Welcome to our newest "blog" challenge and I guess "life" challenge..... today we allocate time to challenge ourselves.... I'm linking this blog to my new pinterest account.... here is what I propose....... 
We all need to challenge ourselves to move forward, to enjoy what life have to offer us no matter where we are in the scheme of things. I have been posting my blog about once a month or sometimes even longer.... I've been toying with this pinterest thing for a few months now, but after meeting a great gal named Carolinn, I decided to challenge myself to do this. Now bear with me for if you accept the challenge we will be in it together...... Many of you know I'm a big movie fanatic..... so if you have seen the movie Julie/Julia you know that Julie decided to blog her way through Julia Child's cookbook..... No, this has nothing to do with cooking unless that is part of your challenge.... this DOES have to do with doing something each day for 365 days....... 
Today is Day 1
I challenge you to take 5-10 minutes (that's all, if that's all the time you have) each day and do something that you haven't done in awhile, that you have NEVER done or that you just have an interest in finding out about. Maybe it's walking, maybe it's watching the sunrise or the sunset, maybe it's wishing on a star, maybe it's picking up those weights that are collecting dust, maybe it's cooking, maybe it's visiting a nursing home....... every day, once a day for 365 days ! Are you up for the challenge? Most of you know I wear all the hats in my business and I am taking the challenge to make time to do this blog for each thing that I embark on each day..... I certainly do not have the time. That being said, what kind of message will we tell ourselves when we give this a try. Maybe at the end of the year, you will be an author, a runner, a car mechanic, a painter or something else. At the very least you will see something differently. When they say, "Stop and smell the roses...." if that's all you have time for....do THAT for 5 min. I'm so anxious to see how much steam we gain and who will also be blogging about what they tried or re-visited in their lives. I figured if I'm going to embark on Pinterest, let's do it with a purpose..... so go there, re-pin for me and let's embark on this adventure together..... Just look for Ava's eyes on the Pinterest board sometime today and see what I've put in for day one later today....... 
Are you up for the challenge? On Sundays, we will collect our loose change.... sort of a day off but with a purpose..... save your Sunday change and see what happens in one year ! So here we go....... check back withing the hour and see where we start...... 
Respectfully,

Ava Holly Lewis                                                                                                       
4 A STAR                                                 Visit our web page

eWomen Network topic for today....

So I'm finally in here again to chat a little..... let me know what is going on with you all? Do you have a topic you would like to discuss here? Send me a note through my web page....www.4astar.com and we will consider doing a blog topic with you at this site. Lots of things going on as we move through this hot Summer. It has been a cray one , huh?
So today we allocate time for eWomen Network. I have to bow all of my hats to Marilyn Kleinberg, managing director of eWomen Network , Southern New Jersey Chapter. Marilyn is such a dynamic woman. She knows the power of networking and uses it to make all of us succeed.
eWomen Network, what started out as an on line place for women to meet and exchange inspiring ideas, has flourished into a Nationwide platform for women to connect not only on line, but in person. Women started creating meeting groups and soon after it formed, eWomen was now hosting women meeting face to face as well as on line. If you go to the eWomen site (listed below), you can see what is going on with Women Business Owners and Entrepreneurs today. The group also has a handful of men, (eMales....as we like to call them), however it is primarily a Women's Networking group. I can't tell you how much influence eWomen has had on my business and my life. My 1st book is now in the editing stages and the passion for my ideas keep on going as I meet and connect with Women all over the Country.
Thank you Marilyn for making this all possible for me. It's funny how I believe that everything happens for a reason. I met Marilyn many years ago. We were both doing other things but even then I think all the eWomen wheels were turning for us ! We ran into each other again. .....and the third time (things magically happen in 3's) we connected over eWomen. The personal and professional relationship has grown since then. Check out eWomen at www.ewomennetwork.com     Click on find a chapter and go to NJ to see what events are coming up for you to check out. There is a great one coming up on the 17th at the Atlantic City Country Club. Topic is women in politics and among the 3 awesome speakers is my friend and business associate Whitney Ullman. Whitney is currently a Council Woman in Galloway Twp.
(she is also an eWomen Member)
Soar to the best version of you that you possibly can. Let nothing stop you from attaining your goals. Others are there to support you along the way!

Meet Bryan Scheiner...........

Wow ! January goes by like a shot, don't you agree? I have decided that January will from now on be sort of a "cyber month". By the time you clean up from the holidays and get to the stuff you put on hold for the holidays.....the month is gone. No wonder most people don't get their resolutions to make it to blue Monday......So I have adopted that MY New Year shall, from this day forward, start in February. That gives ME a chance to do other things in January and sort of play catch up while the month is just sitting in cyber space collecting resolutions ! LOL

Today, we allocate time for Bryan Scheiner and the Bee Shine.....

During that January month, I celebrate a birthday, along with several people that I am close to AND I usually have my "Cross the Line" event at the Foundation Room . This year it was great ! We held it on Jan. 20th.

Funny what a small world we really live in. You never know who you are going to meet, where you are going to meet them and how they actually connect to your own life once you have met them ! Whew ! That's a mouthful.

So at my event on Jan. 20th, I happened to run into a wonderfully fresh and exciting person. His name is Bryan Scheiner. In speaking with Bryan and actually interviewing him myself, I found out he used to work with a friend of mine. Also, he was doing an interview in the room just before my event. Bryan wound up at my event by accident, we met by accident and have a mutual friend and now a mutual business relationship. So I go back to that philosophy that there really are no accidents..........so Bryan and I were destined to meet and here is where the beautiful relationship begins....

Going back a few years when Bryan was a kid, he fell in love with the hip hop genre of music. He would look up anyone and everyone who was connected to the hip hop world and be on the top of his game when it came to knowing the facts. When Bryan won a FLIP CAMERA at work one year, the idea of JUST studying these iconic artists-expanded into searching them out, videotaping them and creating an empire in his own right on line. At Bryan's site, you can check out his interviews, see the videos and even purchase merchandise . Bryan has spoken with and interviewed some of the greatest hip hop artists around. (both established and up and coming artists and business moguls themselves). He loves pioneers in the industry and is thinking of expanding his knowledge into some different genres.... I am thrilled that we are going to add a special page on the 4 A STAR site for Bryan and be able to work together and share ideas and artists for your viewing pleasure. If you think this was just a passing trend for Bryan, think again, for Bryan has interviewed over 600 artists all over the country in the last year and a half. That's impressive !

I am so glad I ran into Bryan, BY ACCIDENT, (hint hint) at my event in January. It really was a cyber month and Bryan's on line cup has just overflowed into mine..... I am thrilled and honored to welcome Bryan Scheiner to his own 4 A STAR page.

Visit Bryan's site THE BEE SHINE at:

www.thebeeshine.com

Be sure to stay on top of the 4 A STAR page to see what we are up to and to see the wonderful world of Bryan Scheiner and what he brings to us with his awesome interviews and skills.

"HOT OFF THE PRESS" AT ATLANTIC CITY NEWS

Well Hello Holidays !!!!!!

With the holidays right on top of us, it gives me great honor and pleasure to allocate time for our long awaited launch of FOXX CODE Magazine into the Atlantic City area has finally arrived. A launch party will be forthcoming at the Beautiful One Atlantic. You can check out the gorgeous One Atlantic Ad in the magazine. What a great gift for that aspiring Actor/Actress, singer, media mogul,entrepreneur or anyone who likes high fashion and high business. So what do I mean when I say high business?
Well..... this magazine is different because it houses a ton of reviews along with the regular content. There is a special “Review section” towards the back of the magazine. There you will see not only fashion icons, entertainers and artists but also, business success stories, entrepreneurs, designers etc.... The reviews in this issue range from Katy Perry, Steven Tyler and Scotty McCreary, to Lisa Ajello, Russ Elliott and our own Lloyd D.Levenson and Gary Hill. ( reviewed by myself and portions of our amazing writing staff) So high business encompasses all forms of fashion/entertainment and business rolled into this issue. It is a delight to read and see.
As we spoke of in the past, Atlantic City has been added to the magazine , now giving it 6 major cities of distribution and recognition. The photo shoot took place at the fabulous Knife and Fork Inn. The spread for A/C also shows all the local credits and thanks right in the center of the magazine. So the magazine is released in Chicago, Las Vegas, L.A., Miami, New York and now ATLANTIC CITY. It took many people to make this happen.
“So, Ava, where can I get this great gift, jammed packed with all this cool stuff?” Funny you should ask.... LOL The magazine is featured right now at Atlantic City News Agency . They are located at the corner of MLK B'lvd and Pacific Ave. AND they are open 24 hours for your convenience. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet and chat with owner, Stuart Weiss. “We have been in this business right here for over 35 years and we carry everything !”, says Weiss. You can't miss the beautiful storefront too, all be-dazzled with lights ! Stop in and see Stuart for your news and magazine needs. Make sure you tell them Ava sent you ! You can get your copy of FOXX CODE magazine for 38.00. ( prices are higher as you travel North so get your copy right here in A/C ). What a great gift this will make for that special someone with a Passion for Fashion and Business.
You can also check out Atlantic City News as a featured company on my website for January and February. Thank you Stuart for being a great part of our community. As always for more info, you can contact me at http://www.4astar.com/ I'm Ava Holly and we'll catch YOU in 2012 !

Who makes you smile?

Wow...once again it has been little while yet I always enjoy grabbing a few moments to blog here. I have been blogging for areas of the "Patch" mostly in Galloway. Patch is an online newspaper that is just a wonderful place for information and fun things going on your communities. Check out Galloway at www.gallowaypatch.com See my blog there under local voices.

Today, we allocate time to recognize special people in our lives. I could blog for days on all the special people in my life today. I'm sure you could too if you thought about it, right? Well, I just want to mention a couple of people here..... I just feel the need to have you know about these 2 remarkable ladies if you don't already. One of them is Sandi Tuttle....
Sandi is a remarkable woman full of love, life and laughter. We really hit it off when we met. We are both extremely busy however, when it is time for us to catch up, it's like we never missed a beat. Sandi has an AWESOME on line radio show and you can check it out at www.blogtalkradio.com/sandituttle It's truly amazing and I was honored to be one of Sandi's guests at one time. We must never forget the people who move us into new places. I will never forget how Sandi is always there for me if I need her. Funny, we met at an eWomen event which brings me to the next person that I cherish dearly and that is the wonderful Marilyn Kleinberg.
I can use an entire notebook on the amazing people that have come into my life through eWomen. I wouldn't have met any of them if it weren't for Marilyn. So again, never forget those people that put you in places to change your life. It is all about transformation and how we move from one place to another to be better at all that we do. Check out Marilyn at www.ewomennetwork.com Better yet, come out to one of our next meetings and I will personally introduce you to her.

Thank you Sandi and Marilyn for being inspirational, educational, and 2 of the most cherished people in my life. As always, you can always reach me at www.4astar.com and let me know who you have in your life that makes you smile. Remember, when you smile, someone usually smiles back.
Make it a great day and say hi to someone special in your life.

Ava Holly Lewis

"Isn't that amazing"

So the last time I was in here we were kicking off the Summer and now we are into the first week of August, Isn't that amazing.... so what have I been doing since then.... do you care? Of course you do or you wouldn't be in here.
So first, I have to tell you about the fabulous eWomen Network International conference that I attended recently. It was truly a life changing experience. It is difficult to put into words what I took away from it. There were a lot of amazing speakers, surprises and great energy. If you have an opportunity to attend an eWomen event or get to a conference , take advantage of it, you'll be glad you did. www.ewomennetwork.com

We also had one of our best mixers of the South Jersey Network at King Pin bowling ..... What a load of fun , networking and great sounds from "Tear it up". Thank you Dr. Dave for creating the largest networking group of it's kind in South Jersey ! www.southjerseynetwork.com

I have been blogging for the Galloway Patch as some of you may have seen. You can visit me there under local voices at www.gallowaypatch.com . I also have a small networking piece in the Galloway Patriot and I just love doing both of those.

Aside from all of that, you know my saying... I never turn away the opportunity to make a connection.... so through a friend, through a friend, through a friend.... I wound up meeting the most wonderful lady.... Francince Watkins. Check out her book From the Ground UP.
Another place you can check out is www.grannyfrannyswisdom.com What a great place to get a little mind-sharpening ! Isn't that amazing !

I could take up several pages telling you how I met this cool lady, and her son ( oh and can't leave out Hubby--he's really cool too) so I'll just say..... I met them by intention..... You know I can't say accident for I don't really believe that. There are no accidental meetings. Everyone you meet, comes into your life for a reason. So I met them by intention........what a great intentional meeting !!!!! I'm already loving my new connections and my new friends. PS....thanks for a great dinner ! I will be blogging about Granny Franny at the Patch this week so check it out AND her son, Steve, is 4 A STAR's positive person of the day. (4 A STAR Facebook page - Thurs. 8/4)
Until then, stay positive and always give yourself permission to let your light shine brightly!
Lots of jammed in notes this time around. Just playing catch up and squeezing it all in for now.... Isn't that amazing !

Kicking off the Summer....

Hello, and today we allocate time for a collection of thoughts:

We kick off the Summer and a lot of things come to mind. First off, school's out, so you have all the students out and about, looking for jobs, looking for friends, looking for fun..... Take time to say an encouraging word to one of them. They are looking..... and no matter what their ages, they are going to head back to the fall with a new outlook on a new year.... Let's encourage them!

Next, Take some of your "off " time to re - energize your own mind. You, too, will be heading into the fall with a different outlook. Maybe you have a business and your busy time is now, so YOUR outlook will be different in the Fall. Maybe your busy time is in the Fall so you are enjoying the Summer off. Maybe you do a little of both. We are always moving forward, so use some of your time to just re-energize !!!! Very important.

Take time to leave me a post. Take a minute and tell me what your energizing thoughts are. Maybe I can even blog about it. I am blogging for the Galloway Patch, and doing a networking piece in the Galloway Patriot so I'm really not in here that much anymore. If there are posts or comments, I can work them into a story for you. Take a moment and say hi.

Last but not least a thought to ponder that I heard on the radio the other day.."Why is it that a Slim chance and a Fat chance are the same thing..... but a wise guy and a wise man are opposite?"

Have a wonderful 4th of July weekend. Think of those less fortunate, less healthy, and those that are out for the Summer. Re-energize you heart, soul and mind and use your brain to think!

See you next time......