Celebration of Spring

Spring is a time for celebration.  Hopefully it is the end of winter storms and cold temperatures.

As I walked through Macy's, Herald Square, in New York City, the fragrance of blossoms and the vibrant colors are all around me.  The Flower Festival is being hosted on the first floor of Macy's for the next two weeks. This is the seventh year for this Flower Festival.

The theme of  "Carnival" is all around me.  The various flower arrangements cover the ticket booth, as well as the entrance into the "Midway". The carousel of animals, such as the rooster, rabbits and horses are represented throughout the store.  Flowers are in abundance!

The outside windows are landscaped with the various themes for spring.  One window represents, a merry-go-round.  The horses are layered with fresh flowers in colors of pink, red and white.  Another window says "Welcome to the Carnival" with a face of a clown with a bright red nose surrounded by yellow, red, purple and blue flowers.

The floral extravaganza is waking up my soul.  It reminds me that there is a new season to my life. Chuck Swindoll said "that we need to realize that the same Lord who renews the trees with buds and blossoms, who renews the grass with green in place of brown, is ready to renew your life with hope and courage."  As I read these words, I know that the valleys and mountains in my life are like the seasons.  Winter is over and spring is here to give you the encouragement and hope that you need to blossom.

Celebrate Life!

Chrysler Building

Another beautiful icon in New York City!

I am enamored with the Chrysler Building, as I am with the Empire State Building.  When I think of NYC, these two buildings always come to mind.

The Chrysler Building is an art deco-style skyscraper located on the eastside of midtown NYC.  This building was constructed in 1928, two years before the Empire State Building.  The building is constructed of masonry, with a steel frame and metal cladding.  On the 31st floor, the corners of the building are replicas of the 1929 Chrysler radiator caps.

This unique architecture was the tallest building before the Empire State Building.  It is still the tallest brick building in the world with a steel structure.

The building was a project of Walter P. Chrysler for his children and not for the Chrysler Corporation. Walter Chrysler paid for the project personally so that his children could have this building.  He did use the building for Chrysler's headquarters until the mid-1950's.

At that time of construction, there was competition in NYC in who would build the world's tallest skyscraper.   The building was built at an average rate of four floors per week.  It amazes me how these men were able to build the tallest building at that time with the equipment that they had compared to what we have now, eighty-nine years later.  What is also amazing is that no workers died during the construction of this unique skyscraper.

At the time of completion on May 27, 1930, the added height of the spire allowed the Chrysler Building to surpass 40 Wall Street as the tallest building in the world and the Eiffel Tower as the tallest structure.

Another great building to visit when you are in New York City!

Empire State Building

Last week as I fly into La Guardia, I was able to see the Empire State Building from where I was seated on the plane.  I am always in awe of the Empire State Building.  This iconic landmark is in the middle of Manhattan.  As the taxi made its way into the city, the building was lit up white.

The building is always lit up for special occasions, such as red and green for Christmas; green for St. Patrick's day; red/white/blue for July 4th; blue for Hanukkah and etc.

Whenever I see the Empire State Building, I always think of the movies "An Affair to Remember", "Sleepless in Seattle" and "King Kong".  In "An Affair to Remember", Deborah Kerr told Cary Grant as they were setting up their reunion to meet, "The Empire State Building is the closest thing to heaven in this city".  In 1957 when this movie was produced, it was the tallest building in NYC.

Construction started on the building on March 17, 1930 and it opened on May 1, 1931.  It is a 102 story skyscraper located on Fifth Avenue.  There are 86 flights and 1,576 stairs to the first observatory.  The art deco throughout is something that everyone needs to see.

Several years ago, when I lived on Long Island and I would drive into the city, I always loved seeing this landmark.  I always wondered if the other drivers were amazed by this building as I was.

My hotel was directly across the street from the Empire State Building.  Every time that I walked out, I could look up and see this massive structure.

I didn't go to the observatory on this trip.  I have done it many times and  I have enjoyed the views during the day as well as during the night.  It is spectacular!  On a clear day, you can see at least 80 miles from every direction.

This is another must see when you are visiting New York!

"War Paint"

As we pushed through the crowds on 42nd Street in New York City, my sister and I were filled with excitement knowing that we were finally going to see the musical "War Paint".  Dodging people and taxis, the show would start in fifteen minutes and we knew that we needed to be in our seats by the time that the curtains came up.

The bright lights at the Nederland Theatre were in view.  The doors had opened and we pushed through the flock of people that were eager to see Patti Lupone and Christine Ebersole perform.

The play is about the story of Helena Rubinstein(Patti Lupone) and Elizabeth Arden(Christine Ebersole) and their achievement in becoming powerful business tycoons in the cosmetic world.  Both women were born into poverty, had no formal education and defied the norms of the early 1900s. Men controlled the boardrooms, women did not worked outside of the home and women definitely did not paint their faces.

These two women introduced creams, lipsticks and nail polish to the world.  They also were pioneers in advertising, product packaging and direct marketing.  They were the first to stress the importance of diet and exercise to one's skin care regimen.

The musical was very well done in showing the rivalry between them during the 1930s to the 1960s. The clothes and the props definitely portrayed the time period.  Patti Lupone and Christine Ebersole's voices were at their best.  The play was well received by the packed house and I am sure it will be a big hit.

As the show ended, my sister and I felt that we had seen a great story of two powerful women.  As we left, we waited outside the stage door to meet the cast and get autographs and pictures.  We met Patti Lupone and Erik Liberman.  Erik portrayed Charles Revson, who created Revlon.  Mr. Revson became one of their biggest competitors to Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein during the 1950s and 1960s.  Life is ironic!  In 2016, Revlon purchased Elizabeth Arden.

If you are in New York, you must see "War Paint"!

at the Nederland Theatre

Patti Lupone

Erik Liberman

Welcome to NYC!

As I arrived into NYC this evening, all I could think of Taylor Swift's song "Welcome to New York".

"Walkin' through a crowd, the village is a glow
Kaleidoscope of a loud, hide beats under coats
Everybody here wanted somethin' more
Searchin' for a sound we hadn't heard before
And it said

Welcome to New York
It's been waitin' for you
Welcome to New York, welcome to New York...."

Tomorrow I will be facilitating the Elizabeth Arden Training Session on Long Island.  It will be great being back with my team and seeing familiar faces.

This weekend, I will be in the city seeing the skyscrapers, smelling the pretzels, fighting the crowds and enjoying the surroundings!

God Provides

I enjoyed another day of spring.  This morning on my walk, I enjoyed seeing the robins.

The robins reminded me that God created the birds and that He does provide for all our needs.

The verse that came to mind was Matthew 6:25-27  - "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life--whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear.  Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing.  Look at the birds.  They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them.  And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are?  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?"

God may not provide our wants, but He does provide for our needs.

I need to remember that when I begin to fret about something.

Enjoy your surroundings!  God will speak to you!

Mentoring

This morning as I opened the front door, I could feel the coolness in the air; hear the finches singing; see the pink clouds in the east and smell the clean air.  It is official, it is the "first day of spring".

To me spring is all about new beginnings; new births and a new life.

This evening, I received a text and then a call from a young lady that worked for me three years ago in New York.  We have not spoken to each other since I moved to Colorado at the end of 2014.

She told me that she was in a place in her life that she wanted to make some changes, but she was not for sure what direction that was.  She always appreciated the respect that I showed her and that she always thought of me as a mentor.  Those words that she spoke brought tears to my eyes. We always wonder what impressions we leave with others.  

I felt honored that she thought of me.  I told her to send me her resume.  I have always thought that one of my gifts was encouragement.  1 Thessalonians 5:11 says "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."  Encouragement offers a lot to someone.  It helps that person to finish well.  

Most people have some direction in life.  They just need someone to be their "cheerleader" and to help them across the finish-line.  I want this young lady to believe in herself and have the confidence to be the best that she needs to be.  She needs to take responsibility for her life, instead of leaving it to chance.  

My prayer is that God will give me the wisdom to guide and to support her in the decisions that she does make!

This phone call reminded me that today is the first day of spring and this is the first day for this young lady to start making right decisions for her future. 

God does work in mysterious ways!