April Arrives: And Then There Was Light....
And Then There Was Light
Local Spotlight,
SOUTH SHORE CHIC
Join special guest speaker Terri Stanley, host of styleboston on NECN, for a special viewing of fashion, beauty, and fitness!
Tickets are available at www.maximesalon.com
or by calling 781-749-2239
UPDATE: Sorry, Ladies. It's SOLD OUT! But stay tuned for future South Shore Chic events.
Local Spotlight,
Social Scene
South Shore Woman Congratulates
Balance Studio of Cohasset for Giving Back!
On February 26, 2010, Balance Studio hosted a special fundraiser for Haiti. Through ticket sales and a silent auction of 24 local and national businesses, Balance Studio raised over $5,000, 100% of which went to Partners In Health and The CRUDEM Foundation.
The evening began with a presentation by Dr. Paul Cotter
Close to 50 people came to the studio to hear more about the
CRUDEM Foundation, an organization devoted to the
betterment of Haiti's Hospital Sacre Coeur.
Attendees then practiced yoga together in a warm Vinyasa with revolving
teachers, hands-on assists, and live music by The Jenna Paone Band.
A room full of Yogis getting hands-on assists.
Afterwards, there was a catered party with open bar, chair massages, and silent auction.
Yoga participant Carol Reynolds
Local Spotlight,
Featured Business: Mariposa Massage and Body Therapy
Sometimes, when life is spiraling out of control, you really need a wake-up call to get back on track. For Cindy Doody, that moment happened when her husband found her having a seizure on the bathroom floor of their Boston condo.
She was only in her 20s, her daughter just 2 years-old, but her job as a facilities administrator for an IT business was taking its toll. The company, in the dot com heyday, was opening offices all over the world--- sending Cindy to San Francisco and London on a regular basis. She was not exercising, not eating right, and not sleeping. The seizure was her body's way of saying 'knock it off'.
"I was at Mass General [hospital] and they couldn't figure out what happened," Cindy remembers. But she knew her lifestyle was to blame. "I thought, what am I doing?"
Shortly thereafter, Cindy and her family moved to Scituate, which is when she told her husband she was quitting her high-pressure job and going back to school for massage therapy.
In 2002, after having her second baby, Cindy opened up an office above Riva restaurant in Scituate harbor. She was in that location for about a year, transferred to Muscles Rx, and then, just last year, opened up her own office once again, called Mariposa Massage and Body Therapy. Located in Cohasset Village, Mariposa--- which means butterfly in Spanish--- specializes in neuromuscular therapy, which is the utilization of static pressure on specific myofascial points to relieve pain.
According to Cindy, this technique manipulates the soft tissue of the body (muscles, tendons and connective tissue) to balance the central nervous system. In a healthy individual, nerves transmit impulses (which are responsible for every movement, function and thought) to the body very slowly. Injury, trauma, postural distortion, or stress cause nerves to speed up their transmission, inhibiting equilibrium and making the body vulnerable to pain and dysfunction. It is therefore necessary to stabilize low levels of neurological activity to maintain normal function and overall health.
Cindy works with two other muscular therapists at Mariposa. And, aside from neuromuscular therapy they also offer Swedish massage, pre/post natal massage, Reflexology, stone therapy massage, and oncology massage (a specialized category of body work for people living with cancer). In addition, the Mariposa team is very active in the community and often participates in local athletic events by providing pre- and post massage therapy treatments.
"I love helping people," Cindy says. And, everyday she learns something new, which keeps her in tune with her clients--- as well as her own mind, body, and spirit. "I wouldn't want to go back to that other job," she says.
Why would she after that stress-related seizure? In fact, you could say that making a move to massage therapy not only put her on a better career path, but probably saved Cindy's life, too.
For more information contact Cindy at:
Mariposa Massage and Body Therapy
15 Depot Court
Cohasset, MA 02025
339-337-3635
On-line scheduling is available
About Us,
Let SSW Promote Your Business!
SouthShoreWoman.com writes about the local people who follow their passion and build new economic opportunities in our communities. But, whether you have started a popular jewelry line, have an established retail store or restaurant, or offer a unique service, you will always need to reach new customers.
SSW, an online magazine, serves as the perfect venue for businesses that want to go a bit beyond their town borders. Let us help you get your message to the masses by being your vehicle into the larger world of social media.
Our affordable promotional packages give you an advertisement on SSW, plus a presence on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. In addition to getting directly in front of our audience (there are over a thousand South Shore readers-- that we know of), your business will also be exposed to many of the 750 million Facebook users, 100 million Twitter users, and over 100 million LinkedIn members.
Let's put it this way: Print advertising is dead. Social media is the surest way to gain new customers in this Internet age. Yes, we know, you are running a business! You don't have time to tweet and post all day....
We want you to continue to grow and become social media savvy. Let us help!
We offer three packages that appeal to your needs and budget:
Packages: |
Premium |
Standard |
Basic |
*Advertisement |
Leaderboard graphic (728x90 pixels) OR video (**including link to your website) |
Sidebar 1 (300 pixels wide) graphic OR video (**including link to your website) |
Either the Sidebar 2 (120 pixels wide) or the Footer (728x90 pixels) graphic (**including link to your website) |
Sponsor e-mail |
A dedicated e-mail blast to SSW subscribers (about 1,000 members) |
A dedicated e-mail blast to SSW subscribers (about 1,000 members) |
N/A |
|
|
-Creation of a Twitter handle for your business-Multiple Tweets/day from your business handle and @SoShoWo-Community building through “follows” and “lists” |
Multiple Tweets/ week about your business from @SoShoWo |
One Tweet/week about your business from @SoShoWo |
|
|
-Creation of a FB page for your business-Multiple posts/day on your page and outreach to community to ‘Like’ your page-Multiple mentions and links to your fan page and website on SoShoWo FB page |
One mention/week about your business on the SSW FB page |
A couple of mentions/month of your business on the SSW FB page |
|
|
Weekly mention of your business within groups that target your customers |
Multiple mentions/month of your business within groups that target your customers |
One mention of your business within a group that targets your customers |
SSW story |
If SSW has already done a story on your business, we will update it (text or embed video) and put it on the SSW home page as well as link to it on Facebook and Twitter |
If SSW has already done a story on your business, we will link to the archived article on our Facebook page and Twitter, and write a short update to tell our audience what you are up to now |
If SSW has already done a story on your business, we will link to the archived article on our Facebook page and Twitter |
Reporting
PRICE |
At the end of the month you will receive a report on all SM activity and results$750/month |
At the end of the month you will receive a report on all SM activity and results$500/month |
At the end of the month you will receive a report on all SM activity and results$250/month |
**Don't have a website? We can build one for you. Contact us for more information.
*And, if you don't have an advertisement ready to go, we'd be happy to create one for you! (Monthly prices do not include $100 fee for ads created by SSW.)
For more information contact:
Tracy Coyne at dtcoyne@comcast.net (781) 413-6508
or,
Stephanie Neil at stephanieneil@comcast.net (781) 378-1652
Wink webzine,
South Shore Woman Introduces You to Three Up-and-Coming Entrepreneurs
Ahhh, to be young again!!!!
But, to be young again and already making your mark on the world? That's a dream come true. Meet three twentysomething women who are tapping into their unique talents and building a business from scratch.
It took just one month after graduating from college last summer for Nikki Tierney to start her fitness and nutrition business, A Healthy Balance.
Jenna Perette has bounced around from job to job--- managing restaurants, catering, working at a bank--- until she finally woke up and realized it was time to make the cup cakes. Alas, jennaCAKES was born in January.
And, for someone like Stacy Mafera, who is always thinking, and always doing, a company that takes care of someone else's 'To-do" list just made perfect sense.
We are so excited to introduce you to these three inspirational women! Read on...
Wink webzine,
A Healthy Balance
Nikki Tierney comes from a long line of women entrepreneurs. Her grandmother started a greenhouse in 1975 that later blossomed into an interior plant maintenance and design company for corporate offices. The Middleborough-based company, called Gro-N-Things, Inc., is still in operation today, now under the leadership of Nikki's mom. And Nikki was next in line to inherit the boss' job. But she said 'no'.
"I told my mom right off the bat, I'm not buying your business," Nikki said. "I've just always wanted to do my own thing."
That 'thing' she refers to is fitness and nutrition. In high school she played field hockey and softball (a varsity pitcher). And she constantly craved healthy snakes to get through those vigorous strength and conditioning practices, or 7 innings of launching fastballs. In college she worked at a Curves health club, but given her family genes, she knew reporting to someone else wasn't going to be in her future.
"I like being my own boss," she said.
Now, a registered dietician and personal trainer, Nikki, 24, graduated from the University of Rhode Island last June. In July, she started her Quincy-based company, A Healthy Balance, offering nutritional consulting and fitness training for individuals or small groups.
On the nutritional side, a program includes a BodyGem® metabolic test and body composition analysis; bi-weekly one-on-one consulting; individualized nutrition recommendations; as well as food and exercise journaling, meal planning, shopping lists, and recipes.
"I try to make it easy," Nikki told South Shore Woman. "I'll even meet a client at the grocery store to help them find gluten-free products, or look at labels to help them fill out their shopping lists."
In addition, the personal training aspect of the business is all about helping clients trim down, tone up, and improve stamina, or train for an event. For example, Nikki is currently working with the Quincy Militia semi-pro football team. While she's consulting with them as a group, she's customizing the programs to each player, as one guy needs to drop 50 pounds or he can't play offense, while another guy wants to increase his endurance on the field, she explained.
Every client has a different motivation for coming to see her. And, while she is not affiliated with any hospital or doctor's office, many clients find her because the doc told them to eat a heart healthy diet--- with no explanation of what that means.
While there are many dieticians and personal trainers out there, Nikki's unique differentiator is the fact that she can offer both services.
"As a personal trainer there is a limited amount of nutritional advice you can give your client," Nikki said. "You can say you should be eating breakfast, lunch, dinner, eating more fruits and vegetables, but technically you are not legally allowed to write up meal and diet plans. As a registered dietician, that is in my scope of practice."
As a result, her client list is growing, despite many people's shrinking budgets. That's partly due to the fact that people feel vulnerable and out of control as a result of the current economic conditions. They are in need of something they can feel good about again. "The exercise you do, and what you put into your body are things that you have complete control over," she said.
More importantly, Nikki is not selling a crazy fad diet or trying to turn you into a body builder. She is all about providing subtle lifestyle changes that will give you 'a healthy balance'.
For more information, contact Nikki at:
617-479-0500
nikki@AHealthyBalanceNutrition.com
www.ahealthybalancenutrition.com
Wink webzine,
jennaCAKES
Flashback 15 years and ask Jenna Perette what she wants to be when she grows up. She already knows it has something to do with the oven.
Her parents were in the restaurant business, and she was always there with them; helping in the kitchen, serving food, and eventually managing the staff. But when it came time to choose a career, she knew she wanted to do something just a little bit different. Something she's a bit more passionate about. Because, she says, she likes to cook, but she loves to bake.
Call it skill, talent, or instinct, with no formal culinary schooling--other than watching and learning on the job-- this 24 year-old has the knack to turn flour, butter, and eggs into something completely phenomenal: Mouthwatering.
(s'mores)
You've never tasted an Oreo or peanut butter cup cupcake until you've tasted Jenna's creations. She has spent years researching and refining how to make the perfect "little cake" before launching her business, jennaCAKES, earlier this year. Now, she has a handful of signature creations, including 'cheeseburgers', 'flowers', and the 'sundae'.
(cheeseburgers)
She continues to expand her product line based on the needs of her customers. From a birthday to a wedding to an everyday treat, Jenna can come up with a fun cake to match the situation. Specify taste, texture, frosting, and whether you want fat-free or even vegan versions (no dairy)....She can do it all.
Visually, her designs are as tasteful as the treats themselves. From an extreme color to a soft cover of frosting dotted with what appear to be pearls-that you can eat. "I like the cupcakes to be festive, but everything is edible," she said in an interview with South Shore Woman.
(flowers)
And, everything is affordable. Pricing by the dozen includes mini cupcakes for $12, regular cupcakes for $24, and large little cakes for $36. Just give her 48 hours notice to turn it all around.
While Jenna can whip up any kind of dessert, she'll keep focused on the cupcakes for the time being, she said. They are fun and practical, too. After all, put a big cake in front of you--- yes, you-and you'll probably devour a good portion...two pieces, or 1,500 calories, at least. Put a little cake in your path and you'll experience the same euphoria with 1,000 less calories. So sweet!
Contact information: 
(oreos)
Jenna Perette
jennaCAKES
617-799-4929
Wink webzine,
Errands, Etcetera
Stacy Mafera wants to make your life easier. What an excellent idea! Well, she's full of them.
Her latest brainchild is called Errands, Etcetera, a customer service driven company that offers everything from grocery shopping, laundry, organizing, event planning, meal preparation, pet sitting--- she'll even have your car detailed and throw in an inspection sticker, just for good measure. Anything on your 'to do' list, she'll do.
It is very much like her first company, Commonwealth Concierge, which she started several years ago while attending the University of Massachusetts, Boston--- except, that company was catering to corporations. Errands, Etcetera, on the other hand, has the everyday individual in mind. And, what's great about this fledgling company is that Stacy's services are reasonably priced so that anyone--- even in this economy--- can afford them.
"I'm not gearing the company toward affluent clients," Stacy told South Shore Woman. "It is geared toward blue collar workers, who, because of the state of the economy, have had to pick up a second job and don't have time to go to the grocery store, or get their car inspected, because they are working Monday through Saturday."
Pricing depends on the service, but typically she charges between $18-to-$24 per hour. If you just need an hour of Stacy's time, that's fine. But services can also be bundled at a discounted rate for a one-time project, or contracted out for regular services. Stacy also offers monthly specials. For example, it's tax time, so for the month of April she's focusing on helping you get your paperwork and receipts ready for Uncle Sam. She'll then offer some advice on how to make the process easier next year, along with some budgeting tips.
How does this 20-something know so much? Well, aside from having her first business at age seven (a lemonade stand), Stacy, who has her bachelors degree in psychology and business management, also worked as a banker, a nanny, a personal assistant, as well as a restaurant manager. In addition, she's a networking addict. She loves to team up with other like-minded business people to deliver uniquely tailored services to her clients.
More than anything, she's driven. This is a young woman who loves to do her homework. Before launching Errands, Etcetera, she sat in Barnes & Noble reading every event planning book she could get her hands on. She researched the business model and came up with a plan. Meanwhile, in her free time (she has free time?), she is participating in triathlons, creating crafts, and trying out new recipes in the kitchen to share with her clients.
Currently, Stacy has 10 regular clients who use her general services, and 30 clients that depend on her specifically for meal planning. She will travel distances of up to 30 miles from her home base in Quincy, which makes sense, as at the moment she is a one-woman show. By June, however, Stacy hopes to have three full-time employees--- mostly to help with meal service delivery, as she wants to maintain control over the general services.
That 'control' thing runs deep. "It's always been in me," Stacy says. "I've always thought about what I could do to be my own boss and to better myself at the same time."
She knew from a very young age that she was blessed with the heart, soul, and determination of an entrepreneur.
For more information, contact Stacy at:
703-304-4067
About Us,
SSW in the Air-CLICK HERE TO HEAR
Tracy Coyne and Stephanie Neil, co-founders of SouthShoreWoman.com, were recently guests on Teri Sica's talk show "Discovering Authenticity". The two talk about friendship, starting a business, and what SSW can do for you. Take a listen!
Here's the link: http://www.959watd.com/discoveringauthenticity/DiscoveringAuthenticityShow29.mp3
More WATD/SSW interviews:
11/20/2010: Jay Cole, owner of Riva restaurant recently sat down with Teri to talk about starting a business and being SSW's Male Muse. Tune in here: http://www.959watd.com/discoveringauthenticity/DiscoveringAuthenticityShow34.mp3
And, to read Jay's Male Muse columns, click here! http://southshorewoman.com/author/jay-cole
12/4/2010: Stephanie Neil talks with Teri about turning challenges into opportunities and the life lessons along the way. http://www.959watd.com/discoveringauthenticity/DiscoveringAuthenticityShow36.mp3
Members,
B2B
SSW Business Members
(Click on the company name to read their stories here on SSW, then visit their websites to learn more about these local companies.)
FOOD (Restaurant, Catering, and Personal Chef Services)
Beach Fire Restaurant, Hull
http://www.beachfirehull.com/
Riva Restaurant, Scituate
www.rivarestaurant.net
Jay Cole, Owner
The Fieldston Restaurant, Marshfield
http://www.thefieldston.com/
Jan Perrin, Owner
JennaCAKES
Jenna.perette@yahoo.com
Jenna Perette, Owner
Scarlet Oak Tavern, Hingham
www.scarletoaktavern.com
Jed and Josh Webber, Owners
Aoyama, Marshfield
781-837-6990
The Chef’s Table
http://www.thechefstableonline.com/index.html
Mark and Julie Ellis, Owners
Fruit Center Marketplace
http://www.fruitcentermarketplace.com/
Oro Restaurant, Scituate
www.ororestaurant.com
Jill and Robin King, Owners
Orta Restaurant, Pembroke
www.ortarestaurant.com
Jimmy Burke and Joanie Wilson, Owners
Beach Plum Baking Company
http://www.beachplumbaking.com
Jennifer Love, Owner
Barker Tavern, Scituate
www.barkertavern.com
Savor: A Personal Chef Service
www.savorathome.com
Meghan Haney, Personal Chef & Owner
Darlene Calcagno, Personal Chef & Owner
781-878-9700
Joanie Wilson, Owner
SPECIALTY SHOPS
Harborlight Toy Company
146 Front Street (Welch Company Bldg), Scituate
781-544-5487, website coming soon!
Jerry & Kelly Burke, Owners
Almar Building and Remodeling
Allison Quinn Guido, General Manager
781-826-2577
APPAREL/ACCESSORIES
Sealore Designs
http://www.etsy.com/shop/sealoredesigns?page=1
Michelle Murphy, Owner
Roaring Stones
http://www.roaringstones.com/
Casey Kerr, Owner
SpitDudes
http://spitpermit.com/
Andy White, Owner
Crystals n Pearls
http://www.crystalsnpearls.com/
Carolyn Cattaneo, Owner
Boot Chic
www.bootchic.com
Kim O’Connor, Owner
Babushka Style
http://www.babushkastyle.com/
Rebecca Pimentel, Owner
Ring by Ring Designs
Bev Carlson, Jewelry Designer
FASHION/STYLE
Ready Set Style
Eva Gaiardelli, Owner/Fashion Stylist
eva@readysetstyle.com; 617-433-8295
Tracey Leahy, Owner
Charlotte & Company, Hairstylists & Makup Artists
Charlotte Phinney, Owner
Mary Kay
Shakira Perry, Independent Beauty Consultant
617-653-6796
FUN
East Coast Hui
http://www.eastcoasthui.com/Home.html
Bobby Fenton
HEALTH/FITNESS/SPA
Stacey Shipman, Feel Good Living
http://staceyshipman.com/
Stacey Shipman, Owner
A Healthy Balance
http://www.ahealthybalancenutrition.com/home.html
Nikki Tierney, Owner
Mariposa Body Massage and Therapy
http://www.mariposabody.com/
Cindy Doody, Owner
Healthy Options
http://www.healthyoptionscoaching.com/
Sheela Calhoun, Owner
Perpetual Motion
Jennifer McGilvray, owner
Dolce Med Spa & Boutique
www.DolceMed.com
Tracey Lively, President/Owner
781-792-0919
Spa-tique Day Spa
781-837-1850
South Shore Healing Center
Martha Tassinari, PT/CST
781-934-0100



ART/DESIGN
Cut River Gallery
www.cutrivergallery.com
Chris Lewis, Owner
Hawkmoon Studio
www.hawkmoonstudio.com
Michael Coyne, Owner
Everything Emily
www.everythingemily.com
Emily Loverin, Owner
Interiors by Daryce
http://www.interiorsbydaryce.com/home.html
Daryce Morris, Owner
SERVICES/Personal & Business
JKC Design
www.jkcdesign.com
Jada Coyne, Owner
Errands Etcetera
http://www.errandsetcetera.biz/
Stacy Mafera, Owner
South Shore Skin Center
www.southshoreskincenter.com
Fastteks
We travel to home or business for all computer services.
www.fastteks.com
Concierge Service
Gennie Litchfield Murphy & Chrissy Sladen McCormack, Owners
www.adminsanderrands.com
About Us,
About Us
South Shore Woman
Focusing on the people who energize our community.
We bring the story behind the story!
For more information, contact:
Stephanie Neil, Editor
781-378-1652
Tracy Coyne, Publisher
781-413-6508
Wink webzine,
Parade
Every March, Front Street in Scituate is lined with families. We all stand elbow to elbow, exchanging greetings but also assessing each other's children. It will eventually be a ruthless competition between them to grab candy thrown from parade floats. I'm usually the one to say, "Don't worry, honey, you'll get a piece next time." I have stepped in someone's discarded gum, and as I struggle to lift my foot, I wonder which of my two sons will retreat crying with his hands on his ears when he hears a gunshot. But, of course, the gunshot will not be heard for another hour. Nor will the fire engine sirens, which could also land either of my sons in therapy. We will not see the clowns, the old fashioned cars, the marching bands for what seems to be an eternity. Every March, Scituate's St. Patrick's Day Parade attracts thousands . . . and up to two hours early so they are sure to find the perfect place to look on.
Suffice it to say that I didn't love a parade . . . . until last year, that is. Last year, the parade committee hired me to photograph the parade. I spent two hours at Gates Intermediate School and Central Field where all of the marchers convene before the parade starts. I felt and saw the energy of people anxious to put there feet to the pavement with the utmost pride. I talked to members of marching bands, men in kilts, Irish step dancers, clowns, and people riding horses that they have raised, nurtured and groomed since birth. I talked to people in Gargoyle costumes and people with green hair with shamrocks on their cheeks. Those were the people who marched simply because they have the spirit of Scituate Harbor as the Irish Riviera.
It was as if I had a backstage pass to meet the people who are the iconic Scituate St. Patrick's Day Parade. I bore witness to the camaraderie; the levity, if only for a day; the noble intention to pay homage to Scituate, our country, and St. Patrick; .and mostly, the wish to make people laugh during uncertain economic and political times. Who had I thought I was before last year? Cantankerous does not do me justice. But, life, to a degree, is about opening your mind and hopefully stumbling upon an opportunity to change for the better.
I love a parade. 
Wink webzine,
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
"LOVE IS BLIND; FRIENDSHIP CLOSES ITS EYES"
--Anonymous
We all know the love is blind part...that's a no brainer.
Friendship closes its eyes....sometimes in honor of the friend, to overlook, to give a "pass", to try to love unconditionally.
However, sometimes friendship closes its eyes because it's scared....doesn't want to rock the boat...stir up controversy...or "get involved".
So, what's the TRUE measure of friendship? And, when do you decide to close or open your eyes...or MOUTH?
------HMMMMM, thought provoking tip of the day!!--------------.
This 'thought for the day' is provided by our good friend Lee who is always thinkin' about chicks and how they interact, treat each other, etc. (guys too)......Thanks LeeLee!!!
Wink webzine,
Encounter
We didn't see him approaching. We didn't even see a car pull into the nearly empty lot where we had just parked. It was as if he simply emerged, heavy set, white haired, alone. Maybe I was just concentrating on reading the sign at the trailhead saying "Bagby Hot Springs Forest Camp, Mount Hood National Forest". Or maybe I was asking my daughter Alyssa if she wanted her hat that was tucked deep in my bulging backpack. Or maybe I was double-checking with my son Brett that the keys for the green Ford rental car with Oregon plates were secured in his back pocket. But there he was, this stranger, about to begin the hike on the only trail leading to the springs. Like an unintended rendezvous, our party of 3 grew into a party of 4, two young adults, their mom, and this man.
The sky is cloudless, the air pure, the temperature comfortable. The Collawash River tumbles over rocks and boulders along one side of the groomed path, while Douglas firs stand tall in every direction. The remote setting is like a prayer, serene, peaceful, and well worth the effort in wrong turns and lost miles finding it. We start up the path.
"You been here before?" His words are drawn out slowly. "No," I answer, "We're not from this area." "So where you from?" he asks. I pause before responding, not really wanting to respond and not wanting to be rude. "Boston," I reply, hoping that my one word answer will buy silence, but knowing that it won't. "I been East," he tells me. "It was a long time ago. Went apple picking there." We are walking in a line now, Alyssa a distant first, then Brett, and me, still recovering from a knee injury, just ahead of the man. "My name's Jack," he says." What's yours?" "Diane," I tell him. "And the boy?" he continues. My son finally chimes in, stating his name, Brett. "Doug?" asks the man. "No, Brett," repeats my son in a louder voice. "So what kind of work you do?" Jack asks Brett. "I'm an architect," answers Brett. "I wanted to be an architect," Jack tells us. "Ended up a minister and a music teacher. Retired now. I'm 4 score plus two. Second wife died. I'm alone. Tried living in Florida. Didn't like it. Came back to Oregon. Pretty here, isn't it?"
His question draws me back to my surroundings as we approach a narrow log bridge that crosses the river. Midday sun plays with the railings, casting shadows like lines painted on the bridge. On the opposite shore a pile of shorts and shirts and shoes is tossed onto a rock. Voices draw my attention to the skinny-dipping. "They go nude here," Jack informs me. "Nude up at the springs, too." Pause. "There's a tub up there we could share, if you'd like," he offers. I don't respond this time, don't even turn around. "Brett, wait up," I call to my son. But it doesn't matter. Jack hangs back.
Later, after Brett, attired in blue bathing shorts, immerses into the spring water that is channeled by wooden flumes into hollowed out cedar logs, and later, after Alyssa photographs me against the backdrop of a decaying redwood, later we overhear a group of teens complaining to the uniformed forest ranger. Something about an old man bothering them.
We never see Jack again. We think about him, though, as we descend the trail, breaking the coveted silence to talk of, rather than with, him. Lonely old man or dirty old man, we'll never know. Still, I can't resist sharing a little motherly wisdom with my children. "I believe that every experience is an opportunity, a chance to learn something." In unison they respond, "What did we learn?" For that question, I don't have an answer, or at least, not yet. "I have to think about it," I tell them, but then add, "If you keep your eyes open to the possibilities, you'll figure things out eventually." Alyssa nods, Brett smiles, and in unspoken agreement, we continue down the trail.
Columns,
We Love Everything Emily!
From a complete overhaul to a consultation on color, Emily offers affordable tips to beautify your home. One of the coolest features is virtual decorating. You simply fill out online information and Emily will get you started with suggestions, colors etc. You can get a few ideas or a complete layout and shopping list, whatever works for you. She can also assist in event planning. She just helped me plan my daughter's 8th birthday. With cost effective ideas and a complete list of what to get and where to get it, the pressure was off and the party was a hit! (Helps to have talented friends!) Check out Everything Emily for more details.
Columns,
Home Alone
Three straight days of rain and I wake up feeling wet and sloppy. All the weather reports speak of flooding rivers and winds and woe-is-me attitudes... and I look out my window to see a single daffodil popping its way into bloom in my back yard. And, suddenly my soul doesn't appear so damp and musty anymore.
A hint of optimism comes over me and I can sense it. Suddenly I can taste a breath of freshness on my tongue, and I can almost smell a barbeque. And, I find myself pondering over whether, we, as human beings, can really undergo some internal change due to the exterior changes of the world around us? Like, does a little yellow flower in my back yard really have the power to change my outlook on things? Does it really have that power?
Now, this wasn't the first time I've pondered over such things. But every time I'm moved emotionally and spiritually, like I was moved this morning, it seems as though I'm destined to come to believe in some sort of power that stretches way beyond my reach. And I enjoy these thoughts over my coffee with cream and an empty house. I enjoy the quiet and the thoughts of a seasonal world forever changing.
It's an empty house because it's Tuesday, and I usually get 3 or 4 hours of this morning to myself without the screaming children, the chatter of a family, and the mess the oldest one makes before she's off to school. And I'd be lying if I said I didn't love Tuesday mornings-- this down time of trying to re-introduce myself to myself. And I can honestly say that when I meet myself again each Tuesday morning, it's usually pretty good and I don't cringe at what I find. Usually.
But then my phone rings and I most certainly hesitate at the thought of the business world interfering with my "me" time. But I answer it anyway, because I am a public servant here to serve the public.
"Do you do rehearsal dinners for forty people?" she asks.
"Why, yes we do," I say.
"Oh, lovely" she says. "Can I call you back?"
"Of course," I say.
And, as I hang up the phone and slide back in my chair, I can't help but to think of my wedding day and the bow ties and the invitations. The church and the gown. The rings and tuxedoes. The traveling friends, and those who weren't there due to sickness and/or death. I think of how she glided down the aisle towards me. I think of those vows and the meaning then... the meaning now.... I think of how being alone in my house meant something completely different before I was married.
I think once again about the changing seasons outside my window and how, we, as people, tend to rise and fall with the tides of the exterior world around us. And then, once again, I look upon that little yellow daffodil that sways in the wind and rain and I slide into my boots before I venture outdoors to pick it. And later that evening, when my wife comes home to see it above our kitchen sink, she sighs, saying, "Oh, how pretty."
"It's for you," I say. "First flower of the season."
Columns,
Plaid Ain't So Bad
What To Wear
Spring has arrived! Daylight savings time has begun, which is always a tell-tale sign, and we have been teased with some beautiful days thus far. On the fashion front: Brighter colors and new styles are arriving in stores, leaving behind the gloomy grays and browns of winter. I don't include black in that thought as it is my personal, year-round favorite. I also know that many of you are with me on that.
But allow me to introduce you to the Plaid Shirt. Plaid started appearing in stores last fall and continues in full force this spring. I must admit I wasn't a fan of this style at the start. I thought of Paul Bunyan, lumberjacks, and Al Borland (of "Home Improvement" fame...I was a sitcom queen). Lately, however, I've started to see the plaid take shape in feminine, colorful combinations of shape and style. And, I was hooked. I also realized it was another trend that is wearable by all body types and sizes, and suitable for all personalities. It's all what you make it.
Still, there are a few tricks of the trade. Take note:
*Fit is always important. To keep an updated, feminine look the shirt should be fitted and follow your curves. Look for shirts with ruched or tucked sides, or a cinch in the back to accentuate your waist. Adding a skinny belt is a homemade option for adding shape. Choose a top with ruffles for an added feminine touch (love that!!)
*Watch for different fabrics. The flannels of fall tend to lead the shirt in the masculine direction. Keep it lightweight or sheer with a camisole to lighten the look. Many are shown with a button and tag on the sleeve giving you the option of rolling up the sleeve or wearing it long...your choice.
*Color is always another point to consider. Use your same instinct as you would in choosing a sweater or another top. If you are feeling a bit bold and trendy, you might like black with a splash of neon (I must stress only a splash). Refreshing colors include shades of purple and blue. The blouse will be a bit more conservative in neutrals like brown, tan and gray.
Ideas on how to get the look...
*Try a plaid tunic with leggings and a pair of flats. Add a belt to find your waist.
*When adding your accessories, keep it simple. The plaid shirt is a statement in itself. Try a few long, chain necklaces and a pair of hoop earrings.
*Dark wash skinny jeans are perfect bottoms to compliment your look. Not into skinnies yet? Not a big deal...choose a slim boot cut jean.
*A plaid shirt-dress with tights is a great, easy look. I would go with the conservative colors in this scenario as it is a lot of plaid at one time.
*If you're a bit skittish about this trend, try a plaid tank under a cardigan or boyfriend blazer. The style will show through without dominating your look.
Plaid can be fun and is worth a try. You only need to invest in a piece or two, so it is an economical way to update your closet. Start small and graduate to a larger piece if you are so inclined. Don't over-do it.
Have fun!