Boots McBlog

I tweet.  I’m on the Twitters.  My name over there is @bootsmc. – go figure.  Twitter is a rarity amongst my dearest friends.  They mock my mild obsession.  Facebook still overwhelms them.    One of them commented the other day after speaking to a gal who knows me solely through twitter,  ”I always think we are so much alike and then I’m reminded you have a whole other life online”.    It is easy for a statement like that to be misconstrued.  There are many people online who are completely different in person.   My goal is that I am authentic.  What you read on facebook, twitter, or this blog is the real me.    To keep online self in line,  I began a practice over a month ago.  A simple tweet to align my thoughts, my heart, my prayers for the day.   Sometimes it may be a lesson I’m trying to grasp or a personal pep talk.  Some tweets are  inspirational thoughts paraphrased and simplified from books I’m reading or  they are simple words God lays on my heart.    Sometimes these tweets are inspired by a friend’s needs.   Sometimes they are down right silly.      I didn’t mean for them to become a habit, but after 21 straight days they kinda did.  I had no idea my twitter friends would appreciate them.   Their feedback and encouragement have been priceless.    My friend Heather calls these particular tweets  ”nuggets” – and if I didn’t think I’d get sued I’d call them “the Mcnuggets”.  On the safe side,  I’ll just consider them my { tweets of grace }.  Here’s  a look back over the last month.  Perhaps a few will inspire you to jot down near your computer or in your journal or retweet.     Feel free to catch them daily online – they’ll be the ones between the pretty brackets published between 8 – 9 am or hang tight and I’ll post another grouping next month.  Until then…

be brave

breathe

be first to say hello

make a memory that will always cause a smile

woo pig sooie

rest

stop doubtin & believe

say thank you  and mean it

forgive

take good notes

celebrate a friend’s success

call your mom

sing

take a chance

find the beauty

chin up

s-t-r-e-t-c-h

shake your tail feathers

have an adventure

begin

begin again

give grace

face the brutal facts | retain unwavering faith

be uncommon

finish strong  - or weary.  Just finish

think BIG

trust

explore the possibilites

restore

show up

tell a girl – over 70 – she’s pretty

laugh too loud

keep your nose clean

unplug

go!

Meet Marcel. She’s got way cute pink shoes.  She makes me laugh…on a Monday.

If you haven’t caught on yet,  my favorite things fridays usually tie back to my Tuesday’s Child entry for the week.    While I talked about demolition and remodeling and photography Tuesday ( and I could find scads of home decor and photography sites I could share) I thought I’d take a different route and share some crucial building blocks I’ve discovered over the last few years.   These building blocks happen to be books.   Yes, more books.   It’s no secret that I am an avid reader.  My books of choice – hands down – are books written to inspire leadership and build character.     If you are in the midst of building your leadership,  building a new business,  re-building an old business,  forging a new team,  devising a new ministry,  creating a family vision –  these books are my go -to resources.   These titles are not brand new.  -They are the highlighted,  coffee-stained, dog-eared treasures  I return to again and again.   I believe anybody can profit from their insight.

Good To Great –  Jim Collins

Following over 1400 companies over a 40 year period,  this book examines how 11 companies made the leap from a good company to a GREAT company.  What set them apart?   Outside of the bible,  I’m not sure any other book has provided me such strategic insight to life, business, and leadership.   From team building  ( getting the right people on the bus)   to true Level 5 Leadership  ( a leaders who works for mission first and foremost before self)   to the Hedgehog Concept ( find the one thing you do best and stick with it),  these are the principles I use to guide me in all my personal, business, and volunteer endeavors.   The principles work on every level of life.   For those specializing in the Non-Profit sector,  the Good to Great Supplement for Non profits builds an excellent  bridge from the for-profit sector.    Many of us will settle for good and miss out on GREAT.     If you don’t want to miss it,  then get this book ASAP.

Built to Last –  Jim Collins and Jerry Porras

The predecessor to Good to Great,   Built to Last examines 18 visionary companies who  have had added intrinsic value to the world and therefore have lasted.    Companies who held to their CORE values / idealogy.   They casted visions and worked towards those visions.  They didn’t give up.     As President of the Junior League of Little Rock, this book was the framework on which I based my term in leadership.   We gathered a team of past and present members ( the best of the best)  to re-evalute our CORE values.   We honed our vision statement – a BIG HAIRY AUDACIOUS GOAL and then we set about to be clock builders.   Laying the frame work for others to build upon in the future.    All of these guidelines,  I have practiced personally in this last year.   I’ve drafted my personal core values and vision statement, set my big hairy audcaious goals,  and I’m slowing building a foundation for my future career and family.

Although  written prior to Good to Great,  I do believe the principles seem to flow more easily if Good to Great is read first followed by BUilt to Last.   Definitely a book to build your leadeship collection.

3.You Don’t Need a Title to Be a Leader – Mark Sanborn

How Anyone, Anywhere can make a positive Difference.   This little 101 page book is one I picked up on a whim in the airport boarding a flight to Dallas – A one hour flight.   I completed the book before we landed and managed to highlight a quote or revelation on nearly every single page.    The book is for ordinary people with the desire to accomplish extraordinary things…one tiny bit at a time.   Sanborn sets about to show how “genuine leadership – leadership with a ‘little l’ is not conferred by a title or limited to the executive suite.  Rather,  it is shown through our everyday actions and the way we influence the lives around us.”    Sanborn unpacks four very easy concepts that will set us apart.    I read this book four years ago when I was “stuck” in a job where there wasn’t really any hope of anyone above me in the coorporate ladder making a move anytime soon.   Although I know I’ve been made with a natural slant to push myself to excel,  it was this book that helped me to see that despite my “staff level” title,  I could be a leader by giving the very best I had to offer to my teammates, my clients, my company, my community and my volunteer activities.   Years later,  I’ve checked off some major accomplishments (with titles).  Now, I’ve returned to a life without a title – per se and I still want to give my best.  You will too after you read this quick inspirational book.  Perfect if you are stuck in a rut.

My heart is to see women grow in their leadership in a gracious way – whether you are climbing the cooperate ladder  and/or changing diapers at home.   If you are captain of  your tennis team  and/ or a participant in a bible study – each of us  ( whether we realize it or want it) has someone looking up to us.  We are leaders.     I hope you’ll pick up one of these three books and let it inspire you to greatness.    I’ll offer more later titles later.

For now, I’m  excited and blessed to be off this weekend to celebrate successful women at the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas Power of the Purse luncheon and then onward to a weekend making new friends with other women leaders seeking God’s guidance.

‘Cause if you didn’t know it….

“some leaders are born women”

Cheers  Y’all!

Time lapse photography is a cineamtography technique in which each film frame is captured at a much slower rate than it will be played back.  When played back at “normal speed”,  time appears to be moving at a faster interval – a lapse.  For the past three years,  a French artist named Ramon set his cameras to capture the deconstruction and rebuilding of a Parisian skyscraper.   In those three years,  he captured 45,000 pictures!  The result is a little over 3 minute film.  Three years in three minutes.    In fact,  at one point in the film,  the three years are compressed to 20 seconds.

I watched this video and thought about the deconstruction and rebuilding that takes place in life.   We all have dreams that were demolished for one reason or another.    Careers that don’t match the blueprint drafted in grad school.   I know couples who are waiting to check “have a child” off their punchlist.   There are investments, savings, and nest eggs that are now mere rubble.   I’m watching marriages crumble all around me.   It’s easy to sit in the middle of the debris of life and wonder when the dust is gonna clear.   Wonder why we’re going through the pain of being torn down.   For those of us  following Christ,  it seems even more unsettling when these issues that happen to everyone else shake the very foundations of our faith.

I love what C.S. Lewis says about this construction zone of life:

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of – throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”

Like any construction project,   we all have earthly timelines.  For some us who have made peace with the tear down, we struggle with the reconstruction plan.   We question the contractor.  We want it done NOW!    Has any construction project ever met it’s deadline?

When we have the faith to hand God our issues – our dreams, our marriages, our families,  our finances things may not move at the rate we want.  It’s so easy to fire the contractor and think DIY –   I can do this myself.    Yet,  if we are willing to stay on course,   we’ll find that the three years of waiting are merely 20 seconds in the scheme of eternity.    We also find that God is more than a contractor, he is the ultimate architect.  He transforms our simple house of life into a beautiful palace.   I have a feeling when we finally sit by his side and view the film of our life – all the gazillion frames of pictures –  he’ll point to the 20 seconds where he raises a palace from our rubble.  Then He’ll say – “if you blink – you’ll miss it….and it’s the very best part.”

They’ll rebuild the old ruins,
raise a new city out of the wreckage.
They’ll start over on the ruined cities,
take the rubble left behind and make it new.

Isaiah 61:4

Inspired by my Tuesday (mis)adventure,  I’ve been thinking about the tools I couldn’t live without.     So here’s a little peak into my make-up bag and seven of my favorite beauty finds with a wide range of prices and sources.

1.    YSL Volume Faux Cils Mascara

I LOVE mascara.   Nothing sets off eyes like full, thick, long lashes.   I’ve tried store brands and many designer brands over the years.   I tried to be a fan of the green and pink cost effective tube that so many starlets claim are in their make-up bag.   None can compare the the rich, luxurious lash I achieve with Yves Saint Laurent’s Volume Effet  Faux  Cils in Noir Radical.    The brush is thick and coverage is amazing.

2.  Chanel Glossimer Lip Gloss

My first boss in the real world was notorious for telling me to “Put your lips on”  every time the sales team was leaving the office.   Since then, I keep this gloss stocked in all my bags.  In fact, these are my pick-me-ups.   This gloss isn’t sticky.  It’s not heavy.  It gives just the perfect hint of sparkle to your lips.   I use these with liner only or over my favorite lipstick shades.    My favorite hues include:  Sunset Gold, Constellation, Scintillance, and if you happen to find it  Twinkle.    There’s no better way to add pretty to your pout.

3.  Amy Head Golden Luster Highlight Powder

I discovered Amy Head Cosmetics on a trip to the Alluvian Spa.    I’ve adored this highlighting powder ever since.   It’s just the most perfect shade of gold.   Brush along the cheek bones, shoulders, chest,  or anywhere you need a little brightening.

4.  YSL Touche ÉCLAT

This highlighting wand adds a radiant touch, under brow bones,  along cheekbones, and brightens the under eye area.   Such a wonder-wand,  The “clicker” as we call it,  has become a staple in the Junior League President “survival kit” that out going presidents gift to incoming presidents.   When you can’t get sleep or get rid of the stress –  you can at least use “the clicker” to erase nature’s meanness and nobody has to know.   If only you could use it on whole people.   – ha!

5.  Cetaphil Cleanser

I’m that age where skin care is essential.  Unfortunately, I’m also at the age that I don’t want to spend a fortune on it or spend 30 minutes in the morning or 30 minutes at night washing my face.   I spent years doing my Erno Lazlo splashes.    I must say – my skin looks just as fresh using my discount store Cetaphil Cleanser.   One of my favorite make up artists in town turned me on to this (when she should’ve been selling me her high dollar products, no less).  Need easy, cheap to balance the splurges above – this is it.    Save time and money.   Now that’s beautiful!

6. Rosebud Salve

This dimestore favorite has hit cult status.   Perfect for a lip balm or cuticle moisturizer.   I absolutely love the rose scent of this.   The product touts that it can also be used on dry elbows, knees, even diaper rash.     In fact,  as I was on my way to the airport to pick up my  best girlfriend,  I looked down to see after effects of a sunburn.  I  had no idea as dashed out the house I looked  like a lizard.  In a pinch,  I used Rosebud salve on my arms, chest, and legs.   When my friend hopped in the car she took one look at me and said – “You’re skin looks amazing!”   I had to laugh and then I stopped by Sephora to stock up on more of this goodness.

7.   L’Oreal Ever Pure Sulfate Free Color Care Shampoo

One of my all time favorite bargain finds.    The discount store version of Pureology – and I have it on good authority that the recipes are strikingly similar.  (Nod to the fact LOreal owns the manufacturer for Pureology)   L’Oreal has outdone themselves with this line of hair care products.  The rosemary juniper scent of the shampoo and condition layered together is refreshing.   Free of sulfates,  it is easier on hair and the environment.    My hairdresser even commented on the health and shine of my hair.  It’s that good.    This is a staple in my shampoo/ conditioner rotation. 

There you have it.  The seven wonders of my make up bag.   Would love to hear what other finds you recommend.

Of course in the quest for the perfect products, we can slather on all kinds of potions and lotions, but it wont make ugly inside budge.    As my momma told me,   “Its good to be a pretty girl,  it’s better to be a pretty person.”

Cheers and  May you find the beauty in inside and out this weekend, Y’all!