what font are you?

I love fonts. I can play on font websites and read about font history for hours (instead of working).

I also love PBS. I can watch it for hours (instead of working).

So, imagine my sheer joy when one of my favorite PBS shows, Independent Lens, did a special on my favorite font - Helvetica. It was fascinating.

After the show, I took a "which font are you?" quiz on their website. As it turns out, I AM Helvetica. I'm proud of my font. It's the straight-forward-workhorse font. Of course, the quiz has limited answers and we know that there are NO limits on fonts. 

I do think I'm Helvetica, but I've also got a little artful independence in me like CK Ali's hand (Ali Edward's handwriting font) and some old-school bold in me like the Two Peas font.

Ellen says she's "Mia's Scribbling."

A friend of mine who works in the printing business responded to the question with a quick, "That's a totally weird question!" Then 2 seconds later she said, "OMG! I'm Papyrus.

What about you? Ali once told me, "Fonts are like images, they convey emotion and meaning." What font are you? What does it say about you?  DaFont.com is a fun place to poke around for fun (and free) fonts and Fonts.com is the daddy of all font shopping.

Leave us a link so we can check it out. Unless, of course, you're Times New Roman or Arial. Then we know you (and we love you).

freddy fender, burt reynolds, and my me-ma

Today would have been my grandmother's birthday. She was one of the most important people in my life. She was a bit unconventional, but that made her pretty fantastic in the eyes of her offbeat grandkids.

My family is from San Antonio and we all grew up steeped in many of the wonderful Mexican traditions that give that city its heart and soul. One of the those traditions is the Day of the Dead or El Día de los Muertos. The holiday, also known as All Souls Day, is about gathering to celebrate and pray for friends and family members who have died.

My mom, who is incredibly creative (and awesome), took a class on Day of the Dead alters at Casa Ramirez - a gallery and store in Houston. For the past few years we've paid tribute to my grandmother with an alter. Here are a few pictures:

Here's a little something I wrote about my grandmother. How can you not love the woman who actually mailed your picture to Bob Barker because she thought you should be in the Miss America pageant?

Ellen Teague Taylor

beauty operator in residence on Schley Avenue
who loved polyester, KFC, and hamburgers from Dairy Queen

she ordered enchiladas and craved deviled eggs
she read the National Inquirer and smoked Benson & Hedges
she had little crushes on Burt Reynolds and Freddy Fender

she liked cowboy boots and really big hair
and always watched Dallas and the Jefferson's

she loved instant tea with extra ice and Sweet 10
Scrabble was her game when she wasn't playing solitaire
or spying on the neighbors from the front door window
eating petit fours and whistling the theme from Murder She Wrote

she danced during Hee-Haw and Lawrence Welk, and loved to go fishing, and slapped her thigh when she laughed

Me-Ma always loving us and always believing that we were wonderful and amazing children
and telling us so
on the way to buy groceries at the Piggly Wiggly

me-ma, my mom on a horse, and a baby picture of meHappy Birthday Me-Ma! I'm listening to Freddy Fender, Charlie Pride, and Dolly Parton just for you!

tgif + a giveaway!

Happy TGIF!

I'm excited to introduce you to friend and colleague of mine - Dr. Sally Palaian. Sally and I are speaking together in Chicago this weekend and I'm so grateful for the work she does. 

Sally is licensed psychologist in private practice for 24 years.  She specializes in the treatment of trauma and addictive behaviors, as well as marriage counseling.  She is the author of Spent: Break the Buying Obsession and Discover Your True Worth (Hazelden, 2009).

She also speaks on all things related to money:  compulsive spending, shopping addiction, paying off debts, developing budgets, and financial underachievement. 

Sally's book, Spent, is a wonderful guidebook on two topics that most of us don't like thinking about: money and spending. As a shame researcher I know what a tender topic this is. I also know that we either control our money or our money controls us.

I asked Sally who might benefit from reading her book and she said that Spent would be a great book for you if:

• You can’t understand why you spend money without thinking
• You wish someone would rescue you from your money problems
• No matter how much money you make, you always seem to live on the edge

I also asked her for some holiday TGIF advice and here's what she had to share:

"It’s up to you to create experiences, moments, connections.  Too many of us rely on material objects to create these memories.

For example, I have four things that have to happen for me to have splendid holidays:

1.Christmas caroling has to happen in my home with both friends and family.  (I host two parties.) 

2. I have to be outside in nature on Christmas day.  It can be a hike, or it might be shoveling, but I want/need to be outside breathing fresh air and moving my body.

3. One festive entertainment outside my home – a concert, play – usually it’s a free community event.

4. My family shares goals for the New Year every year.  These are public proclamations that someone types up…and we giggle about next year.  

These are gracious gifts - gifts that are all about trust, inspiration, and gratitude - no money needs to be spent."

I'm giving away two signed copies of Sally's book, Spent. Just leave a comment letting us know:

1. who/what you're trusting

2. who/what you're grateful for

3. who/what is inspiring you

I'll pick two winners on Monday.

Here's mine:

Today, I'm trusting that I can be away and still be near.

I'm grateful for people like Sally who are willing to take on tough topics so the rest of us can grow.

I'm inspired by spending less money and making more time.

My dear friend Amanda sent me a link to this Advent Conspiracy video and I found it to be very powerful. It certainly speaks to my family's commitment to rachet down the gift giving. The video is from a Christian perspective, but even if that's not your faith, I think it's inspiring on a human level.

Happy TGIF.  Don't forget to leave a comment for the giveaway!