Inspiring Women | Sweet Peas & Stilettos: The Modern Mommy Guide

Posts in the ‘Inspiring Women’ Category

ModeWalk & Samasource

Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

Yesterday afternoon I was certainly one lucky girl. I was invited (thank you Rhonda!!) to attend a ModeWalk trunk show in Los Altos Hills where a portion of proceeds benefitted Samasource. I was so excited because I have been a huge fan of Modewalk from the time they launched and all of the gorgeous clothes and accessories they have in their online showrooms. In addition, I had recently read an article about Samasource and was totally inspired by the great work they had been doing all over the world. And behind each of these organizations are super smart, super chic women. Love that!

Do you love fashion? Do you wish you could pop over to Paris for a little shopping trip? “ModeWalk is for the woman who treats her closet as a collection.” What I love about ModeWalk is that they celebrate the people behind the clothes – the designers, the seamstresses, and the muses who inspire them. The ModeWalk shopping experience is different because you feel like you actually get to meet the creative minds behind the impeccable designs and creations. Just one click and you are off to Paris!

Samasource enables companies to save money and time and do good at the same time. Who doesn’t want to do that? They also bring hope, pride and a livelihood to people who are smart and driven – they just need the opportunity to demonstrate the value they can bring. Samasource’s mission is to bring dignified, computer-based work to women, youth, and refugees living in poverty.

Leila Janah and her team have already created jobs for people all over the world and are partnering with top corporations to prove that this idea is one that works. Please check out their website to learn more, to be inspired and to see how you can help.

Posted in Fashion & Style, General, Giving Back, Inspiring Women, Shop 'til You Drop | No Comments »

glassybaby

Tuesday, February 7th, 2012

In 1998, Lee Rhodes, glassybaby creator and founder, was raising her three small children and fighting what would become a 7-year battle with a rare form of lung cancer. She fell in love with these fabulous hand blown glass vessels and the way they radiated light with a simple tea candle and added color and cheer to any table. Over the next few years, Lee learned to blow glass and she created glassybaby. To Lee, these colorful vessels represented “that deep breath that we often forget to take.” The success of glassybaby has enabled the company to donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to charities dedicated to health, healing and quality of life. Lee Rhodes is a true inspiration for us all.

Posted in Art, General, Giving Back, Home, Inspiring Women | Comments Off

Adrienne Maloof Stilettos

Thursday, November 3rd, 2011

Yes – I love RHOBH. I have very few TV shows that I have to watch and this is one of them. Gotta love an hour watching a bunch of stiletto wearing moms to get your mind off of reality…

I have a lot of respect for Adrienne Maloof because she was a hard-working mogul (and mom of three boys!) before her Housewives’ fame. The stiletto loving mom is now expanding her empire with her own Charles Jourdan shoe collection.

Adrienne’s shoes are now available for pre-order and are expected to ship sometime around December 5th. Rock your own inner Beverly Hills housewife and get some super high, super sparkly stilettos just in time for holiday party season.

Posted in Cute Shoes, General, Inspiring Women | Comments Off

Somaly Mam Fundraiser

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

Somaly Mam is an incredibly inspiring women. I heard her speak at Maria Shriver’s Women’s Conference a few years back and she brought me to tears. She was full of grace, determination and heart. She has done so much to help women and girls all over the world so that they do not have to suffer and endure the pain that she did as a young girl.

Somaly Mam travels all over to share her personal story of sexual slavery, and to raise awareness of human trafficking. Her foundation, The Somaly Mam Foundation works around the world to provide direct services for victims, advocacy, and outreach.

For those of you who live in or around New York City – please consider attending the Somaly Mam Foundation Fundraiser Gala on Thursday, October 20th. Help spread the word if you know friends who might want to go too.

If you aren’t in NYC, you can still help. Please visit Somaly.org to learn more.

Posted in General, Giving Back, Inspiring Women | Comments Off

Walk for Hope

Monday, May 23rd, 2011

Got plans on Saturday, June 4th? Why don’t you come to San Francisco and join the City of Hope’s San Francisco Walk for Hope. I am sure that every single person who is reading this knows someone (and many many people) impacted by cancer. My father is a cancer survivor (yeah!!) and I lost 2 grandmothers to the disease. The City of Hope has done amazing work to help bring an end to the disease and to treat and support those brave individuals who are battling it.

“City of Hope’s Women’s Cancers Program conducts innovative research to provide effective interventions for women with, or at risk for, breast and gynecological cancers,” said Joanne Mortimer, M.D., director of City of Hope’s Women’s Cancers Program. “We are grateful for the support our program has received through Walk for Hope, which enables us to provide a continuum of care from research to risk assessment, prevention, treatment, education and survivorship.” In its 16-year history, Walk for Hope has raised more than $29 million for breast cancer research, treatment and education.

So grab all of your girlfriends and make a fun outing of the event and help support a great cause. Here is all the information you will need to register, volunteer or to simply donate to the cause.

And just in case you aren’t in San Francisco – there are also upcoming walks scheduled in Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Seattle, and Los Angeles.

Posted in General, Giving Back, Inspiring Women | Comments Off

Mom Jewelry for Charity

Thursday, April 21st, 2011

Without a doubt, Jennifer Fisher makes some of the coolest ‘mom jewelry’ out there and it is worn by all of our favorite celebrities. What has drawn me to her collection is how you can combine the pieces together and incorporate them with your other baubles for a very cool look. And, you don’t have to be on the cover of US Magazine to be able to wear her jewelry – you can place your order online. Jennifer sums up her philosophy like this: “The feeling I strive to create for my customers is a casual edge, one that will make them feel dressed and finished the moment they put on my jewelry no matter what they are wearing.”

By the way, her dog tags with black diamonds are one of my absolute favorites from her collection (in case my husband decides to read my post today…hint hint….)

Now add Christy Turlington Burns to the mix…As many of you know Christy has done amazing things to help women and mothers all over the world. Her organization, Every Mother Counts, is focused on supporting global maternal health. She has done so much to raise awareness and to help women everywhere. You can purchase the charm shown above from Jennifer Fisher Jewelry and $50 will go directly to supporting Ever Mother Counts. In my book, that means every mom wins..

Posted in Bling, General, Giving Back, Inspiring Women, Mommy Must Haves, Shop 'til You Drop | Comments Off

Elizabeth Taylor

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

As many of you have already read or heard today, Elizabeth Taylor has died. It is so sad for her family and friends. Obviously she was a huge huge star and will be forever remembered for her many passionate love affairs, her incredible support and dedication for raising money for AIDS research, and of course her acting prowess and star power. Personally, I will remember her love of jewelry. Many years back I purchased Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair with Jewelry. I love this book. It was actually the inspiration for me to write Sole Searching. I loved reading the fabulous stories behind her amazing jewelry collection and thought it would be fun to capture the stories behind my shoe collection. Of course I will pull Elizabeth Taylor’s wonderful book off the book shelf and place it on the top of the coffee table in the living room to pay homage to her. Maybe we should all buy ourselves a little bling in remembrance.

Posted in Bling, General, Inspiring Women, Shoe Shopping Stories, Shop 'til You Drop | Comments Off

Linda Benenati Paintings

Sunday, March 6th, 2011

A few weeks ago I went out to dinner with my husband and son to a new restaurant in our little town of Saratoga, California. As soon as I walked in I immediately noticed a handful of paintings in the entryway that caught my eye. I was hungry and focused on my yummy panini and keeping my son from pouring salt all over the table for the next 40 minutes, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the enchanting paintings in the other room. And then there was the near meltdown because my son could not get You Tube to work on “his” iPad. It was a long dinner….

On the way out I convinced my husband to take my son outside so I could go back and enjoy these enchanting pictures again. I almost bought all 5 – but figured that would make for one very expensive panini! Instead I opted to email the artist. Long story short, and lots of schedule juggling later, we went to visit Linda Benenati at her home yesterday and had such a wonderful time in her magical abode. She was such a joy and such a wonderful hostess to me, my husband and our very curious 4 year old. We saw her studio and she explained how she creates her encaustic paintings. I knew nothing about the process and found her workspace quite a joy and a reminder that if you do what you love, you can make anything work.

As a mom, she shared so many words of wisdom with me to prepare me for the life I have ahead of me with my son. She was such a dear. I love her artwork and I hope you do too. Here are two of her encaustic paintings and you can see many more on her website. Why don’t you pick out one for yourself so I don’t buy all of them! You can support a mom who is following her dreams and passions and making the world a little more colorful along the way….

Posted in Art, General, Home, Inspiring Women, Mommy Moments, Shop 'til You Drop | Comments Off

Ivanka Trump Shoes

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

Are you looking for some very Carrie Bradshaw looking stilettos but you don’t have Mr. Big around to buy them for you? New York’s very own Ivanka Trump is here to save the day. Ivanka, the super chic, super smart, mom-to-be, mogul-in-the-making, recently launched a new shoe line and every heel, flat, flip flop and stiletto is super affordable and 100% Ivanka. This pair is one of my favorites and is know as the Ivanka Trump Women’s Dimund2 Open Shank D-Orsay Platform. Yes – I know that is a very very long name for a pair of shoes, but they may be just what you need to erase the winter blues. Come on now…you can’t wear your UGG Boots all winter long…

Good luck Ivanka! You’ve got to love a girl who loves great accessories…

Posted in Cute Shoes, General, Inspiring Women, Shop 'til You Drop | Comments Off

Girl Up

Sunday, February 20th, 2011

Recently I read a few articles about Girl Up and immediately wanted to learn more. I loved the idea of connecting girls in the US to girls all over the world. I was incredibly lucky to be able to spend a summer in Kenya while I was in high school and it was an amazing experience to meet girls my own age who lived a world away. I had a similar experience going to China when I was still in grade school. These amazing adventures forever changed me and always made me very aware of what my reality was vs. what was real for so many other kids around the world. I was always grateful for my home, my private school eduction, my loving and supportive family, and the food on my table. The thing that has always stuck with me are the vivid memories I have of the smiles, laughter and fun that kids all over the world have, without the material possessions that we have grown accustomed to. Kids don’t need fancy train sets and elaborate outfits for their dolls to be happy, what they really need is love, food, shelter, friendship, security, education and a little imagination.

Here is a little scoop about Girl Up that I am quoting from their website:

“Girl Up, a campaign of the United Nations Foundation, gives American girls the opportunity to channel their energy and compassion to raise awareness and funds for programs of the United Nations that help some of the world’s hardest-to-reach adolescent girls. Through Girl Up’s support, girls have the opportunity to become educated, healthy, safe, counted, and positioned to be the next generation of leaders. Campaign supporters are encouraged to give a “High Five” to girls in developing countries by donating $5 or more to provide girls with such basic needs as access to school supplies, clean water, life-saving health services, safety from violence, and more. To give a High Five and learn more, join us at GirlUp.org.”

I am looking forward to introducing my 15 year old niece to Girl Up. I know that she and her friends will love be part of something like this – knowing that they too can make a difference.

I think we should all join Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan (one of the organization’s global champions, and an amazing mother of four) to do what ever each of us can to support these girls all over the world.

Mom-to-be, and super entrepreneur, Ivanka Trump is a Girl Up champion who is using her voice to help teen girls. Through her Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry line, she designed this stylish bracelet that can be purchased for $40 and 100% of the proceeds will benefit Girl Up.