Color me Gorgeous...

I was in a sorority for a bit in college, it was a short bit but I have a few distinct memories...

'If you could describe yourself as a color, what color would you be and why' said the president of Theta Phi Alpha sorority at a retreat back in 1997. As I looked up at the ceiling a few things came to mind, first was, 'seriously, this is the cheesiest 'ice-breaker' i've ever been a part of, am i applying for a job at TGIFridays?'... second thought, why would I have to pick just ONE COLOR?! 'Smithberg (maiden name), it's your turn, what color would you be?' ... 'Well, I'd have to say in all honesty that I would be Rainbow Brite, that chic has it goin' on!'

Since it IS Halloween I'd HAVE to say again today that I'd be Rainbow Brite...check her out, she rocks in all of color wonder craziness. I LOVE HER STYLE. So much in fact I thought it'd be fun to google Rainbow Brite and see what I came up with. There are all sorts of songs out there, one particular tune left me with a quote AND a good laugh, 'Rainbow Brite brings a shiny light to every face, shines for all to see, and makes the world a better place, Rainbow Brite and ME (that's ME!!!).' Anyway, it's no secret that I love color in ALL of it's form. I use loads of color when I dress, loads of color to decorate my house, and LOADS of color while proofing pictures - do I always match..not so much but it's my thing. How can you deny love for color? Who doesn't like a beautiful orange, red, and yellow sunset over a bright blue ocean, or seeing all the leaves change from green to glorious reds, oranges, blues, yellows?? How about seeing someone with beautiful brown skin with big green eyes? After a rain when a big ol' rainbow appears - I challenge you not to smile!! I LOVE color (and redundancy obviously ;). SO roll around it, it'll make you a better person. I'll leave you with one last quote for the day taken from my favorite new designer, pretty much sums up my way of thinking;

"Color is the most accessible, over-the-counter, mood altering substance I can think of. Overdose on color." - Jonathan Adler

Thirty-Something

I had a birthday on Saturday... I'm thirty-something. So I got to thinking about birthdays as an adult and what it means to be thirty-something. When you ask my Ewan how old he is, he'll likley say, 'I'm free or somesing (three or something)..". Sounds an awful lot like thirty-something doesn't it? So the little guy isn't so proud of his age. I find my boys fighting this 'i'm too young insecurity' every single day. When there is a birthday at school Ewan will come home and cry, 'Now COOPER is 4 and I'm still JUST 3...'. Then there is Wes who cried the other day when he heard his cousin lost his first tooth. 'It's going to take FOREVER for me to lose a tooth'. As an adult you can smirk at the mere thought of being jealous of someone who's older. But it happens for a good long while.. jealous of the first person who can go on a roller coaster, the first person to drive, the first person to turn 18 (apparently that means 'adult'), and then ultimately (in my quest for age) was the first person to turn 21. At that point I think I stopped wishing my youth away for another year. I remember watching the show 'Thirty Something' and I thought the characters were all SO depressing. But as a 'thirty-something' I don't really find it too depressing. Maybe it's biological but I find women in their thirties pretty damn empowered. Maybe it's that we've all been shamed by men a time or two, we've gained (AND LOST) the freshman 15, we've had several jobs, maybe even been fired by one, kept life-long friends, been pregnant, gained the 'rookie' pregnancy weight, birthed babies, had post-partum depression, lost that pregnancy weight, mothered children, established a career, still mothering, and HAPPY with how the years have shaped us... I think it's pretty amazing what women in their thirties have accomplished and I still LOVE to dance, still want to travel the world, still love my job, LOVE my boys, love good wine and talking to strangers on the street ... So I don't think I'll wish for my 40s or 50s right now b/c the 'thirty-somethings' are alright. As for the kiddos, there is no stopping them from wanting to be older, but at least we can DOCUMENT them along the way...

WORKSHOP UPDATE: thanks for a great PRE-release response!! May fill this one up FAST. We're having a bit to trouble with the darn website, so we'll get er' up soon! Keep checking back! (for inquiring minds, other workshop hosts are Kelley Ryden, Tracy Raver, and Jael DeYoung).