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Are you inspired by women around you? I know that I take inspiration from all types of amazing women in this world. If we don't support one another then we really can't call ourselves powerful women. Morocconoil has teamed up with some really innovative and amazing women in their #Inspiredbywomen series. It's a series that discovers beauty through inspiration and I can honestly say that watching the videos on Youtube, makes me want to actually hunker down and do something to make a difference in this world. What am I doing to make a difference? It truly only takes one person to make a difference and why can't that person be me? 

Your Friday Bon Mot

An Ode to Delia Ephron

I write this post as an ode to Delia Ephron. Technically an "ode" is related to music but at the end of the day, what do I care?  I saw Delia speak a couple weeks ago at the Massachusetts Women's Conference. While I owed her and #MassWomen this post directly afterwards, boy is this dang wedding taking up a lot of my time! (2 weeks to go people!) Anyhow, I have to say that out of all the brilliant keynotes and breakout session speakers at the conference, Delia Ephron was the most honest, touching and entertaining out of the bunch, in my opinion (with Brene Brown in a close second).

When I first looked at the schedule of speakers and the breakout sessions, I was immediately drawn to the Delia Ephron breakout session because, admittedly, I love The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, which Delia penned the screenplay for. The session topic was basically dealing with crossroads in your life and working through them. My first impression was, eh, while I really want to hear Delia speak, I don't really consider myself at a crossroads. I'll just plop myself in the sesh and see if I can glean anything fun or interesting from this talented author. Once I was there in the flesh? It was a totally different story. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I loved Delia, her attitude and that fierce leather jacket.

Of course, she warmed up the crowd with one of my favorite topics, SHOES! She was looking natural and comfortable that day, wearing what she feels is one of the best items in a woman's wardrobe, her boots.

Once, she started getting into the meat of her session, Delia began to tell her story of how she became an author, what led her and brought her to where she is today. She spoke of family and of her relationships with those in her life, citing funny things her Dad said to her growing up and learning from her sister, author Nora Ephron. I could type out all the notes I took as I was feverishly trying to remember all the nuggets of wisdom or just plain amusing things that Delia said. Rather than doing that, I will just share some of my favorite quotes from Delia that day, which I can honestly say are some inspirational sticky note shiz, my friends.

In regard to women having the career, the family, the husband, the kids, etc... "Having it all is different for every woman." Amen, sister.

In regard to supporting women in your life and building eachother up."You're sisters with every woman you meet and don't forget it." Girl, preach it.

In response to an inquiry from an audience member about searching for your passion, while Delia didn't have the perfect answer for the woman, (I mean how can you direct someone on how to find something that has to be organic) Delia said something I loved. "An ideal life consists of things you're passionate about whether it's statistics or Crème brûlée." WORD.

At the risk of sounding a little creepy, I just thought Delia was awesome and I am so happy that I scooted up front to catch her session. I have a new appreciation for her work and also for the actual crossroads I happen to be at in my life. I so enjoyed her and the women that were in the session with me.

Huffington Post article on Delia's Session: huff.to/SBu6WE

You can grab Delia's latest book, The Lion is In, which I am bringing on the honeymoon with me, because dang if I have any time before then. Let me know if you've read it or if you attended the session at #MassWomen, I'd love your thoughts on it!

Massachusetts Conference for Women 2012, Morning Keynotes

As some of you may already know, I attended the Massachusetts Conference for Women this past week. At the largest conference of it's kind in the United States, me and 8,000 of my closest friends, all got together for some serious "woman power" moments... and maybe a couple of tearful moments as well. It was one those things, where the night before I was stressed about getting up earlier, getting there on time, looking good but being comfortable... all the things that weigh on me when my "norm" is changed. Once I was settled at my breakfast table, preparing for the first keynotes, I was able to get myself excited and began to feel the energy of everyone around me.

Massachusetts Conference for Women, December 6th, 2012

I was driving home from my friend's house late last Saturday night, and I happened to hear a radio ad for the Massachusetts Conference for Women, taking place on December 6th in Boston. I normally wouldn't pay any attention to a conference that would take me out of work a day (hello, goodbye vacation day) but I happen to have the week of December 4th off, in order to get some shiz done for this impending wedding of mine. So I made sure to grab the pertinent information that I could and google it as soon as I got home. When I talked to the man about it the next morning, to hit him with the possibility of spending more money on something we technically don't need, he was immediately, super supportive. Something he has been pushing for awhile now, is making sure that I am capitalizing on my schooling and taking advantage of opportunities as they come, this conference being no exception.