Sunday, May 5, 2013

Cape Town

On my way home from Swaziland, I stopped by Cape Town to visit one of my dearest friends.  Jeannie is a jewelry designer, dance teacher, entrepreneur, and one of my favorite people in the world.  I loved being able to spend some time with her in one of my favorite cities in the world.  We hiked on Table Mountain, taught a lindy hop dance class (well she taught, I learned), ate amazing food, went to a late-night jazz-funk gig, caught up on the amazing adventures that we each call our lives, and she designed and made my mom and me custom earrings (see below).

I left the weekend recharged and energized.  
Jeannie has designed the life she wants to lead, and is making it happen.  INSPIRED!
The view from Jeannie's deck.  I could have just stayed here all day.
Table Mountain
Sunset over Table Mountain
Cape Town funk


Reunited at last!
These two cuties got engaged just a couple of weeks after I left!
Making my mom's one of a kind earrings!




Me 'helping' Jeannie make jewlery... disaster.  I decided I will WEAR the earrings, and leave the designing/creating to her :)
Transporting momma's earrings - they were still drying on the way to the airport!
Letting them finish drying on my ears on the plane :)
 

Showing off my very own custom Laloo designs!
Check out her website - her work is STUNNING, and made by one of the most wonderful people on earth.
Laloo Jewelry

Friday, May 3, 2013

3 years

May 3rd
is my work-iversary!

3 years
5 continents
a lot of countries
endlessly beautiful people
1 very fortunate me
to find a career
like this.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Swazi!

Less than a month after I left, I returned to Swaziland to support our team as they did a Leadership Team Training for one of our local teams.  It was a quick, chilly and beautiful two weeks!  Some pictures of our time: 













Monday, April 22, 2013

Images of Spring in New Haven


Waiting on the Cherry blossoms
















Many posts to come, but in the meantime...

A little inspiration shared with me by a couple of the great folks I am working with here in Swazi:

Everyday Leadership by Drew Dudley:


The Lost Generation by Johnathan Reed



Monday, April 8, 2013

Gala night and the padres in NYC!

Every year, my organization hosts a celebrity-studded gala to raise funds for our programs.  This year, I served the role of 'celebrity liaison' and spent the evening backstage with our AMAZING celebrity lineup.  My parents flew out to Idaho for the event, which made it all the more special.  I LOVED sharing a little more about our organization with them, and loved our time in New York together.
The invitation
The one time a year the sparkly shoes make it out
T and I all geared up for our celebrity-liason roles for the night.  T hosted Stevie Wonder and I hosted Ingrid Michaelson!
Sign on the guys' dressing room door - an amazing line up for the night!
The blue carpet :)

The Clinton family honoring one of our board members
Stevie brining the house down!




The day after the Gala, I took the day off of work to spend some time with my parents in the city.  We went to the botanical gardens, ate at all kinds of amazing restaurants my dad found, and took in a Broadway show.  An amazing weekend with two of my very favorite people in the world!



Amazing little gem of a restaurant on the lower East Side - we highly recommend!

Dad ordering steak tartar!



It went way too quickly!  Leaving on the train for the airport :(