Yinzpiration. blogs

Interview #78 Cailey Breneman

Kate Stoltzfus — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:37:58 +0000

Cailey Breneman is an innovative stylist.

Instead of opening a brick and mortar boutique, she's taking style to the streets with her creative venture: Roadie, a traveling fashion truck.

I attended her first event at Bar Marco and had a ton of fun perusing her new, used, and vintage clothing and accessories. There were even platform sandals that expanded into rollerskates!

Another favorite aspect of the afternoon was that it felt like a fun community event/party. There was even a live DJ! Nothing like shopping to the hits.

In addition to her nomadic fashion venture, Cailey is also a rockin' bartender at the Harris Gril. And it was at Harris where we first crossed paths and were introduced by mutual friends.

I really admire the way Cailey takes ideas and runs with them, finds the support she needed through friends, and is inspired to continue the momentum in new ways.

Enjoy Cailey's Q&A, and be sure to keep up with Roadie and Cailey via her Facebook page. (The next event is June 22 at Shadow Lounge!)

***
Name: Cailey Breneman

Job title: Bartender, Stylist, Head roadie for Roadie Fashion Truck.

Twitter: @Roadiefshntruck

Neighborhood you live in: South Side

Coffee Shop Drink of Choice: One of those girly blended chocolate coffee drinks, or tea. I'm not a big coffee drinker.

Current Shampoo Preference: Loreal is doing a new organic shampoo and I've been alternating between that and a blonding shampoo but don't tell my hairstylist! She'll yell at me for drying my hair.

Why do you choose Pittsburgh as your home?
I have really great friends here and can pursue freelancing and Roadie more then I would be able to in bigger cities

Who do you spend your time with?
Friends and coworkers mostly.

What are your favorite aspects of your job?
Meeting so many fun and creative people.

Do you have a soul food?
Italian food. I love good pasta and lasagna.

What are some of your recent personal goals?
To really throw myself into a more creative lifestyle and pursuing those passions.

What are your favorite Pittsburgh restaurants?
Zarra's, Dish, Kassab's, Pusadee's Garden

Describe your ideal day.
I have no idea what my ideal day is until I'm living it. It would definitely involve road tripping and a good live show at the end of it.

What is the most memorable live show you have seen in Pittsburgh?
I've seen so many good ones!! Fleetwood Mac, The Foo Fighters ... I would literally travel with the Whalers.

What do you think Pittsburgh will be like in ten years? What do you love most about the city?
I love this time of the year where there are a lot of things to do outside like Three Rivers Arts Festival and all of the shows at Stage AE and Hartwood Acres. Shadyside Nursery is doing stuff on Sundays now as well. I think our generation is making a huge effort to make Pittsburgh cooler and more attractive to the people living in it.

I'm just really excited to see where we go from here. I have no idea where PIttsburgh will be but I'm pumped to find out.

Interview #77: Amy Camp

Kate Stoltzfus — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:59:20 +0000

Meet magnificent Amy Camp.

Amy is working to bring awareness to this region's trails for hiking and biking.

She's organized a slew of events like “Bike to Feed Families," a ride where people haul food on their bikes and deliver it to the the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

She's also the mastermind behind the South Side's famous annual soup tour, an event that draws hundreds of people to the South Side every winter. Super cool, right?

A fun fact about Amy is that she is pursing a coaching career and has a passion for working with college aged young adults and recent college graduates.

Amy is one of those people who is truly present—she's such a great listener. She takes her time when she speaks and is thoughtful. It's so refreshing to chat with her.

It's fitting that Amy is featured this week, as recently the last segment of the Great Allegheny Passage trail was completed. I think it's so cool that you can ride your bike from Pittsburgh all the way to Washington, D.C. and I admire the many individuals that have tackled this physical feat.

Enjoy Amy's Q&A! And go get yourself on one of our regions fantastic trails. I'd love to hear your favorites in the comments below. I discovered that I really enjoy the trail along the South Side while training for my leg of the Marathon relay, and I know we have so many more great options!

***
Name: Amy Camp 

Job title: Trail Tourism Consultant / Regional Trails Manager (the latter for PA Environmental Council)  

Twitter: I’ve only ever posted a few times, circa 2008

Blog: A favorite project of mine was doing a year-long blog project with my family in 2011. We spent the year following the 1933 diary of our aunt. She was 13-years-old and terminally ill at the time. She read 91 books in a year! We learned so much about the everyday life of our ancestors through a little girl’s diary. It was a special experience to hold that diary and be transported to another time.   

Neighborhood you live in: Swissvale; and once upon a time, Greenfield

Coffee Shop Drink of Choice: I don’t drink coffee or tea, so it’s usually some type of kids’ drink  

Current Shampoo Preference: MOP Basil Mint

  Why do you choose Pittsburgh as your home? 
I can’t imagine being anyplace else! I love the people, the neighborhoods, and the fact that I can easily get out of the city for hiking and biking adventures.  

Who do you spend your time with? 
My partner (Kathi Radock), dogs (Quill and Sadie), and friends and family. I’m blessed to have so many amazing people in my life and so close to home.  

What are your favorite aspects of your job?
 I love helping placemakers to see that trails are economic engines and that there are simple steps that communities can take to leverage the potential of trails and tourism. I get to go to Nova Scotia this summer to speak with trail advocates from across Atlantic Canada about this. It’s so amazing that they want to model what we’re doing here in PA! In a more basic way, in all of the jobs I’ve held I enjoyed working with people to realize positive change – in each other and in our communities.   

Do you have a soul food? 
Homemade pierogies, Kathi’s potato leek soup, and anything grown in our own front yard. Also, Grandma Powell’s chili sauce and Grandma Mooney’s nut horns.

What are some of your recent personal goals? 
Increasing attendance and the amount of food raised for the semi-annual Bike to Feed Families bicycling food drive and possibly to attain my professional coaching certification so that I can work with young professionals to realize their goals. Also, to grow tomatoes from seed (so far, so good!).  

What are your favorite Pittsburgh restaurants? 
Kaya, D’s (bar side), Square Café, Root 174, Smoke, Piper’s Pub for brunch, Udipi’s, and Edgar’s taco stand in the Strip  

Describe your ideal day.
 First of all, I’d be in no rush to get started and would have no set schedule. Kathi and I would take the dogs to either Frick or Schenley Park, stop at the farmers’ market or go someplace for lunch, and hit up a library book sale (that one is for Kathi, mostly). I’d also do some reading and fall asleep on the front porch glider (it’s inevitable) and meet friends for a concert in the park. I guess this would be an ideal summer day.

What is the most memorable live show you have seen in Pittsburgh? 
It’s difficult to choose between DeVotchKa, Ray LaMontagne, and Amy Correia. All three were amazing, but I’d probably go with DeVotchKa because I went in not knowing any of their music and was totally blown away by them.   

What do you think Pittsburgh will be like in ten years? What do you love most about the city?
I picture a city and a region that continues to add to its bicycling infrastructure – separated bike lanes all over the city, significant progress on the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail, more people bike commuting, and Pittsburgh as a hub for people on long-distance biking trips, not to mention for those of us who just want to bike around for an afternoon. I also think we’ll see more restaurants serving fresh, local foods. Of course, we’re already seeing a lot of that. I really hope we’ll see a reduction in poverty and hunger as well as improved schools. I’d like to see more women and minorities in leadership positions and know that we will! What I love the most about Pittsburgh is that it’s a city for innovators and a place where people can take big risks.

Wear your heart on the outside.

Kate Stoltzfus — Thu, 30 May 2013 14:28:32 +0000

Photo credit: Katie Hale

Last week I had the privilege of attending PCRG's 3rd Annual Community Development Summit, which turned out to be quite yinzpiring.

It was super awesome to be surrounded by people who work hard to make Pittsburgh a better place day in and day out.

A highlight for me was when Randy Gilson, creator of Randyland, accepted the Neighborhood Leadership Award.

(If you haven't heard of Randyland, you must read what the Post Gazette and Pop City have to say about this magical place ... then go visit!)

In his acceptance speech, Randy told the group to "wear your heart on the outside."

As you can see, Randy definitely embodies these words and he is making an impact.

My challenge to you today is to take Randy's advice and to think about how you feel on the inside and observe if it matches up with what you project on the outside.

Let me know what you discover.

Peace and Love,

Kate

P.S. Do you have a hero in your neighborhood?

P.P.S. Here's a photo of my good friend Emily and I at the Summit! She put "blogger" on my name tag and it felt so official. Thanks, Em!

Photo credit: John Colombo

Interview #76: Maria Hastings

Kate Stoltzfus — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:41:43 +0000

Meet Maria Hastings and her cock-a-poo, Daisy.

Maria is confident and collected. Just being in her presence made me feel at ease. And it was such a treat (and a Yinzpiration first) to have fluffy and loveable Daisy join us for her interview.

I loved hearing about Maria's job at the American Middle East Institute (AMEI) where she serves as director of operations. AMEI focuses on building business, educational, and cultural ties between the United States and the Middle East. Amongst many other things, Maria helps to organize AMEI's annual conference.

In addition to her work at AMEI, Maria is the founder of Daisy PR, a company where she is pursuing her passion for event planning. She just launched the company this past fall and has organized many fun events including a book launch.

Maria mentioned during our talk that her goal is to make brave choices and keep the "what if" scenarios to a minimum. I think that's a pretty good approach to life!

Enjoy Maria's Q&A!

***
Name: Maria Hastings  

Job title: 2: Owner & Chief Creative Officer, for Daisy PR and Director of Operations for the American Middle East Institute (AMEI)

  Twitter: @DaisyPgh and @RiaHastings  

  Neighborhood you live in: Sharpsburg, but I am soon moving to Verona. I am in the process of purchasing my first home! (Exciting & scary all at the same time.) I feel like I am a real adult now.  

Coffee Shop Drink of Choice: Banana Italian Soda or Maple Latte  

Current Shampoo Preference: Typically whatever I have a coupon for.  

Why do you choose Pittsburgh as your home?
I was born and raised in the ‘Burgh! I love it and wouldn’t trade it for any other place.   Who do you spend your time with? My boyfriend, Ryan, my mom, my family and my dog, Daisy.   

What are your favorite aspects of your job?
My favorite aspect of Daisy PR is working with different clients, planning events and creating something of my own. I have always loved to plan events. My favorite part of working for AMEI is learning about the world and meeting people. I’d never thought I would get the chance to meet and interact with royalty, heads of state and Henry Kissinger.

   Do you have a soul food?
My mom’s homemade sauce & stuffed shells and my Nunny’s meatballs… they are the best.

   What are some of your recent personal goals?
Starting my own business was a huge goal. Making it a success is another big goal. I am currently doing a weight loss study at the University of Pittsburgh. Completing the program and reaching my target weight, is a huge goal of mine; it’s on-going and something I am very proud of.

   What are your favorite Pittsburgh restaurants?
The Grant Bar, in Millvale (My mom has worked there for over 20 years.), Angelo’s in Bloomfield, Thai Place in Fox Chapel, and Café on the Strip for brunch.   

Describe your ideal day.
Well any day on vacation is ideal. But my ideal ‘Burgh day is not too complicated. It would begin by having a cup of coffee, lounging with Daisy and catching up with my DVR (I love TV). Then I’d like to take a walk with Ryan and Daisy, on the North Shore preferably. Meeting my family at some point always fun, especially spending some time with my nephew, Jimmy. Then out to dinner & drinks with Ryan and catching a Pirates game or seeing a movie. We have fun doing anything. I am not too complex. I truly believe it’s the little moments that make life big and every ordinary day can become something extraordinary!

What is the most memorable live show you have seen in Pittsburgh?
I have seen a lot of live shows in Pittsburgh. I interned for Clear Channel in college and saw some really great concerts. I love Kenny Chesney! His last show at Pavilion (it rained the entire time, but was an awesome show) and his first show at Heinz Field were both great. And I am a teeny-bopper at heart. I loved my first N’ Sync show at the Civic Arena, then the last show at Three Rivers. Billy Joel was my first concert, so that is always special and I saw the Lumineer’s this January at Stage AE with Ryan, which was our first concert together, so that is on the top of my list.  What do you think

Pittsburgh will be like in ten years? What do you love most about the city?
I think Pittsburgh will be thriving in 10 years. I think it will still be the most livable city, at least for me, and a place where businesses will want to be headquartered. I love that Pittsburgh is so friendly. Even when you are not in Pittsburgh, you can always spot a fellow Yinzer. I love most that Pittsburgh is home, that this is where my family is and a city where I want to raise my own family someday.

Interview #75: Jhonphillip Yonan

Kate Stoltzfus — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:24:58 +0000

Jhonphilipp Yonan brings a new fitness philosophy to Pittsburgh through his boutique training studio, MUV Integrated fitness.

Jhonphilipp started launched MÜV in 2011 and has never looked back.

Jhonphillipp grew up in Carson, CA then moved to Pittsburgh during junior high. After excelling at various forms of martial arts as a child, he knew that he wanted to share his passion for movement with others as an adult.

Originaly Jhonphilipp went to school for physical therapy, but became disenchanted with the industry and decided to follow his own path instead of the path that "everyone else told him was more lucrative."

I joined the fun at MÜV a few weeks back and I love it. I even brought my mom while she was in town! Jhonphilipp's approach is refreshing and fun (think club throwing, cartwheels, and backwards rolls), and I have a feeling I'll be mastering the three fingered pushup in no time.

Ok so maybe it will take a little bit of time ... I'm always up for a challanege. :)

Enjoy Jhon's interview!

***

Name: Jhonphilipp Raguindin Yonan

Job title: Physical Culture Instructor @ MÜV Integrated

Twitter: Rockin Robins tweet (._.;) I wouldn't know t'what to tweet.

Blog: MÜV Blog

Neighborhood you live in: Southside

Coffee Shop Drink of Choice: You know, Pittsburgh was really the first place I really got to learn about espresso. EXPRESSO EXTREME! My friends have opened my mind as to what to look for in flavor and appreciating the pull of a good shot. Like my grandfather always said, "You can't say no to a good pull."

Current Shampoo Preference: Crew tea tree stuff. Wakes me up every time I remember to shower.

Why do you choose Pittsburgh as your home?
The beauty of Pittsburgh to me, was that I had to somehow earn my way to unveiling all the wonderful gems it offers. I am constantly learning about new and old things . Meeting new people is a breeze. It feels good to look someone in the eyes, smile, and greet them. This city seems to cultivate local camaraderie.

Who do you spend your time with?
Family, friends, and talented folk. Everyone around me is super motivating and creative. I'm super grateful for that! I also try to balance time out for being alone and in my thoughts or working on a variety of things. A potpourri of tasks and skills, if you will.

What are your favorite aspects of your job?
I get to laugh and work on fun stuff with people all day. Sometimes we cry, mostly while doing some power wheel crawls. I do love how everyone at the facility gets along. My biggest satisfaction is when I figure out what is holding a person back from reaching their potential in movement or when someone realizes how good they feel when they are going through their day. THAT"s what keeps me waking up at 4am everyday, is to see the improvement people make. Corny, but true.

Do you have a soul food?
This is a hard one. But one thing that stands out above the rest is a rice stew that my family used to make when any of the kids were sick. We would squeeze lemon and sprinkle fried garlic over it. My mom's is pretty solid.

What are some of your recent personal goals?
Perfecting planches, handstands, flag poles, front levers, back levers. Three weeks ago, I dislocated my shoulder. It's making me work harder to be better than I was before. It helps that everyone who works out here has a really good vibe about self-improvement. It keeps me going! Furthermore, I would like to learn more of the Basque language. Concurrently, I would like to maintain better contact with my friends and family whom I don't get to see everyday. Lastly, I would like to recycle some printer cartridges. The end.

What are your favorite Pittsburgh restaurants?
=D I frequent many restaurants. Though I can cook, I don't have drive or creativity for it yet. One day! That's also a personal goal. Kaya, NACL, Piccolo Forno, Verde, Soba, Eden, Casa Rasta, Butterjoint, E2, Tamari...it goes on. I enjoy great food.

Describe your ideal day.
Weather is low 70s. Clear or cloudy. It would have to include training people, training myself, drawing, playing the gym ukulele, being with people I care about, learning how to improve my craft, playing with my dogs and applauding for no reason. It can be in any order. But if you want true ideal, it would have to all be at the same time.

What is the most memorable live show you have seen in Pittsburgh?
If only I kept all my ticket stubs. The ones I remember were fantastic. See?! One of the gems of Pittsburgh. The performing arts here is so diverse. I've been lucky to see things ranging from 10 piece brass bands in a garage to elaborate operas at the Benedum. Dance battles at the Shadowlounge to Japanese Butoh at the Mattress Factory. There are so many good venues!

What do you think Pittsburgh will be like in ten years? What do you love most about the city?
Ten years will be a time when Pittsburgh will be fully grown as the charismatic, down to earth and trail-blazing city it was meant to be. There will be more of a balance with new development, re-development and hometown values.

Interview #74: Britt Reints

Kate Stoltzfus — Wed, 08 May 2013 10:55:13 +0000

Britt Reints has the guts to be happy.

And she's helping others do the same through her blog, her tweets, and just by being happy herself.

I was delighted to meet Britt first on Twitter, then at CreativeMornings/Pittsburgh, and then again at PULSEations.

I knew that I wanted to know more about this energetic and happy person who kept showing up in my life, so I'm so glad the stars aligned for this interview.

I had so much fun chatting with Britt in her adorable home in Squirrel Hill. The picture above was taken in her living room. I love her Pinterest-inspired decorating style!

Britt is a recent transplant to Pittsburgh. Last year she and her family sold their dream home (and most of their possessions) in Florida and set off on a 10 month road trip to tour the United States.

After seeing so much of our country, isn't it amazing that they chose to live In Pittsburgh?!

We're so lucky to have them.

Enjoy Britt's Q&A, and if you need a little boost in the happiness, I highly suggest you set aside some time to truly dive into her blog. Seriously. Read every post. Britt is amazing!

***
Name: Britt Reints

Job title: writer

Twitter: @missbritt

Blog: In Pursuit of Happiness

Neighborhood you live in: Squirrel Hill

Coffee Shop Drink of Choice: my personal treat to myself on rare occasions is a soy chai latte from Starbucks. I know, it’s not very edgy.

Current Shampoo Preference: baking soda – I’m trying to reduce my consumption, eliminate plastic, and put fewer chemicals on and in my body. My shampoo switch has probably been the change I’ve been able to stick with most consistently.

Why do you choose Pittsburgh as your home?
My family and I traveled around America for a year in an RV and we realized that, while we loved traveling and being together, we wanted to be part of a community. We chose Pittsburgh because it had a lot of the big city amenities, but was affordable enough that we could live close to those amenities without having to work 80-hour weeks to pay for that luxury. Also, we fell in love with the people. Pittsburghers really are some of the most wonderful people in the entire country.

Who do you spend your time with?
My husband and kids primarily. After traveling together for a year, I’ve kind of become hooked on their company. I also like to spend time with friends. I’m trying to get better about hanging out with like-minded strangers.

What are your favorite aspects of your job?
The best part of what I do is connecting with people. Whether it’s an email from a reader or meeting a fellow writer face-to-face at a conference, there is nothing better than that moment when you realize someone gets you or feels less alone because you get them.

I also love the flexibility that my work affords me. I can travel whenever I want, be home most days when the kids get home, and take a nap if I feel like it.

Do you have a soul food?
Potato soup, but only when my mom makes it. I also fell in love with halushki this year – it might be the best thing I’ve eaten in Pittsburgh!

What are some of your recent personal goals?
My biggest goal right now is to get my first book released. I’m sooo close, and I can’t wait to get it out there. I can’t believe this is a dream that’s actually about to come true!

I also am hoping to be able to actually eat something from my own garden this year, but I have a notoriously black thumb.

What are your favorite Pittsburgh restaurants?
The Silk Elephant, but only at lunch when the salad and spring rolls are included! The Porch at Schenley – every single thing they serve there is amazing, and I love that they serve affordable food made from high-quality ingredients.

Describe your ideal day.
My ideal day includes time outside, time spent creating stuff I care about, and time with friends and family. It ends with a really good margarita and guacamole.

What is the most memorable live show you have seen in Pittsburgh?
When I heard live show my initial thought was theater, but I’ve noticed that most of your past interviews mentioned musical acts. I’m going with my initial instinct: seeing Wicked at the Benedum in the fall of 2011. That experience was actually one of the reasons I fell in love with Pittsburgh. I’d been to NYC dozens of times and had never been able to get tickets to Wicked; I won the chance to buy them for $25 a piece at the lottery here in Pittsburgh! And it was fabulous.

What do you think Pittsburgh will be like in ten years? What do you love most about the city?
I’d like to see Pittsburgh become even less of a driving city, with better public transportation. (I know everyone is keen on biking, but the hills here are killer!) I think the food scene is going to continue to get better and better, and I suspect we’ll being seeing lots of startups do well here.

I love that this city has a little bit of everything, and it’s all accessible. You can be whoever you want here and find people and groups ready to support you.

Pittsburgh Marathon Memories

Kate Stoltzfus — Tue, 07 May 2013 11:44:29 +0000

I was so jazzed to run in the Pittsburgh Maron relay again this year!

My leg was through Homewood, Highland Park, and East Liberty. Here is a recap of my experience with some of my favorite pictures!

I shot this after registering downtown. I was a little bummed that my leg did not include any bridges this year, but I was glad I got to see this one decked out with Marathon swag.

Morning of I walked/jogged over to my Melon Park relay start from Garfield. I made sure to stop at the Friendship Inspiration Station along the way!

Next I met up with the ladies of eatPGH to shake my Maracas on Walnut Street in Shady Side!

I randomly passed my relay teammate Abbey on the way to our starting points. We took pictures of each other accross the street. A janitor (in the window behind Abbey) attempted a photo-bomb but didn't make it in time.

This guy won my vote for best sign. Hey girl ...

Waiting for Alyssa at the relay exchange. I was pretty nervous/excited at this point.

After 6.2 miles I was so happy to be done! It was great to have my relay team captain and husband there awaiting with high-fives right before the finish line.

We ended the day with free guacamole and delicious brunch at Verde. Is there a better way to celebrate a long run as well as Cinco de Mayo?! I think not.

What a day!

Did you have fun at the Marathon?

Running, inspiration, and guacamole.

Kate Stoltzfus — Thu, 02 May 2013 21:13:47 +0000

Greetings, Yinz!

The Pittsburgh Marathon is this Sunday and I've got running on my mind!

I'm stoked to be an official blogger for the big race this year. (We have official shirts and everything! Check out other blogs that are participating.)

I'll be running in the relay again (6 miles this time!) along with 4 other fabulous women.

Afterwords I will be stationed in the Garfield/Friendship/East Liberty and I will be keeping you updated via the Yinzpiration Twitter account of all the fun stuff happening in the area.

One thing I wanted to highlight ahead of time is that the children of the Montessori, Waldorf, and Arsenal Schools are organizing an Inspiration Station at mile 21.

How awesome is that?! I vote we implement inspiration stations every day not just race day.

If you are looking for a place to find some after race eats, I'm going to be celebrating my big 6 with brunch at Verde. (Coincidentally it will be Cinco de Mayo ... perfect, right!)

And guess what ... Verde will be offering all sorts of specials and free guacamole to everyone who participated in the race!

image via foodcolllage.com

Yes I just said free guacamole. And I'll say it again ... FREE GUACAMOLE!

Hope to see you there! And good luck, runners!

Peace and Love,

Kate

P.S. Are you running/participating in the Marathon this year? How will you be celebrating? Tweet your answer and be sure to include @yinzpiration, @PGHMarathon, and #PGHMarathon.

P.P.S. I'm pretty sure this is the most beautiful day I have ever experienced in Pittsburgh. How are you going to savor this incredible weather?

Just be Stevie Nicks.

Kate Stoltzfus — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:54:19 +0000

image via

There are few people that embody "being yourself" better than the one and only Stevie Nicks.

Ever since I was a teenager, I've looked up to Stevie's fearless ability to do her own thing.

Some examples:

Stevie's music comes from her experience, not what she was told people wanted to hear. She doesn't pay attention to trends—she wears what she likes.

Plus, she's been completely open (and unapologetic) about her decisions and mistakes.

I'm not the first person to be inspired by Stevie.

Tavi Gevinson coined the phrase "Just be Stevie Nicks" in her TedX talk.

My friend Maya always says that she's "Fleetwood Mac-in It" when she makes a decision that is not based on the desires of others.

Style maven Julie put together this gorgeous look inspired by Stevie for her blog, Orchid Grey.

And there are thousands more.

So remember ...

You can stop caring about what your boss, great aunt, or best friend thinks.

You can be unapologetic about being you.

You can go your own way.

Peace and Love,

Kate

P.S. Who has inspired you to be no other than yourself?

P.P.S. Fleetwood Mac is coming to town next week! Will I see you there?!

Here's a quick mindset shift perfect for busy people.

Kate Stoltzfus — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

I woke up super early this morning, mostly due to excitement for this week's happenings.

I'll admit, while looking at my calendar last night I thought to myself, "what in the world was I thinking?!"

This is what I've got going on over the next five days:

Propelle Mastermind Meeting
CreativeMornings/Pittsburgh
Empowered in Pittsburgh Book Signing
A wedding shower for my dear friend Allison
Cooking for a cause (yes actually physically cooking!) for 75+ at Bar Marco

After waking up and reviewing this list again, I felt my only choice was to spend some quality time in the fetal position.

But then this tweet happened and my perspective completely shifted.

This post by Alexandra Franzen helped me realize that sure we all can get super busy, but that doesn't have to mean out of control.

In fact, it could be the exact opposite. Tasks and responsibilities can be handled with ease and focus.

And of course, there's a whole bunch of potential for fun.

Imagine that!

So next time you are thinking your schedule looks ridiculously full and that you will most certainly won't be able to handle the madness, I hope you realize that it's possible to be in a state of overwhelm but it's most certainly not inevitable.

Remember ... you might just surprise yourself!

Peace and Love,

Kate

P.S. Have you ever stumbled upon great advice at just the right time? Send me an email and tell me about it.