And everyone starts a new year looking forward to positive changes and being their best selves.  But sometimes we don’t know how to put our well-intentioned plans into action.

That’s why Karen Gross is presenting “Your Best Self in 2012″!

This women-only workshop is taking place from 1 – 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 21, at Highland Farm Bed & Breakfast, the beautiful former home of Broadway lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, 70 East Road in Doylestown, Bucks County, PA. Advance tickets are required and are $45 – order online at   http://bestself2012.eventbrite.com/  Light refreshments will be served.

Featuring health coach Ali Shapiro and wardrobe restylist Judith D’Andrea , this workshop focuses on being healthy from the inside out, reflecting your own natural beauty and your best self.

“Your Best Self in 2012″  features expert insights and demonstrations that will be useful for years to come, from style staples that flatter to how to nurture body and soul through elegantly healthful eating.

Karen Gross has brought together this insightful workshop from the positive influence both of these extraordinary women, Ali Shapiro and Judith D’Andrea, have made on her life.

Ali Shapiro is a certified health coach, has been featured on the 10! Show and has authored a book, “The Roots of Going Green: Your Fork, Your Power.”

Ali will share a refreshing,  gentle and non-judgmental approach to thinking about your weight and diet – how you can adjust your diet, seasonal eating, feeling really great and eating really well, holistically.

Judith D’Andrea is a licensed aesthetician, former spa owner and current wardrobe restyler, provides exclusive spa treatments and make-up application with an approach to “total beauty from shoes to eyebrows.”

During the workshop Judith will provide a live demonstration on one of her clients on the topic of wardrobe restyling — how to look crisp and put that everyday glamour into your life – as well as what to look for in fit.

Karen will close the afternoon with a fun, live cabaret performance combined with her signature sassy humor.

Hurry up and sign up for this interactive and intimate workshop and take the time to nurture yourself!

Treat yourself – you deserve it!  http://bestself2012.eventbrite.com/

Questions?  Contact us and we’ll get you answers!

I felt that way once again when I met Esther Hughes from BURST Inspirations.  She never knew she would end up where she is today.

We’ll have to go back 10 years to hear how Esther’s story began.

Ten years ago Esther was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Which, in turn, made her want to make an impact on the world.  She kept getting asked to speak about breast cancer, and a year later became a contributing columnist to the Gloucester County Times.

She started speaking and mentoring women through challenges of life – she was just that type of person that people sought out to ask her how to speak, write better, come across better; some are entrepreneurs who want to enhance their business to deliver messages as a positive, polished presenter.

We all face challenges no matter what our life roles – Esther gets joy out of working with women and finds it very fulfilling.  And that is why a year ago she started BURST– to help women fulfill their life’s mission.

BURST has taken a life of its own outside of her original mission and it keeps evolving – inspiring women to overcome their challenges, whatever they may be, and inspiring them to have confidence and move forward as better communicators.

Esther grew up in upstate NY and moved to Bucks County where her husband is from 7 years ago.  She currently lives with her husband, three children and their really fun, little dog, Snowball, who is king of the house.

Esther is also involved with SistersU (Sisters United), a new up-and-coming group in Perkasie of women who are involved in a lot of charitable and community efforts, as well as Network Now, and the Central Bucks Chamber – Women in Business.

She is also running a non-profit called One Day Living that she started about three years ago to  help women who are undergoing treatment for a life threatening illness.  One Day Living helps with daily necessities that can sometimes seem insurmountable when dealing with a severe illness.  If you would like more information about One Day Living, please contact Esther at estherjhughes@gmail.com.

Dr. Cassalia grew up in Northeast Philly, but moved to Bucks County around 1992 with his family.  A graduate of Temple, his influence came from his uncle who was a prominent oral surgeon in the Philly area.  Dr. Cassalia was looking to provide some unique orthodontic options, beyond the convention and usual skills.

So while he provides all types of orthodontic care, he developed the Lingualwirelign solution which is only available in their offices.  Currently he has an office on Main Street in Chalfont and one on Geigel Hill Road in Ottsville.  And they take insurance!

And of course he’s a member of the American Dental Association and American Association of Orthodontics.

If you want your teeth straightened, with or without conventional straightening techniques, Dr. Cassalia is your guy!  Give him a call at 215-822-6320 and visit him at www.drcassalia.com.

So – DO you feel understood?  Dr. Chad Coren has heard the answer to this question in a resounding “NO” many times over the last decade, and has helped many people feel understood, which he feels is a luxury these days.

Dr. Coren has always been interested in Psychology for as long as he can remember, and his passion is to help people communicate and listen better; he feels there is something meaningful and fulfilling with assisting other people who need help with their life journey.

While Dr. Coren also specializes in addiction psychology, he works with individuals, couples, families – whatever it takes to help people manage problems with their thinking and feeling, as well as assisting them in improving their interactions with others.

“Speaking with the kinds of people I see – high-functioning people, intelligent people -who might otherwise feel uncomfortable with traditional treatment programs, I am a virtual Ft. Knox with people’s concerns.  I offer a private place in which they can work through some of their issues and feel completely safe doing so,” Dr. Coren adds.  He caters to the needs of a disenfranchised portion of the population who may not feel like they fit in with a rehab-type setting and may feel disconnected; they don’t have an atmosphere where they can feel comfortable and talk about their issues.

Dr. Coren grew up in Montgomery County and now lives in Bucks County with his
Wife, child and puppy, Baron.

He gives presentations at Doylestown Hospital and is always looking for opportunities to educate people on addiction, mental health and issues of general well-being.

Experience/Memberships
Intern at the University of Pennsylvania
Horsham Clinic
Eagleville hospital
Livingren
Director of Psychological Services at the Keystone Center
American Psychological Association
PA Psychological Association

If you’re wondering why you may need coaching or how it works, think of it this way:  coaching gets you out of your discomfort zones and gets you to think in ways that will help you meet your full potential.

And I would want someone who has a degree in sociology and psychology as a good base.  That would be Loretta Clift of Authentic Vision Coaching.

Loretta experienced transitions all through life while her children were growing – as we all do – and as her friends would come to her to discuss these transitions, she would help them with “thought shifts.”   She finds now that she coaches parents of children with disabilities through the challenges and triumphs of transition into school.

Also, if you find yourself experiencing a persistent problem such as trying to change something in your life and you feel as if you’re falling short, a transformational coach can help you through a change, or to reset a dream.  There’s no need to continue feeling unhappy with any part of your life!

Loretta grew up in Bucks County where she currently lives today.  She has three grown children, a granddog, Berkeley, and two grandcats.

Having had 25 years in the field of psychology, Loretta decided that she wanted to fulfill a dream of coaching people through their life transitions.  She started taking coaching courses at Montgomery County Community College, Bucks County Community College Coach Training Alliance and this fall starts at the University of Pennsylvania for executive coaching.

Loretta is the Executive Director of the Arc Alliance Children Services, which serves infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families in five counties.  The Arc helps parents learn strategies that allows their children to participate in the lifestyle they envision for their families, being included in the community.

And for variety?  She took 3rd in her age group at the Herb Kahl 5K run which raises money for scholarships for students in Warrington area; she’s a member of the Delaware Valley Chapter of the PA Association for the Education of Young Children; a member of the National Association of Professional Women.  She also enjoys motivational speaking and has spoken at a number of places such as the Philadelphia Presbytery, the Nursing students and administration at Bucks County Community College, and the Overbrook  School for the Blind.

Want to chat with Loretta?  Email her at coach@authenticvisioncoaching.com; visit her website at www.authenticvisioncoaching.com, or pick up the phone 267-209-0153.  You’ll be really glad you did!

Enter Michael Pultro.  His passion is to educate and assist pre-retirees and retirees to create a retirement lifestyle that they always dreamed of.  He’s the type of guy who gets great satisfaction helping people, and he feels strongly that individuals are not getting the proper education from reading mainstream “financial pornography” that’s so prevalent in the industry. 

Michael grew up in Philadelphia and moved to Bucks County in 1995 after he visited his family and fell in love with the area (who wouldn’t, right?).

He now lives in Doylestown with his wife of 26 years and their two sons, one who is currently attending college, and their two golden retrievers, Dodger and Oliver.

Michael started First Financial Planners in 1995 after he worked with Primerica Financial Services and obtained his securities license in 1987.  Hi first career was as a professional musician, playing drums and percussion while living and working in the casinos in AC.  He saw that that was a dying business and looked for another career.  And that’s how he found financial planning!  (now that’s what I call a great planner!)

The market will always be volatile, Michael says, and people need to understand that volatility creates opportunity 100% of the time – you just need to know how and where to find those opportunities and take advantage of them.

He also believes Social Security will always be in existence but the Government will probably tax more; when individuals have more taxes out of their pockets, they’ll have less money to save for their future and that will mean more people will need Michael to show them how to save for the future properly!

Unfortunately, he also believes that the concept of retirement is one that fewer and fewer people will be able to accomplish at all on their own.  Because of the instability of Social Security and no pensions – people will need to have saved a heck of a lot of money for themselves.  But how do you save money when you’re paying more taxes?

Women are, unfortunately, at a great disadvantage planning their financial future for many reasons – it’s so important for women to take control of their own finances.  In Michael’s first article in the Bucks County Women’s Journal, he talks about the problems facing women and how women generally earn less which makes it even more difficult.

Sounds like it may be a good idea to have a one-on-one with Michael … he already got a client from his first article in the BCWJ – what are you waiting for?  Call him!

Have you ever watched Antiques Roadshow on PBS?  If so, you may have seen owners David Rago and Suzanne Perrault  appearing as a guest appraisers on the show.  The husband and wife business team  have been holding auctions since early 1995. 

David began his career as a dealer in early 20th century property when he was 16 or 17 years old and went on to a thriving business in early American Art pottery and early 20th century decorative arts.  He and Suzanne met in New York and began working together and holding auctions in New York City. 

David is originally from this area, and when he heard the old hosiery factory became available in Lambertville, he bought it in early ’95 and began holding auctions there. 

Miriam joined Rago’s in ’99 as their marketing, management and internet solutions person.  She became a partner a few years later.  She has charge of sales of fine arts and silver and jewelry and estate goods, as well as appraisals.  David and Suzanne run the 20th century Design Department they began.

Miriam grew up in the Chestnut Hill area and now lives in Solebury with her husband and dog from LuLu’s Rescue along with a cat.  Lulu’s Rescue is an organization that brings dogs up to our area from the south and finds them good homes, like Miriam’s.   If anyone would love to find a wonderful dog to adopt or serve as a foster family in the area, please contact Michele Armstrong at Flip Dog Yoga.  (Flip Dog Yoga is also a contributor of the Bucks County Women’s Journal – they are on the cover of the April/May issue!)

Miriam’s favorite part of what she does at Rago’s (besides meeting people) is the theatricality of it, as she used to be in theatre.  Putting on an auction is very much like putting on a show – you open, people like you or not; buy or don’t buy.  But I think you’ll agree that once you visit Rago’s, you’ll LOVE them! 

Rago’s says that people needn’t be intimidated by auctions – they LOVE having people looking around, sitting in on auctions; anything that they are interested in selling – they are always happy to give opinions as to whether an item suitable for auction.

Rago’s holds auctions from September through June.  They have free walk-in appraisal days on Mondays and employ around 35 people.

Miriam has been involved locally with the Mercer Museum, Bucks County Historical Society and Young Audiences of NJ and Eastern PA.  She currently gives her time to Lulu’s Rescue and the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen.

Definitely not a favorite conversation of most people, but putting off talking about your wishes when you pass will only end up hurting the ones you love.  You have always been there to protect your family throughout your life, why not after your death?

In comes Elena, Supervisor of Stillman’s Memorial Chapel in Trevose.  Elena felt there was a niche for a funeral home that would serve the entire community.  She encourages people to meet their funeral director before they actually need him or her – it helps people feel more comfortable dealing with someone they know at such a difficult time.

Elena has been in funeral service for four years; she doesn’t have any family in the industry, but felt it was more of a calling for her.  She is an independent funeral director, and about a year and a half ago she became  a supervisor for Stillman’s, a state of the art facility.  They offer everything from traditional funerals to cremation; she also does in-home consultations and arrangements to help the family feel more comfortable with such important issues.

Also, Stillman’s Memorial Chapel is certified by the Green Burial Council which is an independent, tax-exempt, nonprofit organization working to encourage environmentally sustainable death care and the use of burial as a new means of protecting natural areas.

What is green burial?

Green burial is a way of caring for the deceased with minimal environmental impact that furthers legitimate ecological aims such as the conservation of natural resources, reduction of carbon emissions, protection of worker health, and the restoration and/or preservation of habitat.

Read more about green burials in our April/May issue of the Bucks County Womens Journal and feel free to contact Elena at 215-324-8800.

Elena lives in New Hope with her golden doodle who is a Canine good citizen at Chandler Hall in Newtown, PA.  She is a member of the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors’ Assoc (PFDA), the Rotary Club, the Green Burial Council, Upper Makefield Business Association and Feasterville Business Association.

“Imagine an exercise program that keeps you wanting more – something that you look forward to and provides you with a sense of accomplishment.”  BCWJ, p. 12

That would definitely work for me and every girlfriend I know!  Vicki Cross of Flip Dog Pilates wants to help every achieve their goals, increase strength and stamina and rehabilitate any injuries that you may have had.  Pilates can do that!

Flip Dog is 7-1/2 years old and Vicki was the director there before she bought it a year and a half ago.

Vicki has been in the industry for 20 years; she teaches pilates and spinning at the YMCA, always dreaming that some day she would own her own studio.  When her last child went to college and the former owner of Flip Dog wanted to sell, the opportunity was right for her and she grabbed it!

At Flip Dog they use a machine called the IM=X Pilates Reformer which updates the authentic pilates method developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920′s.  With the machine there is a more athletic and vigorous approach to pilates – not only doing the strengthening and core/stretching, but increasing the flexibility and strength for the entire body through a series of precise, graceful and controlled movements.

You can also follow her on Twitter @flipdoggirl