1. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Being alone
2. Where would you like to live? Wherever my family is…or somewhere near the ocean
3. What is your idea of earthly happiness? People who are tolerant of others
4. To what faults do you feel most indulgent?  Southern cooking… Butter, sugar, and deep fried
5. Who are your favorite heroines of fiction? Scout Finch, Elizabeth Bennet, and Scarlet, of course
6. Who are your favorite characters in history?  Daniel, John Adams, Elizabeth I
7. Who are your favorite heroines in real life? Mothers that struggle to keep their families afloat; my mom, Becky Ballard, for keeping ours
8. Who are your heroes in real life? My husband,  Jared Neufer-for everything; my dad, Sam Ballard- for not giving up
9. Your favorite painter? Queena Stovall
10. Your favorite musician? Van Morrison
11. The quality you most admire in a man?  Devotion
12. The quality you most admire in a woman?  Tenacity
13. Your favorite virtue?  Sensitivity
14. Your favorite occupation?  Mother, teacher
15. Who would you have liked to be? An architect
16. Your most marked characteristic? Empathy
17. What do you most value in your friends? Unconditional love and acceptance
18. What is your principle defect?  Not making more time for friends and family
19. What to your mind would be the greatest of misfortunes?  To lose true love
20. Who would you like to be?  Me, at home with my babies
21. What is your favorite color?  Yellow
22. What is your favorite flower?  Magnolia blossoms, gardenias…right now, camelias
23. Who are your favorite writers?  Harper Lee, Mark Twain
24. What are your favorite names?  Strong, masculine, preferably one syllable that can be drawn out into two
25. What is it you most dislike?  Dishonesty, and a bad cook

1. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Lonliness
2. Where would you like to live? The Hamptons, NY or Santa Monica, CA
3. What is your idea of earthly happiness?   Loving and being loved
4. To what faults do you feel most indulgent?   A strong desire for material things
5. Who are your favorite heroines of fiction?  Must go with Wonderwoman
6. Who are your favorite characters in history?   Audrey Hepburn
7. Who are your favorite heroines in real life? Celine Dion, My best friend
8. Who are your heroes in real life? Any man, who in this day and time, can balance his career and his family, and forever remain loyal to his wife.
9. Your favorite painter? Don’t really have one
10. Your favorite musician? Elton John, Bon Jovi, and I always enjoy Harry Connik, Jr at the piano
11. The quality you most admire in a man? Sensitivity
12. The quality you most admire in a woman?  Sincerity
13. Your favorite virtue?  Patience
14. Your favorite occupation?  Acting
15. Who would you have liked to be?  A soap star
16. Your most marked characteristic? Attention to detail
17. What do you most value in your friends? Dedication
18. What is your principle defect?  Thinking too much; reading to much into things
19. What to your mind would be the greatest of misfortunes? Never being a mom
20. Who would you like to be?  Myself~as a soap star
21. What is your favorite color?  Pink
22. What is your favorite flower?  Calilillies and Gerber Daisies
23. Who are your favorite writers?  Laura Stonecipher!  Really~LOVE the blog entries; so well versed.  And Carrie Bradshaw  ( :
24. What are your favorite names?  Emmy, Libby, Elle
25. What is it you most dislike?  Ignorance (and spaghetti)  ( :                           Courtney S. Jackson

What causes do you support?  If you’ve ever received a diagnosis then you’ve likely had this passion chosen for you.  Maybe a friend calls needing support after getting news from her doctor that she has breast cancer.  I know how difficult it is to remain strong when a big part of you feels scared about what this means and if, as the words leave your mouth… everything really will be okay.

Let’s face it, most of us have had that annual visit to the OBGYN where maybe there were abnormal cells on your PAP test or maybe your OB felt a lump that turned out to be nothing more than 2 weeks of worrying, only to be told that you have fibrocystic breasts (along with nearly half of the female population, by the way).  So, we’ve all thought “What will I do?…” even if it was just for a moment and while we will never be able to understand the reality someone faces when they hear the words we haven’t had to, as friends (family, communities, etc.), it only seems right to come together and make that reality one we wouldn’t be afraid to face ourselves.

In comes Signify Pink, a company that creates branded clothing and accessories with in-house screen-printing and embroidery services “to help women connect with the causes that matter most.”

Their “Fight Like A Girl” line was started when a mammography nurse in Iowa named Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Knowing how expensive treatment would be, Mary’s co-workers came together to support their friend.  They contacted Signify Pink to design a t-shirt that could be sold to help out with their friend’s medical expenses.  Combining t-shirt sales and a chili supper, Mary’s co-workers raised more than $20,000.

As the site reads…

When they reached the $20,000 mark Mary said, “That’s all I need.  Keep going with the shirts. But share the wealth.” Mary is now cancer free.  And the shirts continue to do good.

So I ask the question again: What causes do you support?  I think the “Fight Like A Girl” brand is a great way to support a fellow Belle in need because breast cancer is something that has touched all of us in some way.  As a matter of fact, 1 in every 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.  We don’t have a choice BUT to make it a cause we support.  Even the best insurance doesn’t cover everything.  Co-pays, transportation, prescriptions and tests add up so quickly and those are just the basics.  Heaven forbid you factor in retail therapy or emotional eating, (which of course accumulates in the form of pounds but adds up nonetheless.)  I think now more than ever, we have an opportunity to strengthen communities by supporting each other in difficult times and helping our friends by rallying together in support when life presents the unexpected.  The good you do for others, will come back to you in ways you’d never imagine!

You can purchase the “Fight Like A Girl” merchandise online and get more information on their website at Signify Pink.  They have t-shirts, hoodies, totes, note cards, and tons of other items that are super cute!  I wear my t-shirt all the time and I get compliments everywhere I go (and let’s be honest, when is the last time someone complimented you on a t-shirt???)

If you’re interested in raising funds for your friend/family member/or cause, contact Glenda Elliott at (515) 577-0780 or at glenda.elliott@sigler.com.

Welcome !!!

Hi everyone! I am both excited and overwhelmed as I begin this blog. Excited because it is the beginning of 2009, a new year, with infinite possibilities and opportunities that I can’t even begin to imagine. Overwhelmed because, like you I’m sure, life seems to get more difficult to manage gracefully as each year passes. I feel like I’ve seen it, been through it, wanted, had, lost, and dealt with it all, although I know I haven’t. I won’t begin this with any boring New Year’s resolutions and vows to avoid food after midnight, because I’m sick of letting myself down. What I am going to resolve to do is give myself a break, and I hope you will too. In preparation of doing this, I’m forcing myself to be very honest about where I am in life. I’ve written down the ugly truth about the things I’m not so proud of, and getting them out of my mind and on paper was scary but also a relief.

So wherever you’re at in life, whether it be lonely, depressed, unhappy at work, unfulfilled in a relationship, out of touch with friends, out of touch with your money, overweight, underpaid, stuck, unmotivated, or unfocused, there won’t be any judgment placed here. Even the best of us have skeletons in our closets. If you haven’t dealt with them and feel like you need to, put them down on paper and then give yourself a break because beating yourself up doesn’t change anything. Once you’ve made your list, take a look at it and then read this: “I can manage this.” I’m not saying in every case you won’t need help, we all do at some point in our lives, but that is also part of being able to manage things.

One more thing before you put it away someplace safe, (so you aren’t dwelling on it every day), think of one person you can tell. If you don’t trust anyone that much, send it here and it will be kept confidential. Hell, send it to Henry, he knows all of my secrets and despite my attempts, I’ve never been able to get him to talk.

Now go take a bubble bath, write in your gratitude journal, have a glass of red wine or something equally rewarding and GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK (and quit rewarding yourself with Coach bags if you’re in debt sweetheart!)