We arrived at Charles de Gaulle in late afternoon. Based on my brother Matt’s experience, we headed for the Air France bus to take us into the city center. Right to the Arc de Triomphe, in fact. From there, my college French came back, at least enough for us to snag a taxi, communicate our hotel’s address and be delivered safely to its door. Now this was 1987, way pre-Euro, so francs were still the currency du jour. I’m not quite certain, but I think to this day, I probably tipped the cab drive MORE than the actual fare cost. Ah well, c’est la vie! It was Paris! Who cared?

Our hotel – the St. Louis – was small and charming, on the Ile’s main street. Twin beds, our own bath, and we were settled. Time for dinner. We walked to the corner, gazing in wonder at the back view of majestic Notre Dame. The small Café des Flores offered a simple but delicious dinner, and fortified against the February evening’s chill, we walked across the Seine to the Metro.

After London’s tube, the Metro was easy. We felt like old hands at public transportation now, and descended via the old wooden (yes, wooden) escalator to the platform. With our map in hand, we found the route that would take us to the City of Light’s Holy Grail…La Tour Eiffel. It must have been a quirk of Fate, or guardian angels intervening on our behalf, but the destination stop we chose put us out at the Trocadero. All we knew is that signs pointed the way to Sortie to the tower. We emerged into the night wind, tightening our coats and glad of the hats and scarves we both wore.

We climbed a few steps to the wide plaza flanked by two imposing neo-classical buildings, and our breath was taken away. Glittering with light, arising in the night sky directly in front of us. There it was. The single most recognizable monument in the world. The Eiffel Tower. We just stood, in awe. I don’t think I have the words, even now, to accurately convey the amazement that struck me as I took it all in. I, who had dreamed of this city my whole life, now stood in Paris, the Eiffel Tower in all its riveted glory in MY presence. No wonder you can’t keep ‘em down on the farm after they’ve seen Paree! No siree!

We made our way down the majestic steps, alongside the fountains, crossing over the Seine again, to join the throngs in line. Tickets in hand, we gained the summit past the massive, turning cables, to the very top. All of Paris lay in our view. From Notre Dame, to Sacre Coueur, to the relatively modern (and of no interest to us Paris purists at all) skyscraping Montparnasse. Yes, we were freezing. Yes, the wind threatened to lure our hats from our heads. But could we have been any more thrilled to be there? Surely not.

There is only ever ONE first time that you see Paris. And I’ll never forget that I was able to make our dream come true… together.

There comes a time in every woman’s life when she has to admit it. She needs a new picture! The questions start zooming around in our heads. What to wear? How should I look? Serious? Smiling? And, oh gosh, what if I don’t like them after their done?!?Now if that doesn’t strike fear into your heart, you’re a better woman than I am.

Well, you need to meet Oana Hogrefe. This amazing and multi-talented woman started her career as a physicist, but has been passionately working in the field of photography for 20 years. First shooting citiscapes and images of her world travels, but these days she focuses on capturing the uniqueness of life’s special events, as well as on creating lasting memories through portraits and family photography.

Oana will tell you, “I love to put my time and my artistic vision at work to provide my clients with images which speak to them. I like working with people, journalling their presence in time and space. Each person has something uniquely their own, something brilliant and timeless. This is what I try to witness and showcase in the images I create.”

What I can say is that Oana is the only photographer I’ve ever worked with who I felt captured the ‘real me’. It was as casual and natural a process as chatting with a good friend, which luckily for me, she has become. I loved every picture she took!

Oh, and did I tell you.  Every year she shoots her wonderful Childhood Calendar to benefit a worthy cause like Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta?

Those are just a few of the reasons it’s my great pleasure to introduce Oana to you. Now I hope you get the chance to meet.

I love people. Truly love them. I’m having my best times when I’m with people. Meeting new people, hearing their stories, finding common ground, sharing ideas. This is how new friendships come blossom.

My teenager seems amazed at this. “My mom can make friends with anybody, even standing in line at the store,” he told a buddy recently. And I had to laugh, because it’s true! But you know why? It’s because I love to connect with people. Every encounter is a chance to make a new friend, share an idea, discover a common interest. I have met the most amazing women through chance encounters, just by striking up a conversation.

Connecting. For me, it’s what life’s about. How about you? When was the last time you went to a business or even social event and came back with a few (or a stack) of business cards from people you met.  What happens next? Will you follow up with them?  Send a note saying how happy you are to have crossed paths? Did you promise to call? Was there some common interest that will keep you in contact? Or are you just adding them to your ‘collection’? You know, that ever-growing stack of business cards you swapped but never got around to doing anything with?

Maybe it’s time to pull them out and take some action. Time to stop collecting and start connecting. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find a soul sister, maybe not. But at the very least, you’ll be getting outside your box and connecting with new energy. And that can be the most powerful thing of all.

Remember. Nothing ‘works’ until you plug it in. Enjoy connecting!

UPDATE: While I began my 10 Minute Workouts before Thanksgiving, I have to admit, family, fun and celebrations have upset my schedule. But not to worry! As I approach the New Year, it’s easy to pick up where I left off and get right back on track! Many thanks to Katy Gillis and my online group. Let’s get back to work, girls! Maybe you’d like to join us? email me and I’ll tell you how!

ORIGINAL POST: I have the best intentions. The very best. My gym membership dues are dutifully paid each month. I print off the class schedule, pack my gym bag, throw it in the car, put it on my schedule… and then… life intervenes.  A rush deadline crops up at the office. The cell buzzes with a text: “Mom, there’s a ceremony at school tonight!” or “Honey, I’m still in court. Can you please….”

Well, you know what they say about the road to you-know-where being paved with ‘good intentions’, don’t you? I guess you might say that, while not exactly banished to the Netherworld, I do feel pretty low when that few extra pounds have crept on and threaten to jiggle alarmingly. When I look in the mirror and see a little too much ‘tummy’ and not enough ‘taut.’ You know what I mean, right? That’s why, when I got my friend and fitness guru Katy Gillis’ email last week, I sat up straight and took notice.

“How to get through the holidays without gaining even one sticky pound!” called out her subject line. Okay, Katy, you had me at ‘holidays.’ I love the holidays, but not gaining ANY weight while enjoying them? Was that even possible? And when she explained it was not only possible, but simple, easy and would only take 10 minutes a day – just 5 days a week… I was SOLD! Even I could fit in 10 minutes a day, in the privacy of my own home, any time of the day (or night). Sign me up, Katy!

So I started on Monday. Five days ago. So far I have worked out (a) after getting up in the morning, (b) in the middle of the day, and even once on my busiest day (c) at 9:30 at night. Moving my body and doing something for ME felt good, and I got so fired up I even added a one-mile power walk each day. Granted, it was indoors where it was nice and warm, of course, working out to my Leslie Sansone walking DVD. But hey, moving is moving, right?

I’M DOING IT!  One week under my belt! And although I will admit to being a bit sore from working those under-exercised glutes. I’m thrilled, and more than a little bit proud of myself for starting NOW, before Turkey Day, Christmas Cookie swaps, and all the tasty treats of the season come tempting.

I’m optimistic and I’m committed! Maybe I’ve found something I can stick with that will get me in shape – and keep me there – in that spare 10 to 30 minutes I’d otherwise be on Facebook, sitting in front of the TV, or even worse, bemoaning my out of shape self!

Stay tuned. I’ll let you know how it goes. And who knows? Maybe you’ll find 10 minutes a day to join me. What do you say?

Here’s a great way to start the year off right! Grab your jar… you decide what size… and start on New Year’s Day. Then all during the year make note of any and all good things that happened to you on little individual pieces of paper. Next New

Year’s Eve, open the jar and read all the amazing things that happened to you over the last 12 months.

I’m thinking of doing a ‘family’ jar, with each of us having a different color. Wonder how that will work with my guys? May even do a special one on my desk at the office for work-related ‘good things’!

Thanks go to Suzie Pierce of Suzie’s Daily Quotesfor sharing this simple, easy but oh-so-powerful idea!

As we’re all busy cleaning out and getting ready for the New Year, many of realize we could use a little help in creating the look we really want. As busy multi-taskers, who has time to waste in trying on things that don’t really fit or make us look our personal best?  Meet Karen Hughes. After a career in sales, marketing and training, Karen returned to her fashion roots, founding Image Assets. She invited us all to StyleCamp, and now, for those of us who need continuing education, she’s launched StyleYOUniversity.

Karen’s passion is showing frustrated, sometimes overwhelmed (sound familiar?) women and groups how to create a wardrobe for the many lives they lead.  She wants you out of your closet and doing what you love to do more quickly and with style!

As an enthusiastic StyleCamper, I’ve learned way more than ‘what not to wear.’ Now I know what suits me best, and as Karen says, I’m ‘looking good, feeling great, and having fun doing it!”

Want to join me?

You’ve hit the wall with the mall. Too many people. Not enough parking. Besides, who needs another tie or bottle of cologne anyway? Maybe it’s time to do some good with your gifting! This is one of my favorite ways of all. Let me show you how simple it can be. It all starts online, and then with a quick trip to just the grocery or local drugstore:

- donate a hive of bees in your friend’s name to the Heifer Project, then gift them with a bottle of local honey, tied with a note telling them what you’ve done in their honor!

- the American Red Cross always needs donations, especially after disasters like Superstorm Sandy. Why not designate your recipient “Sandy Claus” with a donation in their name and a cute Christmas stocking or ornament to hang on their tree?

- and Christmas, after all, is about the kids, right? Take a shopping trip through the toy aisle and buy a toy that reminds you of your recipient, snap a picture of it and then let them know it’s been donated to Toys for Tots in their name. It brings out the kid in all of us!

See? It’s so easy to do once you get started. And your gift will be creating some big smiles on Christmas morning, you Santa baby, you!

Everybody wants to get in on the action when you introduce this fun, simple idea from our friend Marsha Peterson of MyTradeSecrets.com.  Make a quick stop at  your local craft store (or the holiday aisle at Target) and buy a simple plain wreath, green or twigs, your choice. Then, hang it in a spot where your guests arrive or depart. Set out red Sharpies and some small plain cards on a table next to it.

Now post a sign asking friends and family to scribble a greeting or a wish for the New Year, along with their name, and slip the card into the wreath. I even found some adorable tiny red clothespins to use to attach the cards to the greenery or branches. This is a great way to get your kids involved, as they are never shy when asking the grown ups to participate.

After the holidays? You’ll have a great, one-of-a-kind decoration that captures the memories, year after year. Thanks, Marsha! We love this idea.

And a final thought from Cindy. This year, maybe even more than most, we understand that this is the TRUE message of the holidays we celebrate. 

“Life is a gift.  You should make time to enjoy the ones that you love.”

In the wrapping of the presents, remember:  it’s not what’s inside the box, but rather what we find in our hearts, that makes the season sing!

This great idea is from our friend Cindy Edwards who blogs at PaulaDeen.com.

Here’s a decorating tip for an easy and inexpensive holiday centerpiece that will last for days:

Place a Christmas garland (about five or six feet long) down the center of your table in an “S” shape.  Intermix some candlesticks. Use floral water picks to hold roses or other cut flowers.  Replace picks with fresh flowers as they fade.  Enjoy!!!!