My mom has never tried to convince me to do things her way – or even that there is a “right way” to do anything at all. And still, I often find myself trying so hard to be just like her. She worked part time as my three siblings and I grew up and made attending track meets, school plays, and soccer games a top priority throughout my childhood. She worked, but my perspective as a kid based on the way she prioritized her time was that being a mom was her job.

I had a very happy childhood thanks to the way I was raised. So when I had my son I thought, “I’ll just be like my mom and my kids will be happy too”. I felt compelled to do as my mom had done because that’s what I thought of as the recipe for a “good mom”.

The only problem is, I’m not made of the same stuff my mom is made of. I started my own business in my late 20’s. When I found out I was pregnant, I had just signed a lease on my new office/studio. I was diving headfirst into motherhood and running a business at the same time. Dilemma: how can I be just like my mom if I’m not just like my mom?

Ever since we were forced to pull our "LIVE LOVE LIFT" slogan from our line (thanks to Ann Taylor LOFT), people have been asking me:

"What's your new slogan going to be??"

And trust me, one thing I am never short on is words about how much I love to workout. I blog about it, I tweet about it, I talk and talk about it. I hammer inspiring words into metal for a living. I am the opposite of a "tortured artist".

I design based on what I love, what makes me feel good... and I have an abundance of good things to say about lifting.

So coming up with a new slogan was easy. I emailed several ideas to one my favorite Miami graphic artist and he answered back with some beautiful images coupled with my personal lifting mantras.

But here's the thing, sometimes images (just like actions) speak louder than words. I should just stop talking for a sec...

The beautiful thing about learning a new skill is that it teaches us how to access power that we never knew we had. Toning up and slimming down is only one part of the equation. Learn how to move. Gain an understanding of how to put your strength into motion. This will give you a deeper appreciation for your body based what it is capable of, not just what it looks like...