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Punctuate Your Holiday Vibe | fashion, style, vibe, fabrics, color

Looking forward to the near Holiday celebrations with friends, family, and business can be daunting for many women I speak to. With all the stress around all the Holiday deadlines, work, gifts, and entertaining, the last thing you need to worry about is how you dress up and show up. A little pre-planning is necessary.

Let me help you with some essential tips and advice.

Details of Silver, gold, pearls, and all the shiny details can up your style quota – just not too much of a good thing, or it could go cluttered or tacky.

Avoid over-accessorizing because we are not Iris Apfel, the one-hundred-and-two-year-old style icon. Iris believes “more is more, less is a bore,” but it is about how intentional Iris is about her accessories – usually, both arms are loaded with the same theme and color story of bracelets. The layering of necklaces is downright awe-inspiring. Most of us have to live in a different working environment – so keep that in mind.

For example, if you love a statement necklace, you might not want to layer on statement earrings, rings, and bracelets. Let one statement piece be the star of the show, and anything else becomes a supporting player and looks intentional. At least once a season, I layer on every pearl necklace I own in different lengths to make a statement with a solid garment choice. Last year, I wore the pearls with a cobalt blue velvet dress, added some sequins pointy-toe flats ( I gave up heels years ago), and felt dolled up – it was stunning and comfortable yet appropriate for the event.

Stick to the classics, and you won’t go wrong. Consider these if you are more of a trendsetter and want to add some new trends to your wardrobe: elevated luxe materials and embellishments such as bows and beads. If you prefer wearable romance, look for draped dresses, beaded bustier, and sheer blouses. If you like a bolder look, go for pops of color or mismatched prints—a few 2023 trends concern classic plaids, vests, pleather blazers, and pants. Whatever you choose, be sure it fits your body shape and coloring.

Fabrics speak volumes: Velvet, satin, brocade, suede, leather and lace. A little goes a long way to communicating the season and elegance.

Too often, women tell me that they ran out of time and spent all their energy and money on everyone else, falling short in how they felt and looked in all those Facebook and family photos that always have a habit of showing up for years to come.

Are you the one that ducks when you see someone pull out their camera? Do you ‘hide’ behind Auntie Ruth or grab the nearest baby or small child to block your body or partially cover your face?

Trust me, you are not fooling anyone. You are experiencing a lack of confidence & joy. The best quick cure I know is getting some personal style advice to dress confidently daily.

I don’t believe we must rush out and buy something new for the Holiday. The goal is to Glam things up and create a unique combination of what we already own. I have shopped in many closets and found great garment orphans needing styling with other unexpected items to create a new outfit. I suggest playing with your clothes to see what you can come up with.

Dump the all-black all-the-time default, brighten your skin, and blur the lines on your face by wearing your POWER COLORS for your skin tone – at least near your face.

Here are some powerful and flattering unexpected color combinations to wear:

Leopard & Kelly Green

Cobalt Blue & Orange

Chocolate & Red

Networking Holiday Events – Consider what you do for your business, get the right balance in your look but still be authentically you, and always consider the clientele you want to attract– Business expectations must be considered. Helping women figure this out in their wardrobe is my specialty. Creating a wardrobe that communicates your confidence is the key regardless of age, shape, or size.

What would your ideal client expect from different professions? What do you expect from the people you want to hire for the services you need?

CPA| financial Advisor| Banker: Detail-oriented, prepared, and relatable.

Graphic Artist | Designer | Creative: Edgy, out-of-the-box thinker.

Marketing: Communication, unique, playful and intentional

Sales | Realtor: Polished, put together, approachable, memorable

Are your clothing choices reflecting the expectations? Use prints, fabrics, textures, and colors to attract your desired business.

Quick change from workday to glam night out by planning with accessories. Wear dress slack and a cardigan with ankle boots to work; switch to a lux blazer, heels, and evening jewelry. Freshen your lipstick and add a penciled cat eye for more glam.

Dress authentically and be your fun, festive self; all good things will come your way.

Traci McBride is a Life Stylist and founder of TeeMcBee Consulting Ventures, LLC, focused on individual personal styling and wardrobe management since 2008. Traci worked with and has been certified by Style for Hire’s Stacy London a celebrity stylist.

Visit Traci at www.TeeMcBee.com or her home styling website, Zhooshing Spaces, offering services virtually & in-person, starting with a complimentary Chat with Tee. Schedule a 30-minute call by visiting one of our websites.

Generational Thrifting at Goodwill

It was so exciting to discover that today’s teens like to find a deal and have found the value of thrifting. Generational thrifting has shifted from the thrill of the mall. Deal hunting is one of the top reasons most teens I spoke to mentioned and dressing uniquely and not like everyone else since everything is a one of a kind at Goodwill. I chatted with friends and neighbors on this topic, and some shared they have regularly thrifted or haven’t done so in years or never have.
Teens have dialed into the awareness of how fashion impacts the environment and sustainability. So it is not just about finding a deal, although it’s a bonus.

Generation Z

When our 14-year-old granddaughter, Emily, visited Ohio, we shopped several Goodwill locations and found tees and shorts for Summer. She especially loved our local sports team’s memorabilia and purchased an almost brand new button-up Cleveland baseball team jersey and Cavs shirts for her and her father. The little corduroy purse she bought for two bucks got so many compliments from strangers.

Emily and Tessa in their Goodwill treasures

My 18-year-old niece, Tessa, joined us shopping at North Olmsted Goodwill’s and found some charming décor pieces for her room and a few t-shirts. Another niece Raeley, 20, talks all about how 98% of her wardrobe is thrifted. She loves the vintage vibe of finding past-era pants and jackets and t-shirts from old rock bands. She has a hack of styling some hippish looks, and it works for her style.

Baby Boomers

The older generational thrifter is my sister Kym 63, who calls Goodwill her ‘happy place’ and regularly stops by the one near her in Cincinnati. Her favorite finds are home and garden décor, as well as vintage purses, gloves, and unique blazers. She often uses her finds in flat lay photos for her social media posts and shares them with me.

I have to admit my sister Kym influenced me to dig deeper into Goodwill thrifting years ago because she was finding so many great pieces, many times better than the garage sale items I saw at the time.

Being in the Boomer generation myself, I love popping into Goodwill’s on the hunt for unique dinnerware for layering when entertaining. I always check out the art, mirrors, and accent furniture. I’ve never shied away from restyling my finds with paint or fabric. It’s a fun challenge. I recommend my clients take their teens for a little generational thrifting and deal-hunting of their own. It opens up inspiration and communication, always a good thing.

Generational Thrifting Tips

Tessa’s Shops with Friends:

She found a brand-new University of Texas sweatshirt.
She finds time to pop into Goodwill 1-3 times a month with friends.

Kym’s Top Items for Thrifting:

Garden cloches, apothecary jars, and enormous vases.
Particular addictions are lamps and lampshades (she has a whole closet of shades for the seasons)
Kym’s Pro Tip: keep a list of what you need and measurements—Paper, pen, and measuring tape.

Emily’s Reasons for Thrifting:

I love finding unique, relaxed and comfortable clothing for totally cheap.
The thrill of thrifting with friends is a bonus, and we always have a blast
I like thrifting with my mom for back to school because we get so many more items for so much less that at the mall.
Everyone can afford Goodwill.

This article was written and posted for Goodwill Industries.

Traci McBride is a Life Stylist and founder of TeeMcBee Consulting Ventures, LLC, focused on individual personal styling and wardrobe management since 2008. Traci worked with and has been certified by Style for Hire’s Stacy London celebrity stylist.

Visit Traci at Zspaces.teemcbee.com coming soon Zhooshing Spaces website offering services virtually & in-person, offering complimentary Chat with Tee 30 min. Calls by visiting our website.

Traci is passionate about bringing form, function & style into every area of one’s life while expressing yourself. More Color, More Style, More Self Expression = More Passion & Confidence in Your Life

Prepping your Closet for a Stylish Spring Refresh

As the days finally get longer, we all enjoy a new spring in our step as we can feel the anticipated Spring season within reach. As a wardrobe stylist, I understand the excitement in buying some new fashion to be prepared, but I advise you to do some needed homework in your closet before heading off to Goodwill. Here are some tips for prepping your closet for spring.

10 Colorful ways to Transition your Closet for Spring at Goodwill

Add yummy colors for Spring to pump-up your energy and make your skin look amazing: Add Pastels, Sky Blue, Pink and yellow to your wardrobe.
Push the wool and knit scarves aside and bring out the lightweight cotton and silk scarves with striking prints and colors to wake up even your neutrals.
Find fun, colorful suede mules & loafers for comfort and a sophisticated finish.
It is still cool, but the calendar says Spring- Find 100% Cotton Sweaters.
Layer with Supima cotton v-neck tees with ¾ or long sleeves.
White jeans are a great addition to your wardrobe. They always look fresh!
Jean jacket is universally perfect for Spring in traditional denim. Perfect to layer over a tank or dress.
Forever classic is a trench coat. Choose one in a length that flatters your body.
Blazers always provide a beautiful finish to slacks, cotton dresses, and even dress-up jeans. Look for blazers in a madras plaid, stripe, or floral print that you love.
White details in a purse, cute sneakers, or accessories will always communicate Spring in a way nothing else does.

Have you been STUCK in a STYLE RUT (8 ways you can tell)

Lack of Color in your closet. You have 50 shades of grey or black, from tees to suits.
You own more yoga pants (women), athletic pants (men) than you own tailored pants.
Your 1st thought is to ‘be comfortable’ when getting dressed.
Never get compliments on your appearance, and others ask if you are tired.
You experience no joy or excitement when dressing each day.
You have had the same hairstyle and or make-up for 5+ years.
You decided not to buy new clothes until you reached your ‘goal’ weight 2+ years ago.
Your closet is full, yet you have nothing to wear, or you wear the same 20% over and over.

7 Ways to Kick it Up for Spring

Color is CONFIDENCE & ENERGY. Learn to harness it & discover your personal POWER COLORS. You will be shocked at the way you feel!
Evaluate your wardrobe and DETOX your Closet from anything that is not honoring your NOW body or bringing you Joy.
Put a full-length mirror where you dress each morning – and use it before, during, and after you dress.
Create positive affirmations and hang them up where you will see them each day.
Learn your body shape – this alone will save you much time, energy, and money.
Create a Style Vision Board. Use magazines, catalogs, and your phone to gather visuals of what you would like to move towards in your style.
Change one thing. Many times, improving one positive change motivates you to continue.
Create a team of advisers. By investing in your team, from a manicurist & hairstylist to a personal wardrobe stylist & image and confidence coach, you can do what you do best, and they will always make sure you look & feel your absolute best.

Visit Traci at www.TeeMcBee.com, or her home styling website, Zhooshing Spaces, offering services virtually & in-person, starting with a complimentary Chat with Tee. Schedule a 30 minute call by visiting one of our websites.

Trending Pantone Colors of the Year

How to Add Them to Your Decor & Wardrobe!

Each year the color experts choose a color that will be trending in home décor and wardrobes. Pantone picked two for 2021 because of the balance the two give to each other. One on its own could feel too bold and the other on its own too boring – but together they provide a lovely balance.

Illuminating yellow & Ultimate Gray are colors I have worked with for an exceptionally long time for both wardrobes and home décor. Not everyone embraces them in the same way, for instance some prefer a toned down more mustard yellow instead of the brightness of Pantones color of the year, illuminating yellow. The yellow can be jarring for many to wear on a substantial portion of their body as in a dress or owning a large piece of furniture such as a couch. If you like the pop of color but want to bring it more softly into your home or wardrobe here are some ideas.

These items were found and purchased recently at the N. Olmsted Goodwill. Here is how I worked them into my décor and wardrobe, breathing new life into them while spending just eight dollars on all these finds.

How to use Pantone Colors of the Year in your wardrobe

While shopping I came across this designer scarf and just knew I needed it to partner with the neutrals in my wardrobe of black, white, shades of gray and even navy blue. I always suggest wearing the best shade of any color that best perk-up your personal skin undertones, also so your wardrobe harmonizes and works well together.

How to use Pantone Colors of the Year in your Home Décor

During another visit to Goodwill, I found two illuminating yellow bowls as I looked for pieces to add to my entertainment serving pieces. Perfect for a charcuterie board to hold nuts or olives or to use as a pop of color to my place setting as you see here.

Finding these pillows were a perfect match to the Pantone Colors of the Year as well and now provide a pop of color in my home. Making the most of your shopping dollars will serve you well especially if you put what you save into a savings account. As an example, the yellow scarf I purchased was a designer item and I knew what it previously retailed for on their website, so the difference I saved from buying at Goodwill went into my Christmas Club at my local credit union. Saving for future purchases can be so rewarding.

Embrace the Pantone Colors of the Year to add a little joy to your day when you wear them and see them in your home. Feel the power of color.

TIPS for Shopping Goodwill while elevating your décor and wardrobe

Keep a list of wants and needs

Every idea gets put on my Goodwill list in a little notebook in my handbag. Take note of sizes of empty spaces on your walls for art or space for furniture or rugs. When I find myself walking through the store, I pull those notes out to keep me on track. Avoid buying haphazardly which only leads to cluttering your home. Be specific.

Be prepared for your finds

Keeping protection for breakables in your trunk. Bubble wrap, newspapers or even paper bags will protect your great new finds until you get home.

Tools of the trade

Cash is king and keeps you on budget. Measuring tape. Photos on your phone. I take photos of the spaces I am decorating and garments I am building around so I can check my memory before putting them into my shopping cart. I also have a photo file of inspiration items of what I am wishing to find, you could get lucky.

Avoid missing treasures

I highly recommend shopping each aisle at least twice but the best is thrice. Some of my best finds were when I backtracked to the aisle multiple times. Easy to get distracted by something and miss other items. Shop your favorite Goodwill often, as items get added very often.

Buddy up with other Goodwill treasure hunters and share your shopping list

I usually shop solo because that is what I do for clients on a regular basis. Although I discovered shopping with my sister is great when she is in town to help inspect linens for any imperfections having another pair of hands unfolding the larger items. Another benefit since we know what the other is looking for, we can be another set of eyes when shopping to avoid missing treasures.

Sign-up to reap the rewards

Many Goodwill locations have a points system to earn as you buy your treasures – sign-up and save money.

Snap a picture at the door

Our brain is on overload and remembering the color of the day for extra discounts gets forgotten while shopping in the back of the store. Snap a picture on your phone of the discount board on your way in for a quick double-check for savings.

Traci is passionate about bringing form, function & style into every area of one’s life while expressing yourself.

More Color, More Style, More Self Expression = More Passion & Confidence in Your Life

Visit Traci at www.TeeMcBee.com. Coming soon: Zhooshing Spaces website offering services virtually & in-person, offering complimentary Chat with Tee 30 minute calls by visiting our website.

Summer is Short: 7 Best Practices for Shopping the Sales

Schedule a Style Strategy Phone Chat at TeeMcBee.com

What do the holidays, the end of the year, an end of a season, Labor Day, July 4th and Memorial Day all have in common? Sales! But before jumping on the sale bandwagon and splurging on great discounts, be cautious, be aware, and be patient. How do you do that? Read these guidelines carefully before bringing all those discounted items up to the cash register.

1. Be true to your size. Shop for the body you have now, not the body you assume you’ll have after you lose those holiday pounds or after your New Year’s detox. The only exception is if you love the item so much and it’s close to fitting. If you are confident that simple alterations will make it fit you perfectly, then go for it. But remember that extensive alteration charges added to the price of the item will make your bargain price disappear.

2. Know the return policy. Huge department stores and well-known brand name stores usually have a great return policy but some items are truly final sales and you won’t be able to return them. Boutiques usually offer store credit at best and sale items may not be returnable. Consignment stores usually have a no return policy. Hopefully, you love what you buy and will wear it but recognize from the start what type of return policy makes you feel most comfortable so you won’t be disappointed.

3. An incredible sale can be a huge deception. Sale items that are practically discounted to nothing may seem like steals but there is a reason why they are marked down. If you buy something and never wear it, that incredibly outrageous sale item is a 100% bad investment.

4. Check out websites before perusing racks. If you are planning to go shopping at a specific store, check out their website first. You may be able to find a coupon to use, a scheduled extra discounted day, or something that is on sale only online.

5. Know your inventory before investing in more. What items are missing from your wardrobe and what items are you well stocked up on? When shopping, we tend to load up on the items that we are familiar with and most likely have a version of them already. Make an inventory list of what you need and shop sales with the intention of filling your needs first.

6. Fitting it in with ease. Before saying yes to a sale item, ask yourself if it will slide right into your wardrobe. If you can wear it with other pieces you already own, then it’s a keeper. If the piece will make you have to shop for supporting pieces, the sale item just turned expensive.

7. Turn bargains into bodacious outfits. Let TeeMcBee help you shop those enticing sales and get you in to what’s right for your wardrobe. Or if you’ve done your bargain shopping and need help getting your sales items to work into your wardrobe, Tee can help get you to create great looking outfits that you can wear now. Let’s make ten new outfits using your new pieces. TeeMcBee will help you truly enjoy your bargains!

Summer is short – make the most of it with TeeMcBee pulling it all together and creating a virtual LOOK BOOK so you just rinse & repeat.

How to Love Everything You Wear & Wear Everything You Love

Can you imagine having a wardrobe of pieces you love and wearing them on a regular basis? You can! Even if today you don’t spot a lot of love when you look into your closet, there are simple steps you could take to turn that around.

Here’s a heads up: You may need to develop some new habits, make a few edits or add a few pieces to your wardrobe, but I know you’re up to it!

Here’s a list of steps that will move you ever closer to having a fully functioning wardrobe that you love and that loves you back.

1. Pull out some pieces you’re fond of but haven’t been wearing. Put them in the front of your closet so they’re in full view every time you open your closet door. Challenge yourself to choose one of those items each day and wear them in outfits this week.

2. Edit out the items you love but that don’t work anymore, such as a blouse that no longer fits, pants that itch or are too short, etc. No excuses. Let go of items that don’t serve you.

3. Wear the family treasures handed down to you by loved ones. You don’t have to wait for special occasions to wear Aunt Sally’s silk scarves that you loved as a kid.

4. Put shoe trees inside your favorite shoes as soon as you take them off at the end of the day. Shoe trees will preserve the shape of your shoes and extend the life of them.

5. If something looks yellowed, tired or dingy, remove it from your closet so your favorite pieces will come into focus.

6. Hang up your clothes at the end of the day instead of leaving them in a heap. All too often, people send clothes to the cleaners or wash and dry them when all they really need is to be hung up and aired out.

7. Use a full-length mirror as a tool to aid you in building outfits from items you love and to fully appreciate how great you look. I have one in my room where I dress and one in the garage to do a last moment look with my coat and gloves on before getting in the car.

8. It’s easy to love a garment that feels good. It may be time to edit any items in your closet that are scratchy or uncomfortable.

9. If you’re not wearing a favorite necklace because you need a certain earring style to go with it, go shopping. The sooner you have that earring, the sooner you’ll love wearing that necklace. I have a running list of items that would be great additions when time and budget allow. I keep it tucked in my wallet. It also keeps me on track to avoid buying more than needed.

10. If you have a favorite pair of shoes or a handbag that’s showing wear, take it to a professional who will bring it back to life.

11. Use Pinterest or Instagram images to inspire new ways to wear jeans, pants, skirts, or dresses. Look at unique color combinations that appeal to you and give them a try to spice things up.

12. Remove the plastic from your dry cleaned items as soon as you get them home. Your clothes will last longer if you do!

13. If you have tarnished silver accessories that you aren’t using, polish them up so you reach for them more often. If you know the maintenance of certain items is more than you want to do, donate or sell the items.

14. Attend in-store fashion shows to learn new styling tips to try at home. Just avoid being sold on items you don’t really need or want.

If you look in your closet and see items that are neither uplifting nor inspiring, let’s chat. Complimentary Style Chat Sessions are informative and fun. I can help you create a wardrobe that fits your needs so you’ll be loving everything you wear!

Working from Home & the Toll on Personal Presence

Lessons Learned & PROS & CONS

Having worked from home for the past 20+ years, I have learned a few things. Helping many solo entrepreneur clients who work from home has shown me even more. During all the years I had to deal with rush hour traffic, I constantly mumbled how “Someday I will do something that won’t include white knuckle driving.” Fast forwarding a decade finds me working as a realtor in the suburbs. I enjoyed so many advantages of being a young mother of two active sons while being able to be at every teacher conference, holiday party and even be the room mom. One thing that suffered was personal attention to myself. In those days I never had a day off. As a realtor when the phone rang I went. Weekends were for clients and open houses.

I felt ‘off’ when I didn’t have time to put myself together — from my hair and make-up to my clothes. My self-confidence would be zapped. It took me a while to realize what it was, but once I did figure it out, I made a commitment to myself. A streamlined daily routine was the key.

It’s easy to think, “Well I don’t need to see a client today, so I won’t bother with dressing in anything nice. Instead I’ll wear gym clothes and skip hair and makeup. But those days can become more and more frequent until you figure it is fine to go out and run errands that way. Once that happens, your personal presence unravels in a way you didn’t intend.

I even have retired clients that have gotten lost after not having to dress for work any longer. One particular client called after seeing my article in Boomer & Beyond Magazine telling me she found herself changing three to five times before going to a car show with her husband. She no longer had her professional wardrobe to cling to and wanted support in figuring out her retirement style. She was adamant about not wanting to look frumpy or give up style. We have different needs at every stage of our lives — that is why I named my book: Mastering Your Evolving Style because we are always evolving.

Let me expand on these lessons.

Lesson #1: Create a Daily Dressing Routine and Stick to it NO MATTER WHAT.

Lesson #2: Create a Clutter-Free environment. Clutter Demands Constant Attention and Distracts You.

Lesson #3: Set a Timer for EVERYTHING Even Your Lunch Break!

Lesson #4: Teach those around you, kids and adults, to HONOR your Work hours — No Interruptions!

Lesson #5: Create systems so the unexpected doesn’t throw you off course — not even sick kids, client hiccups or snowstorms. Life happens, but it doesn’t have to take you off track.

There are so many PROS of working from home if you can make it happen, and it is what you dream of doing someday. A few friends shared these PROS & CONS.

COMFORT of controlling the temperature, clothing, and atmosphere
WEATHER stress and TRAFFIC are gone as well as traveling expenses.
Less exposure to sick co-workers.
SAVE Money for both employee and employer.
FEWER Interruptions, office gossip and distractions
MORE flexibility for appointments and errands
Improved work-life balance.
More time with family.

The CONS of working from home.

Lack of personal work relationships could affect growth opportunities
Requires the ability to be self-motivated
Easy to misinterpret emails
Hard to separate work and family time
Miss out on some work-related conversations that could be insightful.
Some resources not available (unless you purchased yourself such as a printer, faster internet, scanners, etc.)
Often viewed as less valuable since people can’t always ‘see’ what you’re doing.

Holiday GLAM 2019 by Tee

Make a STATEMENT regardless of where you are going…

Need some inspiration? Here is Tee’s Holiday Glam edition Catalog

Many times we are so busy taking care of all the details of the holiday for our loved ones that we run out of time, energy and funds to take care of ourselves. Show up for yourself by shopping in your closet. I’m sure you have items tucked away that you rarely wear that, when paired with an unexpected texture or color, could be special and make you feel loved and ready for any celebration. Here are some examples:

That silk scarf that your best friend gave you — the one you’ve been saving for a special moment — well every day is a special moment and certainly, the Holidays qualify too — pull it out of the box and google how to tie a scarf so you can wear it now.

Something sparkly or sequined can always be worn now, even if only with jeans. Kick it up a notch. See Tee’s Holiday Glam Catalog here for ideas.

Color is always a mood lifter. It doesn’t have to be red or green but it does need to lift your mood and make you feel as exceptional as you are. Knowing your Power Colors is a great tool to have.

Pins & Brooches, quickly clustered together on a blazer or even a jean jacket, will jazz things up. Even jeweled shoes will make your entire outfit new again. You can always pick up a pair of shoe clips (they aren’t just for weddings.)

Self Love…Baby Steps are better than nothing

Are you the one that ducks when you see someone pull out their camera? Do you ‘hide’ behind Auntie Ruth or grab the nearest baby or small child to block your body or partially cover your face? Trust me, you are not fooling anyone; you are experiencing a lack of confidence and joy along with low self-love.

A few decades ago, I vividly remember a conversation with my mother, Maureen. Mom was an avid “Law & Order” fan. She watched every episode multiple times. I noticed the life view she developed from watching the show of all the bad, evil people out there. Whenever I shared that I was going downtown or taking a road trip out of town, she was so worried something would happen, always warning me to be careful because there is so much crime.

You see, the constant exposure to a crime show had tainted her beliefs that all of this was happening constantly even though no one in our family had experienced anything like what happened on that show.

On that visit, I suggested mom watch Oprah instead because the current show was focused on positive, self-love topics. I asked Mom, “Do you love yourself, Mom?” She replied, “Oh that is ridiculous Traci, why would I even think about that.” I shared with her the impact on me of a book I had been reading daily, You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay. I shared with Mom the mirror exercise from the book, how it was suggested to look directly in the mirror into your eyes and tell yourself ‘I love you’ without looking away. Of course, most people experience tears when doing this, but the author encourages us to keep doing it daily until we no longer cry or look away. This was a very empowering exercise for me when I lost my mojo in my early thirties.

Mom never did what the book suggested; instead she continued to feed herself a negative diet of life from TV. I, on the other hand, did the exercise and still, twenty-some years later, repeat many of the affirmations from this book. Whatever helps us move the needle to self-love is worth it — your life depends on it. Baby steps are better than nothing. You are worth it.

ABOUT TRACI MCBRIDE: TRACI IS THE WARDROBE STYLIST AT TEEMCBEE IMAGE CONSULTING. SUBSCRIBE TO HER NEWSLETTER, SCHEDULE A STYLE STRATEGY CALL, OR REQUEST TEE SPEAKS TO INFUSE YOUR ORGANIZATION WITH PASSION AND STYLE.

Why the Bee? My Story on Branding…

Tweaking and building on my brand is an ongoing pleasure for me. Branding your business is an indelible impression, so much like a tattoo, you want to give a lot of thought to it. During my very early years in business, on a shoestring budget, I visualized Service Icons to represent each of my main service offerings.

You might wonder why I felt this way. Because I know we are visual beings in every area of our lives; and I like having a great visual to go along with descriptive names for my services.

My Service Icons all have a Bumblebee

A question I am often asked is, “Why the bee?” You’ll note my name is not McBee, it’s McBride, but I have a bumblebee in each of my icons. Well here is the story. The bee’s story is one of triumph against the odds. In aerodynamic terms, bees shouldn’t be able to fly. Their bodies are too heavy and their wings are too small. And yet they fly, achieving the impossible every day! In addition, we need bumblebees to pollinate the world so we enjoy flowers, fruit, and honey in our lives. Without bees, the world wouldn’t be the same.

At the time of choosing the bumblebee, the wonderful happy color of yellow became my brand color along with black and white. Now more than a decade later, I’ve developed an obsession with yellow. Both my book and journal are boldly covered in the bumblebee colors along with my other favorite visual, stripes. What brand colors do you have? How did you decide on those colors or symbols?

Many times in my life, I didn’t have the belief in myself to act on the opportunities that showed up. Each time I said, “No, I don’t know enough to do that,” someone would say, “You know more than you think you do” and would see in me the strength or talent that I did not see in myself.

I was smart enough to listen to them and take the chance to say YES to myself so I could have the confidence to explore and take on the opportunities that came to me. Looking back over the years those situations led me to the very best people, jobs and businesses of my life. I’m so completely humbled and filled with gratitude for the angels that were sent to me to say just the right things at just the right moments in my life.

I like to pay it forward by being that person in others’ lives, whether it be a neighbor, relative, client or even a stranger … choosing to point out to them the very best of themselves. Perhaps it’s just a smile or a compliment, and sometimes it’s sharing a not-so-bright time in my life that will help them see that no one has it all together all the time. We all have ups and downs, but “believe in yourself” is the best advice ever. It worked for me and I just know it can work for you.

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