The Blog

December 17th, 2009

Book Talk: Holiday Grind by Cleo Coyle

If you, like me, count the days until Starbucks rolls out the red cups every year, you will love Holiday Grind the latest in the Coffeehouse Mysteries by Cleo Coyle.

Published on November 9th, the newest installment in the chronicles of Clare Cosi and the Village Blend cafe is set at Christmas time - and what could be more perfect as a setting than Christmas in New York ?

On the night of a special private coffee tasting, in which Clare, her staff, and their friends choose which flavors to use in their “Fa La La La Lates,” Santa stands them up. Worried, since the street corner Santa Claus is also her friend, Clare sets off into the snowy streets to investigate, only to find the man’s dead body in a dark alley.

What follows is fairly typical Coffeehouse fare: Clare investigates the murder, and steps into harm’s way more often than not, sometimes with comical consequences, and sometimes to face real danger.

But this is a holiday novel, as well as a murder mystery, so expect Clare’s significant other, Detective Mike Quinn, to show up just when she needs him most, and also expect the usual tensions with her ex-husband Matteo.

Of course, this is a Village Blend novel, so ALSO expect the treasure-trove of cafe recipes that you can try on your own.

December 16th, 2009

Inspirational Women: Six Questions with Entrepreneur Aurea Crotty

Give us your “Elevator” Speech as to WHO you are and WHAT it is that you do for a “living”. And how should we “know” you?

I help women realize their full potential by providing a community both online and offline that provides support, mentorship and inspiration to help them achieve personal and professional success.

I am the founder of Savoir Faire Professionals Inc. a revolutionary personal and professional development community specifically catering to women in their 20’s and 30’s.

I am also the founder of PrettySavvy.com / .ca an online magazine promoting personal and professional development in women 20’s and 30’s.

After working in the advertising world for several years, I was clear that I did not want to work in the corporate world for anyone any longer. I wanted desperately to do something that would provide a sense of fulfillment, a sense of purpose and that would allow me to be in control of my life and vision.

My vision was and still is to contribute something to this world that will help make it a better place (tissue please!). Our time here is short and I want to make it the best experience I can not only for myself but for those around me.

As my dissatisfaction for the corporate world grew and my desire to leave it consumed me, my mother who was in breast cancer remission, was given 6 months to live. It actually ended up being less than 3 and in that time I quit my job to be by her side as she transitioned from this life to the next.

My mothers passing filled me with a sadness that has been unparallel to anything else I have ever experienced. It was also the most powerful and life changing experience to actually watch the transition of life into afterlife.

Since that moment I have become acutely aware that I have one chance at this life and I want to make it the best life possible. I know the material things we can consume our lives with have no value or meaning in the end (that’s not to say I don’t love my shoes –lol). I want to consume my life with relationships and experiences of impact, meaning, and love - the things I know I can take with me for eternity.

After my mothers passing I decided to take control of my life and began a “life audit”, looking at times in my life I felt “in my element” where I felt a sense of peace and true excitement and fulfillment. I was using my soul to find my passion and not my head.

I believe the answer to our soul’s happiness lies within us and the clues to uncovering it lies in our life experiences. We remember these experiences with fondness and excitement…. they are imprinted within us so strongly that we cannot forget them. By going back to those moments in our lives and analyzing why they meant so much to us, and what it was in those experiences that fueled us –we begin to uncover who we are and what we’re passionate about.

My life audit showed me that I was a natural leader, planner and mentor. I was and still am fascinated by communication and the unconscious minds effect on our life. I am a philosopher at heart who despite my down days (I am human after all) is an eternal optimist.

I began by my entrepreneurial life as a personal brand coach focusing on the psychology of communication, specifically understanding image as an integral part of human psyche and launched Coutura Consulting.

Since starting my business in 2005, I have worked with hundreds of women and became increasingly aware of the struggles they face in their careers and the need for balance.

It was clear that many young women didn’t have mentors, lack confidence, and craved help in building their careers. Knowing how important these pieces were to my own success, I wanted to find a way to inspire young professionals to take the necessary action in achieving their goals.

Enter Dorothy my mentor!

I met Dorothy at a networking event, she was the keynote speaker and was fabulous. Everything about her moved me. She radiated…I felt a connection and wanted to learn more about her and her life.

Dorothy agreed to meet me for Coffee (I had tea) and in the brief time we spent together she transformed my career and life! In the few yet very poignant questions she asked, a picture of my life began to unfold and the possibilities for my potential unveiled… it was a trip!

And now I had to do something about it!

In Dorothy I found a mentor, she was and continues to be a very big part of my life. The gift a mentor brings is that of wisdom and motivation. My learning really was in letting myself BE mentored and realizing that success cannot be attained on my own, I needed to rely on others to help me (this was a big deal for me, because I have always been of the mind that I will do it myself). By opening myself up I allow life to happen, by giving to others and allowing others to give to me I create a synergy of energy with people that is very powerful.

Savoir Faire Professionals Inc was born. Along with Pretty Savvy.

I feel very confident and blessed knowing that I have found my calling. Through SFPinc and Pretty Savvy I inspire and motivate women to become more confident –I help guide them in their life journey. I create an open and engaging learning environment, which instills thought, love, and passion.

What is your personal “motto” or “mission statement”?

Love your life today
Dream big for tomorrow
Become who you are meant to be

Besides your business, what are you passionate about?

So much!   I love the arts (all kinds) and books.

The mind and soul –the human experience

I am passionate about the possibilities which exist within all of us once we abandon fear.
I am passionate about creating a world of peace and social concisionsness.
I am passionate about embracing my life as a precise gift and amercing myself in all of life’s opportunities.

What advice would you give to other women wanting to follow your career path?

1. Love what you do! Being an entrepreneur is a 24/7 gig truly –you sleep it, breath it, eat it, it is in everything you do… it is a level of accountability and responsibility that is so personal that only true passion can take you through the ups and downs (and it does get nutty).
2. If your can think it and feel it –it’s right for you!
   If you can just think it - probably not right for you.
3. Surround yourself with the best –don’t waste your time with people or things that drag you down.
4. Be open to the journey –listen to your soul not your head…as long as you feel you are on the right path, then you are exactly where you are meant to be –don’t try and figure it all out, you can’t.
5. Have a mentor
6. Do what inspires you! Not what you think others will be inspired by.
7. There is no such thing as competition! You are unique and who you attract to your business will be exclusive to you.

Pimp yourself! Where can we find you on the web, in bookstores, at the movies, on TV, etc?

• Savoirfaireprofessionals.com
• Prettysavvy.com & .ca

December 15th, 2009

TripIt Pro Is Worth It

My alarm clock went off at 4:16 am this morning. It’s an ungodly hour to be awake. The sun hadn’t even risen and the house was freezing cold.Time for another business trip.I don’t call myself a road warrior. That label of distinction is something I reserve for the true travel die-hards who are on the road every week and have learned to travel so well that they practically levitate through security and float into their first class seats without so much as a wrinkle in their freshly pressed oxfords.

So even though I’m no road warrior, there are some standard things I do in order to make my trip easier that have now become my usual pattern. I check-in online and print out my boarding passes ahead of time. My new obsession is paperless boarding passes – save the trees while having one less physical object to worry about losing. Carrying on makes my journey less complicated. But truth is that I’d been feeling like there’s more I could do to make my travel more effortless, more streamlined.

My husband first invited me to TripIt so we could share vacation planning itineraries. I humored him (if there’s a word to describe someone who tries out new stuff before the “early adopters”, that’s him) and joined up. It was free, after all. I used it for vacation planning and to stay in the loop on his business travel. But I didn’t initially rely on it very heavily because at the time I didn’t travel more than once a year for business.Fast forward a couple of years and I’m making an average of one trip per month. TripIt started getting more useful because I could simply e-mail my itinerary sent from my travel agency to TripIt and they’d parse it, load it into their databases, and have it ready for me to review and share within minutes. When I downloaded the iPhone TripIt application and used it to tell me gate location information quicker than checking the airline sites, I was hooked.Like any addict, the simple plain vanilla functionality offered by TripIt eventually didn’t seem like enough. I wanted more. I needed more. That’s when I caved in and made the leap and paid for TripIt Pro.

It’s like having my own personal travel agent following me around (not in a stalkerish Verizon-techie way) and advising me about all I need to know to ensure my trip is as smooth and as hassle-free as possible. After loading in a trip itinerary, TripIt Pro monitors the status of the flights and let’s you know if there are any reschedules or changes that might affect your trip. You can check the status of your itinerary either on the web site or on your iPhone application which displays more information for TripIt Pro users (Blackberry application will be available soon). When it’s time to check-in ahead of time and print out boarding passes, it can be set up to text a reminder. This feature is very helpful for me because I sometimes get so busy at work that I don’t remember to check-in ahead of time until I’m packing later than night, and then I have to wrestle with my home printer to spit out my boarding passes.

Returning to this morning at 4:20 am when I was rubbing the sleep out of my eyes and checking my iPhone, I have to decidedly own that TripIt Pro unequivocally proved its worth. It was a simple text informing me that my flight (together with airline and flight number) was on time and that I should arrive at Terminal A, gate A37. I didn’t have to fiddle with my paperwork, call the airline, or even bother looking it up on my computer – three tasks that I would rather not tackle in my foggy-headed, caffeine-lacking, not-a-morning-person-but-trying-to-be-functional state.

On top of the text alerts, TripIt Pro also extends the networking functionality that is part of the free TripIt. In addition to connections with the likes of LinkedIn and Twitter, the standard TripIt also offers you the ability to connect with other users and updates you on when they are traveling. It you have TripIt Pro, you can specify certain users to be part of your Inner Circle. It’s a short cut for ensuring that family and close friends can have access to your information without you having to specifically grant it to them for each itinerary.

For anyone who travels frequently and wants to further simplify her logistics, I highly recommend forking over the $69 per year to upgrade from TripIt to TripIt Pro. For those who aren’t true believers after this above testimony, just try the regular TripIt and see if you get hooked. I wish you happy, safe, and hassle-free travels!

December 14th, 2009

Christmas traditions: Sprouts

At the weekend I was listening to a debate about turkey versus goose for the big Christmas Day meal. In the UK turkey is more popular nowadays, but traditionally it would have been goose, for those who could afford it.

As a vegetarian we have had lots of different Christmas Meals. The standard one is nut roast. This can be absolutely lovely or it can be as dry as old bones and a real chore to eat. In the past we’ve had cauliflower cheese with roast veggies and a tasty pasta bake. The year before last we had a wonderful roast vegetable meal with tons of garlic, which was set on a bed of brown basmati rice, topped with a cheese and then baked and last year we had a delicious vegetable strudel.  Of course what I haven’t mentioned so far is sprouts. Whatever the meal, we have to have a serving of sprouts. It’s a Christmas tradition in our house. These are not the sprouts that we had at school, which were boiled to destruction and tasted soggy. These are small, crispy sprouts, steamed for fifteen to twenty minutes or so, with a small dob of butter added just before serving.

This year we have no idea what we’ll be having for Christmas dinner. Mother will be joining us and has assured me that she’ll be really happy with a vegetarian meal, but just between ourselves she has been known to moan about anything and everything, so I’ll be popping to Marks for a “stand-by” Christmas meat meal to have handy in the freezer.

So if any of you wonderful cooks out there can suggest something original for vegetarians this year, I’d love to hear from you, but remember it has to go with sprouts. And whatever we end up having for dinner this Christmas at least I know my mum will enjoy the sprouts.

December 12th, 2009

Bibliotherapy and Writing in Healthcare

Having returned to writing recently after something of a lapse, I booked myself on a 5 day course at Tŷ Newydd writers school in North Wales - www.tynewydd.org   On monday morning we enjoyed a presentation on Bibliotherapy by Victoria Field about the benefits of reading for health. Then for the next four and a half days, Victoria and Graham Hartill, set us exercises in creative writing and showed us how to facilitate creative writing in health-care situations.

Writing means different things to different people and also to the same person during different phases of life. Writing for many may be just for fun but some people describe the writing process as embarking on a journey of self discovery.  Many people feel that keeping a personal journal is beneficial, but the facilitating of reading and writing either on a one to one basis, or as part of a group for personal wellbeing is gaining recognition.  There are art therapists, drama therapists, music therapists and now, an increasing number of poetry/writing facilitators/therapists working with the elderly, in hospitals, hospices, prisons and other situations.

You don’t have to be ill or mentally distressed to benefit from writing.  Whether writing for fun, to enable ourselves to get through emotionally difficult times or just to help us make sense of the world, much can be gained from writing in a supportive atmosphere and it can indeed improve our emotional and physical health.

A word of caution though, if a person has deep emotional problems or trauma in the past, writing or listening to other people reading their work back can open the floodgates and overwhelm him or her. This may not have been apparent at the outset, therefore a facilitator must be aware of this possibility, able to manage the situation and mindful that extra support may be needed.  This may come from within the health-care system, a partner or their peer group providing an environment where they can work through any feelings that emerge.

I, along with the rest of our group, have joined an organization called Lapidus that…promotes healing in personal development through writing and reading. See http://www.lapidus.org.uk/ I was very privileged to be part of the course with those particular people because we have become a very supportive community, keeping in touch through email and by telephone, and our numbers were large enough to start a new Lapidus group in Wales.  We will be pursuing further training and getting together in the future.

I am planning to start a community group in the new year and quite a few people have already shown interest in it before it is even advertised.  You may be hearing more about this from me in the future. 

In the meantime, I would really appreciate feedback on any aspect of this blog…

December 11th, 2009

Holiday Traditions: The Sing Along

Some of my fondest memories as a child are of a family holiday gathering that my grandmother lovingly called, The Sing Along.  She usually held it early in December, right after she got all of her Christmas decorations up.   Hers was a house that was not covered in lights on the outside, but there certainly was Christmas in every room inside.  She had a snow scene on her mantle, red bows, and candles all over the house.  There was of course a beautiful tree which changed locations depending on her mood that year.  And the bathroom was even decked out with little holy wreaths and Christmas towels.

All of this was preparation, not only for the big day of Christmas, but also for her Sing Along.  And it was hers.  She alone hosted it every year.  She had three sisters who lived within miles of her and they and all of their families would come for this event.  So we had the great aunts, my father’s cousins, and their children, my third cousins.  Whatever labels we called each other, it was really about family, our family getting together.  It was a wonderful time to just be together without the pressure of Christmas and the chaos of gift exchanging.

She always had delicious hors d’ouvers and a beautiful dinner.  But the highlight for me was the singing.  My poor grandmother couldn’t carry a tune to save her life (sorry Grandma),  but she loved Christmas Carols!  Usually we would play records of Christmas songs on the record player.  This was long before the age of CDs.  My Grandfather stills has hundreds of records!  One year I remember, she even hired an organist to play the Christmas Carols on her organ for all of us.  I played piano at the time, and I must have limped through one or two songs on the organ myself.

However it wasn’t about just hearing the music, what I remember most was my family singing together.  For hours we would sit in her living room, I as a child was usually relegated to the floor of course, and sing and sing and sing.   Old and young, we collected as a group to sing.  It was the perfect way to start our holiday season, filling our hearts with joy!  It was simply the best.

My grandmother has since passed away, and her family is now scattered across the country.  But I still carry these memories in my heart.  Who knows, maybe one year I’ll even renew the family tradition of the Sing Along myself.  Happy Christmas everyone!

December 10th, 2009

Inspirational Women: Seven Questions with Artist Leah Piken Kolidas

Give us your “Elevator” Speech as to WHO you are and WHAT it is that you do for a “living”. And how should we “know” you?

My name is Leah Piken Kolidas and I’m a mixed-media artist living just outside of Boston, MA with my husband and our four fuzzy cats. I sell my art online and in shops, I blog and lead creativity challenges at CreativeEveryDay.com, and I teach online and in-person workshops. I like to think of myself as an artist/creativity guide.

Tells about your path to getting to where you are with your business today.

My path to where I’m at now is a long and winding one in some way, and in other ways it has been fairly straight-forward. I always knew that I’d make art, whether or not I did it for a living. My mom still has drawings I made when I was two years old. They’re little scribbles of ladies in hats (I’d say I was “drawfing a wady”). I still love drawing the female figure!

I went to art school, but I was wary about trying to make a living as an artist. I knew I liked teaching also, and thought I might teach art history. After school, I did everything from painting murals, to working in a historic house museum, selling art in a gallery, working as a real estate agent, studying massage therapy, and working as a nanny. Everything I did was part of the path that led me to where I am now.

When I started sharing my art online on a blog, about 8 years ago, it was a big help in building up my confidence about showing and selling my work. Being an introverted person, I really appreciate the way the internet allows me to connect with people who like my art. And I love the way it has helped me find an amazingly supportive creative community.

What is your personal “motto” or “mission statement”?

My current motto is my blog’s title: Creative Every Day. I believe that everyone is creative and that there are opportunities for creativity everywhere, if we just look for them.

Besides your business, what are you passionate about?

Besides my business, my art, and the blog (which are all intertwined), I’m also passionate about my snuggly cats, my family, travel, all sorts of books (I’m a little obsessed with the Harry Potter series), and encouraging others to express themselves creatively.

What advice would you give to other women wanting to follow your career path?

Take some time to figure out what you really want. This is an ongoing process. What you want will change over time, so you have to keep checking in. I recommend reading a lot, journaling, taking workshops, and enjoying the path of figuring it all out because it can be fun. This discovering what you really love can be hard to uncover, it can so easily get buried by other people’s wants/needs/stories, so take your time and keep digging until you hit your core.

As far as selling art, I’d say take advantage of the wonderful ways the internet can connect people. Start a blog, share your process, join in creative communities, and support others. It will all help bring your “right people” to you and your work.

Pimp yourself! Where can we find you on the web, in bookstores, at the movies, on TV, etc?

Online: You can find my art for sale at http://BlueTreeArtGallery.com. My blog and creative challenges can be found at http://CreativeEveryDay.com. I’m on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/leah_art.

Recent publications: I had 2 articles and artwork in the 2009 Summer edition of “Artful Blogging,” my art is in Patti Digh’s Life is a Verb, and my writing and art will soon be part of a book to be published by North Light Books.

What question should we have asked, that we didn’t? Now is YOUR opportunity to tell us what we missed!

I’d like to add how important a fabulous support team is to building a business (and life in general.) You may have to go out searching for it or build it from scratch, but it’s worth it. Having good support in place is essential to keeping me moving forward and growing from a strong place.

December 9th, 2009

Linkworthy: Margaret and Helen

A few days ago, on of my Twitter friends posted a link to a blog post (not her own) that ended up being the funniest open letter to a family ever, all about new rules for Thanksgiving dinner, and such. While the post was hilarious, it was the rest of the blog, Margaret and Helen that really hooked me.

Why?

Because bloggers Helen “Philpot” of Texas, and Margaret “Smechtman” of Maine are both in their eighties, and have been friends for more than sixty years. How inspiring that is! Most women no longer cultivate long-term friendships. Scratch that. Most people don’t. But these two not only remain in touch, but have embraced technology that the average octogenarian would eschew and used it to reach out, not only to each other, but to the world at large.

Helen, who is the more prolific poster of the two, explains that some concessions were made when they went “public.” Their last names, for example, are pseudonyms, a safety precaution suggested by Helen’s grandson, who got them hooked up with Wordpress in the first place. She also says that Margaret prefers to just pick up the phone, so is underrepresented on the blog, but that’s okay, because her presence is there. It’s obviously a joint effort made by two people with great love for each other.

The next time you feel like experiencing something new on the blog, browse over to http://margaretandhelen.wordpress.com/. You should know that Helen sometimes uses fairly blue language (I find this endearing, and as I’ve been reading some of her posts, have wished she was my grandmother.) and that her politics are unabashedly liberal. Margaret is a bit milder (and married to a Republican).

Even if you never read beyond their top post - still (as of this writing) that Thanksgiving letter - I think you’ll find - as I did - that the blogosphere is a better place for having Margaret and Helen in it.

December 8th, 2009

Crust-less Broccoli/Cheese Quiche

The experts say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  Even though I office from home, I find that my mornings tend to get away from me and I survive on coffee….and them am famished (and make poor choices) for lunch.    I’ve found a way to really combat that problem by spending a little extra time in the kitchen and having ready-made, easy-to-grab, dishes-we-love in the fridge, just waiting to be consumed.

Ah!  The joys of warming a piece of heaven in the form of eggs, broccoli, and flavorful cheeses can be yours, too.  On an evening when I’ll already be cooking, I whip up one of these incredibly simple quiches, and let it cook while we eat.  The next morning (and for a few mornings or lunches after), a healthy and delicious meal takes mere moments.  This recipe has been adapted from the Sonoma Diet Cookbook.

Ingredients:

• 4 Beaten Eggs (I use Eggs Plus that have Omega 3’s)
• 1/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon fresh dill weed(or 2 teaspoons dried dill)
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/8th teaspoon salt (I prefer Kosher Salt for cooking)
• 1 1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese
• 1 – 10 ounce package frozen broccoli, cooked and drained
• 1 cup crumbled feta cheese (I use reduced fat)
• 1 cup shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar

Preheat oven to 350, lightly coat 9 inch pie plate with cooking spray (I use Olive Oil cooking spray). In bowl, combine everything. Mix well and pour into prepared pie plate. Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until a knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 5 minutes and then go ahead and slice it into eight pieces (though sometimes, I only cut it into 6 slices!).  Cover well and place in your fridge.

If you’re interested in the nutritional breakdown, it’s an amazing and healthy:   Calories: 188 / Protein: 16 / Carbs: 9 / Fiber: 2 / Fat 8 / Sat Fat: 5.   To warm, just pop it in the microwave for 45 to 75 seconds.  I like to serve it with a few slices of tomato or some canned pineapple, just to round out the meal.  It’s a great way to add a real umph to start your day.

I also have a turkey-sausage breakfast casserole recipe I’ll share next week.   What are your favorite go-to, quick-grab recipes?

December 7th, 2009

Theater Review - Sleep No More (Brookline, MA)

Saturday night, the Second Mrs. de Winter pushed everyone but me out of her bedroom, and then sank onto her sofa as she gestured for me to sit on her ottoman. She pulled off my Venetian mask and, tears shining in her eyes, softly told me a story about a girl’s lonely journey to the stars.  It was scene 21 from Woyzeck. Her voice grew softer and softer as her face drew closer and closer to mine, and by the end, we were cheek-to-cheek. She pressed a gentle kiss to my temple, slowly drew back, and handed me my mask.

Once I’d fixed it on again, she took me by the hand and let me out of her room. At the other end of the hall I saw my husband, also masked, hand-in-hand with a beautiful witch in a red ball gown. She drew him into a different room and shut the door behind them. Mrs. de Winter’s kiss still damp on my temple, I ran down the hall and pressed my face against the window in the door to watch the witch leading him in a slow waltz. Their room was all black, except for a black rotary phone on a small table in the middle, lit by an overhead light.

The phone rang, and the witch motioned for him to answer it. As he did, she ran away cackling, brushing past me on her way to her lair. He told me later that there was a gravelly voice on the other end that said, “Listen closely. Don’t you ever touch her again. Never again.” Later in the night, he saw her do it to someone else. Another friend wandered by as the phone rang once more and answered it, only to have the voice on the other end send him on an elaborate scavenger hunt.

I hadn’t waited around to watch him lift the handset; I sprinted off after the witch, my chase ending in the basement where I walked in on some kind of occult blood ritual: naked men and women writhing under strobe lights to bone-pounding techno, a ram’s head and a dead baby, Macbeth laughing with them, his face smeared with blood. When he charged out of the room I ran after him to a tavern with a pool table and a sawdust floor, and watched him coldly murder Banquo. Later, I happened by that room again as Banquo’s ghost was rising to attend the banquet: he leaned on my shoulder for support as we walked up the stairs together, and when we’d almost reached the top he turned to me and rasped, “Find Macbeth! Find Macbeth!” I took off running, pulled frantically on the doors at the top of the stairs, and at last got them open. I found myself in a wood of fragrant pine trees, the Macbeths’ feast going on at the front.  Banquo’s ghost sank into the empty chair as Macbeth slowly went mad.

I’ve been to see this play - Macbeth conceived through the lens of Hitchcock’s Rebecca with a dash of David Lynch, immersive and surreal - three times now, and I’m still trying to figure out a way to write about it. If I could only find a way to describe this production for you, something that’s been one of the most important experiences of my life, to make you feel as though you’re there too.  You assemble the story yourself, piece together the plot and characters, explore on your own.  You sit at the Macduffs’ dining table, laden with rotting food, as they cuddle and laugh together.  You kneel beside the bed as Macbeth murders the king, and join his funeral procession to the chapel where his sons lay him out.  You share a drink with the porter, and dance with the witches.  You witness Malcolm and Macduff furiously accusing each other of Duncan’s murder, swinging an interrogation lamp at each other in a frantic struggle.

If you live in New York or New England, you must go. It’s a once in a lifetime experience. Each time, almost everything I’ve seen has been entirely new. You could go every night and still explore new rooms, discover new actors, witness new scenes.

Sleep No More is an American Repertory Theater production at the Old Lincoln School in Brookline, MA, through January 3.

December 7th, 2009

Favourite Christmas Presents

We used to spend heaps on Christmas but there came a time when it seemed obscene to buy things that often weren’t really wanted and then just store them away or taken to a charity shop. Add to this scenario, everyone in the family asking me what my husband would like for Christmas and he being quite difficult to choose for. Then we discovered Amazon.

Nowadays most of the family do “wish lists”. We don’t put expensive thing on, but things like DVDs, jigsaws and books. These provide hours of enjoyment for very little cost and the lists mean that everyone gets something they would like, but more importantly the presents are within an affordable price range.

One of the loveliest gifts I am hoping for this Christmas is the fees paid for half a term of art classes. The classes are taken by an excellent teacher at the local college. There are three reasons why this will be such a great present. All of my fellow students are absolutely lovely, painting is very relaxing and it’s a present that will last long after Christmas.

The presents I shall enjoy shopping for the most will be those for my grandchildren. The range of exciting toys and music available will be wonderful to explore and being with them is of course my greatest all year present.

December 6th, 2009

6 Gift Ideas for Photographers

Finding the right gift for friends and family can sometimes be a real challenge so we thought we’d put together some gift guides to help spark some ideas. Here is a gift guide for those of your friends or family who are photographers:

1. For the photographer and book-lover: Photojojo!: Insanely Great Photo Projects and DIY Ideas
A photo, an idea, and simple crafting skills are all you need to transform your pictures into useful, fun, giftable art. With clear DIY instructions, Photojojo! by Amit Gupta and Kelly Jensen shows you how to turn your forgotten photos into ingenious photo projects.

2. For the shy photographer: The Super-Secret Spy Lens!
“Meant to fit the end of your SLR’s zoom lens, this guy has a secret cut-out on the side and a precision mirror assembly inside. In short, you can shoot left, right, up, or down (it swivels 360 degrees), all while appearing to shoot straight ahead. The result? The picture-perfect candid shots you’ve always dreamed of.”

3. For the film photographer: Lomography Diana F+ Medium Format Camera
Dating back to the early 1960’s, the all-plastic Diana camera is a cult legend - famous for its its dreamy, radiant, and lo-fi images. The brand new DianaF+ is a faithful reproduction and a loving homage to the classic Diana - with a few new features tossed in. Its plastic lens, 2 shutter settings (daylight & “B”), 3 aperture settings, and manual focus are all hallmarks of the original Diana.

4. For women photographers: Antique Sliver Camera Necklace
Classic Camera in antique sliver and painted black in front with a marble-ball lens. This is a really sweet necklace which I am sure many photographers would love to hang around their necks, alongside their cameras.

5. For men photographers: Aperture T-Shirt
A great simple t-shirt in bold red. Fun for any photographer. Only men sizes available though.

6. For photographers with lots of gear: Shootsac
This is a great camera bag for photographers. It allows for easily changeable covers so you can mix-and-match. The bag is made of the finest wetsuit grade neoprene available, providing the ultimate in comfort and protection for your lenses. The Shootsac is lightweight, weighing just 7oz., and built to conform to your body and move with you. Unlike traditional bulky camera bags which transport your gear and then end up on the ground in a corner, the slim Shootsac is designed to be worn while you shoot providing quick and easy access to 3-6 lenses, flashes and other shooting necessities. The Shootsac is NOT designed to replace your camera bag or hold your camera with a lens attached. It is however your ticket to a more mobile shooting style, filled with creative options beyond the confines of your rolling bag.

December 4th, 2009

New Moon: Official Illustrated Movie Companion Winner!

Well by now, if you have even an inkling of interest in New Moon, you’ve seen the movie. No doubt, some of you have seen it a few times;) I understand.  To celebrate the release of New Moon last month, and as an ode to our lovely November man of the moment, Chaske Spencer (who plays werewolf Alpha, Sam Uley), we decided to do a giveaway of the New Moon: Official Illustrated Movie Companion. For those that left comments, your names were added to a hat and a winner was randomly selected!

And, the lucky winner is… Deedles!

Congratulations Deedles! We’ll be emailing you to get your mailing address shortly.

To everyone else: we wish we could send you all a copy, but stay tuned as we plan on doing more giveaways in the future!

December 3rd, 2009

Mid-Issue Update: Harmony

I’m sure I say this every year, but I can’t believe it’s already December!   Before you know it, we’ll be flipping the calendar page and greeting 2010.  Like many of you, the women that make up the All Things Girl family are focused on family and winding up the year and planning for the next one.  I love how our theme of “Harmony” truly reminds each of us a that in the hustle and bustle, we should (and can!) seek a moment of respite.

You’ll find new pieces if both Writings and Arts section. Everything Girl is a part of our magazine that always wows me. You will find part two of our interview with the amazing Lisa Loeb.  You will also find inspiration through the eyes our regular columnists.  As always, keep an eye on The Blog, where you will find our reviews, inspirational women and more!  We’re always looking for guest blogs on a variety of topics, so feel free to drop me a line (deb.smouse AT allthingsgirl.com)

We’re taking submissions for “Through the Looking Glass”, our first issue of 2010.   We are certainly blessed with a wealth of supporters and submitters each month.  If you are inspired to share your talents, submissions are open for future editions of All Things Girl – and we can’t wait to see what you’ve got!

I hope you are able to find moments of harmony in the rush of December and as our last days of 2009 fade into the beginnings of 2010.

December 2nd, 2009

Inspiring Women: Seven Questions with Author Susan Shapiro Barash

Give us your “Elevator” Speech as to WHO you are and WHAT it is that you do for a “living”. And how should we “know” you?

I write nonfiction women’s issue books, and teach writing and gender studies at Marymount Manhattan College in NYC. You might know some of my more recent books, Tripping the Prom Queen: The Truth About Women and Rivalry and Little White Lie, Deep Dark Secrets: The Truth About Why Women Lie.

Tells about your path to getting to where you are with your business today.

It’s been a journey to get to where I am today and I never gave up. Some book deals are easier to come by than others, but one has to keep pushing. I’ve always wanted to be a writer and have been fascinated by the lives women lead in America versus the faces they wear since I was in high school. I always knew I’d research and write books about women’s choices and how the culture influences their behaviors and decisions. My latest book, my eleventh, comes out from St. Martin’s Press on October 13th. It’s called Toxic Friends: The Antidote for Women Stuck In Complicated Friendships.

What is your personal “motto” or “mission statement”?

My intention is and has been to uncover how women really feel. And to this end, the interviewees are promised anonymity and they are free to disclose their experiences with their husbands, lover, children, friends, sisters, mothers in law…It’s amazing what is told when there are no judgments or preconceived notions attached.

Besides your business, what are you passionate about?

Reading books and research, swimming and running, film and art.

What advice would you give to other women wanting to follow your career path?

Becoming a writer is not a gender biased career, as are some careers (being a surgeon, being a CEO of a company, advertising). So if a woman wants to write and publish books (and is compelled to write), there is no glass ceiling, and every opportunity is there for her.

Pimp yourself! Where can we find you on the web, in bookstores, at the movies, on TV, etc?

You can find me on my website: www.SusanShapiroBarash.com. My new book, Toxic Friends, hits the bookstores in a few days and it’s already on sale on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. I usually do national TV and radio to promote my books. And if you look up the New York Post from this past Sunday, there’s a spread about toxic friends based on my research.

What question should we have asked, that we didn’t? Now is YOUR opportunity to tell us what we missed!

I think this about covers it.

December 1st, 2009

Book Review: Believe It, Be It

In anticipation of all my New Year’s resolutions that will undoubtedly revolve around losing weight, getting healthy, yada, yada, yada, I decided to read Ali Vincent’s book, Believe It, Be It, for motivation. Ali Vincent is the Biggest Loser from Season 5 of the popular NBC weight loss competition show, The Biggest Loser. She was the first female winner and according to her book, has kept off all 112 pounds she lost while a contestant on the show for almost two years.

I have read numerous books written by celebrities. Generally, I love reading these books because either I like the topic or the celebrity that wrote it. But these books are typically poorly written and contain myriad typographical errors and grammatical gaffes. They seem to be written at the speed of light, without a lot of thought. I take great delight in marking the typos and errors as I read, as if to admonish the writer. However, in Believe It, Be It, Ali Vincent manages to avoid most of the traps that first-time celebrity writers fall into, and she presents an interesting, detailed look at her weight-loss journey and subsequent success following The Biggest Loser.

As an avid watcher of The Biggest Loser, I was especially interested in the tidbits of insider information about the show, like how all the contestants get “call sheets” every night outlining the shooting schedule for the following day and most of the commentary filmed by contestants is not actually filmed in chronological sequence. Some of the contestants, including Ali Vincent, have formed lasting friendships or relationships with other contestants. Is the kitchen at the ranch really always stocked with healthy food and no one really has to go grocery shopping? Ali answers these questions and several more.

Released on November 10, just in time to get you into the right frame of mind for Thanksgiving, Believe It, Be It, is a very quick read at only 192 pages. Ali keeps a quick pace, going back and forth between her life experiences before the show and what really happens at The Biggest Loser ranch. She seems genuine, like someone you could be friends with, especially when she reveals past ill-advised behavior that explains how she came to be 234 pounds as a young adult, after a childhood as a competitive athlete. Ali also gives you a look at the tempestuous relationship she has with her mother, Bette Sue, who was her partner on The Biggest Loser.

If you are a fan of The Biggest Loser, or are looking for motivation to prevent those holiday pounds from creeping up on you, you will enjoy this book. Ali includes her workout routine and some of her favorite recipes at the end of the book. I was pleasantly surprised by this book that includes a little bit of everything; diet, exercise, motivation and family drama. It’s a perfect holiday gift for the person in your life seeking a little motivation.