It’s official! It’s time to start thinking about colleges for Kyle…
How did this happen? I vividly remember researching pre-schools and then *POOF* – now it’s time to look at colleges? Since he will be entering his Junior year and not want to spend every 3 day weekend going on road trips, we decided to check out a few schools this summer.
Today we took our first college tour – starting nice and close at Portland State University. A mere 20 minutes from home, I drive by the campus regularly when I head downtown. But when we were on the tour, I could have been in another city. Apparently in my 16 years in Portland I had never ventured to the many blocks that are made up by the school.
True to the environmentally friendly reputation of the state of Oregon, Portland State is quite green. The new rec center uses rainwater for toilets and when students run on treadmills, they help power up the backup generators. Pretty cool! The new science building has sensor activated lighting and other green features I can’t remember.
A bike friendly school – there are bike lockers all over and for $12/year you can belong to the “Bike Hub” – where they have tools and people to teach you how to fix and maintain your bike.
The main problem, from where Kyle stood, is that it is TOO CLOSE TO HOME!
Apparently any school within the state of Oregon is too close. He yearns for new frontiers… I have decided to interpret this as my raising an adventurous, confident and independent child and not that he just can’t wait to put many miles between us.
The tour was great and gave a good feel for the campus. We learned what to look for online before visiting our next school and we decided to try and visit some of the departments of interest next time as well. Next time will be next week – when we head to Pullman, WA and visit Washington State University. It’s a 7 hour drive but I’m not sure that is far enough for Kyle either – he may require planes… time will tell.
Just thought I’d share the beginning of a new journey for me and my son… we’ll keep you posted!
I’ve never really thought about oysters and how they exist before being topped with lemon on the half shell… but this past weekend Craig and I headed to the Oregon coast, met up with Paul and Lana Jane Brent and the four of us took an excursion north. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect – blue skies and about 70 degrees – a nice change from the cool, wet weather we’d been experiencing to this point.
We went up the Washington coast to a little town called Oysterville.
Aptly named, Oysterville is where the oyster industry began in the northwest. The Brent’s friend, Sydney Stevens, had a book launch party and was talking a bit about the book, the area and the history of the town. Her great grandfather was one of the founders of Oysterville and she lives in his house today. At the height of the oyster trade – which coincided with the Gold Rush – there were 250 residents in the town. Today there are 14 full-time residents.
I never knew that oysters are free floating until they are about 5 days old, at which point they need something solid to attach to to build their shell. (or something like that)
In Oysterville, the bay is sand so there is nothing for them to attach to. To keep the oyster business thriving, old shells must be put back in the bay for the new oysters to attach to. That is why they have these huge mounds of shells around the area and get upset when unsuspecting tourists stop and take them for souvenirs. (They do NOT smell good!)
To learn more about oysters and Oysterville, I encourage you to get a copy of the newly released book.
…doesn’t actually start until July 5th. It’s common lore and very often feels like a fact!
I remember the first year I lived in the Northwest – way, way back in 1994, we were wearing long sleeves and celebrating the 4th of July indoors – it was cold and pouring rain outside. This was a far cry from what I was used to growing up in Pennsylvania – by the 4th of July it was usually hot and sticky and I was pretty much ready for fall to arrive!
Today, on the second day of summer, I sit in my studio in Portland, Oregon and look out at an overcast sky (we did have sun for a few hours) and feel the 72 degree air coming in and smile! It’s been a wet spring with lots of rain and days in the 60s but you know what? I love it! I prefer cooler weather and even a little rain to the heat and humidity I knew growing up. That’s why I say I’m a poster child for the Northwest – this weather rarely gets me down!
That’s a little about me I thought I’d share today and all you heat lovers – you have the rest of the country to bask and sweat!
Rumor has it, it is summer… You wouldn’t know it if you lived in the Northwest lately. I think we’ve had one sunny day in June and lots of low 60’s and very wet weather. But I’m not complaining – I have been very busy in my studio following up on new leads and requests after coming home from my annual trade show in New York.
I’m so excited to tell you that my latest fabric collection from South Sea Imports should be available at your local quilting store – ask for it by name!
I’m sure the sun will come out in the Northwest and I will find some time to play with this fun, summer fabric. If you make something with it, send me a photo, I’d love to see and share!
Hopefully slightly less eventful than mine! I was heading to the Oregon Coast on Saturday for Lana Jane Brent’s birthday party and all of the sudden heard a weird sound… I found myself 10 miles from civilization, on the side of a narrow road, with a major flat. No problem! Get the cell phone, call AAA… oh shoot! No cell coverage.
Now before some man wonders if I changed the tire myself, I will tell you that had a man been with me I wouldn’t have let him either. The road was too narrow and cars going too fast – it would have been so dangerous!
So think… now what? Look for a police car… I got lucky and saw one coming towards me within 5 mins – waved my arms like a lunatic and he stopped. He called for a tow truck. Now the 1 hour nerve-wracking wait, on the side of a narrow road, seat-belt on in case someone hit me and I flipped into the ditch.
Focus on the positive. I got help quickly – for the call, the tow-truck took an hour to arrive. It happened to me and not my 16 year old. It was daylight. It wasn’t too hot or too cold or pouring rain…
When the tow truck arrived, we realized my spare was also flat so I was towed to a gas station to pump up the spare. (That made the gas attendants day – he got a good chuckle.)
LESSON: Check the air in your spare AT LEAST every 6 months.
I made it to the party and luckily had planned to stay the night so I had some clothes. I met an amazing woman, Sydney Stevens, who lives in Oysterville, WA and writes books. I plan to go to her new book launch on June 26, 2010 – let me know if you will be in or around Long Beach / Oysterville, WA and I’ll give you all the details!
I ended up staying 2 nights (thank goodness Paul and Lana Jane are very welcoming hosts!) since no tire places were open on Memorial Day. But the beautiful part of this story? I had THE BEST seafood dinner on Saturday night – fresh mussels, oysters and crabs, all caught by the Brent’s son & friends. So yummy and such great company!
Tuesday morning I was at Les Schwab the minute they opened and found out my tire was ruined by some random piece of metal on the road. Now the proud owner of 2 new tires, I headed back to Portland. On the way, a bird hit my windshield, scared me and didn’t survive to tell the tale. As if we needed more drama!
So… all’s well that ends well but wowie! A little more excitement than I need on a regular basis! I hope your weekend was filled with good friends (mine was) but less stress!
It’s been a little over a year since I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know artist Paul Brent. On the day this post goes “live”, I will be exhibiting at the SURTEX show in New York a few rows over from Paul and his art. I took his class the first year I exhibited at SURTEX. I said hello and how much I admired his business and art in years since. Now, I call Paul Brent a friend, mentor and inspiration. How did that happen?
It all started with him requesting to be my friend on Facebook in January 2009. I remember looking both ways in my office wondering if someone was playing a prank on me! Really? Well sure Paul, I’ll be your friend!
If you don’t know Paul Brent, you might be confused by my reaction. Paul is an artist who licenses his art just like I do… but he has been in the top 100 Licensors according to License! Global Magazine for the past few years. So it is laughable to say he is way ahead of me in size and success of his business. (I will concede he’s been doing it a lot longer too!)
Like Mary Engelbreit, Paul Brent was on my “to be as cool as list” too so to have him ask me to be friends on Facebook was pretty cool!
I then decided to ask him if he would be willing to do an “Art Licensing Info Monthly Ask Call” – I was just starting the calls and had been doing them myself. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask and just maybe he’d say yes. HE DID! Not only did he do the first call in March 2009 (the replay is available for free at www.AskPaulBrent.com if you’d like a copy) but he will be doing his 4th call on May 26, 2010.
Since the Facebook request / question exchange, Paul has done 4 Ask Calls and a teleseminar called “Brand Yourself for Success in Art Licensing” which was amazing. I’ve made several changes to my branding strategy as a result and highly recommend any artist interested in understanding how to build an art brand take a look at it. He focuses on art licensing but many strategies apply to any type of artist.
I have also become friends with Paul and his wife Lana Jane. While they live in Florida, they just happen to have a house on the Oregon Coast that is a little over an hour from me. So when they head west, I get to see them. They are even teaching me to cook! (Something they love and I would love to do without.) How wonderful to be able to sit and discuss the business we all do and love with such an accomplished couple. (Lana Jane is the president of Paul Brent Designer, Inc.)
So that is how I came to be friends with my inspiration and you know what? I’m even more inspired by Paul Brent the more I get to know him. He is an amazing artist, talented business person and a kind, down-to-earth and sincere man.
It’s my second and I have to say, not my favorite part of getting older! But at least I have a dentist I trust implicitly and who has a sense of humor. If you are stuck in the chair for 2 hours, you might as well do your best to enjoy it!
I had my iPhone in my pocket and was tweeting about running away after they took the first pictures of my teeth. (I wasn’t in love with the guard they put in my mouth – it hurt! But after complaining and being called “high maintenance” – in a joking way of course – I got to go the old fashioned cotton route – much better!)
Dr Densley’s office is very hi-tech and implements new procedures and technology all the time. When I had my first crown 2 years ago, it was a two appointment procedure involving a temporary crown, anti-biotics that wreaked havoc on my stomach to make sure I didn’t get an infection, and going back for the permanent crown.
But that was then and this is now! Two hours and I was done! As hi-tech as Dr. Densley is, he hasn’t a clue when it comes to Twitter or Facebook so I was educating him in the ways of social media. He got into it and had me start tweeting pictures.
I was fascinated by the whole process so I did a little iPhone video and thought I’d share it with any others who like to see how technology changes all areas of our life. Here is a short video showing my crown being made, right in the office!
I took an informal poll on Twitter and Facebook – which is worst, getting a crown or paying for it?
Paying for it won, no contest!
I also decided it would be fun to get a party tiara or crown on my way out – leave the dentist office smiling. Don’t you think that would add some humor to the experience?
Hope your day was less eventful!
– Tara Reed
P.S. If you need a dentist in Portland / Hillsboro Oregon areas – I highly recommend Drs Densley and Call at Century Dental. (Tell them I sent you – I get a free cleaning for referrals!)
My son just spent a week as an “Outdoor School Camp Counselor”. He came home one day (he’s in 10th grade), put a paper in front of me and said, “I’m going to do this. I get to miss school for a week – but I make up the work, teachers have to sign off on it. I will be a counselor to 6th graders for a week, earn 1/2 credit for high school, 2 college credits if I write an essay and 100 hours of community service.”
Well how can a mother argue with a child who is taking initiative, going above and beyond and working to help others and help his college resumé? Certainly not this one! I was all for it.
HOWEVER…
I just heard a new label for my style of parenting: I’m a ‘consultative parent’. Meaning I guide and advise but let my son take responsibility for himself and suffer any potential consequences. (To a point, of course!) I’m not the mom who double checks every homework assignment – I already completed the 10th grade. And when I asked him if he had everything he needed for camp the week before and was met with eye-rolls and “relax!” – I decided to let the chips fall where they may on that too.
If the child can drive a car, he should be able to pack for camp, right? Especially since there was a list to consult.
I have a feeling you know where this story is going… my dear child almost went to camp without a sleeping bag. He didn’t have a warm enough jacket in my opinion, and no real rain gear – even though that was on the list in all CAPS and BOLD. He did go without a towel, shampoo, flashlight and a few others things I can’t recall. I realized he didn’t pack a towel at 11 pm the first night he was gone…
They weren’t allowed any communication during the time they were gone so I had no idea how things were going. Like any new experience a child heads out on – it could go one of two ways. I figured he’d come home and say it was the worst week of his life, he was cold and wet and never wanted to do it again.
Luckily I was greeted with a text that said, “It was SWEET!” (That’s good!) He had a great time – although he did admit to being a little cold at times. But he said something that made me so proud -
“Mom. Don’t sweat it. I adapt.”
Well, I guess I’m a pretty good mom, because what is our job, if not to teach our children to adapt and thrive in any circumstance they find themselves in. Sometimes I feel like a bit less than “Super Mom” because I let my son learn his own lessons more than many mothers I see. But in the end, teaching him to be independent, happy, optimistic and adaptable is what I’m after. And I’d say I’m doing a pretty sweet job!
If you are like me and millions of other women, there is a constant struggle between the “desires” in our life – we want to eat chocolate for dinner and we want to look great in a bathing suit. We want to relax and we want firm thighs. I could go on, but I think you get what I’m saying.
I go through stages with exercise. I do it begrudgingly. I learn to like it… enough. And then I inevitably end up with a zillion excuses to avoid it! What a horrible cycle. You don’t want to go to the gym but you feel guilty when you don’t then you find yourself watching re-runs for hours eating junk food… telling yourself it’s ok because you can go tomorrow. (Sound familiar?)
Then you have those friends who look the way you want to look.
Their stomach is smaller, their butt is firmer… whatever. Grass is always greener somewhere, right? One of those friends is Kelly Rudolph, creator of Positive Women Rock. We were at a seminar together and I was probably trying to resist a chocolate chip cookie and she mentioned a 15 minute workout that she swore by. She is one of those women who used to love the gym… enjoyed it, went regularly. But when she was getting great results in 15 minutes a day, breathing and squeezing then getting on with life, she was hooked.
I must say, I was a bit skeptical but thought, well, look at the results. She looks great. Maybe her metabolism is a little better but who knows unless you try and for a $40 investment in the DVD and 15 minutes a day, I decided I’d give it a shot. (IT is Oxycise.)
Here is what I can tell you from doing the program so far:
Oxycise works but you still can’t eat chocolate for dinner.
I felt muscles I didn’t know I had after the first 2 days of breathing and squeezing.
I got light-headed until I really learned to breathe deeply and exhale as much as I inhaled. (They explain all this on the video.)
I now have more energy and love the way the 15 minutes stretches my whole body – which can get a bit cramped when sitting painting or on the computer all day.
I have run out of excuses – you don’t get nasty-sweaty and you are done in 15 minutes. Not 15 minutes to the gym, workout, cool-down, drive home, continue to cool down before you can shower and not sweat again (that makes a 30 minute workout take 1.5 hours!) it’s really 15 minutes.
And yes, I’m firming up!
What is pretty cool is that Kelly is organizing a month-long “Power Fit” event for May. So not only can you breathe and squeeze your way to a better body – but you can have fun being accountable and sharing your success and speed-bumps with others who are breathing and squeezing too!
The official kick-off is May first but Kelly will be interviewing Aubrey Lee, on April 21 at 1 pm PST / 4 pm EST. Aubrey is the daughter of Oxycise creator, Jill Johnson and instructor in Level One and Level Two workouts. (She encourages me every day – you should here her constantly remind you to “squeeze your buns!” with a smile!) So if you want to hear more about it before you commit, CLICK HERE* to get the details.
I hope you join us – it will be fun!
– Tara Reed
* FTC Disclosure: these are affiliate links so if you end up joining the Positive Women Rock Membership site, I will receive a referral commission.
ArtBistro.com is a Monster.com community and a pretty cool place for artists. I’m not sure how I stumbled upon it but I’ve been receiving their eNewsletters since October and last week, was asked to become a contributing author. (Yeah!)
If you aren’t familiar with Monster.com – it is a huge online job resource website where companies looking for employee and people looking for jobs can find each other. They have career tools, articles and tons of job listings.
ArtBistro.com is one of 17 special interest communities run by Monster.com.
Like many social media websites, you can create a profile and connect with other artists. There is a bit of everything: articles, education links, career building tools, videos, a forum, articles and more. You can learn about all types of art careers from Fashion Design to Animation and Film and just about everything in between.
You won’t be surprised to know that I will be writing articles about … art licensing.
I’m really excited to contribute to this community. I find the articles and artist profiles interesting and inspiring. There was a “laugh-out-loud” article profiled last week that you might enjoy: What Creative Professionals Should Never (Ever!) Wear I was chatting with a friend about it and we both agreed that some of these rules are broken in the privacy of our home studios but we aren’t telling which ones! Go see what you think!
SO… if you want to check out another informative and supportive community for artists, head to ArtBistro.com and see what you think!
ow did this happen? I vividly remember researching pre-schools and then *POOF* – now it’s time to look at colleges? Since he will be entering his Junior year and not want to spend every 3 day weekend going on road trips, we decided to check out a few schools this summer.
Their stomach is smaller, their butt is firmer… whatever. Grass is always greener somewhere, right? One of those friends is Kelly Rudolph, creator of 
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