Calling all ladies….

Some friends of the blog from down South reached out to me for help and I think some of my readers may be interested.  Let’s give a hand to the fine folks at the University of Georgia for all the studying and hard work they are doing!  There are several issues that are near and dear to my heart and naturally, women’s issues are one of them.  And I think women getting educated is very important.  I also think a woman (like myself) should always try to help a younger woman starting out in her career.  Be a mentor.  Provide advice.  And so on.  So when I heard from a young female graduate student about a research project she was working on, I couldn’t say no.  What can I say?

The Psychology and Women’s Studies department at the University of Georgia is doing a research project entitled ‘Understanding Career Breaks’ and they need participants.  That is where you come in, dear readers.  They need you to participate.  Here are the details: They are looking for women who voluntarily left their jobs for one year or more to complete an online questionnaire about their experiences. Participants who are eligible may fall into one or more of the following categories:

– stay at home moms or caregivers
– women looking to re-enter the workforce
– those who have taken a substantial break from their jobs and returned

So please click on the link if you are interested in participating in this study
https://ugeorgia.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_bJX2mhOTobg5snH.  The lab conducts research on work-family conflict and women’s issues at work, so click here if you want to learn more: http://psychology.uga.edu/clarkm/pages/index.html.

This won’t take much time and I think it is for a good cause.  Support an educational project.  Keep women’s issues a priority. Keep on keeping on.  In the words of the author Isabel Allende,  “I can promise you that women working together – linked, informed and educated – can bring peace and prosperity to this forsaken planet.”  That is a pretty lofty goal, but it sure sounds good to me!

 

Some friendships never fade

I think I have mentioned here that the blog keeps changing and bringing new experiences and products into my life.  And that is why I am doing it.  That and I love to write.  Sometimes it is a product that I have never heard of and other times, it is quite familiar.  I am also interested in the people behind the products or projects.  I have heard from artists, musicians, inventors and entrepreneurs and I love that.  I cannot write about everything at once but truthfully, I am fascinated by the talented people I am hearing from.  Recently I reconnected with a good friend who I had not seen in, well, let’s just say, a couple of years.  We could say decades.  But it didn’t feel that way!  She and I were high school friends.  We started the first 10 minutes of every day of high school in homeroom together.  We couldn’t recall any of the detail of what we talked about but we carried a fondness and friendship throughout our life.  That is very cool.

Our intention of getting together was to talk about her connection with the company Arbonne www.jeanmajenski.myarbonne.com and the blog gave us that excuse, if you will.  And please don’t misunderstand me because the products are fabulous and there is something for everyone but the person behind the products is what will sell them.  And if you read the stories of their sales consultants in the catalogue or online, I think you will agree with me.

Jean and I met at a coffee shop in our hometown and we couldn’t stop talking.  We laughed. We reminisced.  We tried all kinds of Arbonne products.  Jean was brought to Arbonne after an illness and she realized she needed to be more conscious of what she was putting on and in her body.   Personally, I love the protein shakes.  They come in chocolate and vanilla.  The energy fizz drinks really get you going and for me, it helped flavor my water. Pomegranate was my favorite flavor.  I was going to say fav flav.  Did I get eye roll or two?   Oh, I hope so.  I love those.  8 glasses a day….is that really possible?   Then there is make up, fragrances, lotions.  I tried the hand crème and later that evening I could still smell the delicate fragrance.  My all time favorite though was the bronzer…..gorgeous glow.  I looked like I had just returned from Miami Beach. Or Nantasket Beach.  Oh, well.  Go check out the link.  A few days after we got together I saw a sign that said ‘Coffee with friends is a really long way of saying  ‘therapy’.  I totally agree.  Thanks Jean.  And thanks Arbonne.  I only wish we were off to Algebra and could do it all again tomorrow!

Side by side in our high school yearbook; lifetime connection

Side by side in our high school yearbook; lifetime connection

 

 

 

 

 

It is majestical, I tell you!

Majestical is a good word, right?  And it is not overused.  By any means.  Some synonyms are splendid, magnificent, noble, regal.  As in, “Dinner is served, your majesty”  Or “The reception will be held in the majestic theatre” and the person pronounces the “a” in theatre.  I received a wonderful and yes, majestic pair of earrings from Majestical Jewelry www.majestical.com and I felt very special.  I would have appreciated any jewelry item they sent me.  Truly, their selection is gorgeous.   And we women love jewelry as a gift, right?  Even if it is delivered by the mailman!   But it was almost as if they read my mind, when they sent me the leaf cluster earrings.  I had been playing it too safely with small earrings; I needed to make a statement.  I needed to be pushed out of my comfort zone.

I am a word person so the first word that came to my mind when I opened the box was delicate.  Then feminine.  Then enchanting.  Trust me, I could keep going.  But I won’t. Even though I want to.  Then the compliments started rolling in.  “Oh, I love your earrings.” “Oh, my, well, thank you.”  “Those earrings are beautiful, by the way.”  “Oh, thank you.  They were a gift.”  Did I begin to blush?  We all love compliments, don’t we?  These earrings became a real conversation piece.  People at the bus stop and the grocery store mentioned them.  I wish I could tell you the attention bothered me but frankly, I loved it!  Only my martian wave neighbor didn’t budge but I could tell he wanted to say something!  He did a double take the other morning.

Anyway, take a moment to visit www.majestical.com and indulge in a piece of jewelry.  If your valentine didn’t pull through, why not reward yourself with something glittery?  They have something for everyone; gemstone jewelry, charms, silver bangles.  And it’s all affordable, too.  And men, trust me when I tell you this – buy the ladies in your life jewelry.  We don’t really like those practical gifts.  Well, not as much as we like jewelry.  Until next time, glitter on and be fabulous!

 

Majestical.com leaf cluster earrings - I couldn't resist photographing them on a tree - so beautiful

Majestical.com leaf cluster earrings – I couldn’t resist photographing them on a tree – so beautiful