Exercise:
Complete the following sentence with at least five statements:
“I like myself today because……………..

I Choose:

To live by choice, not by chance;

To make changes, not excuses;

To be motivated, not manipulated;

To be useful, not used;

To excel, not compete.

I choose self-esteem, not self pity.

I choose to listen to the inner voice, not the random opinion of others.

(Author unknown)

Vernita Steege-Professional Life Skills and Business Coach
Keystone-Life Coaching For Positive Change
www.keystonelifecoaching.com
vernita_keystone@comcast.net
425-299-1379

Come join the ladies of g3 at the rooftop terrace pool at the Third Rail Lofts in Downtown Dallas to soak in the sun and meet new, fun people while enjoying one last casual party to say farewell to the lazy days of summer!

Saturday, September 4
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
1407 Main Street
Dallas, TX 75202

No admission fee.  Bring a towel and your favorite beverage.  Spouses and significant others are invited too.  RSVP NOW 

A new school year: for some means, school for the very first time. You may be experiencing separation anxiety. Not just your child but YOU too! It is such an exciting time but yet can be such a bittersweet time too. It’s such a huge milestone to send your little one off to school for the very first time! Here are a few suggestions to help you deal with the stress that comes with this change.

· Stay busy. Plan ahead and schedule your time while your child is away at school. This will help your days go by faster, as well as, keep you organized and make you feel productive.

· Get involved. Find out what organizations you can get involved with at your child’s school. PTO, spirit clubs, etc. But also find if there are any Mom’s classes that offer child-free fun too!

· Enjoy your ME-time! As mom’s we tend to feel guilty if we enjoy our time without our children. It is so important to enjoy your time alone. Sign up for a Yoga class, take that painting class you’ve always wanted to, or start that redecorating project you’ve been thinking about for months!

For others it means, a new grade, new teachers, some a new school! So exciting but yet it can be overwhelming on different levels. As parents of older children in school we tend to forget that they cannot only hear us but they can understand what we are saying. Here are a few thoughts to consider when discussing issues about your child’s school that will ease the stress on them about their new year.

· Be positive. Only speak positive about the new policies and procedure handbook that you think is ridiculous, the new teacher or principal that has no experience at all, the stupid uniforms that they have to wear this year, and so on and so on… in front of your child! Even if you have another opinion of these issues, it is so important to lead your child in a positive thought process of the rules that they must follow. Be a good example in front of them. You want them to obey your rules, so teach them to obey others and respect other authorities in their lives.

· Encourage your child. Sometimes we can get caught up in what we don’t like in a school system that we forget that our main concern is our child’s education. So encourage your child to be prepared for class, do their homework, eat good meals and get good rest. As adults we set the example for our kids in how we deal with a tight schedule and the daily regiment. Teach them when they are young to stay on top of their school assignments and daily activities. Time management will help them just as much as English, Math and Science later in life!

Get ready for a great new school year and Mom’s….. enjoy your ME-time!

CONFECTIONERY WAFER COATING VERSION: 
1 box (18.25 oz) cake mix (plus ingredients called for on box)
1 can (16 oz) prepared frosting
48 oz Confectionery Wafer Coating
oil-based food coloring

  
DIRECTIONS:

Bake the cake according to package instructions. While warm, crumble the cake into a bowl with a hand mixer to a fine texture. Mix in frosting to make a paste, using 34 to a full can of frosting, according to taste. Chill the mixture for at least 2 hours.

Using a melon baller or your hands, form the mixture into 1 12 -inch balls. Place the balls on wax paper; freeze at least 6 hours.

Working in small batches, remove the balls from the freezer and dip the balls into warm, melted Almond Bark Coating or Confectionery Wafer Coating, using toothpicks or forks to manipulate the balls. Remove the balls. Place the balls on wax paper to harden.

Almond Bark Coating In a double boiler, melt almond bark, stirring constantly. Or, in a tall, narrow container, microwave almond bark for 45 seconds on High (100 percent power). Continue to heat in 15-second intervals, stirring between intervals, until melted; be careful not to scorch.

When almond bark is melted, stir in 1 teaspoon vegetable oil. If desired, stir in oil-based coloring drop by drop until you achieve the desired color.

Confectionery Wafer Coating Melt confectionery wafers in double boiler or microwave oven per instructions for Almond Bark Coating. Omit oil. If desired, stir in oil-based coloring drop by drop until you achieve the desired color.

CAKE BALL TIPS

1. Chill the cake-and-frosting mixture well (at least 2 hours) before you shape the balls. Freeze the balls at least 6 hours before dipping. Before dipping, make sure the cake balls aren't frozen solid because after being dipped, the coating has a tendency to crack when drying. Pre-dipped cake balls can be kept frozen for weeks.

2. To form the balls, use a melon scoop for uniform size. Small balls are easier to eat.

3. Work in small batches when dipping, keeping the rest in the freezer.

4. Use toothpicks, a fork or a skewer to manipulate the balls when dipping. Perfectionists may want to buy a candy-dipping fork because it ensures even coating of each cake ball to make it look like a truffle.

5. Use oil-based candy dye to color frosting. Start with a few drops, and add a little at a time.

6. Lay the dipped balls on wax paper to harden, placing the spot where you pierced the ball down to cover the hole, or cover the hole with decoration.

7. For decoration, fill a narrow-tip plastic squeeze bottle with a contrasting color of melted coating and paint stripes over the balls, or sprinkle on rainbow jimmies, colored sparkling sugar or finely chopped nuts. (If you are using oil-based candy color to tint coating made from white- chocolate disks, decorate with sprinkles quickly as the oil candy color causes the coating to set rapidly.

8. Dipped balls will keep at room temperature for days; if you refrigerate them, the coating will sweat.

Flavor ideas -Devil's food cake with fudge icing and dark- chocolate coating

-Yellow cake with buttercream frosting and orange-colored vanilla coating with green or black accents

-White cake with white frosting mixed with orange and yellow sprinkles and chocolate coating

-German chocolate cake with coconut- pecan icing and milk- chocolate or light-cocoa flavored coating

-Spice or carrot cake with cream-cheese frosting and vanilla coating

-Lemon cake with lemon frosting and vanilla coating

-Chocolate cake with vanilla frosting and mint-flavored coating tinted green

Makes 30 pcs

I invite you to share my vision for a world without breast cancer.  Thank you in advance for your consideration and generosity.

MY STORY – WHY I WALK:

When I was in eighth grade, approximately 13 years old, we had an assignment in our English class involving signing up with a high school pen pal exchange program.  You could select the age, gender, and nationality of your desired pen pal, and then the service would facilitate you getting in touch with each other so you could begin writing (pen and paper letters mind you, before the invent of e-mail).  I opted for a female about my same age in the UK, and was delighted when I received contact information for a girl named Liz Budge in Bedfordshire, England.  We began corresponding immediately and learning about each other’s families and culture.  All through high school, and more than one move for each of us, we kept writing and occasionally calling, and developed a remarkably close friendship.  She visited me for the first time in the early 90’s and then again a couple of years later – hosting her was such a joy, and she was greatly entertained by the rodeo and Dallas Cowboy football game I took her to.  Liz loved Mexican food and margaritas, and was so amused with all things Texan!  Our lives evolved and we grew, but we never lost touch.   Liz had a rather exciting life I thought, as she served in the Royal Air Force and then in civil service as (what we would call) a “911” operator.  Shortly after we got married, Lewis and I traveled to Europe to visit Liz and her husband John, and their 2 year-old daughter, Abigail.  It was such a fabulous vacation, and our relationship was like we were girlfriends who just lived around the corner from each other – not “across the pond.”  We had truly grown up together, albeit thousands of miles apart.  A couple of years later, Liz had another daughter, Harriet, and Lewis and I had Julia, Olivia, and then Ethan.  Liz and I both had our happy families and beautiful homes, and were content with our lives -- but sadly, that was about to change. 

In mid 2007, Liz informed me that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.  I was horrified and in shock, but I prayed and provided her with all the moral support I could from afar.  She commented that she was nervous about her upcoming chemo and losing all her hair, especially because she could not find any good hats to wear.  The next week, I sent her a book on how to tell young children about cancer… and a box full of colorful, funky hats to lift her spirits!  She underwent months of chemo and in February of 2008 got the “all clear” from her doctors… the cancer was gone and she was well again.  We rejoiced together and I honestly felt as if all my prayers had been answered.  Our oldest daughters – her Abigail and my Julia – had become pen pals by this time, but via e-mail, not the “snail mail” we started with.  Once again, things were back on track and the future was bright.

I received an e-mail from Liz on April 15th of 2008 explaining that after a series of infections, the doctors had determined that her cancer had returned and metastasized to her liver.  The devastation I felt was amplified by Lewis explaining to me that this is precisely what killed his mother, years before I even met him. 

On May 12th of 2008, on my 41st birthday, I received an e-mail from John, sharing the sad news that my lovely friend Liz had passed away – in her own home, listening through the windows to the sound of her 3 year-old and 9-year old daughters play in the family garden.  Liz was just 39 years old.

I am told that even until her last breath, Liz never lost hope that someday, someone would find a cure for this horrible thing called CANCER!  In her last weeks, she would tell her husband, “maybe today they will find the cure, and I can take a pill and it will all be gone.”  I lay awake at night still thinking about Liz and the sadness of her last days, knowing that she would soon be taken from her beautiful daughters and loving husband.  In her final weeks, John told me that she labored over boxes of items for her girls – special boxes to be opened on their 13th birthdays, 16th birthdays, for their weddings, and so on – knowing that she would not be there to share those moments with them.  She was dying, yet she was selfless and utterly hopeful – a true testament to just how special she was.  I miss my friend dearly, and I am haunted each and every day by thoughts of her sorrowful demise.  And so, to show the love I have for her, and to pay the deepest, most heartfelt respect to her memory, this year, for the third year, I am walking... walking to help find that “pill” that Liz so desperately hoped for.

Your words have power! When you speak doubt, unbelief, negative, sickness, anything against the word of God you activate the ENEMY, he can hear what we say, he will give you what you want. When you speak faith, healing, positive, Gods word you activate GOD, He can hear what we say, He will give you what you want!!!

This was a post I saw on my sweet friend’s facebook status that I just HAD to borrow and use as mine too! I completely believe this! I believe that we “see what we say”, as my pastor always says. I believe that words are the voice of the heart. So choose your words carefully! Once they are spoken, you can’t take them back! You can say I’m sorry but the damage is already done.

Are you speaking life, energy, encouragement and love into the people and situations around you? Or are you being an energy-drainer, tearing down dreams and bringing people down and situations around you?

I also believe that when you are consciously choosing your words that it changes your way of thinking, which will in turn change how you walk out your life! So watch your mouth my friends! You could be the only one to smile, speak kind words, or just have a positive attitude toward someone today!

Be sweet!

Love, kdee!

They bear hardships and they carry burdens,

but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy

and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in..

They stand up to injustice.

They don't take "no" for an answer

when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel

and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about

a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member,

yet they are strong when they

think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss

can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you

to show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what

makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love.

They have compassion and ideas.

They give moral support to their

family and friends.

Women have vital things to say

and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,

IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

We wax our eyebrows, our upper lip, our arm pits, legs and bikini area.  Or you can just go for the full Brazilian wax. Some places now offer what they are calling a Vagazzle!  REALLY? For those of you who don’t know what that is, it is a Brazilian wax (all hair removed in the bikini area….front to back!) but the Vagazzle takes it to the next level by applying a little bling to the area with rhinestones!!!  Hmmm???? I cannot even imagine!

I was heading to my appointment for a Brazilian wax a few weeks ago and my daughter asked if it hurt. I told her that it wasn’t just real pleasant but it wasn’t too bad. Well, let’s just say… time has elapsed since the last time I had one. OUCH! But swimsuit season is here and it’s that time again. While lying there, I was thinking I would rather poke my eyes out with a dull pencil but it went very quickly and I am once again pleased with the results. No shaving for the summer! It was all worth it! Oh the things we do for beauty! If you are in the Dallas area, call and make your appointment today with Michelle at Avalon Salon in the Shops at Legacy – 214.750.5667. Tell them g3girls.com sent you!