Last month, on May 1, I launched the A Friend A Day In May Challenge, urging you to join me in contacting at least one friend a day throughout the month. Based on the emails I received, Tweets, Retweets, and Facebook "likes" and "shares," the Friend A Day (AKA "FAD") challenge sparked a lot of interest... I hope it was a successful and fulfilling experience for you!

I'd like to share what I learned, AND was reminded of, regarding friendship from this experience:

1. While the challenge was a bit time intensive, the rewards reaped from the connections and re-connections outweighed any minor time issues. LESSON: Never be too busy for the people in your life.

2. True friends can pick up where you left off as if not a day has passed (let alone months, and in some cases, years). LESSON: Recognize these priceless relationships and cherish them.

3. New people who want to be friends with you will reciprocate any gesture you make. For example, if I emailed a new friend or acquaintance, they emailed back, if I called, they returned the call, and so on, always saying they were happy to be part of my FAD list. LESSON: Small gestures can have a big impact.

4. In sharing your life, and learning about others, many things are instantly put into perspective. LESSON: Life is life, and we are all the same.

5. On some days, because of upcoming time constraints, I had to contact two or three friends. On the days when I had to skip the FAD challenge, I discovered that skipping the "daily" connection made my day less complete. LESSON: Friendship is good medicine... Think of it like an apple a day!

6. In my approach to the FAD challenge, I didn't base the order of my outreach on length of friendship, distance, or any other qualifying circumstance, I just contacted each person on my list as the opportunity presented itself. By placing the same level of importance on everyone, whether I knew them for a few months or many years, the process never seemed awkward or forced. LESSON: Approach everyone with the same openness.

7. With local people on my list, I accepted and planned many an outing, AND I enjoyed every minute of: attending a chic private party at a NY club; a catch-up luncheon that produced a Master Mind group; an über-thrilling ride in a race car (see picture); a marathon shopping experience filled with laughter; a Labyrinth walk followed by a leisurely lunch served up with a side of calmness and clarity; three great dinners with three different friends over platefuls of boisterous discussions; several coffee dates; hours of phone conversations; and a handful of detailed emails. LESSON: Plans are moments in time, your participation is an opportunity to have a new experience, then a memory.

On May 1, I had more than 30 people on my list; and it grew as more people popped into my mind. Since I tried to average "a friend a day," there are many more people to contact in June. I look forward to continuing this daily to-do (it's the best to-do on your list, truly!). 

Ultimately, whatever you are doing in life, you get what you give. I gave a lot and received so much more than what I expected from a simple phone call, email, or letter. Thank you to everyone already contacted, I look forward to keeping up with you... And to those who are still on my FAD list, I look forward to catching up! 

Did you take the FAD challenge? Let us know how it worked out, what you learned, and any suggestions for keeping these important relationships active. 

A Giveaway & Product Review by Here We Are

At first touch, Parisian's Pure Indulgence Sugared Butter Whip is so light and frothy, you'll doubt it is actually an exfoliating "scrub." But don't be fooled... This all natural, sugar-based product is a sweet treat for the hands, elbows, knees, and feet. 

Lightly scented with citrus essential oils, it's loaded with skin nourishing ingredients like shea butter, avocado butter, olive butter, sweet almond oil, cranberry seed oil, and more. The results for me were immediately apparent; after gently scrubbing each area for the recommended 10 seconds (BONUS: Beauty treatment TIME SAVER!), rinsing with warm water, then patting dry, my skin indeed looked polished. Each scrubbed area looks smooth and delightfully glistening but NOT sticky or greasy.

Plato said, "Necessity is the mother of invention." The Sugared Butter Whip was invented by Kelli Parisian as a better, natural option for her manicure clients. After sharing a few jars, demand for this product took off and Parisian's Pure Indulgence was launched. You can hear more about business, start-ups, beauty, and the importance of a positive, healthy lifestyle in my talk show interview with Kelli Parisian: Pure Indulgence & Timeless Beauty.

Available in two sizes, 6 ounce for $17.99, and 10 ounce for $25.99... Whichever size you prefer, a little goes a long way to making this a must-have beauty item that will last you all season, summer or winter. Say goodbye to dry, winter skin, and hello to buttery smooth skin ready to shine in short-sleeves and sandals!

Enter this month's HWA Giveaway for chances to win a jar of this light, but effective body care treatment. The more items you complete, the more chances you have to win. Thank you for participating & Good Luck!!

WINNER: Congrats Lauren!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Product Review Disclaimer: This is NOT a paid review. A unit of the product was offered to and received by LUCIMAC Productions, the parent company of Here We Are; as per our Product Review Policy, submission of a product for a potential review in no way guarantees a review will be published, nor does it guarantee a positive review.}

The Here We Are Talk Show presents an interview with entrepreneur and beauty expert, Kelli Parisian: Pure Indulgence & Timeless Beauty.

My guest, Kelli Parisian, founder and owner of Parisian's Pure Indulgence, shares all things beauty, PLUS important tips to developing a successful business.

In this candid discussion, Kelli reveals her secret to starting a business with one product (she now offers 45!). It's an approach anyone can use no matter what type of business start-up you have or are thinking about launching. From concept, to branding, to an essential daily MUST-DO, this busy lady gives listeners tips on how she has grown her company.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it can be created by one's approach to health & wellness. Everyone wants to look and feel good. Kelli explains her lifestyle philosophy for women of any age. Her advice, as a woman, and a beauty expert, can help you achieve looking good on the outside while feeling great on the inside. One look at Kelli and it is clear that she lives her message of creating timeless beauty with proven results!

Limited Time BONUS: Listen for a generous 20% DISCOUNT CODE on orders totaling $20.00 or more at Parisian's Pure Indulgence Organic Skin Care! NOTE: Offer is valid from 5/15/12 through 6/30/12 at 11:59pm PST.

Kelli Parisian is the founder of Parisian's Pure indulgence Organic Skin Care. She believes every woman possesses a rare beauty, all their own; and for the past 30 years Kelli has been assisting women to discover their unique qualities. After growing up in the California sun, Kelli saw a need for a toxin-free product line that would benefit women with sensitive skin, and be gentle on the environment. Whether it's enhancing women's beauty with her Parisian line of organic skin care, or teaching them how to allow their inner beauty to shine, she is a sought after beauty industry leader for her lifestyle advice, and innovative, effective products.

Part 14 of the Here We Are Series - Live Your Life Out Loud

This weekend is Mother's Day. Each year, we celebrate the women in our lives who have done so much for us, and sometimes everything for everybody. Whether or not you have children, I'll bet that you do quite a lot for others who may or may not be family. With all the "doing" that women "do" on a daily basis, we often forget to have FUN.

Starting today, when you are doing for others, stop and say to yourself, "What the FUN?" Then make time to have some... Let the "F = Freedom" from: menial tasks that don't mean anything in the long run, fitting in "me" time that makes you happy, trying something new, etc. It's these types of instances that represent Freedom in some form, even if it's only for a short time. That's why vacations are fun!

With your selected "F for Freedom," now think, "U = Unburdened." Let go of guilt, worry, fear, uncertainty, or anything else that is holding you back from your particular "F." 

Again, say, "What the FUN?" Let go, and just let it happen; follow it however and wherever it takes you. Enjoy the feelings, revel in the freedom, exhale your emotional restraints so you can experience what "Unburdened" is... Be a kid again, focus, seize the moment, savor the experience. These are the times when you come away saying, "Is it over already?"

Last, but not least... "N = Now." There is no other time, no next year, or arbitrary date in the future, there is only today, this hour, this minute, this moment.

Seek out what makes you happy, giddy, silly, satisfied. Find what delivers the experience of feeling FREE & UNBURDENED, and do it NOW. Ask yourself each day how F + U + N adds up together in your life. It isn't about shunning responsibilities, it's about embracing the best parts of you that shine through when you are having fun. Remember to say, "What the FUN?"

Announcements, Updates, & Reminders

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Beauté Et Intelligence: What do you get when you mix brains with beauty and business? Business owner, Kelli Parisian of Parisian's Pure Indulgence Organic Skincare. Tune in on April 15 at 12:30 pm EST for the upcoming Here We Are Talk Show, Kelli Parisian: Pure Indulgence & Timeless Beauty. Kelli will discuss creating a successful business, her approach to beauty - inside and out, and how women can reinvent themselves to live the life they want. BONUS: Listen for a secret DISCOUNT Code during the show. Nous Rejoindre (join us)!

Parlez Vous?: Chick Flick Chat is returning soon, thank you for your patience. Even though the show is in transition (it's all good!), you don't have to speak French to enjoy any of the many previously recorded Here We Are Talk Shows or Chick Flick Chat's. If you're a francophile like me, you'll especially like the CFC's featuring Midnight In Paris and Julie & Julia . If you haven't seen these films, give yourself an inexpensive, mini-vacation by renting both; each offers fabulous street shots of Paris. Bon voyage!

UPDATES

Économiser Du Papier: Trying to cut down on calories and paper in your life? While I don't promise that the Here We Are recipes in the Food and Drink category are low-cal, they are available for printing via a PrintFriendly button at the bottom of each recipe. Instead of printing the whole HWA page along with a recipe like our très facile Chocolate Pots de Crème, you can now print only the images/text you need which saves you paper and ink. Bonne Cuisine!

Cadeaux: Spring sprung with new gift giveaways starting again at HWA. Congrats to Rhondah S. for winning the La Isha Nutrient Rich Face Crème raffle. Thank you to all who participated in this April giveaway. In May, we will be offering another beauty item giveaway ... The raffle announcement will launch mid-month with a review of the product, I look forward to sharing my new favorite treatment. Bonne chance!

REMINDERS

Un Ami Un Jour: As you know, the Announcements article is usually the first post each month, but A Friend A Day In May took precedence to give you a chance to reach out to 30 friends, one each day in May! If you haven't started, I can tell you it is a fun and fulfilling experience... Téléphoner à un ami!

Pierre Du Mois: The stone of the month for May is Emerald. We recognize it as a deep green, the deeper and clearer the color, the more valuable and rare it is. It a symbol of hope; and it is believed to heal the heart. Emerald is the sacred stone of the goddess, Venus.

Take the Friend A Day Challenge

Days fly away, weeks pass quickly, and a month goes by in the blink of an eye... Maybe you got together with a friend or two, or just maybe you meant to but didn't find the time to meet up or reach out. If a continuous cycle of work, life, and to-do lists fill your days each month, it's time to begin making time for a very important element in your life, your friends.

Today gives us a fresh start at another month; May equals Spring, and Spring equals Renewal. It's a perfect time to launch the Here We Are: A Friend A Day In May Challenge. This idea was sparked because like so many others, I juggle a lot on a daily basis. This year, it seems harder to keep up with the many people I am fortunate enough to have in my life, and it's leaving a void. I believe, "If it's happening to me, it's happening to others." So, if this is also happening to you, then I challenge you to take the FAD Challenge with me.

Each day, reach out to someone you consider a friend, or want to have as a friend. Think about hitting the number "30," one person each day for A Friend A Day In May. They could be male, female, new acquaintances, long-time confidants, a favorite cousin, people you've been meaning to get to know better, and business contacts that could develop into a friendship. No matter who they are in your life, if you don't take the time to make this happen, it won't! (You know it's true.)

How-To Take the Friend A Day Challenge - Psst! It's simple!!

1. Get a piece of paper and list 30 people you want to contact

2. Each day, pick a person and select a method of reaching out: a handwritten note, an email, or a phone call... Then DO it!!

3. No pressure to be witty, if you aren't sure what to say, then start with, "Hi, I've been thinking of you." Not only is it true, but it opens the conversation on a pleasant note. {Remember, everyone is busy - this is about reconnecting - a few minutes is all it takes.}

BONUS: When contacting those who live close by, set up a simple face to face meeting. Make a plan for coffee, lunch, a walk, shopping, etc.

Even if a long span of time has passed since your last contact with someone, it is never too late to reach out. The timing of your contact might be exactly what they need at that moment.

I'm committing to the FAD challenge, won't you join me? In 3 easy steps, you can be in touch with 30 friends this month!

Like the FAD idea? Then share it on Facebook, Tweet it, link to it in your newsletter or on your blog. Who knows? You might even get a call from someone on your own list who is thinking of you! Let me know how it's going in the comments or on the Here We Are page on FB.

June 1, 2012 UPDATE: Check out my follow up article, Friendship: Lessons Learned in the "Friend A Day In May" Challenge. 

No matter what it is you want, time is of the essence. Ask yourself, "Who, what, where, when, why, and how?" Answer these questions once and for all, and remember...

You can have anything you want if you want it desperately enough. You must want it with an inner exuberance that erupts through the skin and joins the energy that created the world. ~ Sheilah Graham

Once you recognize the path provided by your answers, step out onto it with confidence, then Go For It... Go for Broke... Go Big, Go Bold, or Go Home.

Shades of Chartreuse ~ The Freshly Green Tips HWA Series

No matter how "paperless" our lives become, a hard copy of information is often necessary. If you are a blogger you may enjoy offering a PrintFriendly button (like the one above) to your readers. If you are a reader, you will enjoy saving paper, ink, and $$ using the PrintFriendly button. It easily strips away ads, unwanted copy, and extra content that most web pages contain, leaving behind only what you need to include on your printed hard copy. 

After recently discovering this eco-friendly option developed by Taylor Norrish and Manu Janardhanan, I began adding the button to several Here We Are recipes. A nice feature is the option to change the size of the font before printing, which is great for quick glances at a recipe when you're cooking. Check out the option at the bottom of Grilled Salmon: Fast, Healthy, and Easy with Apples & Ginger OR Kiwi & Orange Topping.

You can also email or PDF an article, as well as eliminate sections by clicking a "delete this shadowed area" on the page (when you use it you will see what I mean, it's easy!). The originating link for a page is kept in tact at the top of the printed page to recognize source and lend attribution.

Save a tree... Don't burn money on paper and ink, use PrintFriendly next time you need to fire up your printer!

Check out this 2 minute video about how it all works and more ways to use it:

As promised in the Spring Into Shape Announcements article, we have a fabulous giveaway for one lucky Here We Are reader! Sharon Gnatt Epel, founder of La Ishá, natural skin care for Timeless Beauty through Healthy Alternatives, will send the winner their newest anti-aging product, Nutrient Rich Face Crème. This $75- item is the perfect Mother's Day gift!

Features of La Ishá's Nutrient Rich Face Crème:

❊ Designed to support the health and beauty of dry, dull, aging and environmentally stressed skin

❊ Contains an international blend of therapeutic oils that are highly compatible and easily absorbed

❊ Increases turnover rate of skin cells

❊ Fights wrinkles and softens skin

❊ Supplies important essential fatty acid nutrients for skin health and cell metabolism

This sounds fabulous no matter what age your skin is! Enter to win... The raffle ends on April 26. GOOD LUCK & Thank you for entering!