The two professional reasons to attend the eWomen Conference are the quality of networking and the ability to forge strategic partnerships and to hear truly exceptional speakers.  Of the speakers, nearly all of them are authors.  Here are my favorite speakers from the conference and my two favorite books.

We got started Thursday night with Judge Glenda Hatchett.  I am the first to tell you that I don’t watch her show.  Thats okay because I am not her audience.  What she does is to provide wisdom and a positive light into the justice system for those who do watch daytime television.  I admire her for her message.  I was very impressed to learn that Glenda Hatchett was a top level executive in the legal department of Delta Airlines who chose to leave that corporate security and recognition to give back and to make a difference, especially for women and children of color. 

Friday morning, we heard from Debbie Meyer, the Home Shopping Genius; inventor of Green Bags and Green Boxes; and so many other inventions that make housework and entertaining smarter.  I must admit I cringed a little when she shared the secret to her success:  she thinks of all of those things as she cleans her own house!  Okay, so my passion will meet my purpose somewhere else…

On Friday and again on Saturday, I was able to attend a breakout session and hear a panel discussion with Mari Smith.  Fast Company dubbed Mari Smith the Pied Piper of the Online World.  Not only is she delightful with her Scottish brogue but her sessions were informative.  I must admit it was a little trying to just sit and listen because I was among the many thousands who were knocked out of Twitter!  I highly recommend her website at www.marismith.com  Or, follow her Twitter @marismith.  She’ll follow you back!

To finish off the day on Friday, Robert Stephens, the CEO of Geek Squad spoke to us on branding.  He was really funny and informative.  Keep it simple.  Understand your audience and use humor that resonates with that audience to get past the blaring noise. Saturday morning, Corny Koehl from Oprah Radio chatted with Sandra Yancey, the CEO of eWomen Network about many things, including the opportunity for women in radio.  She was very insightful. 

I wait all week for the Sunday speakers.  Roxanne Emrich, author of Thank God It’s Monday got things started.  She really got to the heart of why people have such bad attitudes regarding work.  I can’t wait to read Thank God Its Monday.  Find it on my Amazon book list.  Or get started right now by signing up for her Monday Morning newsletter. 

Lisa Nichols touched my heart.  She made me laugh and cry.  But she really made me take a look at my limiting beliefs.  I have already started reading her bestseller, No Matter What.  Find it on my Amazon list. 

To learn more about the eWomen Network conference, visit their website. 

No matter what your political leanings, Madeleine Albright was a delightful and engaging speaker at Unique Lives and Experiences.   She spoke of her childhood, which included dispacement twice as a refugee from her Czech homeland (once at the hand of the Nazis and the second due to Communist rule) as someone with a deeply forgiving heart.  She spoke of triumphs and sorrows of her life with a marvelous and well developed sense of humor. 

I really did not know what to expect when I took my seat that evening.  Would this be an evening of foreign policy, politics or the unique and multi faceted life of Madeleine Albright ?  More than most of the lecturers in the Unique Lives series, I left that evening feeling that I truly knew her.  She spoke of policy where it was important to her life story, but mostly gave her audience a fairly intimate view into the ironic orchestration of life events that uniquely qualified her to be the first woman secretary of state.  She counseled mothers of daughters to encourage their daughters to be well educated in sciences, international policy and world religions. 

I have had the opportunity to hear Margaret Thatcher, Cherie Blair, Hillary Clinton, Madeline Albright and Dr. Antonia Novello, the first woman and first Hispanic surgeon general (she served in the senior Bush Administration).  Next year, I expect to her Condoleeza Rice and I hope to someday see Chief Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.  If you have the opportunity to see any of these women who have done so much to blaze trails for women, I highly urge you to do so. 

 Click here to learn more about Madeleine Albright’s biography. 

My good friend, Shellie Tomlinson is the author of Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On:  What Southern Mamas Tell Their Daughters That Ya’ll Should Know, Too.  Now, those of you who know me are very aware (as soon as I start talking) that I am a Girl Raised In The South (GRITS for short).  So, the only reason that my mama is not getting this book for Mothers Day is that she already got it for Christmas… 

So, if your mama does not have this book yet, there is still time to be her favorite this Mother’s Day.  And because Shellie is such a sweet thing, she has sweetened the pot (or for those of you who know Shellie, stirred it).  Here, in her own words, is her special offer for Mother’s Day.  But, act fast and don’t forget to fill in the box so she can personalize it for you…much better than a Hallmark card!   

Here is exactly what Miss Shellie had to say about her offer…

“Because I love my southern mama and I love give-a-ways, I’m launching a special just in time for Mother’s Day! It’s this simple, folks. Everyone who orders a copy of Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On” this Mother’s Day will have their name placed in a drawing to win an All Things Southern Gift Basket to be drawn on Mother’s Day, May 10th! The basket will include an audio book version of Lessons Learned on Bull Run Road”, a copy of Southern Comfort, an ATS apron, and TWO All Things Southern t-shirts– your choice, black, white, green or brown, available in medium, large, and extra-large! Keep your whole basket, or divide it with your mama. I’m staying out of that!”

Remember to fill in the inscription box if you want a personalized autograph!

Click here for the Mothers Day Special from Author from Shellie Tomlinson and All Things Southern. 

Want to hear more about the book and read my all time favorite excerpt from the book?  Click here. 

I am just back from seeing Marlee Matlin at Unique Lives and Experiences.  I knew that she would be inspiring but I had no idea the treat we were in for.  I did not expect that she would be as open, honest and charming.  The fact that she is deaf in no way defines her, which was good for me, because I would have nothing on which to draw a connection.  What she has is amazing courage, charisma and drive.  She doesn’t “want” to be like everyone else.  She is Marlee.  She is passionate, hard working and the genuine article. 

At the age of 18 months, Marlee lost her hearing.  At the age of 21, she won an Academy Award for her role in “Children of a Lesser God.”  Between receiving the Golden Globe and the Academy Award, she checked herself in to the Betty Ford Clinic and overcame the first of her addictions, drugs and alcohol.  From there, she closed the door on a series of abusive relationships. 

Tonight, she shared a little about her life with William Hurt, her friendship with Henry Winkler and Whoppi Goldberg, her battles with addiction, co-dependency and abuse.  She talked about “West Wing”, “Dancing With the Stars”, and “What the Bleep? “  She talked about her 16-year marriage and her four children.  She talked about the challenges in her relationships with her parents and yet the love between them. 

She shared the stage with her interpretor of 24 years.  They share an amazing history and clearly have an extraordinary relationship of mutual respect, honesty and understanding. 

But don’t just take my word for it.  Be sure to pick up a copy of her book and read it for yourself.  I have just ordered mine! 

GlamourByLBD Note:  This past summer, I strolled into Barnes and Noble to find something new to read.  Being the transplanted Southern Belle that I am, “Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On” caught my eye.  I picked it up and did not put it back down until I finished reading it, less than a day later!  I enjoyed it so much that I emailed the author, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson and we are now cyber pals half a country away.  The thing about the book that makes it so funny and heartwarming at the same time is that the author is the gen-you-ine real deal.  She shares her life, her faith and her recipes in much the way you would share with a close friend in the south…with a cup of coffee or sweet tea and a piece of fresh peach pie! 

Since GlamourByLBD is a fashion site, I thought it appropriate to share Shellie’s Mama’s advice on wearing jeans.  Just make sure you swallow your sweet tea before you start reading or it is liable to come squirting out of some orifice when you burst out laughing! 

Excerpt from “Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On” by Shellie Rushing Tomlinson.

 Just for the fun of it, please take a moment to imagine how fond my dear Mama is of today’s pants-around-the-knees look. Alas, very few people have their pants up around their waist the way Mama and the Good Lord intended. The poor woman is still reeling from an article I read to her from one of the ladies’ magazines. In this fine piece of journalism, it said high fashion experts were now saying that area back there, and I’m trying to do this as delicately as possible, that line where the Good Lord split ‘us- it was being declared “the new cleavage”!

Lord, have mercy. Hand me the smelling salts, Scarlett. If my Mama had caught my sisters and me wearing those barely-there britches she would’ve given us a few quick wedgies before taking us to the bedroom for a heart to heart.  By the way, it’s bad enough to see young girls in those super low riders but I’ve seen my share of grown women who were old enough to know better showing their back door cleavage and someone should really tell ‘em it hardly looks “new.”

Click here to order one for yourself and one for every southern wannabe on your list! 

I talked Shelley into moving her discussion board over to a Ning site so we could all join in the 2008 way!  You know, social networking!  You just must click here to join us on the porch! 

Shelley’s gone big time!  Click here to find her radio show, her weekly newsletter, her blog and how to have her call in to your book club!   Or just shoot her an email or tweet!  You’ll hear right back!