Portland Musician Worth Checking Out

One of the great things about Portland is the variety and depth of talented musicians living in our city. It's an absolute mystery to me how someone as talent-less as Britney Spears or Fergie can make it big, while our city is filled with celebrity-status musicians that the world still doesn't know about.

Real musicians can actually play instruments (shocking!), sing beautifully AND look hot! Who woulda thought?

Last night I had the pleasure of discovering Tony Smiley at the Buffalo Gap off of Macadem Ave. Picture Johnny Depp (a good combo of 21 Jump Street, Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas and Pirates of the Carribean), with a sexy hot voice and amazing musical skills. Not bad, right? You've got to check this guy out. He's incredible!

So, get on Myspace, make him your friend and go visit his next show. You won't be disappointed!

-Heather :)

Mini-Breaks For the Writer's Soul

Recently, I interviewed Judith McGee for LadyAdvisor.com -- besides being absolutely fabulous, she also encouraged and advocated mini-vacations. I decided to take her advice and booked a 3night/4day vacation in sunny (and hot!) Las Vegas.

For the first time ever, I didn't take an ounce of work or homework with me. I took books, like Mastery of Love and The Celestine Prophecy instead. I wrote poetry. About crazy drunk people in swimming pools. But, whatever. The point was I was thinking and writing creatively and completely outside my norm. It felt soooo good!

I laid by the pool in 90 degree heat and looked at my life back in the Pacific NW in a whole new way. I felt gratitude. And when I returned 4 days later, I was ready to dive back in...

What's your favorite mini-break vacation spot?
Leave your comments here...

Happy Writing!
Heather :)

Willamette Writer's Faire & Conference

It's that time of year again (which means summer is almost here!)...

Don't miss the FABULOUS Willamette Writer's Faire & Conference coming up the end of July and early August 2008. I have friends who have received book deals at the conference and last year, I made some amazing writer friends and was motivated to complete my book proposal. Check out the details here:

Writers Faire - Thursday, July 31, 2008
5 to 7 pm in the Mount Hood room of the Airport Sheraton Hotel
FREE to the Public
*If you want to sell your book at an event, this is a good one.

Writer's Conference - August 1-3, 2008
Portland Airport Sheraton Hotel
Connect with agents, publishers and other writers!

Hope to see you there!

Happy Writing!
Heather :)

ExBoyfriendJewelry.com is a MUST Site to Visit!

Okay ladies, finally we have an option for jewelry left over from our ex-boyfriends (or girlfriends). ExBoyFriendJewelry.com allows women to put past loves jewelry up for sale. Then, other women (or men) can purchase the jewelry online. Genius!

The New York Times recently wrote an article about this fabulous site that helps women unload their past and make some cash. Sounds like a plan to me! If only I had boyfriend's who gave me jewelry... :)

But, it does beat the pawn shop. Right now the site is being upgraded to handle the recent rise in traffic (once the NY Times covers you, traffic tends to increase). Bookmark the page and check back.

-Heather

Another Reason Why France Rocks the House

Eat something sista! Food is GOOD.

France just passed a body image law that forbids anorexic models to be featured in print/television advertising or on the runways. How freakin' cool is that?!

Maybe someday, we'll be as cool as France. Until then, I'm even more excited for my trip there in September. Want to move to France? Check out the French Alliance in Portland.

Let's rally so that the United States will pass this law as well.
No more super skinny models - yay!

Happy Writing!
Heather

Elizabeth Gilbert of Eat. Pray. Love.

Before Oprah, before the New York Times bestseller list and certainly before every woman in the world wanted to take a trip to Italy, India and Indonesia - I read Eat. Pray. Love.

I saw Elizabeth Gilbert speak at Powell's books when Eat. Pray. Love. first came out. I wanted to be just like her. Seriously. I even sent her an email asking her to be my mentor (I figured it was worth a shot!). She actually responded, laughing at the thought that anyone would want her to be their mentor.

All the same, she's a mentor (in theory) for any writer.
And last Thursday, she came to Portland, once again, only to a much bigger audience at the Arlene Schnitzer concert hall.

This time, she was equally amazing, radiant and hilarious. The audience spent half the time laughing. Love her! She also took a stand on a topic that I (and many women) often face alone - that of being a woman who chooses not to procreate. But now, next time a woman looks at me confused, I'll tell her to ask Elizabeth about it. She had a far more eloquent way of explaining that some of us are not here in this life to procreate - we are here to do other things. And that's okay. Go E.G!

In addition, I had the pleasure of seeing the poet, Lucille Clifton, speak tonight. At 71, she is as incredible as ever. She made us laugh, but most importantly, she made us think.

Neither of these two events could have been possible without the fabulous Literary Arts in Portland, Ore. They regularly bring world-renowned authors and poets to our city. For that, I am so very grateful. Both women inspired and encouraged me, simply by their presence.

Have you seen Elizabeth Gilbert or Lucille Clifton? Or do you have writers that you wish were your mentors? Leave a comment here.

Happy writing!
Heather :)

It's All About the 30th B-day & Purse Dancing...

I turned 30 last week and had the most fabulous birthday of my life. Jim (better known as "the man!") threw me a lovely party with some of my closest friends at Henry's in downtown Portland. He made wheat-free cupcakes (delish!), a rockstar poster that everyone signed and a gorgeous collage. Friends from high school, present day and even my dad made an appearance. After the party, a few of us (and you know who you are) headed over to Aura for some serious (and sexy) purse dancing. Who knew 30 could be so wonderful?!

I truly believe in the power of celebration. For the day leading up to the party, I treated myself to some of my favorite things - a new hairdo (caramel highlights!), pedicure and manicure with one of my closest friends, a massage (courtesy of Jim, my dad, Amanda and Alison - two of my sisters) and a night's stay at Hotel Monaco, one of Portland's shee-shee hotels. The actual day of my b-day, March 23, I spent in Oceanside, Ore. - my favorite beach.

Whether or not you have a birthday celebration, an anniversary or you just snagged a gig from a publication you've been eager to write for - celebrate. And make it big! It's so important to enjoy these moments in our lives. They DO matter and who we share it with is even more valuable.

Thank you to everyone that celebrated the big 3-0 with me, and a gi-normous shout out to Jim who truly made it my best b-day ever.

Much love & happy writing!
Heather :)