Who owns language?

Just wanted to forward on this fun article that Betsy sent me regarding ownership of the "AHA MOMENT." It's by William Safire and can be found in the New York Times Magazine. Enjoy it: On Aha and Senior Moments. Let me know what you think.

At Book Expo America this year, there was a banner that read, "Live your best life." When I saw it, I gasped. I wondered if whoever was bold enough to use it would be receiving a phone call from Oprah's lawyers. Here's a terrible pic of it I snapped from my phone.

I'm off to the dentist (jealous?) and then to do the last edits on my book (jealouser?)
Have a great day.

Quick hello

Hi all! Sorry it's been ages since I've been able to post. I just wanted to let you know that I am hustling to finish my book about this project. I'm getting close to my deadline and once my manuscript is out of my hands, I'll be back to blogging. I really miss it.

I've been asked quite a bit about the leopard print flats that I bought because they were "must have" items last year. They are Rocket Dogs. I actually got them at Marshalls for super duper cheap. I was very proud. I have feet the size of tennis rackets, so I usually don't get lucky in the bargain shoe area. Usually, the shoes available in the clearance section for gals with ginormous-sized feet look more appropriate for lumberjacks or drag queens.

I'm getting nervous about turning in the book to my publisher. I blogged almost every day last year without freaking out, but it's different to have such a big manuscript that will be read and judged by The Man. Actually, I adore my editor and this a dream-come-true, but also quite scary. Still, I thrive on this feeling...the deadline is looming and my adrenaline is rushing. The only downside is that I'm at a big family wedding this weekend and everyone is together and having a blast. I'm in a hotel room by myself until the ceremony tonight. Sigh....

OH! I've gotten a bunch of emails from many of you asking if I'm coming to your area on the book tour. I'm not certain about any of that yet. I'll definitely keep you updated about what's going on with the book as soon as I get more info from Center Street (my publisher). Besides my mom, you'll be the first to know.

Hope you're all well and enjoying the holiday weekend!
xo
Robyn

Healthy, Wealthy and Wise?

I thought I'd share this story with you from Newsweek Magazine about Oprah's healthcare advice. It's called Live Your Best Life Ever! I had mixed results from the health guidance I learned on Oprah's show and there were a couple items that conflicted with my own doctor's guidance. My doc always shrugged at how many supplements I knocked back in 2008, for instance.

How about you? Has anyone out there had any experience with following these suggestions on Oprah's show? Please share!

Thanks to everyone for your support and positive (and sometime not-so-positive) feedback about the CBNC segment on The Oprah Effect. As many of you noted, it is available on hulu.com. Just search for the title of the show and you'll find it there.

I paid a call to Book Expo America in NYC this weekend. It was such fun. I loved being around so many people passionate about books. I didn't see a Kindle anywhere! Speaking of Kindle, I honestly have no idea where mine is. I haven't looked at it for a while. I'm going to try again, though. Anyhow - I had the pleasure and honor of meeting Gretchen Rubin of the Happiness Project. What a generous person. She even offered up the suggestion that I join Twitter. So, on Gretchen's advice, rather than Oprah's, I think I'm going to take the plunge. I'm frightened. Anyhow - Gretchen introduced me to A.J. Jacobs from The Year of Living Biblically. He was at BEA to promote his new book, which I can't wait to read once the text is completed on my own. He introduced me to Kevin Roose from The Unlikely Disciple. It was a pretty funny group. All writers who invest ourselves in experiential research to gather information on topics we're fascinated by. Maybe we should unionize.

I caught the rerun of today's episode of Oprah. I had forgotten all about the discomfort of watching the show on ethics. Did you see it? The ethics experts (ethperts?) never seem to agree on the correct way to handle a situation. It was more confusing than clarifying, and yet entirely amusing. I think we might just have to become our own experts and not confuse things by turning to the talking heads who can't find common ground.

Let's talk brands

In light of the recent rerun starring Oprah's favorite windsuit-wearing trainer, I went on a crazed hunt within my own cabinets to see what Best Life products I might own. I was not thrilled to see 5 items/brands on my shelves with the BL logo. How the heck did they get there? Looks like I need to have a little talk with the Jimster. I prefer to shop as Dr. Oz advises: on the perimeter of the supermarket, rather than in the prepared food aisles. And I mean the INSIDE perimeter of the market, not the outside. I'm not one of the Freegans, once seen on Oprah's show, dumpster-diving for produce. I wish I could be as thrifty as these folks, but I'm too grossed out by germs. I don't even believe in the 5-second rule.

Check out your shelves/refrigerators, will you? How many BL products do you own?

The Oprah Effect is on Thursday night! Woohoo! I'm really looking forward to seeing the show, which focuses on Oprah's ability to make entrepreneurs into millionaires by her endorsement of their products. I'm writing about Oprah's power as a marketing force in my own book, so I'm excited to see this! I did an interview for the show last fall, while I was still in the midst of Living Oprah. CBNC is highlighting my project at some point during the hour. I'm looking forward to seeing if I looked way more stressed out last year than I do now.

Please tune in, if you can. I'd love to hear what you think.
Here's the website for the show
Show premiers: Thursday, May 28th on CBNC at 9p ET/ 10pm PT. My peeps in Chicago can see the show at 8pm.

Enjoy.

And the Baklava goes to...

Dawn-Michelle!

She kicked all our butts, didn't she? DM, let's chat about how to get that baklava to you.

In honor of everyone's observations, I'll share one of my own. This picture was taken about an hour ago in NYC. I look very dour in it, but I'm not really glowering (although my feet are killing me). I had just taken a large bite of protein bar (I'm hiding the wrapper in my folded hands) and I'm doing my best NOT to look like a chipmunk as all the peanut butter gunk was shoved into my cheek.

I just sat down to watch the show in my hotel room and realized I hadn't changed the clock on my laptop. Long story short, I totally missed it because of the time zone change. I really wanted to see it. Y'all know how annoyed I get at the Best Life stamp of approval on processed foods chock full of chemicals and sugar. I wanted to see the show that birthed it all. Let me know what you thought, if you saw it. I might have to make do with the online version. Ah well.

Hope everyone had a fabulous holiday weekend. I'll do another contest again, that was fun. In fact, there's one brewing in my brain about Best Life seals of approval...I'll let you know!