By In Her Shoes Contributor: Ellisa Oyewo When was the last time you actually told yourself “Yes, it’s a big deal” when it came to your accomplishments? Hmmm…having a bit of trouble recalling that moment? Well, for most of us acknowledge the personal triumphs we achieve in our lives is almost unheard of. In a

What happens when two talented, focused, and might I add, gorgeous sisters join forces to make a difference in the lives of young girls? C.O.R.E is created! Today I’m proud to introduce you the awesome Oyewo sisters, the founders of C.O.R.E, a new online magazine created for and by young women of color. Ellisa (who also happens to be an In Her Shoes contributor) and her sis, Eden Oyewo stopped by to chat with us about what inspired them to launch C.O.R.E and why every young lady in your life should be reading!

Yes, life’s challenges can be daunting and we all run into our fair share of road blocks, but that doesn’t give us the license to bellyache for a living. Next time you’re ready to storm down to the complaint department of life, do yourself a favor and consider these tips.

Relentless, confident, passionate, creative, hard working, and focused are qualities that describe you IF you were being honest with yourself. It’s easy to shy away from our fabulousness or dim our light for others to shine, but we should always be our number one fan. We don’t miss out on opportunities to be our biggest critics do we? Yet when the opportunity arises to be the loudest cheerleader in our lives we often end up speechless.

Keep it moving. Three simple words that hold so much power but are often easier said than done. As I was waiting for a friend to catch up and have our weekly chat, I noticed a sticker strategically placed on the patio chair that said “Keep it Moving.” On the bottom in a lovely magenta font it also read “Life doesn’t stop, only you do.” Food for thought, anyone

Have you ever forced something to happen in your life to achieve a particular goal? Oftentimes we set plans and dreams in our minds that may or may not come to fruition. From career choices to what city we’d like to live in or the exact number of children we want to bring into this world, all of these fine details are meticulously planned in our map of life. As goal oriented women, it’s wonderful to be both driven and determined to make it happen but we’ve got to be open to changing paths when the universe points us in a different direction

Let’s be honest. While we’d like to bring everyone along for the entire ride, people come in and out of our lives for a reason. Some are here until our last days on this beautiful earth, some just for a season, and as harsh as it may sound, some only for tomorrow. It’s our responsibility to figure out which people are here for the long haul and who’s going to be around short term. Everyone has a purpose. Taking inventory of the people in your life is vital in the personal growth of yourself and others. Copy, cut, and paste!

As entrepreneurs and savvy businesswomen, we’re constantly facing situations that test us and put a little hair on our chest. Having these scenarios play out so many times in life, we can easily start building up a wall, brick by brick without even realizing it. We feel it’s needed because society has labeled us emotional, and as we know, there’s no room for emotions in business. To defy the stereotype that women will cry at the drop of a dime, we overcompensate by denying our emotions all together. Can you say recipe for disaster

Do you proudly wear the “workaholic” label stamped across your chest? Has your five day work week turned into a seven day work blur? Do you spend more time with your laptop than with friends and family? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, this one’s for you!

Whether you’re launching a business, working a 9-5, or simply carving your own path, creative juices are essential. As one of our most precious commodities, creativity can be challenging to muster up if not exercised properly. Simply put, use it or lose it. On the flip side, it can also seem as if every piece

Boss lady, mother, friend, sister, wife, girlfriend, singer, writer, and artist are just a few of the hats we rock on a day-to-day basis. The more “seasoned” we become, the more titles we accumulate in life’s beautiful journey. With these responsibilities comes time invested, love given, and priceless memories that stem from the different titles we hold. No matter how precious and significant the roles we play are, we can’t allow one or two of them to define our entire being. Doing so leaves us with little energy or power to focus on who we are or where we’d like to be in the future

Life is beautiful and you only get one, so do everything you’ve always wanted to do NOW. Make a summer bucket list including everything you’ve been daydreaming about since childhood. From performing on stage to learning french or skydiving, write it all down and mark them off as you conquer each one. Remember, tomorrow is not promised nor is this beautiful weather so work it out!

“Life is tough and so are you!” is the bold message that greeted me when I clicked on my friend’s blog for my daily dose of inspiration. I began to think about that simple 7 word phrase which held so much power and meaning. People always tend to say the first half but it’s rarely followed by the second part of empowerment. This simple statement gives us a reminder that we have the choice and the power to tap into our inner strength while dealing with life’s ups and downs

Although it’s hard to admit, no matter how old you are or where you are in life, parents always seem to dish out the most simplistic yet powerful wisdom. With encouragement from good ole’ mom, I looked back on my trail of actions and found a recurring pattern – a “noun” style of happiness. Instead of having happiness instilled within, I’ve been looking for it in every person, place or thing that surrounds me

Advertising, love songs, friend’s advice, motivational speeches, the media, intense music lyrics, and social media prophets are just a few of the many influences that bombard us on a daily basis. With thousands of outside forces constantly fighting for your attention it’s sometimes a tug of war to keep a steady focus, emotional balance or even just a clear outlook on life. Here are a few tips on how to sift through the debris of your mind