Lindsay and I were at the beach the on St. Simons for a first consult last week (how many wedding planners can say that?!) and it was wonderful! We sat meeting a couple who will have their wedding at the new casino with it’s brick encased atrium (beautiful!) and suddenly we saw dolphins! 

Ok. Not the purpose of this post.

The purpose is that Lindsay said something I have been hearing a lot lately– That I remind people that I talk to of Kimora Lee Simmons.  Since Kimora got her show, everyone from vendors to brides have been telling me "OMG that is YOU!" Could it be that  I am channeling my inner Kimora Lee Simmons?  So my interest was piqued– I went on You Tube and caught a little snippet of her show.  I saw some similarities.  So I then went to iTunes and purchased an episode.  It just so happens as I was folding clothes (I have three babies.  My life consists of weddings and laundry.  Oooh glamorous!) and an episode came on the Style channel. 

I laughed almost the entire episode, because they are so right.

If you got a camera to follow me around, it would probably be a mix of the Sopranos, a little (very little) Leave It to Beaver , the excitement and drama of Whose Wedding… as well as Kimora’s show,

.  You have to love a woman who is raising her kids, staying true to herself and running a business.

And any woman who says this is after my own heart:  "I am a living testimony that you can do anything you want to do…and do it in stilettos"

Work it girl!

Liene had a fantastic post today about how you can “buy” something that is so untangible, but means the world to someone else. It was awesome and moving. So on this Thanksgiving day, Oprah had a show on about giving. She featured an organization that has been the secret addiction amongst givers called Kiva. Kiva is an organization that allows everyday people like you and me to make a loan to impoverished entrepreneurs in third world countries to start a business that could change the entire dynamic of their lives. A loan as small as $25 can help a business owner feed their family for a month, buy clothes or possibly medicine for their children. What makes the process even more rewarding is that when the loan is paid back, you get a credit in your account which allows you to then give to someone else if you choose. You simply click on a person’s picture– read more about them and their story. If you feel compelled to give, you can do so at your own discretion. Kiva has had a 98% repaid loan rate. That is AMAZING. I just registered and when I clicked on someone I was interested in loaning money to, the site crashed! Their servers were overloaded with other people who are passionate about giving. I challenge you…I DARE you to count your blessings today and bless someone else.

So see– you really can buy happiness.

This year, it’s just me and the kidlets for Thanksgiving. Capt America comes home this weekend, so we won’t be doing the traditional Thanksgiving thing today. All the same, we have so much to be grateful for. We had a beautiful healthy baby this year. My husband is safe and on his way back to me. It’s not a day that goes by that I don’t give thanks for that fact alone, because I know someone else’s husband is not coming home. The company had a FANTASTIC year this year, and I’m looking forward to 2008. I’ve met so many fantastic people who have made an impact on my life, that I feel lin some respects, they have all helped to make me a better person.

So, I was in the car listening to CNN on the way to take the kids to school. Deborah Norville was on talking about “Thank You Power“. I was thining “Wow, that’s something. Never heard of it”. She has written a book on the very subject, which states that people who use “thank you power” are more resilient, patient, and peaceful. Imagine that. So by just being grateful, you can change your whole outlook on life. Sounds simple enough, but so do most choices. Aha, but that’s just it– a conscious decision to change for the better and recognize the good.

Oprah has a new thing I am going to start as well– a gratitude journal. What better way to fully recognize your blessings than to literally count them and and take a moment to recognize them. I would always hear people say “don’t block your blessings”, and I think a good way to make sure that you stay blessed is to get out of your own way. So, by doing this journal, I am hoping that I can give deference to my gratitude.

I hope you have a fantastic Thanksgiving, wherever you are. Enjoy your family, your health, and your life. And enjoy that meal!

I might have pizza tonight.

And I’m grateful I don’t have to cook.

See…I started already.