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Está un video de José Simian de New York 1 "Noticias" entrevistando a Teresa Mlawer, Presidenta de Lectorum Publications sobre el lanzamiento de este sitio. LibreriaLectorum.com es un buen lugar para buscar los libros para regalar este Día de los tres magos. ¡Diviértanse!

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The Return of the "Wishing Tree"

So, it looks like the holidays are really shaping up to be…well, the holidays, especially with all the wintry weather happening all over the country. I never thought I’d be saying this, because no one really likes to be alone for Christmas, but I’m really grateful that I’m not traveling. Have you seen the footage of people waiting and waiting at airports across the U.S.? It’s pretty awful. My parents are holed up in the Pacific Northwest under 12 inches of snow and not leaving the house, so it’s even better that I’m not flying there this year.

In spite of all the seeming obstacles to having a good holiday season, it seems that people are really trying to overcome the “blahs” that usually are associated with a bad economy, times of war, job loss, the loss of anything intelligent or entertaining on television. There is much talk of families gravitating back to what is familiar, like the “good old days” of the past—playing board games and bringing quality family time back. Families are definitely not at the mall. Perhaps all this bonding will even have a permanent positive effect on people.

I’m hopeful that that is the case. People may be cutting back, but I’m really seeing slight signs that they want to express genuine cheer this year, rather than the usually gripes and frustration because they can’t find that “it” gift for their significant other, husband, wife, or child. While I don’t have to worry about shopping for the “fam” since we’re not exchanging gifts this year, I am seeing little signs in my life that everything is going to be okay…

When I first moved into my neighborhood in New York City, I fell in love with the house across the street. It was a yellow Colonial and had a two-story pine tree situated slightly in front and to the left of the house. My first holiday season here, I discovered that the owner always covered the tree in beautiful lights. When the snow would fall, it would cover the front lawn brightening the whole corner with the glow of the lights against the fluffy whiteness. I used to call it the “Wishing Tree” because it was seemed so perfect. It was a reminder to me of my dreams and what I wanted to achieve when I first arrived in the Big Apple. When its lights came into view as I walked down the block from the bus, the "Wishing Tree" would always give me the sense that everything would work out.

Since I moved back to my old attic apartment from the West Coast in 2005, I realized that the lights no longer lit the street with its cheeriness. I’m still not certain if the home changed hands or if it was a move towards being more green (an irony in itself!), but for the last few years, the house has exhibited no holiday spirit whatsoever. It was even painted an uninspired drab color, which makes its Colonial glory blend into the background…until this year. I was excited to see that while the tree remains lightless, the house's front dormer is adorned with a simple tasteful string of lights. Until the snowfall, the house and tree remained undefined in the cold December night, but finally, I’m once again inspired by the fact the lights glow against the fluffy whiteness of the snow. Now that’s Christmas!

We all know that Oprah, Martha and Rach all have their favorite things. I’m no domestic goddess, but check out my blog later this week for my own personal favorites of 2008. I'll be spending Christmas Eve with other wayward friends in Washington Heights eating great food and enjoying a variety of wines. I hope you, too, have a very happy holiday season!

Is 2008 the "Year of the Truth Coming Out"?

For the last ten years, I have been coming to terms with many things in my life. First of all, I came out of the closet. If a person can do this, they can most certainly do anything else that life can dish out! Also, September 11th really changed my life—for the good and for the bad, though, thanks to a marvelous life coach, I am, as Gloria Estefan would say, finally “comin’ out of the dark” and seeing the light. It took the last seven years, but things seem to matter to me now and I feel on track in my life...actually, it’s more than “on track.” I’m filled with more love and a stronger sense of responsibility to myself, to my friends, my community and the world. I’m not sure what happened with that, but it just happened and I’m happier than I have ever been before. Surely this is more than just maturity, right? It feels like this was all supposed to happen to get me from point A to point D. I'm still somewhere around B-and-a-half, but it's thrilling, nonetheless!

One of the major things that seems to be happening in our country and, from what I can gather, around the world is that more people are seeing themselves broke when they never in a million years thought it would happen to them. We all know the sources behind the demise of the current economy. I’m not sure the average person really planned for this. They took out loans, applied for a gazillion credit cards, had to have the Escalade parked in the driveway, had to have the 32-foot flat screen T.V. in their magazine perfect uninspired living rooms decorated courtesy the neighborhood Pottery Barn (Whatever happened to Pottery Barn? Uh hum…my sentiment exactly!)—just like their peers—all the while wondering how they were going to pay for it in a good economy, never mind the crisis that we are now in.

Now, hear me out, ye fearful, I’ve spent the last ten years cleaning up my messes, living like a college student in my 30s to make things better, and you know what? It wasn’t that bad! I’ll take ten years of the dollar store and getting in touch with who I am--building up my confidence rather than my shoe rack any day. The truth is we all have exactly what we’re supposed to have if we open our eyes and pay attention to the things that really matter around us.

I’m christening this ‘The Year of the Truth Coming Out,” because it is: The truth about O.J., the truth about greedy folks in the auto and financial industries, and the truth about ourselves. This week in my professional life, I accepted the truth that I do have many personal strengths. With much more impact, however, I, hesitantly and luckily, had to face (not just quietly admit to myself and do nothing at all to alleviate the problem) some of my shortcomings. These are the shortcomings that I have shelved all along because I was terrified of moving beyond them. It has been the kind of fear that sprouts from knowing that if I take a leap of faith, and cross the chalk line on the sidewalk, I might be successful and have everything that I’ve always thought I wanted. I’m pretty sure that I still want those things, but more often than not, my head has been so cluttered by the fear, doubt reigns there. It makes me accept less of myself, in turn causing me to force something on my very nature that does not allow me to be fully present in my life.

Though my professional intervention this week was stressful and difficult, it was also compassionate and filled with ideas to trigger a new way of thinking. The world, too, needs a new way of thinking, and there is much work that needs to be done by all of us to make that happen. I’m beginning to see signs of that, and much like the emotional damage that 9/11 seemed to leave me with, I am now “coming out of the dark” of the cynicism I’ve harbored for people for much of my life. It would seem that people, by virtue of their fear, are rethinking their lives.

It’s the holiday season, and they make us all get gushy about what we have to be grateful for in our lives. The biggest blessing I have in my life is my voice (not my singing voice, though I have a good one of those, too!), but the one that has suddenly been able to help people around me get through some tough times. For years, I needed others guiding me through the forest of the proverbial “tigers and lions and bears,” but, oh my—how they’ve all lost much of their bark and the fear of their bites seem so remote to me. I’m grateful that I can now pay it forward and contribute to others becoming emotionally healthy and happy as well.

Today, I found a marvelous article on Fox News’ Web site by life coach Nancy Colasurdo on this very subject. It should truly be required reading for people who are enrolled in that “curriculum” they despairingly call “life.” I wasn’t sure where her story was going at first, but by the end, she had me in tears…and I mean the GOOD kind! (Note: Do not read without a box of tissues handy.) Thanks, Nancy!

Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild 9th Annual 5 x 7 Show "Most Popular Show in Woodstock"

This past Friday evening marked the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild's 9th Annual 5 x 7 Show. Over 200 artists participated, and it was the largest show at the Guild to date.





Check out highlights and hear what attendees had to say:





It was my first show as a participating artist, so I was very pleased that my friends Kate, Terry, and Susannah were all on hand to support me and the other artists.

Kate and I had the pleasure of staying at the Pike Lane Bed and Breakfast on the outskirts of town. The former home of watercolorist John Pike, the B & B was fantastic. Proprietors Adam and Laura Weiss really know how to show their guests hospitality with homemade chocolate chip cookies and a healthy and delicious continental breakfast that included warm fruit scones. Should you want to check it out for yourself, book early since they're always full!

Dessert on Canvas in Woodstock

Well, it’s that time of year again—time for the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild’s Annual 5 by 7 Show. If you can believe it, this is the Guild’s 9th year hosting this little benefit that has become one of the biggest events for artists in the Hudson Valley.

Sponsored by TD Banknorth, WBG’s holiday benefit exhibition kicks off with a preview party tomorrow night, December 5 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 p.m. This will be the third time I have had a chance to check-out the cool and unusual art at the Kleinert/James Arts Center and I’m even more excited to see what the show has in store this year. What I do know is that yours truly is fortunate enough to have a piece it in as well.

Apart from the art (that rhymes!), the cool thing about this very special evening is that the majority of the businesses in the village of Woodstock deck their halls making everything all holiday-ish. To top it off, they serve patrons wine, cheese and lots of cheer. Be sure to go to the Guild first because the line for the show always forms early. Once the doors open, you’ll be asked to pay a $10 admission fee. This, of course, benefits the programs sponsored by the WBG. Be sure to bring a pad and pen so that you can quickly, and I do mean QUICKLY write down the numbers of your favorite pieces so that you can make a mad dash to the front of the line to find out which artist--some famous, some not—you’ve bought! More than 200 prominent artists from the Hudson Valley and beyond participate, including Gregory Amenoff, Nancy Azara, Jake Berthot, Donald Elder, Heather Hutchison, Melissa Meyer, Portia Munson, Jenny Nelson, and Joan Snyder. Each piece is only $100. And for the reasonable price, you might just go home knowing you’ve garnered a little treasure and given to a fabulous cause. Be aware, though that all pieces remain at the gallery on display through the month of December.

If you you happen to be lucky enough to snag a room at one of the local B & Bs in Woodstock for the night(check out http://www.woodstockchamber.com/lodging.html for lodging), check out the gorgeous new Byrdcliffe Gift Shop at the Guild on Saturday. There you can find even more artistic offerings from some of the best artisans in the Hudson Valley.