Woman Of The Year

2010-02-17T12:24:00.000-08:00

I watched the movie Woman of the Year made in 1942 starring Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracey. I couldn’t believe how relevant it is to us women today. They play reporters for the same NY newspaper. She is a refined, well educated daughter of a diplomat that writes a political affairs column. He is a sportswriter. They fall in love and marry quickly. You see the relationship burn out pretty quickly too as she puts her career first. She comes across out for success at any cost. She is driven, ambitious, and will stop at nothing to succeed. Which is good isn’t it? ….hmmm well I found out the hard way balance truly is key and apparently so does she.

I can say while building this company I have been obsessed, ambitious and driven. I have also made some serious mistakes because I was so wrapped up I didn’t have a clear perspective of the whole picture. Much Like Katherine Hepburn I was go, go, going. A couple of years ago I worked 17 -20 hours day. I didn’t eat properly, go to the gym, write or meditate. I was a lousy girlfriend I was never around and when I was I was tired or talking about work. I wasn’t happy however I an “ENTREPRENEUR” and that I thought was everything. The only focus I had was growing this to be a successful business so I too could be Woman of the Year (not really but close). When we had to close down our studio and regroup I was lost. Who was I? Where was this going? What have I done? And what on earth am I going to do? What felt like the end, was actually a new beginning.

Today, I write every day, I go to yoga 3-4 times a week, cook dinner for myself, go out with friends and am grateful to be a part of growing SIC. I have a life that is full that I love because I was forced to find balance. I am still ambitious and as driven as ever. The difference is I am happy.

That’s SIC
Erin

Woman of the Year won an Academy Award for Best Writing, Original Screenplay and was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role. In 1999, this film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant

A SIC Barbie

2010-02-15T23:09:00.000-08:00

Has anyone heard Barbie has a new career?

Do you remember in 1992 when she was programmed to say, “Math class is tough” ? Well, I guess she has come a long way. She will next be a computer engineer. Way to go Mattel!

For more on Barbie to go http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/12/barbies-next-career-computer-engineer/

That’s SIC!-Erin

2009-05-12T08:48:00.000-07:00

Women must embrace themselves and know they are smart enough to attain their goals. It’s when they give themselves permission to be real and vulnerable that they break their bindings. Before then, you are constantly trying to protect yourself making sure you sound right, look right and dress right. When you take that off and say” I am good enough, I just am who I am”, that’s when you let people connect. That’s when you show up as really who you are. I think when you are vulnerable, that’s when you are most attractive. Being vulnerable never threatens the fact that I am smart, it just lets people in. It lets people feel my heart.

Ariane de Bonvoisin

The First 30 Days is now available in paperback. It is a fabulous book for anyone going through change, wanting to change or needing to change. Pick up a copy, let us know what change you are making. Change is good.

http://www.first30days.com/

Smart is Cool.

Lost Shoe...Found Hope

2009-05-04T11:57:00.000-07:00

This is dedicated to the NYC stranger, Michael: My knight in shining armor.

Through the growth of this movement we have incredible opportunities to meet both amazing women and incredible men.

On my way to an important meeting with a radio celebrity, I hopped on the subway at Spring Street, NYC. While rushing to board the train, my shoe incident began. My heel got caught in the lip of the yellow painted line at the edge of the platform. I stumbled onto the train and right out of my shoe! Before I knew it I was standing on the train a little shell shocked, missing one shoe. As I turned, the dread flowed through me as I then witnessed, in slow motion, my remaining shoe’s birth twin tumbling with grace onto the tracks. Two men gently ushered me back onto the platform to try to retrieve my now orphaned shoe. I embarrassedly hopped over to the booth and told the unusually attentive MTA worker what happened. She radioed men to the tracks to retrieve it; she stated it would be a while. Using the most feminine and nimble stair hop I could manage, I rose to street level in search of a pair of surrogate shoes. I was never so happy to see H&M! I hopped over there, hopped to the shoe department, bought a pair of cheap flats and ran full speed back to the subway straight to the attendant. “D’re gonna haf-ta stop da trains ta get da shew. Whadda-ya wanna do lady?” I thought of my shoe with a sad mourning. My SIC meeting was vital to the greater good of the SIC community. The interview was important. I knew I had to sacrifice one, for the good of the many. Shoe abandonment; left on the tracks in the filth, with the rats and of course no shoe in sight to keep her company. It broke my heart, but sometimes our hand is forced. I took a moment of silence. “No, please don’t stop the trains I have a very important meeting and I need to get uptown.” She started to say something about the shoe becoming the property of the NYC transit. Right then is when a gentleman handed me a Duane Reade plastic bag and said “Excuse miss I got you a pair of flip flops.” On autopilot, I took the bag and said thank you. In a blink, the man was gone.

Then it hit me: Something wonderful just happened. This man wanted nothing in return. A complete stranger went out of his way to help me; A purely selfless act. I ran to the stairs a shouted up to him, “Hey wait, what’s your name?” “Michael” He shouted back, and then kept going. My thank you to him was not just for the shoes, but for restoring some of my faith in the direction of the world. I heard the train pulling in and I turned to catch it. While I was on the train, both shoes on, I opened the Duane Reade bag and found a pair of black flip flops with little diamond studs along the top. I sat in amazement of what just happened. Though I was running late for this very important meeting, a sense of calm clarity came over me.
My life is beautiful; full of family, friends and strangers helping me get where I need to go. I know I am on the right path.
Smart is Cool -Erin

Smart is Cool

2009-05-01T07:11:00.000-07:00

Obama says smart is cool; he worries nation losing attitude that learning is a privilege
By Associated Press
12:19 PM EDT, April 29, 2009
ARNOLD, Mo. (AP) — President Barack Obama says smart is cool, and he worries the country is losing its love of learning.

At a town hall-appearance in Missouri marking his 100th day in office Wednesday, Obama was asked about challenges in education and how he'd make things better.

He talked about having quality teachers in classrooms.

But the president said he worries that the country may be giving up on the idea that it's "cool to be smart."

Have no fear Mr. President, Smart is Cool.

The media has latched on to the term “smart is the new cool.” But we, including the President and his wife, have known that smart is cool period. It’s not a trend or a fad, it’s a way of life. Always has been and always will be.

Smart is Cool:

Understanding and embracing all the unique talents you have in order to make decisions in your life…Smart

Seizing the opportunities that the world presents to you… Cool.

Living the life that you dream of... Smart is Cool

What is Smart is Cool to you?

Little Miss Perfect

2009-04-17T07:14:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I watched an episode of a program called Little Miss Perfect for the first time.

So many feelings rushed through me…horror, fear, anger, sadness and hope. Has anyone else watched an episode?

It is a show about child beauty pageants. It follows moms and their young daughters behind the scenes preparing for the beauty competition and then at the competition itself. I saw a 9 year old get a spray tan! I can’t count how many times I heard someone say smile so you sparkle. Sparkle, sparkle ,sparkle ! Are you kidding me?

The children had more makeup on than I have ever worn in my life, complete with false eyelashes, a lot of blue eye shadow and enormous amounts of blush and finished with lipstick. The outfits for the “talent” part of the competition bordered on lingerie for some girls. Never mind the “talent” part only seemed be a choreographed dance much to their mother’s wishes.

The Mothers!!!!! What can I say? They are using this “Little Miss Perfect” as some sort of validation for themselves. It is so sad on so many levels. It is sad that these women do not realize the true meaning of self confidence, independence and community. Their drive to win is damaging these beautiful young girls. The irony is that most of the mothers were out of shape and one even admitted her own low self esteem. These young girls do not yet know real role models. They are pushed to “perfection” in what their damaged mother sees as important.

Our hope is to have enough scholarships for former Little Miss Perfect girls so they can have a chance to experience their inner strengths and talents, to help them become true leaders in their communities and to know Smart is Cool.

West Coast Conference

2009-04-17T07:08:00.000-07:00

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/04/womans_nation.html

Maria Shriver, who leads the California Women’s Conference—the pre-eminent forum for, by, and about American women—is launching a multifaceted project in partnership with the Center for American Progress and the University of Southern California’s Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy. TIME magazine will also be involved in research and reporting, as well as co-presenting discussions and roundtables around the country.

The last expansive government project centered on women was conducted under the presidency of John F. Kennedy, who appointed Eleanor Roosevelt in 1961 to chair a commission to report on the status of women. A Woman’s Nation will report its findings to the nation, Congress, and President Obama, who recently signed an executive order to establish a council to coordinate the federal government's efforts to address the needs of women and girl.

It will be interesting to see and hear the results.

I am sure our community of women welcomes this opportunity to re-examine the almost 50 years of womanhood that have made us who we are today.

Smart is Cool

The First Lady Knows

2009-04-17T06:59:00.000-07:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/business/2009/g20/7980476.stm

The BBC covered Michelle Obama speaking to pupils at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School about the importance of education in female empowerment.

The caption reads… Smart is Cool.

We are thrilled to be a part of building this community of women embracing all their unique talents to redefine smart and set standards of cool.

This sisterhood has actually been growing for years quietly, secretly but always passionately and today we can celebrate out loud, laugh and confidently come together to live full lives based on this belief.

Our hope is to help all women become self confident, independent, community minded leaders.

We are honored that Micelle Obama knows Smart is Cool.

2009-02-08T10:08:00.000-08:00

What a great picture taken by photographer Laura Novak!! It really sums up our day. A day where smart, driven woman came together to grow the Smart Is Cool movement.

This was our version of a "round table board meeting". There were no stuffy leather seats and uncomfortable corporate clothes. We wore our favorite jeans and our black Smart Is Cool tee and took pictures. Now that is of brainstorming in style!

We can only give you a sneak peek with a photograph of Erin Darby. Although we would love to post all the pics we need to keep our board members top secret until our official press release. We are very excited and grateful to all who were there we are so blessed to have you all in our lives....

2009-01-30T07:05:00.000-08:00

Be Smart with Heart this Valentine`s Day. Let`s promote all that is Smart and Cool about us girls with the ultra soft pink Smart Is Cool tee.

A portion of all sales goes to develop future leaders through....Girls Take Charge...www.girlstakecharge.org

The Designers behind S.I.C.

2008-06-12T14:36:00.000-07:00

Two NYC designers are on a mission to create smart inspirational fashion that motivates young girls to look at the world around them and "do something good".
The designers are Erin Darby and Ana Maria Henao. They come from two very different backgrounds professionally however they share the same passion for fashion, determination to succeed, and drive to make a difference in the lives of young women everywhere.

Erin Darby graduated from St Francis College in Brooklyn NY with a BA in Psychology. Her first Job out of college was teaching second grade in East NY Brooklyn. She went on to work for a non-profit for two years in their IT department before returning back to school for acting. She attended the prestigious William Esper Studio in NYC for 2 years where Bill Esper himself was her teacher. After finishing the program she went on to audition for acting jobs, began to write a screen play and started to teach herself the cut, sew, dye and screen print business. She started a tee-shirt line in 2004 that sold in boutiques nationwide. She believes her real accomplishment in design started when she partnered up with Ana Maria Henao in late 2006. The designs became much more fashion forward. The "design duo" as they are often referred to have something very special. They work off each other really well and their designs reflect that.

Ana Maria Henao attended the London School of Fashion. She knew from a very early age fashion would be her life. Ana would perform "makeovers" for the girls that were picked on in school. She has worked in the corporate side of fashion for more than 10 years. Working for designers such as Leslie Fay, and Wayne Rogers as well as being the head designer for a tween fashion line that was picked up by all major department stores in its first season. Ana is a fantastic designer. She follows the trends, collects the information and introduces the new styles in the line. Get ready to be blown away for Fall 08's limited edition.

There is never a dull moment in the lives of Erin and Ana. No workday is ever the same. They go to meetings in the fashion district with billionaires, millionaires, showroom reps, and friends. They spend a lot of time in their Brooklyn studio/boutique where they design their lines, write their press releases and send out all online orders and packages. They attend parties and work with many charities. They even auction off their services to make custom couture dresses to help raise money for causes. They are motivational speakers and partner to the non-profit organization Girls Take Charge and sit on the advisory board of Girls Write Now.

We are blogging about what is exactly involved in being a designer, entrepreneur, best friend, sister and activist. Hopefully along the way we will inspire young girls to create, design and bring change to their communities.