What Do Your Friends Look Like?

What Do Your Friends Look Like?

I don’t want to toot my own horn, but I feel like I have  a lot of friends. Good friends. Who would like, loan me money if I was in a pinch, or let me stay with them if I lost my home. Real true blue friends who are down for me and vice versa. I feel so blessed to have these wonderful people in my life. But what I love most about my friends is that they are varied—my confidants look like the United Nations—white, black, Asian, Latina, Indian—I am friends with them all. For a long time, I thought that this was how everyone was, having friends of different ethnic backgrounds and nationalities, but I found out during the last year or so that that isn’t the case.

So I ask the question: What do your friends look like?

When I say friends, I am not talking about people who you chat with online or in passing at an event. I am talking about people you put in time with—people that have been over to your house and vice versa. People you have traveled with, cried with. There are so many people I know that have friends, but ones that look just like them—no variety. Not that you have to have that in your life, but why wouldn’t you want to?

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My 2013 Goal: Live With Intention

My 2013 Goal: Live With Intention

2012 was a year of tremendous ups and downs for me. I got to do so many things I never thought I’d get to do. I also lost my father at the age of 58. It was a bittersweet year, so much to be thankful for and so much that I wish I could do over. I am still dealing with my father’s death and taking it day by day, yet I know that he would want me to continue my life and move forward on my journey without him. He is always in my heart.

I moved into 2013 with a new perspective and agenda. Living life is good. Living life happily is even better. But living life with intention. Now that is where the good stuff lies.

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Do It Yourself Holiday Cards: Say It With a Picture!

Do It Yourself Holiday Cards: Say It With a Picture!

Today, my daughter was out of school due to a teacher’s in-service day. So I thought we would head to Creve Coeur Park and take some shots with my digital camera for our holiday cards which I send out every year. The best part about these cards is I always feature a photo or two on the card, and my family and friends love them. They have become a time honored tradition in my family.

This year, I decided to feature The Chicklet again, since she’s the one most of our relatives want to see anyway. And because she is the baby of the family, I am okay with that.

All you need to create some precious holiday cards is a digital camera, a great location or backdrop, and fun. Everything else seems to work itself out. I haven’t spent any money on a traditional Christmas or holiday photo shoot in years. And with digital cameras and tripods, you really don’t have to anymore.

I took about 75 pictures today of The Chicklet, and these are a few of the photos that I liked but didn’t make the cut:

I’ve uploaded 2 of the pictures I liked the best to Pear Tree Greetings, which is what I will be using to create our holiday cards this year. I used them last year, and they turned out well. They have 100′s of templates and designs to choose from, so I know I will be in good hands again this year. You can check out this post on TheCubicleChick.com to see last year’s holiday card and to get a list of other online sites that you can use to create your holiday card.

:-)

Watch My Panel On Huffington Post Live Segment About ‘Friends Before Money’

Watch My Panel On Huffington Post Live Segment About ‘Friends Before Money’

I was contacted the other day to be a participant in a segment on Huffington Post’s new online TV channel Huffington Post Live about ‘Friends Before Money‘, i.e. are friendships at work more important than salary or money. As a former HR manager, we were schooled to never get too friendly with coworkers, but many people, including some on the panel with me, disagree. A recent study indicated that people achieve more success and do better at work when there’s a friendly component in the mix.

Take a look at the segment below and let me know your thoughts!:

The panel included author and advisor Peter Bregman, Personal Development and Happiness Guru Britt Reints.

Let me know your thoughts!

I Am a Panelist: St. Louis Social Media Club Blogging Panel 9/24

I Am a Panelist: St. Louis Social Media Club Blogging Panel 9/24

I am very excited to announce my latest appearance as a panelist for St. Louis Social Media Club’s (SMCSTL) September event and happy hour. Entitled ‘Blogging Panel’, it will feature myself and three other professionals who blog, either under their own entity, or for a company or business. I am elated about this because St. Louis Social Media Club is spotlighting a very important and crucial part of social media which is blogging, something that I am very passionate about.

The event will take place on Monday, September 24th from 6 to 8pm at Milagro Modern Mexican in Webster Groves. The event is free but you have to RSVP to the event (currently the event is on waitlist, but there may be additional tickets being released prior to the date).

I would really love if you are in the St. Louis area to join me, the other panelists, and St. Louis Social Media Club.

Looking forward to seeing you there!