If You Could Have Anything…What Would It Be?

An inspirational story through addiction, abuse, bankruptcy and a boring job by todays guest blogger Jo De Rosa 

“I drink too much. I know I drink too much, but it relaxes me and helps me cope with what life throws at me. I hate how alcohol makes me feel the next morning, but I can’t quite seem to be able to stop after just one glass.”

“I’m stuck in a relationship that is going nowhere. He has become like an annoying brother that I love, but no longer like. I know that I deserve more but it’s just so much easier to stay in the safety of what I know rather than going through the hassle of breaking up, and starting over.”

“I hate my job. I’m stuck on a merry-go-round of doing what I have to to survive and pay the bills, but deep down I know that there must be something better and more fulfilling out there for me.”

“I’m  really struggling financially. When the phone rings I worry about who is on the
other end, and have no idea how it got this bad. I know it’s serious because
I’m taking cash out on one credit card to pay the minimum payment on all the
others.

All of these conversations were once me. I’ve had addictions to cocaine, cigarettes and alcohol (amongst other substances). I’ve been in an abusive relationship for 10 years which I tried to get out of for 9, and worked in the same building in the same job for 12 years! I finally broke free from the above (the alcohol proved to be most stubborn however) and set up my first self-employed business, it unfortunately resulted in terrible debt and ultimately bankruptcy.

 Through all of these life dramas, and drama is to be expected in life, I have been lucky enough to have had a very strong yoga and meditation practice. It has literally saved me….sounds corny but it’s true. Yoga is like my best friend. It supports me, helps me, calms me, balances me and makes me feel happy to be alive. It has helped me to let go of the job that bored me, relationship that hurt me, and addictions that imprisoned me. Yoga and meditation gave me the belief in myself that I deserved to be happy, successful, loved and abundant.

Now I want to share my own personal story with you, to hopefully inspire you to believe in your dreams and face life head-on. Ask yourself this question right now:

‘If You Could Have Anything…..What Would It Be?’

Now I am very excited to be living my own dream and opening a yoga and meditation retreat centre in Lavenham, Suffolk. Anyone can now come and spend a 24 or 48 hour period with me, and be inspired and get motivated to push through the mundane and create the life of their dreams.

Next retreats: August, October and January 2014

www.innerguidance.co.uk  jo@innerguidance.co.uk

I give motivational talks as well as holding workshops and retreats.

Please get in contact to book me to speak or teach at your event, and to book a retreat. 

‘If You Could Have Anything…..What Would It Be?’ is available on Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1771410035/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=

Promoting businesses to ladies across the UK

http://www.thisladyloves.com

Contact us for packages info@thisladyloves.com

 

Have you ever dreamed of running a B&B in France?

You’re not alone, many people have just like todays guest blogger Yvonne Halling

 

• Long leisurely days, entertaining, drinking coffee (or wine) in the sunshine with new friends from far and wide.
• Restoring the dignity and elegance to an old French chateau
• Away from the mad corporate world of hustle, bustle and stress

It wasn’t my dream actually, but here I am, running a B&B in the Champagne region.  How did that happen?

When we came to France in 1995, my husband did an MBA in a business school near Paris and then quickly was recruited to a fabulous job at Moet et Chandon, in Epernay.  So we rented a house nearby and began welcoming friends and family, some of whom we hadn’t seen for sometime and I was entertaining, drinking champagne and decorating an old French house.  I was also washing sheets, shopping, planning meals, cooking and putting together itineraries out of the goodness of my heart.  It was exhausting!

So we bought a house and opened a B&B, where I would still be doing all that, but this time, getting paid for it!  It seemed like the perfect solution.  And it worked well for a few years.  Then disaster struck, and my husband lost his job.

Over the next few years, we spiralled downwards financially and emotionally, and then one day, I woke up.

My bed and breakfast hobby business was now our sole source of financial support, and I was making around 10k a year.  Something would have to change.

So, not knowing what was even possible with a B&B,  I set about it, and over the next two years, I grew that “hobby” into a professional B&B business making over 100k a year, which is pretty amazing when the average European B&B makes around 18k a year and over half make less than 10k a year.

Other B&B owners started asking me how I did it, and so I started helping others, and then pretty soon, I became the Bed and Breakfast Coach, helping B&Bs worldwide to massively increase their income and have more fun, because we have a lot more fun when we’re making a lot more money.

So you may be asking – how did I do it?

Here’s my secret recipe (short version) for a successful B&B business:

• Find your niche – don’t take random people off the street
• Set up a website to attract that niche – you have just 7 seconds to capture their imagination
• Get really good at online marketing – learn quickly and try everything
• Get even better at marketing
• Did I mention marketing?
• Have the fundamental “machinery” in place to take care of bookings, guest prepping and referrals automatically – no-one in the B&B world does this
• Build a team of people around you – trust me, you’ll get fed up with the washing and ironing
• Record everything – the numbers don’t lie
• Get a mentor, preferably someone who’s done what you want to do
• Have fun – it’s a lifestyle business, so make sure you’re enjoying it

So if you’re still dreaming of running a B&B in France, and you want to skip the single digit income model and go straight to the 6 figure income model instead, then contact me at http://bedandbreakfastcoach.com or check out my B&B in the heart of Champagne at http://bedandbreakfastinchampagne.com I’m looking forward to meeting you soon.

Thanks Yvonne great inspirational story

Promoting businesses to ladies across the UK

http://www.thisladyloves.com

Why not join us at the

Book your places here

http://www.blackmango.co.uk/shop/view/1_Events/7_Money_Magnet_Conference_

 

North West Women in Business Day

Join us for our third bigger and better

North West Women in Business Day

June 13th Chester Racecourse 10am – 4pm

Registration and networking from 9am

Our Main speaker is, Rachel Elnaugh well known for her time spent on the BBC’s Dragon’s Den

Rachel, founder of Red Letter Days will share her story about her  business nightmares, her own story of creating a business from nothing on a shoestring budget, building it into a £multi-million turnover market leading brand, and then seeing it fall into administration 16 years after she founded it. Find out how Rachel coped with her reversal of fortunes and what she has been doing since.

Join our expert panel of 6 influential business ladies from across the North West for Question Time. Our panel will provide insightful tips and answer your questions to help your business be successful.

Take part in our clinics offering you advice on:

Getting your website noticed

Marketing on a shoe string

How to get funding for your business

Accounts and financial advice

Social media for business

Work life balance

How to do a good elevator pitch

Youtube for business

Can you franchise your business?

Join us in our pop up studio where our photographer will be providing professional head shots for a small charge.

 This all day event will sell out quickly so don’t miss out on the early bird booking offer

£40 until April 30th

£49 after April 30th

Tickets include lunch and free parking

Get your business involved: trade stands and workshops contact us for packages

click here to book your places http://thisladyloves.com/shop/view/1_networking_/108_north_west_women_in_business_day_june_13th

 

Money Magnet Conference

Money Magnet Conference

Friday 27th till Sunday 29th September Queen Hotel City Road Chester

It’s been years in the planning and its going to be THE event for anyone who is serious about making money and making a difference to others. The Money Magnet Conference is a fantastic opportunity to connect with experts in the field and to network with like-minded entrepreneurs over a whole weekend.

The Conference is in the ancient City of Chester, which is literally situated in the heart of the UK, just two hours from London and easy travelling distance from Birmingham Manchester, Ireland and Scotland.

 

Confirmed speakers

Marie-Claire Carlyle      

                   

http://www.marieclairecarlyle.com

Gill Fielding Secret Millionaire

        http://www.fieldingfinancialfamily.com

Shed Simove     

       http://www.shedsimove.com

Paul Avins  

      http://www.thebusinesswealthclub.com

Nikki Slade  

 http://www.nikkislade.com 

 

Entertainment includes Hope Patterson London and International DJ http://www.hopepatterson.com

 

Conference packages

Weekend Packages      £797 per couple

2 nights Bed, Breakfast, Lunch and Evening meals at the Queen Hotel, City Road, Chester.

http://www.feathers.uk.com/premier-queen-hotel/

Places at this hotel are sold on a first come basis. Other local hotels may be offered when all places have been taken.

Friday night dinner with a speaker. Dine with a selection of speakers

VIP passes to Saturday conference from 8.am

VIP seating at Conference

Full day conference including lunch

VIP seating at lunch

Evening Black Tie Dinner Saturday Night with guest speakers

Sunday Morning Tour of the Roman City of Chester pre- booked

Sunday one to one 30mins session with a speaker on a first come basis.

Please note not all speakers may be available.

VIP Goody Bag

VIP Saturday conference tickets      £199 per person

Priority entry from 8am with pastry and refreshments and networking opportunity

Priority seating at Conference

Full day conference including lunch

Priority seating at lunch

Goody Bag

Standard Saturday tickets 9am – 6pm  

21st March until 31st May      £99    per person

31st May onwards                  £149   per person

Entrance to conference from 9am – 6pm including lunch

Click here to book your tickets http://www.blackmango.co.uk/shop/view/1_Events/7_Money_Magnet_Conference_

 

The search is on for the face of thisladyloves

We are searching for the face of thisladyloves at the

We are so pleased to be sponsoring the Women in Business Awards for the Chester Region which is taking place on Thursday 30th May 2013 at Bolesworth Castle.

Hosted by The Chester Standard in partnership with Black Mango Events, this event will celebrate female led businesses and female entrepreneurs for their outstanding work during the past twelve months. .

Thisladyloves will present the award for the Chester Business Woman of the year, and that lady will become the face of thisladyloves for 12mths. She will be our VIP guest, opening our events, and her business will be promoted for 12mths on our website.

If you would like to nominate or know more about the awards please contact the organisers Black Mango Events http://www.blackmango.co.uk/shop/view/1_Events/6_Chester_Women_in_Business_Awards_2013

http://www.thisladyloves.com

 

It’s all in the bottle

I must admit I don’t wear sunscreen on my face. I always thought that the SPF present in my makeup was enough. I now know that’s not true, so I’ve been testing out a few products for

The Fabulous You Skin Clinic based in a private salon in Willington Hall Hotel, Cheshire.

First up Image Skincare Daily Defense Universal Moisturizer

The smell is wonderful, a light citric fragrance, its non-greasy and an excellent makeup base. Oh and it states its good for anti – aging. Unfortunately I have only been using it for just over a week so will hang fire on that. I used it both day and night and can see a difference in my skin already.

Vital C Hydrating Anti Aging Serum

This is by far my favourite product from this range.  As soon as I used this product I could feel and see a difference. This Vitamin C product gives you an immediate glow and feels lovely. A luxurious, silky feel that nourished the skin immediately.

Finally Ageless Total Facial Cleanser

My skin felt clean after using this product, but I did have to use eye makeup removing products. Bottle states suitable for all skin types and it didn’t cause any reaction to mine.

So far, I found all 3 products have been exceptional. I have been using them for nearly two weeks and have seen an improvement in skin tone and texture already.

If you would like to know more about these products then contact:

The Fabulous You Skin Clinic

http://www.thefabulousyoucompany.co.uk

Contact us if you would like us to review your products

http://www.thisladyloves.com

 

Bold Funky & Colourful

Just as the weather gets milder and we start to think about what shoes we can wear. I get to meet the lovely  shoe designer Cleo Barbour.

Educated at the prestigious Cordwainer’s College, within London College of Fashion.

  Cleo Barbour then went on to train at the Salvatore Ferragamo design studio in Florence before returning to London to establish her own label, Cleo B.

Women that want to express themselves through shoes and want something unique, timeless and more accessible than traditional high-end brands are attracted to this collection.

Jam Master Jay – Black.

The platform and heel are covered in natural raffia offsetting the soft black suede, gold snakeskin and peach leather of the upper. Hand cut strips of leather crisscross over the toes and thick suede straps extend up the foot and tie securely in a double bow at the back of the ankle

Sugarhill Nude

A curvaceous plume of salmon, pink and natural nappa over the front of the foot. A matt nude leather covers the rest of the foot, platform and the elegant slim heel. The foot is secured with flexible elastic on the inside of the shoe.

Beatbox ankle boot

The chunky stacked leather heel adds attitude, whilst spectacular gold snakeskin musical notes flow across the front of the foot, contrasting beautifully against soft black suede.

Cleo takes inspiration from the 80s hiphop era and her designs are worn by celebrity fans such as,

Paloma Faith, Cheryl Cole and Emeli Sande to name but a few.

It’s all about being unique and stepping away from the crowd and Cloe’s shoes are wearable and eye-catching, with a special twist.

 Glistening golden cassette shaped heels are set against soft turquoise kid suede in a classic open toe court shape.  The cassette is named ‘SUCKER M.C.s’ after one of Run DMC’s first records, famous for it’s attitude and humor. The cassette is secured by a ‘wedge’ type of shape under the foot which ensures the shoes are ultimately wearable and comfortable.

Cleo B’s accessories and shoes have often been featured  by top fashion magazines, and Cleo B was named the new shoe brand to watch by British Vogue, The Financial Times and Grazia.

Cleo B will be on the catwalk at the Chester Women in Business Awards, hosted by Black Mango Events, and if you’d like to attend this event we have tables available.

You can purchase tickets on our website here

http://www.thisladyloves.com/shop/1_Networking/

 If you can’t wait until then check out the Cleo B collection here http://www.cleob.com/