Recent acquisition

Intima is under new ownership, so there was lots new to look at when we stopped in a couple of weeks ago. I'm so proud of this green beaded top...I spotted first and kept going back to its display. I tried on several other tops (augh! I tried on every top at The Nest the other day), but this one was perfect! I'm so tickled that it caught my eye this time!
I've worn it a couple of times, including a recent Friday night dinner with Joe & Becca.

Deja vu all over again

Today I received my pre-CHA copy of Scrapbook Premier. Like all the trade magazines I receive, I devour it cover to cover. This issue had no less than four articles -- all on different topics -- discussing what the industry needs:

• hand holding
• broader definition of scrapbooking
• personal portable printers as a retail solution
• importance of written instructions
• competition vs. cooperation

I've been touting all of this for well over a year. In fact, I'm starting to identify what scrapbooking will be dealing with next year (should I tell...or maybe I already have?)

My boyfriend says one of my greatest assets is my ability to not say anything (drives him crazy!).

So, I'll do what my coach taught me. I'll bite my tongue, praise the concepts as fabulous, original ideas, and offer to help champion the cause. Besides, no idea is really original, and I'm thrilled that more people are doing the work and bringing the issues to the forefront. That's what we really need, right?

Happy 4th of July!

Today...I'm sharing photos from last year's fireworks display. Enjoy!

Better than I thought :-)

Why is it photos can look so different than what you think is real life? I didn't think this dress was as wow as I think it is in these photos. I look comfortable yet sophisticated. The occasion? Just a switch in the Friday night dinner routine: Steve & Gretchen invited us, Chick and Smitty to the A Club.

The Pamper Zone on the Road

Well, I thought we didn't take very many photos on last week's California trip, but I came home with way over 100. Here are some faves:
The first full day we toured the Russian River Valley and Martinelli was the first winery we visited (so consider this a "before" shot).



One of the many rich and famous people that blow their fortunes on making wine is/was Raymond Burr, who's guilty of offering a few good varieties.
Our last night in Santa Rosa-Sonoma we had dinner at Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen. There's no corkage fee if you bring an area wine, so we carried in a Zin from Porter Creek, a favorite for both of us. I wore leather and lace; uh, E wore his, uh, new, uh, cottage rose shirt. We're still deliberating on that one.
For Italian in San Francisco, we went to a very tiny restaurant with yummy lobster ravioli. I wore my brown crinkle shirt and jeans. This would be considered an "after" shot.

HSN is a go!

I got a confirmation that my presentation on the Home Shopping Network is a go. In August I'll head to St. Petersburg for the first of several appearances. That pretty much brings full circle my education!

I entered college seeking a broadcast journalism degree. I spent many hours behind a desk reading off a teleprompter, but I much preferred a behind-the-scenes role. My subsequent jobs required some face time, and none really on camera. Presentation skills are important to have in many types of jobs, but few lead to broadcasting. I'm so excited to have this opportunity.

The Wearing of the Pink

Photos Forever pampered scrappers on National Scrapbooking Day with pink slippers. Here's a group shot. My toes are the ones in the middle attached to the white pants.

These go with the pink, low-profile Scrapbooking Goddess baseball cap from last year that I embellished (of course) with ribbons and pins from all over. I'm building up quite a cropping wardrobe!

anniversary/birthday weekend

Eddie's office was closed Friday for Kappa Weekend, so he came to Houston for a long weekend. We had lunch at Fu's then picked up Joe for an afternoon of shopping for jeans. A run to Central Market yielded (surprise!) more food than necessary, so we knocked on Fred & Betty's door to share our picnic dinner of pesto salad, cheeses, and panchetta on their patio.

Saturday Eddie treated me to new brakes and an oil change for our one-and-a-half year anniversary. While my car was in the shop, we drove to the San Jacinto Day Festival, but we didn't stay for the entire battle reenactment. That night we enjoyed a late dinner at Benjy's (I got my dose of creme brulee!) where I wore my new Cache black lace top (see below). Sunday, Joseph's birthday, was low key for him as Eddie and I had tickets to the Spring Wine Tasting at Rainbow Lodge. Food and wine was wonderful as usual, but the heat kept the crowd away. I wore my bright Krizia top (see above) and Ann Klien white pants (one of Eddie's favories).

a weekend of ups and downs

A weekend that was supposed to be filled with parties and fun instead was spent on the floor of the Galveston Veterinary Clinic.

I wore the Versace to Tandem Friday night. Here I am dabbing lemon juice behind my ears. Seems the bar didn't have any fruit mixers, so I made my own lemonade.

My dear sweet Winnifred was very sick this weekend. She was acting funny Friday evening, and by Saturday morning I decided to take her to the vet. An x-ray determined she had an enlarged heart, so we were sent home with medications. Instead of taking Joseph to the Grand Kids Festival, we watched Winnifred, but she only got worse. She paced and hacked all night. Sunday morning we showed up at the vet when they opened, and they immediately put her on oxygen and hooked up a catheter. Still, she wasn't improving, and as she passed out on my lap, the doctor ask if it was possible that she got into rat bait. Well, anything is possible. She tested positive for the poison, so now we were able to treat her properly. That involved shots of vitamin K and a plasma transfusion. By five o'clock, her vitals were stable and plans were made to transport her to the overnight emergency pet care center in League City where her oxygen and fluids would be monitored. So yes, I missed the Oenophiles spring dinner.

I don't think I've ever spent the night in my house without Winnifred there since I rescued her nine-and-a-half years ago. That Sunday night was lonely and very difficult, as my shadow was not at my side.

Monday morning I picked her up at 6:00 and transported her to my vet in Houston, who kept her all day for observation. Thankfully she did not have to go to another overnight care facility Monday night; instead Winnifred spent a restful night at home. Here she is Monday morning, still with the tubes in her.

Return to the grassroots

As in most industries (local healthcare markets is a good example), there emerges two or three major players, aligned to provide a full range of services and to compete against each other.

Apply the model to the scrapbooking industry. Powerhouse (in this case, a publisher) holds consumer and trade mags and a consumer convention/education series:

• Primedia has CK, SS, Craftrends, CKC, CKU
• F&W has MM, SB Retailer, CNA, GASC

(Hijack for the obvious questions: are there only two? what's going to happen with Scrapbook EXPO and Scrapbook Premier? how do Meredith and Future play into this?)

Despite recent consolidations and eventual polarization, there will be an attempt to return to the grassroots.

Like in healthcare, where the hands-on interaction is crucial to success, there will be a need to provide the personal touch to the end consumer. This is not done with the "cult of personality," but with a return to the grassroots efforts. Therefore, expect to see both powerhouses make an attempt to seem small and personable as a way to reach new consumers.

But we all know that scrapbooking was built at the grassroots level. And just like the nurses who provide the care and bed-side manner, it's going to take individuals like you and me, not the figureheads, to hold the hands of the new scrapbooking consumer.

We need to be ready to hold some hands.