Did I Really Say That?

I started writing this blog 5 years ago Sunday.

Writing was never something at which I thought I was particularly good.  I'm a talker.  I like to look at people and give a speech. I was trained as an actor, so of course I like people to look at me while I'm speaking, too!

So how did I end up here five years later with 267 blog posts?

I know how it started.  One of my co-workers wanted to write a blog for Community Partners of Dallas and pitched her idea to me to do it.  Sarah was already writing a personal blog -- that was quite good, btw -- but when I discussed her idea with our communications team (at the time our communications "team" was really only Joanna and I), we decided that if someone was going to write a blog that it should be from me as the "face" of CPD.

Note:  The "face" of CPD could stand to lose a few, but it's the face for now!

At the time I didn't want to write a blog, so we let the idea go.  Within the next 12 or so months, I attended a non-profit and social media branding workshop put on by my friend Kim Whitman.  Kim brought a few experts together to educate us charity folks who were there and there it was again -- should I write a blog???  What platform do I use?  How do I get started? Yikes, yikes, yikes!  I vividly remember talking to Kim after the meeting and she said, "Oh just use Blog Spot (now Blogger) -- that what I use and it's easy.  You can do it, Paige."

Note:  Kim is a real, live TV personality, an entertaining and life-style brand expert, gorgeous friend, and a wonderful mom.  If you don't already read it (and I'm sure you do), check out her wonderful-ness here:  http://kimberlyschlegelwhitman.blogspot.com

That's was all it took.

I've enjoyed writing this blog so much.  I have posts I'm super-proud of and that still make me cry, as well as throw away ones that make me shake my head.  I love knowing which posts were more popular than others -- Blogger tells you this -- and I am apparently an expert on board service because my posts related to non-profit management tend to have more reads and longer legs.  I've also gotten to know people I've never met in person through blogging.  I love this writing thing.

Thank you for reading!  268 down -- more coming.

Four Favorite Things I LOVE Right Now!

I'm going to try something new-ish this week.

Although I have written about my Oprah-style favorite things before (seems to come around closer to Christmas for some reason – hmmmmmm?), I thought I'd tell you about my Four Favs every so often.  Today’s the day!

I read Kim Whitman’s blog (check it out here: http://kimberlyschlegelwhitman.blogspot.com) all the time and she has the cutest thing up in the corner that says “currently obsessed” with a photo of the thing she loves. 

Now, I’m not Kim (if only – she’s smart, stylish, and gorgeous), but consider me your still smart, sometimes stylish (not today – wearing yoga pants and red t-shirt), and can-be-cute-in-low-lighting Kim…

Paige’s Four Favs:

• Room:  A Novel – I read this book by Emma Donoghue almost two years ago and I still think about it all the time.  Amazing and surreal and beautiful and wild.  Highly recommended.
• Trapp Number 2 Candle – This is the exotic spice smell and it is heaven to me.  I usually order them from Amazon, but you can get them at the Sample House.  I always have one at the ready.
• White Orchid Plant – I must have one in my den at all times.  Tom Thumb and Whole Foods sell them, but the best ones (that usually last for 3-4 months) are from Nicholson Hardie.  Of course, expect to pay more at NH.
• City Café To Go Slushie – City Café To Go on Lovers Lane sells this mixture of tea and lemonade, then freezes it into a concoction of icy deliciousness.  My mom and I both want one every afternoon.  OMG Goodness!

What are your Four Favs?

P.S.  My #FundraisingFriday gift is going to Highland Park United Methodist Church.  It is certainly one of my favorite things!