In Today's Tips Debby Nealy from 2911, a non-profit that supports young women 13-21 that helps them build self-confidence, leadership and social responsibility, gives us tips on how to build positive relationships. 

1. Accept and Celebrate Differences: Branch out and find friends that have different talents and strengths than us. 
2. Develop Communications Skills: Are you listening effectively. Am I distracted? Do I understand what the other person is saying?
3. Trust More: Work on the relationship and don't always assume the person it being negative. Watch how you talk to each other. 
4. Develop Empathy: Put yourself in other people's shoes. People never forget how you make them feel. 
5. Time: Give the people you care about your time. What's important to your person interested in and do what they're interested in. 

****Due to the Coronavirus the event Debby mentioned has been postponed***

In today's episode I discuss how to grow sales and build your small business to be sustainable during an economic downturn. Susan McVea went from 0 to 6 figures in six months. She gives us her advice on how to not only build a successful small business and how to reach the right people your serving.

• Power of Intention and Manifestation is a great way to start to build your business.
• First starting in sales look who is currently available in your network. Make sure they are the right people for you business.
• Create an Avatar of your perfect client. Make sure you know the avatar really well so you can recognize your ideal client.
• How to figure out where your perfect client is and how to reach them.
• How to use Social Media to find your clients. 
• Clients want to be seen a certain way. 
• What is your unique brand positioning?
•  Why do your clients want to buy from you?
• The right and wrong way to ask your clients for referrals.
• Should you set up a loyalty program for your business?
• Sales is a skill that can be learned.
• Inexpensive advertising ideas.

In today's tips I discuss how there's alway hidden blessings in times of uncertainty. There is always a hidden blessing if you look for it. Now that so many people are slowing down and getting off the busy treadmill of life, we can take this opportunity to give ourselves TIME! We now have time to create, invent and reevaluate our lives. What do you want your second half to look like? Now you have TIME to create a life you love. 

In my third Coronavirus COVID19 interview I spoke with Dr. Brookmyer again. We discuss some of the myths that have been circulating around. Can you self diagnosis by holding your breath for 10 seconds? If you need to quarantine a family what is the proper way to do it? Should you have playdates while schools are shut downs? As always this is a frank discussion without hyperbole and the desire to get the truth out there. 

• Coronavirus spreads person to person with respiratory droplets.
• Certain places in the country are still in containment mode while other states are in the mitigation phase.
• The symptoms of COVID19 are similar to influenza, fever of 100.4 for adults, cough, and shortness of breath.
• People are now able to get tested more. Each state has their own requirements. For Maryland you still need a doctors recommendation but this is all very fluid and could change at any time. 
• IS HOLDING YOUR BREATH FOR :10 A SAFE WAY TO SELF DIAGNOSIS? (10:27)
• IF YOU DONATE BLOOD WILL YOU GET TESTED FOR COVID19? (12:06)
• EXPLANATION OF WHY WE ARE HAVING TO STAY HOME AND NOT HAVE LARGE GATHERINGS (15:00)
• SHOULD WE HAVE PLAYDATES WHILE SCHOOL IS OUT? (26:04)
• HOW DO YOU QUARANTINE SOMEONE WITH THE CORONAVIRUS AT YOUR HOUSE? (27:04)
• WILL THE CORONAVIRUS DIE OUT IN THE SUMMER MONTHS WITH WARMER WEATHER? (29:00)
• IF PEOPLE WANT TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE (the elderly) WHAT IS THE BEST/SAFEST WAY TO DO IT? (30:00)

References: CDC Coronavirus 2019

Ever wondered what anti-aging products really work? In today's episode I break down the dos and don'ts to give us healthy skin in midlife. Dr. Kathleen Moe is a board certified dermatologist and gives us extensive insights into how to make sure we have healthy skin and the best anti-aging products! 

• Skin Health in Midlife, it's important to check for skin cancer. 
• There are 3 types of skin cancer: Basal Cell, Squamous Cell and Melanoma
• Everyone should go to a certified dermatologist for an annual check. 
• Checking for Melanoma there's the ABC's. 
  • A- Asymmetry. If the lesion looks on one side very different than the other side.
  • B- Borders: Lesion has very irregular borders or many different colors: brown, black, pink.
  • D- Diameter: if a larger lesion is evolving
  • E- Eye catching: "Ugly Duckling" if it doesn't look like the other lesions on your body.
• The effects of Perimenopause and Menopause on your skin: 
  • Because of hormones we dry out. 
  • More Acne in the lower half of our face
  • Skin thins out
  • Lose collagen and elasticity
  • Underneath the skin we have a layer of fat that keeps our skin lifted and that dissipates so we get sagging.
• Skincare Routind:
  • Gentle Cleanser
  • Morning: Protect Your Skin, antioxidant, vitamin C and Sunscreen
  • Nighttime: Need to regenerate the skin with retinol, cream and eye cream.
• Sunscreens:
  • Choose a sunscreen that has Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide
  • 30 SPF or higher everyday
  • Use one that is Water Resistant
  • For pigment, age spots or brown spots use a "Tinted" sunscreen
  • Apply Sunscreen 30 minutes before you leave the house or you need it.
  • Reapply sunscreen every hour or two hours depending on perspiration and water usage. 
  • DO NOT USE AEROSOL SUNSCREENS
  • Protective clothing is important especially for kids.
• Recommended Brands
  • Neutrogena
  • La Roche Posay
  • CeraVe Skincare
• Basic Skin Health
  • Good Sunscreen
  • No Smoking
  • Good Sleep
  • Exercise
  • Good Diet
  • Retinol
  • Antioxidant
• We go over wha the little white bumps are on your skin or millia bumps are on your skin and how to get rid of them. 
• Teenage acne: does what you eat cause them to breakout?
• Should you get regular facials?
• Do those rollers really work to help your skin? 

Do you ever open the refrigerator and wonder "What am I going to make for dinner?" In today's tips Kim Wilson from Farm Girl Fuel gives us tips on how to create the perfect Meal Plan! 

1. Have  A Planning and Preparation is KEY!
   1. Making Theme Nights is fun like Taco Tuesday, New Meat Monday or Pizza Friday. 
   2. Teach your children about eating healthy and having fun!
2. Cooking Large Quantities 
   1. Batch roasting Veggies, Meats within the same temperatures.
   2. Make enough dinner the night before to have lunch tomorrow. 
   3. Invest in good storage containers i.e. glass storage or mason jars. 
3. Freeze a Fall Back Meal
   1. Extra time on the weekends make an additional meal so you can pull it out for a quick ready made meal. 
   2. Grab frozen veggies or frozen pizza to just reheat food. 
4. Keep Simple and Cut Corners
   1. Grab a ready made rotisserie chicken
   2. Prepped sides
   3. Don't skimp on spices "Flavor God"

FarmGirlFuel.com

In today's episode I discuss Intermittent Fasting with nutrition expert Cynthia Thurlow. We breakdown how to do it, what the benefits are and who should and and shouldn't do it. 

• Intermittent Fasting is a strategy and not a diet.
• It has been around for 1,000s of years. 
• We discuss how you should start doing intermittent fasting. 
• The most common times to fast are 16 hours of fasting and 8 hours of eating.
• The hours of fasting can be done while you sleep.
• Some benefits of intermittent fasting for some people are weight loss, better sleep, mental clarity and helps get your insulin levels in check. 
• You can take intermittent fasting where ever you go on vacation or a work trip.
• When you're in your eating window make sure you eat protein and real food not processed food. 
• If you plateau with losing weight there could be many reasons. 
• You need to check your hormones, sleep patterns and stress levels could all be a factor.
• Should you do intermittent fasting if you have Crohn's disease, diabetes or cancer? 

Cynthia Thurlow Information: TEDx Talk Greenville Intermittent Fasting www.cynthiathurlow.com Facebook: Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle/Cynthia Thurlow LinkedIn: Cynthia Thurlow Email: [email protected]

In this Bonus Episode I'm speaking with Dr. Barbara Brookmyer with the Frederick County Health Department. She gives us an update on what we need to know and do now that the Coronavirus COVID19 has spread in the United States. 

• Indicators are trending towards the COVID19 spreading across the country. 
• Hygiene steps to stay safe and good for every day life.
  • Wash Hands
  • Good Nutrition
  • Good Exercise
  • Good Sleep
  • Cover your cough with your sleeve
  • If you use a tissue depose of it right away.
• High touch areas should be cleaned and wiped down.
• We currently don't have good information on how long the COVID19 stays as a contaminate on hard surfaces. We have heard nine hours and possibly longer.
• When you touch hard surfaces that could be contaminated you need to wash your hands before you touch you mouth, nose or eyes.
• Wearing gloves is a good idea if it helps you become more aware of how often you touch your face.
• Regarding the virus, First we need to contain the disease. When the disease is contained it gives us time to research and figure out treatments and vaccines.
• The reasons for canceling events and closing schools.
• Who should get tested and how it's done.
• If you think you have COVID19 contact your primary doctor.
• Only 2% of cases in China of people under 20 years old got COVID 19. There were no deaths.
• What precautions you should take when traveling.
• Do everything you can do in your life to reduce risks of getting an illness. 

In Today's Episode I discuss how in midlife we can often be lonely. Our kids have left the nest or now they're in middle school or high school and they don't need us as much. Here are 6 tips to help you overcome that loneliness. Tip #1: Action! Do something that fills your tank. If you're feeling bad be creative and try something new. Tip #2: Schedule Regular Appointments to Meet Up with Someone. Knowing that you will meet with someone on a regular basis gives you something to look forward to. Tip #3: Journal: Write 3 thoughts and feelings that you're having each day. Keep track of what has triggered those thoughts and feelings. You will start to get a better picture of your mindset. Tip #4: Join a Community. Find a group of women that you share ideas with and communicate. There should be different types of communities in your town or join a Facebook Group that interests you. Join The New Mid Official Facebook private group! We're a group of midlife women talking about midlife issues! Tip #5: Exercise: Nothing will make you feel more alive and better than taking a brisk walk, pumping some iron or taking a class at your local gym or Y. It will get your endorphins going! Tip #6: Volunteer: Find an organization you believe in and go help them out. A lot of times you will get more out of the experience than the people you help. BUT make sure it's the right fit for you. If not, find an organization that's right for you. I'd love any feedback or comments you might have on the episode. Please go to my website thenewmid.com and you can join my facebook group The New Mid Official Facebook Group You can also contact me for a free coaching call here. 

Today's episode is all about overcoming setbacks. Not putting limits on yourself and always continue to grow, even in midlife. My guest Jo Elizabeth Butler came from a modest background in Trenton, New Jersey and as an African American woman shattered many boundaries that she faced. She graduated from Columbia Law School and became an international lawyer for the UN in Switzerland.  Show Notes: 

• Jo Elizabeth Butler came from a working class family Trenton, New Jersey. 
• She read at a young age and since she came from a large modest family she learned that if she wanted something, she'd have to earn it. 
• She earned a Rotary Fellowship in Switzerland and study International Law at Columbia University. 
• She was one of the very few African American women to win such a fellowship. Once she won it she told many other people to apply for it too. 
• Don't put limits on yourself even if it's never been done before.
• Jo always had mentors and was always sharing and giving back to people. 
• To overcome obstacles do not be afraid to take risks. 
• Don't give into fear.
• Listen to your own voice.
• Have Confidence in yourself. Move past your ego and don't take things personally.
• Jo has a great way of handling people! That's why she was so successful at the UN! 

Websites: Ethiopian Children's Appeal