Keeping up with the Jones is for the birds, keeping up with these Women is a treat.  At ForeverHer, an online content community that empowers women mid-life and beyond to stay forever fit, young and fabulous, we love to learn from and celebrate women that are doing it all.

Recently, I was fortunate to hear from three powerhouse females: Candace, Gabi and Melissa who embody the ForeverHer lifestyle and took time out of their busy schedules to share a few secrets of how they manage to do it all with grace, determination, style and a smile.

All three women excel in their respective long careers, live in different parts of the country but share similar core values driving them to continued success both personally and professionally. These women all happen to be in their 40’s, mothers, successful career women, humble, down-to-earth, team players, are well-rounded and exhibit strong work ethic.

I asked each of them to share tips and insights ranging from having a balanced life, addressing the ever-changing workplace and sharing some of their favorite things helping them stay just a little more fabulous. 

Candace Mueller, Senior Communications Consultant

During her career, Candace has led and managed communications for some of the world’s most respected companies including PepsiCo’s Quaker and Tropicana as well as a global hotel chain. She thrives on making connections and building relationships, especially ones that empower women to be powerful and courageous leaders. She embraces the sometimes-chaotic life of motherhood with the boardroom as well as giving back to the community serving on two different nonprofit boards. When she’s not juggling work and family, she enjoys spending time at her second home in Lake Geneva, WI and trying the best new restaurants in her hometown of Chicago. She lives in the city with her husband and 6-year-old daughter.

FH: What are your top 3 tips for Staying Forever Balanced?

CM:

1. Name your “non-negotiable.” Find one thing you commit to doing every day or every week that makes you happy and stick to it – yoga, walking your dog, meditating etc.
2. Plant (based) diet: I believe a plant (based) diet is where it’s at. We’ve come a long way from Meatless Monday with more companies like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat, offering accessible and great tasting plant-based “meat” options. There are the proven health benefits, but eating vegetarian even a couple of times a week can have long-term benefits for people and this beautiful plant we call Earth.
3. Snooze Rules. Sleep is good for more than just beauty. Being rested, or not, sets the stage for my day and my mood, it helps me relax after a busy day and after being in front of a computer or phone for hours.

FH: The workplace is constantly evolving, and you are working alongside the tech-raised generations; Gen Y/ Millennial and now even Gen Z.  How do you stay on top of trends and the ever-changing work culture?

CM: One way to keep up with the latest trends is to spend time with the younger generation. I’m lucky to have nieces and nephews ranging from 12 to 30 years old – I’m always learning from them. I also consume a ton of news/media mostly from social media but still also like to read hard copies of Fortune, Fast Company and Inc. and watch Vice TV for current events.

FH: What is the one product you swear by and will not go a day without?

CM: I don’t really have one product. I like to try new ones all the time, but I take vitamin D and B12 daily since most women are deficient in both. Right now, I’m obsessed with Argan oil for my hair, which can be dry and brittle especially in the summer. It smells so good that I also use it as hand moisturizer because it doesn’t leave my hands oily or greasy.

Gabi Messinger, Head of Community, Yelp

Gabi holds a B.A. in Sports Management and Communication from the University of Michigan. After college, she worked in sales and marketing for large companies like Reebok, Cox Media, and Clear Channel. She joined Yelp in 2007 as the company’s first Community Manager in Arizona, and now she heads up all of Community for North America supporting Yelp’s marketing efforts. She enjoys building relationships with people to help Yelp communities grow and feels blessed to work for a company that gives back to local communities on many levels. As Yelp’s mission is “connecting people with great local businesses,” Gabi is always on the hunt to check out new businesses in the Valley of the Sun and while on the road.  She also manages to start most days with a workout at the Madison Improvement Club, Aptitude Performance Center, or on the AZ Canal.  Gabi is originally from Michigan and will always be a Detroit Tigers Fan.  She currently resides in Phoenix with her husband (Jared), 2 children (Maverick -5 and Mila – 4), and rescue dog (Georgia).

FH: What are your top 3 tips for staying Forever Balanced?

GM:

1. I always try to prioritize family first.. and that includes myself too!  Making time to spend with your loved ones is critical to feeling happy, healthy and balanced.  I keep sane by making personal “Gabi” time as well, whether it’s with a yoga class, an occasional massage or pedicure, a call with a friend, or a date with my husband.
2. Everything in moderation… Working for Yelp, I’m surrounded by foodies and I enjoy my meals — many of which are far from “healthy”! I happen to enjoy fruits, veggies, salads, lean proteins, etc., but I also make sure to balance all of that with whatever my body may be craving at any given moment. Fuel comes in many forms… sometimes a burger and fries and a glass of wine is just what my body needs!  Drinking plenty of water is also key… especially living in the desert!
3. Be grateful. Be present. Keep a daily “to-do” list and power through as much as possible every day!

FH: How do you stay on top of trends and the ever-changing work culture?

GM: I’m lucky to be surrounded by a savvy team at Yelp.  They keep me on my toes and inspire me to stay in the loop on the latest trends.  I continue to seek out development opportunities, attend conferences, etc., but oftentimes I find myself just asking a lot of questions.  Where I may be behind in some of the hacks and tech tools that my colleagues share, I like to believe that I bring wisdom that comes with age and experience… and a different perspective.  

FH: What is your top secret to staying Forever Fit? Forever Young?  What is the one product you swear by and will not go a day without?

GM: I don’t have any “secrets” but I try not to sweat the small stuff.  As mentioned above, I think staying hydrated is important and helps with both physical and mental challenges I face in any given moment.  I like to mix up my early morning workouts daily… I rotate in yoga, spin classes, running, walking, hiking, weight training, and as much physical activity and sports as I can with my kids and my dog.  I start most days with Ionix Supreme from Isagenix pre-workout which I find helps me with waking up and feeling focused for whatever lies ahead.

Melissa Kushner, Fashion Designer, Research & Development

Melissa started at the The University of Arizona as a fine arts major and transferred to FIT (Fashion institute of Technology) in NYC her junior year. She always wanted to live in NYC and be in the center of it all. She started working at a major fashion company right after college, and continued the path. While taking a 4-year break to be with my 3-year-old daughter, and had my son, I’m fortunate to have had a few years as a stay at home mom, but jumped back in where I left off.

Melissa says, “I’m 40-something but the number doesn’t really tell your age, it’s how you feel on the inside. A successful career is one that doesn’t feel like a job, but doing what you love every day! That’s how I do it.  My greatest influence was my Great Aunt Sarah who worked her entire life in a military hat factory in NYC, and my mother, who always told me I can do anything I set my mind out to do, with hard work, passion, and honesty. I live by those words every day in everything I do.”

FH: What are your top 3 tips for staying Forever Balanced?

MK:

1. Take a time-out. Do something for yourself every day, talk a walk around the block, coffee with a friend, a 3-mile run, 15-minute meditation session. Whatever it is take some time for you and only you.
2. Stay up to date, whether it be the latest trend in fashion, new tech gadget, or latest sports team going to the finals. Always be in the know.
3. Make exercise a priority, it could be waking up early, a quick yoga session at lunch, or a run after work. Exercise releases endorphin’s and gives you the confidence to tackle whatever challenges the day brings your way.

FH: How do you stay on top of trends and the ever-changing work culture?

MK: Follow different outlets on social media to stay relevant. For me, that may be following the top fashion blogs, designers Instagram posts and relevant twitter feeds. I also still love looking through fashion magazines, actual paper; and keeping a file of fashion looks I love, Vogue, Instyle, People Magazine, along with WWD- Women’s Wear Daily 

FH: What is your top secret to staying Forever Fit? Forever Young? What is the one product you swear by and will not go a day without?

MK: As said above, exercise does a body good. For me it’s a quick cardio session to get the blood flowing, break a sweat, and clear my mind. I start my day with a cup of coffee. For me, this clears my mind, gives me a little boost of energy, and keep me focused to stay on task.

For more up-to-date insights, expert tips, cutting-edge health and wellness trends to stay forever fit, young and fabulous, join the ForeverHer Facebook group .

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