It all began with a little black ponytail holder
It was a long day. It was such a simple request from my sixth grade student: “I have dance after school, and I forgot my ponytail holder. Do you have one I might be able to borrow?” We both looked down to my wrist, and reluctantly I shimmied it off and smiled at her while I passed her the black ponytail holder.
“Reluctantly”…I shudder even admitting that I was being that petty, but I was truly exhausted. I was going through a divorce (which I told almost no one about) and just the week before had moved out of my family home. I was tired, hungry, and depleted. I was trying to make a new home, perform in a new position, and *smile* all day while trying to hold it together. Running out the door to exercise was how I found peace; exercise has always centered me. Giving this student the ponytail holder off of my wrist felt like giving away my sanity. I packed my school bag and slowly walked out of the building. On my way to the car, I held back tears from exhaustion. Then I saw them…not one, not two, but three black ponytail holders spread out every few yards on the way to my car. Each one I saw brought more tears of joy and comfort. A message just for me from the Universe: It’s going to be alright. That day I learned to Believe, Receive, and Never Doubt.
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B.R.A.N.D.
Yourself
Working out first thing - it’s my moving meditation, EFT tapping, journaling, reading, and then teaching! Every minute of the day I'm "pushing play" to listen to something ... Only way I can do it and still give everyone 110% of my attention. Gotta take care of myself first!
daily rituals
Watching my kids’ sports games, reading and highlighting everything I can find, chatting with my students, walking my dog while listening to a podcast, Zooming with my tribe
YOU CAN FIND ME:
Working out, my veggies, reading physical books, protein bars and shakes, travel, catching some sunshine, long walks, and ice cream
I'm NOT willing to give up:
Affirmations and mantras, thank you notes, acts of service, having a growth mindset, being positive, and staying in my own lane
I BELIEVE IN:
For all intents and purposes, I live a pretty traditional lifestyle. I am the mother of three busy teenagers and a labradoodle, and I am in a supportive and loving relationship. We live in the suburbs, and I teach in the same middle school I attended as a tween. I have been working with elementary and middle school students in both public and private schools for nearly 25 years. I absolutely love teaching and learning - my thirst for learning is insatiable! I am always signed up for something. I have Master’s Degrees in Educational Leadership, Curriculum Design, and Reading. I am a certified Applied Positive Psychology practitioner and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Tapping instructor. I've done some pretty unconventional things, too. I lived on a sailboat for many months and spent years living and working in resorts on small islands all around the world. When I was turning 30, I took a year to backpack around the world on my own to “see if I could do it.” Did it! I am all about the experience and not about following the crowd. I like it that way; it works for me. No regrets!
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My superpower is helping others step into their power. I’ll teach you how to see things from another perspective; you’ll see a life filled with infinite possibilities. You are meant to thrive!
This was the moment
Just B.R.A.N.D. Yourself was born.
That day I started on a journey to reclaim myself. I began asking myself the more important questions:
"Who am I?"
"What do I stand for?"
"If I was my own brand, what would I stand for?"
It came across so clearly; my brand would be B.R.A.N.D. Yourself.
Believe.
Receive.
And
Never
Doubt Yourself.
I have a strong belief in the Law of Attraction, as well as a deep-seated faith that the Universe is always working on my behalf.
I am a firm believer that when you ask The Universe for something - anything - it will respond.
That is the power of Believing and Receiving. What you think, say, and do matters, and developing a growth mindest has been crucial for me to get through moments like the ponytail holder experience. That being said, the final part of Just B.R.A.N.D. Yourself is to Never Doubt! I know some days it’s hard to see that; I just shared with you my own experience where I questioned why, how, and when. So when that happens, remember to Just B.R.A.N.D. Yourself.
listening:
following:
Ask Your Guides
Philadelphia sports
The Happiness Advantage
READING:
how to edit a podcast
Learning:
The Phillies!
watching:
Currently
My Favorite Things
Haleigh ~ our miniature labradoodle. She is undeniably the head of our household. She picked us, and THAT is an awesome story...I'd love to share it with you. The Universe always knows exactly what you need.
my happy place!
The Beach! It's where I go to wind down, regroup, and recharge. Sun, sand, and water ... life is good! Living on the boat and the islands afforded me lots of time to get centered.
My kids keep me going. "Mom-ing" can be exhausting, but isn't it the best? Every day I learn something new from them, and they let me teach them something new. We are growing in our roles every year.
My Favorite Things
Every day I take time to write in my gratitude journal. Expressing gratitude brings more blessings.
We have a joke at home that ice cream can solve everything. Ok, maybe it's not a joke....
my guilty pleasure
Some of the hundreds of postcards I collected from my trip around the world. Each postcard tells a story on the back.
coffee
early bird
city
spin
Pita chips
water ice
chardonnay
latte
night owl
beach
pilates
potato chips
Ice cream
cabernet
Where I stand on the super important stuff... Agree / disagree?
This That
or
"Christy taught me to be patient with myself and how powerful positivity truly is in navigating life and manifesting desires."
~Annalisa
THE REVIEWS
so they say:
Words, just like everything else in the universe, are made up of energy and carry a vibration. Choosing the right words to express your thoughts is important because your subconscious mind will share those thoughts with the conscious mind. Here are my go-to top 50 affirmations and mantras to reprogram your mind and get things going. It's time to start manifesting!
50 Affirmations and Mantras to Help You Manifest
Better than Free Ice Cream!
let's work together
If you’re searching for clarity, I’ll help you find it in a simple, clear cut way. Together we can create your dreams WITH the Universe - it’s a lot less effort-ing than you think. It’s unconventional, but it’s so much fun when we do it as partners.
let's hang out!
