How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World

USU, Represent!

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 09:42:00 -0500

So, turns out the Great Salt Lake really is pretty great.

I recently returned from a trip to Logan, Utah to visit with the USU campus, and it was awesome! Having never been to Salt Lake City before, I was shocked and delighted to discover how huge that lake is. I thought we were flying straight into the ocean upon landing. But we weren't. It was The Lake.

But the best part, by far, was the visit to USU - what an awesome campus and community. I don't always get to post pics from trips but I snagged a couple this time so I thought I'd share. Thanks again, USU + KD!

* my very own welcoming committee!

* some lovely and gracious tour guides - Heidi, Sloan, and Marie showed me the sights of downtown Salt Lake and took me to lunch at an awesome restaurant overlooking the temple.

* KD represent!

Nothing's Holding Me Back

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 10:00:00 -0500

As you know I'm always inspired by music and this song's been speakin to me lately... :)

I got a vision for the life that's right in front of me

I got a right, I got a reason, got a destiny

I know exactly where I'm headed and I'm never lookin back

No, nothing's holding me back...

-Augustana, Shot in the Dark

Testify!

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 13:49:00 -0500

I hear so many stories about girls making a difference in the world, living the Hepburn lifestyle, and changing their own lives for the better...they are great stories and I wish you could hear them! So I decided to start opening up this blog to YOU, the readers. Email me with your personal Hepburn projects, lifestyle changes, inspiring undertakings, etc. and I just might feature you on the blog! It can be as small as deciding to kick a bad habit (which, let's be honest, is no small thing) or as big as deciding to run for President. Email booking@jordanchristy.com. Big or small, I want to hear it!

Romania, here we come!

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:58:00 -0500

How to Be a Hepburn will soon be translated in the Romanian language and making its way to their neck of the woods - hooray!

Sending Some Love...

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:37:00 -0500

to you all on this loverly day.

These little vintage kids cards are the best!

Shout-Out

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:01:00 -0500

Just wanted to give a shout-out to Troy University. Several sororities teamed up to create a confidence-building organization in their local high school after reading the book, and guess what the club is called? The Hepburns! I love it! It's so amazing to hear about girls taking initiative and getting out there and making a change in the world. There is nothing better! Way to go, girls. Hugs and smooches to all of you.

Things That Are Neat

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:06:00 -0500

Nothing like a little retail therapy to cure the winter blues!

I'm obsessed with lamp lighting and, by extension, lamp shades. This one is sweet and springy. www.anthropologie.com

My mom spotted this dress and I think it's adorable, too. www.bcbg.com

Even if you can't wind a film, this photo album is lots of fun. www.barnesandnoble.com

What's Good for the Goose is Good for the Gander...and Goslings..

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:06:00 -0500

You know my obsession with Korres products...well, you're gonna hear about it again. I've been using their Quercetin & Oak line and looooove it. And this is kind of a funny thing to rave about, but it actually smells good. Why is that funny, you ask? Because the hubs is typically repulsed by any and every kind of facial cream I've ever tried. I've gotten "Yeek..." and "What's that smell!" and "Is the toilet backed up again?" but never "Mmm, you smell like butter." Now, I never fancied butter to be a particularly attractive scent, but apparently it is (it has to, at the very least, beat out the sewer one). So it wins with The Drew - score one, Korres.

The next best part is that it doesn't burn. Ladies, you all know what I'm talking about. You know that hot, tingly, acidic feeling that your flesh is melting away from your face. I used to think "Oh, that just means it's working." But after having children and experiencing them accidentally slathering on your "ultra-moisturizing" lotion then screaming in agony because their skin is on fire, I began to realize that flesh-melting sensation is probably a negative. Hence why I love Korres. Nothing stings! Nothing burns! Nothing melts! It's just happy, yummy goodness that the babies could probably gobble up and still be fine. Just kidding. I really don't let my children alone with harmful cosmetics as much as you're imagining. Regardless, it wins with The Kids - score two, Korres.

The hippie, vegan, natural-loving side of me is particularly gratified by my third favorite aspect - they leave out bad stuff (probably a large contributing factor to the non-burning aspect mentioned above). Everything about the company is very homeopathic, local, and organic. They honestly and clearly spell out every ingredient on the label. They have researchers studying plants and herbs and flowers with which to make their stuff for Pete's sake! Wins with Nature - score three, Korres.

At this point, you probably think I'm a part-time sales consultant or something for Korres, but I can assure you, I'm not. I simply think they're awesome and feel like I should pass on the love. So tell your boy or your babies or your Barista that you want a Korres starter pack for V-Day. Or, aw heck, just go buy it yourself.

We Bought a Zoo

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:00:00 -0500

The other day, I was casually telling a friend that I feel like I'm running a zoo. She laughed and said, "Oh, did you see the movie?" Clueless about any/all current entertainment selections, I said, "No? What movie?" Well, apparently there's a movie out about buying a zoo, or moving into a zoo, or running a zoo, or some derivative thereof. But I'm here to tell you this is no movie my friends, this is my life.

My daughter loves animals and has been asking for a dog and a cat for the past year. More specifically, a brown dog and a grey cat. Well, we managed to scrounge up a chocolate lab for her birthday and Santa saw fit to deliver a nice, albeit somewhat mangey, grey cat for Christmas.

The funny thing about buying pets for kids is that, for some reason, you end up doing all the work. So while the dog and cat are technically our daughter's, my husband and I have found ourselves up at all hours of the night cleaning up poo, litter, shredded bits of clothing, ruined toys, etc. We are up at the crack of dawn, turning the herd lose to defecate all over our yard, and returning home early from important events to make sure they repeat the process yet again. My clothes are ruined, our garage is a disaster, and I have more claw marks on my arms than I can count. The dog alone drug up several unsavory items last week including a frog, a high heel shoe, and the remains of a dead deer carcass. The cat has taken up residence in our DVD cabinet and likes to pounce out with all claws bared when someone opens the door. Meanwhile, our children laugh and smile and snuggle with said animals and look confused when I holler things like, "He is the worst dog ever!" or "I want to kill that cat!"

No matter - for better or for worse, the pets are here to stay. So, welcome to the family, Moose and Bob Dylan.

Happy New Year!

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:40:00 -0500

Wishing you a happy, healthy 2012. Four days late. Sorry. My New Year's resolution is to be on time this year. Starting now.