Inspiration to Grow On: An Interview with Darlene Victoria Gonzalez

Darlene Victoria Gonzalez is an entrepreneur who wears many hats. She is owner of True Harmony Media, LLC—a company that provides digital audio and video support to small businesses. She is also a podcast producer—most known for her podcast “A Virtual Perception” and she frequently writes for various blogs, including two of her own: InspirationtoGrowOn.com and FoodieMuse.com.

Darlene developed a true passion for all things web related after completing a web design program where she graduated with honors in 2001. In May 2008 she began producing A Virtual Perception, a podcast that highlights Virtual Assistants in many different phases of their business and provides business resources to the show’s listeners. The show was nominated for a Podcast Award in 2009 and 2010. She also shares her passion for all things audio and video related as a contributing writer for BusinessDarlings.com.

Finally, Darlene is a strong believer that you should do whatever you can to follow your dreams and make them a reality. At the age of 30, she did just that! She started college and two years later started her own business (a lifelong dream of hers). Now she likes to urge others to follow their dreams and provides inspiration through her website: InspirationtoGrowOn.com, which highlights inspirational stories from people fulfilling their dreams, striving to be the best they can be and motivating others to do the same.

I’ve been really inspired by Darlene’s story and the way she has followed her dreams, and I was excited to talk to her more about that.

Shelly Rachanow: Tell us about your website, Inspiration to Grow On.

Darlene Victoria Gonzalez: Inspiration to Grow On is a website that includes a collection of podcast interviews and blog interviews featuring stories from not only my own life, but stories from others as well. It is a site devoted to sharing the stories of people fulfilling their dreams, striving to be the best they can be and inspiring others to do the same.

Shelly Rachanow: What prompted you to begin Inspiration to Grow On?

Darlene Victoria Gonzalez: I am a firm believer that we all must follow our dreams and live life to the fullest. Sometimes things happen in life that knock a person down. It could be something as simple as an offhanded comment that makes someone feel crummy or as big as being diagnosed with a disease. Despite being knocked down, I think it’s important to continue on the path to fulfilling your dreams, despite the cards you have been dealt.

I was diagnosed with kidney failure at the age of 21. Instead of feeling down and succumbing to what could have been a really dark time in my life, I fought back. I received a kidney transplant at the age of 22 and have been doing what I can to follow my dreams and life’s purpose. Inspiration to Grow On is a place on the web for anyone to come and share their story of inspiration, as well as get some inspiration when needed.

Shelly Rachanow: Who have been some of the biggest sources of inspiration in your life?

Darlene Victoria Gonzalez: My mother is my biggest source of inspiration, as well as support. She’s been by my side through thick and thin. She is also a strong woman who has been through her fair share of trials and tribulations (she is a breast cancer and uterine cancer survivor). Despite it all, she stands tall and remains an honest, caring and loving person. She is not only my mother, but my best friend.

Shelly Rachanow: You’ve experienced some challenges in your life, including spending much of the early part of your life in the hospital after being born prematurely. What inspiring words do you have for people who may be facing a health or other challenge at the moment?

Darlene Victoria Gonzalez: Always maintain a positive attitude, no matter what. My mother tells me that when I was in the hospital as a child, the nurses would bring me into the rooms of other patients to help cheer them up. Despite the circumstances, I was always happy and smiling. So, my best advice is to remain positive. I know at times it can be brutally hard, but being positive is what brought me through many tough times and I believe is one of the reasons I am here today.

Finally, whenever you can, share that positivity with others who surround you. It truly can be contagious!

Shelly Rachanow: Tell us a bit about your company, True Harmony Media, and how you are using your web and media skills to help businesses.

Darlene Victoria Gonzalez: Running my own business had been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. At the age of 30, I left my full-time job, started college and two years later started my business. At the time it was a virtual assistant business. A few months after opening my business, I started a business podcast. I had never created a podcast before, but I soon found that I loved everything about it. A funny thing then started to happen, people began to come to know me for my podcasts and I started getting inquiries for podcast and video editing assistance. I revamped my business model and began to consult with entrepreneurs and help them with their audio and video production needs. As of late, I am focusing more of my efforts on producing new podcast content and training materials for my audience.

Shelly Rachanow: And last, the 'If Women Ran the World Blog' question for everyone - What would you do if you ran the world?

Wow, that’s a big question. If I ran the world, everyone would have the job of their dreams. This would be accomplished by giving every working adult or teenager one paid week off each year to intern in their dream position. If they really like the dream position, they will then have the opportunity to get the education, mentorship, and resources needed to pursue their dream job.

Life is short; we spend most of that time working. We should be doing whatever it is that makes us the most happiest during those 8 hours each day (or more) of our lives.

To contact Darlene, email Darlene@yourtrueharmony.com or reach her on Twitter @darlenevictoria. You can also visit:

http://www.inspirationtogrowon.com/
http://www.avirtualperception.com/
http://www.foodiemuse.com/
http://www.yourtrueharmony.com/

The Lazy Gourmet: An Interview with Robin Donovan and Juliana Gallin

Juliana Gallin and Robin Donovan are the authors of The Lazy Gourmet: Magnificent Meals Made Easy —a hip, fun, and practical guide to cooking strikingly sophisticated, yet surprisingly simple dishes. With more than 125 delightfully easy recipes, the book shows that anyone—even those short on time, patience, skill, or experience—can cook impressive meals with minimal effort.

Everyone who knows me knows about my utter lack of cooking ability. That's why I was so excited to chat with Robin and Juliana and learn all about their book!

Shelly Rachanow: I love the title of your book, The Lazy Gourmet! What inspired you to write it?

RD & JG: We’ve been friends since college, where we were housemates in a huge old Santa Cruz Victorian that we shared with five other students. We all took turns doing the chores, including cooking. That was the beginning of our friendship, and we’ve continued to enjoy cooking together since then.

RD: Back then I was already very comfortable in the kitchen. I grew up in Berkeley in a very foodie family. My mom was a food writer and a professional restaurant critic, and I always helped her in the kitchen. I don’t actually remember “learning” how to cook—I just learned by helping my mom in the kitchen and became a fairly competent cook by the time I went away to college. As a result, I’ve always had a certain natural confidence in the kitchen.

JG: I, on the other hand, had no early kitchen training or foodie sensibility. My favorite foods were hamburgers, french fries, Pringles, and Doritos. As I got older I became more interested in eating and cooking real food, but I was a by-the-book, devoted recipe-follower—completely convinced for many years that I just had no natural talent in the kitchen. I stuck with it though, learned some rules and techniques, started experimenting more, and eventually became a pretty good cook. The most important thing I had realized during this transformation was that some of the best dishes were also some of the most simple. There didn’t seem to be any direct relation whatsoever between the difficulty of a recipe and the quality of a meal.

RD: And that’s the premise of our book. Over the years we talked more and more about the idea that cooking really good food doesn't have to be difficult, and that anyone can do it. At some point we decided to write a cookbook about this idea. We basically wanted to create a collection of our most elegant, delicious, exciting recipes—the kind of dishes you would serve at a dinner party when you want to impress your guests—that are deceptively easy to make.

RD & JG: As far as the title goes, the original title was How To Impersonate a Gourmet Chef, but that was too much of a mouthful. Our publisher urged us to change it and that’s when we came up with The Lazy Gourmet. This helped us to clarify our focus for the book—the concept that it can be really easy to cook well. Even for people who are kitchen-phobic, intimidated, time-constrained, or just plain “lazy.”

Shelly Rachanow: So many people think it takes hours to cook a fabulous meal, or days to prepare for a dinner party. Is that really the case? Can cooking good food really be simple and easy?

RD & JG: Yes! We like to say, “Cooking a gourmet meal can be just as easy as cooking a crappy meal.” And it’s so true. We firmly believe that cooking delicious, interesting, “gourmet” food can actually be really easy. It’s just a matter of using good ingredients and combining them in interesting ways using very basic techniques.

Shelly Rachanow: One of the things I love about your book is that it’s given me (someone who, as my friends will attest, cannot cook–at all) the confidence to help my fiancé (a chef) in the kitchen. What do you say to people like me who lack confidence or experience when it comes to cooking?

JG: I would tell them that I used to lack kitchen confidence myself, and now I’m a cookbook author! One of the light bulb moments for me, as I mentioned before, was realizing that elegant, impressive gourmet dishes are often exceptionally simple. To start building up your confidence and comfort levels, make a dinner where you basically have only one recipe to follow—pick a very simple, but interesting, entrée. Then pair it with a couple of side dishes that seem special but basically require no work at all, like black rice, or roasted asparagus, or even a prepared vegetable dish from a fancy deli. This is a great way to get your toes in the water without having to cook a multi-course meal from scratch.

RD: We also like to remind people that a recipe is just a suggestion. Don’t get too hung up on following it word-for-word. Substitute one ingredient for another; leave something out if you don’t like it; double the quantity of another ingredient that you love. This will break your dependence on recipes and help you become a more natural, comfortable cook.

Shelly Rachanow: Tell us more about the types of recipes in your book, and share one or two of your favorites.

RD & JG: Our primary audience for the book is the novice cook—people who don’t realize how incredibly easy it can be to cook really well, and to impress guests with “gourmet” dinners. But we also wanted the recipes to appeal to experienced cooks. We measured each potential recipe against the following three criteria, to decide whether or not we thought it was worth pursuing: easiness, impressiveness, and that extra “certain something” that makes a recipe interesting and special.

Because we wanted to be absolutely certain that our recipes would be easy to follow, we enlisted more than 50 volunteer testers who made our recipes and then filled out detailed feedback forms where they rated each recipe for easiness, clarity of instructions, deliciousness, impressiveness, visual appeal, availability of ingredients, and more. We then made adjustments based on their feedback.

Some of our favorites recipes are Orange Crème Fraiche Cake with Bittersweet Chocolate Drizzle; Asparagus and Meyer Lemon Tart; Savory Blue Cheese Shortbread; Artichoke and Endive Panzanella; Fig, Mint, and Pistachio Salad; Bombay-Style Vegetable Sandwiches; Smoked Trout Brandade; Roasted Salmon with Garlic Confit; and everyone’s favorite—Charmoula (a magical Moroccan condiment made of lemon juice, garlic, cilantro, mint, and spices).

Shelly Rachanow: And last, the 'If Women Ran the World Blog' question for everyone - What would you do if you ran the world?

JG: Wow, every single honest answer that comes to mind makes me sound like a real evil maniac. So I’ll just suggest that we let tiny, fluffy lap dogs run the government. I don’t think they would do a very good job, but it would be fun to cuddle them at their fundraisers!

RD: I like Juliana’s answer! But if I ran the world, I would make organic vegetable gardening and cooking required subjects in schools. I think it’s so important for kids to have an idea of where food comes from and how it gets from farm to table. Growing and cooking your own food gives you so much more of an appreciation for it, and I think makes you more inclined to choose wholesome, unprocessed foods. I think if we fostered this kind of connection to healthy food from an early age, we’d solve a lot of the health problems our society faces today.

For more information, visit:

Blog: http://www.twolazygourmets.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheLazyGourmet
Twitter: http://twitter.com/lazy_gourmet

The Frugal Foodie Cookbook: An Interview with Lara Starr

Cookbook author, cake decorating teacher, radio producer, marketeer, card-carrying cheapskate, wife and mom. Those are just a few words that describe Lara Starr: Whew!

Lara’s first cookbook, The Party Girl Cookbook, was written 1998. Back then, she was newly married and kid-less, the streets were paved with dot-com gold, and a young Ben Stiller was teaching us how to laugh. Lara had plenty of time and money for parties that included elaborate themes, silly costumes and the inevitable next-day hangovers.

Now, like many of us, Lara is striving to make ends meet, has faced un- and under-employment, and is looking to save a buck wherever she can. She also added a kid to the equation and is always on the lookout for healthy, nutritious meals that the Young Master Picky, Mr. Meat and Potatoes, and Ms. Frugal Foodie will all enjoy...and won't break the bank.

For Lara, it's been so fun and satisfying to discover and develop new recipes, find lots of little ways to cut spending without sacrificing a yummy lifestyle, and share it all in The Frugal Foodie Cookbook! As someone who loves good food, I was excited to talk to Lara more about her latest project.

Shelly Rachanow: Tell us more about your book, The Frugal Foodie Cookbook.

Lara Starr: It's got lots of delicious recipes for food that doesn't cost a lot to make, and that makes the most of every ingredient, such as "The Exponential Chicken" which can feed two people for five days! It's also got lots of advice for saving money around the house—like how to make you own low-cost cleanings supplies, and fun quotes from foodies and frugalistas.

Shelly Rachanow: What do you tell people who say it isn’t possible to be a foodie while also maintaining a budget?

Lara Starr: I say you're dead wrong! My secret is meal planning. I know what's for dinner every night of the week, and have an arsenal of lunch and breakfast items. That way I only shop for what I need and I only shop once a week at two stores (the regular supermarket and Trader Joes). The less time you spend in a store, the less you're going to spend.

Shelly Rachanow: I love the “Frugal Foodie Tips” from the book. What are some of your favorites?

Lara Starr: I don't fry very often, but when I figured out that I can use newspapers and one paper towel to drain fried food instead of a pile of paper towels, it was a revelation. I only like to use a paper towel if my life depends on it.

I also love re-growing green onions. Who knew, right? I've always got a bunch of them in a glass jar in my window.

Shelly Rachanow: Your book contains recipes for breakfast, brunches, lunches, dinners, kids, snacks, and more. What’s one that you can share with us?

Lara Starr: These Biscotti are my one of favorite recipes of all time. They're easy, delicious and so inexpensive to make. I've made them dozens and dozens of times to rave reviews. Sometimes I get fancy and add chocolate or orange peel, but I really love them just as is.

Not Your Bubbe’s Biscotti

“Look at all of the fancy, schmancy mandel bread!”

That’s what I imagine my great-grandmother “Mimi” would have said had she lived long enough to see the platters and jars of dipped and decorated biscotti at upscale coffee shops. I grew up eating her mandel bread, a twice-baked almond cookie very similar to biscotti.

Mimi’s recipe contained butter and was a little more cookie-like than these. My biscotti are not only less expensive, but are more crisp and hold up very well to dunking in coffee, tea or wine.

2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups flour
3/4 cups almonds, toasted and coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with foil and grease well.

Beat the eggs and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer until pale, about 2 minutes. Beat in the flour and baking soda and continue beating until blended. Mix in the almonds. With floured hands, form half of the dough into a 12-inch log. Place on the baking sheet and press down to flatten to about 3 inches. Repeat with the remaining dough.

Bake the cookie loaves for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, but leave the oven on. Let the loaves cool for 5 minutes, then remove them to a cutting board. Slice each loaf diagonally into 12 slices with a sharp, serrated knife. Don’t press hard, let the knife do the work for you.

Put the slices back on the cutting cookie sheet, on their sides. Return to the oven and bake an additional 20 minutes. Cool completely on a rack.

Cookies will keep for about a week in an airtight container or for up to three months in the freezer.

Shelly Rachanow: What are some tips you can give people who want to throw a foodie-worthy party without breaking the bank?

Lara Starr: Make a signature spiked punch or sangria instead of serving beer, wine or an open bar, and don't be afraid to ask people to contribute—people like to help! Take care with presentation. Use a tablecloth, set out flowers, light candles—these touches really make a difference, and even simple spaghetti seems fancy and festive in the right setting.

Shelly Rachanow: And last, the 'If Women Ran the World Blog' question for everyone - What would you do if you ran the world?

Lara Starr: My cheeky answer is I'd ban all boxed cake mix and canned frosting. I weep for the children whose only experience of cake is boxed cake mix and canned frosting.

My serious answer is that I'd ensure that all children have access to safe, stimulating and challenging schools, delicious and healthy food, and the love and support of caring grown-ups.

For more information or to contact Lara, visit her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/frugalfoodiecookbook

YALDAH Magazine: An Interview with Leah Larson

We’re never too old or too young to pursue our dreams, and this week's amazing woman is certainly proof of that! Leah Larson is the founder and publisher of YALDAH Magazine, now in its sixth year. Leah started brainstorming about a magazine for Jewish girls at age 12...and she was just 13 when the first issue came out. The quarterly publication now has subscribers worldwide, an editorial board of talented girls, a small staff, and is available in select Barnes & Noble bookstores. All the content is brainstormed and created by young girls.

YALDAH’s mission is to inspire leadership and creativity, to celebrate Jewish girls and women, Jewish life, and Israel. The magazine also sponsors art and writing contests, girls’ summer and winter retreats, and unity projects. After receiving a monetary award from Wells Fargo bank in 2008, Leah created the imprint YM Books and released two books for girls.

Leah is the recipient of numerous honors and awards including Microsoft Start Something Amazing Award, Guardian Life Insurance Girls Going Great Scholarship, Milton Fisher Scholarship for Creativity and Innovation, Jewish Children International Power of Children Award, and Next Step Magazine Super Teen Award. She also started a freelance graphic design business, LL Design. Leah is a sophomore at Yeshiva University and recently received its “Point of Light” award.

I was really inspired by Leah’s dedication to pursuing her dream, and I was excited to talk to her about ways each of us can do so.

Shelly Rachanow: Tell us more about YALDAH Magazine?

Leah Larson: YALDAH magazine is a full-color, 64-page quarterly magazine for Jewish girls. Each issue includes articles, interviews, crafts, recipes, advice, true stories and fiction. All our content is brainstormed, written, edited, photographed and illustrated by young Jewish girls. We write about topics of interest to girls such as babysitting tips, starting middle school or cliques but also include articles with a Jewish slant like Rosh Hashanah recipes, a modest and stylish fashion column, and profiles of girls' Bat Mitzvah projects. We especially like to focus on profiling inspiring women and girls who are positively impacting the world. YALDAH’s mission is to inspire leadership and creativity, to celebrate Jewish girls and women, Jewish life, and Israel. In its seventh year, YALDAH has readers around the world and is sold in hundreds of bookstores including select Barnes & Noble stores.

Shelly Rachanow: What inspired you to create it?

Leah Larson: I was looking for a magazine to read myself! I loved reading magazines such as American Girl, but wished there was a magazine that I could relate to more with my Jewish lifestyle and values. Always a dreamer, at age 12 I started brainstorming what could go in the first issue of a magazine for Jewish girls. Once I had the table of contents, I asked myself, "why not go ahead and make this?" I didn't know much about publishing, but I learned from my mistakes, asked mentors for advice, and did a lot of googling. When I was 13 the first issue came out, and the adventure was just beginning. Seven years later, YALDAH has touched thousands of girls, keeps me busy at all hours, and is still continuing to grow.

Shelly Rachanow: What advice do you have for parents who are raising kids with big dreams and imaginations?

Leah Larson: Children naturally have big dreams and wild imaginations. It's hard to find children who don't frequent fantasy worlds, have tea with imaginary friends, and dream of being a ballerina or firefighter... or even a bird! The challenge is how to not squash that imagination as they grow older. I hate to say it, but I think school contributes a lot to teaching kids that there's one right answer and one right way to do things. Giving kids toys that inspire imagination and giving them lots of time for imaginative play is vital. I played with dolls until I was twelve and moved right into magazine publishing later that year!

I also think it's important to listen to kids. Hear their ideas and dreams and don't feel a need to introduce them to reality. I think the main reason I was able to publish a magazine at 13 is because I didn't know all the obstacles I would face. And lastly, support their dreams. Even if they seem unrealistic, you never know where they'll lead you. My parents thought my magazine idea was just a phase, but once they saw I was serious they've supported me every step of the way, and I'm incredibly thankful for that.

Shelly Rachanow: So often we tell ourselves we’re not good enough to achieve our dreams, perhaps saying, “I’m too young, too old, too un-educated, too fat,” or whatever the case may be. What have you learned from your own experiences that you want people to know?

Leah Larson: I learned never to let your age get in the way of your dreams. It was hard to get people to take me seriously at first, but once I proved my determination, people stopped paying attention to my young age. I also learned that when you empower children and give them responsibility, they really step up to the plate and are capable of so much more than we may think they are. We have a staff of editors, webmasters, marketing and publicity managers who are all under age 14 -- and they're doing an incredible job!

I also learned that you never know what you're good at or what you'll enjoy until you try it. I always enjoyed art but never would have imagined myself as a graphic designer. When I didn't have anyone else to do the magazine layout, I played around with photoshop and taught myself graphic design. I've found that I love it and now do freelance graphic design. So go explore, try something, teach yourself a new skill. Worst comes to worst, you'll know you don't like it! :-)

Shelly Rachanow: And last, the 'If Women Ran the World Blog' question for everyone - What would you do if you ran the world?

Leah Larson: I'd love to see a world where the pay-scale reflects people's impact on the world. Educators, non-profit workers, and inspirational leaders would be properly compensated for their hours of tireless work. Hollywood actresses and sports stars would be volunteers!

For more information, visit:

Website: http://www.yaldah.com/

Email: leah@yaldahmedia.com

Phone: 888-4-YALDAH

Twitter: @yaldahmag

Facebook: www.facebook.com/yaldahmagazine

Blog: yaldah-magazine.blogspot.com

Linked In: www.linkedin.com/pub/leah-larson/b/519/977

YouTube: www.youtube.com/yaldahmagazine

Single Is: An Interview with Shontaye Hawkins

Strong. Successful. Determined. Those are just a few of the words that those who know Shontaye Hawkins would use to describe her. Raised by her grandmother, she was taught right from the start what it meant to be an empowered woman and to reach for the stars. And she’s been reaching for them ever since!

If there is one thing in life that Shontaye was born to do, it is to inspire and help guide others to be the best they can possibly be. She has taken an especially active interest and role in helping to empower other women. Whether she is providing eye-opening insights as a keynote speaker, writing motivational articles, or providing some one-on-one coaching, her vibrant approach to life rubs off on everyone with whom she interacts.

Shontaye believes that being single should not be something that people look down upon, question, or try to remedy. Quite the contrary, she has found that singlehood provides her with the time to get to know herself, work on becoming the person she wants to be, and enjoy life on her own terms. It has given her a sense of self-confidence that most people strive for their entire life. And she wants to help other women see all of this in themselves, too.

As the founder of Single Is, she brings with her a wealth of business experience and education, including a Master of Business Administration. Her career success, educational attainment and positive outlook on life have helped shape her into the picture of female empowerment she is today.

I was really excited to talk to Shontaye more about Single Is, and her thoughts on being an empowered woman!

Shelly Rachanow: Tell us more about Single Is.

Shontaye Hawkins: Single Is…, is the online destination where single women come together to be inspired and redefine what it means to be single, happy and loving it! The website, an inspirational resource and community, is designed to inspire and empower single women to live their best lives. We choose to live happily ever after right now, at this very moment and not a second later. We are pioneering the universal acceptance of having a satisfying relationship with one’s self. Our community was created so that single women could interact, connect and share the joys of single living and discuss the challenges that affect their daily lives.

In addition to the online community, the Single Is…store will soon offer a selection of products donning the company tagline: “Living Happily Ever After Right Now!”

Single Is...hopes to reinvent what it means to be ‘single and loving it’ for all single women.

Shelly Rachanow: What inspired you to start Single Is?

Shontaye Hawkins: During a night out on the town one Valentine’s Day, a gentleman asked me if I was happy immediately after I told him that I was single. At that moment, I realized just how judgmental and unfriendly society can be toward single women. I happen to be a happy, complete, single woman and believe that that’s the best thing I can do for myself, at this very moment. I want other single women to see that being single isn’t a disease that has to be cured. We all entered this world as one, and we all leave as one.

I created Single Is because of the negativity, judgment and pressure society places on single women to be wives and mothers. I believe single women need a resource that empowers and inspires them to live their best lives now! I think single women finally have the opportunity to design, create and choose the life they truly desire. I want them to understand that they can and should be happy right now rather than later.

With Single Is I’ve created an environment that embraces being single and one that celebrates the joy that comes with that distinction.

Shelly Rachanow: Like many people, there have been times in my life when I was single and wishing I was in a relationship. What do you say to women who feel bad, especially about themselves, because they are single?

Shontaye Hawkins: I explain to them that there’s no reason to feel bad about being single. This is the perfect time to do a self evaluation and learn who you are and what’s most important to you. Once you determine that, then you don’t waste your time with those things or people that aren’t in alignment with your desires. Furthermore, if you can’t be happy with where you are in your life at this moment, being in a relationship isn’t going to change that. You have to take responsibility for your feelings rather than expecting a relationship to make you feel good. It’s more powerful to choose your life than live it by default.

I understand that people perceive women to be lonely and unhappy if they’re single. Loneliness is an emotion that isn’t tied to any particular status. Married and single people alike experience loneliness. I’ve learned to love myself anyway during the times when I feel lonely. I think the quickest and easiest way to free yourself from feeling lonely or feeling bad about being single is with laughter and human touch. A simple laugh or hug from a friend will melt away those negative emotions.

Women have been programmed to believe that our lives don’t start until we’re married. I don’t agree with that. Women don’t have to wait until marriage to live the life of their dreams…you can live your dreams right now!

Shelly Rachanow: I love this quote on your website: “Single is not what defines us, it’s how we define being single that makes us shine.” I think this is true about so many beliefs or situations that could be limiting if we let them. What have you learned about feeling empowered that you want to share with others?

Shontaye Hawkins: For me, being empowered is absolutely liberating. We spend so much time wanting to please others - our parents, family, and friends - that we lose sight of what’s really important to us. We’re programmed to please others at a very young age. Think about it. As children, we worked hard to do well in school because we wanted to please our parents. Many people start college with the intent of becoming a lawyer or doctor because that’s what their parents decided they’d become, only to drop out after one year.

Once you sit back and decide what you want in life, it’s much easier to live that life. If you’re trying to live the life someone else wants you to live then you’re living a powerless life. Empowerment is about giving yourself permission to believe in your dreams and live them, regardless of what others think. It’s not that their opinion doesn’t matter, it just means that living the life you desire is more important. When you become empowered, it opens the door for the real you to finally show up. The stage is yours.

Shelly Rachanow: And last, the 'If Women Ran the World Blog' question for everyone - What would you do if you ran the world?

Shontaye Hawkins: If I ran the world, I’d teach people to love more, make peace and spread happiness. The world is filled with so much negativity that we’re literally killing ourselves because we don’t love, make peace and smile more. Our bodies are a direct reflection of how we feel on the inside. Sadly enough, some people aren’t aware of the battle going on in their minds and heart.

We live in a world filled with hurt, depression and sadness that can be healed with love. Love for others and love for ourselves. Each of us is more alike than we are different, if we learned to look past the exterior. Simply put, we live and we die. Loving more, making peace and spreading happiness may seem unrealistic but it’s not. Love, peace and happiness is easily expressed with a smile. All it takes is one smile and two hearts are healed, instantly.

For more information, visit:

Website: http://www.singleis.com/

Email: info@SingleIs.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/SingleIs

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/SingleIs1

I'm Glad I'm Me: An Interview with Sheila Aron

Sheila Aron is a native Houston, Texan. In 2008 her children's book, I'm Glad I'm Me: Weaving the Thread of Love From Generation to Generation, was published and it will soon be available in Spanish. Sheila is also on the art committee with the Holocaust Museum Houston and was on the board of The Center for Hearing and Speech for six years.

Sheila’s most recent endeavor is a 501(3) (c) called The Thread Alliance. Its mission is to weave the thread of love and end the cycle of child abuse by bringing child abuse awareness to the forefront in hopes of preventing it before it happens.

I was really excited to learn more about Sheila's book, and the great work she is doing to help children!

Shelly Rachanow: Tell us more about your book, I’m Glad I’m Me.

Sheila Aron: I’m Glad I’m Me is a parenting book disguised as a children’s book. It teaches parents and children together how easy it is to say “I love you” and how to express their heartfelt feelings. I began writing this book as a way to help parents, children and grandparents make connections through trust, acceptance and respect. Knowing that every child deserves to be loved and every parent wants to be the very best parent they can for their child, I wanted to create a book that would allow both needs to be met. I feel that I have done this in I’m Glad I’m Me by showing how easy it is to tell your child “I love you” from the time a child wakes up in the morning until he goes to sleep at night. There are so many opportunities that a parent can say “I love you” and my book gives a few examples and shows how simple it is and how often it can be said. All anyone wants is to know that he/she is loved. It helps raise self esteem and confidence while building strong bonds that last a lifetime.

Shelly Rachanow: How does your book help parents and children communicate their love for one another?

Sheila Aron: My book shows parents and children together that love can be expressed anytime, anywhere, for any reason. For those who have never heard the words “I love you,” saying them to their own children can seem difficult or maybe even impossible. I wanted to show how easy it is to say what is in your heart in very simple words because saying “I love you” is really so easy to say and means so much to someone. I wanted it to be a win/win situation by showing that parents benefit from the book as well. When a child hears these words of love he repeats them back to his parents. What could be better than hearing “I love you, too.”

Shelly Rachanow: You often talk about the importance of “weaving the thread of love from generation to generation.” What do you mean by that and why is that so important?

Sheila Aron: The subtitle of my book is Weaving the Thread of Love From Generation to Generation. The significance of these words are emphasized by the multicolored thread that runs throughout the book weaving in and around the family members showing the importance of expressing our feelings through words of love. The “thread of love” leaves memories that last a life time and should be strong, unbreakable, never ending and passed on to future generations.

Shelly Rachanow: How can parents best remember to communicate in a loving manner in those moments when they are angry, frustrated or overwhelmed?

Sheila Aron: Life has a way of throwing us a curve on a daily basis. When situations come up that create chaos and cause us to feel out of control it helps to consider the importance of the situation at hand and ask yourself if it is really all that important. Try to see things from your child’s point of view and remember that you set the tone by how you cope with this situation. Getting angry rarely accomplishes anything besides making matters worse. By keeping your emotions in tap you give your child reassurance of your ability to handle the problem at hand and move on. You are the role model for your children - how you interact with them is how they will interact with their children when the time comes. Try to be calm and teach your children valuable life lessons that they will be proud to pass on to the next generation.

Shelly Rachanow: What are some simple things parents can do everyday to express more love to their kids?

Sheila Aron: I show only a few events that could take place in a child’s life - there are so many more. Make everyday a day to celebrate your child by reminding him how much he is loved, how important he is to your life and how proud you are to have him in your life. Especially during emotional moments when he or you might be feeling unappreciated take this opportunity to say “I love you.” Teaching your child loving life lessons includes the unhappy times as well as the happy. Turn an unpleasant moment into a pleasant one by simply saying “I love you.”

Shelly Rachanow: And last, the 'If Women Ran the World Blog' question for everyone - What would you do if you ran the world?

Sheila Aron: If I ran the world I would make sure that every child enjoyed a childhood free of abuse of any kind. All children deserve a childhood filled with love, acceptance, compassion and respect. To take this one step further I have started a nonprofit, to go hand in hand with the message in my book, called The Thread Alliance. The mission is to weave the thread of love and end the cycle of child abuse by bringing it to the forefront and hopefully preventing it before it begins.

For more information, visit http://www.sheilaaronbooks.com/.

Living the Life of My Dreams: An Interview with Caryn FitzGerald

Caryn FitzGerald is a mother, wife, friend, writer, healthy foodist, nature lover, teacher, blogger, entrepreneur, coach, and overall lover of life! She holds a masters degree and her formal training is as a mental health therapist. She spent many years working in both the prison system and the community sector assisting those facing challenges on redirecting their life’s path.

Caryn has been writing in several genres for over thirty years. Some of her recent work includes: Tulips in the Sand: A Riley Matthews Mystery and Fish Sticks, Books and Blue Jeans - Teaching kids to be thankful for everything (yes, even Fish Sticks) everyday! which she co-authored with her daughter, Sami.

Caryn recovered from a decade long struggle with bulimia and anorexia and is a domestic violence survivor. She shares her personal story and assists others by providing encouragement and guidance in overcoming adversity. Caryn’s belief is that a full, abundant life can be created and enjoyed regardless of one’s past. Today she enjoys the blessings of playing from home as a writer and speaker, fulfilling her passions by assisting others in learning the techniques required to create the life of their dreams. I was really excited to talk more with Caryn about this.

Shelly Rachanow: You write a wonderful blog called Embracing My Journey. Tell us more about that.

Caryn FitzGerald: I spent the first half of my life going through the motions and being bored with life. Over a decade ago, the Universe stepped in and in an instant I found myself moving in a different, more exciting and meaningful direction.

EmbracingMyJourney.com was created out of my desire to share my passion for living a life full of purpose while encouraging others to do the same. My goal is to share real-life stories from those who have transitioned, connecting them with those who are seeking something better. To inspire and encourage people to take a chance on themselves and go for what they really desire in life. Several times a week, I highlight and share the stories, guidance and wisdom from people who are living a life full of passion and purpose. Doing something meaningful each day and paying it forward. My intention is to contribute to the world by connecting those who are seeking with those who have the guidance to share.

Shelly Rachanow: I love the following quote on your web site: “A full, abundant life can be created regardless of one’s past.” Why do you believe that’s the case?

Caryn FitzGerald: Because I’m living proof it’s true. So often people are caught up reliving the drama of their past and the bad things that happened in their lives. It’s this cycle that keeps them grounded in negativity, lack and self-doubt. I’ve been there. I spent a decade struggling with anorexia and bulimia and abusive relationships. I could have easily continued to feed off of those negative experiences. I made a conscious decision not to. Instead of festering in it, I chose to use what I learned from those experiences to assist others and to contribute to the world instead of take away from it.

A perfect example is when something bad happens and instead of learning from it and releasing it, a person calls their seventeen friends and tells them each the story all over again, relishing the drama over and over again. It’s a slippery slope, and yet, it’s one anyone can avoid falling over by making one simple decision. The decision to live focused on the positive and letting the negative float on by.

Shelly Rachanow: I’m honored to be part of your Living the Life of My Dreams project. Tell us more about it and what’s so exciting about it this week especially?

Caryn FitzGerald: Several years ago I began writing my blog, EmbracingMyJourney.com. The blog is all about living a passionate and purposeful life. I knew I was not the only person who had turned their life around and was living like this, so I put out some feelers and asked people to share their stories. The response was overwhelming. Hundreds of people emailed me to say they were living the life of their dreams. After two years, I was asked if I would consider putting together a series of interviews and essays in ebook format. It felt right and that is how Living the Life of My Dreams: Essays & Interviews with 30 Ordinary People Living EXTRAordinary Lives was born.

On March 9, 2011, Living the Life of My Dreams: Essays & Interviews with 30 Ordinary People Living EXTRAordinary Lives will be released online at: http://www.livingthelifeofmydreams.com/ available for immediate download. Thirty people are sharing their personal stories, the lessons they learned along the way and their how-to suggestions for people who are ready to move out of the boring and mundane and into the exciting life of their dreams. The ebook has been met with rave reviews and on launch day, there are partners from all over the world joining us in spreading the word. Our goal is to reach over 1,000,000 people and encourage them to decide and take action, moving into the life they truly desire.

Shelly Rachanow: As someone who was once in a career that wasn’t my dream, I know how hard it can be for people to take a chance and pursue what they love. What are some things you’ve learned from the interviews you have done?

Caryn FitzGerald: The common theme that runs through all of the interviews I have done and from my personal experience is that one must make a choice to go for what they really want. Too often we get caught up in the path that others set up for us. Whether it be our parents, our spouses, school counselors or friends, it is common to rely upon external people or things to guide us. The issue is that when someone chooses to follow the guidance of others, they are making a decision. Then when things don’t work out well or happiness isn’t achieved, it’s easy to blame others.

The key factor I have learned is that it is important to follow one’s heart and move forward along the path that brings you joy. It is a lot easier to take these chances and move step by step towards one’s true destiny than it is to remain stagnant in a place that doesn’t allow for true happiness to radiate through.

Shelly Rachanow: What advice do you have for people who aren’t sure what their purpose is...or who aren’t feeling passionate or inspired about the life they are currently living?

Caryn FitzGerald: Give yourself a break. Take time for yourself, do something that makes you feel alive and excited. Reconnect with nature. Read a book that really catches your attention. Do something different. There are times when you won’t know exactly what your calling or destiny is. And that’s okay. If you are set up to do something that really causes a pit in your stomach or that nagging feeling of distress, don’t do it. Make small changes. Find new places to spend time, donate to others, add more laughter to your life. Begin removing the people and things you find not bringing you pleasure from your life. Then focus upon what you do what in your life and watch how the space will begin to fill in with these goodies.

Remember that you are responsible for how you fill your days, who you surround yourself with, what you contribute to the world. You don’t have to make all of the changes in one day, just take aim at what you’re seeking and continue to move forward, one step at a time.

Shelly Rachanow: And last, the 'If Women Ran the World Blog' question for everyone - What would you do if you ran the world?

Caryn FitzGerald: I would make it a requirement for everyone to learn about the power of intention and the Law of Attraction from childhood. I would like to see meditation as a daily practice, a time when the world goes silent and inward as a community for 10-15 minutes and people receive the peace, calm and clarity that accompanies meditation. I believe when people are at peace with themselves, it is reflected in their daily lives and in the way they treat others.

To learn more or contact Caryn, visit:

Blog: http://www.embracingmyjourney.com/

Website: http://www.carynfitzgerald.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheManifestingQueen

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/caryngf