You are strong...
when you take your grief and teach it to smile.
You are brave...
when you overcome your fear and help others to do the same.
You are happy...
when you see a flower and are thankful for the blessing.
You are loving ...
when your own pain does not blind you to the pain of others.
You are wise...
when you know the limits of your wisdom.
You are true...
when you admit there are times you fool yourself.
You are alive...
when tomorrow's hope means more to you than yesterday's mistake.
You are growing...
when you know what you are but not what you will become.
You are free...
when you are in control of yourself and do not wish to control others.
You are honorable...
when you find your honor is to honor others.
You are generous...
when you can take as sweetly as you can give.
You are humble...
when you do not know how humble you are.
You are thoughtful...
when you see me just as I am and treat me just as you are.
You are merciful...
when you forgive in others the faults you condemn in yourself.
You are beautiful...
when you don't need a mirror to tell you.
You are rich...
when you never need more than what you have.
You are you...
When you are at peace with who you are not.
Author: unknown
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Lenorisms
Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you. (originally posted on FB and transferred over here, no way to tag but if you would like to answer, feel free to do so in a comment below)
1. I was born in TX, raised in NJ, educated in upstate NY, married in FL, divorced in NYC and currently reside in PA.
2. I hate the cold weather and only live up here to be close to my family. I had a choice, live in paradise and visit family twice a year or live by family and visit paradise... family won... but i still bitch about the weather.
3. I can't cook. Well, I can cook. Any idiot can read instructions, use a microwave and sustain life. But i can't cook well. Not for lack of training, I just HATE doing it.
4. I am a soririty sister and will be until the day I die. It has made me the person I am today. Anyone who says i "paid for my friends" should be kicked in the teeth. No, I paid so non greeks like you could come to our parties and drink our free beer... idiot
5. I have a BA in Psychology and I currently work in Accounting. Explain that one...
6. I loved sky diving and para-sailing and want to try bungee jumping yet i'm terrified of heights... don't quite get that one either
7. I am VERY impatient. If i thought stomping my feet and screaming "NOW NOW NOW' would get me what I wanted even a minute sooner i would revert to a 2 year old in a heartbeat. (Luckily i know this doesn't work so you aren't likely to see me throwing a tantrum)
8. Without my contacts or glasses I must be about 5 inches from you to see clearly. I've been wearing glasses since the second grade.
9. I have a black thumb. If it doesn't meow, bark or cry I don't feed it. I've been told i could kill a plastic plant.
10. I have seen a dead body and stood outside of crime scene tape to talk to the cops. It was creepy and not a scene I care to re-live.
11. I have a bucket list. One of the things on it is "See the ball drop in Times Square live"
12. I have been married. I had an almost perfect wedding. If i could go back and do it again the only things I'd change about that day would be the DJ and the groom.
13. One of my biggest pet peeves is agressive drivers. What in the world makes you so damn important that you can drive up the shoulder and cut off a long line of cars just to save yourself what, two minutes?
*note, driving a loved one to the hospital is the only respectable answer to this question, then, and only then are you more important than the 35 other cars who have been in the correct lane since they saw the sign 2 miles back
14. I hate reality TV. Instead of watching someone else's life I think you should go out and life your own.
15. I can drive stick and ride a motorcycle. I want to know that wherever I am I will be able to get home. Getting in the car with a drunk driver because you can't "drive a stick" is a really dumb reason to die.
16. If I died tomorrow the only regret I'd have is that I was not able to become a mother. Otherwise, I'm happy with my choices and how my life has ended up.
17. I hate movies where someone gets left at the alter. Take Sweet Home Alabama for instance. That perfectly good, attractive, wealthy, sweet, sincere man gets left at the alter. Yes, we are happy that you are going back to your childhood sweetheart lady but what about the man standing in front of all of his friends and family devestated that the woman he wants to marry just turned and ran. That sucks, and if you do that to someone you suck. And i don't like watching movies with people who suck.
18. I knew someone who committed suicide. I knew someone who died before making it to high school. I know someone who has been raped. I know someone who became a parent before high school graduation. I know someone who spent time in prison. I know someone who has an STD. I know someone who cheated on thier spouse. I know someone who is gay. I know someone who had a close friend murdered. I know someone in the NYPD. I know someone who recently got back from Iraq. All of these people have made a difference in my life.
19. I am "too" nice but it's a habit i'm working on breaking.
20. In my group of friends i have two carpenters, two plumbers, two electricians, one handy man, one paver.... now all we need is Ty Pennington and the funds and we could be Exteme Makeover Home Edition Tri-State Area!
21. I am a sucker for flowers. Seriously, you can get yourself out of almost any fight with me if you buy me flowers.
22. I was an EMT. I rode ambulance for a summer, have seen several car wrecks and enough alcohol poisoning cases to last a lifetime. That said, i'm a sympathy puker. Hear it, see it, smell it and i'm going right after you. Makes for an interesting scene when the EMT has to wait outside for the patient to stop yacking.
23. I love taking pictures. I have hundreds of framed pictures all over my house. Those that are not framed are in carefully put together scrapbooks or albums. Those that have not made it that far are categorized in a box. Yup, i'm a bit OCD.
24. I recently had a miscarriage. I don't usually believe "everything happens for a reason" but this I do. If my body saw that my child would not survive and it took care of things on it's own then who am I to argue. Someday I will carry a child to term and will have what every parent wants, a happy, healthy newborn. That said it was a terrible and very painful experience and no, thanks for asking but I don't want to talk about it.
25. I have been a witness in a rape trial. I was on the jury for a medical malpractice suit. I will soon be sued for breach of contract. I'm not a big fan of the courtroom. It doesn't scare me but so far in my life, nothing good has ever come of it either...
1. I was born in TX, raised in NJ, educated in upstate NY, married in FL, divorced in NYC and currently reside in PA.
2. I hate the cold weather and only live up here to be close to my family. I had a choice, live in paradise and visit family twice a year or live by family and visit paradise... family won... but i still bitch about the weather.
3. I can't cook. Well, I can cook. Any idiot can read instructions, use a microwave and sustain life. But i can't cook well. Not for lack of training, I just HATE doing it.
4. I am a soririty sister and will be until the day I die. It has made me the person I am today. Anyone who says i "paid for my friends" should be kicked in the teeth. No, I paid so non greeks like you could come to our parties and drink our free beer... idiot
5. I have a BA in Psychology and I currently work in Accounting. Explain that one...
6. I loved sky diving and para-sailing and want to try bungee jumping yet i'm terrified of heights... don't quite get that one either
7. I am VERY impatient. If i thought stomping my feet and screaming "NOW NOW NOW' would get me what I wanted even a minute sooner i would revert to a 2 year old in a heartbeat. (Luckily i know this doesn't work so you aren't likely to see me throwing a tantrum)
8. Without my contacts or glasses I must be about 5 inches from you to see clearly. I've been wearing glasses since the second grade.
9. I have a black thumb. If it doesn't meow, bark or cry I don't feed it. I've been told i could kill a plastic plant.
10. I have seen a dead body and stood outside of crime scene tape to talk to the cops. It was creepy and not a scene I care to re-live.
11. I have a bucket list. One of the things on it is "See the ball drop in Times Square live"
12. I have been married. I had an almost perfect wedding. If i could go back and do it again the only things I'd change about that day would be the DJ and the groom.
13. One of my biggest pet peeves is agressive drivers. What in the world makes you so damn important that you can drive up the shoulder and cut off a long line of cars just to save yourself what, two minutes?
*note, driving a loved one to the hospital is the only respectable answer to this question, then, and only then are you more important than the 35 other cars who have been in the correct lane since they saw the sign 2 miles back
14. I hate reality TV. Instead of watching someone else's life I think you should go out and life your own.
15. I can drive stick and ride a motorcycle. I want to know that wherever I am I will be able to get home. Getting in the car with a drunk driver because you can't "drive a stick" is a really dumb reason to die.
16. If I died tomorrow the only regret I'd have is that I was not able to become a mother. Otherwise, I'm happy with my choices and how my life has ended up.
17. I hate movies where someone gets left at the alter. Take Sweet Home Alabama for instance. That perfectly good, attractive, wealthy, sweet, sincere man gets left at the alter. Yes, we are happy that you are going back to your childhood sweetheart lady but what about the man standing in front of all of his friends and family devestated that the woman he wants to marry just turned and ran. That sucks, and if you do that to someone you suck. And i don't like watching movies with people who suck.
18. I knew someone who committed suicide. I knew someone who died before making it to high school. I know someone who has been raped. I know someone who became a parent before high school graduation. I know someone who spent time in prison. I know someone who has an STD. I know someone who cheated on thier spouse. I know someone who is gay. I know someone who had a close friend murdered. I know someone in the NYPD. I know someone who recently got back from Iraq. All of these people have made a difference in my life.
19. I am "too" nice but it's a habit i'm working on breaking.
20. In my group of friends i have two carpenters, two plumbers, two electricians, one handy man, one paver.... now all we need is Ty Pennington and the funds and we could be Exteme Makeover Home Edition Tri-State Area!
21. I am a sucker for flowers. Seriously, you can get yourself out of almost any fight with me if you buy me flowers.
22. I was an EMT. I rode ambulance for a summer, have seen several car wrecks and enough alcohol poisoning cases to last a lifetime. That said, i'm a sympathy puker. Hear it, see it, smell it and i'm going right after you. Makes for an interesting scene when the EMT has to wait outside for the patient to stop yacking.
23. I love taking pictures. I have hundreds of framed pictures all over my house. Those that are not framed are in carefully put together scrapbooks or albums. Those that have not made it that far are categorized in a box. Yup, i'm a bit OCD.
24. I recently had a miscarriage. I don't usually believe "everything happens for a reason" but this I do. If my body saw that my child would not survive and it took care of things on it's own then who am I to argue. Someday I will carry a child to term and will have what every parent wants, a happy, healthy newborn. That said it was a terrible and very painful experience and no, thanks for asking but I don't want to talk about it.
25. I have been a witness in a rape trial. I was on the jury for a medical malpractice suit. I will soon be sued for breach of contract. I'm not a big fan of the courtroom. It doesn't scare me but so far in my life, nothing good has ever come of it either...
Thursday, May 5, 2011
EVERY WOMAN
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
one old love she can imagine going back to...and one who reminds her how far she has come...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own even if she never wants to or needs to...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
something perfect to wear if the employer or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a youth she's content to leave behind....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems , and a recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a feeling of control over her destiny...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to fall in love without losing herself..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can' t change the length of her calves, the width of her hips,or the nature of her parents..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that her childhood may not have been perfect...but its over...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...be it to her best friend's kitchen table... or a charming inn in the woods... when her soul needs soothing...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she can and can't accomplish in a day, a month, and a year...
~~Maya Angelou~~
one old love she can imagine going back to...and one who reminds her how far she has come...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own even if she never wants to or needs to...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
something perfect to wear if the employer or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a youth she's content to leave behind....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems , and a recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a feeling of control over her destiny...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to fall in love without losing herself..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can' t change the length of her calves, the width of her hips,or the nature of her parents..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that her childhood may not have been perfect...but its over...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...be it to her best friend's kitchen table... or a charming inn in the woods... when her soul needs soothing...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she can and can't accomplish in a day, a month, and a year...
~~Maya Angelou~~
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
From the archives: What is Love?
I am currently married and next month we will have been together a total of 4 years. I remember writing this post but can't pinpoint the actual date. I had originally posted it to my MySpace (yes I posted it that long ago) page but when I deleted my account I thought to keep this one. So here is something from the archives.
~~~~
A co-worker said something a few years ago that stuck with me. We were talking about our boyfriends and she was talking about a fight she had with hers. She said "no matter how mad I am at him, I'd rather be in the same room as him and be mad than be anywhere else". That hit me a few days later when my boyfriend and I had our first real fight. I was in the basement with every intention of sleeping there and he went to bed alone. And as I lay there on the futon, on the phone with my best friend, it dawned on me... no matter how much he had pissed me off, i still really wanted to be in bed with him. I swallowed my pride and the lump in my throat from crying and went upstairs and we made up. No I didn't come crawling back, but I made the first move. It was because I really wanted to work it out. I HATED being mad at him. And I don't sleep well if my feet aren't touching his....
Back in 2006 a friend of mine and his longtime girlfriend broke up. He said he knew things were going south when he started noticing other girls. I was like, "seriously!? I mean after 5 years you've never noticed another girl??" That was way beyond my comprehension. I've been in love before, a few times, heck I've been married before, but I've never been so wrapped up in another person that i never noticed anyone else. Then I met my boyfriend and it clicked. I don't notice other men anymore. I used to look at someone good looking or smart or charming and wonder what they are like to talk to, date, or be with but that has stopped happening. I didn't even notice it until i started thinking about it and i realized something... This is a happiness I've never felt before. I've never been so happy with someone that i know in my heart no one else could make me happier.
Ever tried to describe love to a kid? They ask how do you know you are in love and you have to resort back to "you just know".... Well that's because everyone's idea of love is different. I've been in love so deeply that I've been crushed and had my heart burst into pieces when we split. But it still wasn't the same all consuming feeling i have now. I would have been happy feeling the way I used to feel. I mean i was happy. But this, this is different.... and if you ever have felt this way, this all consuming, never want to live without them, would rather be in the room mad at them, know no one else will ever make you happier love then you are the luckiest.... This is a feeling i wish for all my friends. This is the stuff 50 year marriages are made of. If everyone waited for this feeling before they took the leap there would be a lot less divorce in the world. But sadly people (myself included) get wrapped up in getting married, having kids by a certain time, having a big wedding, buying a house, and settling down that they do just that, they settle. I do want to someday marry my boyfriend. But it's a new feeling for me to know that if that day never comes I'd be ok with that. I'd be happy just going to sleep next to him every night and feel his feet there under the covers cause that's how i know everything is going to be all right.
~~~~
And if you are wondering if things are still the same... they are. My husband is my soulmate which is funny because before him I never believed in them. Anyone who has ever met us can attest to this. And in our 4 years we've only fought 3 times. And each time, the worst part was being mad at him. The best part... he FINALLY learned that all it takes is to hug me and tell me everything is going to be ok.
~~~~
A co-worker said something a few years ago that stuck with me. We were talking about our boyfriends and she was talking about a fight she had with hers. She said "no matter how mad I am at him, I'd rather be in the same room as him and be mad than be anywhere else". That hit me a few days later when my boyfriend and I had our first real fight. I was in the basement with every intention of sleeping there and he went to bed alone. And as I lay there on the futon, on the phone with my best friend, it dawned on me... no matter how much he had pissed me off, i still really wanted to be in bed with him. I swallowed my pride and the lump in my throat from crying and went upstairs and we made up. No I didn't come crawling back, but I made the first move. It was because I really wanted to work it out. I HATED being mad at him. And I don't sleep well if my feet aren't touching his....
Back in 2006 a friend of mine and his longtime girlfriend broke up. He said he knew things were going south when he started noticing other girls. I was like, "seriously!? I mean after 5 years you've never noticed another girl??" That was way beyond my comprehension. I've been in love before, a few times, heck I've been married before, but I've never been so wrapped up in another person that i never noticed anyone else. Then I met my boyfriend and it clicked. I don't notice other men anymore. I used to look at someone good looking or smart or charming and wonder what they are like to talk to, date, or be with but that has stopped happening. I didn't even notice it until i started thinking about it and i realized something... This is a happiness I've never felt before. I've never been so happy with someone that i know in my heart no one else could make me happier.
Ever tried to describe love to a kid? They ask how do you know you are in love and you have to resort back to "you just know".... Well that's because everyone's idea of love is different. I've been in love so deeply that I've been crushed and had my heart burst into pieces when we split. But it still wasn't the same all consuming feeling i have now. I would have been happy feeling the way I used to feel. I mean i was happy. But this, this is different.... and if you ever have felt this way, this all consuming, never want to live without them, would rather be in the room mad at them, know no one else will ever make you happier love then you are the luckiest.... This is a feeling i wish for all my friends. This is the stuff 50 year marriages are made of. If everyone waited for this feeling before they took the leap there would be a lot less divorce in the world. But sadly people (myself included) get wrapped up in getting married, having kids by a certain time, having a big wedding, buying a house, and settling down that they do just that, they settle. I do want to someday marry my boyfriend. But it's a new feeling for me to know that if that day never comes I'd be ok with that. I'd be happy just going to sleep next to him every night and feel his feet there under the covers cause that's how i know everything is going to be all right.
~~~~
And if you are wondering if things are still the same... they are. My husband is my soulmate which is funny because before him I never believed in them. Anyone who has ever met us can attest to this. And in our 4 years we've only fought 3 times. And each time, the worst part was being mad at him. The best part... he FINALLY learned that all it takes is to hug me and tell me everything is going to be ok.
Monday, May 2, 2011
The Dame's Questionnaire
I have been away from blogging for a long time, mostly for the same excuse I use whenever I don't do the things I love.... no time. But recently The Dame (whom I know personally) referenced Alex's blog on her Facebook page and I realized that it has been a very long time since I have read either women's blog and there is no excuse for it. Both are brilliant and well written and each and every time I read these two women I walk away with something to think about or something to smile about, which, in my book, is something worth doing every day.
The Dame posted this questionnaire and asked others to answer so Dame, this one is for you:
Dame's Questionnaire
What fictional person, place or thing would you make real, were it in your power?
Hogwarts (not sure why, just what came to mind)
What do you find comforting?
That no matter what, if I needed someone/something at any hour of any day in any location, I have a large and strong enough support system that someone out there can and will help me
What makes you almost hold your breath in excitement?
When someone is opening a gift that I have put a lot of thought into giving/making them
What offends you?
Judgement and racism, no one person is better than any other person, just different, and different is not bad.
What always makes you smile?
My husband
How are you in a crisis?
Supportive. It has been a long, long time since the last moment in my life that can be considered a "crisis" and I can not base how I may act now (in my 30's) on how I acted back then (when I was 19). But for those of whom I have been close to that have gone thru something absolutely terrible, I would do anything to take their pain away and hopefully, in some small way I have.
What is your most unusual or rare quality?
When I was little I didn't think giving to others and caring more about others than you do yourself was unusual or rare. It's something I always saw my mom do; taking the burnt piece so we kids could have the "good" toast, giving gifts that the person didn't realize you knew they wanted for occasions they didn't expect you to remember. But then I grew up and found that not everyone was as giving and as loving as my mom. So I thought it was rare but something to be continued as it was a quality I've always admired in my mom. Then I met my husband who is kinder than anyone I've ever met.
What woman has had the strongest impact on your life?
No lie, and not because she asked me to post this, but hands down the Dame. My mom and a few other women have helped shape me but there is not a part of my life, my being, my soul (from what shoes are in my closet to what movies are a must see to how I treat others) that the Dame did not have a part in shaping.
What fictional character did you love most or identify most closely with as a child?
Cheesy I know, but usually Disney princesses. I was in my 20's when I realized I could do things for myself, and I didn't have to wait around for others to do them for me so I don't think it was a good influence...
What's the strangest job you ever had?
I can't say I've ever done anything strange....
What's the hardest job you ever had?
Sister to a man who is so hard headed and stubborn that I spend most of my days wanting to smack him and the rest of them wanting to smack those who take advantage of his good nature. My dad was right, just cause you love someone, you don't always have to like them.
If you could relive any moment in your life, which would it be?
Just relive? The motorcycle ride with my husband the day before our wedding. I've never felt so close to him than on that day.
With the ability to change? My senior year in high school... I would have hung up the phone.
Who was your first crush on?
Todd Slater - first grade, in TX, I talked to him and when he responded he got his name on the board for talking in class. Even at that age I knew i should have raised my hand and told the teacher it was my fault, that I talked first. But I didn't and he never talked to me again. My first (and well learned lesson) that letting others take the blame for your wrong doing is never fair, will never feel good and will never have good consequences. Punishment is always far better than what comes when you let someone else take the fall for your actions.
What song makes your heart sing?
Fast Car by Tracy Chapman
What book do you never tire of?
Can't say that I've ever reread a book
If you could live in a book, which book would it be?
Again, can't say I've read a book that changed my life
What film have you watched the most times?
I don't know that it currently rates as the most as it's only been out of a handful of years but it's by far my favorite movie/play/soundtrack and one I can see needing to own several copies of in my lifetime because I will wear them out: RENT
What film do you quote most often?
(Actually quote, not wish you were clever enough to quote regularly and INTEND to quote. What do you ACTUALLY quote?)
I can't say that I actually quote movies, at least not that I know of.
What film's dialogue do you love most?
nothing is coming to mind...
What poem or line of poetry resonates with you most strongly?
can't say I read poetry...
What famous quote do you repeat or refer to most frequently?
Forget Regret or Life is Yours to Miss
If you could (or had to) freeze your physical self at one age, what would it be?
27
What view would you choose if you could have any view from your bedroom window?
A nature scene, no other houses, cars, roads, etc, just nature
What one thing would you give to everyone you know if you could?
The ability to have children (not everyone may want or need this ability but for those who want it so desperately and cannot, it's the hands down the most devastating thing to hear)
If you could be a tremendous success at any one thing, what would it be?
Being a mom
What, if anything, do you hesitate to do for fear of looking silly or being laughed at?
Singing (tho after my recent singing lessons I've allowed myself to sing in the car with my husband who is a professional musician)
Who would you choose if you could talk to anyone who is no longer alive for an hour?
Aunt Jeanne - it's sad to realize that at her funeral is when i learned that she lived the kind of life I want with the kind of marriage I work hard to achieve
If you wrote your will, who would you leave your most prized possession to?
My family is my most prized "possession" so I'm not sure that there is anything to speak of in my will worth fighting over
What sentence did you never say to someone, but wish you had?
I think I'm lucky when I say that I cannot answer this question. I have a habit of telling people what I truly think when I have the opportunity so I never come to the end of my life wishing I could have said something to someone I loved.
What do you most like getting the opportunity to say?
You're welcome
When have you laughed the longest or the most?
When I am with my sorority sister
Whose face is your favorite face?
my husband
Where do you feel safest?
with my husband, the most mild mannered man I've ever met, until you upset me, then he's a force to be reckoned with
When do you feel most yourself?
Around those who know me, the real me, and still love me despite my craziness
What makes you nostalgic?
Warm spring days, makes me miss FL
What is the best lesson you have learned in life?
That no matter how bad things get, it's the people that make a difference in our lives. No one ever looks back and wishes they had worked harder, or made more money, or owned more cars. So cherish the ones you love and everything else will work itself out.
The Dame posted this questionnaire and asked others to answer so Dame, this one is for you:
Dame's Questionnaire
What fictional person, place or thing would you make real, were it in your power?
Hogwarts (not sure why, just what came to mind)
What do you find comforting?
That no matter what, if I needed someone/something at any hour of any day in any location, I have a large and strong enough support system that someone out there can and will help me
What makes you almost hold your breath in excitement?
When someone is opening a gift that I have put a lot of thought into giving/making them
What offends you?
Judgement and racism, no one person is better than any other person, just different, and different is not bad.
What always makes you smile?
My husband
How are you in a crisis?
Supportive. It has been a long, long time since the last moment in my life that can be considered a "crisis" and I can not base how I may act now (in my 30's) on how I acted back then (when I was 19). But for those of whom I have been close to that have gone thru something absolutely terrible, I would do anything to take their pain away and hopefully, in some small way I have.
What is your most unusual or rare quality?
When I was little I didn't think giving to others and caring more about others than you do yourself was unusual or rare. It's something I always saw my mom do; taking the burnt piece so we kids could have the "good" toast, giving gifts that the person didn't realize you knew they wanted for occasions they didn't expect you to remember. But then I grew up and found that not everyone was as giving and as loving as my mom. So I thought it was rare but something to be continued as it was a quality I've always admired in my mom. Then I met my husband who is kinder than anyone I've ever met.
What woman has had the strongest impact on your life?
No lie, and not because she asked me to post this, but hands down the Dame. My mom and a few other women have helped shape me but there is not a part of my life, my being, my soul (from what shoes are in my closet to what movies are a must see to how I treat others) that the Dame did not have a part in shaping.
What fictional character did you love most or identify most closely with as a child?
Cheesy I know, but usually Disney princesses. I was in my 20's when I realized I could do things for myself, and I didn't have to wait around for others to do them for me so I don't think it was a good influence...
What's the strangest job you ever had?
I can't say I've ever done anything strange....
What's the hardest job you ever had?
Sister to a man who is so hard headed and stubborn that I spend most of my days wanting to smack him and the rest of them wanting to smack those who take advantage of his good nature. My dad was right, just cause you love someone, you don't always have to like them.
If you could relive any moment in your life, which would it be?
Just relive? The motorcycle ride with my husband the day before our wedding. I've never felt so close to him than on that day.
With the ability to change? My senior year in high school... I would have hung up the phone.
Who was your first crush on?
Todd Slater - first grade, in TX, I talked to him and when he responded he got his name on the board for talking in class. Even at that age I knew i should have raised my hand and told the teacher it was my fault, that I talked first. But I didn't and he never talked to me again. My first (and well learned lesson) that letting others take the blame for your wrong doing is never fair, will never feel good and will never have good consequences. Punishment is always far better than what comes when you let someone else take the fall for your actions.
What song makes your heart sing?
Fast Car by Tracy Chapman
What book do you never tire of?
Can't say that I've ever reread a book
If you could live in a book, which book would it be?
Again, can't say I've read a book that changed my life
What film have you watched the most times?
I don't know that it currently rates as the most as it's only been out of a handful of years but it's by far my favorite movie/play/soundtrack and one I can see needing to own several copies of in my lifetime because I will wear them out: RENT
What film do you quote most often?
(Actually quote, not wish you were clever enough to quote regularly and INTEND to quote. What do you ACTUALLY quote?)
I can't say that I actually quote movies, at least not that I know of.
What film's dialogue do you love most?
nothing is coming to mind...
What poem or line of poetry resonates with you most strongly?
can't say I read poetry...
What famous quote do you repeat or refer to most frequently?
Forget Regret or Life is Yours to Miss
If you could (or had to) freeze your physical self at one age, what would it be?
27
What view would you choose if you could have any view from your bedroom window?
A nature scene, no other houses, cars, roads, etc, just nature
What one thing would you give to everyone you know if you could?
The ability to have children (not everyone may want or need this ability but for those who want it so desperately and cannot, it's the hands down the most devastating thing to hear)
If you could be a tremendous success at any one thing, what would it be?
Being a mom
What, if anything, do you hesitate to do for fear of looking silly or being laughed at?
Singing (tho after my recent singing lessons I've allowed myself to sing in the car with my husband who is a professional musician)
Who would you choose if you could talk to anyone who is no longer alive for an hour?
Aunt Jeanne - it's sad to realize that at her funeral is when i learned that she lived the kind of life I want with the kind of marriage I work hard to achieve
If you wrote your will, who would you leave your most prized possession to?
My family is my most prized "possession" so I'm not sure that there is anything to speak of in my will worth fighting over
What sentence did you never say to someone, but wish you had?
I think I'm lucky when I say that I cannot answer this question. I have a habit of telling people what I truly think when I have the opportunity so I never come to the end of my life wishing I could have said something to someone I loved.
What do you most like getting the opportunity to say?
You're welcome
When have you laughed the longest or the most?
When I am with my sorority sister
Whose face is your favorite face?
my husband
Where do you feel safest?
with my husband, the most mild mannered man I've ever met, until you upset me, then he's a force to be reckoned with
When do you feel most yourself?
Around those who know me, the real me, and still love me despite my craziness
What makes you nostalgic?
Warm spring days, makes me miss FL
What is the best lesson you have learned in life?
That no matter how bad things get, it's the people that make a difference in our lives. No one ever looks back and wishes they had worked harder, or made more money, or owned more cars. So cherish the ones you love and everything else will work itself out.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Alice In Wonderland Bridal Shower
Sometimes being a bridesmaid means going the extra mile. For me, this recently meant a few hours of putting little letter stickers onto tags so that every edible item at my friend's shower was part of the theme.
Her shower was Alice in Wonderland themed and her mother sent out an e-mail asking who would make the "eat me" and "drink me" tags. I'm not sure why I volunteered being that I don't have a creative bone in my body, but I did. Lets just say I have creative and patient friends.
Here are the pics of the "drink me" tags attached to the drinks on the bar:
And here are some of the "eat me" tags on the food:
These were a group effort and I think they turned out pretty good if I do say so myself.
In case you are like me, (googling Alice themed parties or ideas/tips), here is how these were made:
First, a friend purchased the tag punch from Creative Memories. She spent several hours (thank you!!!!) punching about 40 of these tags out of assorted colored paper from Creative Memories and other craft stores. Then she punched another 40 out of a plain creme card stock, used her cutter to cut them 1/4 of an inch on each side (so they would fit exactly into the middle of the tags), used her corner rounder, and then the adhesive to make them stick. The next day I purchased assorted lettering stickers from Michael's and myself, my fiancee and my fiancee's father took turns spelling out "eat me" and "drink me" on these tags. (NOTE - some of these were hard to work with so it pays to practice or leave extra time for transferring the dots over the i's or for ripped letters, etc. And I used stickers because my handwriting is terrible but these could easily be done with a good set of markers and a steady hand.) Lastly, I purchased some thin ribbon from Michael's and used that to tie the tags to each of the drinks (NOTE - tie them loosely so they can be removed or they will ruin when they get dipped in the drink being poured).
Total time: about 4 hours (this is two people, watching TV while working, split into two evenings)
Total cost: about $45 (punch was the big part of this and can be reused for many other projects, the rest was paper and stickers)
Result: totally worth it! Bride loved them! :)
As for the rest of the shower, I think the theme was very evident everywhere you turned. Being an avid collector, the bride brought in her Alice figures and they were the centerpieces for each table (it was announced during the games that these items were not being given away). Between the maids, the bride and the moms, we collected enough tea pots to put one on each table. The bride gave us a color palette to work from which were close to the Disney color set (or as I called them, neon pastels). The tables were covered in different brightly colored plastic table cloths. Other Alice figures were scattered throughout the room. I brought the bride a bouquet of red roses with one white rose (the one that didn't get "painted" in time) which she put on a table at the front of the room. The bride's mom had a local bakery make cookies in Alice shapes as the take aways and cupcakes with little "eat me" cookies on top. There was a hat contest and many women came in wearing all sorts of caps, some funny, some colorful, some cleverly Alice themed but the winner incorporated many Alice items including securing a tea cup on her head (that took dedication!). There were Alice tea samples on each table to be drank at the shower or taken home. The game prices were personalized playing cards in the brides wedding colors (fitting for the theme as well, red, white and black). Another member of the wedding party (not sure who or I would give her credit) wrapped 50 pens with flower tape and created "rose pens" that we put in vases/cups around the room. They looked like little rose bouquets on each table and were later used during the games and then most guests took a few home with them.
After all was said and done, the bride had a good time and I think this was her vision.
Here are some pics of the finished product:
Her shower was Alice in Wonderland themed and her mother sent out an e-mail asking who would make the "eat me" and "drink me" tags. I'm not sure why I volunteered being that I don't have a creative bone in my body, but I did. Lets just say I have creative and patient friends.
Here are the pics of the "drink me" tags attached to the drinks on the bar:
And here are some of the "eat me" tags on the food:
These were a group effort and I think they turned out pretty good if I do say so myself.
In case you are like me, (googling Alice themed parties or ideas/tips), here is how these were made:
First, a friend purchased the tag punch from Creative Memories. She spent several hours (thank you!!!!) punching about 40 of these tags out of assorted colored paper from Creative Memories and other craft stores. Then she punched another 40 out of a plain creme card stock, used her cutter to cut them 1/4 of an inch on each side (so they would fit exactly into the middle of the tags), used her corner rounder, and then the adhesive to make them stick. The next day I purchased assorted lettering stickers from Michael's and myself, my fiancee and my fiancee's father took turns spelling out "eat me" and "drink me" on these tags. (NOTE - some of these were hard to work with so it pays to practice or leave extra time for transferring the dots over the i's or for ripped letters, etc. And I used stickers because my handwriting is terrible but these could easily be done with a good set of markers and a steady hand.) Lastly, I purchased some thin ribbon from Michael's and used that to tie the tags to each of the drinks (NOTE - tie them loosely so they can be removed or they will ruin when they get dipped in the drink being poured).
Total time: about 4 hours (this is two people, watching TV while working, split into two evenings)
Total cost: about $45 (punch was the big part of this and can be reused for many other projects, the rest was paper and stickers)
Result: totally worth it! Bride loved them! :)
As for the rest of the shower, I think the theme was very evident everywhere you turned. Being an avid collector, the bride brought in her Alice figures and they were the centerpieces for each table (it was announced during the games that these items were not being given away). Between the maids, the bride and the moms, we collected enough tea pots to put one on each table. The bride gave us a color palette to work from which were close to the Disney color set (or as I called them, neon pastels). The tables were covered in different brightly colored plastic table cloths. Other Alice figures were scattered throughout the room. I brought the bride a bouquet of red roses with one white rose (the one that didn't get "painted" in time) which she put on a table at the front of the room. The bride's mom had a local bakery make cookies in Alice shapes as the take aways and cupcakes with little "eat me" cookies on top. There was a hat contest and many women came in wearing all sorts of caps, some funny, some colorful, some cleverly Alice themed but the winner incorporated many Alice items including securing a tea cup on her head (that took dedication!). There were Alice tea samples on each table to be drank at the shower or taken home. The game prices were personalized playing cards in the brides wedding colors (fitting for the theme as well, red, white and black). Another member of the wedding party (not sure who or I would give her credit) wrapped 50 pens with flower tape and created "rose pens" that we put in vases/cups around the room. They looked like little rose bouquets on each table and were later used during the games and then most guests took a few home with them.
After all was said and done, the bride had a good time and I think this was her vision.
Here are some pics of the finished product:
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