Awesome Finds!

Exceeding Expectations

A few weeks ago, I was on a business trip to Boston. It was one of those trips where I had gotten in the night before, started working the next morning at 7:30am (5:30 Denver time) and finished in time to catch the last flight home that night. Only this time, I missed the 8pm flight. It had left at 8am.

Yes, I had booked my ticket and hit a.m. instead of p.m. What a knucklehead. Or was I? Perhaps I was meant to wait 5 hours for the next flight…

It was a Thursday night and tons of flights were canceled or delayed due to the severe weather. So, giving in to my mistake, I headed for the concourse brew pub. As luck would have it, I got the last bar stool; the place was packed with weary travelers trying to make the best of a tiring situation.

As I laid my head on the counter and whispered, “IPA”, the guy next to me said, “long day?” “Oy Vey”, I thought, “please don’t talk to me. I have just spent 10 hours intensely listening to people talk…I’m going to cry…” But instead, I looked at him and laughed. “Is it that obvious?” He just smiled. Turned out, he was going to Vegas with the other 5 guys at the bar. His day was just beginning.

“So, what do you do?” he asked. “Market Research” I softly responded, hoping he’d think I had no personality and would leave me alone. “Oh, cool! I looove to hear what people think – I work for Apple!” and at that point, whatever personality I was trying to sit on bubbled up and I said, “Really? I happen to have a not-so-happy feeling about Apple at the moment” and proceeded to pull out my iPad and give him my story.

Long story short, I didn’t like that Apple launched the iPad 2 right after the holidays, when all one could buy was the iPad1. Why not launch 2 before Christmas, not after. In 2 weeks, my new toy became an old toy. Not a satisfying feeling.

“Not too worry. Here is my card. I’ll be in the office on Monday. Call me and let me see what I can do for you.” Poor guy had no idea who he was sitting next to. The following week, I called and left a message. Within a day, he called me back, chatted about my situation and then sent the following email:

Hey Robin, It’s ___ from Apple Business! Great talking with you today and thank you for following up with me after our impromptu/amazing meeting at the Boston Beerworks in terminal C. After you told me about the way you felt about Apple after our unintentional wrongdoing that impacted you, I felt as if I had no other choice but to win you back as an Apple customer once more.

At Apple, the satisfaction of the people that own our technology is by far the most important element of our industry leading customer service model. Being a provider of technology, it is inherent within our business that technology will change quickly and often times right when we don’t want it to. It is not the job of our users keep track of this, because people like yourself have far more important things do.

The story that you shared with me speaks volumes to the topic above. Again, I would be happy to take back the product that you have, in exchange for the newer model of iPad 2. (Example: 16GB AT&T iPad 1 for a 16GB AT&T iPad 2)That being said these are the things I need from you…

WOW! I was stunned. And delighted. You see, in a nutshell, my job is to get consumers to talk about how they feel about a product or service. Then, the Client that hires me takes what they hear and uses it to deliver a better product or service. That’s’ exactly what this guy did. In a nano-second, he turned me from sour grapes to wine.

And…what are the chances that I was working on a technology company project at the time and that I had just spent the week interviewing folks about computers and that I would miss my flight (which I have never done) and that I would end up sitting next to someone having a reverse conversation? Talk about being in flow and meeting people at the right time…

So, dear readers, if you live in New England and have any thoughts about upgrading/changing or exploring new IT solutions for your business, then let me know and I will put you in touch with this young, old soul who exceeded my expectations. Actually, no matter where you live, I am sure he can help. His philosophy can’t be beat:

“My job at Apple focuses around business to business sales. As you know, the team that I belong to is based out of Boston, MA area and we work with people all over New England. One of the best parts of my job is that there is no commission on anything that we do here. Our role in the businesses that we work with is to provide honest, accurate and solid Apple solutions that an existing business can pickup, implement and get working.

We like to say, “More work. Less labor.” Meaning, more of what your business does best and less of the technology becoming a barrier in what you love to do on a daily basis. Whether you come into store, call on the phone, shoot an email or setup a meeting; our pledge is to gather all of the information that we need to create a unique solution that will fit the NEEDS of your business.

Apple has come a long way over the past 10 years. We have listened to our customers, and if business is what they want, we plan on doing business better than everyone else.”

I’d say he is a very good listener.

How has someone MindFULLY exceeded your expectations? Let us know!

TED

I Love TED.

I know, my husband’s name is Ken. So who is TED? (And no, TED is not my contractor!) According to their website: TED a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader. Along with two annual conferences — the TED Conference in Long Beach and Palm Springs each spring, and the TEDGlobal conference in Edinburgh UK each summer — TED includes the award-winning TEDTalks video site, the Open Translation Project and TED Conversations, the inspiring TED Fellows and TEDx programs, and the annual TED Prize.

I love TED. On days when I feel like a vanilla wafer, I can jump on the site and give my bland, dull spirit a jolt of inspiration. It feeds my curiosity, broadens my horizons and allows me to have something to say when I’m called upon to be in the world and stand up straight.

You can watch their videos; attend their talks in your city or down load a podcast. I listened to 3 of them on the flight home Thursday night. One took courage. It was a talk by Ric Elias: 3 Things I Learned While My Plane Was Crashing. As we bumped through the storms ravaging the mid-west, what better time was there?

You can learn just about anything with TED – Technology, Entertainment, Design, Business, Global issues, etc. It’s all on TED.com. You don’t have to go anywhere, do anything, take any tests. All you have to do is sit back and absorb.

There’s a whole world out there. It’s easy to forget. TED lets you open up your world. Try it and watch how large it gets. And then, watch your heart follow.

How do you MindFULLY learn new things? Let us know!

Fun Yum!

On Sundays, my daughter and I try and make something sweet for the week. We call them “Sunday Sweets”. Always looking for a new twist on old favorites, I recently came upon a trend that I am far behind on…cake pops! How cute are these!

As it is Spring Break for those of us with kids in school, this week is dedicated to ease and fun. If you are looking for an activity, maybe you could try your hand at making a sweet treat for the week.

Here’s a link to a recipe blog I stumbled upon that gives you a step-by-step recipe to follow. They make it look pretty easy. All you have to do is add your twist! http://reciperhapsody.wordpress.com/2010/01/20/cake-pops-2/

What MindFULL twist did you add to this new twist on an old favorite? Let us know!

Bring Back Boredom

Children learn from, and are changed by, the media they use. It begs the question, how many of you have any idea of the number of texts your kids send or how many hours a day they are truly involved, on-line, in some way? Have you really played their video games with them? Would it surprise you to know about a recent study showing that 8-18 year olds use media for 7:38 each day? With multi-tasking, they are exposed to 10:45 of media content each day. “That’s alot o’ screen time, Lucy…”

These facts, and other insightful observations, came to me Thursday night, when I had the honor of attending a speech being given to Denver Pediatricians by Dr. Michael Rich, Director of Center on Media and Child Health (CMCH), at Children’s Hospital Boston. www.cmch.tv. Dr. Rich is a Hollywood writer, turned Pediatrician, who has become an expert on the health effects of social media on adolescents. CMCH studies the environments kids are growing up in and the acquired health risk behaviors as a result of screen time. Michael’s work inspired me years ago, when I was fresh out of graduate school with my Masters in Technology in Education. The way we met is hysterical, but the way his work has influenced my life as a parent is profound.

How kids take in information and what they do it with it, is not for the faint of heart. Norms are shifting in our culture because kids are not paying rapt attention to what they are doing on-line; they multi-task and information filters in. Kids brains don’t turn off and what they are playing, or barely watching, gets absorbed. Take video games for example; the more time kids are exposed, the higher the correlation to violence. Just look at the huge bullying epidemic in schools today. Virtual violence desensitizes kids and can bring on violent behavior, fears, nightmares and even PSTD.

Entertainment media is the #1 way kids get their information. As such, it is so important for us, as parents, to understand the media world and to ensure that our children are “Media Literate”. Teen sex urges and curiosity, plus clueless adults, plus no executive function or future thinking capabilities for adolescents, spreads the perfect storm. Information moves fast today and it is important for all of us to understand what it is made of and how to manage it. One way to do that is talk with your kids about what they are watching on TV (shows and commercials), at the movies and on-line. 5 questions Michael suggests using to engage in Media Literacy at home are:

Who is really the seller and what are they selling?
What techniques are used to attract your attention?
What lifestyles values and points are they presenting?
How might different people interpret the message (other races, cultures, orientations)?
What is omitted from this message?

He also suggested that another way to engage with your kids is to STACK the deck you are using to understand what’s going on:

Share media you love with your kids

Think about what the media is teaching, not just the content but in the relations it is making

Advise on and discuss what they learn

Control content and time

Know and teach media mastery

So much time spent glued to tvs, computers and phones, puts us all in jeopardy of losing our ability to let our minds wander and create new ideas. Studies show that kids (and adults) spend more time inside and less time playing outside. And yet it is so necessary to watch the clouds pass by, the ants build a house or bang around in nature for the afternoon. Down brain leads to innovation and inspiration. Bring back boredom. Bring up awareness.

Check out the CMCH Website at www.cmch.tv. It’s full of amazing tips and advice for navigating this new world. You can also join CMCH on Facebook and “Ask The Mediatirician” at www.askthemediatrician.org – Michael is the Pediatrician behind the screen and will answer any questions or concerns you have (i.e., “My kid used to be so social and now is withdrawn and listens to his iPod all day”).

Lucky for us, we have access to helpful information. If you have a question, it could take weeks to get into see your kid’s Pediatrician — and I saw some of Denver’s finest at the lecture. Dr. Rich is where they are getting their advice – and it’s where you can get yours, too.

How do you MIndFULLY navigate media with your kids? Let us know!

Pilates 9-5

Today’s MindFULL Monday Musing finds us pondering what we can do when we we hit the mid-afternoon lull. Lamenting my 3:30pm tiredness last week, my muse and Pilates instructor, Alison Franco of Pilates with Alison& Friends , mentioned there are a few quick moves I could do that might help give me the energy boost I am looking for. You can do these NINE Pilates moves almost anywhere, in just FIVE minutes! Read on for a few of her favorite mid-day refreshers demonstrated by Susan Ely, friend of the studio and avid Pilates practitioner. Although not a ‘belly buster’ series, these movements do call on and develop core strength, while their key benefits and concentrations are varied.

(For those of you who live in Denver, you should check out Alison’s studio in Wash Park ( http://www.pilateswithalison.com ). It’s in her basement, which is delightful and inviting. I love being down there. Peace washes over me and I am filled with inspiration, on all levels. One level of inspiration is how good my fiend Kim looks after working with Alison for the last few months. Go Kim! That vision alone gets me there when I am dragging…)

I hope the simplicity of the moves below will inspire you to take a few minutes to be good to yourself today. You don’t have to put on your exercise clothes. Just take off your shoes and hit the floor — a few of Alison’s moves will help keep you from being scraped off of it.

1) THE FIFTY

Short & sweet version of the classic

Pilates ‘Hundred’ – increases blood circulation, oxygenates your entire body, core focus.

Lie flat on your back with knees at chest, hands palm down at your side. Roll head and shoulders up – gaze goes to center-thigh. Extend legs long at a 90° angle, or slightly lower (small of back stays connected to mat – do not go lower than 45°s), and lift arms a few inches off of mat extending them long at

REPEAT entire set 5 times – or until you’ve completed “50” arm pumps. Focus on core, abdominal control, and ‘scooping’ the belly in, suction cupping navel to your spine – especially as you exhale. May also be modified to table top leg position shown in second photo.

2) ROLL UP

Improves flexibility (lower back, legs/hamstrings), spinal flexion – and it feels ohhh so good!

Lie flat on your back, spine against the floor, hands reaching overhead. INHALE as you slowly roll up off of the floor one vertebrae at a time, reaching hands forward over your feet, creating a C curve or a horseshoe shape in your lower back. EXHALE at exertion, and as you deepen stretch. INHALE as you being to roll back down, ‘lead weighting’ the small of the back to the mat, followed by each successive vertebrae, EXHALING as your shoulders touch the mat. REPEAT 5 times.

3) SINGLE STRAIGHT LEG STRETCH Great leg stretch/lengthener, cardio component if down briskly. Lie flat on your back with both legs extended long, feet up to ceiling. Grasp the back of your right calf with both hands, lower left leg to 45° angle. Lift head/chin to chest, roll shoulders up off of the mat. Widen elbows tugging right leg back towards you, pulse it twice. Switch legs, pull left leg towards you and pulse twice. REPEAT 5 sets/times. Breathing pattern is long and controlled, INHALE SLOWLY as you pulse pulse right, pulse pulse left. EXHALE SLOWLY pulse pulse right, pulse pulse left. Pace is brisk, this one should warm you up!

4) SOFT TOWER AT WALL Wonderful lower back opener Lie on back hands extended at side, with rear end snug against base of wall. Legs extend up the wall, soles of feet rest on wall hip distance apart, knees are softly bent. INHALE as you slowly begin to curl your pelvis inwards, lifting it from the mat. Continue rolling up to neutral bridge position – mindful not to arch lower back. EXHALE as you slowly roll down to the mat. Timing = 8 count to roll up, 8 down. REPEAT 3 times.

5) MERMAID

Lateral extension/stretch, obliques. Sit upright facing side of mat – both legs curled at your right side, knees and ankles stacked on top of one another. Hold right ankle with right hand, left hand reaches up to ceiling, overhead. INHALE as you stretch right, up and over your legs, EXHALE to deepen. INHALE, lift posture upright as you windmill arms overhead, left hand to mat at your left side, right hand reaching overhead stretching to left, EXHALE to deepen stretch. INHALE back upright (engaging obliques to lift) beginning the stretch to right side. REPEAT 3 times, change sides, REPEAT 3 times.

6) TWIST*

Spinal rotation, stretch.

Sit upright and tall on mat with legs and arms extended long in front of you, heels glued together.

INHALE as you rotate to the right opening your arms to a T position, growing taller, twisting further – be sure your heels don’t slip – keep them firmly connected. EXHALE back to starting position. INHALE as you twist/open left, EXHALE back to center starting position. REPEAT 3 times.

*Not advisable for anyone with active back pain, instability, or injury.

7) SWAN *

Extension of spine Lie face down on mat, hands palm down directly under shoulders, legs zipped together and extended long behind you, forehead to mat. INHALE as you reach forward with crown of head, engaging abdominals to support spine, slowly lifting yourself off of mat in an arch, widening chest. EXHALE as you reach forward with head/neck, slowly lowering back down to mat. This should not be felt in lower back, as abdominals are engaged to support – discontinue if you feel any lower back discomfort. *Not advisable for anyone with active back pain, instability, or injury.

8) Child’s Pose Low back release, complimentary to Swan.

After completion of Swan, sit back on your knees, resting buttocks on or near heels. Place forehead on or near mat, arms extended out long in front. Breathe deeply, at least three deep breaths, relax.

9) Plank – Tendon Stretch

Stand upright at one end of your mat, facing the length of mat, with feet in a soft external rotation/heels together. Lift arms overhead. Keeping tail/bum tucked, slowly ‘pour’ down the front of your body like a waterfall, until your hands reach the mat – keeping slight softness in knees. Walk your hands out the length of the mat, until you reach a plank or push-up position, supported on hands and balls of your feet/toes. Be sure to engage abs, creating a ‘sheet’ of support for the lower back, no sagging in lower back – if you need to, elevate hips slightly. Lift your right heel off of the mat high towards the ceiling, stretch your left heel down towards the mat, then return left heel to neutral position and lower right foot back down to mat. Switch legs and repeat. Walk hands back in towards feet, slowly roll up the front of your body until you are standing upright again. REPEAT sequence twice.

Upon completion of second set, while standing upright, reflect on your posture. Engage abdominal ‘scoop’, roll your shoulders (up, back, and then down- maintain the latter ‘down’ position, this is good posture).

Take note of how you feel. Better than five minutes ago, right? Hopefully lighter, more supple, invigorated, and maybe even a little taller!

How do you MindFULLY get a mid-day energy boost? Let us know!

Wise-Women

30 years ago, as I stood in the foyer of our townhouse, clearly having done something wrong (as per usual back then), my mother screamed over the banister, “Just wait, one day you’ll have one, just like you!” – it wasn’t a compliment. And when I was 34 and still without child, she gingerly asked if I was every going to have children and I reminded her of said situation and laughingly said, “Why would I?”

But fortunately for me, I did have children. One, actually. And the joke is on my Mom. My daughter is nothing like I was. I call her my “one-derful.” She is smart like her daddy (and very close with him), funny and fair as the day is long, emotionally endearing and comfortable in her tween skin. I like her immensely. And I love her more than I could have ever imagined.

That’s why I knew I needed help when her thirteenth birthday began to loom. It was obvious to me that some of my choices for her (where to go to HS, where not to go to HS) and silly fears of basic teen behavior (make-up, boys, etc) was “my stuff” bubbling to the surface, not hers. And so I called Susan Klein, an amazing family/kid counselor in our community, and made an appointment (let me know if anyone wants her number). I didn’t foresee needing intense therapy, but knew a few pointers would surely help me navigate the time to come. Luckily, I had also sat on the Board of Smart-Girl for years (www.smart-girl.org), had learned a few things and knew they, too, had amazing resources for girls and moms as they move through this tumultuous time (check them out for helpful info and if you live in Denver, you must attend their luncheon in April on the developing teen brain. It will be amazing!).

My 50 minutes with Susan yielded some great tips. I share them with the hope that all we’ll scream at our own children is “yeehaa!” and that what we see in them is a reflection of their own true selves, not our own wounded teenager.

Susan’s Advice:

The only way to be close to your kids during these years is to ask them questions and become familiar with their experience before going anywhere in your mind about what something means.

At this age, do more listening than talking in order to help understand their experience. Its not yours.

If you hear something that freaks you out, tell them you are concerned and that you are going to sit with it. Put the conversation on hold and take some time to ponder – it will become clear as to whether it is a slippery slope or normal glitch.

Take a Colombo attitude (the TV detective from our childhood). Get curious as if trying to solve a mystery. The mystery is their experience!

“Tell me about that”
“How did it happen?”
“What were you doing?” (watch your tone…)
“ I want you to have choices and I want to understand your experience. Indulge me and help me understand.“
“There is only one way to make a good decision (child’s name) and that is to have ALL the information you need.” – Then its info we as parents can use to reinforce what we want them to know.

If your spouse sees it differently, ask them what they are worried about. They have stuff in this, too! Remember, everyone could use a little support in this job.

Luckily, my mom and I are dear friends today, and I get to pass on to my daughter the spirit of a long line of strong Kyett women (and I hope the Glicksteins, as well; talk about a strong and smart lineage). I pray that is ALL I pass on. As my old and wise friend Barb says, “People tell you who they are. Listen.” Thankfully, so far, all I hear is singing from the bathroom.

How do you MindFULLY navigate with your kids? Let us know!

One New Idea

Just this week, I had no fewer than 7 conversations with fantastic, “successful”, interesting, delightful people who are bored with their lives. If there was one big bed everyone could crawl into, they’d put on their pj’s and scoot under the covers.

But alas, there isn’t. We have to get up. We get to get up! We are lucky we have the luxury to ponder “what Next?” And therefore, I say, “Come on, gang, we can do it. Let’s get up and get dreaming!”

“How?” You might ask. “I don’t know…” However, what I do know is that there are some paths to figuring out what you’d like to do and hopefully, they can lead you to “Next”.

One of those paths is through journaling. Not writing words in a book, blah, blah, blah, but writing, creating, gluing, drawing and thinking as your hands move. No censoring. No self badgering as to whether you are an artist. That’s besides the point.

And that is why Judith Cohen-Mamet and her YouTube tutorials are a gem. Judith shows you how to journal and add some fun techniques to a traditionally dry process. Below is a link to the first of a series of video tutorials for mixed media journal techniques. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-rfGQDcjXg. After the video, check out the additional helpful hints found on her blog (www.jcmamet.net)

In addition to using Judith’s techniques, consider using colorful crayons to scribble your dreams. Better yet, MAKE the crayons. I saw this technique on a friend’s Facebook page and thought it was so different. And how do you break the boredom cycle? BY DOING ONE SIMPLE THING IN A DIFFERENT WAY. One thing. Try it!

– soak the crayons in warm water (the wrappers come off much more easily this way)
– break into smallish pieces
– spray the baking pan with oil for easy remove.

– put in the oven at 250 degrees for 10 minutes
– they’ll be pure liquid when you take them out, but they’ll cool in another 10 minutes and viola, you’re done!

FYI – my friend’s friend got the pan at Crate & Barrel (it’s a whoopie pie pan 🙂

So, this week, try doing one thing differently, rip out one article from a magazine or newspaper that interests you or consider taking one class on a topic you’d like to learn more about. Just ponder one new idea. You don’t have to marry anything. Just explore it. You never know where it might lead. Certainly, it will add to “Next”!

What did you MindFULLY find to add to your “Next”? Let us know!

New Uses

In the spirit of looking for new uses for old things, I bring you a link to Real Simple magazine. I love this magazine and always find something to rip from the pages.

Since I am away this week, I’ll let the folks at Real Simple do the talking. They have 50 things to say. I hope one of them resonates for you! http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/new-uses-for-old-things/favorite-new-uses-00000000019718/page38.html

What have you MindFULLY learned to that you can add to Real Simple’s list? Let us know!

MindFULL Game Night

My husband and daughter are great at playing games together. Many an evening finds them hovering behind a deck of cards or hanging over a game board. Last week, as I was pondering gifts, I came across an email from a creative and intellectually challenging teacher at my daughter’s school.

Below is part of Meg’s note and some of her recs. If you are looking for a last minute gift, future birthday presents or housewarming gifts when visiting friends over the holidays, I hope you find something that delights and inspires. Happy Holidays!

“(Meg)…played with various levels of analysis so that it grows with the child and helps the child to think at increasingly higher levels. Here are some that have worked for our family…and think everyone should own”

Mastermind: A classic strategy game.

Racko: Sequencing numbers with strategy

Make 7: Dropping tiles into slots to make rows (vertically/

horizontally/diagonally add up to 7. Logical thinking needed to

keep opponent from making 7 before you. (only 2 players)

Stack: This dice game is one of our family favorites. It involves strategy and luck – a good combination when playing with younger kids.

Duo: Great card game for visual perception and categorization

skills. Good one to have in your purse while you’re waiting for the doctor’s appointment. (We’ve changed the rules a bit to fit our family)

Lucky 13: Good for practicing addition skills.

Flip 4: Good for math and strategy skills. Addition, subtraction and multiplication skills are used.

Sequence: Our family has never seemed to “take to” this one, but I know lots of families who love it. It’s one of my sister’s family’s favorites.

Other Good Ones

Quoridor: A maze game where players try to get their man to the other side of the board while trying to block their opponents.

Quarto: Players try to be the first to line up four of their pieces that share at least one common characteristic. (only 2 players)

Gobblet: A game of strategy where players “eat” each other’s pieces while trying to align four of their pieces in a row. (only 2

players)

Cube Checkers: A new twist on checkers played with dice. (2

players)

Tic Tac Check: Chess at a faster pace. Played with only the bishop, knight, rook and pawn.

Players try to be the first to get their pieces in a row. (2 players)

What games does your family MindFULLY play? Let us know!

MindFULL Holiday Gifts

It is the middle of Chanukah and Christmas will be here before you know it. If you’re like me, you still have plenty of shopping left to do. The fun part is finding just the right present and lucky for us, our friend Tracey Pliskin makes it really easy to do!

If you live here in Denver, stop by her Unique Boutique Holiday Open House #2 (12 local artists/vendors) located at 2801 east 4th avenue (4th and Detroit) on December 11^th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you don’t live here, never fear. I have tried to list some of the vendor websites for you to visit. If you have any questions, you can email Tracey. She is the most resourceful and MindFULLY creative mom – she is a master photographer (keep her in mind if you need family photos – www.playfulphotography.com), sells darling jewelry, and is a non profit fundraising superstar. And, oh ya, and she is the mother of three boys…

As an added benefit, if you are feeling like you don’t know what you want to do in your life, or need a little inspiration, then simply check out the women behind the stories below! Maybe the greatest gift you will give this season will be to yourself – the gift of inspiration and “can do”.

Unique Boutique Vendors

Sydney Andrews and Tracey Pliskin — Regardless of the event, Tracey can be spotted across the room wearing a colorful Sydney Andrews necklace. Sydney Andrews is a jewelry line that started with a friendship bracelet and grew into a successful business designing and selling creations to boutiques nationwide. One can become a Sydney Andrews jewelry consultant and sell to their friends directly. Check out both the jewelry and opportunity via Tracey’s website: Www.sydneyandrews.com/traceyp

Denver artist, Karrie McBryde and GAIA glass — Karrie makes beautiful glass objects. Why the name GAIA GLASS someone asked Karrie ~ according to Wikipedia, Gaia (pronounced “guy a”) is the primal Greek Goddess of the Earth. This is a tribute to our mother Earth and reflects Karrie’s belief that we are all interconnected in ways we cannot imagine. http://www.gaiaglass.com/About_Us.php

The Elegant Bead — The Elegant Bead Custom Made Jewelry and Gift Collection is a unique collection of bracelets, necklaces, and home decor. Cathy created The Elegant Bead in 1995. Her jewelry design business evolved from a hobby that she started by making bracelets and earrings for herself. In 2001 Cathy was named the 2001 Entrepreneurial Mother of the Year. http://www.theelegantbead.com/

So Good Caramels — The whole thing started because Stefanie Jacobs loves caramels and her husband Garth has awesome talent in the kitchen. Together they made chewy delights and when we they shared them with friends, family and colleagues, they always got the same response from just about everyone who tasted them: “these are so good, you should sell them.” So now, they do! Www.sogoodconfections.com

Trading 4 Treasures- Connie Stevenson — After the genocide in Rwanda in 1991, women made up 70% of the population. Forced from the kitchen into the workforce, they sought ways to generate income. Trading 4 Treasures is dedicated to helping the poorest of the poor achieve sustainable income and to work their way out of poverty. By offering hand-crafted products created by Rwandan women, dignity, pride, and resources become available for a better life. Www.trading4treasures.com

Other cool women who will be selling their wares at The Unique Boutique will be Carol Schmidt- The Rwanda Project Greeting Cards; Pampered chef -Mandy Hailpern; Take The Day T-shirts (for kids and adults) – Melissa Barnes.

Stop by. Find a unique gift. Get inspired. What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon? You never know what you’ll find…

What MindFULL gifts have you found this season? Share the sites with us!