Serenity in the Hills of Austin

Ahhhh, M & and I are taking a little down time this weekend to rest quietly in the nooks of The Crossings Wellness Spa on Lake Austin. (http://www.thecrossingsaustin.com/)

An Incredible Visit to Coeur d'Alene

We return to Dallas today from a really great trip spening time with Matt's family over the Thanksgiving holidays. What a truly wonderful family they are and C.d'A. is simply stunning. I hope we return soon. :o)

Playing in the Snow

Scenic Drive around Lake Coeur d'Alene

Today we took a day trip around the Lake, passing through a few tiny towns, and stopped along at Matt's old Boyscout camp, a silly photo opp in the snow, and for lunch at Gem State Cafe in St. Marie's (had a heads up that they had the best pie along the drive). :o)

A Day of Rest and Family

After service today, we took the day to rest. This evening Kathy cooked Thanksgiving dinner for all of us and we headed out for the "Journey to the North Pole" Fantasy Lights Cruise on Lake Coeur d'Alene.

Sailing Inspiration, A Bday Dinner and Beowulf

We had breakfast at Mary and Baxter's house this a.m. so that Matt could pick Kirk's brain on living aboard a sailboat (and I could hear the realities of it from Lisa's perspective ;o). It really was inspiring to hear of their experience and advice! This evening we all went to dinner to celebrate Kathy's birthday at Tito's and then M & I went to catch the movie Beowulf (a little more graphic than I recall reading in English Lit ;o).

Farming and Fireworks

Today, I learned to drive a tractor! While I wasn't left alone in it very long ;o), I got to take the Deere for a little run up the driveway before Matt, his dad and brother farmed it up. Their land is incredible here and the town of Coeur d'Alene is absolutely beautiful!

This evening we checked out the impressive Holiday Light Show at The Coeur d'Alene Resort. It's America's largest floating holiday light show extravaganza featuring over one million lights and 150 holiday displays. The event kicked off with a lighted parade and a spectacular fireworks show.

Thanksgiving in Coeur d'Alene

This will be my first year to spend Thanksgiving with a family other than my own. Matt and I are spending this one with his family and really looking forward to spending time with them and exploring Idaho over the next several days.

Giving Thanks for Thanksgiving

In gearing up for Turkey Day I thought I'd take a minute to acknowledge that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year because it's all about spending time with friends and family, enjoying good food, and expressing appreciation. If you're reading this, you are someone who has most likely touched my life along with many others. Thank you for being exactly as you are and I hope you enjoy a restful day tomorrow.

Season Treason

With Thanksgiving still two days away, seeing this Christmas tree in the agency leads me to ask ... why is it that we're seeing so much blending of the seasons? With consumer spending slightly curbed this year by perceptions around our economy and oil prices, it's no wonder that marketers start reminding us a little earlier each year to get out and shop for the holidays. (i.e. holiday isles set and twinkly tunes in retail at Halloween). Guess each of us should be making our wish lists during Easter in '08 ;o)

A Story Without Pictures

When's the last time you got to live with over 1600 pages of data tables? Ohhh, welcome to my world this week ... We've fielded a study to better understand a consumer group recently and now the story that we'll share with our teams lives within this numeric maze. Whew ... deep breath as I dive back in ...

"Bruco" = Italian for Caterpillar

Recognize this guy? If so, you've probably made the trek to Austin a few times ;o) This funky building off I35 that begs for a grin and impromtu photo opp, is best known as Bruco (Italian for caterpillar). Bruco is where all the magic happens at the Monolithic Dome Research Center in downtown Italy, Texas. Just turn left at the Alien Space Ship restaurant, which is still for rent if anyone is interested, and you will find a little road that leads you right up to the dome home community.

(www.monolithic.com/gallery/airforms/bruco/index.html)

Matteo's "Monkey Face"

Little people grow into such big personalities! While Kelly and I had a great time catching up with Flor this weekend, I got to hang out with her and Bruno's little man, Matteo, and his newly found monkey face move. Whew ... I can't believe these two pics capture how much energy he has at 1 from when he was snoozing as a newborn ;o)

Where the Heart Is ...

This weekend I return to the city where my heart beats to its true rhythm.

twittervision 3D Addiction

Twittervision is a hypnotic glimpse into the lives of people around the world and I can't get enough of it! It's a cross between blogging and instant messaging and at least for me, generates an amazing feeling of connection to what people are thinking in real time.

Check it out in 3D here (but don't blame me when you wonder what time warp you were sucked into) ... (http://twittervision.com/maps/show_3d)

Room With a View

Here's a quick snapshot of Hollywood Boulevard from my room at The Roosevelt this morning.

Educate, Enlighten, Inspire

Kids who have no place to go end up going nowhere.

Kids with some place to go end up going places.

My creatives and I are in LA today to spend time with one of our pro bono clients, After-School All-Stars. Personal highlight was visiting one of the schools that hosts these after-school programs ... the kids are amazing and spending time with them touched my heart.

ASAS brings innovative, cutting-edge enrichment programs to middle school youth that contribute to reducing drug use, crime and violence; while increasing the safety of students in the after school hours. The program specializes in bringing academic learning opportunities through three pillars of program designed for middle school aged youth – Visual and Performing Arts; Health, Nutrition and Physical Fitness; Youth Leadership and Community Service Learning. (www.afterschoolallstars.org/)

Cheers to the Gold Standard of Godmothers!

Imagine having someone in your life who is an absolute blast to hang out with, someone who stretches the boundaries of creativity, who beams with joy and contemplative intensity, who throws the doors wide open on possiblity, someone who love you unconditionally and who brings out the very best in you (even when your vision is foggy ;o) ...

I am one lucky, lucky niece to say I have someone who embodies this and oh so much more! Today is her day ... Happy Birthday to you, my fairy godmother. I wish everyone had an Aunt Cherie! We'd live in a much more fun, joyful and loving world :o)

LG Action Sports World Championships

So occassionally in the ad biz people share VIP access badges to events that our brands sponsor. Well, we were given a few this wknd to check out the LG Actions Sports Championships in Dallas and ended up smack in the middle of the BMX Vert Finals. Insane riding but an even bigger highlight for me was being able to pass along the badges to a couple kiddos there. Here's hoping they lived it! ;o)

LG Action Sports: http://www.lgactionsports.com/

Pavlov's Dogs Improv

This evening we joined Jeph and Casandra to support Jeph sister, Emily, in an improv comedy show she's in at Pocket Sandwich Theatre (hmm, HP brand tie-in? ;o). While I wouldn't have instantly thought of an improv show, I ended up having the loudest laughs there! Will definitely check it out again.

Pavlov's Dogs: http://www.pdogs.com/

Pocket Sandwich Theatre: http://www.pocketsandwich.com/

Pei Wei Ponderances

There Are No Coincidences

You know when you board a flight and there's that empty seat next to you and your mind starts to wonder about what will be taking very close (inches close) residence next to you for the next few hours? (Most times I secretly hope that the seat's owner will be a no show.) Well, tonight I was reminded just how perfectly placed each and every moment is in our lives.

I am grateful and a little in awe to have shared these seats / this space in time with a colleague of mine this evening. Thanks for sharing in our meaningful conversation during our commute home from Baltimore, Delana. I'm convinced we were intended to sit in these seats, on this flight, on this evening, and for exact duration of our flight. Time well spent!

Grateful Birthday Girl

I am truly blessed with the most incredibly thoughtful, big-hearted, creative and fun friends and family! Thank you ... to each of you for putting your magic touch on my birthday/week :o)

body+soul Tops the List

If I had to pick three fall-back mags in the airport, I would choose body+soul, Pyschology Today and a good old People. Just a few little joys to share for the day.

Planning New Year's in Switzerland

Tonight we sat down to map out plans for spending New Year's on scenic train adventures through the Swiss Alps :o)

We Heart Nature!

Thank you Crystal, Soums, Kel (and baby Ravestijn), Jason and Matt for celebrating my birthday with me this weekend in the great outdoors ;o)! MLB was the very best host and guide a group of camping newbs could ask for.

Chillaxing Fireside

We took Matt's evite test and it was determined that each of us officially had Nature Deficiency Disorder. You should take this now to find out where you land: http://tinyurl.com/ywtn7l/

The crew headed out today for a weekend to slow down a little, catch up, and celebrate my twenty-eleventh birthday. We had more than plenty of laughs from Crystal and I being arrested by the park ranger (who deemed our campsite his new hangout ;o), campfire stories and games, and just all around a good time with each other outside the concrete world we live in each day.

Necessities for Camping

We started collecting the essentials for this weekend's wildnerness adventure. Yep, Smores, Jiffy Pop, a pink Swiss Army, and games will be musts for surviving in the elements ;o)

Serious Addiction to Bubble Tea

While catching up with Kel today at Tempest Tea, I'm finally admitting just how much I heart bubble chi tea! (Big heart for bubble tea ;o)