A little R&R

Sometimes a little R&R is what what the body and soul need. I seriously can not believe it has been a mere eleven days since returning from a beautiful vacation in Aruba. 

What makes the time fly so fast? 

Here are just a few scenes from the week. 

Great spot to sit and wait for my massage appointment

Beautiful views

On the Black Pearl for a snorkeling adventure

Catching the sunset

Enjoying the sand

Ready for dinner

Cosmos on the beach

Looks like a Board Meeting of the birds

There are always rainbow somewhere if you keep your eyes open

Keeping it local this Christmas

Preview

Our Christmas Tree circa '09 maybe?

I received this email from a friend.  I'm not sure who  wrote it, and originally wasn't going to post it until I could find out it's origin, but it really strikes a chord.  Let's carry our Patriotism into the holidays.  Buy American and support your local merchants!

Feel free to share, and thanks Tony for sharing!  Too bad you won't be getting that flat screen you had your eye on :).


Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition


As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods --merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands.

Yes there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in produced wrapping paper?

Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificate from your local American hair salon or barber? Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamines on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.
My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.
 
Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre. Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.
 
THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.
 
Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?

The riskier the endeavor, the more exhilarating the reward

At this week's "Fabienne Unplugged" Client Attraction Bonus Day (me on the far right:))

I had the honor yesterday of spending the day with a group of inspiring entrepreneurs at the beautiful Stamford Yacht Club, compliments of Fabienne Fredrickson of Client Attraction.

Yes, there were many great marketing strategies discussed, but the even bigger message was one of playing a bigger game.  She delivered a compelling message about harnessing your passion (or as she likes to say, "your brownies") and generously sharing it with the world. Now that's a brownie recipe I'd like to have!

Of course it takes courage and also FAITH to go BIG (I love a biz workshop where the word faith keeps appearing on the page as I feverishly took notes to capture the  magic).

On this powerful day of 11-11-11 think about how you can play a bigger game in your own life, in whatever form that takes for you.  If not as an entrepreneur, as a mother, as an employee, as YOU.

It might be uncomfortable at first, but the riskier the endeavor, the more exhilarating the reward. 

As one participant shared, "When a rocket is about to break the sound barrier it shakes the most."  

I say....bring it on!

"All I got was a rock"

Ok, it wasn't really that bad. But the Charlie Brown Great Pumpkin episode did come to mind last night as I enthusiastically awaited the trick or treaters whose Halloween plans were thwarted in Norwalk by the unprecedented fall snow storm last weekend.

The porch lights illuminated the pumpkins, the Pandora Halloween station was cranking. Did you even know there was such a station? Although after we got through the obligatory Monster Mash and Thriller, the selections were a bit of a reach.

We were assembling homemade pizzas and I had my glass of wine in hand, while Rich was working on the last of the fall ale.

Then, crickets.

I double checked the porch lights.

I shuffled up the candy bowl to ensure that all three selections were easily visible.

Nothing.

I must be honest, Halloween isn't my favorite holiday. I think it goes back to the year my grandmother (many of you knew her as Dolly) made me dress as a tree for Halloween, despite my adamant protestations and desires for less brown and more pink, ideally something involving tulle.

Instead I had a bird's nest fastened to the top of my head.

Not nearly as cool as a little bling.

I was, however, ready to embrace it this year. Celebrate it.

In the end only three small groups of determined trick or treaters made the trek to our doorbell.

Sometimes you just have to go with the flow....so, I kicked back and ripped open a bite size Milky Way (or two) as the One-eyed Purple People Eater played on Pandora.  

Don't waste the sexy

Perks of working from home

This quote is on a t-shirt I got from a pole dancing class awhile back. Anytime I come across it crumpled up in the back of my drawer,  I decide it's a good idea to put it on every once in awhile and revisit the concept.

It's so easy to go the UN-sexy route.  As I write this I'm wearing flannel pj bottoms, gray thermal long underwear top and fuzzy socks.  Fortunately I'm having a good hair day so that elevates the look, a little. Also fortunate for others that I'm working from home this morning in this lovely ensemble.

As women though we shouldn't be embarrassed to take time to EMBRACE the sexy.  You don't  have to make a big production of it.  Simply put on a little red lipstick or maybe a sexy bra. It doesn't even matter if you're the only one who knows.

I recently took a  Belly Dancing class which did wonders for helping my fellow participants and I  appreciate our curves dabble in a bit of Tuesday night sensuality.  Belly Dancing is a lovely way to reconnect to your body and boost your confidence and  I loved watching the women in the class celebrate their sexiness and ignite their spirits.

Now to look for ways to bring that into our every day lives.  Tonight I'll give it a try by donning high heels and taking a spin around the dance floor at a friend's wedding.

Your turn.....I challenge you to unleash the sexy beautiful goddess that you are!

Planning to slip into this later!

 Don't waste the sexy ladies!