Archive for the ‘Seasonal’ Category

It was a cold Christmas and New Years’ here in Alberta with temperatures often in the -20’s. We however were comfortably ensconced at home having made a decision to have a quiet holiday season; wanting to relax, regroup and restore.

Needless to say this was not ideal dog walking weather so I stretched my imagination to keep them amused with indoor activities. Duke who is known to many of you as the neurotic chocolate lab recently turned nine and his long legs are showing the early onset of arthritis. His vet has just started him on a course of Cartrophen Vet which is of plant origin and not a steroidal anti-inflammatory.  There are four shots so we will see if it helps.  Mia, his 18 month old Australian Shepherd sister has no sympathy and continues to bug the hell out of him until he plays with her so he needs something!

The weather is particularly hard on the two feral cats who have adopted me or vice versa. I have my quota of indoor cats; anymore and I will be close to ‘cat lady’ status. So we built them a  shelter and ensure that they receive dry bedding, regular fresh water and food. No matter how cold and hungry it is my voice that they wait for first when I go outside. When I speak to them their bodies relax and ears perk up, next they want the fresh water and then finally they eat.

Whether soothing a frightened animal, talking to a friend or writing an article it is our voice and the words that we choose that carries the message.

Blogs are all about our voice, the words that we type convey the nature and style of the blog. One of the first things I ask my clients. What do you want to achieve with your blog? Do you want to post about business, life, lifestyle,  travels, writing?  The range is vast so in order to stand out you have to have a clear vision and goals for your blog.

So with that in mind we have changed the look of this blog to reflect more of what we are about. Imagine that you are  sitting in a café with friends discussing movies, politics, books, food and life in general. Life Deco is a blog where we aim to capture that same atmosphere. Drop by anytime all you need to bring is your favorite beverage. We hope that you will leave a comment for that will keep the conversations stimulating.

Thank you to Alanna Morley of  Alanna Inc for designing the Life Deco blog.

1. Buy really smelly cheese.

2. Replace your laptop on the dining table with a place setting for a person

3. Attempt to write something dazzling in cards to clients but end up with ‘best wishes’

4. Slip into your office to catch up on work and don’t answer the phone

5. Wonder why you keep buying boxes of crackers

6. Go to farmers markets and expensive bakeries for your ‘homemade’ baking

7. Curl up at 2pm with a book, hot cocoa and no guilt

8. Carry on whole conversations without any interruption

9. Feel like a kid again and actually enjoy the snow

10. Stop planning everything with military precision

…………. remember that the best moments are spontaneous.

For many of us the book that we choose to read at any given time is determined by any number of factors.

It could be seasonal. Summer is the time for the blended and frothy type of book. In the spring and fall I tend to be restless so I like the story to take place somewhere other than North America. Winter is for those big cozy works of historical fiction and memoirs

Then we check our mood, do I need to find myself or lose myself?

Finally, there is the time of day; business books and research are great for day time but by the evening I want something with which to as Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot might say “turn off the little grey cells”.

Age doesn’t really enter into the equation; think of the number of adults reading Harry Potter.

So here we are the summer of ‘09. My Amazon book wish list is pages long and I have groaning piles of yet to be read books, newspaper business sections, Time, Vogue, Marie Claire, O and More magazines in the living room, office and bedroom.

I have just finished My Sister’s Keeper which was no great feat; it is to literature what The Young and the Restless is to PBS. I will say though that the ending was unexpected. Next on my pureed summer book diet is Julie & Julia which led me to Julie Powell’s blog What Could Happen.

In the way of a little brain fiber I am reading three business books that have been recommended to me -

“Coolhunting: Chasing Down the Next Big Thing” Peter Gloor

“Tribes” Seth Godin

“Change Your Questions, Change Your Life: 7 Powerful Tools for Life and Work”
Marilee G. Adams Ph.D.

I cannot end this post on books without mentioning the one literary genre for all seasons and that is a good murder mystery. This past week coincidentally I was exchanging emails with mystery writer Roberta Isleib, who is currently on the other end of  the equation in that she is spending her summer putting the finishing touches on a new book.

No matter what the month is, all that you need to truly enjoy a mystery is a comfortable chair, no one home, a dark night, some fog rolling in, the sound of dogs howling over the moors ……………

It is difficult these days not to see Elizabeth Edwards when we turn on the television. The interviewer is  reading an excerpt from her book “Resilience” with that tone of voice reserved for the sick person in hospital, asking gently worded questions and providing the viewer with a soapy interview.

I know she is the victim of an extra marital affair and I know that she is ill with breast cancer. I cannot nor do not judge how she handles these things. In these matters my affiliation is firmly with the ‘what goes on behind closed doors’ party.

What is perturbing is why she supported and campaigned for John Edwards to be President of the United States after he told her about the affair. Why, in spite of this knowledge did she sally forth, endorsing her husband as the right man for the job. Why did she cast herself as the loyal wife in the tableau of the wholesome American family?

By making the decision to submit herself and her family to this renewed public scrutiny, she should be accountable for that period in time. As Roger Simons asks in his article “Did Elizabeth Edwards want to get into the White House as badly as John Edwards did?”

I counter that with this question “Is Elizabeth Edwards again using the American public this time to garner book sales?”

Caryl Rivers in her Huffington Post article writes that she should be allowed to tell her story, to “have her say”. Funny that she has so much to say now but the truth was oddly silent during the ‘08 Presidential campaign.

When I am remiss in connecting with someone I dash of an email with the subject line -  ‘Catching Up’ so here I go.

In 2008, Nov 4th was noteworthy not only because Barack Obama won the election but also because that was the day when I broke my foot. Sorry, Barack but my tears during your acceptance speech were 44% happiness over your win and 56% PAIN!

This is the first time that I have ever broken anything so I was fascinating by the whole process from my foot becoming a grotesque size and one big multi-colored bruise.  By the way, whoever designed the walking cast should be given some sort of prize. To the shoe area of my bedroom which took on a somewhat macabre look as it became home to one dress shoe, one boot, one sneaker and one slipper. Sadly, even though it was the holiday season my high heel shoes just gathered dust.

When out and about you are more reliant on the kindness of strangers. Those who took the time to hold open the door for a few minutes longer as you hobble over, people who kept up their snow and ice removal and even the cab drivers who yes, open the car door and were extra helpful getting groceries to the door. Speaking of shopping not sure what to say about the grocery staff who were restocking shelves and pretend not to notice me struggling to get an 8KG bag of kitty litter into the shopping cart.

Anyway, foot is basically healed now and it is a brand New Year. I don’t believe in New Years Resolutions but I do have a few things that I would like to work on.

1. Drink less coffee. Drink more green tea.

2. Learn how to make an omelet

3. Find more time to read and write.

4. Be the kind of Life & Business Coach who really helps their clients in these tough economical times.

5. Take Mia to the next level of obedience classes. The time together and the interaction with others will be good for both of us.

6. Stay in touch with friends & family so I don’t have to send those catching up emails.

7. Have massages and manicures on a regular basis.

8. Finish that pile of partially read books besides my bed.

9. Podcast & Twitter

It is really going to bother me that I couldn’t come up with an even ten.

………………….10. Work on an apparent latent tendency towards perfectionism.

What I would buy me for Valentine’s Day?

1. No red roses, I would choose a bouquet of spring flowers with lots of daffodils and colorful tulips . Then buy myself some ripe, juicy strawberries and a really good bottle of Pouilly Fuisse. That should satisfy most of my senses.

2. Books are always a favorite gift for me but for this list, no business, self-help or generally mind expanding books. I would pick five well written, full bodied works of fiction.

3. A rich chocolate brown (not black) leather jacket

4. A new, sexy, sleek laptop

5. First class ticket for a trip home to England. Once there I would slowly travel from Dover to Scotland by train. stopping at historical hotels along the way. Of course I would be traveling with my leather jacket, five must read books and new laptop so that I could record my journey.

NB: No spouses’ feelings were hurt in the making of this post.

1. Outside lights put up on coldest Sunday of the winter. Heaven forbid, that we should have done it when the temperature was above freezing. What is the fun in that?

2. Christmas Baking ordered from two woman who know how to bake. I look on it as supporting fellow female entrepreneurs

3. Fresh Turkey ready to be picked up and yes, I’ll cook that myself.

4. Christmas Tree decorated except for the bottom one third, knowing nods from all cat owners

5. Airline ticket for mother-in-law bought. It’s ok, I love my mother-in-law.

6. Christmas gifts purchased on-line. That was a no-brainer, there were two choices; list in hand, sitting at desk with sippers on sipping coffee vs list in hand, overcrowded mall, winter coat, heat exhaustion.

Realization that the spot on the dining room table where my laptop & paperwork sits will have to be replaced by an actual place setting, well I’m working on that.

Well Valentine’s Day has come and gone and the question is did you get something that you really wanted or does your significant other just not get you? I made a list of the things that I really wanted; none of which I received by the way but I did realize two things, that I have expensive tastes and that I am really two people.

The Romantic Me

• Godiva Chocolates
• Leather bound early editions of two of my favorite books
• A beautiful shawl from some exotic land
• Courvoisier XO Cognac
• First class ticket to Italy

The 21^st Century Me

• Apple iPhone
• Gift Certificate for amazon.com
• Taittinger Champagne
• La Pavoni Espresso Machine (for the record this is the only kitchen appliance that will ever be on my gift list)
• Two days in New York with theatre tickets

I suggest that you make your own list it is very therapeutic, you could even give it to your partner for next year, at best you may give them a good laugh.