Author Archives: Be a Leading Lady

The “I’m Rockin’ It” Giveaway

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Prize: “I’m Rockin’ It” Creative Retouch for one image of yours!

Every woman should have a picture that she loves of herself, a picture that makes her go, “Wow! That’s ME!” Find or take that picture today. -Topaz

And I want to help one lucky winner have that image!

Most of the pictures that we have of ourselves are snapshots, and that is great that we have those, but they are usually far off from the look of a professional image. That is where the “I’m Rockin’ It!” Giveaway comes in. I will use some of the same editing tools and secrets that professional photographers use to give your snapshot some professional pizzazz.

Digital snapshots have what we call a digital haze to them making them very flat, and often with a very cool tint to them. The  lighting is also sometimes not flattering, and these photo issues are not necessarily a true to life reflection of who we are. I will professionally edit your snapshot for you with the same tools that I would use for a client…even a light airbrushing for that professional portrait look!

Here are some examples of an image straight out of the camera and the professionally retouched version:

file891251766196-web-0before file891251766196-webafter
file2661251775881-web-0before file2661251775881-web-2after
file181249263916-web-0before file181249263916-web2after

So get that snapshot ready that you love but would love to see it professionally processed with a little extra pop and enter this month’s contest!

Photo Guidelines for the Winner:

  • Must be an image of which you own the rights.
  • Must not be a professionally taken image.
  • Must be only you in the image, no one else.
  • An image that is of reasonable beginning quality is best. My recommendations would be no low light and no flash images. A natural, indirect light is the best lighting for a portrait, places like a porch, entryway, car, or open shade.
  • The winner will be notified by e-mail and must respond within 72 hours. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, another winner will be chosen.

How to enter: 

  1. Subscribe to the Be a Leading Lady E-mail List. All subscriptions must be confirmed by responding to the e-mail that you receive after you subscribe. (required to enter)
  2. After you subscribe and confirm your subscription, additional entries may be made by EACH comment that you make on articles between 3/4/13 – 3/28/13. (optional for additional chances to win)
  3. Spread the word to all of your friends, post on your pages and blogs and encourage them to subscribe! For every 100 new subscribers, I will be choosing an additional winner for an “I’m Rockin’ It” Creative Retouch! So tell your friends, the more entries, the more chances to win!

 


 

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years Giveaway – Winner Announced

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A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life by Donald Miller

Thank you so much to all who commented and entered! It is so wonderful getting to know you!

I used a random number generator to select the winner, and our winner is…

Fay

Congratulations, Fay! Check your e-mail! I can’t wait to hear how you love this book! It has completely changed the way I think about my life, and it’s been about three years since I read it.  

Contest sponsored by:

Be a Leading Lady

The Compliment Guys – Super Heroes Show Acts of Kindness

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The Compliment Guys – Super Heroes Show Acts of Kindness

If you only watch one video this year, this one should be it!

I talk about acts of kindness a lot, sometimes as a reminder to myself and sometimes to remind others. It is good for everyone, both the giver and the receiver. I love what The Compliment Guys are doing! They are indeed super heroes!

I have often thought how cool it would be to have all of my Christmas shopping and prep work done early and be able to go out during this stressful time and do acts of kindness for all of the tired and stressed shoppers. I have yet to have that year. I am usually one of the tired shoppers with way more to do than I have time to do. But even though I may not be up for a whole day out of spreading cheer, there is always the opportunity to do small acts of kindness. Even I smile and a hello can make someone’s day a little brighter. Or to let someone go in front of you, or hold a door, or any other small gesture of kindness. And we are all a little better for having been part of that moment, both the giver and the receiver.

acts-of-kindness

Thank you to The Compliment Guys and for all that you are doing! I can only imagine the ripple effect from your acts of kindness!

Let’s all remember to put on that super cape from time to time…

I am fairly certain that given a cape and a nice tiara, I could save the world. -Curly Girl Design

Share your ideas for acts of kindness.

Everyone Has a Story – And There Is Always More to the Story Than You Think

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Everyone Has a Story - Bird Story

Everyone Has a Story

Shortly after I woke up one morning, I noticed a bird at the window. I’m not going to lie. I thought he looked a little crazed at first glance. Two words entered my mind: Bird flu. While I’m not really sure what that is, I’m thinking this bird possibly either had that or rabies. Again, I have no idea what I am talking about. Honestly, I don’t really notice the birds outside, so I’m not sure what this particular bird normally looks like. He could always look like this or just be having a bad hair day. It’s not unusual to have birds flying around our windows from time to time, so I did not think much of it, except that on this particular day they would not go away. They sounded like they were going to come through the window at any minute. I have seen the movie “The Birds”, and the scenes are starting to flash in my mind, except that these have the bird flu. This went on for a couple of hours. Now all I was thinking at this point is that this can NOT be their new thing to do all day, every day. We shewed them away. They came back. This went on for hours.

This image was the very few seconds this bird was still. It would come to the window and while looking inside, it would wildly flap its wings as if he were trying to fly through the window and would not leave.

Everyone has a story.

After repeatedly shewing them away for hours, a small, injured bird was noticed on the ground near the window. It appeared to have flown into the window and was dying, and this is why the other birds were acting crazy. What appeared to be an annoying and crazed bird flapping wildly at our window, was just a bird that cared about another bird, an injured bird, possibly a friend, a partner, or a child, and was sending out a cry for help. Everyone has a story.

This made me stop and think. How many times does this happen with the people in our path? How many cries of help do we not notice or misinterpret? Whether it is the cashier, a customer service representative on the telephone, or the driver who just cut us off, or even a friend, we have no idea of the day they have had or what is really going on in their lives. Everyone has a story, and there is always more to a story than you know. It is far better to err to the side of compassion than to miss an opportunity to show kindness to someone who needs it.

Everyone has a story.

Are you missing someone’s cry for help? Or is someone missing your cry for help? What is your story?

Be Your Own Valentine on Valentine’s Day – Ways to Celebrate

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Be your own Valentine…what a great day to love yourself.

I must confess. I am not a fan of Valentine’s Day. I’m not necessarily cynical about love or anything, just a day centered on forced displays of affection with cheesy, meaningless gifts designed to boost retail sells. And, honestly, I give this day zero thought until I walk through the store to see aisles and aisles of all of the Valentine’s Day paraphernalia. It probably doesn’t help that I’m on a huge decluttering kick.

But that is just me. Many people love the day, and that is fine, too.

The one thing that we can all probably agree on is the fact that it is a day that tends to make a woman feel especially alone if she finds herself without a date on the biggest “love” day of the year, especially younger women. I do love certain things about getting older, and a thing like that not bothering me anymore is one of them. So in keeping with the spirit of being a leading lady, I wanted to offer some other options for those who are feeling a little lonely this Valentine’s Day. And if you are fine, you might know someone who might benefit from these suggestions, so be sure to tell your friends and share it on your facebook wall. Let’s take away its power to make us feel that way this year. It’s easier than you might think.

To read more…

Fun and Creative Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day by The Art of a Beautiful Life

Fun and Creative Ways to Celebrate Valentine's Day Without a Date