Tuesday's Treasure - Kashwere U

With the end of summer approaching, and many of our young returning to college, it's time to break out the warmer clothing as Fall slides in behind it.

And I cannot think of a better way to stay warm and show school spirit than to wear a half-zip hoodie with your team logo from Kashwere U.

Kashwere U was founded in 2009 by Kimberly Appelt, Kimberly Connors, Boyd Harden, Kerry O'Dea and Peter Seltzer. Their commitment as owners is to offer a more fashion-forward, aspirational and unique line of collegiate gear.

Kashwere's unique fabric is a favorite among Hollywood Celebrities, including Oprah, Dr. Phil, and sports figures such as Shaquille O'Neill.

Your corporate logo or that of a non-profit can be made into Kashwere U product, and is a great way to promote a cause or brand.

This business is yet another example of how a simple idea, combined with a new technology, can quickly grow into a multinational, multicultural phenomenon.

Once again, a women-conceived, women-led venture rises up to prove that anything is possible if you follow your dream and persevere.

Monday's Motivational Makeover featuring Tess

Blind Spots~

I got broadsided in my blind spot last night.

I wasn’t in the car.

It was one of those blind spots that exist and we don’t realize how vulnerable we are..….that’s why they’re called blind spots. There’s the “I know what I know”, there’s the “I know what I don’t know”….and then there’s the “I don’t know what I don’t know” stuff….Blind spots are the nefarious little gremlins that jump up and bite you when you least expect it out of the “I don’t know what I don’t know bag of treats”.

When you get hit in a blind spot you don’t know how to handle it. Everything that you know about yourself goes out the window because you are sideswiped and confused. This is unsettling to me since I’ve spent so much time in the introspection and self awareness aisle at the bookstore….if you know what I mean. Really, I’m not a stranger to looking into the proverbial mirror.

I was at a restaurant having a glass of wine and listening to music with ‘the man’ and we were waiting for another couple. They were an hour late and within the first 10 seconds of them approaching the table, something happened and I just lost my ……my……let’s say…the gray matter just melted and drained out of my left ear and down my shoulder and ended up in a pool on the floor next to my chair. So to speak.

My reaction to the event was so completely out of left field. Suddenly I felt this alien invasion at the control panel of my brain and then it was completely out of my hands. Words came out of my mouth with a sharp edge, a feeling occupied my body that was rigid and agitated, and intensity pervaded my being for about 30 minutes or so. I was triggered. No doubt about it.

I had to talk through it and process what had happened. I needed to understand and get a handle on it because it was abundantly clear to everyone involved that it was very charged for me. I didn’t know if my emotions were anger, surprise, confusion, or humor. I was laughing one minute and then once I got in the car and starting talking about it, the emotion turned to tears and then back to anger. I was ashamed with my behavior.

Once we arrived at our other destination and met up with the couple again, I immediately joked about my reaction and rolled myself under the bus. I apologized to them and was a grown up so that we could have a nice time. Not to mention, it was one person’s birthday.

Now mind you….I HAD a reason for reacting. I’m not going into it because I’m protecting the innocent here…but I had just cause for a reaction.

No matter what the trigger, I am ultimately responsible for my reaction. It is reasonable to point to the culprit and assign blame and that would feel really good for a little while and then I have to look at myself and own all the silly little gremlins that are jumping around in me screeching. I’m still pretty embarrassed about the whole thing.

The projection party is never pretty, but essential to understanding my behavior is the need to venture into that emotional bio hazardous material and figure out why I plugged into the situation the way I did. This will take some time to sort through but I know there is value in it.

The good news is:

I caught myself.

I apologized

I’m looking at why my reaction was so severe

Maybe I’ll heal something in the process……..

Did you have reactions to getting hit in your blind spots this week??

Did you assign blame or did you look at your roll in the drama?

What’s in your life is what you choose. Choose consciously and powerfully!

Celebrities, Philanthropies,Charities - Jacki Zehner

I would be remiss in not mentioning the recent change of "virtual venue" by one of my favorite Gal Pals and fellow 85 Broads member, Jacki Zehner.

Coupled with a physical change in venue, Jacki now continues her popular blog as part of her namesake website, jackizehner.com. Her previous blog posts from pursepundit.blogspot.com have been ported over so none of her brilliant insight and true humanity will be lost.

For those of us who have seen Jacki grow into one of the world's most powerful women on Wall Street, this is a very welcome step. Take a look at her latest op-ed piece for a taste of how committed she is to action and not just words. When Jacki speaks, it is with a strong voice calling for Women's Equality.

Few know that Jacki and her husband, an ordained minister, are supporters of many causes through the Zehner Family Foundation. Both of them are retired Goldman Sachs partners, Jacki having been the youngest woman and the first trader to be invited into the partnership.

I know from firsthand experience that with this couple, family comes first. And despite their wealth, they know that stewardship of Time, Talent, and Treasure are the most important lessons to be learned, and the most difficult to live by.

For a great list of upcoming global women's events (maybe you will be lucky enough to catch Jacki at one!) click here.

Lifestyle Lifter's - A Dream Holiday in Europe

I know many of you enjoy this segment of the WWRG blog, so while our guest blogger, Evie, continues her hiatus, I offer a suggestion for what a "fantasy holiday" in Europe might entail.

When I was growing up in Asia, my family frequently took advantage of the lengthy summer vacation period and traveled to Europe.

Two of our favorite destinations were Greece and Italy.

These two countries are once again top of my list as would France.

My fantasy holiday would begin in Greece. A trip to Greece is never complete without a visit to Mykonos. Mykonos is so beautiful, it is no accident that it has become one of the most desired destinations in the world. And if you add the cosmopolitan lifestyle, the sophisticated nightlife and the historic treasures of the nearby Delos to its stunning natural beauties and picturesque villages, you’ll have the recipe for an unforgettable holiday.

Although one of the smallest islands of the Cyclades complex, Mykonos is definitely the most famous, thanks to its treasure of natural beauty, rich history, cosmopolitan character combined with a wild nightlife, as well as plenty of local color.

My next destination would be Italy. I would hire a car and drive south to Tuscany where olive groves and some of the finest vineyards abound. As a serial "foodie", this journey would not be complete without dining on authentic Tuscan cuisine while enjoying a view of the rolling hills and beautiful villas.

I would then proceed directly to the glamorous French Riviera. A boat trip along the scenic coastline would include iconic towns such as Nice, Cannes, and St. Tropez and of course, Monaco. After enjoying the private beaches and world-class restaurants there I would complete my fantasy holiday in Paris. After several days at the Peninsula Paris (opening in 2012), I would regretfully return to the U.S., no doubt a few pounds heavier, but many burdens lighter!

BTW - did you know that Tokyo has now passed Paris as the Michelin Guides "city with the world's best restaurants"?

I have another fantasy holiday in Asia to tell you about in a future Lifestyle Lifter's post.

TGIF - Today is Global Forgiveness Day

Global Forgiveness Day began in 1994. It was created and is sponsored by the Christian Embassy of Christ's Ambassadors. This holiday originated in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Forgiveness is not limited to Christian belief.

Mahatma Gandhi, a Hindu, said

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

Buddha said," The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, nor to anticipate troubles, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly".

People of Muslim faith are familiar with the following saying: "Forgiveness is the crown of great qualities."

Regardless of your race, religion, or creed, please take time today to "forgive and forget", for as Gandhi also said:" Be the change you want to see in the world".

Thursday's Truth - What Fuels We Have Been!

I watched a documentary the other day that reminded me, once again, of the saying "there is nothing new under the sun".

The name of the film is Fuel and it follows one man's journey to discover the truth behind fossil fuel and it's role as both as sustainer of life and world currency. I downloaded mine via NetFlix but you can get a copy by clicking here.

I remember well the long gas lines during the 1970's, when the Middle East Oil Embargo disrupted supply to the US. At the time, I was driving a VW Beetle. Despite it's great fuel economy, I still needed to gas up and standing in line was a real wakeup call.

When I graduated from college, my first new car purchase was a VW Dasher Diesel. I have always been fascinated by this technology. Maybe it is because my childhood included a number of years in Asia where the Mercedes Benz 190D was the taxi of choice, especially in Hong Kong.

As soon as I had the money, the Dasher was quickly replaced by what was the "King of Diesels" - a 1982 Mercedes Benz 240D. This car is still in the family, having been given over by me to my late mother when I made a move to the big city of Manhattan where having a car was a luxury and not a necessity because of mass transit.

Whenever I drive it, I like to look for others of the same model, year, and type (there was a gasoline version produced during the same time period). Many other owners are astounded when they learn that my vehicle has only 97,000 miles on it. If you know anything about diesel cars, many have hundreds of thousands of miles and some over a million!

After viewing this film, I plan to convert my beloved car to biodiesel. I have also purchased my last new car. And not just because of the financial downside of doing so (depreciation immediate, long term investment with no return) but because I do not want to consume additional valuable, and limited, natural resources that are required during the production phase.

Our planet is fragile. Groups like Awakening The Dreamer and others are focused on helping bring about change and raising awareness.

I highly recommend you view this movie. I hope to see you driving a vegetable-powered vehicle in the near future. Our Planet will thank you and so will I.

Wednesday's Women of Courage - Kathy McShane

I believe that the strength of the human spirit is the single most important element of success. Much of who I am and where I am today I owe to my determination to transcend my physical challenges, and press on regardless.

Today's Woman of Courage is Kathy McShane. Kathy has had considerable success in the world of business. And despite a physical handicap, her busy lifestyle is a testament to how mind over matter can drive the human spirit to accomplish incredible things.

Currently a Marketing Director for Ladies Who Launch, a global organization of women who are entrepreneurs, Kathy was also CEO and Founder of The Kendrew Group, LTD. She also helped launch various consumer and bank card products for AT&T, Chemical Bank (now Chase Manhattan), Mastercard International, and Visa USA.

Her numerous awards include a "Mark Award" for HBO, a "Small Business Award of Honor" given by Bill Gates, Microsoft CEO, and a CBS News Radio "Small Business Hero" Award.

Kathy is also a mother, wife, and a supporter of many causes. And like most women, she has had to accomplish all of this while proving to the world that the right man for the job - is a woman!