My Readers Are Waiting!

I've been missing in action lately -- so much so that my readers have started to ask me why I haven't been posting.

NOTE:  Really it was just my friend Jill, but who's counting?

NOTE TO NOTE:  Of course, I was thrilled that she noticed.  Thanks, Jill!

Anyway, I was about to let it slip again this week, but I was reminded that even though my life is super busy right now, that I always have something to say in the blog.

This reminds me of a quote from Josh Groban about his privates and a groupie, but this blog isn't going to post itself anytime soon...

NOTE:  At least not with my technical abilities at the helm.

So, I'm going to post a photo of a great inspirational quote from my Oprah box this morning.

And to my loyal reader out there -- a post about CPD and mothers soon!

Four Favorite Things I Love Right Now! Part 21

Time for another Four Faves, people!

If you missed the most recent one, click here http://blog.paigemcdaniel.org/2015_01_01_archive.html

It's hard for me to believe that the last Four Faves post was in January.  Frankly, it is not because I don't have any fav things, I think that the reason is more me trying to appear smarter than I really am.  I think that if you read this blog each week that you know that I write about all kinds of things -- serious things like child abuse and opinion things like advice for job seekers, etc.

I also really like to write about my favorite things, but it seems so, well, commercial.

NOTE:  Please know that I do not receive any remuneration from anything I talk about in my posts, except of course, I am paid to work at Community Partners of Dallas.  I'm so glad that the board thinks I'm worth a salary.  My personal creditors are glad too.

Now, on to the Faves!

1. I don't usually start with a TV show -- remember the smart persona I'm attempting to portray -- but damn if I don't still love Bravo's Southern Charm.  Cameran and Shep (pictured on the left) are my favorite cast members, but I'd sit in a hot car with any of them -- I really don't like to sit in hot cars.  
   
2. This stuff is great -- O'Keeffe's Working Hands cream.  Seems like my hands and cuticles just keep getting drier, so I ordered this from Amazon and I love it.  No fragrance -- Joe likes that -- and it isn't too greasy.
   
3. My latest fav thing is something from the queen of fav things -- Oprah.  I ordered this for my sister-in-law Lucy and for myself at Christmas.  It is a wooden box filled with 365 thoughtful quotes.  It was $85:  365 Gathered Truths Box from Cottage Coastal.  I try to post some each week on my Instagram and FaceBook.  This was today's.
   
4. I have a new fav cocktail -- a little vodka with Whole Foods Italian Soda in Pomegranate flavor -- delish!

What are your Four Faves?

Four Favorite Things I Love Right Now! Part 20

It's time for another Four Faves and I'm excited about these, people!

In case you missed part 19 (and all of the 18 before that), click here: http://blog.paigemcdaniel.org/2014/10/four-favorite-things-i-love-right-now.html

Last night I was home watching the tube and realized it was Tuesday (so the next day -- today -- is blog day) and started thinking about what to write. I actually do think about what I'm going to write in advance sometimes, but those of you who know me won't be surprised to learn that sometimes I just sit down without a F-ing clue.


NOTE: Last week's post is an example of no advance prep, and you guys still read and liked it, so why prepare? I try to prepare because it saves me time at my keyboard staring into space. Lauren (our fabulous Program Director at Community Partners of Dallas) once came in my office and said -- "Oh, I'm sorry to bother you, are you writing the blog?" I didn't know I had a tell -- apparently it's staring off out the window with a dumb-ass look on my face. Great.


Anyway, doing a Four Faves post is really my most fun writing, so here goes...

1. SOOOOOO excited that The Americans is starting back up tonight! It is such exciting television and if you haven't seen the first two seasons, they are available on Amazon Prime, so go to your dvr, tape tonight's Season 3 opener on F/X, and start with Season 1 and 2 -- I promise you won't be disappointed. Warning -- it is not for kids or the faint of heart. Sex and violence galore. Here's the star Keri Russell on this morning's Today Show. Fun Fact: Keri and her co-star are together in real life too -- or at least they were last season.
   
2. I love this gift from my wonderful friend Stacey -- it came with the whole Oprah Chai Tea system from Teavana -- called the Teavana Perfectea Maker. It is truly ingenious how it works and I love making myself a cup on the weekend.
   
3. While I'm having a cup of tea, this is the current book I can't put down -- I've only read about 100 pages, but it has me on the edge of my seat! Order The Girl on the Train today!
   
4. My final fav is my almost everyday read of Jeanne Prejean's My Sweet Charity Blog: http://mysweetcharity.com/ Jeanne's blog is a must-read for everyone in the non-profit world and for everyone who is interested in culture, fashion, and celebs of the local-type. Her writing is spot-on and she is a champion for so many in our community who have no voice. She's a marvel. Dallas is lucky to have her on the job!

What are your faves?

Am I Controlling?

I just returned from another fabulous trip to the Miraval Resort just outside of Tucson, Arizona.  I have been going annually for many years and typically go with a large group of friends -- both old and a few new -- and that is what makes the trip especially fun.

Miraval is all about mindfulness and living in the present moment.  Meditation, living with intention, etc.  Here is the wall hanging that is in each room -- just in case you need a reminder while changing for dinner.

Those of you who know me well know that I am all over this stuff -- it's SO Oprah -- and I really find the time I spend there worth every penny.

NOTE:  Miraval ain't cheap, people.  Plus, they have really cute work-out clothes in their gift shop.

NOTE TO NOTE:  You may wonder why I need cute work-out clothes...  So do I, but damn if I don't always get myself some.

I always go to classes while I'm there to help me  -- on my <gag> journey and one of their experts told me that I need to keep writing (for a creative outlet), so I guess you won't be rid of this blog too soon.  Thanks for reading.

Here are the girls from this year's trip.  Most of us are no makeup, so reader beware.

The other thing one of their experts told me is that I like to be in control.

NOTE:  Sue me.

Just that morning I had gone on the 2 hour hike and it almost killed me.  But the worst part was when we arrived at the "dry creek bed" that they had filled up with sand (BTW, I bet they trucked that sand in) and then told us that we should trudge (my word, not his) through the sand and then up the next hill or two in silence.  Lori and I rolled our eyes and took off.  Sand in my shoes and huffing and puffing up the trail, barely keeping from stumbling into cacti each step.  Finally I get to the top and the front people (who would push to go around us the whole time so Lori and I finally just walked together to hold them back -- controlling?) were standing there in silence.

NOTE:  No one was really going faster than anyone else -- they just wanted to look like they were going faster.  Bitches.

Anyway, here they all are standing around looking bored, so I made this announcement to all:

I would like to say, and I am unanimous in this, that I don't want to walk through anymore sand.

NOTE:  Ten points if you caught the Are You Being Served Mrs. Slocombe reference.

Controlling?

Of course, D'Andra and Angela were in total agreement with me and cracked up -- Lori too.  My friends know that I'm controlling.  I think they like me that way.

I'm Back in School

I'm doing something new.

I almost don't want to write about it because I'm afraid that somehow if I talk about it that the magic will be gone -- or at least people won't love it like I do and that will make me feel like it's not what I think it is and it will make me not be as excited about it as I am...

But, the above being said, I am going to talk about it because I really love it and I want you to know.

I signed up for Oprah's Life Course with Brene Brown about imperfection.  It's an online course and this is week one (of six), but I have already completed my 2 assignments for the week and I've been changed by it.  Here's the link  -- I bet you can still sign up:

http://www.oprah.com/own-brene-brown-course/brene-course-bundle-landing.html?utm_source=O.comPopUpAd&utm_medium=20131216&utm_campaign=1

I've already learned something about myself.

I have a hard time letting people help me.  I didn't even know it until I read this week's portion of the book.  I've always felt as though I was a good friend to have and that my friends can always count on me to help them, but I rarely let people help me.

Coming to my house for dinner?  Ask me what you can bring and my response will be "just bring yourself".  I drove myself to the emergency room a few weeks ago.  Texted my mom and my doctor that I was going, but didn't want to wake them up since I can handle everything.

WTF?

My Aha Moment was when Brene explained this:

While I was always willing to help someone else with any needs they had, because I wasn't able to accept help that I was probably silently judging those friends that I helped knowing that if they were accepting my help, that they weren't as perfect as I was because (remember, people) I DON'T NEED ANY HELP.

Revelatory.

Take the class.  More revelations to come (I hope).

OMG! Oprah and Me? Really?

Yes, I saw Oprah.

If you are a regular reader of this blog (and I know that there are literally TENS of you), then you know that I love Oprah.  I admire her.  She is a mentor to me even though I've never met her.

NOTE:  Of course, I did try to see if I knew anyone who could have gotten me backstage, but no luck.

NOTE TO SELF:  Get some fancier friends.  Pronto.

So, even though I saw Oprah from 50 yards away, I still saw her and was thrilled to be part of her Lifeclass here in Dallas last week with Bishop T.D. Jakes.  I told my friend Jeanne that I would report on my experience, so here goes...

My sister-in-law Lucy and our friend Lori went with me that morning.  I bought our tickets at Ticketmaster ($100 each, plus fees, plus $25ish for parking) and I bought them the same morning I got the email from Oprah telling me to buy them.

NOTE:  Yes, I mind Oprah.  She needed me there, otherwise I'm sure she wouldn't have come to Dallas.  You can thank me later.

These seats were the best you could buy and there were no floor seats available at that time (you know I would have done it -- budget be damned). 

Next, skip to the night before -- Wednesday night, August 28.  I called Lucy and told her I'd pick her and Lori up that morning.  I told Lucy that I thought we should look pretty cute just in case they had scouters looking for good looking people (don't laugh -- we can look pretty good when we want to) to sit down front (I've upgraded to first class a few times, people.).  I also know that back when they used to tape The Oprah Winfrey Show they always asked people to wear color (not black) so Lucy and I were ready.  I wore flats, slacks (no jeans), a turquoise Tory Burch sweater and a chunky necklace (this is pretty much my casual uniform).  Lucy had on white pants and a blue and black patterned top.  Lori wore a colorful top and white shorts (I guess Lucy forgot to inform her of my plan to stand out for the front row scouts, but I would have left both of them in the dust if the scouts singled me out, so NBD.).

Anyway, here we are driving up to the American Airlines Center about 8:15 (show was scheduled to start at 9 am, so Lucy and I wanted to be early -- we weren't -- apparently everyone else thought the same thing -- people everywhere) and

BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT

Everyone looks WAY nicer than we do.  Tons of people in dresses and heels -- fabulous color everywhere.

I know immediately that the seats in Section 117, Row N, seats 3 and 4 are ours for the duration.

NOTE:  Lori got her ticket a few weeks later and wasn't sitting with us.

So, Lucy and I find our seats and settle in (as much as you can since we are having to stand up every 5 minutes letting ladies in and out of the row).  Every electronic sign in the place is telling us to "Tweet Live with the Hashtag #Lifeclass".  There is peppy music playing (Blurred Lines, Gaga, etc.) and you can tell everyone is super excited.  One of my neighbors is sitting behind me, one of Joanna's friends is on my row, and I saw another friend as we were leaving -- there were tons of people I knew in the joint of 15,000 people.

NOTE:  For this post, I'm just going to give you the report of how they made the show and my impressions, not really talking about the content (which was great, BTW -- be sure to watch it on OWN this Sunday for part 1).  I'll talk about content in future posts for sure, though.  Bishop Jakes was fabulous.

Here's the rundown:

9 am (time it was supposed to start):  Some gal comes out (don't think they told us her name) to acclimate us to what was going to happen and to put crowd noise/reaction on tape.  She told us to tweet, and to download a flashlight app.  She told us that Oprah wanted us to use the lights instead of clapping, but Oprah never asked us to hold up our lights -- only this gal did.  She also made us practice these all together:

• polite applause
• medium applause
• boisterous applause
• standing ovation
• chuckle
• medium laugh
• hilarious laugh -- I got a few head turns from our section during this.  I'm a great audience member.  Actor friends always tell me that they hear me laugh and hoot when they're on stage.

She then said that if you end up commenting to keep your comments general, like don't say "my father" say "a family member" and she said that if you comment, you need to stay after to sign. 

NOTE:  No one who wasn't approved in advance spoke people, so this wasn't necessary.  Just gave me a little more false hope for a potential meeting with Oprah.  Drat.

The gal talked to us about keeping up the tweeting (#Lifeclass was trending even before Oprah came out, so it worked).

NOTE:  Of course, I was tweeting up a storm, thank God -- you'll know why I'm thanking God later.

9:30 am:  A comedian did a short set.

9:45 am:  An inspirational dude spoke to us -- got the crowd worked up.

10:00 am:  Oprah takes the stage with Bishop Jakes!  The crowd goes wild!  She was wearing a gorgeous green dress, V necked with 3/4 sleeves, great shoes (at least the lady behind me liked them -- she had binoculars, I didn't).  Super exciting.

The show is about fatherless/motherless sons and daughters and problems with family members/forgiveness.  I took lots of great notes and will definitely be using some of Bishop Jake's wisdom myself in speeches and blog posts.  But here is the closest I came to fame with Oprah...

As I mentioned, I am tweeting up a storm (feel free to check out my twitter feed at @paigemcdaniel -- you can see them all there from August 29) and I even see my picture go up on one of the screens behind Bishop Jakes (across from Oprah), and I nudge Lucy that I see one of my tweets, but it is too far away to read it, of course.  The feed of tweets is ever changing and up until this point Oprah had not read any of them out loud.

BUT THEN IT HAPPENED -- Oprah read my tweet out loud!

NOTE:  I can't wait to see the show this Sunday night because what if someone else wrote the same thing and really she was reading theirs?  But I just know it was mine, at least for now.  And I need this -- it's been a hard week already.

My life is complete. 

At least until next time Oprah is in town.  My search for fancier friends is on.

4 Favorite Things I Love Right Now! Part 9

I'm taking a quick detour in my Secrets in Non-Profit Management Series, since SO many of you have been asking for a Four Favs post!  Visit the most recent one here:  http://blog.paigemcdaniel.org/2013/03/4-favorite-things-i-love-right-now-part.html

NOTE:  "SO many" means Corinne, but hey -- I aim to please my best readers, people...

1. Mary Kay SatinHands Lotion -- This stuff is the bomb.  It is unscented and really works.  Mary Kay has a whole SatinHands system with scrub and other stuff, but I just love the lotion.  Always keep some on my desk and by the kitchen sink at home.
2. The Junior League of Dallas -- There is not a better organization in Dallas for women.  The JLD provides great support annually to non-profit agencies (Including Community Partners of Dallas -- Yippee!), but I will never cease to be amazed by all of the leaders trained by the league who are changing lives every day in our community.  I am honored to be a member.
3. Keurig K-Cup Brewer -- I know that I'm late to the party on this one and I love it so much that I am pissed at all of you who didn't tell me about how great it is.  Thank goodness that Lauren talked me into buying one for our office.  Truly, I can't wait to get to work each morning for my first cup of coffee.  LOVE it!
4. Moscow Mule -- For some reason, the whole office has been talking about Moscow Mules lately. Now, it may just be because the Back-to-School Drive is inching ever closer at CPD and we're just prepping for the onslaught, but still the subject has come up. And my recipe (adapted from Oprah) is the best:

Paige's Moscow Mule (makes 1)

• 1 ounce vodka (or more -- I use Absolute)
• 1 t simple syrup (I make this by putting 1 C sugar and 1 C water in a sauce pan. Heat and stir until mixture is clear, then cool. Keeps in fridge forever.)
• Juice of 1/2 lime (must use fresh)
• 1/2 C ginger beer
• 1 sprig fresh mint

Directions: I make the drink in a measuring cup, stir, then pour over ice. Garnish with mint sprig.  I serve it in a Tervis Tumbler mug since I don't own copper ones.

What are your 4 favs?

To Jump or not to Jump?

I jumped.

This is a photo of me 35 feet in the air after climbing up a telephone pole and hoisting my butt up and over the top with the whole pole swaying and my legs shaking and well, let's just finish by saying that right after this picture was taken, I stumbled off the pole yelling -- uhh, uhh, uhh -- I'M GOING TO GO!

NOTE:  It is A LOT windy-er 35 feet up in the air.  Is this a problem for tall people?  How does Dirk keep his hair in place?

NOTE:  The jump instructor at Miraval said I was the only person who had ever held their nose when they jumped.  It was an automatic reflex from the blob at Camp Longhorn...

Let me tell you that I never, ever thought I would jump off a pole, but Miraval (and Cynthia O'Kelly) makes you do things you think you would never do.  Here's what happened:

On the plane on the way to Miraval for a girls trip in February (we had 8 of us there for fun, relaxation, and life-changing-stuff-Oprah-style), I casually mentioned to Cynthia that I was thinking of trying the Quantum Leap adventure at some point.  As quick as a wink Cynthia said, "Oh great, let's do it!" 

I said I was thinking about it -- not doing it. 

NOTE:  I think about eating kale -- that doesn't mean I'm going to do it, for Christ's sake.  Moderation, people.  Moderation.

So, Cynthia made me jump.  Oh, and it was supposed to be a 20 foot pole, but when we got there that morning our instructor told us that he had to ready the 35 foot pole instead. 

What's 15 feet between friends?  The whole thing got me thinking. 

Can someone make you do something? 

One of my old friends with whom I worked at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra told me not long ago that I was the reason that she and her husband decided to become foster parents.  About 10 years ago Deanna had done some volunteer work with me at Community Partners of Dallas and she apparently always remembered the experience.

Now, I didn't make her become a foster mom, but the seed was planted.  She was open to changing the lives of children who needed a chance.  I know God put us together at the DSO for that reason (and others).  I am so happy for the children who are lucky enough to be in her care.

So thanks, Cynthia, for helping me to make the decision. I'm glad we did it. Once.

This is a photo of us after we all jumped.  That ground felt good!

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!

Speechwriting Made Easy -- 4 Tips for Success

The Chick Lit Luncheon is Friday, so I have been in speech writing mode this week.  I actually enjoy writing (hence this blog, duh), so I usually have fun doing it if I don’t wait until the last minute – which for me is 2 days before.  Luckily this week, I knocked it out yesterday, which means I was 24 hours ahead of my oh-shit-why-haven’t-I-done-that-yet deadline.  Golf claps for me.

Anyway, I usually just speak without notes, but when I have a time limit I have to write it out or there’s no telling how long people would be at Brook Hollow on Friday – dinner, anyone?  SOOOO, this got me thinking about the blog post today, so here are my four quick tips for a fantastic speech (and yes, that would imply that my speeches are fantastic, and yes, I am the sole judge of that):

1. Be sure to sound like yourself and write it as if you were speaking normally to people.  Some people tend to want to make themselves sound “smart” and use long words and throw in flowery language.  Don’t do it.  Your speech needs to sound like you are just talking to a friend.
2. Always keep an ear or eye out for a good quote or story that could work in your speech.  I look for things all year that I can use.  Oprah and Dr. Phil have always been very good to me – their guests who are adult victims of child abuse (that is what I talk about for this speech each year) sometimes give me the most heartbreaking quotes.  And with the DVR, I can back up 4 times to get every word in the quote correct.  And of course I always mention where the quote originated.
3. Even if your topic is serious (like child abuse), you can weave in some humor.  I think my mother has been mentioned in my speech every year because she is hilarious and/or bringing her up is a great way to use self-deprecating humor.
4. Practice!  I read mine through about 4 or 5 times the night before and once or twice the morning of.  My kitchen counter is the perfect height.  I print it out in a very large font and then underline words I want to emphasize and places where I want to pause for effect, etc.

I hope this is helpful and I hope to see you Friday – I’m willing to accept your critique in the valet line!

Oprah, Maya, and Mom

When someone shows you who they are – believe them.

I love this line.  Maya Angelou said it to Oprah and she passed it along to me (Yes, Oprah and Maya and I are friends, if only in my mind.).

Of course I think of this line often when someone does me wrong.  You know the times when once again your friend is late to a meeting and you think about how you can’t believe she is late.  Why can’t you believe it?  She is late every time!  Or what about the friend who tells you every November that she wishes that her husband would get her a piece of jewelry for Christmas, but she never tells him that because she wants him to figure out what she wants.  Why is she disappointed that she gets another sweater wrapped under the tree?

We have to realize that it is very difficult to get people to change.  We have to accept them for what they show us.  And, most importantly, we have to decide how we want to react to that person.  Since we know that they probably will not change certain behaviors, we must decide how to deal with them – or if we no longer want to deal with them at all.

Now, I wouldn’t be working for Community Partners of Dallas if I didn’t believe that people can change bad behavior – but they have to want to change.  Parents who once let drugs rule their lives can give them up (with a hell of a fight) and become good parents.  Relatives can turn their own lives upside down and change their own living situations in order to take children out of the foster care system. Change can happen with anyone if they want it enough.

But back to our line:  When someone shows you who they are – believe them.

My mom turns 76 this weekend and she shows me who she is every single day.  I’m not saying she’s perfect (none of us are), but she’s the closest thing I’ve ever met.  If you ever have the chance to get to know Cindrette, you’ll find out right away that she is smart as a whip, hilarious, curious about everything (especially about what people like to eat and how they got skinny), and honest.  She’ll give you advice about your colon, your hairstyle, and shout hooray for the Texas Rangers – all in one breath.

I wish every kid in Dallas County CPS care could have had a mother like mine.

She’ll show you who she is with every word.  And she is someone you can believe.

Here she is at lunch today.  76 and still going strong.  XXOO

Goodbye, Friend

Today is the final Oprah Winfrey Show.  I have long admired Oprah for what she has done for so many people in this world.  She presented herself in an open way to the world and made many of us look at things we didn’t want to look at:  AIDs, Racism, Sexual Abuse, Family Violence, and more. 

The show she did this year with Tyler Perry still amazes me.  A whole studio audience full of men who were victims of child sexual abuse was ground-breaking. 

Oprah struggled with her own issues and let us see her struggle up-close and personally:  Weight, Child Abuse, Mistakes.  She encouraged many in this country to start reading books and helped many authors to rise from relative unknown to super-stardom. 

While I didn’t always agree with everything she said or did, I admire her.  I’ll watch her final show tonight – and I know that I’ll cry like I'm losing a friend. 

I look forward to seeing what she does next.

My List of Favorite Things, Oprah-Style (No giveaways though!)

I am thankful for a lot of things.  God, family, friends, my work, Community Partners of Dallas, and more, but for this blog I want to give you a list of the things that I love right now.  And yes, I know that it is wrong to love things, but I do love these things.  I bet some of you do too...

1. The Today Show  I have been a loyal viewer for more than 20 years and I love Matt Lauer and Al Roker more than ever. 
2. Artichoke Dip  It's a vegetable, right?
3. Dr. Bronner's Bar Soap from Whole Foods  This soap is all I use.  I like a bar and this one does not dry out your skin.  I have tried all of the smells, but Lavender is the best and holds the scent until the very last sliver melts away.
4. Tory Burch Cardigans  When I don't know what to wear, these are my staple.  Great with jeans and a t-shirt, as well as with a cute dress and heels.  I shop with Diana and Scott in HP Village.  Love them.
5. The Original Cast Soundtrack to Rent  My favorite musical -- I can really belt this one out in the car or the kitchen.
6. Ina Garten (aka The Barefoot Contessa)  Ina is amazing.  I have all of her cookbooks and I have never made a flop.  Her latest book called How Easy Is That? is fabulous.  The oven risotto is worth the price alone.
7. DVR  This is my favorite current invention.  What did we do without them?  I know that I  watched a lot of TV before, but I must have been watching things I didn't like that much -- horrors!  Now I always have something wonderful to watch at my fingertips.  L. O. V. E.
8. Lexus RX350  I have had three of them and I don't think I'll ever switch.  When my friend Maria Martineau Plankinton got her first one, she encouraged me to try it.  I told her that I didn't need a "Mom" car.  Maria uttered the words "It's not a Mom car, it's a shoppers car."  It is a Paige car now! 
9. Popcorn  I love Garrett's cheese popcorn from Chicago, but really my favorite is my own:  Orville's Hot Air Popcorn popped in my hot air popper with real butter melted in the microwave (38 seconds), then tossed with Paula Deen's House Seasoning (I make it too and keep it in a shaker from The Container Store).  I eat this every night.
10. Davines Love Shampoo and Conditioner  I get this at the Osgood O'Neil on Knox and believe me it really does help my extremely curly hair to behave.  I use Kerastase products too.  Hair products have really changed my life.
11. Amazon.com  I order stuff from them at least weekly -- last night for a gift for a kid in our Toy Drive list who wanted the Glee Board Game to a book for a Christmas gift earlier this week.  I sprung for the 2-day unlimited shipping this year and have used the devil out of it.
12. Oprah  An inspiring woman in every way.  Take the no texting and driving pledge, please!
13. Hot Coffee and Iced Tea  Get me up in the morning and keep me going all day.
14. Social Media  I really do love the Social Media Revolution and am trying to make sure that CPD embraces every opportunity to get the word out about our kids, Dallas County CPS Caseworkers, and our fabulous staff at CPD.

What are your favorite things?  Happy Thanksgiving, All!

Did you see it?

Did you see it?

I am talking about the recent 2-part Oprah Show with 200 adult males who were victims of childhood sexual abuse.  According to Oprah, this was the first time this ever happened on television.

The show came to fruition through an interview Oprah did with her friend Tyler Perry.  Tyler was sexually abused as a young boy by several men and a woman and he had the guts to talk about it with Oprah. 

The statistics say that 1 in 4 girls was sexually abused as a child, and that 1 in 6 boys was sexually abused.

Boys just don't talk about it.  And of course many girls don't either. 

Let them talk about it.

We let them talk at Community Partners of Dallas.  Every Tuesday night we provide sexual abuse group treatment for victims and their non-offending family members.  They talk about it. 

Last night one of the teen girls told her group that with their help she had finally mustered up the courage to call in a police report on her ex-boyfriend who had repeatedly sexually assaulted her.

Talking can heal.