Posts filed under ‘Random Adventures of a Single Woman’
If I Had to Give an Acceptance Speech I’d Be Screwed
I was doing so well keeping up with this challenge on consecutive days, but this weekend was a busy one. I was lucky enough to help with the Forever Jordan Foundation’s (FJF) Take A Bite Out of Rockland event on Saturday. It was the fundraiser’s debut and boy was it a success! Congratulations!
Because of the event I also got to spend some special quality time with my sister Joann. We stayed up until after midnight on Friday night baking dozens of mini black & white cookies to contribute to the FJF fundraiser. We always seem to laugh until we cry when we spend time together. Add that to the delirium of sugar overload from taste testing the confections and the late hour and you definitely have a recipe for a good time.
Today’s list is challenging because I have waaaaaayyyyy more than five people in my life who mean a lot. Plus I am catholic and the guilt of leaving people out gives me agida (see, I’m Italian too, so that’s a double whammy of guilt!). Watching all the award shows this season I really feel for the winners as they give their acceptance speeches trying to squeeze in everyone that they need to thank and then that dreaded wrap-it-up music starts to play. If I had to give an acceptance speech I’d totally be screwed.
So bear with me here as I tackle this particular list in my own way in a wrap-it-up music-free zone.
Day Six: Five people who mean a lot (in no order whatsoever).
My siblings. My three brothers and three sisters who are the roots of my family. They are the connection to family traditions, anecdotes and treasures. No matter how far apart we may be from one another, we are always connected.- My nieces & nephews. They are the link to the future. The ones who will continue to carry on the traditions that were taught to my siblings by our parents. They are smiles, and giggles, and hope.
- Auntie & Uncle Steve. One of the most beautiful love stories I’ve ever known. Married for 60 years. A shared faith that can move mountains. They have been a second set of parents to me.
- My friends. Wacky, silly, serious, talented, creative, caring, loving, forgiving. They accept me for who I am. Help me along the path of becoming who I am meant to be.
- My Mama & Daddy. Without them I wouldn’t be here. Although they have passed away and are not here physically, they are still a part of my daily life. Their love comforts me and inspires me. I can still hear my beautiful Mama singing to me “pick yourself up, brush yourself off and start all over again” and my sweet, stubborn Daddy saying “shit or get off the pot!”. I strive to be a person they can be proud to watch over from heaven.
Related Articles
- Relative Peace (psychologytoday.com)
- Similar Genes, Different Personalities (parenting.blogs.nytimes.com)
- Whatever Happened to Guilt? (psychologytoday.com)
- Some MORE of My Favorite Things (And Peeps) (cupcakesandcatfood.com)
- What Crosses My ADD Mind (cupcakesandcatfood.com)
- How to Accept an Oscar (patspapers.com)
Oh Great Ol’ Blue Eyes, Show Me the Way
Regrets I’ve had a few
But then again too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way
Image by x-ray delta one via Flickr
Ahhhh good ol’ blue eyes. Frank Sinatra had it right doing things his way. Sure we all have regrets, but having the confidence to do things your way without looking back or second guessing, that’s how it should be done. Oh Franky boy, if only I could be like you.
Today’s list calls for six things I wish I’d never done. There are many things I wish I’d never done, but my life wouldn’t be complete without them. Good and bad, I do believe everything happens for a reason. Of course I don’t always get why things are happening when they do, but eventually it all fits into the jigsaw puzzle that is my life.
Day Five: Six things you wish you’d never done.
- Credit Cards. Damn you little pieces of plastic! Granted they’ve helped me, especially when I did a stint of unemployment and desperately needed to shuffle things around, but I wish I hadn’t relied on them so much.
- Anger. I let my anger get the best of me and I wish I’d never reacted the way I did in certain situations. I become a different person when my emotions take me over like that, and people involved who don’t know me see me for something that I really am not.
- Unread Books. During high school I always skimmed my way through the classics that we were assigned to read. Perhaps due to my ADD, and I still have time focussing on reading to this day, but once I get into I book I’m hooked and can’t put it down. I wish I’d read more of the books that we were assigned to read in high school, instead of turning to Cliffs Notes.
- Think Too Much. I think way too much about what others will think than what I actually think and feel myself. I’ve done it in the past and still do it. Wish I could put the kibosh on that! (totally love the word kibosh by the way. do you? oh, you don’t? yea, maybe I don’t either, but I do, but if you don’t and you think I’m weird for liking it, then …)
- Theodore Bear. I wish I’d spent more time with my childhood dog Theodore Bear aka Teddy. He was such a good little poodle. I didn’t appreciate him enough.
- Stubborn & Selfish. I wish I hadn’t been so stubborn and selfish allowing myself to become cold towards you when you needed me most. Fear made me pull away when I wish it had drawn me closer to you during those final months. Fight or flight? I chose flight, but now I’d fight over and over to have just a few moments with you again.
Related Articles
What Crosses My ADD Mind
Having a touch of self-diagnosed ADD a lot of things cross my mind often. I jump from thought to thought, project to project. It’s just the way I roll.
Today’s list asks for seven of those things that cross my mind a lot. It’s going to be hard to narrow it down, and hard to focus with the ADD and all. But, I’ll give it a whirl …
Day Four: Seven things that cross your mind a lot.
- ADD. I think I have it. Ya know those Bing commercials about information overload? That is totally the way my mind works. Should I be seeking professional help?
- Money. How can I make more of it?
- London. London crosses my mind a lot. I love it there. As a matter of fact th
e Camden Lock Market popped up in my dreams last night. Hmmmm, what does that mean? I did a summer internship in London while I was in college, and it was a fabulous experience. Some of my favorite movies, Sliding Doors and Notting Hill, are based in London. Did I mention, I love London. - Food. I think about lunch when I’m eating breakfast and dinner when I’m eating lunch. All kinds of foods dance around the thoughts in my head.
- My Mama and my Daddy. If you’ve been reading my blog, I’m sure you’ve noticed that I mention my parents a lot. They were special people. Even though they’re gone they’ll always be a part of me.
- Children. Will I ever have them?
- Massage. Having a massage crosses my mind A LOT. I just don’t get to have them as much as I’d like to. If I could figure out #2 then I’d have a massage twice a month.
Cupcakes & Jokes: The Way to the Heart
Today marks day three of the 10-Days Meme I’ve committed to. Though each day’s list topic may seem easy at first sight, once I type “1.” I seem to go blank. What’s with that? Sometimes the simple things are the hardest and also tell us the most about ourselves and others.
I’m so happy to see that Violet Pumpernickel is doing the same Meme on her blog. Loved reading her first day’s post! And be on the lookout for wigsbabe to start doing hers as well. Have you started yours?
And away we go with day three …
Day Three: Eight ways to win your heart.
- Feed me cupcakes.
- Snuggle with me, a lot.
- Give me spontaneous hugs and kisses.
- Make me laugh AND laugh at my jokes.
- Write me a love letter.
- Share new adventures with me.
- Never stop trying.
- Believe in me.
Related Articles
- 10 Day Challenge… (reachingforpink.wordpress.com)
- My Heart (cupcakesandcatfood.com)
- What does it mean when a guys states you will have a special place in his heart (wiki.answers.com)
Nine Things About Me
Continuing with the 10-Days meme I started yesterday, today’s challenge is to list nine things about myself. Hmmmmm …. what to write what to write?
Well, here we go …
Day Two: Nine things about yourself.
- I’m a homebody. Sure, I enjoy going out with friends and having a good time, but I can spend hours happy at home scrapbooking, crocheting, blogging, cooking, doing house projects or curled up on THE coziest couch ever watching movies or television show marathons.
I’m going to be 35 in less than two weeks. I don’t want to be 35. I didn’t have a problem turning 30. 31 I found difficult, and now, here I am coming up on the BIG 3-5. I’m gonna need a BIG cupcake.- I always thought I wanted three children, but I’m at a totally different place in my life than I thought I would be at this point. I’d be happy and grateful to be blessed with one child of my own.
- I fold my pizza when I eat it. I thought everybody did this, but apparently not.
- When I go out to eat I feel guilty ordering the same thing as any of the people I’m dining with. Getting the same thing means less yummy things to share and try.
- I get the best cries out in the shower or sitting curled up in a ball.
- My fingertips, toes and sometimes even my lips turn blue when I’m cold.
- I am a naturally born disorganized person. I crave organization, I really do. I’m just not good at it. Thankfully I have a naturally born, OCD, neat freak of a man in my life.
- I love being a homeowner but I also love to travel. It’s hard to afford the travel hobby when you own the home. I miss traveling and think about my next adventure all the time.
Candles and Prayers
This past Sunday was a very productive day. I went to the gym first thing then came home and threw the makings of chili into the crock pot, whipped together some guacamole, showered and went to church. Later on I baked some cornbread, served up the chili (which, if I do say so myself was pretty darn delicious!) and watched the NY Jets beat the New England Patriots! I had heartburn afterwards, but I think that was from the stress of watching the game more than from the chili itself.
Image via Wikimedia. Photo by emijrp
But the most productive part of the day really was going to church. I accomplished three things on my Lovely List:
#4 – pray
#5 – go to church
#6 – light a candle at church
I was raised by two very devoted, faithful Catholic parents. We went church every Sunday and on holy days of obligation. I received all the sacraments and said my prayers at night before falling asleep. As an adult I continued to attended mass regularly on my own, but after my mother passed away three years ago I just stopped going. I would still pray from time to time and go to mass on Holidays, but my faith thinned.
I have been wanting to rediscover my faith. I’ve found myself admiring friends who have a strong sense of connection to their church and religion. That’s why I included praying, going to church and lighting a candle in my Lovely List. They are all lovely things that I know will make life fuller; it was just a matter of getting myself to do them.
I went to mass at the parish I attended regularly with my parents when I was growing up. The same parish where my parents were married and both of their funerals were held. My Mama actually received all of the sacraments at that very church. It has a rich history with my family. It’s woven into the fabric of my life’s story, but on Sunday, I felt detached from it.
I’m not sure what I was expecting. I guess I wanted to feel my waning faith instantly begin to swell. But it didn’t. It was different
photo by ally
than it used to be; I’m finding that to be the case more and more the older I get. I was disappointed, but I realized that change doesn’t have to be disappointing. In fact, it should be encouraging. Change might be God’s way of showing us more about ourselves and the world around us. I suppose if things always stayed the same, we’d never discover anything new.
I’m glad I went to church. I prayed for God to lead me in the direction He meant for me and to guide me with His love and for my parents to watch over me. I lit a candle for my mother and father whose combined faith could, and did, withstand all the challenges that life gave them. While I may not have fully rediscovered my faith I started my journey to find it, and with God and my parents as my angels to guide me, I am sure that I will find my way in time, exactly how I was meant to.
On the Wings of Hope
Today’s Daily Post topic is HOPE. I haven’t written on any of the topics recommended by the Daily Post as of yet, but there’s something about hope that inspires me, that, well … gives me hope. Hope that I’ll find the words to do it justice. Hope that I’ll be able to write something interesting. Hope that it will help me discover something new about myself and the world.
So, what is this magical thing called HOPE? I Googled hope and the first link among the 468,000,000 results was to Wikipedia. According to the free encyclopedia (via The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language):
Hope is the belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one’s life.[1]
Hope is distinct from positive thinking, which refers to a therapeutic or systematic process used in psychology for reversing pessimism. The term false hope refers to a hope based entirely around a fantasy or an extremely unlikely outcome.
1. ^hope. (n.d.). The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved March 18, 2008, from Dictionary.com.
That seems like a boring way to describe something so mysterious and magical. I envision hope having wings, like a beautiful butterfly. When you believe in something, your belief, your thought is launched into flight out into the universe upon the wings of hope.
I think hope is contagious, and that one person’s hope can help another when they need it most. It can pop up anywhere, anytime and it is delivered to you at precisely the right moment. The universe can serve up hope in the smile of a stranger, the perseverance of a friend, the bravery of an ordinary hero, the beautiful scent of a freshly bloomed flower, even the simple flickering flame of a candle.
Without hope the world would be incomplete. We all need to have hope, not only for ourselves but for each other. On the wings of hope we can fly higher and reach further, far beyond anything we could have possibly imagined. With hope, anything is possible.
Livin’ on the Cheap
The economy is crap. Jobs are hard to find. If you have a job, chances are your salary is not being increased by much if at all. Gas
is getting closer to $4.00 a gallon every day. If you live in the Northeast, heck – even if you live in the southeast, you’re freezing your tuckus off and likely paying a handsome ransom every month to a lovely energy company. So what do you do to save a few buckaroonies during these trying times? Below are some of my tricks for livin’ on the cheap (some more creative than others) so you can actually LIVE your life.
Enroll in Leisure Rewards Programs – Who carries cash around anymore? Most of us use our debit cards for everything. If your bank offers a Rewards Program connected to your debit card SIGN UP! Even if there’s a minimum annual fee it’s worth it. When you make a purchase using your debit card and put it through as credit you earn points and can redeem them for a whole slew of good stuff. I use my card to pay bills as well to really rack up the points. I’ve used points to get gift cards to give as Christmas presents and to get things for myself too of course like Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts gift cards (to help fund the caffeine addiction), grocery gift cards, gas gift cards, Target gift cards, and movie tickets! It’s fabulous! And since you are going to have to spend the money anyway, why not get rewarded for it!
Cheap Chicken Friday – I have to give credit to a fabulous summer intern at the office for turning me onto this. He also works at Stop & Shop and clued me in on this deal of the week. Every Friday is Cheap Chicken Friday and you can pick up a prepared roasted chicken for just $5. If you’re creative and only have to cook for one or two, you can make it last a few meals. Carve it and serve it with sides, shred it up and throw it in as a protein for your salad … and then when there’s no meat left, boil up the carcass and make your own chicken stock for soup. Not bad for just five smackers!
Make-Believe Member – Even if you’re not a member of a wholesale or discount club like BJ’s, Sam’s or Costco you can be a make-believe member. It might not be worth it for you to pay for a membership, but I’m sure one of your friends or someone in your family has found it worth their while to sign up. You can simply borrow their card to stock up on the bulk items you use most. It’s worth it! And make sure to use your debit card to rack up th points. The savings and the reward points are worth a trip to the mayhem of the wholesale store.
Coupon Creativity - It does take time and a bit of strategy, but with a lot of stores offering double coupons the savings can be big. This can be done both the traditional way as well as online with sites like Coupons.com and RedPlum.com. It’s also worth it to actually sign up for those annoying emails from your favorite stores. Sometimes you get really great exclusive deals and coupons making the annoying emails totally worth the annoyance.
Socially Savvy: The world of Social Media has opened the door to a plethora of new avenues for saving. Heard of Groupon? Have a Facebook and/or Twitter account? Are you on Foursquare? All of these and more will help you find great deals. Sign up for Groupon to see local deals and if you take the time to answer a few questions Groupon will serve up deals especially for you. Become a fan of your favorite stores, restaurants, etc. on Facebook and look out for special fan savings. Follow your faves on Twitter to keep on top of the sales and special deals. Also try following things like @CheapTweet or @GoFrugal. They pull all kinds of deals from the tweet-o-sphere and there a lot more like them to follow to keep on the latest and greatest bargains and discounts. Use Foursquare to check-in to shops and restaurants. You’ll be notified of special deals not only at the store you check into, but if there are deals nearby you’ll get a notification for those too. And if you visit a place frequently enough to become the “mayor” there are sometimes added incentives. Yes, Big Brother is watching, and it can be kinda creepy, but ya never know what kind of deals you’ll come across!
FreeSharing – What’s better than FREE?!? Check out FreeSharing.org, the next generation of recycling. FreeSharing, also known as Free Recycling or Freecycling, is when you have an item you no longer need that is just too nice to put in the trash and you give the item away through your local FreeSharing group. You can also put a WANTED message out to your group for items you’re specifically looking for. As the saying goes, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Check it out!
Back to Bartering – Go back to the old way of doing things and get back to bartering! Instead of exchanging those pieces of green paper we call money, use your skills and talents to get things you need. People are more willing to barter these days as everyone is trying to cut back on spending, so use your resources. Who do you know? You probably have a wealth of opportunities in your immediate circle of friends and family.
And last, but certainly not least …
Potty Training – Yep, that’s right kids. Potty training. I’m sure if you’re reading this you’ve been potty trained for years (I hope), but now you can train yourself to use the bathroom at work or any other public places as much as possible. Why, you ask. Because it saves money on toilet paper! Oh, and the water bill as well and technically cleaning products because if you’re not using your toilet as often you won’t have to clean it as much. Are you with me here? My Mama used to joke and say we were only allowed three sheets of toilet paper per use because we went through it so quickly. She also used to say she was going to put a pay meter on the bathroom door. That woman was wise beyond her years! Now that I’m paying for my own toilet paper and water, etc. I totally get it!
So, those are just some of my ideas for livin’ on the cheap. What are yours?
Simple Happiness
I accomplished another item from my Lovely List, and I must say, it really is those simple things that bring happiness. And I do mean SIMPLE. Ready for this? Wait for it …
I made the bed! See what I mean by simple? Well, simple for some, but in my true procrastinator fashion, not-so-simple. It was #14 on my Lovely List, and I put it there because I knew it would get me to do it. I mean after all, how could I let of all of you dedicated Cupcakes & Cat Food readers down? Right?
Hello? Anyone out there? Cricket, cricket …
So I made the bed, and it is a lovely thing! Leaving the house with the bed made and coming home to it at night makes me simply happy. Now I just need to get myself to do it everyday.
