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Girlfriendology 101
Guide to the Online Community for Women based on Female Friendship |
September 18, 2009 |
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 Dear girlfriend,
“Girlfriends?!” You can almost hear their eyes roll and catch the faint loathing in their apathetic voice. (Seriously!)
“Girlfriends?” It conjours images of teen girls, catty groups of young women or maybe ladies in Red Hats. Or, it takes on a romantic relationship or other that-doesn’t-apply-to-me feelings.
“Girlfriends?” And as an entrepreneurial pursuit?! Why not a ‘normal’ passion like writing, golf, knitting or, God-help-me, accounting? (No disrespect for Accountants, you just wouldn’t want me doing your finances!) Why not find a nice company, pick a job and settle down like everyone else? Why ‘girlfriends’? And why at the risk of little/no income and un-godly hours? (As I write this at 4am!)
Regardless of the response I’ve had from friends and strangers regarding my entrepreneurial passion to create and grow Girlfriendology, I feel honored. I feel blessed to have found my ‘calling.’ I am happy to pursue perhaps the unglamourous, unpaid, unrecognized role of ‘cheerleader’ for female friendship.
This ‘job satisfaction’ hit me again this week as I talked with an inspiring, powerful woman who gets the ‘girlfriend thing.’ We talked about how it’s not just ‘girlfriends,’ it’s women supporting women. It’s recognizing and appreciating the beauty in women making each other’s lives better through friendship, sharing and caring.
Call it what you want ... women supporting women, girlfriends and their friendships, ‘doing life together.’ It’s recognizing that we can have different career paths, passions and journeys ahead of us, but it’s more fun and fabulous when our lives are friend-filled. Life really is better together – with your girlfriends!
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 Do your best ‘Kool & the Gang’ …
CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES,
come on!
We’re celebrating National Women’s Friendship MONTH - so start the girlfriend celebration (aka: ‘good times!’)!
We had the first of our National Women’s Friendship Month celebrations last night with the wonderful Cooking With Caitlin girlfriends – Molly (shown here), Kelly and Caitlin. Nine girlfriend-inspired mini-courses (including a decedent s’more – homemade marshmallow on a homemade graham crackers over a chocolate martini! And cookie dough spoons you could roll in chocolate chips, M&Ms, etc.), on a perfect night on a rooftop garden and surrounded by fun people – it was good times!! Caitlin even created several courses with ORANGE in them, like our iconic Girlfriendology flower. What a great way to kick off the girlfriend celebration! (See more photos on our Facebook fan page!)
- NEW EVENT! Women & Wine Tasting (by Wine Store owner Mary) – TONIGHT (Friday, 9/18) at The Wine Store (9905 Montgomery Rd, Montgomery) – 4-7pm. All the wines are by, for or about women!
- Girlfriend Day at the Ballet – Bring a girlfriend and meet new ones there! It’s girlfriend day at the Cincinnati Ballet for their ‘New Works’ performance. Mention ‘Girlfriendology’ and $45 tickets will magically become $30! Call for your tickets: 513-621-5282 – plus we’ll have surprises there!
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Get HAPPY (hour) with your Girlfriends – Join us on Sept. 21st (5:30-on) for a fab evening with your fab friends. Balboa in O’Bryonville (2038 Madison Rd) for happy hour with appetizers and drink specials. 
But what are YOU doing to celebrate National Women’s Friendship Month? Share your updates and photos on our Facebook page, tweet your stories and Twitpics – spread the word and have a fun, friend-filled CELEBRATION OF GIRLFRIENDS!
Here’s just a few of the fun things going on Girlfriendology.com:
We’ve had such a great response to our daily inspirational quote on Girlfriendology and Twitter, that we’re going to bring them to you (without you having to come to us!). Starting in October, every Mon-Thurs you’ll receive a short, inspiring way to start your day (and on Friday you’ll get this newsletter). Just sign up below this newsletter where it says: Update Profile/Email Address.
 Do you know a WAHM? (Work-at-home-Mom) Did you know there’s a new, cool, FREE, great WAHM giveaway? Go for it! And tell your girlfriends!
Next week on Girlfriendology: Network your way to new friendships and opportunities, updates on all the National Women’s Friendship Month festivities and more!
Want to know what the latest girlfriend BUZZ is right? Well, join the Girlfriendology community and share, laugh, learn or find out what the latest BUZZ is! Plus, membership has it’s benefits! Check out discounts for being in the Girlfriendology community! (And more to come!)
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Girlfriendology BlogTalkRadio guests: MARUXA MURPHY, Momprenaire
 It’s a fun, friend-filled Friday on BlogTalkRadio/ Girlfriendology TODAY at 11am PST/2:00pm EST!
MARUXA MURPHY, Founder of Momprenaire.com, has a love for encouraging other women towards meeting and surpassing their potential! Momprenaire.com was created to be a community of Mom Entrepreneurs (ie. Nurturing Entrepreneurs) to not only enjoy owning their own business, but to create businesses that allow us to enjoy life OUTSIDE the office!
TODAY at 11am PST/2pm EST on BlogTalkRadio.com/girlfriendology! Listen in!! Next week’s guest: Author BJ Gallagher (great girlfriend books!).
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COMING SOON: The Girlfriendology Girlfriend Gift Store!!!
As a Girlfriendology ‘insider,’ we’ve got the scoop for you. We know the time it involves to find the perfect present for your favorite friend. We know how you want to make her feel as special as her friendship is to you, right? And, we (being shoppers ourselves!) know the joy when we find just the right gift that we love giving and she’ll love receiving.
So, for the past couple months we’ve been on the hunt for great girlfriend gifts. We’re thrilled to have found U.S. manufacturers who have created custom girlfriend gifts just for Girlfriendology girlfriends.
Coming soon to Girlfriendology:
- She Beads – These celebrity accessories (worn by Beyonce to Randy Jackson!) are going Girlfriendology-y with custom beads with our iconic orange gerbera daisy. From this solo ring (which I get complimented on bunches!), to earrings, bracelets, keyrings and necklaces, they each are a work of art – like your beautiful BFFs.
- Possets Perfumes- Talk about passion, perfumist Fabienne has created three custom Girlfriendology fragrances for you and your favorite friends. “Bottled Happiness,” as she describes her perfumes, is true! I wore one of the fragrances to the event last night and kept smelling something really good – and it turns out it was me! Plus, we’ll even cutomize the label with your girlfriend’s name/initials or other ideas. (Perfect for birthday gifts, party or bridesmaid favors, stocking stuffers, etc.!)
- T-Shirts, Mugs, Bags and More – Like these “Stand by your man, but sit with your girlfriends” designs. Great for a girlfriend group, trip or ‘just because’ gifts.
- More to come! We’ll share as soon as we can!
So, plan ahead for upcoming girlfriend birthdays, holidays (remember, it’s National Women’s Friendship Month – but you can celebrate girlfriends any day!), trips, parties and events. And, if you are interested in these girlfriend gifts NOW, just email us at info@girlfriendology.com. We’ll help you make your girlfriends feel as special as their friendship is to you!
Don’t forget our affiliates:
- FEMAIL CREATIONS – One of our favorite sites for ‘inspiring gifts for women.’ Don’t you agree?!
- AVON – From fashion to fragrance, gifts to jewelry, wrinkle creme to make-up, Avon has it all and we’re excited to be one of their partners!
  UNCOMMON GOODS – Unique home accessories, gifts, jewelry and fun stuff!
- CROCS- Have you seen the new styles for men and women? I bet you’ll be surprised and impressed!
- VERA BRADLEY – You know the girlfriend who would LOVE to some Vera!!
- e.l.f. Cosmetics – Affordable, fun and fabulous make-up and girlie gifts.
 Or, if you really want to surprise your BFF, plan a girlfriend trip with this cute little yellow suitcase on Girlfriendology.com. Thanks Girlfriend!
 Save time and money – create your own custom greeting cards with Send Out Cards - and never even leave your laptop!
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“There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.”
 George Sand
I watched from a table away. Three women were having dinner together. The one in the middle had a large string of letters draped around her like a million dollar accessory. It read: H-A-P-P-Y-B-I-R-T-H-D-A-Y-!.
They seemed to float from laughter to serious conversation. I imagined that they were lifelong girlfriends. That they’d been through life’s ups and downs together – possibly the loss of a partner or child, disappointment in where life took them or uncertainty of their future. That they had celebrated many events prior to this dinner – the birth of children and maybe grandchildren, tales of their travels and adventures, the annual ritual of birthday dinners and more.
I watched and felt such a feeling of happiness. Not just for them and their friendship, but for the opportunity to share life with each other. The anticipation of growing old doesn’t thrill me, but growing old with my friends by my side makes it a lot less scary and much more fun.
Are you happy? Are you as content or joyful as you would like to be? Do you have friends to love and be loved by? It’s never too late to find, grow, recover a friendship. Because … life really is better together – with your girlfriends!
THANKS Girlfriend! Have a fun, friend-filled week!!
Debba Haupert, Girlfriendology founder
Follow and join: Twitter/Girlfriendology, Facebook, LinkedIn, Flickr Group
p.s. Don’t forget to listen in at 11:00am PST/2:00pm EST TODAY for our BlogTalkRadio show! And next Friday at the same time!
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… girlfriends, BFFs, girls, gal pals, book club, knitting friends, neighbors, coworkers, sisters … whatever.
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