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Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs

Bethenny ponders the importance of taking a break, and the magnitude of her SkinnyGirl empire.

By Bethenny Frankel

I'm writing this as I leave for a much needed vacation to the Caribbean. Last week was intense. The last year was incredible yet overwhelming. Every aspect of my life turned upside down in a very short period of time.

Jason and I really needed our little respite in Montréal. It was so romantic and intimate, and I guess parents need alone time. However, I really hate leaving Bryn. She is my little angel, and I just cherish every single day, bath, and moment with her.

Going to the plant was nothing short of mind blowing. TV didn't even do it justice. The sheer magnitude of how much we're producing and how massive a brand this is was breathtaking. To think that a little idea of mine is a game changer in the world of booze predominantly (I mean entirely) run by men and currently for men. I knew that women would be the ones to purchase my products and that all the men who have told me no simply didn't know. As I say in my book A Place of Yes, never assume anyone is smarter than you. I subsequently partnered with a massive liquor company Jim Beam, who bought my brand. I still have creative control; I'm the face of the brand; I'm the marketer; and I am still the SkinnyGirl. I wrote an article on this on Bethenny.com if you want the full story.

As for the private plane, it is quite a luxury and I can't even believe I could afford to do that for us. Jason really appreciated it and got used to the lavish lifestyle quick. It's hard to believe I was broke a few years back. By the way, are any of you members of the Mile High Club?

As for ice-skating, it got more and more grueling. I adore Ethan, but my midlife crisis really got the best of me, and I took on more than I should. We as women think we can and should handle it all, but sometimes saying no means saying yes. I chose to ice skate because I was scared, and I face my fears and honor my commitments. That doesn't mean it wasn't brutal.

I also chose to cook Thanksgiving, which lent itself to the folding table conversation. Maybe I'm nuts -- well, we all know by now that I am --- but I thought that might look cheap. As you know, I'm always outnumbered in my house.

Thanks for watching. You let me be me, which is the greatest gift of all.

Next week I probably won't be able to blog. I haven't seen the episode and I'm taking a vacation so I don't go completely cuckoo for cocoa puffs. I need it.

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