December started with a bang, attending the TEDxWomen simulcast. The speakers who just blew me away included:

Charlotte Beers (Husband gave me her book for xmas!), whose insistence on being in charge appeals to me;

Tiffany Dufu and Marie Wilson, whose admiration and respect for each other is tangible, and whose mentor/mentee relationship will set the standard for me in the future;

John Gerzema, whose study, "the Athena Doctrine" explores the qualities of successful leadership (hint: they possess feminine qualities), and whose talk I got to see in person this year at the Kauffman Center;

Ok, and lastly, Sue Austin, whose positive attitude was contagious, and whose underwater wheelchair was just too surreal to forget.

Speaking of surreal, I also attended an art show that included my former graphic design professor from college, Mike Sleadd. His illustrations have always interested me with their layers and layers of texture. Someday I might just purchase the one I mentioned in my December 9th post.

Husband and I were lucky enough to attend Barnaby Bright's new CD launch concert. They're so talented! We bought both their CDs and have played the labels off of them!

I'm looking forward to being at home tonight with the Family, snowy outside, maybe a fire in the fireplace, watching another episode of Downton Abbey (last night Husband and I rented season one—what a wonderfully-produced, visually-lush soap opera), with either a glass of wine or a Guinness. 

Life is so good! 

Thanks for reading (and stay safe tonight!), 
Cami

p.s. Your good juju today: Take stock of what you have, where you are today, and be thankful you're as fortunate as you are!

After hearing all about the winter weather advisory, I was a little disappointed this morning to see dry roads, and no snow. Thankfully, it has started snowing—those big, fluffy globs of snow! Here's a 10-second video I took from my office window. Enjoy!

I stumbled across this video again recently, and since Husband hadn't seen it I got to watch it again. Nature is so amazing! If I were designing a bird, I don't think I would have come up with some of these combinations of color, shape and movement. More information can be found on Cornell University's website here.

Yesterday morning I ran some early morning errands (bank, car wash, etc.) and tried to find something on which to spend my Kohl's gift certificate—alas, no luck. This time.

And alas, a quick text from my best friend Kim altered the course of my Saturday. I drove to Lawrence on a whim to spend some time with her. We went window shopping, had some cocktails at 715, went into the Eldridge Hotel, which has some interesting history (supposedly room 506 is haunted), Brits (Kim bought for me a bottle of elderflower syrup—can't wait to use it in a cocktail!), and otherwise had a lovely, chilly day.

We each listened to each other's catch-up stories, and shared some really good juju. How nourishing for the soul, to spend a spontaneous, agenda-less day with a friend. I strongly recommend it!

Thanks for reading,
Cami

p.s. Your good juju today: Carve out some time for a good friend soon. It's good for your soul!

By the way, while I'm trudging ahead on my way to 100 blog posts by March 25th (22 down, only 78 more to go), what would you like to see here? Topics? Ideas? I'm all ears. 

Vindication! I learned in November that my aversion and ineptness at math actually causes a response in the brain similar to experiences real pain. Well, duh! Here's the link to the article (Courtesy of Sian Beilock).

I attempted making bread, recipe courtesy of Bryn at writes4food. That didn't go so well. The two loaves that actually did rise just a little were almost too salty to eat. I have really bad luck with yeasty recipes. I'll try again someday, just not in the near future. By the way, her blog has some recipes that sound amazing. Noodle around with the Clara Project: cool stuff there.

My wonderful, crazy in-laws came up for the food-a-thon, er… Thanksgiving. Loved spending time with them! What's your favorite activities with family?

(One more month to review, whew!)
Thanks for reading,
Cami

p.s. Your good juju today: If at first you don't succeed, try again. Unless it's bread, then just buy a loaf of artisan bread and appreciate the expert bakers.

I asked this question back in October: 

"Can I combine quantum physics and a story of overcoming adverse circumstances into a talk that will inspire you and maybe cook your noodle just a little? And more importantly, should I?"

I got a whole lot of "YES" in reply. Challenge accepted. 

I attended another TEDx event, this time in Overland Park. I heard fun stuff from Wes Jackson, who is a proponent of perennial farming (great article in National Geographic here—why no one is picking up his torch and spreading that idea bigger and louder is beyond me) and whose speaking style just cracked me up, it was that awesome; Eduardo Dolhun, a doctor all about getting rid of diarrhea globally with Drip Drop (a noble cause, really), Richard Gordon, who deals with artificial intelligence, cyber security, etc., in mind-boggling ways; and others. Each person had their own story to tell, in their own way. What makes one great would be disastrous for another person to emulate. 

I have my own story to tell, in my own way. And it's on my bucket list to be a TED speaker. I know that someday I can pull those two topics together. Maybe next year, 2013 since 13 is my lucky number.

Thanks for reading,
Cami

p.s. Your good juju today: What's your story? What is stopping you from telling it?

So I forgot, August was also the tenth anniversary of the Kansas City Irish Fest. I say this every year, but it really shouldn't be this fun to work this hard for free. I am on my feet for seventyleven hours on about 4 hours sleep. And I willingly do it every year. I get to hang around people I consider my family which, of course, they are. Yeah, I love you guys!

Speaking of love… in September, I was lucky enough to attend a one-day workshop with my mentor, Peleg Top. He challenged all in attendance to infuse our businesses, as well as our lives, with more love—then showed us how. Ah. Maze. Ing. Yep. 

He asked us to write a poem in one shot with no editing called Who I Am. Here's mine that I wrote that day: 

Who I Am

I am Cami
That's iMac backwards for all you designers. 
(That explanation doesn't always work out.)
I am love.
I am power.
I am here and I am now.
I want to give, because in giving, I receive—more.
Precious, precocious, persnickety.
Sexy, super, silly.
I am Cami! That's who I am!
Now, I want to know, who are you?

Thanks for reading,
Cami

p.s. Peleg is on a three-month sabbatical. Someday I hope to have the wherewithall to do that too.

August closed out with a drive back home through California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, 4000 in 9 days. Whew! I found out that Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) is my third cousin, four times removed, and General William Travis (from the Alamo) is either my fifth or sixth great grand uncle. Thank you Aunt Shirley for doing the research that would drive me insane, but that is SO appreciated.

My oldest started high school in August. (*sniff*). That's her 12 years ago; my youngest is behind her, probably putting something in his mouth (he was only 1 after all). He started 7th grade in August. Daughter just turned 15 last month, and Son will turn 13 in February. Whooosh (that sound you hear is time flying past you)!

I have some good friends who last year had their first child, an amazing little girl. I think they're still overwhelmed with the bigness of having a child you're responsible for. I say to them: enjoy it as best you can. It whooshes by so quickly. And while it does get easier, it also gets more complicated and more subtle. My kids are amazing people in young, small packages.

July is when I'm neck-deep in stuff at work. July is when I submit my speaker proposals for the HOW Conference. July, this past year is when we went on a 9-day road trip. The best part? Well, ok, there were loads of best parts, but I'll save the bestest best part for last. We drove to California via the southern route, kinda Route-66 style. Spent a day in Monterey, a day exploring the giant sequoia trees up in the mountains, part of a day at the west rim of the Grand Canyon. Saw an old friend and visited my old high school grounds. But the best part? Introducing my kids to my favorite aunt and uncle. They were the normal family in my abnormal childhood. And they know how to love! I can't wait to see them again soon and, thankfully, my kids feel the same way.

Thanks for reading,
Cami