Take a Second Glantz

A colorful weekend

2012-02-06T07:51:00.000-05:00

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This has been me the past couple of weeks, juggling too many plates - coordinating a community event for over 300 people, writing a research unit, redesigning a publication, programming three mini children's events, attending more meetings than I can count, and teaching. Needless to say, that unlike the picture, I have had to drop a few plates, blogging being among them. In fact, the busyness of the past month has made it difficult to achieve the vast majority of the monthly goals I established for my over-aspirational self last year, but I'm okay with that because I'm still achieving, and that's what keeps me moving.

That said, I knew I needed to take some time for myself this weekend or I'd be the next cracking plate. As much as I wanted to write and work on Project Life, these tasks seemed too daunting for the energy level I had, and so I did like a kid and took to coloring, adding one completed page and one background to my art journal.

Being in a blah mood, I took to singing Florence + the Machine's "Shake It Out"

and decided both the words and sentiment would be good

to have in my art journal as a reminder.

After "painting" the background with water soluble wax pastels,

I wrote the lyrics from the chorus in a spiral

to make a sun (symbolizing the dawn in the chorus)

and then added the main message.

When Hubby saw the background,

he asked me where I got the inspiration for the color scheme.

I shrugged.

And then I realized it was the coaster I had been staring at while painting...

Hidden inspiration is indeed everywhere!

I didn't have it in me to make another page,

but I wasn't quite done playing with my crayons yet.

So while watching a Storage Wars and Shipping Wars marathon

(don't judge until you watch them),

I created what is definitely my favorite background to date.

I might have difficulty bringing myself to layer something on top of this one!

The acts of coloring and painting were surprisingly relaxing,

and it felt good to ignore all the in-air plates for a short while and spend time on the juggler.

art journal: Strathmore Windpower Watercolor 6"x9" pad; water soluble wax pastels: Reeves;

Fangirl mania!

2012-01-18T10:29:00.001-05:00

I've been very fortunate to see some amazing concerts, some three to five times over, but I had never gotten to see one of my favorite bands, Evanescence, live... until last Friday.

Have I mentioned that I'm obsessed with iPhone editing?
Here's some Diptic and PhotoStudio fun on the go.

Amy Lee taking the stage.
What you can't see is me hyperventilating with excitement,
especially when she walked stage right and was close enough
for me to see the green glitter on her arm.

The Change

My Last Breath

The moment I had been waiting for - Amy sits at the piano!
Lost in Paradise and My Heart is Broken

Lithium

Bring Me to Life

Your Star

Tired, but oh, so happy!

Friday the 13th Fragments

2012-01-13T10:06:00.000-05:00

My brain is all over the place this morning, and while I have a ton of stuff I should be doing, I thought I'd take a minute to share my randomness with you instead. It's not procrastination if it's sharing, right?

In less than 12 hours I am FINALLY going to see one of my favorite bands in concert. Can we say excited?!

As the above photo would indicate, I'm a little obsessed with iPhone photo-editing apps. Almost all the editing I do these days is on my phone. Weird and cool all at the same time.

I have been crying my eyes out this week watching the final episodes of One Life to Live. I know it's just a show, but it's one I've been consistently watching ever since I can remember, and it feels a little like saying goodbye to a friend.

BUT I'm super excited that four of my favorite characters are living on as part of General Hospital. I'm seeing my long-awaited Michael Easton - Kelly Monaco reunion in my future!

Because of an unfortunate incident with some really cheap black Halloween ~~paint~~ nail polish, I've been keeping my nails colored for the past few months while waiting for the stain to grow out. My latest color obsession is Cockatoo's Mystery by L'Oreal.

I am the worst returner in the world. Two coats that unfortunately don't fit came in the mail last month, and they're still sitting in a box in my dining room. Similarly, a shrug I bought to wear over a dress is still hanging on my bedroom door after realizing that it doesn't look good with any of the clothes I own. I think the moral of the story is that I should no longer buy that which I'm not 100% sure will fit or look good.

Our "Happy New Year!" cards are still sitting on my desk.

On that note, it's probably time I stop procrastinating and start checking things off my to-do list. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

12 of January 2012

2012-01-12T20:57:00.000-05:00

While a lot of people have committed to taking 12 pictures on the 12th of every month in 2012, I'm not one of them. It's all I can do to take one picture a day. Instead, I've decided to use the 12th of each month to reflect on my 12 goals of 2012.

Finish writing my novel. --> You didn't really think I'd have that done by now, did you? Between the months of November and December of last year, I picked up my pencil and wrote the first few chapters of the sequel to a book I had yet to finish. It may sound bizarre, I know, but the characters were speaking to me about their continued story, and I felt compelled to listen. While I haven't yet continued the first part of their story on paper, I have been thinking a lot about the holes I need to fill and how I'm going to fill them. Looking at my schedule for this month, I know that, realistically, I probably won't get much - if anything - written between now and February, but I'm okay with that. As long as the characters continue chattering and as long as the pencil is back in hand by next month.
Write. Period. --> Progress has been made here. Though I can't say that I've written every day (although that's not the goal), and a lot of the writing I've been doing is not public, my fingers have been busily dancing on the keyboard from writing in my journal, to contributing to a friend's blog, to reviewing a book. While I've been writing for very different purposes as compared to years past, the practice has reaffirmed what I already knew to be true: Writing makes me happy, and thus I should write period, no matter what the reason.
Submit another article for publication and/or return to content writing. --> I've been doing a lot of content writing for work lately, and though this doesn't count toward my goal, it is helping me get back in shape for the kind of content writing I want to do this year.
Read 12 books. --> I read The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder at the beginning of the year, and I'm about to start Ripper by the wonderful Amy Carol Reeves.
Have more date nights with Hubby. --> On the first of the year, we went to the movies to see The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and last Friday we tried a new-to-us Mexican restaurant (dessert was at McD's because we're classy like that) and then spent the rest of the evening being Guitar Heroes. Two dates in two weeks? Go us!
Try at least one new recipe each month. --> No new recipe thus far this month, but I have 19 more days to get on track with this goal!
Make a decision about my Etsy store. --> Yeah, I'm ignoring this one for now.
Complete my scrapbooking WIPs: iScrap, Me the Abridged Version, and Everyone Can Write a Little. --> I have yet to revisit these; however, I am more than 1/3 through my Fall 2011 album now. I'm all about celebrating the small victories, people.
Keep up with Project Life. --> Keeping up with pictures? Yes. Keeping up with my binder? Not so much as of yet.
Play with my Library of Memories at least once a month. --> Again, I have 19 more days before blowing this one.
Blog two to three times per week. --> I blogged two times last week, and while this is only the first post of this week, I have another one planned to go before Sunday rolls around.
Continue practicing Hebrew. --> Yes! I've already attended two classes this year. I am FAR from where I'd like to be, but I'm excited that I'm recognizing more and more words both in print and in conversation.

Granted, I'm not exactly out of the gate running, but I'm seeing progress, and that's all I need to keep me motivated! How are your goals for the new year shaping up thus far?

A life remembered

2012-01-03T16:38:00.002-05:00

January 3, 1996, after the rush of dismissal,
I stood outside the school entrance
flirting with the boy who rejected me
but would eventually become my first love.

Sirens in the distance grew louder,
emergency vehicles pulling into the stadium.
We glanced in that direction for all of a second before
quickly refocusing our gaze on each other.

When someone from the stadium walked by us,
looking a little green around the gills,
my stomach clenched
with the knowledge that something terrible
was happening a few hundred yards away.

I don't remember what the stranger told us.
I only remember the feeling,
glancing toward the stadium,
praying you were okay,
all the while telling myself
how ridiculous I was being
so that I had an excuse not to
leave the comfort of my companion.
But I couldn't concentrate on what he said.
All I could think of were the last words
you said to me in math class that morning.
That you didn't look well.
That you didn't seem yourself.

For a long time
I felt guilty for being ruled by hormones
while you lay dying across the parking lot.
I know now, though,
that it was for the best,
that it's better to remember how you
made me laugh that morning
instead of how you looked
to your teammates
as you took you final breath.

Your heart was too big.
That's what the M.E. concluded.
Anyone who knew you
could have told her that.
This, ultimately,
is what I remember.
The pain and sorrow are
but flashes of memories.
Your too-big heart
is what remains in mine
and always will.

Jumping in with both feet

2012-01-02T16:59:00.000-05:00

I have long since admired the art journals of my very talented friends, such as Cheri, Margie, and Sarabeth. Drooling over their beautiful pages, I secretly longed to start an art journal of my own. Too bad you're not artistic, I told myself. For reasons unknown, I woke up this morning with a totally different attitude. I want to start an art journal, I said. I knew exactly what I wanted to journal; I just wasn't so sure how to create the background that I envisioned. So I took to the internet and found The One Minute Muse's Aqua Crayon video tutorial, went to Michaels to grab some supplies, stepped out of my comfort zone and played.

First, I colored the paper haphazardly
with water soluble wax pastels
(aka aqua crayons).

Next, I water brushed the paper to blend colors
and give the page a more "painted" look.

I added a stamp and my journaling, and voila,
the final product!

My page in no way compares to those of my friends, but the true beauty is in the fact that I don't care. I love how spontaneous and imperfect I allowed myself to be in exchange for a creative, fun, and therapeutic outlet that captures less of what I do and more of who I am.

Supplies
art journal: Strathmore Windpower Watercolor 6"x9" pad; water soluble wax pastels: Reeves; stamp: Treasures by Shabby Chic; ink: Rubber Stampede in Royal Blue; text: Dymo paper labels; letter stickers: unknown

One Little Word of 2012

2011-12-31T08:55:00.002-05:00

RENEWAL
A theme in Judaism, especially our Mi Shebeirach (video link) prayer, is the renewal of body and spirt. Singing this at services and having just experienced a renewal in my commitment to Judaism, I've been thinking a lot about this concept and how renewal would be a good area of focus (and thus my one little word) for 2012:

Renewal of Body
It’s time to get moving! I have free memberships to two gyms - one where I live, one where I work - so there is absolutely no excuse not to work out, other than sheer laziness which I need to kick in the tush. I plan to accomplish this by teaming up with Hubby. He has the same gym memberships I do, so this will be a healthy way to spend time together. I also want to spend more time in the kitchen with good-for-us ingredients.

Renewal of Spirit
Simply put, 2011 was an emotionally exhaustive year. I need to bring a little bit of serenity back into my life and my psyche. Journaling, devoting time to myself and the things I enjoy doing, and yoga have all proven to be helpful strategies in the past that I’m looking forward to trying again in 2012.

Renewal of Relationships
For a myriad of reasons that aren’t really important, there are relationships in my life that have suffered a bit of neglect. I’m going to pick up my phone and pen more in the new year to revive long-distance relationships, and I'm going to make an effort to spend more time with the people who are within my reach.

Renewal of Balance
Schedule wasn’t a dirty word back in 2009, so why has it become one now? Schedules work for me. This I know. So instead of fighting it, I will again embrace it and hopefully achieve a bit more balance in my life by doing so.

Renewal of a Budget
I can set a killer budget in theory, but in practice, I inevitably blow it. I really want to travel more this year, but to do that, I need to 1) stop spending money on things I don't need and 2) stop paying more than I should for things I do need (aka use the coupons that I clip).

Renewal of Home Sweet Home
I’ve never been the tidiest of people, and I know I never will, but I usually at least try to be. This year I found myself not trying very hard. I finally unpacked the last moving box over the holiday break. Now it's time to finish up some projects, get the rest of our pictures on the walls, and maintain a space to which we are proud to invite friends.

I'm toying with the idea of participating in Ali Edwards' BPC One Little Word Class to keep my One Little Word more in the forefront of my mind this year... but I have to make sure it fits into my budget. :)

Wishing you all a happy, healthy new year!

Top 11 of 2011

2011-12-31T08:00:00.000-05:00

These 11 goodies earned a Second Glantz from me in 2011.

TV
True Blood Season Four
Witches, hot Scandinavian vampire nookie, and... well, need there be anything else beyond that? This season (minus the faeries) was AWE. SOME.

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Movie
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

Two words: Alan Rickman. Sorry, my fellow Twi-hards, Breaking Dawn was a blast to watch, but it can't compare with the fabulousness that was the last installment of HP.

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Album
Evanescence by Evanescence
Five years, people. That's how long I've been waiting for a new Evanescence CD. And worth the wait it was.

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Song
"Made of Stone" by Evanescence
I just simply love the sound of this song. (Watching this video got me so pumped... I'm crossing one item off my bucket list and am going to see Evanescence LIVE in a few weeks!!!)

Actor
Matt Damon
You want to talk about a man who's aging well, look no further than this guy. I'd argue, in fact, that his looks have improved since his Good Will Hunting days. And so has his acting. Besides being great in Contagion, he was an absolute riot to watch on 30 Rock.

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Actress
Zooey Deschanel
This little lady captured my heart a few years ago in Yes Man and 500 Days of Summer, but nothing could prepare me for the pee-in-my-pants laughter she'd provide in New Girl. And she's cute to boot.

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Book
City of Fallen Angels (Mortal Instruments, Book 4) by Cassandra Clare
Move over Edward; my heart belongs to a Shadowhunter now! This book was so good that I actually slowed down my reading of the last few chapters because I desperately didn't want the story to end. Thank goodness there are two more titles in the series yet to be published!

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Eye Candy
Ian Somerhalder
Those eyes. That hair. That devilish grin. And *cough* that chest *cough.* The great thing about Ian Somerhalder (besides him playing a vampire) is that there's some major substance behind all that prettiness. The foundation he started is pretty awesome in its efforts to make a positive impact on the environment. Yeah, that's why we like him.

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iPhone App
Pinterest
While Pinterest is admittedly a good way to pass (and waste) the time spent waiting for appointments and such, it's also really useful, teaching me new recipes, new ways to organize everything in my house, new uses for buttons, and new mantras by which I should be living. While I do sometimes view pins online as I'm enjoying my morning cup of tea, I more often than not enjoy my pin stream and repin via iPhone throughout the day.

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Social Media Site
GetGlue
At first, I admittedly didn't get all the GetGlue tweets I was seeing in my stream. And then, one day, I caved and went to the site where I learned all about the STICKERS. I get free stickers for watching my favorite TV shows and movies?! Yeah, that was a no brainer. And thus my Twitter obsession was quickly replaced with my GetGlue obsession.

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Netflix Find
One Last Dance starring Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi
One evening while Hubby was away overnight at a conference, I treated myself to my favorite Fresh Market salads, a ginormous piece of cake, and several glasses of wine. Of course, the only thing that would make this bachelorette night better was finding a chick flick on Netflix that Hubby couldn't stomach watching. I stumbled upon the dance movie that Patrick Swayze made with his wife and knew that I had a winner. While the movie was admittedly not the best - or even good, really - seeing Swayze dance with his wife was such a treat, one that, yes, left me a blubbering fool.

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I can't wait to see what wonderful finds 2012 has in store!

Letting go of rumination (aka my desire to stop beating dead horses)

2011-12-30T08:42:00.002-05:00

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Letting Go in 2012

"I swear, you live in your head."
"Cheryl, stop overthinking things."
"You are such a cerebral person, Cheryl."
"You've analyzed this to death, Cher."
"You need to get out of your head."

These are true words spoken by good friends this year, more so in the last couple of months. I've known it to be true, but forcing yourself not to dwell on something is like a kid forcing himself not to fall asleep: the opposite of the desired effect usually results. Yesterday, I received the following article in my inbox from Real Simple: 6 Steps to Stop Overthinking Your Life. I rolled my eyes yet clicked it open and began reading. Reading about people called ruminators. Reading about me.

The strategies given by the article's contributors for overcoming rumination make sense. Shift your focus. I said to myself upon reading that, "I've tried that, but it never works!" Uh, that's because my idea of shifting focus is taking a nap. Perhaps if I tried this strategy the way it was meant to be carried out, I would find a happy side effect of reading more books or writing more. Speaking of writing, I've known this to be a wonderful cure for rumination in the past, and I've even had the inclination to do so recently, but I think I've developed a slight anxiety about putting my feelings in writing - Will my journals really remain private? What will eventually happen to those journals? Will my friend who promised to burn them when I die keep her word? I know that this is a silly paranoia; still it often prevents me from relying on the outlet of writing, so I'm thinking maybe a password-protected file on my computer. And a challenging book that requires all of my attention for total comprehension - maybe a book in Hebrew even. Shifting focus and writing. These are the techniques I'm going to try in 2012 in an attempt to finally let go of - or at least do less - ruminating.

What do you want to let go of in 2012?

New Year's Cards

2011-12-27T22:34:00.001-05:00

Being a little behind the eight ball this year, we opted to do New Year's cards this holiday season. Now let's just hope I get them mailed before Valentine's Day...

Happy New Memories New Year's Card

Click here to browse Shutterfly's holiday card collection.

View the entire collection of cards.

Then & Now

2011-12-25T23:58:00.000-05:00

Then & Now

Moi circa 2001

December 2001
Ten years ago I had just come back from a Hillel conference in Washington DC. I remember feeling a renewed commitment to Judaism, as well as excitement about my future involvement in the Jewish community at the University of Florida. At the same time, I was studying to become an English teacher, enjoying the company of new friends, and exploring a relationship with this really cute TA of mine. I went home (Orlando, FL) to spend the holidays with my family and then went to NYC to celebrate my grandmother’s 85^th birthday.

December 2011

Reunited with Rabbi Andy, 2011

Life, in many ways, has come full circle. I just came back from the Union for Reform Judaism Biennial in Washington DC, where I enjoyed the company of new friends and experienced a renewal in my commitment to Judaism. It reenergized me to do my newish job as the Community Relations Coordinator for the Columbia Jewish Federation, a type of job I wanted to do after grad school but ultimately forwent in lieu of a teaching career and a life with that cute TA, with whom I celebrated my sixth wedding anniversary last week. I thought the ship of professional involvement in the Jewish community had long sailed, but, as the saying goes, it’s apparently never too late. The icing on this circular cake for me was reconnecting at the Biennial with the man who is largely responsible for my involvement in Jewish life. After taking my seat to hear President Barack Obama speak, I turned around and happened to see my Hillel rabbi, the one who sent me on my trip to DC ten years prior. As I write this, I am in a place I now consider one of my homes with my (married into) family and am looking forward to calling my Grams to wish her a happy 95^th birthday.

December 2021
I have no idea what the next ten years hold, but I hope I’ll be able to look back with the same awe, fondness, and gratitude as I feel for the past decade of my life.

Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, and best wishes for a safe, happy, and healthy New Year!

Wordless Wednesday: #Resound11

2011-12-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

Best Photo of 2011

Mimi, our little diva

I'm leeeeaving on a jet plane...

2011-12-13T15:30:00.000-05:00

The best gift I've given myself this year is that of travel. From the weeklong vacation I took to California at the beginning of January to see a dear friend get married, visit my dad, and meet my stepfamily

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to a Memorial Day reunion with my best friend in Chicago

to the impromptu Charleston dinner cruise I took with Hubby during the summer

to our return trip to Charleston over Thanksgiving weekend...

these little getaways provided much-needed mental holidays. Though the trip I'm leaving for today is not purely a vacation - I'm attending the URJ/WRJ Biennial in D.C. as a representative of my temple's sisterhood - I'm looking forward to one last getaway, catching up with people I haven't seen in over a decade, having fun with new friends, and OMG hearing the President of the United States speak.

Yes, the best gift - one that I am incredibly grateful for - is being fortunate enough to travel and experience fun times with good friends.

My 12 of 2012 (#Resound11)

2011-12-12T23:34:00.001-05:00

12 Goals for 2012

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FINISH WRITING MY NOVEL!!! (I'm not screaming at you; I'm screaming at me to finally do this so that it's not on my list again for 2013.)
Write. Period.
Submit another article for publication and/or return to content writing.
Read 12 books. I've read 10 so far this year - and I might wind up squeaking out an 11th before the year is up - but I'd like to average one a month.
Have more date nights with Hubby.
Try at least one new recipe each month. This, of course, requires me to actually start cooking again.
Make a decision about my Etsy store. I feel like I've been Etsying half assed these days, and I need to either dedicate time to it each week or close shop. One of my items was recently featured in a treasury for the first time, so I know that there are people who like what I create, but it's frustrating 1) to have design ideas that never get executed and 2) to look at your pictures and descriptions knowing that you are selling yourself short because you lack the time to do otherwise.
Complete my scrapbooking WIPs: iScrap, Me the Abridged Version, and Everyone Can Write a Little.
Keep up with Project Life.
Play with my Library of Memories at least once a month.
Blog two to three times per week.
Continue practicing Hebrew.

Phew! I'm tired just thinking about it! Good thing I have a few more weeks before I have to start putting my money where my mouth is. ;) What are your goals for the New Year?

#Resound11: The Year in Review

2011-12-10T06:28:00.001-05:00

The start of December has been BUSY, and I'm afraid there's not much promise of it slowing down anytime soon. Still, I would be remiss if I didn't try to squeeze in some time for reflection. After all, you have to consider where you are to know where you're going. Jaemie, from my old stomping grounds in Johnstown, started a wonderful site, #Resound11: Reflect & Reinvent, to focus participants' and readers' reflections about this past year as we think about the year ahead. As I can use all the help I can get these days when it comes to focusing, I decided (albeit a little late, as per usual) to play along.

One Word
My intended one little word for 2011 was REALIZE. One could argue that, through what became a very trying year, I did realize according to the first definition of the word, to understand; I realized a lot about myself, and that's always a good thing. The fact that the second definition of the word, to make real (a plan, dream, etc.), didn't come to fruition saddens me. In fact, it led me to think that the real word for 2011 should be disappointing, but I concluded that this wasn't a very fair evaluation as there was a lot of good that happened this year. Really, the word that sums up the year is SURPRISING. Some surprises were not so great (hi, third layoff in two years!), and some, like getting to meet a favorite author, were happy, welcome surprises. For good or bad, the bottom line is that this year didn't turn out anything like I had planned. As such, I was reminded that I can't control everything; the only thing I can control is how I react to what happens, and that's a realization I'm going to take with me into the New Year.

Vices
I successfully gave up caffeine... for less than a month. Diet Coke is my kryptonite. As far as vices are concerned, it's not the worst I could have, right? The vices I need to give up still remain negative self-talk and procrastination, which I've realized only fuel each other.

Virtues
Fortunately, I think the good I've done this year outweighs both the inaction and not-so-great habits. I'm most proud of how I've jumped into the community and have begun practicing what I preach through volunteerism. In the past year, I've dedicated my time to sit on boards, head committees, raise money, and - most importantly - teach.

Superpower
Sadly, my most recent superpower is being bitten by fleas. Seriously, guys, I fought the fleas, and the fleas won. Hm, is it a superpower to parody songs? In all seriousness, I think my greatest superpower is that of flexibility. Whether in my classroom on Sundays, at work, or while planning an event, if something doesn't go as anticipated, I'm pretty darn good at rolling with the punches. Perhaps I can one day learn to apply this superpower to my personal life.

Theme Song
Neko Case and Nick Cave's version of She's Not There really spoke to me this year. Of course, it helps that the song was the theme for the first episode of True Blood this season, but more than that is the fact that, until recently, I spent the majority of the year not feeling like myself, as though I wasn't there.

I thankfully feel less like that now; however, it's still a great tune to dance to!

Thelma & Louise
Having been fortunate to find a great group of friends here in Cola, there are a number of Thelmas to my Louise. Some would bail me out of jail, some would probably be sharing the cell with me, and a few would be there afterward to help pick up the pieces. There might even be one or two who would be willing to drive off the cliff with me...given enough alcohol.

Achievement Unlocked
Though I'm by no means great at it, I can say that I learned to read Hebrew this year. This is something I've wanted to learn for the last decade and simply never took the time to do. I'm glad I allowed myself the opportunity to finally realize this goal.

Catch Phrase
While I still love my catch phrase from 2010 (so much so that I had to include a video of it again),

there is a phrase that I found myself saying a LOT this year. SRSLY. Written, spoken, or texted - whether you end it with a period, question mark, or exclamation point - "seriously" gets the job done. Don't know what I mean? Watch the clip below. Seriously.

I've always loved this word, but since I started working with middle schoolers again, I find it's become a more frequently used part of my vocabulary: Seriously, did you just do that after I told you not to? Seriously?! Yes, you've earned the right to lose your recess - seriously.

And thus wraps up the first week of #Resound11. I'm looking forward to a little more reflection this month and a whole lot of thinking about how to make the coming year better.

Thanksgiving #iPPP recap

2011-11-30T10:40:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving 2011 started as every other has since I was a kid - with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. I remember when I thought getting up at 9:00 to see the Broadway numbers was early; now, I find myself kvetching, When is it gonna start? It's getting late! (You know you're old when...)

After the Rockettes finished doing their thang, it was time to pack up for our second annual nontraditional Thanksgiving in Charleston. Mimi heard how much fun we had last year and didn't want to miss out again.

Rae Ray kept me company on the drive there.

After checking in, Hubby and I went to his favorite Irish pub for a pre-Thanksgiving-dinner nosh.

We toasted the start of our vacation with the obligatory Guinness (and a glass of wine for moi).

The Smithwick's ale cheese dip was so good I may have licked the bowl before letting the waitress take it away.

Who was excited for a seafood Thanksgiving dinner at Hank's? This girl.

You guys, this is seriously the best key lime pie north of Florida.

BLACK FRIDAY! If you're wondering why I'm so excited to see a Tervis store, you obviously have yet to discover the awesomeness of this drinkware and should add it to your Christmas or Chanukah wish list.

There's nothing like a bagel and lox from my favorite bagel shop to fuel me up for more shopping.

Here are our Black Friday spoils. Too bad 3/4 of the bags hold presents for us.

That afternoon we took a stroll through a part of the city we had yet to see. We found a bunch of old cemeteries...

...and several beautiful churches.

Then we enjoyed a late lunch in the lovely garden of 82 Queen.

Butterfly chairs? Yes, please.

Red Lobster's got nothing on these cheddar biscuits!

BBQ shrimp and grits, for the win!

We concluded the day by taking a nighttime murder & mayhem tour, during which we learned that the city was hospitable not only to out-of-town guests, but also to prostitutes and bootleggers, my favorite being Rumpty Rattles Hogan (why do gangsters have the coolest names?). Below is the Big Brick, a brothel made popular for its window shopping convenience.

Saturday morning, we said our goodbyes to Charleston with another trip to The Bagel Shop and a tour of Magnolia Cemetery, where Rumpty is buried along with over 2,000 Civil War veterans and several government officials.

I learned three things on this trip: 1) Our nontraditional Thanksgivings rock, 2) I take more pictures of food than I do people (I'm not sure I want to know what this says about me), and 3) I have a serious addiction to Instagram. How did you spend your Thanksgiving?

My mojo's back and there's gonna be progress...

2011-11-28T20:52:00.001-05:00

This is the face of happiness.

Hey na, hey na, my mojo's back!

Hi, friends. I hope all of you in the US had a great Thanksgiving holiday. Mine was GLOR-I-OUS. The actual holiday was wonderful (more about that tomorrow), but the mental break the extended weekend provided was truly priceless. As I alluded to last week, I haven't really felt like myself for most of this past year. A big part of that has been due to physical reasons beyond my control, but the other smaller part was admittedly attitude. Now that the physical stuff is quickly improving, so is my mental state. I've thankfully started seeing glimpses of myself in the past week, and I felt as though my old self finally fully emerged over the Thanksgiving break. In addition to simply enjoying feeling good, I also found my very lost mojo. I'm embarrassed to admit that I think I accomplished more over the four-day weekend than I have the entire year:

I read over half a book.

Guilt-free reading in the middle of the day

is a luxury I could definitely get used to!

I wrote over 3,100 words.

Granted, it's to the sequel of a book I have yet to finish,

but the important thing is that the characters are talking to me again

(and I'm listening).

I scrapbooked one-third of my fall mini-book.

This means perhaps it'll actually be done before next fall. :)

Thank you for celebrating my small, but invigorating, progress with me. Until tomorrow...

Giving thanks

2011-11-23T21:36:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I think it's the not-so-great year (I'm looking at you, 2011) that deserves the most gratitude. There are always people and things for which to be grateful...

...for loved ones old and new, near and far
...for loved ones gone but never forgotten
...for health, both physical and mental
...for a roof over our heads and food in our bellies
...for the knowledge that things could always be much worse and faith that they'll get better
...for finally seeing glimpses of myself after spending most of the year not feeling like me at all
...and, of course, for all of you.

image source

I know that I have been MIA much more than I've actually been present in the virtual social stratosphere this year, but you all have been patient, loyal, understanding companions through my fits and starts. All it takes is reading one of your blog posts to remember that I'm in good company in this crazy thing called life. Thanks for being a supportive force in my world. Happy Thanksgiving!

A good problem to have

2011-11-23T20:46:00.001-05:00

It seems like only yesterday that I was trying to make friends in a new-to-me town. The thought of actually running into someone I know while shopping was an exciting, yet unrealistic, prospect. A year later, after getting super (some would say overly) involved in a relatively small community, I often find myself going down an aisle of the supermarket I hadn't intended on perusing to avoid seeing so-and-so from such-and-such when all I want to do is grab my dinner and go home. Sometimes I park the car and sit there for a few minutes while I watch so-and-so go into such-and-such before exiting my vehicle. With the number of run-ins and almost-run-ins I've had, you'd think I would've learned my lesson by now that seeing someone I know is always a possibility, no matter where I go. You'd also think that after all these years (and all the episodes I've watched of What Not to Wear), I would've learned my lesson about not leaving the house looking like the "before" of an ambush makeover. Apparently, I'm a slow learner.

Like so many, I spent the better part of today cleaning. As such, I was in junky jeans, an eh shirt, and zero makeup (we're not going to even talk about the mess that was my hair). I decided halfway through the day that, after dropping Hubby off at the mechanic to pick up his car, I wanted to get my eyebrows waxed. My inner monologue went something like this: I should go to Nail Salon A because it's right next to the bank, and I have to go the bank anyway. But I always run into someone I know there, so I'll go to Nail Salon B because I doubt that anyone I know goes there, and then I can run into the shoe store and finally buy a pair of black flats, which I desperately need. Famous last thoughts.

I walked into the nail salon and did a quick sweep of the room from underneath the unbrushed hair hanging in my face. The coast was clear. I took a seat, burying my nose in my phone, as I waited a few minutes for the waxing specialist, or whatever the hell you call those sadistic people. Within ten minutes, I was headed toward the door with my red, blotchy, puffy eyebrows and a smile on my face. Less than two feet from my escape, my eyes just happened to make contact with those of the woman drying her nails next to the door. The woman that I knew.

My first reaction was dread - not because I didn't want to talk to the woman - but because I didn't really feel like having anyone I know see the "house me." Once I left the nail salon, though, I realized how nice it is to be in a place where I know more than one person, to be part of the community enough to actually have the possibility to run into people I know while running errands. At the end of the day, it's a good problem to have because that feeling of belonging - that sense of place - is much more important than what I look like while getting my eyebrows waxed.

Also, I got a killer pair of flats.

Breaking Dawn Mania! (a Twilight-inspired blog hop)

2011-11-17T10:00:00.000-05:00

Anyone who knows me in the least, whether in real life or through this blog, knows that I'm slightly obsessed with this little thing called Twilight. Thankfully, I have friends who are just as obsessed and do fun things to celebrate their love of the saga, like have Twilight-inspired blog hops.

If you're coming from Margie's fabulous blog, you're in the right place! Welcome! (If you've gotten lost along the hop, go back to start at the Pixie Dust Studio Challenge Blog - don't collect $200 ;) - where you will find the Blog Hop List.)

And now the information you've been waiting for... Cheryl, what do I get for muddling through your corny jokes? I'm glad you asked! There are Pixie Prizes!

Visit each blog in the hop and comment on each post along the way for the chance to win THREE Pixie Dust digital images of your choice. Two winners will be selected through random.org from the Pixie Dust Studio Blog. Winners will be announced during Thursday's next challenge on 11/24.
One lucky grand prize winner will receive her/his choice of a Pixie Pack (if you're unfamiliar with Pixie Dust, this means a LOT of digital images)! Note: In order to be eligible for the grand prize, you have to complete the hop and play along with this Twilight Inspired Challenge, which closes on Wednesday, 11/23 at noon CST. See the Pixie Dust Studio Challenge Blog for more info.
Comments close on Saturday, 11/19 at noon CST. Good luck!

Now for the challenge. We were asked to create a project using Pixie Dust Studio digital images, red, black, white/silver, and sparkles. As I was already looking for a way to scrapbook my craziness of re-watching all three movies on the big screen, thanks to Twilight Tuesdays, while impatiently counting down to the release of Breaking Dawn, this challenge was as perfect as Edward. Since I was using digital images, I decided to go 100% digital with this LO, pictured below... Yes, I wore a different movie-themed outfit each night. What of it? ;)

(click photo to enlarge)

Journaling Reads:

Twilight Tuesdays

"I was consumed by the mystery Edward presented.

And more than a little obsessed with Edward himself."

It was a fateful Thursday afternoon in October when I first saw the trailer for

Twilight Tuesdays... For three Tuesdays in November, my local Twihard friend,

Amy, and I "relived the magic," laughed at the not-so-natural commentaries,

and fell in love with Edward all over again (as if we ever fell *out* of love with him.)

As I watched footage of fellow Twihards camping out together at the premieres,

I was reminded of how this "silly obsession" made friends out of strangers for me.

Twilight, I will always love you... until my heart stops beating.

I used Pixie Dust Studio digital images Ultimate Vamp Fan and Fire and Ice, which I had way too much fun coloring in Photoshop. Of course, I also HAD to manipulate them so that it looked as though I - I mean she - were in the middle of an Edward-Jacob sandwich. :)

My use of red is hopefully obvious, and black was used for the "LD Twylight" font in the title and journaling. It's hard to see in the picture, but I used silver in the vamp fan's clothing, and the background paper is sparkly.

Thank you for stopping by and celebrating Twilight with me. If you plan to play along with the challenge, leave me your blog address in your comment so that I can stop by and see your artwork. Now it's time to continue your hop and visit the lovely April. I hope to see you all again soon!

"Wordless" Wednesday: Week in Review

2011-11-02T08:27:00.001-04:00

Wednesday, October 26

enjoying a blissful hour of relaxation after a few stressful days

Thursday, October 27

boot season = a new nap locale for Mimi

Friday, October 28

no explanation needed

Monday, October 31

Cheryl who? There's only Bellatrix Lestrange here (and a messy house).

Tuesday, November 1

TWILIGHT TUESDAY!!!

Since my iPhone has become my new camera, I thought I'd link up here
and find some kindred photo spirits.

A better me - part two

2011-10-29T21:17:00.000-04:00

And now for the not-so-highly anticipated sequel to A better me - part one...

To recap from last time, the seven questions our Rabbi posed during Yom Kippur are:

Were you honest?
Did you leave a legacy?
Did you devote time to study?
Did you have hope in your heart?
Did you get your priorities straight?
Did you enjoy your life on earth?

And the question that sums up all the rest is:

Were you the best you could be?

We pick up with number four, questioning the hope in our hearts. Nine times out of ten, my answer to this question is yes. But I have to admit that during certain situations that occurred this year, I let my glass sit half empty - for a long while. I know it's impossible to be positive 100% of the time, but I've also learned that happiness depends largely upon attitude. Moping is part of being human, but it needs to be balanced with thoughts of hope and gratitude. For a while, I was doing a good job of keeping a gratitude journal. Like most other daily ventures, it eventually fell by the wayside, and I know better than to think I'll keep up with it everyday; however, there is little excuse for not taking a few minutes every week to consciously think and write about the many blessings in my life.

image source

The fifth question broke me. Tears streamed down my face as our Rabbi told us stories from 9/11, how even during the most catastrophic minutes remaining in their lives, the victims left messages of love on the voicemails of their families and friends. Having experienced profound loss relatively early in life, I do a pretty good job of saying, "I love you," before hanging up the phone, getting on a plane, or parting from people who live far away. Still, life gets busy. Those who are most important to me often go months without much contact from me beyond the occasional FB message or "like." As I reached for a tissue in my purse, trying to refrain from "ugly crying" in public, I wondered, if I were to not wake up tomorrow, would my loved ones know what's in my heart? Then I began to wonder if that's even possible. I'm not sure it is, but the important thing is to try. Priorities. So often I blog about making time to do things - blog more regularly, finish my novel, scrapbook, take classes - but none of that has meaning without the people in my life, both near and far. It all comes down to that annoying and seemingly unachievable word: balance. I have to do a better job of pressing pause on the DVR to answer the phone (telemarketers, this does not apply to you), be more timely with returning calls, send cards just because. At the end of the day, what I have done does not matter a fraction as much as who I have been fortunate to talk to.

Perhaps the question I could answer most satisfyingly was "Did you enjoy your life on earth?" I can answer this with a resounding yes. I can say - very honestly - that if I were to die tomorrow (G-d forbid), I would be okay with it. I wouldn't be happy about it, mind you, but I could accept it. I have been so blessed by people and experiences alike that dying tomorrow would feel as though I had been given a condensed version of a long lifetime of good fortune. Despite living only a short while, I have lived life fully. That's not to say that I don't have a bucket list, though, and part of pondering this question is thinking about what we still want to accomplish (but that's another post).

The last question is my favorite. As our Rabbi said, it gives you permission to stop comparing yourself to others and focus instead on striving to be the best version of who you are. He encouraged us to think about our vocations, relations, and ministrations as we attempt to answer this. It is a question I know I will continue to work on throughout my life, always striving to be better.

Thank you to my MIL (who has a big birthday today - happy birthday!) and Cheri for unknowingly encouraging me to complete this post through their emails.

Friday Five: Glimpses of my 365

2011-10-14T14:49:00.000-04:00

One of the things I decided to start in the Jewish New Year was Project 365. I have tried this project for several years now and always seem to lose steam a few months into it. I had come to the conclusion as 2011 began that maybe I needed to wait until I had kids to do a daily photo project, but as the year progressed, I realized two things: 1) my life is more active than it was, and thus there is more for me to photograph; 2) I don't have to be perfect to do this - forgetting a day or two is not the end of the world, especially since there are many creative solutions, many of which I've learned about on my favorite scrapbooking gurus' blogs. Once I realized that this is something I could pull off, I couldn't wait until 2012 to do it; but, starting in the middle of the year seemed weird. Thank you, Jewish New Year! So, without further ado, here are five of my favorites from the past two weeks.

9/28

Getting ready for Rosh HaShanah, I felt good about

a new year, a new me, and a pretty new dress.

10/1

I loved this pink Cadillac that was on display at the

Walk for Life.

10/8

I had to pull over to capture the beautiful sunset I saw

on the way home from Yom Kippur services.

The sky matched my peaceful mood perfectly.

10/12

This is our Temple's Sukkah,

prepped for Sukkot dinner and services.

Our religious school kids did a great job of decorating

it the previous Sunday.

10/13

Hubby, having off for fall break, and I,

having off for Sukkot, enjoyed a picnic lunch

in the Sukkah before going to

a weekday afternoon movie.

Have a wonderful weekend!

A better me - part one

2011-10-12T22:57:00.000-04:00

This past weekend was Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement for practicing Jews. Basically, you dedicate 24 hours to self-deprivation (e.g., fasting, no sex, and no participating in luxuries - my iPhone missed me!) to not only atone, but also to reflect on oneself, one's past year, and one's future. This weekend turned out to be a particularly meaningful Yom Kippur, partly because of the community with which I spent the holiday and partly because of the questions our Rabbi posed to us during his sermons (yes, plural; Yom Kippur services are long, y'all) and the personal reflection that resulted from them. You don't have to be Jewish or religious to find truth in the words he spoke. In fact, I would argue that it's not a religious message at all; it's a human one. It's one that spoke to me in a very personal way, a message I needed to hear, one that I hope will help guide me in making a better year for myself.

The seven questions are:

Were you honest?
Did you leave a legacy?
Did you devote time to study?
Did you have hope in your heart?
Did you get your priorities straight?
Did you enjoy your life on earth?

And the question that sums up all the rest is:

Were you the best you could be?

The first question didn't give me too much grief. I'm a fairly - if not sometimes brutally - honest person, though one could argue that I'm not always honest with myself, especially when it comes to figuring out what I truly want in life. When did admitting what you want become so hard? When you're a kid, it's easy. "I want that toy, Mommy! I want something to eat. I don't want to take a nap." Maybe it's because the things we want and don't want become more complicated. Over the last year, even though I didn't do a whole lot of "public" writing, I did a fair amount of journaling to analyze (and often overanalyze) the craziness circulating through my brain, and that's a helpful exercise I hope to make more routine in helping me stay honest with myself.

A small eye roll threatened to befall my face when I heard the second question, having made the assumption that this was all about having kids and that those of us who are childless have nothing to show for our lives. You know what they say when you assume... yeah. This isn't about leaving behind a mini-you to carry on your genes or about gifting a novel to the world that will be read for generations to come; instead, this is about what you do to make the world a better place. I like the idea of keeping this question in the forefront of my mind as I journey through life. We as humans take a lot from the world; I think it's important to consciously consider what we are giving back to it. This was a concept I struggled with when I left the teaching profession six years ago. While I was teaching, I could tell I was making a difference. I knew it without question. Until recently, I struggled with what my contribution to society was. What difference am I making by copying and pasting cells in a spreadsheet? I would ask myself. The problem is I've always tied my value to my vocation. After being laid off yet again this past May, I began volunteering at Temple, partly because I wanted to become more involved in the community and partly because I needed another reason to get out of bed in the morning. From editing the newsletter, to teaching Jewish American History on Sundays, to helping set up for events, I have found more joy in giving my time than in getting paid for it. Granted, it can't put food on the table, but it does feed the soul.

Upon hearing the third question (which is the one I'll end this post with to give you a break) I thought it was one I already had in the bag. I love to learn. I sign up for classes all the time - scrapbooking, Hebrew, writing. But this is one of those instances where I have great intentions but zero followthrough. How many classes have I signed up for and then not completed? In how many classes have I just gone through the motions? The devotion of time is where I fail. If I'm going to take a class, I need to schedule time to actually DO the class; otherwise, I'm not getting the most out of it.

In no way are these "guiding principles" earth shattering, but they're the ideology that sometimes gets lost in the hustle and bustle of the everyday dance of life. I'm hoping to make myself more mindful of them this year as I strive to achieve a better me.

Starting the new year off on the right foot (Wordless Wed)

2011-10-05T18:02:00.001-04:00

Walk for Life

Saturday, October 1

Columbia, SC

It's hard to see because the light wasn't cooperating, but the mass

of people walking up the hill ahead of me was nothing short of impressive.

The way to my heart...

2011-09-29T21:53:00.000-04:00

...is through my stomach. Seriously. Whereas the majority of my family eats to live, I live to eat. If I could eat 24/7, I would - especially restaurant food and takeout. It wasn't always that way. When I was younger, there were very few foods I liked, or at least thought I liked (I was practically double digits before I would even try a slice of pizza... weird, I know). It wasn't until I started eating at friends' houses that I began to try foods I didn't think I'd like because I didn't want to be rude to my friends' parents. Much to my surprise, I found that in reality, there are very few foods I don't like. But at the age of 13, after spending time petting a calf at the zoo and then coming home to lasagna, I stopped eating red meat and pork (though I hadn't pet any pigs, I thought they were just as cute). This coming year would mark my 20th year without these meats. Five years ago, I added gelatin and poultry to the list. Once I found an edible substitute for chicken, it really wasn't hard to maintain a pescetarian lifestyle. Except for that pesky - but delicious - chicken broth. It's amazing how many dishes are cooked with that liquid! Cooking at home, it's easy enough to substitute vegetable stock, but eating out (which we do a lot of around here), I constantly had to ask if the rice, soup, and even refried beans were cooked with it. There were many foods I could not enjoy outside of my own kitchen because of this dietary restriction I had put on myself, but I remained strong in my decision to abstain from consumption of this animal product.

Fast forward to last week. For five years, I had deprived myself of so many favorite foods - Mallomars, gummy bears (the vegan ones don't quite cut it), and my beloved cheddar broccoli soup from Panera - only to discover that a pill I have been taking for the past two years has traces of gelatin in it. I felt like I had been caught accidentally looking on someone else's paper: I didn't mean to cheat, but I did. That night, when we were at a banquet, the waitress informed us that the rice had been made with chicken stock. Guys, the rice looked SO good. It was really the only thing on the plate that I wanted. Could I just pretend I didn't hear that? I thought to myself, pushing the rice around the plate with my fork. And then I remembered the gelatin-laced pills. I haven't been 100% pescetarain this entire time anyway. How important is it that I start now? Do I still hold the same beliefs about consumption that I did five years ago? As I warred with myself, all the time drooling over the rice, I finally came to the decision that a flexitarian, or semi-vegetarian, lifestyle might be a better fit for me these days - and then promptly snarfed my rice as though I were a Survivor contestant.

While I have yet to devour a Chick-Fil-A chicken biscuit or an Arby's French dip (the only meat I've craved in the past five years), I did finally have a bowl of cheddar broccoli soup at Panera today. I felt no guilt, only the sweet satisfaction of my tummy being full with one of my favorite comfort foods.

Here's to a new year!

2011-09-28T15:33:00.000-04:00

http://comments.funmunch.com/rosh-hashanah-comment-2227.html

L'Shanah Tovah! For those of us who practice the Jewish faith, it's the eve of a new year. As I throw bread into the lake tomorrow afternoon, a ritual known as tashlich, symbolizing the castoff of the year's transgressions, I will also symbolically purge all the negativity that has been standing in my own way. Asking for forgiveness of others for mistakes I have made, I will also forgive myself for plans unfulfilled and goals unachieved. Releasing the bread crumbs from my hand, I will let go of the past year, no longer dwelling on what did or didn't happen but instead looking forward to all the possibilities that come with a metaphorical clean slate.

In the days leading up to Erev Rosh Hashanah, I have of course reflected much on who I've been and what I've done (and, more obviously to me, haven't done) this year, as well as where I want to go from here, as is custom. But instead of doing a lot of paca-paca (talking) about it, I am resolved for the changes to be reflected, and thus apparent to you, in my future actions. Here's to a happy 5772!

Time flies when you're having fun

2011-09-08T21:43:00.000-04:00

image source

It's hard to believe that my little 'ole blog turned three today. I won't bore you with its history because I just did that. In fact, when my calendar reminded me of my blogoversary this morning, my first reaction was to ignore it because I didn't feel like I could celebrate a year that didn't see many blog posts. But as I thought more about it throughout the day, I realized that while I may not be able to celebrate a whole lot of bloggy success this year, I have to celebrate my blog itself as it is responsible for so many friendships that otherwise might not have been renewed and even more friendships that would never have formed in the first place. So today I celebrate you, my friends, and thank you for a wonderful three years.

Happiness is... (the Labor Day edition)

2011-09-07T08:52:00.001-04:00

... catching up with an old friend and meeting an online friend for the first time.

yours truly with Leigh and Stacie of Whimsical Fic-ery at the Decatur Book Festival

... getting to meet an author you adore and having the opportunity to tell her that she's the reason some of your students became readers.

crushing on Margaret Peterson Haddix

... spending time with your in-laws, who you've come to love as your own family,

and snuggling with your nieces and nephew.

(not pictured because I was too busy enjoying their company to take photos)

Wordless Wednesday: A Mental Health Break

2011-08-24T19:02:00.000-04:00

Getting away from it all is a good thing.

#SummerBlogSocial: Waxing Philosophical

2011-08-05T15:17:00.000-04:00

It has been so nice meeting new bloggy friends through this #SummerBlogSocial, as well as connecting with old bloggy friends that I haven't talked to nearly enough this summer. I'm looking forward to making (notice I didn't say "finding") time this weekend to travel the blogosphere and catch up with all of you.

Thank you so much for the supportive comments on Monday's post. They meant a lot, and they actually bring me to today's blog post.

What are your overriding goals for your blog and social media presence?
As you reflect back on your time blogging, tweeting and Facebooking, what has surprised you most?
What 1 aspect of blogging and social media is your favorite?

My favorite part of blogging and social media (not surprisingly, nor uncommonly) is the community I've found through both. It was such a surprise to learn that I could become close to people I had never before met in person, but that's exactly what's happened through my blog, Facebook, and Twitter. Whether I'm tweeting with a "virtual friend"about the latest Twilight movie, being buoyed by reading her supportive blog comments, or giggling with her about her latest Facebook post, I know that THIS is the reason I (attempt to) keep it up, even during those times (like this one) when it feels impossible. This is also the reason that my goal is simply to keep doing it. So what if I'm never the next Mama Dooce? The friendships I've made and continue to make far outweigh virtual fame and glory.

#SummerBlogSocial: Bloggy Goals

2011-08-01T15:59:00.000-04:00

Shortly after thinking about my future corner of the blogosphere, I heard about this online blogging event, Summer Blog Social, which I thought could help me redefine what being a blogger means to me at this time in my life, as well as give me the opportunity to meet other writers who may be going through the same blogging existential crisis.

Today's PromptWhere do you see your blog in 6 months? How about a year from now?

Six months from now, I would like my blog to resemble what it was in 2009 at the height of (what I define as) its success: a medium by which to tell stories, reflect on both the monumental and monotonous moments in life, practice writing, and - most importantly - connect with other bloggers who I adore. I want to stop the mind games that I often play with myself these days, make the time I owe myself to write no matter how crazy busy life is, and again feel the joy that blogging once brought me. My ONE goal is that at the end of six months posts galore will fill the pages of my blog.
Because of the nearly inactive state I allowed my blog to succumb to this year, it's difficult to imagine what my corner of the blogosphere will look like 365 days from now. I hope it has the fun tone it once had, rife with pictures and videos, contests and giveaways. More than anything, I want it to be something I'm proud to share with a (semi-)wide audience. If we're refraining from censoring ourselves, I'll admit that I'd also love to blog elsewhere in a professional capacity, whether that be linked to my current job, guest posting, or getting paid to write content.
So now that it's out in the blogosphere for all to hold me accountable, I guess it's time to work on making it happen!

Set It Sunday: Double Feature

2011-07-31T23:06:00.000-04:00

New to Set It Sunday?

Click here to read the motivation behind the meme.

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As my Set It Sunday post from last week vanished into thin air, I guess I'll backtrack a bit (thus the double feature). My goal from two weeks ago was to write every day. Though I didn't get to spend as much time writing as I wanted, nor did I write all I had hoped to, I did write, and that's the most important thing.

My goal for this past week was to do one thing outside my comfort zone. I opted to take an in-person scrapbook-related class, which doesn't sound like it'd be outside my comfort zone, but it truly was because 1) I hate going to things like that by myself, and 2) the class required me to use all sorts of tools with which I was completely unfamiliar. The experience was a bit nerve-wracking as I found myself fumbling with the easiest of tasks, but I survived and even had a bit of fun. Of course, the best part is that I have a handmade smash book that I can't wait to use (and will share in a separate post).

Set It

This week I'm going to be participating in an online blogging conference:

My goal for the week is to actively participate, despite the craziness that has become my life (which is an entirely different post).

Want to join me in focusing more time on a personal goal?

Grab the button above and leave a comment with a link to your blog post.

PS. It will probably be another few days before I can start making my blog-reading rounds again. I finally gave up on Google Reader, which vehemently hated me, and am in the process of setting up my new reader.

My future corner of the blogosphere

2011-07-19T19:08:00.000-04:00

Here I go blogging about blogging again... but I've been spending a lot of time thinking about my little corner of the blogosphere and questioning where I want to go from here.

I started blogging in January 2007, very sporadically - and privately. When we made a long-distance move in September of the following year, leaving behind all that we had known for the past decade to live in completely unfamiliar territory, I took the plunge and went public, thinking that my blog would be a great medium to keep friends and family abreast of all our new adventures. My blog started gaining momentum that November as I became a more active blog reader and started making bloggy friends (many of whom would soon become friends, minus the "bloggy" prefix), found memes (I never did get the hang of the "wordless" part of Wordless Wednesday), and got a feel for what my little audience enjoyed reading most. By 2009, I was a blogger, having gone from writing 15 posts in a year to well over 100. Blogging was among my top five most favorite things to do, and having finally found my blog's voice, I felt fairly decent at it.

As 2010 began, I started feeling an increased pressure to keep my growing audience, people who were there for very different reasons. I felt as though because I had attracted some of my readers to my blog through a scrapbooking class, I had to blog more about scrapbooking... but would that put off my readers who were there only to discuss writing? And were my "IRL" friends bored and waiting to see the next set of goofy pictures from our travels? In addition, I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt if I didn't post regularly, apologizing to my readers so profusely that it was like I thought I had denied them air. My blogging persona quickly became a hot mess, and as a result, I started blogging less. Add to that a period of time when life (e.g., moves, layoffs, family emergencies) took over everything else, and my blog quickly entered the territory of "practically nonexistent." In seven months, I have written only 20 posts, most of which reflect not me, but a desire to put something on paper so that I can begin to reconnect with the people I miss.

My friend Jenny questioned the future of blogs a few days ago, and I agree with her that some of my favorite bloggers have also been blogging less lately. Is it because we are sharing through different mediums, such as Facebook and Twitter, with increasing momentum? Is it that 2011 has been a rough year all the way around and blogging is not as great a priority? Or is the blog a soon-to-be extinct genre? After commenting on Jenny's post, I realized that while I do tend to read Facebook and Twitter more than I'm reading blogs this year, I'm updating as infrequently there as I am here. So what gives? Partly, I think I'm going through a period of time right now when I'm simply a bit more insular, journaling thoughts privately instead of broadcasting them to the world. I think I've also been really focused on making local friends, which has turned out to be a great thing since I feel surrounded by a wonderful community here now, but that has sadly taken time away from cultivating my online relationships. So where am I going? I know that I still must have a desire to blog, even if only subconsciously, as I am still jotting down blog ideas, as well as constantly looking at websites for tips, inspiration, groups to join, and conferences to attend, so I don't think it's time to throw in the towel just yet, but it may be time to take a step back and redefine what being a blogger means to me at this time in my life.

I honestly don't know what my corner of the blogosphere is going to look like in the future. For now, it's enough to have figured out that I definitely want to have one.

Set It Sunday: Less Thinking, More Doing

2011-07-17T23:02:00.000-04:00

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Future Me, now Present Me, is happy to see a few thoughts blogged this week. They weren't necessarily the posts I had intended, but they are posts nonetheless, and I think they may have gotten me back on the blogging horse, so to speak.

Set It

Today during lunch, a girlfriend and I had a great think session, in which we each wrote down all the things we want to be doing that we aren't. We talked through our lists with each other to identify our priorities, discussed different strategies for achieving our goals, and then chose one action item that we would complete before having lunch again next weekend. As we were talking, she pointed out something that I already knew from reading my last couple of blog posts: I need to do less thinking and more doing. Analyzing can be a useful tool, but not when it takes the place of doing.

No surprise, the item on my list that revealed itself as my top priority is writing. I know what I need to do to make it happen because I did it successfully once before. Now it's just a matter of doing it. I'm going to reinstate my morning writing sessions and write every single day this week, no exception. It doesn't matter if it's a blog post, an article submission, a private journal entry, or *gasp* a scene for my long-neglected novel - I just have to write. And write I will.

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Parting (with Harry Potter) is such sweet sorrow

2011-07-16T23:38:00.000-04:00

No spoilers, I promise! This is not a review of the movie;

rather, it is a reflection on my experience of the Harry Potter era.

As I watched the final Harry Potter movie this morning, I cried not only for the fictional events unfolding on screen, but also for the end of what has been an amazing era. My love of all things Harry did not come as quickly or easily as it did for others. I didn't find Harry until I began teaching, a good four or five years after the series began. Hogwarts was the place all my middle school students longed to be. Wanting to be able to talk with my kids about the story that actually had them reading, I picked up the first book. And barely got through it. The story was good, but - at the risk of committing sacrilege - I thought the writing was not so great. I saw the movie when it came out and LOVED it. I thought it was so much better than the book, but I wanted to know what happened next, so this prompted me to start the second book... which I put down halfway through. I know, I know, but I mustn't tell lies, right? It was then that I decided to stick to the movies. And I did. For a time. I was there for each movie and loved every one of them.

It was when I was watching The Order of the Phoenix, though, that I began to realize I was missing out on some subtext by not reading the books. I leaned over to my friend several times during the movie to ask questions. "Read the book, Cheryl," she said. And so I did. Cover to cover in record time. Between the writing having gotten better and my increased investment in the characters -let's be honest; I wanted to know more about Snape - I suddenly found myself a fan of the books. As soon as I finished, I ran out to get the sixth book and then had to wait impatiently like everyone else for the publication of the final installment, which I picked up on release day. Somewhere between the fifth and sixth books, I went from being a Harry Potter fan to being an OMG HARRY POTTER! fangirl. Perhaps it was because the story was getting increasingly angsty, or maybe it was the fact that Snape had more screen time in the movies, or it might have simply been a matter of timing for me, but whatever the reason, I had joined that legion of fans who couldn't get enough of Potter's magical world.

When the credits rolled this morning, I felt as though I had lost a friend. Sure, the story will live on as I re-watch the movies and reread the books (yes, even books 1 and 2), but never again will I have a new Harry Potter movie to look forward to. After almost 10 years of always having another sequel to count down toward, it's kind of a sad thought. I've lived the better part of my adult life in the era of Harry Potter, and though I know there are plenty of other franchises around the corner that will no doubt capture both my attention and my allegiance, none will take the place of Harry Potter.

Friday Five: New Obsessions

2011-07-15T09:04:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I get obsessed with something and feel the need to share my crazy.

These are a few of my latest addictions.

1. GetGlue

This is probably the lamest addiction I've ever had,
but you can't tweet/FB about unlocking stickers
(*cough, cough,* Amanda, Jennifer, April)
and expect the 6-year-old sticker-collecting whore inside me
to refrain from at least checking it out.
Stickers aside (though, let's face it, that's the best part),
it is fun to see what your friends are watching.
As someone who loves to talk about TV and movies,
this has been a fun "secondary" social media site for me.

2. NOOK Color

Thanks to a surprise bonus payment for one of my projects,
I finally "broke down" and bought an eReader.
I'm a convert!
That's not to say I'm never going to buy another tangible book.
My series books will continue to have homes on my real-life bookshelves.
The turning point for me was finding out that I could
do on an eReader two of the things most important to me
in my world of reading: borrowing books from the library
and sharing books with friends.
Once I realized how easy it was to continue doing both of these things,
I could no longer argue against getting one.
Plus, having an eReader is a much handier way
to read NetGalley loans and the like.
So far, I'm not disappointed.
And how super cute is that case?!
If you have a NOOK, we should be "NOOK Friends!"
I don't have a huge collection yet,
but once it grows, I would love to start swapping books!

3. Pretzel Crisps

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With a consistency of the perfect blend between
a potato chip and a pretzel,
and the taste of a bagel chip,
this is my new favorite snack.

4. Covet by SJP

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My mom gave me a bottle of this forever ago,
and being a one-scent woman,
I never really used it.
I'm not sure why I picked up the bottle a few months ago,
but I did, and now I can't put it back down.

5. This bookmark

The first thought that comes to mind is,
"Why didn't I think of that?!"
After the fit of creative jealousy subsides,
I have nothing but total love for this Etsy find.
As a Wizard of Oz fanatic, this is easily my new favorite bookmark.

What are you obsessed with lately?

The one where I cry "Do over!" and also learn a valuable lesson

2011-07-11T09:33:00.000-04:00

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Ever have a week where you wish you could climb into a DeLorean, erase what happened, and have a do over? Such was my week. That blessed, glorious week where I was going to make sure that my "have to"s were not my only focus and that I allowed myself time for my "want to"s? Well, not a whole lot of "have to"s got done, but neither did any "want to"s. The only thing I managed to accomplish was coming down with Preschool Plague of Summer 2011 on the eve of July 4 (if I were to actually keep up with this blogging thing, you wouldn't be scratching your head, wondering how I caught Preschool Plague; you'd know that I am working with preschoolers two days a week now). You know how you often wish you could afford the luxury of staying in your PJs and watching TV in bed all day? The novelty wears off well before the fourth day. And while I admit that there are times I am so wrapped up in my writing that I don't leave the house for a week, not feeling able to leave the house for a week suddenly gave me some sort of recluse phobia. But the intention of this post is not to complain (thank you, though, for letting me do so), nor is it to apologize for not fulfilling my promise of verbal vomit (though I am sorry, especially to Cate who was sweet enough to say she was looking forward to it); being too sick to do any of the things I had previously put off and said I was going to accomplish last week taught me a valuable lesson.

Not being able to recapture the time that I lost, it's finally starting to sink in how important it is to follow my new rule to get out of this terrible habit I developed over the last year or so of denying myself, on a daily basis, personally fulfilling activities until I catch up on all that "has" to be done. First of all, my list of "have to do"s is way too long, and thinking that I'll ever be caught up on it is unrealistic. Hubby often asks me, "What do you have planned for the weekend?" to which I usually respond, "Well, I'd really like to write, maybe scrapbook, and I haven't even looked at that free online course that I was so excited to get into; but I have to do X, Y, and Z" (where X, Y, and Z are not things that truly have to be done in order for bills to get paid or for life to go on). Before I know it, the entire weekend has passed me by, and I have not allowed myself a single moment of pure enjoyment (with the exception of Sunday nights because True Blood is nonnegotiable: if you catch on fire between 9 and 10, don't count on me to put you out). According to this interesting read that I just happened upon this morning (talk about timeliness), this behavior is not fair to "Future Me," not to mention Future Me might - oh, I don't know - wind up in bed for a week with PRESCHOOL PLAGUE! Today Me needs to start being more considerate of Future Me. I wouldn't tell Hubby that I couldn't go out to dinner with him over the weekend because I know that when Monday rolls around, along with all the busyness it brings, Future Him will be disappointed that we didn't take advantage of the downtime and spend it together. Like so many other people, I will go out of my way not to disappoint others, but don't think anything of doing - or refraining from doing - something that will cause disappointment for myself.

Today Me, meet Future Me. Future Me just came home from seeing the final Harry Potter movie (sniff) and is enjoying a cup of hot tea while traveling the blogosphere. Future Me is-a-gonna be a ball of anger if she sees not a single blog entry posted after today's. You know what would make her happy? Seeing at least two more blog posts. Future Me is counting on you not to let her down.

What are you planning to do this week to make Future You happy?

This post was written in part to roll over my goal from last week
as a late Set It Sunday.

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Set It Sunday

2011-07-03T19:03:00.000-04:00

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Last week's goal was to do at least one thing that was entirely for me. I achieved this goal early in the week when I spontaneously allowed myself to watch the last hour of Eclipse that I just happened to come across while flipping channels. I had a million and one things to do, but I put it all aside, kicked my feet up, and enjoyed my favorite scene (the tent) without multitasking or feeling guilty.

Set It

This week, I'd like to tackle that long "to blog" list. I've had so much to say in the last few weeks but haven't allowed myself to take the time to say it (so be prepared for verbal vomit coming your way). Work can no longer be my only priority; I have to take time to do non-work related activities that are important to me.

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To all my American friends, have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Set It Sunday: The Return

2011-06-26T13:24:00.000-04:00

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With all that's on my to-do list, which I must do,
my only goal for this week is to do at least one thing
that's entirely for me.

It can be anything - do a craft, bake a cake, watch a movie -
but it cannot be something that I'm obligated to do.
I've got to start adding a little bit of "me time" back into my weeks,
and hopefully this will be the start of a good habit.

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Rules, TV, and Comfort Zones (Friday Fragments)

2011-06-24T17:28:00.000-04:00

New rules are hard to follow since old habits are hard to break. Today, I broke no less than five rules, but I did manage to stick to four of them, including allowing myself time to do what makes me happy (hello, blog!) and forcing myself out of the house tonight. Baby steps, I guess.
My friend Sarabeth and I revamped (no pun intended - well, maybe a little) our True Blood Challenge blog. If you love True Blood, come check us out! We host monthly craft challenges that are True Blood themed, but we also post recaps and spoilers, as well as have giveaways, so there's something for everyone.

Speaking of my fangtastic (wow, that was bad) fictional friends, I'm of course excited about the True Blood premiere on Sunday, but thanks to an amazingly sweet cable operator, I can now also look forward to the premiere of Weeds the following night. That show makes me laugh and cry like few others (don't pretend like the Silas-Nancy drama doesn't make you tear up, too). Since we've never allowed ourselves to splurge on Showtime, Hubby and I usually have to wait for the DVDs, but with our surprise service bonus, we are able to enjoy in real time, and we also got to watch the latest season of Dexter on demand (there's definitely something to be said for not having to wait a week between episodes). I know that TV shouldn't be the thing to make me this happy, yet it does. Part of it is because of the escape and entertainment that the shows provide; the other part of it is the fun I have watching with Hubby and talking about it the next day with my friends. TV is very much a social thing for me. Thanks to texting, I was able to watch every episode of LOST "with" my two girlfriends who live elsewhere.

Granted, we didn't have the most insightful conversations.

A situation came up yesterday that got Hubby and I talking about comfort zones. I did a lot of yapping about "sucking it up and doing it" when forced outside my comfort zone. Upon further reflection, though, I realized that I willingly go outside my comfort zone only when forced to do so. There are many things I'd like to do and try, but "I don't feel comfortable going because I don't know anyone" or "I don't do X well enough to be comfortable trying Y" comes out of my mouth more often than not, preventing me from experiencing what could be wonderful things. And what's the worst that could happen? It'd be terrible, and I'd never do it again, right? So add to the rules (as if I needed to add one more thing) "go outside your comfort zone more." From trying new things in the kitchen, like Amy, to taking a class I'm afraid would make me look like an idiot (Zumba, I'm looking at you!), to going to a club or organizational meeting where I know no one, I want to willingly go out of my comfort zone a few times a year. I think about all the things I've done in the past that were out of my comfort zone that ended well, and I know there are more experiences like that out there.
In keeping with my new rule to do what works for me in terms of being more productive, I'm reinstating Set It Sunday starting this coming week. Making myself accountable in such a public way really pushed me toward accomplishing my goals. That's not to say I don't have internal motivation, but the extra shove is nice. If you have a goal - big or small - that you'd like to accomplish this week, come back by on Sunday and join me.

Whether your weekend includes goals, TV, going outside your comfort zone, or not, I hope you have a great one!

New Rules

2011-06-23T19:50:00.000-04:00

Six months ago (where has the year gone?!) I decided to focus on realizing, using both definitions of the word to understand what my priorities are, as well as make some personal goals become a reality. Although priorities are always shifting, I think I've done a pretty good job with the first part of my word. Additionally, I've spent a whole lot of time realizing what works and doesn't work for me as I strive to give reality to all that I had hoped to accomplish this year. Now it's time to work on that second part of my one little word, which brings me to

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New Rule: Once vertical, stay vertical.
I've gotten really good (too good, if you ask me) at waking up early; I'm often feeding the cat somewhere between 6:00 and 6:30. The problem is that I have a bad tendency of crawling back into bed to Facebook on my phone before finally rolling back out to start the day, which doesn't do much to jumpstart my productivity.

New Rule: Once coherent, start working.
Much to my dismay, somewhere along the aging process, I've become a morning person. Like a chocolate-chip cookie, I'm at my best when fresh out of the oven. Too bad I often "waste" my most alert hours on activities that don't require as much attention, which would be better attended to later in the day when I'm sleepy and feeling less motivated.

New Rule: Take your breaks away from the computer. And the kitchen.
Taking "five-minute" Facebook/Twitter breaks wind up sucking away much larger chunks of my time without me even noticing it. Taking breaks in the kitchen is adding chunks of weight to my bones. Until our house is completely unpacked, putting away contents from one box would be a good use of this time instead. After that, perhaps a trip to the mailbox, reading a chapter from my book, triaging pictures into my LOM system, or - brace yourself! - a quick exercise routine would work in lieu of standing in front of the open refrigerator.

New Rule: Don't deny yourself that which makes you happy.
Why does my blog have very few entries this year? Why does my book sit unfinished on my hard drive? Why do so many scrapbooks sit empty on my shelf? Why does my pile of to-be-read books continue to grow while the number of books I've actually read remains stagnant? Because there's this little voice inside my head that says I'm not allowed to do what I want to do until I'm "caught up" on X, Y, and Z. That voice needs to shut it. I have to work to live, but no matter how much I enjoy what I do, I shouldn't be living to work. I need to take time everyday for me. I got SO good at this when I was in PA (I'm thinking being stranded in the snow-covered mountains for weeks at a time might have had something to do with this) but have since regressed to ignoring my needs.

New Rule: Stop collecting pretty paper and start using it.
That pretty paper I ogle at my local scrapbooking store that somehow makes it onto the checkout counter and into my house looks much better in scrapbooks than it does in a container. It's time to stop being a scrapbook supply hoarder and start being a scrapbooker.

New Rule: Do what works.
I spent the better part of a year finding systems - writing schedules, bookending/using a timer, weekly goals - that work for me. When I moved a year ago and got out of my routine, I abandoned my systems and inexplicably never brought them back into my life. It's time to put out the welcome mat!

New Rule: Get out of the house.
Whether it's going out with friends, going to services, or going to a class, I always have a great time out of the house. It's the making myself do it that's the hard part. I am queen of excuses: I'm tired, I don't feel great, it's such a schlep across town. A few girlfriends and I have discussed implementing a weekly girls' night - same time, same day every week, different activity - so that we have fewer excuses not to socialize.

New Rule: When overwhelmed, don't bury your head in the sand.
I have become a master of avoidance. Feeling overwhelmed, I'll pick up the remote or take a nap. Imagine how much more I'd get done if, instead, I chose one thing from my to-do list that was quick and easy to complete, did it, and then checked it off my list. I'm not saying I'm going to deprive myself of much-needed downtime, but I need to start being honest about my motivations. Am I taking a nap because I need to rest, or am I simply trying to put off an overwhelming task?

New Rule: Relearn how to use the phone.
As a preteen, my phone was physically attached to my ear. Thanks to email and social media, what's attached instead are my fingers to my keyboard. Even when I do have my phone in my hand, it's rare that it's up to my ear; more likely, my fingers are texting, emailing, or scrolling. Digital communication is great, but it's no replacement for hearing the sound of a friend's voice.

New Rule: Be present.
I have such a nasty habit of letting my to-do list creep into my mind and cause me to either lose attention on what I'm doing or check my watch to see how many more hours I have left in the day to get stuff done. I would get so much more out of experiences if I would give my full attention to the "here and now." Similarly, when I'm in my "work zone," if I remember something that requires attention, I need to write it down on my to-do list and then Let. It. Go.

New Rule: Don't let fear and perfectionism stop you before you even start.
What's that saying about it being better to try and fail than never to have tried at all? I have so much I want to do, both big and small, and the only thing standing in my way is me. It's time to get out of my own way.

Me = Happy (Friday Fragments)

2011-06-17T11:36:00.000-04:00

It feels good to wear a smile. These are a few of the reasons, both big and small, that one was planted on my face most of the week:

I realized what a blessing in disguise my layoff was. I'm enjoying the freedom to work on projects I'm truly passionate about, as well as work more in the community. Honestly, I feel like I have my cake and am eating it, too. I still have my hand in educational publishing, but I'm also getting to work in the non-profit sector and give back to the community (more on that next week). It truly is the best of both words, and I hope that, financially, I can keep this pace for a while.

I'm loving our new apartment! Even with boxes still strewn about, it already feels like home. Before moving in, the smaller space intimidated me, but I've been having a blast coming up with creative storage solutions (which I'll share at a later date). One downside of moving during the summer in the South (besides the obvious disadvantage of the oppressive heat) is the bug situation. Having the door open for extended periods of time to move things in also allows every species of the insect world to shack up with you. Our biggest nuisance right now is of the buzzing kind. Don't get me wrong: I understand that flies are not nearly as terrible as having an infestation of roaches or ants or mosquitos, but I swear these flies are playing with me. Instead of being stealthy, like a spider, and attempting to stay out of my view, they're behaving like flies (the nerve!), purposely landing in my line of sight, staying as still as a statue, and then using their stupid compound eyes to fly away just as I bring down my weapon. They're taunting me, I tell you! Unfortunately for them, I have become quite skilled with a rolled-up magazine; unfortunately for me, I can add "flyswatter" to the list of skills on my resume. This, however, is a small price to pay for the serenity that is our new home.

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In the past 24 hours, I have apparently regressed to my 13-year-old self. It started last night when I innocently decided I wanted to re-watch The Real World: New York. I giggled, remembering how in love with the show (and Andre) I was, as I realized that what we thought was so controversial back then has nothing on today's reality television (Julie and Kevin are no match for The Real Housewives). But the nostalgia of it made me smile. Fast forward to this morning when I decided to watch music videos during breakfast (it's nice to see that some music television stations still play, you know, music). I seriously never watch music videos now, with the exception of a few YouTube or VEVO premieres, but I did all the time back in the early 90s. I must have fallen asleep in a DeLorean. If I start tight-rolling my jeans later, someone please slap me back to 2011.

Sometimes, it's the little things. Blogger can now create a mobile version of your blog template. As someone who spends a lot of time reading on her phone, I can't tell you how exciting this is. I hope all of you with Blogger will eventually enable this setting so that I can read blogs instead of tweets when I'm sitting around waiting. :)

Now that I have several quiet, comfy places in the apartment, I'm looking forward to writing/blogging, reading (including all of your blog posts) and crafting more regularly again. Hallelujah!

Dare I say it for fear of jinxing it? Life is good.

Wordless Wednesday: The "After" Picture

2011-06-15T06:53:00.000-04:00

Mrs. 4444 pointed out that I was a bit of a tease for not revealing the "after" photo of my haircut (sorry). So, without further ado...

Anti-climactic, I know.

For those of you who are more into words than pictures, I have a lot of those to say, and now that I have a comfy, almost box-free area in the new apartment from which to blog (cue the choir of angels), they'll be coming soon!

Wordless Wednesday: It's All Gone!

2011-05-25T21:39:00.000-04:00

Lessons learned this week (Friday Fragments)

2011-05-20T12:57:00.000-04:00

In a week of changing gears, in both work and home, there has been a lot of lesson learning going on around here.

I'm a creature of habit. My first week freelancing, post layoff, is going well. Surprisingly, though, I'm having trouble breaking the 9-6 routine, which is what I had complained most about with my full-time job after having enjoyed flexible hours for three years before that. I never thought being tied to my desk would be a hard habit to break, but I find myself constantly looking at the clock: This line needs to move faster because I have to start work in ten minutes. I only have five minutes left of my lunch break. Ugh, it's only 3:00? These next three hours are going to be long. While there is nothing wrong with trying to keep "business hours," I know from experience that I am a better writer when I allow myself time to shift gears (say, like write a blog post mid-day) or take a reading break every few hours. Now it's just a matter of getting my internal clock to buy into my process.
If, while you think you could be having a medical emergency, your first thought is, G-d, please don't let me die because people will come into my house and see what a mess it is, it might be time to do something about your housekeeping habits. I tend to be a not-do-anything-during-the-week-and-clean-it-all-over-the-weekend kind of girl. Looking around with anxiety at the piles of things building up makes me realize this routine isn't working too well. Perhaps I should spend those breaks I need from writing to tidy up with more regularity.
I don't need - or want - half of what I own. Purging Round 2 started off great. I probably let go of about half my wardrobe and still have plenty to wear (and not wear). Then I hit a plateau as I looked around my office/studio thinking, but I WANT everything in here. No, I'll probably never use that paper for anything, but it's just soooo pretty! I went through all the self talk and realized it's simply a matter of not being ready to tackle my favorite room yet. So last night I switched gears and went through my books. I thought this was going to be an impossible task, but I put half of my collection in boxes to go to the library with surprising ease. Whether it was my desire to see progress or a lack of wanting to yet again schlep eight boxes of books across town, the act restored my purging mojo. When I was younger, I equated more stuff with more happiness; now, the opposite is beginning to prove true for me.
It pays (literally) to speak up for yourself. I can sometimes be a passive person, often out of sheer laziness. I'm the one who looks at her receipt on the way out the door and decides not to go back for that dollar I shouldn't have been charged. When you start talking hundreds of dollars, both my passivity and laziness tend to subside, but when it comes to insurance claims, I often chalk discrepancies up to my not fully understanding my coverage. Keeping a more watchful eye on our money these days, I decided to investigate a charge from my doctor's office that I felt was too high. Analyzing the insurance claim, the charge looked to be $800 more than what I should have paid! I emailed the insurance company to confirm that my out-of-pocket expense was only $400. Then I made the dreaded call to the doctor's office. Though nice, the woman I spoke to made it sound as though an insurance error had been made and I would be on the hook for the difference, despite the written confirmation I had. One more call to the insurance company righted the entire situation in a matter of hours - and with minimal effort on my part. Win! Now if only I could apply this lesson to negotiating better fees for my writing... baby steps.

What lessons did you learn this week?

Pausing to remember

2011-05-19T09:13:00.000-04:00

My cousin Allen passed away Sunday night after a courageous battle with cancer. Cancer sucks.

After hanging up with his son, who reminds me so much of Allen, I fought to suppress the natural way minds sometimes drift, trying not to put myself in their shoes...losing a father, a husband. I tried not to dwell on the questions that scream from deep within: Did I adequately express how grateful I was for all he did for me? Did he know how much I loved him? I tried not to feel guilty about not saying goodbye in person. Instead, I tried to focus on the memories, of which there are gratefully many.

I remember playfully smack talking with him while watching the UNC-FSU game. It was a surprise when I transferred to UF and started rooting with him. I remember the way he compassionately gave me a heads up about my great aunt's Alzheimer's after not having seen her for several years, softening the shock. I remember the way he opened his home to not only me, but also my friends when we needed a break from campus, and how he wouldn't let us leave until we had packed a snack (or ten) for the road. And I remember, because he was so good at saying it, that he loved me.

Allen wasn't a first cousin - we laughed over dinner as we attempted to figure out his title once..."Second cousin once removed...by marriage. Or something like that." - but to Allen it didn't matter how we were related; all that mattered is that we were.

Goodbye, Cousin Allen. I hope that in Heaven the Yankees always win.

(Not Really) Wordless Wednesday: 1 Day in May

2011-05-18T21:23:00.000-04:00

While catching up on my blog reader a few weeks ago, I came across this awesome idea (and template) on Kim's blog to document a day by taking one picture every hour from wakeup to bedtime. Though my day wasn't super interesting, as you can tell by the numerous computer and food pictures I took, I thought it was a neat way to capture a "slice" of real life. I'm going to try to do one of these layouts every year going forward. Thanks for the inspiration, Kim, and for the time-saving template!

Click to enlarge.

Because of a book

2011-05-09T07:00:00.054-04:00

Last month, I read 29 for the From Left to Write book club. Simply put, it's about a grandmother who finds herself with the rare opportunity to live for one day as another age. As the title suggests, she chooses 29. What makes the story even better is that her granddaughter gets to experience the day with her.

The first thing that ran through my mind while reading was, if I could go back to any age for one day, which would I choose? I'm sure the answer might change as I get older, but as of now, I'd relive a day of my 17th year, ginormous glasses and all. Seventeen was the year of my first real love, the year I spent carefree days with friends before things like betrayal and tragedy became known to us, before we were naturally separated by adulthood. Instead of stressing about AP tests, I would cherish each moment spent on and behind the stage, a place I miss now. Instead of worrying about peering eyes, I would kiss my boyfriend with abandon, savoring sweet moments that I didn't realize I would forget over time. Instead of taking the days I had with my friends for granted, I would hug them each a little tighter, a little longer.

As I got deeper into the book, my thoughts turned to my own grandma. I remembered first seeing a picture of her when she was about my age and wondering what she was like back then. I thought about how amazing it would be to experience an earlier time with her. Then I wondered, what age would Gram choose? After turning the last page of the book, I wrapped it up to send to my grandma along with a note, basically saying what I've shared with you here.

Yesterday, when I called Gram for Mother's Day, I asked her what her decision would have been. She told me, "Sweet 16, or somewhere around that time." I was surprised that we chose similar ages, expecting for an almost 95-year-old woman to choose a later year. Being the kind of person who needs prodding before she'll talk about herself, Gram waited for me to ask, "Why?" before explaining. She said it was because she was a free spirit back then, and she briefly reminisced about wandering through the park next to her house until she heard her mother call her from the window for dinner. It was a small, yet meaningful, glimpse into a time I know little about in the life I someone I love.

I was reminded again of the power books can have. I doubt I ever would have had this conversation with Gram otherwise. This detail, though seemingly small, helps to make a more complete picture of who she is. A warm, memorable chat with Gram and a new tidbit of insight into her life, all made possible because of a book.

A scrappy day

2011-05-07T20:33:00.000-04:00

Happy National Scrapbooking Day! After a ridiculously long time away from the craft, I was thrilled to have an excuse (not that one should be needed) to forget everything I "should" be doing and spend a few hours with my photos and pretty supplies.

I decided to finally start my iScrap album (better late than never), the main purpose of which is to document nine "I" statements from 2010. At the end of the project, there will be a two-page LO for each statement, one side consisting of journaling for the statement and the other side displaying a photograph that illustrates the statement. I'm still working on the journaling, but in celebration of NSD, I wanted to share the six halves I completed. Each pictures is preceded by the corresponding "I" statement so that it hopefully makes more sense.

1. I was grateful for all the good times amidst the stress of this year.

2. I went far away to celebrate true love.

3. I once believed myself to be a Northerner, until I was greeted by knee-high snow.

4. I am slightly obsessed with vampire stories.

(Since I obviously couldn't choose just one story, I made a collage in Picasa of pictures representing Buffy, Dracula, Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, and True Blood. What? I admitted to being slightly obsessed.)

5. I know that I am going to be happier in the South.

6. I love escaping it all with my sweetie.

I have three more statements to go and lots of journaling to write. I'll share the finished product here once I'm done. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and a happy Mother's Day to all you mommies!

Blowing with the wind of change

2011-05-05T21:46:00.000-04:00

Spring. A season of change, growth, and renewal. As the dogwood trees began to blossom around Columbia a few months ago, the season of change took effect in our household as well (resulting in me channeling my inner David Bowie). Lightening, which had to go and disprove the popular theory, struck the same place twice: only two weeks after celebrating my one-year anniversary at my new job, I found out that I'll again be laid off in what is now less than 11 days. There was a lot of anger, followed by a debilitating amount of worry; but thanks to time, perspective, and an incredibly supportive husband, the cloud has passed, and now I'm embracing the silver lining that has begun to shine.

Perhaps the happiest side effect has been the rediscovery of what I truly love doing: writing curriculum. In the weeks following news of my layoff, I connected with former colleagues who threw a generous amount of freelance writing gigs my way. Less than 10 pages into my first manuscript, I filled the mysterious void that had developed over the past year. Since no full-time opportunities have been offered to me thus far, I've also been lining up some other part-time ventures, making for what will be a varied summer. A mix of writing, teaching, and tutoring will be a fun change from the 9-6 monotony. I'm not sure that I can keep up the renaissance lifestyle forever, but such fantasies prompted Hubby and me to reevaluate our priorities and talk about striving toward possible scenarios that might allow me more work freedom in the future.

Such discussion (along with our door being a target for projectile rocks and a BB gun hole in our car) has led us to another relocation... one exit up. I don't necessarily love the way our decision came about (nor do I love the idea of having to schlep everything again next month), but I think it is ultimately going to be a great move for us. An unexpected bit of excitement born from this change is that we have to downsize our stuff. Usually the thought of purging makes me short of breath, but I am actually looking forward to the freeing feeling of getting rid of those things that have remained in boxes and not missed since moving here last year. With all the craziness that life enjoys throwing, I'm in favor of simplifying it wherever I can.

While there is still an element of uncertainty about the future, I'm giddy at the thought of starting a new chapter. Instead of falling down, we're blowing with the wind of change, and I'm confident it's in the right direction.

Life: A Work in Progress

2011-04-05T00:06:00.000-04:00

Five-year plans. I began making them at an early age, knowing exactly which courses I'd take my senior year in high school when I was still in eighth grade. My major was decided before I started college, and I was picking up brochures about graduate school during my freshman orientation. My mother would describe this as me rushing my life away; I saw it as having direction.

The first time one of these plans was challenged by that little thing called life, I called my dad in tears from my college apartment. "But this isn't how I planned it," I cried. There was talk of "best laid plans" and giving G-d a good laugh when we try to plan out our lives. Of course, that didn't stop little 'ole Type-A me from continuing to do so. How do you live without a plan? That'd be like making a road trip without a map. Or taking a vacation without an itinerary. I'm getting heebee jeebees just thinking about it.

Several failed five-year plans later, I now know the importance of revising my mindset. When what I want changes, when priorities shift, when life throws me the unexpected, I can whine about things not going according to plan, or I can, as Fagin so humorously sings, review the situation and think it out again (or, more realistically, do both). My life is a work in progress. Like my writing, it needs to constantly be practiced, nurtured, evaluated, and revised.

As I stare down the reality of my third layoff in two years (who says lightning never strikes the same place twice?), never mind my five-year plan. I need a new right-now plan. I honestly don't know what that looks like yet, but as I begin to figure it out, I hope to stay true to what I want (also TBD), modifying my life to reflect not only what my current reality is, but also what I need from this ensuing chapter. Until the next revision, that is.

This post was inspired by Lunch in Paris: A Love Story, with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard. I received a complimentary copy of the book for review through the online book club, From Left to Write. You can read additional posts inspired by the book here.

Growing Up Different, Trying to Look the Same

2011-03-07T19:05:00.000-05:00

This post was inspired by Natasha Solomons' Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English.

I received a complimentary copy of the book for review through the online book club, From Left to Write. You can read additional posts inspired by the book here.

As one of only two Jewish kids growing up in a small northern town where the John Birch Society was still active, assimilating is something I did without thinking about it. I always knew we were "different," and while I personally didn't mind it (I was always grateful that I didn't have to sit on a creepy old guy's lap to get presents), I didn't want anyone else to see me as such. I wore the chai my nana gave me tucked into my shirt, I said "Christmas" instead of "Chanukah" when talking to my friends, and I even played the Star of Bethlehem in my Montessori's Christmas play (I'm pretty sure I thought I was playing the Statue of Liberty... if you saw the pictures, you'd understand).

When we moved to Central Florida, I finally met other kids who were "like me." (I almost did a backflip when the first boy to introduce himself to me said that his last name was Schwartz.) It was great to have friends I could play dreidel with and go to the movies with on Christmas day, but not much changed: I was outwardly Jewish when we were together, but I quickly decorated a Chanukah bush before one of my Christian friends came to my house to exchange presents.

In high school, my circle of Jewish friends grew. Finally, there were enough of us to have a club: The Skinny Jewish Honor Society. Obviously, it wasn't a real club, but it was a natural camaraderie that I had yet to feel until then. It was also the first time I remember hearing "Jewish humor" and Yiddish idioms from people other than my family not on TV. I no longer had to remember to say "butt" instead of "tush" for fear of people looking at me weirdly, a thing much more significant than it sounds.

Surprisingly (to me, at least), my first "real" boyfriend was Jewish. I remember going to his sister's bat mitzvah after we had gone our separate ways. It was the first time I had been to a synagogue since going with my Grandma Lil when I was little, so little that the only thing I remember about the experience was the Stella Dora cookies at the Oneg. I felt lost and out of place among my own people.

When I started college at UNC Charlotte, I was the shiny, new Jew once again. If I had received a quarter for every time someone had told me, "You're the first Jewish person I've ever met," I wouldn't have needed all those student loans. My extended family lived two hours away in Greensboro, a very Jewish area of North Carolina, and it was during my visits with them that I became more comfortable in synagogue. Still, when I went back to campus, I left my Judaism at the door.

Moving to the University of Florida two years later, I felt like I had hit the mother load of Jews. Where did they all come from? I thought. (The answer was Boca.) I never knew so many Jewish people existed in one place outside of New York. Over time, I became active in Hillel, went to Israel, and began living Jewishly - openly. I finally rediscovered a part of myself that I hadn't realized I lost through assimilation.

When I returned home, waiting to start my graduate program, I attended Shabbat services on a regular basis at a temple I never knew existed, though it had been standing a short distance from my home for twice as long as I had been alive at the time. My friends knew that if they wanted to hang out on Friday night, it would be after services; there was no pretending of where I was or what I was doing.

There is still sometimes pressure to assimilate. Teaching at a rural school in Northern Florida, I was basically told to "just go with it" when I objected to them playing Christmas movies over closed-circuit TV after final exams. Go with it I did not. I brought in my DVD player and showed one of the movies from our English department's approved list instead.

These days, I'm no longer interested in assimilating. I'm confident in how I practice my faith. Though I participate in Christmas celebrations more often than not, I do it out of love for my Christian friends and in-laws, not out of desire or pressure to fit in with the majority. Our Jewish traditions are beautiful. They should be celebrated proudly, not in secret.

One little word on 1/1/11

2011-01-01T15:51:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

I would apologize for not posting all the end-of-year ideas that have been swimming around in my brain for the last month, but honestly, I'm not sorry because I was enjoying a glorious vacation from all things "plugged" (with the exception of TV... hello, HBO was replaying season three of True Blood).

A relatively recent New Year's tradition for me is to come up with one little word that becomes a focus of sorts for the year. In 2009, it was relax, a word I'm still trying to incorporate into my daily life two years later. Fortunately, whether of my own accord or by mere circumstance, my word for 2010 was a bit easier for me: try. I didn't try everything I had hoped to, nor did I succeed in everything I tried, but the following highlights made for what I consider to be a rewarding word. In the past year, I've tried:

my hand at Etsying (hey, if "googling" is now a word, "etsying" can be, too). I've only had 20 sales, but it's enough that I now have a fun little way to support my crafting habit.
freelance writing, which I really love doing.
becoming a paid published author, and I succeeded (yay!). This is by far my proudest accomplishment of 2010.
devoting time to being crafty (in a good way) just for me. The result is finally having completed pages in our family scrapbooks.
adding to my WIP. My manuscript is 17,779 words longer than it was this time last year, but I expected to have the novel's first draft completed by now.

It's this unrealized vision that ultimately led me to my one little word for 2011:

REALIZE

to grasp or understand clearly.

to make real; give reality to (a hope, fear, plan, etc.).

My friend Cheri described herself a few weeks ago as "Queen of Unfinished Projects." Over the last few years, this has become me as well. There's a lot of thinking about doing, but not enough actual doing. As I said in a Facebook status earlier last month, "Good intentions, bad follow-through. Story of my life." I think some of the problem is that I have too many good intentions, which leads me to the first part of my word: I need to realize what my priorities are, as well as what's getting in the way of them, and focus on those. Unfortunately, that is going to mean saying "no" to some - or a lot - of people and opportunities, but I'd rather dedicate myself to a few things and see them through than make a whole bunch of commitments I ultimately can't fulfill.

The second part of my word is probably obvious: I want to realize my goal of getting this novel written (and, much to my dismay, it's apparently not going to write itself). This time next year, I will have a draft that is ready for pre-readers to critique. Does someone have a brown paper bag I can hyperventilate into, please? I'm tired of thinking about it. I'm tried of talking about it (though that probably won't stop me from continuing to do so). It's time to DO IT.

Here's to 2011 and realizing all it has to offer!

Fa-la-la-hurrah!

2010-12-22T22:29:00.000-05:00

The shopping is done, the presents are wrapped, the letters are mailed... now it's time to relax!

Wishing you and yours a safe and happy holiday. ♥

Fighting my bah-humbug

2010-12-16T23:43:00.040-05:00

I have complained about the "Christmas chore list" before, and while I could certainly do so again, I won't because I'm trying to fight my bah-humbug. Trying counts for something, right?

Last year, it was the Great Christmas FAIL of 2009. This year, it's the Great Shipping Debacle of 2010. In my excitement of finally finding gifts for those ever difficult people to shop for, I ~~kind-of-sort-of~~ totally (but accidentally) shipped a third of our gifts to our old house in PA. You know, the one we don't live in anymore. After much ~~profanity~~ banging my head against the desk and vowing to give up my role as Santa next year, I begged our friend who lives a few streets down to collect our packages and forward them to us. Thanks to her good naturedness, said packages are on their way to us as I type. You read it here: the true story of how one person is saving Christmas. It's difficult to bah-humbug after that.

And really, that is the secret to fighting my bah-humbug: asking for help. Did you hear that? That was Hubby exclaiming, "Whaaat?!" with an exaggerated sarcasm that few can rival.

It's true: I hate to ask for help. Part of that stems from serious control issues. Yes, I admitted it. The other part of it started in my teens when I inexplicably developed this need to do it all. Hubby frequently reminds me that nobody expects me to do it all but me. Old habits are hard to break, though, aren't they? But I'm trying.

As previously mentioned, I spend much of our holiday preparation time racking my brain for elusive gift ideas for almost half our family members. This usually leads to several freak-outs before buying last-minute (and thus over-budget) gifts that I wind up second guessing until the moment they're opened by the recipients. Last weekend, I felt the panic start to rise and our credit cards shiver with fear, so I sent SOS emails to family members who I thought might be able to point me in the right direction. I have always been afraid to admit that there is a portion of our family we don't know super well, but when I take into consideration that we have only seen/talked to them once a year for less than a decade, I have to let us off the hook a little and ask the people who know them better to assist. Doing so meant finishing my pre-shopping planning in record time, and now I'm excited about the gifts we're giving. Take that, Scrooge!

Then there are the holiday cards. And don't even get me started on the laundry and other household chores that always seem to get away from me at this time of year. But with the help of Hubby, who graciously started his role today as one of my elves, the to-do list is starting to shrink. Seeing a few things finally checked off and having a plan to get the rest of my tasks accomplished, I'm actually beginning to feel more relaxed - and dare I say, in the holiday spirit - and less like shouting, "Bah-humbug!" at the kids waiting in line to see Santa ...or maybe it's just the salted caramel hot chocolate talking. Ask me again how I'm feeling this time next week.

Happiness is... (aka what I've been up to this fall)

2010-12-15T21:42:00.000-05:00

... taking a break when you need it and not beating yourself up for doing so. Even if it's a break from something you usually enjoy. And the break lasts for two months. And it means not meeting some goals you had set for yourself.

... having time to take in sights before seeing a dear friend get married.

... live performance that incorporates two of your favorite things. Ballet and vampires? It's like the creators live inside my mind!

... enjoying pretty leaves while wearing a tank top (hello, best of both worlds!).

... seeing a favorite book brought to life perfectly.

... the comfort of traditions that remain despite our nontraditional way of celebrating Thanksgiving 2010

(which included shopping and eating our way through Charleston).

... relaxing with a glass of champagne and a good book in the middle of the afternoon on what would normally be a workday.

... going out on the town with Hubby.

... enjoying eight nights of candlelight to honor rededication and freedom of religion.

... salted caramel hot chocolate.

... finding and becoming part of a welcoming community where people have important things in common but are also so beautifully diverse.

image source

... re-watching a favorite series. And knowing once you finish it, you can watch it again.

... finding the perfect holiday present. For yourself.

... warm snuggles with the kitty.

... returning to the blogosphere rested, refreshed, re-inspired, and ready to reconnect.

Happiness is... (from You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown)

UPDATE: Please help me spread the word

2010-11-11T10:33:00.003-05:00

UPDATED 11/17: Happy endings do happen! I just received word that Devon was found alive and well. A huge thank you to everyone who passed along her information. ♥

A word from my friend:

Thank you to all for your efforts in getting her information out there and your endless prayers and emails of support. I cannot begin to tell you how deeply touched my family and I have been by everyone's outpouring of love and support--even by perfect strangers! It has made this very difficult time a little more bearable.

My friend's 17-year-old niece is missing. Anything you can do to help spread the word would be greatly appreciated.

Devon Marie Mabe went missing last Thursday, November 4, 2010 at about 9:50 pm CST. She is 5'2" and 95 lbs. with blond hair and blue eyes. She lives in Atascosa, TX just outside of San Antonio.

If you see her or have any information concerning her whereabouts please call the Heide Search Center (1-800-547-4435) or go to their website http://www.heidisearchcenter.com or call the Bexar County Sheriff (210-335-6000).

Tweet, Facebook, blog, email, say a prayer... let's spread the news like wildfire and get Devon home safely. Thank you for your help.

Making friends is hard to do*

2010-10-09T22:13:00.000-04:00

*Sung to the tune of "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" because I like making up songs and then getting them stuck in your heads.

I remember a time not that long ago, college to be exact, when it was so easy to make friends in a new town. You ask the person sitting next to you in class, "Do you want to get together and study for this test?" And you're friends. You ask the person tanning next to you at the pool, "Want to go to a party tonight?" And you're friends. You say, "Go Gators!" to the person cheering next to you at the football game. And you're friends.

But now, you're older. You're not in school, your colleagues live hundreds of miles away and knew your IM handle before they knew your last name, and the people you meet at organized functions are busy with their families and don't have time to keep up with the friends they already have.

You put yourself out there, going to anything you can (even when you don't want to) where you might meet someone with a common interest, putting a big smile on your face, no matter how uncomfortable you feel. Eventually you meet her. A potential girlfriend. You exchange phone numbers and go home happy that you might be able to see a movie one day with someone other than your husband.

As the days pass, you look at her phone number. You want to call, but you don't. How many days do I have to wait so that I don't seem overly excited or needy? If I wait too long to call, will she lose interest? Should I wait for her to make the first move? You laugh at yourself. It's not like it's a boy you're trying to date. But when you do finally connect and decide to get together, you realize just how much like a blind date it really is. What if we have nothing in common? What if we run out of things to talk about before our lunch even arrives? What if there's no chemistry? Lunch goes well. It goes so well, in fact, that you don't realize four hours have passed since you arrived. The girl has made it through your audition, but did you earn a callback? And so the questioning begins again, and you wonder who this insecure person is and where her confident lookalike went. More than anything, you hope that this girl turns out to be good friend material because you don't know how many more times you can willingly put yourself through this.

Now is when you tell me that I'm not neurotic, or if I am, that I'm not alone (lie if you must).

On a completely unrelated note...
This blog has been going through a bit of an identity crisis in the past year, so I have decided to part ways with Crafty Cher and give her a new home, reserving this blog for posts about life and writing. If you're interested in my "artsy" side, you can hit me up at Second Glantz Crafts.

Getting back on the writing horse

2010-09-22T08:35:00.000-04:00

You may have noticed that there's not much to take a "second Glantz" at around here lately. That's because this has been me for the past month: trapped in my own head. (Cue The Cranberries: "In your head, in your head, zombie, zombie, zombie-e-e.")

Over the summer, I achieved a milestone and made my lifelong dream of becoming a paid, published author a reality (and I can die a happy girl). While it may not be the best thing I've ever written or have yet to write, I was - and am - so proud of myself. I wrote a kick-ass query with a good hook

What do you get when you mix a Jewish bride, a Presbyterian minister, and an agnostic groom? A little bit of drama, a whole lot of compromise, and a beautiful wedding.

and spent the time doing the research to find the perfect market for my piece (a big kudos goes to Marla Beck for helping me find the balance between the craft of writing and the business of it).

Looking back at what I posted on my Facebook page the day my article was released...

Cheryl Glantz Nail Excited that my first freelance article was bought and published. Learned a LOT from the process and am looking forward to trying again soon.

Out of Many Beliefs, One Ceremony - InterfaithFamily.com

www.interfaithfamily.com

The wedding she'd never imagined was just as beautiful as the one she'd pictured.

...I'm a little embarrassed. I'm not ashamed by my excitement, and to say that I learned a lot is really an understatement. It's that highlighted part, "looking forward to trying again soon." I really was looking forward to it. I even created a dedicated website for posting clips (fun fact: I bought this domain in 2006 with the intention of launching a custom scrapbooking business, and no, I never did; side note: if any of you have suggestions for improving my site, I'm all ears). And then I got lost inside my own head. And in the Twitter streams and blogs of newly published authors. And in the overwhelming questions, "Where do I go from here?" and "Can I do it again?" I expected my bit of success to propel me into a chorus of "Defying Gravity" (okay, maybe I sang it once), but I let it paralyze me.

No more, I say! When my friend Sarabeth tweeted me about Angela Booth's challenge to write for 100 days, from September 22 (happy birthday, Hubby!) to January 1, I knew that signing up for public accountability could be the kick-in-the-pants I need to get myself out of my head and onto the page. So here goes nothing!

Goals to end 2010:

1. Write. Every. Single. Day. Whether it's 15 minutes or two hours, whether it's for a project or only for myself - even if I have to hide in the bathroom to steal time during the holidays - I will write for 100 days straight without excuse.

2. Submit at least one article per month to 24/Savvy. I have become embarrassingly inconsistent in my contribution to this webzine, and I hope to fix that during this challenge.

3. Write and query at least one article. I may not get published again. I may not get paid again. But I'm going to try.

4. Apply to freelance writing jobs. The number of bookmarks I've created on my browser for the jobs I'm interested in is ridiculous. Have I applied to a single one? See above about paralyzing fear. It's time to start making use of those bookmarks. I'm not going to respond to calls just to do so, but I'm going to take seriously the ones that truly interest me.

5. Blog at least once per week. Really, I'm hoping for more frequency than this, but with all the other goals I have, I need to make sure I don't set myself up for failure. Blogging is something I really enjoy. It takes me out of my bubble and connects me to the outside world, and I need to learn to make more time for the things that make me happy.

6. Take my novel out of the drawer. *deep breath* This goal creates a certain amount of anxiety for me. I'm 35,400 words in, but it's been three or four months *cringe* since I've spent any consistent quality time with my characters. I miss them. They've been screaming at me in my sleep to finish their story, but those pesky "Is it good enough?" type questions have been distracting me from my original goal, which was not to publish the novel but to write it. I still want to publish it. I want it bad. But I can't even begin to try that next step until I get over myself and get re-lost in the story I want to tell.

7. While I need to re-immerse myself in the craft of writing, I can't let myself become an island again. I've become part of a wonderful community of writers on Twitter and in the blogosphere, but I haven't allowed myself to really participate as of late because it made me feel like a fraud, talking about writing without actually "living writerly." I need to jump back in - without letting it consume all my writing time. Balance is such a pesky word, isn't it? I haven't decided how to achieve said balance yet, but I have a feeling it will probably involve setting aside a limited amount of time each day to catch up on what other writers are doing.

8. This last goal is going to be the hardest: share my writing with others. With the exception of my friend Leigh, I haven't let anyone - not Hubby, not my mom - read my fiction, and even Leigh has only read parts (she showed me hers, so I was encouraged to show her mine). While I stand by the belief that you shouldn't feel pressured to share your writing until you're ready (or ever for that matter), I think it would be immensely helpful, and more than likely productive, if I was a little less protective of my writing (and my feelings). My Gram likes to remind me that "Rome wasn't built overnight," and you know, it wasn't built by just one person either. If I can't share my writing with the people who are most supportive in my life, then finished or not, the novel will never leave the drawer.

I can do this. I will do this.

"If you really want to do something, you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse."

~Jim Rohn (Thanks, Cheri!)

Etsy for Ava

2010-09-13T22:37:00.000-04:00

One of the things I love most about the online community is the way it facilitates people from all over to come together for a common cause, such as

http://tinyurl.com/etsyforava

When my friends Amy and Kati heard about Ava Hunter, a little girl battling brain cancer, they decided to call upon all their Etsy friends to raise money for Ava and her family. It was an easy decision to participate: the only thing better than making something you love is making something you love for the benefit of others. Sadly, as Etsyians all over the South mobilized, Ava passed away. In Amy's words (she said it better than I ever could):

In honor of Ava’s life and her family’s faith, we are continuing on with the Etsy for Ava fundraiser. Several Etsy shops responded to the idea and have also listed items in their shops to benefit the Ava Hunter Fund that’s already been established. Proceeds from the sale of these items will go directly to helping Ava’s family with whatever financial needs they may have.

Click the link below to be directed straight to the search results on Etsy that include all items in the

Etsy for Ava Fundraiser

Also, help us spread the word! Feel free to use the “Etsy for Ava” artwork as your Facebook profile page, or post it to your blog. Email it to everyone you know. An easy way to get people directly to the search results is to use this address–http://tinyurl.com/etsyforava. That’ll take people directly to the items listed as part of the fundraiser (and it won’t take up your entire Facebook/Twitter status).

Thanks for caring enough to help bless this family as they walk through something no one should ever have to. Thanks for continuing to pray for them.

Sweet Ava

And, thank you to the following shops who have listed items:

Autumn & Everything After

Birds Eye View
Bubblegum Kisses
Gongy & Squish
Happy Lappy
Lisa D Jewelry
L.Tipping Paintings
Moon Lily Designs
Mrs. Jones’ Soapbox
Second Glantz Crafts
Snow Jeweler
Snugglebug Collection
Two Florida Girls

(And, it’s not too late to add your shop to the list. Want to participate? Click and comment on this blog post and we’ll get you all the detailed information about the fundraiser.)

If you've ever thought about buying something on Etsy, now you have a great reason to do so.

Look who's turning two!

2010-09-08T13:31:00.000-04:00

This post is brought to you today by the number two.

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Break out the cake! It is not only my second blogoversary, but also my 222nd post. I wish I could say I planned that, but I'm an English major, remember?

Kelly from The Miller Mix asked an interesting question the other day: How has blogging changed who you are or how you see yourself? As I was looking through my own posts last night, awed by how much has happened in only one year, I concluded that while my blog doesn't define me, it's a great reflection of who I am. I'm a teacher and a dreamer. I may worry, but I have faith, no matter how big, or silly, my fears are. I'm a 30+ fangirl, and my blog has helped me to not take myself too seriously. It has taught me to be grateful and has helped me to heal. It reminds me to cherish the moments, both big and small. My blog has also helped me to realize dreams, from opening an Etsy store to becoming a published writer. Most importantly, it has connected me with all of you. Thank you for continuing on this journey with me.

Take a "Glantz" at this!

2010-09-03T06:58:00.015-04:00

In lieu of spending time here today, I would like to introduce you to my SIL's blog, Crazy Mom of 3. She's new to the blogosphere, and I'm so excited that she chose this as her outlet to record the hilarious stories of my beautiful nieces and nephew. Welcome to this fun and supportive community, Crazy Mom. Happy blogging!

Hope everyone has a fun and safe holiday weekend.

These are a few of my fave Cola things

2010-09-02T07:41:00.000-04:00

Today marks our one-month anniversary of living in "Cola." To commemorate the occasion, I thought I'd pay homage to a few of my favorite things that I couldn't enjoy back in Johnstown.

Ah, sweet tea. When you say it down here, they bring you a nice, cold, wonderful beverage that I would swim in if I could. News flash, North: unsweetened ice tea with a packet of sugar is not, never has been, and never will be the same as sweet tea.

Publix sushi. PUBLIX. I'm sorry, Bi-Lo and Giant Eagle, you just don't know how to treat a girl who enjoys eating things like sushi and Tofurky. Publix, I will never again move somewhere that requires me to cheat on you. It was an unsatisfying affair. Thank you for taking me back.

Pinkberry wannabes. Our city is so hip, we actually have two probiotic frozen yogurt places. Dairy Queen, I love you. I've loved you a long time. And truthfully, I always will. But every once in a while, a girl wants a treat that's not going to leave her feeling guilty. Yogen Fruz gets it (and my money).

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Shopping! Lots and lots of shopping! And all within a ten-minute drive. Mountains are pretty, but they can't clothe you. 300 acres of stores? That can clothe you.

Oh, South, you're just as wonderful as I remembered. Let's make a promise to never leave each other again.

I've got South Carolina on my... return address now

2010-09-01T07:55:00.000-04:00

Greetings from the other side of the Mason-Dixxon line! Almost one month moved in, we are finally starting to settle into the new digs, and I'm trying desperately to get back to my normal (whatever that is) routine. (Thank you to my MIL whose email yesterday is what ~~guilted~~ inspired me to drag my butt out of bed this morning and hit the "publish" button on this thing. This post is dedicated to her and my mom, who both worked their fannies off trying to get us packed up in time for moving day; to my FIL, who traded in his robes for his muscle shirt and helped us lift all the things that he probably shouldn't be lifting; and to our friends back in Johnstown, who are still dealing with the aftermath of our tornado-like move.)

As we approached our big moving day, I summarized my really efficient (or so I thought) plan of attack with five simple "p" words. You can read about it here and here (pretty please, and if you wanted to leave me love on the site, I'd totally let you; being in transit when the articles were published, I didn't have a chance to publicize them). Looking back, perhaps the planning process can be described with only one letter, but I need a few more to describe the entire experience.

Abrasions (aka I fought the hutch, and the hutch won): Even though Hubby and I have been married for almost five years, we have very few pieces of "real" furniture. My china cabinet is one of those pieces, and one of which I'm extremely proud. When I had to make a split-decision between my wrists and the hutch of my cabinet, the choice was easy. The result was several abrasions to both wrists and a slightly sprained thumb, making the following day of lifting a bit of a challenge (but my hutch is sitting pretty).

Clampetts (See also Strategize): Despite having a seventeen-foot moving trailer, an SUV, and a five-foot trailer hitched to that, I still had to pack my car from floorboard to ceiling (and that's AFTER a ginormous garage sale). And before you even ask, yes, that's a boombox. I'm planning to take it on Antiques Roadshow 50 years from now.

Effort: Everyone put in tremendous effort during the move, including Mimi, who was an excellent supervisor, as I'm sure you can tell.

F#*$ (just kidding... kinda) Forgetfulness: The expletive came after the forgetfulness: when I realized that I forgot to pack the corkscrew in one of the bags of Things I Will Need Before the Moving Truck Will Arrive and so I'll Pack it in My Car (See also Clampetts and Strategize). Fortunately, I found a Swiss Army knife at the bottom of one of said bags (where it came from, I have no idea), and fortunately, the Swiss like to open a bottle of wine in between using their gadget to gut fish and file their nails. Diane, I know what you're going to say: I could have avoided this whole frustration if I would just switch to boxed wine. I'm taking it under advisement.

(Wishing and) Hoping (and thinking and praying): 'Twas the night before moving, and all through the town, neighbors heard cursing as we battened the damn truck down. Once the strategizing was over, all we could do was hope and pray that we did a good job and that the majority of our stuff would arrive in one piece (thankfully, with few exceptions, it did).

Limbo (See also Waiting): What do you do when you're on vacation from work so that you can unpack a truck that has yet to arrive? Why, you go shopping of course! (And see Eclipse for a third time. WHAT?! My mother had yet to see it. I was just being a good daughter.) Being in limbo is unsettling, but it can also be kinda fun.

Strategize (See also Clampetts): After having to pack a seventeen-foot trailer by ourselves, I now understand why movers charge so much. We had to use almost as much brain power as we did muscle to load the truck. Trying to figure out the puzzle of how to fit everything in so that it was secure and didn't get damaged wasn't easy. Happily, Hubby and I were much better at this game than we are at Tetris. (*whispering* Actually, we're pretty good at it, but don't tell. If anyone asks if they should call us for help, let them know that our stuff came off the truck so damaged, we had to buy all new furniture. Thanks.)

Waiting (See also Limbo): Lucky for Mimi, she didn't have to wait to get out of her cat carrier for nearly as long as we had to wait for our trailer. Why don't trucks ever arrive when they say they're going to? This is why you pack your TV in the car and turn on cable before you even turn on the water. (Are you writing this down? It's a tip to live by.)

Zen: When all was over, and our bruises were healed and our muscles no longer ached, we forgot about all the hassles of the move and enjoyed the Zen of our new home. HA! Maybe if your name is Mimi. As for me, I learned a very valuable lesson: when moving down the coast, HIRE MOVERS.

Unanswered prayers answered

2010-07-14T07:34:00.000-04:00

A few months ago, I was really disappointed when our prayers went unanswered. Though I was cryptic at the time, I can now tell you that Hubby had applied for a job in what we thought would be the ideal location for us. It would have taken us back home to FL, closer to friends and family, and would have offered us the type of lifestyle we had become accustomed to living prior to our move here (read: able to find shopping less than an hour away - priorities, people!). But as it became clear that it wasn't meant to be, I made my peace with the thought of living here for another year. Enter Murphy and his law.

The ringing of Hubby's phone disrupted that peace: a call from a college I barely remembered Hubby applying to wanted an interview with him. And so we started the process of uncertainty all over again. Unsure of how I felt about the location, as I had never been there before, we dropped everything to take a test drive of the city. I prayed for my uncertainty to be lifted; I wanted to know definitively that this was the right place for us to be. Within only a few hours, those unanswered prayers from the spring had been answered. Columbia, SC would be our new home.

Hubby is now a professor at

the home of the Fighting Koalas.

Oh yeah, you read that right.

This is where I've been buried for the past few weeks, and as we begin the T-minus three-week countdown (excuse me while I throw up), this is where I'll be: boxed in. Literally.

If I'm able to disentangle myself from the packing tape long enough to wrestle with Blogger, I'll try to check in (Why is it that I always have a ton to say when I have no time to blog? Damn that Murphy!); otherwise, I'll catch up with y'all when I'm on the other side of the Mason-Dixon Line!

Dear June, I hope the door hits you on the way out. Hard.

2010-07-01T13:34:00.000-04:00

My tweet from yesterday sums it up perfectly, "Looking forward to kicking June out on its butt and hopefully achieving more balance in July." June has been a mixed bag of the unexpected - some good, some bad, but all resulting in a month of chaos.

Hi, my friends. Long time no talk. A month to be exact - ouch! As the sun shone through the crack of our semi-closed bathroom door this morning, and I was contemplating whether to rise or go back to sleep, I was reminded of a quote Cheri posted on her blog several months ago:

"If you really want to do something, you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse." ~ Jim Rohn

This (motioning with Vanna White hands - speaking of, is she computerized now, too, like the puzzle letters?- to my computer) is important to me (not my computer, but all of you who live in it... that is where you live, isn't it?), so no more excuses for not writing. Enjoying the quiet that seems only to exist before seven, I'm watching the sun rise over the trees, reflecting on where I've been this month, both physically and emotionally, so that I can file it away and open myself up to all that July has to offer.

The biggest thing that happened to us this month was the loss of our Grannie. I say "our" because even though she technically belongs to my husband, I claim her as my own. Anyone who knew her did. "Spitfire" is one of the first words that comes to mind. Even into her late 80s, Grannie was the life of the party, always in the thick of the action, as is evidenced by one of my favorite pictures from our wedding.

I'm not sure what I'll miss more - hearing her break out into song without notice (we really could be related) or her infectious laugh that warmed my heart - (and I have no one in the family now to defend my driving; Grannie always understood that it's about getting where you want to go) - but I'm so grateful I got to love her and be loved by her.

When someone passes, it's hard not to think about your own mortality and that of the people you love. My group of friends has been reminded too many times of how fleeting life is, and having lost so many of our own during our young high school and college years, we quickly learned that tragedy knows no age. Those thoughts were intensified this week when one of those friends, who is only a year older than me, discovered that his brain has been harboring two blockages and a hemorrhage. He's holding his own against them so far, thank G-d - though if you have a prayer to spare, that would be much appreciated - but it's another reminder to say "I love you" to your friends and family and to enjoy all the good things life has to offer. And despite the bad days June showed us, it offered us some good ones, too.

One of those days was when, thanks to her awesome friends, I got to see my mom win an award and surprise her at the ceremony. It was an absolute blast and one of those small life moments that I'll always remember.

photo by Thomas Cook

I also got to spend time with my nieces and nephew, and no matter what is going on in my life, they make it better.

How cute is he?!

I hope that June treated you all well and that your July is even better.

(Whoa, Blogger users, how fab is the new preview feature? I'm in love.)

Still Alive, Still Obsessed

2010-06-01T19:50:00.000-04:00

I'm so sorry that I made some of you pee yourselves with my Chuckie story. Okay, not really. If it makes you feel better, your comments made me almost pee myself. Now, before any of you go feeling too sorry for my MIL, it should be noted that she, herself, is quite the prankster. Exhibit A: Last December, my SIL and SSIL borrowed my MIL's car to hit the sales the day after Christmas. After cleaning out Target and Hallmark (the must-go-to stores), we decided to take a peek at Kohl's. Imagine how stoked we were to get a parking spot at the very front of the store! We made several celebratory comments, and then refocused on hunting for sales. While we were waiting on the checkout line, we called my MIL to see if she wanted to meet us for lunch. She asked where we were, and we made plans to meet in twenty minutes. Bags in hand, the three of us gals were so happy we had only a short distance to walk. All at once (the reaction was so coordinated, you would have thought that we had rehearsed it), we looked up, gasped, looked at each other, and exclaimed, "Where's the car?!" While my very-pregnant SIL freaked out about the car, my SSIL and I were freaking out about our Target and Hallmark purchases. (What? She had car insurance. My ten-dollar flannel sheet purchase was irreplaceable!) My SIL, the very smart woman that she is, decided we should call Hubby before the police - just in case someone was trying to punk us. And punk us they did. As Hubby described it, my MIL thought it would be hilarious to move the car while we were in the store. Hilarious indeed. So trust me, The Great Chuckie Reveal of 2010 was well deserved. ;)

And now back to my regularly-scheduled gobbledygook. (Seriously, is there any better phrase?)

Parts 2, 3, and 4 of my absence (there is a part 5, but that will come later), in no particular order, included helping a friend with a project, having my mother come to visit, and getting sick. Like plague sick. Okay, maybe that's a slight hyperbole. Anyway, apparently there is this organism called a mold spore that floats in the mountain air whenever it's moist. Like when it rains. Or snows. Or is humid. So basically ALL. THE. TIME.

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Said mold spore and I do not get along. In fact, we pretty much hate each other. This year, we've had at least one knock-down, drag-out fight every month. Since I was unable to take sick time after just having taken several vacation days, the mold spore won for the month of May.

Yep, I just Photoshopped a crown onto a mold spore.

Yep, I need a life.

Anyhooo... this weekend, I was finally able to get back into all my latest obsessions (because as we all know, it's not enough for me to just like something; I have to be addicted to it):

1. There is no show more perfect for a musical-loving geek like me than Glee. Moreover, it makes me so happy. Seriously, I challenge you to be in a bad mood while Schuester is rapping ~~like~~ much better than Vanilla Ice or rocking out with NPH.

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I listen to all four soundtracks almost daily and usually re-watch the episodes online the morning after they've originally aired. Yes, my name is Cheryl, and I'm a Gleek.

2. My love of Glee has spawned a new obsession with the Spring Awakening soundtrack.

(Warning: lyrics in the following video are not for small ears.)

If Jonathan Groff's voice was the last I ever heard, I'd die a happy girl.

3. Speaking of cute boys, it's possible that I may have the tiniest online obsession with Ryan Lochte. As I've said before, this is entirely his fault. If he'd keep his shirt on a little more, maybe I wouldn't look so much.

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After being away from Twitter, I find one of my first thoughts to be, "OMG, it's been like an entire day since I've read Ryan Lochte's Twitter stream! Must. Check. For. New. Pictures." Before you get all judgmental and start calling me a cougar, let me just say that at least I'm not one of these women who tweet how hot he is to his face. I prefer to swoon from afar. It's slightly less creepy that way.

4. In two weeks, my affair with Eric Northman will begin again.

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I finally read the new Sookie book, and while it was admittedly not my favorite, it did get me pumped for the new season of True Blood. Right now, Hubby and I are re-watching the second season, and I've been obsessively replaying the minisodes. When June 13 rolls around, I will be ready. Oh yes, I will.

5. The only explanation this last one needs is this: 30 days!!!

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