AIN’T CALLED BEAUTY SLEEP FOR NOTHIN’ || New Video

Posted on May 15, 2017 by Sanctuary Of Style

Hello Gorgeous,

Curious, how did you sleep last night? I bet half of you are saying you slept great and the other half tossed, turned, had that 3am mind crank and woke up feeling like the wicked witch of the west. Been there. It flat out sucks! Aside from the anxieties of life, hormones also play a role in bad sleep. Around your period, the insomnia kicks in. Then the next phase of life brings all the night sweating. I mean, really, WHAT THE HECK! Can’t a sista get a break?

Over time, poor sleep will not only make you cranky and give you those deep track marks in the middle of your eyes (thank God for botox), but it weakens your immune system in a big way. Over the past few years, my stress levels were extremely high which made my sleeping patterns craaaarazy. What do you think happened? Of course, I was sick most of last year with upper respiratory infections, colds, adrenal fatigue and clogged lymphatic system. I just thought I wasn’t used to the allergies in Texas, but now I realize how my immune system suffered because of the stress and awful sleep.

I wanted this year to be totally different.

Ladies, what we do now will determine how we look and feel in our 60’s. I’m taking charge of my health and seeking out better choices for everything. I’ve been fairly health conscious over the past 15 years, but WHOA- our bodies change drastically between 25 and 40. Then again at 45 , 50, and so on. It’s vital that we stay diligent and adjust to the constant changes. Stay in tune with your body! Remember when we were younger and could function on little sleep? Now, I need a full 8-9 hours because I know with the tossing and turning I’m probably only getting about 6-7 good hours.

Add an overly busy lifestyle and lots of travel to poor sleeping habits and it’s a recipe for illness. Check out my latest discovery and how I have kept from getting sick after a months of travel and the stress + sadness of much loss:

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As always, I would love to hear your two-cents so please share a comment.

You and your thoughts are important to me!

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LAST CHANCE! Only a few tickets left for the Polished Fashion Show on Thursday, May 18th at Belk Galleria. This is one of the best events of the year! I’m so excited to walk in the show. GET TICKETS HERE.

If you don’t know about this remarkable organization, I encourage you to check them out. They are a powerful resource for Faith-filled young entrepreneurial women.

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10 HABITS OF HEALTHY CHICKS

Posted on December 5, 2014 by Sanctuary Of Style

Tiff_healthyHabits

The topic of health and living our best, most fabulous and spiritually conscious lives is what the foundation of SOS is based on. My wish is for every woman to rock their personal style, but more importantly I want them to be strong and healthy in body, mind and spirit first. I am here to help you relearn how to love yourself and realize

how important you are,

how beautiful you are and

how powerful you are.

It has been a long journey of relearning for me and I’m still a work-in-progress. I abused my body with low nutrient junk foods and recreational drugs. I abused my spirit and mind with toxic thoughts toward myself. I was one unhealthy chick! Which means I was one unhappy chick. Healthy in every area equates to happy.

Throughout my journey I have found these key elements are vital to maintaining a healthy lifestyle:

1. Early to bed, early to wake. I realize this is impossible for some diehard night owls, but generally those who get adequate sleep start the day early feel more refreshed and creative. Our bodies regenerate during sleep so if you’re depriving yourself of sleep you are damaging your immune system. Sleep is also one of the most important beauty tips because it keeps you looking young.

2. Attitude of gratitude. Once you gotten enough sleep and wake up early, healthy chicks take some time every morning (even if it’s in the shower) to count their blessings. The happiest and healthiest chicks I know have a disciplined practice of gratitude journaling, prayer & meditation. The complaining sourpuss is usually sickly with constant physical ailments. You could probably think of a few family members or friends right now who are forever complaining about having a migraine or stomach issues, am I right? When I was living fully in shame and negativity, I was always sick!

3. Move, move, move. Being sedentary is a recipe for depression and physical issues. I get it– some people hate working out with a passion! Find something you enjoy like dancing or rollerskating that doesn’t feel like a workout. Luckily, I loved playing sports as a kid and have been a powerwalker since I was 13. I learned early on that walking helped my mind as much as it helped my figure. Now, I kill two birds with one stone and love listening to various speakers on Podcast One while I walk. I get in a physical workout and a mental & spiritual workout at the same time! Highly recommend it.

4. Eat & drink right. This is a super important key to health. You really are what you eat! We are so lucky to live in a generation with so much knowledge about foods and modifications. Our parents didn’t have this knowledge and many of them are suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure now. Pay attention to what you are sticking in your mouth sista! If I eat low energy and low nutrient foods, I will feel it immediately. I’ll have a slight headache and feel lethargic. Trust me, I am all for indulging once a week, but I know that I will feel it the next day. Also, healthy chicks are conscious of their alcohol and sugary drink consumption. Water is the first thing they reach for!

5. Birds of a feather. We all rub off on each other. Healthy and happy chicks are conscious of surrounding themselves with happy and healthy friends. It is human nature to take on someone’s behavior- to a degree– when we are around them a lot. I grew up in a home where there was constant complaining and naturally, I took on that behavior and have had to work really hard to reverse it. We can’t live in a happy bubble 24/7 so make sure your mentally & spiritually strong to be able to affect the negative people in your life in a positive way… instead of them infecting you! Holla!!

6. Make the best of it. Bad crap happens to all of us. Healthy chicks choose to see the silver lining in challenging circumstances. They can see the blessing or the lesson in the situation. They do not play the victim or sit and wallow in the crap. I use to be the Queen Wallow! Allow yourself a quick pitty party, cry, scream then dust yourself off and dry your eyes because you have important stuff to do.

7. Lend a hand. Another key to being spiritually healthy is helping others on a regular basis. Talk about a mood lifter and game changer! The minute you sense yourself slipping down the slide of worry and fear- go find someone who needs some help. The healthiest and happiest chicks I know are the first ones to visit a sick friend with a big pot of soup or take an elderly aunt to her doctor appt. Now, make sure you don’t take it to the opposite extreme and wear yourself out trying to help everyone which is actually very unhealthy!

8. Mindfulness. Everyone is busy. We are in an age of multitasking. We make phone calls in the car while listening to news radio at the same time. We start dinner while helping the kids with their homework plus answering texts from friends. Mindfulness is the practice of purposely focusing your attention on the present moment—and accepting it without judgment. When I’m overloaded with distractions, I skip listening to podcasts during my walks and savor the quiet. Scientifically, mindfulness has been found to be a key element in happiness. Being present– not living in the past or too much in the future- is one of the greatest obstacles we face especially with the constant distractions of people, email, social media and television. I keep my phone on silent A LOT! My hubby and I have gotten in the habit of turning our phones to silent before we have dinner. This allows us to connect and be present with each other. A marriage without mindfulness is a set up for disaster.

9. Stress managers. A healthy woman knows her limits and finds outlets for stress. This could be as simple as turning off the phone like I mentioned in #8 and taking a quiet moment to get centered when too many people are pulling at us. It could be practicing yoga, singing in the car and watching funny movies on a regular basis for a good laugh. Another key to keeping stress low is the ability to say no and setting healthy boundaries.

10. Body love. There’s a few aspects to this one, physically and spiritually. When we have a healthy love for ourselves, we take notice of things going on in our body instead of ignoring it. A healthy chick gets to the dentist regularly, performs self exams and schedules her annual pap. We are more in tune with our hormonal fluctuations and how certain medications effect us. We don’t just take antibiotics at the drop of a hat.

Yes, life happens and we can get out of balance from time to time. It may be a challenge to have all 10 of these operating smoothly every single day, but I encourage you if you are too far off in a few of these areas- make some small tweaks in order to elevate your life and be your most healthy….

and happy!

I want to hear from you. Comment, share, tweet and let me know which of the 10 you are going to tackle.

Love, Tiff

STRESS: Make It A Manageable Beast

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Sanctuary Of Style

Question- What’s your stress level on a regular basis? You are probably wondering, “Tiff, what does that have to do with beauty, style or inspiration?”…well, it has a lot to do with how healthy, vibrant, aware, sharp, peaceful and powerful you feel. Constant stress is carried on your face and will dull your light and not to mention over time it can cause serious dis-ease in your body. So, let’s discuss this because I am personally checking in with myself and my own stress levels on a regular basis and I find everywhere I turn people are just out-of-their-mind STRESSED OUT! This is no way to live ladies. LIFE IS SHORT!

I’m about to keep it very real here…

In the past I lived in a constant state of high anxiety because I had not healed through my issues and like many people I numbed myself with drugs and alcohol. A friend convinced me to see a doctor and of course, they put me on anti-depressants, anti-anxiety pills and ambien to sleep because I would be so amped up from the other pills. WHEW! It’s a vicious cycle with this stuff and I couldn’t function long on all these RX’s. For me, the only thing that worked to calm the nerves was to turn to God, begin red flagging my stressors and begin a serious spiritual practice of prayer & journaling. As I began to crack open my spirit and face my issues, I was more in tune with myself and the things, situations and PEOPLE that stressed me out. Learning to manage your stress will change your life and the lives of those around you! It truly effects every area of our lives:

Sleep Difficulties
Loss of Appetite or Over-eating
Lack of Concentration
Sloppy performance on the job
Anti-social Behavior
Abusing Alcohol or Drugs
Nervous Habits
Short Temper
Poor Memory

Does that sound about right? Make it a priority to check in with yourself on a regular basis and deal with the stress so it doesn’t grow into an unmanageable beast.

Here’s 20 tips I have found to help:

Do not keep things bottled up! Talk to someone you trust to help you work through it.
Spend time daily doing an activity you love. (I clear my head with a long powerwalk)
Improve your diet! Eating vitamin rich foods and avoiding junk with preservatives will keep your nervous system functioning properly. Add a B complex supplement too!
Simplify! This is so important but very difficult for “busy bodies”. Stop taking on too many activities at once. You know the popular saying, “my plate is so full”. Well, change that!
Stop rushing! When you feel panicked or rushed, STOP- sit quietly, take a deep breath and regain your composure.
Keep a zen-like peaceful environment at work and at home.
Be present! Don’t put too much thought into the future or the past. Enjoy the NOW!
Avoid unrealistic expectations on yourself and others! Whew- this will alleviate a ton of stress.
Get enough sleep!
Exercise more! It produces “feel good” chemicals.
Take note of your moods! Ladies, we have those pesky hormones to deal with so be aware of how you’re feeling emotionally and cut yourself a break when you need to.
Explore relaxation methods: Yoga, walking, journaling, listening to soothing music, hiking, etc.
Express yourself! If you feel sad, allow yourself a good cry. If you’re angry, express it constructively. (Breaking plates not allowed)
Love people and use things! Not the other way around. Walking in love is a huge stress reducer. Drop the ego.
Take a techno break! Unplug the phone, stay off the computer, don’t watch TV. Often these things bring major stress into our life and we don’t even realize it.
Learn the power of saying “NO”. This brings tons of stress on many woman. Being a ‘people pleaser’ will ultimately stress you out and build resentment!
Do not use crutches! Food, cigarettes, drugs or alcohol will also ultimately add to your stress instead of the temporary relief of it.
Avoid boredom! Period.
Surround yourself with positive peeps! Stress and negativity are contagious so hang out with positive, uplifting friends.
Get in touch with the little kid inside you on a regular basis! Try to have more fun and find things that give you a good belly laugh every once in a while.

Most important thing of all – GRACE! It gives you the strength and power to get done what you need to even when you think you can’t. Tap into it.

Have a beautiful weekend sistas!

Love, Tiff

STRESS: You are in control.. don’t let it control you! {Sunday Affirmations}

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Sanctuary Of Style

Happy Sunday!

As much as you may pray, meditate and seek methods to reduce your stress and stay balanced– life always has a way of knocking you on your toosh or making you feel like you’re teetering on a tightrope. Who feels me? Last week I got so sick of hearing myself whining and saying, “I’m so stressed…I’m so exhausted.” It was one of those moments when I had to pull myself over to the mirror and say to myself, “Tiff, get a grip. You control your schedule. You control how you ALLOW situations to effect you. You can control your attitude about it all. You have the power when you check all the texts and emails!” I told a friend I needed to go read my own blogs. Hmmmph. Isn’t it funny how we can easily give others advice? I also feel like I should add that stress-levels for us gals is always heightened during PMS. I’m not using it as an excuse….it’s just a biological fact. Ok, now that we are clear on all that….

There are so many factors that cause stress and it is different for everyone. Where you live, work pressures, financial difficulties, relationship pains, kids, world events and the list goes on and on. Living in LA, a city where I’m shocked anyone passed their driving tests and were allowed a license, is enough to give you an ulcer every time you get in your car! I was running a few errands the other day and this woman– who was in the wrong turning lane– had the audacity to flip me off while I was patiently allowing her to turn… even though she was in the wrong. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? My shoulders tensed and I gave her the evil eye and then decided to say a little prayer for her under my breath AFTER I visualized myself giving her back the same unladylike hand gesture she had given me. I kept my hands on the steering wheel, of course. Just normal daily interaction with people can stress you out. People seem to enjoy transferring their stress to you, but we can control what we allow to stick to us. Yes, easier said than done I know! This is why I try to remember to pray for protection and to be covered with the full armor of God plus be enveloped in white light every time I walk out the door. I don’t always remember and should put a note/affirmation by the door. (Ok, I’ll go do that as soon as I’m finished writing this blog!) I recommend you doing it too.

My point to this rant is YOU HAVE THE CONTROL. I realize we all feel powerless at times, but “feeling” powerless is even something we can control. Dig deeper. You always have the power. You always have the control. Take charge. Maybe you think you’ve lost the power and control, but you can regain it. Make the choice. You may never seem to achieve balance, but it’s about the constant effort to make the right choices for YOUR life and stop trying to keep up with your friends, neighbors and co-workers. Make the choice to step down off the tightrope. Everyone- especially women- loves to validate themselves with how “busy’ they are. Honestly- I’m beginning to hate that word and I’m trying to remove it from my vocab. Yes– life is busy and stressful, but life is also meant to be a beautiful experience.

THIS WEEK I WILL….

Check in with myself.
Be a warrior not a worrier.
Put my phone on silent when I need to. Some peeps can wait!
Stop + smell the roses.
Not allow other people’s stress to stick to me.
Regain control.
Keep my plate manageable.
Get more sleep.
Be more assertive by saying no.
Stop taking on too many projects.
BREATHE!

Cheers to a week free of any rude encounters, evil eyes, perverted hand gestures, boundary breakers, one uppers or back talkers. HA!

YOU ARE IN CONTROL.

FIND YOUR ZEN.

Love, Tiff

PUT YOUR BIG GIRL PANTIES ON

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Sanctuary Of Style

Hey Sass-a-frass!

Giving you a big high five, a hip bump and double cheek air kiss for kickin’ butt through another week. What are your plans for the weekend? Here’s a quick video to remind you of a few things:

Make sure to join in on the fun convo’s on the FACEBOOK PAGE next week! We have some stellar sponsors for the Summer Swag Bag Giveaways every week. I had to pleasure of checking out the crazy cool boutique in Thousand Oaks called Luscious Soul and met the fabulous owner, Kelly Phillipson. We hand-picked some unique and fun items to give away. Plus, we’ve got self tanning spray, extender lotions and foams from my fave Colour Couture! Also, healthy and effective organic skincare products from Sia Botanics. They have some of the best concoctions like a blueberry oxygenating scrub! Check out their site and read their “about” section. Sounds like a super cool group! There are a few more killer sponsors coming on board, but I’ll leave the suspense.

{Kelly Rocks}

{Colour Couture Self Tanning Products}

{Sia Botanics}

Remember, a big part of you shining brightly is to fill up your lamp. By the end of the week it’s usually running low, you are basically running on fumes or you barely have a spark much less your total level of illumination- RIGHT!?

Cheers to filling up your lamp this weekend! Do whatever you have to do to ‘giterdone’. If you have to put on your big girl panties, stand up for yourself and say no to some things- then SO BE IT!

A big wink,

Tiff

CHILLAX: Stress Management

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Sanctuary Of Style

Hey Junebugs!

Question- What’s your stress level on a regular basis? You are probably wondering, “Tiff, what does that have to do with beauty, style or inspiration?”…well, it has a lot to do with how healthy, vibrant, aware, sharp, peaceful and powerful you feel. Constant stress is carried on your face and will dull your light not to mention over time it can cause serious dis-ease in your body. So let’s discuss this because I am personally “checking myself” and my own stress levels more than normal lately and I find everywhere I turn people are just out-of-their-mind STRESSED OUT! This is no way to live ladies. LIFE IS SHORT!