42 Days until Christmas... but who's counting? YIKES!

To borrow a line from the Man in Black, “I hear that train a comin’…” but in my case, it’s a long line of freight cars loaded with to-do’s, shopping lists, party invitations and I- don’t- know-what-all for the holidays.

When I hear somebody carelessly say ‘Thanksgiving’s just the week after next’ cold chills run up my spine, my heart beats faster and I’m darn close to hyper ventilating, because Christmas is speeding way too fast in my direction.

And you?

Well, my mother always told me you should give someone a gift that you’d like to receive yourself. So girlfriends. This is IT! The 12 Ways of Christmas are here because they’re a gift I want - no, make that NEED - and all my Multi-Tasking friends do, too.

Join us and use them right along with me. Add you own Ways, tweak ours for your needs. Use one or two Ways and not the others. Make the 12 Ways YOURS, because we together we can be a lot more creative, and have more fun, than just on our own!

Share and let’s learn from each other! Any ideas we can get that let us enjoy the real spirit of the season? Well, you can keep your elves, Santa, because that’s the help I need!

Power Brunch

Okay, I just got home from Brunch with 14 fabulous, talented, powerhouse women. WOW! When that much feminine brainpower gets in the same room, the ideas fly fast and full. We met to talk about that classic subject - What do women want? But in this case, the context is what do women want/need to find out/know/learn about new revenue models in this ever-changing technologically-enhanced world of ours. (In other words, how do we do business and make money in new ways with new tools?)

The idea under general consideration yielded at least (in my mind) four good avenues for exploration and possible execution (oops, better make that implementation. Don't want anybody executing, now, do we ?) It was fascinating to hear each of us come at the subject from our own perspective, and also listening carefully to what every woman had to offer. As I sat there, thankful beyond belief for my women friends both long-time and newly met, I have to admit that I wished we had this type of input/discussion/leadership in every walk of life. Starting with politics!

In her book, DeeDee Myers made the argument for "Why Women Should Rule the World" and today was just a great example of how it might look if we did and when we do. Yes, we can learn from the successes (and failures) of our male counterparts, buy maybe it's time they took a lesson from us!

It was a dark and stormy night....

Here it is again. The night of creepy crawlers, beastly beasties, and all things come from the gathering fog to haunt your days and nights. The scariest day of the year....

Wait. You think I'm talking Halloween here?

Heck no! I'm talking about the sheer raving terror that arises the minute the calendar flips from October 31 to (cue very scary music) NOVEMBER 1st!!!!! EEEKKKKKKKKK!!!!! No sooner have we put the candy out for the kids than the Christmas decorations loom large on the horizon. The skeleton's on the door but the spectre of gift lists, party invitations and big family gatherings to plan for rises from the undead to haunt our days and nights from now till December 31^st!

Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE the holidays. Any chance to celebrate brings a smile to my face. It's just that somehow, whoever planned this calendar we live our lives by missed out on a great opportunity to insert some extra time that we REALLY NEED.

Wouldn't it be lovely if there were - as one of my great heroes Dr. Seuss opined - a first of Octember? Just think what life would be like if there was a week, a day or even just a few hours of ‘bonus’ time - to soften the transition, to adjust, to just get used to the idea that, oops, now we need to shift into holiday high gear.

Well, there may not be an actual day, but this year I’m carving out some extra time here and there to truly enjoy the holidays. I guess you could say that ‘I’m getting by with a little help from my friends’, and invite you to share the journey with me.

For tonight, enjoy those baby Butterfingers, rainbows of Skittles, and mouthfuls of M&M’s, for tomorrow we begin!

When Life Happens...

I'm sitting in the Outpatient Waiting Room at the wonderful St. Joseph's Hospital. My husband is back in the 'recovery room' waking up from a minor procedure. (He reminded me this morning that a 'minor procedure' is only when it happens to somebody else!) Okay, I admit, I get that. Really.

What I am struck with as I sit here, the one who waits, is that despite that old saw that you-know-what happens, it really strikes me that it's all just life. Make that LIFE. This is just another part of the 'in sickness and in health' we vowed to. Judging it 'good' or 'bad' I realize is truly unfair to all. It just 'is'!

Wait, there's the doctor.... whew! All is okay but wait a minute. Life just happened again. Lots of pain meds so the outpatient is now an overnight 'inpatient' (boy is that a really close to accurate term!) When he fully awakens I know he'll want to be home.

But for now, just waiting for life to keep happening. And being grateful for every minute.

PS And I'm truly thankful for friends like CA who take up the slack! You are God-sent, I have no doubt, girlfriend!

31 Days in the Pink!

Wow! It's now 23 days into the 31, and our Multi-Tasking best buddy Karen (Hughes) is still 'in the Pink!' The month of October, as we all know, is designated for Breast Cancer awareness, and this year, she challenged herself to WEAR PINK every day, in honor of her mom and dad, both of whom had breast cancer.

Now as an Image Consultant, Karen probably has the creative jump on most of us for ways to work pink into her daily wardrobe, but even she admits it's been a bit harder since pink isn't exactly 'on trend' for Fall 2009. Well, pink may not be hot on the Runway this October, Karen, but you're sure catching our attention!

If you haven't had a chance to see what's going on, log on to Karen's blog. She's posting pictures In the Pink, and giving us all great style tips along the way! Here one of us with Karen last night, as she shared Style Secrets we could all use!

Okay, I quit! (for tonight anyway.) LOL

7:19 and I declare it is officially quitting time!

The wallpaper is stripped. Three loads down and one to go on laundry. eMails all handled; even got a tweet out! Now it is time to shower (oh, yeah!) change, and go out for dinner. Where? Who cares! As long as I'm not cooking. Although that veggie soup still simmering on the stove smells pretty good.

I'm guessing the family's up for pizza tonight - and a big Greek salad at our favorite spot. Of course, if the TV's not on Ga Tech, we'll have to get them to change it. Homecoming, don't you know?

Well, this Multi-Tasking Woman's signing off for tonight. Don't think I could have packed one more thing into this Saturday.

Cheers!

Testing. Testing...

Okay, how many things CAN I do at once on a Saturday? Well, today, let me report in that I am:

1. Stripping wallpaper off the walls in my son's bathroom (after cleaning out the refrigerator and freezer to see what's actually in there)
2. Simmering a pot of homemade vegetable soup on the stove (see, you never know what you'll find in the deep recesses of refrigeration.)
3. Washing YET ANOTHER round of clothes, sheets and towels (how can 3 people generate so much laundry in a single week???)
4. In between, I'm checking email to finalize the 12 Ways of Christmas series, AND the cool Facebook Quiz Mary's setting up for us!
5. Oh and deciding to record this moment for posterity on my blog!

Reporting back shortly. Can I do it? Will it work? My Super Cape is getting sweaty... will it slow me down? More to come.

Trends with Friends? Now we know what’s hot and what’s not this season.

If you’re like me, shopping for yourself is the LAST thing you have time for in your way-too-busy days. Yet you do want to dress like you know what’s in style this year, yes? Well, last night Karen Hughes of Image Assets showed us a few simple ways to bring this season’s trends into our wardrobes without cleaning out the closet – or our pocketbooks!

Here are a few of the looks that are big this fall and winter, along with a little of what I learned from Karen (photos coming!)

• Motorcycle- Biker Glam (leather, zippers, denim) This look may be too extreme for a ‘regular’ day, but a biker-like leather jacket can punch up a silk blouse and pencil skirt.

• Curtain Call -(Heavy damask and velvets) Think rich, totally luxe, regal – hey you have to keep warm in the winter castle somehow, girls!

• Heavenly Body (Sheer, see-through, draped) Demure, but romantic, layers, ruffles at the neck, the wrist, oh-so feminine.

• Iron Maiden (Military, ripped/torn fabrics, epaulettes, metal buttons) Okay, I admit for this one, I’m visualizing Cate Blanchett at Irina Spalko with Indy.

• Metallica (Cut-outs, grommets, embellishments) Futuristic, think Star Trek, and shoulder pads? They’re BAAACK…

• Menswear (the Boyfriend look, cardigans, white shirts) but don’t just borrow his, get your own and make it fit!

• Russian Inspired (Fur-trimmed, boots, structured coats, hats) When I was in Paris in June, this was the ONLY look showing in the windows at Chanel. Rich curly lamb, suede boots, fitted boiled wood coats, and big, big jewels worthy of the czarina.


Want to learn more? Drop a line to Karen at ImageAssets.net She does a great Style Camp and I think there’s one more scheduled for this fall!