gunned down in Florida, when a person opened fired on them.

I think of the Karen Fouke’s of the world. Karen was riding along in her SUV just peacefully laughing and going to work, when her car was sideswiped and she was rendered paralyzed from the neck down. Life changed for Karen in that moment and instead of being brought down by change, grief and a solid case of the “I cant’s”, Karen had a fearless smile and endless determination to succeed.

I could go on and on with injustices, tragedies and situations that just aren’t fair. In fact, they can downright bring you to your own knees pondering your existence and wondering why these things happen. They can paralyze the best.

I’m talking to my mom on the phone right now as I write this and her added wisdom is this, “A lot of people my age spend their time wondering when their number is up. How they’ll die, when they’ll die and what their dying outfit will be. A friend mine the other day called me up and asked me if I would speak at her funeral. My response was, You found out your diabetic you’re totally ignoring. You’re drinking soda. You can’t bake enough homemade bread and I’m going to look at your grandchildren and say, evidently you weren’t important enough. I don’t think you want me speaking at your funeral. On the other hand, my 83 year old friend is so excited about my daughter’s wedding that she keeps sending me pictures on her cell phone of dresses she is selecting and has also gone on a diet.”

Mom adds, “You can spend all of your time in dying mode, or you can live. It’s your choice.”

Life isn't predictable, for the most part or at all really. Life isn’t fair. So while you are living, LIVE. If you are reading this, smile. You are alive. It might not be so easy to just roll out of bed with a smile, gratitude and a love for the day ahead! You might have to learn.

What if each night before you feel asleep, you spent a moment reviewing the day and giving thanks for all the great moments and for the crappy ones too?

The trick is to still do these things when life gets tough or throws you a curve or twist or fireball. Can you maintain a positive sense of yourself, be positive to those around you and the world as a whole under trying circumstances? It is difficult, but with thought you can focus on positive and not swim in a pool of negativity, stress or anxiety.

It’s all in the Positive Words You Sing.

What is your Alphabet of Life?

Love,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth is the CEO and Founder of The Best Ever You Network. Think positive. Be determined. Be confident. Be strong.

ps- Elizabeth is the typo queen, if you find one just let her know. She is researching Aardvarks and the plural of Platypus.

My Sugar Free Live - 11 lbs gone - Day 28

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 06:40:00 +0000

I have shed 11 pounds now in 28 days. following our Best Ever You Ten Steps to a Healthier You Plan .

I made one very small change that created a bigger ripple effect. That change was to eliminate as much sugar from my life as possible.

By doing that, I basically had to redo nearly everything I ate, because upon inspection, much of what I was eating was, in fact, sugar in various forms - bad forms, like pasta, rice, white bread, chocolate chips, chocolate ice cream, etc...

Instead of eating those foods, I decided to eliminate them entirely now (versus decreasing their portions) and change to whole fruits and veggies, chicken and more clean eating. I'm a pretty clean eater already due to food allergies, but I decided to really eliminate anything with sugar.

I also decided to add a green smoothie each morning to my food choices for breakfast. (You can see in previous blogs how my family reacted to blending up spinach!) 28 days later, however, it is so interesting how popular green smoothies are becoming in our home!! Our oldest son, Connor dared take a sip and said, "That is so strange. It tastes like banana, but is green!"

My husband has purchased a green cup for me, but still won't drink one, which caused me to go back to Sara Sullivan, our nutritionist on Best Ever You and ask about different colors of smoothies for those with an aversion to drinking green.

Voila! Red Smoothies..... Sara and I went of Fox/Good Day Maine in a Green Smoothie vs. Red Smoothie way...http://www.myfoxmaine.com/story/16959862/red-vs-green-smoothies

I'm still on the green smoothie team!!

My next small change is going to start today now that I have my eating under control. I am going to be adding 40 minutes of exercise to my daily routine. I am not going to be particular about the exercise. I am just going to choose each day to do something. It might be a Planet Fitness Treadmill workout or it might be a wog up the block (that is my walk/jog). It could be a round of Hip Hop Abs or it might be Slim in Six. Heck, I may even throw in some Jane Fonda from the 80's. (Yes, I still have that in VHS!!)

Believe in Yourself. Everyone is different. Find what motivates you and inspires you and tweek it to work for you. Daily I am asked, "What/Whose plan are you following?" I answer, "MY OWN!" Don't compare yourself to others and look within for the answers.... and don't, please don't, if you are in your 30's, 40's, 50's say "I used to be...." Think about how you are now and what works for now. (I am not on the gymnastics mats 6 - 8 hours like IUSEDTOBE.!!)

Believe in Yourself. The Power of You. Be Your Best.

Love,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network and has finally decided to do something about those nagging 20 pounds.

ps- Elizabeth is the queen of typos. If you find one, just let her know. Our editor, "Liz" is busy trying to show people in the world that it is ok to drink green spinach for breakfast.

Five Tips for Successful Couples - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:19:00 +0000

By Dr. Andy Abbottt

Love isn't just a Valentine Moment. As Dr. Andy Abbott discussed on Good Day Maine/Fox, here are Andy's Top Five tips for a lasting, successful relationship.

1) Effective communication: Making sure the couple maintains open communication and find the time to discuss not only serious topics, but fun topics as well. Using open, loving conversations rather than heavy sarcasm or hurtful language.

2) Time together: Not time with the kids and family, but alone time as a couple. This is what brought the couple together in the first place it needs to be a top of the list to spend time with one another. This creates the much needed time away from the stress of everyday life that pulls you back to the dating paradigm which brought the couple together in the first place!

3) Work together to resolve conflict: Be willing to sit and listen actively to your partners perspective and simply be present. This helps each individual feel more connected and thus more connected as a couple.

4) Develop hobbies: Create connecting routines together, paper in bed with coffee, hiking, cafes, etc. This creates a deeper friendship which creates a deeper connection with your partner.

5) Love yourself: It sounds like a cliche, but it is so true. We simply cannot love someone else unless we first accept and love ourselves.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About Dr. Andy Abbott

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor

Andy has a Ph. D in Psychology and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who has operated a private practice in Maine since 2004. He received his doctorate from Walden University, his masters from Northern Arizona University, and his B.A. from Arizona State University. Prior to opening his private practice, Andy worked for several mental health agencies in the area. Since 1995 he has worked with groups and individuals in a variety of settings including institutions of higher education, state and local mental health and juvenile/adult justice agencies, clinical settings and public school systems. Andy is also a national speaker on Existential Psychology. Andy is a member of the Maine Counseling Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Counseling Association.

Andy’s particular areas of specialization include existential psychology and the pursuit of individual self-actualization, and individual, couples, and family therapy.

Andy also enjoys existential philosophy, foreign films, playing tennis, music and spending time with his family. He also enjoys traveling, when his schedule permits, especially to Paris which for many years was the intellectual center of existentialism.

Be Grateful for Gary Kobat - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:58:00 +0000

Gary will be on Best Ever You Radio on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 1pm EST for the full hour with us. To listen anytime visit: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/besteveryou/2012/02/14/gary-kobat--integrative-performance-coach

Name: Gary Kobat

Occupation: People call me Gary. I assist people in their awakening, hold space for their healing, and shine light on the path of transformation by asking them to step into real power; their true selves.

What do you want on your tombstone? The same thing I have on my auto license plate: Grateful.

How would you like to be remembered? Gary Kobat “the-name” or “the-body” doesn’t need to be remembered, but my essence is “love”, and love is eternal, expansive, infinite, and always remembered.

What is one essential thing you must have with you at all times? “No-thing” is essential.

What is your current state of mind? None of your business, but if you really want to know, in this moment, I am “out-of-my-mind” and “in my body”, feeling and coming from my heart Thanks for asking..

What is your favorite drink? You mean, what do I like to “drink-in”…the fuel source of life: air, water, and light.

What is your greatest fear? You mean, what is my greatest illusion? Because fear is the illusion of the future, and the future doesn’t exist; we only have the present moment, there is only “now”. When we're feeling human, and fear comes up, have the courage to approach this illusionary wall of fear, and it will turn into a doorway. When we come through that door, our true self will be waiting for us on the other side.

What is your hobby? Discovering, uncovering, and revealing the essence, beauty, and light of anything.

-Gary Kobat

Over the past 20 years, many of you have known Gary as the tough-love Coach, no-nonsense Trainer, and World-Class Athlete whose energy for life has inspired, educated, and empowered lasting personal and professional change for thousands. But did you know that under all of that, he relishes what drives us most: developing the quiet power of being a student of life; allowing peace, happiness, and spiritual alignment; learning the power of words and thought; mindfully revealing self-worth, self-esteem, and self-love; growing with a gentler, more heartfelt spirit.

As an Author, Speaker, and Life-Coach utilizing ancient wisdom and cutting-edge trends in human performance, Gary guides transformation and evolution for individuals and teams alike, dynamically creating legendary results.Gary's client list includes the who's who in film, business, and sport. For the past decade he has quietly mentored the spirituality, health, and longevity of Jim Carrey, Will Ferrell, Mariska Hargitay, and countless others.

(Photo by Gary Kobat.)

Do You Love You? - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:42:00 +0000

It's Valentine's Day and I love you, but, Do You Love You?

Do you love yourself?

I don't mean in any arrogant selfish way. I mean it in the sense of negative chatter, negative self-image or good solid cases of the "I'm not good-enough's/I can't do that/I'll never be's......"

Are you constantly seeking approval from others? Do you care what people think? Let's just take your car for example. Is it the $60,000 xyz car/suv that your neighbor just bought and you want? Does it matter what kind of car you drive? Does it matter what kind of car I drive?

Just so you know... I drive the French Fry Mobile. It is a 2004 Toyota Sienna minivan with a dent in it from me nearly wiping out the side of the garage. It has driven our family around since the boys were babies and had four car seats and now the oldest is driving it. Dead French Fries and all. (Yes, I mean stray hardened can't be killed french fries clearly with preservatives.)

This goes far beyond cars, vans, bikes and so forth and into the realm of just pure love. Are you laughing at yourself? Are you doing your best? Are you happy?

Let's go next to your bathroom mirror. When you look at yourself in the mirror, are you saying "Geez, I'm getting old. My body is out of shape. I look tired. and...Where did that wrinkle come from?" or does your mirror routine sound a little more like, "I'm amazing, deserving, thank goodness I am alive today and I'm going to do my best to have great moments ahead of me today."

Don't wait for the new car to feel better about yourself. It won't work. In fact, the bill booklet that comes with just might make you feel worse. You also aren't sitting with the owner writing their check out. You might be envious of their car and they might be regretting the added stress.

Love Yourself. Value Yourself. Trust Yourself. Understand Yourself.

When you start to love, value, trust and understand Yourself, cars, house size, mirrors, wrinkles, body image and all of whatever else is keeping you from living your best will start to change and evolve. But you have to get out of your own way and just be.

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth is the CEO and Founder of The Best Ever You Network. Believe.

ps- Elizabeth is the queen of typos. If you see one, just let her know. Our editor "Liz" is picking up the fries, but not eating them, although it does look like she still could. (preservatives in motion)

Best Ever You Magazine - Jan/Feb 2012

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:48:00 +0000

I want to thank everyone who contributed to this issue of Best Ever You Magazine. You all inspire, motivate and inform others to be their best possible.

This issue features Shea Vaughn, the Founder of SheaNetics.

To download your copy click here

To view past issues of Best Ever You Magazine, click here .

To write for Best Ever You (website or magazine) click here.

Best,
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, Founder/CEO

My Sugar Free Life - Day 14 - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:36:25 +0000

I never ever ever thought I would say that I didn't want to eat chocolate ice cream, but you know what....???... ............. ah, who am I kidding. I LOVE CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM :) ..... But, not eating it or several other sources of sugar in my life for 14 days now has rendered me a whole 6-7 pounds lighter!!

So here I am on DAY 14. I knew this day would come (and go) but I expected to be around 2-3 pounds lighter, not 6-7, so you can imagine my thrill when I put on my LEVIS (that were barely buttoning) and they FIT!

<---------- SEE :)

Many of you know that I measure success in terms of my clothes fitting and in particular my jeans and yoga pants.

Well you know those yoga pants that I was talking to in my closet in January ----- THOSE FIT NOW TOO!!! (Click here to read that blog.)

But now, I also have a new measure of success that goes a little deeper than just clothes. It's called my HEALTH! So here's a much healthier lifestyle in 2012.

What am I doing?
I am not eating anything with obvious sources of sugar in it and am avoiding and paying attention to hidden sources also. I have changed my food choices to all fresh fruits and vegetables, chicken and do eat small amounts of red meat, but we'll see how that changes also. I am basically following Best Ever You's Get Healthy Forever Plan.

What have I removed from my food choices?
In my case, I removed, chocolate, chocolate ice cream, crackers, deli meat, cheese in quantity ( my prior snack of choice was reaching for string cheese.) white bread, white rice, pasta, pizza in quantity (1 slice, vs. 3-4). I also am not eating any low salt potato chips (thinking low salt was going me a favor.) I have also removed any vegetable oil, canola oil, and butter.

There are some food limitations for me due to food allergies, so my diet won't even contain nuts, fish, shellfish and I also don't really ever drink anything with caffeine or anything diet or regular soda/pop.

What have I added to my food choices?
Green smoothies (pears, spinach, cucumbers), tons of fresh veggies, lemon, olive oil, wheat bread, brown rice and more water and decaf green tea.

What am I going to change next?
Over the next 14 days, I will also be adding in more exercise. I have been stretching daily, walking and doing isometics. I've been basically doing the warm ups for gymnastics that I used to do when I was a gymnast. (Funny how muscles remember, lol, NOT - well, I don't think they go back that far....) Good thing I do :)

Ok, lots of hugs and happy Super Bowl today! I'll be the one with the green smoothie!

Love,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network. Her goal is to lose 20 pounds and get back toned.

ps- Elizabeth is the typo queen. If you see a typo, just let her know. Our editor Liz, is decked out in Patriots gear and is out on the internet misspelling "Gaints" intentionally for fun. Nice.

Green Smoothie vs. The Family - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:04:00 +0000

Day 10 of my sugar detox. I've lost 4 lbs now. Green Smoothies rock, but not everyone in the family thinks so. The dog isn't even so thrilled.

Some followers are asking what I am eating and how am I exercising. I'll answer that in the next few days. For these past 10 days, my focus has been on getting my food choices in order and nixing my sugar intake and any processed foods. It has not been an easy 10 days.

You can find more information in our ebook: Ten Steps to a Healthier You. Here is our segment yesterday on Fox Maine, Click to view video

Here's my own little homemade video on how green smoothies might go over in your own home. Stay fearless my friends :) :) :)

Love, Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network. She stared at the Frosted Flakes this morning for about 15 minutes off and on and decided to go for the smoothie. Green Smoothie 1, FF, 0.

ps- Elizabeth is the typo queen. If you see one, just let her know. Our editor, Liz is wandering the isles of the grocery store ignoring the processed food.

The Beauty Blueprint - Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award Winner

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:52:00 +0000

I am proud to award The Beauty Blueprint - 8 Steps to Building the Life and Look of Your Dreams, our Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award.

Here at The Best Ever You Network, we believe that looking and feeling great both start within, and so it is with great pleasure that we introduce you to author Michelle Phillps, who shares that same philosophy.. Phillips, a celebrity make-up artist, life coach and motivational speaker has changed the lives of countless women through her approach to beauty.

Since this book arrived at my home for review, I've read and re-read it three times taking the various assessments and really thinking about things like core values and how that could relate to my foundation, in both me and my make-up :)

Michelle recently appeared on Best Ever You Radio.

I would encourage you to grab you journal, index cards, pen, some old magazines and a few other accessories and join Michelle on a new beauty journey. Discover more at www.michellephillips.com

Congratulations!

Love,
Elizabeth

About Michelle Phillips

From live TV to live events Michelle has inspired and entertained millions. By combining her knowledge as a Life Coach with her years of working as a celebrity makeup artist, Michelle has created formulas for authentic beauty and success. From appearance, attitude, personal goals, performance and relationships, Michelle provides a “blueprint” that empowers people and positively impacts them far beyond simple makeovers.

Michelle knows firsthand what it takes to succeed against the odds. Although she is from the Phillips family of music and TV, her entry into the entertainment industry was a humble one. She dreamed of working as a celebrity makeup artist at a time when it wasn’t a viable career choice. Through hard work and determination she eventually went on to work with major networks and stars of film, TV, and music such as: NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, Katie Couric, Deborah Norville, Colbie Caillat, Jeff Foxworthy, Doris Roberts, and more.

Along the way Michelle was asked to move in front of the camera as the beauty and style correspondent on Tampa Bay’s 10, eventually being cast as the host of the station’s morning talk show, Studio 10. Since then she has made appearances on; The Daily Buzz, Gal Time, Head Drama, BetterTV, SheKnowsTV, HSN, TLC, HGTV, Best Ever You Radio and shows across the country.

While working behind the scenes, and eventually in front of the camera, Michelle made some very important discoveries, the biggest being the connection between inner strength and outer beauty. Making this connection led her to create a process to help others achieve and live their true beauty. Michelle can now show you the right foundation for your skin tone and provide the right foundation for your personal success, providing a strategy for ‘beautiful’ living inside and out.
The process Michelle created provides a strategy for living a ‘beautiful’ life by covering areas such as; enhancing self-image, overcoming obstacles, health and fitness, style and beauty, goal setting and empowerment, life balance and more. While women across the world spend millions every month searching for tips and inspiration to make their lives better, Michelle provides help that will take them beyond what they’ve been told is the meaning of success.

She has made it her mission to help others live their beauty by sharing her message in her speaking programs, TV appearances, weekly radio show on Hay House Radio, and in her best-selling beauty and self-esteem book, “The Beauty Blueprint- 8 Steps to Building the Life and Look of Your Dreams” (Hay House, 2011).

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network. shhhhh- she is on page 29 with scissors and old magazines, index cards and a journal and is releasing negative fat arm thoughts :)

ps- Elizabeth is the typo queen. If you see one, just let her know. Liz, our editor, has just discovered her love of trust, sincerity and vintage clothes all in one day.

Green Smoothie vs. Pizza - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:01:00 +0000

Let's face it, or let me face it, the thought of drinking blended food is just not the same thing as downing a couple slices of pizza.

Over the past four years of being involved with The Best Ever You Network, I seriously have had so many diet books, diets, exercise plans, ways of thinking and so forth pitched to me as what is the best for our readers and followers.

Well, one thing that consistently rises to the top of my awareness and seems to be fitting in well with our lifestyle here at home is this notion of not eating processed foods and instead finding food that is minimally processed or not processed at all, for example, fresh fruit or vegetables. This means not eating things from boxes, cans, pre-packaged or foods that have many many ingredients.

I already do a pretty good job of that. But through my discovery, I found an ice cream that has all natural ingredients and well pizza is pretty clean too, so my brain did a work-around :)

I've been on an 8 day sugar and snacks detox.
This means, for 8 days I have been gradually, removing the "toxins" from my diet and adding in much better choices. I went into this before day 1 thinking, "Tomorrow, I'm doing to have that green smoothie." You know the one. The one green smoothie we, well I, even write about. It has fresh cucumbers, spinach, pears or apples and blended up nice and yummy for you to drink. Well Day 1, followed by days 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and still no courage to blend that up and drink it down. I've even used "What if I am allergic to it?" as an excuse because it is so very green. I also wondered if I would be crazily running to the bathroom. I've seriously been afraid to eat it regularly or replace a meal with it.

Courage and fear conquered. (Debra Oakland and Gary Kobat would be proud.)
Yesterday and today are turn around days for me. I've had to modify our recipe from our book a little. My smoothie is just cucumbers, spinach, ice, water and a fresh pear all blended. Yesterday, I took a sip. Just a sip. To make sure it wasn't totally disgusting. I've tried these shakes before and they can be gross. This one was actually really good. My husband and kids steered clear and I was even a little scared to drink the whole thing, so I just drank about 1/2 and smiled in the success zone.

Even More Courage and Less Fear:
Today, Day 8, I blended it up and drank the whole thing. Now, just to paint the picture... There were two pizza boxes sitting on the counter. My husband ate a slice for breakfast and I said those magic words, "NO THANK YOU," whereas, normally, I would have joined him in the breakfast pizza feast. I, in turn, asked him if he would like a sip of my lucious green smoothie and he uttered those magic words, "NO THANK YOU." in return. :)

Week 2 Begins
So here's to all things green smoothie and day 8 of no sugar and to three pounds gone. For more info visit "Ten Steps to a Healthier You."

Love,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network. She really loves pizza, so today was a huge moment.

ps- Elizabeth is the typo queen. If you see one, just let her know. Liz is off today planning healthy dinners now that the sugar brain fog has cleared.

My Sugar Free Life - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 10:57:00 +0000

This morning a Best Ever You reader sent me an email. She asked "What are you doing? I also need to lose weight and keep sugar out of my diet."

(Well....since you (and others) are asking...)

I am on Day 7 of Best Ever You's Get Healthy Forever" plan. We tried it out last year and three of us had some amazing success. So this year, Sara Sullivan and I have written some thoughts down on how to get healthy and have shared them with you.

Women (and men too) are MASTERS at being so hard on themselves! We have so much internal chatter at the mirror, at the wedding, at the birth, after the birth(s), at reunions, while we are on dates, in the dressing rooms trying on jeans or swimsuits... you get the idea.... We beat ourselves up much too often.

I thought I'd take a moment with you to share some of my pregnancy photos and a photo of me now. Why? Well for one, I can't believe my kids are now 10-12-14-16, but also to show you how much we go through and how much our bodies go through and to remember to take time to love yourself, be proud of yourself and give it your best.

If you spend time beating yourself up, you are taking time away from being positive and living a productive, happy life.

Pregnancy 1 : 1995
Start weight: 125
End Weight: 240
Baby Induced due to Blood Pressure issues 4 weeks early. He was 7lbs 6oz.
Age: 26

Pregnancy 2: 1997
Start weight: 160
End Weight: 250
Baby induced due to Blood Pressure issues 2 weeks early. He was nearly 9 lbs. We both almost died in childbirth.
Age 28

Let me pause for a moment and tell you that in between these pregnancies I was Divorced, remarried, pregnant and had developed Anaphylaxis -( food allergies) and had been resuscitated in 1998 from Anaphylaxis.

Pregnancy 3: 1999
Starting weight: 125
Ending Weight 165
Baby induced and pregnancy watched very closely due to pregnancy complications in 1997. Baby induced 3 weeks early, 7lbs 1oz
Age 30

I was a lot skinnier during this pregnancy from sheer stress, I believe.

Pregnancy 4: 2001
Start Weight: 135
End Weight: 180
Baby induced 2 weeks early. Watched very closely again due to previous pregnancy complications.
Age 32

This is me NOW. 2012. I'm 42, still 5'3" :) and at a weight of 148 - 152 pounds. I bounce between that weight depending on what I eat.

So now for 7 days, I've been on what I've affectionately labelled as "sugar detox" for me, since that is my trouble area. I don't eat a lot of processed foods due to food allergies already, but when I find something I can eat and not be allergic to, such as chocolate chips, chocolate ice cream, etc... I EAT IT.

Well, I'm changing that.

My goal is to lose 20 pounds and change the way I eat forever. I feel like diabetes is just around the curve if I don't start being more mindful. I also feel like at age 42, menopause is starting to creep in and I don't want to add extra weight there also.

But, what I wanted to add that last year, following our diet, I took off and kept off 20 pounds, so this is that next 20.

There's no wedding, no pregnancy, no swimsuit buying, no jeans that don't fit, no "event" surrounding my need to do this. It's just ME and my intution telling me so.

Please send a comment or email to me, if you would like to follow or get some help! We're here for you! (and I need the support too!!)

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network and co-host of the Motivation Marathon. Well, that Marathon motivated Elizabeth to get a move on the next 20 pounds. :)

ps- If you see a typo, Elizabeth is indeed the typo queen, so please just let her know. Our editor Liz, is out walking, jogging and is chocolate free, which could make for some fuzzy thinking for a while.

pss-Green Smoothies rock. Try ours. It's in the ebook above.

Sat/Sun's Speakers - Motivation Marathon

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:22:00 +0000

To Listen and Replay for FREE Register: www.motivationmarathon.com

With 46 of the most influential experts and celebrities, speaking over 9 days, the Happy YOU! Year includes some of the most successful certified professional life coaches, authors, celebrities, experts and radio hosts. Each speaker will not only cover how they become successful, but how YOU can take what they learned and apply it to achieving the success YOU deserve.

“Thinking is not doing, clear the fear and embrace all the exciting possibilities.”

9:00am (EST) - Melissa Galt - Vision

Known for saving careers, rescuing relationships, igniting health improvements, catalyzing success for startups, Melissa takes you from out of focus and overwhelm to clarity of purpose, on path with passion, profiting with your talent, and living the life of your dreams. She is a renowned interior designer, social media expert, success mentor, speaker, and author.

Recognized by FORBES in 2010 as one of the Top 20 Women of Influence on Twitter, Melissa’s work and best practices have been widely featured in publications including The Atlanta Business Chronicle, Southern Living, and Better Homes and Gardens.

Melissa has a rich family heritage. She is the grand granddaughter of lifestyle pioneer and American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, often considered America’s most famous architect. Her mother was the late Oscar winning actress, Anne Baxter, best known for her title role as Eve in All About Eve, and as Princess Nefertiri in The Cecil B. DeMille epic The Ten Commandments.

Visit Meslissa online at http://melissagalt.com

1:00pm (EST) - Sallie Felton - Organization

Sallie Felton is a radio talk show host, life coach, hypnotherapist, author, facilitator and inspirational speaker. Her two radio shows: "A Fresh Start with Sallie Felton" is designed to provide conscious raising topics to empower listeners; she and her husband, Conway, co-host "Light at the End of the Tunnel" in which they are advocates for those suffering from depression.

Sallie is the co-author of 4 books-- two with Deepak Chopra and Stephen Covey. Sallie’s newest book, "If I’m So Smart, Why Can’t I Get Rid Of This Clutter?" has been featured on FOX, CBS and ABC.

Visit Sallie online at www.salliefeltonlifecoach.com

8:00pm (EST) - Donna Seebo - Intuition Mind Power

Donna Seebo is a Mental Practitioner, Counselor, Speaker, Teacher, Award-Winning Author, Minister and Radio/TV Personality. For most of her life she has been involved with the development of mind skills and delights in sharing them with others through speaking appearances, television and radio broadcasts.She is recognized for her dynamic presentation and clarity in the information she gives.

Donna has appeared on radio and television throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. "The Donna Seebo Show" is heard daily on www.BBSRadio.com, Station One "live" 3-4pm, Pacific Time-guests are featured from around the world and then phone lines are open to anyone who would like to get a reading from her on-air. Donna Seebo’s website: www.delphiinternational.com.

9:00am (EST) - Deb & Elizabeth - The ABC’s of Life

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino is CEO and Founder of The Best Ever You Network, a leading global provider of lifestyle content in; The Best Ever YOU Print and On-line Magazine, Radio, and Global Internet Community. Elizabeth is author of the award nominated Children's book "Pinky Doodle Bug" (2011) and is a national spokeswoman for the MedicAlert Foundation.

Elizabeth is a frequent featured guest expert on FOX News Maine and has appeared in numerous television commercials, is a contributing writer to publications such as the Portland Press Herald, Fabulously 40.com and She is a two time winner of the Mrs. Maine title. Visit Elizabeth online at www.besteveryou.com

Deb Scott, author, "Certified Professional Coach" and motivational speaker, is changing lives with an ability to inspire individuals to transform the bad into good. The discovery of the Amazing You, starts inside, in your heart, your soul and grows from there. Yes, your eventual rise to success is entirely up to you, but the seed to success in life and work can be planted and nurtured by those around you. Inspiring and motivating, Deb Scott can become part of your success. Visit Deb online at www.greenskyandbluegrass.com

12:00pm (EST) - Debra Oakland - Living in Courage

Debra Oakland is all about Living in Courage. This subject fascinates me because of all the possibilities courage presents to us on a daily basis. I created Living in Courage as a Spiritual Oasis for Overcoming Life's Biggest Challenges. Over a 6 year period, I lost my 21 year old son, my unborn baby girl in my 8th month of pregnancy, 2 brothers to AIDS, and my father. I could have given up, felt sorry for myself, made it about me, instead I asked myself what each one of them would have wanted for me, and that was to live a life of courage, to encourage others, to have a wonderful life.

My husband Cody and I have been married 25 years. We live such a blessed and incredible life together. I know that I have come through all of this more courageous, stronger, able to cope with life in a much more powerful way because of the lessons learned along the way. Visit Debra online at www.livingincourageonline.com

6:00pm (EST) - Dr. Wendy Walsh - Relationships

Dr Wendy Walsh is the newest co-host of the Dr. Phil spin-off, THE DOCTORS and is regularly featured as CNN's Human Behavior Expert.

As Adjunct Assistant Professor at California State University Channel Islands, she lectures on evolutionary psychology and human mating strategies.

Dr. Walsh holds a B.A. In Journalism, a Masters degree in Psychology, and a Ph.D. In Clinical Psychology.

Her area of interest is human attachment and relationship styles.

She has appeared on The Today Show, The CBS Early Show, Good Morning America, Nancy Grace, Issues with Jane Valez Mitchell, Dr. Drew, and The View.

Visit Dr. Walsh online at drwendywalsh.com or visit the nbc website to learn more about Devin www.nbc.com/the-biggest-loser/about/devin.shtml

8:00pm (EST) - Lisa Nicole Bell - Star Power

Lisa Nicole Bell. Lisa Nicole Bell is a social change agent, author, award winning filmmaker, and entrepreneur. She and her team at Inspired Life Media Group create media projects that inspire new conversations and ignite positive action. Her projects have earned various nominations and awards including the NAACP Image Award, the Cable Positive Award, and the Los Angeles Business Journal Women Making A Difference Award.

Lisa Nicole Bell is the personification of what happens when art and commerce collide. A passionate communicator and relentless solution finder, Lisa is a unique hybrid of on air personality and behind-the-scenes powerhouse.

Lisa has been featured on dozens of media outlets internationally including Forbes, Reuters, Huffington Post, American Entertainment Magazine, Essence.com, WomenPR, Mashable. Lisa was a recent 2011 presenter at "TED" (Technology, Entertainment and Design) ideas worth spreading.

Visit Lisa online at www.lisanicolebell.com

Friday's Speakers - Motivation Marathon

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:59:00 +0000

To Register: www.motivationmarathon.com

With 46 of the most influential experts and celebrities, speaking over 9 days, the Happy YOU! Year includes some of the most successful certified professional life coaches, authors, celebrities, experts and radio hosts. Each speaker will not only cover how they become successful, but how YOU can take what they learned and apply it to achieving the success YOU deserve.

“Thinking is not doing, clear the fear and embrace all the exciting possibilities.”

9:00am (EST) - Dr. Alex Concorde - Business Psychology

Dr Alex Concorde BSc MD PhD MBA is known internationally as a trusted voice at the cutting-edge of Medicine, Business & Human Development. As a uniquely-qualified UK Entrepreneur, Scientist & Doctor, she bankrolled her own research for 20 years to bring to you a wholly different way of getting you to where you want to be! She's developed an ingenious system to help people GROW their ability to fight disease, regain health, get beyond mental/emotional scars & speed up their learning!!

To get YOUR year off to a flying start, Dr Alex is going to talk about becoming SuperSmart SuperFast in Business by: expanding the capacity of your brain! >re-structuring your thinking! >making it possible to hit your mark everytime! www.xplus-MYND.com

11:00am (EST) - Jennifer Shea - Grocery Well Being

Jennifer Shea MS, MPH, RD is the health and nutrition expert and Retail East Dietitian for SUPERVALU. Shea covers the supermarket chains of SHAW'S and STAR MARKET, FARM FRESH, SHOPPERS and ACME Markets on the East Coast. Prior to her current position, Shea served as the Registered Dietitian and Wellness Coach for Shaw's Supermarkets in New England.

Shea's passion for health and wellness has led her to positions as media expert, health and nutrition expert, public speaker and consultant. . Shea is a source for national and local TV, radio, print and social media as a health and nutrition expert.

Visit Jennifer at www.shaws.com

1:00pm (EST) - Marnie Swedberg - Faith

Marnie Swedberg is the online mentor to over 20,000 leaders from over 30 countries. Authentic, super busy, yet beautifully balanced, she shares her life, strategies and connections based on "B.U.S.Y: Best Unique Strategies for You." She is the author of 12 books, the manager of the family restaurant, retail store and espresso café, and the hostess of numerous websites generating millions of hits per year.

Marnie has been featured and interviewed on: "Something You Should Know," ABC, CBNC, Reuters, FOX, "Ask the Experts," USA Today ...and more. Visit Marnie online at www.marnie.com

3:00pm (EST) -Tosca Reno - Eat Clean

Tosca Reno is a New York Times best selling author, 9 times Oxygen cover girl, author of multi-million selling Eat Clean Diet series and star of her own TV show. At 40 author Tosca Reno knew she had to change her life.

After years of yo-yo dieting – topping the scales at 204 pounds – and stuck in an unhappy marriage, her self-esteem was at an all-time low. But by 41 she had lost all the excess weight, had gotten out of her bad relationship, gone back to school and was on her way to becoming the motivational writer, speaker, and fitness celebrity she is today!

Visit Tosca online at www.toscareno.com or www.eatcleandiet.com

5:00pm (EST) - Wayne Scot Lukas - Fashion

Wayne Scot Lukas, probably best known for hosting TLC's What Not to Wear, has an awesome reputation for fashion styling some of the world's biggest celebrities and most glamorous women; Janet Jackson, Tina Turner, Cindy Crawford, Christie Brinkley, Lauren Hutton, Halle Berry and Meryl Streep to name a few.

Wayne believes anyone can dress beautiful, whatever their size, shape or budget. His expertise in spotting a trend, fit, color, balance, design and body shape issues have put him in great demand.

Wayne's work as a fashion stylist can be seen in; Elle, Arena, Marie Claire, Us, People, W, Vibe, Premiere, Entertainment Weekly, Italian and British Vogue, and Harper's Bazaar, among others. Visit Wayne online at www.onpointonpoint.com

6:00pm (EST) - Gabe Berman - Live Like A Fruit Fly

Gabe Berman, best selling author of Live Like a Fruit Fly, is a native New Yorker who settled in South Florida after graduating from the University of Miami. An epiphany, a passion, and a trail of breadcrumbs led him out of Corporate America and into a writing career. His columns appear regularly in The Miami Herald and on Alan.com.

"In Live Like a Fruit Fly, Gabe Berman shares his recipe for living a more joyful, worthwhile, and abundant life in every way. A witty, entertaining, and insightful read." —Deepak Chopra, Author, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success

8:00pm (EST) - Devin Alexander - Chef/Biggest Loser

New York Times Bestselling Author and Professional Chef, Devin Alexander, is a veteran in the fight against obesity and she's winning the war with her unique approach to healthy cooking. Having maintained a 55 pound weight loss for over 16 years, she lives and eats her message: you don't have to deprive yourself to be fit and healthy.

Devin is the host of "Healthy Decadence with Devin Alexander" on FitTv and has shared her secrets for unbelievably decadent, yet healthy foods through frequent appearances on "The Today Show", "Good Morning America", "The View", "The Biggest Loser", Discovery Health's "National Body Challenge", FOX, HGTV, USA, Style Network and others, and through over 200 magazine features in national magazines including Prevention, Women's Health, Men's Health, Shape, and Healthy Cooking, to name a few.

Devin has served as Culinary Advisor to Men's Fitness Magazine and Cooking Expert to Women's Health. Her first cookbook, Fast Food Fix (Rodale, 2006) was featured as an editor's top pick in USA Today. Her second cookbook, The Biggest Loser Cookbook (Rodale, 2006), spent weeks on The New York Times Bestsellers List. She recently released, "The Most Decadent Diet Ever!" (Broadway Books), which chronicles her personal weight loss journey and includes over 125 of her favorite dishes including, "Chocolate Not-Only-In-Your-Dreams Cake" (a makeover of the chocolate cake she thought she'd only ever dream about eating while battling her own weight).

Devin was recently named the SpokesChef of the Healthy Foods International Exposition and Conference and serves as a consultant and SpokesChef to numerous major U.S. Food and cookware companies. She speaks regularly throughout the country and loves receiving recipe suggestions from friends and fans (www.devinalexander.com). And she is especially passionate about helping teenage girls live healthy (& fun!) lives!

Thursday's Speakers - Motivation Marathon

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:37:00 +0000

Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith, Thursday, 4pm eastern.

To Listen, Register at www.motivationmarathon.com

9:00am (EST) - Annie Jennings - Public Relations

PR FIRM, Author Expert, Book Publicity, Book Marketing and Media Placement. You've seen her clients on Fox News, CNN, CNBC, Good Morning America, the Today Show, 60 Minutes and popular publications such as USA Today, Woman's World, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and so many more.

Annie specializes in booking clients on the top national media including major national network and leading news TV shows, major national morning TV shows, high powered, high listener ship radio shows in the highest ranked radio markets in the country as well as placing experts for commentary in the high circulation national magazines and leading big city newspapers and high visitor ship Internet news & media sites.

Annie Jennings is a National Inspirational Publicist who dedicates her life to helping her clients reach their dreams. "Everyone should have the chance at getting their brass ring," says Annie who views it as her job to make sure they do!

Annie Jennings PR has clients across the USA as well as Canada, Europe, Australia & more. Visit Annie online at anniejenningspr.com

11:00am (EST) - James Rick - Goals

James Rick is Founder of the Full Potential Academy, speaker and author of Unleash Your Full Potential. James Rick started his first biz at the age of 17, currently employs more than 150 staff around the world and his businesses have generated more than $5 million in revenues over the last 36 months

James Rick (Mr. Full Potential) helps people create and condition powerful routines for boosting lifestyle, cutting costs and living ON purpose.

James has appeared on Fox Business News, Oprah and the cover of National Speaker Magazine. James Rick is host of the Full Potential Show, the world’s #1 non-boring source for life changing information. Visit James onilne at www.fullpotential.com

1:00pm (EST) - Elinor Stutz - Sales & Marketing

Elinor Stutz, CEO of Smooth Sale, LLC authored the International Best-Selling book, "Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results" and the best-selling book, "HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews" and is known for delivering inspirational keynotes at conferences.

Elinor has been interviewed on ABC-TV "View from the Bay" with Spencer Christian. She has been featured in: TIME Magazine, Periodicals and on a variety of Radio Shows.

Services include corporate consultation, coaching, and business retreats to Grow your business. Visit www.smoothsale.net for more information.

3:00pm (EST) - Shea Vaughn - SheaNetics

Shea Vaughn is the founder and CEO of SheaNetics®, a revolutionary East-meets-West lifestyle wellness and exercise practice that delivers a powerful mind-body experience and ignites your potential to look and feel your best on the inside and out. She is a fitness coach, expert, wellness coach, author, motivational speaker and a recognized spokeswoman for creating well-being at any age.

The heart of SheaNetics is The 5 Living Principles of Well-Being – Commitment, Perseverance, Self-Control, Integrity and Love; uniting the mind and body as one and inspiring the answers you seek – to live the life you deserve. SheaNetics takes mind-body transformation one step further with a fresh self-styled approach to exercise that combines yoga, pilates, tai chi, martial arts, ballet and lots more, along with the performance-enhancing benefits of Tri-Core Power Training – to develop your "killer" core. SheaNetics is "Your Pathway To Well-Being".

Shea has been a guest on national television, radio, and print media such as The Best Ever You Network, QVC, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

He recently published book, Shea Vaughn’s Breakthrough – The 5 Living Principles to Defeat Stress, Look Great and Find Total Well-Being. "BREAKTHROUGH" invites you to find the clarity, balance and fulfillment that await you…to live without fear and regret the life you deserve. "A new beginning is just breakthrough away!"

Visit Shea online at www.sheanetics.com

4:00pm (EST) - Michael Beckwith - The Answer Is You

Dr. Michael Beckwith’s life is a living testament to building spiritual community. In the 1970’s he began an inward journey into the teachings of East and West, and today teaches universal truth principles found in the New Thought-Ancient Wisdom tradition of spirituality. Gifted with a vision of a trans-denominational spiritual community, in 1986 he founded the Agape International Spiritual Center upon his faith in that original vision.

Recently described in “What Is Enlightenment?” magazine as a "non-aligned trans-religious progressive," Dr. Beckwith shares his powerful conviction of creating the Beloved Community through his participation on international panels with other peacemakers and spiritual leaders including Dr. T. Ariyarante of Sri Lanka, and Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mohandas K. Gandhi. He is co-founder of the Association for Global Thought, an organization dedicated to planetary healing and transformation. Visit Dr. Beckwith online at agapemediapromotions.com

6:00pm (EST) - Wendie Pett - Fitness

Wendie Pett, a nationally recognized name in the fitness industry, is passionate about motivating and encouraging people to make fitness and nutrition part of their daily routine. She enthusiastically teaches the care of mind, body and spirit, assisting others to learn the importance of reaching their full God-given potential through her Visibly Fit™ program ~ a total wellness and body weight resistance exercise program.

Wendie has her own television show that airs nationally every week on the NRB network. Her Visibly Fit show also airs on several other networks in local markets. The show received the Exceptional Service Award in 2011. She appears regularly on other nationwide television shows and speaks at large corporations, churches and universities promoting her Visibly Fit™ health and fitness philosophies.

Wendie, the owner and CEO of Wendie Pett Enterprises, LLC is also a mother and community-minded volunteer. You can visit Wendie online at www.wendiepett.com

8:00pm (EST) - Katana Abbott - Prosperity

Katana Abbott, is a Certified Financial Planner, Prosperity Coach, author, philanthropist and host of Smart Women Talk Radio with over 80,000 iTunes subscribers.

After a 20-year career and building a successful financial planning business where she managed over $100 million in assets, Katana retired financially independent at 48 to teach women how to create wealth while making a difference in the world and living the life they love.

Today, she is the founder of the Smart Women’s Prosperity Institute™ where women can receive monthly live business and financial coaching, access dynamic resources, network and join in Katana’s Smart Women Retreats to Costa Rica and other fabulous places in the world.

Visit Katana online at www.HowToCreateProsperity.com

You've Got Talents - You've Got Passion - You Want Success - We've Got Answers!

•Get some hope, inspiration and motivation in your life.
•Turn what you love into wealth, better health, deeper love and greater happiness every day.
•Find your peace and purpose.
•Get tips and tools from experts and celebrities that have achieved success. Now It is YOUR turn to share in the shine!

•We will use a conference call service so you can ask the questions that can change YOUR life. There will be 46 experts and celebrities, spanning 9 days.

If you want to make this the Best Year of YOUR Life, then you are at the right place. The Happy YOU! Year teleseminar is designed to make you have the best year of YOUR life! Dedicated to YOUR SUCCESS, our speakers will help you achieve success in the areas of your life which matter most. The time has come! Gather your dreams and prepare to take part in what promises to be the most talked about free teleseminars of 2012.

Can't make the live call, no worry, sign up and you'll be sent the replay.

More than self help - it's a new way of thinking!

www.motivationmarathon.com

Wednesday's Speakers - Motivation Marathon

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:35:00 +0000

To Register: www.motivationmarathon.com

If you want to make this the Best Year of YOUR Life, then you are at the right place. The Happy YOU! Year teleseminar is designed to make you have the best year of YOUR life! Dedicated to YOUR SUCCESS, our speakers will help you achieve success in the areas of your life which matter most. The time has come! Gather your dreams and prepare to take part in what promises to be the most talked about free teleseminars of 2012. Can't make the live call, no worry, sign up and you'll be sent the replay.

More than self help - it's a new way of thinking!

9:00am (EST) - Lisa Tener - Write Your Book

Book Writing Coach Lisa Tener is a published author, blogger and speaker who is passionate about helping aspiring authors get their message out by helping them write a book and get published. Lisa serves on the faculty of the Harvard Medical School continuing education course on writing and publishing books. She is a regular columnist for Aspire Magazine Online and her articles are often featured on the front cover with articles by luminaries like Cheryl Richardson, Colette Baron-Reid, Marci Shimoff and Marianne Williamson.

Lisa served on the magazine’s advisory board as well as the advisory board of the International Association of Writers. Visit Lisa online at www.lisatener.com

11:00am (EST) - Sandi, Rick, Vicky - MidLife Road Trip

The Midlife Road Trip is a popular web series with episodes that feature the best of travel, adventure, good food, wine and great conversations. Sandi McKenna, Rick Griffin and Vicky Akins are all about connecting with great people from around the world, in person and through social media.

Crossing the country and crossing items off their "bucket list", they share their passion with everyone they meet for the fun side of life and a Midlife Therapy for a Midlife Crisis!

Midlife road trip has been featured on Fox News, Bloomberg Business Week, We Television, Daytime TV, The Huffington Post, and BBC Travel. Visit the MidLife Road Trip online at midliferoadtrip.tv

1:00pm (EST) - Cari Murphy - Soul Success and Mindset Expansion

Soul Success Coach | Best-Selling Author | Media Personality

As a Soul Success Coach, Business Coach and Manifesting Mindset Mentor coaching tens of thousands worldwide, Award-Winning Author of 5 books, including the Best-Seller: Create Change Now, Speaker, Celebrated Media Personality, International Talk Radio Host of the Create Change Now Radio Show with over 400,000 listeners, and Founder and CEO of Empowerment Coaching Solutions, Cari is dedicated to helping conscious entrepreneurs and success seekers build their businesses and experience spiritual expansion, soul-driven success, and purposeful living through her consistently inspirational messages of individual empowerment.

Cari inspires her clients, audience, listeners, and readers to expand the horizons of their imaginations, unleash their greatest potential, and create pathways to unlimited abundance! Cari is also highly driven to support her clients in clearing their energetic blocks, heightening their intuitive abilities, shifting their perspective to allow for phenomenal new levels of success, and manifesting the physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual rewards their soul deserves.

Visit Cari online at carimurphy.com

4:00pm (EST) - Sue Jacques - Civility CEO

Sue Jacques is The Civility CEO™, a corporate civility expert who helps individuals and businesses gain confidence, earn respect and create courteous corporate cultures. Sue has been speaking, writing and facilitating seminars about civility and professionalism for over a decade. Prior to becoming The Civility CEO™, Sue worked for over 18 years as a Forensic Death Investigator at the Medical Examiner’s Office.

During that time she performed the medical investigation of thousands of violent and unexpected deaths, and through that experience she learned about the true value of respect and the ultimate costs of incivility.

A regular media resource, Sue has been a guest on Oprah Radio’s The Gayle King Show, and her professional journey was recently featured in More magazine. Visit Sue online at www.TheCivilityCEO.com

6:00pm (EST) - Robin Roffer - Brand YOU

Robin Fisher Roffer ranked among the World’s Top 5 Most Influential Brand Gurus, Robin Fisher Roffer provides the rocket fuel that has ignited the launch pad of dozens of brands all over the world. Crafting brand-building strategies and marketing plans for major corporations like Sony, Time-Warner and 20th Century Fox, as CEO of Big Fish Marketing Robin’s dynamic spark has unearthed the soul of some of the world’s most beloved brands and in turn defined a who’s who of successful ventures.

Robin’s mission is to help professionals fearlessly achieve their potential and shares the secrets from 20 years of branding some of the best loved companies in the world in her products and programs, teleclasses and weekly success blogs. Visit Robin online www.robinfisherroffer.com

800pm (EST) - Nicole Burley - Nutritional Health

Nicole Burley, M.Ed is a certified Life Coach and Health Coach, living in New York City. She works with frustrated dieters who are READY to find a happy, healthy weight through the power of plant-based nutrition. No deprivation or suffering allowed! Nicole's one-on-one coaching programs are designed to create a condition of vibrant health in all the areas of your life.

Nicole has been featured on: "CrazySexyLife," "YourTango," "BestEverYou radio show." Visit her online at www.NicoleBurley.com

Tuesday's Speakers - Motivation Marathon

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:06:00 +0000

To Register: www.motivationmarathon.com
With 46 of the most influential experts and celebrities, speaking over 9 days, the Happy YOU! Year includes some of the most successful certified professional life coaches, authors, celebrities, experts and radio hosts. Each speaker will not only cover how they become successful, but how YOU can take what they learned and apply it to achieving the success YOU deserve.

“Thinking is not doing, clear the fear and embrace all the exciting possibilities.”

9:00am (EST) - Dr. Nancy Mramor - Happiness

Nancy Mramor Ph.D. is a media and health psychologist, a Spiritual Fitness Coach, a speaker and award winning author, of the book Spiritual Fitness. Her COVR award was the same award won that year by the Dalai Lama. In 2011, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center awarded Nancy and her UPMC Shadyside team a grant for the production of a stunning Hypnosis for Health DVD.

Nancy is the professional resource to call when you need someone to address current trends in life and health on radio, TV and print. She has appeared in over 350 media placements including CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX and many other venues. Her RxTV prescriptions assist people in making healthy use of TV and technology.

You can also contact Nancy for speaking engagements, conferences or individual therapy. She has been an invited speaker at conferences in Europe, around the United States and at the American Psychological Association. She has consulted to businesses, schools, hospitals, private practice, has been on the faculty of five Pennsylvania universities and was voted one of Western Pennsylvania’s most successful women. Visit www.drmramor.com

11:30am (EST) - Eva Gregory - Law of Attraction

Known as American's Divine Guidance Coach, Eva Gregory, 2006 International Coach of the Year, is a master coach, speaker and author of several books and programs including The Feel Good Guide to Prosperity, Ten Weeks to Your Cosmic Connection to Source™ and Guidance On Demand: Where Spirituality and Practicality Merge™.

Regularly featured on radio and in the media, Eva is also a recognized authority on the Law of Attraction and has instructed thousands on how to create a life deliberately using the Law of Attraction. As co-host of her own radio shows she has interviewed some of the most influential thought leaders today and has had the honor of sharing the virtual stage as a featured speaker with Mary Morrissey, Mark Victor Hansen, John Assaraf & Marci Shimoff among many others.

Her newest book, Life Lessons for Mastering the Law of Attraction, co-authored with Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, can be found in bookstores everywhere. For more information on Eva's programs and services or to schedule her for an interview or presentation, visit www.YourGuidanceOnDemand.com

1:00pm (EST) - Fred Cuellar - Expert Success

Fred Cuellar, the founder and president of Diamond Cutters International, is one of the world’s top diamond experts, and was recently listed in the Millenium Guinness Book of World Records as the Most Acknowledged Jeweler. Mr. Cuellar is accredited in diamonds by the Gemological Institute of America, and is ranked as one of the top diamond experts in America by National Jeweler. With over 20 years of experience in the diamond and jewelry business, Fred’s clients include the Saudi Royal Family and hundreds of professional athletes and celebrities. Fred is an importer and creative designer of jewelry, best-selling author, writer and columnist to the national media, and founder of DCI’s National Diamond Helpline, MyGemologist™ program, and Adopt A Diamond™ program.

Fred is also a best selling author, and has written four books including the number one selling book on diamonds in the country, How to Buy a Diamond. Of all books in print, How to Buy a Diamond is ranked among the top 1 percent! How to Buy a Diamond and the National Diamond Helpline are endorsed by the National Bureau of Fraud Prevention in Washington, DC. Fred’s other books are Diamonds for Profit, The World’s Greatest Proposals, and Fredisms.

Fred is the official diamond expert for MSNBC, "Men’s Health" magazine, AOL’s the knot.com and The Wedding Network, and "Icon" magazine. He has been featured and discussed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC’s Today Show, CBS Morning News, Crook & Chase, CNN, ESPN, The Donahue Show, Wall Street Journal, Cosmopolitan, US Weekly, In Style Magazine as well as over 100 other news and talk shows.

Visit Fred online at www.diamondcuttersintl.com

2:00pm (EST) - Susan Harrow - PR Secrets

Susan Harrow is a world-renowned media coach PR & marketing expert & author of Sell Yourself Without Selling Your Soul (HarperCollins). Publisher's Weekly dubbed it a "Rumi-meets-Seth Godin public relations handbook." Hundreds of readers call it their "Publicity Bible."

Her clients include Fortune 500 CEOs, celebrity chefs, rock stars, reality TV contestants, entrepreneurs, coaches, consultants, speakers and authors just like you whom she helps to double or triple their businesses with PR. Dozens of her clients have appeared on Oprah, 60 minutes, CNN, CBS, Good Morning America, Larry King Live, Donny Deutsch, and in the NY Times, the Wall Street Journal, Parade, People, Vogue, O, Forbes, Time, Inc.

She specializes in helping women entrepreneurs become respected thought leaders. You can subscribe to her free ezine to get tips, techniques, and insights to promote yourself with integrity and spirit at: www.prsecrets.com

6:00pm - Heshie Segal - Networking

Heshie Segal is a professional speaker, trainer, consultant and executive coach. She helps top executives, managers and individuals build their business through relationships. Corporations, colleges, universities and individuals alike seek out her powerful presentations. Her warmth, energy, and expertise lead to substantive change regardless of the venue.

Heshie Segal teaches her clients how to turn a business card, a presentation, and even a chance meeting into lasting business. For over 14 years Heshie has dedicated herself to understanding and sharing the secrets of human connections. Heshie's strategies for making connections that count bring success in the workplace and in life.

Heshie is creator of JetNetting, an innovative and highly specific system of preparatory networking resulting in the eradication of cold calling, awkwardness and relationship tensions. Central to the system is an original definition and vision of immediacy and timing, the power of JetNetting being a service mentality on behalf of the JetNetter.

Visit Heshie online at www.jetnettingconnection.com

8:00pm (EST) - Jenn Ward - Healing

Jen Ward is a Light Worker, Medical Intuitive and Modern-Day Priestess who has dedicated herself to freeing others of their limitations on the path to the heart of love and truth. Jen has developed her healing tools through personal development which includes discovering her talents as a "Sangoma", an African shaman which relies on the assistance of healing ancestors and moves unwanted energy using sounds.

Jen has created a protocol for releasing past vows that present present day happiness. Jen has taught at Omega Institute and been a guest host on Hay House Radio. She has worked extensively one on one with celebrity clients.

Check out her blog at www.jenuinehealing.com and join her on twitter at twitter.com/jenuinehealing

Dr. Michael Beckwith - Motivation Marathon

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:50:00 +0000

Free Motivation TeleSeminar Happy YOU! Year

Featuring Dr Michael Beckwith and 46 Experts and Celebrities, taking place over 9 days on January 14-22, 2012!

LIMITED SPACE REGISTER FREE TODAY

Guest Speaker: Dr. Michael Beckwith - Thursday 19th @ 4pm (EST)

Dr. Michael Beckwith’s life is a living testament to building spiritual community. In the 1970’s he began an inward journey into the teachings of East and West, and today teaches universal truth principles found in the New Thought-Ancient Wisdom tradition of spirituality. Gifted with a vision of a trans-denominational spiritual community, in 1986 he founded the Agape International Spiritual Center upon his faith in that original vision.

Recently described in “What Is Enlightenment?” magazine as a "non-aligned trans-religious progressive," Dr. Beckwith shares his powerful conviction of creating the Beloved Community through his participation on international panels with other peacemakers and spiritual leaders including Dr. T. Ariyarante of Sri Lanka, and Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mohandas K. Gandhi. He is co-founder of the Association for Global Thought, an organization dedicated to planetary healing and transformation. Visit Dr. Beckwith online at www.agapelive.com

The Motivation Marathon is hosted by Deb Scott and Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Deb Scott, author, "Certified Professional Coach" and motivational speaker, is changing lives with an ability to inspire individuals to transform the bad into good. The discovery of the Amazing You, starts inside, in your heart, your soul and grows from there. Yes, your eventual rise to success is entirely up to you, but the seed to success in life and work can be planted and nurtured by those around you. Inspiring and motivating, Deb Scott can become part of your success.

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino is CEO and Founder of The Best Ever You Network, a leading global provider of lifestyle content in; The Best Ever YOU Print and On-line Magazine, Radio, and Global Internet Community.

Free ebook for Registering!

You've Got Talents - You've Got Passion - You Want Success - We've Got Answers!

•Get some hope, inspiration and motivation in your life.
•Turn what you love into wealth, better health, deeper love and greater happiness every day.
•Find your peace and purpose.
•Get tips and tools from experts and celebrities that have achieved success. Now It is YOUR turn to share in the shine!
•We will use a conference call service so you can ask the questions that can change YOUR life. There will be 46 experts and celebrities, spanning 9 days.

If you want to make this the Best Year of YOUR Life, then you are at the right place. The Happy YOU! Year teleseminar is designed to make you have the best year of YOUR life! Dedicated to YOUR SUCCESS, our speakers will help you achieve success in the areas of your life which matter most. The time has come! Gather your dreams and prepare to take part in what promises to be the most talked about free teleseminars of 2012.

Can't make the live call, no worry, sign up and you'll be sent the replay.

More than self help - it's a new way of thinking!

Visit MOTIVATIONMARATHON.COM

Monday's Speakers - Motivation Marathon

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:34:00 +0000

Free Motivation TeleSeminar Happy YOU! Year

Featuring 46 Experts and Celebrities, taking place over 9 days on January 14-22, 2012!

LIMITED SPACE REGISTER FREE TODAY

9:00am (EST) - Dr. Jo Anne White - Beyond The Law of Attraction

Dr. Jo Anne White, international speaker, author and certified professional coach, specializes in Transformation, Innovation and Energy Medicine. Known globally as the "Success Doc", she gets to the heart of what matters most to men, women and businesses. She’s helped millions of individuals and organizations shape their own dreams, master their own success and triumph in business and life. Her uplifting seminars, books and products captivate and motivate audiences.

Host of the popular "Power Your Life" Talk Radio Show, she’s been featured online and as a frequent guest expert on radio and television networks such as Fox, NBC, CBS and in publications worldwide including More, Good Housekeeping, Yahoo,CNN.com, WebMD and Woman’s World. Doc White has been successfully teaching the Law of Attraction to her clients to help them live their dreams. Visit her online at www.drjoannewhite.com
.

1:00pm (EST) - Sandra Robinson - Charisma on Camera

Sandra Dee Robinson is an actress, speaker, radio host and founder of Charisma on Camera Media Training Studio. She helps professionals from all walks oflife establish their "Visual Brand", utilize video in their business, and empower them to easily and authentically share their message, increasing recognition and income!

Sandra also works with experts and visionairies to prepare for media opportunities, website or product videos. Sandra has appeared in major roles on Another World, Sunset Beach, Bold and the Beautiful, General Hospital, Days of Our Lives, andguest starred on many prime time shows. She currently is on The Bay the Series and is still working as an on camera host.

Sandra's clients have appeared on Good Morning America, Dr oz, Ellen, Celebrity Rehab, KTLA News, Fox 40, Fox News, CNBC, QVC and more…

Visit Sandra online at www.CharismaonCamera.com

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6:00pm (EST) - Sue Ingebreston - Nutrition Health

As featured in FIRST for Women magazine, and the nationally syndicated health TV program, Know the Cause! Sue Ingebretson is a writer, speaker, certified holistic health counselor, and the director of program development for the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Research and Education Center at California State University, Fullerton.

Her book, FibroWHYalgia, details her own journey from chronic illness to chronic wellness www.RebuildingWellness.com

800pm (EST)- Michelle Mayur - Healing & Meditation

Michelle Mayur, The Healer for Healers, is the Founder of the vibrant ‘Heal the Healer’ global community of healers and Lightworkers (www.heal-the-healer.com) with members from over 65 countries. She helps people find more zest for life, raise their vibration and move beyond limitations.

Since 1995 at Angel Wings Healing (www.angelwings-healing.com) in Melbourne , Australia , Michelle has specialized in hypnotherapy and spiritual healing, with clients globally. She has facilitated Spiritual Egypt Tours and the Global Conference 'Breakthrough to Abundance for Healers' .

Michelle's, The 8 Steps to Conscious Living" is at 8-steps-to-conscious-living-program

Gary Kobat Kicks off the Motivation Marathon

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:32:00 +0000

9am EST January 14, 2012

Once in a rare while you come across someone who is willing to set the record straight and tell you a truth that will shift the way you think about yourself, and the world.

When it comes teaching us to gracefully get older, yet look and feel younger; assisting us to awaken, heal, and step into our true power from our heart, with compassionate self-love and self-care, Gary Kobat is that man.

Quickly becoming a world-known authority in the field of Mind, Body, Spirit, and Sport, Gary is the purposed prophet who by loving himself loves the world - one soul at a time. In short, Gary is the best friend anyone's self-esteem, self-worth, and sense of deservingness can ever have.

Gary has been interviewed by Darren Hardy and CBS. His client list inlcudes Will Ferrell and he has written articles for Deepak Chopre. Visit Gary online at www.garykobat.com

Watch actor Will Ferrell and Gary during their interviewe about Will's transformation. www.youtube.com

Watch Gary's recent CBS Interview about Women's Fatigue: www.youtube.com

You've Got Talents - You've Got Passion - You Want Success - We've Got Answers!

•Get some hope, inspiration and motivation in your life.

•Turn what you love into wealth, better health, deeper love and greater happiness every day.

•Find your peace and purpose.

•Get tips and tools from experts and celebrities that have achieved success. Now It is YOUR turn to share in the shine!

•We will use a conference call service so you can ask the questions that can change YOUR life. There will be 46 experts and celebrities, spanning 9 days.

If you want to make this the Best Year of YOUR Life, then you are at the right place. The Happy YOU! Year teleseminar is designed to make you have the best year of YOUR life! Dedicated to YOUR SUCCESS, our speakers will help you achieve success in the areas of your life which matter most. The time has come! Gather your dreams and prepare to take part in what promises to be the most talked about free teleseminars of 2012.

Can't make the live call, no worry, sign up and you'll be sent the replay.

More than self help - it's a new way of thinking!

Sunday's Motivation Marathon Speakers

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:09:00 +0000

46 experts and celebrities, spanning 9 days.

FREE -Register Today for the Happy YOU! Year TeleSeminar and IMMEDIATELY receive your free
e-workbook, "The Best Year of YOUR Life". You can start today and begin turning YOUR talents and passions into success!

9:00am (EST) - Dr. David Fraser - Relationships

Dr. David Fraser, is a leading authority on relationship skills in professional and personal life. With his breadth of knowledge, an engineer’s talent for organizing systematic and reliable solutions, and an ability to write in an interesting, direct, and readable way, David is well positioned to address the age-old problem of how to build effective relationships with other people. David is a public speaker and broadcaster.

David applies his unusual blend of expertise to supporting disparate groups working together in complex circumstances, including major collaborative projects and matters of national importance. In addition to his work on relationship management with corporate clients, David runs workshop and coaching programs on relationship skills for both organizations and individuals, focusing on the potential to leverage results.

David lives with his wife and three children in Glasgow, Scotland. Visit David online at www.drdavidfraser.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1:00pm (EST) - Debbie Mancini - Family & Kids

If you’ve seen her on television, heard her on the radio, participated in one of her interactive workshops, or have been motivated by her books and articles, you know that Debbie’s ardent mission is to help children and adults tap into their imagination, and nurture creative self-expression.

These abilities help us to enhance our individual authenticity, and ultimately live happier by living true to ourselves and our life-purposes. Once we cultivate our ingenuity, just about everything becomes easier. Don't you want to be one of 'those people' who wakes up each day and makes a conscious decision to grasp ~with both hands~ the tools to make great things happen? It's easier than you might think ... and it's way more fun than what you already know! And, as a parent, what could be more fulfilling than passing these awesome secrets along to your children?

Debbie is a seasoned media personality who has made countless radio and television appearances, and is currently in the production stages of her own radio and TV series

Visit Debbie online at colormyworld.info (for kids) or gettoknowmykid.com (for parents)

6:00pm (EST) - Keith Keller - Twitter

Aussie Twitter trainer, now amongst top 1% in the world. Melbourne based "Twitter 4 Business Specialist" Keith Keller calls himself "The Personal Trainer 4 Twitter" and with over 30,000 followers, he is now considered amongst the top 1% of Twitter users in the world. Like many social media enthusiasts, Keith turned to Twitter as a way of promoting his own services. In Keith’s case, it was his Internet radio show, Career Success Radio, which at its height, was listened to in over 120 countries around the world.

For more information on Keith Keller’s Twitter Intensive and his work as "The Personal Trainer For Twitter" visit his website www.GlobalSocialMediaCoaching.com or follow him on Twitter at Twitter.com/KeithKeller

8:00pm (EST) - Brianna Brown - Actress

You've seen Actress, spokeswoman and model, Brianna Brown on a variety of popular television shows such as CBS "CSI," "CSI: New York," "CSI: Miami," "Without a Trace," CBS "Criminal Minds."and opposite Kyra Sedgwick in "The Closer."

Brianna has recently finished shooting over 200 episodes as the love to hate villain Dr. Lisa Niles on the Emmy award winning series "General Hospital." During her soap stint Soap Opera Digest recognized Brianna with Best Storyline in 2010 and Sexiest Actress on General Hospital 2011.

In 2011 Brianna was nominated by Los Angeles Business Journal "Women Making a Difference" for her work with "The New Hollywood." Brianna stated that she originally started the group to support other women who were also trying to "make the impossible, possible." She explains, "It’s amazing to see what can be accomplished when women love and support one another in being their personal best rather then falling into the stereo-type of being catty, competitive and negative. The intention of my group(s) is to help myself and other brilliant women to be the best they can be in all areas of their lives. It is quite an inspiring group of women."

Visit Brianna online at www.brianna-brown.com

Saturday's Motivation Marathon Speakers

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:13:00 +0000

We will be using GoToMeeting® so YOU can ask questions that can change YOUR life.

There will be 46 experts and celebrities, spanning 9 days.

FREE -Register Today for the Happy YOU! Year TeleSeminar and IMMEDIATELY receive your free
e-workbook, "The Best Year of YOUR Life". You can start today and begin turning YOUR talents and passions into success!

9:00am (EST) - Gary Kobat - Performance Coach

Once in a rare while you come across someone who is willing to set the record straight and tell you a truth that will shift the way you think about yourself, and the world.

When it comes teaching us to gracefully get older, yet look and feel younger; assisting us to awaken, heal, and step into our true power from our heart, with compassionate self-love and self-care, Gary Kobat is that man.

Quickly becoming a world-known authority in the field of Mind, Body, Spirit, and Sport, Gary is the purposed prophet who by loving himself loves the world - one soul at a time. In short, Gary is the best friend anyone's self-esteem, self-worth, and sense of deservingness can ever have.

Gary has been interviewed by Darren Hardy and CBS. His client list inlcudes Will Ferrell and he has written articles for Deepak Chopre. Visit Gary online at www.garykobat.com

11:00am (EST) - Pina De Rosa - Effortless Results

Award-winning film producer, international speaker & high-performance trainer, Pina De Rosa has been leading live workshops, teleclasses and webinars for 10+ years now. She speaks 5 languages (English, French, Italian, Spanish and German) and holds 4 passports. Pina has been nominated for the 2010 and the 2011 Los Angeles Business Journal Woman Making A Difference Award.

Besides keynote speaking for international Women Empowerment Organizations, Pina has coached and trained thousands of people worldwide, from Los Angeles to London, from Sydney to Hong Kong and from Auckland to Kilimanjaro, with always the same commitment and results: empowering each client to live their fullest potential, delivering fast and lasting release of those internal blocks/fears/self-doubt that get in the way of us taking action & experiencing quality of life.

Visit Pina online at www.pinaderosa.com or Gratitude International

1:00pm (EST) - Bergen Williams - Actress Wellness

Bergen Williams is probably best knows for her actress role as "Big Alice" Gunderson on ABC’s General Hospital, but l and is a freelance writer and script consultant. But, of course, and as a guest actress on such shows as NYPD Blue, The Drew Carey Show, Scrubs, Nip/Tuck, and Seventh Heaven.

Bergen is A "Jane of all Trades" and has been everything from a dishwasher to an executive software analyst, with stints as a forklift driver, legal secretary, welder, salad chef and roofer in between.

A two time cancer survivor, she is passionate about eating healthy and cooking right. Her articles on nutrition and living have been featured in magazines such as 'Natural Living."

You can visit Bergen onine at bergenwilliams.wordpress.com

3:00pm (EST) - Lisa Haisha - Soul Blazing

Lisa Haisha is a Hollywood counselor and noted humanitarian. In the field of psychology, Haisha is considered the originator of Soul Blazing, a raw, intense form of therapy. Presently, she serves as a private counselor and coach to Hollywood’s top producers, A-list actors, and corporate executives. She is also the co-founder of The Whispers Foundation, an international humanitarian agency supporting orphanages.

Lisa Haisha has coached actors, writers, and directors engaged in such TV properties as "Entourage," "Big Love," "Twin Peaks," "90210," "Party of Five," "Two and a Half Men," "The Big Bang Theory," "ER," "The Bold and the Beautiful" and "CSI Miami," and the films "Pulp Fiction," "Batman," "Mr. Holland's Opus," "Courage Under Fire," "Never Been Kissed," and many others. She is a contributing columnist for The Huffington Post, My LA Lifestyle and Soul Café. Lisa will be teaching a week-long workshop at the Omega Institute in June 2012. Visit Lisa online at www.TheSoulBlazing.com

6:00 PM (EST) - Lolly Daskal - Leadership

In a world of instant, of real time media and instant access to information, Lolly Daskal engages individuals to engage in their foundational elements of what they believe, why they choose the beliefs they live, and how the core of their being affects the life they are achieving. Lolly's story is one of Incredible courage, of how she went from being homeless at sixteen to a world leader in business Lolly is a catalyst in helping individuals and businesses examine, evaluate, and excavate the very details of their own processes that empower them to use their own stories, their experiences, to enter a new level of inner discipline and leadership development.

Lolly believes that the heart is inextricably designed to be the center of our personal leadership. Our senses, our feelings, our thoughts are an intricately woven tapestry of life experiences, learning, and engagement. Her life long study of the inner disciplines of thought process, core competencies and human relationships to their thoughts has brought her to the meaning of Lead from Within.

Lolly's #LeadFromWithin Tweetchat is a popular platform for leadership professionals around the world, and she is ranked one of the top 100 Leadership Blogs in the country. www.lollydaskal.com

8:00 PM (EST) - Forbes Riley - Exercise

National Fitness Hall of Fame inductee 2010 Forbes Riley is an award-winning TV host, author, highly sought-after spokesperson, motivational keynote speaker, and life coach to celebrities and CEOs. She has helped millions take positive action in their own lives by sharing her passion for and unshakeable belief in the impact a healthy lifestyle can make in your life.

Forbes has gained international celebrity due to her highly successful, globally broadcasted infomercials for the Jack Lalanne Juicer and the Living Well Healthmaster Blender, both of which have grossed into the hundreds of millions of dollars. One of today's most accomplished entrepreneurs, she has been highlighted by Forbes magazine as a megabrand CEO for her SpinGym® alongside Silly Bandz, Skullcandy and Carol's Daughter. E! Has produced a TV special profiling each of these hot new products and their talented creators, filmed Got Rich Quick: Outrageous Fortunes.

Forbes has been featured numerous times on Fox, The Doctors and countless morning talk shows across the country. A regular presence on QVC for almost 15 years, and now on HSN for the past 6 years.

Forbes, along with her husband Tom and their twins, divide their time between Los Angeles and Tampa Bay, managing their businesses, raising their family and increasing the awareness of health and fitness in all they do.

Visit Forbes online at forbesriley.com

The Pro"found"ness of Socks. Best Ever You.

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:27:00 +0000

The Profoundness of Socks.
By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Many of you made New Year's Resolutions to lose weight, feel great, take a trip and whatever else. I made a teeny tiny one about socks.

We have a family sock problem and I am at the foot of it. (yuk, yuk, yuk,)

I am no longer allowed near anyone's laundry including my own because the socks are all missing. Everyone's. Something mysterious happens when I touch the laundry... The socks run and hide, they gang up together mismatched and somehow they love to hang out in the washer and go undried even.

I just said to my son, "Connor, I'm writing a blog about socks." He said, "Yah mom, you should and tell them how you lose everyone's socks." :)

Apparently, mine are missing too. I opened up my sock drawer this morning and no socks. hmmmm.. The laundry basket is empty. The washer and dryer are empty. Where have my socks gone???

I asked the kids if they played a joke on me. Nope.

Finally my husband suggested that I peel back the covers at the end of bed and check there.

There were white ones, red ones, striped ones, unmatched ones. a little mound of socks. ahhhhh, my socks. :)

Found.

I put them all in the washing machine. Dryer next. I must have more socks somewhere because they are mis-matched, mis-colored and just missing.

My Christmas stocking had a package of socks in it. Santa-Hubby must be trying to tell me something.....

Why is it socks and not missing pants, underwear, shoes? socks. always socks.

So my New Year's Resolution.... about socks.....is to go to bed with shoes on now too. If I lose those, I figure the shoe hound in me will be very happy.

Love,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth is the CEO/Founder of The Best Ever You Network. She is opposed to socks that have spots for each toe and will admit to owning a pair of socks that have "I love shopping" printed on them.

Ps- Elizabeth is the typo queen. If you see a typo, just let her know. Our editor "Liz" is someplace warm where no socks were ever required or needed because of sandals....

Vinegar is the Best! Vinegar Fridays - Blue Ribbon Winner

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:35:00 +0000

I am proud to award "Vinegar Fridays" our Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award. Hana Haatainen Caye, aka Green Grandma" focuses on a common sense greener and healthier living in her daily blog, but for one year, Fridays were all about vinegar.

This caught my eye and attention because of my allergies and so I thought I would pass this along to everyone, especially those in the allergic community. For the past 10+ years of my life, we clean our home mostly with vinegar instead of harsh chemicals and products, because 3 of us have such a tough time breathing when we spray all sorts of disinfectants and chemicals or anything too scented around the house.

The book just isn't about cleaning with vinegar though. It is about many other uses for it such as keeping rabbits out of your garden, taming the frizzies in your hair and more.

But above all, Green Grandma "Hana" is a really great writer. Hana really has a knack for words and good sentences, so really the book could be about anything and it would be a winner because of Hana's writing touch. You can read her blog for more at GREEN GRANDMA.

Hana is a writer and voice over talent. She is Agency Principal for SPEECHLESS, a company specializing in copywriting, editing and voice-over services. She lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband Bill and their cats. She has four grown daughters and 2 grandchildren.

Here's to keep the world a little greener and a much more well-written and well-spoken ;)

All My Best,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth is the CEO and Founder of The Best Ever You Network. She can often be found buying vinegar in huge jugs in the grocery store.

ps- I am the typo queen, so if you see one, let me know and we'll pour some vinegar on that too.

Best Ever You - Endless Possibilities!

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 10:31:00 +0000

Last night I vowed to sleep in this morning, but much to my routine, nothing changed. Same me, up bright eyed and smiling at around 5:45. Same me, last night, crashed after too much Wheel of Fortune for Wii and Scrabble (with 14 letters allowed). I had also vowed to stay awake for New Year's Eve. My kids and husband waged bets and they all won.

The sun is shining. It's a bright beautiful cold Maine day and here I am at my office kitchen table wondering about you.

What amazing things are you going to do this year? What are some things that you've been thinking about doing but have never done?

Life is full of endless possibilities!

You want to change or learn a new skill or travel somewhere.... the list can go on and on with all the possibilities.

Just be careful today. Just because the possibilitites are endless, doesn't mean your list should be also! Today is the day where your list-making self can overwhelm you. Your dreamy, changing self can make your head spin and before you know it a few weeks or months have passed and guess what? Nothing has CHANGED! In some cases, things may have even gotten worse!

Help Others!
It also might not be about you, but about helping others. Many of us carry out numerous roles as parents, friends, co-workers, bosses and more and are in positions of helping others. What are you going to do this year to help other people?

So my challenge to you is to write down a list of 5 things you would like to change this year. Just do that for now. Grab a notebook or a journal and write down those 5 things you want to change. 5 might be a lot. Maybe try 2 if 5 feels too much. We are going to narrow the list down to solidly achieving one thing this year, but for now, write down 2-5 things you are thinking about.

What did you write? I invite you to join our Achieve Your Goals Group on The Best Ever You Network. This is a group where we help each other achieve our goals.

All My Best,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network. She is thinking this is the year she is a contestant on the Wheel of Fortune because she an solve all the puzzles with relative ease most of the time well, on Wii anyway :) :)

ps- I am typo queen. If you see one, just let me know. Our editor "Liz" is thinking about the New Year and endless possiblitites!!

Best Ever You - New Year - Reasoning with Yoga Pants

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 09:29:00 +0000

By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Brace Yourself. Don't even brace others first, just brace yourself for the siege of New Year, New You, Better You, Best You, All New You, Changed You, and whatever else people can say to get you to buy what they are selling or read what they are writing or listen to what they are saying.

This morning, I can be found in my closet, trying to reason with my Yoga Pants. Yup. Yoga pants and they are cute too. Nice white banded ones, aqua banded ones, neat fabric etc....Santa brought me 4 new sets of Yoga Pants that I LOVE..... and I am overwhelmed by Yoga Pants right now. You know, the tight fitting, black, they look so amazing on everyone else but me pants.
Well, I wanted some and I got some and now I'm sort of wishing I didn't want Yoga Pants. However, I am determined to squeeze my body into them.

"How do they look?" I asked my husband. There was an odd silence, where I could tell a nice fake comment was coming. He said, "I think the jeans looked better." He is a wise man and we've been married for quite some time. He said something else, but it is not a clean for reading comment, but it was something about just take them off, blah blah blah blah blah.... anyway.

But here I still am with my computer in my closet having a conversation with Yoga Pants. He is not allowed in here. I have my jeans back on and my love for my Yoga Pants has not really diminished.

The good news is - It's all good.

Well most of it, anyway. These Yoga pants are getting folded back up for the time being.

Welcome to Best Ever You 365 and Happy You Year!

The trick being to not get overwhelmed by lists, goals, resolutions, and dreamy wishes, especially all at once starting tomorrow and Yoga Pants.

So put down the Yoga Pants. In fact, put down whatever is bothering you for a moment and just listen to yourself, your heart and your mind.

I am here today to help you chart a course to change your life forever. To help you stop wishing for it and start working for it. To help you learn how to break habits, learn new skills, get over the “how” and discover the “what”.

Seldom is there a mention of the mindset that must accompany life changes. Yes, you’re fat, but WHY? Yes, you are in a sucky marriage, but WHY? And on and on.

I will keep this real, simple and practical. I will not use endless cliches to live your life by. This is about authenticity. I am a real people with real problems and real lives. I just happen to like to think, write and blab about it.

But, here's the catch. You have to help me too. Help and self-help is never a one way street. We all need each other and I need you, to help me, too. My goal is to look smokin-hot in Yoga pants. Ok, well, at least have them fit.

So on to it…

Wrap Your Head Around It – You want to change, I want to change, We want to change.

Not one single person can force you to change. You have to want to change. It is really just a flat out hard thing to do. Change. Change What? Change How? Change Why? Where? When?

Completely head-spinning and before you know it a few weeks or months have passed and guess what? Nothing has CHANGED! In some cases, things may have even gotten worse!

So my challenge to you is to write down a list of 5 things you would like to change this year. Just do that for now. Grab a notebook or a journal and write down those 5 things you want to change. 5 might be a lot. Maybe try 2 if 5 feels too much.

What did you write?

All My Best,

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, CPC

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth is the CEO/Founder of The Best Ever You Network and can currently be found in her closet with her annual "my clothes are too small after the holidays" freak out. Good thing - the shoes still fit. This really is her year to get healthy forever. Last year she took 20 pounds off and kept them off... only more wonderful progress in store for 2012. Left unattended in the closet, it will spiral to complete swimsuit distress and panic over 6 months until bikini time, lol. She may seriously patent swim jeans this year. Thigh covering swim jeans.
Anyway. Happy New Year :)

ps- Elizabeth is the typo queen. If you see a typo, just let me know. I go it alone, as "Liz", our editor, is cooking healthy appetizers and exercise classes.

Ten Steps to a Healthier You! New ebook

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:35:00 +0000

Healthy living is not about calorie counting, deprivation or starvation. Rather it is about feeling great every day, having unlimited energy as well as creating a body that is balanced, both emotionally and physically. With just a few basic tips you can create a plan that works for your lifestyle

Best Ever You Network CEO Elizabeth and Nutrition Sara Sullivan have teamed up to bring you this all new ebook at getting healthy forever!

Click to View: Ten Steps for a Healthier You!

About Sara Sullivan:

Sara Sullivan, BA, NC, HHP, CH is a Certified Nutritional Counselor and Holistic Health Practitioner. She has a private practice at Sanctuary Holistic Health & Yoga Center in Yarmouth, ME and is the Expert Nutritionist for The Best Ever You Network. Sara uses an individual approach to achieving optimal wellness for each and every client. “We are all unique" – no two people have the same metabolism, biochemical make-up, health concerns, behavioral issues or nutritional needs. Follow Sara at http://www.nutritionsara.com or on Twitter @NutritionSar a

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino:

Elizabeth is the CEO and Founder of The Best Ever You Network and the host of top-rated “Best Ever You Show” on Blog Talk Radio and the co-host of The Motivation Marathon. Elizabeth is a certified professional life coach, journalist, actress/on-air personality and author. Elizabeth and her husband Peter have been married for 13 years and have 4 boys. Follow Elizabeth on Twitter @BestEverYou .

The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur - Mike Michalowicz

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:25:00 +0000

By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Mike Michalowicz stopped by The Best People We Know Radio Show to have a chat with host Deb Scott. Thank you for having me guest host the show!

To Listen to the show, click here.

Michael Michalowicz is the entrepreneur behind 3 multi-million dollar companies and the author of The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur. With a popular website by the same name (www.ToiletPaperEntrepreneur.com), he is a globally recognized entrepreneurial advocate. Mike is a small business columnist for the Wall Street Journal, and hosts the business make-over segment on MSNBC's Your Business.

Mike Michalowicz started his first business at the age of 24, moving his young family to the only safe place he could afford – a retirement village. With no experience, no contacts and no savings he systematically bootstrapped a multi-million dollar business. Then he did it again. And again.

His experience building three multi-million dollar companies fostered a philosophy rarely taught to entrepreneurs: the lack of money, experience and resources is, in fact, your greatest asset. Because, all these “limitations” bring about the key ingredient to entrepreneurial success: innovation.

Mike is the president of a behavioral e-marketing firm, Obsidian Launch; is the small business columnist for The Wall Street Journal; is the “business makeover” specialist on MSNBNC; and is the author of cult classic book, The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur. He is currently writing his second book, to be released in 2012 by Portfolio, an imprint of the Penguin Group.

To learn more about Mike and get access to a treasure trove of entrepreneurial tips, tricks and insights, visit www.ToiletPaperEntrepreneur.com. You can follow him on Twitter by following @TPEntrepreneur. And don't forget to pick up a copy of his book.... get the best deal and check out the hundreds of reviews for his book on Amazon or pick it up at Barnes and Noble.

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth is the CEO and Founder of The Best Ever You Network. I am still the typo queen, but if you see a typo in this, you get to call Michael, cause I mooched this all from his website :) xxoo Enjoy the radio show.

Top 10 Best Ever You Radio Shows of 2011

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:20:00 +0000

2011 was a big year for The Best Ever You Show on Blog Talk Radio. The show was featured on Today's Picks for most of these shows below and quickly rose to be one of the most popular shows in the Health and Entertainment and Books categories for many weeks. Thank you so much for following The Best Ever You Show, for listen listening to the shows and for recommending it to others!

Below are the Top 10 shows on The Best Ever You Show for 2011. You can click on any of the shows to listen at any time.

Love, Elizabeth

1. Karen Koenig: Eating coach, psychotherapist, national educator, motivational speaker, and international author of four books on eating and weight—is an expert on the psychology of eating.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/besteveryou/2011/10/11/karen-koenig

2. Tosca Reno (This show was featured in Today's Picks.): http://www.blogtalkradio.com/besteveryou/2011/11/08/just-the-rules-toscas-guide-to-eating-right

3. Ed Asner (This show was featured in Today's Picks.) 7-Time Emmy Award winning actor, and Political Activist: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/besteveryou/2011/11/22/ed-asner

4. Karen Walrond: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/besteveryou/2011/02/17/karen-walrond

Karen Walrond whose book is titled, The Beauty of Different: Observations of a Confident Misfit. She is a former engineer and a current (though non-practicing) attorney.

5. Forbes Riley (This show was featured in Today's Picks.) - Fitness Hall of Famer and Creator of SpinGym! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/besteveryou/2011/12/12/forbes-riley--spinning-her-way-to-success

6. Sylvia Lafair: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/besteveryou/2011/10/06/sylvia-lafair

Sylvia is the CEO of Creative Energy Options and is a relationship expert, who addresses how to handle conflict effectively to lead your best life!

7. Food Allergy Show featuring parents Brian Hom, Sarah Shannon and Paul Vondermeulen

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/besteveryou/2011/09/25/food-allergies-brian-hom-sarah-shannon-paul-vondermeulen

8. Gabe Berman - Live Like a Fruit Fly

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/besteveryou/2011/09/18/gabe-berman

9. Brianna Brown - This show was featured in Today's Picks. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/besteveryou/2011/06/09/brianna-brown

10. Eileen Davidson - This Show was featured in Today's Picks.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/besteveryou/2011/12/19/eileen-davidson

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth is the CEO and Founder of The Best Ever You Network and host of The Best Ever You Show on Blog Talk Radio.

Fox/Good Day Maine Best Last Minute Gifts with Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:46:00 +0000

Good Morning!

Thank You to Everyone at Fox, Good Day Maine and WGME for having me on your show today!! Happy Holidays Everyone!!

We will add the video from this morning's segment on Fox - Good Day Maine when it becomes available. In the meantime, here is what I showed on air this morning for some Best Last Minute Gift Ideas! All items are things going under our tree this year or items I have given as gifts this year! Please comment with more ideas!! I'd love to hear them, since I am...............out shopping :) :) (shoes........)

Happy Holidays,
Love, Elizabeth

Forbes Riley's SpinGym $29.99 (HSN or direct)

So say good-bye to saggy, flabby arms - with just 5 minutes a day you'll be proud to wear those strappy tops, sleeveless shirts and proudly show off your upper body - SpinGym® is so convenient that you can grab a quick workout at your desk, carry it in your purse and yes, you can even do it while watching tv!

But don't let it's size fool you -- with over 20lbs per pull - this is one of the most compact and effective upper body workouts ever!

Clinique: Maximum Hydrator for Men, Dramatically Different Mosturizer and Gift Set “A Season’s Woth of Pretty”

On TV, I showed the two products above and the gift set pictured to the left.

Books: “Life Raked In” Gail VanWart, “The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland” by Catherynne Valente, “Core Balanced Diet” by Marcelle Pick,

Home Roam TV by Envision

This is a HUGE hit in our house!!

New Personal 7” Cordless TV panel goes where you go. No tuning, watch all your Cable or Dish programs in any room in your house!

Home Roam TVTM is your personal solution for watching all your TV programs, anywhere in your home, even subscription channels, like HBO: without wires! Home Roam TVTM lets you watch any program from your Cable/Dish Set Top Box, DVD, Blu-ray or Digital TV on the bright 7” LCD digital screen.

The Home Roam TVTM Display runs on rechargeable batteries and receives the video and audio signal from your Cable/Dish Set Top Box, DVD, Blu-ray, Media Player or Digital TV through our Transmitter Module.

The Home Roam TV is a convenient solution for watching TV programs anywhere in the user’s home, and does not require tuning or wiring. This personal TV panel allows users to watch any program, including those found on subscription channels, from a cable/dish set top box, DVD, Blu-ray or digital TV through the unit’s Transmitter Module. In addition, users can simultaneously connect a Blu-ray player, media player, computer or TV to the small transmitter and select the source from the 7” display panel.

Believe Dog Collar and Dog Leash from Christmas Tree Shoppes.

and other dog gifts!! :)

I found what I showed on camera from Christmas Tree Shoppes. I guess the idea is overall just a holiday dog collar and leash. As I was searching, I also found this:

www.sylvans.net

Sugar Cookie and Vanilla Coconut Spray from PetCo

Check in dog grooming area for additional scents. I brought on Sugar Cookie and Vanilla Coconut. I am not finding these products in line, but actually in store in the grooming area.

Disney Ihome Dual Alarm Clock System $49.99

Disney Loves iHome Dual Alarm Clock Speaker Systems allow your child to wake and sleep to your iPod®. Dual alarm system allows two separate wake times. Universal dock charges and plays docking iPod® models. Gentle wake buzzer alarm. Line-in jack plays CD, MP3 Players and other audio devices. Sure alarm battery backup keeps system working during power failures and other outages. Requires three AAA batteries (not included). Imported.

St. John’s Bay Flannel Shirt from JcPenneys pricing varies depending on sales, but this is great sale item this year for around $9-11. My teenage boys love them because they don't have pockets in the front.
No closet should be without a classic flannel shirt. Ideal for layering. button front, long sleeves, left chest pocket, cotton yarn-dyed flannel, washable, imported

Stanley Rechargeable 2M Series Spotlight $40

Stanley 2M Series Spotlight has a 12 volt 3Ah SLA rechargeable battery and a 12 volt 75 watt halogen bulb. This spotlight will run directly from the DC cord while charging. Includes a CEC AC charger and DC charging cord. UL and CSA listed.

Quelf - Family Board Game

Pure fun for the whole family and a break from video games!!

44 Piece Auto Safety Kit - Sears - $9.99

WeatherHandler 44pc Auto Safety Kit

Ideal for roadside emergencies that includes the following:

Premium carrying case
8 ft., 10-gauge booster cables (meet SAE performance requirements)
6" slip joint poiers
5 assorted cable ties
Flashlight
S.O.S. banner
Screwdriver set, 5 bits
PE gloves
Reflective triangle
Emergency poncho
25-pc first aid kit

Oranges make great snacks while shopping and make great gifts when included in fruit baskets! Sometimes a fruit basket is a better alternative for a party host gift than alcohol.

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth is the CEO and Founder of The Best Ever You Network. She loves to shop for all things Best Ever to help everyone be their best and keep it real.

ps - If you see any typos, just let me know. "Liz" our editor is wrapping and can't be disturbed.

Eileen Davidson on Best Ever You Radio

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 21:04:00 +0000

Actress Eileen Davidson joined me tonight on Best Ever You Radio. You can click to listen to the show anytime here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/besteveryou/2011/12/19/eileen-davidson

Film and Television actress, Eileen Davidson is known to millions of television viewers as Ashley Abbott on the number one rated daytime drama “The Young and the Restless” where she originated the role in 1982. She left Y&R to pursue other interests, (below) and then returned to Y&R in 1999 and received her second Emmy nomination. In 2006 she left Y&R only to be asked back to play Ashley Abbott on “The Bold and the Beautiful”. In 2007 she was asked back to Y&R and remains there today. She made television history by portraying five characters simultaneously on “Days of our Lives” where she received her first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress.

Her feature film credits include “Eternity”’ opposite Jon Voight and Armand Asssante, “Easy Wheels” with Paul Le Mat and the horror film cult favorite “House on Sorority Row”. Her primetime credits include Stephen Cannell’s series “Broken Badges” opposite Ernie Hudson and Miguel Ferrer and the T.V. film “Sharing Richard” and various other guest starring roles.

Eileen is also the spokesperson for the “Nubrilliance” micro dermabrasion system and has also been the spokesperson for the renowned skincare product Prevage from Elizabeth Arden and Allergan.

She wrote her first Penguin paperback “Death in Daytime” which debuted in November of 2008. Her second novel “DialEmmy for Murder” was released June of 2009 and her third novel “Diva Las Vegas” was released in July 2010 from Penguin Books and most recently the fourth in the series “Swingin In The Rain” which was released in June 2011 and available on amazon.com.

She has graced the covers and pages of many magazines such as “TV Guide”, “Allure”, “Good Housekeeping.

You can follow Eileen on Twitter @Eileen_Davidson

Sweet Soaps - Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Winner

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 14:25:00 +0000

What's this you might be asking yourself????

Snowman Poop.

Hmmm, 'Tis the season??

Yes and No. It's really soap and It's really neat and It's really captured our soapiest, most bestest, best ever you award as well as everything else from Sweet Soaps.

I am proud to issue Sweet Soaps our Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award!

I first came across Sweet Soaps and the owner Ellen Cagnassola on Twitter @SweetSoaps and have been very proud to see all this company is achieving. Small business gone wild and crazy busy. Awesome.

My next favorite thing other than seeing businesses succeed is boxes on my doorstep with their products to review!!

The box from Sweet Soaps was like a gift from heaven. Let me tell you, this was some box that arrived! It was filled with the most beautiful soaps and one very mysterious candle (pictured to the left.)

Now, I live in a family of 6 boys, so you can imagine their enthusiasm upon first inspection of the box. It was like "oh, neat, soap."

Well that quickly changed when we started buring the candle to pictured to the left. You see this isn't just an ordinary candle..... it is a bacon candle. It crackles and sounds and smells like bacon. The box was suddenly quite popular as was the bacon soap.

So we are issuing the award for the bacon candle and soap, but also to the 5 other soaps that arrived. Basically, it appears to me, that you can't go wrong ordering something from Sweet Soaps or from having a chat with the owner on Twitter. She knows her stuff, I mean soap and bacon. :)

I think this was my next favorite. It really is hard to choose. You can visit their store for more choices and samples.

Embossed 3D Fleur-De-Lis Soap:
Wow your company in your guest bathroom with these lovely french lavender bars of glycerin soap. Each set comes in a gold foil box.

Love Love Love this one:

Gold Monogram Soap:
Six beautiful monogram soaps, emblazoned with a French Script single initial. They are scented with the relaxing aroma of lavender, helping you to decompress from a busy day. Comes packaged in our custom black and gold foil gift box, made exclusively for SweetSoaps. Each bar is 5 ounces.
Note: Please indicate the initial you would like as the monogram on your soap.

and.... one more....

Santa's Coal Soap:
A lump of soap that looks like real coal with a candy cane fragrance. It comes in a cloth bag with a stamped folkart Santa on it. 3 oz.

More About Sweet Soaps

SweetSoaps.com is a small woman owned business located in central New Jersey. All of SweetSoaps products are handcrafted in the USA using only the best ingredients and fragrances.

Our mission is to bring beauty, fun, and quality to your everyday through the use of our products. SweetSoaps is an eco-friendly company that recycles all packing materials as well as being energy conscious in our manufacturing process.

SweetSoaps custom photosoaps embed full color photos in the soap, with a custom message. Our custom logo soap creates incredible impact for any promotional event as well. We view ourselves as a customer service/ product development company that creates bath fantasy. Your event is special - let us make that memory last an eternity!

In 2003 we struck gold or I should say Gold Monogram Soap. Neiman Marcus and Horchow put us in their Holiday Catalog, blowing the lid off of our business. That exposure brought about many changes and a lot of new business.

2005 was full of tragedy and triumph, for the people of New Orleans. I have had a love for the fleur de lis symbol from my years studying Art and Interior Design. After Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, my phone began ringing off the hook for my one fleur de lis soap product. The fleur de lis symbol dates back to the French Empire and has always been a part of the culture of New Orleans. After Katrina it became a symbol of hope, courage, and the rebirth of the city. Over the years we have added many fleur de lis soap products, making it our number one selling product in specialty retail shops. Proudly we also know that Harry Connick Jr. has purchased our products!

Warner Brother's Studios called us in 2006 and asked us to create a logo soap for the show "Two and a Half Men". They were doing a spa theme for their end of the year wrap party. This was a thrill as I am a very big fan of the show and still watch. We also had our fleur de lis soap and matching toilet paper in a skit on the "Ellen Degeneres Show" around this time as well.

Our original website was launched in 1998, so we are updating our look and rebranding SweetSoaps! We are using social media to keep our customers in the know, blogging and using Twitter and Facebook. We are maintaining our wholesale accounts while tapping into custom products in a big way. Our goal is promoting your business and your events. Our Logo Soap, Custom Photo Soaps, and 3D Soaps can create a buzz at any event. Please also join our mailing list for specials, news and updates about our products.

Call 908-BIG-Soap or contact us about your event. We can create something unique to compliment your theme. All we need is a 2x2 jpeg image or photo to get started, it's that easy! We do not charge art fees or set up fees like many other custom sites.

The sky is the limit on the creative possibilities with this custom product. We are only limited by two things -- our imagination and your budget.

Life Raked In - Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Winner

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 08:09:00 +0000

I am proud to award Gail J. VanWart our Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award for her book Life Raked In .

Gail is Maine's Best Blueberry Poet!

This is a delightful collection of poems and recipes that is sure to be a family favorite.

Life Raked In by Gail J. VanWart was penned amidst the Wild Blueberry fields of the farm where she and her husband serve as fourth generation stewards. The farm has been family owned since 1868 and continues to inspire and teach upcoming generations lessons in life through the natural wonders found on Peaked Mountain in Dedham, Maine.

To purchase a copy of Gail's book click here.

All My Best,
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
Founder/CEO The Best Ever You Network

Follow the Motivation Marathon Speakers on Twitter

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:06:00 +0000

Register at Motivation Marathon

Create The Best Year of Your Life - FREE Motivation Marathon Event - Over 45 Internationally Acclaimed Experts & Celebrities Together for 9 Days Only! January 14 - 22, 2012.

You’ve seen them on: Oprah, CNN, Fox, Blog Talk Radio, ABC, CBS, NBC, The Biggest Loser, General Hospital, Days of our Lives, HSN, TLC’s What Not to Wear, New York Times, The Best Ever You Network, The Best People We Know Radio Show, BBC Travel, Business Week, New York Post, PBS, Women's World, The Huffington Post, Better Homes & Gardens, USA Today, Time, Success Magazine, Newsweek, The Ellen Show, Good Housekeeping, WebMD and so much more!

Hosts Deb Scott and Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, are thrilled you will be joining them for the Happy YOU! Year – Motivation Marathon. The Best Year of YOUR Life.

Change your life in a positive and dramatic way this new year and learn how to channel YOUR passion and talent into success.

With over 45 of the most influential experts and celebrities, speaking over 9 days, the Happy YOU! Year includes some of the most successful certified professional life coaches, authors, celebrities, experts and radio hosts. Each speaker will not only cover how they become successful, but how YOU can take what they learned and apply it to achieving the success YOU deserve.

“The Happy YOU! Year teleseminar promises to be one of the most talked about free teleseminars of 2012.”

Our lofty speaker requirements meant long hours of meticulous research before an acceptable list was complete, but our hard work brought together some of the most sought-after names in their respected fields. It is our hope that you will not only listen to the speakers, but take part in the live event by using our free 800 number to call in your questions (in an anonymous, friendly environment) and get answers by our experts and celebrities who can help YOU turn YOUR talents and passions into success.

Follow the Motivation Marathon Speakers on Twitter.

1. @debraoakland Debra Oakland
Practitioner of Living a Courageous Life, Author, Student of Web 2.0

2. @TheCivilityCEO Sue Jacques
The Civility CEO~Corporate Civility Expert|Media Resource|Professional Speaker|Writer|Veteran Death Investigator|Marathoner|Believer in Kindness & Respect

3. @VickyAkins Vicky Akins
@MidlifeRoadTrip Traveler, Writer, Marketing chick, Avid Cook/Baker & Fire Walker Extraordinaire. Devoted Detroit @Tigers fan! www.midlifemojo.blogspot.com

4. @toscareno Tosca Reno
The Eat-Clean Lady! Find out about my latest events on my website: http://bit.ly/gU88Db.

5. @jennyshea Jennifer Shea
Passionate foodie & marketer, runner, yogi, ocean lover. Registered Dietitian for a Fortune 100 company. Loves coffee, artichokes, ice cream, seafood & wine.

6. @RickGriffin RickGriffin
Co-host of the Midlife Road Trip Show - Loves travel, food, wine, music and laughter. Life is a journey...bring a camera!

7. @MidlifeRoadTrip MidlifeRoadTrip
Co-hosts Rick @RickGriffin & Sandi @McMedia, tweet about travel, food and adventure from behind the scenes making of the show. What's on your bucket list?

8. @McMedia Sandi McKenna
Co-Host of MidLife Road Trip~Show about Travel, Food, Recipes, Wine, Adventure, Friendship, Funny Side of Life. Foodie, Travel Expert. Cookie Sommelier.

9. @DrWendyWalsh Wendy Walsh
Mom/Psyche Geek/Writer/TV Talking Head

10. @SheaNetics Shea Vaughn
Founder, Author, Fitness Expert, Vince Vaughn's Mom, as seen on @TheEllenShow and @BestEverYou and @WindyCityLive

11. @chefdevin devin alexander
Host of Healthy Decadence on FitTv, Author of the Biggest Loser Cookbook Series, Most Decadent Diet Ever!, etc.

12. @AnnieJenningsPR AnnieJenningsPR
Media Strategist, Book Promotion Specialist, Branding Consultant, Thought Leader In Publicity, Book Publicist, National TV, Radio, Print & Internet Media

13. @soundbitesiren susan harrow
media coach, PR expert. gardener, aikidoka, tennis pro, gypsy spirit, triple UR biz w/pr, speak in soundbites http://www.linkedin.com/in/susanharrow

14. @FredCuellar Fred Cuellar
Founder/CEO Of Diamond Cutters International, Author,Inventor,Executive Coach, Motivational Speaker, Grateful

15. @EvaGregory Eva Gregory
America's Divine Guidance Coach, Conscious Channel (http://www.YourCosmicConnection.com) LOA Expert & author Life Lessons for Mastering The Law of Attraction

16. @KeithKeller Keith Keller
TWITTER 4 BUSINESS SPECIALIST: You are already AWESOME: My job is to make you WORLD FAMOUS

17. @forbesriley forbes riley
Creator of SpinGym - newest upper body fitness craze - www.MySpinGym.com and give me your feedback!

18. @garykobat Gary Kobat
Celebrity Fitness Coach to the Hollywood Stars

19. @LollyDaskal Lolly Daskal
Speaker|Author|Motivator| Passionate about Empowering others to reach their potential by leading from the heart | Founder of #LeadFromWithin

20. @LisaHaisha Lisa Haisha
World Traveler | Author | Retreat/Workshop Leader | Life Coach | Join me here: http://www.facebook.com/soulblazerlisahaisha

21. @LisaNicoleBell Lisa Nicole Bell
Renaissance Woman 2.0 | Social Change Agent + Filmmaker + 3x Author + Entrepreneur + Int'l Speaker | Founder of @InspiredGirls | Creator of @LegacyLetters

22. @drdavidfraser Dr David Fraser
Author and speaker on professional, business and personal relationships. Engineer, leader, father and outdoor guy. Changing the world from the inside out.

23. @lukastyle Wayne Scot lukas
Celebrity fashion stylist 29 years,TV show host What Not To Wear on TLC. Designer for Lukastyle clothing line on HSN, all posts are mine alone / allegedly

24. @jamesrick James Rick Stinson
Daily tips on how to live your Full Potential by FullPotential.com author, speaker and entrepreneur James Rick.

25. @MelissaGalt (Prosper by Design)
Keynote Speaker|Marketing Consultant|Biz Coach|Lifestyle Expert|Interior Designer|Visionary|Adventurer|Romantic|Optimist|Giver| Single&Seeking|HUMAN

26. @HeshieSegal Heshie Segal
speaker, networking strategist, trainer, mentor, wellness consultant

27. @salliefelton Sallie Felton
As a life coach, In'tl talk radio host, author and speaker, I am passionate in helping people START WHERE THEY STAND by putting the L back into LIVING.

28. @Sandra_Robinson Sandra Dee Robinson
Media trainer/Soap/TV actress. Horse, dog and wildlife enthusiast too. I help visionaries make the impact in the world they are designed to make!

29. @RobinRoffer Robin Fisher Roffer
Personal and corporate branding expert. Author Make A Name For Yourself, The Fearless Fish Out Of Water and Reinventing Yourself. CEO, Big Fish Marketing, Inc.

30. @smoothsale Elinor Stutz
International Speaker, Author and CEO of Smooth Sale, LLC - a sales training company.

31. @SueInge SueIngebretson
Writer, Health and Wellness Enthusiast, Living Well with Fibromyalgia. Author of FibroWHYalgia. www.FibroWHYalgia.com, www.RebuildingWellness.com

32. @MentorMarnie Marnie Swedberg
Success Principles for Influencers: Christian Speakers, Church Leadership, Business Owners, Managers, Womens Ministry, Pastors Wife, Authors, Wives & Moms.

33. @wendiepett Wendie Pett
Fitness and Wellness Coach, Creator of the Visibly Fit exercise program, Author, Speaker, and National TV Host.

34. @bergenw Bergen Williams
I'm an actress and I play Big Alice on GH, I'm also a writer, a chef, a cancer survivor and a health activist.

35. @YourCoachNicole Nicole Burley
I am a Life Coach with a focus on health and nutrition. I offer down-to-earth conversations to upgrade your life and your health! tweets.nicoleburley.com

36. @BrownBrianna Brianna Brown
I'm a busy bumble bee who makes a living playing pretend. I'm serious. I'm goofy. I'm seriously goofy.

37. @graceandpassion Pina De Rosa
Award Winning Producer, World Traveller, High Performance Results Coach, Intl Speaker, CEO, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Visionary and Lover of figs!

38. @CariLMurphy Cari Murphy
Soul Success Coach, BestSelling Author, Radio Host, Media Personality supporting others as they LEAD WITH THEIR SOUL! www.CariMurphy.com

39. @DrAlexConcorde Dr Alex Concorde
BSc PhD MBBS MBA Creator of new brain theorem for less stress/greater human capability in health/medicine/business/intelligence/individual potential/happiness

40. @LisaTener Lisa Tener
book writing coach, how to write a book, how to get published, Nonfiction/how-to book proposals. Weekend Tweets are mostly automated (family time)

41. @angelheal Michelle Mayur
The Healer to Healers and Lightworkers. Community, support and resources to reclaim your Divine Light www.heal-the-healer.com

42. @jenuinehealing Jenuine Ward
Please check out my book about Living in Gratitude while surviving on Miracles. http://www.jenuinehealing.com/?page_id=530

43. @TVRadioDoc Nancy Mramor
Nancy Mramor Ph.D. is a licensed clinical, health and educational psychologist, specializing in education and health issues.

44. @GreenSkyDeb Deb Scott
Life Coach ♥ Radio Host ♥ Award Winning Author ♥ ♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ ♥ Self Help & Positive Resources 4 UR Happiness ♥ Lღ√Ƹ #MotivationMarathon

45.@DocWhite4U Jo Anne White
International author, motivational speaker, life, leadership and business coach & energy intuitive can help you create abundance and fullfillment.

46. @BestEverYou Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
CEO/Founder-Best Ever You, Author @PinkyDoodleBug Life Coach, Radio Host, Mom of 4 Boys, SP for @MedicAlert Food Allergy Expert, Co-Host - #MotivationMarathon

47. @designthumb Gary Reichel
I'm a full time freelance Graphic Designer, Website, SEO, SEM, I live in Charleston South Carolina, USA.

48. @KatanaAbbott KatanaAbbott
Helping women envision and create their perfect life.

49. @ColorMyWorldDeb ColorMyWorldDeb
KIDS & ADULTS: You're creative; let me help you prove it! Internationally Acclaimed Best-Selling Author, Wife, Mom

About Us:
Deb Scott, BA, CPC @GreenSkyDeb
Deb is Author of the THREE time National Award Winning Book The Sky is Green and The Grass is Blue - turning your upside down world right side up!, a Certified Professional Coach at Discover the Amazing YOU! Coaching, and host of the hit new Best People We Know Show! on Blog Talk Radio. Self Help Radio Simple Steps to Stop Suffering : The Sky is Green & The Grass is Blue : Now! Now available on Kindle. Dumping the Drama – Workbook and 30 Minute Audio. Now available on Kindle. Sign up for Debs “Mind Vitamins” Newsletter today!

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino @BestEverYou
Elizabeth is the CEO and Founder of The Best Ever You Network and the host of top-rated “Best Ever You Show” on Blog Talk Radio. Elizabeth is a certified professional life coach, journalist, actress/on-air personality and author. Elizabeth is the author of “The ABCs of Life - Sing The New Song” (2012). Her two award winning children’s books “Blueberry - A Cat’s Eye View of Maine” (2009) and “Pinky Doodle Bug” (2011) are available where books are sold. Elizabeth and her husband Peter have been married for 13 years and have 4 boys.

For More Information or to request an interview with one of our speakers, please contact Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino at elizabeth@besteveryou.com or visit Motivation Marathon.

.

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Appreciate Those Around Us - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 09:27:00 +0000

Appreciating Those Around Us
By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

People are each other’s greatest asset.

One person sews. One cooks really well. Another talented person bakes. People produce amazing websites. One person is a doctor, another stays home to take care of kids. One person writes and another trains dogs. One is a fitness instructor and another is a model. One is a great graphic designer and another an editor and the list goes on and on.

When you discover the world of people and all they have to offer without being scared, jealous, negative or comparing, but rather supportive, positive and promoting, your whole world can change.

One person can’t do it all. If I came over to train your dog, most surely you would giggle. It takes all kinds to make the world go round and round.

My message is short and simple - Appreciate each other! Discover the people around you. Learn from one another and explore and meet new people. We all seem to struggle with most of the same issues in one form or another.

Women in particular, can be each other’s own worst enemies. I’d like to think the shenanigans end is high school, but I’ve always struggled with why it even occurs at all. I don’t have that answer, but I do know that some women never leave their high school behavior behind. Jealous, comparing, back-stabbing, rude, gossiping, snooty behavior is something I still witness and even from people in the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and beyond. I’ll never understand it and can’t control others, but I will say that the only thing you can do is change your reaction and response to people like this, or ignore it, take the high road and stay consistent in your own positive, supportive behavior. You may also evaluate the situation and decide to purge and protect. Purge the relationship or people from your life and rid yourself of the drama and negativity and they way they weigh you down!

Don’t keep up with the Jones Family either. Scratch below their surface too and there are just as many issues, if not far more. You’ll also sometimes see outside great and horrific insides. Try to just keep up with yourself and be the best asset to yourself and those around you. Looks fade, $200 pairs of jeans wear out, shoes wear out, expensive purses get worn, furniture wears, houses age, cars break and in all that is YOU. Your personality and how you treated yourself and those around you to the best of your abilities.

Be the asset. Be in a good mood. Be positive. Be appreciative.

My Best,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network. This is a drama free zone.

ps- If you see a typo in this (or 10 ), it's because I am the typo queen. Liz is on vacation and so I go it alone.... just let me know and I'll fix it.

25 Best Gift Ideas from The Best Ever You Network

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 09:36:00 +0000

25 Best Gift Ideas from The Best Ever You Network

By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, CEO/Founder

All year long, I'm testing products to award our Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award and these are some of my very favorites!!

Happy Holidays from all of us at The Best Ever You Network!

1. Workman Puzzles: "The Big Book of Visual Sudoku" "Bananagrams On-The-Go Edition" and "10-Minute Cross-word Puzzles"

Pure wow—announcing a dazzling new idea in Sudoku! The Big Book of Visual Sudoku reinvents the world’ most popular number game by adding a second visual “layer" on top of the traditional number/logic puzzle—using symbols and pictures instead of numbers.

It’s a paradigm shift, 273 puzzles that present Sudoku for both sides of the brain, left (the logical) and right (the visual). The puzzles are oversized, colorful, graphically arresting— eye-candy—but also challenging. The underlying puzzles are handcrafted by an expert; unlike computer-generated Sudoku, these puzzles draw in the user with symmetry, elegance, and surprise and give the effect and deep satisfaction of matching wits with a master.

2. "Brave Irene" by William Steig
Brave Irene is Irene Bobbin, the dressmaker's daughter. Her mother, Mrs. Bobbin, isn't feeling so well and can't possibly deliver the beautiful ball gown she's made for the duchess to wear that very evening. So plucky Irene volunteers to get the gown to the palace on time, in spite of the fierce snowstorm that's brewing-- quite an errand for a little girl.

But where there's a will, there's a way, as Irene proves in the danger-fraught adventure that follows. She must defy the wiles of the wicked wind, her most formidable opponent, and overcome many obstacles before she completes her mission. Surely, this winning heroine will inspire every child to cheer her on.

Brave Irene is a 1986 New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year.

3. Dell'Amore Pasta Sauce (Order by Mail!)

Our grandmother, Filomena, was born December 5, 1895. She grew up in the town of Agropoli, in the Campania region of southern Italy. The photograph of Filomena on our label was taken in 1914, when she sent it to her boyfriend, a sailor in the Italian navy.
Family Photos
Filomena emigrated to the U.S. in 1924. She settled in Brooklyn and raised a family there. Her children and grandchildren swore she was the best cook in the world. The love and care that grandmother Filomena put into her cooking has become a family tradition and a trademark of Dell’Amore pasta sauce today.

We began offering family recipes in jars with our family name on them in 1986. We are one of the original pioneers, if not the original pioneer, of quality pasta sauce in a jar. Dell’Amore sauces continue to win accolades from customers and food critics alike. And the rest, as they say, is history.

4. Kidlandia Maps

Unlock your child's imagination and let them Rule their own Kingdom in a safe, educational, and fun way. Kidlandia is a leader in personalized entertainment– creating award winning personalized products for kids and families. Kidlandia personalized products are made by YOU with advanced personalization technology that is fun and easy to use. Kids and families can choose from a vast library of design choices that include popular characters from enduring brands such as Kidlandia’s Kreechurs, Kidlandia’s Pirate KreechursDisney Princess, Winnie the Pooh, Pixar Cars, Toy Story, SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, and Veggie Tales. Kidlandia’s award-winning products are interactive, educational, and innovative. Kidlandia’s products support geography, expository writing, creative writing, and artistic development. Kidlandia provides interactive learning experiences that make, play, personalization, and creating even more fun. Our mission is to give every kid a kingdom of their own, so they become better global citizens. The Kidlandia brand is trusted by parents, valued by teachers and loved by children.

5. Tosca Reno - Eat Clean Books

At age 40, author Tosca Reno found herself miserable, overweight, stuck in an unhappy marriage, and living an unfulfilled life. She was able to turn her life around and is now a successful author, motivational speaker and wellness consultant, media personality and model. Tosca has penned eleven books, including the incredibly successful Eat-Clean Diet® series, has appeared on numerous national television and radio programs and now travels across North America appearing at book signings and seminars to deliver her message of health, wellness and inspiration.

6. Zippies

A new child identification system :) Zippies are the pals that hang around. Visit their website for all the characters! Great stocking stuffer/gift for smaller kids, under age 8.

7. Pinky Doodle Bug - Children's Book

Let your child's imagination soar!

Join Pinky and her friends on a doodling and writing adventure in the perfect book for children learning to read and parents wanting to share the joy of reading, writing, drawing and dreaming.

Along with the charming verse, every page has a delightful illustration that is sure to make this wonderful tale a favorite of both children and parents alike.

Author, Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino and illustrator, Sandra Waugh, hope Pinky Doodle Bug will inspire children (and adults) to follow their dreams. They would also love for everyone to create their own stories and doodles, sharing them for all the world to read ...and see

8. Bella Cucina Rocket Blender

We bought one of these for our teenage son who loves smoothies. It works like a charm without the hassle of a huge blender. I also use this to make healthy shakes and it blends vegetables to smoothie/shake-quality.

9. SpinGym!

SpinGym! is the best little arm toning device ever and creator Forbes Riley is always inspirational and an amazing support for women entrepreneurs everywhere.

We've loved SpinGym for 3 years running on Best Ever You and recommend it to people daily.

10. Craftsman 51 pc. MAX AXESS Mechanics Tool Set

This one is added in from my attorney husband, who loves tools :)

This set features an ultra thin-profile design which fits over long bolts eliminating the need for deep sockets.

Ratchet strength is up to 45% stronger than our most popular ratchet.

This set comes in a convenient and portable briefcase style plastic carrying case.

Contents include 42 sockets, hollow shaft handle, 2 Go-Thru ratchets, 3 standard socket adapters, 2 extensions and a Go-Thru adapter.

This set is versatile and can adapt to all standard socket sets. Backed by Sears Craftsman Lifetime Warranty.

11. Wicked Whoopie Pies

Don't know what these are? You'll never forget them once you have them. My parents visited Maine and 3 years later are still talking about them. Trust me.

12. Fuji FinePix Camera

This is a wonderful camera... if you can find it in stock :)

Fujifilm FinePix S2950 14MP Digital Camera Kit with Carrying Case, 4GB Memory Card, Mini Tripod - Black

13. "Live Like a Fruit Fly" by Gabe Berman

At long last, a writer writing about "self-help" who isn't contemplating or coming up with a method to peer deeply inside the existance of belly button lint with a PHD (phD?, PHd?, phd?) and I assure you if he did want to write about belly button lint and other such fine things, he will and it will be a few chapters, revised, funny and with a point.

We awarded this book our Blue Ribbon Award in September.

14. Sweet Soaps

SweetSoaps.com is a small woman owned business located in central New Jersey. All of SweetSoaps products are handcrafted in the USA using only the best ingredients and fragrances.

Our mission is to bring beauty, fun, and quality to your everyday through the use of our products. SweetSoaps is an eco-friendly company that recycles all packing materials as well as being energy conscious in our manufacturing process.

SweetSoaps custom photosoaps embed full color photos in the soap, with a custom message. Our custom logo soap creates incredible impact for any promotional event as well. We view ourselves as a customer service/ product development company that creates bath fantasy. Your event is special - let us make that memory last an eternity!

In 2003 we struck gold or I should say Gold Monogram Soap. Neiman Marcus and Horchow put us in their Holiday Catalog, blowing the lid off of our business. That exposure brought about many changes and a lot of new business.

15. Hankook Tires

I wanted to go outside and take a picture of my mini-van :) My husband and I just bought these tires for the van and both have made comments about how wonderful the tires are. No, we aren't bored, nor do we really ever talk about tires, but these are really great tires!!

The Optimo H727 is Hankook’s Standard Touring All-Season tire developed for the drivers of coupes, sedans, minivans and crossover vehicles looking to combine good comfort, low noise, all-season traction and long tread life. Optimo H727 tires are designed to deliver a premium appearance and long wear along with dry, wet and wintertime traction, even in light snow.

The Optimo H727 features a custom-blended, all-season rubber compound to enhance traction and tread life. A symmetric tread design featuring hundreds of tapered lateral slots and a continuous center rib reduce noise and improve driving feel while promoting ride comfort and uniform wear. Four circumferential grooves help evacuate water from under the footprint to resist hydroplaning on wet roads while hundreds of high-density sipes enhance traction in wintry conditions.

The tire’s internal structure features two wide, high-tensile steel belts reinforced by a nylon cap ply that stabilizes the tread to enhance handling and durability.

16. Lenox Snoopy Ornament

Do you love Lenox? Snoopy? Each year they make a beautiful, adorable Snoopy Ornament! Always a winner at our house.

17. Stanley Rechargeable 5-Watt LED Spotlight

Another husband choice here. (His eyes lit up, I swear!!)
Rechargeable 5-Watt LED Spotlight
• Rechargeable, up to 10 hours of run time
• C.L.O = Constant light output, light maintains brightness
• Equipped with dimmer switch
• Includes carry lanyard

18. Big Book of Cupcakes

No kitchen is complete without this book! Jan Moon is brilliant and this book is just adorable.

It's official: The cupcake craze has taken the world by storm. No longer are cupcakes solely for children-these handheld treats nowmust pass musterwith taste-discriminatingadults equally ravenous for the little frosted jewels. Big Book of Cupcakes sets a new standard with recipes for cupcakes that actually taste as great as they look. In addition to the traditional favorite flavors everyone craves, such as red velvet and carrot cake, this book offers fun, new flavor twists like Maple Bacon and Caramel Sea Salt Mocha, as well as easy decorating and serving ideas, from classic to creative. In this book, which is organized by season and the events readers want to celebrate with home-baked cupcakes-from New Years to Christmas, birthdays to "just-craving" days-author and cupcake-bakery owner Jan Moon shares her secrets and most requested recipes. Whether you're making the perfect batch of cupcakes for a child's birthday party or satisfying a very adult comfort-food craving, the nostalgic treats that fill this book are sure to delight and surprise. Plus, Jan's creative tips on how to serve and display cupcakes for parties are sure to be crowd-pleasers.

19. Alex Beard Impossible Puzzle

Artist Alex Beard has always been an avid puzzler. But, when he realized that standard jigsaw puzzles weren’t holding his interest anymore, he decided to invent one that would.

These are just beautiful.

20. Shea Vaughn - Breakthrough

Yes, Breakthrough and visit http://www.sheanetics.com! You can buy Shea's book or her exercise DVDs. (Yes, this is Vince Vaughn's mom!!) You can also follow Shea on Twitter @SheaNetics.

21. Quelf

Our son received this as a birthday gift. Many kids these days don't play board games and ours were quite reluctant to pry themselves away from xBox for an hour to play with us. In the end... Quelf wins. We were there for quite some time playing, laughing and minus our gamer tags!

22. Flojos Sandals

Perfect for the vacation from snow you are going to take!
Love these. Height and no strap between my toes!!

23. Shrinky Dinks

It seems like these disappeared for a whole bunch of years because even though I got a lot older, I still love these and haven't been able to find them until recently. Anyway, Target carries them :) Great Family Fun!

24. SPA Dog Cologne

Now, we use the Sugar Cookie One and the Vanilla scent from PetCo, but it looks like they also have more online. I found Ginger, Fig and more. Definitely a people around the dog pick me up for when Fido doesn't smell so great :)

Don't forget to grab some treats from the in-store dog treat buffet :)

25. Estee Lauder website and Christmas Make-up Set

Love the choose 4 samples on their website with purchase links. Click here to see what I mean...

Now, aside from that, this year's Christmas Biggest Make-up Set is simply heavenly....

Happy Holidays,

Love, Elizabeth

Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network.
She can be found at the mall. If you see a typo, "Liz" our editor is out shopping with her and we've declared these The Best Holidays Ever :) Hugs and Happy Holidays!!!

25 Best Fitness and Nutrition Experts to Follow on Twitter

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 05:57:00 +0000

They're Fit & Fabulous. They follow back and they interact. Here are our 25 Best Fitness & Nutrition Experts to Follow on Twitter!

By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino @BestEverYou and Deb Scott @GreenSkyDeb

1. @BonniePfiester and @StevePfiester:

FITNESS: ADVISOR/WRITER ►@SearsFitness TRAINER►@DoBCx Boot Camp at @FitStudio AMBASSADOR►@FitFluential
BLOGGER►http://www.pFITblog.com and as seen on @BestEverYou

One glance at any of their websites above and you'll see how they are on a mission to help America get fit & healthy - online!!

2. @SheaNetics - Founder, Author of "Breakthrough", Fitness Expert, Vince Vaughn's Mom, as seen on @TheEllenShow and @BestEverYou and @WindyCityLive Website: http://www.SheaNetics.com

3. @ToscaReno and @EatCleanDiet: The Eat-Clean Lady! Find out about my latest events on my website: http://www.toscareno.com

4. : @ForbesRiley: Fitness Hall of Famer and Creator of SpinGym - newest upper body fitness craze - http://www.MySpinGym.com

5. @Technogym - Technogym - The Wellness Company - A premier world leader in the design of fitness and wellness equipment. Design, innovation and technology are our strengths.
http://www.technogym.com

6. @BuffGoddess - Ex-Champion bodybuilder knows the real deal on fat loss. Designs programs based on your lifestyle while remembering going hungry is NOT an option. Gets RESULTS.
http://www.theathenaeffect.com

7. @cherylfitness - Beachbody Coach, health & fitness lover with a passion for life & traveling!! Come join my #GetFiTMovement! I'll be posting #FitTips everyday!
http://www.beachbodycoach.com/CheRFiT

8. @sharifitness - Fitness Professional | Atlanta Personal Trainer | Nutritionist | Social Media Consultant | Author | Speaker | Website http://FitTalkNews.com
http://facebook.com/ShariFitnessFanPage

9. @Fit_not_Skinny: @NikeWomen featured #SpotLight/#SuccessStory in @Oxygen_Magazine Aug 11'/@CompleteNutritn #SuccessStory 11'/ Down 90lbs! 1/2 Marathoner/GroupRide Instructor
http://successinvariousforms.blogspot.com

10.@WendiePett: Fitness and Wellness Coach, Creator of the Visibly Fit exercise program, Author, Speaker, and National TV Host.
http://wendiepett.com

11. @CarloCelotti: Total Performance Fitness Consultants - Holistic Exercise, Nutrition and Lifestyle Coaching, www.tpfconsultants.com
http://www.fitathlete.com

12. AmieHoffFitness: Fitness Consultant│Spokesperson│Media Contributor│Author│Co-Founder of FitKit.com - Total Fitness in a Kit│Loves Inspiring & Empowering others.
http://hofffitness.com

13. @MyFitnessHut: Fitness Writer and Trainer. Check out Top Fat Loss and Weight Loss Experts at Your Fitness University! http://yourfitnessuniversity.com

14.@JennyShea - Passionate foodie & marketer, runner, yogi, ocean lover. Registered Dietitian for a Fortune 100 company. Loves coffee, artichokes, ice cream, seafood & wine as seen on @BestEverYou

15.@DannyWood - Living Healthy and NKOTB 4 LIFE!!!!!!
http://www.NKOTB.com

16.@lifelonghealth - Food scientist ( ISU Alum.), ex-health inspector, cyclist,spiritual,vegan, into health, fitness,nutrition,greener earth!, arts & music.

17. @KellyOlexa - CEO, Founder: @FitFluential. Fitness Fanatic, Starbucks Addict, Social Media Cupcake: Ford Fiesta Agent, FitStudio Partner, Polar Ambassador. Show me the sushi.
http://www.kellyolexa.com.

18.@MyFitCoach- Jenn Mitchell is a Mom, wife, blogger, personal trainer. Keeping fit over 40 and helping others. Fan of WAHM's, Biggest Loser, Beachbody, P90X, and much more!
http://personalfitcoach.com

19.@joycecherrier- Misplaced Maui Girl 1st life: Health Food Store owner & Pro Windsurfer 2nd: Mom, bass player ,ocean, eco & organics. Sears® Fit Studio Expert, Attune Foods Am. http://freakingfitness.com

20.@JenniferPilates - Entrepreneur at Heart, Studio Owner, Certified Master Pilates Instructor & Celebrity Trainer. A love for life & living to the fullest! http://www.JenniferPilates.com

21.@myworkoutspay - I am a glass is half full kind of girl. I am a mom, personal development fan, animal lover, fitness enthusiast, Turbo Kick Instructor and Beachbody Coach. http://www.myworkoutspay.com

22.@LisaJohnson - Pilates and fitness! I own @ModernPilates & I love being a Fitness blogger. Also greenie, runner, hooper and Mom. Principal at @HealthyDoseInc.
http://lisajohnsonfitness.com

23.@Alexandrafunfit and @KymberlyFunFit: Twin sisters/fitness experts. We write Fun & Fit. http://funandfit.org

24.@TheMojoCoach - Debi Silber - Health/fitness/lifestyle/personal energy expert,spokesperson,speaker,author & THE secret behind some of the healthiest,most dynamic&successful people today. http://www.TheMojoCoach.com

25 @Andreametcalf - Author Naked Fitness Healthy Lifestyle Trainer Fitness Guru Motivational Speaker Consultant Social Media Travel andreametcalf.com, Mom Entreprenuer NBC BetterTV http://www.nakedfitness.com

About Elizabeth and Deb:

Deb Scott and Elizabeth co-host the Motivation Marathon. It's not too early to register for the Jan 14-22, 2012 event!

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, CPC @BestEverYou
Elizabeth is the CEO and Founder of The Best Ever You Network and the host of top-rated “Best Ever You Show” on Blog Talk Radio. Elizabeth is a certified professional life coach, journalist, actress/on-air personality and author. Elizabeth is the author of “The ABCs of Life - Sing The New Song” (2012). Her two award winning children’s books “Blueberry - A Cat’s Eye View of Maine” (2009) and “Pinky Doodle Bug” (2011) are available where books are sold. Elizabeth and her husband Peter have been married for 13 years and have 4 boys.

Deb Scott, BA, CPC @GreenSkyDeb
Deb is Author of the THREE time National Award Winning Book The Sky is Green and The Grass is Blue - turning your upside down world right side up!, a Certified Professional Coach at Discover the Amazing YOU! Coaching, and host of the hit new Best People We Know Show! on Blog Talk Radio. Self Help Radio Simple Steps to Stop Suffering : The Sky is Green & The Grass is Blue : Now! Now available on Kindle. Dumping the Drama – Workbook and 30 Minute Audio. Now available on Kindle. Sign up for Debs “Mind Vitamins” Newsletter today!

The Fearless Time Keeper Ten - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 09:00:00 +0000

The Fearless Time Keeper Ten
By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

It is baffling how quickly time passes. In a blink of a 10-year eye, this (taken 11-11-01)

is now this.

and this.

is now, unfortunately this. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jamesfhamilton/journal, where my dad, pictured above, has been duking it out for his life for nearly a month in ICU and the 5th floor of Fairview Ridges Burnsville for a medical error that ten years ago he could have never predicted or even wished for.

My kids are now 16-14-12-10. wow.

Dear Timekeeper - Where are my babies from ten years ago and what in the world did you do with my dad?

My mom is doing an excellent job hiding from you, by the way.

But my dog is even getting gray.

But we all know.....

Time Keeper... you are keeping time. The 10 gray hairs my hairdresser found are proof as is my acupuncture facial segment on Fox the other morning....

Time might be more precious than water and in keeping time, before you know it, time has flown by.

Careful, for you might be in the "I should have" spot. Even those old watches in your jewelry box are still really keeping time, despite the dead batteries you ignore on each and pretend and wish the time really stopped. It didn't.

So, In flies...."Today I Will!" (there was some music that just played in superhero form. I can also issue capes if really needed.)

You have probably heard this before. If you want to make lasting change in behavior, write it down. I love self-contracts, for example, or even having a conversation with someone else about your goals.

Something happens when we take an extra moment to write out what we want to attend to and something happens when we start to vocalize and consistently incorporate the "I will's"

Just writing out or even saying "Today I Will... " and making a point to check the list at noon and 4:00 can make a tremendous difference.

It's one thing to choose a change, but we know that reinforcing it as many times in our thoughts is essential.

Today, take a bit of extra time to say what you will do today, then, when you accomplish it, delete it and give yourself a silent pat on the back. The more difficult something is the more important that extra reinforcement becomes.

Remember the words, "Today I will...." or before you know it, "I should have" will be and ten years will have passed.

Live. Dream. Imagine. Learn. Connect. Be Fearless.

All My Best,
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

About Elizabeth:
Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network. She really loves living life to her absolute best and fullest she can. The "In Time" watch on her arm doesn't have infinite amounts of purchased time and neither does yours. It was a movie. Cool idea too. 25 forever. xxoo

ps- I am seriously the typo queen. If you find a typo in this, just let me know. I go this alone, as our editor "Liz" is out today stopping as many clocks as she can. Funny how that doesn't stop time.

psx2- Gabe Berman is onto something. Read "Live Like a Fruit Fly" :)

Create Your Best Ever Life with Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:22:00 +0000

Create Your Best Ever Life with Best Ever You
By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

When I founded Best Ever You a few years ago, I implemented some of my beliefs and practices from my own personal life and career and made them come to life via Best Ever You, with columnists in each area providing expert advice to help you live your Best Ever Life.

Today, we are The Best Ever You Network which is a multi-media company, with several websites, a radio show, TV appearances, a social community, printed magazine and more.

In practice, continually becoming the best person you can be might not be considered fun. It might even be a tough turn around or just some fine tuning or for me, for example, a consistent and constant learning process. So I invite you to spend some time with me and design the life you want to lead. We’ll talk about vision, attitude, health, money, exercise, beauty, home, relationships, work, leisure and travel, spirituality, food and nutrition, volunteering and the long run and your vision.

I brought all my passions together to create and develop Best Ever YOU. It has proven to be some of the most interesting and challenging Few years of my life with every day presenting something new and different, but most important to me is continual growth and development.

Like I said before, in practice, continually becoming the best person you can be might sound sort of boring, or like something else to take up time in an already busy life. Yet it’s actually fun, and helps me stray from my routine and dream of doing something new.

Each year, I evaluate each of these various aspects of my life and set goals and dreams within each area. I invite you to design to the life you choose to lead for yourself and envision your life 1 year, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years and even 20 or more years out.

You don’t have to answer all these questions – pick the ones that are most relevant to you and write down your vision for the Best Ever You! Maybe even give yourself a rating in each category from 0-10.

Vision: What is your life road map? What are you doing? Where are you going? What do you want to be when you grow up? What steps are you taking to get closer to your dream?

Attitude and Inspiration: What is your outlook on life? What are your core values? What are your coping mechanisms? What attitude do you want to embody within yourself and toward the world?

Health: Have you had all relevant medical checkups in the past year, including dental and vision? How do you manage emotions? How do you manage chronic conditions?

Money: What has changed in your financial life in the past year? Does your budget accurately reflect your means and your priorities? Do you have the insurance you need? Can you make a plan to pay off debt or at least move it to a lower-interest account? If you’ve done well, what have you done to solidify your financial position?

Exercise: How can you incorporate a healthy amount of exercise into your schedule? Do you need to meet with a doctor to start an exercise plan, or a trainer to tune up your workouts and make them more fun? How do you manage stress, and can you find healthier ways to handle it?

Looks: How do you care for your appearance? What does your look say about you, and what do you want it to say? Can you find things to like about your face and body? Is the time and energy you spend on appearances appropriate to your life now?

Home: What are your goals for your home this year? Do you want to find a better home, fix up the one you have, make a few decorating changes? Do you feel “at home” where you live? If not, what would it take to get you there?

Relationships: How is your relationship with yourself? Do you have a balance of relationships in your life – partner, friends, children, siblings, parents, others? What one change would you like to make in the way you relate to someone else – or to everyone – this year?

Work: What work would you like to do? What has changed about your work life, and what are you doing to deal with those changes? What are you doing to move closer to your career goals?

Leisure: What do you do for fun? Do you get enough fun? Do you have too much fun? What relaxes and renews you? What excites and enlivens you? What plans can you make to get the most out of your leisure time, or to find more of it in your schedule?

Religion/Spirituality: What is your relationship with the Divine, or with the human spirit? What
beliefs guide your life? Are you closer or further from your spiritual center than you were a year ago? Are there people in your life who share your spiritual outlook, or who can offer teaching in this area?

Food and Nutrition: What is your relationship with food? Do you eat mostly healthy things? Do
you allow yourself to eat something delicious but unhealthy once in a while? Do you stay connected to your feelings of hunger and fullness? Do you deny yourself food when others are eating? Does food run your life?

Volunteering: What do you do to help others? What would you like to be doing? Do you choose your charity or volunteer projects, or do you just say yes when someone asks you to help? How can you focus your helping efforts on the goals that mean the most to you?

The Long Run: Have you got a will? Have you made legal arrangements for what would happen to your kids if you were dead or disabled? Have you got life insurance? What is your plan for your retirement and old age? Living wills, health care proxies, powers of attorney, di. cult conversations with your relatives.

Vision:
Last year I
This year I
In 2 years I will
In 5 years I will
In 10 years I will
In 25 years I will

All My Best,
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, CPC

About Elizabeth:
Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network. Hmmmm. in 25 years I will be
be 67 years old. Scary to think about what I will be doing at age 67. I hope whatever I am doing involves breathing :)

You Have the Right to Remain Silent - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 10:24:00 +0000

You Have The Right to Remain Silent
By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Have you ever started with a goal only to find 5 days later it is tough to stick to and you are the hamster back on the wheel and haven’t made the change?

Here are three common "resolutions" that by day 7 are broken.

1. “I am going to exercise 30 minutes each day.”
2. “I am going to write a daily blog.”
3. “I am going to quit smoking.”

How do you effect change and create a good habit? How do you toss out an old habit?

For most, the problem lies with time and attention. Too much time on other things and not enough attention on the things you need to focus on.

So for today I’d like empower you with the right to remain silent!!

My guess is for many of you, including me, taking ten minutes or even twenty minutes of silent reflection can be a bit uncomfortable and feels maybe a bit self-indulgent.

However you have the right to remain silent!

Silence can sometimes be uncomfortable because without distractions you feel what you are feeling and think what you are thinking and sometimes you don’t want to.

So, now that the discomfort has set in, you know you are on the right track. How you move forward with discomfort is important. That's your gem. It's a lot easier to avoid feeling uncomfortable than it is to deal with it. For me, ten to twenty minutes per day is the key.

If you just make a promise to stick with ten minutes a day dedicated to silence, the ripple can make a major difference. That's a habit worth making!

Ten minutes a day, maybe even twenty dedicated to self care is a wonderful goal.

Just think how much better our day can be if we all took time each day to show appreciation for ourselves. Filling up 'us' allows us to enjoy others. It's a great first step to lasting change!

Silently,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network. Shhhhh She and her husband, 4 boys, dog and 3 cats are all on yoga mats in the living room floor reflecting. HA HA HA. I wish! Instead, the house is filled with kids and their friends, pancakes, snow outside, The Wii going, The XBox going, coffee brewing. Seriously, how does the dog sleep through this??

ps- I am the typo queen. If you see a typo, just let me know. Our editor "Liz" is out shoveling show, in October??!!

Tolerating Turbulence

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:09:00 +0000

Tolerating Turbulence
By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Yesterday sucked. I mean it had some bright points, but overall it sort of sucked. I had to tell my mom and family that I needed to go home today. I think my mom worked all angles, but this morning when I woke up there was a note that had her customary smiling faces - one for her and one for me and hers had tears and a frown. She was real bummed I had to leave. But I do, for now. I need to get home and be with my husband and kids. I’ve been gone for two weeks now.

Dad, who has been in the ICU remains there in critical condition. This is mostly why yesterday sucked more that I am letting on. I don’t know what I was thinking. I thought we would remove the Propofal and he was magically wake up and at least be talking sort of well. Three days off the juice and he was still saying some pretty colorful things, including swearing. Yesterday, even though he has no clue he is hurting feelings, he told my sister to “Go Away”. I could tell it was a stinging point. Alex was tough, but needed a break. So did I, as about a half hour prior to that he said to me “You look like my daughter.” Ouch.

I was hoping to have a nicer conversation before I left. I could tell he heard me when I said I had to leave and go back to Maine because he said “Ugh, No, No More Maine.” (stay here, move here, be here, etc..)

When I left for the night he said, “I love you.” I’m glad because my mom and I were the ones asking him really stupid questions to ensure he had received Oxygen when he was resuscitated and so forth. He got annoyed with our questioning, but we did it anyway, so we knew he was there.

He has been very groggy though. I don’t know how Michael Jackson ever performed or formed a complete thought as the after effects of Propfol last…for days…

So here I am in my customary writing on airplanes spot. 39,000 feet. It is a smooth flight. Thank God! I don’t think I could have tolerated turbulence or any more anyway.

I’m thinking about my sister Alex, who is 27. When dad said what he said we took a break and went to our favorite store, Barnes and Noble, which is right by the hospital. We, well she made a break for the Starbucks and since I have nut allergies, she ate at an Oreo number for us both. It looked really good. Then we meandered through the store from section to section discussing books. She is well read and my book buddy.

We were in cookbooks and then suddenly in self-help. Have you ever been to the self-help section of the bookstore with a 27 year-old? (love you Alex) “Who writes this crap?” she said, “ Seriously, people need to just live their lives and enjoy life, you don’t need books to tell you that.” She was really just disgusted by the whole meaning of life, self-esteem, find yourself land of books. She went and hugged Twilight. Hugged the PostSecret book by Frank Warren. We read a few kids books and magazines, etc…but she was real bugged by the self-help section.

It was cute. I'm 42. I can remember thinking the same thing way back....and most of them make me feel that way too.

So back to 39,000 feet.

I’m drifting a bit thinking of my brother Shane and his wife Michelle, who have three pretty little kiddos. I was going through the kids section with Alex finding books they might not have when I remembered Michelle is a teacher, so I’m sure she has most of them. Michelle might be a teacher, but she is a certifiable bad gardener having killed their fall mum at their front door due to lack of water. It makes me smile. I taught both Alex and Michelle, while I was in MN, that they can cut the mum flowers off and plant the plant in the ground and it will grow back next year. They are not interested. I nicknamed Michelle "Mum Killer" and just smile about it. I can remember being younger with my kids all small and gardening being just about the last thing on my mind too.

I’ve called home a few times this morning to my husband. He is excited for me to come home. He knows I am coming home stressed, but have sweater shopped, (and he didn’t complain about spending $$). I will unwind on the bus ride home. I don’t unwind on planes. I look around and see all of the funny faces sleeping and drooling, snoring and mumbling and I just can’t ever do it. I’m afraid my head will spin around and I’ll start singing or talking or something in my sleep. I don’t sleep on planes. I figure you’d need to give me a pint of something and pass me on out to get me to sleep on this. I’ve always been that way. The slightest bump and I’m also in clutch mode. Grasping for arm rests, someone’s thigh near by and tightening my belt, as if that will all matter.

I'm on that bus ride now and have learned that Dad is having a real tough day. Probably the toughest yet. Infection, fever, wound is open, etc.

Say Prayers.

Love,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network. She is unwinding on the bus listening to classical music.

ps- Elizabeth is the typo queen. If you see a typo, just let her know. Liz is eating chocolate in quantity today.

Changing Your Life - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 09:04:00 +0000

Changing Your Life
By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Many of you know, I am in Minnesota right now going on week two with my dad in ICU. His has kidney cancer (I don't want to capitalize it even...) and is in ICU due to a bleed from that surgery. He is fighting for his life, as is everyone in here. There is no such thing as being stable and being in ICU.

So, as I sit here in the ICU unit with my dad now for about 2 weeks and see the many people here in rooms, several deaths and my own father suffering, it really does scream "Life is short!!!" ~~ and definitely too short to be frustrated or miserable or to constantly wish for something and not see how to achieve it or understand how make lasting change."

Tell this to lady who had a reaction to the flu shot and wound up in ICU or the routine colononscopy gone sour or the lady who collapsed in the middle of the grocery store and I'll bet if they backed up time and had some things to do over, they might. Crap ( I said that politely.) happens and you never really know when it might happen to you. I was just talking to a nurse yesterday who has a friend with four small babies and the father was killed in a car accident about 4 months ago.

It got me thinking about January. January sort of annoys me because the media collectively decides to push "A New You" "Resolutions" and all of this stuff to help you have a better year ahead. Before January hits in just around 8 short weeks and you are bombarded with resolutions that fail and frustrations or endless lists of things you want to differently in your life, I thought I would chime in....

There is no magic to the date. I say start now. The minute you finish reading this, start living your life to the fullest. Don't hold back. You never know what might happen between now and that magical January day....

I am here today to help you chart a course to change your life forever. To help you stop wishing for it and start working for it. To help you learn how to break habits, learn new skills, get over the “how” and discover the “what”.

Someone wrote me hate mail that says "Well who are you to tell me to live my best life?"

Well hater guy, I'm just me and that should be plenty good enough :) Read me, don't read me, It's really up to you, but I can promise you that your hate mail won't discourage me from my mission to help people, including you :)

Seldom is there a mention of the mindset that must accompany life changes. Yes, you’re unhealthy, but WHY? Yes, you are in a sucky job, but WHY? And on and on. There is a lot of determination, consistency, motivation, lack of fear and many other things that mix into the change soup that must be eaten to bring you off the hamster wheels.

I will keep this real, simple and practical. I will not use endless cliches to live your life by. This is about authenticity. I am a real person with real problems and a real life. ( I just happen to like to think, write and blab about it. )

Wrapping Your Head Around It – You want to change

Life is a revolving door of endless choices and the thing of it is - not one single person can force you to change. Throw in a little fear into the mix and it could be a recipe for Hamsterology. You have to want to change. It is really just a flat out hard thing to do. Change. Change What? Change How? Change Why? Where? When?

Completely head-spinning and before you know it a few weeks or months have passed and guess what? Nothing has CHANGED! In some cases, things may have even gotten worse!

So my challenge to you is to write down 5 things you would like to change. Just do that for now. Grab a notebook or a journal and write down those 5 things you want to change.

What did you write?

All My Best,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network. Elizabeth loves to improve her own life and those around her with small lasting changes.

ps- I am the queen of typos. If you see one just let me know. Our editor, Liz, is still wrapping her head around change and a medical check up.

There's No Crying in Baseball

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:46:00 +0000

There's No Crying in Baseball
By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Not gonna lie. This is not easy here in the ICU in Minnesota in any way, shape or form.....whether patient or warrior visitor....

Last night, after a 2nd unsuccessful vent removal attempt and dad was sedated and stable, we needed a small break.

When they remove someone from a vent like this, the patient becomes fully awake with a tube shoved down their throat. To remove it the patient comes off the sedation and fully alert with the tube still shoved down their throat. It incites a riot and panic and constantly gagging feeling within like I've never seen before. My mom, my sister and I watched my dad go through this twice only to be resedated with "We'll try again tomorrow." said to us. (It was so bad we cried and we've seen worse than this before.)

So.................................................................................
I thought I could maybe cheer mom up with some retail therapy. Off we went to Kohls. My mom, a fellow shoe hound, however, just wasn't in the mood for shoes. Shoes are like little glimmers of hope, but we needed bright stars of miracles, so I suggested a different department. Sweaters...... since Minnesnowtah weather is calling for snow (??!!) the next few days. (Yes, It's colder in Minnesota than Maine!!)

So there we were with mounds of sweaters and ponchos. Mom really still wasn't so cheery. I could tell we both needed sleep, perhaps mounds of that instead.

Rather than snooze, after shopping, we headed back to the hospital for another few hours. We decided he was stable and went home for the night. We both agreed that we needed to get a little tougher yet for what we knew was going to happen tomorrow - vent removal attempt #3.

Removing someone from a vent is a horrible process and we've seen this several times before with dad's previous ICU visits from his strokes, etc.. I can't say anything too much more positive than that. It is bad to watch, hard to see and gagable, literally and we've seen dad go through it twice now and be put back sedated.

So, at home, knowing tomorrow (today) would be tough, exhausted I said, "Mom, There's No Crying in Baseball." She said, "Now that is a good saying." So we decided it would be our motto for the day ahead.

There's No Crying in Baseball
We both got up this morning at 5am and put on our new sweaters. I put on my poncho and mom put on her new long cardigan sweater and decided we were caped crusaders, ICU Warriors and "There's No Crying in Baseball" tough.

and now....
The vent is off. Dad's first words were "Where's my honey? I love you Carolyn" - and that's after nearly 40 years. We should all be so lucky. The family is here with dad and he is now off Oxygen and breathing on his own.

With Love,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network. Her entire family is amazed that Michael Jackson was on Propofol, because it is so dangerous unmonitored and requires at least 3 monitors and full attention from staff and a patient must be intubated to breathe properly on it.

ps- I am the typo queen. If you see a typo, just let me know. Our editor, Liz is at the baseball game.

You Can Feel the Love

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 06:45:00 +0000

You Can Feel The Love
By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

<<<----- This is what the wall looks like in my dad's ICU room. There are signs posted everywhere that say "No Flowers or Balloons" and so many rooms of patients are just a vast array of medical equipment, lines, beeps, noises and moreso, very lonely looking.

Our family decorates.

We decorate with love and we have a pact that if any of us are in this situation we don't leave. That is right we don't leave. We cover in shifts and never leave the person in ICU alone. This wasn't something we decided to do when we were kids or anything to plan for this day, It is something we all discovered we wanted and needed to do when our dad was sick in 2004-2005 with his strokes.

My mom and I cover the wee hours of the morning and the day and my brothers and sisters and their wives cover the night. My mom has a tendency, as I'm sure you can predict, to not want to ever leave his side. They've been married since Feb 14, 1975, have 10 kids and 16 grandkids.

As I write this, my mom wants you to know that most people in the ICU here are alone except for their nurse. We noticed that for many days now, lonely other rooms, feeling like we are the only round the clock visitors. Makes us wonder if family support helps pull the loved one through.... The doctors and nurses tell us that our room has a different vibe. They've all stopped in to meet the family and even point to various pictures and make the connection to who is who. The doctor has even stopped in more times than he needed to...

You can definitely feel the love. Yesterday when dad was somewhat alert, Hallie, my sister's daughter who is 12 (my niece) said "Grandad, I love you." He opened his eyes and squeezed her hand to know he heard her.

One of the things the nurses constantly say is "They hear you and know you are there......."

There is an abundance in room 369.

With Love From Minnesota,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
Elizabeth is the CEO and Founder of The Best Ever You Network. Love is Powerful.

ps- I am the typo Queen, if you see one, just let me know. Our editors are off praying for my dad today.

Name Tag Angels

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Name Tag Angels
By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Sometimes in jokes or conversation you might hear that it is bad to go to a job where one has to wear a dreaded, often misplaced or constantly forgotten or even unappreciated Name Tag. You know....Name Tag = Crappy Job........

Well, tell that to the ICU Doctors and Nurses all proudly displaying Name Tags who are helping save my dad's life. Name Tags are critical. In the times of stress, the Doctor may introduce himself, say his or her name outloud and tell you what is going on or the course of treament. Most of us here with Dad needed a glance at the Name Tag twice or even more to remember, because under the stress we couldn't recall who we were talking to and things happen fast.

Chaplain Holly had to repeat her name at least 4 times yesterday and I found myself looking at her Name Tag to finally set it in my brain. Then along came the Priest before surgery to Annoint him. I saw the Priest collar yesterday and a Name Tag. Just now the head ICU doctor "The Intensivist" came in Name Tag and all. (Oh, and he was here at 1am and 4am too , checking on dad.)

In fact, most people who do things for you, probably have a Name Tag. Think of the person who cleans your teeth, changes the oil in your car, makes you beautiful in clothes at your favorite store, brings you goodies to eat when you are out, fits you with the most perfect pair of shoes, makes you that first cup of coffee each day, but above all, think of the Name-Tagged People who may one day save your life or that of a loved one.

You have Name Tag Angels all around you. Cherish them and smile and most of all, take the time to know their name. They are helping you. Maybe even give them a high five or a handshake too :)

With Much Love from Minnesota, with dad in ICU,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network. Angels are everywhere.

ps-If you see a typo, just let me know. Our editors are taking a well-deserved snooze.

25 Best People to Follow on Twitter

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 11:21:00 +0000

25 Best People to Follow on Twitter

By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino (@BestEverYou) and Deb Scott (@GreenSkyDeb)

They're influential. They followback. They retweet. They're some of the best on Twitter and they're our favorite & best picks for October 2011.

1. @FredCuellar - Founder/CEO Of Diamond Cutters International, Author,Inventor,Executive Coach, Motivational Speaker, Grateful

2. @CoachForYou - Mountain Biker and Life Coach for: Online Marketing, Social Media, Social Networking, Web 2.0, Blogger. If you can dream it, you can do it.

3. @JenuineHealing - Please check out my book about Living in Gratitude while surviving on Miracles. http://www.jenuinehealing.com/?page_id=530

4. @Womenonthefence - Wife&Mom|Editor-In-Chief|Entrepreneur|Author|Speaker|Women's Success Coach|Spokesperson|Media Personality|FORBES Top 100 Sites 4 Women|TOP 20 WOMEN Canada|Funny

5. @LoriMoreno - ✈Travel ❥♥ℒℴѵℯ♥ Enjoying Spiritual Adventure with Amazing Souls Miracles Trends Empowerment Connector Innovate Inspire ☆

6. @ElisaTalk - All-around media chica, founder of www.30secondmobile.com, founder of iParenting Media, acquired by The Walt Disney Company. I also tweet as @30secondmom.

7. @LizLange - Official Twitter page of Liz Lange.

8. @GabeBerman - Author of Live Like A Fruit Fly (LLAFF)- The Secret You Already Know

9. @BonniePfiester - FITNESS: ADVISOR/WRITER ►@SearsFitness TRAINER►@DoBCx Boot Camp at @FitStudio AMBASSADOR►@FitFluential BLOGGER►http://www.pFITblog.com

10. @Beliefnet - World's largest multi-faith, spirtuality and inspiration website. Yes, we have recipes and horoscopes too

11. @GuyKawasaki Author of Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions. Former chief evangelist of Apple. Co-founder of Alltop.

12. @SnapPages - Website creation for the rest of us.

13. @YourPocketGuru - I Live to help everyone achieve the positive changes we all desire most. Remembering to remind yourself often of what inspires you now is the key. You Matter...

14. @1MJ - A bodhisattva in progress ~ I'm a believer in Karma & ♥ Paying it Forward. ~ Entertainment, Arts, Health, Science, Philosophy, Headlines & People. ♈

15. @TaleofABaseball - Inspire a child to read! Tale of A Baseball Dream! Read & Dream BIG!

16. @TGBears - Who does not love a teddy bear? My bears are handmade and can be personalized. Don't see what you want? Contact me for a custom bear. Member of @theartisangroup

17. @MaureenAOpene - I guide Babyboomers Inspired Ageless Career Planning.=Longer work/life,well-being and connect.Let's bring the new.Grandma not done yet.How can I help you?

18. @DrAlexConcorde - BSc PhD MBBS MBA Creator of new brain theorem for less stress/greater human capability in health/medicine/business/intelligence/individual potential/happiness

19. @Eric_Halsey - Highly skilled~Sales~Mgt~Cust Service Pro~Top 1% TwitterGrader.com/eric_halsey Top 1% Fast Mag. Influence Project

20. @MelodyLeaLamb - Artist, illustrator, runner & stay @ home working mom. I paint miniatures (ACEOs) of animals & fantasy, plus illustrate childrens books. I tweet A LOT!

21. @SpitToonsSaloon - aka Eric Kobb Miller,D.M.D.,literary humorist, author of the book: Spit Toon's Saloon - Rinnce and Spit Toon, Proprietors - Sad Songs and Funny Tales on Tap.

22. @StressFreeKids - Mom/author of Indigo Dreams CD Series. Stories Decrease Stress, Anxiety, Anger / Improve Sleep and Self Esteem. Kids! Teens! Even Adults! Love Sharing Tips!

23. @TheDailyBasics - Home, Life & You Style blogazine led by Cynthia Bogart, veteran Field Editor-Better Homes & Gardens (We're not a BHG affiliate). Proud Mama of @Hashtagwhoswho

24. @Lawyer1mom - Mom of 3; owned by 1 labradoodle; blessed w/ 1 wonderful husband. I love great design, wine, coffee, gardening, cooking and books.

25. @DivaCafe - Sharing a Passion for Empowering and Inspiring Women in Business,Twitter Coach, Blogger, Social Media Promos @dede_watson @twivaparty@dallastweetup

Find a Miracle - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:43:00 +0000

Find a Miracle
By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Ten days ago, I was in tears with my parents on the phone about the possibility of my dad dying in surgery because things were looking so terribly grim.

A month or so ago, upon hearing the news I begged my mom to get a second opinion about my dad at the Mayo Clinic.

They did.

This past week, the Mayo Clinic took charge of my dad's wellness and the odds went from terrible to hopeful to yesterday, when he made it through surgery. Cancerous Kidney be gone....and please never come back.

Before the surgery, my dad said, "I'll be fine. I've made it through a stroke, subsequent brain surgeries, eye surgeries and I'll get through this too." I can still remember after my dad had his stroke and he was in verbal rehab, the nurse asked him for a word that starts with "a". My dad said, "Aardvark". (We learned most stroke patients to the magnitude of my dad's stroke can hardly talk right or have memory and "a" is usually the word the say when asked.) My dad said, "aardvark". (go dad...)

So anyway, I was on the phone with my dad and he sounded kind of blue, like he really wasn't up for more medical anything, but that he would do this and was determined to be fine. In fact, he made a bet with my mom for $100 that he would walk up the stairs to the house within a week of surgery.

Meanwhile, while my parents are betting and being all positive, Gabe Berman, "Live Like a Fruit Fly" author and my buddy, started an event on facebook to charge up the world of positive thinking and help make a miracle happen.

Well, we have our miracle. Today dad is up walking around. Seriously, today he is up walking around. My mom called first thing this morning and said, "I'm not sure you even need to be here. Not that we don't love you here and want to see you, but this isn't urgent anymore."

Keep the thoughts and prayers going still. I think we all just witnessed a miracle. Pray a little more, thinking positively a little more and all forces combined matter.

Love,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
Time is precious. Don't ever waste it. You are the CEO of Your Life. Live.

ps-If you see a typo, let me know. Liz is on vacation and I am on my own here without my editor.

Landmine Communication - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:51:00 +0000

Landmine Communication

Recently, I have been studying facebook posts and noticed a lot of landmines out there and people are communicating about them openly.

Someone recently lost two dogs in one day, car accident, a bout of ovarian cancer, job loss and more. My dad has had a health crisis. Even the weather has brought with it landmines.

In any situation when we interact with others, whether online or face to face, we have the opportunity to help ourselves or someone else face and cope with life's landmines.

In any situation who do we grouse at or whine to? The ones we love the most.. Our parents, partners, children, friends, friends in our online community or even strangers.

Think about what happens when we are the whinee, when we are all ears to someone who is having a landmine?

Are we willing to rise above our emotions and non-judgmentally figure out what might be going on with the other person?

Are we willing and able to listen without offering unrequested advice? Do we understand that sometimes there are things that can't be fixed and the other person just needs to vent.

Even more difficult, the bigger the landmine, the bigger the fallout. If someone lashes out, do we rise above and offer an unconditional empathic response?

"Life is what happens when we are doing other things." reminds us that in a moment, our life can change. How we respond to others gives use important clues about how we will maintain our best attitude regardless.

How do you help someone?

Best,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network. Thank you for all of your help, thoughts, prayers and positive attitudes, always. You are the Best. A special thank-you to Gabe Berman, author of "Live Like a Fruit Fly" and to the people who joined along and said positive thoughts and prayers.

Shea Vaughn's Breakthrough - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:36:00 +0000

I am very honored to issue Shea Vaughn and her book "Breakthrough" our Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award.

Recently I was in Chicago and visited with Shea and had the wonderful opportunity to spend time with her and her husband Steve.

I've seen first hand, some of the hard work and love that went into creating this book.

The thing about Shea is that she is the real deal. The recipes in the book are recipes she really uses. The exercises are routines she does and moreso, the principles are those that she follows and teaches to others.

I hope that you will buy Shea's book "Breakthrough" and really use it to enhance your life.

PURCHASE LINKS:
• SHEA’s WEBSITE with AMAZON LINK: www.sheanecits.com

• SQUEEZEPAGE to AMAZON: http://shea.audre.com/

• CLICK THIS “BOOKS-A-MILLION” LINK TO PURCHASE: http://bit.ly/sheavaughnbreakthrough

About The Book

Shea Vaughn’s BREAKTHROUGH – The 5 Living Principles to Reduce Stress, Feel Great and Find Total Well-Being. The book invites you to “BREAKTHROUGH and find the answers you seek - discover the clarity and balance that awaits you without regrets. Embrace The 5 Living Principles as your guide and transform your life to a place of greater happiness and well-being.”

About SheaNetics

As the founder of SheaNetics®, Shea shares her revolutionary lifestyle, wellness, and exercise practice. With authority and passion, she reveals the heart of SheaNetics, The 5 Living Principles of Well-Being: Commitment, Perseverance, Self-Control, Integrity, and Love, showing women how to incorporate the Principles into their daily lives to increase energy, reduce stress, and break down emotional barriers.

SheaNetics takes mind-body transformation to another level with her elegantly choreographed self-styled multi-mix of exercises that includes the performance-boosting benefits of core power training. By learning how to unify your mind, body and heart you will achieve optimal wellness and tap into your potential to look and feel your best on the inside and out.”

iBattlewith - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:14:00 +0000

iBattlewith
By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

On the eve of my dad's surgery and on the day after Steve Jobs death, I keep thinking of the words "Battle With".

As in, "lost his battle with pancreatic cancer" or "lost his battle with cancer."

Those words "Battle with" really bug me. I wish people didn't have to battle with anything, ever.

I'm real frustrated by death today. My husband knows my frustration. My family knows my frustration. I think my cats even know my frustration. I just plain wish people, animals, plants and so forth didn't have to die. It just really bugs me.

Everything dies though. Money doesn't buy life. Money might buy Botox, medical care, better medical care than someone else, etc.. but in the end, we die anyway with botoxed faces and wrinkled ankles and arms, unless you had those done too.

I am agonizing over my dad today. I feel so sad that he has to endure yet more medical issues.

I think it bothers me so much, because there doesn't seem to be an easy way out. It all sounds horrible to me and the simple fact is I never want to die. And one way of death doesn't sound better than another. I often here people say, "When I die, I want to die in my sleep. That will be the least painless way."

Sounds awful to me.

I tell my family, I'm so adamant that I don't want to die that when I do, I will be so completely worn out, it will be scary. I also caution them that I also so don't want to die that I may end up haunting everyone or something because I am so stubborn.

But we are faced with death. Yet again yesterday, someone who shouldn't have ever died, did. Many of us respected Steve Jobs because he was such a visionary. Like Gabe. I love Gabe's take on it. http://blog.livelikeafruitfly.com/2011/10/06/idonthaveregrets.asp

You know, the school buses weren't running today in part today. As I was picking up the kids from school, TMZ's Harvey Levin came on with a news brief about Kim Kardashian's newest car choice. All I could think in my head was "Who the hell cares what car she bought, what car she drives and why is this news for cryin out loud, who is listening to this and caring?? Don't they know many people like my dad right now are sick and fighting for lives, not for the color of their next Ferrari??"

Immediately upon hearing that I thought, boy has that women got her priorities in a knot. I don't know her at all, nor am I really to judge, but seriously, people are dying, homeless, hungry, sick, and what have you and there is a newsflash about what kind of car she just bought and that she has over one million dollars in a few cars. hmmmmm....Something is amiss.

So if you are "Battling With _________" or know someone close who is, please continue with the good fight, be the best you can be with the Battle Cards dealt to you and live your life to the fullest and in the best way possible.

With Much Love,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network. My dad, James F. Hamilton has already battled with Strokes and Diabetes and is now battling with Kidney Cancer. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Best Ever You - Cat Stretch and a Yawn

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 11:06:00 +0000

Take Big Cat Stretch, Yawn and a Nap
By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, CPC

Sometimes you just need to check out, ignore, or better yet purge your life of negative or place, people and such that just don’t fit in your life, goals, etc.

It can be scary, for example, to say, “I don’t want to do business with you, " or "I wish to exit this relationship." or "No, not right now, thank you."

Of course, you put the power of a "positive no" to work, and reword that perhaps, but the right people align in your world, when you purge the wrong ones.

Same with places, hairstylists, exercise places, people, and so forth.....

If you spend your limited time in life taking time and valuing yourself more, you would say 'no' more than 'yes.' Avoiding the pitfalls and distractions of draining and painful relationships and situations, and being willing to move on to healthier relationships and situations, makes all the difference in our becoming your best self.

If a cat doesn't like something or someone they don't waste time. They let you know and if you don't change it to meet their needs, they walk off, find the sun and stretch and yawn and maybe even take a nap.

I suggest you do the same every so often.

Love,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
Elizabeth is the CEO and Founder of The Best Ever You Network. She doesn't answer her phone immediately, doesn't answer email immediately, might take a few days to call you back, will not be bothered by you if you are rude and has learned the value of Yes and No, but it took some practice. :) Elizabeth values time.

Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Winner - Never Fear Cancer Again

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:15:00 +0000

I am pleased to award "Never Fear Cancer Again - How to Prevent and Reverse Cancer" our Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award.

Before you think "I don't have cancer, why should I read this??" Just stop and promise me, promise me, you will read this book. It will help you prevent becoming a cancer statistic. If you have cancer, it may help you reverse it.

I believe this is as close to a cure and a cause as one could get. It is a bit of a medical read. (I have kind of a knack of science, so it could be easier for me to read than others.) If it gets too difficult, please do me a favor and reread it until you understand it or google what you don't know. In the meantime, I'll work on bringing the author onto our radio show.

This wasn't an easy book to pick up because my dad was just diagnosed with Kidney Cancer. It was with skeptical, teary eyes that I started to read this book. My dad is scheduled for surgery to remove his cancerous kidney on Oct 6th, 2011. So, I went into it with somewhat of "this is a last ditch and saving him from cancer" attitude.

Boy, was I RIGHT! (that is fun to say sometimes!!)

In fact, this book is much of what I always think about cancer, what causes it, why it is such and epidemic and more.

I called my mom right away and texted her to tell her to grab a copy and read this as fast as she can.

So here is the link to buy it: Never Fear Cancer Again .

All My Best,
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

About Elizabeth:
Elizabeth and her husband have lost far too many family members to Cancer. Very sad. Please buy this book and share it with others.

Best Ever You Prayers for the CrudZone.

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:50:00 +0000

The CrudZone
By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

I've nicknamed the zone around me today - The CrudZone. Enter at your own risk. I may emotionally dump on you today if you come near me. Here's why.

My father is ill. Today is a day I've spent teary. He is a 7 year stroke survivor, now facing Kidney Cancer. "The odds are against him," we were told by the doctors yesterday, "It is a very very serious situation."

But it's more of a CrudZone for my dad, who has already been through enough Crud.

This sucks. When I spoke with my parents, well cried with my parents today on the phone, they said "Don't cry. This isn't so bad. People have to die at some point." Funny how parents are. Even in their time of misery they are still consoling the kids. He isn't giving up, but I can hear him being realistic to a degree.

Surgery is October 6th. I'm scheduling a flight home. I've found myself sort of staring at the computer is disbelief finding flights but not making them waiting for it to register with me for real.

I guess I'm asking that you all Pray. Pray really loud. Pray and say the right things so prayers are heard. We need Best Ever You Prayers.

Love,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
My dad is one of my heroes. He picked me and my mom up out of a bad situation and adopted me as his own when I was really young (like 3). We need miracles here folks. Pray. I made him do somersaults at Girl Scouts in 1st grade for Take your dad to Brownies Day. He had to copy what I did - I was a gymnast ;) Funny to see a 6'4" guy do a somersault :)

Best Ever You - TheBreastCancerSite.com

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 18:19:00 +0000

TheBreastCancerSite.com, largest health and wellness page on Facebook, creates new badge application to build awareness and raise funds

TheBreastCancerSite.com is observing Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October by creating the “Pink Ribbon Army,” a new badge application to raise awareness and fight the disease which afflicts millions of women around the world.

With more than 2.6 million fans, TheBreastCancerSite.com has the largest health and wellness page on Facebook. More than 203,000 Facebook users have already signed up to join the Pink Ribbon Army, creating a major head start towards an overall goal of one million members.

“Every two minutes, another woman is diagnosed with breast cancer,” said Lisa Halstead, Chief Operating Officer of TheBreastCancerSite.com. “The Pink Ribbon Army will harness the power of social media to fight this disease, with early detection, treatment and research.”

When the Pink Ribbon Army reaches one million, said Halstead, TheBreastCancerSite.com will donate $25,000 to the Mayo Clinic for breast cancer site research.

“Since the average Facebook user has more than 100 friends, mobilizing the Pink Ribbon Army on a million Facebook pages has the potential to reach an enormous audience with a message of hope,” said Halstead. “It’s an ambitious goal – but we’re optimistic because we’re more than 20% there, with Breast Cancer Awareness Month starting in just a few days.”

Clicks, donations and purchases from TheBreastCancerSite.com funded more than 6,900 mammograms in 2010 for women who were among the working poor, the homeless or the uninsured. “When we catch breast cancer early, we can beat it,” said Halstead. “But for women who can’t afford mammograms, the disease can be a death sentence. That’s why support from visitors to TheBreastCancerSite.com is so important.”

"We’re grateful for TheBreastCancerSite.com’s support for our research," says Edith Perez,
M.D., deputy director, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. "We are trying to individualize the treatment of breast cancer so that therapies are much more tailored to each patient and to the genes that are driving breast cancer in each patient. I am confident we will reach that goal, but we need philanthropy to get us there."

Facebook users will receive a free Pink Ribbon pin when they post the badge on their home page, and a free Pink Ribbon bracelet when they recruit ten friends to the Pink Ribbon Army. A “facepile” application shows users which of their Facebook friends has joined the cause.
Anyone can join by visiting Facebook and searching “Pink Ribbon Army.” A link to the new Facebook app will also appear on the TheBreastCancerSite.com

Members of the Pink Ribbon Army will be invited to visit TheBreastCancerSite.com, where they can click on the site’s pink home page button to fund mammograms in communities across the United States, in cooperation with the National Breast Cancer Foundation. A portion of all purchases from TheBreastCancerSite.com store also goes to fund mammograms.

In 2007, visitors to TheBreastCancerSite.com responded to a special challenge to fund an ultrasound machine at McCord Hospital in Durban, South Africa, enabling physicians and staff to provide timely and accurate mammograms for women in Durban and surrounding KwaZulu-Natal province.

Pink Ribbon products available at TheBreastCancerSite.com store include bracelets, baseball hats, travel mugs, casual shorts, rain boots and two-tone fleece jackets. A portion of the proceeds from every purchase offers crucial early detection of breast cancer, by providing free mammograms to women who otherwise could not afford them.

About the GreaterGood Network, TheBreastCancerSite.com, and GreaterGood.org:
TheBreastCancerSite.com is part of the GreaterGood Network, a suite of websites which provide visitors with simple online ways to protect the health of people, animals and the planet. GreaterGood.org, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Seattle, distributes all donations from the affiliated sites, which include, in addition to http://www.thebreastcancersite.com, TheHungerSite.com, TheAnimalRescueSite.com, TheVeterans Site.com, TheAutismSite.com, TheChild HealthSite.com, TheLiteracySite.com, and TheRainforestSite.com
So far in 2011, GreaterGood.org has given more than $2.2 million to 106 charities operating in the United States and around the world.

About The Best Ever You Network:
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino founded The Best Ever You Network in 2008. Today BestEverYou.com and BEYNetwork.com are leading multi-media providers of lifestyle content around the globe in 57 countries.

Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Winner - Deb Scott "The Sky is Green and the Grass is Blue"

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:02:00 +0000

I am pleased to award Deb Scott our Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award. I did this a while back on our old website, but for some reason it got lost in the move, so here we are...)

It looks like it has won some new awards too!

Congratulations! Much Love and Many Thanks for always being You.

This is one of my favorite books!! Buy it here.

Love,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino:
Elizabeth has a lot of thank-you's out in the Universe to Deb Scott. Thank you for being so fun. Thank you for being so loving. Thank you for being so smart. Thank you for being just Deb. :)

Best Ever You Blue Ribbon - The Daily Basics

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:45:00 +0000

I am proud to award "The Daily Basics" our Best Ever You Blue Ribbon.

The Daily Basics is one fun, quick, interesting article a day for the magazine reader in you! Yes, it is that easy!!

Love to follow them on Twitter @TheDailyBasics

Cynthia Bogart is the Editor of the site. Love her bio :)

Mom, Wife, Magazine Editor… in that order. Cynthia Bogart was a commercial artist & interior designer prior to becoming a magazine editor, stylist and producer. She has been working for Meredith Corporation and has been producing articles for Better Homes & Gardens, Traditional Home, Country Home, Window & Wall Ideas, Kitchen & Bath Ideas, Beautiful Homes and others since 1994. After 9/11, Cynthia, her husband, three kids and two dogs decided to leave New York for life in Rhode Island where they feel like they’ve gotten back to basics of living and are on an island filled with history, great people and fabulous beaches.

All My Best,
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

About Elizabeth
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network. She lives in Maine with her husband of many years, their four boys, 3 fluffy cats and one huge Labradoodle.

Be Patient ~ The Mellow Zone on Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:03:00 +0000

Be Patient - The Mellow Zone on Best Ever You

Honk Honk, foot thumping, screaming, snapping, speeding down the road, too many groceries in the 14 item checkout line, someone cuts you off, standing in line for your driver's license behind 30 people and really, the list of exploding or imploding patience levels can bring you to wits end. In fact, with just one more injustice, a nervous breakdown might seem like a vacation.

I completely get it. As a mother of 4 boys, wife for over 12 years to one husband and 9 to another, I get it. Oops- I just realized I forgot the crying baby. The crying baby on the airplane. The kids kicking your chair behind you or for me a few weeks ago it was the kids outside next door playing at 5:15 a.m. (and yes, they starting crying too) Pick an already stressed or inpatient situation and add a crying child to the mix.

It's time to get more mellow, more patient and to be able to tolerate the craziness around you in an unphased by it all manner.

How?

Do you need my mellow zone from just reading this? It is really hard to learn how to become a more patient person in today's crazy world. It can be done. Have you ever been around someone who is just peaceful and mellow in the face of stress or a bad or even competitive situation? Bewildering isn't it? You look to them and wonder, Are they on happy pills or are they just patient and calm on their own right and have learned the art?

Better to learn the Art of Patience......

Here is are some tips to help you create a more patient lifestyle for youself. For fun I'll call this my Best Ever You Chillax and Be Patient Mellow Zone........ enter at your own better health risk :)

My number one tip for staying patient has to do with this thought, "Is this life or death?" In other words, if I am stuck in traffic or the light turned red just at my car and I have to wait for the next light - It is worth becoming impatient about? Will the world end if you have to let several other cars pass? If you let others get there first? If you let someone take that closer parking spot? Will the world come crashing down around you if the guy with 200 items in his grocery card goes first and you wait - key word here, PATIENTLY, behind him? Can you do it? Challenge yourself sometime. Intentionally get behind a lady with 2 kids and $300 worth of groceries to check out and test your patience levels. Who knows, maybe you'll end up helping her out....???

So, does it ~really~ matter if the lady ahead of you in the fast checkout lane have 20 items instead of 10. Will the world end or will it just inconvenience you a tad? Is it even worth bringing to her attention? Would it be a better use of your time and energy to take those 3 minutes you are spending waiting and enjoy your peaceful moment in time? Let's say you are behind the lady in the speedy isle with 20 items and you have 3 and you have a screaming baby with you. Is that her problem or your problem? She is probably oblivious and you are probably out of patience already and she is your target practice - and no she shouldn't apologize to you 300 times while standing there!

My goal in writing this is to have you do a few things the next time you feel impatient. Take a few minutes and think before you react. Take a few deep breaths and really think about how you use your own time and energy. Do you want to be that person who is honking? Red in the face frustrated? Yelling at someone over 10 extra items? Running red lights? Speeding with kids in the car to get their ontime because you are late and should have left earlier? Do you want to be that coach swearing at kids? Do you want to be that person stomping their feet?

or do you want to be the one who is peaceful and smiling?

My mom always said, "Patience is a Virtue."

Love and Patience,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network at (http://www.besteveryou.com) Elizabeth is so overly patient, you find her doing Yoga moves in the grocery store check out lines. Elizabeth is so overly patient, her middle finger is duct taped to her others when she drives. Elizabeth is so overly patient, she stops at green lights and lets other cars pass. Ok, maybe not, but she is pretty darn calm and mellow most of the time.

ps- If you see a typo in this (or 10 ), it's because I am the typo queen. Liz is on vacation and so I go it alone.... just let me know and I'll fix it.

Did You Laugh At Yourself Today? Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:21:00 +0000

Chapter 29: Did You Laugh at Yourself Today?

Did you laugh at yourself today?
Gonna say that again…
Did you laugh at yourself today?

It’s a regular practice for me. I’ve been on TV with two mis-matched shoes. I have had underwear fall out of the bottom of my pants while walking in the grocery store, I’ve fallen in parking lots and more. I’m always doing something goofy and goober like.

Not taking yourself too seriously is key.
I know this lawyer, who might be otherwise know as Peter who might otherwise be known as my husband who has been known to wear Spongebob Boxers to work. Grinch ones too. Grinch ties, baseball ties and all of it. He wants his tombstone to read “You Never Knew I was a Lawyer, Did Ya?”

You are not a major screw up. You are a work in progress always, no matter the rocket scientist in you.

Why not instead say: "Suzie homeaker I am not.." and laugh at the chaos. Then pick a funny podcast, grab your iPod and tackle one thing and laugh through the process.

We can't change if we stay too focused on what's wrong with... Lighten up!

Be Funny.

Love and Laughs, Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network at (http://www.besteveryou.com) Geez, what isn't funny about me? I mean you should see my feet. No, you shouldn't. I do some of the silliest things. Falling in a parking lot is one recent chuckle. The list goes on and on. Find Fault with yourself and laugh about it. We all have them.

ps- If you see a typo in this (or 10 ), it's because I am the typo queen. Liz is on vacation and so I go it alone.... just let me know and I'll fix it.

Hamsterisms - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:51:00 +0000

Hamsterisms
By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

A couple of things before we get started... My kids are asking me if we can get a Hamster now. (um, NO!) and I still didn't google the difference between an Gerbil and a Hamster, so pardon whatever cute furry critter I choose and use Hamstervision if you need to....

Hamsters are creatures of habit. So are we. But have you ever had the "Ah-hhh" power and happy calm that can come over you when you read a list of inspiring thoughts, such as ways to live your life, things to do today, and quotes coming through in social media from all sources. "Live Richly," "50 Things to Eat Daily," "Top Ten Signs …" and more.

Yes, we get it, We love inspiration. There is a slight problem however: It’s called reality. (a.k.a "Hamster-Check")

Not to burst your bubble or remove the quote that jolted, but reality is lists like this, don’t work and if you interpret them as musts, they can be just flat out overwhelming.

So I developed our own list. But please do me a favor and pick just one thing on this list today. Pick another tomorrow. Rotate them through your life. But please, don’t sit down today and try to accomplish all things on this list, plus the lists on other people’s blogs, plus the lists in social media, magazines and other things. It’s information overload.

I really like the statement: "Life is what happens when we are doing other things."

For most of us our list of what is "best for us" grows to an impossible number with each minute we spend in front of any magazine, tv show, social media or even walking through a mall.

What is manageable, what is demanded and what is suggested are three different concepts.

What we wonder is where perfectionism comes from? Why do we think our self worth, value in relationships and purpose for being on this planet has anything to do with these lists?

Any one of us could face unexpected tragedy and in fact as humans, we are all doing that now as we witness the continued destruction in Japan, 9/11 Anniversary and so on.... So, we want today to be get rid of the list day, pick one or two things that give you a sense of peace and allow life to happen.

Best Ever You 365's Fifteen Things to Give Yourself Permission To Do on Rotating Basis! (get it "rotating"? Better Hamster-wheel with things to do... new, improved....)

Hamsterisms
1. Love yourself and accept your imperfections.
2. Take 30-60 minutes from your day to exercise.
3. Forgive someone.
4. Smile & Laugh.
5. Clear out clutter.
6. Be proud.
7. Eat clean healthy food.
8. Evaluate and reevaluate priorities
9. Recognize stress and find ways to lessen it
10. Appreciate yourself, your life and those around you
11. Give Back
12. Splurge a little
13. Laugh at yourself
14. Take a Break
15. Breathe

:) Smile :)
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

About Elizabeth
Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of Best Ever You at (besteveryou.com). She smiles a lot and has written a new children's book called Pinky Doodle Bug. She likes bugs better than Hamsters, which might be why Gabe Berman is her favorite writer. ("Live Like a Fruit Fly").

Hamsterology - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:24:00 +0000

Hamsterology
By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

See Yesterday's Blog - Hamsters are Deadly

First, I must confess, I've never owned a Hamster and I actually think I may have posted a photo of a Gerbil yesterday. Still cute. (We'll lower the deadly potential rating down to an 8 though because they still run around on those wheels.....)

Either one, Gerbil or Hamster, they still look pretty comfy and cozy and well exercised on their little wheel, spinning, the same, day in and day out, breaking for a heavenly slice of paper on which to chew.......

What if the Hamster got loose? What do you think he (or she) would discover?

I promised yesterday to write "You Know You Are a Hamster When...." I'll add a few more... It's the book you promise yourself to write but don't sit down and right. It is those 10 pounds nagging... We all have the Hamster Zone.

How do we get out of it?

What gives us the courage to step out of our comfy HZ (Hamster Zone) and ask "Can it get better?"

What can we do to make our life easier? Better? A little more dreamy, fulfilling?

What's our first step?

Why are we afraid to take that step?

What messages in our head are telling us we need to be afraid? Why can't we substitute those messages with empowering ideas of what we can and will do? What holds us back?

In a word: habit. Habitual patterns of negative thinking can hold us hostage to change.

It's so helpful to take time and write an "I can't because" list and see all these self-defeating messages materialize on paper. Then, substitute them with empowering statements in the present tense as if something has already happened. "I surround myself with supportive and caring people" is a whole lot more powerful a statement then I will...

Today is about empowering ourselves past fear with new messages, new tapes!

All My Best,
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

About Elizabeth
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network at www.besteveryou.com. Her favorite writer is Gabe Berman ("Live Like a Fruit Fly"). Sadly, neither of them can tell the difference between a Hamster or a Gerbil, but they are working on it. Her Hamster Super Hero Wear can be found in the basement in a plastic storage thing. Locked.

ps- If you see a typo in this (or 10 ), it's because I am the typo queen. Liz is on vacation and so I go it alone.... just let me know and I'll fix it.

Hamsters Are Cute But Deadly - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:19:00 +0000

Hamsters Are Cute But Deadly

They're real popular right now. Hamsters. Cute little buggers bopping around on TV commercials. Hamsters are so in right now, my youngest son even wants Hamster birthday invites.

Right on. But did you know Hamsters are deadly?

Especially the ones who get on their little wheels and go round and round. Repetitive little stinkers. Really good exercisers though. Gotta Love Hamstersize.

Anyway, when I think of Hamsters, thanks to the how cute they are, now I have to think of cars and movies, BHMF (before hamster movie fame) I thought of people who get on a Hamster wheel and go round and round for no apparent reason other than society pushes them to do it.

Hamster Cycle. Hamster Wheel. All I gotta say, (well, there's more really) Buy a one way ticket off the wheel. It's deadly.

One Hamster trait is List Makers. Endless List Makers. List Makers, I love you too and you are not wrong, you are just, well, in Hamster Mode. Hamster Listers are going to rear up in the next three months all dressed in cute Hamster clothes and have you make long long lists of everything you want to change about yourself in the next year. These are the Happy You Year Hamsters. They come flying at your in Hamster Superhero Garb and tell you everything about your life can change if you just make the list and do it.

Great. I call this the hamster approach. My goal is to remove you from that wheel and get you
moving in the right direction.

Deb Scott and I are going to do a Happy You Year Motivation Marathon, but with a different spin. More coming soon - register at http://www.motivationmarathon.com

I'll try to write a You Know You Are a Hamster When.... column for tomorrow. :) For now, if you feel like you are trying to achieve something only no matter what you do, you just aren't doing it.... you need to start looking around for a trail instead of a wheel.... More later....

All My Best,
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

About Elizabeth
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network at www.besteveryou.com. Her favorite writer is Gabe Berman ("Live Like a Fruit Fly") and she knows she doesn't want to live like a bear, a sheep, a skunk, a hamster, or a fish. ("It's not easy Being a Bunny" was one of my favorite books too) She prefers mice to hamsters, frogs to mice, lizards over frogs and thinks snakes are just flat out creepy. Her Hamster Super Hero Wear can be found in the basement in a plastic storage thing. Locked.

ps- If you see a typo in this (or 10 ), it's because I am the typo queen. Liz is on vacation and so I go it alone.... just let me know and I'll fix it.

Stop Wishing and Start Working - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 11:25:00 +0000

Stop Wishing for It and Start Working For It

By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

What motivates you on a daily basis? What gets you out of bed and moves you forward? What motivates you to resolve to achieve a new goal?

The answer is emotion.

Sometimes our emotions and motivations have to change because they aren’t strong enough to drive us forward to our visions and goals.

The fact of the matter is that people don’t change unless they feel like changing. That emotion has to be strong enough to get you through the moment when you don’t feel like following through. So your vision and bigger emotion has to be compelling.

Let’s take a Rock Star for example, (I put that in caps because I secretly wish I was an 80's pop star, read on....) Rock Stars aren’t just born or magically appear. Sure there are some gifted musicians out there, but the fact of the matter is they didn’t just wish it one day and suddenly they were a Rock Star. They worked at it (and they have to work on the right hair!) They don't wish they were drumming - they drum and drum and drum and practice and they issue sets of ear phones to their parents, like our kiddo Quaid. (drum set in his room!)

Let's take fitness. Those in the buff zone don't sit around eating chips and cookies hoping and wishing for abs one day.....

Another example is the famous Forbes Riley. Forbes has sold billions of dollars in fitness products, hosted many informercials, appears on HSN and is SpinGym’s Founder and CEO. She was also recently inducted into the Fitness Hall of Fame. Forbes is a dear friend of Best Ever You’s and we know that Forbes works hard to fulfill her goals and dreams. Forbes has to exercise, she also practices the principles of motivation, emotion, consistency, dedication, discipline and more on a daily basis in order to accomplish her goals. Forbes walks the talk.

When you don’t feel like doing something – you won’t do it. There has to be a bigger vision that goes with the emotion. There is emotion that gets you beyond your current emotion and translates to a bigger vision.

Is there enough motivation behind the emotion and enough emotion behind the motivation to go out there and get the drums and start playing, get out the computer and start writing, jog down the block and start losing those extra pounds, etc...?

My message today is to Stop Wishing For It and Start Working For It.

All My Best,
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

About Elizabeth
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network at www.besteveryou.com. Her favorite writer is Gabe Berman ("Live Like a Fruit Fly") and she often can be seen wogging down the block. What is wogging, you ask? Wogging is this sad combination of walking and jogging because Elizabeth is training to run. ;)

ps- If you see a typo in this (or 10 ), it's because I am the typo queen. Liz is on vacation and so I go it alone.... just let me know and I'll fix it.

Quit Shoulding All Over Yourself - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 05:44:00 +0000

Change brings out of the closet all kinds of issues that cause us to evaluate what do we 'want,' or what do we 'need.'

We all come with a garbage bag full of the "shoulds" we have been taught that we are supposed to want and we rarely question them.

Aren't we supposed to... Fill in the blank. All of us get neurotic when we face our day trying to "do, be and act" based on someone elses rules for our lives. Today, why not be radical!

Give yourself permission to challenge one of the shoulds in your life. Instead pick a want and better yet, choose a need that you claim without attention to what others think.

I am willing to bet you will find yet another aspect of your best you that promotes lasting change!

All My Best,
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, CPC
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network at www.besteveryou.com. She is a certified lifecoach, mom of 4, wife, dog lover, cat lover and cartoon lover.....

ps- If you see a typo in this (or 10 ), it's because I am the typo queen. Liz is on vacation and so I go it alone.... just let me know and I'll fix it

Cinderella was onto something and the may terd steam-ith (someplace else)

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 06:09:00 +0000

Chapter 23: May the terd steam-ith someplace else....

By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Boil Boil Stew and Brew this evil concoction is just for You……(and you aren’t melting chocolate for something yummy on the stove and hoping it doesn’t add a few evil pounds….. )

This is the brew witches would fall in the path of an oncoming IBroom6.0 for. Evilness. Bobbling about with eye of newt, hair of dragon, toenail of (pick a bad politician) and tail of evil panda (no panda’s were harmed. Are they even mean?)

Anyway you get the picture…. Something nasty is on the stove and you need to head out for fast food.

Life is packed full of assholes. Did I just say assholes? Yes I did. My husband hates that word. I often soften it for him to asswipe and then say it with a French (or something foreign sounding) and wave my hand and say, ok ass-wee-pay (as if it flows gently in the wind).

Call it a witch, asshole, asswipe, jerk, or Senior Poopy Face, you know it when you bump into one. My friend Dr. K says, “you can’t say asshole – everyone is on their journey.” No, Dr. K, when the asshole card is played, careful not to pick it up, I respond, with a smile of course. 

Poopy people fling about poop and you need to be careful not to step into or get hit by their poo.
Some people are just downright mean or we’ll be a little nicer and give them the benefit of “being in a bad place right now” and somepeople are downright evil, for which I recommend learning how to pace your sprint as you run for miles and miles as fast as you can to get away.....

A lot of this has to do with believing in yourself, your opinions and standing firm in the face of what is bubbling about on the stove and not adding your own spice from life to the cauldron. A lot has to do with recognizing that the other person is just in a bad place and you don’t want in their space right now or maybe even ever. (might be a naysayer type even). A lot has to do with your own attitude.

Let’s face it, some people just wear cranky pants and they can’t they can’t figure out how to upgrade to Spongebob boxers.

(Speaking of cartoons, Cinderella was onto something. NewLife.doc. Dream Big. Sidestep naysayers & go shopping for a new dress and some new shoes. Bravo. Get out of the line of fire and keep yourself safe and look great doing it)

And yes, I bumped into a terd slinger yesterday of biblical proportions. It was too bad the poo came back at him like a boomerang (poomerang)

So think about this (a little).

Ultimately, it falls to us to believe in ourselves, trust our own capability and cheer ourselves on... "The Little Engine That Could" didn't make it up the hill for any other reason than he made the choice to believe he could.

We are the same, when we choose to believe in ourselves, we find the inner strength and bypass naysayers, poopyfaces, poopslingers and downright mean people.

Visualize
Talk & Listen
Enforce Flexibility
Maintain your own point of view
Prepare
Focus
Accept Compliments
Accept Responsibility
Accept Yourself, your personality and achievements
Be Yourself
Reward Yourself
Follow Your intuition
Enjoy Success & Know Your Image

And sidestep the poo-poo slingers. Take care of yourself. Watch some cartoons. Bugs is real smart too.

May the terd steamith someplace else. always.

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, CPC
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network at www.besteveryou.com. She is a certified lifecoach, mom of 4, wife, dog lover, cat lover and cartoon lover.....

ps- If you see a typo in this (or 10 ), it's because I am the typo queen. Liz is on vacation and so I go it alone.... just let me know and I'll fix it

Your Attitude - Part 1 - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:10:00 +0000

Life's Landmines, snowbanks, rainstorms, forgotten appointments, and personal misunderstandings and miscommunications.......such is life.

When you encounter one of life's little landmines or disappointments, what is your attitude?

Does your blood boil and your anger rage? Are you rational and a “deal with it calmly” person? Are you overly positive as if to float through the issue and glaze over it? Do you dwell in what you don’t have or do you dwell in your blessings? Do you constantly want more and nothing is ever enough?

What is your attitude?

How we adjust our minute by minute response and overall attitudes is what makes the difference.

A small change of viewing another person's idea for a moment, taking the time available from a forgotten appoint for self care and going sledding or jumping into a rain puddle are examples of attitude shifts we consciously make daily and often moment by moment.

Watching how a physically challenged person maneuvers in a crowded place can give us clues about how.

Take a look at your attitude in various circumstances. It might be time for some attitude shifts to change your thinking.

I know my family doesn't love it when I write or talk about all the details of their life publically, but when it comes to my dad, they are quite used to it. My dad is a multiple stroke survivor. The strokes have rendered him partially blind and unable to drive by himself. Does he spend his days angered over the inability to drive and his dependence on others for a lot of care or does he spend his time happy to be alive and to see my brother get married and have children and spend his time with family?

My dad has such am amazing positive attitude for all that has happened to him. He is a shining example of the power of a positive can-do attitude. My mom is always helping others and will go out of her way to be a positive influence on everyone around her also. Yes, it is sad what has happened to my dad, but they don’t dwell. The deal and make the best of it in every way possible.

On October 6th, to complicate matters and really challenge his attitude, he will be having a kidney removed...... I wonder what his attitude will be? (I already know..)

All My Best,
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, CPC

About Elizabeth
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network at www.besteveryou.com. Elizabeth is a certified professional life coach and has a B.A in Mass Communications. She might be coming up on her 42nd birthday..

ps- If you see a typo in this (or 10 ), it's because I am the typo queen. Liz is on vacation and so I go it alone.... just let me know and I'll fix it.

The Alphabet of Life

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 07:08:00 +0000

The Alphabet of Life

By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

I have this mish-mash of emotions this morning after watching all of these children on TV yesterday, left parentless by 9/11. That's where my head is at this morning. You know me... I always think about the kids.

It just sucks. Seeing a 10 year-old sobbing on TV because his father was killed.... He's 20 now and today is year 10, and while still sad, for some baffling reason he's not stuck in sorrow. He's productive, positive? and dealing with the punch.

You suck terrorists. You suck bigtime and I wish someone would give you a giant dose for fruit-flyism or best ever you'ism so you'd understand your senseless selves.
There is no reasoning with irrational though.

But as I saw that and am pissed, you don't hear it from the 10-year old above (now 20) who you would think would be as bitter as bitter gets, you know like become Mad Max or something.

Yesterday here in Falmouth, Maine (Faaaal-muth, not Foulmouth) someone drowned in the river. A 17 year-old boy. I don't think his parents or friends are waking up this morning with smiles on their faces or gratitude for the days ahead. At some point they will need to again.

Same with the 20+ some people who were gunned down yesterday in Florida, when a person opened fired on them.

Life isn't predictable, for the most part or at all really. So while you are living, LIVE.

If you are reading this, smile. You are alive.
So, roll out of bed with a smile, gratitude and a love for the day ahead?

What if each night before you feel asleep, you spent a moment reviewing the day and giving thanks for all the great moments and for the crappy ones too.

The trick is to still do these things when life gets tough or throws you a curve or twist or fireball. Can you maintain a positive sense of yourself, be positive to those around you and the world as a whole under trying circumstances? It is difficult, but with thought you can focus on positive and not swim in a pool of negativity, stress or anxiety.

Throughout my day, I reach for my notebook or computer and read the positive statements I have written and write more. When life presents a challenge, I tend to write and read to ground myself in positive energy and focus.

Below are combinations of several excerpts from my journal.

The ABC's of Best Ever You
Let's go back to the Alphabet.
Play with Blocks :)

The alphabet is one of the first things we learn in school. We have all sorts of songs ingrained in our heads to learn it, ways of remembering it and more. Think of the time you invest in a child teaching them to write the alphabet, memorize it and learn. I wish we would apply that concept to positive thinking. Make positive thinking as important as learning the alphabet.

A - Acceptance, Appreciation, Advocate, Altruism
Accept yourself and those around you. Appreciate your life and the people involved. Advocate for your beliefs and cause. Be selfless. Care about others. Imagine the impact you have on another person’s life when you do these things. I simply rode a bus from Portland, Maine to Logan Airport this morning, but I stopped and thanked the driver for getting me to my terminal safely and without incident. He said, “Thank you, not many people ever say that. You made my day and it is early yet.” Stop to take time and appreciate others.

B – Believe, Beliefs, Benevolence
Believe in yourself. Create a belief system and keep in mind that it might be different from something you have learned from your parents of friends. You have the right to think differently. Be charitable, give, and do good in the world. Believe in others and trust. I think of all of the people who have been with me helping grow Best Ever You now for four years. Your kindness and trust in me means volumes more than I could ever write here.

C – Courage, Create Your Life, Change, Choices
Have the courage of your convictions. Create the life you wish to lead. Do not cower in the face of opposition. Know that life is about change and the choices we made. Make commitments and stand by them. Be brave. I think of my husband when I think of courage and bravery. He recently faced a surgery to have both of his hips replaced at the same time. His smile and positive attitude did not waiver one time. I know that aided in his speedy recovery, well, that and his love of baseball. We could hardly keep him down. Within a week of the surgery he was at the ball fields with his walker and our kids.

D – Determination, Decisive, Dream
There are lots of sayings like “Dream Big” and “If you can dream it, you can do it”. Well, you can. I say dream and keep dreaming and throw in some determination and some decisiveness with it. Reach and set the bar higher with everything you do. I recently learned how to make dreams stick and that for me has been commitment and consistency. Stay the course and never give up. I love Josh Johnson’s take on this. He is an agent at Scarlett Entertainment who didn’t make fun of me when I said “Seriously, I want to be an old actress. When I grow up, I hope someone allows me to be like Betty White.” Josh replied, “Well that is great. The journey getting there will be nothing like what you dream about, “ he continued, “In fact, what most people think of for themselves, takes on so many forms along the way. But critical is to stay the course.” So hold steady and embrace opportunities.

E – Educate, Elegance, Excellence, Enjoy
Bottom line, I hope you are enjoying your life. Live a life of excellence and elegance and embrace your space. Take the time to learn new things and ideas, but overall smile, laugh and enjoy your journey. It’s yours.

F – Faith, Footprints, Fortitude
This is one thing I learned very young and I don’t really know why. It could have been all of the divorces I was surrounded with or the chaos and love of so many brothers and sisters who are all different, but we each leave our footprints wherever we go. So I ask you, what is your legacy and along the way, how are you impacting others? I love it when I meet someone like Shea Vaughn who sees me as someone to teach and fills in my gaps with greater wisdom. My prayer is for each of you find this person in your life and be open to lessons to learn.

G – Grace, Giving, Goodness, Grow, Gentle
These words describe my husband to the core. He is a man who loves sports. He is such a gifted baseball player and golfer. He is also a very accomplished attorney. You would never know any of it when you meet him. He is graceful, giving, good, gentle and when I met him he said the word “Kaizen” to me. He actually asked me if we could change our last name to Kaizen, which means gradual growth, change and betterment.” We are still Guarino’s, but his gentle nature is fundamental to his core. When I see the word “Grace” I also think of Grace Kelly and Betty White. Two names oddly mentioned in the same sentence and yet the both have their own grace and style. They are timeless.

H – Health, Happiness, Humble, Hello
These are words I use to describe me. I annoy my kids constantly by saying hello to everyone. Just a few days ago, our son Cameron came out of the department store and joked, “Has mom finished telling our life story yet?” It was really funny and oh, so true. I could carry on a conversation with a bug, I swear. I’m always happy, very gracious and my health concerns me. I’ve never felt all that well and I charge through a myriad of migraines, food allergies and when I was younger, plaguing coughs, croup and ear infections. I also have tremendously bad eye-sight, which is -8.50 in each eye. (-11 is the worst). I believe the keys to happiness and success are being positive and leading a low-stress life, despite challenges and setbacks. Life is not perfect and no one ever said it was going to be.

I – Intuition, Inward, Integrity
It takes a long time to learn to listen to your gut feelings. If you have any negative responses within to a situation or part of your life, listen closely. It is when you ignore this that I believe illness happens in various forms. Look inward.

Please lead a life of integrity. Learn what this means to you and what you will and will not compromise. I believe this goes hand in hand with intuition and learning to listen to yourself. It may even go against what your parents taught you or what you learned in your formative years. Grow with yourself and allow yourself to change and learn. Form your own opinions of how you should live your life.

J – Joy, Jog, Journey
Holy Cow! Have you ever gone for a jog? I am fascinated by and seem to interview a lot of runners. Many of whom are ½ marathon or marathon runners or some number-athlete. Wow. I’ve recently started teach myself to walk each day and run part of it, consistently and routinely, like an athlete. My life has changed. I lost 15 pounds by doing this and tweeking my diet a bit to eliminate dairy.
In your life I hope each and every person becomes a Joyologist. I hope you spread cheer and happiness and love to every single person you encounter and everyplace you go. Practice the art of Joyology. Smiles are infectious. Frowns are too. Which infection do you want?
You are on a journey if you are alive. Often it is one that even the best planning toys with. Acceptance is to be praised and step wisely with impact and beautiful footprints.

K – Knowledge, Knowing, Kindness
I was interviewing Hollywood Director, Bobby Roth and he said someone taught him to “Be Kind, Be Kind and you guessed it, Be Kind.” He is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Kindness is also infectious and it teaches people to be kind to one another, even in the smallest forms.
I’d argue that Knowledge is Power. I like to think about Knowledge is confidence. I would encourage you to be an expert in one thing in your life. Just pick one thing and develop it to an expert level. For me, it is making chocolate chip cookies. It might sound silly, but it is my thing. Find your thing.

L – Love, Laugh, Learn, Live
These words are plastered on every cheap sign, expensive sign, decoration and bumper sticker from here to the moon probably….for a reason. Explore what they mean to you. I changed their order because for me, I need love and laughter and my learning of music to live.

M – Motivate, Mission, Mentor, Music
Nothing frustrates me more than seeing someone exceptional at something and they won’t share their details of success or worse, take the time, when they reach a certain level, to mentor someone younger (even if by just a few years). A successful person full of ego and themselves is a total turn off to me. Reach outward. Success doesn’t necessarily mean monetary success either, it could be someone who inspires you for whatever reason.

With that I would also urge people who are facing crisis to not only reach out to others having the same issue, but reach beyond that, if you can. You would be amazed at how the world roots for people in down situations and lifts them up. When my brother Justin Hamilton was attacked and left for dead, our family put out a nationwide plea for assistance. My dad had just had strokes and then this happened to my brother. Our family needed help and letters, funds, video games and more poured in and really help soften the situation.

Nothing pleases me more than hearing a kiddo singing or playing a musical instrument. I’m pleased with adults too, but I realize the great passion and determination it took that person’s whole life to be musical. Find your music. Polka Polka Polka.

N – No, Noble, Notable
Learn to say NO. I just learned to say NO and I now am taking it to the next level and learning how to say it gracefully. No is a powerful boundary. People might even get mad with you for saying no and guess what, generally that is their own issue.

I just love the words Noble and Notable. I don’t have much to say about them, other than I keep them as my favorite Scrabble words and they have so much meaning that as words you just know when you meet someone worth of using them to describe the person.

O – Obligations, Opportunities, Ouch!
Nothing stings like sadness or moments when life just isn’t going your way. Life has OUCH moments. I was talking with my friend who has lost her parents, lost a job and is just feeling lousy at moments. So many moments she is struggling to keep herself positive and out of the depression zone. We were talking about how bad she feels about a situation. We came to the conclusion that while still sad, there is not much sense in dwelling over spilled milk. She recently decided she is going to write a note to her parents to let go of some of the guilt she is feeling and bury it near them and try to move on. I think this is a start. Perhaps it is a wise move on her part to move forward. Move on, remember, but don’t dwell in the negative zone. This creates sickness in creeping forms.

With every closed door or bad situation there is good that comes from it. You might have to dig to find it, but it is there.

With every closed door, I encourage you to walk through it to find the new opportunities that await you.

P – Purge, Polite, Passion
Sometimes I wonder where manners have gone lately and other times I am shocked at how mannered someone is. I guess life is this way. Some playdates the child feels like one of your own and others I have never invited over again. Same with people. Our playdates just get a little more complicated. If someone isn’t working in your life, purge and move on. There are plenty of people to play in the sandbox with who will find mutually accepting rules and compromise.

It is ok to purge people from your life and honestly, they may even be family members. Everyone’s journey is different and people are at different stages in their lives. Someone who doesn’t fit your world now may again at some point in the future, maybe you just have learning to do. Sometimes a jerk is a jerk too and will always just be a jerk. You know it. Go read intuition above 
Do things with passion. Mean what you do.

Q – Quiet, Quest, Question
Sue Jacques, The Civility CEO, is the best listener I know. It could also be because I never shut up and she has no choice. Ok, I am kidding, but only partially. Great Listeners aren’t always Great Talkers and vice versa. I like to do a little of both and have been working on this with some thought and consideration.

One of my favorite stories is about my husband Peter, who is the great questioner among the best questioners out there. In fact, when he was a kid, in Catholic Church Confirmation Classes, he was told to stop asking questions. He went home and penned a letter to the Pope. It read, “Dear Pope, I quit.” Now, his mother didn’t appreciate the local church representatives showing up in full dress to her doorstep. In fact, she had a “who died?” reaction. But she was assured all was well, but her son’s letter had in fact reached far enough up that there was concern.
It made my husband even ask more questions.

Be on your own quest and ask all the questions you want to ask.

R – Relax, Read, Remember, Reexamine
Find your way to relax. Find those moments to remember things, but to also reexamine situations. Read to relax. Write to relax. Remember wonderful times and dream of new memories yet to be created.

S – Seriously – Smile, Serendipity
Smiles never fade. The twinkle in your eyes with your smile never fades either. When you smile all sorts of doors open and you may just find something you never expected to find.

T – Tolerate, Test boundaries, Try
Does it really matter what religion you practice or what political views you have? As long as I live, I will never understand a war based on any of this. I see the point of it, I see the need in cases for it, but I wish the world would start to learn about each other and all of the amazing people, gifts, talents, religions, beliefs and places. I think the internet has started to foster this, but we have a long way to go. I own the domain “NewWorldHoliday.Org” in hopes to create one day where the world does this. It is ambitious, I know and I may never be able to do anything with it, but I hope by saying this finally out loud that someone somewhere reads this and helps me do this.

Many hate the saying “try”. They think it may wind you up in failure mode. Ignore them, navigate politely around them to someone else who says “What a cool idea” or “Go for it” TRY!

U – Understanding, Unburden, Unlearn, Unbridle
These are my words for dealing with grief or problems that just paralyze you. Sometimes you have to get out of your own way and perhaps even unburden yourself, unlearn something, unbridle and create and understanding for the situation, whatever it is. Moving out of your own way is hard because often you can’t recognize you are even in your own way. (Say that 10 times fast and confuse yourself!)

Bottom line, you have choices and you can move of out of a paralyzing spot or situation by changing a little. Oftentimes we place so much guilt on ourselves we need to unburden first. I know of a man who ran over his child and hit but thankfully not killed the child. I worked with him, under the worst situation and circumstances one could possibly think of, at around year 5, after he had placed so much burden and guilt on himself he was paralyzed from the event. I used some life coaching skills to help him move forward. His therapists were dealing with the back issues also. But we led him into some new paths. He is feeling much better with some new options and ways of thinking whereas before he was feeling like he had no choices or paths.

V – Vacation, Valor, Value
It always bothers me, and I can say always, when you see a person who you can tell acts entitled. I hope you place value and meaning on every aspect of your life.

I just love the word valor. Be brave. Be strong. Face new situations with courage and a positive can-do attitude.

I just love the word vacation too. Aren’t vacations just pure fun? When is the last time you took a few days off? When is the last time you took a day off and just relaxed? Take breaks, take your vacation time. Enjoy….

W – Wisdom, Wit, Wonder, White – as in Betty White. In cases of confusion or decision making, ask yourself “What would Betty White do?” and in most cases, you’ll have your answer. Did I mention that I absolutely LOVE Betty White? Well, I do.

I love wisdom. Appreciate the wise in whatever form or age. Some of the most fun, wise people also have the most tremendous wit, sometimes so much you wonder what they are going to say next. 

X – HA! And you thought I had no X words. These are my favorites with my own little definitions.
Xenia – Influence a person, change thoughts, create a ripple effect. Grow and change.
Xenolith – Be a different rock. Stand out from the crowd.
Xanadu – Create your own paradise

Y – Yes, You, Youth
Say yes judiciously.
Always just be you – yourself and you.
Appreciate your youth, but allow yourself to age gracefully.

Z – Zeal, Zest, Zig-Zag
Your journey in life is going to probably zig-zag along. Take along a Dr. Suess Book or something and lighten up and giggle with your edgy turns and twists with great zeal and zest. You just never know what is going to happen.

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network at www.besteveryou.com.

ps- If you see a typo in this (or 10 ), it's because I am the typo queen. Liz is on vacation and so I go it alone.... just let me know and I'll fix it.

Think With Your Heart - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 10:27:00 +0000

Think With Your Heart by Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

It doesn’t matter if you have a jeweled crown balanced upon your head or an old trusty baseball cap.

It doesn’t matter if your body is decked out with five-inch expensive heels and a fancy dress on or worn sneakers and a velour jogging suit.

It doesn’t matter if you are sipping the finest wine or the best from a box.

It doesn’t matter if the school you attend is the highest ranked or the school you attend is struggling to educate.

What matters is that you think with your heart and strive to be your best ever you.

It doesn’t matter if the car you drive is $50,000 or $2,000.
It doesn’t matter if the bike you ride is $5,000 or $75.00
It doesn’t matter if the plane in which you sit has placed you in the front or in the back.
It doesn’t matter if the boat you buy sleeps 100 or carries just 1 and you are paddling.
What matters is that you think with your heart and strive to be your best ever you.

It doesn’t matter if the job you take pays you $10 or $10,000,000.
It doesn’t matter if your home is bought or rented.
It doesn’t matter if your children have less expensive clothing than another.
It doesn’t matter if the neighbors went on a lavish vacation and you stayed home.
What matters is that you think with your heart and strive to be your best ever you.

It doesn’t matter if your face is smooth and shiny or wrinkled and sagging.
It doesn’t matter if you hair is full or falling out.
It doesn’t matter if your make up is on or off.
It doesn’t matter if your teeth are aligned or crooked.
What matters is that you think with your heart and strive to be your best ever you.

It doesn’t matter if you stand 6ft tall or 5 ft tall.
It doesn’t matter if you have blonde hair, red hair, pink hair, green hair or every spectrum of the rainbow hair.
It doesn’t matter if your jewels are real or fake.
It doesn’t matter if your clothes or socks match.
What matters is that you think with your heart and strive to be your best ever you.

It doesn’t matter if you are more successful or less successful.
It doesn’t matter if you choose to stay home and work or choose to work or not work at all.
It doesn’t matter what title goes past your name or if there are 29 that follow.
It doesn’t matter if you think or perceive you are better or worse than anyone.
What matters is that you think with your heart and strive to be your best ever you.

It doesn’t matter what your religion or beliefs or politics.
It doesn’t matter what part of the world you are from.
It doesn’t matter if your skin color differs from another or is the same.
It doesn’t matter if you are male or female.
What matters is that you think with your heart and strive to be your best ever you.

It doesn’t matter if you are single or if you are married.
It doesn’t matter if you are divorced 10 times.
It doesn’t matter if you are gay or straight or somewhere in between.
It doesn’t matter if you have kids or dogs or cats or birds or fish or reptiles or mice even.
What matters is that you think with your heart and strive to be your best ever you.

It doesn’t matter if you play and win or if you lose.
It doesn’t matter if a medal is gold or bronze or there is no medal at all.
It doesn’t matter if you try and succeed or try and fail.
It doesn’t matter if you learn or if you unlearn.
What matters is that you think with your heart and strive to be your best ever you.

It doesn’t matter if you are sick or if you are radiant with health.
It doesn’t matter if you are well or injured.
It doesn’t matter if you are mobile or sedentary.
It doesn’t matter if you are able or if you are struggling.
What matters is that you think with your heart and strive to be your best ever you.

Think With Your Heart.

Be Your Best Ever You.

You’ll be amazed at the impact you then have on others.

It’s What Matters.

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth Is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network. Elizabeth is a Certified Professional Life Coach and has a BA in Journalism from St. Ambrose in Davenport, IA.
She and her husband Peter reside in Falmouth, Maine and have four boys ages 10-12-14-16, three cats and one really big Labradoodle

Live Like a Fruit Fly - Blue Ribbon Winner

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 08:21:00 +0000

I am going on day six of the biggest back crisis in existence. I took one amazing parking lot spill. Like a car sent soaring over an unseen speed bump with hair flying wildly about, down I went heels and all and managed to pretty much leave my spine there as I dusted myself off, got in my car and drove away, giggling, thankful I hadn't broken anything and praying nobody saw.

A few days later, trapped on the 2nd floor of my home, I enlisted the help of an acupunture doc to come to the house in an effort to free me.

Work is piling up. Like seriously piling up. To my left are about 20 books to read and consider for Best Ever You. I glance over and see one called "Live Like a Fruit Fly"

"A fruit fly huh?" I think to myself. I would rather live like a cat, turtle, cute fluffy dog, just me... a fruit fly. So with flyswatter in hand I set out in what turns out to be "find Gabe".

I am nearly done with the book when I see the bit about Diane Lane. I agree, Diane Lane, you are just hot. I decide I need to find Gabe. No 411, just facebook. He's there and it's him. I can't give him the 411 on Diane, but can tell him I love the book.

I'd like to write something profound and professional like Deepak Chopra wrote about the book and Gabe, "In Live Like a Fruit Fly, Gabe Berman shares his recipe for living a more joyful, worthwhile, and abundant life in every way. A witty, entertaining and insightful read."

Mine goes more like this:

At long last, a writer writing about "self-help" who isn't contemplating or coming up with a method to peer deeply inside the existence of belly button lint with a PHD (phD?, PHd?, phd?) and I assure you if he did want to write about belly button lint and other such fine things, he will and it will be a few chapters, revised, funny and with a point. ~Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

So, about Gabe. Talented writer Gabe, who gets it. Use your time wisely, be authentic, dream, life is short, Gabe. Go with old fashioned sugar, Snoopy loving Gabe.

(You know, I need to remember to save on the computer as I type because I lost the review 10 minutes ago that I had written. I can't remember how I ended this before......) Oh wait, I know. I was tossing around the decision "photo of Gabe? photo of book? both? start with his picture, the book?)

decision made.

All My Best (98-2%)
Elizabeth

ps- Gabe - "May the Force Be With You" (i.e. It's a best seller!)

Gabe Berman

Gabe Berman is a native New Yorker who settled in South Florida after graduating from the University of Miami. An epiphany, a passion, and a trail of breadcrumbs led him out of Corporate America and into a writing career. His columns appear regularly in The Miami Herald and on Alan.com.

You can buy his book here:

"Live Like a Fruit Fly"

Inspiration Recharge - Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:50:00 +0000

The crystallization of a thought process can often be a grueling upward hill climb. To get what you want, dream of doing, make a large or small change or just even a daily chore can be difficult and you might be in need of a little or a lot of inspiration to motivate you.

So what inspires you? What about when you feel like quitting or just don't feel like it that day?

One of the real inspirations in life is necessity.

Very often you can look to examples of other people. There are examples of personal reward, necessity, admiration, lifelong attainment and underdogs. Parallel circumstances or a flat out goal or dream that seems impossible may allow you to mirror someone who has already achieved.

Is there something or someone that inspires you? Are you someone else's inspiration?

I'm often inspired, but it is in the reverse direction most of the time - I'll see something and do the opposite.

I see people not holding the door open for a old person and I am the one who holds the door open. I see people litter. I am the one to bend down and pick it up as opposed to walking over it. I'm more inspired by grander notions or ideals and bigger vision thinkers. I'm very inspired by people who do, as opposed to people who talk about doing. I draw inspiration from very positive people, who have a can do attitude and will veer in the other direction of naysayer types.

I'm inspired by the people who don't give up and the people who say "If that person can do it, I can too!"

Seldom do I copy someone or try to be like someone. I love to draw bits and pieces from various people, but never draw complete pictures or visions from a person entirely as no two people are alike. I will recharge my batteries through photography, family, walks and travel.

All My Best,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth Is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network. Elizabeth is a Certified Professional Life Coach and has a BA in Journalism from St. Ambrose in Davenport, IA.
She and her husband Peter reside in Falmouth, Maine and have four boys ages 10-12-14-16, three cats and one really big Labradoodle

"As Far As The Heart Can See" on Best Ever You

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 11:39:00 +0000

I am pleased to award author Mark Nepo and his latest spiritual teachings in "As Far As The Heart Can See" our Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award.

This is a book I will always keep with me. It makes you think about your life, your wisdom and for me, makes me think about my own philosophy to always "Think with your Heart." I feel quite blessed to have been send this book to review for our network and hope you will all get your copy, read along with me and share your thoughts.

Order Your Copy!

More About the Author:
Mark Nepo is a poet and philosopher who has taught in the fields of poetry and spirituality for more than thirty years. In 1987, Mark was diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma, and as he went through his cancer experience, the lack of books available to guide him through made a deep and lasting impression. As a result, Mark has since devoted himself to the usefulness of daily inner life. He has published twelve books and recorded five CDs, including The Book of Awakening, which was chosen by Oprah Winfrey in 2010 as One of Her Favorite Things.

Mark's prolific body of work also includes The Exquisite Risk (Harmony Books, 2005), which Spirituality & Health magazine cited as one of the Best Spiritual Books of 2005, calling it "one of the best books we've ever read on what it takes to live an authentic life." The Book of Awakening was a finalist for the 2000 Books for a Better Life Award and was cited by Spirituality & Health magazine as one of the Best Spiritual Books of 2000. As a cancer survivor, Mark devotes his writing and teaching to the journey of inner transformation and the life of relationship.

In the past three years alone, Mark has been regularly booked for teaching engagements, seminars, keynotes, and workshops across the United States. Venues include universities, conferences, cancer centers, medical schools, writing programs, spiritual retreat centers, and many others. Mark taught at the State University of New York at Albany for eighteen years. Today, Mark has extensive engagements in leading spiritual retreats, working with healing and medical communities, and teaching as a poet. To learn more, please visit www.MarkNepo.com and www.threeintentions.com.

All My Best,
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
Founder and CEO, Best Ever You

Best Ever You - Love a Bully From a Distance

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 10:14:00 +0000

By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, CPC

There has been a lot of focus lately in the news about bullying, specifically with teens and kids. But have you, as an adult, ever experienced bullying? Do adult bullies exist?

Have you ever been hurt so badly by a group of people or a specific person?

Have you ever made a mistake to find yourself hanging around the wrong people?

Have you ever discovered a bad business deal made clear the right from the wrong?

Have you ever just decided that you want something better and wish to change?

Have you ever felt bullied, ganged up on?

Sometimes people do things and say things that just don’t match up with your morals, values, beliefs, goals, dreams.

Do you go around bad-mouthing them to others?

Do you stay quiet and let them talk negatively about you?

What if gossip and rumors spread around about you that have no merit?

What if you are written about negatively in a public forum or in social media, newspapers, magazines or on television?

What if a bully approachs your friends and your friends start to become their friends and not yours anymore?

And worse, what if it starts to make you angry?

Try to think of it this way:
People are on a continuum of knowing how to relate compassionately. Everyone carries their own baggage and at times their inability to express compassion makes them unbearable to be around. If we have done everything we can to ensure we address our part in the dynamic and the other person continues to behave without empathy or compassion, we need to say good-bye for a time.

Anger results because the bully taps into our own insecurities.

It's not easy, but sometimes necessary for us to keep being our best self. We can't move forward with people who bring us down. The best way to do this we think is to say to ourselves, we wish them the best, but we choose to surround ourselves with people who bring out our best...

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth Is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network. Elizabeth is a Certified Professional Life Coach and has a BA in Journalism from St. Ambrose in Davenport, IA.
She and her husband Peter reside in Falmouth, Maine and have four boys ages 10-12-14-16, three cats and one really big Labradoodle

Best Ever You - Be Your Best with Twitter

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:00:00 +0000

By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, CPC

Baffled by Twitter? Well, at first, Twitter was confusing to me too. I also don’t use it on my phone. I use it on my laptop. I’m over 40 and I’m pretty social media savvy, as my company Best Ever You depends on the internet.

I also previously taught computer programs for a living at Merrill Corporation. I had thousands of adult learners over a wide variety of ages and professions and am very well versed in the reluctant adult computer learners. Let's take my 52 year-old husband, for example, who refuses to join social media, but for Linked In. I also keep hearing this: “I don’t get it.” or “What a complete waste of time.”

For those who want to learn but are baffled, please trust me. Print this out and just simply place your brain on hold and join. Grab those bifocals (Hear me Honey?? lol) if you need them and please let me help bring you up to speed or show you how to use Twitter. Remember, brain goes on hold and suspend your notions that this is for kids/texters. It's useful and a great free promotion tool! It's so easy that people try to overcomplicate it, in my experience. It's really simple. Let me show you how.

Twitter Demystified
When you join, follow me at http://www.twitter.com/besteveryou, affectionately referred to on Twitter as @besteveryou.

From there, I will help you, learn Twitter.

Logged in yet? Lost? Let me help.

Across the top of your screen you will see

HOME – PROFILE – MESSAGES – WHO TO FOLLOW AND over to the right YOUR USERNAME.

Go to your username on the upper right side and click on the drop down menu.

You will see “Settings” Click on it.

Within Settings pay closer attention, for now, to the “Profile” and “Design” fields.

Basically fill in the blanks and upload a picture for your avatar and for now just use their background unless you want to upload a photo or logo.

(Note, Twitter could have a better background design The photo peaks through the edges of the each side of the screen, so many people develop or design a vertical photo for the left of Twitter. This is called “customizing your page” and you can mess with that later. For now, just fill in the basics and get started.)

BASIC GUIDELINES FOR USE AND ABBREVIATIONS EXPLAINED.
So now that you are logged in, here are some basic uses, abbreviations explained and guidelines:

RT – means ReTweet

ReTweet – means you’ve taken someone else’s Tweet and have passed it along to your followers and back to anyone mentioned with the @username in the Tweet.

#ff – Follow Friday: Remember, the key to Twitter is to get people to follow you. You can accomplish this by following people and hope they follow you back or by recommending people through follow recommendations. Follow Friday is a Twitter Trend. On Friday’s you can give shout outs to your favorite Twitter Followers or to people you recommend.

Example: #ff - @besteveryou, @dell_amore << Great People to Follow

(Yes, it is that simple. Is it worth your time? Yes. Can you expect to join and receive thousands of followers instantly just because you are you. Probably not, but it depends on who you are or what you have to offer.)

@ - means the address shortened on Twitter, for example @besteveryou or @elizabeth_world. From your internet browser you still to get to people on the internet you need the full address above, for example http://www.twitter.com/besteveryou. Once you are logged into Twitter, you can type @username in the search field to find people.

# means a trending topic. For searching purposes on Twitter. In other words = what is popular? Lately some popular ones are #winning or #tigerblood for those following Charlie Sheen. If you are trying to promote yourself or your brand it would be #yourname or #your product.

Following versus Followers: I’m not certain all of us are going to break world records for the number of Twitter followers in 24 hours we receive, but I’ve noticed a few trends. People think they are cool when the number of people following them exceeds the number of people they actually follow. I’m glad their self- esteem feels more cozy with that, however I’d have to disagree and discourage this this practice. It is basically rude on Twitter, a Social Faux Pas, if you will. Follow those following you, for the most part, use good judgment.

Verified Account: Yes, it’s really so and so on there. Might it be their publicist doing the Tweeting? yes!! Will they follow you back? Chances are slim there. See above. The coolness factor is at play here in grand stand form. You can try to get the person’s attention by tweeting and including @username in your tweet. Give it a shot.

“We want to hear from you- Tweet us” When a company or news organization says this on TV it means tweet us. In your “what’s happening” field. Write your response and include @username for the company you are trying to reach.
For example: @RobinMeade Great Story this morning on the HLN. Thank you! #besteveryou

Home – Your home screen. You type “What’s Happening” from here. In your home screen you will see @Mention and Retweets. This, to me, is the most helpful function on Twitter. It lists who mentioned you. Think of it as though Retweet and Mention go together with the @ sign.

EXAMPLE:
What’s Happening: Hey everyone, follow @besteveryou and listen to her show on @blogtalkradio today at 1pm with guest @KathieLB #besteveryou
(You have 140 characters total)

What happens is this goes to your followers and anything with the @ goes into their Mention Field. They can then Retweet.

When you Retweet – you gain followers and credibility among friends. Retweeting is good!

Messages – I find this section largely useless to some extent. When you join, you will notice most people have automated messages that send to you thanking you for following them. I don’t use this function. I think it is impersonal. I’m sure some find it helpful. I don’t.

Who to Follow – A handy list, generally of bigger names, but you can search by topic and find people with topics you are interested in. Pretty handy to get started.

The 2000 Limit: You can only follow 2,000 people and then Twitter will block you unless those people in some portion are following you back. So follow people who will follow you back!! That is the whole name of the game.

Hope this helps. It isn’t everything, just a start for some helpful tips. Remember to follow people back, retweet and use @username in your tweets. Add # your name or #your company if you get brave to trend some topics.

And remember
If you liked this article, please retweet! or you could say "Great Article from @besteveryou http://www.besteveryou.com/blog/2011/08/30/best-ever-you-be-your-best-with-twitter"

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth Is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network. Elizabeth is a Certified Professional Life Coach and has a BA in Journalism from St. Ambrose in Davenport, IA.
She and her husband Peter reside in Falmouth, Maine and have four boys ages 10-12-14-16, three cats and one really big Labradoodle.

Best Ever You - Your Happy O'meter

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:10:00 +0000

Best Ever You - Your Happy O'meter

Any change or resolution starts with an assessment. Are you happy? That is a loaded question. Let us say it again. Are you happy? I’ll bet, almost immediately, you responded with a head full of questions that may have started with something like “That question is too vague” or “Happy about what?” or maybe even the overall blanket response most give “Yes”.

I love it when people say “Yes” to this question. More often than not, the answer is really “NO”, but they certainly aren’t going to divulge their unhappiness secrets! Generally, that “YES” is for appearance’s sake, or it’s because it’s really none of my business, or else they’ve focused in on a recent trouble or situation that conjures up unhappy thoughts.

Let’s try to shoot for an answer of “Yes, always!” and really mean it! When someone asks “are you happy?”, or if you dare to ask yourself: “Am I happy?” say “yes” and not, “I’d be happier if I had…more money…a nicer house…a vacation spot…written my book…and so on.” Those are excuses to not be happy at present.

To get to that happy place, however, it takes some work.

So, please grab that pencil or pen and that brain of yours and think about your overall happiness level. Not specifics, like "I’m not happy right now because my dog just piddled on the basement floor," but think about the bigger picture. Think about your attitude, health, finances, fitness levels, appearance, living situation, relationships, work, leisure time, spirituality, your relationship with food, volunteering and your overall long term life visions.

Does any one category or a few categories stick out as needing room for improvement? Maybe it isn’t a total unhappiness, but you could be happier?

What makes you happy?

For me, the list of what makes me happy is endless and the list of things that makes me unhappy is really short. I’ll explain more in a future blog.

For now, what makes you happy? How would you measure your happiness levels in life's Happy O'meter?

All My Best,

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, CPC
Founder and CEO, The Best Ever You Network

Best Ever You - Stay Alive and Thrive with Food Allergies

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 11:34:00 +0000

Stay Alive and Thrive with Food Allergies.

By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

The key to having food allergies is to stay alive and to thrive. It is important to not only to stay alive and allergic reaction free, but also to lead a positive productive life.

I've been resuscitated and fought for my life in the ER as an adult with food allergies now for 14+ years and as we are coming back into the school season, I have some allergy tips for those allergic or to provide support to someone allergic and provide knowledge and training to people such as a teacher, parent, relative, friends or even the person who is allergic.

The 8 major foods people are allergic to are: eggs, wheat, fish, shellfish, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, and soy. Peanut is the most famous of the bunch. In my life, tree nuts, such as almonds and walnuts are the key culprits.

Elizabeth's 20 Tips to Stay Alive and Thrive with Food Allergies

1. Believe them. The allergic person isn't faking a food allergy. It is real and Anaphylaxis is life-threatening. The last thing we want to have happen is for a child or anyone for that matter die from an allergic reaction, which does happen, unfortunately. I am about to interview three families on my radio show who have lost their children to allergic reactions, for example.

2. If an allergic reaction strikes call 911 immediately. Every second matters with Anaphylaxis.

3. If you are a care-giver or teacher or around someone allergic, know how to administer Epi-Pen. The person with the allergic reaction can't do this generally themselves. It goes into the outside thigh. I, for example, have trained everyone in my house on how to call 911, give me Epi and so on.

Also have Benadryl on-hand or other medications specified to calm the allergic reaction and aid in saving the person's life. One trick with me, is also to give me water. While waiting for the EMT's to arrive, water has helped me greatly. (In quantity.) My husband and I have learned that while waiting for an IV, water aids the situation.

In a classroom setting, I believe, if possible, the Epi and other allergic medications should be kept with the teacher, not the nurse. It takes too much time to run to the nurse to get what you need.

4. Be aware this is a larger issue than just the schools. This extends into the restaurants, shopping malls, colleges, workplaces and airlines, especially, as these 1 in 13 children or so with food allergies age.

5. Get involved with Medic-Alert membership and other groups.
Elizabeth’s site (www.bestallergylife.com)
MedicAlert (www.medicalert.org/besteveryou)
FAAN (www.foodallergy.org)
FAI (www.faiusa.org)
Epi-Pen: (www.Epipen.com)
Kids with Food Allergies (www.kidswithfoodallergies.org)
Allergy Moms (www.allergymoms.com)
Food Allergy Walk in Portland, Maine Oct 1. (www.foodallergywalk.org)

6. Advocate for your child or yourself. In a school, work or other setting please inform and instruct. Inform people of the allergy and instruct them on how to save you or your loved one’s life. Provide all necessary paperwork to the school for medications.

7. Read all labels for food. People with food allergies tend to be creatures of habit with food because they know they can easily eat certain foods without incident. New foods really can actually scare us, cause anxiety and stress. Children are trusting souls. If you have a food allergic child in your classroom, check with the parent before giving them something new. Don’t assume it is just fine.

As an educator, don’t trust any food unless it is specifically given to you by the parent.

For parents: I would advise packing a school lunch for your child. School lunches may also be a huge issue. Treat the school lunch like a restaurant because you never know if an ingredient had an allergy warning that someone overlooked.

Beware of Processed Foods: Granola bars, cereal, ice cream, and baked goods from grocery stores and more. Eat as clean as possible. Fresh fruit, vegetables, etc.

Beware of Buffets, Fast Foods and School Lunches: Hidden dangers. Don’t share food and never eat something unless you know EXACTLY what is in it. It is better to error on the side of safe, than sorry.

Elizabeth’s rule: If it has more than 5 ingredients and is processed, don't eat it anyway. If it comes in a box or is frozen, it most likely has too many ingredients and many are allergens. As someone with life-threatening food allergies, I don’t risk my life at food buffets, fast food places or anywhere where I don’t know exactly what is in the food. Exactly. In a grocery store, shop the perimeter. Each fresh and eat clean. Eat local also when and where possible.

8. Don't give someone allergic, something that was "processed in the plant with an allergen". The chance taken isn't worth the potential outcome.

9. Don't single us out because of food allergies unless we need you to and ask you to so we are safe. An example, I’ve been in a classroom where a holiday celebration was not held due to food allergies. There is nothing worse than a classroom not having an event because of food allergies. Have the event, just change the food. Celebrate.

Do single us out to inform people of our allergy and do remind people in a group setting, such as a classroom, so people are aware of the allergy. Kids are getting used to others being allergic as the numbers continue to go up and it is more common.

10. Surround yourself or your child with 50 things you or they can eat easily. Make them fun foods too. There isn't anything worse than going to the movies with me and everyone is eating M&M's for example (processed with nuts) and I don't have my fun candy.

11 Advocate and join groups so you know you aren't alone and connect with other teachers and caregivers to share success stories. The goal is "alive and thrive" with food allergies.

12. Teach the child. Sadly, when we aren't watching over our children every minute, accidents can occur. I have seen an increased report of teens dying from food allergies. It is a tough age, they don't want to be told what to do, etc.. I sat next to a couple on the beach whose 16 year old had shellfish and fish allergies and they had forgotten their Epi-pen. The child was so embarrassed we were even talking about it. But a week ago a teen died from eating a cookie at Wal-mart, for example.

13. Recognize signs of food related disorders. We are prone to them and are prone to bad nutrition and diet, especially as we age and especially as we have a few food allergy emergencies. We tend to be creatures of habit. We tend to eat at the same restaurants because we know what we can eat there also.

14. Recognize the signs of anxiety and fear disorders. We are prone to these too.

15. Prevent others from bullying us. People often don’t believe we have food allergies and we can be an inconvenience at a party or gathering, dinner event, or other social event.

16. Love and support us. Tell classmates about the allergy, so classmates can lend a hand in supporting the well-being of the children involved.

17. Consider just making the environment entirely peanut and tree nut free, so it is easier. People can live without this. An allergic person can die as a result of just something as simple as someone eating nuts and touching a surface. It just really isn’t worth a life lost.

18. Be exceptionally careful with food allergies, as the reaction does tend to intensify with more exposure to the allergen. For example, my first reaction to peanuts was hives. Subsequent reactions it has taken 2 Epi-Shots to save my life and a hospital stay. I've been resuscitated also.

19. See the allergist, but also trust yourself in addition to the tests. Be careful with skin testing. There are blood tests and skin tests and I constantly hear, “You only show up as having a slight allergy on the test, but when you eat it you are in Anaphylaxis.” If you eat it and it makes you sick, stop eating it. (see #18 above)

20. Carry your Epi-Pen(s) and allergy medications everywhere with you, at all time and be vocal. You are your best advocate for yourself or your child.

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth has lived with life-threatening food allergies (Anaphylaxis) for the past 14 years. As a child she was allergic to cherries, as an adult, after her second of her four pregnancies, she developed food allergies. Elizabeth has Anaphylaxis to nuts, peanuts, fish, and shellfish. Elizabeth has been resuscitated and fought for her life in the ER about 20 times now. Elizabeth was showcased in the book “One of the Gang” by Gina Clowes with Elizabeth, sports star Jerome Bettis and others. After battling life-threatening food allergies for many years, she is a spokeswoman for MedicAlert Foundation and advocate for nut free environments and food allergy expert. She also works closely with Kids with Food Allergies.org, AllergyMoms.org and FAAN (Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network) to advocate and teach people about food allergies.

Elizabeth Is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network. Elizabeth is a Certified Professional Life Coach and has a BA in Journalism from St. Ambrose in Davenport, IA.
She and her husband Peter reside in Falmouth, Maine and have four boys ages 10-12-14-16, three cats and one really big Labradoodle.

Websites for Elizabeth
www.besteveryou.com
www.bestallergylife.com

Cooking with Elizabeth - Healthy Safe Eating with Food Allergies - Grilled Pizza

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 03:13:00 +0000

Grilled Pizza Night~

Our family (four boys 10-12-14-16) and their friends love, love, love pizza night at the Guarino's!
Kids invite themselves over.

I believe in healthy, safe eating with food allergies and am not a big fan of seeing all of the allergy free baked goods and snacks bombarding those with food allergies. It is important to eat healthy and safely.

This is a great recipe with or without food allergies. My husband and kids don't have allergies, for example. We do also have some familiar guests with food allergies, so their moms know my house is a safe zone (no peanuts, nuts or shellfish) because I have Anaphylaxis to those foods (see www.bestallergylife.com)

But pizza night is always a great night at our house.

This time of year is particularly fun to make pizza because of the fresh garden ingredients and conveniece of the grill. Yes, that's right - grill. Try the grill for cooking your next pizza.... see recipe below.

The Dough

With or without food allergies, store bought pizza dough often has a lot of junk ingredients in it, so I always make mine fresh.

Very easy too:

Either hand toss or use a Kitchen-Aid the following ingredients. You can almost dump them all together and mix and this crust always turns out.

Elizabeth's Nut Free Crust Recipe:

Mix 1 cup of warm water and one packet of highly-active yeast. Add one cup of flour and mix.
Add two more cups of flour, one tablespoon of olive oil and one teaspoon salt. Mix well and form into a ball.

Dough can rise in the Kitchen-Aid or in another bowl. I cover with plastic wrap and a towel.

Roll dough on floured (clean) surface and set aside.

The Sauce and the Toppings....

We make no pizza or pasta without Dell'Amore Sauce. I mean that genuinely. (Their sauce even went on vacation with us to South Carolina.)

I always feel like a walking commercial for them. We've awarded them our Blue Ribbon and I have appeared in their ads and it is because our family LOVES this sauce.

So, the next step is to add their orginial sauce to the pizza. Then we top with ingredients.

What Kind of Pizza are You Having?

I made two pizzas last night. One was a combo and the other a veggie. You can top with anything you like. I always place the cheese on first and then the toppings to prevent soggy crust.

My Combo: fresh mozzarella cheese (no Natamycin in the cheese please! gross! - read your labels), red peppers, fresh chicken/basil sausage (diced and cooked in a pan prior to adding) a little onion, black olives and spices (parsley, garlic/pepper, italian seasoning)

My Veggie: cheese (see above), fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, some black olives. garlic.

Try It on the Grill!

Yup, that's right, I said "Grill". Set your grill on medium heat and place the pizza on the pan on the grill. (pizza pan with holes) You can also place the crust with toppings right on the grill too. Careful not to overcook. Burned grilled crust tastes yukky, especially after all this hard work.

You can also just cook the pizza right in the oven on 500° for 10-12 minutes.

Anytime I place a pizza on a pan, I coat the pan with cooking spray. Coat the grill too if placing the crust directly on it.

Happy Eating!

Best Ever You - Top Ten Reasons to Lose Ten Pounds

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 11:49:00 +0000

By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Just a ten pound weight loss has many health benefits! The commitment you make to yourself to shed 10 pounds often is the start of more positive fitness and diet changes to follow.

1. Your joints will thank you! The next time you are in the grocery store, grab two 5-lb bags of potatoes and carry them around the permeter of the grocery store once. Then put them down and do your lap again. Notice the different with just those 10 pounds? Added weight taxes your body and your joints. Just losing ten pounds eases or wards off joint problems and even foot problems.

2. You can buy smaller clothes! Usually 10 pounds of weight lost is about one drop in size clothes.

3. It's fun to exercise and usually the time it takes to lose 10 pounds will help you establish making exercise a healthy, vital part of your day! it takes 20-30 days to form a habit and it takes around 4-6 weeks to lose 10 pounds in a healthy way.

4. You might discover a love of new, healthier foods. Usually a commitment to lose 10 pounds involves eating less or eating differently and eating food that is healthier for you. Explore new healthier food choices and make a commitment to your heart health.

5. Your wallet will thank you! Fast Food Be Gone - Try to make a promise to yourself to not eat fast food for 6-8 weeks and see the benefits of money saved and the benefits from not eating high fat, high salt, processed food with questionable ingredients. Try saving the money and placing it in a vacation fund!

6. The doctor will be proud. Just losing 10 pounds can have benefits to your health such as decreasing your risk for diabetes, heart disease and lowering your blood pressure and other vital measurements. Smile at your next Dr. visit instead of expecting to hear negatives or worse, avoiding the visit altogether.

7. Your significant other will thank you! Boost your sex life, your energy levels and more with 10 pounds gone! The hormones released with exercise are energy boosters!! With that in full swing, you'll also sleep better!

8. Your stress levels could go down. Stress produces Cortisol, which often rears it's ugly head in the form of belly fat, especially in women. Take a look at your mid-section and if you are thick in the middle look at your intake, exercise levels and stress levels. Just ten pounds gone in the form of healthier eating and routine exercise can help decrease stress and stress hormones.

9. Quality family time is created. In our house, once my husband saw me making some changes, he made a few too. The kids followed as well and soon our household was clean eating and making healthier choices in no time.

10. You'll be on your way to a Healthier You! Sometimes small changes lead to more change and in this case a healthier, happier lifestyle might be discovered with just the loss of ten pounds.

You can join our fitness challenge at http://www.bestevercommunity.com

All My Best,
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, BA, CPC
Best Ever You, Founder and CEO

Life in Case - Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Winner

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 09:09:00 +0000

Best Ever You is Proud to issue Life in Case our Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award.

It is a personal document storage solution that cuts through the clutter that years of poor document management can create.

LifeinCase is a durable, portable and affordable file system that organizes documents into an intuitive five-part system: Personal, Medical, Property, Estate, and Financial, each featuring a sturdy file folder and handy checklist of suggested documents to store. LifeinCase's 500-sheet capacity "grab-n-go tote" is lightweight yet more resilient and solid than the flimsy accordion-style folders of the past. And it requires no complicated computer programs, no scanning of documents to an online service, and no expensive
membership fees.

The LifeinCase product line was prompted by a family tragedy made worse by
document disaster. "My father passed away suddenly of a brain aneurysm and
we were in shock and left to sort through a lifetime's worth of papers
crammed into multiple file cabinets, envelopes and lock boxes throughout the
house," says LifeinCase co-inventor Diane Hoyle-Moran. "It was nearly
impossible to find the documents we really needed such as insurance
information, military papers and the will - making an already difficult time
worse for my family. If we just had a guideline of what we needed to keep
and one place to keep it in - it would have allowed us to settle my dad's
estate without any guesswork."

The compact and portable LifeinCase allows homeowners to easily grab up all
their important documents in an emergency situation. "We like to say - Just
in Case, LifeinCase," says co-inventor Mark Gibson. The LifeinCase is ideal
for many circumstances including: home downsizing, moving or travel,
emergency evacuations (floods, fires, earthquakes or hurricanes, etc.),
divorce proceedings, medical documentation and insurance billing, bill
paying, loan management, tax filing/audits and more. It is also handy for
use by those in senior communities or assisted living residences where
storage space limited.

Each LifeinCase Portable Document Solution is made in the U.S. and features:
* A tough and attractive 12.5 x 10 x 2.5 inch "grab-n-go tote"
* 5-part intuitive filing system organizing essential Personal, Property,
Medical, Financial, and Estate documents
* Convenient inventory checklists of 50 recommended documents
* 500-sheet capacity

The LifeinCase sells for $34.99 and is available at: www.LifeInCase.com

Gaiam Strap-Free Touch Trainer

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 15:42:00 +0000

I would like to award our Best Ever You Blue Ribbon award to this new heart-rate monitor called the Gaiam Strap-Free Touch Trainer.

Oregon Scientific has devloped a new strapless heart-rate monitor that features the industry's first touch screen. The Gaiam Touch Trainer is completely buttonless and is the slimmest heart rate monitor on the market.

I've been wearing mine since the beginning of July now and love it. It feels like wrist watch, looks like a wrist watch only it has heart rate, calories burned, clock, calendar and alarm functions.

I really just love this product. No longer am I strapping something around my chest and wrist. This does it all.

Happy Best Ever Workouts!!

Best,
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Tbox - Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Winner

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:03:00 +0000

The Tbox is pure brilliant. I've got that "Why didn't I think of that?" feel.

All I can say is Finally! This is a discreet tampon holder that attaches to the toilet, a locker, etc.. with super strong suction cups.

The Tbox is a convenient, discrete container that holds tampons right on the side of the toilet. No more waddling across the bathroom to grab one from under the sink - or searching another part of the house. Now tampons are stored right where users need them.

The Tbox Tampon Holder attaches to any toilet with super strong suction cups, opens easily with one hand, and holds up to 8 tampons.

Visit tboxgirl.com for more information!

Meet - Molly Watson - Founder of Tbox

With my three busy boys and the craziness of life, I always seek to simplify things around me...even in my bathroom!

For years, I used a big floral box to store my products... but, over time it got knocked around or was not close by when I needed it. I created the Tbox to simplify life a bit.

The Tbox is a simple holder that attaches easily, opens easily, and remains where I need it, when I need it most. Plus, I love all the cute designs.

When I travel, I stock my Tbox holder and throw it in my bag. The hard case protects my products, and is both convenient and discreet.

At the Tbox company, we love everything girl. We love making life easier, organized and a little more fun for girls and women. We think girls and women deserve the best during every part of their lives.

Motivation Marathon

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 02:21:00 +0000

Best Ever You is proud to award the Motivation Marathon and it's speakers the Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award! Special thanks to Gary at Design Thumb for your website work!

Saturday - June 11, 2011

Motivation Marathon

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino & Deb Scott - Co-Host

Deb Scott
How to Turn Bad into Good: Discovering the Diamond in YOU!

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
Be the best you can be. Elizabeth provides you with the inspiration, positive energy and resources to be your BEST EVER!

Debbie Mancini-Wilson
Balance family, career and lives and learn how to make the most of each other through your own unique creativity. .

Nancy Mramor, Ph.D
Spiritual Fitness is a goal for anyone who is interested in incorporating spirituality into their life and their health practice.

Dr. Jo Anne White
Mastering the Art of Success: A Practical and Spiritual Approach for Life & Business.

Katana Abbott
Retire To Something Not From Something: Three Secrets For Creating Your Midlife Millionaire Lifestyle.

Pat Hastings
Explore your spirituality, your potential for Divine guidance and the mystery of synchronicity

Free Motivation TeleSeminar Featuring Expert Speakers and Business Leaders.

Live Telephone Event June 11, 2011 (recordings available until June 14, 2011).

You've Got Problems - We've Got Answers!
•Need some hope, inspiration and motivation in your life?
•Want more wealth, better health, deeper love and greater happiness every day?
•Are you searching for your peace and purpose?
•Do you want to get tips and tools from experts you can trust?
If you answered YES! to just one of these questions, then the Motivation Marathon is designed just for you! Dedicated to empower, motivate and inspire you to be your best in the areas of your life which matter most. This rare interactive opportunity promises to leave you feeling refreshed and energized with a tangible action plan to achieve your dreams.

Can't make the live call, no worry, sign up and you'll be sent the replay.

More than self help - it's a new way of thinking!

Please visit Motivation Marathon to register for more information.

WordLock

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Fri, 13 May 2011 15:08:00 +0000

I am proud to issue our Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award to WordLock! I absolutely love using these various locks at the gym and on my luggage.

It’s true, a four-letter word is all your readers need to ease the anxiety that comes from keeping their personal possessions safe - whether working out at the gym, keeping your things safe at work, or checking luggage before a flight.

Wordlock® padlocks, luggage locks and sports locks use up to 10,000 different letter and word combinations that can be set and re-set. More importantly, their locking mechanism and design make them immune to begin shimmied. And, because Wordlock locks use words and letter combination that are chosen by the user, the combinations are easy to remember and there is no lock to lose, making it more likely that gym goers will be motivated to use them and secure their lockers.

For travelers, locks can be matched to their luggage colors since Wordlock locks are available in green, pink, red, silver, and black – colors that will help the travelers quickly identify their luggage on baggage carousels. Wordlock luggage locks can also be personalized with travelers’ initials. Wordlock luggage locks are Travel Sentry approved and TSA-accepted, allowing airport security to inspect luggage without the use of bolt cutters – a crucial feature since many travelers are not aware that they can lock their luggage.

Wordlock locks are available at retailers nationwide including Kmart, Target, Menards, Fred Meyer and select Lowe’s, Do It Best and True Value Hardware stores. The locks are also available online at Amazon.com and Wordlock.com for a SRP of $8.99.

All My Best,
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Fast Track Networking

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Thu, 05 May 2011 16:51:00 +0000

Need to learn to network more strategically? This book has several GREAT ideas and I would consider it a must-read for just about everyone in business!

Fast Track Networking: Turning Conversations Into Contacts -- the latest book by Lucy Rosen, internationally renowned business strategist dubbed "The Queen of Networking" by media around the globe--offers tangible tips and tools to boost sales, create, maintain and strengthen strategic business connections and get any career-minded individual on the "fast track" to success. This book is a must read for everyone, from the veteran business person, the recently laid off, the new college graduate and everywhere in between.

All My Best,

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Making It In the Media

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Thu, 05 May 2011 16:47:00 +0000

Congratulations to Jen Vaughn for her book Making it in the Media! I loved this book, which is packed full of quotes from my favorite friends & journalists from around the country.

Great advice for those just starting out and a great reminder to those of us who have been doing this for a while!

Pretty quick and easy read with lots of information!

You can connect with author, Jen Vaughn in Best Ever You's social network.

All My Best,
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

KidLandia

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:02:00 +0000

Imaginary creatures fill this website and allow you to create your own personal keepsake kingdom for your child (or the kid in you)! The kindgom you create online transforms into a magical door hanging, wall hanging or more! It really is that easy. I tested this site thoroughly and purchased a baby gift for my brother and his wife, which you can view by clicking here.

The founder of Kidlandia, illustrator and entrepreneur Brian Backus, has been living in a fantasy world of maps and monsters since he was a very little boy.

Kidlandia grew out of Brian’s 2004 concept to create personalized maps of imaginary kingdoms for children’s rooms. He believed that by providing children their own kingdoms, with friendly monsters as companions, kids would gain an increased sense of confidence, control, and self-worth. In addition, by naming the cities, islands, and other features of the kingdoms after family and friends, kids would feel more connected to those who love them. Brian, who produced educational multimedia titles for Disney and Voyager, was also intrigued by the idea that by engaging kids in namesake kingdoms, he could motivate them to understand maps, and accelerate reading skills.

Although the maps cost up to $2,000 and were only sold by word of mouth, Brian could not keep up with demand. He received consistent feedback that the maps were among the favorite gifts of a lifetime. In response to this encouragement, he determined to make the maps more widely available, and at affordable prices. Kidlandia was born.

Today, Kidlandia is comprised of a team of talented engineers, designers, and business professionals. Kidlandian team members share a passion to bring delight and meaning to the lives of children and their families. 2.5% of Kidlandia’s founding stock has been set aside as the basis for a future charitable Foundation benefiting children.

You can create beautiful keepsakes such as this one "Jakeland".
We've award this site and product-line our Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award. Also you can receive a 20% Discount for Best Ever You friends. Just simply enter GIFT20-UK43 on checkout at http://www.kidlandia.com

All My Best,

Elizabeth Hamilton, Founder and CEO, Best Ever You

Sherpa Diaper Bags "Back Packs"

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:59:00 +0000

If James Bond had a diaper bag - this would be the one. This came to Best Ever You for review quite some time ago and I wasn't paying close enough attention. The story is kind of funny really. It sat on a hook until I found the right hiker to test it. Yup, hiker - I thought it was a hiking backpack because of the warming and cooling areas in it. So I gave the backpack to our next door neighbor, Lance, to test, since he is an avid hiker. A few days later a note came back to me. It read, "Elizabeth, this is a great backpack, but it isn't a backpack. It is a diaper bag. See the changing pad. Lance-"

We all had the biggest laugh. It is a stealth diaper bag.

So, since we have 9, 11, 13, 15 year old boys, we decided to give the bag another try with another neighbor - Simon, a dad of 2 boys - one newborn. PERFECT! Now, my husband did say this was a neat item and he would have loved it when the kids were smaller, but we felt it needed a good solid test anyway.

Simon wrote us today with this to say:

Here is my review of the diaper bag. What a great bag!

Alpha Sherpa backpack diaper bag
This is not your wife’s diaper bag; it looks like a hiking day bag with lots of well placed pockets and pouches, 2 with thermal insulation. The Alpha Sherpa is surprisingly light weight for a bag with as many features. Most of the daddy diaper bags that I see are messenger bags, and after a couple of hours they can be annoying on your shoulders. The Sherpa has two padded shoulder straps that are easy on the shoulders. Also, it has an extra handle with a rubber grip on the top for quick pick up and everyday handling. The changing pad is well hidden and easy to access. It has two clips for holding pacifiers. The main compartments are just the right size making it easy to retrieve items, not like reaching into a woman’s purse and not being able to find anything.

Because its appearance is not that of a diaper bag, it can easily be reused once you don’t need a diaper bag anymore. I plan to use it as a camera bag.
The only fault I can find is that tall baby bottles can’t be placed upright in the thermal pouches. Our bottles leaked when placed sideways. This is easily overcome and a non-issue if you have shorter bottles.

Pros:
Built in insulation
Future Re-usability
Light weight
Handling and Ease of use

Cons:
Hardly worth mentioning.

For More Information on the Alpha Sherpa backpack (diaper bag)
http://www.babysherpa.com/

All Our Best,

Elizabeth, Lance and Simon :)

Hot Flash Havoc

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:54:00 +0000

The room heated up a little more when I received this packet and DVD in the mail. Just on sheer humor alone, we're going to award it the Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award. It's a movie of menopausal proportions called Hot Flash Havoc.

I'm watching it and I'll let you know what I think, but in the meantime visit www.hotflashhavoc.com and let me know your thoughts.

All my best estrogren,

Elizabeth Hamilton, Best Ever You, Founder and CEO

The creators of Hot Flash Havoc joined Elizabeth on The Best Ever You Show recently. We recommend any women about the age of 30 listen to the show. HHH on BEY

Smart is the New Rich

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:52:00 +0000

We are really proud to award Christine Romans our Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award for excellence.

In high school, all of us could always tell Christine Romans was destined for only the Best. She was not only one of the nicest girls in school, but she was also one of the smartest, funniest, most-motivated, and was always smiling, supportive and kind to everyone. She was never snotty about it, and in fact, to this day, is appreciative and still sweet, kind and all of those things mentioned and more as she heads into being on the most respected and well-loved financial newscasters of our time. Christine Romans is the anchor of CNN's "Your $$$$$" and has won an Emmy for her reporting on "Exporting America," a Lou Dobbs Tonight Investigation into the impact of globalization on U.S. Workers. Did I mention that she just wrote a book too? And had her third baby boy?

We are really proud to award Christine Romans our Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award for excellence. This is for her personally and professionally - for her work as a mom, author and financial news anchor & more. She is really one of the most treasured talents of our time and it is neat for all of us who went to school with Christine to have known that so long ago as just a feeling and see it evolve over the years. (You can't tell all of us are really proud, can you?? I feel as though I'm writing this on behalf of everyone at PV.)

She looks so beautiful on the cover of her new book "Smart is the New Rich". I asked her if she would send me a preview copy so our readers at Best Ever You would be aware and order it as soon as it hit the newsstands. Well, Best Ever You readers... It's out there and can be ordered by clicking on the book photo here. My husband, a securites attorney and finacial guru himself, and I both traded reading chapters this past week and absolutely loved the book. My husband, who isn't one to just dish out compliments on books or financial ones in particular, said, "Wow, this is actually really a great book!" (So, please take that into consideration as a HUGE compliment from a very well-respected 40-Act Attorney for companies like GT Global, Dreyfus and more for over 28 years now.)

From the just plain college educated little ol' me standpoint, lol, I loved it too. Very easy to read - definitely not a book with financial mish-mash and hard to understand concepts. I really dislike picking up books with strange theories and methods to get your financial life in order. This is an honest approach to managing your money, saving your money, explaining the value of money and more. It was hard to put down and very easy to read, but with depth and good usable information.

In all seriousness, Best Ever You Readers, I'd say this book is a must-read.

Thank you for allowing us to feature you, Christine and thank you for continuing to be REAL & REACHABLE and the authentic YOU. Best of Luck with your new book and your continued success on CNN.

All My Best,

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, Founder and CEO, Best Ever You.

Best Ever You Wins Top Honors

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:47:00 +0000

StartupNation.com Honors Nation's Leading Moms in Business - Falmouth, Maine's Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, Founder CEO of Best Ever YOU Wins Top Honors in Mom Business Competition

Falmouth, Maine - October 11, 2010- From among thousands of contestants, Best Ever YOU, LLC has been ranked 110th in StartupNation.com's 2010 Leading Moms in Business competition (www.startupnation.com/leading-moms-in-business), sponsored by Infusionsoft (www.infusionsoft.com).

Over 709,000 votes were cast in support of the 2010 contestants, reflecting immense interest and supportiveness for moms building businesses at the same time they tend to their families.

"There's been a sea change among moms as they've come to realize that adding entrepreneurship to their lives brings exhilaration and immense gratification, not to mention supplemental-sometimes primary-income to their families in these dicey economic times," says Rich Sloan, chief startupologist and co-founder of StartupNation.

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, Founder and CEO says, "We are very honored to be recognized as one of the top mom-owned businesses in the country. We started as a very small company in our neighborhood in Falmouth and are now being viewed across the globe on the web, Blog Talk Radio, TV and our printed magazine. "

She adds, "It is quite a challenge to start-up and successfully run a company and then top that off with having a husband and four boys under the ages 9-11-13 and 15 all who play sports and are active in their schools. It is like having a few of the best full-time jobs EVER all at once, she laughs! We thank YOU for being the YOU in Best Ever You." The winner's profile for Best Ever YOU, LLC can be found at http://www.startupnation.com/leading-moms-in-business/contestant/8087/index.php

The 2010 Leading Moms in Business ranking, conducted in collaboration with Ladies Who Launch (www.ladieswholaunch.com) and The National Association for Moms in Business (www.mibn.org), highlights some of the dominant trends, motivations and attributes among moms in business. They include:

•A great eye for providing attractive discounts, coupons, savings and value, all especially important to consumer moms of the recession era.
•A likelihood to come up with innovative products and solutions to address the challenging maze of motherhood. It's an environment that demands resourcefulness.
•Conscience-driven business, where "doing well" is just fine, but the real rush comes from doing good.
•The attraction of being your own boss looms large for moms wanting to take control they just can't find in a day job.
•Sustainable solutions and responsible business practices are increasingly paramount.
•Making the most of social media for business benefit is seemingly a birthright for the socially adept moms.
The full results of the 2010 Leading Moms in Business ranking are available on StartupNation's website at http://www.startupnation.com/leading-moms-in-business.

Photo by Karen Caxton-Smith

Rank Business Location
1 Tasty Clouds Cotton Candy Company Los Angeles, CA
2 Hugga Bebe Tulsa, OK
3 Steal Network Murray, UT
4 Mamabargains.com Salt Lake City, UT
5 Cutecribs Warner Robins , GA
6 Coupon Girls, LLC West Linn, OR
7 Love Or Hate Debate San Diego, CA
8 Crazy K Farm Pet and Poultry Products, LLC Hempstead, TX
9 Jewels and Pinstripes Pleasanton, CA
10 CurlyQ Cuties Cedar Park, TX
11 Dressing Your Truth Draper, UT
12 CraftySteals.com Argyle, TX
13 Scrapbook Mamma Norcross, GA
14 Lynnie Pinnie Embroidery Designs El Paso, TX
15 Flying Wish Paper beaverton, OR
16 First Class Care, Inc. Northbrook, IL
17 kidsHeritage, Inc. Plantation, FL
18 Born 2 Impress West Palm Beach, FL
19 Emily Rose @Home Beaverton, OR
20 Multiple Blessings Charlotte, NC
21 Messy Face® Designs, Inc. Minneapolis, MN
22 Baby Love Wrap Irvine, CA
23 Little Miss Julia Long Valley, NJ
24 Little Diva Tutus Lake Arrowhead, CA
25 AboutOne Malvern, PA
26 Kandrac & Kole Interior Designs, Inc. Kennesaw, GA
27 JOOS LLC Newton, MA
28 Chocolate Cake Club Palatine, IL
29 Golden Girls Johns Creek, GA
30 Social Networking Nanny Shakopee, MN
31 ARTWELOVE New York City, NY
32 Baby And Me Gifts Fishers, IN
33 Gigi HIll Yorba Linda, CA
34 New Mommy Oasis Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
35 EasyLunchboxes.com Tarzana, CA
36 Sunshine Rewards Fishers, IN
37 Kewl Tubes Ocala, FL
38 Bashful Bump Maternity Bodysuits Burlingame, CA
39 Valley of Life West Hills, CA
40 PortaPocket...by Undercover Solutions, LLC Prospect Heights, IL
41 MyKidsPlate.com Orlando, FL
42 Book n Cookin, LLC Coral Springs, FL
43 Letz Talk, Inc. Springfield, IL
44 2 Places At 1 Time, Inc. Atlanta, GA
45 Sirius7 Jewelry Rock Hill, SC
46 Everloop Danville, CA
47 Hooray for Books, Inc Hopkinton, MA
48 Limelight Marketing Consultants, Inc. Land O Lakes, FL
49 Big Dog Taekwon-Do Grand Rapids, MI
50 AttaBoy! Solutions -Gift Concierge Service Peoria, AZ
51 Pranzo Bags, LLC Macomb, MI
52 Mom 4 Life Athol, ID
53 SOAR Study Skills Lake Orion, MI
54 Pure eCommerce Cary, NC
55 3 BLONDES AND A BAG PORT ORANGE, FL
56 Roundhouse Design Collaborative Deep River, CT
57 dotmine day planners Ann Arbor, MI
58 BooYah Baby University Heights, OH
59 Bellarisa Designs Chicago, IL
60 Infinitely Sweet, LLC Rockford, IL
61 Lily's Loving Arms, LLC Charlotte, NC
62 VASARI Handbags Plainville, MA
63 IzzyBelle's Murphy, TX
64 My Baby Pajamas Scottsdale, AZ
65 Menu For The Week Thornton, CO
66 Do-Overz...Great Kidz Stuff...To Love & Love Again! Davie, FL
67 Vemayca Bellevue, WA
68 NourishMD.com Ann Arbor, MI
69 Banana Blossom Press, LLC Seattle, WA
70 Hot by 6 Sherwood, OR
71 Spooneez Winston-Salem, NC
72 Freckles Crafts Aurora, IL
73 Sniffle Buddies, LLC Sierra Madre, CA
74 Mashua voice for the voiceless Dallas, TX
75 The Irish Jewelry Company Lynbrook, NY
76 Between the Sheets Co. Richardson, TX
77 TinySoles Olympia, WA
78 Longstem Productions, Inc Jefferson Valley, NY
79 Living My MoMent Columbus, OH
80 Embrace Activism Sammamish, WA
81 Life Elements Atascadero, CA
82 Better Bit of Butter Cookies Cleveland Heights, OH
83 Living with Cents Rexburg, ID
84 Feeling Good Entertainment, LLC Fairview, TN
85 The Cake Mamas Covina, CA
86 Kidzola.com Dublin, OH
87 Chispa Marketing Miami, FL
88 Curbside Waiters Miami Lakes, FL
89 Atlas Party Rental Boynton Beach, FL
90 MOC- Move Over Cards Twinsburg, OH
91 If The Bow Fits Boutique Plainfield, IL
92 Tri-Toy Productions Hartsdale, NY
93 Sensory Street Kids Port jefferson, NY
94 Dilly Baby Davenport, IA
95 Wendy's Personal Creations, LLP Chilhowie, VA
96 The Baby Kottage Seabeck, WA
97 Ah Goo Baby Princeton, NJ
98 ConservingNow Reno, NV
99 Sacsies Orinda, CA
100 Marketmommies Columbus, OH
101 Little Wonder Company, LLC Plymouth, MN
102 Cordial Lee LaGrange, KY
103 Cheeky Diapers Onsted, MI
104 Chickadee Prints Draper, UT
105 Mommy Mogul San Angelo, TX
106 Go Green Sustainable Industries, LLC Newman Lake, WA
107 Expressions, by Constance LLC Albany, NY
108 CarolineAlexander Fredonia, NY
109 The Village at Edgewater Edgewater, CO
110 Best Ever YOU, LLC Portland, ME
111 Stuff 4 Multiples Ellicott City, MD
112 the r house couture West Jordan, UT
113 Doggy Delights Las Vegas, NV
114 SOHI Fitness Honolulu, HI
115 Taskilicious Venice, CA
116 Miss Priss Tutus Atlanta, GA
117 MompreneursOnline.com Scarsdale, NY
118 Design IT School of Style Canfield, OH
119 VanGo Pottery Phoenix, AZ
120 Way Tutu Cute West Palm Beach, FL
121 Original Belly Works Norcross, GA
122 Sweet Peas & Stilettos Saratoga, CA
123 Kidokinetics Weston , FL
124 The Welcome Committee Mooresville, NC
125 Gold Star Bakers Silver Spring, MD
126 Bows2Cute Wilmington, OH
127 Sunshine Paperie Dallas, TX
128 Inspired Gifts Kihei, HI
129 Personalized Wedding Favor Bookmarks Mohrsville, PA
130 Just Jersey Real Estate Flemington, NJ
131 One Lily Inc Carlsbad, CA
132 Bloggy Boot Camp Temecula, CA
133 Rich Delights Riverside, CA
134 Baby Favors And Gifts Brooklyn, NY
135 FuzziBunz Cloth Diapers Lafayette, LA
136 Oana Hogrefe Photography Atlanta, GA
137 The Ambassador's Touch, Inc. McLean, VA
138 Tarajamu Designs Stroudsburg, PA
139 Russell's Premier Wax Works Richland, MS
140 The Elegant Bead Centennial, CO
141 I Travel Italia Milan, TX
142 Vanessa's Avon Waterbury, CT
143 JEWELS BY JAN BAREFOOT SANDALS San Diego, CA
144 Illuminate Photography Austin, TX
145 The Crazy Cowboy Jackson, MI
146 Sock Grams Kenosha, WI
147 Fridge Artist LLC Gainesville, FL
148 Aventine Hill Bath Emporium, Inc. Seven Hills, OH
149 Sign4Baby San Diego, CA
150 The Nic Studio Brooklyn, NY
151 West Coast Sea Glass Sequim, WA
152 K. Duncan Designs Wichita, KS
153 Love Bug Kids - Hair Bows & More Long Beach, CA
154 Stella & Dot Irving, TX
155 LouseCalls, Inc. Boca Raton, FL
156 SPINGYM LLC ST PETERSBURG, FL
157 Ruddy System Fox River Grove, IL
158 Candles & Such, Inc. Silt, CO
159 Shubharambh LLC clarksburg, MD
160 More Than Words International Oakland Gardens, NY
161 Personal Office Management, Inc. Glen Ellyn, IL
162 Susu & John Roswell, GA
163 Cute Beltz New York, NY
164 Grandma G's Anaheim Hills, CA
165 Stacie Dale Designs Inc. Audubon, PA
166 Active Urban Mom LLC New York, NY
167 Mama's Pocketbook Gainesville, GA
168 Comfy Cozy,inc. east fallowfield, PA
169 Wrapadoo Corona del Mar, CA
170 Glass Slipper Cakery Oviedo, FL
171 Gemini Greetings® Baton Rouge, LA
172 Creative Custom Card Boxes River Edge, NJ
173 Work at Home United Burleson, TX
174 Nine Moons San Diego, CA
175 Cutie Pa Tutus, LLC Charleston, SC
176 Seize This Day Coaching Lakewood, OH
177 Mommies Helping Mommies Nannies and Domestics Boulder, CO
178 Zoe Lotus Healing Arts Seattle, WA
179 Baby Posh Garage, An Upscale Childrens Consignment Boutique Aventura, FL
180 Little Lamb Embroidery DeLand, FL
181 I.D. Marketing & Events Brandon, FL
182 Frittabello, LLC Norwalk, CT
183 First Steps Early Learning Center Medford, MA
184 Work-At-Home Success Palmyra, VA
185 Yvonne's Invitations & Favors Oceanside, NY
186 Lily's Pampering Salon & Party Boutique Seattle, WA
187 Ovaleye Duvall, WA
188 Mom Cooks Gluten Free San Diego, CA
189 Kisse Girl, LLC Atlanta, GA
190 Kidzmet Summerland, CA
191 MegaPlayer Atlanta, GA
192 Jewel Junkie New Braunfels, TX
193 Desire4mo Garden Grove, CA
194 Best Fed Babies Encino, CA
195 Templeton's - Timeless Infant Silver Charleston, SC
196 BellyButtonBoutique.com Wyncote, PA
197 Three Girls Media Campbell, CA
198 You're Invited Hilliard, OH
199 Luv-Me-Knot Boutique St. Augustine, FL
200 Little Ladybug Designs Lumberton, NJ

Pick It Kick It

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:45:00 +0000

I tried an experiment in our household of four boys and one bigger boy. I left this book in the middle of our kitchen table during dinner time to see if anyone noticed. About 2 minutes into dinner, it became the focal point and discussion for what felt like the longest dinner we've ever had.

Now, understand that is NOT who this book is intended for at all, but I have four boys under the age of 15, who, quite frankly, have nearly already ruined this book from overuse. They have used it to teach themselves and remind me.... to make better food choices.

So along comes a book that is easy enough a child can understand - and honestly that is exactly who I think should receive copies of this book..... all children, all across the USA - to help them make better food choices and the ADULTS buying the food for the kids!

Did you know that in order to lose ten pounds in five weeks you need to cut out about 200 calories a day? And to lose 15 pounds in 8 to 12 weeks you need to cut out 300 to 350 calories a day. Changing daily eating habits is the simplest and easiest way to cut back on calories. The following 8 calorie-cutting tips are compliments of the new nutrition/lifestyle guide Pick It Kick It – written by Oxygen Magazine’s Editor Diane Hart.

1. When sautéing vegetables and meat, substitute a couple quick sprays of PAM for oil or butter. You will save 100 calories.
2. Chose low-sodium tuna packed in water rather than oil and save 70 calories per three ounces.
3. Slice 120 calories off your lunch by having an open-faced sandwich.
4. Instead of serving raisins, go for a serving of grapes to save 65 calories per ounce.
5. Roll of 100 to 140 calories by turning a wrap into a salad.
6. In shakes, sandwiches or by the spoonful, peanut and almond butters can be energy dense. Save 94 calories by using one rather than two tablespoons per serving.
7. Downsize meat portions by one ounce and you’ll shave off 50 calories.
8. High fiber whole grain foods are great for staving off cravings, but go for sprouted grain products and you’ll save even more calories.

I love this book because it is reality based. We all know we sneak a few snacks here and there and this book has parts of it that give you tools to chose the lesser of two evils..

Great menus, great pictures... just a great idea and resource.

All My Best,

Elizabeth Hamilton- Founder and CEO, Best Ever You

Flojos

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:42:00 +0000

My kids make fun of my closet of shoes. Four boys - absolutely baffled at how one human being can have so many shoes. They don't understand. I really don't have THAT many~ Really, can you have too many shoes? (Don't answer that...)

Well, my continued shoe prayers were answered today. A little box of heaven arrived from the kind folks at Flojos, asking me if I would try their clogs and see if I would recommend them to our readers and issue our Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award.

DEFINITELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These are seriously so absolutely adorable, comfortable and the best. It is like a slipper clog with a heel. I can wear these without socks in the winter. The bottoms aren't slippery and they are just flat out something I will need in each color and then probably back up pairs for when these wear out. (ok, I'm kidding - about the back up pairs, the colors are a must....)

So fellow shoe hounds. Get out those charge cards and visit http://store.flojos.com/pgcart.pga?product=504 - and don't worry that isn't a link to my cart filled with items or anything....

Best Clogs EVER!!!!

ps- Katie E. if you are reading this, you n-e-e-d these... lol. shoe therapy.

ALL MY BEST,

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Saky Sacks

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:36:00 +0000

I am proud to award of Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award to Seattle-based, Saky Sacks. Generally, I'm a sucker for a killer purse. I guess now I'm a sucker for a killer tote bag and one that can even be recycled too!

Saky Sacks, the anytime, anywhere “it” bag, has a new line of totes featuring five new fabulous prints and two new contemporary styles. With a wider assortment of prints and styles to choose from, Saky Sacks rounds out its collection, offering a bag for anyone.

Saky Sacks, launched in March 2010 with the City Saky and now debuts two new styles in its fall collection, the Saky Weekend and Sakcessories:
• Saky Weekend – Bigger then the City Saky and perfect for weekend getaways, travel, or for those times women just can’t fit everything they need in their City Saky.
• Sakcessories – They are the ideal accessories to the Saky Sack. Perfect for holding wallets, cosmetics and all the important “stuff” women need to carry in their Saky Sack. Comes in a set of two different sizes and clips on to the bag for added convenience.
• City Saky – Saky Sacks Tyvek® bags are the anywhere, anytime shoppers tote in the perfect size – not too big and not to small.

“After launching Saky Sacks earlier this year, I realized there was a need for a Saky Sack big enough to pack for the weekend and also one small enough to hold all the little things that fall to the bottom of the bag,” said Rupa Wickrama, president and founder of Saky Sacks. “The Saky Weekend and Sakcessories add to the versatility of the Saky Sacks brand and allow our customers to stay stylish no matter how much they have to carry.”

Saky Sacks is proud to announce its support of Ocean Futures Society, an organization whose mission is to explore global oceans and inspire and educate people on acting responsibly for its protection. Saky Sacks will donate 10 percent of the net proceeds from website sales of the Spotty Saky to Ocean Futures. For more information, visit www.oceanfutures.org.

The City Saky retails for $24.95, the Saky Weekend retails for $29.95 and the Sakcessories retails for $19.95. Made from DuPont™ Tyvek ®, Saky Sacks are lightweight, strong and tear, stain and water resistant. Each bag is made with an interior clasp to keep contents secure while adding an element of style. All Saky Sacks are machine washable and available at select retailers throughout the country as well as www.sakysacks.com.

About Saky Sacks
After a successful career in the fashion industry, Rupa Wickrama was looking for a meaningful change in her life and saw a niche for fashionable shopping bags. Unable to find a multi-purpose bag that was both functional and stylish, she decided to design her own. With the intent to create a tasteful and affordable collection of bags that would become an indispensable accessory for women everywhere, Saky Sacks was founded in 2009.

Congratulations and all my best,

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, Founder and CEO, Best Ever You

(Photo by Cam Guarino, age 10)

SpinGym!

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:31:00 +0000

I'm a mom of four boys - meaning four pregnancies. I gained no less than 80 pounds with each pregnancy. I am also a famous yo-yo weight gain/loss lady. But this isn't about all that. It's about the fact that I've previously tried EVERYTHING to try to get my arms thin.

When I met Forbes, she taught me to stablize, focus and work hard toward my goals. I am honored to call Forbes a friend and issue her product, The Spingym! the BEY Blue Ribbon Award.

I've had this product at home now for months and have lost 3 1/2 inches from each arm. I'm a person who has really big upper arms from years of gymnastics. SpinGym has turned the mom-of-four flab into arms that will be their best ever as I keep working with the SpinGym! I am a work in progress.

Often you'll find us and Forbes doing monthly SpinGym giveaways, so please stay tuned for more. Please also read about Forbes on Best Ever You or visit her at www.forbesriley.com

Congratulations Forbes and SpinGym! Thank you!!

All My Best,

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, Founder and CEO

FURminator

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:28:00 +0000

As an owner of multiple cats, we are always searching for products that reduce cat hair for both the cat's health and to reduce how much time we spent picking up cat hair. I've been a big fan of The Furminator for a while now, but would like to officially award it our Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award and allow the photo to speak for itself! Here is a little blurb about the company:

Love Your Pet, Hate the Shedding? That is why we created the FURminator deShedding Products. FURminator Inc. manufactures products to address the number one complaint of pet owners, SHEDDING. We also love our pets and understand the frustration fellow pet lovers feel with the problems of shedding. The embarrassment of hair all over the house when guests come to visit. The endless vacuuming and cleaning. The constant checking and wiping of their hair off our clothes.

For years, a professional groomer (Angie Porter, co-founder) had been attempting to find the best tool to combat shedding. After over a decade of using every possible device in the industry, she worked with her husband (David Porter, co-founder) to develop a new type of tool that didn't cut the pet's coat. They created a unique tool to grab and remove the loose undercoat. Together they experimented with placing this stainless steel deShedding edge in a crude handle. Little by little they experimented with different, more-ergonomic handle designs and more-effective edges. After many modifications they arrived at their most successful design and patented the FURminator deShedding Tool, which now has multiple patents and additional patents pending.

And the rest of the FURminator story is, as they say, history - but it's an exciting, ongoing history. The FURminator deShedding Tools are complemented by a complete line of deShedding products to promote a healthy coat and skin and to help reduce shedding. The Furminator website is www.furminator.com

We are proud to award The Furminator our Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award. Congratulations! Meow :)

All My Best,
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Lilypadbaby.com

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:23:00 +0000

Well, she has been my friend since grade school, and we do occasionally still recite lines from "The Muppet Movie" so it would only be natural to think she is the best. However, Kathie Papera's http://www.lilypadbaby.com/ bibs and products really are the best.

Her company has grown consistently and her products are outstanding.

Congratulations!

All My Best, Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Dell'Amore

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:18:00 +0000

As a mom of four boys, getting our family around the table and all liking the same food can be quite a job. However, this pasta sauce brings us
together! We ALL (all six of us!) LOVE IT. So here's to Dell' Amore based in Vermont. http://www.dellamore.com/sauces/sampler.php

We also really love it because it has no added sugar and has a fresh homemade taste. It is also Gluten Free.

I had a great conversation with the owner and I can tell you they are also very nice and very proud of their company!

So Thank You Dell'Amore and Congratulations on earning the Best Ever You Blue Ribbon Award.

All My Best,
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Welcome to Best Ever You

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:56:00 +0000

Thank you for following and supporting Best Ever You.

I started this company in 2008 and we have grown, with your support, all over the world.

It is hard to believe we've had over 2 million hits now. In November 2010, we launced our new social community at Best Ever Community

Please keep spreading the Best Ever You cheer!

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, Founder and CEO