Bonus Girlfriends!

Hello from Cleveland. I'm here to tape a few videos for A.C. Moore. (Craft chain stores that tape/show demo videos in their stores.) I arrived to be very surprised to see a dear girlfriend - Julianna Hudgins (she's as sweet and fun as she is pretty). She had taped earlier in the day and was just on her way out but we got to catch up - and it was great.

Isn't it fun when you see a girlfriend you haven't seen in a long time and you pick up right where you left off?! It is a gift to have girlfriends like this and I'm blessed to have arrived early enough to have a little time to visit with her.

Now it is off to dinner with another great, hilarious girlfriend - Renee Sparks. She is the host of the A.C. Moore videos and we've taped together on QVC, worked together on projects and just have a wonderful connection.

I've said it before - I'm blessed with great girlfriends. I hope you are too. Who do you need to reconnect with? What girlfriends do you need to call just to laugh together? Call. Connect. Be the girlfriend you want to be. Then celebrate the great gift of girlfriends!

We're the latest (and greatest!) trend!

The Atlanta America's Mart (Gift Mart) states that "girlfriend gifts are a leading trend that shows no sign of slowing down." Actually, I think they're missing the lifestyle trend that keeps going - that female friends value each other and want to show their appreciation for their girlfriends with gifts and attention. Does that surprise you?! No!

Female friends have a special bond that we biologically need - to spend time with and celebrate our girlfriends. That is what Girlfriendology is all about. Based on this, and my 'crafty' background, I have started a second blog to focus more on the creative side of Girlfriendology - GirlfriendologyToo which has ideas on girlfriend gifts and greetings you can make, as well as updates from the craft/hobby industry to keep up with materials, techniques and other trends.

And, in keeping with the trends, I'll be flying to Atlanta in September to go to the America's Mart and look for girlfriend gifts for Girlfriendology. A perfect girlfriend gift is already being designed for Girlfriendology by a top jewelry designer - Jill MacKay - she's a great girlfriend of mine. (Look for her jewelry findings in JoAnns stores, etc.!) And more fun things are coming!

Join in on the survey of your favorite gifts to give/receive from girlfriends. I'll share the results and any comments, ideas, great stories that you have to share. And celebrate your girlfriends with gifts and special events together!

YEAH! & Happy Birthday!!!

I can't talk about LL Cool J (who is off in Vegas right now - good luck!) without calling out my other great girlfriend who has wonderful news! YEAH! ANGIE IS MOVING BACK! Whoo Hoo! We can't wait to have you back in town!! YEAH!

And, three other girlfriends are celebrating birthdays this coming week ... so HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Sunday - Happy Birthday Dana! We still miss you on the street but love that you and your fun family come back and visit a lot. Let's get together soon!

Monday - Happy Birthday Kate! We miss being up in MN near you and look forward to seeing you in a couple weeks. Have a fun birthday!

Tuesday - Happy Birthday Barb! We miss you guys too. We'll see you soon when we're up visiting. I hope all is well with the family and your girlfriend group, etc.

So, Angie, Dana, Kate & Barb - thanks for being my girlfriends! That alone is reason to celebrate! Consider yourself hugged!!!

Bookless Book Club - no stress girlfriend groups!

Thursday night was our monthly neighborhood women's book club. We don't believe in adding stress to any one's life, so reading the book is always optional. Hanging out with your neighborhood female friends is all that is required. In fact, in the summer we take a month off from books and just exchange magazines. It is a no-stress way to recycle and read new publications. And always a fun night!

As we sat in Judy's beautiful backyard garden, we caught up on life. Anne's new bra - partly to blame for that salsa drip on her shirt! Retired and with a social calendar to make us all dizzy, we heard about Peggy's target shooting at a police training camp. Four fatal shots in a row, we wondered how she got out of there without being recruited. Another Ann was taking a break from her infant to have some quality time with the neighborhood girlfriends. With a little nervousness, we heard about the snake in Judy's backyard the day before - right where we were sitting! Stories and updates kept us laughing all the way back down the street to our homes. It was a perfect night and a great neighborhood tradition.

Do you have a book club or neighborhood group? Do you meet up with other Moms or girlfriends on a regular basis? Please share your ideas and stories in this blog's comments.

And, if you don't have a group of women to get together with on a frequent basis, why don't you start one? It isn't hard and, like our 'bookless' book club, doesn't need to cost anything or add any stress. You don't even have to read a book. It could be a monthly gathering to discuss a new topic or a girls group dinner to try a new restaurant. I even heard about a group of women who get together to have dinner together and donate the money they would have spent going to a restaurant to a good cause - like Katrina homes or South African women. Go ahead. See what you can start!

Global Girlfriends?

In the past month I've met a traveling Australian woman, Sue, who was so lovely and wonderful I just met her and wanted her not to leave our home. Busi, a beautiful and spirit-filled South African woman, came to dinner and ended up serving us the most amazing love and joy. And, a woman from Germany stopped by the blog - I don't even know who she was (so I don't know or track specifically who you are!) but it amazed me to reach out to other countries.

This world-wide web of women has me thinking. How do women in other nations inspire, appreciate and celebrate their girlfriends? How can we learn from that? And, don't you think we women could change the world if we all knew each other? You always care more about people you know so if women joined together to care and love each other, and we have a HUGE influence on men/our families, and the problems of the world might come down to platforms or pumps, vegetarian or gourmet, paper or plastic and your deck for dinner or my block to walk?

You. Yes - YOU. Reach out. Influence three (or more) other women to expand their bounds of friends. Find a way to get to know females in other neighborhoods or countries. Invite a group of girlfriends over for dinner and build new friendships. Welcome new girlfriends into your world - especially when there are differences that you both bring to the table and leave you with a new understanding of other women.

And, when you do - share. Comment on this blog. Invite your girlfriends to visit Girlfriendology too. Together we CAN change the world. One girlfriend at a time.

Passionate Girlfriends - Meet Joan

My girlfriend JOAN KAUP is passionate about Cincinnati. She reminds everyone in her email signature to "say something positive about Cincinnati - today!" She lives this principle in everything she does - from living in Over the Rhine (a "financially/socially diverse" area downtown), to being involved in the arts and to running for City Council (which in our city is like a 13-member mayor group).

Tonight was a "Gallery Chat" with Joan. She shared her love for Cincinnati and her goals for making us a better town, home and travel destination. I love her passion to make this a better place, to improve life here for everyone - renters, home owners and visitors. She is creative, smart and oh so caring about our city. I am thrilled that she is running with the sincere desire to change and improve Cincinnati - it isn't an ego thing at all.

Isn't it wonderful how different girlfriends inspire you in unique and wonderful ways? Joan definitely challenges me to be more involved in improving my city/region. My friend Penny influences my intellectual ideas and creative opinions. My wonderful girlfriend Tina reminds me of the great stores and resources in my own neighborhood.

Girlfriends are a wonderful source of inspiration. Do you inspire your girlfriends? If so, how so? (Share in the comments or sign up for the Girlfriendology.com newsletter and have your ideas influence others.) Thanks to all the girlfriends who make me proud, who show me better ways to live and thank and, most of all, who inspire me. Through you, and your influence on me and others, we can change the world. Girlfriends rock!

Driving Solo with a Carload of Girlfriends

If you would have passed me on the drive back from CHA/Chicago yesterday, you would have thought I was all by myself. Not at all! Thanks for free mobile phone minutes (and a good hands-free headset), I made the five hour drive with three of my girlfriends.

My sister Cyndee took the first leg. We had to finish a conversation we'd started on my drive to Chicago. There were family issues to discuss, updates on my niece's dating life and my nephew's band competition.

Jill took over from there with things to catch up on - even though we had dinner the night before and talk as often as possible. These are important things - like her love life, my ideas for Girlfriendology gifts (teaser: something GREAT coming this holiday season!), missed updates on fellow designers and just fun memories that had us both laughing until we cried.

Once I hit Indianapolis, I gave Cath a call. Thank goodness for good cell phone coverage! We stopped briefly so I could get food/gas (plus we both had to go to the bathroom!) but then picked back up the conversation until I made it to my driveway.

What could have been a very long, boring drive was actually such a joy. I got to take my girlfriends along with me on the ride. Actually it was a traveling girlfriend therapy session!! Thanks girlfriends! You're welcome to ride with me any time!


p.s. Anyone out there have good stories to share on their girlfriends or requests for Girlfriend gifts, make a comment! I'd love to hear your thoughts and stories!!

Creative Girlfriends - Chicago CHA

Wow! That was a whirlwind two days! To Chicago and back for the CHA (Craft/Hobby Assn) tradeshow. If you're into crafts, love to make your own cards or just print an image on cloth and make a pillow out of it, this is THE spot to be to see the newest products and techniques. So inspiring!

To me, even more inspiring are the wonderful, creative girlfriends I have in this industry. They welcomed me into the group seven summer CHA's ago and every year is such a wonderful homecoming where I get to see and hug my creative 'sisters.' If you ever find a group of women who make you feel this welcome, you drive wherever to see them!

A few fun observations from the show:

* Everyone is blogging! Two of my favorite designers and girlfriends are hosting very popular blogs: Katie Hacker keeps beaders up to speed on the latest techniques and scoop in the beading/jewelry world. She's just so cool and creative! My friend, and great clay artist, Linda Peterson brought her fun, whitty and so patient daughter, Mariah, with her to the show. Donna Kato wasn't there (or I missed seeing you!) but is also an amazing clay designer. Check out just some of my creative girlfriends!

* Along that same note, technology has taken over the craft industry. Web sites have online craft shows like HowToTVOnline.com - check out my girl Katie in the jewelry segments! Epson was there with their great printers, scanners and technology solutions for everything from scrapbooking to those personalized pillows. There actually are too many to even go further and, after all, it was a long trip in the past two days!

So off to bed to rest up for the real world. I'll miss seeing my wonderful girlfriends tomorrow but I know we'll be together as soon as we can. (I'm taping with some of them next week in Cleveland so another road trip to see my creative girlfriends!) Enjoy your girlfriends! Every moment with them is precious! Good night!

Creative Girlfriend Reunion - so fun!

Hello from the CHA (Craft/Hobby Assn) tradeshow in Chicago! This is probably my 7th or 8th year of being here and every year I have met more amazing women who have become wonderful and inspiring girlfriends. It is so fun to walk the aisles and run into girlfriends.

So far I've seen Tammy, Susan, Mary Lynn, Jill, Marie, Linda, Diane and Vicki. If you knew these women, you'd know that they are all wildly creative, hilariously fun and super talented. (See why I love this bunch!) I can't even count the number of hugs I've received in the three hours I've been here. Now that is a great tradeshow!

Tonight is dinner with Jill and Marie. Tomorrow is breakfast with Katie and Lisa. And I still have more aisles to walk and friends to see.

Thanks to my designer, creative girlfriends for always making me feel so loved and welcome. I'm a lucky girl! Back to the show ...

Hangin' with LL Cool J

Okay, no. It isn't the rapper. I'm not that cool! I am cool enough (thankfully!) to have a girlfriend who is cool and still will hang out with me. Lisa J (aka: LL Cool J), another girlfriend - Katie and I met for lunch today. (I've totally given up on the 'no lunch' rule - remember it is actually "girlfriend therapy" and that is definitely worth the cost of a taco salad!)

LL Cool J and Katie are both younger than me (though I'll never admit how much!) and single. I'm basically an old, married, semi-boring friend. God love them if they don't make me feel so welcome and wanted, even if I don't have exciting date stories or the stamina to match them for late night beverages!

After lunch, LL Cool J called me to tell me she'd visited the blog, loved it and wondered if our lunch would make it into it. Well, here it is! Next time I'll take a photo so I can post your cool picture!

Diversity, be it age, ethnicity, social, financial or marital status, is such a great thing among girlfriends. That common bond of just enjoying each other's company, laughing together, sharing life together is, like Lisa, just cool!

I learn so much from my girlfriends - whether their older, younger, look like me, share my beliefs and status - or not. Personally I think that is one of the amazing benefits of spending time with female friends. Life is much better with a girlfriend to share it with.

Have a coworker or former coworker who you enjoy their personality? Remember an old friend who always made you laugh and feel appreciated? Know a girlfriend who could use a little attention and support? Pick up the phone. Email. Send a note. Reconnect. I know you'll discover how cool it is to be friends with them.

Lunch with Carole

Okay, so once again there goes my aforementioned 'no lunch out' rule! Today I had lunch with Carole, a co-worker who has become a good friend. She and I share a lot of corporate experiences (and often frustrations!), an interest in our city/cultural events, restaurants and movies, and more - including our entrepreneurial dreams.

I shared my passion for Girlfriendology and pursuing a business that connects women with their girlfriends to just make life better! She confided her future plans to open a B&B and to pursue her passion for food/cooking. (Having visited her B&B-ready home and tasted her cuisine, I know she has exactly what it takes to be successful!)

It's so nice to connect with a girlfriend. To find out you have more things in common. To learn little insights into their sense of humor, beliefs and even dreams. It was the first lunch we've shared together, but it won't be the last. And, throughout our corporate or entrepreneurial status, I have a girlfriend who will help me (gladly!) break my 'no lunch out' rule! Thanks Carole!

When girlfriends bless your life without even trying ...

I mentioned Char in the last blog. She hosted the amazing shower I was honored to attend on Saturday. Her home reflects her sunny personality and her warm nature. (And her dog is dang cute too!)

After reading the blog on Cyndi's shower, she shared the following quote with me:

When you believe that nothing significant can happen through you, you have said more about your belief in God than you have said about yourself.

Henry T. Blackaby & Claude King, Experiencing God

Without knowing it, she encouraged me to follow my dream of inspiring women to appreciate and celebrate their girlfriends. And, definitely without intending it, I received it on the exact day that another girlfriend needed for me to share it. She is at a crossroads and that quote gave her 'goosebumps.' It confirmed to her that she is moving in the right direction and that she needs to believe in herself.

So, again - thanks Char! And thanks to all the fabulous female friends who offer up encouragement to their girlfriends. You'll never know the ripple effects that your comments start and the difference that your positive energy has on your girlfriends and their friends. Now that is significant!

The Girlfriend Quilt (at a baby shower??)

A first-time expectant mom in her early forties, Cyndi was the focus of a fun baby shower yesterday. Her friends Char and Kim hosted the lovely lunch/shower and about a dozen plus girlfriends were on-hand to celebrate this joyous occasion.

Cyndi was not only surrounded by a mini-mountain of gifts, she was surrounded by her girlfriends from all areas of her life - former and current coworkers and neighbors, women she shared rides to work with or grew up knowing, girlfriends she'd made along the way. She has grown quite a league of girlfriends in her lifetime and how wonderful for us to all meet each other.

Driving away I thought about the different women I'd met. From a young mom with newborn nursing to grandmothers and professional executives, all walks of life and different professional/social status. I know that having us all together was most fun for Cyndi. She wanted us to meet each other, to connect and to know her better by the women in her life. The image of a quilt came to mind. Various segments of cloth, all beautiful in their own way but also very different. However, when joined together, form a gorgeous tapestry of color and pattern, a beautiful piece of art.

Cyndi is wrapped in this beautiful girlfriend 'quilt.' Surrounded by love and laughter. Warmed by friendship and support. Hugged by arms of forever friends and women who celebrate this wonderful miracle going on in her and her husband Jim's lives. And all of us are blessed to be sewn together by knowing Cyndi and equally warmed by her friendship.

Thanks Cyndi (and Char and Kim!) for bringing us all together. And, most of all, for sharing your life with us. We're the lucky ones! (And we can't wait to meet baby Daniel!)

We are Powerful Beyond Measure!

At my recent entrepreneurial girlfriend's group we very candidly shared the fear we experience when we set high goals or stretch ourselves. I remembered the following quote but obviously couldn't share it verbatim, so ...

for Becky, Tina, Joyce, Judy, Paula and other females with high ambitions and big dreams:

By Marianne Williamson

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?"

Actually, who are you NOT to be?

You are a Child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are born to manifest the glory that is within us. And, as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

(Thanks Marianne!)

Girlfriends all over the place!

I love big cities! The energy, the styles, the diversity, the food!! And I love walking and people watching in big cities.

I was in Chicago last weekend and I noticed something else that I love. It doesn't take very long to see girlfriends - walking, talking, laughing, shopping, just enjoying time with each other. From little girls and their moms on the way to/from the American Girl store, to white-haired women in comfy shoes tracking through the city together, to business women taking a break from work by sitting outside and sharing their professional and personal lives ... each friendship is to be appreciated and enjoyed as a gift.

There is definitely a positive energy that happens when girlfriends connect. We feel more alive, more ourselves, completely loved and accepted for who we are.

Look around. What friendships do you notice? What do you feel when you're with your girlfriend(s)? Content? Happy? Inspired? Blessed? Enjoy your friends. Appreciate each moment. Big city or small town, spend time with the wonderful women you are blessed with as friends. Life is good!

Girlfriend Therapy - with a cup of water, please

Okay, now I'm just getting spoiled! Two weeks ago my girlfriend Becky ("The Kitchen Goddess!") and I met for lunch to discuss doing Girlfriend Dinner Parties. (Wouldn't that be a blast!) Last week, I called her on a bad day and she dropped everything to meet me for lunch again. This week, on a kinda uncertain week for her, we met again for lunch.

As I left for lunch and thought about this new 'schedule,' I felt the guilt I was raised on to save money and that I had planned (once my girlfriend Angie left the company!) to not go out to lunch anymore. Okay, granted we do a pretty cheap restaurant, but in principle I wondered if I was breaking my own 'budgetary rule' and if that was a bad thing.

NAWWW! It took just a second to reclassify 'lunch' into 'girlfriend therapy.' Our weekly chats have been just what I (and hopefully Becky) needed to de-stress, laugh and just share our lives together. I believe we actually NEED time with our girlfriends and any opportunity to be together should be grabbed and celebrated.

So, thanks Becky for our lunches and conversations. Thanks for sharing and caring. And thanks for always giving great advice and sending me back to work in a MUCH better mood than I would have been with another Lean Cuisine in the lunchroom!

Call a girlfriend. Make a date. Coffee, lunch, dinner, drinks, a walk, shopping, hanging out and watching Oprah - whatever you can fit into your schedule. Do it. (now!) Then post your comments and ideas for more "Girlfriend Therapy." (And it is much cheaper and fun than a going to a real therapist!)

Family Traditions - with Girlfriends who become Family!

This was the third year that I have accepted the invitation from my fun friend Penny to join in on her street 4th of July event. 150-200 current and former neighbors (and random friends of neighbors, like me!) lined the street dressed in red, white and blue. After reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and trying to sing every patriotic song (lead by a retired military General!), the kids race decorated bikes down the street with the General marching to a boombox of more music. It is Americana on the perfect day to be an American!

I love this tradition. Partly for the hilarious kids and wonderful celebration, but also very much because my friend Penny is family. She borrows/shares things, speaks her mind on politics and books, hosts celebrations thoughout the year, feeds us and equally feels comfortable in our home or with us in hers. Without planning it, she has become a lifelong friend with whom I hope to share this wonderful 4th of July tradition as long as physically possible!

Do you have a girlfriend who is closer than any family members? Or a special group of female friends who have become your sisters? Count yourself very lucky and blessed. And, when invited to get together or do something kinda 'family-ish' - do it! You can never have too many girlfriends and you can't buy the kind of support and love that you will find when you let a girlfriend into your life as part of your family! (Thanks Penny! Looking forward to next year already!)