Blog Posts by Diva Toolbox

Body Image- "Love Handles"

If the pretty, pouchy area around your hips and stomach are called "love handles", why do most women HATE them so much?!

In that case, they should be called HATE Handles, but they are not! And for good reason!

Most of us write, use and speak words without thinking about their implication. Women say it all the time "I HATE my LOVE Handles!"Hello, this is a true oxymoron! I would rather LOVE my HATE handles~

And why are they called "handles?"Do they open cabinet or car doors?

If it is so hard to get a "handle" on your love handles, no matter how hard you diet and exercise..why not call them hate hips, or love layers?

In reality, the best way to physically curtail these "handles" is through a consistently proper diet and exercise regimen. You do not have to go crazy or put too much focus on this one area, these "love handles" are really a function of and connection to your entire core area. Abdomen, hip flexors and nearby muscles and

Read More »from Body Image – “Love Handles”

You've been collecting photos, articles and all kinds of inspiration from magazines and websites for years. You've imagined, visualized and dreamed about yourideal home for as long as you can remember (and you have the files to prove it).

For years you've envisioned yourself curled up in front of your spectacular fireplace reading the current NY Times bestseller, inviting your family and friends over for that super bowl party, and kicking back and relaxing with your kids after a great summer barbeque.

Your family room is the second most popular space in the home after the kitchen a multi-functional place where we're anchored as a family so isn't it time to get your vision down on paper, call a contractor and make it happen in time for spring?

Here are 10 Great Design Tips and Guidelines To Help Get You Started.

Open your family room to adjoining spaces so the room is visible from the kitchen and dining room, ultimately inviting everyone in. Define these open spaces by Read More »from 10 Ways To Transform Your Family Room

But Who would hire Me?

5 Reasons why Moms returning to the workforce make the best employees:

But who would want to hire me? I'm not worth anything, am I? Really?

This is a question I hear over and over from women who have chosen to stay at home to raise their families. They've made big contributions to our society, often unrecognized and unpaid, and are now ready to become significant contributors in our workforce.

Here are 5 specific reasons why returning Moms make the best employees:

1. Professionalism:
She will not distract your clients from the business at hand by showing her cleavage, tattoos, body piercings, flip flops, by flipping her hair, or sayingUM orLIKE

2. Schedule Coordination:
You will never meet a professional better equipped to manage multiple schedules than a Mom. Conflicting sports and activities, travel schedules along with the huge amounts of paperwork associated with each, make them pros at this. As a matter of fact, they are so adept at this that they know

Read More »from User Post: 5 Reasons why Moms returning to work make the best employees!

Fitting in is so not your thing!

Maybe you tried when you were younger, but you had a hard time forcing yourself to be like everyone else. It always felt awkward and fake. You aren't cut out for having the same hair style, cloths and lifestyle as everyone else. It just doesn't work for you. You have your own freaky flair going on.

You're bored by the notion of being part of the pack.

You're not much of a follower. You have your own ideas about things and are not afraid to go off and explore a new path. That's where all the fun is!

It's hard to find people to spend time with who actually understand you.

Your unconventional ideas and the fact that you don't try to fit in is threatening to other people. They often times try to make you wrong for being different. You are at your best when you are in the company of free thinkers and creative people who have their own things going on too.

Your interests stray far from the mainstream mentality.

You've always

Read More »from Are You a Non-Conforming Soul?

Divorced? Widowed? There are many challenges and adjustments as you start a new chapter of your life…one without him.

After traveling as a couple many women find it difficult to travel alone or even with a group. I met a woman who had returned from a group trip to Italy, she said the days touring were great, but at night being with couples made her feel sad and alone, this was the first trip since the death of her husband.

For many women travel has been an important part of their life, a part they can continue to enjoy…with a little adjustment.

Women Only Travel…it it for you?

Women are social beings and enjoy the camaraderie of traveling with other women, they like to share new experiences and travel in a safe supportive environment, they like to be pampered but they also want to try something new, learn and be active. They want to return home refreshed and recharged.

Traveling with men is just different; they charge into new adventures pulling the woman along, a

Read More »from Have You Lost Your Traveling Companion?

One of the foods that is majorly lacking in many children's and adults diets are greens, especially leafy vegetables.

So were talking about Spinach Broccoli Spring greens/collard greens Kales Savoy cabbage Mustard green Turnip greens Okra Brussels Sprouts Green Beans Sugar snap peas Romaine lettuce(Arugla) Lambs lettuce (mache) and herbs like coriander, parsley & basil
Green leafy vegetables, dark green vegetables and green salad foods have a combination of vitamin C which is great for immunity, iron which is necessary for growth and energy, calcium to promote strong bones and teeth, chlorophyll which is very cleansing and deodorising to the body, as well as great levels of many other vitamins, minerals, fibre and if they are raw, live enzymes, which help countless functions in your body perform better.

It's no wonder us nutritionist and health coaches want to see you get more into your children's diets and lives as quickly as possible. Most adults have terrifying childhood memories

Read More »from How To Get Children To Eat Greens With A Smile

It was a bad week,Sherry told me. I didn't do well with my food.That was the first thing she said when we started our session, so I asked her what did go well before we talked more about what didn't.

She told me about all the times when she was able to stop eating before getting full, how she had made a batch of brownies for her kids and realized she wasn't interested in having any herself, and how she had gone out to dinner with her husband and made healthy choices without overeating. She had also had friends over for dinner and had prepared healthier foods which was a first, and she didn't overeat or over drink.

As she shared all this with me, she was seeing how good a week she really did have. She was amazed by how many things she had done that felt really good; and she said wow, I didn't see all these things until now.

That was because she was focused on the one thing that hadn't gone so well; the one night when she overate and didn't feel in control. That clouded

Read More »from 4 Steps to Bounce Back from a BadWeek

It was a favor really. Just to fill in for the usual lady who did Fridays. Would I sit with a lady in her 90's who had extreme dementia amongst other issues for a morning? Sure, I could do that. I wasn't to worry about her noisy breathing. She was comfortable and it didn't mean she was in distress. It would be from 8am to 12.00.

It was a sunny morning, and I arrived as requested at 8am. I was greeted by a energetic and friendly lady who met me at the door and welcomed me into her home. "Let's meet my Mom". We went straight upstairs. I prepared myself.

We walked into a white room, with two windows ajar. A warm summer breeze moved through the room and lace curtains stirred. A radio gently played classical music. There was no anticipated odor. I took in an angelic scene.

A beautiful lady slept cocooned in white crisp linens covered in a soft blanket in a hospital bed in the middle of the room. Her shining gray hair brushed to one side. Her beautiful skin quite radiant. We

Read More »from An unexpected Love Story