New York, San Antonio, Seattle and Beyond: Better Because is Moving a Mountain of Discouragement

The good for you Better Because movement takes flight.

Inspired by the Dalai Lama, in the middle of a recession two pals, moms, and self proclaimed "rat racers", Ginny Hutchinson and Cathy Haffner jumped from their Fortune 100 careers to launch Better Because. In no time flat 4,300+ new folks have friended them on Facebook and sent in smiles and stories from around the globe of what their life is "better because of" today. Nordstrom has snapped-up the duo's book, "Better Because of You", and will carry it for the holidays. Proceeds from book sales support "Room to Read", a great non-profit that builds libraries for children in need in Asia and Africa.

In NYC, cosmetic genius Trish McEvoy ordered 50 books to give to her friends. In Seattle, Union Bank Mortgage Consultant Aaron Tyler purchased 32 books for each of his co-workers and couldn't believe the
response-- just the cover put a smile on their faces.

Folks with the flu have read it to their families, those recovering from heart surgery have shared the book as a thank you to friends who visited them at the hospital, while others have turned to the book for ways to comfort grief stricken family dealing with tragedy. Powerful stuff here.

Featured yesterday on KIRO's CEO Spotlight, Cathy and Ginny talked how wonderfully rewarding it is to help others in these tough times.

In San Antonio recently, they shared their "attitude of gratitude" and simple ways to focus on the little things that make life better.

To hear KIRO's Jason' Brook's interview paste this url into your browser and take a listen: http://mynorthwest.com/resources/audio_headlines/audio_player.php?a=12071

"Trying to start a movement is one of the toughest things in the world, but two women hope to move a mountain of discouragement by getting people to find what's good in life."

To see Cathy and Ginny on San Antonio Living, click the blog title above.

We continue to be better because of knowing Cathy and Ginny and hope you'll take a moment to get to know them too. Trust us, you'll feel just a little bit better. Visit www.BetterBecause.com and get inspired!

Photo of author Ginny Hutchinson with Trish McEvoy.

Recession Trend: So Long Lipstick Effect, Hello Implant Index

Seattle’s Dr. Richard Baxter Shares New Economic Indicator

Dr. Richard Baxter, a nationally recognized cosmetic surgeon who’s just been named Favorite Plastic Surgeon in KING TV’s Best of Western Washington poll, has noticed a new trend: as the economy has shrunk, so has the size of breast implants. After years of edging ever larger, during the last year more women are choosing a full “B” cup. And no, smaller implants do not cost less. Prior to the recession, fewer than a third of Baxter’s clients chose a B cup. Now, about half are choosing a B. Baxter will continue to see how the "Implant Index" performs during the return to economic stability. If his index holds true, the “C” cup is where we want to be.

Today’s Puget Sound Business Journal breaks the full story in Patti Payne’s column: “A fleshy indicator-implants. Plastic surgeons say women opt for smaller enhancements during downturns... Women wanting breast implants are trending toward the smaller sizes. Why? Blame it on the economy. So says Dr. Richard Baxter, a Seattle cosmetic surgeon who has done thousands of breast implants and more, in his 20-plus years at Baxter Plastic Surgery

Baxter’s confidential client list contains some amazingly recognizable names, people who have turned to him for all types of plastic surgery. I say this with confidence because I know some of the people who rely on him to keep them perky — women and men.

Prior to the current recession, two thirds of Baxter’s breast-implant patients wanted to supersize. Now half are choosing a B cup. “Breasts were literally shrinking as our economy collapsed,” says one source who is close to the situation.

Click here to read the full article: http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/11/02/tidbits2.html

Thanks to Providence for a Great Review of Tavern Law in Today's Seattle Times

Cicero's review is entitled: "Tavern Law salutes the glory days of American bartending and offers an alchemy of flavors both in the glass and on the plate". It reads in part, "Tavern Law isn't for those who drink to forget; it's the thinking drinker's watering hole. You get an inkling of that as you browse the drinks menu, an almost scholarly tome complete with glossary and historical notes. The bill of fare, on the other hand, isn't even printed. It's written in chalk and lists just eight plates. But don't for a minute think food is peripheral here, not with Brian McCracken and Dana Tough in the kitchen.
These creative young chefs dug their Spur into Belltown and galloped to national attention last year. Now they've opened Tavern Law in the restaurant thicket of Pike/Pine. Who should go? Hedonists (over 21 only), cerebral cocktailians and anyone who's ever wished they'd lived through America's first Gilded Age."

To read the entire mothwatering review, go to the Times website: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/restaurants/2010163657_cicero30.html

Photo of bartender Philip Thompson by the Seattle Times' Cliff Despeaux.

Rebekah Denn Writes Up Ivy Manning's Adaptable Feast Cookbook for CSM.com

For those of us commonly cooking for a mixed bag of dietary preferences, Denn wrote a great piece today on the CSMonitor blog about client Ivy Manning's new book The Adaptable Feast (Sasquatch). Denn writes, in part:

"My sister was trying to figure out how to make dinner for her meat-loving husband and vegetarian teen, and I had the perfect book for her: “The Adaptable Feast,” the newest cookbook by Portland-based writer Ivy Manning. It’s aimed at “mixed-diet households,” teaching how to satisfy vegetarians, vegans, and omnivores alike without turning into a short-order cook.

The book is a timely one – not just in my own household, with a 7-year-old vegetarian and a 2-year-old who carefully removes every fleck of chard from his chicken – but also seems well-timed for a country just starting to coalesce around the idea of dining compromises. Die-hard vegetarians and vegans have their followers and have their own cookbooks, but those preach to a converted audience. I think now we’ve suddenly hit the era of meeting each other halfway."

To read the entire article, click on the blog title above. And to learn more about Ivy's great new book, check out her blog at http://www.ivysfeast.blogspot.com/

Thanks Rebekah!

Photo of borscht from Ivy's new cookbook, by Gregor.

Our Life is Better Because: More Than Eight Minutes of Happiness Sharing in less Than 24hrs on Our Local NBC Affiliate

You all know about our clients and friends Cathy Haffner and Ginny Hutchinson, founders of the powerful global groundswell forming: Better Because. In the last week their story's gotten real traction with our friends in the media including KIRO's Jason Brooks and KING TV's evening news and morning news. What a great feeling to know that the media, oft tasked with reporting the negatives in our society, is open and hungry for stories of goodness.

Why do websites like F*** My Life get so much traffic and attention? Recent studies show negative words are way more catchy than positive ones. Defeated by such news and trends? NO WAY. Not these two pals, Ginny and Cathy decided to DO SOMETHING. They both have stories to tell like Cathy who went from being a baby in a bamboo hut in the Philippines, to rocking a Fortune 100 career, to ditching it all to launch a movement dedicated to inspiring positive action after seeing the terrifying impact of teen depression in her own daughter's life. The result? http://www.betterbecause.com/ in just a few weeks over 4,000 folks have friended us on Facebook and sent in their smiles and stories from around the GLOBE of what makes their life "better because of" today. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Better-Because/104319583705?ref=ts

This week's great news? In addition to all this wonderful media, Nordstrom just grabbed the duo's book to carry in their stores nationally and the University Bookstore, where we did a TV taping the other day, is carrying their line of merchandise too.

Thanks to all! We're better because of you.

Photo of Cathy and Ginny with KING 5's Carolyn Douglas by Kat.

a bittersweet celebration: Tavern Law's excellent Gourmet magazine write up

The news that Gourmet magazine's been given the axe has us all crying over our cutting boards and our key boards. We love Gourmet. We love Ruth. We love the photos, the recipes, the stories. We're stunned.

And here we've been on pins and needles for weeks, awaiting the article we knew was coming on Tavern Law. Written by Matthew Amster-Burton, and accompanied by a great photo of the chefs by Kristin Zwiers, we hope you'll take a moment to click on the link above and read the entire article at Gourmet.com. Who knows , maybe the extra web traffic will employ a few more talented folks over there under the Epicurious.com umbrella. We can only hope.

Some of what Gourmet said included, "...you have full access to Tavern Law’s encyclopedic drink menu, equipped with a glossary in case you don’t know your fizzes from your flips. The food—poached salmon, fried oysters, sautéed pimientos de Padrón—is expertly cooked and appropriately modest, as if devised to keep your mind on beverages. "

Thank you Matthew and congrats to our friends and clients Chefs Brian McCracken and Dana Tough with Bartender/Manager David Nelson of Tavern Law on a terrific piece. This article's one we'll all keep pinned to our bulletin boards. A sweet celebration indeed.

HUGO BOSS Grand Opening Party with DETAILS magazine

This Thursday night DETAILS magazine debuts the new BOSS store from 6:00-8:30 at Bellevue Square and you're invited. To be added to our guest list please RSVP to: details_rsvp@condenast.com

What's in store that night? DJ "Risk One" from the famous Scratch DJ Academy in NY will be there while you sip Redhook brews and Kim Crawford wines. Play roulette for cool prizes including $500-$1000 Boss shopping sprees, gift certificates to Dahlia Lounge, Spur Gastropub, and Tavern Law, plus an overnight stay at the Westin.

The new HUGO BOSS store is located at 575 Bellevue Square. Visit www.hugoboss-store.com to register to receive exclusive info on HUGO BOSS and for a chance to win a $1,000 Hugo Boss wardrobe.

Part of Bellevue's Fashion Week, come on Thursday, ready to get your photo taken and to check out some great new fashions. RSVP required to this invitation-only event. Email us with questions!