Supernatural Botanicals

So I was hanging out with Tim Gunn the other night…yes, that Tim Gunn, and yes, I was really hanging out with him!  Tim Gunn was in Cincinnati to kick off the SmartTalk Connected Conversation Series at the Aronoff.  Tim packed the house with the VIP reception party prior to the event.  Gracious as ever, he really took the time to meet people, ask them questions, sign portfolios, and even encourage some design students that were hanging on his every word (understandably).  I envision those young fashion design students to be dedicating their early influencers to Mr. Gunn.  Tim was everything a star should be…kind, gracious to his fans, and engaging.

Tim’s speech was equally engaging, as he shared his experiences at Parsons, Fashion Runway, Tim Gunn’s Guide To Style, and Hollywood.  Tim’s style is to “make it work” for your particular body style.  He isn’t trying to push a near-skeletal frame to women, insisting that it’s the only way fashion will work on a woman’s body.  Instead, he personalizes style more to the individual.  And he delivers it all with his unmistakable “Tim Gunn” charm.   He has a confidence that just oozes from him.  Classy, yet not stuffy.  Kind to the core.  Kudos to SmartTalk on thinking out of the box with January’s speaker (first male celebrity ever!)  Join us in February as SmartTalk welcomes Arianna Huffington to the Aronoff in Cincinnati.  Click here for tickets and information.

Are you critically hard on yourself when you feel like you haven’t done enough, produced enough, given enough of yourself to your life and career?  Is your knee-jerk reaction to criticize yourself into shame, or do you conversely build yourself up for a comeback?  If you picked the latter, researchers think you’re on to something.   Researchers found that people think they need to be self-critical to motivate themselves, but research shows the opposite is true.  Women who go easier on themselves are more likely to pick themselves back up again more quickly after disappointment and give it another go.  Self-critical people take far longer, as they are constantly fighting an internal dialogue of “you’re not enough”.

Let it go.  Be easier on yourself.  It helps you to come back quicker, and in general, makes you a happier, more content person.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”  Maya Angelou, in her great wisdom, on leaving a lasting impression.

Smart Talk Connected Conversations will host Della Reese in Cincinnati May 17, 2011.  Raised in Detroit, Michigan, Della Reese is a world famous singer, actress and television star.  As well as a spokeswoman for the American Diabetes Association and an Ordained Minister!  Ms. Reese was born Deloreese Patricia and began singing at six years old!  By the age of thirteen she was hired by the late Mahalia Jackson to tour and perform with her.  A generous amount of television exposure followed Ms. Reese’s first recording successes. She was also the first female to host The Tonight Show. She was soon asked to host her own talk show, Della, (making her the first Black woman to host her own show). Her most recent television credit,Touched By An Angel she was able to combine her talent for acting and singing, as she sang the theme song. Della will inspire you with her ability to be more than an entertainer, more than an actress and more than a minister- she is living proof that you can dream larger dreams and watch them come true!

And we have free tickets to see Della Reese on May 17th.  Leave a comment below and let us know you want to go.

Rounding third and heading for home, the Smart Talk Connected Conversations finished it’s fourth in a five part series for 2011 with Alison Levine in Cincinnati last evening.  Alison was the Team Captain of the 1st American Women’s Everest Expedition and Groundbreaking Polar Adventurer; Alison Levine is no stranger to risk-taking.  She’s survived sub-zero temperatures, hurricane-force winds, sudden avalanches, and a career on Wall Street.  Levine was born with a life-threatening heart condition that precluded most demanding physical activities.  After her initial diagnosis she had surgery that changed her life – and climbing stairs soon gave way to climbing mountains.  To learn more about Alison, check out her website, www.AlisonLevine.com. 

As always, Smart Talk hosts another amazing women with yet another amazing journey.  Don’t miss the last speaker in the series, Ms. Della Reese.  She will be at the Aronoff in Cincinnati on May 17th.  For ticket information, see here.  

About two-thirds of households that regularly recycle credit the woman of the house as the “recycling enforcer,” according to a 2009 survey. That’s a big deal since women continue to shoulder most of the housework, experts say.

In addition to daily yoga workouts, Trish swears by circuit training and squats.  “The little secret things I do:  100 Squats.  You’d be surprised how much development can come from doing 100 freestyle squats using your own body weight.”  Trish Stratus, cover girl and wrestling champion, on workout secrets.

“I have known for some time that I can meet any man I want” …A very confident Sharon Stone on men.

Find out what all the talk is about over at SmartTalk.  SmartTalk is about sharing life stories, networking, and feeling connected. 

The SmartTalk season will kick off January 31, 2011 with Sigourney Weaver.  Click over to SmartTalk to get your tickets now, and to get more information on the entire lineup this year.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. “ Maya Angelou on leaving a lasting impression on others.