French Kiss Life by Tonya Leigh

Living in a constant comfort zone can seem pretty…well, comfortable. But is everything as good as it could be? Could you be doing better in certain areas of your life? There’s a difference between maintaining a certain balance in your life and just settling for what is, and it’s a shame that most of us usually opt to settle. Setting your standards higher will enable you to challenge yourself to reach your goals and, luckily enough, there is a way to push yourself over whatever plateau you may be facing. Here’s what I experienced before I chose to set my standards higher… http://tonyaleigh.com/are-your-standards-too-low/

Life teaches us many different things and, more often than not, we choose to ignore what we’ve learned in order to please everyone. Everyone but ourselves. Not to mention the fact that with so much negativity in the world, it’s no wonder people are so miserable. But there is a way to take control of your life to rid it of the negativity you may be facing whether it be from family, friends, or even yourself. This in turn will result in a happier, healthier you. Here are a few ways I managed to put the joie back into my vivre! http://tonyaleigh.com/how-i-put-the-joie-back/

Going out to a restaurant and only ordering 3 fries seems pretty ridiculous and almost impossible, right? I mean, I can down a whole plate of fries by myself so to limit myself to just 3 sounds like unnecessary torture to some. But believe me, there is a definite method to the madness which boils down to a simple word we all know- moderation. Whether you choose to apply this method to your eating habits, overspending, or your exercise routine, here are a few reasons why you should apply the 3 French Fry Method to your life. http://tonyaleigh.com/the-3-french-fry-method/

It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the glitz and glamour of someone else’s life that we seem to forget that they probably face the exact same problems that we do. Wanting someone else’s life only causes us to downplay our own as “not good enough,” sending us into a whirlwind of unnecessary despair. Sometimes we believe we’ll have it easier if we could just be someone else for a day, but would we really? Here are a few quick reasons why you should reconsider wanting someone else’s life and focus on improving the life you already have… http://tonyaleigh.com/why-you-dont-want-my-life-2/

Growth is inevitable. Sometimes we try so hard to hold on to what God is really trying to tear apart from us that we wind up hurting no one but ourselves! You can’t become who you want to be if you’re trying so desperately to hold on to your past. I struggled for a while before I decided that letting go and evolving is better than trying so hard to have everything remain the same. It was during that time when I found out that it’s best to just go with the flow and let nature run its course, and here’s what else I learned… http://tonyaleigh.com/the-next-evolution-of-you/

The way a question is worded can either make or break you, so you have to be careful when reflecting on your goals and aspirations. Viewing your current situation as a problem instead of living in the moment can cause discouragement. Luckily enough, there is a way to turn those questions around so that they not only benefit your day, but motivate you to do better! http://tonyaleigh.com/the-worst-kinds-of-questions/

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in improving large parts of our lives (careers, relationships, etc.), that we forget the little things matter too. Not doing so can have you feeling like you’re living a double life where you’re the chic, put-together professional out in public, but look like a homeless beggar when you’re alone at home. Whether it’s the old slippers we like to wear around the house, the quality of the food we shop for, or even the way we organize our closets, we should pay attention to those “small” things and focus on improving them as well! Here’s how I decided to rid myself of the double life I was living… http://tonyaleigh.com/are-you-living-a-double-life/

Getting everything done while still managing to find time for yourself seems like a pretty impossible task. It seems like no matter what you do or how you reorganize your schedule, you never have time for leisure or even relaxation. The woman who effortlessly finds her balance between leisure and hustle can pretty much achieve any and EVERY thing she sets her mind to. And while effortlessness is a trait we all wish we’d been blessed with at birth, sometimes we need to learn how to work smarter instead of harder so that effortlessness is second nature. With that being said, here’s how I managed to hustle leisurely… http://tonyaleigh.com/how-a-lady-of-leisure-hustles/

Finding the time to appreciate the little things is not as impossible as it seems. Taking the time to enjoy the life you’ve been given just pays homage to the fact that you’ve been blessed to see another day. Did you buy yourself some flowers? Have you noticed how clear the sky is today? Did you talk to someone you love? Sometimes enveloping all of the positivity around you is enough to turn your day from drab to fab. So instead of wasting your time focusing on negativity, take the time to relax, appreciate and focus on yourself by making every day enchanting. http://tonyaleigh.com/why-dont-you-make-every-day-enchanting/

Fitness has become an unnatural obsession in the US, causing women to dread the very idea of working out. I remember the days of mindlessly lifting weights, doing crunches, squats and everything else to keep myself in shape and I was still unhappy and miserable! I found that adopting the European approach to exercise is actually more effective, less stressful, and a cheaper alternative to the gyms I used to patronize in the states. Here are a few simple changes that I added to my daily regimen that has helped me stay trim and happy… http://tonyaleigh.com/french-feminine-secret-8-make-everyday-an-active-affair/

The fast paced life is something all of us know a little too well. Feeling as though you have absolutely no time at all to do anything can leave you frustrated, physically drained and stressed, which is by no means fabulous. I realized that sometimes it’s best to slow down, recharge, and leave what can be done later for later. Here’s an example of how I manage to slow down my hectic schedule to a more pleasurable experience without completely dropping all of my priorities. Here is how I successfully saunter through life… http://tonyaleigh.com/slow-to-a-saunter/

Traveling is something that we are very familiar with, but for the longest time I always managed to over-pack, over- stress, over-spend and over-complicate my whole experience! Too many bags, clothes and other unnecessary items will have you looking like a real bag lady, and that is definitely NOT French Kiss Life. I’ve learned so much about how I could travel a little more eloquently by studying others’ habits, and by really taking the time to organize my trip, I was able to come up with 12 tips that have made traveling an effortless experience. http://tonyaleigh.com/my-12-french-kiss-life-travel-rules/

In the age of over-consumerism, it’s pretty easy to get caught up in all of the hype. We want to try all of the new products and gadgets for no other reason than to say we did. This, without a doubt, has caused so many people (including myself) to buy things unnecessarily, which both drains your bank accounts and bogs you down with too much junk! Thankfully, after witnessing how elegant minimalism could be, I began paying attention to my spending habits and once I did it started become part of my everyday life. Here a few steps on how you can cultivate elegant simplicity…. http://tonyaleigh.com/10-ways-to-cultivate-elegant-simplicity/

Many of us get so caught up in our work that we feel as though we aren’t in control of our lives. Taking control while working a 9-5 may seem impossible but it actually isn’t. There are ways to implement simple pleasures into your day in order to de-stress, unwind and enjoy your life for what it is. Whether it’s taking an hour to yourself to read your favorite book, or taking the time to prepare a beautiful meal, balancing your priorities with pleasure is the simple key to living a happier life. With that being said, here’s how I managed to refocus my time so that instead of living to work, I was working to live. http://tonyaleigh.com/french-feminine-secret-6-work-to-live/

Maintaining positivity is something we all want, right? It’d just make sense to get rid of all of the people who either don’t agree with/support you so that you can go on to grow, find better friends and live happily ever after, but unfortunately that’s not how the world works. While it is true that negativity does need to be cut out from your life, cutting people off completely shouldn’t be your go-to solution. Through a lot of trial and error, I have learned that it’s best to sit down and really evaluate the situation because sometimes the problem may actually be you. Here are 5 things to consider before making drastic cuts in your life… http://tonyaleigh.com/before-you-make-a-decision/