Four Minutes With On The Dot

When one of my good friends was pregnant with her first child, she was utterly flabbergasted by all the rules. Don’t do this, don’t do that and so on. But what was worse was the condescending manner in which so many people made suggestions. It felt like a lot of talking at her instead of talking with her. Of course, we women can handle a lot. I mean, hello, we do that whole continuing-the-human-race thing pretty dang well. So, maybe we ought to cut each other a little more slack. On behalf of all the mamas-to-be out there, I say err on the respectful side when dishing out parental advice. Listen to what she has to say about her experience. And here’s the important thing: believe her. After all, it’s her experience, not yours. The post Keri Fosse: She’s Keeping Newborns Cozy appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Ladies, get your spirits up! We’re talking about that golden-hued, barrel-aged, sweet-sipping firewater: whiskey. It’s a boozy beverage that has its roots in 15th century Scotland, but throughout the centuries, whiskey has become a spirited friend to many. For instance, Frank Sinatra was buried with a bottle of his favorite whiskey, and Winston Churchill was claimed to have traveled to South Africa as a war correspondent with 18 bottles of 10-year-old Scotch whisky. But this distilled, dark liquor isn’t just for the boys. Actress Ava Gardner loved it as much if not more than her male co-stars. And Ron Swanson, the beloved mustachioed character on Parks and Recreation, an absolute devotee of the spirit, famously said, “Clear alcohols are for rich women on diets.” Today, let’s toast all the unrepentant whiskey-drankin’ women out there. May your glass always be full! The post Marsha Milam: She’s in Good Spirits appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

When you were a sick kid with a bellyache, did you have a go-to snack or beverage that settled your tummy? Maybe it was 7UP and saltine crackers, or milk and toast. It’s in such moments we realize food can be a comfort, and it even has the power to make us feel better. A late-night drive-thru stop can also be a wake-up call that some foods are anything but a comfort. Today, give your stomach some TLC and skip that one thing you know will make it growl at you, opting instead for some good-for-you comfort food. The post August Vega: She’s Nuts for This Milk Alternative appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

My friend recently told me, “Only teenagers like horror movies. When we get older, we start to see how scary the real world is.” Isn’t that the truth? I’m going to be honest with y’all. Sometimes I’ve just got to turn off the news, ignore the political mumbo jumbo and take a dang break. If you also need a break from the devastation, fear and aggression often making the rounds in the news these days, that’s OK. But if there’s a time when you can help end a little of the world’s suffering, don’t hesitate. After all, doing a little good for others can definitely warm the heart! The post MJ Hegar: She’s the Military Hero Taking on Politics appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

From movies like Moonrise Kingdom and Bushwhacked to staking out your riverside spot for a Fourth of July weekend, camping is a recreational activity that many love, and it has been a part of the human experience since, well, I guess before the evolution of houses. If the most you’ve camped involved pitching a tent in your backyard, that’s OK. But you might be surprised at all the wondrous spots throughout the world perfect for a camping adventure. There are the clear waters and scenic views at Boya Lake Provincial Park in Canada, the rugged landscapes of the barely inhabited Isle of Arran in Scotland and the breathtaking skylines of the Appalachian Trail at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Wherever your sleeping bag may lie, wherever you choose to pitch your tent, keep on exploring, ladies! The post Amanda Campbell: She’s Pitching Her Tent appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

I’d like to apologize to all the wiser women in my past I didn’t listen to. Like pretty much every teenager and young professional, I felt like I knew as much as there was to know. I honestly didn’t think it was possible for there to be so much more knowledge that I didn’t possess. But I admit I did learn a lot more things about life, the universe and everything with each passing year, and thus, I became embarrassed of my previous Miss Know-it-all tendencies. Today, let’s give praise where praise is due, to those women who have years of expert experience under their belts and a whole lot of wisdom to share. If we’re lucky, maybe they’ll continue to share it with the rest of us! The post Carol Seymour: She’s a Wisdom Warrior appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Have you ever been around a person who is terrible at telling stories? Josie goes on and on and on, finally concluding the story and leaving you wondering what the heck the point was. Wait, so he got you a caramel latte instead of a vanilla latte? You’ve been standing in my office for 15 minutes, and that was it? When you’re the recipient of such mind-numbing commentary, it can be easy to end the conversation quickly. But I’ve got a little challenge for you. Before Josie gets going, tell your story first, no matter how insignificant it is. The post Shannon Carroll: She’s a Social Storyteller appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

I hate junk mail. If I get one more flier from my old Realtor or coupon card for laser-hair removal, I’m going to lose it! I never seem to get a nice thank-you note or a personal letter. In the sci-fi movie Her, the main character works as a writer for a company called Handwritten Greeting Cards. Customers tell him what they want to convey to a loved one, and he writes it in a personal, sentimental way. While it’s a bit unsettling, if it would get me a handwritten letter in the mail, I’d be OK with employing such a service. What would you love to see arrive in your mailbox today? The post Liz Camden: She’s Your New Subscription Addiction appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

When I was returning home from a trip abroad, my suitcase was over the weight limit by about 10 pounds. I was a penny-pinching college student at the time, so, naturally, I took about 10 pounds of clothing out, put it all on right there at the airline service desk and saved the extra cost. Granted, wearing rain boots, three sweaters and a coat didn’t make for a very relaxing travel experience, but it was a quick fix to my dilemma. Everyone has some kind of wild travel story, from terribly delayed flights to celebrity sightings and even appalling behavior from fellow passengers. What’s your story? Share it with us @OnTheDotWoman on Twitter. The post Jen Rubio and Steph Korey: She’s Traveling Smart appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

I was recently riding the Denver airport train en route to baggage claim. With almost each stop along the way, the doors would open and passengers would board, and with almost each stop, the doors would close on a startled passenger. The first time it happened, we were all shocked. Then, with each passing stop, someone would pull the frightened boarding passenger in, saving her from the viciously slamming doors, and we’d all shake our heads and laugh. Sometimes I think we all need to be reminded that complete strangers have your back—or in this case—your arm. The post Polina Raygorodskaya: She’s Wandering appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Brilliant, confident, passionate, courageous: These are just a handful of complimentary words to describe someone. Oftentimes, a word like “pretty” is the go-to adjective when it comes to praising women. We’ve spent our whole lives with that “P” word chipping away at us. It starts when we’re girls and is an ideal that follows us throughout life. I’ll admit I’ve been guilty of this too, calling little girls “cute,” “adorable” or “pretty” before anything else. The truth is girls are brave and curious and creative and strong. Let’s not forget to acknowledge and encourage those attributes in the females around us, no matter their age. Today, let’s hand out positivity beyond pretty. The post Amanda de Cadenet: She’s Embracing the Messy Life appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

When I rented my mermaid costume for Halloween, I asked the shop attendant for a short, colored wig. The perplexed employee responded, “Short hair for a mermaid?” It threw me because I was choosing to dress up as a mythical creature. Can’t that mythical creature have a cute bob? I’m pretty sure a mermaid wouldn’t wear a non-waterproof, gold-sequined corset either. There are plenty of opportunities to go rogue, forgoing long, wavy locks for short, kicking your traditional 9-to-5 gig to the curb or eating cereal for dinner. You’re a woman, dang it, and you can do as you darn well please. The post Arianna O’Dell: She’s a Digital Nomad appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

I recently read a Fast Company article about how to use social media for business. The author concedes these platforms are “noisy” and can be “daunting,” but she also suggests some helpful ways to make it all work. Here are a couple tips on how to bring your biz or your personal brand into the digital limelight: Participate in Twitter chats. Google “Twitter chats” with an area of interest or your industry, and get to tweeting. Participate in Facebook groups to promote your business page. Groups are all the rage now, y’all, and they offer a dedicated digital space where like-minded folks like to chill and support one another. Think of it as Networking 101 brought into the tech age. The post Karla Friede: She’s Showin’ You the Money appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

We live in a world in which advertising comes in a lot of different forms, but not too many sizes. For instance, a quick scroll through Instagram reveals some cleverly disguised ads, many of which are for clothing and accessories. Your favorite Instagram influencer tells you where to buy her trendy outfit. The picture-perfect Instagram hooks you, sending you to the website to buy said outfit. But they don’t carry anything bigger than a size large, which, by the way, looks like it wouldn’t even fit your pug, Bruno. So, not only do you not end up with the cute outfit you went in search of, you also don’t have any self-esteem for the day. I say no more! Let’s give those size-prejudiced clothing retailers the boot! The post Polina Veksler and Alexandra Waldman: She’s Making Sure Fashion Comes in All Sizes appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

You’re visibly sweaty. You’re slurping your drink a little too fast. You’re sucking in your stomach so your blazer stays buttoned. Where are you? A networking event, of course! As you make the rounds, introducing yourself to new faces who are already writing you off, you vow to yourself that you’re done with these events. Have you been in this exasperating situation before? Today, we say no more! Unbutton your blazer and cool down. We’re talking about why professional women deserve more than a couple cubes of cheese and a name tag. The post Gina Bianchini: She’s Building Mighty Networks appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

When a friend’s baby and my best little buddy was diagnosed with a lifelong disease that affects one in every million infants, it wasn’t easy to explain to others. Heck, it wasn’t even easy to pronounce! There’s a certain isolation and a heaviness that ensue when friends, even those with the best of intentions, don’t understand or know what to say in response to such scary circumstances. For those of you who have gone through or are currently dealing with some seriously taxing challenges, know you’re not alone. It probably feels daunting to endure a life-altering, draining experience. But, girl, we got you. P.S. There’s nothing wrong with believing in miracles! The post Nadine Bubeck: She’s a Miracle Mama appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Today, we’re tackling what it means to be a leader. I’m sure words like “hustle” and “the daily grind” come to mind when you think “leader,” and it’s true those are two necessities of career growth. But there are a few other important actions to consider when it comes to being a good leader, like getting a good night’s sleep, praising your colleagues for work well done and being fully present. If you’ve zoned out during a meeting or uncharacteristically snapped at a customer recently, it might be time to invest in some serious R and R this weekend. By Monday, you’ll be clearheaded enough to scope out your next ambitious career move. The post Rachel Green: She’s a Lady Leader appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

In 2010, PBS published a story about what women get out of being in the military. Spoiler alert: It’s all the same stuff men love about their military careers. From an opportunity for higher education to the availability of health care to simply taking pride in their work, military members of both sexes gain a lot mentally and physically from serving our country. But, in truth, the rest of us are the ones who benefit most from their service. Today, we’re saluting women everywhere who are soldiers, veterans, fighters, survivors and courageous role models. The post Ann Dunwoody: She’s the Army’s First Female Four-star General appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

I’m going to be honest with you, ladies: I’m tired. Like, put-the-cereal-in-the-fridge-and-milk-in-the-pantry tired. You know you’re beat when you wake up and immediately do the math for when you can squeeze in a nap. So, I’m going to talk about the one thing that can get me up in the morning. Is it jotting my dreams down in my journal? Nope! Is it a morning run? Heck, no! It’s eating, of course. Grab your coffee or tea, your muffin, your doughnut or your wheat toast. That’s my plan since munching on something delish distracts me from my bedtime countdown. At least, that’s my hope! The post Raquel Tavares Gunsagar: She’s O-M-Ghee appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

In school, we’re required to read many books, some pleasant and some downright dull. Is there a book that stands out in your mind, either one you loved or one you hated? For me, it was the latter. The book was Pearl Buck’s The Good Earth. By all accounts, I should’ve loved it. Pearl advocated for human rights and women’s rights. Heck, she even won the Nobel Prize in Literature. But in school, we spent weeks, even months, analyzing each word—and I was so over it. Today, pick up a book you really want to read, even if it makes your high-school English teacher grimace, or maybe because it would make her grimace! The post Maris Kreizman: She’s Book-smart appeared first on On The Dot Woman.