A Rebel Belle is any women who fully trusts, owns and aligns with her power to embrace the freedom and joy of boldly expressing her voice in the world.

A Rebel Belle has “BellePower,” and she knows how to use it. What is “BellePower”? Belle Power is her inner power and truest essence. It is the still small voice inside her that dares to be heard. It is her inner power that desires to expand and boldly express itself to the world.

Are you aligned with your “BellePower”? Do you trust your inner voice and power? Are you listening? Do you know how it speaks to you?

Your “BellePower” is within you. You won’t find it outside yourself. It won’t come to you through your most admired guru. You can’t hunt it down with a confused or fearful mind. And, it is not something that only “evolved” women own.

You have it. You already have “BellePower,” and it’s yours to be discovered and allowed.

How do you discover it? Go within. How do you go within? Find your joy. Find your passion. Find laughter. Find freedom. Do what makes you feel good. And, do what you love to do. You do it, you love it, you feel it and you become it — an expression of the inner you.

Are you expressing your “BellePower”?

I was on the phone with my 22-year-old daughter yesterday, and she reminded me how interesting and deeply ingrained belief systems and perceptions can be – especially when they are the ones you grow up with. She jogged my memory about a “beach bum” who followed me home from Myrtle Beach years ago. While having dinner with my family, he made the mistake of stirring his tea with the sugar spoon. I thought my mom was going to have a coronary – as she tended to do every time this happened in our southern home.

Well here’s the really funny part: As I was relaying the story to my daughter, telling her how we just couldn’t believe Tommy stirred his tea with the sugar spoon, Jamie responded, “Okay, and… ?” In that defining moment, I cracked up!! I laughed my ass off!

What IS the big deal about stirring the tea with the sugar spoon? Tradition, tradition, tradition! I actually said to Jamie, “Isn’t it amazing how normal your mother really is, based on all the southern rules and proper manners she was supposed to remember?”

No wonder I feel so defiant and have a sense of freedom when I put colored sheets on my bed or roll the toilet paper backward!

My friend “DixieBelle” sent this to me this morning. I wanted to share it with my “bellefriends”!!

A good woman is proud of herself. She respects herself and others. She is aware of who she is. She neither seeks definition from the person she is with, nor does she expect them to read her mind. She is quite capable of articulating her needs.

A good woman is hopeful. She is strong enough to make all her dreams come true. She knows love, therefore she gives love. She recognizes that her love has great value and must be reciprocated. If her love is taken for granted, it soon disappears.

A good woman has a dash of inspiration, a dabble of endurance. She knows that she will, at times, have to inspire others to reach the potential God gave them. A good woman knows her past, understands her present and moves toward the future.

A good woman knows God. She knows that with God the world is her playground, but without God she will just be played. A good woman does not live in fear of the future because of her past. Instead, she understands that her life experiences are merely lessons, meant to bring her closer to self knowledge and unconditional self love.

YOU HAVE IT GOING ON….KEEP ON KEEPING ON!

I invite you to share this with a “good woman” & “bellefriend” you know!

I just saw You, Me & Dupree yesterday, starring Owen Wilson, Kate Hudson and Matt Dillon. Funny movie!

Owen plays Dupree, a slacker who ends up on the sofa at his friend Carl’s (Matt Dillon) house… way too soon after his marriage to Kate. Dupree has a knack for screwing things up (with a total sense of innocence and charm, I might add). He also has a knack for fixing things up. He brilliantly and playfully re-unites Kate and Matt after their first marriage fight and break-up.

How does he do this? Dupree helps Carl find his “ness” and get in touch with his “Carl-ness” – his inner strength, his passion and courage to go for what he wants… which, of course, is Kate.

At the end of the movie, there he is – “Dupree, the slacker,” motivating audiences and encouraging them to find their “ness.” “Find your ness’” he chants, as he dances down the aisle in true Tony Robbins form.

So, I’m thinking… what’s my “ness,” and what is my “Belle-ness?”

Passion, purpose and play; living life freely, full out and on my terms… squeezing as much juice and joy from this journey as I can, connecting with people along the way, and, as Dupree so eloquently puts his “ness,” “Staying loose, Staying liquid and Laughing a lot”.

What’s your “ness?”

Click here to take a survey about your level of “Belle-ness.”

Here’s what really rocks! Remember when I mentioned that my designer had really captured my image? Well, I was looking through some of my old photo albums and found these pictures. I was cracking up! Did April capture it or what!

Back in 1966, my mom put her brand new Colonial Williamsburg home on the Florence Christmas Tour. So, for a solid two days, my sisters and I had to stand in the front foyer on the steps and smile (notice I am not!).

Oh my God…I thought I was going to die. What were my friends going to think about me? Most of all, I was so bored. For those of you who know me, can you imagine me standing still for two days while people gawked at the three of us?

Yes, this was one of those priceless moments in my life where my mom won out. I can’t say I posed with southern grace and charm, but I was definitely obedient. It makes for a great laugh. By the way, who the heck do you think I was trying to punish? What a sourpuss I am in these photos. (Can you tell which “belle” is me, Maggie or Paige?) Enjoy!!!

Again, fabulous job, April… thank you!!