Sunday, January 24, 2010

The Sisterhood of Dreamers
Have you ever found yourself in a place with people that your really like, doing something that you really love and having a wonderful time? Well, I have been lucky enough to go on an adventure with thirty-eight women from across the US who not only own their own businesses but who have a dream about how their business will grow and better yet, the good they can do along the way. Thanks to all the people at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, we were brought together to share our dreams, bring love and hope to the women of the Safe Horizons Shelter and with the help of everyone at MSLO, celebrate our road to success.
The adventure began with the idea that some of us would like to get together, attend Martha Stewart's show and share ideas with one another. Needless to say, when you put 39 dynamic women together the event grew. Soon it was a two day event including a cooking demonstration by our own Rachel Gaffney (related only by friendship) whose business, Rachel Gaffney's Real Ireland has her teaching the people of the US all about what real Irish cooking is all about. We learned many dishes, laughed till we cried and tasted the wonderful food which included an Irish cheese cake (heavy on the Bailey's), real Irish soda bread and her own Rachel Gaffney's Irish Butter Shortbreads. Of course there were others who contributed. Lisa Umansky of the Polkadot Pound Cake Company worked magic with her pumpkin bread special sandwiches though her specialty is banana bread. Adding zing to the menu was Kathy Hamrick's Appalachian Salsa from her Good Golly Ms. Molly's LLC.

We all gave gifts to the women of Safe Horizon's Shelter. For my part, I knit them each a scarf to keep the
m warm against the cold winds of the New York winter. Artist, Kim McCool of Spirit of the Heart Designs, created a beautiful painting that spoke of the love and hope we have for these women. Mary Richey of Wallberries created a rope of hope for their wall.

I will be talking more about these amazing women who were with me on this adventure in the Big Apple. They contributed so much, shared their talents and inspired all who met them.