The joy of change. Ah yes. At first glance this makes as much sense as jumbo shrimp, wireless cable and non-dairy creamer.

When it comes to changing lanes on the road of life, it’s not uncommon to find our neck locked in a permanent shoulder check position. It becomes very difficult to assess, let alone appreciate, the change of scenery while one is busy chewing on their lap belt. People, places and things that we normally complain about all of a sudden take up a sentimental place in our psyche. Chalk it up to human nature, but we tend to become very anxious about the unknown.

To change gears and chew on something completely different… renowned physician and spiritual leader Deepak Chopra has another way of looking at it. If you can step into the unknown in every moment of your life then you’re always in the field of infinite possibilities. Much more appetizing wouldn’t you say?

Just as there are two sides to every story and what goes up must come down, there are two aspects to every situation. The glass isn’t half full or half empty, it is in fact both. We are conditioned to look thru life with one eye open - something is good or bad. While in fact, positive experiences come with a cost and underlying negative experiences have an upside. The infamous silver lining. But don’t take my word for it. It’s actually based on quantum phsyics. For more info, check out John Demartini’s book, The Breakthough Experience . His Quantum Collapse Process is simply brilliant.

Amanda Gore is a witty and wise gal from the land down under.

A Glinda Girl in her own right, she knows her stuff. Smart. Saavy. Spunky. And funny as H E Double hockey sticks. I had the good fortune of hearing her speak last October, and if the opportunity ever presents itself - it’s a no-brainer - you have to see and hear her for yourself.

She speaks to the joy of change in a most illuminating way. Her personal experiences combined with some interesting facts on the exciting research being done in the field neuroplasticity are sure to inspire. While perhaps you can’t teach a dog new tricks, there is hope for us bipeds.

So fasten your seatbelt and read on…

Glinda Girl Ashley Ramsay is “Just Doin’ It”

Ashley Ramsay is the President of milk lush baby goods based in Vancouver, British Columbia and has product for sale in shops from Los Angeles to Australia to Sweden.

Vegas or Bust
When my daughter was conceived, my action plan to escape corporate life as I knew it was ignited. Upon her birth in November 2007 milk lush baby goods was born after making my sister-in-law a baby quilt for her little boy to be as a shower gift. We’ve been in business for just under a year…  but growing at the speed of light; and don’t forget, that’s WITH baby in tow.

When I first got the call This is Nathan from the ABC Kids Expo letting you know that we had a space opening this morning in the 3rd row of the section you are interested in, I nearly dropped my cell phone and jammed the car gear shaft into reverse as I drove down the highway going 110 km/h with my daughter screaming at the top of her lungs in the back seat. How was it humanly possible that there just happened to be space nearly a month before the largest Baby and Kids Trade Show in North America, or perhaps the world, for that matter? Within 24 hours, I was booked on a flight to Las Vegas to launch milk lush baby goods into the world just a short 6 months after starting the business.

So what’s it like to throw yourself into the lion’s den on a whim and does it really pay off to take a leap of faith and just go for it?

Adrenaline rushing. Grueling. Exhausting. Exciting. Scary. Crazy. Insomina inducing. Those are just a few words I could use to describe planning and executing a 5 day trade show for a start up business as a new mother in a mere 8 weeks — from scratch. So if you were wondering, yes, it CAN be done. And yes, it CAN be a success.

So picture this: a baby on one hip, a blackberry in the other and a rolling suitcase dragging behind ne at the same time. Oh, and I am pushing a stroller with my stomach which is also filled with luggage. It’s nearly impossible, but you just do it. You just cough it up, suck it up, get your sh*t together and get out into the crazy jungle world out there and make your business blossom. You haven’t eaten in 48 hours, because you can’t. You’re breastfeeding. Or at least trying to. Then you have to stand in a booth with fluorescent lighting beaming so elegantly on your flushed cheeks. For 5 straight days. It’s feeling like you just want to pack it in and then…

The owner of the top Celebrity Baby Boutique in the world walks straight up to your booth, hands you a card and tells you she wants your product in her shop. As soon as possible. You melt. You cry. You collect yourself. You place your order for your next shipment of materials and you just go for it. All over again. 

So yes, just like those Nike ads have been teaching us for decades…you just do it!

1 - 450 gram package Brie cheese

250 grams fresh parsley, chopped

250 grams sundried tomatoes (packed in oil), chopped

2 tablespoons garlic, chopped

250 grams pine nuts (optional)

Put cheese in an oven safe serving dish.  Mix tomatoes with oil, parsley and garlic together.  Spread on top of cheese.  Sprinkle with nuts.  With tinfoil, make a tent over the cheese and bake at 350 degrees F for approximately 10-15 minutes.  Serve hot with crackers.

It’s heavenly!