TAKE ONE

What a treat it was today to connect with Kristen Robinson today ...

Who came to work with Johanna (our Director of Photgraphy/Videography) to film a special video segment for us.

These ladies worked very hard ... the results of which we look forward to bringing you very soon.

TAILS HELD HIGH

You should know by now how highly I regard the wisdom of Cesar Milan, The Dog Whisperer. I'll never forget a particular episode when he was working with a family that had moved from their home in the country to a new home in the city. (I think the city was Chicago.) The dog was so afraid of the new big city life that he couldn't even go for a walk in the new city environment. Every time they tried to take him for a walk, his tail was between his legs, his head faced down, and literally his whole being completely immobilized by an environment that made him uncomfortable and fearful.

So what did Cesar do? He took him for a walk ... not with one leash, but with two. One for the collar and the other for the dog's tail. The leash on the tail was used to keep the dog's tail high up in the air. Because as you know, a tail that is up is a sign of a confident dog. From Cesar's perspective, part of the solution to make the dog overcome his fears was to make the dog physically assume a confident stance.

I think this is such an important lesson not just for dogs but for humans. I hate being afraid. I hate it more than anything. But like all of us, I have been afraid. And part of the way I've been able to tackle fear is to force myself to stand up straight, shoulders back, chest out, eyes focused, power shoes on, power suit on. Because when physically I can exude confidence, everything else seems to follow ... including my emotions and thoughts. And once we are able to walk with our tails up in the air rather than between our legs, we can command a healthy way of communicating with all we encounter. And here's Cesar's words about communication ...

Once the tail is up, we need to be clear and consistent with our modes of communication. Even if others aren't. Let me repeat that last sentence. Even if others aren't. Because when we communicate with strength and clarity and courage with our tails held high, we will eventually inspire and teach others how to treat us and one another. It takes time, but it can happen.

THAT'S GUM!

It took me a few years to figure it out. For the longest time, Gerardo and I had this sort of passive dialogue going on about gum. Whenever I'd bring home a new type of gum, he'd chew it and immediately say, "I LOVE this gum!" And then after a few minutes, he'd spit it out and declare, "I HATE that gum!"

For the longest time, I thought he was just a super finicky gum connoisseur. But then it dawned on me ... and one day, when he spat out yet another type of gum saying how much he hated that particular gum, I explained to him that it's not necessarily THAT particular gum that he hates ... rather, he doesn't understand gum. Because the thing is ... gum starts with flavor and then stops with flavor. And eventually you spit it out. No need to hate it. No need to love it. You just chew it and then spit it out. That's gum!

PS: My favorite gum is Big Red. Even when the flavor is gone, it's not really gone. (Gerardo disagrees.)

RALLYING GREEN SUPPORT

Check out this adorable photo of Managing Editor Amanda Crabtree and artist Lisa Guerin. 

 

Amanda has been hard at work getting everything organized for the final art selection process for GreenCraft Magazine ... and sweet Lisa dropped by on Friday to rally support with a few additional projects. 

Stay tuned for more sneak peeks of this amazing magazine that will be coming your way very soon.

GET A GRIP

I've learned over the years that when you hold onto something super tight, it gets exhausting. Whether it's a person or situation, the heavier the grip, the harder it becomes to hold. And when the grip is that tight, there's hardly any space for new perspectives, new ideas, or new matter to enter the hold. Let's take the pencil for example. Pick one up right now and hold it as tight as you can. And try to keep holding it like that for as long as you can. 

It's difficult, isn't it? And in that tight grip, you can feel how there's absolutely no space for another pencil to enter the grip or any way for the pencil to move around. But when you're able to hold the pencil not so tight but at ease ... it becomes less exhausting ... much more freeing. Can you feel the difference?  

And the wonderful thing about this at-ease hold is that it allows us to handle SO much more. In this stance, we can actually hold LOTS of pencils. 

Achieving this at-ease hold is hard to perfect. But in my opinion, whether it's with friends, family or co-workers, it's the approach that will lead to long-term success.

POTLUCK DE CHAPEAUX

Once in a while, our entire office crew gets together for potlucks. Today was one such day ... where we enjoyed great food while all donning hats. Here I am with Raquel and in the background are Jana and Christen.

Here's the tiara crew: Amanda, Beth and Michelle ...

Here I am with Joy — one of our fabulous graphic designers.

Here are some of our fabulous advertising crew: Cheryl, Melissa, Sierra and Laura.

 

And here I am with Jonathan and Johanna.

Great food. Great hats. Great office fun.

STUART OCCASION

To know me (or at least my shoe closet) is to know how passionately I feel about my dear Stuart ...

And OMG ... he has just released his Spring 2009 line ... 

And to say that the line is HOT would be an understatement ...

And as beautiful as his shoes are, so are his catalogues. 

OK. So the four pairs above are my favorites. I know I have to narrow it down to one. But Christmas is 9 months away. My birthday is farther away. Valentine's Day just passed ... anniversary isn't until June. Help me out here. What's the excuse occasion that can help me welcome a pair from Stuart Weitzman's new line? 

PROOF POSITIVE • DASHES

Not all dashes are created equal. There is the regular short dash (that is created by pushing the key that exists in between the "0" key and the "=" key) which is known as the hyphen. The purpose of this shortest possible dash is to divide compound words.

The next dash that is slightly lengthier is called the en dash. On a Mac, the key command for creating an en dash is to push "option" and the hyphen key (I'm not sure if this is the same for a PC keyboard). The purpose of an en dash is to indicate ranges (e.g., a range of time, a range of dates). 

The longest dash is called the em dash. On a Mac, it is created by pushing the "shift" key, and the "option" key and the hyphen key. This dash is inserted to create a pause or to allow a sudden change in topic without having to use a period. Kind of like an ellipsis.

So there you have it. Three different dashes for three different occasions. 

PS: A great little resource book that helps explain this and other very valuable "proof positive" lessons in a clear and concise manner is titled The Mac is Not a Typewriter by Robin Williams. It was recommended to me by a graphic designer who was also very in tune with the details of grammar. I recommend it highly for anyone who writes anything on a regular basis.  

MILAGRO DE OMAHA

As we speak, the lovely Teresa McFayden is on her way back to her home in Omaha, Nebraska. While she was at Kim's event, she taught all of us how to make a lovely milagro project ...

This is how mine turned out ... SO cute, don't you think?

PS: "Milagro" is the Spanish word for "miracle."

MORE SCENES FROM LA MAISON

Here are some more scenes from yesterday's event by Kim Caldwell where she had lovely items from various artists made available for sale ...

Lovely decorations at every turn ...

Including this gorgeous mixed-media chandelier by Kristen Robinson, who will be teaching how to make it at Kim's next event in May. 

(Stay tuned to Kim's blog to learn more and register.)