Mish Mash

No real theme for today's post - other than I'm going to be all over the place. Here are some random things...

Thanks to your input, we added the size 2T to our "I will color outside the lines" baby tee! We also added bright new colors to the "Brainy Beanies"! It's always fun to add things to a product line, waiting to see if people like your ideas.

If you are anywhere between the DC metro area and NYC (this includes Philly) and you know of a Trunk Show or Holiday Showcase - I'd love to know about it. We do really well at these events so I'm looking to schedule a few for the fall. I've got a couple lined up - but am looking for more!

Have you ever felt like your technology is disappointed in having you as an owner? I got a new PDA and I swear it would roll it's eyes if it had any every time I turn it on. I know it can do about 3 million more things than what I use it for and I have guilt.

"We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down." -Kurt Vonnegut

See? I told you it was going to be a mish mash. Do you have any random thoughts you'd like to share? Doesn't have to be related!

Forty Thousand Feet

As I mentioned last week, I am in the middle of reading "Your Marketing Sucks." by Mark Stevens. I'm only on Chapter two, but one of his terms struck me - "... a classic example of a marketing program designed at forty thousand feet", meaning that someone who is way too far from the actual situation (at an altitude of forty thousand feet, to be exact) made the decision without thinking of the end-user. He goes on to say that, "... a seemingly terrific idea turns out to be another form of marketing that sucks, because people don't think it all the way through to the implementation level."

I really like the image that conjures up and it prompts me to think about what I create from forty thousand feet, without knowing it. I have made a lot of adjustments to the product line in the past seven years because I would find things out from my customers. Store owners would tell me that people kept asking what to put the soap rolls in, so I started selling our little soap dishes to stand them up in. It hadn't occurred to me before that, that people would ask for something specifically... I was operating at forty thousand feet.

It's always imperative to think about the end-user. Since it's likely that you won't have direct contact with them, and will therefore miss out on crucial feedback, you have to approach your product (or whatever your creation happens to be) with brand new critical eyes.

What altitude are you at? How do you bring yourself back down to earth?

Drive + Desire

My sister read me the following quote yesterday after I expressed my dismay with the magazines.

We are told that talent creates its own opportunities. But it sometimes seems that intense desire creates not only its own opportunities, but its own talents. -Eric Hoffer

Do you think that drive can sometimes make you better at something? Or is it - either you have talent or you don't? Take Brittney Spears - the girl doesn't have a speck of talent, but she has (or had) drive and the ability to know what would sell. Maybe that, in itself, is talent. What are your thoughts?

Too much

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I recently sent out press kits for both the Soaps and Baby line, hoping to get some write-ups in the "holiday gift guides" of large consumer magazines. I worked really hard to figure out the right amount of info to send (don't want to overwhelm them), the right person to send it to (they rarely pass it along to someone else) at the right publication (sending it to "Cat Fancy" isn't in my best interest - no offense to "Cat Fancy" readers.. all three of you. Ouch! I'm sorry I'm in a feisty mood.)

This week I'm trying to get in touch with my contacts to confirm that they received the package and see if they had any questions - and to get a gage on whether they might include the products. So, I received an e-mail back from one particular magazine that I've always wanted to get into. Her response was - the soap rolls looked like they had a lot of press already. Too much success? I have many issues with this - and here are a few, in no particular order.

1. It may appear that we have had a lot of press, but that's over 7 years - it's not like it's: Soap Rolls Everywhere You Look. Have any of you seen the soaps in a magazine?
2. If we have had a lot of press, it's because people like the product. I know, CRA-ZY! Who wants to feature a product that people would actually like?
3. She'd be amazed by how many people have never seen nor heard of Soap Rolls, despite my best back-breaking efforts.
4. The fact that we have been in all these magazines should bolster my credibility. It's proof that the company isn't "here today, gone tomorrow"
5. What about all the products I see over and over again in every magazine I look in. Funny, they just happen to have paid advertisements on the page next to the editorial. Coincidence? I think not.

The thing is - I busted my butt - and kissed other's people's - to get all of this press to compensate for my lack of advertiisng funds. And now to be penalized for it... well that is just too much.

I know this is in stark contrast with my usual upbeat self (stop laughing!) - I promise to be back to normal (as normal as I can get) tomorrow. Just needed to rant!

Have you ever been in a situation where you were labelled with having too much success? I realized as I wrote that that it sounds like I'm bathing in Dom Perignon and having someone feed me grapes, which I most certainly am not. I bathe in Cristal.

My Bedside Table

I'm in the middle of reading four books. I never do that because even if they are on two completely different topics, I will inevitably weave both books together in my head. You should have heard the story I came up with when I read "Bridget Jones' Diary" and "Guerilla Trade Show Selling" at the same time. Anyway, here are the four that are on my bedside table. Let me know if you're interested in swapping notes if you've read it or hearing a review if you haven't... or starting our own mini book club!

The Long Tail by Chris Anderson. Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More. Thanks to Cindy for this recommendation!

Your marketing sucks by Mark Stevens. "The hard-nosed guide to implementing ROI marketing." This title did what he wanted it to do - it got my attention.

Too Close to the Falls by Catherine Gildiner. "... a poignant memoir about an intrepid, unforgettable girl and her extraordinary childhood in 1950's small-town America." I read about this book in a magazine - and when I went to buy it, the woman behind the counter said it was hilarious.

BANG! Getting your message heard in a noisy world by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval.

Are you reading anything good?

Crazy about Crazy

Ok, so I'm obsessed with this song, "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley. This wasn't one of those songs that grew on me over time... I was hooked the first time I heard it - and I came in halfway. So much so, that I went and bought the CD that day. Now that's consumerism at it's very best.

I was just wondering what makes certain things strike a chord, while others flop. What is it about some products that reel me in and make me an evangelist in their name? I'm pretty picky about the products that I use (and by products, I mean books, music, beauty aids, restaurants, etc.), but when I really like it, I'll tell everyone I know about it. What does it take to make you spread the word about something? Is it something little, or do you have to be bowled over? I know I get a lot of customers through word-of-mouth - so I'm just curious what pushes your buttons!

Sidebar - I've heard "Crazy" is a great video too, and if MTV or VH1 ever played videos, maybe I could judge for myself.

Some Inspiration between Weather and Traffic

Years ago, I swore that I would never step foot into an Ethan Allen furniture showroom again. I had the displeasure of talking to a salesman who was so rude and condescending (He actually said, "It's not that expensive!") that it ruined the entire brand for me. That is, until this morning. I was watching the news when an Ethan Allen commercial came on, which is normally no big deal, but this one opened with the question, "Do we choose our inspiration, or does inspiration choose us?" It followed with a series of interesting visuals that really caught my eye. Damn you, Ethan Allen, for reeling me back in!

Anyway, I thought I'd broach the subject with you and see what the consensus is. Do you choose your inspiration, or does inspiration choose you? For me, it's about 50/50. I purposely go looking for Inspiration in certain places, and then when I least expect it, Inspiration comes knocking on my door - which usually means that Opportunity is right around the corner.

I still won't ever go back into an Ethan Allen showroom, but I might cross them off my list of "Stores to Curse".

Great Expectations

I've realized lately that my happiness with a product, movie or book is in direct proportion to my expectations. It's a sliding scale; the lower the expectation, the more I will enjoy it, the higher the expectation, the greater the chance that I'll be totally non-plussed.

Case study #1: Hair product that promises to perform a "miracle" on my not-so-shiny mane. Now, I wouldn't normally put a ton of faith into hair products, but it's actually in the name, for pete's sake! I'm not unjustly holding them to a higher standard here. After the said three minutes, my hair didn't look or feel any different than when I use my normal shampoo and conditioner, let alone having the promised halo appearing around my head.

Here's my thought: maybe instead of vamping up the promises that a product/book/movie makes - maybe they should lower our expectations so that when it just cleans my hair/makes me think/makes me cry, I won't be so disappointed. Take the soap rolls, for instance, I've never implied that it does anything more than wash your hands, last longer than a regular bar of soap, or look cute next to your bathroom sink. It's not going to help you pass that exam, improve your familial relations or get the girl in the end. It just won't. But saying your product is a "miracle" just sets us up for disappointment.

This is weird for me to go against a review of a product, because I'm a huge proponent of "word-of-mouth". I rightfully deem it the best form of advertising out there, and I personally like to "spread the word" about products I like and purchase things I've heard about from friends.

So where does belief in the "No expectations, no disappointments" theory and the reliance on "word of mouth" intersect? Can they co-exist? What are your thoughts?

Sidebar: In honor of Mrs. Seigel, my 9th grade English teacher who forced me to read "Great Expectations", I have to quote her here in saying, "Love her, love her, love her." After 17 years, and much therapy, I can not get the audio clip of her repeating that line from the book, over and over and over.

Being Mick

I have to admit, I wasn't a fan of Mick Jagger until I saw him perform with the Rolling Stones. I was in 9th grade and the sheer force of his energy was hypnotizing, even for someone who was more into George Michael and Bon Jovi at the time (much to my father's dismay). I actually prefer Mick Jagger's solo albums over the Stones; each of his two albums are soulful, funky, and addicting.

So when I heard about his documentary, Being Mick, about putting together his latest album, I couldn't wait to see it. I thought it was a interesting glimpse into his life and what goes into making an album. I'm always interested in how things are made; from jelly beans to ice cream (both of which I have had the extreme pleasure of seeing); I guess I really like to see the details of the hard work that goes into a product. Anywho, I thought I would share his insight when asked about his creative process in songwriting.

"You might get an idea late at night, but I think you get much faster earlier in the day... because I think you sleep on it sometimes. Write everything down you can and don't worry too much if it's late, because you're tired. See everything you've got and then the next day, get up in the morning, have breakfast, then immediately just do that. Quite often it comes really quickly."

Sdebar: The fact that Bono and Lenny Kravitz appear in it to each work on a different song with him is just a bonus, and if you were wondering, it strengthened my love for both of them.

Christmas in July

I've just made myself a cup of hot cocoa, I'm decked in red and green plaid flannel and I've got Harry Connick, Jr. crooning holiday tunes in the background. Ok, if this was an audio post, this is where everything would come to a screeching halt and you'd hear the needle scratching across a record. It's the end of July, 90-something degrees out (with humidity to boot), and I have to get into the Christmas spirit!

Part of Marketing and P.R. is staying ahead of the game and running on a schedule that's slightly strange and not just a little ironic. Since my stores are starting to buy for Christmas (if they haven't finished already), and the magazines are working on their holiday issues, I have to be thinking about my marketing materials and holiday products way before the flip-flops and innertubes come out of hiding.

There's something kinda sad about always moving on to the next season before this one even gets started. I'm thinking that maybe we rush through things a bit too much. We plan out our summers so every weekend is filled, and then wonder where our summer went. I'm making a new plan to not schedule our days so much that we miss just enjoying them.

Anyway, I've got to run... I have to get going on Valentine's Day before these leaves change colors.

Tunnel Vision

Tunnel Vision
Chester, my Golden Retriever who is the devil with fur, happens to be Obsessive Compulsive. I honestly think he does it to annoy me, but that's beside the point. He gets in this zone where he will lick his paw, belly, back, hindleg - you name it - in the same motion for HOURS if we didn't stop him. He'll lick Kevin's foot or leg in the same manner, which curiously doesn't bother Kevin, but makes me want to scratch my own eyes out. I am almost Reverse Obsessive Compulsive, where repetitive sounds quite literally make me crazy. Chinese Water Torture? I'd give up any secret I had within minutes.

My reason for telling you this, is that it got me thinking last night. As I was hurling pillows at the furball in the dark, secretly hoping one of them would knock him out cold (he woke me from a sound sleep, for crying outloud), I thought about how we can be so focused on one thing that we are completely oblivious to all else. Admittedly, this happens to me when things get crazy around here, other business Stuff falls to the wayside. It's the balancing of all of it - for me it's constantly thinking about marketing, direct mail, e-correspondance, packaging, literature, sales reps, etc. - that ensures that the business keeps running, that is the hardest part.

Sometimes we need someone to chuck a pillow at us to change our focus. What do you do to make sure you don't get Tunnel Vision?

"The risk of not being risky"

As predicted, I came across something else from Donny Deutsch's book that I wanted to share.

"If you're not moving forward, you risk getting run over from behind. In advertising - as in all industries and organizations- something that is not risky can, in fact, be more risky because it will neither excite an old customer nor attract a new one. You risk everything by risking nothing."

I've said this before, and I'll say it again... don't do what your competition does. Set yourself apart by not even playing in their game. Make up a new one. This goes for anything from your resume, to your marketing plan, to a new product line.

"Zigging when other people zag is the price of entry for being important in anything... Go where tomorrow is. Let everybody else catch up."

What are you doing that's risky? Is it a "good" risky or a "bad" risky?

Weigh in on line expansion

We're getting ready to replenish our inventory (and yes, we're very excited that we are running low!) so we thought we would take this opportunity to expand our line somewhat. We're adding bright colors to the "Brainy Beanies" (instead of the white cotton fabric) which I think will make them really pop! As for our baby tees, we have received some interest in larger sizes, so we were contemplating adding 2T to the line. But as always, I second-guess everything, so I'm wondering if we should go in a different direction. This is where you come in. If you could cast a vote, which would you choose:

• Adding a bigger size - 2T
• Offering long sleeve - for the winter
• Going organic - offering a 100% Organic Cotton option

Thanks in advance - I appreciate your help! I usually poll friends through e-mail, but I thought you all would be a good audience. Even you lurkers, let your voice be heard!

All about the Benjamins

I'm sorry to have abandoned you again, but I have a good excuse! My sister gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby boy! I was lucky to be a part of the whole experience and witness Benjamin being born and it was by far the most incredible thing I've ever seen. I knew my sister was one of the strongest people I know, but this blew me away.

I'm usually attached to my e-mail (in an unhealthy way, I admit), but it's funny what a little 8 pound sack of sugar can do to your priorities! I didn't even realize that I had not checked my e-mail in 4 days!

This was my list of priorities last week:
1. Hold Benjamin
2. Wait for him to open his big blue eyes.
That about covers it.

Here are 2 pictures of the new man in my life. Consider yourself lucky, I'm sparing you the other 267. Notice that we didn't waste any time getting him into an Itsy Bitsy & Bold hat.

The Failure-Dichotomy Principle

Just between you and me (and anyone who stumbles across this blog), I have a thing for Donny Deutsch. I love his talk show (and not just because he picked a great theme song) and think he is a brilliant marketer/creative genius. So when I was browsing through the bookstore, my heart skipped a beat when I saw him on the cover of Often Wrong, Never in Doubt. Not only is he an advertising guru, the host of his own talk show, and not bad to look at, but he also wrote a book. Lucky me!

I'm only 60-something pages in, but I really like it so far, and thought I would pass on his "Failure-Dichotomy Principle".

Creativity is about freedom. In order for people to be free to create, they need to feel free to fail... You need to be free to unload your mind, to have the opportunity to put every idea on the table, no matter how far-fetched or unusual or downright weird. To free up the unconscious while inoculating oneself against ridicule, we have a ritual we call "Shards of Glass." It's a set of words, a preemptive strike against yourself. "This may be a really bad idea, and if it is, throw shards of glass at me..." It gives people a safety net so they can sail off into the unknown.

At the same time, you need a culture in which failure is not an option... We all, as human beings, have a depth gauge within ourselves and at some point we decide that the game, the championship, the job, our soul, is on the line. At that point you simply can't allow yourself to fail.

I really like the idea of embracing failure for the sake of creativity, yet instilling a mindset that you're capable of anything. Do you allow yourself the freedom to fail?

sidebar: I'm sure I'll come across something else I'll want to share from Donny, so I'm reserving the right to revisit this book!

Make Clients Happy

I'm going to jump on the bandwagon and my soapbox at the same time (don't try this at home, kids!) Have you heard about this guy who taped his conversation with an AOL Customer Service Rep? He was trying to cancel his account and the guy from AOL was less than accommodating. I saw an interview with the aforementioned customer-turned-squealer on CNBC this morning (Let it be stated that I do not choose to watch "Squawk Box", Kevin steals the remote. A better name would be "A Group Of Morons Who Talk Over Each Other And Think That They Are Doing Stand-up") In any case, everyone is up in arms because AOL got caught doing what every other big company does (which is why you should do business with small companies, when possible.) I had the exact same experience last week with a certain company (I'm not mentioning any names, but it rhymes with "Berizon" and starts with a V.) After 1 hour and 45 minutes, 3 "Agents", 1 Supervisor and 1 lodged complaint later, my blood pressure was up but my issue was not resolved.

Here's the thing: It takes so little to make a customer happy; just some gratitude for their business, sympathy when they are upset, and the promise to try to resolve the issue. This is not new, people. Just forgotten.

Don't forget - it's more expensive and difficult to get new clients than it is to keep the ones you have. So, for Pete's sake, make your new mantra, "Make Clients Happy" and all will be good with the world. Or at least your business.

The balance between work and life

I was at a party the other night and was talking to another woman who has owned a couple of businesses. She was shocked to hear that I was able to go on my 10 day vacation and leave business here. I admitted that I checked in a couple of times, but was suddenly very proud of the fact that I have (after seven years of struggling) maintained a good balance between my business and my life. They used to be one and the same - and to some extent, they still are - but it's much healthier now. I guess I eventually figured out that no one was going to die from not getting their soap rolls.

Things I do to nurture a good balance:

• Don't sweat the small stuff. Think about it in the grand scheme of things - is it really that big of a deal? Some things are, but most things aren't.
• Take a day off every now and then. And when I'm on that day off, I might check in once or twice, but otherwise, it's just a day working out of the office.
• Work efficiently. Making good use of my time while working allows me to get more done and enjoy my free time without feeling guilty.
• Remember that it's just business. It doesn't take precedence over my home life, or my happiness.

Do you have a good balance between work and life? What do you do to nurture that balance?

Tell someone you love them.

In honor of my Dad on his birthday and Father's Day...

On this day,
Mend a quarrel.
Search for a forgotten friend.
Dismiss a suspicion
and replace it with trust.
Write a letter to someone who misses you.
Encourage a youth who has lost faith.
Keep a promise.
Forget an old grudge.
Examine your demands upon others
and vow to reduce them.
Fight for a principle.
Express your gratitude.
Overcome an old fear.
Take two minutes to enjoy the
beauty of nature.
Tell someone you love them.
Tell them again.
And again.
And again.

Sorry for the lapse...

I haven't abandoned you - I've just been crazy busy! I promise to get back to my more regular routine this coming week. Unfortunately, when things are busy some of my more favorite things to do take a backseat. I'm not complaining though, when work keeps me busy, I'm happy.

Oh, and I took my own advice last week (see March 24th post: Stuck in a rut) and took a design project that I just couldn't make sense of to a friend. After about 10 seconds of talking about it - the solution seemed clear. Funny that it was sitting on my desk for longer than I care to admit, but just talking it out to someone else was all I needed!

My own support group

Over the past seven years I have met some incredible people through having the business. I have met these inspiring people at trade shows, seminars where I spoke, or through other interesting people. I have learned to surround myself with people in different industries that know much more than I do in these other areas. It goes both ways, I enjoy mentoring other women and helping them through the parts where I stumbled.

I met Kimberly Wilson, Creative Director of Tranquil Space Yoga in DC, at a Women Business Owners workshop. I was speaking on a panel about "Big marketing strategies for small budgets" - I don't know about the big marketing strategies, but I sure had the "small budget" down. I noticed her walk in because she was dressed very chic and I just had a feeling that we would be friends. She came up to me at the end to tell me that she loved my story and we exchanged information. We got together the next week - eager to meet for lunch and share ideas.

At that lunch, I told her that I had been a part of a group for women business owners, but that I felt it was just for local networking (which I didn't really need) and that it seemed like their main goal was to participate in the ice-breaker at the luncheons so they could win a door prize. No real connections. I was looking for something deeper, a fusion of brainstorming and problem-solving, topped off with a little bit of emotional support and camaraderie. We decided to make our own group - pull in 2 or 3 other women in the same position and meet monthly. It was great right from the start - we would come to the group with a specific problem or idea we wanted to get feedback on and there we would find unbiased opinions, outside-the-box solutions and suggested resources. We talked about our personal long-term goals and at each meeting we would pinpoint five smaller goals for the next month that would get us closer to those long-term goals. There is a certain amount of accountability that comes with having to check in with someone. I knew that when I got to that meeting, I had to answer to my board.

Kimberly actually went a step further and created her own "Advisory Board" which I thought was brilliant. Five other business gurus (not sure how I got past the cut) meeting quarterly to help her with her business. I can only speak for myself, but I think I get as much out of her "board meetings" as she does - it's a real learning opportunity.

Kimberly is continually a source of inspiration for me. And with her new book, Hip Tranquil Chick, due out in November, it seems like nothing is out of her reach.

**To make your head spin, check out her bio on tranquilspace.com, and to hear me and Kimberly chat about being a "hip tranquil chick" in business, check out the Dec 19th podcast on hiptranquilchick.com/blog

Do you have your own "advisory board" - a support group, however informal, that you can bounce ideas off of?

Spring cleaning for your mind

We spent part of our 3-day weekend doing some outdoor spring cleaning; cleaning off our deck and screened-in porch in preparation for all the time we're going to spend outside over the next few months.

It got me thinking about "spring cleaning" on the creative front. Clearing out the clutter (literally and figuratively) that's blocking our creative process. Here are 2 tips that have helped me get a fresh start...

Literally:
Clear off your desk. Physically having the space around you clutter-free can do wonders for your creativity. Purge your area of anything that you aren't working on at the moment (keep in mind: it should only be one thing), and move all "pending" papers to another area. A good rule of thumb when going through papers is: file it, route it, or throw it away!

Figuratively:
Clear up your "to do" list. I have had items on my list that have been there through two different presidents. My advice is to either make that your project of the day, or move it off the list temporarily. Seeing that thorn in your side appear on your list every day only makes your feel bad for not accomplishing something and you start to gloss over it.

Do you have any tips for "spring cleaning for the mind"? Would love to know!

Pink Bubbles

I've been doing some simple meditations over the past couple of months and thought I would share one of my favorites that focuses on achieving goals. It was taken from Shakti Gawain's book, Creative Visualization. Creative visualization is the technique of using your imagination to create what you want in your life.

• Sit or lie down comfortably, close your eyes, and breathe deeply, slowly, and naturally. Gradually relax deeper and deeper.
• Imagine something that you would like to manifest. Imagine that it has already happened. Picture it as clearly as possible in your mind.
• Now, in your mind's eye, surround your fantasy with a pink bubble; put your goal inside the bubble. Pink is the color associated with the heart, and if this color vibration surrounds whatever you visualize, it will bring to you only that which is in perfect affinity with your being.
• The third step is to let go of the bubble and imagine it floating off into the universe, still containing your vision. This symbolizes that you are emotionally "letting go" of it. Now it is free to float around the universe, attracting and gathering energy for its manifestation.

May all your pink bubbles return to you!

Making the most of dryspells

I was talking to a friend recently who mentioned that business was excrutiatingly slow. She asked me how I get through the slower times without going insane. Unfortunately, dryspells don't just apply to owning your own business, it's natural to have a creative dryspell or a slump in just about any arena.

I'll admit, sometimes it's rough. I don't think I'll ever get over that nervous feeling I get when things slow down and I question whether things will ever be busy again!

I am always happier being busy, so for me, the key is to be busy until you really are. I create new projects by reassessing everything about the business. I redo sales materials, work on new product slants, send out press kits, and organize inventory. As it turns out, sometimes a dryspell is a blessing in disguise because it gives me time to really run the business, instead of just keeping up with it. So make the most of it, because sometimes there are no slow times, and then you are thankful for any break.

What do you do when you're in a slump? Are you in a dryspell you can't get out of?

Bees, Tents and Tavernas

As promised, I'm excited to share 3 books I really enjoyed reading on the trip...

"The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd is a wonderful story about finding mothers in unlikely places. Beautifully written, it was easy to become attached to the characters and hard to put down.

"The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant. The author took one line from the bible and weaved a story around it. An amazing, heart-wrenching tale that keeps you entranced from start to finish. Have tissues ready.

"The Summer of My Greek Taverna" by Tom Stone. A memoir that's interesting to read as an entrepreneur (and somewhat frustrating) and a good summer vacation book.

Yassas! ("Hello" in Greek)

I'm back from Greece, stuffed with delicious food, slightly tanned and completely refreshed.

It was an INCREDIBLE trip - hard to even describe how wonderful Greece is. We went to Athens for 2 days (Acropolis is just as amazing as you would think), then flew to Santorini (a.k.a. Heaven on Earth), then took a ferry to Folegandros (no tourists, just an authentic and beautiful island), then back to Santorini for another incredible part of the island.

Highlights from the trip...

• Beaches with "sand" made entirely of smooth colorful pebbles.
• Sunrise - Yes, Kevin dragged my unhappy butt from the bed for a 30 minute hike straight up a goat path at 5:30 am, but it was well worth it.
• Sunsets - we based our day around what time the sun would set so we could see the show and bid a proper goodbye. Something I think we're missing out on here - what a way to live!
• Hikes - everything was actually a hike since Greeks don't believe in either flat paths or straight roads. One in particular was from one part of Santorini to another which was supposedly 6 miles, but I think it was really 9, especially since it was uphill most of the way, on an 8 inch wide path on a cliff with no guardrails, and the wind whipping around the mountain. I should at least get 3 extra miles for "degree of difficulty".
• Food - it was ridiculously good (I ate my weight in feta), and didn't have one bad meal. Plus you can make a meal out of appetizers - my favorite!
• Aegean Sea - it was clear to the bottom, even in deep water, and was this miraculous shade of turquoise that I swear can not be replicated.
• People - they were extremely generous and hospitable, taking the time to talk to us, giving us desserts made by their grandmothers and going out of their way to make us happy.

It was 11 glorious days being unplugged from everything and getting recharged at the same time.

So, I'm back and ready to blog. Read 3 books that I really enjoyed - so I'll pass along reviews shortly! What have you been up to?