burn, baby, burn.

I am so proud of myself. Today I actually lit my favorite candle, and let it burn all day.  I don't know about you, but when I have a favorite "something", I rarely allow myself to enjoy it...especially when it's almost gone. While enjoying dinner with a friend the other night, we got to chatting about this very subject. Turns out I'm not alone.

You know, the conditioner that not only makes your hair smell amazing, but makes it smooth as silk. Or the designer fragrance you love so much but only save for special occasions. Even better, the random (99% empty) bottles of Bath & Body Works lotion for no apparent reason other than the once-a-year desire to smell like Vanilla Bean or Plumeria. Seriously? Why can't I just throw them away?

For me, it's the same routine. My shower is a perfect example of random shampoo, conditioner, body washes and soaps. I love them all, and I can't seem to bring myself to squeeze the last of it out. Sure, the first few weeks are pure bliss...squeezing, spraying, sudsing, whatever...without a care in the world. And then it hits you. Crap. It's almost gone. Now what am I gonna do?

This is when I put myself on restriction from said favorite product, and rotate in a substitute. And the cycle continues. Again. For weeks I will use various backup products to substitute for my favorite, all while my delicious shower gel is sitting there, almost empty but not quite.

I don't know if it's separation anxiety or what, but it's weird. After all, if the shower gel was $20 and it makes me this happy, why not just BUY MORE? Isn't this why I work?! I think there's an underlying guilt factor somewhere that pops into my head to remind me most people don't spend $20 on shower gel. Or conditioner. Or [insert product here].

The same thing goes for my candle. I pondered buying this candle for seriously almost a year. Every time I visited my Aveda Hair Salon I drooled over it. The price tag was something crazy, and I always managed to talk myself out of it (paying $150 for highlights may have had something to do with it). After contemplating this purchase for way too long I finally bit the bullet. I bought the damn candle.

And guess what? I never light it. And when I do, I only let it go for a little while, for fear of getting to the end.

So my girlfriend and I made the conscious decision over dinner last night to enjoy ALL of these things...even the last drop, squeeze, spray, whatever. Life is just too short to ration out body lotion.

My assistant Kaylie walked into the office this morning and I was excited to share the good news.  Her exact words: "Good! That candle has been sitting on your desk for 4 years and I've never seen it lit!"

So I applaud my efforts for allowing my favorite candle to burn all day. And when it gets close to the end I'm gonna buy another one. After all, I'm worth it.

dear carbs...

Dear Carbs,

I think it's time to break up. Yes, I know we've been together for thirtysomething years...and yes, I know there is nothing like a giant bowl of pasta at the end of a long day. But really? Somethin's gotta give.  I've pushed out (well, not exactly pushed...but whatever) two kids in the last 4 years, and this muffin top is really starting to piss me off. No matter what I do I just can't shake it. I'm even thinking about naming it Molly. Molly the Muffin Top. Hmmmm....

What? What's that you say? Am I running five miles a day? Well, no, of course not. Who on earth has time to run five miles a day? And honestly, running sucks.Yes, I realize if I could run five miles a day I could eat all the carbs in the world and ditch Molly at the same time...but ya know what? That's just not gonna happen.

Excuse me? You don't think I can live without you? Really? Well, my friend, I beg to differ. I have been getting along just fine with your frenemy, Protein. In fact, Protein and I have spent the last 48 hours together and although the thought of you has popped into my mind, the truth of the matter is this: 
I'm just not that into you.

Oh, so now you're calling me a LIAR? After a lifetime of loyalty? That's it. We're done.

You don't understand? Let me clarify...

Adios. Au revoir. Sayonara. Ciao. Hasta la vista, baby.

And that goes for you too, Molly.

are you there, world? It's me, blogger.

First of all, I just have to say that after taking a week away from my blog I am more than ready to get back in the swing of things. It's funny how the whole blogging thing has messed with my head- leave it to me to put pressure on myself for something that I chose to do in the first place. Go figure. But here's the thing- at least once a day something happens (whether it be funny, depressing, or down right crazy) when I say to myself, "I absolutely MUST blog about this." Before I know it I've got a running list of things to blog about, yet I can't seem to find the time to sit down and write. And now I find myself blogging about blogging. REALLY?!?! How can this be when I have a long running list with topics to blog about. What is wrong with me?

So, this completely pointless post is just me saying hello. I'm not falling off the face of the blogging world, in fact I have a gazillion great stories to write about and I can't wait to share. Given my recent break up with carbs I'm feeling a little grumpy and under the weather (that's a nice way of saying I want to scream). Hopefully this giant piece of chicken I'm about to eat for lunch will help. Although I doubt it. I really think a hunk of chocolate would do a much better job.

Stay tuned, my friends. I know we're all busy with our lives, and if yours is anything like mine, well, it's enough to make you a little loony. I figure blogging about my crazy adventures is a cheaper version of therapy...but with greater rewards.  I have had so many awesome responses to my previous posts, and I just can't believe how many people actually read what I write. We all have stories to tell, and being able to share them makes the journey that much sweeter.

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD (a statement, not a question)

Usually on Monday mornings I like to add a funny or interesting story to my blog about our weekend adventures, but it just doesn't seem right given the circumstances. Today I have a gut wrenching pit in my heart for a friend who is going through one of those storms we call life, and in a way I feel helpless. When receiving her news this weekend I was brought to my knees in tears, and this is not an exaggeration. Sometimes the hardest part about being a friend is knowing when to step in, when to step back, and when to just give it to God. This is one of those times where we need to look straight up for the answers, for the healing, for the miracles we know only HE is capable of.

As friends we can pray, support one another, be there for a hug, and share in the tears, but there is nothing on this Earth like the presence and the peace of God. Today I lift up my friend Jennifer, her husband Jimmy and their sweet baby girl in prayers. I pray that this week be one of healing, one of miracles, and most of all enveloped in peace and strength.

If you are reading this I ask that you join me as a prayer warrior for this family.

 "The Lord God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exalt you over loud singing." Zephaniah 3:17.

To read Jennifer's story please click the link below to her blog:
http://incuteshoes.blogspot.com/2011/01/with-heavy-heavy-hearts.html

shoes, babies and cupcakes

Today I did something completely out of the ordinary. I took a few hours out of my schedule and had a lunch date with friends. From my experience it seems that when people think of a "work from home mom" a very specific image pops into mind. A morning in pajamas drinking coffee, casual lunch with friends, and an afternoon spent with Oprah, Ellen & Dr. Phil...all with a sprinkling of emails and phone calls throughout the day. Yeah right. Life as I know it is nothing like this, and for those of you who work for yourselves, by yourselves, I know you will agree.

To make up for lost time I scheduled my babysitter to come a few hours early. In order for me to wrap the day up early I would have to be disciplined. I plugged away at my to do list and managed to get almost everything done. At 12:45 I closed my laptop and headed out the door.

While sitting at the booth with some of my favorite girlfriends, I had what Oprah might call an "ah ha" moment. I never do this. This is so much fun. WHY don't I ever do this? I work for myself so I CAN have lunch on a random Friday with friends! That's it. I need to do this more often! Like clockwork we all commented on the same exact thought- you see, each of us felt a little guilty for taking the time to meet for lunch. As women (and wives, and mommies, and business owners) our to do list is never completely done.

For two hours we sat in a booth and talked about pretty much everything. From Allison's growing baby bump (her first, and it's a GIRL!) to Kristy's enviable shoe collection and my recent obsession with cupcakes, well, let's just say all of the bases we covered. We even congratulated each other for leaving our iPhones in our purses and not checking emails or texts (talk about MAJOR!).


We wrapped up the date with a hot fudge brownie sundae and it was divine.When the check came the marketing and PR part of my brain instantly imagined this message: 
   Grilled Chicken Salad: $13
   Babysitter for 2 hours: $24 (yes, I know...but she is worth it)
   Two hours with girlfriends and no interruptions: Priceless

Go ahead and cringe at the cheesiness of it all. I just couldn't help myself with that one! Lesson for the day? Ditch the Lean Cuisine and call a friend for lunch. It's totally worth it.

in my next life

When I was a kid my mother used to say in her next life she was going to "come back" as our cat. It was kind of a joke in our house that this cat was living the high life, and every now and then we would entertain the thought of who or what we would do in our next life (please note, this was all in good fun and does not in any way reflect our religious beliefs). I have zero interest in being a cat, and although the thought of being a celebrity is tempting there isn't one I would really want to trade places with on an every day basis (no, not even Britney...think bare feet and gas station).

So this is what I've come up with.  In my next life I'm going to come back as a wedding photographer. I'm pretty convinced that these people have the coolest job on the planet. Not only can they channel their creative energy into making beautiful art, but they are hired to capture the moments of what possibly is deemed "the best day" of someone's life.  How awesome is that? Sure, taking family pictures is fun and rewarding, but a family photo session doesn't hold a candle to a beautiful wedding. I guess snapping pics of a high school senior or a beautiful newborn baby might be cool, but I would much rather shoot a bride in the gown that she's dreamed about her whole life. (Do you have a new baby? If so pick up the phone and call Summer Adams- she is an incredible newborn photographer! Seriously A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!)

This thought came full circle to me the other night while attending a friend's wedding. The photographers followed her around all night, making sure they captured every single moment of her day. The bride and groom were having a blast, and they were there to witness it all. What a fun job! Easy, no. Fun, yes.

My friend Kristy is a wedding photographer, and I just love hearing her stories and watching her business grow. Her styled engagement sessions are so cool that I'm planning a fake engagement just for the pictures (neither she or my husband are aware of this yet). And every time my friend Melissa posts pics from a wedding it makes me want to get married all over again...with the same groom, of course =).  These girls are totally awesome, and I respect their talent and ability to pick up a camera and make magic happen. Of course I recognize there is a tremendous amount of work that goes into building a successful photography business- like anything, if it were easy then everyone would do it.  I just think this particular job would be pretty darn cool.

For those of you who will respond to this with the Oprah-fied "it's never too late" motto, no worries. I've got it covered.  I am happy to live vicariously through Kristy and Melissa's experiences and beautiful pictures. In the meantime I enjoy playing around with our fancy camera at home, and somehow I've managed to become the resident Junior League photographer (please don't hold the awful CFR lighting against me you guys!). I've even added a photography class to my Bucket List. One of these days I'll get to it.

networking is a girl's best friend

Okay, okay, maybe not a girl's best friend, but definitely somewhere close. Especially when you're a girl in business for yourself. Here's the deal. Networking is just a fact of life. It doesn't really matter whether you're a corporate executive or a full time mother, this key "life skill" can significantly make your world a better place (think private preschool admissions and/or booking a coveted executive lunch meeting).

I was born a social butterfly, so networking comes naturally to me. I guess you could call me a networking butterfly. You never know who you will meet, and I choose to take advantage of my surroundings. Whether I'm at ballet class with my daughter or a guest speaker at an event, I make it a point to meet everyone I can. Every once in a while you'll come across another networking butterfly, and the connection will be instantaneous. Immediately the business cards or phone numbers will be exchanged, and before you know it you've got yourself another friend, colleague, whatever. I can usually spot these people out of a crowd because they're just like me- they are making a point to meet new people. These people will truly make a difference in your life.

My dear friend Kristin just happens to be someone I would consider a networking butterfly. This girl is on top of her game. She is bright, talented (not to mention absolutely gorgeous), but most of all Kristin is all about making connections with people. She has challenged me professionally, and has also connected me with people I may have never met. What I like most about Kristin is her ability to listen and really focus on what you have to say. Once in a while you come across someone who will make a difference in your life, and Kristin just happens to be one of those people.

I was inspired to post this blog about networking after I received a beautiful Christmas gift in the mail. Guess who it was from? Yep, Kristin. Immediately I wondered how many other gifts she had prepared with such detail. You see, Kristin's focus is always on others, and I know she is a tremendous blessing to so many people. My next thought was: how would my business (and life in general) be different had I never met this girl?

Obviously the answer to that is unknown. But there is one thing I know for sure...she has contributed significantly to my personal success this year, and I have been happy to return the favor. The funny thing is that our relationship was one that didn't happen in an instant. It took several games of phone tag, a full term pregnancy for me, and then another few months before we finally connected. But once we did the rest has been history.

So the moral of this story is to get out of that comfort zone and do your best to become a networking butterfly. You never know who could pop into your life. It just might be changed forever.