Bouncing Back

I don't have much to update here today other than YAY my energy is back, and my voice mostly is, too :) While I hate weeks like this where sickness knocks your productivity down to zero, I always come out of it happy and thankful that I can get things back to normal. Ironic, since just on Sunday I was looking for a break, too. Guess that wish was granted, wasn't it? :)

In lieu of words, here are some photos of moi from many years ago that I thought you might enjoy.

Ha! I love how I knew exactly where to look to smile for the camera. Note the girl to the left. She and I were competitive. She must have been nervous to lose that totally unimportant summer league race, because look at her dad giving her a pep talk :P

I hope classrooms today still go on field trips like this one to the pumpkin patch, because it was a favorite memory of mine from childhood. Why I am so pensive on such a carefree trip, one can only imagine :) PS. I need to get a grown-up version of that sweater when we head to Ireland this spring - love it.

I was BFF with twin girls that lived around the corner in the same neighborhood. Dress-up was, of course, a favorite game. And apparently I already knew well how to strike a pose at a young age LOL.

See any similarities with the Katherine of today? :) TGIF! 

I Heart Saturdays

I am sure most of you would be with me if you had to pick a favorite day of the week and it was Saturday.

Source: glamour.com via Lindsay on Pinterest

Sure, Sundays are often nice, lazy, family-oriented days, Fridays have Friday night fun attached to them, and then days like Wednesday signal the middle of the week.

Source: Uploaded by user via luisa on Pinterest

But when it comes to the day when I feel the most happy, relaxed, productive and "me," it is definitely Saturday.

Source: polyvore.com via Tara on Pinterest

As we head into another low-key late-winter Saturday afternoon (here, it is gloomy and overcast, which is almost my favorite type of weather at this time of year!), I hope you are having a great day wherever you are.

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Maybe you are like me and thrive off of leisurely trips to Tar-jay, getting in an early workout and getting all of those house chores done.

Source: media.tumblr.com via Amber on Pinterest

Or maybe you like to sleep in late and enjoy waffles with the weekend paper or a book at brunch.

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And of course, after a day of leisure, my favorite way to celebrate is to go out for a fancy night on the town (which we are doing tonight, and I couldn't be more excited!!)

Source: crushculdesac.tumblr.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

Whatever your perfect Saturday is, I hope it's a great one!

Miss Representation

Did you know that some of my favorite movies are the ones with the power women getting the best of both worlds - personal and professional? Oldies but goodies like Baby Boom and Working Girl have always been right up there on the top of my list. I grew up knowing nothing more than I wanted to be a "successful business woman," and so watching those girls and others reach their dreams is always an inspiring tale for me.

Image Source

 
On that note, have you all heard about or seen the Miss Representation preview video yet?

From the website ...

Miss Representation explores women’s under-representation in positions of power and influence and challenges the limited and often disparaging portrayals of women in media.

Writer/Director Jennifer Siebel Newsom brings together some of America’s most influential thought leaders in politics, news, entertainment, and academia, including Condoleezza Rice, Katie Couric, Geena Davis, Lisa Ling, Marissa Mayer, Cory Booker, Jean Kilbourne, and Jackson Katz, to give us an inside look at the media’s messaging. As one of the most persuasive and pervasive forces of communication in our culture, mainstream media is educating yet another generation that a woman’s primary value lies in her youth, beauty and sexuality—not in her capacity as a leader.

Miss Representation premieres Saturday, January 22 in the documentary competition at Sundance Film Festival and then travels to the Athena Film Festival in New York City February 12.

I caught this video online this past week and LOVED it. I wish I could magically see it right now, weeks and months before it is revealed to the world. It made me feel empowered. From the website, there is a screening coming up in the spring with the Atlanta Independent Women's Network at the Druid Hills Golf Club. Sounds like a ladies night to me!


Newest Miss Representation Trailer (2011 Sundance Film Festival Official Selection) from Miss Representation on Vimeo.

All of the deep stuff aside, powerful documentaries like this one are also a perfect way to jazz up an inexpensive date night! We watch a lot of movies over here at the condo (Netflix is my BFF) but the selections that have provoked the best conversation were the ones about education reform, diet and exercise and even the sexual revolution. An insightful documentary can give even a long-time couple new things to think about and discuss, and it's fun to stretch your thinking muscles beyond everyday work projects and sitcom TV. KJM tip: Pick out a fun, new recipe to cook together and a random bottle of TJ's wine to complete the whole "date night on a budget" feel.

Have you seen any great documentaries lately? What about this one, Miss Representation? Will you be adding it to your queue?

On Keeping It All Together

There are days (natch, weeks) where a few ideas roll around in my head before ever making their way onto these pages. Some of them (like the boys view of Atlanta series) logistically take longer than others to go from idea to post (the men were quite rapid in their replies, mind you - it was just me reading through them that took longer than I had planned!), and others sit and grow quietly until I have a few minutes to jot them down in full form.

This one is one of the latter, and how ironically perfect, too, because this post is all about keeping things together. In your life. In your home. At your job. With your friends and family. And goodness gracious, there isn't better proof of all of this than a delayed blog post. Because that, my friends, is one of the things that has been taking the back seat while I otherwise "keep it all together." :)

Last week, I was shocked and honored to have a coworker comment that she wants to know how I always seem to be on top of things and make it all seem so effortless. Ha. When I got home that night, I mentioned this to the man, and his first response was "they obviously don't get to see THIS side of you" -- aka amidst doing laundry and dishes at the same time while vacuuming, Christmas decorating, cooking dinner and working out all waited next in line. The sweatpants and t-shirt me, balancing my blog along with the volunteering, social outings with friends and things at home, all within the few waking hours I have each day when I am not at work. Add to that a nice helping of OCD (those magazines need to be straightened up ASAP...) and that Katherine? She is a bit of a mess. 

Side note: You moms out there, especially the ones with full-time jobs, I don't know how you do it. You are amazing.

That said, every lady wants to give off the appearance of having it all together while out in public or in contact with others on the phone or email. No one else needs to know the sheer volume of stuff going on in your life, because we all have that, and honestly, listening to people complain is boring after the initial vent session. This is probably one of the first things I try to remember. Whether I am working with a team at work or catching up with friends, I try not to complain. I brought a lot of this on myself, so why should I vocalize things that I am 100% responsible for? Plus, how lame is it to talk about all these other things that are stressing you out, making that person you are hanging out with feel badly for wanting to spend time with you while you are obviously too busy?

My PR Girls crowd is a great one for dishing about life's challenges, but they also keep things fun and
stress-free. I schedule in time especially to see them, and say no to other things to make it work. 

The other thing I have gotten really good at is saying no. Sure, I want to go out to that new restaurant with the girls, or make a play date with some friends at the bar, but there are times where I just can not do it. That balancing act I do all week long? It only works because I cut out the superfluous stuff and maintain realistic expectations for what I can get done. We order pizza or Chinese takeout some nights because we don't have the time to cook a meal and also get some chores done. I skip a workout here and there because I need to catch up on sleep from a late evening, and I say no to friends for a late night of parties because I am trying to fit that workout back in the next morning. And when I say no, I have learned to stop feeling bad about it. Guilt about missing some event isn't going to help you knock out that work assignment in time, nor will it help you get into the gym. I consult my Blackberry calendar, consider the options, and respond there and then. Say no, and move on.

The last thing I try and do to maintain some semblance of "togetherness" is my own outward appearance. This may sound vain, but I promise it is not. I don't leave the house looking like a mess. Ever. I may skip the makeup on a weekend morning, but I have done something with my hair (even if it's a hat). I may skip the shower in the AM if I am running late for work, but I make sure to put on a nice outfit. Taking pride in one's appearance can make all the difference. It's about giving others the sense that you are in charge of your life and don't mess around, and you feeling that way yourself as a direct result. I challenge you to put on a pair of heels and not feel like you could take on any CEO meeting!

I try and leave the house in the mornings dressed for unexpected events. That way, even a last-minute
trip to the Gardens with my brother can be photo-worthy!

In the end, I don't think anyone out there has it "all together." We all have our commitments and things that bother, challenge and inspire us, and I think the key is finding what works for you to make it all work. 

Share your tips! How do you keep it all together?

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Here are some other tips of mine ...

* Keep your Blackberry/iPhone/planner on you whenever you are out. It makes confirming plans with friends or that next hair appointment so much easier, and it's one less thing to have to remember to do later.

* Pick out your outfit at night before you go to bed, or think about it during your morning shower. Rushing out the door is no reason to be dressed totally blah.

* Keep a running list of things you need from the grocery store tacked to the inside of your pantry or on your fridge, and reference it each week while making your grocery list. That way, you won't forget again that you needed to pick up mustard or olive oil.

* Need some "me" time? Plan ahead and schedule it in. Wake up early on a weekend to catch the TiVo episode of the Kardashians before the day starts, or take a coffee break with a book mid-day. Even 10-15 minutes of "me" time is good for your soul!

* Smile. Just do it. It always looks (and feels) better than a furrowed brow or frown!