Getting Naked

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The fabulous MM

This past week, I got naked in front of strangers. Twice.

Let me explain.

On Thursday, I released my second book. Whenever you put a piece of art out into the world, it's always scary. You are suddenly under the harsh, critical eyes of the public. People who don't necessarily understand that you literally ripped your heart out and splattered it across 120 or so pages. People who don't necessarily understand what goes into writing and publishing a book (hint: it's really fucking hard). You'd think I'd be used to it by now considering this wasn't my first rodeo, but it was still completely and utterly terrifying. Still is, especially considering I haven't read any reviews yet (please be nice!).

On Friday, I got naked again; this time in the literal sense. In two weeks, I will be the Maid (er, Matron) of Honor in my best friend's wedding, and I decided I wanted to do one of those super divalicious airbrush spray tans for the occassion. I'm normally pretty pale, and I'm wearing a black dress, so rather than risk skin cancer and wind up looking like a lobster, or worse -- attempt my own self-tanning job which would most likely result in orange striped hands, I am opting for a gorgeous golden glow a la "fake and bake." 

Now, in order to get the most from this really bizarre experience of being hosed down with brown goo, it's best to get sprayed in as little clothing as possible, for obvious reasons. And really, who wants tan lines if you can avoid them? The thought of stripping down to nothing but a pair of underwear in front of a complete and total stranger scared the living shit out of me. Especially since this isn't a quick flashing. You're 90% naked in front of this person, for a good fifteen minutes, bending over, arms up in the air, tits flailing, and posing in all sorts of strange positions in front of a HUGE BRIGHT LIGHT. In short, it's absolutely horrifying.

But I was desperate to not only get my glow on, but overcome this fear I had of bearing it all. The only person who has seen me naked in a good four years is my husband, and I don't even wear a two-piece bathing suit on the beach. I'm usually strategically posed and draped in a sarong, one hand on a cocktail and wearing massive sunglasses so I don't have to make eye contact with anyone who may be surveying my thighs.

Despite my anxiety, I forged ahead and showed up for my appointment, ready for whatever was ahead of me. Luckily this place was an exclusive, one-woman operation, so it wasn't packed with chatty customers or front desk girls. The woman who answered the door was the one who sprayed me, and there was nobody else in the place but us. Phew. 

She immediately showed me my changing area, told me to strip down, and meet her "over there." As I saw her point to "over there" I could feel a lump in my throat form and my heart begin to beat out of my chest. The tanning area looked like a giant empty stage to me with a harsh, bright light pointed at it, and I suddenly felt really, really sympathetic toward the people who perform on American Idol.

"Sure!" I said, closing the curtain and beginning to mentally pep talk myself in the mirror. You can do this. You're going to look so Brazillian when you're done. It'll be worth it. Your cellulite will be history! Once I got somewhat of a grip, I stepped onto the sticky foot pads in nothing but an electric orange lace thong, slid the curtain open, and made my way to the stage.

The girl was waiting for me with a giant smile plastered across her face (I'm sure she was trying to make me feel at ease, but it only made me more nervous). "Okay great! Hands on boobs. Elbows up. Here we go!" she instructed. I suddenly felt like a flight attendant preparing the main cabin for take-off.

She began spraying me with the tan concoction, and within a minute I suddenly felt totally normal. We chatted about the weather and my upcoming event (always an ice breaker). The fact that my boobs were covered at first helped ease me into things, but my world was quickly shattered again as she told me to turn around. "Okay, give me a little bend, babe," she said. I cringed. I was about to literally have my ass in another woman's face. How did I get here? I thought. Think Brazilian glow, think Brazillian glow. 

We repeated this little Vogueing session three times, and by the end I kind of felt like a pro at being in the buff. After making some small talk and cracking a few jokes, I almost forgot I didn't have any clothes on.

"Go take a look!" she said, pointing me to a full-length mirror. I surveyed my newly bronzed body and really liked the way I looked.

"It looks awesome!" I said.

I dried off in a room full of high-powered fans for about five minutes, and as I put my clothes back on, I took a minute to feel really proud of myself for facing my fear. I know it may not be a big deal to most people, but after having struggled with my body image for so many years, this was really huge for me. When the girl came back to make sure I was dry, we chatted for a few minutes. I felt totally at ease. Liberated, even.

There's something about "baring it all" that is good for the soul. We're always so self-conscious about putting ourselves out there for fear of judgement and criticism. Maybe we all need to be vulnerable a little more often and realize that it actually kinda feels good. Maybe it took this experience to remind me that even if we aren't perfect, we're beautiful for letting it all hang out.

Maybe getting naked was exactly what I needed.

Today is Huge.

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Today is huge.

I started this blog in 2008 when I had an idea for a book called The Champagne Diet. I had no idea if anyone would ever want to read this blog, let alone the book. But I chugged along, opening up my heart on these virtual pages. I connected with all of you. I changed. I grew. We all grew. Together.

I wrote a different book first. But The Champagne Diet was still inside of me. The book has changed shape over the years, and I am happy to say that I am so proud of what it has become. I can't wait for all of you to read it.

I cannot thank all of you enough for supporting this silly little dream of mine over the past five years. Who knew one glass of champagne could change everything?

If you'd like to order the book, you can get your copy here.

From the bottom of my bubbly heart, thank you.

xo
Cara

You Are Exactly Where You Need to Be

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Do you ever get that overwhelming sense of panic where it seems like everything is out of place? You feel worried that you're on the wrong track with your life and the way things should be. Maybe you always thought you'd be married and it just hasn't happened yet. Or you thought you'd be a VP by now. Or maybe you felt like your business would be making me more. Or you'd be skinnier.

I know the feeling. I lived most of my life in that panic-stricken state and let me tell you: it was torture. I constantly compared my path to everyone else's and worried that if I made the "wrong" decision, I'd veer off my course and totally screw up my fate. If I declined an invitation to a dinner because I was exhausted, I was somehow interfering with my destiny and maybe I would have met the man of my dreams there. But because I stayed home, I was going to wind up single and miserable and lonely forever. It was exhausting.

Eventually I got to a place where I surrendered to this statement: "You are exactly where you need to be." At first it was a little scary for a Type A girl like myself to be okay with giving up a little control. But I was quickly relieved to accept my place in life and realize that I couldn't, or shouldn't, control every aspect of it. Every single thing that was going on was a lesson for me to learn. Every single situation was an opportunity for me to grow. I wasn't going to "mess up" my fate because I didn't show up for a party. I wasn't going to fail miserably in my business because I chose not to take a particular course. 

The moment you can truly realize that life is completely beautiful; the good, the bad, the so-called mistakes and wrong turns, the moments of panic that morph into epiphanies; the sooner you will feel a sense of calm. The moment you surrender to the fact that The Universe always works in your favor and will never let you down, the sooner you will understand why you are exactly where you need to be.

Breathe.

xo
Cara

The New Book is ALMOST DONE!

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Just wanted to shout it loud and proud! Book 2 is nearly done! I really can't believe I'm about to release my second book. I believe everyone has a way of self-expression that feels best for them, and for me, it's definitely through written word. And the fact that you guys actually like reading what I have to say is the cherry on top.

Time to send this baby off to my editor for a final round of edits and then we are ready to push PLAY!

Still not sure of our exact publication date but look out for the book on Amazon around the end of June. There will be events all around New York City this summer so be sure to sign up for the mailing list to stay update on everything!

Don't forget you can pre-order a signed copy and be entered to win an exclusive prize pack including a $100 gift certificate to Bloomingdales, a workout DVD from Chris Freytag, gift certificates to some of the best health & fitness coaches out there, a set of champagne flutes, and more!

Whew! Now it's time for a cocktail. Cheers!

I Love Being a Girl

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I love being a girl.

Pearls, lingerie, sexy panties, perfume, flowers, jewels, shoes, bags, the whole nine yards. There's nothing like looking and feeling beautiful. But I've noticed when I'm overworked and overtired, all of those things fall to the wayside. 

A couple of months ago, I was super stressed. Trying to do it all, and feeling like I was failing miserably made me want to dive head first into a plate of Chinese food night after night. I gained weight. I started wearing sports bras on a daily basis (yes, me!) and I really didn't put much effort into my outfits. I hated who I was becoming because it was just not me. I felt like I stopped harnessing all my feminine energy and I was burning out fast. Sometimes when we're working so hard at our jobs and in our business, our masculine energy can take over, and mine definitely was. And it was making me miserable.

After a serious self-care revamp, I emerged sexier, more confident, and more girly than ever before. I stocked up on all new makeup, totally switched up my diet and made sure everything I put in my body was Champagne Diet approved, bought new clothes including pretty panties and bras, and most importantly -- reconnected with myself. I learned that my strong and powerful qualities were amazing assets when balanced with my soft, vulnerable side. I realized that I don't have to "do it all" and constantly be in control. I can be the damsel in distress once in a while, and be okay with that. Sometimes, someone else can take care of me.

Making sure I spent time relishing in all my girly goodness helped me to channel that feminine energy that was eluding me. I felt playful. I felt sexy. And I never felt better.

So if you're feeling blah, I encourage you to indulge in some serious Girl Time. Go out and get a massage, get dressed up all by yourself in your apartment and cook yourself a fabulous dinner while sipping on champagne, or go buy new lingerie. Ask for help. Take a time-out from the power-housing. Whatever it takes to help you flex that feminine flair, do it.

And don't forget to wear your pearls.

How I Lost Over 20 Pounds Without a "Diet"

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My experience with dieting and weight loss has been a seemingly never-ending roller coaster ride. Up 10 pounds, down 15. Up 10 again. I lived in a world of extremes. It has always felt like I was either starving myself, in what felt like "diet jail," or in party mode eating everything I could get my hands on because I was finally "allowed" after I decided the diet was over. 

Sound familiar?

About 6 years ago, I lose 30 pounds just by changing my attitude toward food and life. I learned how to truly eat for my health, by incorporating whole, real, foods into my diet with an emphasis on organic wherever possible. I stopped eating anything processed, which included all those frozen diet meals I was previously living off (hello Weight Watchers pizzas!). I also decided I wasn't going to give up my favorite things, which included wine and champagne (and that occasional plate of salty french fries). Out of that experience, The Champagne Diet was born.

I kept that weight off for years -- until I got married, was juggling a full-time job, going to school at night, and building my business, all at the same time. Stress got the best of me and before I knew it, almost all of that weight came right back on. I remember looking at a photo of myself one day thinking, "Who is that girl?"

I knew something had to be done, and I also knew I was done with diets forever. I sure as hell wasn't calling Jenny this time. I immediately decided to truly start living "The Champagne Diet" again because I knew it worked. I figured, if I can do this again by doing what I did last time, then I truly had something here. 

The first thing I had to do was change my mindset. I couldn't panic, and I couldn't set time lines. I just had to make the decision to manage my stress and fill my world with healthy, delicious foods again. There was no time for laziness. It became my job to retrain myself how to eat for my health and overall wellness. And you know what? It was so much easier than I thought. Whole Foods became my playground again, and before I knew it, the weight was coming off. But more importantly, I was becoming happier and calmer than ever before. This time around, I experimented with eating a vegan diet, which I followed for about 2 months. I didn't stay with it for various reasons, but I don't consider myself a failure at all. Eating vegan helped me to incorporate some really healthy habits into my life, and I am forever grateful for that.

I've lost 22 pounds so far, and I am still working on about another 10 to get to my "happy place" where I look and feel best, but there's no rush for me. It's not about a size jeans or a number on the scale. It's about feeling healthy, hot, and happy. And I want to teach you to do the same.

My "Healthy is the New Skinny" 8 week phone workshop kicks off on Tuesday. I am assembling an amazing group of empowered, motivated women who want to learn to break the diet chain and start eating for their health. We're going to learn to celebrate ourselves and our bodies NOW, not 10 pounds from now. We're going to vow to buy ourselves cute clothes no matter what size we are, because if we don't look good, we won't feel good, and you've got to feel good to treat your body well.

If you want to learn more about the workshop, click here or email me.

Invest in yourself. You deserve nothing less.

xo
Cara

Pre-Order Your Signed Copy of "The Champagne Diet" Book and Enter to Win BIG!

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Guess what dahhhlings? I have decided to do an exclusive pre-order for personalized, signed copies of my new book The Champagne Diet: Eat, Drink, and Celebrate Your Way to a Healthy Mind and Body. This will be the only time you can get your hands on a signed copy for a while! 

Each book will be $25 which includes US shipping and everyone who pre-orders will be entered into a grand prize drawing to win a massive gift basket packed with delicious goodies including:

- A $100 gift certificate to Bloomingdales
- A set of champagne flutes

- A Chris Freytag fitness DVD (I love her!)

- "Academy by Candy" Facial Rejuvenation Kit (Value $110)
- Private 90 Minute "Unleash Your Sexy Workshop" with Personal Trainer/Coach Diana Antholis (Value $300)

and SO MUCH  MORE!

The pre-orders start today so if you're interested, email me at Info@TheChampagneDiet.com!


*Pre-orders will be taken through June 15, 2013 Winner will be drawn at random on June 20, 2013.

*List price of the book will be $12.99 on Amazon and through independent retailers. Signed copies will be $25 which includes shipping & handling fees.