Things that embellish

One Favorite Thing:
Earring inspiration


There is something so infinitely sexy about earrings on a woman. I recently took note of two earring types from some of my favorite television characters and plan to incorporate these sassy looks into my jewelry habit.

Gloria on Modern Family rocking bright, chunky chandelier earrings:

(http://blog.kendrascott.com/2011/09/its-time-to-laugh-out-loud/sophia-wearing-kingston-earrings/)

I found a similar pair at BaubleBar for $26. 

I also really like this pair of Roberta Chiarella earrings at MAX & CHLOE for $58.

And Blair on Gossip Girl flaunting Bounkit drop earrings:

(http://everythingleighton.tumblr.com/post/11062255282/tuccin-prada-dress-bounkit-moonstone-and)

Bounkit is beyond fabulous but for those of us who can't yet afford to rock their jewels, here are a few options:

These earrings at BaubleBar, appropriately called Milky Way Drops, are reminiscent of Bounkit's but priced to leave a much smaller dent in your wallet at $36.

This pair of chunky drop earrings from ASOS is pretty fab at $22.

These drop earrings from BaubleBar are very glam & priced at $120.

And if you wish to dream, just visit Bounkit's website.

So beautiful. Swoon.

Things that just plain rock

One Favorite Thing:
Koko the Gorilla

Koko the gorilla understands more than 1,000 American Sign Language signs and around 2,000 American English words. Naysayers argue that Koko does not understand the meaning of what she is communicating and that her expressions are used solely to elicit a reward. If that were the case, how would one explain her stringing together words she knows to describe an object she doesn't know the word for - such as 'ring', which she called a "finger bracelet" or a 'mask', which she called an "eye hat". 


Koko is also one of the few non-humans to keep a pet. Her relationship with her kitten, All Ball (which she named because she felt he was round), was featured in the 1987 children's book, Koko's Kitten. 

(http://www.geo.de/GEO/natur/tierwelt/747.html?t=img&p=5)

Remarkable.

Things that nourish

One Favorite Thing:
Homegrown goodness


I had the pleasure of dining at my parent's house last night and the appetizer they concocted was too good not to share.

Tomatoes from their own garden with fresh basil, mozzarella, olive oil & balsamic vinegar. YUM! This was paired with an organic olive baguette from a local bread shop.

Had any scrumptious food lately?

Things at Goodwill

One Favorite Thing:
Vintage Lamp at Goodwill

One of my favorite past times is digging through the bins & racks at Goodwill. A recent trip unearthed this fabulous vintage lamp, which I outfitted with a chocolate-colored faux ostrich lampshade.

Too fun. What finds have you uncovered at thrift stores?

Things that juxtapose

One Favorite Thing:
Where I was born; where I grew up


Way back in the fabulous 80s, I was born in Tucson, AZ. At five years old, I moved with my family to Washington state. The stark contrast between the two areas struck me during a visit back to my home state this weekend.

(http://www.socialmediabreakfast.com/bellingham/2010/02/19/smb-bellingham-recap-mindfly/)

(http://www.pugetsoundexpress.com/whale-watching-and-wildlife-tours/san-juan-islands/)

Are there any sharp disparities between a past & a present in your life?

Things that move

One Favorite Thing:
How to Say It for Women: Communicating with Confidence and Power Using the Language of Success by Phyllis Mindell


I started reading this book last weekend and it has seriously changed the way I think about my vocabulary. Language is power and weak language can seriously impede our success. A 2009 study by David R. Hekman of the University of Washington found that white men continue to earn 25 percent more than equally-well performing women and minorities. Using powerful language can give us women a leg-up on workplace success.


Building upon the book & further research at Open Forum (http://www.openforum.com/articles/the-power-of-language-5-wicked-words-that-are-sabotaging-your-success), I discovered five weak words that, if eliminated from our vocabulary, will empower us to action:

• But: replace with 'and'. Using 'but' in a sentence such as "I would like to run a marathon but I am not in shape"dismisses the effort and turns the 'but' into an excuse. If you replace it with an 'and', it provokes the question of how you can accomplish said task.
• Want: replace with 'am'. Wanting isn't a call to action. Using 'am' puts you in the drivers seat, such as changing "I want to apply for that job" to "I am going to apply for that job".
• Hope: replace with 'intend'. As the author of the article at Open Forum said, "Hope without action will leave you empty-handed." 
• Should: replace with 'will'. Should is passive, 'will' gives you control of the outcome. Case in point: "I should work out more" vs. "I will work out more".
• Try: replace with 'will'. Using 'will' instead of 'try' gives you no opt out. "I will replace my weak vocabulary with strong power words!"

Phyllis suggested using strong verbs instead of fluffy adjectives in our daily vocabulary. Here is a great website at Job Skills Information that has more power verbs than one could probably ever remember in a given day: http://www.jobskills.info/resume_edge/power_verb.htm. Phyllis suggested posting a list of strong verbs near your desk so if you ever are at a loss for a word, you can pick from the power list! The more you use power verbs, the more ingrained in your vocabulary they will become.

Speaking well is a life skill. I highly recommend How to Say It for Women by Phyllis Mindell.

Things that purr

One Favorite Thing:

My 8-month old kitten, Lucca

An ode to my kitten, the furry ball of love that greets me at the front door when I get home from work every day. Who head bumps me on the forehead as way of greeting. Who gives me wet nose kisses. Who makes me so stinkin' happy.

Some particularly amusing kitty quotes:
"Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message and get back to you later." ~Mary Bly
"Dogs have owners; cats have staff." ~Samuel Butler
"Cat: a pygmy lion who loves mice, hates dogs and patronizes human beings." ~Oliver Herford
"If cats could talk, they wouldn't." ~Nan Porter

Having a pet to coddle, love and bring up from infancy is one of the most fulfilling things I've experienced. Who is your special fur ball?