Lisa Renee Johnson's Blog

I’ll be the first to admit that life can be overwhelming at times. Working full-time, shuffling through my kids and grandkids’ crazy schedules, managing my business as an entrepreneur, and trying to make a little bit of me time whenever I can, often leads to me feeling worn out and stressed. Like me, many people experience these negative feelings whenever they feel overloaded by the demands in their lives. And while we may not be able to control all of the factors that are causing stress in our lives, there are a few things we can do to take the edge off our stressors so we can feel less overwhelmed and increase our happiness levels.

Focus on things that bring joy to your life. Whenever I get stressed out to the max, I like to make a list of things that make me happy. They can be anything – from watching sunsets to kissing your significant others, no thing is too small. Keep this list somewhere that you can look back at and remind yourself that there are lots of things in this world that make you happy even through the turmoil.

Get a nature fix. Take a walk, go fishing, or sit outside and stare of a view of trees or greenery. Studies prove that the power of nature is that it not only elicits joy, it also reduces stress. 

Stay connected. It may be tempting to shut down and cut off all communication whenever you feel overwhelmed, but it’s actually beneficial to keep in touch with positive and supportive people. These relationships can make our “wins” easier to celebrate and can buffer us against stress when we face inevitable challenges.

Play a game. Playing board games really helps me take my mind off what’s bothering me, even if it’s for only a few moments. After playing, I feel refreshed and restored and am better equipped to handle things that life throws my way.

Get help if you need it. Can you delegate some of your responsibilities? Can you ask for additional support from friends and family? Remember, there are people who can help – you may just need to ask for it. 

The process of personal growth is never-ending. There’s always something to improve on: whether it’s learning how to better communicate with others, controlling your emotions, or simply setting time aside for yourself, our growth potential is limitless.

As a passionate advocate of pursuing a life of development and betterment, I’m always looking for ways to self-improve. So when I heard that September is Self-Improvement Month, I thought it would be a perfect time to create a checklist of items I try to implement in my life to improve myself. Some are simple steps and some require a bit more effort but they all strive for one common goal. Here they are:

Nothing excited me more than sharing my spark with women who are eager to learn, grow and unleash their shine. If this sounds like you, let’s connect!

As a professional author and grant writer, writing is a huge part of my life. I deal with all styles of writing: fun, informative, long, to-the-point. While the content may be different, one thing remains the same: they require correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar to properly get their message across. 

In the professional world, you use your writing on a daily basis to express yourself and your ideas so it’s super important that you ensure you’re doing everything you can to be received well. That starts with correcting the tiny mistakes that can make a huge difference.

Here are some of the most common writing mistakes and how to fix them.

Using quotation marks to add emphasis. This is a huge no-no! When wanting to emphasize something, many use quotation marks around a word or phrase. The best way to highlight something is to use italics, not quotation marks.

Who vs. That. Here’s one that even I misuse at times.If it’s a person or an animal with a name, use who. If it’s an inanimate object or animal without a name, use that.

There vs. Their vs. They’re. A known and super common mistake. Here’s how to get it right:

–There is a location, physical or otherwise

–Their is possessive

–They’re is the contraction of “they are”

Putting punctuation outside of quotation marks. Another tricky one.In British English, punctuation goes outside quotation marks, while in American English they always go inside.

We all face internal fears: giving a speech in front of a large crowd, asking our boss for a raise, skydiving, etc. What if things don’t turn out our way? This fear can sometimes be beneficial, in that it encourages caution when caution is due. But it also limits us to what we can accomplish since it makes us afraid to challenge ourselves.

So, in this post we’re going to talk about our comfort zone. Here are five steps you can use to push those self-created boundaries of what you think is possible.

1.Do small activities to challenge yourself. Hug a stranger, volunteer to host an event, lie down in a public place. Doing activities that make you uncomfortable will allow you to start getting comfortable with the uncomfortable.

2. Keep a list of growth goals. I keep a list of growth goals close by and try to read it every morning. Reading it early in the day motivates me to take these steps throughout the day.

3. Get information. Fear usually comes from the unknown. Educating yourself about the skill or activity you are pursuing by talking to people who have done the same thing or simply reading articles online, will give you confidence and make you less fearful.

4. Have a plan. After educating yourself, create a step-by-step plan on how you are going to push yourself and get out of your comfort zone. Having benchmarks is very beneficial and it allows you to set realistic goals for yourself. 

5. Remain positive. Life is hard. Sometimes no matter how hard you try, things aren’t meant to be. The trick is to not let anything prevent you from giving your all and blasting pass the point of comfort. 

This hot weather has me feeling all sorts of summer feels. I find myself constantly wishing to sip on a delicious cocktail while laying beachside and having some much-needed me time. So, in honor of summertime and daydreaming, I put together a list of beaches I wouldn’t mind being whisked away to. Now, who’s with me?!

White Beach – Boracay, Asklan Province, Philippines

This beach is located on a small Philippines island and has soft white sand alongside smooth, gentle water. Perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving!

Praia de Santa Maria – Santa Maria, Sal, Cape Verde

Cape Verde is full of islands with gorgeous beaches but this beach really strikes me. Its turquoise water, clear horizon view, roaring waves and breathtaking horizon view scream WOW.

Blue Beach (La Chiva) – Vieques, Puerto Rico

A long, thin stretch of white sand and clear water make this beach a must-visit. Getting there is also an adventure. You’ll have to drive along a bumpy unpaved road in the middle of the a former U.S. Navy training base. 

Seagrass Bay – Laucala Island, Fiji

This 7.5-square-mile private island may be small, but it’s filled with enormous beauty. To get there, you’ll have to take a 50-minute flight from Nadi, a city on Fiji’s main island. The island is covered in tropical jungle and is home to some of the archipelago’s rarest birds and animals.

Psarou Beach – Mykonos, Greece

There are a number of beaches in Mykonos but Psarou is one that I have at the top of my list. Located at the head of a horseshoe bay and boasting turquoise waters and tons of bars and restaurants on the coast, this beach is a definite stunner.

What beaches would you like to getaway to? Let me know in the comments below.

If you’ve been following me on social media, you’ll know that I love a good girls trip. Whether it’s sipping on some wine in Sonoma County or jetting off to a book conference, bonding with my close girlfriends in a distant location is something that I find both fun and therapeutic. That’s not to say that planning a trip is a piece of cake. On the contrary, there are many factors to consider. Things to do, what to see, how to get there, etc. At times, (especially with a large group), some personalities tend to lead while others are left feeling left out. 

So how do you juggle all the elements that go into girl trips without stepping on any toes? Here are 5 tips that I implement in all my girls trips so that everyone has a great bonding experience.

1.Plan together. From the get-go, you should make sure all the women attending the girls trip have an equal say in planning the vacation. That means pinning down travel dates, researching activities, lodging, etc. It’s very important that all parties are involved, aware, and have a say in the initial planning stages.

2. Discuss budgets. This should also be discussed in the initial planning stages. All members should voice their spending goals and limits and then have the group collectively figure out how payments for activities, dinners, accommodations will work. 

3. Create a group packing list. Packing for any trip can be a nightmare! In my experience, we women tend to pack our necessities and then some. To make things easier for everyone, ask each traveler to bring certain products that everyone can share. Beauty products, electronics, books, etc.

4. Establish a “girl code”. Is this strictly a “girls trip” or are the single gals allowed to bring home someone they’re interested in? Also, if there’s drinking involved, make sure your group discusses the person or people who will be the designated driver and sober voice of reason.

5. Squeeze in at least one bonding session. Being out in a new place can be exciting and overwhelming, so remember to dedicate at least one activity to the reason you came out in the first place: your girlfriends! Whether it’s a shopping trip, cooking class, or spa day, make sure to squeeze in one session where you and your girls can bond without any distractions.

New Orleans has a rich and intriguing history of food, jazz music and cocktails.  In fact, the Big Easy is credited with creating the very first cocktail.  They say a man by the name of Antoine Amedie Peychaud was best known for creating a special cure-all bitters from a Haitian family recipe to cure a variety of ailments. He’d mix his famous concoction and add some of his favorite Cognac and a splash of absinthe–this became the first cocktail and is now known as the New Orleans official cocktail. The Sazerac.

As I perused the cocktail menu at the Vitascope bar of the Hyatt Regency New Orleans I selected a cocktail that had it’s very own tale. On my walk down memory lane with my mixologist, I learned that A Street Car Named Loyola cocktail was created in homage of the new streetcar line that opened on Loyola Avenue in 2013. I also learned that the very bar I was sitting in was named after a historic Canal Street movie theater, Vitascope Hall, the world’s first permanent, for-profit movie theater. WOW! New Orleans is chock-full of firsts and I think we can all drink to that. So let’s get to shaking.  

Don’t forget to snap a picture of your finished cocktail and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #closetmixologist and tag me @iamlisareneejohnson

A Street Car Named Loyola

INGREDIENTS

• 1.5 oz Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka

• .5 oz Freshly squeezed lemon juice

• .5 oz White ginger syrup

• .25 oz St. Germain

• Ginger ale

• 8 Dashes Peychaud’s Bitters

• Rosemary sprig, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

In a shaker filled with ice, add vodka, lemon juice, ginger syrup and St. Germain. Shake vigorously, and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Top with ginger ale and 8 dashes of bitters. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

If you want to reach more readers and make more money you should publish your books on both IngramSpark and KDP (formerly Createspace). Read on for reasons why.

Print on Demand

Books are printed when they are order

No need to have extensive inventory on hand

No need to fulfill the orders as they come in 

Steps

1.Reader orders the book

IngramSpark and KDP fill the order

IngramSpark and KDP take their cut (production and distribution) and pay you the rest 

Pretty much it works the same for both POD platforms

Benefits of each:

KDP

Free

Only makes money when someone buys your book

Automatically included in the Amazon Store

IngramSpark

Upload cost of $49 annual fee which is minimal

Master distribution network that includes brick and mortar stores and libraries 

See them as competition

Terms are not good for them

Paperwork is insane

Print choices

Hardback option

New Personalization Service

Can distribute on Amazon

Amazon uses IS to fulfill some of their orders

Requires own ISBN # use on both IS and KDP

*Amazon will provide out of stock notice on IS only print books. 

Best of both worlds!

Most of us are not looking to become millionaires. We just want enough wealth that provides financial security for our families and allows us to enjoy small luxuries every once in a while, like vacations, and new cars. But unfortunately, getting to that level of financial security – for some – is easier said than done.

That’s not to say it’s not achievable. By consistently following a strategy over the years, long-term wealth can happen for you. Here are some smart habits you can adopt that will help get you to your desired level of wealth.

Automate your finances. This is key! Set up your accounts to take money directly from your bank so that you don’t have to remember to pay your bills every month. You can send money automatically to investment accounts, savings accounts and creditors – allowing you to build wealth effortlessly.

Invest. Investing in your employer’s 401K plan is an effective way to build wealth. Employers take the money out right when you’re paid. The contribution lowers your taxable income and may be partially matched by your employer. 

Set money goals. Write down your goals for your annual income and net worth. It’s important to be realistic, but don’t be afraid to challenge yourself! Having these goals outlined will help you figure out what you specifically want and will make it easier for you to achieve these goals.

Save your extra cash. Get in the habit of stashing any extra cash you get (even if it’s just $20), into an investment account. The more you do it, the more it’ll add up! It’s also good to establish a habit of saving – you never know when you may need it!

For a working mom, it may seem impossible to balance a career, a marriage, health, happiness, and a relationship with your children all at once, but trust me, it is possible. According to the Center for American Progress, “women now make up half of all workers in the United States, with nearly 4 in 10 homes having a mom that is also a working mother.” With so many women working full-time and being responsible for their little one’s well-being, the feelings of guilt and stress because of divided attention between work and family are feelings many of us have had to go through.

I’ve been there. While raising my kids, I took anything as simple as a 10 minute break as a luxury, and longed for the weekend to spend time with my children. From my experiences, I found that there are some strategies that are useful in getting through the challenges of being a working mom. Take a look at these 5 tips I’ve found helpful in getting closer to reaching an ideal work-life balance as a mother.

1.Let Go on the Guilt

Instead of dwelling on how you’re not with your child, think about the benefits your little one is receiving from your employment. For example, maybe you’re able to afford certain classes or educational opportunities for him/her because of your salary. Or you can save money for his/her college tuition. One day, all that hard work will pay off.

2. Find Quality Childcare

Knowing that you are leaving your child in the care of a trustworthy person/s is something that will put your mind at ease and allow you to focus on other aspects of your life. Ask family and friend for recommendations to nannies, babysitters, and daycare centers. Interview prospects so you can make a wise decision.

3. Make Mornings Easier

The key to making mornings easier is to get organized the night before. Packing lunches, laying out clothes, repacking diaper bags, backpacks, purses, etc. and placing everything by the door will make your mornings a whole lot easier.

4. Create a Family Calendar

From soccer practice to graduations to birthdays, there are lots of events that can cause last minute stress on all members of the family. Having a calendar that includes dates for when bills are due and any activities and special events that are taking place, will make sure everyone is on the same page. I use Google calendars since it can be synced onto my smartphone and shared with my family members.

5. Communicate with Your Employer

Whether you’re taking maternity leave or just accepting a job offer, it’s a good idea to let your employer know of your needs in regards to family time. Before speaking to your employer, make sure to research your employer’s policy when taking time off. Then, create a written plan detailing what you need. 

Above all, I encourage you to give yourself a pat on the back, give yourself some slack, and reassure yourself that you got this!