Go Girl Rant

Commitment

2007-02-18T06:45:00.000-05:00

What does the word Commitment mean? According to the dictionary it is defined as:
1. the act of committing.
2. the state of being committed.
3. the act of committing, pledging, or engaging oneself.
4. a pledge or promise; obligation

Hmm, it's almost like a 4 part process, let's put this in perspective...

First there is the announcement to yourself and family that you are going on a diet (the act of committing). Then comes the deed of dragging yourself to the gym 3x a week and eating salads (the state of being committed). Next the hard part comes with the continuation of going to the gym and eating healthy (the act of committing, pledging, or engaging oneself). And of course finally pledging to a new lifestyle to keep the weight off (a pledge or promise; obligation).

Commitment seems to be a definition a lot of people struggle with. It is not an easy task, however, the rewards of commitment are gigantic. In our fast pace, high divorce rate, obesity infested society we are constantly losing the focus on our commitment to not only our families, but ourselves.

With commitment comes the need for self esteem, confidence and willpower. Not picking up that donut is willpower. And yes you can do it! So whether it's weight you need to lose, a marriage that needs work or the commitment to better your life - it all starts with a commitment and then a focus on how to accomplish it. Remember the road might be tough but with the commitment to make it happen, it can be done! Stick with it!

Happy with Hollywood (for a moment)

2007-01-23T14:52:00.000-05:00

I am so happy with the Hollywood Celebrity focus at the moment I could just grin! I mean what a great time for young girls to be influenced by the up and coming ultra-uber hot stars like Oscar Nominee and Golden Globe winner Jennifer Hudson. A curving miniority woman defining the odds while putting all the nay sayers in their place. And ah, Rachael Ray - don't you just love her? She's is my current woman of the moment. She is an definite entrepreneur with a saucy personality. She is host of her own daytime talk show, magazine and several shows on Food Network. She has curves and laughter and a knack for making us viewers feel comfortable watching her. I've even found myself picking up her lingo and a desire to cook.

So while I don't say this often "yeah for Hollywood".

Whose job is it?

2007-01-22T17:26:00.000-05:00

I gotta ask, whose job is it to hold yourself accountable for your actions? Is it yourself, your husband, your friends or perhaps your children? Maybe it's a mix of all aspects. I'm not sure.

I do know that as a society we like to make excuses for ourselves a lot though. The reason why I can't lose those stubborn pounds or why I can't get a raise - we always seem to be blaming the other person. Tell me, who really takes the self-responsibility to say "It's me". "Because I stopped and picked up drive through on the way home, this is why I can't lose the weight or if I actually managed to show up on time for work perhaps I would get that raise".

We are always so quick to say "it wasn't me". It's so and so's fault, if they just would ____ (fill in the blank). So I ask you - wanna know the real reason behind that question of "Why I can't I just ______ (again, fill in the blank)- just ask yourself and this time be real. After all, it's a whole a lot easier to change your actions than those of someone else.

Cheers to a successful 2007.

Clipping their wings

2006-09-29T08:43:00.000-04:00

Dressed in sparkly jeans with rhinestones, a cowboy shirt and sunglasses big enough to make Nicole Richie jealous, my daughter walked out the door this morning on her way to middle school. The days of kissing her goodbye as she boarded the bus dressed in cute outfits and pigtails are gone. Her character themed backpack has been replaced with a messenger bag and Kate Spade purse filled with lunch money and glistening lip gloss. My daughter has truly entered the realm of middle school, she has begun to soar.

I watch her walk on her way only to ponder what has happened in such a few short weeks of entering middle school to cause such a drastic change. Obviously I know her friends have become more of an influence. I'm sure the older girls and the way they dress are impacting her thinking as well. I can only pray that she will remain the confident little girl I've worked so hard to raise.

As mothers, we raise our daughters to become women. Hopefully strong women. But at times I wonder do we slowly clip their wings or ultimately do they clip ours?

"You kids are.......Hello.."

2006-09-28T11:12:00.000-04:00

We at Go Girl & Co have asked fellow friends to help us brainstorm for a new candy line, asking them to come up with fun sayinga that independent women say or do. The response has been wonderul, infact joyous even to share an email that was sent "outlining ideas" and sharing an amazing story. It was a must share. Hope you enjoy it...

My Mom was my role model. Growing up in the 60's and 70's, the typical Mom usually played the "June Cleaver" in daily life. We were a very typical suburbia family living typical suburbia lifestyles.
Mom stayed home every day with the kids. She was the "domestic engineer", no doubt! On Sundays she took 6, or 7 of us to church. Her faith was her home base, her survival. She was at the top of her game! She was an incredible example for all of us!
We had two older brothers followed by four sisters. Our "happy surprise" brother came along six years later. With that said, Mom was very busy for a lot of years! A 14 year span for 7 children.
It was typical back then for the Father to pour into the boys in the family, as it was in our home. After our oldest sister wanted to play on the boys baseball team my Mom decided to do something for us young ladies!. The "Pixie League" softball league was birthed! Girls in our town loved it! Mom's loved it! It was a great success! Girls ages 6-14 played on the baseball fields in the afternoons before the boys played in the evenings.
She was one of the most positive examples in my life. Her "light" shined through in all that she did!
In a family our size, one could easily "lose it". But my Mom had patience like no other! Her famous, "count to ten" method to get through things was her way of cooling down. Of course you had to have her "dagger eyes" while counting to imitate her!
One of my favorites was the way she could be hollering at any of us 7, or all of us 7, and the phone would ring. Without missing a beat she would be saying, "You kids are.......Hello.." In this sweet and calm voice. I think they even used that on a Saturday Night Live episode. (hehe)
Empowered, yes! I was by this loving, caring, faithful woman! I only wish I could be half the woman she was!

Have a story to share? Send it to us. (info@gogirlandco.com)

No returns, exchanges or credits: the item is being sold "as is".

2006-09-02T08:37:00.000-04:00

Learning how to shop is a necessary skill that women must learn. Whether we shop only for the most shi-shi of items or are a bargain betty - we all learn the skill of buying an item that is being sold "as is". You know the item that is marked down for clearance to be sold without any hopes of a return, credit or exchange. The one that says something is wrong with me, but you have to figure out what it is. Sometimes the flaw on the item is obvious; a broken piece, missing part or chip. Other times the the item looks fabulous and you ponder how the item ever even made it to the "as is" bin - a true bargain betty. Okay, so we are familiar with the process - but have you ever thought of your friends, husband, co-workers also as being things that come into your life "as is"?

As humans we are not perfect, we all carry a flaw. Yet our expectations of others is to be perfect. We dream of our mates sending flowers for no reason at all (yes, men we love this) or calling us at work to remind us of how great and beautiful we are (we really love this) - yet we don't get the flowers or the call and are disappointed. While we see our own flaws and expect others to be patient with our mistakes, we are quick to judge others on their imperfections. Divorce rates are high, affairs are happening right now - all because we are unhappy with our choice of the item we "bought" thinking it was bright, shiny and never opened, only to find that it was infact a piece in the back of the store for sale "as is" and we've just uncovered the flaw. Knowing that we can't return it or exchange it - we simply toss it, nevering spending the time to repair it.

So here's a thought:

Remember that your husband is "as is", he comes with flaws and the next guy would has his too. Be forgiving and look to the positive aspects he does have. That he is "as is".

Remember that the girl or women that you look up to be perfect has her flaws too. That she is "as is".

Remind your daughters that you are not perfect and have flaws on your own. That you are "as is".

Remember that your co-workers are not perfect and they too are "as is".

Even remind yourself that when your husband is rough housing with the dog and causing all kinds of commotion while you are trying to type a blog on an early Saturday morning that both of them are "as is".

Cheers to a happy weekend.

Surviving Middle School

2006-08-30T09:45:00.000-04:00

Happy End of August!

Tis the season for back to school. Thousands of tween girls will begin their middle school journey this year and into the realms of life changing events. New friends will emerge, clicks will begin, and yes, torment and teasing for the ones that are different will surface. Like a pack of hungry wolfs, girls will begin to form the pack that will survive the coming middle school years, with an alpha and omega female emerging. As horrible as it sounds, the truth is upon us and the question remains what to do if my daughter falls victim to the pack. Many mothers think that buying their daughters the right clothes will help or giving them the latest gadgets to look cool will work. Truth to the matter is that now is not the right time to begin the necessary actions to help your daughter survive. Many moons and years ago when they first enter elementary school was the time.

All girls will experience the desire to fit in and belong in the middle school years and all mothers will question what to do to help their daughters through this tough time. As a mother of a new middle schooler and someone who has spent countless hours researching the effects of tween girls, I have learned that the time to talk to your children about who they are as individuals is an on going process that begins when they are young. It is important to let your child distinguish her characteristics that make her unique from an early age, as parents we should praise and build her confidence on areas where she excels. Confident girls will have a much better likelihood of surviving the intense drama than girls that struggle with self-esteem. And confidence building techniques take lots of time and dedication. It does not happen overnight or in a few weeks. A steady stream of consistency and time for your daughter to learn how to fail and then succeed will build her confidence. Whether it be through sports or dance from early elementary years or consistent church teachings, find a message that builds confidence and instills the necessary elements for her to succeed in middle school.

2006-08-18T11:31:00.000-04:00

It has been a crazy summer! Right after my last post of "don't overbook yourself" my summer took off. Kids, field hockey and the daily grind - plus we are expecting another addition in the family, so we've been busy getting ready for "her" arrival too! Yes, it's a girl!

However, with the busy summer I had to take a moment to send out a post on awesome news! Sarah Campbell, a Go Girl & Co intern from 2003-04 has been out doing her part in empowering girls! Check out her latest info and pic. Oh, be gracious even to help support her cause, even $5.00 would make a difference! Cheers. More empowering posts to come on a regular basis in September I promise.

Hello everyone...

So I've decided to participate in another fundraiser. Now that I've completed a full marathon and raised over $5000 for cancer research, I've set myself a new goal. I'm going to run the VA beach 1/2 marathon... in a Tiara!!! That's right, a tiara. Tiaras aren't really my thing, but this one's for a good cause!
I've joined Team Tiara, an organization that supports Girls on the Run, which is an organization that helps set good examples for teenage girls. The goals of the programs are to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual and physical development.
The Girls on the Run objective is to reduce the potential display of at-risk activities among its participants. The goal is fewer adolescent pregnancies and eating disorders, less depression and suicide attempts, as well as fewer substance/alcohol abuse problems and confrontations with the juvenile justice system.
I think this is a great organization, and something that our society really needs! I remember how hard it is to be a teenage girl and I wish that when I was that age, I had had a program like this, with strong women role models to look up to. And now, I get to be one of those role models!
My goal is to raise AT LEAST $262 for Girls on the Run/Team Tiara by September 23rd! Please visit my fundraising page to make a donation! These young girls need our help and inspiration!!! http://www.active.com/donate/TeamTiaraBaltimore/SarahCampbell
Thank you for your support! This truly is a GREAT cause!!!

Don't overbook yourself this summer!

2006-06-28T12:42:00.000-04:00

Ah, summertime is upon us. Lazy days, swimming pools and lemonade with the kids, right? Oh yeah, that was 40 years ago when Mom stayed home with the kids during summer vacation. Today's version is a little different, huh? Continue to manage the career, schedule the kids for drop offs and pick ups, which camp is it this week and what's the activity at daycare today? That might seem a little more familiar. The world sure has changed.

While "we" women continue to manage a career and somehow raise a family and still try to maintain good family values it can easily begin to take its toll on us. Being a mom, career women and always on the go I recently made time to sit back and relax on our recent summer vacation. Trying to squeeze in a little RnR time with the fam before my summer gets too crazy with kids schedules, holiday launches for Go Girl and my commitment as field hockey coordinator for my community, we decided to sneak away to the Atlantic coast.

For the first time in the history of our family we did nothing on vacation. No extra special adventures, theme parks or explorations. Just simply sat on the beach / side of the pool for seven days. And to my amazement, it was awesome. I didn't feel rushed, annoyed by standing in line or like some lost tourist. Although I didn't add any additional knowledge of some great land or mission by our forefathers to our brains, I did get to spend quality time with the kids.

So while the summer is officially upon us and the ever fun vacation lies ahead, be sure to take a deep breathe, relax, spend time with the family and just enjoy. Don't overbook yourself or your kids.

Why pink?

2006-06-13T10:19:00.000-04:00

Why does the color pink mean girl? Coca-Cola is red, Pepsi is blue, McDonalds is yellow and red, Christmas is red and green and anything to do with being cute and girlie is pink. Yuck. Beyond the stereotype that redheads can’t wear pink, I don't love pink, nor does my daughter and we both have girlie characteristics.

On a recent trip to the ever popular Wal-Mart I decided to scout the toy isle for the latest and the greatest girl empowering toys. And yep, to my astonishment (not really) there weren’t any. However the girls row was lined in pink, Pepto-Bismol Barbie pink. There was “bling bling” fashion head Barbie with sparkly graphics, Happy Birthday Barbie, Princess Barbie, Fairytopia Barbie, Beautiful Bride Barbie and My Scene Barbie and of course my ultra favorite (again, not really) Bratz dolls. All with loads of make-up, colored hair, enhanced lip features and belly button showing cropped tees. Not anywhere were there positive role models for girls. Although I will give credit to Polly Pocket, it was the only toy I saw that wasn’t over the top sexual for girls, but with all the tiny pieces involved – what mother wants to regroup Polly’s extras to their rightful home?

Why must girls be branded to be princesses, brides or the need to love hair, make-up and clothes at such a young age? Where are dolls that are different and represent a wide variety of girl characteristics? The rebellious one, the sporty one, smart one? Where are those girls? I bet those girls wouldn’t be wearing pink.

The difference between girls and boys

2006-06-12T14:00:00.000-04:00

Ever noticed how the topic on the difference between girls and boys can quickly be agreed upon the idea that they are in fact different? But have you ever realized the biggest difference between boys and girls is in the way we raise them, even from the earliest stages?

Think with me for a second:

A fire engine rushes past your house.
Whom do you call to the window to see it? Your daughter, or your son?

You drive past a wedding party.
Whose attention do you call to it? Your daughter’s, or your son’s?

Out walking with your children, you pass a woman with a baby.
With whom do you share you “Aww’s” with? Your daughter, or your son?

You drive past a building under construction.
To whom do you point out the cranes, trucks and workers to? Your son, or your daughter?

We are all to blame for creating the stereotypes for our daughters. It’s the world we live in. We expect boys and girls to behave differently; therefore, we treat them differently.

I have met some very strong-willed women in my life who agree up and down that Barbie is a bimbo and we should be raising our daughters to be independent and strong yet even they’ve practiced “oooing” and “awwing” over babies with their daughters. Even I found myself in a bitter argument with my daughter about choosing a dress for her 5th grade graduation recently. “But you must wear a dress, it’s an important occasion” I told her. And while I was against anything strapless or sleazy for a ten year old (yes, it’s out there), we ended up buying a dress she hated, I loved it and reminded me of the cute little dresses I would buy her from Gymboree when she was three. Hello, even I was victimizing my own daughter to be society’s nice (someone slap me!) and wear the right thing. Needless to say I’ve retracted my demand to wear the dress and will be offering my daughter her own choice of what to wear to the event.

By consciously not over influencing our daughters to be different than boys from an early age will help in the long term. I encourage you the next time you find yourself offering words of difference between girls and boys to stop and rethink. The simplest change could prove positive in the future.

Friday June 2, 2006 Rant & Rave

2006-06-02T12:40:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday! Here's the up to the minute Rants & Raves...

Raves to Katharine Close

A 13-year-old New Jersey girl making her fifth straight appearance at the Scripps National Spelling Bee rattled off "ursprache" to claim the title of America's best speller on prime-time television Thursday night. Katharine Close, an eighth-grader at the H.W. Mountz School in Spring Lake, N.J., is the first girl since 1999 to win the national spelling title. Cheers to Katharine, You Go Girl!

Rant to Anna Nicole Smith

Who cares if she is pregnant? Don't the tabloids have anything better to publish, like has Britney tossed K-Fed to the curb yet? And who's Britney's new male Nanny?

Rant or Rave - You decide

Comic book heroine Batwoman is to make a comeback as a "lipstick lesbian" who moonlights as a crime fighter. Huh? I'm all for empowering women, but this is true empowerment. A women who can completely take care of herself!!!!

Does this mean that the world will eventually reveal that Rainbow Brite was also a lipstick lesbian? At least she dressed the part.

Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks Receives the Go Girl & Co. Fearless Female Award

2006-06-01T07:12:00.000-04:00

Taneytown, MD – May 31, 2006 - Go Girl & Co. is proud to honor Natalie Maines, lead singer of the Dixie Chicks, with their Fearless Female Award. The Fearless Female Award is given in recognition of a woman who embodies the Go Girl & Co. ideals: powerful, determined, smart, independent and unafraid to speak her mind. In other words, fearless!

Described as controversial and defiant, Maines made international news for speaking out against President Bush at a concert in London in March 2003. Her outspokenness caused an uproar among Chicks fans, resulting in personal death threats. In recent news coverage surrounding the release of the Dixie Chicks fourth album, Taking the Long Way, Maines has stood by not only her statement, but her right to speak her beliefs. Maines has proven that not only is she human with feelings but that she is entitled to her feelings, and as an American has the right to speak out whether the world likes it or not. She has come out swinging in her own, and is embarking, together with her Chick-mates on a world tour with their seven children.

Born in Lubbock, TX, Maines dropped out of college, joined the Dixie Chicks in 1995 at the age of 21 ready to take on the world. Winner of countless Grammy and CMA awards, wife, mother of two, Maines accomplishments simply round her ambitious attitude.

Natalie Maines tops the list as most Fearless Female for her pioneering, assertive ways. With these wonderful attributes and role model qualities for girls and women alike, cheers to Natalie Maines, Winner of the Go Girl & Co Fearless Female Award. To commemorate the award, Maines will receive a Go Girl & Co. “Fearless” t-shirt.

How would you want to be remembered?

2006-05-30T11:12:00.000-04:00

As we remembered the ones we loved and have lost yesterday with Memorial Day, I thought it only appropriate to consider how we would want to be remembered today. If life were to leave us in an instance, how would you want the world to remember you? What legacy would you leave behind? What contributions to your community or family would have made a difference?

Leave us a comment on the difference you've made in this world. If you are finding yourself short on ideas on your contributions, what would you do to impact our world and why haven't you?

A day to remember

2006-05-29T09:00:00.001-04:00

On this Memorial Day, May 29, 2006, it is a time of reflection, a time of remembrance. To remember the people that fought for our great country and died, love ones that have perished and the generations that came before us. And while their memories are important and many opportunities lie around our country today to celebrate them, I thought it might be a better time to reflect on those living and how short our time is.

I once saw Dr. Phil speak at a convention and while I wasn’t overly impressed with him I did walk away with something he said I will never forget. “Those of us that carry anger are like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die”. I remember thinking how true that statement is. How many times I had been angry with someone in my lifetime, so angry that it haunted me, embraced my every move that eventually it paralyzed me. How people have carried hatred for each other, spending every penny on war or court battles only for someone to eventually to be crowned the winner. That even the “winners” had suffered. Whether it is war, divorce, family differences or simple misunderstandings, anger crept in and hardens us as individuals. It truly is like drinking poison and feeling so certain that the other person will die but instead the poison takes over and eventually it is you that loses.

After listening to Dr. Phil’s words I decided next time I was angry, really angry, I would stop and break down the situation. Really look into the core of why I was so angry, after all I knew my anger wasn’t going to produce anything positive. And I what I found amazed me. My anger was simply covering up my feelings of being hurt, those feelings of pain you hate admitting. The dark ones you hide in your closet. And through my identification of feelings and dealing with them I found I wasn’t angry anymore. I had somehow released the pain and allowed myself to move on, in turn, releasing my anger.

Life is short. It can be ripped from us in an instance, gone without a good-bye. Spending our time being angry is wasteful. The poison we drink will not kill the other person, simply destroy us. And when the time finally arrives that our anger subsides, perhaps it will be too late. We will have lost our chance for forgiveness.

So as we celebrate Memorial Day and remember our loved ones, let us also remember the ones that are still here. Put aside the anger, release your hurt feelings and learn to forgive. Perhaps if we do it will make today and our remaining days left a little brighter.

Friday May 26, 2006 Rant & Rave

2006-05-26T06:48:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday! A perfect day to review the most current Rants and Raves!

RAVES to the HASBRO COMPANY!

I am ultra HAPPY to report that the shelves will NOT be lined with Pussycat dolls this Christmas after all. (Thank God) It was reported today that the Hasbro company will scrap the idea after parents and Joe Kelly, president of Dads & Daughters, organized a letter-writing campaign to get the toy company to cancel the doll line claiming the product line was "inappropriate" due to their risque lyrics, skimpy outfits and sexual undertone.

Sidenote: It makes me sick to see that even toy companies think by cashing in on the trend of oversexing our daughters that they can bring up their profit margin. Where did our morals go as a society? Cheers to the parents & Joe Kelly for standing up for what's right.

RANTS to the BRATZ!

Unfortunately the Bratz doll collection will still be available this Christmas.
Is it me, or does it appear these dolls aren't too far off from the Pussycat Dolls? Sorta like a younger version of them.

My mother was right! Who would of thought?

2006-05-25T14:30:00.000-04:00

(Prom 1990 - the girls and I swore we'd also be close)

My mother always told me that if I could count my friends on one hand I’d be a lucky girl. That friends would come and go in life. Of course in high school I thought she was crazy. My friends and I swore we would always be tight. Years later, Jenny stop talking to Kelley, Tanya married the guy we all hated, Shannon moved to Atlanta, I stopped talking to Jenny and lost touch with Kelley, Tanya and Shannon. We all had kids, some of us got divorced, made careers and some became stay-at-home Moms. I guess Mom was right after all. My best friends from high school aren’t even on my Xmas card list anymore and god knows my sorority sisters from college aren’t either.

I guess the truth is I grew up. I changed. My life didn’t end at 17 and the girls I swore I wouldn’t ever lose touch with became distant memories of the big hair, heavy metal days of the late 80’s – early 90’s.

I have on the other hand made some great friends from over the years, girls that I even went to high school with and didn’t become friends with til afterwards. Monica, my best girlfriend who graduated a year after me is probably my closest friend. She is the godmother to my children, my Dixie Chick cohort, and the kind of friend you can call at 6am and cry your eyes out to. The friend that you love going shopping with. There is Jodi, another redhead and a truly beautiful girl, Eva Longoria beautiful, but is 10x more beautiful because of the kind of person she is. She is extremely smart, caring and somehow manages to juggle a life that puts everyone before her. The kind of friend you admire. Wendy, another post high school pal, is the kind of friend that you look up to because she is strong and determined. A woman who has high ambitions and goals, two grad degrees and is working on her doctrine. She is always an inspiration to me. And of course, my friend and business partner, Ellie. The girlfriend in your life with all the answers, the one you look up to and yearn to learn from. The one that is 10x smarter than you.

So while Sirius channel Hair Nation brings me back to the good ole days with the girls, I guess I consider myself lucky to able to count the friends in my life on one hand. It appears Mom was right after all. Who would of thought?

Cheers to the girls in our lives that make a difference!

It takes a village to raise a strong-willed girl

2006-05-24T09:59:00.000-04:00

I have strategically worked on raising my daughter to be an independent, strong-willed girl that can think for herself. I have taught her it’s okay to voice her opinion and to embrace the way she feels. Over the years from meeting many mothers and daughters, I’ve learned that strong-willed mothers can directly affect whether their daughters will be strong-willed or not. But not until recently did I realize that it also takes the voices of other women to reinforce the message.

My daughter and I were recently being interviewed for an article about what it’s like to be a girl growing up with a strong-willed mother who is also an entrepreneur. I had envisioned the interview flowing smoothly and Tori, my daughter beaming how her mother had encouraged her to speak her mind and grow up thinking she could be anything she wanted. My vision quickly turned in a learning session within minutes.

My daughter, age 10, sat twirling her hair and snickering with the thought of discussing her feelings about me. She squiggled in her seat trying to find her comfort zone. She laughed out loud first and said I was “mean”, then quickly retracted with a glance and smile to me and proceeded with a more serious tone. “My mom encourages me, she’s someone who gets stuff done and is always there for me” she stated. However, as the conversation progressed it became clear that I wasn’t the only strong-willed female influence in her life.

“I wanna be a lawyer when I grow up” Tori said. “My Aunt is an environmental lawyer for the Justice Department; I wanna help the environment like she does. She’s also stands up and fights for what she believes in, even if everyone is against her” she said. My mouth fell to the floor, I didn’t know she even knew what her Aunt did for a living, and none the less saw her as a role model. Tori proceeded further with feelings about her Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Nana and even her 5th grade teachers. “My Great-Grandmother is 77 and does everything on her own, my Grandmother is 73 and runs a horse farm and my Nana is the most caring person that puts everyone before her” she said. “Miss McCurdy and Miss Gallagher, my 5th grade teachers, are definitely strong-willed. They don’t let the boys get away with anything” she said laughing. “They are a lot of fun”.

I was bewildered. Shocked. It was clear, not only does it take a mother to raise a strong-willed girl but an entire village. The women in her life that were standing up and speaking out for their independence where also impacting her, they were reinforcing the message that was coming from home. She was identifying with women in the real world that were strong-willed. Tori was finding her place in society.

The interview closed with over three pages of notes and a young girl obviously impacted by the women in her life. And while the article has yet to come out for the world to read, it has already impacted one mother. Thank you to women that have impacted by daughter and drove the message home for her to be strong-willed.

Cheers to the village of women that are helping raise our girls to be strong-willed.

Tomorrow is the big day!

2006-05-22T13:33:00.000-04:00

I write this blog with so much excitement, tomorrow is the release of the new Dixie Chicks CD "Taking the Long Way Home". I already have plans to be at Target first thing to get my copy, the first CD I've bought in a long time, thanks to the world of iTunes. Their local tour date is circled on my calendar, which will be accompanied by my daughter and best girlfriend. With the release only hours away, my memory fades back to the times in my life the Dixie Chicks were a factor. The first song my daughter learned to sing all the words to was "Wide Open Spaces", the song that also helped me with my move to the deep south in 2000. August 3, 1998, two days before my son was born and I had to give up my ticket to see them at the local 4-H fair because I was going to give birth any second. The "Fly" tour where we saw them in Atlanta in 2000 and my best girlfriend flew all the way down to see them with me, also her first time on an airplane. Coming into work late the day of their "Home" CD release. Mentioning Natalie Maines and my personal hero when I was awarded Baltimore Business Journal's Top 40 Under 40 and so much more.

And now with their 4th album release upon us I am so excited to see that they are standing tall and true to their beliefs. Having been called "controversial" and "defiant", I can only hope that they encourage other women to speak up and speak out. And of course not back down.

So Yee-Haw to the Chicks! Go Chicks Go!

Long term effects of being "society's nice"

2006-05-01T14:06:00.000-04:00

Working with Go Girl I get the opportunity to meet a lot of really interesting people that like to share their story with me. It's as if they receive some kind of permission to open up about their personal accomplishment of how they've empowered themselves or their search for empowerment. Kinda like someone turned on the light and opened the door to find their voice. Either way I always walk away completely inspired by their story and willingness for the Go Girl story to touch their lives.

This past Sunday was a great example. I met a woman getting ready to turn 50 that was desperately still searching for her voice of confidence. She confessed to me that she felt like a doormat. She was someone that was always nice. Even nice to the people she didn't like, people that were mean to her. She openly discussed how as a child she was raised with a sister and three brothers under a father who was in the military and a mother that cooked, cleaned and kept her mouth shut. Her brothers were sent college and the girls were encouraged to take extra home ec classes in high school. She was taught to never question authority and do as she was told. She should never let anyone see her cry and be "society's nice".

She confessed further that she felt lost. She approached her parents with the idea that she wanted to go to the local community college and they asked "why would you want to do that honey?" With her lack of parental support and gudiance, she struggled for many years. Never felt the urge to have children and lacked direction for her life. She attended self help classes, read many books and yet still felt like a doormat.

I shared with her my career and some of the risks I've taken in life, including once making a decision whether to move to Atlanta or New York by the flip of a quarter (I ended up in Atlanta). She clung to every story and spoke outloud how she wished she could be such a risk-taker. I encouraged her to learn to use the word "NO" to help with the doormat feeling and that sometimes failure can be the best option because you can learn more from failure than you do success (Lord knows I have). By the end of our conversation it was clear to me what the long term effects can be when trying to conform to "society's nice". These women end up confused, misdirected and unconfident of who and what they are to become.

So to all the ladies out there that feel like doormats - stand up, speak out and don't be afraid to fail or have someone not like you. You cannot please everyone in this world and not everyone is going to like you no matter what you do. People that appear mean or bullies are maybe just having a bad day and you are not the reason for their meanness. You count and can make a difference, follow your dreams. To the ladies out there that are strong - encourage others to be strong, offer a smile and lend encouraging words of empowerment to others. Try and talk less and listen more, afterall all we really want is for someone to hear us and validate our ideas.

So to my new friend in Western Maryland - take a risk and flip a quarter. You just might surprise yourself!

Cheers!

Teaching your daughters to be independent

2006-05-01T14:03:00.000-04:00

I hear a lot of people always saying that they will wait to talk to their daughter about the world until they're older. That by twelve they'll understand what's going on in and be able to comprehend better. Well I'm here with a reality check for the parents. The best time to start teaching your daughters to be independent is now! Right now. When they are little. Not twelve, six. Teach them to have a voice, express how they feel, pick out there own clothes, have an opinion. And no matter what, never tell them they way they feel is wrong. Let them feel whatever and however they do. Tell them girls are suppose to be smart, not sexy. Tell them they can be anything and go anywhere. That they can be cheerleaders as well as football players. And when they come to you and announce they want to play football, do not discourage them and suggest cheerleading instead. Encourage them to break the mold, stand apart, and speak out.

By the time they are twelve and see an advertisement on TV for the Miss America pageant or an MTV show like "Tiara Girls" perhaps they will exclaim in disbelief that girls can be portrayed that way and will suggest that perhaps America should have a "Miss ambitious" pageant instead.

Moms - talk to your daughters. Empower them NOW.

Not Ready to Make Nice

2006-04-18T08:43:00.000-04:00

Being a fan of self expression, I am truly impressed with the Dixie Chicks recent single “Not Ready to Make Nice”. While I believe the Chicks are great musicians and have suffered an injustice against them for speaking their minds, primarily Natalie for speaking against President Bush and the Iraq war at a concert in London in 2003. The girls come out swinging in their first single to expose the obvious wounds suffered from the tough controversy faced with Natalie’s words including death threats.

A great emotional blow to their success and identity is apparent in their lyrics “Not Ready to Make Nice” to include:

I’m through with doubt
There’s nothing left for me to figure out
I’ve paid a price
And I’ll keep paying

A Dixie Chick fan from their conception with Natalie, the chicks have impressed this fan over and over again. And in the wake of their fourth album they prove once again they are strong-willed women who making history by being outspoken and standing their ground.

While others may bash them for not being “society’s nice” this redhead stands by and will be first in line to purchase the new album in stores May 23rd.

Kudos to the girls for being true to who they are!

The holiday reality check

2006-04-17T16:34:00.000-04:00

Holidays always seem to bring families together. Of course, it also gives us the ability for an in-depth look into the foundation of who you really are and where you come from. Almost like a reality check three times a year - an other great reason to celebrate Easter, Thanksgiving and Xmas.

This past Easter Sunday as our family gathered together, my brother and I found ourselves chatting about our mother. About what a different kind of woman she is. My brother remembered when he was little and moved into a small neighborhood in the 1960’s. The nice neighborhood ladies invited Mom over for coffee and how our mother looked at them like they were crazy and pronounced “she didn’t have time for coffee, she had a business to run”. We both laughed. Our Mom was definitely not your stay at home type we agreed.

Instead, our mother was an entrepreneur, a pioneer. She ran a riding stable and taught riding lessons the majority of her career. She didn’t take excuses, late payments or the inability to learn. She was fair to her employees and word hard. She never once thought she was different from the other mothers, nor do we think she cared.

To us, our mother shaped our future. Was a symbol of what a woman should be, as any mother would be. However, to our surprise when we entered the “real world”, we would learn that our mother raised us different. The values we learned were not common. Our mother taught us to stand up to injustice, not take no for an answer and to ask deeper questions. We didn’t learn how to cook or sew. Our mother never made cookies. And yes we felt deprived. My brother and I discussed in-depth how we found ourselves feeling as if we were on the outside looking in. We questioned how can people work 9 to 5, commute for 2 hours and come home exhausted? How can people work for something they don’t believe in? All the while wondering how to fit into a society that is blanketed by the common perception. Pondering everyday, how do I fit in?

So while I’m glad that the holiday is over, the kids are back in school and Im back to work. It was nice to have a reality check of who I am and why I am the way I am. Cheers to you Mom. Thanks for being different and raising us the way you did. You raised two kids who know exactly where they fit in.

The History Behind Go Girl & Co.

2006-04-13T16:30:00.000-04:00

Go Girl & Co. is a value-driven company committed to creating empowering products for girls and women. Originally known as Go Girl Garbs, founded in 2002, Go Girl & Co. was the brainchild of the company’s founder, Laura Furbay, who launched the business as an apparel line to empower women.

From its start as a physical retail storefront in historic downtown Westminster, Maryland, Go Girl & Co. has evolved into a multi-channel enterprise. Fueled by customer research and feedback, the product line expanded to include tees with positive, girl-empowering statements such as “Never Underestimate Me” (still our number one seller!), and “Natural Born Leader.” These products stand as opposition and answer to the current trend of tops bearing demeaning statements such as “Hottie” and “Princess.”

From the beginning, the Go Girl & Co. philosophy garnered local and national media attention. With a message that clearly resonates with a frustrated audience searching for positive messages for women.

Laura continues to meet with women and girls in search of empowering products for themselves and their daughters, and she is continually moved by the positive inspiration she finds in Go Girl & Co. customers. All of which help shape the next chapter in the Go Girl & Co. brand.

The Passion Behind Go Girl and Co.

2006-04-13T16:26:00.000-04:00

At Go Girl & Co., our passion is empowering females for their abilities, ambitions and accomplishments. We are truly a mission-based company, offering consumers apparel and gifts that are based on a simple, yet powerful philosophy. We glamorize female strength: strength of character, strength of mind, strength of body and the strength of her convictions. It’s about who she is and what she believes she is, not how she looks.

We maintain a focus on female-related issues and conduct continuous research on ways to promote the leaders of tomorrow and the strong leaders of today. Through product development, inspiration, customer feedback and parental support.

Quite frankly, we have sisters, daughters and nieces, and want them to grow up to be the independent, strong and fabulous women we know they can be. But we live in a world where girls are subjected – at increasingly younger ages – to well-funded marketing campaigns that tell them that being female is synonymous with being a sexual object. That it’s about how you look – not how you think and feel – that matters. We believe that’s wrong, and we’re here to make a stand to help girls and women express who they really are. Powerful. Determined. Smart. Independent.