Written by:
                         Betsy Karp,
                    The Colour Coach

March is all about spring and new beginnings…and it’s my birth month. It is a renewal of our spirits, our bodies, the clothes we wear and the food we eat. It’s a time for clearing, cleansing and preparing for greatness. Try putting some white clothing on, because it will give you a fresh new take on things. White is the color for wiping the slate clean and for new beginnings. Clear out the clutter in your mind, your closet and your belly. Spring is here and it’s time to let it all go.

Winter is notorious for gaining that extra 5, maybe even 10, pounds. Come March, we want to shed that extra weight. At this time of year we are also eager to shed the heavy BLACK coats, gloves and boots for lighter, more COLORFUL jackets and open toed shoes. Preparing for these clothes and our well-being, there are some wonderful foods to help us lose those unwanted pounds, getting our bodies ready for the spring and summer months. Click here to find out what colors will help you make a seamless transition from Winter to Spring!

Detoxifying your body is a great way to begin your Spring, because we need to rid ourselves of all the fattening and warming foods we’ve been consuming these last few months. Now is the time to start adding cooling foods. We want our bodies to acclimate to the coming warmer, summer months. One cooling food to eat is alfalfa sprouts. But there are so many more cooling foods to add to your diet...click here to find out what they are.

Enjoy the beginning of your renewal by shedding those extra pounds, eating alfalfa sprouts and other cooling foods. I offer wonderful cooking classes through Amazon Local, teaching you how to use colors purposefully while cooking and preparing meals. You can also go outside for a walk, soaking up the warmer weather. Did you know that just 30 minutes of exercise a day brings longevity to your life, lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure? It also changes your state of mind, making you feel great, and as we know, the mind is the key to it all. It’s time to get rid of that fear and worry and let go of that BLACK, heavy self-doubt.

You know what they say? “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” So let the air of spring flow into your body, mind and soul and bring in some COLOR. That's the preparation. Have fun and play around with yellow, green and orange. Feel the Renewal of your energy and spirit. You deserve it!

Happy Spring!!!

Have a Colorful Day,

Betsy Karp,
The Colour Coach

                Written by: Betsy Karp

It ‘s a new year and that means it is time for new beginnings, commitments and what we really want to create in 2013.

I really dislike the word RESOLUTION. I feel it is a word that just doesn’t work. We set out with all good intentions for our resolutions, however, by the middle of January, or if you are lucky enough to get to February, they are shattered and gone. I was listening to news the other evening and less than 20% percent of people keep their resolutions. The two biggest resolutions are: I am going to exercise more. And, of course, the REALLY BIG ONE…I am really going to lose weight this year…the notorious 10 pounds.

Instead of saying, “I have a resolution,” why don’t you possibly try saying to yourself, “I will make a commitment”? When we commit to a dinner date, we go. When we commit to a job, we show up. So where in your life can you commit to something that will help you create all that you want in 2013?

The first thing you need to do is to write down what it is that you want. Ask yourself, “What is it?” This is a bigger question than you think. Take time and really ask yourself, “What do I want to create in 2013?” Then make a plan. Nothing in life gets done without action. Action is what makes everything work. It’s a step-by-step process. Do things in baby steps. That is how things move forward.  Nothing happens overnight. “Slow and steady wins the race.” I love that saying because life is a process. There are many successful people who say, “It took me YEARS to be an overnight success.”

We get to where we want by having a plan, making a commitment and honoring that vision.  If you break your commitment, the only one you ever really hurt is yourself.

As we step into our commitments to ourselves we feel more empowered. It builds self-esteem and confidence. Make a commitment and create what you really want for yourself.

Step into your commitments with passion, a plan and action. I’d love to hear what your commitments are for 2013? Please share below.

*Please comment below and share with your friends.*

Hugs,

Betsy Karp,
Founder of i adore me

                  Written by: Betsy Karp

It’s Christmas Eve and I hope you are all enjoying some wonderful eggnog, family, friends and holiday cheer. Tis the season to be jolly. Sing some carols and stay present…and enjoy the presents (pun intended).

If you get stressed out, wondering if you are giving the right gift, if you are drinking and eating too much or just being around “too much” family, take a minute for yourself and breathe. Let go and enjoy. Whatever will be will be.

Dress in something fun and festive. Wear red, green or hot pink. Red promotes passion, energy and confidence. It helps you to feel powerful within yourself. Green will help open your heart, letting you feel love and abundance. Hot Pink is playful and fun. It makes you feel like a child all over again.

Enjoy yourself. It’s Christmas. Focus on all the love that surrounds you instead of the problems that arise. I hope this holiday brings you lots of peace in your heart. Wishing you all lots of love and a great BIG holiday hug.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

You can never have enough hugs and kisses!

*Please comment below and share with your friends.*

Hugs,

Betsy Karp,
Founder of i adore me

I am still glued to the TV and I feel grateful that I have power to watch it. It’s devastating what Hurricane Sandy has done. People have died, homes were destroyed, communities gone, and people’s livelihood’s shattered. It’s heartbreaking at times to watch all of this. Foundations have been ripped from the ground and need to be re-built. This is the time to be part of your community by helping others and joining together to make a difference one layer at a time.

The class I am going to teach next week to my middle school students is about building a foundation, creating structure in their lives and what it means to be part of a community. The synchronicity of all this is unreal. Unfortunately, I now have current examples to speak about. The one, truly important lesson that I’m really going to focus on with them, as well as myself, is the gift of gratitude; to be alive, to have food in my refrigerator, heat in my apartment, and the power of a working computer to write this blog.

Times like these really do wake you up to what’s important in life. We all sweat the small stuff.  The lesson here is to appreciate and be grateful for the small things in life that we take for granted: power, hot water, and running water for that matter. I heard stories on the news of many people without water and working toilets. Acknowledge and appreciate the water you have, because that is gratitude. It’s something as simple as that!

In the eight years I have lived in my apartment in NYC, I have never seen my local grocery store run out of food. Well, yesterday they did. It was incredible to see. I wish there was more I could do to help people…more food that I could personally give. I feel the pain of the suffering people when I hear their emotional stories. They’re just heartbreaking.

One story was the silver lining of it all: a child was born in a gymnasium and everyone there was lending a hand. So maybe you can reach out and see whom you can help or lend a hand to. Possibly donate some food or offer someone a warm place to stay. It’s times like these that teach us to reach out and be part of our community, helping others. Be a strong support system and help someone rebuild his or her foundation. You will feel so good and so will they….

Please comment below and share with your friends.*

Hugs,

Betsy Karp,

Founder of i adore me

Are you someone that wakes up in the morning obsessing about your to-do list from here to eternity? Or, are you someone that takes a moment and a breath and is grateful for a good night’s sleep, letting the day unfold as it may? I don’t know about you, but the days that I look at the cup flowing over, everything seems to really work out in my day and in my world. See how starting your day with a new, positive attitude will bring about a whole new energy and way to be. Aren’t you excited to start today?

Here are the steps that you should follow to have a positive day:

Think One Positive Thought: So much of our attitude in our lives is decided by what our thoughts are when we wake up in the morning. Coming from a true, positive place will set everything in alignment for you throughout your day.

Hug Yourself: Lately, I have started wrapping my arms around me first thing in the morning, giving myself a morning hug and saying, “i adore me.” This evokes my self-love, that I’m going to be ok and that I’m ready for my day.

Mirror Talk: As you look at the reflection in the mirror first thing in the morning, what do you say to yourself? Are you looking at yourself and loving what you see or are you being harsh and critical on that reflection? It’s so much better when you look in the mirror and say: “I’m going to have a great day today,” rolling up the corners of your mouth, letting that smile just peak through. With or without makeup, you are beautiful…but you need to feel that. Take one to two minutes out of your morning, looking in the mirror and have a positive conversation with yourself about what you are going to do during the day.

Take an Invigorating Shower: The next step to having a positive day is enjoying your shower. In order to enjoy your shower, don’t run your to-do list in your head. Put on some upbeat music and/or just let the essence of the water invigorate your body. Water makes you feel fresh, alive and clean. Let it do its job.

Envision Your Daily Color: Still in the shower, envision what you want to wear and what color is going to be in your day. For example: “Today the color I want to wear is orange to give me courage” (click here to find out how to use color positively in your world). Then incorporate orange from what you’re going to wear to what healthy orange foods you’re going to put in your body for breakfast, to feeling that sunny nature and the sweetness of the color orange. Immediately you will feel so good.

Meditate: After the shower and envisioning your color of the day, take a few minutes and put on some calming and meditative music, sit up straight in a chair (or upright on your couch) with feet planted on the ground, feel yourself connected to the earth and allow yourself to relax. Close your eyes, take three breaths in and out and allow the moment to just be this beautiful, precious moment of peace. You will not believe what a difference taking these two to three minutes will make in starting your day.

Use an Essential Oil: An essential oil is also a wonderful way to give yourself a positive outlook for your day (click here to find the list of essential oil options). There is a wonderful assortment of blends to make you feel empowered, relaxed or even to awaken you. The “Awaken” blend is one of my favorites, making me feel alive. It truly gives me that essence of feeling happy.

Eat a Healthy Breakfast: The last thing before you leave the house is to put some wonderful nourishment in your body. Think about your color of the day and find a way to incorporate it in your meal in a natural way. An example: If orange is your color of the day, eat a piece of orange, an apricot or an orange piece of melon. Have some healthy greens (like spinach or kale) to give you energy and vitamins, protein such as a hard-boiled egg and a fresh piece of fruit. This gives your body energy, brainpower and a wonderful way to start that positive day of yours.

So now that you have a wonderful list to start your day, follow these steps. See how great you’re going to feel: the positive change you are going to bring into your life and the people you will meet. Aren’t you ready for that?

*Please comment below and share with your friends.*

Hugs,

Betsy Karp,

Founder of i adore me

There really is only one thing in life that we all look for and that’s called L-O-V-E. We want to be loved, adored and know that our lives matter.

I was recently at an event where Deepak Chopra spoke. He said, “If I can leave you all with one thing today, it’s to look for the love within yourself and the love for your special partner. Really the only thing that matters is love. We all think we want success, fame and money, but when it all comes down to it, we really all want love.”

If you start thinking about all the movies, songs, books, Shakespeare, etc., it’s all about love. Are you building walls or bridges with that love? If you start to look at your life and what you want, you can begin to open up your heart, open up your mind, expand your being and let go of the walls, the pain, the hurts, the disappointments, and start building the bridge to love.

Love is kind, love is patient, love is understanding, love is pink, love is compassionate, love is your friend. Are you its friend? If you haven’t made friends with love, try using pink today. Pink is the universal color for LOVE. It’s happy, youthful and sweet and it makes you smile. It’s associated with the 4th chakra (the heart chakra). Pink brings out that inner child in you that makes you feel like you can do anything. Let it empower you so you can feel free like you did as a child. Try eating some fresh watermelon, raspberries, pink grapefruit and organic salmon.

When someone is in love, you can see it a mile away. They have that pink glow in their face, they are smiling from ear to ear and it’s as though they are floating on clouds.

So if you feel blocked and trapped in your life right now and everything feels bleak, reach out for pink. When you start adoring yourself and taking care of you, you become a magnet. People want to be around your energy. Find the love within you and start showing the world all that you’ve got. Love is the answer. Don’t you agree?

*Please comment below and share with your friends.*

Hugs,

Betsy Karp,

Founder of i adore me

Did you know that your subconscious mind is a thousand times stronger than your conscious mind? There is so much that goes on underneath your entire being that you don’t even realize how it affects your actual life. You need to clear and get rid of old blocks, subconscious beliefs and reprogram yourself to create what you want in your life. Are you ready?

I was listening to a beautiful interview on the Internet the other day with Marie Forleo and Dr. Cathy Collautt. Dr. Collautt gave five wonderful tips on how to reprogram your subconscious mind to get what you want and I want to share them with you:

1.    Whatever you’re having resistance with, be gentle with yourself and tap into the wisdom that’s within you. Be humble.
2.    Get specific on what it is you are fearful of. Get in touch with those fears. Don’t suppress them. Acknowledge them and figure out what it is you need to work on.
3.    Make a promise and a commitment to yourself that you are going to raise your own vibration and set an intention for what that is.
4.    Look to find a mentor (someone who is an expert in the field of what you want to achieve).
5.   Affirm your beliefs and do this before bed, while meditating and/or upon awakening.

What I loved about this interview is that Dr. Collautt really went into specifics on how to gain control over your subconscious. She says, “It’s not about getting permission but gaining mastery over yourself.”

We must realize that it’s the outer condition of our lives that reflects what is going on in our inner belief systems. We must find that thing within us that we want to bring out into the world that makes us special. Every single person has something that is meant to be shared with the universe and YOU are no exception! Surrounding ourselves with the color yellow subconsciously gives us courage. So try surrounding yourself with yellow. Yellow supports positivity, optimism, strength and empowerment. If you don’t trust and believe that you are worthy, try some of these yellow-based foods: pineapple, lemon, yellow melon and sunflower oil. They aid in the power of the solar plexus chakra, your power center.

Use these tips to help train yourself in getting your subconscious to align with your conscious. The power of the subconscious is so strong and you need to work through your limiting beliefs to create all the greatness within you. What’s stopping you?

*Please comment below and share with your friends.*

Hugs,

Betsy Karp,

Founder of i adore me

It was the perfect summer night. I had made chicken skewers with onions, tomatoes and peppers, marinated in honey teriyaki sauce with a little bit of peach marmalade, a pinch of sea salt and a splash of lime. I also made a delicious, fresh cilantro and corn side dish shucked right from the ear and a watermelon, feta, mint salad as well.

Cooking relaxes me, it inspires me, it nourishes me and it gives me hope. It also brings me back to my artistic days of creating something that I can enjoy. Cooking is all about experimenting and having fun.

I love sharing what I make with wonderful friends, family and clients. Food feeds our minds, our bodies and our souls. It gives us energy and a sense of true contentment. There’s nothing like a good, homemade meal.

So many of my clients tell me that they can’t cook, because they are single and that it’s too much work with no one to share it with. My response to them is “try something new. You may be surprised how much you enjoy it.” Cooking for yourself, can actually uplift your mood, your state of being, as well as your health. For so many years I have been single and I make myself a beautiful meal. And I ENJOY it!

I do, by the way, also enjoy having others over to eat the food I’ve prepared. It’s fun to share in conversation, the delicious meal you’ve made and discuss what happened during your day.

When was the last time you cooked for yourself or someone in your life? Maybe you don’t cook because you don’t know how to. There’s a solution to everything. Want to learn how to prepare amazing foods for yourself and others? Treat yourself. Check out Betsy’s Bites…

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Hugs,

Betsy Karp,

Founder of i adore me

Is refined Sugar really good for you? What are you getting from it?