Austin-based Adventures in Wisdom is a life coaching program for mentoring kids that uses short stories and activities to teach children ages 6-12 how to develop a mindset for powerful self-esteem and self-confidence; achieve their goals; handle challenges such as fear, failure, and peer pressure; and create happy fulfilling lives.

Renaye Thornborrow, founder of the Empower 1 Million Kids movement, says, “The good news is that mindset skills can be developed and we want to help start the conversation by encouraging parents and mentors to take just 10 minutes a week, over the next three weeks, to share a fun short story with the kids in their lives. The stories are free but the skills are priceless.”

During the first week, kids (and adults!) learn about “self-talk” and how to use this skill to create powerful self-confidence and self esteem.  During the second week, they learn about “power shifting” and how to use it to create happiness in their lives and to feel empowered when things don’t go their way. And during the third week they learn about the power of “visualization” and how to use it to “train their brain” to achieve their goals.

Get the free curriculum and stories at Empower1MillionKids.com. Every little step towards happier, healthier people is a giant step for society as a whole!

Happy: is a new category of posts for this is life in austin & aspen. As I’ve developed DailyHap.com, which I encourage you all to visit daily, I’ve come across mountains of research, blog posts, articles, supportive pictures, and so on that can help lead to happiness but are not “filed” under that category. Here, I’ll react and discuss these gems, as well as talk more about my own experiences with the lessons presented.

One of the most important things for leading a healthy, and thus happy, life is willpower. Willpower keeps us from subsisting on a diet of doughnuts and reality tv when we logically know we should be eating kale and reading Proust*. But some research suggests that you have a finite “bank” of willpower each day, so the more you use it, the more you lose it. This would suggest that you need to build systems and habits to prevent those willpower-sucking scenarios and save your reserves for the really tough situations.

The folks at Whole 9 Life discuss changing your habits here. They’ve got great tips and insight on the research. Personally, I don’t keep any junk food in my house, because I KNOW I’ll eat it if it’s there. That’s easy enough. But what about the other things that require willpower? As first a freelance writer and now self-funding my startup, I have no one to answer to, except my clients or you guys. I can wake up, post something, and go back to bed for hours. I can work out, ski, run, hike, do laundry—whatever distracts me from working without consequence. It sounds awesome, and IT IS. But I spend freely from my willpower bank to DO WORK, which people who have to be at an office from 9-5 do not (then again, I don’t have office birthday cake to fend off, so there’s that).

What I need to do with my willpower is make DOING WORK non-negotiable. Take the possibility out of working 9-5 like I took the junk food out of my cabinets. Then I have more willpower in my bank for food, distractions, workouts, and so on. I will always keep a flexible schedule, but you’ve got to have a schedule at all for it to be flexible.

What systems do you guys need to put into place to give yourself a willpower cushion?

*or at least reading at all. Chick-lit counts.

• HAPPY documentary: “Happiness is a skill.”
• Natural Grocer grocery store trip. I love tons of things there but my top three are Buffalo Guys Buffalo Andouille sausage, Applegate Farms happy pepperoni, and kelp noodles (oh, and the chocolate peanut butter malted milk balls, but don’t tell anyone about those).
• The Hunger Games. I finally get it. And I’ve read all three in three days. #nerd Can’t wait to see the movie now!
• Slaying elephants.
• New (to me, from Susie’s Consignment, only $19!) J. Crew sequin mini with pockets! So awesome, yet practical! Can’t wait to pair it with a tee and sandals and stroll around town.
  
• That closet reminds me, I love my apartment. And home office.

See last week’s Feel Goods here.

Cosmetics 27 dispenses with the notion of complicated skincare and focuses on a simple two-or-three-step regenerating skincare regimen: Cleanser 27 + Essence 27 (+Baume 27, if you like) and maybe Eyes27 (I didn’t try it). On the website they have detailed tables with ingredients and their uses, which is awesome for beauty nerds and people concerned about what actually goes into their products. Without further ado, check out the three products I absolutely fell in love with:

Cleanser 27

Cleanser 27 is a solid, water rinse cleanser and make up removing formula that gently, thoroughly, cleanses the skin. The solid balm—perfect for travel—becomes an oil with heat, then turns into an emulsion with contact with water. Silky smooth but rinses clean, without leaving skin feeling dry. The formula contains 100% of natural origin ingredients like sesame oil, macadamia nut oil, bamboo powder, chamomile, and more, free from any paraben, phenoxyethanol, petroleum derivatives and silicones.

4 oz. jar (2-2½ months of use): $85

Essence 27

Essence 27 is a serum-type formula that works as a hydrating agent and a cellular energy booster. The ultra-fine emulsion is not as silky as my fave Paula’s Choice serum, it’s more watery and absorbs quickly, making a great base for whatever you’re putting on next (sunscreen, tinted moisturizer, whatever). The formula contains 99% natural ingredients like Centella Asiatica bio extract, Hyaluronic Acid, and Vitamin C. For all the ingredients, click here.

1.6 oz. bottle (2-2½ months of use): $125

Baume 27

Baume 27 is a daily global anti-aging treatment. Contains 27 ingredients that act in synergy to repair, restructure, regenerate, stimulate, protect, nourish, moisturize, and soothe the skin. Whereas I usually love things with silky textures (see above), this luxurious balm can only be described as velvety, though it very quickly absorbs, so it’s not thick like velvet. The formula inspired by traditional apothecary preparations is a lamellar structure emulsion (nerd!).

The formula only contains 67% of natural origin ingredients, but still no dangerous chemicals as it is free from any parabens, phenoxyethanols, petroleum derivatives and silicones. For the full list of ingredients, click on over.

1.6 oz. jar (2 or 2 1/2 months of use): $180

The Cosmetic 27 line is indeed pricey, but these are natural, good-for-you products that really seem to WORK. I’m hooked!

• DailyHap‘s launch!! If you haven’t been, please go visit DailyHap.com! And Like us on facebook!
• My baby brother (who is 25 years old, a male model, and 6’2″. But baby to me). Snowboarding with him, finding out some rooms need more ventilation with him, talking with him. He is awesome.
• You guys might be tired of me being grateful for this dog, but I AM. How funny is she?
  
• Pure Citizen (all good goods)
• One of the best Girls’ Nights I’ve had in a long time. Just what the doctor ordered.
• I asked a super cool dude I met randomly to draw me a tattoo (it worked in our convo, I promise), and this is what I got:
  
  Yes sir, I will.
• Double dose of gratitude today, check out my article on prayer here.

See last week’s Feel Goods here.

Boot socks: finally found a pair to try at Target for just $5.

That my friends are funny. Email:

Josh to me

show details 1:01 PM (1 hour ago)

…im making that roasted butternut squash pasta thing tonight. thought you’d be proud. hope all is going well!

Theme parties! I got to wear gold leather pants and my red flyaway cheerleader skirt in the same weekend!

Superheroes & Villians ... my friends are creative

Press trips … I’m in Loudoun County, VA for an historic adventure through wineries, farm restaurants, and more. Expect full details post-trip. Know now that I’m eating and drinking like a queen.

]]> http://thisislifeinaustin.com/2011/10/21/feel-good-friday-102111/feed/ 1 lyssa More 307776_639347849651_3003231_33866447_891412722_n http://thisislifeinaustin.com/2011/08/29/win-it-lyssa-is-a-special-occasion/ http://thisislifeinaustin.com/2011/08/29/win-it-lyssa-is-a-special-occasion/#comments Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:10:57 +0000 Lyssa http://thisislifeinaustin.com/?p=5631 ]]> At the BlogHer conference in San Diego, one of my favorite booths was the “________ is a Special Occasion” by Hallmark. They provided bright purple tees with a spot for you to fill in what your special moment is. Allison and I did “serious” ones first: I said every day is a Special Occasion, she said finding true love is a Special Occasion (gag … jk! she’s in love). But then we had the brilliant idea to make shirts for our boyfriends…

Lyssa is a Special Occasion! Allison is a Special Occasion!

(oops, we weren’t supposed to tell that someone let us have two shirts …)

While I can’t share our official photo with you because I look terrible in it, Hallmark captured all the other moments shared at hallmark.visiblemash.com. Click through the mosaic to watch videos and view photos describing the perfectly imperfect moments other bloggers shared.

Want in on the action? Post below what your _________ is a Special Occasion is and you could win a free tee and a few cards from Hallmark! Comment by 5pm CST on Wednesday, August 31!!

Winner or no, you can add something new to the mosaic by clicking the “Add Yourself” button located in the lower left-hand side of the mosaic.

]]> http://thisislifeinaustin.com/2011/08/29/win-it-lyssa-is-a-special-occasion/feed/ 0 lyssa specialoccasion http://thisislifeinaustin.com/2011/06/30/ben-jerrys/ http://thisislifeinaustin.com/2011/06/30/ben-jerrys/#comments Thu, 30 Jun 2011 17:42:06 +0000 Lyssa http://thisislifeinaustin.com/?p=5456 ]]> Last week, I got the incredible opportunity to join Ben & Jerry’s Millennial Advisory Board. We flew out to Vermont for three days of training, talking, and LOTS of eating ice cream. Here are a few photos:

 

When you first walk in to Ben & Jerry's Corporate, you're greeted by a slide!

We got to make our own ice cream! My flavor? A Firefly-inspired Sweet Tea Ice Cream with Limoncello swirl and chunks of peach and lemon button cookie.

 

The entire group—with THE Jerry!

My new fave flavor: Red Velvet Cake!

 

As if I didn’t already love Ben & Jerry’s, this experience cemented their awesomeness. The people were warm, welcoming, and so obviously happy with their jobs. The ice cream was obviously amazing, AND I learned that they use free-ranging cows from nearby St. Albans Co-op … happy ice cream! What an amazing experience.

]]> http://thisislifeinaustin.com/2011/06/30/ben-jerrys/feed/ 0 lyssa Ben & Jerry's slide me making ice cream Ben & jerry's Millenial Advisory Board Red Velvet Cake http://thisislifeinaustin.com/2011/01/14/austin-half-price-sushi-at-bar-chi/ http://thisislifeinaustin.com/2011/01/14/austin-half-price-sushi-at-bar-chi/#comments Fri, 14 Jan 2011 18:39:50 +0000 Lyssa http://thisislifeinaustin.com/?p=4619 ]]> As the weekend rolls around again, I absolutely must tell you about Bar Chi. It’s on 2nd & Colorado, where the old Yu Sushi Izagaya was. It looks the exact same, but they are doing something no one else downtown is:

Late. Night. Happy Hour. 10p-midnight.

And all-day Sunday happy hour.

And not just $1 off. Like half-price. Here’s the menu:

Yes, that’s pieces of sashimi/nigiri for $1.50 each. And rolls for $4.

I cannot recommend highly enough their “very white tuna” sushi. A piece of escolar seasoned with lemon and a hint of spice, it’s as good a piece of fish as you’ll find anywhere in this town.

The rest of the sushi was good but not spectacular. What was, however, spectacular, was their willingness to accomodate our special requests. No rice? Brown rice? Cucumber roll? All are no problemo!

We ordered the one cucumber-wrapped roll on the menu (not on the happy hour special but only $10) and just plain didn’t like it. Could have been bad fish or taste buds or whatever, but the waitress took it off our bill and had the chefs make us a special roll with three kinds of fish wrapped in cucumber. It was fresh and delicious! We’re calling it Leo’s Special, for the sushi chef who made it. It’s here:

As you can see, it’s awesome. And 100% healthy and paleo, if you care about those sorts of things.

Something should also be said about their sake-infused bloody mary. At $1.50 you can’t go wrong, but the sake is infused with jalapenos, serranos, and habaneros, which makes it SO RIGHT. Yum.

Bottom line? For cheap sushi that’s way better than Whole Foods but admittedly not as good as Uchi, Bar Chi is the spot.

]]> http://thisislifeinaustin.com/2011/01/14/austin-half-price-sushi-at-bar-chi/feed/ 1 lyssa Happy hour menu at Bar Chi Austin Leo's special cucumber roll at Bar Chi Austin