Judith Lasater quoted Eleanor Rosevelt at workshop yesterday:
No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.

Can't hear that one often enough.

But Judith added: Fill in the blank, change "inferior" to any word you want. Hmmmm.

my favorites

All the young bloggers -- and the blogging community makes me feel very old -- are doing lists of their favorite things.

There's no such thing as too old to have favorite things. :)

My current favorites:

Sweaty runs followed by a long shower

Sunday mornings with no schedule, just snuggling with baby girl and Mr Right

Hot baths

Yoga

Vanilla cupcakes from Cupcake ala Mode or Babycakes (no others, not worth the calories)

Fantasy travel planning

Fantasy interior design (no budgets in my fantasies)

recorded episodes of Divine Design

anything in New York

shopping

books, books, books

shopping for books

style and home magazines

my Kindle

Bukeka Shoals singing at church

pasta my husband makes

long walks

Anthropologie, Z Gallerie, Prydes, Nordstrom, "With a French Accent"

brunch (or anything) at Blue Stem

Christopher Elbow chocolates

beautiful hand writing

notecards and stationary

my iPod

my iPod shuffle

mocha, tea or anything warm in a mug on a chilly day

stories of inspirational entrepreuners

the beach

the city

completing a project that I created

taking photos

writing letters (or long personal emails)

strategic thinking, esp to boost business or participation

Is my list too long? I'm certainly not done. Has to be getting boring though.

My very favorite of all my favorite things:
when baby girl plants her slobbery, open mouth on my face and exclaims "mmmmm-uh!"

Professional crushes

For a long time, I had a professional crush on Mireille Guilano. CEO of Veuve Clicquot -- is there a better job? Then to be an author. Too good.

Then I went through a phase watching Dara Torres - pure fitness envy.

Then Anna Wintour (how could you not with all the "September Issue" hype?)

Then Keith Johnson and Glen Senk -- but I was more envious of their style and homes. Ok, maybe more envious of their professional life.

Now I've come full circle and am envious of Mireille again. I downloaded her new book to my kindle last night. I read her "business manifesto" on her website today. "Bad hair is a branding catastrohpe for women." Sounds so shallow, but so darn true!

new book - Merci beaucoup Mireille!

I can't wait to get this book! I just ordered it on Amazon.

You can read the first chapter here.

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.