Supernatural Botanicals

Tim Gunn will be at Cincinnati’s Aronoff Theater on January 14th for a night of fun and insight with SmartTalk Connected Conversations.   SmartTalk has been bringing women together to experience the power of the spoken word since 1991. In the past several years, SmartTalk has grown into one of the most powerful and entertaining live events in the nation. The core mission of SmartTalk stems from the idea that women are inspired by the heart and voice of other remarkable women. In fact, we became more than just a lecture series but a series of connected conversations. These thoughts, stories and pieces of advice shared face to face create invaluable connected conversations that truly renew, enrich and uplift the spirit.

You have a chance to win tickets to see Tim Gunn!  Simply leave a comment and let us know you want to see Tim!  A name will be drawn at random, and the winner will receive two tickets to attend the show.  Good luck!

Cincinnati had the pleasure of hosting Helen Hunt to close out the Smart Talk series for 2010. What an amazing season this was! The season started out with Valerie Bertinelli, who was a bubbly ray of light, Ann Compton, whom I think was my favorite because she was so personable and friendly behind the scenes, Patricia Heaton, who was as funny in person as she is on TV, Lee Woodruff, one of the strongest super-women you could have the pleasure of knowing, and Helen Hunt, who was excellent at public speaking, but was far more shy that I could have ever imagined.

I suppose that you don’t expect shyness from a celebrity who is ultra-exposed. However, shy she was. When Helen spoke of her gorgeous little red-headed daughter, she bubbled over with pride. Helen seems to gravitate towards roles now that are about motherhood, or the angst of not being able to conceive.

One trait of Helen’s that I now want to adopt in my own life is the ability to ignore gossip. Helen says “When someone says to me…I really shouldn’t be telling you this”, Helen replies with “Then don’t.”  Or when someone says “Don’t say you’ve heard this from me, but…”, and Helen replies with “Don’t tell me, I don’t want to hear it!” I found that to stick with me, and again, I want to adopt that way of thinking for myself.

Helen says that she has been working as an actor since she was a child. Fortunately, that has helped her to take periodic breaks from acting in order to do the things she wants…like conceive a child, be an everyday mommy, and write screenplays. The money she had made as a younger person helps fuel her happiness as a more mature person, or, as Helen’s fertility doctor once called her “less young.”

Of all the Smart Talk speakers this season, Helen was the most surprising to me. Painfully shy and extremely introverted, to the point she barely murmured a word backstage. But Helen shined onstage. Her speech was intriguing, funny and engaging.

Lee Woodruff

Good Morning America Editor and Journalist

How do you survive when life as you know it changes in an instant? Lee Woodruff is singularly equipped to tell you. Author, journalist and contributing editor for Good Morning America, Lee’s life took a dramatic turn when her husband suffered a traumatic brain injury in Iraq. Suddenly, her field of expertise – home and family – expanded to include brain injury awareness and advocacy for families coping with this affliction. Be dazzled by courage – in an instant! Visit speaker’s site.

Lee will be in Cincinnati on April 29 at the Aronoff with Smart Talk Connected Conversations.  If you’ve never been to a Smart Talk lecture series, it’s a must see.  This is the second to last show of the season (Helen Hunt is next month.)  Smart Talk does a wonderful job in bringing the most spectacular personalities to town so we can get a piece of their story…in real time. 

Tickets are still available at Smart Talk’s website.   Again, time is running out to experience a Connected Conversation in Cincinnati for this season.  You’ll absolutely love it.  Go buy your tickets and I’ll see you there!

  Since 1974, when she became the first female reporter to cover the White House on a fulltime basis, Ann Compton has traveled the world in the company of six presidents. From her award-winning coverage of 9/11 to her induction into the Journalism Hall of Fame, she has balanced her professional obligations with those of her own “first” family of four children. For unique insight into the Capitol stories behind the headlines, join the dynamic Ann Compton in Cincinnati on 02/25/2010. 

Click here more information about Smart Talk Connected Conversations.

It’s the time of year again to start thinking Smart Talk Connected Conversations.  Cincinnati has an incredible line up again this year, featuring dynamic speakers Valerie Bertinelli, Ann Compton, Patricia Heaton, Lee Woodruff, and Helen Hunt.  Five amazing nights, five extraordinary women.  Tickets are available now …hurry as they sell out quickly (as well they should…these ladies are amazing.)  Click here to purchase your tickets …hint…think Christmas gift!  If you want to feel empowered, don’t miss this.  It’s truly an amazing experience. 

On May 19, 2009, I’ve been extended the wonderful opportunity by Smart Talk Women’s series to meet the fabulous Diane Keaton in Cincinnati.  I’ll be asking Diane some questions….make sure and send me what you want to know, straight from DK herself!

To hear what people are saying about the Smart Talk Connected Conversations and to purchase tickets for the event, click here.

Diane is such an icon!  I relate to so many of her characters…especially JC in Baby Boom.  The Tiger Lady.  Who didn’t want to be her?  Every ambitious career girl can relate to JC.  Business world takes the Tiger Lady down.  Tiger Lady channels her own brilliance, and ends up turning the business world down in the end.

It was this movie where I developed my love for all things East Coast.  Ever since, I’ve wanted to uproot and move to my own 62 acre Vermont estate.  I still haven’t ruled that out, as a matter of fact.  Moving to Vermont and making organic baby food from the apples I grow would not be that far out of the realm of normal for me, after all.

In the end, JC wanted it all, and she got it all!  That’s why it’s always good to want it all. Break the glass ceiling.  I think that if you stay true to whatever it is you desire, if you want it all. you just might get it.  That’s why it’s good to keep wanting….wanting it all.

Watch JC in action.  She’s my hero!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfcNUkQI7yI

   Every woman should attend a Smart Talk women’s lecture series.  Being amongst other empowering women and learning from them is what breeds creativity in one’s mind.

Visit Smart Talk Women to see all of the amazing, inspirational, and successful women in the entire lecture series.

I’m thrilled to be attending the Smart Talk series with Diane Keaton on May 19, 2009 in Cincinnati.  Single event (as opposed to the entire series) seats are still available here.  

Grab your girlfriends and coworkers and meet me there!  I’ll be the one in awe of Diane Keaton!

I’ll keep you posted…more to follow.