From Thousands of Views of DC…
May 20, 2010
I keep uncovering new blogs from a variety of women in D.C. who are at various stages of life. This week, I uncovered DC Ladies, written mostly by a mom and daughter who just wanted to do something creative together. They manage to highlight great city locations and activities in a personal way. Wonder if my little Mia will do that with me when she’s old enough to choose otherwise? 
There are thousands of DC blogs, really. Who has time for all of them? My colleague Mark has introduced me to a number of those worth following and I trust him on this, as he’s the cheeky social set master. Two of my favorite – mostly because I get to live vicariously through them – are Kate Michael at KStreetKate and Pamela Sorensen at Pamela’s Punch.
From the Daily Candy emails to high end caterers like DesignCuisine to my new favorite… the Mrs. O Watch… these only skim the surface of the breadth of eye candy content available. On my simple mind this morning… what Michelle wore last night to the State Dinner…. And I’ve gotta say, she was stunning in her Peter Soronen..(photo by the Washington Post). How does she always manage to work in a belt?! I mean, seriously!
Coming soon… the best issue and government blogs in DC…(yes, there may be a Microsoft connection somehow….)
5 Years Old
January 15, 2010
“Mama, am I still the littlest in the Klause family?”
“On my birthday I want to go to the spa and pick out my nailpolish and your nailpolish….You have to wear what I choose for you..”
Color choice for Mama..sort of Goth meets TidyBowl
Lady Gaga
Michelle Obama: my not-so-secret girl crush
January 7, 2010
It’s funny. Mention Michelle Obama and it seems to me that you get either fawning adoration or back-handed compliments from those who don’t really like her but aren’t quite sure how vigorously to oppose her. As with most First Ladies, the majority of the U.S. public are indifferent; they are happy to see her stick to her “issue” whatever that might be, and don’t want her to ruffle too many feathers.
Sunday’s Style section had an odd piece on her — at once acknowledging the duty portion of her role as first lady in hosting more traditional “women’s issues” events — such as around Breast Cancer and mentoring — and simultaneously showing how much more effective and warm she is when she comes out from behind the podium. The Robin Givhan article suggested that Michelle’s first year lacked focus… I disagree…Yes, she tried to do a lot, and honestly, that is one thing I like about her. She’s not afraid to try a lot of new things as she finds her way as First Lady. Yet even her key ”pet” issue, promoting healthy childhood and family eating, got a TON of traction and attention.
It’s probably no big surprise that I often find myself on the opposing political side when she takes to the airwaves and whitehouse.gov videos in an attempt at amplifying her husband’s policy (read: healthcare) agenda. However, in most settings, she comes across to me as refreshing and fun. Here’s my top 4 list of things I love about Michelle:
4) Her honesty about finding balance in managing work and family — while always putting her family first. Sure, she now has a lot of help so probably no longer has to manage the tasks that many of us do, including laundry, makeup, packing lunches, errands, and shopping. However it wasn’t always this way for her. She often refers to times when her husband was off politicking and she was the one who had to find a way to manage the essential meeting at the office while tending to a sick child at home. It may be because she still has young children that she seems to “get” the tug-of-war struggle that most working parents feel.
3) Her kitchen garden! This has been an amazing hit — it almost seems crazy that the White House inhabitants haven’t created or magnified the benefits of a White House garden since Eleanor Roosevelt’s victory garden plot during WWII! Not only does it tie nicely to Michelle’s platform on healthy eating, but it allows her to bring in everyone from local children to the Iron Chef America crew in order to get the message across. Her team has done an amazing job of creatively promoting the garden.
2) Her inclination to tease…starting with her husband. We first saw this right after Obama was elected and the incoming First Couple sat down with Barbara Walters. Babs asked then President-elect Obama what chores he did around the house. Obama started to wax poetic about finding relaxation in washing the dishes. Calling bull*&%@ on him for the world to see, Michelle said bluntly, “Really, when you have last washed dishes?” So busted. Of course she’s much more cautious now, as it seems people didn’t like how she would pick on him. I found some of her “he doesn’t pick up his socks” comments just plain real.
1) Her style!! Yes, I said it. I am always looking to see what she is wearing!! Very shallow yes — that is if you think fashion is shallow – - I actually don’t. Like no First Lady since Jackie Kennedy has one taken such an interest in fashion (publicly). Although she has some misses and people make fun of the JCrew get-ups as if JCrew precludes her form truly being a fashion diva, I actually think this all makes it more real. What woman doesn’t hit and miss sometimes if they are truly adventurous with fashion? Yes Jackie had the storied relationship with Oleg Cassini. Yes, Laura Bush stuck pretty much with Oscar de la Renta. All perfectly fine, perhaps wise and safe. You could argue that these women knew what worked for them and didn’t drift far from their ”uniform.” But, Michelle is young enough and her personality vivacious enough that she’s willing to explore. In in the process, she’s given new life to the State Dinner Red carpets…. and, since Inauguration, kept us guessing as to ”who” she’d wear next. One need only to read Robin Givhan’s 2009 summary on fashion hits and misses to see that Michelle is all over the BEST of the year.
So, we’ll see what 2010 brings…My vote is for less of the President and more of his wife!
Sunny with a chance of wilting
December 2, 2009
Always reminds me of the vast fields of summer sunflowers in Hockenheim, Germany
We are still enjoying them.....
Windows 7 Takes Off!
October 27, 2009
From Seattle to West Hempfield township, Lancaster County, Windows 7 Parties are taking place all over…honestly, I should have launched it here at the House of Klause — not only because I am loving it (I work for Microsoft, what do you expect), but because my Mac husband has been using it longer than me (on one of his 7 machines) and loves it… Here are some direct quotes…from me and from him… guess which one is from whom..
“It’s fun to shake the screens have all but one disappear”
“It’s 64-bit goodness rocks”
“The Sticky Notes function (start, all programs, accessories, stickynotes)”
“It starts up wicked quick”
“Stability, reliability, security”
“The new tool bar allows me to manage about 50 windows at once!”
Yes, some of these are from the very guy who made my life difficult this week by re-launching White House.gov in Drupal/Open Source. (big sigh…) But I digress. Just for fun, here are some glowing stories on Windows 7…
— First is my colleague Kristin’s summary blog post on some of the cool stuff happening around the launch…she highlights a very cool campaign that our citizenship team launched called “7 ways to change the world’ — looking specifically at how Windows 7 features can benefit the work of non profits and governmental efforts to address the world’s challenges.
— eSchool News: Schools give Windows 7 favorable reviews
— Wall Street Journal – A Windows to Help You Forget….“After using pre-release versions of Windows 7 for nine months, and intensively testing the final version for the past month on many different machines, I believe it is the best version of Windows Microsoft has produced. It’s a boost to productivity and a pleasure to use. Despite a few drawbacks, I can heartily recommend Windows 7 to mainstream consumers.”
– Wired — Seven good reasons to switch to Windows 7…..“Because no matter how comfortable you are with XP, you do deserve an OS that’s both newer and better, and Windows 7 will deliver.”
— CNET – Microsoft Windows 7 (Professional)…CNET editor’s rating: Outstanding
Good Butt Genes?
September 6, 2009
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about jeans….and genes… Jeans because we are on the verge of Fall and I realized 1) I really need to shed about 20 pounds to rightfully wear my Levis skinny jeans in public, and 2) my SevenforAllMankind Good Butt Jeans are the only pair I have… I am rightfully due for a shopping spree.
However, the more important genes on my mind recently have been those that I’ve inherited. My mother’s brush (still going on) with Cancer and my Grandma Good’s suffering from Alzheimer’s has brought a few realities of genetics (and dare I say, mortality) very close to home.
There may be a discoverable genetic predisposition to cancer on the Siegrist side of the House. As Mom’s doctors close in on a diagnosis after the last (non Ovarian cancer) weeks of uncertainty, we can take the next steps for her health. We’ll then look at the potential benefits we could find (as a family) in genetic counseling. As part of that, I want my Dad, my brother and me to explore the chances that each of us is in line for Alzheimers. The emerging research here gives us reason for hope….
It’s only due to the incredible work taking place in genomics today that we’re now getting closer to a place of actually knowing — and in my mind better preparing for — what may lie ahead for each of us…. The work of the incredible Francis Collins, who led NIH’s Human Genome mapping effort (and now runs the show at NIH)… has led to the birth of pioneering efforts like 23andme. And just this week, Linda Avey, one of 23andMe’s founders, announced that she is leaving the organization to start the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation. Linda lost a father in law to Alzheimers, a personal impact so close to home that she’s preparing to give all of her professional energy and expertise to the alleviation of this sad, heart-wrenching disease.
Though some genetic “gifts” (or in my deriere case “witholdings”) become clear much earlier in life, it is those yet undiscovered that are most fascinating… Linda, sign me up to for your trials.
Beantown Favorite
May 2, 2009
So, even though my Sweetie was born in Boston, he’s not really a true New Englander. Rob certainly has the “no r” Rivere accent down (“Pahk the cah”)… The whole Italian thing…ok. Although not quite to the level of ”The Depahted,” I think we can check that box, thank you Cannarozzos, Lussos. But when all is said and done, we just don’t get there often enough…
So it has been fun recently as I have begun to follow again one of my favorite Boston gals, Christine DiCarlo on Daily Cookie. Have you ever met one of those Force of Nature sort of people? Well, Christine is all that. I first met her when we began Microsoft Federal’s Salute to Our Troops program. Christine ran the last two events and has got to be the best events planner in the U.S. ..hands down..
Our Salute core team at the Times Square NYC Hard Rock balcony: Tonya, Becky, Christina, Christine and Kathy
Ever since I met Christine and learned she has a blog, I’ve gone to her for any fashion insight I can find. She probably finds me to be the “poor soul” and has charity on me, telling me what boyfriend jeans are, taking me to Barneys for the first time, scolding me for rookie spa mistakes… stuff like that! But she knows a ton.
I am not at all surprised the the Newbury street Boston hangout has one of their “famous” local drinks named after her, the “Christini.” I’m gonna try it….
THE CHRISTINI:
Kurant Vodka (made from a black currant berry)
Chambord
Fresh lime juice
Shake all above ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass
Add a champagne topper and garnish with edible flowers or a lime wheel
Enjoy!
Lady in Red
April 25, 2009
The Lady in (the) Red cape is of course… Clara Barton….
Clara Barton and Uncle Sam
My big Microsoft Federal boss, Teresa Carlson, is co-chairing the even with Jim Shaeffer of CSC, and the team is building each day…Both Teresa and my colleagues Melissa and Katheryn were draped in red Tuesday night. I didn’t get the memo — but next time I will know! (a good excuse to get a red dress..). Instead I wore what is becoming my “uniform” (only new dress I’ve bought so far this season, so you will see it on me everywhere I go..)
Microsoft gals under Clara Barton
The real true inspiration for the night came from some unsung heroes among us… Most people likely remember Governor Frank Keating from the Oklahoma city bombing 14 years ago when he and his wife Kathy helped a grieving state and country come to terms with the horror of home-bred terrorism.
Kathy and Frank Keating talk about the "essentialness" of the Red Cross
Well, since then, the Keatings have given endless hours and raised millions for the DC regional Red Cross to help ensure that our area is prepaped for such a disaster or act of terrorism.
You can read more about the work of the Red Cross and learn how to get involved in our upcoming events by reading Teresa’s post on Microsoft Federal’s Future Fed blog.
At Last….
January 20, 2009
Of course, that was the song today, the one they danced to over and over at the balls. But the real two words we’ve really been waiting to hear are those that reveal the name of the designer of Michelle Obama’s dress. I was wrong about when it would be revealed. We had to wait til today, tonight even, to hear: Jason Wu.
Not al all what I expected, but i thought she looked beautiful. This dress, by a young, relative newcoming to the fashion world, Wu, may be nothing like the sketches that have been circulating in Womens Wear Daily for the last month. However, it really managed to convey a sweetness, softness that contrasted her otherwise potentially powerful and strong features (her height, shiny/straight dark hair, toned arms). Already her spokesperson has said it is headed to the Smithsonian — hooray!!!!
Soft but powerful
I was equally struck and in probably more in awe of the gorgeous ensemble she wore all day today. The golden dress and matching coat just sparkled. In some ways, as Laura Bush did 4 years ago, choosing a color so neutral (not the traditional black/blue/red) helped her stand above the fray, stand out and look fantastic.
Our new First Lady shimmers in a gorgeous Isabel Toledo ensemble of matching sheath and coat
I love the way Robyn Givhan of the Post put it: “The easy shift between price points has captivated observers who are so accustomed to recent first ladies who have dressed in either pricey designer fashions by Seventh Avenue heavyweight Oscar de la Renta or nondescript blahness. Obama dresses the way contemporary women do, mixing J. Crew with the splurges in their closet. They combine pragmatism with polish. And for this inauguration, despite the dire shape of the economy, they also brought glamour.”
Pretty Woman…
January 15, 2009
As an impressionable 21 year old, way back in early 1992, I had my very first college PR internship in DC at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. As luck would have it, I arrived at the perfect time — the overhaul of the First Lady Exhibition. The most popular exhibition at the museum had the gowns, dresses, even jewelry of the nation’s First Ladies (not all wives, mind you) — I loved to stop and just admire it all — from Nancy Reagan’s red suit to Jackie O’s little pillbox hats. I even remember meeting then-First Lady Barbara Bush, ever gracious and funny. She joined us to cut the ribbon on this exhibition, which took a first step in looking beyond just the gowns to also showcase the important roles that each First Lady played in their leading man’s presidency and for the nation.
So, here we are at the dawn of a new presidency. A new opportunity for another very special woman to put her mark on the role of First Lady and present an important image not only to American daughters but to the world. What is one of the first ways she will do that — by choosing an inaugural gown. Maybe it sounds silly to speak in such symbolism, but I’ve taken a few cues from Robyn Givhan and heck, I’ve watched “The Devil Wears Prada” so i know the message that fashion sends!
So, I for one, have been watching with anticipation to see when we’ll get introduced (my money is on this Sunday the 18th) to the designer of and the gown itself that our incoming First Lady, Michelle Obama, will be wearing for the evening inauguration festivities here in Washington.
There has been so much written already about her style (or lack thereof, according to some). How she’s still figuring it out… how Mr. de la Renta, who’s enjoyed such promenence not only with Laura Bush, but with Cindy McCain, will likely not be the sylist of choice. As classic, stunning, and flawless are de la Renta’s creations, Michelle (we’re on a first name basis!) is more likely to take chances, try a variety of young up and coming designers — Maria Pinto of Chicago or even stick again with Narciso Rodriguez, who designed the election nightdress she wore.
Robyn Givhan, who will most likely be the one who gets the big news first, is already driving the discussion around what “The Dress” could look like. In Sunday’s edition of the Style section, Givhan announced the winners and entrants in the “Formalwear Design Contest” to design Michelle Obama’s gown. The winner…..a sleek deep green gown, symbolizing what else, “Hope, Optimism.”
By a budding fashion designer, Katie Ermelio, this dress is gorgeous, even if this is not what we see next week…
For the record, I have actually liked how Michelle Obama has taken chances with her fashion choices. Maybe she hasn’t always gotten it right, but she will bring some new names, styles and statements to the White House. I can’t wait to watch…..
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Tonya is a Community Content Producer for
WUSA9.com, DC's CBS affiliate.