Category Archives: Dazzler of the Day

It’s a rare treat when the Dazzler of the Day is also a family friend, so this post warms my heart a bit more than most as it honors an artist I not only respect but count as a part of the family. This is Lisa S. Lee, an author, speaker, entrepreneur, brand and innovation strategist, and Champion of Creators. She is the partner of Suzie’s brother Andy, and they live in Portland, OR with their daughter Ella. Check out Lisa’s website here for further evidence of her brilliance. Since her skills as a writer vastly outshine mine, here is part of her story in her own words:

Once upon a time, I was a corporate marketing gal living in NYC. Now, I’m a Portland writer, speaker, branding educator and entrepreneur. I traded in my black high heel pumps for a pair of teal Hunter rain boots.

I’ve spent a lot time soul searching, trying to find the deepest expression of who I am, the creative spirit I was meant to be. I hope, through my writing, that I can impart some of the wisdom I’ve learned along the way.

If you want inspiration on how to experience more joy through creativity, follow me at @lisaleecreates on Instagram and Facebook

My Story

At age 35, I lived ‘work hard, have fun’ lifestyle in one of the most dynamic cities in the world – New York City. I kept constantly busy, eating in fancy restaurants, going to shows and parties, and dating – a lot. I had a six figure job with a great title and an interesting career in branding and innovation. I had just bought my first adorable yet spacious 1-bedroom apartment, Once a year I traveled to a far off place – Brazil, South Africa, Italy. It seemed as if I had it all.

But in reality, it all felt a bit empty. Something in my life was missing, but I wasn’t sure what it was.

After a particularly intense work period, I went on a vacation to a yoga ashram where I woke up at 5 a.m. every day to meditate. I did yoga several times a day and ate vegetarian food twice a day (and didn’t starve as I thought I would).

That’s where I realized that I was living A dream life – but it just wasn’t MY dream life. I was going through the motions, chasing the idea of what I thought a fulfilling life was. Yes, some of those things were extremely enjoyable. I am a foodie at heart. I love traveling. Even though I was stressed all the time, I actually really liked my job.

My life was filled with wonderful things on the outside, but I didn’t have the richness of insight on the inside. I thought all this stuff – a great job, a great apartment, a great lifestyle – would make me happy. But I wasn’t happy inside. I didn’t know what my authentic self wanted or needed. I was yearning to know myself.

That’s when it dawned on me. I needed to get off the hamster wheel. I had to do it in an extreme way, or else I’d chicken out and never do it. I went to work after my vacation and quit my job.

I quit my job to get to know myself. To go within. To do some soul searching. To follow my bliss.

I have done the deep work into knowing myself and discovering my own authentic self. I have crafted the life I’ve yearned to have – to live MY best life, not someone else’s. I have made creativity a daily practice.  I hope to inspire other women to do the same. If you’d like a little bit of that inspiration, sign up for my e-mail list where I’ll share some of the insights I’ve learned about going within.

With more advanced degrees than I can count, Dr. Joseph Abramo is an Associate Professor of Music Education at the University of Connecticut, and while such an impressive body of education is more than enough to merit the Dazzler of the Day, it’s his personal side that truly puts him into Dazzler territory. While he was originally just the younger guy who swooped in and married my high school sweetheart, he’s since grown into a friend in his own right, and I’ve known him for longer than I’ve known my own husband. In that time, I’ve been lucky and privileged enough to work with him on some Halloween songs – with a new one directly on the way later today – and in that process I got to glimpse the genius and musical talents that solidify his Dazzler status. 

Meet the woman who introduced me to TikTok, and whose presence is the only reason I’m on there anymore, or any social media for the most part, as I find myself exhausted and disappointed by the awfulness of it all. This is Tabitha Brown, whose indefatigable energy and glorious energy is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise-troubling online world. Brown exudes a spirit of peace and tranquility, of healthy living, and of unbridled optimism. Her new book ‘Feeding the Soul (Because It’s My Business)’ is a beautiful encapsulation of her mantras and way of life, and is an inspiration for those of us in need of a little lift. She is our Dazzler of the Day for all these reasons and more. See her website here for further evidence of her magnificence. 

One of my guilty holiday movie pleasures is ‘Office Christmas Party’ with Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston. It’s also got some scene-stealing antics by Kate McKinnon, so to even make an impression amidst this requires a comedic skill only Jillian Bell could conquer, and her turn as a pimp in this is easily my favorite part of the whole hilarious escapade. While that put her on my map, it was her revelatory performance in ‘Brittany Runs a Marathon’ that cements her as an actress with dramatic and comedic skills. For those two works alone she earns this Dazzler of the Day. 

This Dazzler of the Day goes out to my friend Josie, who recommended Shiloh Fernandez as the Dazzler/Hunk that this website has needed. He’s been seen in a wildly varied collection of work so far – from the television series ‘Jericho’ and ‘United States of Tara’ to the films ‘Deadgirl’, ‘Red Riding Hood’, and ‘The Birthday Cake’. No doubt more magic is on the way from that sultry stare.