What does it mean to find beauty in everyday life? For me it means being present, removing myself from my thoughts and emotions enough so I’m in a state of mind where I can observe them… without letting them define me.  When I do this, I find that my world slows down and I start to actually notice the beauty around me in the present moment.  I feel a sense of joy for simply “being”…a joy for the beauty around me which comes from a feeling of connectedness I feel either towards nature, or towards the feeling of connectedness with another human being.  But it depends, because every moment is unique, every moment is fleeting in our lives.

There is a saying, “this too shall pass”…many times it is used in addiction therapy or towards people going through hardship.  However, it doesn’t have to be that intense…I find that it simply means “stay present and enjoy life at this very moment”, because life is fleeting and the only thing guaranteed, is that nothing is guaranteed.

It is hard for many people today to stay present….I, myself, have had to work at it very hard, this year in particular.  We have so many distractions in our every day lives that hinder our ability to appreciate and live in the present: email, facebook, relationships, tv, cell phones etc… it’s hard to remove yourself from this crazy ADD world we’ve created for ourselves because somehow it makes us feel connected.  Yet, through these things, I found myself so scatterbrained and unfocused and unaware of myself that I was feeling incomplete and very unhappy….I think most of us feel this way at one point.  What will complete us? What is our life purpose?

The funny thing is.  Once I just took some time to breathe (literally),  and stopped questioning everything and living in my thoughts, I really began to appreciate beauty and purpose in life… my relationships became stronger with my friends, and through working towards the state of just “being”, I’ve discovered that I have every tool already inside of me for inner happiness…

Here are some suggestions ways to  ”zen out” that have really helped me!

1. BREATHE…it is amazing how simple yet affective conscious breath is (I used to have a sticky note on my computer screen at work that simply said “breathe” haha)

2. BAKE…having to focus on some crazy recipe without setting your kitchen on fire really forces you to be in the present!

3. TRAVEL.. experiencing something like a new place or culture for the first time helps the mind be presently conscious and aware of what is happening at that current place in time…slowing everything down to the point where life seems to be full of awe and…you got it! Beauty!

4. YOGA.  Just do it. The more you commit to it, the more benefits you will reap, and each person’s experience is different!

Anyone else have activities or tools they use to be present in their day to day? To get out of your head a little bit?

Night Night!

Betsy

Natural Beauty 101

Model Giselle Bundchen is one of our generation’s most natural beauties!

I always encourage the ladies I represent to preserve and take care of their natural beauty, so that the need to pile on makeup is not necessary. These are my top tips for taking care of your skin from the inside out so you always look refreshed and have that special glow naturally!
1. Sunscreen. The main cause of wrinkles is overexposure to the sun. I am seeing girls younger and younger with premature wrinkles around their eyes and mouth, and this is definitely due to tanning beds and going out in the sun without protection. If you must have that orange glow (which is not elegant or attractive), I highly recommend using Tan Towels or some other sort of self tanner.
2. Eye cream. The skin around your eyes is the first to show signs of aging, dehydration, stress etc…take care of this delicate area by moisturizing daily with a paraban free eye cream. My favorite right now is from Isabella Pelle (for more mature skin, not for teenagers). She includes amazing natural ingredients and the latest peptides in anti-aging. Your eyes will feel refreshed and awake in no time!
3. Moisturizer/night cream Instead of all of the harsh peels, retinoids and acids used in today’s world of anti-aging/anti-acne products…I think the best thing you could do for your skin is to use the most gentle, moisturizing products you can to keep it soft and protected, instead of stripped. This will keep prevent aging, keep you looking fresh and hydrated, and make up will go on smoother during any photo shoots. If you have problems with acne, I would visit a dermatologist. Personally, I am a big fan of natural moisturizers like Argan Oil and Healing Anthropology products.
4. Eat Clean You are what you eat! Make sure to eat a diet mostly consisting of fruits and vegetables and absolutely no processed food! 100 calorie packs do your body no good because you are still ingesting CRAP! If you do not understand what the ingredients are on the package of something you are about it eat, just do not eat it. Its simple. And drink plenty of WATER!  Superfoods that help your skin out include: coconut water for hydration, blueberries, spinach, chia seeds (for calcium and omegas), Oysters (for your zinc), and tomotoes (highest producer of anti-aging antioxidant lycopene), walnuts (omegas again), sweet potatoes and fish like wild salmon or anchovies (vitamin d-3).
5. Partying Alcohol, cigarettes and other drugs are the worst thing you could do for your skin, not to mention your general well being. Take care of yourselves. If you are trying to mask or numb your feelings with any of these toxic habits, believe me (I know from experience) it will only continue to get worse. You can only truly help alleviate stress and problems in life if you tackle them head on with a clear and conscious mind. Yoga, therapy, sleep…these are all tools I recommend for self development and happiness! You will be amazed with how full your life becomes once you create space in your consciousness.

xo

Betsy

For those that think Agave Sweetener is the “healthy” alternative…I would think again and throw this stuff in the trash ASAP!

“While agave syrup does have a low-glycemic index, so does antifreeze — that doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Agave syrup has the highest fructose content of any commercial sweetener — ranging from 70 to 97 percent, depending on the brand, which is FAR HIGHER than high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which averages 55 percent.

This makes agave actually WORSE than HFCS.

In addition to insulin resistance, your risk of liver damage increases, along with triglycerides and a whole host of other health problems, as discussed in this CBC News video about the newly discovered dangers of high fructose corn syrup. The study discussed in this news report is about HFCS, however, it’s well worth remembering that agave contains MORE fructose than HFCS, and in all likelihood, it’s the FRUCTOSE that is causing these severe liver problems.”- Mercola.com

Read more about the dangers of HFCS and AGAVE in Dr. Mercola’s article that came out this week!   Obesity is a serious epidemic in the US and high fructose corn syrup is one of the main causes!  Protect your health and educate yourself!

xo,

Betsy



Email I received from casting director is below…  Good luck!

xo

Betsy

Hi Girls!!! Dove is casting REAL WOMEN (not actresses or models) for a Dove Commercial!!

Here’s what we are looking for:

-Women
-27-33 years old
-Blondes, Brunettes, or Redheads
-Shoulder length or longer hair
-Caucasian, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Native American, or East Indian

Should be outgoing, fun and genuine women with an interesting hair story to tell!!!

Women with healthy hair, as well as women who color, flat iron, tease, blow dry or torture their hair! Please let us know which category you fall into in your email.

If cast in the commercial, you will be given Dove products to use and be asked to give a testimonial.

Auditions will be held at casting offices in North Hollywood between 3/17- 3/24

**MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR A CALLBACK ON MONDAY, 3/29, AND FOR THE FILMING, FRIDAY 4/2.

To be considered for an audition, please email a picture and contact information to contact@asgcasting.com:

Name:
Age:
Contact Number:
Hair type/length:
Audition availability:
Profession:

** We are looking for real women please! We do not want actresses or models, i.e. no SAG members, and cannot be represented by any talent agent or manager

Did you know that Chia seeds have more calcium than milk and have cancer fighting anti-oxidents?

The Mexican Tarahumara Indians have been eating the little guys for centuries! In fact, they have been called “the world’s healthiest whole food” (source: Wayne Coates, PhD, professor emeritus at the University of Arizona).

I eat them by making a letting them soak in almond or soy milk until they turn gelatinous, forming a pudding like concoction! Since I don’t drink milk, it helps me get all the calcium my bones need!

You can also mix them with cool water and a little bit of honey or lime for a refreshing drink! (they have a consistency similar to boba balls when they soak in water).

Have a great Sunday! I’m currently sitting in a hot tub at my girlfriend Kacee’s cabin in Mammoth, with a beautiful view of the mountains!

xo

Betsy

Recently,  I spent a night watching the bachelor with our good friends Heather (who teaches an amazing class at Pure Barre Brentwood!) and  her boyfriend Cheyne, who busted out this AMAZING raw chocolate pudding!!

To make it he soaked coconut pulp, and then blended it with 6 dates and some raw cocoa powder. It was HEAVEN!!
If you’re a fan of making raw treats/soups/smoothies…I recommend you enter the Tribest Blender Giveaway at  www.ChoosingRaw.com.  Its the perfect tool for some chocolate pudding love making!!  I love reading Choosingraw.com, blogger Gena makes being vegan and raw seem so easy and accessible to the average busy young professional like myself!!   Her recipes are awesome as well!

xo

Betsy

Since its been a VERY rainy week here in La La Land (Hurricane and Tornado Warnings?! Where am I??!), and most of you are not getting your adequate dose of SUNSHINE this week, I thought I would touch on the importance of vitamin D3, the nutrient your skin produces naturally when you are exposed to the sun!

Vitamin D3 may be one of the MOST IMPORTANT steps you can take in support of your long-term health because it regulates your blood and immune system and helps you feel energized and happy!Your body naturally produces it when exposed to the sun, however; if you are in an office all day or wear a crazy amount of SPF (like myself)…you may be deficient!

Signs that you may be Vitamin D deficient (besides being a whitey like myself):

-Bone, muscle, or joint pain

- Muscle Weakness

-Fatigue

-Difficulty controlling weight

-Cancer

-Heart Disease

-Emotional instability

What to do about it:

Try to go on a walk outdoors on your lunch break every day or take a D3 supplement like I do (at least 4000 i.u.) or eat plenty of leafy vegetables and sun dried fruit!

Source: Mercola.com

So I’m following Anna Wintour’s advice and jumping on the Taupe Nail craze for spring! My favorite right now is Essie’s Mink Muffs!

Models: It’s best to keep your natural nail color for castings…

Fashionistas: Rock the Taupe!

xo

Betsy

If they know how to eat….

I had a young model in my office this afternoon and we were discussing how an an agency in NY is interested in her but she needs to lose an inch in her hips and lean out a little bit before they take her on…so I asked her what her diet consisted of right now and she laughed and said “Starbucks?”…

I’m finding that SO many young girls do not have a clue when it comes to nutrition and losing that extra weight in a healthy way.  Most resort to crazy extremes like an all raw diet, all meat diet (no carbs = no energy), vegan diet etc…and then as soon as show season is over they gain all the weight back because their body and metabolism are SUPER confused!!

Here are my simple tips for keeping that runway body the healthy way! REMEMBER, when you are a model, it is your JOB to maintain a healthy lifestyle so that your body and skin are in tip top shape!

1. No alcohol…alcohol=empty calories

2. No white bread, flour, rice etc….

3. No cheese and keep dairy limited

4. Eat every three hours a meal that consists of one part lean protein and the other part some sort of complex carb (Brown rice, whole grains, Quinoa,Vegetables etc), and keep the portion small

5. Snack on Almonds, dried fruit, berries etc…The key is not to let yourself become hungry!  When you get to the point of feeling starving, you can pretty much kiss your metabolism goodbye!

A good girlfriend of mine writes an excellent nutrition/fitness blog for those of you with questions or  ideas about meals! Its called the Fitnessista blog and I LOVE her Breakfast Cookie!

XO

Betsy

I’m excited to be a guest blogger at LAFashionweek.com this month for LA Fashion week! I’ll be attending the shows and events and giving you my behind the scenes scoop!

Here is the schedule for those interested in attending!

xo

Betsy