And then I got a journalism degree. And a camera. And a microphone. And let me tell you, you can poke your nose in a lot of doors and ask a lot questions in the name of storytelling. I absolutely love it.

So it was pretty much a field day for me when I got to tour the home of my equivalent of a rockstar. Nancy Mims is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Mod Green Pod – an organic line of fabrics and wallpaper that caught my eye long before I knew Nancy was an Austinite.

No surprise, her home is just as memorable as her fabric designs. But what has left the biggest impression on me are Nancy’s views on life… why she loves graffiti, how she sees old things with new eyes, and the daily habit she’s developed to feed her creativity. And I’m pretty sure I won’t forget her story of when inspiration hit, in the form of Easy Cheese.

Watch my interview with Nancy Mims, and a tour of her hip home (video).

And while you do that, I’ll get busy wallpapering every flat surface in my house with Mod Green Pod wallpaper.

My husband and I have stopped using soap. Now before you assume we’re stinky hippies (no offense to stinky hippies), let me explain.

We read about this dude who ditched soap and shampoo to see what would happen. Now, the first thing you should know is that no soap does not mean no showering. Bathing is still a regular requirement, people. The second thing you should know is washing your hands is not part of the experiment. Washing your hands – with soap – is still a regular requirement, people. But skipping soap in the shower had surprisingly positive outcomes for this dude. He smelled just fine. His skin cleared up. His thick, unmanageable hair became softer. And his life-long dandruff went away (though it did get worse before it got better). He said it took about a month for his body to adjust.

Eh. *Shoulder shrug* Why not? So we tried it.

Here’s what I’ve experienced.

I was having some pesky spots on both sides of my chin that wouldn’t go away… almost like little heat rashes… in December. I cycled through a couple different cleansers… you know, the hoity-toity all natural kinds. Nuthin’. Still sportin’ my pesky red spots. But I’ll be! All I’ve used for the past three months is a wash cloth, and my skin is as good as ever.

The other added bonus, in my book, is light packing. I love packing light. It’s sort of a game I play. Once in elementary school I packed my lunch in one of those tiny paper bags you get at the hardware store when you buy nails. I was so proud. It even included a little tiny steak. Then in college on a trip to Europe, I packed for two weeks in a back pack. Good thing, too, because I left all my carefully-selected souvenir gifts on a train car in the London Tube, and realized just in time to leap back through the doors, reclaim my goods, and circle back at the next station. Trusty backpack.

So it thrills me to pack just three toiletries when we travel now: toothpaste, toothbrush, and deodorant. Oh, and floss. Let’s not forget the floss.

And then there’s the money saved on not having to buy all this.

Now, on the no-shampoo I’m not such a good poster child. I got two or three weeks in and caved. Maybe it would’ve evened out after a month, but I couldn’t take the grease. The husband, on the other hand, is doing swimmingly with this half of the experiment. So my conjecture is the no-shampoo is more do-able for short hair.

If you’re really curious, seriously, read this dude’s article. He’s entirely more thorough and scientific (though I have better pictures) (Who me? Bragging about my point-and-shoot talent? Naaaah. Okay, maybe.).

So here is my new weapon of choice. (And here is Christopher Walken’s. Which may be only slightly better.)

If it weren’t for a horse, my favorite teacher of all-time would have never been born.

My fourth grade teacher, Ms. Neill, used to tell a story of how her great-great grandfather was supposed to be on the Titanic, but his trusty steed revolted that day and refused to take him.

Horses know things.

When Julie Puentes told me she was a leadership trainer, and that she uses horses, my response was, “Wha, huh?” People learning leadership — through horses.

Here’s, basically, how it works: You get in the ring, attempt to accomplish a task with a horse (walk it once around, trot once around, and walk again), and see what happens. Whatever signals you’re putting out there, consciously or unconsciously, said horse will not only pick up on, but respond honestly. See, the reason this works is because as humans, we’ve learned niceties. We’ll smile and nod and avoid awkwardness at all costs. Not horses. They’ll toss their heads and laugh at you. Well, at me anyway. Who knows how they’ll respond to you.

Julie told me a story of one corporate exec. who got in the pen and had a good ‘ole time. He accomplished the goal, but the horse was acted frantic and nervous the whole time. Lesson learned: that’s the effect this exec had on people. So though he gets the job done, it’s not really working for his colleagues. Huh. All that from a horse. And a horse interpreter, of course.

With Big Head Todd’s help (and Julie’s interpretation), I learned me a little somethin’ about follow-through. And nine months after I shot it, here’s the story.

Schedule some equine-assisted learning of your own with Leadership Bridges. And follow Julie on Twitter for all sorts of leadership and equine gems.

And some mad props and humble thanks to both Julie for her time — and ultimately, patience (nine months!) — and to Scott for his skeels behind the camera. You rock that fanny pack.

Tea timing. I know myself. I will walk away. I will get distracted. And my tea will get bitter. So these days tea takes 2-seconds longer to brew because I set the timer every time. Four minutes.

Flossing. A recent and long-overdue trip to the dentist landed me in the chair. My dentist was sweet, speedy, and clearly experienced. And I hate him. I’ve literally tried to force a memory block of those 20 minutes in his chair. Novocaine, schmovocaine. What a crock. Next time, give me gas or I’m running.
Turns out my cavity was smack between two teeth — a direct result of not flossing. Well, I ain’t gonna let that happen again. I’ve been flossing regularly ever since January, thankyouverymuch. Turns out it’s one of those things you get hooked on once you start, and can’t stand the feel of skipping. (Though I have recently developed a gag response to having both my fists in my mouth. I think that’s a problem.)

Stuff on the stairs. The stairs harbor lots of orphans. A few times a day I toss something on the stairs to “take up next time I go upstairs.” And then it stays there for a week. And when it’s a camera case almost the same color as the stairs, my husband trips and nearly falls on it. Which I try to pretend is no big deal, because, it’s on the stairs! That’s what they’re for!

Not anymore. If I’m going upstairs, I take the 1-second and 90-degree stoop required to scoop up said object (.5-seconds and 60-degrees if I’m really smooth and time it just right with my climb), and put it in another holding pen somewhere upstairs till I feel like putting it where it really goes. It’s proving to be a good system.

Dishes. Dude. Three things at a time, okay? I’m not Super Woman. I mean Wonder Woman. (I always mess that up.)

I don’t need it. (Usually.) But my brother does, for his signature handlebars. They’re serious.

He’s a country music singer/songwriter, and I interviewed him about all that matters in life. Watch the interview right here.

Special thanks to Rebel Hill Guest Ranch in Oklahoma, for being the best family Thanksgiving get-away ever, and for providing the perfect backdrop for this interview.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Well since you asked, I happen to have my soapbox sitting… right… here.

Ahem.

I’ll never forget when a fellow reporter and I were working in the edit bay at my news station, and she said, “Why would anyone adopt a foster child? They have so much baggage.” I was working on my weekly story profiling a foster child.

Trying to force the blood to drain from my cheeks, I tried to explain it’s not their fault they’re in foster care; they’re paying for someone else’s mistakes. Plus, I think an adoptive family’s job isn’t to “fix” a child, but to give them the best possible chance at life, from that point forward.

And you know what? When it comes down to it, they’re just kids.

That message pretty much sums up the Heart Gallery of Central Texas: a traveling art exhibit featuring portraits of area foster children. This is the video I produced for this, the fifth year, of the Heart Gallery. Hope you saved a kleenex for me.

(Oh, and special thanks to Naomi Hamm for the music!)

Click here to view the embedded video.

I also love to craft myself, so, you know, call this self-serving but I did a video on the Austin Handmade Market. It’s held outside the Austin Handmade store twice a month, and the vendors rotate. (You can see a list of the ones I met here, or find them through Etsy Austin.)

Click here to view the embedded video.

1. never pass up a swing
2. get such a kick out of kids
3. have a soft spot for children’s causes

Like, say, getting kids adopted.

For four years I had a weekly segment called Forever Families where I featured local foster children ready for adoption. But you can’t very well just call up foster kids and ask if you can put them on TV. There’s a process. So the folks at the Adoption Coalition of Texas lined up the “harder to adopt” kids I profiled (teens, sibling groups, minorities, children with disabilities), and I got to show up and play with them! It was the best part of my job. Especially because it worked: 65% of the children we put on TV got adopted. A lot of families that came forward were ones that had never considered adopting, but “met” a child on TV and fell in love. The power of giving kids a chance to be who they are, and tell their story… amazing.

So basically, I’ll do just about anything for the Adoption Coalition, including make this video for their fundraiser last April.

Keep up the amazing work, ACT. I know you will!

Three of my favorite syllables in the world: chocolate.

It takes zero convincing to get me into a chocolate shop, so a visit to Viva Chocolato! is just made sweeter by the company’s commitment to give back to the community. They support Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Center for Child Protection, and they’ve raised $25,000 for more than 50 local charities in about two years.

As for the offerings, they make their own chocolate and import the rest from France, Switzerland, and Italy. If you’re aiming for an unforgettable date, go in the evening when there’s live music, order a panini with a salad and wine, and let the staff convince you a little dark chocolate every day is good for you.