MAYA ANGELOU'S' BEST POEM EVER

MAYA ANGELOU'S' BEST POEM EVER

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to.....
something perfect to wear if the employer or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
a youth she's content to leave behind.....
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .......
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
a feeling of control over her destiny...
how to fall in love without losing herself..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to quit a job, break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without ruining the friendship....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...
how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. .
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table..
or a charming Inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
What she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year....

from Angela: I'm not sure that a man shouldn't do the same. But I suppose most of them already know they should.
"A youth she's content to leave behind." Hmmmmmm. Gotta work on that. And the juicy past too.

interesting thoughts on "success"

you must watch this

http://www.oprah.com/media/20090924-tows-stephanie-struggle-crash

The pumpkin scones at Starbucks are going to kill me. :)
I'm sure they have 500 calories. Good thing a sweaty step class is planned for tonight.

fabulous fall weekend

A haul of yummy veggies from the Brookside farmer's market made for a delicious saturday dinner.
Then a jog with M in the new Bob stroller early Sunday morning.

bye bye breast pump

I'm putting my beloved Medela breastpump on eBay this weekend. For some insane reason, it's hard to part with.
I spent HOURS attached to this thing. Without it, I would have never been able to feed my baby girl "mama's milk" for eleven months.
I faithfully hauled it to the office everyday. To many cities during business travel and to many road trips (thank you car ac adapter). Without it's help, I may have never smuggled frozen bags of milk through customs, or begged -- sometimes in tears -- hotel staff for freezer space.
Since Mirabella is enjoying chicken, edamame and all kinds of veggies (mushrooms are her favorite - really), it's time to part with the pump.
Somebody will get a good deal (I do find some solace in the fact that someone else won't have to give up $300 for one!)

love the fall, love my latte

I REALLY wish I was doing something like this today. Coffee, book, nowhere to be (no deadlines!).
I did indulge in a lunchtime latte. HOW did I actually go a whole year with no caffeine????

Hurray for Phat!

SNL star is "Phat" not fat!

Loving my girl -- on the beach

The difference in life with kids and life without kids...weekends are more exhausting than the week!
I have always thought more women should NOT have kids. And I still do. It's interesting that we (as a society) take the decision not to have kids more seriously than the decision to have kids. It's backwards. The job is too important.

I remain an advocate of more women choosing not to have children.

I loved my life without a baby.

But I have to say, I am over-the-moon in love with my baby girl.

I loved this tee shirt from Banana Republic enough that I bought two -- purple and red.

Banana Republic has the cutest clothes, but they certainly don't cater to buxom women. Skinny girls will get the best fit.

Got to spend time with Aunt Sharon, while in Southern Cal. She is so smart and amazing. A very Phit, ultra-cool chick.

75 degrees - love, love, love it!

I NEVER EVER thought I'd say this, but it's so good to be back in Kansas City, the weather is beautiful!
What?
Yes, 75 degrees.
After six days of sweating in Southern California, it feels good to be in Kansas City.
Did someone move the map around and not tell me??

Girl Effect

Love this.
Still.

http://www.girleffect.org/#/video/

More birthdays

The American Cancer Society's healthier cake contest...read about the winning Red Velvet Cake that cuts back on sugar and oil has roasted red beets, dried cherries and whole wheat flour..

my favorite trips ever

No real vacation this summer. Or last.
Or most years.
I can't complain though, just have to remember these fabulous trips. South Africa. Paris. Rome. Alaska.

Fried Oreos?

Fried Oreos?

thanks to Rockstar Diaries for photo

new iPod shuffle!

Bought the new TINY iPod shuffle at lunch today. Can't wait to go for a run/walk after work in this beautiful weather!

Testing post from my new blackberry

personal branding

Today I went to a luncheon put on by the KC chapter of the American Marketing Association. Danny O'Neill of The Roasterie was the speaker.
His talk on branding was pretty good.
What I kept thinking about was how HE had a strong personal brand.
I'm so envious of folks who are so focused this way.
Danny is passionate and knowledgeable about coffee. He's also in love with Kansas City, his family, his company, all that makes a strong personal brand. Has a strong presence. And no, it doesn't hurt that he's really handsome too.
Another example of personal branding - Manon. She's a colleague I saw at this same lunch today that I haven't seen in quite awhile. She's really sharp and so sweet. Always extra polite and so, so nice. Manon is the living brand of dependable and sweet.
A personal brand for Angela?
Geez.
Marketing consultant. Non-profit executive. Yoga teacher. Business owner. Now a Mom.
Who the heck is this woman?
I read this book back in 2002 when it was new hoping to master this personal branding thing. Since then I've just discovered even more hobbies, books and people that interest me.
I suppose if you believe "variety is the spice of life" then I am a well-seasoned woman. :)
And at some point I'll discover or create a brand that folks can understand.

hilarious "mom" photo

This photo made me laugh out loud.
Maybe it's because I'm a new mom who is so serious and emotional about EVERYTHING regarding my baby. But I think it's also just flat out clever.
The New York Times recently featured these two Brooklyn sisters. Hollister, one of the sisters, has an interesting blog. Porter -- sister #2 -- is apparently trying out for a walk-on role on Mad Men. She took this fabulous photo of herself as an apathetic 60s (50s?) mom. I don't know these girls, but what creative souls they must be. I'm not sure if voting has ended, but if you want to, you can do so for Porter via the link on her sis's blog.