Professional Inspiration from Skin Authority CEO Celeste Hilling

Whether by force or by choice, stories of career reinvention intrigue me.  It takes balls moxie for someone to leave a career that is comfortable and stable in pursuit of something unknown yet fulfilling.  To emerge on the other side with a new and successful venture is an accomplishment both inspiring and worthy of sharing. 

Celeste Hilling and her daughter, Kiki

Fifty-five year old Celeste Hilling's career is one such story.  It is a lesson in perseverance, research, diligent work and checking your ego at the door. 

"You get a plan, you get a game plan and you put that plan out there," Celeste told me from her home base in San Diego.  "It's trial and error with a lot of roadblocks along the way."

The Backstory
Celeste made a career change in her 40's.  I joke that while most people are looking for the exit sign, she was starting an entirely new endeavor in a new industry.  She was the President of Compaq's Consumer Software Business Unit and the VP of Compaq's Consumer Division where she managed 42 countries and 14,000 people. Hilling left the high-tech world to work in the luxury spa industry where she was the President and CEO of the Day Spa Group for Steiner Leisure Ltd.  

While working in the spa industry, she saw a need in the market for skincare products rooted in science that offer real health benefits.  Skin Authority was born.  The thing that I like about Skin Authority is that it's not just about products.  The company believes that healthy, beautiful skin isn't solely the result of topical treatments (which certainly help...look what they did for my neck).  Skin Authority embraces a multi-pronged approach to beauty, understanding the importance of a quality diet and an overall healthy lifestyle as it relates to beauty.  That's something I appreciate.

Skin Authority Wrinkle Reversing Serum

Doing Homework
"When I resigned from Compaq, I didn't jump right into a business," she said.

"It was really about doing homework, going out and talking to people in the industry, everyone from Dr. Murad to Dr. Perricone, people who ran spas, asking 'If you were starting your business today what would you do differently?"

Her advice to someone who is considering a career change? 

"Really do that homework to educate yourself to determine where the real opportunity is," she suggests.

Check that Ego at the Door
Don't be afraid to learn where that opportunity lies, even if it might lead to awkward moments.

"It was tough because you go from doing something like being one of the first female officers of a high tech company to working the front desk of a 1,900 square foot spa in La Jolla," she admits. 

"I actually had an ex-Compaq employee who came in and looked at me like, 'Oh what a fall from grace!'  I thought 'No, I'm building a multimillion dollar company' but nobody looks at it that way," she notes.  

"At the end of the day, those are things you need to do to be successful.  You have to be willing to take a few steps back to educate yourself so that you can be effective and be a leader that understands where the marketplace is." 

Don't Fear Failure

As with any new venture or experience there will be failure.  I am learning this myself and it was nice to hear Celeste reinforce what I believe: failure is an opportunity but be smart about it. 

"When you're building a new model some things work and some things don't," Celeste says pragmatically. 

"When a part of the plan fails it doesn't mean that the plan isn't worth it.  I think you just have to have that fuel, that passion and that self-belief.  But also, you don't want to be ignorant when you fail.  You want to reevaluate." 

"Yes, I cried with my husband 'What did we do?' because you feel responsible for your money and your family." 

"You have so many dynamics that go into a successful business.  One is your people.  That's always a challenge in that you have amazing people but they rely on you to keep them pumped up and fired up as you're building a business.  That's energy you have to have to not only fuel yourself when you hit those bumps but fuel everyone following."  

And what about when that inevitable self-doubt creeps up? 

"You have to know your own voice," she says.  "If it hadn't been done before people will tell you it can't be done.  You just have to step out and be bold and make it happen."

The Takeaway

In this era of women seemingly hating other women in the workplace (trust me...I can tell you ALL about that), I believe it's important to celebrate success stories.  I hope you can glean some inspiration from her story like I did.

To learn about her beauty secrets, check out TheBestBeautySecrets.com.

Is Dieting Part-Time the Key to Successful Weight Loss?

Is dieting part-time the magic, quick weight loss formula?  Maybe.

Okay, so I'm not a fan of the concept of "dieting" in general.  It sets you up for failure because it is temporary.  For sustained weight loss and overall health, it's about a longterm commitment to eating the right way for you live a healthy lifestyle. 

I am in favor of a healthful diet that focus on consuming quality food regularly.  Eating outstanding, delicious food versus low-calorie, fake food crap helped me lose 50 pounds more than a decade ago and the baby weight in 2011.

You might have heard some buzz about intermittent fasting for weight loss.  There are two popular books on the market outlining the approach: "The Fast Diet", which is popular in the UK, or "The 5:2 Diet".

The concept is easy: eat whatever you want five days a week and restrict your calories the remaining two days.  Think under 500 calories for women, under 600 for men.

In theory it works because people generally cannot eat enough on their "eat whatever you want days" to compensate for their lower calorie consumption days.   There is a lot of science to support calorie restriction, even part-time.  It reportedly improves cholesterol level and helps dieters develop a better sensitivity to insulin.

This theory has its critics: it can lead to yo-yo dieting, bingeing and digestive issues.

Here's my take: I've done this before, particularly after a "high calorie" weekend or day.  It kind of works.  It helps you achieve overall caloric balance during the course of the week.

Is it a smart idea as an overall diet approach for permanent weight loss?  Probably not because I don't think it addresses the root cause of why we're heavy.

It can be a solid way to keep the waistline in check, however, if you have had an indulgent day prior.  It's also easy to execute when you're working or super busy because, as many of us have experienced, you just don't have time to eat.  That was the case for me at Rangers spring training in February.

Additional bonus: it helps you learn to deal with hunger pangs, something I feel we've gotten away from in our constantly grazing world.   

Here is my "under 500 calorie" diet plan, if I am planning on a lean day.  Again, this is NOT something I recommend for every day consumption. 

• Double tall skinny latte with cinnamon - provides a satiating 100 calories and some protein.
• An apple - a dieter's best friend.
• A big spinach salad with cucumbers, celery or any other "green" low-starch vegetable with balsamic vinegar. 
• A can of tuna with more spinach for dinner.  I like the tuna mixed with dijon mustard. 

Drink lots of water with lemon or caffeine-free tea.  This is low-calorie meal plan that can be satiating. 

Have you tried the 5:2 Diet? How did it work for you? 

What to Wear to Sunday's Cowboys/Giants Season Opener

As the NFL regular season opener between the Cowboys and Giants approaches, stylists across Dallas/Fort Worth are being approached by women wondering:

"What should I wear to the game?"

Guys may scoff but any football-loving fashionistas know that looking the part while taking in the game is almost as important as how the team looks on the field.  (I'm saying the Cowboys will go 10-6 this year, btw).

Let's examine some designer looks that would work for Sunday night's game at AT&T Stadium.  This is one venue, along with New York's MetLife, in which you can't overdress.  You will see designer couture worthy of New York Fashion Week at both stadiums.

My Cowboys game uniform: a sheath dress & heels

Unless you're working the game, like I always am, forgo a dress.  These casual yet stylish looks can serve as inspiration for what to wear to Sunday's game:

Lune & Aster CC Cream Review

Need to Know:

• Lune + Aster CC Cream is only available at Bluemercury, which provides free shipping and free returns. 
• It comes in four shades: Fair, Light, Medium and Medium Deep.
• I wear Medium, which is the most popular shade.
• It's $48 but lasts two to four months, depending on how frequently you use it. 

Lune + Aster's CC Cream is the ideal double duty beauty product. It provides wonderful, lightweight coverage while also delivering a strong sun protection factor: SPF 50, babes!

It contains vitamin E, hyaluronic acid (a skin plumper) and sea buckthorn, which is said to promote skin elasticity. 

Photofacial Review: Everything You Need To Know About This Gamechanging Procedure

About five years ago my dermatologist told me that one of the best preventative measures I could incorporate into my anti-aging routine was to get photofacials.

Done. Sold. Where do I sign up?

High definition television cameras show every flaw, wrinkle and brown spot. Since then I have had about one photofacial per year. I could easily scale that to two or three per year but I just can't find the time. Without question, in terms of bang for your beauty buck, photofacials are worth it.

RELATED: 5 Content Ideas For Dermatologists & Aestheticians.

The result is gorgeous, plump and glowing skin. Photofacials help reduce fine lines but, for me, their biggest benefit is a smooth complexion. They reduce or even eliminate, in some cases, those brown spots caused by the sun. It can also help with acne scarring. I had terrible scars from the cystic acne I suffered from as a teenager. The scarring I had on my jawline is virtually gone.

Interested other beauty gamechangers? Read my SkinPen facial review, DermaPlane facial review find out about 10 instant beauty treatments that work.

Cuyana Leather Laptop Unboxing & Review

I bought the wine-colored sleeve. Watch my video for a review!

Why are all the office and work accessories either butt-ugly bulky black or too cutesy?

You know what I'm talking about: they're either overly masculine or too dorm-girl feminine.

Finding chic, stylish yet functional accessories that speak to professional women is tougher than finding a skinny margarita that actually tastes good (and doesn't give you a hangover). PSST: Here's a good margarita recipe.

Cuyana's Leather Laptop Sleeve helps you organize your work life elegantly.

14 Things You Need To Know If You Want A Career In Sports Media

Sometimes you WILL get handed a beer...on live TV

With graduation only a few months away, this is the time of year my inbox fills with requests from students (and parents of students) who want help, insight and guidance on landing a job or internship in sports media.

Get More Sports Media Internship Advice AND Insider Access To Cool Internships! 

Click HERE To Visit The Internship Section on Gina Miller Media.

Truth be told, it's one of the most exciting, challenging and downright fun career paths anyone can choose. You're covering games. You're interviewing All-Stars. You're traveling around the country, many times the world, to attend sporting events. You're doing things stuck-in-their-cubicle 9-to-5ers only wish they could do. Indoor sky diving with the Dallas Cowboys? Flying on a billionaire's private jet to watch his favorite football team play? Touring NBA players' mansions? Done. Done. And done.  It's the coolest of cool jobs.

But it's not all jets, games and glam. A career in sports media requires more than just a passion for your favorite team, reading ESPN and trolling Twitter. It's work. Hard work. It also takes a fair amount of resilience because you will make mistakes, you will get criticized and you will get scooped on a story.

RELATED: 5 Things You Need To Get Out Of Your Sports Media Internship

I have learned a lot during my sports media career which started in 1994 as a media services intern with the Houston Rockets and included stops in Guam, Knoxville, my hometown, Dallas and most recently Los Angeles. From truths about myself and the nature of individuals considered icons to the rhythms of a season and how to pose a question after a terrible loss, sports media is very much a business about people and relationships. To that end, there are certain things you should consider if you want a career in this industry.

Here are 14 things you need to know 
if you want a career in sports media:

Why Traveling to Paris with a Baby is Just Like Getting a Full-Frontal Neck Tattoo

"You're doing what!?!?!"

I imagine that's how my boss would respond if I told her I was shaving my head, getting a full frontal neck tattoo and going on TV sporting the new look.

That's also the response both friends and strangers give me when I tell them my husband and I are taking our 20-month old daughter to Paris on Sunday.  It's actually the second time we have taken her across the pond.  While it's a challenge, the joy of spending time with her far outweighs the stress of the plane ride and unexpected "surprises" we might encounter along the way.

Jordan on the carousel at the Trocadero

There are a few reasons she's going with us:

• I rarely get to spend time with her so when I am not working, caring for her is fun and actually feels like a holiday. 
• A cute bébé is a wonderful conversation starter.  Last time we were there Jordan charmed the gruffest Parisians, which is a bit of an unfair stereotype.  (More on that here)
• She travels for free in our lap until she's two.  Okay, she only travels free domestically, we pay taxes on international travel, but it's still a pretty good deal.  We're taking advantage of this as long as we can. 

All that aside, having THE screaming baby on a plane can be an arse-whip of epic proportions.  Her first flight was to Cabo San Lucas which she handled like a champ.  She's also done LA twice and New Orleans.  Here are a few tips to handle travel with a little one.   

Sleep
We place a premium on sleep above all else.  Jordan was sleeping through the night at six weeks old and hasn't wavered from that.  A well-rested baby produces a happy baby and sane parents.

Jordan asleep on the plane

When traveling to a different time zone, we start adjusting her sleep schedule about a week prior.  For example, when Jordan went to LA, we started keeping her up about 30 minutes later each night a week out until she was on the Pacific time zone.  Ultimately, two days before we left for LA, she was going to bed at 10pm and waking up at 10am.  This was a tough adjustment for us but saved us during the trip.  Coming back to Dallas, she had an easier time falling asleep at her normal 8pm. 

As we prepare for Paris, which is currently seven hours ahead of us, she is going to sleep earlier.  This week, we have been putting her down between 6:30-8pm.   This is a little more difficult as the sun is still setting but the process of "winding down" earlier is effective.

On the Plane
No real secrets here: plenty of diapers, a change of clothes and a good attitude.  She has been a good flyer in the past but I know she's going to cry.  She is done using a pacifier but we are debating bringing it for the airplane ride.   We will also bring an iPad loaded with plenty of games, Dora the Explorer and Bubble Guppies episodes.  

We also have this little survival kit that includes meals for the plane and lavender oil which we will rub on her feet to help her sleep.

Once There
A good stroller is key.  We like the Joovy Groove Umbrella stroller because it's mobile and easily collapsible.  It's also one in which she can nap when we recline it.  This is huge.  We found out while we were out exploring the city, she would take her naps in the stroller.  We would simply put a rain cover over it and she was good to catch a few ZZZZ's. 

Jordan napping in her stroller at the Louvre

While Jordan pretty much eats when we eat, we were flexible with her meals.  We dreamed of lavish lunches and dinners in bistros and brasseries but we usually ended up eating lunch in the park which was fine.  It was just easier.  Having picnics turned out to be fun and a change from our typical routine. 

Picnic in the park

Most restaurants didn't even high chairs but, again, patience and a smile went a long way.  If she went crazy during a meal, we took her out of the establishment and tried to calm her down.  She's a bit more cantankerous now, so undoubtedly, this will be a test. 

Charming the owner of L'Epigramme on the Left Bank

The Takeaway
It won't be perfect and there will be meltdowns.   Mentally preparing for that is half the battle.

Breaking the perfume bottle!

There is no real formula for success for the unpredictable adventure of traveling with a little one.  Part of the joy is changing diapers in the park, breaking a perfume bottle at Hermes, making new friends at a playground and charming the elderly French nounou who has seen it all.  All things we did, btw.

Making friends at the park

Preparation, flexibility and a good attitude WILL help you and the family enjoy the trip and come away from it with memories that will last a lifetime. 

Find More Stories About Paris on TheGinaMiller.com:

• 5 Observations About Paris
• My Paris Travel Tips Video
• 58 Tour Eiffel Restaurant Review
• How To Rent A Great Apartment In Paris
• The Best Paris Restaurants Right Now (4/2015)
• Paris Travel Tips
• Paris Travel Tips | VIDEO
• French women DO get fat.  Just not many of them....
• Here are the details on the stroller that saved our lives as well as an account of our first family trip to Paris.
• Think Parisians are rude?  I disagree.  They're actually extremely polite. Read this.