Release date: July 14, 2020

Publisher: Thomas and Nelson

Genre: Non Fiction

Blurb: From the star of Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta, now filming its eleventh season for TLC, comes a book and a life-makeover movement for women approaching fifty and beyond.

Move over, girlfriend, Lori Allen is here to help you say yes to what’s next! Star of Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta, Lori Allen uses her confidence, wisdom, and signature humor not only to help young brides on their most important day ever but also to model to them and their mothers how to live out the coming years as the best of their lives.

Lori Allen is owner/operator of one of the biggest and busiest bridal mega-salons in the country, Atlanta’s Bridals by Lori. But she’s also a wife, mother, grandmother, and breast cancer survivor.

Whether you’re feeling invisible, disappearing into the fabric of your couch a little more every year, or simply being indecisive about what’s next, Lori offers herself as the poster child of what to do, not do, and how to see your way through the unexpected.

In Say Yes to What’s Next she addresses essential issues, such as

• don’t let yourself go,
• marriage is awesome, but it’s no fairytale,
• keep your mouth shut and your heart open to your kids (and they’ll bring you grandkids),
• make time to parent your parents,
• maintain a close circle of girlfriends,
• get off the couch and live your passion,
• take charge of your money, and
• what to do when life gives you a faceplant.

Say Yes to What’s Next is a life makeover and therapy session from a relatable you-can-and-you-should-do-this straight-shooter as Lori helps women shape their own futures with confidence, style, and sass.

“Say Yes” to Positive Thinking with Lori Allen

 

When I was raising my family — my daughter Mollie and my son Cory— I always strived to give them happy childhood experiences that allowed them to feel good about themselves. As a Grandmother, I strive to recreate those same experiences with my grandchildren.

Here are just some of my recommended techniques for helping your kids see life through a glass is half full lens.

 

1. Positive Thinking Starts with YOU – That’s right, children emulate what they see and experience and you are their shining example. Make sure that you’re practicing what you preach; show your children how you look at the bright side when something challenging comes your way and they’ll quickly learn that that’s the best way to deal with daily frustrations and adversity. 

 

2. Positive Reinforcement: Parents frequently use reinforcement the wrong way. For example, when a child wins their tennis match, parents’ heap on praise. When that same child loses a match, those parents tend to go quiet. They think it’s best not to say anything at all, which is a big mistake. Pick out the positive parts of the match that they lost – whether it was a great serve or that they displayed good sportsmanship – and let them know that their efforts have been noticed. 

 

3. Play UP Their Natural Strengths – Another way to raise positive thinkers is by emphasizing the greatest natural strengths your child possesses. If your child has a lofty goal, encourage them like my parents did to me when I told them I wanted to open my own bridal salon. Use phrases like “I know you can do it if you work hard!” and “You got this, you can accomplish anything once your mind is made up!” Showing absolutely confidence in your child’s abilities will help them to not just think – but to KNOW – that the sky’s the limit!

 

4. Focus on the Good– You need to teach your children to focus on the positive and not on the negative, to always look for the silver lining. I’m not saying that they should never tell you when something is bothering them, instead help them focus first on the good parts of their day and minimize some of the bad parts. 

 

Find more great tips in “Say Yes to What’s Next” by Lori Allen.