She's got legs....

Okay, the debate rages on. Summer's here and I've heard twice in the same day the age old question: Do you have to wear pantyhose to look professional. I've weighed in with my opinion (if the legs look good, go for it - if not, put 'em on, girls!) but what do you think?

It's time to cast your vote. Post a comment on More.com like I did, and then take Image Assets' style survey! Let's see what we really think about this timely topic, once and for all.

And just remember, sleekly tan or still fleshy white, those gams have gotten you to where you are today, girls, so let's hear it for the legs!

Thank you MORE!

"And to think, if I hadn't picked up the April issue I might have missed this!" Our stories all seemed to have this common thread. With apologies to Julius, we saw, we read, we responded. Most of us not totally sure why, just that we felt compelled to do it.

So thanks to you, Lesley Jane Seymour and everyone at MORE and CARE. Thank you for making this possible and writing the letter that got us all here! See, we really do read every one of your carefully crafted words!

I met so many amazing women tonight that I can hardly think about sleep! And this is just the start. LOL Everyone of them has their own very unique story. Many are exploring new options. Some are shifting gears and careers. In fact, re-invention was the byword of the evening.

And bravo! Re-invention seems to be a specialty of women, but more on that later. For now, let me sit back, settle in and savor the new connections we've made tonight. Because 6:45 will be here before I know it, and I don't want to miss a thing!!!!

Photo: Here we are at the MORE Welcome Reception, Features Editor Jolie Solomn, Editor -in-Chief (and author of the now famous April Editor's Letter) Lesley Jane Seymour, and me!

I am HERE!!!!

Riding in from the airport, I admit my heart skipped a couple of beats as the Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument passed by my taxi window. "It must be exciting to live here," I commented to the driver. "Don't you love it?"

He answered that it was all he knew of the US since he and his family came here from Eithiopia, Wow! Is this a great country, or what?

I'm all checked in, freshened up and re-lipsticked. Hitting the 'down' button to meet and greet at the Welcome Reception downstairs at the hotel, and can't wait to see what - and who - the evening will bring!

I know there will some major energy flowing. I can feel it already!

Headed to D.C.

I can't tell you how excited I am to be headed to Washington tomorrow to participate in the MORE Magazine 50 Over 40 Making A Difference, with CARE International. What an amazing opportunity to learn more about how the women of the world can connect to fight hunger and poverty.

When I think about the opportunity to get concrete information about how we here who, no matter our 'down economy', are so richly blessed with so much can make a difference to other women in the world, my heart races with excitement. I'll keep you updated as I learn more, and together, we'll set about changing the world, one more woman at a time.

50 Over 40! but who's counting?

Well, apparently the call has been heard! In response to a 2 day sell out, MORE has pushed the envelope and added 10 more women to the conference. What an amazing opportunity! I am getting the information and am getting more excited about this with every email.

As if speakers like Wolf Blitzer and Gwen Ifill weren't great enough, now I find that Richard Gere (yes, girls, THE Richard Gere) is being given a Humanitarian Award during the conference. My friend Marsha says she is goingt to be so jealous if I actually get to meet him! LOL Hey, I'm impressed to be in the same town.

Mostly, I'm looking forward to connecting with 49 other women from around the country who have answered Lesley Jane's call. Not to mention all the other women - and men - who are coming to the CARE event to lobby our congressional reps.

The message is clear. The women of the world need our help and this rich and generous country of ours must join the rest of the world and take a lead in breaking the cycle of poverty, hunger and abuse of the world's women.

I'm so there!

OMG I'm June Cleaver!

I rushed into the house after stopping by the store on the way home from another busy day of meetings, lunch, and conference calls. My family was 'starving' as usual, so I tied on the apron and jumped right into dinner, pulling spaghetti sauce from the freezer, chilling the romaine and slicing up the artisan french baguette (thank you, Costco bakery!)

Since everything was on target for our supper, I went ahead and mixed up a batch of triple chocolate brownies - part of a weekend food basket I'm taking over to an attorney friend of mine who had a bad accident and can't drive for 3 months (she who has a busy family of six, by the way.)

That done, I was ready to take a breather, sit a spell and watch the news. But no, the timers dinged simultaneously to say all was ready. Time to put it on the table, bless it, and dig in.

Everyone comfortably full, I got up from the table and started the clean-up. Oh wait, I finally took a second and ran to the potty. As I washed my hands, I happened to glance up and see myself in the mirror.

OMG, there I was, black apron, still (mostly) crisp white shirt and PEARLS! I had a flashback.

Remember how we used to make fun of June, cooking and serving Ward and the boys in her heels, shirtwaist and pearls. Well, tonight I GET IT! June wasn't putting on airs; she just didn't have time to change!!!!

I'm off now to slip into my comfy sweats and bunny slippers. Just had to share.

I want MORE!

You know how sometimes the universe just seems to align? Well, that happened to me this week. I picked up my copy of MORE Magazine - if you don't read it, you should - and there was a letter from Editor Lesley Jane Seymour. Her topic? Giving back makes a difference. Not only in the cause you support, but ultimately it's an even great gift to YOU.

Her column included an invitation to become one of 40 Over 40 Making a Difference, joining her - and MORE - at the CARE International conference in Washington, DC. Well, something just clicked in me so I jumped on the computer and lo and behold (as my mother used to say) there were just 9 spots left. I hit the keyboard like a madwoman and voila! I'm in!!!!

Whyam I doing this? Taking off to DC because I read the words of a woman I've never met?
All I can tell you is I feel called to do it.

More to come on me, DC and MORE>>>>

She's got STYLE!

And MTW Karen Hughes of Image Assets has the Style Camp to prove it! If you've ever - like me - watched in wonder at What Not to Wear, now's your chance to get your very own Style Guide in what the Atlanta Journal Constitution this weekend called 'style boot camp.' You get the idea. Kind of like intensive training for fast results, but in this case, almost before your eyes (or certainly in your closet when you get home.) It's all part of what Karen calls 'Style YOUniversity.' It's one school of higher education that's nothing but fun!

Take a look and then pack your (day) bag... it's time for us Multi-Tasking Women to head to camp just for US!

SNOW DAY!!!!

Well, it finally happened! On Sunday the snow fell all day here in big poofy flakes. It landed on trees, decks, mailbox posts - and finally accumulated on roads (and power lines.) After a brief outage, the lights came back on. With the wind howling through, it seemed that all the beautiful, wet snow would whisk away our chance at a Monday 'off', but wait!

The phone rang at 6:20 am. No school! WOW!!!! You know what that means, don't you? This Multi-tasking Mama is sleeping in and taking the day off! (Well, most of it, anyway. Still have to go into the office to file those W-3's and 1096's - thank you, IRS.)

But in any case, by the time I had to go out, the sun was shining, the roads were clear, and the driving was easy. But me? I was in my jeans and tennies, loving the 'day off.'

Maybe we should pay attention to this, and plan these a little more often. You heard me - yes, plan them! Put them on the calendar and live by them. Remember what we used to call 'mental health' days? I think I do. And I think I'm having one today.

Just a few extra unplanned hours to take an extra breath. Catch on the mail pile on my kitchen counter. Have a steaming cup of hot tea with a little honey. And not worry one bit that tomorrow, things will be right back to busy/normal.

Enjoy!