tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884217316670716152024-03-14T01:30:14.128-07:00Sophisticated RebelRule Breaker, Recovering Investment Banker, DOG Lover, Travel Junkie, Annoyingly Curious, Major Accident Survivor, Perpetual Learner, Lipstick Addict, Former Windsurfer, Daughter of German Immigrants, Searcher, Surfer, Runner, Unapologetic Sophisticated Rebel!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07728052592873983506noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188421731667071615.post-36376438600957003962016-03-01T09:00:00.001-08:002016-03-02T11:07:01.125-08:00NEVER Ask Anyone Their Opinion Again!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Why other people's opinions don't matter and how they can actually be harmful...<br />
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I feel very fortunate that I learned this lesson at an early age. When I was about 18 years old, I realized that other people’s opinions <u>didn’t</u> matter and I quit asking people what they thought about my ideas (which have always been a bit outlandish). That doesn’t mean that others are not knowledgeable and may have great insight to share, but the key is to differentiate between opinions and information.<br />
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If you have a dream in your heart and in your mind, it no longer matters what <b>ANYONE</b> else thinks of it. Have you ever been really excited about a dream, goal or idea you have only to have that energy sucked right out of you by someone telling you that they thinks it’s a dumb idea or that you’d never be able to achieve it? It is human nature to knock someone’s ideas or dreams. Sometimes it’s because they fear you will fail and want to save you from that pain, but most of the time it comes from a place of jealousy… because they were too scared to go after their own dreams or maybe because they fear that you will succeed and leave them behind. Either way, it’s not worth having their negativity weighing you down… life has enough obstacles to deal with.<br />
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So... rather than asking someone their opinion, ask them informational questions only. For example, <br />
when I was 22 years old, I wanted to buy a motor home and drive it from Oregon down through Mexico to my windsurfing destinations… just me, my dog and the open road. If I had asked people what they thought, the majority would have said that I was a crazy and not to do it. Well, I already knew I was crazy (enough), so what I really needed to do was gather <b><u>INFORMATION</u></b> that would help me determine whether I could pull it off or not. I started asking people (all kinds of people) questions like, “Where is a good place to buy a used motor home?” “What paperwork are needed to take a dog across the border?” “Where can I get insurance that would cover me in Mexico?” What are the best driving routes?” etc…<br />
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Once I gathered the answers to all these questions, I was able to determine that I would indeed be able to safely and successful drive and live in my motor home around Mexico… it turned out to be one of the <i>best times of my life!!!</i><br />
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It takes some time and practice to only ask informational questions, but eventually you will get so good at knowing the difference you will either stop the person from sharing their “opinion” and be able to turn it into an informational conversation, or you will simply learn to ignore that part of the <br />
conversation.<br />
Here's how you can get yourself into the routine of being an information gathering machine and an opinion deflector: <b> </b><br />
<u><b>1</b>. <b>Identify a goal or dream that you have for yourself.</b></u> Maybe it will be going back to school, moving, taking a trip or changing careers.<br />
<u><b>2</b>. <b>Make a list of all the questions and concerns you have around this idea.</b></u><br />
<u><b>3.</b> <b>Go through your list and write down how to ask these questions in an informational format. </b> </u>You can even go so far as to think about how someone might try to answer a question with their opinion and how you can change the conversation so they are only giving you info.<br />
<u><b>4</b>. <b>Like anything, practice makes perfect, so practice a little everyday</b></u> (where to go for lunch, should you email someone back, what to wear, what new phone to buy, etc...). Pretty soon it will be second nature to converse this way and trust me, it will save you years of heartache and anguish.<br />
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If you have any <b>INFORMATIONAL</b> questions I can answer for you... please let me know :) <a href="mailto:kasten@sophisticatedrebel.com" target="_blank">kasten@sophisticatedrebel.com </a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07728052592873983506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188421731667071615.post-6067107487407011272016-02-04T17:59:00.000-08:002016-02-04T18:11:38.959-08:00My Issues with Valentine's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: white;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-2f8dc3a5-ae81-afb0-0295-ce5c676ea709" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The commercials have started… Online, tv, radio, storefronts… “<i>Buy this to show her how much you love her</i>”… What a crock!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-2f8dc3a5-ae81-afb0-0295-ce5c676ea709" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I was younger and single, I was always so sad around Valentine’s Day because I didn’t have a significant other in my life to make me feel “<i>special</i>”. I knew lots of people that felt the exact same way and we all dreaded that holiday. What we didn’t understand was that the holiday was nothing more than an opportunity for retailers to market their crap via guilt trips… It has nothing to do with how special you are or how much someone loves you!! (I now affectionately refer to it as a Hallmark Holiday). Now, I admit that there are several holidays that we celebrate here in the US that have strayed far from their original purposes, but this one seems to be the one that leaves a lot of people feeling left out and hurt.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-2f8dc3a5-ae81-afb0-0295-ce5c676ea709" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The pressures of Valentine’s day start in grade school… kids give each other little paper valentine’s cards (the one’s you get at the store that folded over and just say To: and From: ). At 8 years old, it clearly isn’t about “love”, but rather becomes a popularity contest. Kids compare how many valentines’ they get and if they don’t get as many as some of the other kids, they feel like they aren’t very “cool”. So, at a young age we are teaching kids that if people don’t give you cards on a day specified by marketers, that they must not be loved or lovable… don’t kids have it hard enough already?!?!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-2f8dc3a5-ae81-afb0-0295-ce5c676ea709" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another thing that really bothers me about Valentine’s Day is how one sided it is, it’s all about a man buying a woman something “special” to show their love? Gee, no pressure there. If you don’t spend <u>enough</u> money she may think you don’t really love her. If you spend <u>too much </u>money and it’s early in the relationship, you might be sending her the wrong signals. It all seems a bit unfair to me… relationships are a two way street (always), so why isn’t the message geared to tell men <b>AND WOMEN </b>to be showering their loved ones with gifts?? <span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #fce5cd;"><u><span style="color: black;"><b>MORE</b></span><b><span style="color: black;"> IMPORTANTLY</span></b></u></span>, wouldn’t it seem more authentic if a man (or woman) got you flowers, a box of candy or jewelry on some completely arbitrary day??</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0K2X8aRqmNcXUboe2_6atH2TRRrWVGPuNy1iZg0jeANQ3HF74cNU6R4d_syuzHBQp2R-LWr7pDxqhDk2LdTq6DDD4h3BQ6wUH3oriBSjB4sX2WOmLFBvXkJjPQWel17SsMPHeymhg4Yh/s1600/the+14th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0K2X8aRqmNcXUboe2_6atH2TRRrWVGPuNy1iZg0jeANQ3HF74cNU6R4d_syuzHBQp2R-LWr7pDxqhDk2LdTq6DDD4h3BQ6wUH3oriBSjB4sX2WOmLFBvXkJjPQWel17SsMPHeymhg4Yh/s320/the+14th.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The thing that finally changed it for me was when I was dating a man who did the coolest thing on Valentine’s Day… he would spend the day with his two teenage daughters getting pedicures<b> </b>together, bringing them flowers, going out to lunch, etc… He would tell them that he never wanted them to feel bad or left out, because they always had at least one man in their life that loved them and thought they incredibly special… <b>their dad</b> <b>:)</b>. If you are wondering what he got me for Valentine’s Day, the answer is nothing (and I was about it). The best gift I got from him was watching how he treated his daughters and the message he was sending them. From that moment on, I no longer cared about Valentine’s Day.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You may think it’s odd that I own a company that sells a product that would actually make a really nice, personalized, unique Valentines’ gift and yet we’re not doing any major “Valentine’s Day Promotions”… That’s because Sophisticated Rebel would rather their customers buy it as a gift (or for themselves) for a graduation, birthday, or just because! This year for Valentine’s Day, Sophisticated Rebel is doing something to try and spread the love to those who<b> </b>most likely need it the most. The women of the Sophisticated Rebel Tribe and I are collecting purses that aren’t being used anymore, filling them with toiletries, candies and notes of hope and encouragement and delivering them to women at domestic violence shelters. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you know someone who might be feeling sad or lonely this Valentine’s day, I hope you reach out to them… </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Find a way to spread some love this Valentine’s Day… and everyday!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #fce5cd;">(If you would like to join the Sophisticated Rebel Tribe, please send a request on Facebook):</span></span><b><span style="color: #fce5cd;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Sophisticatedrebels/" target="_blank">Sophisticated Rebels</a></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Sophisticatedrebels/" target="_blank"> </a></b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Sophisticatedrebels/" target="_blank"> </a></span></div>
</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07728052592873983506noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188421731667071615.post-89303896056244761632015-11-05T20:08:00.000-08:002015-11-05T20:08:24.787-08:00Diana Costain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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November 2015 Featured Sophisticated Rebel - Diana Costain</div>
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I have never been one to be awe struck by others and their accomplishments, but the day I met Diana Costain at an event for entrepreneurs, I literally turned to her and said, <b><u>"I want to be like you when I grow up!"</u> </b> She was embodied everything that felt defined success... owned several businesses, financially free, beautiful, healthy, happy, smart, approachable, helpful, fun and adventurous!! Little did I know, she would become one of my dearest friends, confidants and mentors. I am honored to feature her as this months Sophisticated Rebel and share her inspirational story with you. </div>
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Diana was born and raised in Vancouver BC, Canada. The early years of her life were not easy, her father was incredibly abusive (he especially enjoyed beating her on her Birthday)... after showing up at school with bruises from head to toe, child protective services stepped in, removed her from her parents and put her into a foster home. Foster care did not to turn out to be any less traumatic... her foster father choked and raped her and told her she had to call him "dad". Diana ran away figuring she would be much better off on her own. When CPS found her, however, they threatened that if she continued to run away from foster care that she would be put into a women's detention facility until she turned 18. This is when Diana's heart filled with hatred. She was determined not to return to foster care and convinced CPS that she would stay in school and get a job. Diana was 15 years old and completely on her own.</div>
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Typically these types of challenges lead to a life of bad choice and continued cycles of abuse, but not for Diana, she had her eyes set on greater things and used these challenges to fuel her.</div>
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Her accomplishments are nothing short of incredible, including several <u><b>"firsts"</b></u> for a woman.</div>
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Diana was the <u><b>first</b></u> female to have a paper route (an entrepreneur from the beginning). </div>
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She was one of the <u><b>first </b></u>female stock brokers in British Columbia and was the <u><b>first</b></u> woman to stand on the floor of the Vancouver stock exchange.</div>
Diana was the <u><b>founding</b> </u>share holder in the largest all cash software deal in B.C. <br />
She hosted and produced a weekly radio show called, "The Art of Investing" and was a frequent guest investor on a show similar to Shark Tank... <br />
All of this while raising her two daughters <u>BY HERSELF!</u><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQNr8R_7T5Y6cJuWlMloHzzziEtJ9gd4m6QqdqNk2iUtPDKfB-e2giDxz6mg02CNRc6FWVFwrpVUw6eIxI4uiOymKeZnAjfIFHlnaEa5oOn_Wlp_xgVHcHUPeO4rxdLyYBISnflVluzc_/s1600/di+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQNr8R_7T5Y6cJuWlMloHzzziEtJ9gd4m6QqdqNk2iUtPDKfB-e2giDxz6mg02CNRc6FWVFwrpVUw6eIxI4uiOymKeZnAjfIFHlnaEa5oOn_Wlp_xgVHcHUPeO4rxdLyYBISnflVluzc_/s320/di+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diana with her two daughters and granddaughters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Diana now lives in Phoenix Arizona where she owns and runs a commercial real estate investment company, she is an active investor in other companies, is an integral part of the business community, a doting grandmother and a member of a water ski club. She is inviting, supportive, driven and loyal and the world is a better place because of her. I hope you all get the chance to meet Diana Costain one day. In the mean time, I grabbed a few minutes of her time to ask her some of the questions I figured we could all learn from. <br />
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Me: "What is the biggest struggle you've overcome?"<br />
<i>Diana: "Learning to believe in myself, it's very hard to accomplish anything in life if you don't believe in yourself."</i><br />
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Me: "What have been your biggest motivators?"<br />
<i>Diana: "When I was in my 20's I was motivated by anger and revenge. My motivation came from wanting to prove to all the people that said I couldn't do it and wouldn't amount to anything, that they were wrong. Over the years that has changed a lot, once I realized that it didn't matter what those people thought of me the anger and revenge faded. What motivates me know is learning to find a better way to do things and then sharing that knowledge with others."</i><br />
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Me: "What are you most proud of?"<br />
<i>Diana: "My independence, the ability to no longer need approval from others... I no longe</i>r care what <i>others think of me." "What others think of me is none of my business" she chuckles.</i><br />
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Me: "What advice would you give to other women?"<br />
<i>Diana: "Stop looking to other people and external things for your happiness, look internally and take responsibility for your own happiness. Remove the "if" from you inner dialogue (if we had more money, if we lived closer, if the schools were better, if only ______ then I would be happy." </i><br />
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Me: "If you could go back in time, is there anything you would do different?"<br />
<i>Diana: "Nothing... my experiences (all of them), made me who I am today. I am proud of who I am and really like myself, so I wouldn't change a thing."</i><br />
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Me: "What goals do you have for the future?"<br />
<i>Diana: "I was always way more afraid of success than I ever was of failure, now I am ready to embrace success, be crystal clear on what I want and accept things as they come. I am working of focusing my energy on what I want rather than what I don't want."</i><br />
<br />
Me: "How would you define a Sophisticated Rebel?"<br />
<i>Diana: "Someone who is strong, determined, an independent thinker, has charisma, is focused and most of all doesn't give a damn... does things their own way."</i><br />
<br />
Me: "Is there anything you'd like to see SoReb (the company) do?"<br />
<i>Diana: "No, I love the name, what you stand for and everything you are doing... I can't wait to see what is coming in the future!"</i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13NMAI4hMG-HkJ0b2vWB1plaOG_jKi_yotYS6vM5z20xc6UIVPBw3X4LIF0O8nIPeKy7jvKj2OKc8lXPnlKQ8JUH_6J74efT_piEieuCHEe1DWA8WnYfSQ9mDOQHn2nDx-rlUh5GtTRPf/s1600/me+and+diana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13NMAI4hMG-HkJ0b2vWB1plaOG_jKi_yotYS6vM5z20xc6UIVPBw3X4LIF0O8nIPeKy7jvKj2OKc8lXPnlKQ8JUH_6J74efT_piEieuCHEe1DWA8WnYfSQ9mDOQHn2nDx-rlUh5GtTRPf/s320/me+and+diana.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diana and me (Kasten Spethmann co-founder of Sophisticated Rebel)</td></tr>
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Diana is an incredible role model for women everywhere... you will never find her cutting other women down, instead you will find her building them up and helping them find their own strength. She is truly a Sophisticated Rebel.<br />
<br />
By Kasten Spethmann<br />
<a href="http://www.sophisticatedrebel.com/" target="_blank">www.sophisticatedrebel.com </a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07728052592873983506noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188421731667071615.post-32211480994818856592015-10-11T18:39:00.000-07:002015-10-11T20:28:14.869-07:00WHY WE MADE IT REFILLABLE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCIjVWXj7a8Flei9mkdta8G_wGoAZd0Ka7CLSF-Msotruakc59Uwil0h3ELRbq3r6oLnK2tO0WMcEcbcjz80AekgnISeWrlvS48s6n7hB7mqcJ-ssVFVUlJwsjcIBrv1PLR_0qaQ-XjDS/s1600/dump+landfill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCIjVWXj7a8Flei9mkdta8G_wGoAZd0Ka7CLSF-Msotruakc59Uwil0h3ELRbq3r6oLnK2tO0WMcEcbcjz80AekgnISeWrlvS48s6n7hB7mqcJ-ssVFVUlJwsjcIBrv1PLR_0qaQ-XjDS/s320/dump+landfill.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 19.2pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #660000;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">The PRINTER CARTRIDGE is what allowed everyone to make lab quality prints on a desktop. Without them we'd have to toss our old printer and buy a new one every time the color ran out. It sounds insane but that's exactly what we do every time our lipstick runs out. Tens of millions of applicators end up in landfills every year and those applicators are what account for 80% of the cost of what you paid for the lipstick. So I decided to copy the printer world and named a brand exactly what it is... - JUST THE COLOR!</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 19.2pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #660000;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">This of course meant I needed a very cool applicator that the cartridge could mate with so it could be filled. My partner created an amazing stainless steel <i>REFILLABLE</i> applicator that you only have to buy once. It's FLAT which means it can fit in a places traditional lipstick can't. It's mirror polished, can hang from any chain and because it's metal - it can be engraved with your personal message or attitude. We call it the <i><b>Forever Blade</b></i> and this applicator is one that's designed to never see a landfill. So now when your lipstick runs out, you simply buy a fresh JUST THE COLOR cartridge and refill your Forever Blade for only $10. That's $10 for some of the best quality lipstick on the planet.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 19.2pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #660000;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Feel good about the lipstick you are using... <a href="http://www.sophisticatedrebel.com/">www.sophisticatedrebel.com</a> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">~Kasten </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #660000;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span>
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<![endif]-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07728052592873983506noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188421731667071615.post-23855836808865871472015-10-04T20:25:00.001-07:002015-10-04T20:34:32.058-07:00One of the Countries 1st Undercover Female DEA Agents - Michelle Deaver<br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><u>October’s Featured Sophisticated Rebel</u></span></h2>
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MICHELLE DEAVER</h2>
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<u>Deaver described the challenges of being one of the only women in the field. She often struggled to gain admiration from her team, especially as a supervisor.</u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Drug dogs and K9 officers surrounded the Louisiana auto shop. Over the last few months the owner had been visited by an airline hostess who had regularly purchased cocaine from him. Now she stood across from him and revealed her true identitiy as a federal agent for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Michelle Deaver broke into an industry that was almost exclusively male and paved the trail for other females that desired careers in the drug and law enforcement agencies. She epitomizes what it means to be a Sophisticated Rebel!! I have so much respect, admiration and gratitude for her. I am honored to be able to share her inspirational and energizing story with you...</span></div>
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<u>"As a female it's very difficult, because you have to have the male agents respect you and you want to be part of them, so you have to work very hard to earn their respect."</u></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"I was born and raised
in Southern California by parents who instilled success in their three daughters.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I began my college experience as a “rebel”
and sought a career with the US Forest Service and attend Humboldt State
University where the redwoods meet the coast in Northern California.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">After a dismal summer job in forestry, I
decided to transfer to Cal State Long Beach to finish my degree.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was introduced to the criminal justice
system by a professor who encouraged me to apply for an internship with the US Customs
Service.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I graduated from Cal State Long
Beach with a degree in criminal justice and worked fulltime for the US Customs
Service.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was hooked.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">While with the USCS, I
developed a great ability of reading people and observation skills.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">At 23 years old, I decided that I wanted to
be an investigator and applied to three different federal agencies.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I had offers from all three and decided on
the Drug Enforcement Administration.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My
decision was based on their </span><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">need </span></u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">for female agents not their filling a
quota demanded by the government.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My
time at the academy in Glynco, GA challenged me physically and mentally.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There were very few females in the agency at
that time so we were always watched and critically judged.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There was never a time at the gun range that
I didn’t have a range officer behind me, watching to make sure I did everything
right.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It actually made me work harder
and I was a terrific marksman and in great shape because of the challenge.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I spent the next 7
years working in Los Angeles, New Orleans and then was transferred to
Phoenix.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was single at the time and
probably worked 16 hours a day.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was
the only female agent at that time in the New Orleans office and did a lot of
undercover work.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I did so much
undercover work that sometimes I would go home at night and have to write
myself notes about who I was portraying so I didn’t get my various undercover
personas confused.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mistakes like that
could get someone killed.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Working in a law
enforcement agency was ALWAYS a challenge.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It wasn’t that the other DEA agents questioned my ability; it was often
the state and local law enforcement officers.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was single, from Southern California and a female.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Three strikes in some minds, but I worked
hard to prove my ability with passion and commitment.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I met my husband, got
married and had two children while in Arizona.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was transferred to Massachusetts so my family was uprooted and
moved.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was assigned to work a gang
task force and worked from about noon to 2am.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It was a brutal assignment for me and my family.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The work was long and very dangerous.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My husband and I had certain codes in case we
ran into any gang members who knew me so they wouldn’t see my family.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We became friends with a close group of
people in Massachusetts and they were our reality release.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We remain friends 15 years later.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was transferred to
Dallas and was promoted to a Supervisory Special Agent.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I became interested in public speaking and
would conduct numerous presentations to parents, teachers and community members
on current drug trends.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was often
surprised on how ignorant parents would be on teenage drug use, so I really
enjoyed helping them and teaching.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I retired from the
Drug Enforcement Administration after 30 years of government service.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Not one to sit, I applied for and was hired
as a criminal justice teacher at a school district career center.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My black and white personality was changed to
grey as I saw what some teenagers have to live through at home.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I loved to influence high school students to
become the best they could be and introduce them to the life that I loved.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I shared my challenges, sacrifices and
successes.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My favorite saying was that I
hoped that they could find a career where they could lay their head down at
night and KNOW that they have made a difference.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My passion for making
a difference continues as I apply to sit on the board of directors with a
foundation whose mission is to help troubled and homeless teens.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I will see where this new adventure takes me.
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I guess my advice to
other females is to find something, anything and be the best.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There are always bumps on the path, sometimes
boulders.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I guess what you do with those
boulders is what defines you.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I would
also encourage a release of tension, someone or something to help you through
those hard times.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Everything is a
balance and takes work.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">But the payoff
is a passion that always burns".</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> ~ </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Michelle</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFwzcpQ98Fk4uzDDziNyBkvFY8wKKtivL-DReZ5zA6ngcOUdrCzCfPToHMUuFwBBDNXg6J4ARjOS8_OthBaTw0U2a3O8CvsZz3f4hitlhYRYORDZq_UB_9vbQeel08CG8cVKgfdgiILU0/s1600/MD+Blade.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFwzcpQ98Fk4uzDDziNyBkvFY8wKKtivL-DReZ5zA6ngcOUdrCzCfPToHMUuFwBBDNXg6J4ARjOS8_OthBaTw0U2a3O8CvsZz3f4hitlhYRYORDZq_UB_9vbQeel08CG8cVKgfdgiILU0/s320/MD+Blade.jpg" width="254" /></a></div>
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<u>Michelle wearing her Forever Blade while enjoying on some well deserved R & R on their boat in Crystal Beach Texas!</u></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgLmJrRW7ZoBlEkXZbaBWz42myqcxLDDWy91gcoOenurBDrMPYdHLLZOweOPcP2l7qq9knwzHtrhPA9ox93j5Oq9e7IxpgBfWUiU0e9ATQASkWnPkzDDsakdFdCDlD2VuMzZs72rfdF_N/s1600/rwac.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgLmJrRW7ZoBlEkXZbaBWz42myqcxLDDWy91gcoOenurBDrMPYdHLLZOweOPcP2l7qq9knwzHtrhPA9ox93j5Oq9e7IxpgBfWUiU0e9ATQASkWnPkzDDsakdFdCDlD2VuMzZs72rfdF_N/s320/rwac.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u>A Custom Engraved Forever Blade for a true REBEL with a Cause - Michelle Deaver</u></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The world needs more women like Michelle Deaver... Retired DEA, Mother, Wife, Teacher, Friend, Leader... <b><u>SOPHISTICATED REBEL</u></b>!!</span></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07728052592873983506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188421731667071615.post-81371453214994431282015-09-25T13:48:00.001-07:002015-09-27T12:31:31.085-07:00OUR LIPSTICK HELPS BUILD SCHOOLS, WHAT DOES YOURS DO?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmWztcZnG1GnIuhYbu4wY39sxSeTDc7EEeZ1pW1fD870WndSWRs6Ww6eQKHyA0v1_Og8uTK45M7CcVYqc45qZcz7aLN2kST9JKXemCEd97pc4rjlrRm5y5rxkn-hqIpCf1103K2tDCOEH/s1600/t+shirt+ad.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmWztcZnG1GnIuhYbu4wY39sxSeTDc7EEeZ1pW1fD870WndSWRs6Ww6eQKHyA0v1_Og8uTK45M7CcVYqc45qZcz7aLN2kST9JKXemCEd97pc4rjlrRm5y5rxkn-hqIpCf1103K2tDCOEH/s320/t+shirt+ad.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sophisticated Rebel
has always been more than a cool lipstick… </span><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">SO MUCH MORE!</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We believe that every
business should have 3 elements to be considered successful. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. A company should
provide an excellent product or service. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. A company should make A LOT of money (if not, it should be a non-profit).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. A company should use its success to improve the community around them (whether
locally or globally). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It should use its
social leverage (social media reach and voice) to bring awareness, educate,
encourage, promote & praise those that are already doing the things to
create change. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It should </span><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ALSO</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> use its
success to financially support organizations that are in the trenches daily
doing the work to make the world a better place. Companies like </span></span><a href="http://toms.sh/1KHiMkB" style="font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tom's Shoes</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and </span><a href="https://www.warbyparker.com/buy-a-pair-give-a-pair" style="font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Warby Parker</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> are great examples of companies that are already doing this.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The third element is why we created "Rebel with a Cause", a non-profit fund that grants money to charities that
embody the sophisticated rebel spirit.
A portion of our profits go into the fund and that money is then granted to charities through an application process.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The charities might be
organizations that are providing scholarships for girls who want to study
engineering, protecting women in countries where their safety is threatened daily, a group that promotes positive body images,
anti bullying, etc… The example I often use is </span><a href="http://www.malala.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Malala Yousafzai</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, the Pakistani girl who was shot for trying to
get an education and is now helping other girls get educated.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">RWAC has been a part
of Sophisticated Rebel since its inception.
We wanted a business that would provide a vehicle that could do big
things to help women. Lipstick seems
like such a perfect fit… it is the cornerstone of what women wear to feel
feminine. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are a lot of women
that would love to be able to help women and girls that are less fortunate, but
they often don’t have the time or financial means to do so.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now millions of women
can help others around the world by simply buying a lipstick (and a pretty darn
cool one too).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">I invite women
everywhere to join our tribe, buy some lipstick and be part of a movement that
is changing the world!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">~ Kasten</span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07728052592873983506noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188421731667071615.post-13368767483908359802015-09-25T13:30:00.000-07:002015-09-27T12:31:12.410-07:00How a Chinese Tennis Star took on the Communist Chinese Government... and WON<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHxBUqKD8dgxYIQxhkF7-JMJhlBqTATT0LXxydQ3eCBuEU0OdTIYL2WtunKAZT7WiShwbw2id7N5id_0wzoMN_VLmJfpFskByyQ4jbxwg90wpgJ3Mh9e8i6kjO9A6iP32oEsozdiobdiI/s1600/Li-Na_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHxBUqKD8dgxYIQxhkF7-JMJhlBqTATT0LXxydQ3eCBuEU0OdTIYL2WtunKAZT7WiShwbw2id7N5id_0wzoMN_VLmJfpFskByyQ4jbxwg90wpgJ3Mh9e8i6kjO9A6iP32oEsozdiobdiI/s320/Li-Na_9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Li Na – T<b></b>ennis Phenom, took on the Chinese Government and WON! She became the 2nd highest paid female athlete in the WORLD. Her rebellion, determination and talent changed the rules for athletes throughout China… thousands of girls in China strive to be just like her. She is brave, determined, smart and beautiful and we are proud to showcase her as a </span><a href="http://sophisticatedrebel.com/pages/sr" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sophisticated Rebel</span></a><span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Noto Serif", serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 31.99px; margin-bottom: 1.68em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is a recent interview with Li Na on 60 mins… it’s 12 mins long and worth every second.</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Noto Serif", serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 31.99px; margin-bottom: 1.68em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/li-na-china-tennis-champion-60-minutes-lesley-stahl/" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Interview with Li Na</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Li Na, Sophisticated Rebel thanks you!</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07728052592873983506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188421731667071615.post-18764494411269010872015-09-25T13:26:00.002-07:002015-09-27T12:33:00.628-07:00How Custom Engraving Comforted a Grieving Widow<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1S-sGls5VYpBXjsjvJo5hsoVXcniz1Vh2Iyi5axnNNhBrFfzpDoTLJ3Xx1-Cyr2V7v38FUBEFq16_mu_9HfjN41TpwfjJQIGXOwxiG1L2Efd5K_z44MDNyc25KxnveFOFruJO3FJYg_2l/s1600/hello+baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1S-sGls5VYpBXjsjvJo5hsoVXcniz1Vh2Iyi5axnNNhBrFfzpDoTLJ3Xx1-Cyr2V7v38FUBEFq16_mu_9HfjN41TpwfjJQIGXOwxiG1L2Efd5K_z44MDNyc25KxnveFOFruJO3FJYg_2l/s320/hello+baby.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #990000;"></span><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of our first customers and biggest supporters is a wonderful lady named </span><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lauralee Finke (she also happens to be my cousin-in-law). Earlier this year, her ailing father's health took a turn for the worse and it was evident he only had a few days to live. Lauralee rushed to the hospital in Nevada to be by his side with the rest of her family.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At one point Lauralee took out her </span><i><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Forever Blade</span></i><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and began to apply her lipstick... her stepmom quickly asked, "what is that?" Lauralee explained that it was a Stainless steel, refillable lipstick applicator that Andreas's (her late husband) cousin (me) invented. She explained that it was flat so it fit in her pocket and that she had the company engrave her name on the side. Her stepmom loved it and commented that she wanted to order one for herself. Lauralee figured she would be too busy dealing with the loss of her husband to order a blade and had planned to order it for her as a Birthday gift.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well within a few weeks we (Sophisticated Rebel) got an order from the stepmom (Michelle). I didn't know anything about what had happened in the hospital, so I reached out to Lauralee and told her that her stepmom had just ordered a </span><i><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Forever Blade</span></i><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. I mentioned that Michelle didn't order any engraving and asked if there was a special nickname her dad had for Michelle that I could engrave on it for her. Lauralee told me how her Dad would always greet Michelle by saying, "Helllllooooooo Baaaaaaabbbbby"... so that was what I engraved on her applicator! Before shipping the order, I wrote Michelle a not explaining how I knew what to engrave and that I hoped that every time she applied her lipstick, that she thought about her late husband (John) giving her a kiss.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I later heard that when Michelle received her order, she was speechless over the engraving and note. Although she said it made her cry every time she looked at it, she assured me they were tears of joy and that it made her feel as though her husband was right there with her every time she put on her lipstick. She is THRILLED that it is refillable because she takes it with her every where she goes and says she will cherish it until the day she meets the lover of her life in Heaven!</span><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12vJdM9QtHGtZBf_9tUG4UZWV6D3bPYB-PAPTJSVQhUST1Th1ARXYNqF7LCcd131ry6ttyYVDXQt9IZ9HeKgisr-7aSSWiDlfiGjEyD8OC5pf00L3M7A7PeK0CB58NGatZjSv2RkmY_Cb/s1600/michelle+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12vJdM9QtHGtZBf_9tUG4UZWV6D3bPYB-PAPTJSVQhUST1Th1ARXYNqF7LCcd131ry6ttyYVDXQt9IZ9HeKgisr-7aSSWiDlfiGjEyD8OC5pf00L3M7A7PeK0CB58NGatZjSv2RkmY_Cb/s320/michelle+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRd2s0MfyQNhgG6ZdtV8KJr-J5I4OcLpYbJNvj9Kng2pi2ESQtOG30PIce20lhbPpRs_m8gHR6zW_O1Jq53bnsVwrwkdoJuNeTqX41elrGdJ_vXirhII1PeZPmHyjor-hXB2W7cECEinh_/s1600/michelle+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRd2s0MfyQNhgG6ZdtV8KJr-J5I4OcLpYbJNvj9Kng2pi2ESQtOG30PIce20lhbPpRs_m8gHR6zW_O1Jq53bnsVwrwkdoJuNeTqX41elrGdJ_vXirhII1PeZPmHyjor-hXB2W7cECEinh_/s320/michelle+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Custom engraving does more than make each Forever Blade personal and unique... it has the power to keep the memory of a loved one alive, to help a sweetie express how much they fell about their significant other, or to have a motivational or inspirational message close by as a reminder... It has the power to do any or all of things every time someone applies their lipstick!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What would you have engraved on your Forever Blade?? </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Log onto the site to see some examples of what our customers have had us engrave on their Forever Blades: </span><a href="http://sophisticatedrebel.com/pages/gallery"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://sophisticatedrebel.com/pages/gallery</span></a><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07728052592873983506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188421731667071615.post-64996162721169646522015-09-25T11:08:00.000-07:002015-09-27T12:35:18.995-07:00When I learned to become a Sophisticated Rebel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqub2WETXB4TWN4GXSxRYB9ut-9GCtH4Pim1TzyJyJfUXFHLPZv6SIJ7Q4BKzzPzwPNAZLrdktC8vhFDqjbLusnq4ODPI2DtO5wTlekDo1ssmZ_XfYlWaFBeP2epyT6BsgVhAZe5E9xmC/s1600/Necklace_BladeC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqub2WETXB4TWN4GXSxRYB9ut-9GCtH4Pim1TzyJyJfUXFHLPZv6SIJ7Q4BKzzPzwPNAZLrdktC8vhFDqjbLusnq4ODPI2DtO5wTlekDo1ssmZ_XfYlWaFBeP2epyT6BsgVhAZe5E9xmC/s320/Necklace_BladeC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was the summer of 1989, I was about to enter my junior year of high school in Portland Or. and I was dreading it! I was so bored of high school… I had gotten good grades, but I hated being there and all I wanted to do was surf (yes, surf)… I spent my days that summer plotting my rebellion.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once I felt I had a good plan, I went to my parents (both of whom immigrated to the US from Germany) and told them I was done with school and that I was planning to move to Southern California so I could surf every day. When my father asked how I had planned to make a living and support myself, I was able to quickly answer (due to what I thought was great planning), </span><em style="border-image: none; border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I am going to have a bbq and bento stand and sell lunch at the beach!”</span></em><span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Almost in unison my parents replied with a resounding, </span><em style="border-image: none; border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We immigrated to this country to you could have a better life… you </span><span style="background-color: #990000; border-image: none; border: 0px; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">WILL</span><span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> finish high school and you </span><span style="background-color: #990000; border-image: none; border: 0px; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">WILL</span><span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">finish college!!”</span></em></div>
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<span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is absolutely nothing good that comes from arguing with German parents, so I went back to plotting other alternatives for getting out of school (two other very German traits are stubbornness and rebelliousness – and I have both). I realized that if I wanted to accomplish my goal, I had to find a smart, productive, positive way to rebel… a </span><span style="background-color: #990000; border-image: none; border: 0px; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border-image: none; border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“sophisticated”</em></span><span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> way.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I ended up doubling up on classes (going in early, staying late, etc) and testing out of other classes. Half way through my junior year I had enough credits to graduate AND I had a 4.0 grade point average. There wasn’t much my parents could say against that. I got what I wanted – out of high school – and they got what they wanted, graduate with honors. It was that experience that sparked the Sophisticated Rebel in me and I’ve been breaking rules and doing things my own way ever since!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07728052592873983506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188421731667071615.post-31218247117440414112015-09-25T09:58:00.000-07:002015-09-27T12:36:55.544-07:00I LOVE Lipstick!<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFHW89EnmSpwubhtG3ps6T097T_C1rDZEKdbWQto2LP3yW15dczd7HbAgq92hibYFPhi2e1yUgk45VW_F8zBU_eCkO1KEQZnvtQ8a3P7wOVYQX1y8FVJaDpvpUp0q5Oeye91FubhB2oTc/s1600/kastenMag_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFHW89EnmSpwubhtG3ps6T097T_C1rDZEKdbWQto2LP3yW15dczd7HbAgq92hibYFPhi2e1yUgk45VW_F8zBU_eCkO1KEQZnvtQ8a3P7wOVYQX1y8FVJaDpvpUp0q5Oeye91FubhB2oTc/s1600/kastenMag_medium.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hi, I’m Kasten and first welcome to Sophisticated Rebels. Let me get this out of the way now…</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love lipstick. I do. I’ve been a fanatical collector since I can remember. Back then I was windsurfing for a living, the sun, wind and waves would reek havoc on my skin, especially my lips. I looked for products that could heal my lips instead of turning them into prunes but I could only afford cheap brands sold in drugstores, and so the hunt continued. On my birthday my friend gave me a Tom Ford lipstick and I cherished that square monster. I call it that because it wouldn’t fit into any clutch I owned but the lipstick inside – OMG – it was worth all the hassle lugging it around. When it ran out, I wanted another one – my lips wanted one even worse – and that’s when I found out it was a whopping fifty two bucks! For lipstick?? That’s when I started researching how lipstick is made because I figured if I couldn’t afford the best, maybe I could gather the right ingredients and whip up some for myself. I mean I’m pretty good in the kitchen when I actually cook. I found out two things really quick – it’s not as easy as making walnut brownies but it’s also not as expensive as I imagined. Sure, the ingredients in a Tom Ford or a Dior are some the highest quality on the planet but even still, they only account for a small fraction of that heart stopping price. What I’d really be paying for if I wanted more of that </span><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To-Die-For</span></em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">lipstick, is the NAME of course – but also that damn inconvenient square monster with the pretty gold foil. So I started creating my own top tier formulas and yet I still had this nagging question that became an obsession – </span><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How can a girl have the very best lipstick without paying for awesome packaging that ends up in a landfill anyway? </span></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You know how they say if you visualize something long enough things will align to make them happen?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I met Frank, my future partner, at a convention for Entrepreneurs. He had this crazy concept of a Swiss Army Knife for women and had no idea then how tough that would be to pull off. His only real experience with makeup was carrying around his wife’s products in his pockets because she didn’t want to carry a bag when they were out. Then he showed me some of the art he had done on what the “blades” might look like and it hit me like a BRICK – like when peanut butter smashed into chocolate and Buttercup’s were born! This was the answer I was looking for – the </span><a href="http://sophisticatedrebel.com/pages/the-applicator" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">perfect applicator</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for my dream</span><a href="http://sophisticatedrebel.com/collections/forever-lipstick" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">premium lipstick</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. We partnered up and formed Sophisticated Rebel and our history is still being written. Log onto our site</span><a href="http://www.sophisticatedrebel.com/" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.sophisticatedrebel.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and see what we’ve come up with!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My take from all this is to never quit on a goal, a vision or a grand concept even when you don’t possess all the skills to make it happen. If you align yourself for success, you’ll be keenly aware when opportunity walks right into your life.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for listening!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kasten</span><br />
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</header>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07728052592873983506noreply@blogger.com0