Typically it’s the tallest girl on the court that gets the attention in volleyball, because Hey, they are tall….and that’s an asset in the game.  At the 12 year old club volleyball tournament  at Newman recently I watched my own daughter, of course, but when she wasn’t playing I couldn’t take my eye off Khiley Davis.  The 11 -year-old from Liberal Kansas is a dynamo, and while I don’t know much about sports, I guarantee Liberal’s Libero is being homegrown before our very eyes.

I couldn’t believe the way this four-foot-four-inch fifth grader served the ball.  She rarely misses, and then when she’s on the front row, she goes for every ball that comes her way.  When I asked her coach about her, he said, the only thing with her is sometimes he has to settle  her down, check out the video, and you’ll see what he means.

As for whether she’s a natural born libero, Khiley says she got so good because she practices, a lot.  Well her dad better keep it up, because she’s proving to the rest of us size alone has nothing to do with being good at a sport.   Good luck Khiley, I’ll be watching.

Years later as a reporter covering Wichita’s Komen Race for the Cure for KSN-TV, I saw that old friend in a pink shirt, and asked to interview her.  I doubted that she remembered me, but she did, and she was willing to share her story with my viewers and me, so that we could learn more about her battle with breast cancer….in hopes we wouldn’t have to endure it ourselves.

Fast forward a few years later and turns out I’m seeing her everywhere because she teaches in my children’s school district.    It took me awhile to put together that she had also married A.C. Poynter who had gone to High School with my husband, and who teaches at my kids middle school and in fact, had me come speak to his broadcasting class.

Then this year, I became an even bigger fan when I fell in love with Maize South High’s Volleyball team.  I was there mostly because the head coach, Teri Larson and I have been friends for decades…….and low and behold, her assistant was none other than Shelley Poynter.  I watched again from afar as she battled the cancer that had returned, and I still wanted to be like her…..  Strong, present  and always available to the kids who came into her life.   I became fans of her daughter, McKenna, a junior at Maize South who is an exceptional athlete…..Kent and I looked forward to teasing A.C. at all the games,  and Shelley became OUR daughter’s PE teacher this last semester.  They were our friends, even if it was from afar.   And now, with Shelley’s death I grieve, not so much from afar as I probably should, but right up with the rest of you because while I may not have been on her A-list of close friends, I was on her A-list of admirers.  Shelley Poynter, Thank YOU, for sharing your life with me even when you didn’t realize I was watching.  You mattered to me.

(That’s Shelley in the back row with her ball cap on following the win over rivals Maize High School)

I first forgot my foundation….and there’s no party pix without foundation! I used Pamela’s Clinique foundation for redness.…it ROCKS.  I would never have even tried it because frankly, I don’t have a problems with redness.  If you think about it though, I LOVE full coverage, and if that stuff covers RED it should be able to cover anything, and it did.   The funny thing is, I found my foundation in another part of the suitcase a day later, but I kept using hers (remember hers is FREE, at least to me!).
It’s okay though cause she fell in love with my mascara. It really is the best, ask my 15-year old daughter who OD’s on the stuff. It’s from Benefit, “They’re REAL” makes the lashes look so fake it’s scary. Then when I got home it was easy to come up with a small token of my love and appreciation for Pamela….she got her own mascara, and I guarantee every time she uses it she’ll think of me, and MEXICO.

If you need a copy machine contact Pamela. She sells for Wichita’s Image Quest...and she’s the best. So much so she won this little trip and luckily her hubby no like to travel I can’t wait to see where we go next.

This time, it’s gonna take a few hours to get there, but  I’m pretty stoked, I actually made the Liberal Newspaper …. with my soon to be appearance there.   That’s when it hit me, for some reason the folks in Western Kansas really seem to embrace me more so than the folks in my hometown Wichita.    I hope it feels like that this time when I visit, but if it doesn’t it should make for a funny read afterwards!!  Stay tuned.  Oh, and Hi Mark Strange, and Ronda Maxwell….those are two of the old-timers I’m really looking forward to hooking up with this time.

Oh Yeah…NEW Jeans came in today….. TONIGHT, Feb 2nd 7-9 at my house is your first chance to see them.  Email me for address.  

    Do you see what I see?

Okay, if you were thinking anything besides a pair of jeans, shame on you!!  She pulled out a pair of jeans she bought at a Vault Denim party for 60 bucks and I said, dang, they look like the pair I bought for more than $100.  I was hooked.  I looked up the company online and decided I’d go to the party Melva was having and if I bought a pair, I might even THINK about selling them.  After all, I have a little time on my hands and two teen or almost teenage daughters who will be requiring me to BUY jeans for them for a long long time.

I signed up two days after I got those jeans home, and have since bought myself four more pairs.  I’m HOOKED.  Typically Vault Denim is sold at home parties, like Tupperware, or Silpada or Cookie Lee.  Pretty soon, I’m going to quit buying and start selling them.  Actually I have started selling them, but my first “party” isn’t until November 3rd.

Today I ran a little test “Sale”…. I snagged part of the inventory and drove around with denim in the trunk of my car.  Yes, I felt like a drug dealer, but watching women try on jeans has to be the funniest job on earth.  Not one woman, size three to size 20 felt good about herself.   Each pointed to her problem area.      I decided right then if I was going to go from “News Lady” to “Jeans Lady” I’d better take an oath of office for this Fashion Consultant position.  I, Anita Cochran, hereby promise not to divulge your “Problem Area” to anyone else and will not acknowledge it except to say, “ARE YOU CRAZY!?”….because ladies until you pointed it out (and typically even after you did) I…..the Jeans Lady, didn’t even notice!!    So come on pretty ladies, if you want to save some money, who can you trust with your tush?   The same one you used to trust for your news (okay, unless you watched the other channels) because until further notice, the News Lady, is now the Jeans Lady. www.vaultdenim/anitacochran

Best little Cookies EVER.  (Target) Goes to show, those taster people work.  Yep, the sample got us.  Hate that I’m that easy, but hey, I’m that easy.

On to the latest hair

products I can’t get enough of.  I ran out of Morroccan Oil and the lady who helped me at the beauty supply store PROMISED I’d like Alterna’s Kendi Oil.  Lord was she right.  If you ever see me with hair that looks like it’s really wet or really greasy, it’s cause I’ve smeared this all over it, just cause I LOVE the smell.  It’s great.

So is, Pureology’s Antisplit Blowdry.  It’s made for colored hair.  I could tell you I’m a natural blonde, I am…but anyone over the age of four gets help from the color fairy….so this stuff helps keep my processed hair from looking OVER processed.  It’s one of those leave in deals, and again, if smell sells…..this alone would have it flying off shelves.  The cool thing use them together and my hair is so darn shiny I’d swear it was healthy!!

Now this next little duo, makes me look like the SuperMom I am.  I finally have a laundry duo I LOVE.

  Actually there’s two parts to this laundry love affair.  I stacked my washer and dryer…..and it makes that small room, PERFECT sized.  I also managed to put a piece of furniture I had stored in the garage back into service.

The other duo is the only laundry soap I’ll use.  Yep, that’s Gain POWDER.  I used to think one of my friends who used powder was nuts, I mean what a MESS.  Turns out, the darn stuff is cheaper and seems to last longer, and dare I mention, it smells BETTER than the liquid kind.  Don’t ask why, it just does.

The other part of that duo, the Downy Unstopables, is a scent booster. (Can you say just another marketing tool to separate you from your money?) It again smells good enough to eat and it works.  I love it, but  I hate to say this it’s a splurge in this household, it’s expensive and not a necessity.  However, I’m thinking I like it enough to include it on my Christmas Wish list so if Santa doesn’t bring any, I may move into the must have column come the New Year.

Prayer of the Blessed Virgin.

Oh, most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity, oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show me here you are my mother.  Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to hear me in my necessity.  ”Make Request”.  There are none that can withstand your power.  Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, prayer for us who have recourse to thee, “Request 3 times”.  Say this prayer three consecutive days.  Publish and it will be granted.  Never known to fail.  Thank You, C.A.  (I think we should change that to Thank You.  A.C., since it’s now my prayer

–>

Now that’s Cool

In Kansas, my name was associated with local news for 20 years.  Two years ago, I left the anchor desk and relied on my family, friends and yes, my social media presence to remake my life.  Now, as a somewhat social media “insider” I’m finding that what I experienced in real life as a local “TV Celebrity” is exactly what you need to be aware of here on the web!!  ”What, I’M a BRAND?”

This #140 Conference New York City is all about Branding.  For 20 years I was branded as the face of the TV Station I worked for.  I was paid, to be their face.  It came at a cost, a local  News Anchor represents her station first, her self LAST.   Needless to say, when I no longer had to worry about how someone else wanted my hair to look, or what I could or couldn’t say, I felt FREE.  That freedom was first realized here on the internet.  I wrote about whatever I wanted, I posted pictures that station management might have cringed at, (have you seen my facebook??), and I became a person instead of a company figure-head.  I thought.

Today as I was about to blog about a not so perfect experience with a cruise line staffer, I thought, “Really, is that what I want people who first come to my blog to know about me? That I’m a whiner?”   It turns out that even though I became more real as a person here on the internet,  Anita Cochran became a BRAND in the process.  If you blog, facebook, twitter or even post reviews on the internet YOU are a Brand too.   “What, I’m a Brand?” takes me to New York next week where I’ll share what I’ve learned spending 20 years as someone else’s brand, and spending the last few as my own.  Some is exactly the same, some is NOT.

You can watch the speech live right here……I’m on at 10:50 on June 16th.  Also, check out the other speakers, WOW, how did I make it on that list??  I think it’s either Good Branding….or Unintentional Branding, watch and you can decide for yourself which it really is.

I noticed some twittering about where to get them in Wichita, and while they are readily available here in town, apparently that still isn’t the norm across the country. Today at Salon Knotty, owner Pam Cutler, attached a little color to my normally butter colored locks and told me Wichita is finally on the cutting edge of hair fashion with all these little extensions.

Salon Knotty has a GREAT selection of unusual feathers and you can put them in any combination of your choosing.  (The cost runs 8 bucks a feather, or five for 37……I have three in mine!)

I was instantly drawn to the lime green one, but I think that one has an age limit, so we chose the blue/purple one to accent my eyes.  Trust me, it gets you noticed, my 10 year old almost flipped because the feather she got a while back fell out two days later.       ( Note from Pam, if that happens the salon will be happy to put it back in – at least Salon Knotty would be).

One advantage to selecting Salon Knotty, those girls know their extensions.  For six years, they’ve been putting long locks on short and thin haired heads all over Wichita.  The feathers use the exact same locking system they use to hook on plain ole hair so they know what they are doing.

What I learned today.  You can wash, curl, straighten these little feathers just like real hair, so the options are endless even if you are stuck with the color for awhile.  I’m thinking Pam picked the right shade for me, of course, I’m so matchy-matchy, I’m probably going to be wearing a lot of blue/purple in the days ahead……go ahead run your fingers through my hair, and admire my feather while you’re there!!

When I wonder, “How do I get myself into these things?” the answer almost always comes back to,  ”Well, I just said, YES!” So when you see Cochran & Rogers hosting an estate sale this weekend in East Wichita, look no further than the dorky blonde sitting at the register, when you wonder how we got there!!  A friend said do you guys do that kind of thing, and I, the dorky blonde  who will be at the register said, “YES! Yes we do.”

Actually, my business partner Sally (The Rogers of Cochran & Rogers) and I have thrown lots of garage sales over the years, including one I wrote about here on www.anitacochran.tv so we do have some experience, it’s just that I forgot how much work they are to put on.   Since we’re going to all this trouble anyway, you might as well stop by and say Hi!  W ho knows maybe you’ll find a bargain, and come on we all love to snoop through other people’s stuff!!

The sale is listed on Wichita Craigslist.  It’s this weekend (yes, we know it’s Easter- April 21,22,23) Some of the other pictures of cool stuff I couldn’t fit on there are right here….. If you see anything you have to have, let me know, I’ll put your name on it.

It’s funny, Cochran & Rogers (which specializes in home decor with custom bedding/curtains) uses the mantra, “Putting Your Home Together.”  In this case, we’re also up for “Taking Your Home Apart !!”

My Business Partner, Sally Rogers, proving to me that from her nose to fingertip, and my nose to fingertip are about one yard each.  (Fabric trick seamstresses have long known, but newbie Cochran FINALLY believes.)  Taken at Hancock’s who helped us immensely with fabric. (including both Wichita stores, Kansas City and Tulsa!)

Look how MUCH we bought, and this is just one little (okay BIG) load.  It took so much just for the few things we did, I can’t imagine how many items were needed for the entire HOUSE.

A couple of Needle Chicks showing local donor, Paul Atwater, what it was we needed him to find us some money for.  He did and in no time at all we had it.  Thanks Paul.

Me sewing, YES, you actually are NOT seeing things.  The two things I made may not have even made it into the final show.  I’ll give you a hint, they were the easiest thing the fabrication team whipped up, and they were Black.

Even the boss can have a little fun.  This little item did make it into the final scene, and no, it’s not a hat.

So back to the Make Over.  EHMO – was Cochran & Rogers first gig, and while we didn’t get paid, Sally was the lead Fabricator which means she was in charge of all seamstresses on the job site.  We named ourselves, the Needle Chicks, and we left our mark inside the Hall home (first one to find proof wins a prize!!)  The stuff they give us credit for comes in the form of duvet covers and pillows, and cushions, and even an eight foot padded table!  You’re gonna have to watch the show to figure out what that was for.  Anyway, this week I can’t really say much yet, but I’m gonna tell you some of what went on, right here as we all get excited for the big reveal.

For instance, Needle Chicks (Despite the sort of off-beat name) started out with a team prayer.  I won’t say who said let’s pray but I can tell you everyone of us jumped in on it and NEEDED all the help we could get!  The week was fast, the work was frustrating at times because of the tight deadlines and in the end turned out to be a real God thing.  It was a blessing, not just for the Halls who received one heck of a home, but for all of us, who got to play a part.  Thanks God, for making it all come together, oh and you too, Ty Pennington.

This is just one group of us the night we helped put finishing touches on the house.  More to come…..

I can NOT believe how many gowns there are here.  I’ve been missing out, then again, I haven’t needed a Prom Dress for awhile, but next year I will for my Daughter.  Pix to be posted later of her trying things on.

Pam and I have been friends through the years.  She taught me how to wrap my colicky baby like a burrito so she would stop crying (it only worked when Pam was holding her).  Her granddaughter and my daughters built homemade Gingerbread Houses together.  We’ve sailed with the dolphins together and more importantly she introduced me to Passion Tea.  Oh, and as you can see by the picture, she always wins best costume at our Super Bowl parties.  Anyway we’ve been friends forever , but as a hairdresser and owner of Salon Knotty (inside Genesis East)  other commitments only had me using her services partially.  Now we’re going for it, ALL IN.

First step, get this overgrown bush back to good health.  Since leaving TV the whole goal was to do with my hair what I wanted without having some guy  (insert BOSS) come up to me and say, “You need to cut your hair it looks more professional.”     Why all the hot young girls on network TV could have long hair but local anchors at my station had to cut theirs short never really made since to me…..but those days are over.

Growing out has been a LONGGGGGG process, so the ends are a bit overdue for a cut.  Step one, trim.

Step Two.  Personalized color.  Since my cut right now is still growing, Pam wanted my color to say, This is MINE!  It’s called personalized color and she whips foils around in some weird concoction.  Anyway, my hair feels healthy with the fried ends gone, and the color has just a splash or two of color you wouldn’t expect. (Nope, Pammy I didn’t expect it either….but I’m kind of having fun with that dark mysterious piece!)

Anyway I’m now back in shape with instructions not to wear my hair so tight when I have it up and back (to help prevent breakage) and to use Redken’s Extreme, Anti-Snap. It’s a leave-in treatment that is gonna help keep my floor clean (you should see how many little blonde ends fly off my head everyday!)  I’ll let you know how it goes.  The end results….much better. I may be a Knotty girl, but I like the smooth look myself.

So for me, it’s back to the drawing board.  2011 is the year I’m going to get it, or go bankrupt watching the final season of Oprah trying.  On my list to do – Be a Mom, train for a marathon, Pray & Obey.     I’ve surrounded myself with the people who can help me do that, and together I think I can find it.  When I do, you will be the first to know what “IT” is.

You’ll find all these goodies on the left side of my page, I’ll post them as I add them.  My first little ditty comes from my beloved apple pie.  Look at this baby!! Not to brag but I’ve had dozens of people tell me it’s the BEST they’ve ever had.  I got chills when one of my co-workers told me it was better than her Mom’s apple pie.  While I haven’t decided if I’m selling the pies, I will make it easier for you to make one. (Another co-worker thinks you’ll gladly pay me to make one for you!)

It’s called the Nifty Oven Guard and I discovered it recently at market and had to buy more than I need.  It catches all the drips so your oven stays spotless and YES, it works.  I also think it looks pretty cool when you combine it with the crust protector I use to keep the burned crap away from my edges!!  I know, I’m sort of a techy kind of girl.  I love gadgets.  So, if you like pies, casseroles or any kind of baking grab one before they are gone.  You will thank me later when you don’t have to turn on your automatic oven and stink the whole house up!

My second order of business was to interview the man of the hour.  Jeff Pulver has put on these #140 conferences in New York, San Francisco, Tel Aviv…..yeah, so of course, Hutchinson had to be next on the list.  We’ll get to why Hutchinson in a later interview but I wanted to give you an idea of what will happen in a few weeks when we get together in Hutchinson.  This isn’t just about “Social Media” or “Facebook for your business” this is about our life on the web, and how our lives are changing…..whether you live in New York, Tel Aviv or perhaps even a SMALL town somewhere in between.    Who better than Jeff (and me) to explain it.  Here’s part of my interview with the man in purple.  (And yes, he is soft and lovable like the original purple dude -Barney!!)  If you’ve ever had kids, click on that last link…. makes me think of dirty diapers, projectile vomiting and the first time my daughters said, “I love you.”

Granted most people would never post that kind of ugliness on the internet, but I think it’s sort of empowering.  I mean it doesn’t get worse than this.  I also like that I’ve proven to hair stylists everywhere that the “Bed Head” messy look isn’t really as sexy as they want us to believe.   It’s more buckwheat from “Little Rascals” and I’d say much cuter on a little boy than an aging woman, who while she might be bold enough to post it online, she ain’t stepping outside the neighborhood sporting this do.  Oh, yeah I step outside my front door like this all the time…..and sometimes with a robe to cover the lovingly worn out nighty.  (Twitterfession…..I often greet the kids on the school bus with this look, I figure if nothing else they learn to appreciate how good the real moms look who actually comb their hair when they get up or God forbid get dressed to see their kids off in the morning.  I am not that mom.)    For now I’m just a normal woman who can’t sleep because my mind didn’t come with a shut-off switch.  Then again, maybe that’s what’s hiding under that hair sticking straight up, think I’ll go investigate.

I know what the deals are and I’m buying most of them the first two weeks, so I PROMISE you will want them.  Do yourself a favor (and me), go to the website stick in your email and you’re in to WIN.  The contest is weighted so that EVERY school district has an even chance of winning (though Newton has gotten the word out so quickly they are running away with it).  (Email it to EVERYONE, The more of your friends who pick your school the greater chance you’ll be getting something new in your district!)  By the way, once you’re entered all the deals come straight to your email box, love it….buy it, if you don’t DELETE, it’s really that easy.

And,  I’m not supposed to say but I’m going to give you a hint, the first deal September 13th, is something you eat, something that’s sweet and frankly even I can afford this deal!! Hmmmmm…..what will it be??   Just because I love pictures I’m throwing this one in.  It was taken during the KSN interview for our FFS (Funds for Schools) story.  I look like a goober, but check out my sandals.  LOVE them!  (Half price in Vegas when I was there for Jewelry market.)   In this picture is Nathan Meyer, Wichita Funds For Schools, Josh Witsman, KSN Weekend Anchor, Anita Cochran  (MOI) and Kyle Gerstner, Green Zebra Concierge who will be offering  up a deal in the future.  Ooops, I’m giving away trade secrets.  I love that I have a big mouth but I’m not sure if the guys I work with like that about me.  Oh well, let’s find out.