Subtlety is an Art...

Image: http://www.tampabay.com

 Scenario: A phone call with my sister, who is always considered, "The fun one."
Her: I'm going to Las Vegas this weekend, do you have any cute, sexy dresses I can borrow?
Me: You never return things, so NO. Plus, you'd need some spanx to get into your old size.
Her: Oh hey, I did! Got one of those cincher things they advertise on TV.
Me: Really? Does it work?
Her: Yeah! I put it on with jeans and a t-shirt yesterday and my husband said, "Holy shit, where did all of your fat go?"
Me: Wow. You guys are going to make it. I can totally tell.

The For-gift Card

(Scenario: A mind melding conversation with my mother)
Mom: Have you seen my coat?
Me: Which coat?
Mom: My winter coat. The one Lisa bought me for my first birthday.
Me: Like from when you were a baby?
Mom: No, silly. When I first met her years ago. You know what I meant!
Me: Are you talking about the winter coat that I bought you???
Mom: Oh... yeah, maybe it was you who got it for me... Hmmm.
Me: Geez, mom. So glad I made an impression! I sense somebody's just getting a gift card next time around.
Mom: Yeah, that's great. Get me a forget card.
Me: No mom. I said a gift... You know what? Yes! You will be getting a for-gift card from me. That way you can forget I got you anything at all.

Fun things to do in Denver in 2012

In the grand scheme of things, there's a pretty small number of things that irk me. One of them is hearing all about a super fun party or a really great event after the fact. Being out of the know absolutely makes me twitch.

So, in the spirit of planning ahead and making sure that you and I are at the right place at the right time, here's a handful of must-do fun things in Denver in 2012 thus far. Let me know if you're planning to attend any of these events and I'll be sure to say hello!

Goodwill Clothing Swap and Fashion Show - Feb 8

Wine and Chocolate Weekend at Bonacquisti - Feb 11 and 12

Nordstrom Beauty on Location -  March 10-11

Frock Out - April 20th

Chocolate Festival - May 11-12

Denver Food and Wine Classic - Not yet announced for 2012

Denver County Fair - August 10-12

Fashion's Night Out 2012 - Sept 6

Denver International Wine Festival - November 7-10

What's on your social calendar in 2012? Does your free time seem to center around fashion, chocolate and wine?

Friday Fabulousness: Come Alive

Happy Friday friends! I'm still in observation mode over here, but small snippets of my brain are starting to reemerge. *wink* I certainly hope all is well with you and that you're making the very best of this unseasonably warm January!

Thought I'd pass along a little inspiration from etiquette of a lady which reinforces all the amazing qualities that make you, you. Personally, I've been chewing on this topic quite a lot over the past few months, so I hope it gives you a friendly nudge too. Have a super great weekend!

It's Late, but Happy 2012!

Fall/Winter 2009-2010, ‘Coco Cocoon’ Collection designed by Karl Lagerfeld

Hello dear readers! Here's hoping the new year is already being very kind to you and that you're getting used to dating your documents with 2012. I barely bought a new calendar and goodness, time is so fleeting.

At the moment, I'm in a bit of a social cocoon (or coma, as it were) and I haven't been updating any of my social media tools since before my three week long vacation in December. I'll eventually break out of my protective shell and make friends with the internet again, but it's just so warm and cozy here in isolation!

Thanks so much for stopping by, updates will be posted soon!

The Yoga Moms...

Photo: http://scopeblog.stanford.edu

Early this fall I coined them, "The yoga moms." They're perennially beautiful, well groomed and happy. I see them every morning when I drop off my kids for school. Typically clad in black yoga pants and a baby tee, is it possible they're oblivious to how amazing their slim figures compliment each other collectively? I mean seriously, does skinny beget even more skinny?

On an ordinary school morning, I rush my kids into their classes, give hugs and kisses, then rush back home to start my workday. My mane is unkempt, I'm usually wearing sweatpants or old, faded jeans and a sweatshirt. Oversized sunglasses keep me from having to come face to face with a yoga mom who at 7:30 am is already fresh faced, donning mascara and a warm bronzer glow. I usually have zero makeup on and look completely washed out, or possibly have gooey remnants from the previous day's efforts.

The yoga moms all congregate outside in a group after the morning bell rings. They have coffee in hand and mysteriously have time to dally with the other moms before their ritual of hitting the gym. My first instinct is to mock them. My rationale begins with, "Of course you look amazing! You're a stay at home mom with no kids to look after during the day. Even if you sat on the couch and ate a box of doughnuts, you'd have enough time to work off the calories before school let out." But a yoga mom would never eat a doughnut... or any of the junk food I allow myself and justify as "fast, easy and necessary" because I simply don't have the time to eat healthy. Cop-out supreme!

So it dawns on me that I don't look like a yoga mom for a variety of reasons, namely because I don't make fitness or nutrition important in my life. Whether you're a working mom or not, you'll only accomplish goals in your life once you make them important. Finally, I get it. Now I have to make a plan, find the time and execute. I already envision the need to recruit professionals to get started. Though I wouldn't ordinarily contact trainers or nutritionists or join a gym, this is something I cannot successfully tackle with a workout DVD in the living room and a container of protein shakes. The thought of showing my jiggly-jaggly to a trainer pains me so, but how else can I create the element of accountability?

On many occasions I've mentally laughed off the yoga moms. Maybe they're obsessive with fitness and like to flaunt their super skinny selves to the rest of us. Good for them! While I have no intention of being part of their brood, making fun of them has caused me to examine my own bad habits and take action to become a better version of myself.

Seeing Red...

Coco Chanel once said, "Show me a man of originality, and I will show you a liar." Fact.

So if the empress of fashion willingly admits that all creatives are often inspired and pay homage to each other, I can certainly admit that I want to bite off so many of the great Fall/Winter trends. Case in point? Everything red.

Note to self (and everyone else): Go on, girl! Be bold. Even a scarlet lip spells out b-a-d-a-s-s.

Music of the Moment: Lovesong

Good Monday to you, dear readers! While I sift through the 4200 text messages clogging up the arteries of my poor, undeserving blackberry, here's some great Lovesong covers I'm listening to (and the Cure's glorious original at the end). All of these versions are amazing and different enough to enjoy on their own or together, I just can't decide which one I like best...

1. Lovesong by performed Adele


2. Lovesong performed by 311


3. Lovesong performed by Tori Amos


4. Lovesong by The Cure

Monday's Inspiration: Dark Girls, Daughters and Having Killer Taste...

Well hello there dear readers! My apologies for the radio silence as of late. It seems that throwing yourself at work, travel, kid sports, homework and the like isn't entirely conducive to regular posts. Boo. I'm really working on posting more often... gaaaa, there's so much to tell. 

In other news, I came across some infectious video gems that you really need to watch! These clips aren't like the cute kitty clips or snippets of the Monday night TV line up. Instead, you'll watch these and be inspired to go out and change things. Serious and real intangible things. If you find yourself affecting some really cool change out there somewhere, I'd love to hear about it!

So here you are friends, three things you should let your brain absorb.

1. Dark Girls Documentary - A very important, very relevant topic indeed. I'm not kidding, this documentary could easily span several ethnicities. If you want to help move this project forward, you can donate to it here.

Dark Girls: Preview from Bradinn French on Vimeo.

2. If I should have a Daughter by Sarah Kay for TED. Kay's poetry is vivid, fast and clever. My favorite line, "Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air." Hell yeah, those are the words of a survivor!


3. Ira Glass on the Creative Process
This is a nourishing little snippet for all of us creative types (even the wanna-be types like me). It's the recurring theme of my life, but you really must work hard and continue to pick yourself back up to get where you want to be. My husband quotes Tim Tebow all the time with, "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."

Long live your eyeliner, Amy Winehouse! (and your music, of course)

It looks like it's often applied with a black sharpie marker, yet it's still so deeply mysterious. And glamorous. And distinct.

She knew how to rock an outrageous bump and a subtle lip color to bring it all together. Rock and roll staples at their most alluring.

Throughout her life Amy Winehouse was many things. Thankfully, crazed eyeliner fanatic was one of them.

True Life Tuesday: Realizing Your Goals

Photos from my hotel room last month

When I was a kid, I had an after school job cleaning offices across town. From my lens (which was behind a big trash can, mind you) I was instantly enamored with the adults all dressed up in suits and dresses, shuffling their papers around from super important meetings and interacting with each other so professionally. I wanted to be just like them. To have an important job in a big building. To be smart and super fashionable in a metropolis somewhere.

Flash forward several years where taking a towncar to the airport and an airplane to work has become a regular requirement in my roles over the years. Infact, every time I get out of a taxi in a big city or look out of my hotel window at an amazing cityscape, I'm reminded that this is exactly what I thought my life would be like as a grown up.

As a kid though, I wasn't yet cognizant of the 10 and 12 hour workdays, the unending stress or the part where you miss your family. I was blind to the 24x7 on-call, eating lunch at your desk most days and missing out on school plays or the last day of school.

Now that I'm an adult, things aren't looking as glamorous as I'd originally envisioned. Now that I'm an adult, I wonder if I wanted some of the wrong things. 

That's okay though... I'm learning how to implement a fix. Just like all of you, dear readers, I get the opportunity to reinvent my lifestyle and my attitude anytime I choose. Regardless of our age and situation, life is ours for the taking, for each of us to invest in the unique things that give our lives meaning. 

Are you doing all of the things you set out to do?  Or have you changed your course for the better? How have the things that give your life meaning changed over time?

Life List Item Complete: Help Someone Find A Job

Photo: activerain.com

This is one of those life list items you're glad to put a check mark next to because you've done it, but you want to keep doing even more.

I recently got the chance to help my friend Ron find a new opportunity when he mentioned that he was exhausted with his job. We updated his resume to reflect his current skills and accomplishments, then we talked about the types of work he could envision himself doing. We refined his resume and job search around those things.

I reached out to other professionals in my network and found a great lead that I ran past Ron. We did mock interviews, I gave him a great recommendation (one of many) and voila! Ron is a couple months into his new role and has room to grow and room to breathe.

For my own job searches, I rely on word of mouth quite a lot, though I have had luck with indeed.com in the past.

What tools do you use when changing roles? Have you had luck with Dice, Monster or Craigslist? Or are you a word of mouth networker?

Lifelist Item Complete: Nerd Out at Comic-Con

At first when Melissa mentioned it at Starbucks one day, I couldn't really gauge her level of seriousness. She very casually mentioned that she'd read my Lifelist (it's a slight head tweak on the lower right side) and wanted to help. Then she gave her caramel macchiato a little swig and looked at me, eyebrows raised.

Little did she know my Lifelist was in a real slump at the time (along with some other things), and I was ecstatic that she offered to lend her effort and resourcefulness. "My husband is a comic book nerd too. In fact, that's where he goes every Tuesday night -- to the comic book store." We laughed. "I would be the best wife ever if I suggested we go to Comic Con." Just minutes before we'd met for coffee, Comic Con was a very distant pipe dream, just another "want" on my wishlist. And there we both were, nonchalantly agreeing to take on this behemoth challenge.

From there, we coordinated efforts to procure tickets, lodging and a car. Melissa isn't a technical nerd per se, but she hears and reads EVERYTHING. She would usually call or email to let me know when tickets would go on sale, or to follow Comic Con on Facebook, and Twitter. The minor details she suggested were so key to getting the right information at the right time, I'm not sure things would have worked out otherwise. Yet again, a godsend.

I recruited several of my nerds to help land tickets online, especially after our first attempt failed and the Comic-Con site crashed. Melissa tried the site from a dedicated T-1 at work, as did several of my Boulder nerds and I tried via three laptops at home via DSL. The second attempt failed as too, though only a few thousand tickets were released for testing purposes. We sent texts back and forth and were in good contact with a good plan, but again, the site crashed. Nerds everywhere were outraged! It was three hours into our third wobbly attempt that I finally latched on to tickets for Thursday and Friday. Coincidentally, these were the two best days on the much later published Comic Con schedule. Score!

Without the photos, I'm pretty sure Comic Con would be a complete blur. It was fun, exciting, fast paced and by and large, the people were genuinely nice. I'll post more about the actual adventure itself along with the panels we got into and USA Today's awesome PopCandy Meetup with Whitney Matheson that Melissa suggested we check out on Saturday. Damn skippy, I've got an amazing friend. And she really is the Best.Wife.Ever. Nerds in waiting, take note.

I feel so very gratified to cross this item off my lifelist, it was a blast, we were prepared (as much as we could be, anyway) and I was in good company all the way. In turn, I need to go help other people with their Lifelists... what's on yours?

Monday Moo's

Happy Monday everyone! Hope you are well, and your week is off to a hopeful start. I came across the ftlob Monday Moo's and thought it would be fun to give them a shot. Here goes:

1. How often do you post something on your blog? Do you find that any particular day is better than another?

I aim to post in my blog at least once a week, preferably on Friday when I finally seem to lift myself from the trenches at work. Plus, I get all dreamy eyed when I think about the weekend.

2. What types of posts are you most interested in reading? DIY, recipes, every day life, etc.

All of the above. I read a lot of everything. I think the human experience in general consists of increasing exponential exposure to new facets of life, that I just really like to see how other people create meaning in their lives.

3. What things keep you coming back to visit a blog and what things instantly makes it a favorite of yours?

I'm a guaranteed repeat visitor when:

- The experience is honest and authentic

- I can learn something new

- People aim to improve themselves and others

What kids learn in school...

Scenario: A discussion with my girlfriend Bubba, who is a crazed working mother of three growing boys.

Bubba: So my middle child called 9-1-1 today and really freaked me out.
Me: Goodness, is he okay? What happened?
Bubba: I was yelling at him, and in school his teacher told him to call 9-1-1 if he was being abused. Little shit! I had to convince the police it was an accident.
Me: I see...
Bubba: I am so stressed out! Calgon take them away!
Me: You mean, "Calgon, take me away?"
Bubba: No, it's them. I want Calgon to take THEM away. I have to go. My kids are really quiet. I think they're trying to burn the house down...

Treat Thyself... Mind, Body and Soul

 As I write, a massage, pedicure and red wine are in my immediate future. I'm not typically prone to such pampering, but I simply cannot justify putting in even more long hours at work. My brain needs time to unplug and process healthy thoughts for the rest of my well being.

 Though I haven't even finished this month's issue of Allure, there's great stack of books in my office, bedside and living room for the sole purpose of reading for leisure. Yes some books like Mika Brzezinski's "Knowing your Value -Women, Money, and Getting What You’re Worth" falls into the career category, but it's inline with the rest of my personal goals. Other must reads? Nancy Etcoff''s genius work on, "Survival of the Prettiest" and The Bible. Yep, apart from the bible, how's about those female literary heavyweights?

Thankfully, to my own mind's eye everything I consume is somehow good (and healthy in moderation) for me. Coffee? Check. Dark Chocolate? Yep. Red wine? You bet. If I could only find a way for cake to be considered nutritious, I'd be positively undone.

Mondo's Line for Project Runway S8.

And to conquer something that's good for the soul? I'm finally engaged in my 4th installment of a beauty project at a Denver women's shelter where I give make up classes and do make overs. My heart feels so full when I do these classes each year. Like the heroine Maya Angelou said, "At our best, we are all teachers."

Being the type of person to sabotage my every fitness routine, I was surprised when I stumbled across one that's starting to stick. It's not in a gym, it's not at home, and I go it alone. I get outside first thing, jump on my Trek, take in the crisp morning air and just ride. It's suddenly so liberating!

Last, to feed my more glamorous streak, I'm slated to do more make up at a photo shoot for Mondo Guerra's brand new jewelry line and my annual visit in August to the 2011 Riverfront Park Fashion Show.

Riverfront Park Fashion Show Photo: mydenverloft.com

Yes, I still work too terribly much, and that's why having this "alternate universe" filled with really cool stuff just for me is such a key part of my personal success. What are you doing to treat yourself?

Note to Self: Keep your day job...

Edy and I working a fashion show last summer

"The creative person basically has two kinds of jobs: One is the sexy, creative kind. Second is the kind that pays the bills.

Sometimes the task in hand covers both bases, but not often. This tense duality will always play center stage. It will never be transcended."

- Hugh Macleod, How to be Creative

Weekday Inspiration: Trees

Hey there, dear readers, how is your summer coming along?

Mine is speeding right past... as it is with most every other part of my life. I sometimes think that working moms have it the worst. We're rushing to get up, get out the door, get the kids fed, get our work done, rush home, hurry to cook dinner, get the kids to bed, clean the house, then pass out from exhaustion. That's why it's so super important to schedule time with yourself, for yourself. No one else is gonna help you out with that.

Today I'm taking some time out to drink in one of my all time favorite poems and wallow in its slow paced serenity. Here's hoping you take a moment out of your hectic day to let it flow right through you too.

Image: http://io9.com

TREES, by: Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)

I think that I shall never see
A poem as lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

Summer Beauty Mission: Look Fabulous on a Budget

Thank you to Kroger and CoverGirl for sponsoring this review. While CoverGirl provided me with a $30 gift card to purchase CoverGirl products at Kroger stores, the opinions I've expressed here are solely my own, represent my honest viewpoint, and not that of CoverGirl, Kroger, or Proctor & Gamble. I am making no claims about the products, just expressing my thoughtful opinion. Clever Girls Collective supports Blog With Integrity.

Anyone who knows me will agree that make up binges and blogging madness are two of my most favorite reasons to live. So, when I received the opportunity to do a summer beauty overhaul on behalf of Kroger and CoverGirl, you know I was all about creating some crazy good looks. Plus I like to push products to serve at least two different purposes to satisfy my needs for economy and efficiency.

So, my challenge was to spend $30 at Kroger on CoverGirl products and to deliver two looks: one daytime summer look, and one evening summer look. I was careful not to add too much complexity to either look, they're literally applications that you could use to go from daytime to evening with your hands and a couple of q-tips. From work or the pool to dinner with friends or a fun night of clubbing. I recruited my friend Jenna to test my beauty looks and here are our findings:

1. CG Smoothers Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15 #810- We used this  for all over moisture and to add a slight tint to even out skin tone with a light, protective coverage. With the added SPF 15, this is a perfect product to smooth over skin before you deplane, drive to the office, or travel en route to your favorite summer adventures. It warms up your skin and avoids looking washed out. However, I do recommend additional SPF if you will be spending an extended amount of time in the sun.

2. Cover Girl Smoky ShadowBlast in Purple Plume #810 - Creamy eyeshadows are super easy to apply with  fingers or with a brush. I used the soft pink color all over Jenna's lids to add a wash of bright color for her daytime look. The cream blush was really transparent at the first layer, but the color was was buildable by waiting a minute or two between layers.

For evening, I used the darker hue in two ways: 1. Using a narrow brush to create a smudged line on the top and bottom lashes and 2. Using fingers to apply the dark color in the outter corner of the eye and popping it into the crease.

3.Classic Color Blush in Rose Silk #540 This blush has a hint of gold shimmer to give skin a warm summer glow. You can even take it a step further and mix it with some bronzer for added cheekbone definition. This is a good meat and potatoes make up staple, though I secretly wished I'd tried the Simply Ageless Sculpting blush in Royal Plum. It's a creamy blush with anti aging elements and you can use it with your fingers to brighten your cheeks, lips and eyelids.

For evening, you can build up the color of the Rose Silk blush with repeat applications until you get the desired color density. Though if you're doing a dramatic smoky eye, you typically want to balance out your features by using a low key blush and perhaps a muted lip.

4. LashBlast Fusion Mascara in Very Black -Regardless of eye color, hair color or skin tone, every woman can benefit from black mascara. Seriously! I really wanted to test the LashBlast Fusion Mascara because CoverGirl makes some pretty big claims about what it does. Its supposed to lengthen and add volume to lashes, and you know what? It totally does. Plus the mascara was light on Jenna's lashes and didn't weigh them down. Impressive.

For evening, we added a couple layers of mascara to the smoky eye let the mascara dry between applications. Gorgeous!

5. Outlast Lipstain in Wildberry Wink and Teasing Blush - This product has a very exciting concept, a lip tint that doesn't add the heaviness of a lipstick or the goopy application of a gloss. It's a flat, bright lip stain with a finish that looks like you just ate a popcicle. Very sweet for summer.

Jenna and I loved these lipstains that look like chubby sharpie markers, however they are very dense in color and went on brighter than we anticipated. Next time we'll get slightly muted colors so they're less overwhelming. Still #415 is good on medium to dark skin tones for daytime and #440 is rockin' for nighttime. Even still, you could still top this look with a clear gloss on top for extra glam. Easy peasy, right?

Overall, I was pleased with my beauty haul and plan to use many of these products on a regular basis. Each item works well individually and also partners well with what's already in my make up collection. Great products, fun looks and seamless integration. What's better than that?

Friday Fabulousness: Acceptance and Motivation

Happy Friday dear readers! This week has been a doozy from the working mom perspective, but I've learned so much from this week's failures and successes. This week's lessons include learning to think about my daily challenges in a different way... not necessarily in terms of right or wrong or good and bad which is what my natural inclination tends to gravitate towards. That, and I continue to be so very grateful for the people who help make my life what is and continue to invest in who I am. What are the things that are keeping you strong and motivated?

I was inspired by this snippet from The Daily Motivator today and I hope it does something for you too.



Last, I hope you have some seriously great weekend plans! Summer is already popping off and there's so much to see and do. Me? I'll be at a Michael Jackson tribute at Red Rocks, T-ball games with the wee ones, a Rockies game and doing glam make up for a photo shoot. Taking time to do absolutely nothing is a pretty fantastic option too and will be making its way to my schedule hopefully soon. :)

And The Law Won...

Image: http://ludemanlaw.wordpress.com

Note to self: Only criminals who cry in court when questioned about their history of repeat offenses will typically receive favor from a judge (along with free legal counsel) in Westminster, CO.

Everyone else, just pay the fine.

Had a bad (hair) day...

 (Scenario: A call to Darling Freddy... )

Him: Hello?
Me: Hi, I'm a walking disaster.
Him: Oh hey Rhonda!
Me: Do you have time this week for your favorite little train wreck?
Him: Yes, I wanna hear all about it. You'll get a haircut too.

Five Fabulous Bloggers I know...

Thanks to Trop50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 Fabulous Wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous!

So you're probably wondering, what makes a blogger fabulous, anyway? For me, it's social media mavens, technical innovators and flat-out great communicators who influence groups of other influencers to take action. People who drive us to do more and be more. And the uncomfortably honest writers, who through their work, allow us a peek into real lives and real situations. People who sacrifice their protective self filters in hopes that the rest of us can learn something new or understand the world from a different lens. Bloggers, who through laughter and tears offer to teach us, help us, inspire us and encourage us to discover different parts of the world and new or improved parts of our ourselves. With that, here's my favorite 5 bloggers:

1. Mighty Girl - Maggie Mason is perpetually on a fantastic voyage. Or a rollercoaster (aren't we all?). Be it her love affair with eccentric fashion, San Francisco locals or her dedication toward making sure everyone has a life list to guide their life's aspirations, her blog is an open book to her life's experiences and a well documented account of everything learned along the way. Maggie's is my go to blog for inspiration on how to pick myself back up or try something radically new. And I'm never disappointed.

2. Information is Beautiful - UK based blogger David McCandless specializes in the creative intersection of information and visualization. On his site, he shares a love of design coupled with his ability to illustrate facts, data, ideas, pretty much anything you can dream up. For example, his billion dollar gram is an instant classic in depicting the billions of dollars being spread across the world for various reasons. Other faves? His visualization on Caffeine and Calories and the Create your better life index. After perusing this blog, I always leave feeling entertained, enlightened and informed.

3. Not Martha - In my search to be cool and domestically edgy, Not Martha's eclectic selection of food and crafts are my go to haven for putting on parties and other fun stuff with my friends. Her tutorials are ultra original and are well documented and illustrated so even someone as fat fingered as me can reproduce them. With Not Martha's help, I've made this, this and this, and everyone I knew was impressed. Truth be told, she had me years ago at Adventures in making lip balm. Seriously.

4. Packet Life - Best. Data. Network. Blog. Ever. This blog constantly challenges my technical status quo. It's smart, helpful, forward thinking and answers so many of the technical questions I'm afraid to even ask. As an added benefit, blog owner Jeremy Stretch hosts a free cisco lab in his basement that you can request access to for your own tests and experiments. I relish the stand up content in the articles and the ever patient (read: heart of a teacher) Mr. Stretch.

5. Cup of Jo -Joanna Goddard is a magazine writer based in NYC and she's constantly challenging her readers to embrace the very best life they can live. I never considered myself a bon viviant until I regularly began to read her blog. It's uplifting, fashion forward, creative, eclectic and joyful. It reminds me of the type of person I inwardly strive to be.

Runner's up: 52 Cupcakes, The Sartorialist, Tom and Lorenzo and This is Glamorous. What are your favorite blogs that you wouldn't want to live without?

Don't forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.

Racial Profiling or a Quality Issue?

Image: http://www.thejuryexpert.com

Scenario: At an airport in Atlanta. I have an airline ticket in hand, in queue at the gate. There's a Delta airline attendant nearby, busily accepting boarding passes. Nobody hardly speaks to her as she repetitiously scans tickets.

Me: Good afternoon!
(She scans my ticket and the machine beeps loudly.)
Airline employee: This is an exit row seat.
Me: Ok.
(She looks up to notice me and apparently notices for the first time that my skin color is brown.)
Her: Oh. Do you speak English?
Me: Um hello! I just told you good afternoon.
Her: Well you know, I have to check.

Ugh. I'd like to label this incident as unintentional racial profiling by a huge incompetent, but it happens too frequently to ignore it. This type of subtle prejudice is much more deeply rooted in popular opinion than we care to realize and often, the public in general supports it. Ignorance or lack of sensitivity is no excuse for habitual and casually applied racial bias. It's really hard not to feel slighted.

What do you think? Am I over reacting?

Monday Motivation: Madonna the Adventurer

“There's only so much you can learn in one place. The more that you wait, the more time that you waste.”  - Madonna

Today's motivation sources from the ever present Madonna. It's a great reminder for me personally as I've recently started a new chapter in my career and I can already tell that there's a ton of opportunity to learn and grow. 

 

While I suspect many of those lessons will be set in plain sight among my peers and more, I'll have to decide if that makes me vulnerable or simply forthcoming. Either way, ambition and initiative are still feathers in my hat. Am I nervous? YES. Afraid? NEVER. 

 

So thanks, Madonna. Your "Get up and go explore" philosophy kicks the shit out of that whole "Playing it safe" mediocrity any day.

Music of the Moment: What's old is new again...

Happy Thursday dear readers! Here's a sampling of what I'm noddin' my head to today. I'm kind of falling back into "like" with musicians I haven't been listening to lately or coming across material that reminds me of old musicians I need to add back into my playlists. What are you listening to?

Crystal Castles Feat. Robert Smith - Not in Love
OMG OMG OMG. I love Robert Smith's longevity and consistent delivery. Every time I start to miss Robert's voice and lean on The Cure classics, I'm refreshed by one of his new collaborations. Here, he lends himself to the immensely talented Crystal Castle's Not in Love. Never disappoints.


Silversun Pickups - Future Foe Scenarios
You can take this rock out song either way, man... introspective or otherwise. "Who do you work for baby? And does it work for you lately?"


Adele - In the Deep
When you play this song on and close your eyes, who is singing this song? Are you transported back to Motown Records in Detroit, MI in the 60's listening to heavyweight belters like Diana Ross and the Supremes, Gladys Knight and the Pips or Tammy Tarrell? Did you ever once consider that it would be some British white girl behind the mic? Me either. Amazing pipes anyway, and an amazing song.

Celebrate Their Strength: The Women Who Help Us

Just in time for Mother's day, this post is in support of the Heart of Haiti program. I hope this story will encourage you to look around. Who are the amazing women you are blessed to have in your life?
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A Woman Who Helped Me

She shoved me onstage, and I just stood there under the hot, blinding lights. A shy, timid kid who at the last minute was slated to perform in the school talent show. I had no talent or training to showcase, but my mom had changed me into a crazy witch doctor costume she'd made, and played an Alvin and The Chipmunks record (yes a vinyl record - I said it) that I was supposed to dance around to as my entire elementary school watched. I was utterly mortified as everyone stared on, wondering what I would do next.

Image: www.shadowdefense.com

I could see her motioning to me from stage left, using her fingers to make a big smile gesture across her face. So I turned and smiled to the crowd. Then she made silly side to side monkey steps that I mimicked. Everyone laughed. She danced around in a clumsy circle and so did I. The laughter ensued. I began to improvise to the song and fed off of the laughter from the crowd. Suddenly I wasn't a nervous introvert, I was an amusing entertainer that people liked to watch. For the first time that I could recollect, people had paid attention to me. They thought I was funny. I decided that I enjoyed being a clown slash monkey.

While I didn't win the talent show (the 5th grader attempting to play a choppy Beethoven was hard to beat), I had gained so much more. I didn't realize it at the time, but I had lost my sense of social anxiety and learned to improvise on the fly. Adapting as quickly as kids do, I didn't feel the torture that so many of my peers felt when speaking to a crowd or giving class presentations after the talent show. And when situations didn't go as planned, I was Johnny-on-the-spot looking for an alternative to get by. I suppose not very much has changed since then.

Had it not been for my mother forcing urging me to try new things and continually driving me out of my comfort zone, I wouldn't be such a hearty survivor in so many respects today. She's the woman who's perspective requires me to think things through. Her wisdom, zest and resiliency make me proud to incorporate her teachings into my own life.

I won't tell you that she doesn't drive me crazy at times (Because she does. She really, truly does.), but the encapsulation of her life's example is one that I am so fortunate and grateful to learn and grow from every single day. I love you, Mom.
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Shop for a great cause: Lipstick and Drama readers will receive a 15% off Heart of Haiti and Rwanda Path to Peace products when purchasing a Mother’s Day gift from the HOH collection. Use Promocode: CLEVERGIRLS at checkout between 5/3 - 5/8.

You can view the Shop for a Better World / Heart Of Haiti collection in it's entirety (including just added items for Spring) by going here.

I was selected for this very special “CleverHaiti” opportunity by Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity. All opinions are my own.