Betaspring – a mentorship-driven startup accelerator for technology and design entrepreneurs – is opening up applications for it’s 2010 summer program. They bring the best entrepreneurial teams from around the world to Providence, RI, for an intensive twelve week program.

As Co-Founder of Olive Interactive, LLC. (DandyID andClaim.io), headquartered in Providence – and a Rhode Island native – I can personally attest for our vibrant community of technologists, artists, business leaders and innovators…

(Click here for the full article on Girls In Tech)

My problem: I have a fabulous collection of clothes, shoes, and accessories. Boo hoo? Well, I’m also so disorganized that it takes an hour to find an item, altogether forget what I have, or just opt for whatever hanger pops out first.

StyleBook is your closet manager and style assistant application and sure to be your staple in living fabulously. Watch the Demo video, and check out their blog for photo tips and feature highlights.

I’ll have to budget out a rainy Saturday afternoon to upload wardrobe photos – but I’ll never unknowingly make a repeat-purchase again!

It all Changed in an Instant

“It All Changed in an Instant: More Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure” features 1,000 Six-Word Memoirs by Sarah Silverman, Malcolm Gladwell, Frank McCourt, Art Spiegelman, Junot Diaz, Gay Talese, Amy Tan—and hundreds of never-before published writers.

Alzheimer’s: meeting new people every day.
Phil Skversky

Met wife at her bachelorette party.
Eddie Matz

Family portrait: everyone smiles but me.
Ian Baaske

Maybe it’s the East Coaster in me, I’ve always been a fan of quick, concise, non-fiction reading material. You’ll laugh, cry, squirm, and then rack your brain trying to summarize your own life story using 6 words.

This book reminds me of personal favorite by Po Bronson, titled “What Should I Do with My Life“. Pay no mind to the cover screaming Self-Help and put your ego aside – it contains phenomenally inspiring stories of people having underwent major shifts in their career – and life. NPR features a 9-minute segment of such stories, which Bronson describes as the best introduction he can give to the book – so check it out.

To personalize my holiday cards this year, my dog Nova graciously obliged to pose for the front cover – and now I’m tossed on choosing one, it was quite the shoot:

Dog In Headlights

Get Me Outta Here!

I get peanut butter, you say?

Staying… still…

Take one of my good side.

Swagger

Peanut Butter high!
Peanut Butter high!

Take the shot!

I returned this afternoon from my first visit at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, in the Berkshires. I went for 2 1/2 days, mid-week, as a happy-birthday-to-me retreat. The center offers a variety of workshops and training year long, but I went for an R+R personal retreat.

R+R visits are all inclusive: meals, workshops, classes, activities, and lodging. 

After careful consideration I chose dormitory lodging, knowing I’d be bunking beds with up to 19 other people, but was up for the challenge and it was the cheapest option. Alas, I came prepared with two sets of ear plugs and three variations of sleeping masks. To my surprise, I didn’t need them! Everyone was so impressively silent by 10pm each night – and since we were up by dawn, no light blocking mask was needed. 

The premises had everything you need, and surrounded by beautiful, lush mountains and serene Lake Mahkeenac. The food was also spectacular, largely  vegan/vegetarian cuisine.

I was lucky enough to hear that some of the chef’s recipes are available online, so allow me to spread the good word – http://www.kripalu.org/article/270. Try the Millet Cauliflower Mash!

For 2 nights check-in was Monday at 2:30, check out was by noon Wednesday (but you can stay the full day). The daily schedule is something like this: 6:30am yoga, breakfast, workshop (for chakras or Ayurveda health, for example), guided hike, lunch, yoga dance, guided kayaking, dinner, cooking class. One can partake in any, none, or all of the workshops/classes/activities. I spent half my day in those, and the other writing, meditating, sauna/whirlpool, or walking outdoor paths. I also learned my dosha is predominantly Pitta, that women vegetarians should consume anchovies and oysters to supplement their iron (I am not a vegetarian, but good to know!), and I really, really should steer clear of artificial sweeteners (no more diet pepsi!), will check out Stevia instead. Further nutritional reading recommendation was The China Study, by Dr. T. Colin Campbell.

I attempted to avoid technology, thus didn’t take any photos – but below is one I found to be quite capturing of our view – from Flickr user StephanK. All in all a great trip, but a few tips for next time: 1) people actual bring their laptops, not saying you should but it’s acceptable, 2) bring an extra pillow (for the dorm), 3) RSVP ASAP for kayaking trips, they are in serious demand (there’s a waiting list for the waiting list!).

“…on twitter i can type in on my blackberry, my twitterberry, and say ’sitting with Ellen right now’…”

Ellen: “and 100,000 people know that? tell them I said hi”  

“I put out positive mantras and positive energy …. like, if you are chasing your dream you arent running fast enough, run faster! …For celebrities it helps us take the power back…. if there was a comment or rumor i could twitter it up.”

Ellen: “Do I call it a twit? are you twitting of you’re doing it?”

AND! Now there’s P. Twitty TV (hahah). Life Streaming Diddy!

Enjoy!

Three companies in particular caught my interest; in no particular order:

1 – Artaic – Innovative Mosaic http://artaic.com/
“Artaic is a full service provider of turn-key mosaic projects, from concept through installation. The creation of mosaic is brought to a new level, where art meets technology to make the medium more sophisticated and accessible.” 

2 – Delfigo Security http://www.delfigosecurity.com/
“Delfigo Security is the first in the identity and authentication industry to develop a solution using behavioral characteristics as markers in identity authentication. Our solution uses artificial intelligence based algorithms that uniquely identify users based on multiple factors including keyboard biometrics, geospatial metrics, system parameters, and reflective thinking.”

3 – Movolu http://movolu.com  
“This new advertising network is built for the mobile platform – the application is quite simple. Movolu leverages location information to enhance the mobile experience and connect businesses with customers in their area.” A detailed review can be found at http://nicholascifuentes.com/.

If you haven’t checked out either of these sites, hop on over. Besides giveaways and competitions, both offer up-to-date resources for fashion finds, design, family matters, mind/body, technology and more. Sign up, submit links of your own and join the conversations!