Pink Lemonade by Carey Grund

Copyright Notice Copyright © 2012 Carey Grund Published by Lulu Publishing All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means without written permission from the author and publisher except for inspirational quotes cited in review purpose only. All content contained within “Pink Lemonade” is copyright © 2012. Reproduction, copying and perjury or any other form of use of the pieces contained within this book is forbidden by law. These rules have been established to protect the rights and ownership of the author and to ensure their work is regarded as their own. ISBN# 978-1-300-23307-7

Acknowledgements Thank you to the contributors of Pink Lemonade. Your wisdom, strength and inspirational words are a voice of encouragement.

Design by Designing Fresh Photography by Sweet Moments Photography and Little Voice Photography

Pink Lemonade is dedicated to my three beautiful daughters May you learn, grow and live by these words

Table of Contents sweet innocence ............................................................................................ 1 lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lemons ..................................................................................................... 4 meet the amazing you ................................................................................ 11 believe with intention .................................................................................. 12 live for what you accomplish .................................................................... 13 a voice of inspiration ................................................................................... 14 find your cheerleader .................................................................................. 36 one final note ................................................................................................. 38

sweet innocence The sweet innocence of a little girl is not something to be forgotten. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about running barefoot through the tall grass; riding your bike in your pajamas and sharing a tea party with your favorite dolls. All this because you can- youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re young, endearing, and without a doubt, loved by everyone. To be a little girl is to show sweet smiles and share silly giggles filled with whimsical moments of love. These memories may feel like yesterday to those who love you, but to you, they seem as though they were forever ago.

You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know it yet, but your own sweet innocence is slowly building a solid foundation for the beautiful, strong girl that you will become. You are someone special, with dreams, purpose and a self-driven life journey full of hope. Confidence begins with your inner sweet innocence. Without sweet innocence, confidence cannot develop. Your carefree spirit and uninhibited joy during your time of innocence are the very beginnings of confidence in yourself. Building confidence is one of the most important things that you will do in your life, because confidence will give you the internal push that you need to dare to reach your highest potential. Confidence is having the courage to believe in you. When you know in your heart that you are important and here on this great earth to make a difference, you can make great things happen. The world has not yet tainted the way in which you view yourself and what you are capable of achieving. Your sweet innocence keeps you sheltered and unaware of all of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s evil and doubt-a world that may one day try to keep you from succeeding. Take advantage of this time of innocence to build up your inner strength and self-confidence. When your sweet innocence one day falls away, this inner strength will rise to the challenge and come forth to take its place. Believe in yourself, and others will follow. Go a step further to take action and push the boundaries of your inner limits. Show others who you are and can become; donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let them tell you who you should be. Use your self-assurance to be a leader and show those who follow you the way.

Dare to dream big. After all, dreams are something that you can count on because they originate deep within you. Be yourself and listen to your heart; she is an amazing voice who guides you to new heights. Embrace your sweet innocence; it will eventually fall away, but its effects will remain with you forever.

life’s lemons If you’ve ever tasted lemonade, you know that it gives you a burst of refreshing flavor, uniquely sweet and tart at the same time. Lemonade is renowned for its versatility; it is served everywhere, from birthday parties to the fanciest wedding you can imagine. Lemonade can be mixed with strawberries, raspberries and even oranges to create an exceptionally delicious treat. Lemonade is often considered to be a perfect drink; wouldn’t it be grand if life was always as perfect as a tall glass of lemonade? Often, its life’s not-so-perfect moments that you may remember most throughout your life. It’s those days that you’d prefer to tuck away and forget about, like when your best friend didn’t save you a seat on the bus and you had to sit alone on the ride to school. It’s that time that you were laughed at by friends when you answered a question incorrectly in class. It’s that homework that was “due today, no exceptions” that was left at your kitchen table next to your partially-finished breakfast. It’s that time when all of these things happened on the same day you found out that you didn’t make the cheerleading team. At the time, these days may seem like the worst of your life. However, they don’t have to be. Think of them as “life’s lemons,” and turn that lemon of a day into lemonade.

It’s easy to create your own lemonade from life’s lemons. It’s special lemonade that only you can create, and it can be anything that you want it to be. You can pick your favorite flavor and only you can decide what color it becomes. Your lemonade can be the traditional yellow or pink or it can be as colorful as you want it to be. You can make it as sweet or as tart as you wish, because let’s face it- some days will have more sugar than others. You can even add your favorite fruit to make it yours, totally yours, and nobody else will ever drink the same glass of lemonade. In life, the fruit and sugar that you add in to your lemonade can be the same as adding positive thoughts and actions to your day. On days that you find success, make new friends or experience great joy, your glass may be full of vibrantly-colored lemonade that reflects all of these wonderful things. Work as hard as you can to turn even the worst situations in life into something positive, and before you know it your glass will be overflowing with joy. You create your special lemonade from your very own life lemons, and no one can change your glass except for you. Your lemonade guides you through life and shows you how important it is to keep your glass full. This challenge may not always be easy to face, but it will always be worth it.

how to keep your glass full

Before you can believe in others, you must believe in yourself.

In order for your dreams to come true, you must take action.

Your success can only be as good as what you contribute to it.

Doing good for others will fill their heart with joy.

Be honest with yourself so that you can be honest with others.

Be kind to those around you, especially if they feel alone.

Be open to new experiences, new friends, new places and new things.

Find one person each day that needs comfort, a kind word or maybe just a smile, and be a friend.

If you stand tall with confidence, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never fall.

You can only reach your goals if you set something to reach towards in the first place.

If you are always true to yourself, no one will ever be able to change you.

A simple smile can change someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day.

Life is but not what you make of it, but rather, what you contribute to it.

how to fill someone else’s glass of lemonade When you contribute positively to your life- your glass of lemonade, you are given an incredible opportunity. You (and only you) have the power to make great things happen. It’s your contributions to your own life’s journey that will build towards your bright future. Work each day to keep your glass of lemonade full and do good by filling up others’ glasses. We all have our own glass of lemonade. For some, their glass is always full- so full that their colorful lemonade spills over with joy. These people are those who you always see smiling, laughing, helping and sharing. They are always looking for ways to keep their glass full. Others may be living with a partially-full glass. They embrace the good times, but worry about the bad. They have lots of friends, but still feel uncertain about who they are. They are beautiful both inside and out, but when they look in the mirror, they feel confused. Even worse, some glasses never get the chance to be full. These people are often sad and lonely, any feelings of purpose long gone. When you see someone with an empty glass of lemonade, fill it up! Be a friend and sit with someone who is alone. Lend a compliment to brighten their day. Show others your own strength and courage, and try to help them with their own.

When you fill someone else’s glass of lemonade, you fill yours, too. You’ve learned how to keep your glass full by turning life’s lemons into lemonade. In order to continue to do this, you’ll need to make it your mission to fill everyone else’s glasses, too. It may sound overwhelming at first; there are a lot of glasses to fill. You can do it, though- shining a little bit of positivity into someone’s life can go a long way.

meet the amazing you You’re smart, fun, beautiful and truly amazing in all you do. You’re the calming voice for your best friend, and the unexpected smile in a passing acquaintance. You’re the laughter in a silent room and a sparkle of light in a dark house. You lead with roaring confidence, yet quietly make a big difference. Keep being amazing…

You’re only as amazing as you believe yourself to be.

believe with intention Do you really know yourself? In order for you to believe in yourself, you have to know who you are believing in. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find her in your sweet innocence and eventual inner strength, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never feel lost again. The person that you will one day become is already inside you. She is a powerful part of you who shows you how to believe with purpose, a self-driven purpose that only you can fulfill. Find your path in life and stay on it. Your success will begin when you believe in yourself. It is what you do, your actions, which makes a difference.

Love what you believe and believe in what you love.

live for what you accomplish You’ll be surprised when what you believe to be your smallest achievement turns out to be your biggest accomplishment. That’s what happens when you live life with a full glass of lemonade. Just like you are in control of your glass of lemonade, you are the only one who has the key to your accomplishments. Don’t just make others proud; make yourself proud. Set reasonable goals for yourself and don’t stop working until they come true. It doesn’t matter how much you accomplish, as long as you take action each day.

Live for what you want to do and not for what others tell you to do, and you’ll be living your dream.

a voice of inspiration As you grow each day, you are blossoming into a beautiful woman. You can feel good about your achievements and encourage those who need a little help. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a good friend to others and treat yourself with respect. The women you are about to meet are successful, accomplished and beautiful from the inside out. These women share their voices of encouragement and inspiration. Empower yourself and heed their words of courage, wisdom and strength.

“Celebrate your accomplishments in life, large or small. Be proud of what you have done. Dance & celebrate often! Think of others and be considerate, being nice “does” pay. Right now, you are your most valuable investment. Invest in learning from life. You can turn any negative situation into something positive if you try hard enough to see the positive. Emphasize the positive and surround yourself by positive influences and distant yourself from negative situations. Be a good friend by sharing your positive outlook with others! Most of all, love life!”

Catherine Moneaux founded and owns Shabby Lane Shops.

“This is an amazing time to be YOU! The support available to you and the possibilities are endless! YOU CAN DO IT! Remember that you are in charge of your life and you can shape it any way you want. If you want to be an entrepreneur, journalist, teacher or physician; go for it and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t (you might still hear that, but you don’t have to believe it). “Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right”. You can do this!”

Andreea Ayers is the Founder of Launch Grow Joy and has authored two books.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every bedtime kiss and morning hug is a reminder that you are perfect just the way you are. Growing from a little girl into a remarkable woman is amazing, scary, fun, and completely indescribable. Know you are beautiful and realize the best way to show it is by NOT showing it. Whenever you are feeling painfully fragile or wonderfully strong and everything in between, do not forget that you are beautiful, you are treasured, you are sacred, and you are loved.â&#x20AC;?

Carly Riddle is an elementary school teacher.

“Dreaming is good, but doing is great. Take action to make your wishes a reality. Surround yourself with people who make you feel your very best. These are the ones who’ll push you to pursue your goals even if it means attempting things you’ve never done before. They’ll tell you that you’re gorgeous -- and mean it -- even when you’re having a bad hair day. They’re on your side no matter what. All of us need someone who’s always rooting for our success, so align yourself with even just a couple good eggs.”

Tory Johnson is the Founder and CEO of Women for Hire, Spark and Hustle and a contributor on Good Morning America and Good Afternoon America. She is also an anchor of @Work on ABC News. Tory is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author.

“You are amazing and you have the power to do and be anything. It’s right there inside of you, right now. The key to unleashing that power? Don’t sit around waiting for someone else to make your dreams come true. Take action. It can be a baby step or a big leap of faith, but the important thing is to take action towards your dreams every single day.”

Heather Allard is the Founder of the Mogul Mom. Heather has also authored two books.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Growing up is hard! There are so many different, confusing, and sometimes scary adventures ahead of you. Embrace each adventure, giving it your all every day. For these new adventures will open doors that you could never previously imagine! Take good care of YOU, support those that are traveling with you, and never be derailed from your path.â&#x20AC;?

Lauren Smith is an elementary school principal.

“Everyone is unique, everyone is different. The key is using your uniqueness and special attributes to make a difference in your life and the lives of others. Grab a hold of what makes you special and use it! This world needs more strong, confident women in it. Guess what? That’s you! So stand tall, think big and do even bigger. You rock!”

Dawn Berryman is the Owner of Market Mommy.®

“You were given this life to make a difference. Live it to the fullest. Dream huge. Accomplish much. Stay the course. Love deeply. Be compassionate. Be bold. Be brave. You have the power to become whatever you want to be. You hold the key to unlock all doors. You have it within your soul to make a difference in this big, giant world. The sky is the limit. There’s nothing you can’t do. Take your dreams, gather your strength and collect your confidence; go forth and do good. The world is waiting for you, beautiful girl.”

Melissa Bolton is an Author, Aesthetic Wordsmith, Branding Therapist and Founder of Designher Brands.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It all starts with believing that you can do it. If you believe it, others will follow. All success starts in your self-belief. Look at barriers as challenges that you can overcome. With this mindset, the world is yours to accomplish whatever you dream. Dream with purpose. God bless.â&#x20AC;?

Jessica Kim is the Founder and CEO of BabbaCo.

“Believe in who you are, not who you wish you were. We each have unique qualities, attributes and flaws. Beauty comes from within. When you stumble and fall, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try it again. Never let anyone tell you can’t do something. Surround yourself with people who are positive. Look at yourself each day in the mirror telling yourself one thing that is amazing and beautiful about YOU! SMILE - it’s contagious!”

Susan Kiley is the Founder of Splendipity Inc. and Kiley Representation.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;No matter your age, someone is looking up to you. Show those around you how to treat themselves and others with kindness by doing the same for yourself. Speak with respect, learn with intention, and smile with genuine gratitude.â&#x20AC;?

Tracy Corcoran works in creative marketing & development at LaunchHER, a company devoted to female entrepreneurs.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Always remember to stay true to yourself in all journeys of life. While life will certainly not always be easy, always follow your heart and remember in both good and bad situations that honesty ALWAYS wins!â&#x20AC;?

Susan Hedgepeth is the owner of Pea Pod Paper & Gifts.

“Don’t ever think your dreams are foolish and don’t believe anyone who says they are. Your dreams are a gift from your soul guiding you toward your destiny. Believe them. Follow them in ABSOLUTE FAITH without one single doubt. When you do, you will find ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. Dream it… Believe it… Let it go… The future is yours!”

Shelly Ehler is the Founder and creator of ShowNo Towels.

“I’ve learned time and time again that faith is often rewarded. You have to believe- not only in your capability, but that you deserve to have your dreams come true as well. Often this means continuing to stay in faith even when there is no proof in front of you that what you want is going to show up. It all comes back to learning to trust that voice inside. Some might call this “going with your gut,” but to me it feels more apt to say I’m following my heart. It’s not always easy to do and it sometimes may even seem altogether frightening. I can assure you it gets easier the more you flex that muscle. And when you do so; you’re rewarded with opportunities, success and confirmation that you’re on the right path, there’s nothing sweeter than that.”

Christine Gallagher is a Relationship Marketing Mentor and founded ShesGot Clients.

“In this day and age girls can accomplish anything they put their minds to. Don’t worry about what others think or what others are doing, just focus on your goals and dreams and push forward. Today’s girls can do it all.”

Jami Lindberg is the Founder and owner of The Savvy Socialista.

“Dream Big. Always believe that you can do anything that you put your mind to. The very first step is believing in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself, you won’t get anywhere. Don’t be afraid to take risks. If you fail, you will learn and move forward. If you succeed, you can celebrate and move forward! Either way, just keep moving forward. You will constantly be growing and changing. Do not be afraid to change direction when you feel its right. It’s never too late to switch gears and try something new. Don’t do what everyone else is doing, be different and unique. Whatever it is that you do, always be original and be YOU. And remember, while it is wonderful to love what you do, don’t forget to have fun and enjoy life.”

Kim Stoegbauer is a Party Stylist and Founder of The TomKat Studio.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Try and view each struggle you face as opportunities to learn something new and perhaps even help someone else. Girls will tease, judge, and sometimes reject you. This is not about you. It has more to do with how they feel about themselves. They may feel insecure, threatened, or even jealous. Perhaps they do not have a positive role model of their own. When you let others actions or words upset you, you are giving them control. Keep calm, think about what kind of woman you want to be, and stick to that vision. If you lead by example, others may follow. Be kind, be smart, and be assertive when needed. Surround yourself with people who understand, support, and encourage you.â&#x20AC;?

Kim Saks is the Founder and director of the Brett Saks Foundation.

“Confidence is everything. It’s what adds color to the picture, makes it vibrant. It’s acquired through experience, both good and bad. The good ones are easy and make you feel great inside, but the bad experiences are even more valuable. When you learn from the mistake or the hardship, that’s the greatest lesson to come from something you’re not happy with. By learning, you know how to handle it should there be a next time or how to avoid it from happening again. Embrace all experiences. Learning how to handle them will make your confidence soar. And with good confidence, the sky is the limit.”

Kelly Scaccia is the Founder and owner of Kelly Scaccia Portrait Photography.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Never underestimate the power of persistence. I was never the smartest, fastest or most popular, but I was always known as a hard worker and one would never consider me flakey. Work harder and smarter than everyone else and it will pay off. Never compare yourself to the person sitting next to you- only compete against yourself. Take it from me; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the only race worth winning.â&#x20AC;?

Nicole Feliciano is the Editor and Founder of Momtrends.

“The architect, Christopher Wren, stopped to chat with a bricklayer who was hard at work at the construction site for St Paul’s Cathedral in London. When asked what he was doing, the worker replied, “I’m working.” Wren walked on to a second bricklayer and asked him the same question. This bricklayer answered, “I am building a wall.” Approaching a third bricklayer, Wren posed the same question. This bricklayer responded, with a joyful gleam in his eye, “I am building a Cathedral to the Almighty!” Whatever you choose to do, choose to do it with passion, as did the third bricklayer. Identify your Cathedrals and take pride in what you are building. Choose to enjoy the journey and make a deliberate effort to encourage and assist others to discover their passion as well. Whether your Cathedral is a perfectly mown lawn or a corporate powerhouse, always focus on the largest picture and make sure that your energies are dedicated to feeding your passion and growing your Cathedral(s). Do not allow yourself to be satisfied with less than your largest and most magnificent effort.”

Gayla Warner is the Co-Founder of Runaway Rabbit.

“Without a doubt, you’ll meet people in the world who will say negative things about you, your ideas and dreams in an effort to tear you down. Do your best to ignore them and surround yourself with those who value and love you for who you are. Always remember that you are you- a unique, special, extremely talented and confident woman who is capable of doing anything and everything you set your mind to. You control your destiny, no one else, so make every day count.”

Tisha Marie Pelletier founded The Mom-e Club® and has authored a book.

find your cheerleader Discovering your inner strengths and building your future may seem like a big challenge. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to feel alone, and you are not expected to do it alone. Find that one person who will help you to fill your perfectly-crafted glass of lemonade. Consider that person as your personal cheerleader. They speak to you the loudest, yet seem to say so little. This person is someone that you can count on and who will always be there for you. They believe in your goals and help you to reach them. They guide you when you have forgotten your path and show you light on your darkest day. Your cheerleader will always fill your glass of lemonade and will always support you, no matter what flavor you have created. They will care for you selflessly and expect nothing in return. They share in your dreams and encourage you to follow them, and without a doubt cheer for your success. The person that you have found to be your cheerleader is likely someone who has already succeeded in creating their own vibrant glass of life lemonade. Their sweet innocence is long gone, but it has been replaced by an indestructible self-confidence that enables them to always believe in themselves. Recognize your cheerleaderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inner strength and let it be your guide as you work to build your own. There is nothing you will face in life that has not already been overcome by someone before you. Trust in the advice and experiences of your personal cheerleader, and believe that there is no situation that will ever get the best of you.

As you slowly begin to fill up your glass of lemonade, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll come to find that you no longer need the constant support and guidance from others that you did before. This will be the day that your true inner strength and confidence breaks through; the day that you become your own personal cheerleader.

one final noteâ&#x20AC;Ś â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just remember that God loved you enough to create you as a totally individual and unique person. Know that you are important to those around you and work on sharing your special gifts or abilities with others. God made you in his likeness...so make the most of the wonderful person that you are.â&#x20AC;?

Marie builds my inner strength and empowers me to believe in myself. She teaches me that my dreams are worth following, not chasing. She fills my glass of lemonade until it overflows with love. She is my cheerleader, my supporter and my Mom.

Carey Grund is a mother of three young girls. Her daughters were her source of inspiration for writing Pink Lemonade. Carey teaches her girls to dream big, believe in their inner strength and turn lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lemons into something they can grow from. Carey was a successful corporate Mama for over a decade. She followed her dreams and became Chief Mama and CEO when she founded smilegrampaperÂŽ. Carey teaches that anything is possible with a dream, confidence, and of course, a full glass of lemonade.

Confidence guides your greatest potential; make great things happen.