One of Marilu’s 10 Steps is GUSTO, and one of the ways she describes it is in a story about a friend and her coat.
This friend had a special weekend coming up, and she wanted to look great for it. She tried on several coats, and not one looked right on her. Finally, Marilu grabbed one of the coats, put it on, and really worked it! She wore that coat like she loved that coat! She explained to her friend that it wasn’t the coat that was the problem, it was her not working the coat that was the problem!
Marilu and the other judges will be looking for gusto during the evening gown competition. Will the contestants be working the gown? Will they show gusto and poise? Will they “own” the room as they walk the stage?
What about you? Do you “own” the room? Do you work the coat (or dress, or suit, or whatever outfit you’re wearing)?
When you enter a room, inhale. It helps you focus mentally and emotionally, and it opens your chest, relaxes your shoulders, and makes you pause for just a second. It’s the perfect way to make an entrance without causing a disruption – and still get everyone’s attention.
Never underestimate the power of good posture for a good impression. Check yours in a mirror. Know what good posture feels like. Set an alarm on your phone or computer for 15 or 20 minutes from now, and when it goes off, take note of how it’s changed. Set your car mirrors when you get into the car and don’t adjust them again – instead, sit up straighter when you notice you can’t see as well anymore.
Here’s Marilu’s interview on The Joy Behar Show. Marilu and Marc Cherry (of Desperate Housewives, another judge) were on the show on Wednesday, January 12.
Make sure you chew your food. Your stomach doesn’t have teeth. Unless you chew every single bite, you’re not going to lose weight, you’re not going to get the nutrients, you’re not going to have a clean colon, you’re not going to digest properly.
You’re eating whole grains, you’re eating legumes, you’re eating vegetables – all foods with fiber. Make sure you chew. The ideal is fifty chews per bite, but aim for at least thirty. Of course, counting your chews is kind of odd, so try this – chew each bite until it’s so liquified you could drink it.
For the Miss America pageant, contestants must show some kind of talent. Marilu will be judging these young women not just on how well they do whatever it is they do, but how they do it as a performance.
A talent is a special natural ability or aptitude – a gift that we have (and often develop further) that brings something beautiful or good to the world. We often think of talent in the arts – singing, dancing, drawing, painting – but there are other talents as well. Maybe you know someone with the talent for listening, or compassion, or nurturing. Maybe you know someone with the talent for leadership, or decision-making, or consensus-building.
Some people get paid for their talent – it becomes a career. Other people enjoy their talent as a hobby. The most important thing is to use the talent you have. Strengthen and nurture it, develop it, use it. Be your best.
There’s no denying that part of the Miss America contest is looking good. Like, really good. One of the things Marilu will be judging is the appearance of the contestants.
What do you to look your best?
Hair * When did you last update your style? Your color? Do you follow trends in hair styles, or do you let your hair decide what’s possible? Sometimes it’s fun to let your stylist run free with whatever s/he wants to do with your hair. (Remember – it grows back.)
Skin care * Are you still following the routine you figured out in junior high school? Are you using products that are right for your skin type? Your skin changes as you age – finding new products can help you maintain a youthful look.
Makeup * Is your makeup regime the same as it was in high school? Do you skip makeup altogether? Stop at a department store makeup counter and get a new face. You don’t have to buy all the products, and maybe you’ll learn something new about applying it.
Body care * We’ll get to fitness on another day – this is about the basics of hair removal and exfoliating and moisturizing. If you’re tired of shaving, have you tried waxing or laser hair removal? Check at your salon for referrals and information (there’s no risk in getting information). Skin brushing is our favorite method of exfoliation – removing dead skin cells. And moisturizing is critical in dry winter air.
Try something new this month to look your very best.
Here’s a song that’s good for stretching (after shoveling? or playing in the snow? or a rough drive home?). It will help you relax and calm any frayed nerves.
Or – use the beat of the song for lifting some weights or doing squats or pushups.
Whether you’re snowbound or not, you still need to get moving every day. So get out of your chair and get busy.
During this week, the Miss American contestants are interviewed by the panel of judges. We don’t see this part on television, but it counts for 25% of the preliminary score.
As one of the judges, Marilu will be interviewing contestants for several days this week. So let’s talk about interviews.
If you’ve ever had a job interview, you know that first impressions really do count. It’s not just how you look (we’ll get to that later in the week), it’s how you communicate – especially about yourself.
There are the basics of communication, of course – speaking clearly, with good grammar and vocabulary, eye contact, appropriate facial expressions and body language. But you also want to have control of your message. Know your message. Do your homework (especially for a job interview!). And most importantly, know yourself. It’s easier to answer any question when you’re comfortable and confident with yourself.
Don’t be afraid to practice interviewing with a friend. Try sitting in front of a mirror – or better yet, videotaping yourself – to see what you look like (and what you sound like). Outline talking points, if that helps you figure out what to say.
Make your first impression count. Master the interview.
Here’s another excellent Meatless Monday Meal for those days you want something warm and filling and simply delicious.
Don’t wash mushrooms under water. Instead, wipe them off with a paper towel. They retain their texture better when cooking if they’re not water-logged.
Serve this meal with a green salad dressed with a simple vinaigrette. If you’re serving this meal to someone with a heartier appetite, add a brown rice pilaf on the side.
1 large Portobello mushroom
1/2 cup boiling vegetable stock
2 cups spinach
Preheat oven to 350F. Remove stem from the mushroom and wipe clean with damp paper towel or cloth. Place in an ovenproof dish with a cover. Pour the boiling stock over the mushroom. Bake for 15 minutes. While baking, wash spinach and tear into bite-sized pieces. Steam until wilted. To serve, put steamed spinach on a plate and top with mushroom. Serve with a green salad and basic vinaigrette.
Since Marilu is judging the Miss America pageant this week, we thought it was appropriate to look at parts of the Miss America program through the week.
Today – Miss America’s Platform. (Don’t panic if you’re not female, or don’t watch beauty pageants – this is really applicable to everyone.)
In 1989, the Miss America Organization founded the platform concept, which requires each contestant to choose an issue about which she cares deeply and that is of relevance to our country. Once chosen, Miss America and the state titleholders use their stature to address community service organizations, business and civic leaders, the media and others about their platform issues. Since 1989, Miss America titleholders have appeared at thousands of public speaking engagements and charitable events to generate awareness for a variety of causes, including homelessness, HIV/AIDS prevention, domestic violence, diabetes awareness, character education, literacy, etc.
