Author Archives: LA Blogger Gal

BlogHer ’08 I’m SO There!!

blogher-08

Well, I did it!  I registered!  Looks like I’ll be spending some quality time in San Francisco hanging out with the some of my favorite bloggers.  Cool thing too since I have on my 101 in 1001 list to meet more bloggers in person.  I’m really quite excited.

Now I just need to:

1) ditch this damn sinus infection…again!! (yes, the hubs handed off his SXSW cold and it morphed *sigh*) Hopefully I can have it gone by then – I jest, considering it damn well best be gone within the next week once I get myself back on some meds.

2) Figure out if I want to find a roomie (someone I won’t know in person or necessarily even by blog) or if I want to go it alone in the privacy of my own room.  Going it alone won’t be so bad I’m sure, but I’m always open to sharing my space as well.  We’ll see.

But woohoo!!  I’m going to BlogHer baby!

Well, I DO Love to Read

Yes, I know I have a stack of books sitting by my bedside waiting for me. Yes, Robin did just send me a new book that I won from a UBP contest of hers (note to self: remove that banner). I know I’ve had a bunch of books sent to me lately to review, or interview the authors. Yes, I know I’m in the middle of about six books as I type this. And yes, I do have a book just waiting for me at the library that I need to get reading soon for book club.

*sigh*

Yes, you guessed right, I did indeed by a new book tonight…Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations by Clay Shirky. I heard him on NPR a while back and this topic ties so nicely into my upcoming workshop on social media and online communities. And of course, now that I look at the book, I see it’s a Penguin book and they sent me a slew of books to read just a while back and I could have possibly requested it. Oh well, I’ll remember that for the next time.

Oh and did I mention that I still have an article on social networking to write by the end of next week? I didn’t? What about the interview podcast that I’ve yet to edit from over a month ago? Hmm…not that one either, huh? Well, have I mentioned my plans to move this blog to it’s own domain AND merge it with my old blog, stalkers be damned? And if it won’t merge, then I’ll be cutting & pasting for a bit. And of course there are still those workshops I’m prepping for. Yeah, I’ve been a little busy. Is it any wonder that I’m too lazy to reply directly to comments or return emails with less than a 3 day turn around?

But before I get too busy (ha!), I thought my fellow book addicts might enjoy this quick meme. Fringes put it up over at 650Miles (why do they always ask about those naked pictures????). I’ll follow up and post my own answers this weekend. No need to tag anyone since only readers will feel compelled to answer anyway. But please, feel free to post this on your own blog (linky back please!) so I know to get off my ass and follow into your blog to read what you wrote. Make sense?

1. List three books you’ve always meant to read, but haven’t got around to them

2. Share the two books that changed your life

3. Recommend the one book you’ve been talking about since the very first day you read it

4. Link to this post so we can read all about them when you’re done

5. If you tag others, let them know by leaving them a comment in one of their recent posts or just leave it open like I did

Domesticated Diva? Maybe (or not)

Maybe not.  I mean, I just cleaned my keyboard and you’d be shocked to see the amount of crap that fell out – does that count?  How ’bout two runs to Costco in two days?  Um, what about buying curtain rods over at Ikea?

No? Well I feel domesticated.   But maybe that’s just because I played a rousing game of Bunco (and won!!) last night.  Then again, I’m just having a little fun spending my husband’s raise.  Of course, he might see it in quite the same light.  But hey, I have my first paying client today so it’s not like I don’t bring in my own money, right?  It’s a start at least.

I can’t believe I missed Wordless Wednesday, again.  Maybe I should just add it to my calendar so I get a reminder.

Well, I guess that’s it for me today.   Happy Thursday!

Spring Has Sprung! Get Those Toes Ready

pedicure, cute toes

Just a friendly reminder, it’s that time of the year again (I’m sure you’ve read this a time or two before). Please raise your BIG TOE and repeat after me; I pledge to follow The Rules when I wear sandals and other open-toe shoes:

I promise to always wear sandals that actually fit, no matter how cute they may be. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not ooze out between the straps.

I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free. I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe. Instead, try using a rubbery base coat like Creative Nail’s Stickey or Orly’s Bonder to help your polish last longer (I swear by this stuff!).

I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow. Or easier still, I’ll slather on some Mr. Pumice Callus Terminator, give it a little buff with my pumice and call it a day. And remember to moisturize nightly to keep your feet soft as a baby’s butt.

I will shave, pluck or wax the hairs off my big toe, or any of my toes for that matter.

I won’t wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker, mother, sister or stranger on the street tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it there.

If a strap breaks, I won’t duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck it back in to place hoping it will stay put. I will get my shoe fixed or toss it. No matter how much it hurts.

I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr. Scholl’s if my feet need him.

I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless no matter how low the price, even if my feet are small enough to fit into the kids’ sizes – even though the fashion magazines may say they’re back in style. Whatever. This is out of concern for my safety, and the safety of others. No one can walk properly when standing in a pool of sweat, and I would hate to take someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle.

I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like Vienna sausages.

I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworker when she asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell her that her toes look like they’ve been dragged behind her car on the way to work and no sandal in the world is going to make her feet look good.

I will promise if I wear flip flops, that I will ensure they actually flip and flop, making the correct noise while walking and I will swear to NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearing them.

I will promise to go to my local nail salon or beauty school at least once per season and have a real pedicure (they are about $20 and worth EVERY penny). Or splurge and spend a few bucks more for an even better, deluxe pedi – you’ll thank me for it. It’s the perfect way to get those puppies ready for summer! If you can’t afford the professional upkeep, I suggest Klean’s Peppermint Pattie Pedi. It’s everything you need for that at-home, spa pedi experience all in one nifty pack – just add polish!

And finally…I will promise to throw away any white/off-white sandals that show signs of wear. There is nothing tackier than dirty white sandals or flip flops.

So please, for the sake of everyone that will see your toes this summer, pass these rules along!

Does He Have a Good Eye or What?

Last week, as you may recall, the hubs was in Austin for SXSW.  While out at night, running between gigs, he passed this gallery.  He said he actually stopped and pulled out his camera to take a picture of the painting below – he said it reminded him of me and my friend and former roommate back in NM.  He thought so much of it, he actually took a picture of the stores contact info so we could track it down.

ww2large

The artist is Kathy Womack.  The above painting is part of the Women & Wine collection.  As a mother of three she lives vicariously through the women in her paintings.  Her paintings are just gorgeous and I can’t seem to look away from the above image – though her other paintings are beautiful and engaging as well.

I really wish we had an extra room (with plenty of wall space) to get one of her paintings.  She even made plates out of the images – so cool and what I’d be asking for for my birthday if we had some place to store them.

Hi, um…I’m Not a Mom

Why does it feel like that when it comes to women-owned businesses, you just don’t count unless your a mom? Any time you seem to read about successful women-owned business or even any how to be successful as a woman in business blog or article, again, it’s all about how moms can do this and moms can do that.

I get it. I mean moms have to juggle lives that I doubt I’d be very good at juggling. They wear many hats in the home. But you know what, so do I. I run a business that I’m expecting to rocket in no time. I run our household. I manage our calendars. I’m wearing quite a few hats both in and out of the home too you know. Am I less of a person just because I’m not a mom? I hope not, because you know what, you don’t know me or my story.

Why does it only seem to count as successful if you’re a mom? Why does the angel funding only seem to be offered up when you’re the next best thing for a mom? What if you have a product or a service that can benefit any woman, not just a mom? Where are those angel investors? Where are those success stories?

I love moms. I think moms do great work and we’d be lost without them. Hell, I had my own mom at one point and was right at my husband’s side to support him through the loss of his mother early on in our relationship. Really, moms are great. But why do we have to separate and compartmentalize our gender so much? Once again, this isn’t something we do with men. I think that this is just another way to that we as women keep ourselves down. Title IX be damned.

Let’s make a pact, together, as women; let’s stop judging each other, going out of our way to create drama amongst each other, trying to one-up each other. Instead, let’s support each other and work together to create the lives we want for ourselves and our children. Our future. Let’s stop building walls and trying to divide each other into groups and instead work as one group…women.

End of my rant…sorry, I read about yet another mommy group that received millions of dollars in funding and again, I can’t say that I think the site itself is really all that. It’s a place to hang your hat, but it doesn’t have that community feel to it.

Lookee Lookee What I Got!!!

excellent

The faire Ivanhoe handed this to me today! How cool is that?!? Of course I’d like to thank my darling husband, my adorable and feckless two boys, my many bloggie friends, both new and old and of course, life itself for making me the person that I am and giving me the willingness to tell anyone that will listen what’s on my mind. And thank you readers for following right along – feel free to comment from time to time if the mood strikes you 😉

And don’t forget to check out Ivanhoe’s blog. She’s from Prague and now living here in the states. How neat is that??

The Rules: By accepting this Excellent Blog Award, you agree to award it to 10 more people whose blogs you find Excellent Award worthy. You can give it to as many people as you want but please award at least 10. You deserve this! Feel free to award people who have already been awarded.

I humbly and graciously pass along this E for Excellence to the following:

  • Ampersander Bound – she’s a fellow LWLer, a great photographer and is currently keeping me enthralled with her NaBloPoMo March lists.
  • Beyond the Map – her writing will touch your heart its that potent and insightful.
  • Geggie over at So…What Else, What Else, What Else? – hang round this chick long enough and you too will fall head over heels in love with Burts Bees.  And man, her cooking and the way she experiences dining out makes me want to buy her dinner!
  • Sizzle Says – she’s got a great outlook on life and well, let’s face it, who wouldn’t want her as their landlord?
  • Tears in My Coffee – she’s moving on in her life and nearly ready to leave point A for point B.  She’s got some exciting times ahead of her.

I’m going to stop at five (yeah, yeah, I know it says 10).  Most of the blogs I read lately are more business focused, so I don’t want to pass out this award to all of the non-biz blogs I read at once.  I’d like to savor it and share the wealth a bit at a time.  Plus, I’d actually like you guys to stop by and visit with these gals a bit.  They really are some cool chicks.  So I’ll add my next five sometime down the road…when you least expect it! 😉

Am I Chic Enough to Hang with the Geeks?

The folks at Pop Sugar and Tech Crunch are hosting a Chic Meets Geek party in April.  It’s being billed it as a networking event.  But they’re also saying the whole okay you geeks, let’s find you a sexy woman and okay you sexy, dingbatty women, let’s get you a smart, wealthy man thing.  I can’t say that it’s really my thing.  I mean, I’ve got my geek already and if I wanted a new one (which I don’t), I know where to go to reach more geeks – without having to combat sexy, dingy, long-legged, pop-culture addicts.

I also have well, kind of a love/hate relationship with Pop Sugar.  I think they’ve created an amazing community and site – my love.  But I think since I’m not their target demographic, well, I just don’t get it.  There’s no real substance anywhere on the site – or any of their sites – my hate.  So I’m wondering if I’ll really get much out of it.

Of course, these tickets are selling like hotcakes and they’re on their third wave now.  Did I mention how much I really don’t enjoy crowds?  Especially if we’re talking about drunk crowds filled with youngish women that can’t quite hold their liquor?  Plus, how long would the line at the bar even be?

What to do, what to do…

BlogHer: I Do Believe I’ll Be There!

Well, the hubster is home.  Woohoo!!  Over dinner last night we caught up some of our upcoming travel plans – Sonoma Jazz Fest, my friends wedding, spiritual retreat with a girlfriend, BlogHer, more Herbie with an amazing guest that I can’t yet announce, etc.  Needless to say, it will be a busy summer.  I’ve decided to postpone the spirtual retreat in mid-June with my girlfriend in Ashville and shoot for October instead.  Doing this means that I can swing BlogHer.

So woohoo!!!  I’m going to Blogher in San Fran!  Will any of you guys be going as well?