Halloween Fun!

Looking for some seasonal fun to share with your kids? Our Halloween Charity Bash is always a blast!

Join us on Saturday from 10:00 until 1:00 for some fun, candy, and FREE photos

One of the great things about our Halloween Charity Event is that it helps to teach our kids that it's always good to remember those less fortunate than ourselves.

Our Halloween Charity benefits the Food Bank of the Rockies. Canned goods (or a $5 donation) are collected in exchange for a 4x5 portrait of your little "trick or treaters" posing on the porch of our haunted house.

We also have an adorable pumpkin patch to investigate as well as a haunted cemetery for the braver souls.

Oh, and also candy. We have lots and lots and lots of candy, and we love to share.

See you on Saturday!

The Bellies & Babies Tour Video Short

It is finally ready, Sam’s newest release, the Bellies & Babies Seminar Tour on DVD video.
Check out what people are saying....

Grand Opening!

Saturday morning dawned overcast and rainy, but even the dismal weather could not dampen the mood at 2660 West Main Street in Littleton as Chiaroscuro celebrated its grand opening.

The store delighted the steady stream of customers who escaped the weather and stepped through the charming double doors to discover a wide range of offerings. I work for Sam in her marketing department and had not gotten an opportunity to see the store as a work in progress, so I was eager to pop in and be dazzled by Sam’s latest and greatest offerings to the world.

I took my 22-year-old daughter along, and that may have been a mistake for me. She went crazy for all the hip furniture and décor, cool frames, and unique chandeliers. Now it’s put her in the mood to do a little redecorating.

I was going to a baby shower later in the day and already purchased a gift, but I couldn’t resist buying a growth chart for the new baby. It’s such a clever idea. It’s a clear plastic tape measure that has frame openings next to the measurements so that you can tuck in a photo of what the baby looks like when she’s two feet tall. It goes all the way up to five feet. Cute!

I never imagined that there were so many different ways to display photographs. There were lots of photo displays and so many different styles. My daughter is after me to buy the one that fits on the corner of a wall and wraps around to be viewed from two different angles.

I had no idea that Sam would have purses and cool shirts for sale too. And also larger bags to carry lots of stuff. The lotions and candles smelled delicious. It was almost difficult to focus on one great item when so many unique things were screaming for your attention: clever packaged card games (I bought the game that has cards you pass around the Thanksgiving table to generate interesting conversation), cute signs, lamps -- you just have to see it to believe it.

Oh, and I’ve got to mention the gift baskets. They’re not your usual food-and-cute-nonsense items you find in common gift baskets. They are custom designed by Chiaroscuro and have thoughtful, appropriate items combined with at least one photo display. They are made for almost any occasion you can think of. Chiaroscuro will be a nice resource for my future gift giving.

Chiaroscuro is a store that really has something for everyone. So if you’re in the area, do yourself a favor, and check it out.

~Megan DiMaria
PS: No kidding -- get yourself down there and do some holiday shopping!

Congratulations!

Please join me in celebrating with my friend Megan DiMaria. After a lifetime of wishing and 12 years of hard work, I was privileged to see her dream of becoming a published novelist come true.

She tells me that by 2002 she had nearly given up on her dream. At that time the company she was working for closed, and she was out of a job. Before long, she found a new one – at my company. She worked with me as a salesperson and a personal assistant until she found the niche she’s most at home in – the marketing department as my writer.

My business was smaller in 2002 when Megan joined my team. I was just beginning to look beyond my company and get more involved in the industry. We enjoyed conversations about taking risks, dreaming big and taking advantage of opportunities. Megan shared her dream of becoming a published novelist, and I was honored to encourage her to pursue that dream.

I figured, if I can chase my dreams, why can’t she?

And so she reclaimed her dream, put her head down, and took a run at getting her novel published. I remember her excitedly leaving work to attend a weekly writer’s group, I watched her read books on craft during her lunch break, and I wished her well when she would take off to attend conferences. And during all that time, she wrote and wrote and wrote, and submitted proposals to agents and editors.

Anyone who knows me knows I support those who strive for success and chase their dreams. I love to encourage others with the cheer, “You can do it!”

And she did it! Megan’s success didn’t come overnight, but in late 2006 she met an editor who loved her proposal. In 2007 she got a publishing contract for two books, and in 2008 both her novels were released (one in April and one October 1st).

I’m thrilled for her success. I think more people should take a risk on their dreams. Isn’t that what makes life fun—setting a goal and chasing a dream? It matters little what your dream is as long you get up and go after it.

So please kick up your heels for Megan! Her dream has come true. Don’t give up on yours, believe you can do it, work hard and learn how, and be persistent in your efforts.

That photo of the Expressions’ family was taken at Megan’s book/career launch party (she's wearing the white jacket).