And just like that… we are in December.   I know I’m not alone in feeling this way, but every year it feels like I am anticipating fall and as soon as Halloween finally gets here, you blink and it’s Christmas.   There is no breathing room to take in the all special moments.   And the older Zoe has gotten, the more important those special moments truly are.   We want to make these memories as beautiful as possible.   But how do you fit it all in?   And more importantly, how do you stay focused on the magic instead of all the stress?   Traffic, crowds, holiday parties, shopping for the perfect gifts, decorating, cooking, cleaning… the list goes on and on.   Sure, some of these are fun commitments, but they are also stress.   We get this vision in our head of how it is supposed to be, that perfect tree, the perfect Christmas morning – but it is an unrealistic expectation to have.   Perfect isn’t possible.   But what is possi...

“A great teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning.” – Brad Henry We all have a teacher or professor that stands out in our mind because of their influence they had on us.   In high school it was Mr. Morgan.   He was able to make math tolerable for someone who wasn’t interested in the subject.   In college, it was my professor, Carol Osborne.   Her class confirmed that marketing was the right career path for me with her Promotions class.   So, when I was invited to be a guest lecturer for that same professor that molded my professional aspirations, enthusiastic is an understatement.   Let me precursor this next statement by saying that I LOVE what I do.   Not only that, but I am passionate about the brand that I work for.   However, I’ve always had an internal struggle around my impact on society.   How does influencing people’s decision to buy pizza help make the world a better place?   No...

Translation - “Nothing is real but dreams and love.” - Anna de Noailles There is a reason why Paris is still considered one of the most romantic cities.  When you go, you are transported back in time.  Strolling through the most amazing museums in the world, having a two hour lunch while sipping champagne, indulging in decadent desserts – the city itself becomes an aphrodisiac.  While it is a cliché to want to be kissed by your true love under the Eiffel Tower, there is a good reason why every girl has that fantasy.  The first time I went to Paris, I was only 14.  At that age I had not had my first real kiss yet, so the mystery and allure of romance was just beginning to blossom.  While staring up at this iconic structure, I closed my eyes and imagined what it would be like to have Gavin Rossdale grab me by the waist and dip be backwards for an amazing Hollywood kiss.  (Don’t act like you didn’t have the Tiger Beat poster up in your room too.)...

In case you haven't noticed, I'm a list kind of person.  I keep hand written lists all over my office of things to accomplish for that day, week, month, even year.  We have project lists and grocery lists - so it is only fitting that I would have bucket lists.  I'm using lists plural because I have many everywhere in my house and on my computer.  When it comes to bucket lists, I had the one of the 30 things I want to do before I turned 30 along with a running one of the things I want to do before I die.  That one is forever evolving.  From that list, I narrowed down 40 things I think I could accomplish before my 40th birthday.  However, there is a catch for anyone who is reading this right now.  Many of these items were probably inspired by you.  Or you might see something on this list that you also have on yours.  My ask to all of you is that we do this TOGETHER.  Let me know which of these things YOU want to accomplish ...

We only get one chance here on earth, let's fill it with beautiful memories, life experiences and love. The FULL List: 1. Cage dive with great whites 2. Buy an amazing pair of designer shoes 3. Learn how to play tennis 4. See a Broadway show on Broadway 5. Visit another country on a mission trip 6. Learn how to play at least one song on the guitar 7. ‘Pay it forward’ project 8. Find the perfect timeless cocktail dress 9. Crash a wedding 10. Go on vacation with just my girlfriends 11. Read the classic American novels:  (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Scarlet Letter, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Red Badge of Courage, The Great Gatsby, The Grapes of Wrath, Call of the Wild, Invisible Man: A Novel, A Farewell to Arms, Fahrenheit 451) 12. Tutor a child (not mine) 13. Watch the launch of a space shuttle 14. Live in a cool city for at least a few months 15. Cook an entire Thanksgiving meal b...