Boo !

Well the cobwebs building up around here on this blog are certainly apropos for Halloween, don't you think? This has been a pretty pathetic year of blogging for me.. so sorry about that.

October has been another whirlwind of a month for me.. lots of things going on. Mostly good or at least productive things going on.. a few not so good things, but everyone is healthy, hanging in there and doing their best so that's a plus.

So here I am on Halloween night and have no trick-or-treating costumes or stories to share with you because Anna didn't dress up this year and Maria is away at school. I do know she dressed up as a flapper for a Halloween party tonight and she did text me a photo that she also posted on instagram, but it's not the same as seeing her in her costume in person and taking my own photo. Then to top it off, we got ZERO trick-or-treaters at our door today! So sad...

Despite the lack of child involvement, though, I do have a few fun and festive Halloween photos to share.

This is a sunset photo that I took from the Home Depot parking lot a few weeks ago.

This is that same photo all dressed up for Halloween! I edited it right on my iphone using a really fabulous photo editing app called Rhonna Designs. I was lucky and bought it while it was offered for free but I think it's 99 cents now. Still a bargain if you're into this sort of thing.

Home Depot Sunset

Home Depot Haunted Sunset

I may have eaten a piece or two of Halloween candy before Halloween..

From where I stand at the welcome mat to our home..

Always a favorite time of year for black cats.

A house in my neighborhood with spook-tacular Halloween decorations. Even better up close in person and even spookier at night with creepy-scary music and sound effects. Yikes.

Trick-or-treat! I'm ready for the monsters to come!

There's something in the attic!!! (From the spooky house in town after dark.. )

I hope you had a safe and happy Halloween!

Do you have kids who dress up? If so, what were they? 

... still can't believe October is over already and 2014 is only two months away! Now THAT'S frightening!

Someone had a birthday!

Hello 45

Hello 45! Ready or not, here I am!

Yep. The good ol' age machine flipped another digit on me earlier this week. (hahaha! Get it?) I'm taking it well, though, reminding myself that every day is a gift and it's so good to be alive! And I vow to embrace every age as best I can, striving to be healthier, happier and a better citizen of the world every day. Some days are better than others because let's face it, as fabulous as the 40s really are..sometimes it really sucks when I think about how I'm probably closer to the end than I am to the beginning. Oh I try not to think about it too much or let it get me down, but sometimes it sneaks in on me! Not good.

cupcakes for my birthday!

Anyway, I had a fabulous birthday on Tuesday. My husband gave me flowers and the new iphone 5S woot! which totally delights my youngest because she promptly inherited my 4S the lucky (spoiled) kid. My dear friend Claudia treated me to a fabulous lunch at nice Italian restaurant and the weather was so nice that we dined on the restaurant patio. It felt so decadent. I was flooded with birthday wishes from friends and family all over the world (thanks to Facebook and Instagram) throughout the day. Thank you so much for those of you who did this! Then around dinner time I got the sweetest surprise.. Maria came home from college for the evening just for my birthday! Wow! I was so surprised and so delighted. We all went out for sushi, came home for cupcakes and then Maria and I watched some cooking shows we had recorded while she was away. (We got into Cupcake Wars, Chopped and Cutthroat Kitchen just before she left for college). What a special day!

It turns out this is the first time since I started my blog over five years ago that I didn't post on my birthday and do a birthday giveaway. I feel badly about that so I'm doing a belated birthday giveaway now.

My Birthday Present to one of you:

The 'Fabulous At Any Age' Gift Bag

Mini facial kit 

Package of Harvest Blend Herbal Tea*

Fancy chocolate bar.. your choice of dark or milk chocolate 

Book of your choice, up to $15 US value.

*Harvest Blend tea is caffeine free and contains cinnamon, ginger, hibiscus, natural cinnamon and apple flavors with other natural flavors, chamomile, roasted chicory and orange peel. Other tea may be substituted per winner's request or if it becomes unavailable.

Sounds nice, right? To enter this birthday giveaway, all you need to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below and then leave a comment in the comment section of this post telling me what you love best about October.

I love pumpkin desserts, cool evenings and warm sunny days and colorful leaves swirling to the ground in the breeze.

Giveaway terms and conditions:

• Giveaway runs from today, October 4, 2013 through Thursday, October 10, 2013 at 12 am EST (midnight). All entries received after the close of the giveaway will be disqualified. 
• You must be 18 years or older to enter. 
• No purchase necessary to win and void where prohibited. 
• Book may be sent anywhere in the world via TheBookDepository as long as they deliver to your mailing address. I will do my best to mail other gift items via international mail as allowed per shipping restrictions to your country. 
• Prize value: $25 US plus shipping 
• Odds of winning are dependent on the number of entries received. 
• One winner will be drawn on October 11, 2013 and notified by email within 48 hours. Winner will have one week from the time I send my email to get back to me with their book choice and mailing address or their gift will be forfeited and a new winner will be chosen. 
• Contact information [email and mailing address] will only be used for the purposes of contacting the winner and prize delivery. Information will not be saved, sold or used for any other purpose.

By entering your name in the Rafflecopter form below and in the comment section below, you agree to these terms and conditions.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

We will never forget..

Union County September 11 Memorial (NJ)

I rode my bike this morning to my county's September 11 Memorial which serves as a tribute to the 60 men and women from out county who perished in the tragic events of 9/11. Seeing these steel girders up close and being able to touch them and read the names of the people who perished never fails to move me to tears.

Close up of a steel girder from ground zero
at Union County September 11 Memorial (NJ)

Twelve years later, my heart still aches for the families who were shattered by this horrific event.

But they are not alone.. our entire nation and millions of people around the world stand with them and share their grief.

We will never forget.

United we stand.

First Day of School

Anna's first day of high school. :)

Finally the first day of school for my youngest, who started high school today! This is the first 'First Day of School' photo in which Anna poses alone. She has had her sister starting school on same day with her for the last nine years! On one hand I think Anna's pretty psyched to have the bathroom to herself.. but on the other hand, I think she misses her sister.

I can't believe I've got one off to college and now my baby is in high school! All these wonderful milestones for my girls which are really super fantastic, yet at the same time kind of suck for mom and dad. I'm not gonna lie.. I cried after dropping Anna off at school today. I know it will get easier with time and probably sooner than later, but in the meantime, I'm trying not think so much about how grown up and independent my girls are getting every day. Even though I know that's really a good thing.

If you've got kids back in school, how's it going for you?

For everyone, whether you have kids at all or not, what's your favorite school or office supply?

I love those little post it tabs. I sometimes use them to mark favorite quotes or passages in books I'm reading or recipes in magazines or cookbooks. So handy.

And have you seen the new white-out pens? They're not so new.. I bought one last year and they are the BEST! Not that anyone writes on paper a whole lot anymore.

My oldest has left for college!

Can you believe it's September 1st?! Aside from the jet lag after our trip to Asia that sort of put us in a sleepy slow motion for a week or so there, the rest of August was a complete blur! From Japan to home, an evening in NYC with some book club friends, a couple of beach days, some bike rides, our 20th wedding anniversary, a weekend getaway for two to Boston, and getting Maria ready for college, it was one awesome month! Well.. the part about Maria going away to college is awesome for her..... not so much for mom and dad. I mean it is.. but you know. Our baby has flown out of the nest.

We helped Maria move into her college dorm yesterday. What a milestone! I'm so proud of her for so many reasons and excited for her as she stands at the cusp of this new life experience that will further shape her into the person she is meant to be. Then there's this other part of me that's crying NOOOoooooo! DON'T GO! Mostly I keep that one to myself, knowing that the time is right for her to go out on her own (more or less) and discover herself and the world around her. I just can't figure out how we got to this chapter in our story so darn fast and I'm trying to not to think that my job is more or less done. I know she'll still need us for quite some time .. both financially and for guidance and emotional support.. but it's kind of different now, you know?

Anyway, here's a fun video I made using the iphone app Flipagram that pretty much shows what August looked like through my eyes, squeezed into one minute and two seconds. Don't blink!

Hope you liked it. : )

How was your August? Any changes in your life this September? 

twenty years...

My husband and I are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary today.. :)

On our wedding day.. August 21, 1993

He stole my heart pretty much from Our First Date...
he's my lover, my best friend,
my co-pilot in this parenting stint,
my workout partner,
my travel companion
and the keeper of my heart. 

He truly is my prince from a far away land who swept me off my feet. 

I'm so lucky to be living happily ever after with this man.

Today on our 20th wedding anniverary.

I love you. xo

My apologies for the repetition to those of you who saw these same photos and sentiments on facebook or instagram earlier today.. 

The Graduates.. wherein I brag about my kids!

The school year FINALLY ended for us yesterday. Phew! And what an eventful end it was. BOTH girls graduated their respective schools in the last two days!

Here is where I exercise my bragging rights to the full extent of my freedom to do so. You have been warned! ;) ...

Our youngest daughter, Anna, graduated from middle school (8th grade) on Monday night and will be starting high school in September. I can't believe my baby is going to high school! She finished her middle school career with a Presidential Award for Educational Excellence having earned high academic achievement measured with GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale (90 or above on a 100 scale) for her entire middle school years (6th-8th) and having also achieved high scores on state and national standard achievement tests. She also earned High Honors in Literature and Process Writing this year. Separate from her academic achievements, Anna earned her Girl Scout Silver Award this year having completed a long term community service project of improving the visitation rooms in a local DYFS [Division of Youth and Family Services] office where children in the foster care program are now able to reconnect with their parents in cheerful, inviting rooms that are uplifting and conducive to healthy interaction and playtime. We're so proud of her!

Our oldest daughter, Maria, graduated from high school last night.. I cannot believe we are the parents of an 18 year old high school graduate! Where did the time go? I didn't think I was going to get emotional at her graduation, but at one point my husband whispered to me that he just saw her yawn and when I looked at her, she did look kind of sleepy (I think the heat was getting to everyone--it was pretty hot sitting out there in the football field wearing those graduation gowns!). I was instantly flooded with memories of her as a baby falling asleep in my arms or sleeping alongside me in bed as a toddler and I couldn't stop the tears from welling in my eyes. I was simultaneously overwhelmed by the quick passage of time and at the same time filled with so much pride in the intelligent, conscientious, responsible, compassionate and beautiful young woman she has become.

Like her younger sister, Maria also graduated with excellent academic standing. She was a member of the high school's University Program since freshman year, a member of the National Honor Society and graduated in the top 10% of her class with a GPA above 4.2. Her senior research project was on the sexual exploitation of women in the media, a suitable subject for her as it combined her passion for photography and other visual arts with an important social issue. She was also active in several clubs, community service projects and a member of the swim team for one year and the girls volleyball team all four years. In September she'll be attending Rutgers University (my Alma Mater), possibly double majoring in photo journalism and women's and gender studies. Naturally, we are very proud of her.

Now for some photos!

Anna and her friends dressed up for the 8th grade semi-formal dance. Anna is in the black and white dress at the bottom right.

8th grade semi-formal

Maria and Nick going to senior prom. Don't they look great? These two have known each other since kindergarten and started dating halfway through their freshman year in high school. He'll be going to an art school in NYC in September where he plans to study graphic design. Interestingly, Maria and Nick were named female and male 'Best Artist' in their high school this year--Maria for her talent in photography and Nick for his talent in all fine arts, painting is forte. He even received 1st place in a private art show in our community last spring. Anyway, they had a really nice time at the prom. Maria said the sweetest part of the night was that Nick willingly danced with her all night even though he doesn't like to dance. Aw.. very sweet.

Maria & Nick
Senior Prom

I don't have any photos of Anna on her 8th grade graduation - my husband has them on his computer. But she wore the same pretty white sundress for her sister's graduation last night, so I figure that works! My best friend from childhood (from when we were 4 years old!), who is also Maria's godmother, came to Maria's graduation last night. Her presence really made the day special. Here are all of us girls walking to the graduation site:

Me, Anna, Maria and her godmother Angela

Here's a photo of my two Class of 2013 graduates.. high school and 8th grade:

Maria and Anna

Finally, the proud parents... 

My husband and me

Certainly an eventful time in our household! May the academic achievements, personal growth and simple enjoyment of life continue for everyone! xo 

I'm learning Japanese!

Konnichiwa! Today I started an audio course to learn how to speak Japanese!

image made using iphone app
Beautiful Mess

I'm learning Japanese because we are visiting Japan for part of our vacation this summer! I'm SO EXCITED! Well, a little nervous, too .. even though I love to travel, I get a lot of travel anxiety before a trip. But I'm working through it and I think starting this Japanese course is going to help me get psyched to go.

We're also going to the Philippines which is my husband's native country. He immigrated to the USA back in the 70s as a young boy and hasn't been back since! I'm excited finally visit there after learning so much about the country, its people, food and customs over the last 25+ years that we've been together. I think it will be an invaluable experience for our daughters to see the country from where half their heritage comes.

We'll also be spending a couple of days in Hong Kong between visiting the Philippines and Japan. Phew! It's going to be another whirlwind trip abroad, but that's the way we do it.

I've only done the first two lessons in the Japanese audio course and so far I know how to say, "Excuse me, may I please have some ice cream?" and "Excuse me, may I please have some coffee?" You know what? ....  I think I'm set! ;)

Have you been to The Philippines, Hong Kong or Japan? 

If so, do you have any travel advice?

Happiness

Hey everyone. It's been more than two weeks since my last post. So much for finding my blogging groove, huh? I feel so out of touch with everyone, too.. I have no idea what's going on with my fellow bloggers. Now I feel that I'll never catch up. Please know that I hope you're all doing well.. keeping busy and having fun with whatever you love to do. 

Things have been pretty busy in our household lately. I know I mentioned in my last post all kinds of great things going on with my daughters. Most of the big stuff is done.. 8th grade semi formal, 8th grade overnight trip to Boston, dance recital, senior prom, etc. Now we're just riding out the rest of the school year for graduations--we've got two this year. Our youngest daughter, Anna, graduates 8th grade on June 24th and our eldest daughter Maria graduates high school on June 25th. I swear we have got to be the last school districts in the country to still be in school this late. We have Hurricane Sandy to thank for that for shutting down schools for almost two weeks last October. Anyway, lots of changes in store for us come September as Anna goes on to high school and Maria goes to college! It's all kinds of wonderful and scary. 

A few months ago.. 100 days ago to be exact ... I joined the 100 Day Happiness Project that my friend Mari started up on her blog. You can read more about the project on her blog HERE or visit my post about it on March 1 of this year HERE. Basically I posted a list of projects that I wanted to work on over 100 days from March 1 to June 9 that would make me feel good and spread happiness. I didn't do even half the things on my list. I only did two. Yes, procrastination is thy middle name. Along with distraction. I'm easily distracted by spur of the moment projects and other life events with my family. That's life. It's happening! [quoted from Mari].

Despite my project failure, I do not feel this project was a waste of my time. Not at all. The thing is, I did do a lot of things over the last 100 days that were productive and happy. Some things were new things and that's great! Some things were things I do all the time. Things that make me a better person and the world a better place. So I made a new HAPPINESS list:  

Made with www.picmokey.com
Photo of rose taken by me with iPhone 4S

This is a list I strive to live by every single day. Some days are better than others and I'm okay with that.

You know.. I think I really love this list.

What do you think?

"Rules for Happiness:

something to do,

someone to love,

something to hope for." 

-- Immanuel Kant 

What's New?

Why is it so hard to jump back into blogging after just a few short months of poor blogging stride? It seems the longer you go without regular blogging, the harder it is to just get going again. Well, to get going again, I've thrown together a set of lists. One is a list of things that are bugging me right now--mostly relating to blogging or my lack thereof, and the other is a list of things I'm pretty excited about lately. Nothing Earth shattering on any front.. just.. well, life. It happens. Oh and I also threw in two of my favorite photos from last week (taken with my iphone 4S). I think they're super adorable and I hope they make you smile as they did for me. :)

I took this photo last Friday morning while out on an early weekday morning bike ride. It was the cutest, coolest blimp I've ever seen in my life! Just darling. It made my day. ;)

It's a Despicable Me Minion blimp!

Things that are bugging me right now: 

• Not blogging regularly OR keeping up with your blogs. 
• Admitting that I'm not very good at read-alongs. Anna Karenina, The Winter Sea, Stardust and now The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. I've not kept up on a single one of them, although I at least eventually finished The Winter Sea and Stardust, even if not on schedule. Currently working on Wind-Up, which I am determined to finish this month. It's long. And weird. And of course the read-along is over already.
• I haven't written reviews for some really good books I've read lately. Unless you happen to visit me regularly on goodreads, you probably have no idea of what I've even been reading! 
• I've barely participated in weekend cooking at all this year. I miss it! 
• I've stopped chiming in with Joy's Reader's Workouts. I haven't even been logging my workouts on my little fitness journal blog, See How She Runs very well lately, either. 
• I still haven't written a post on my fabulous little trip to Iceland back in March. 
• It looks like I'm not going to get around to re-establishing my backyard vegetable garden AGAIN this year. And the deer are already munching the perennials that are barely a foot tall. Do I even want to battle them for a few handfuls of tomatoes? I don't know if it's even worth it. 
• Finally, I'm not happy with my body image lately. I exercise all the time and eat healthy foods. Unfortunately I also love sinful foods such as baked treats and ice cream. Even homemade and made with natural ingredients, these foods do not promote weight loss. Duh. I know this. I even know what to do. I just need to find the discipline to put my money where my mouth is and practice what I preach. I'm really tired of being in this place. 

My girls had haircut appointments one evening last week. By the time we got out of the salon, a few of the streets downtown were closed to traffic for a car show. As we walked to our car, we spotted this darling little girl walking her dogs. So incredibly cute! (Her mom is just outside the frame of the photo.)

Just out walking her dogs
at the car show downtown. 

Things that I'm psyched about lately: 

• Numerous exciting milestones for my girls this season--some have taken place already, but most are upcoming over the next several weeks. For Anna, my 14 year old: being awarded her Girl Scout Silver Award--the highest award a middle school aged scout can earn; her first semi formal dance; an overnight school field trip; her dance recital; and 8th grade graduation. For Maria, my 18 year old: her last school orchestra concert ever (she's been playing the violin since 4th grade!), senior prom, high school graduation and then off to college in September! 
• Our upcoming summer vacation to some very faraway places. Excited but also a little nervous. More about our destinations soon. 
• My Bingo card is filling up nicely (one of my 2013 Reading Challenges). I don't know why this makes me so happy, but it feels really good to check off those squares. I've checked off a few more since my update in April and the next update will be around July 1, but I'm making progress! Such a fun challenge. You guys should join in.. if not now, definitely next year. 
• Speaking of reading, I've decided to re-read a favorite series of mine. Well, re-read the first couple of books in the series that I already read several years ago and then catch up with all the other books before the final book in the series comes out in August. Any idea what this series is?
• I started using Feedly for following blogs. So easy to use, organized AND best of all? Everything is synced between my laptop and phone so I always know where I left off reading blog posts. I don't accidentally read stuff twice or miss anything! I mostly use it on my laptop, but it's the most fun to swipe and read on the iphone. What reader are you using these days? 
• Instagram love. I'm having so much fun documenting my days with daily photos and it's also become another social community through which I've met so many fun and interesting people from all over the world. You know how blogging has connected you with people with whom you have stuff in common but you would have never met otherwise? I'm finding the same thing through instagram. It's been great.      
• Spring has finally sprung around here! I love the warmer and longer days this time of year brings. More time to play outside.. for me this is primarily in the form of biking but also in yard work. I wish I could say I've been playing in the dirt planting and growing things, but at this point, it's mostly been more of the work variety--mowing the lawn and doing some residual clean up from last fall and winter.

So what's new with you? 

Go ahead and share something that's bugging you lately AND one thing that's got you excited too. 

I want to know!

100 Things I Love

Hello friends. How are you?

Considering this is my second post in March and it's already the middle of the month, I think it would be fair to say I've lost my blogging stride. Booooo! Although, it could also be argued that I didn't really have much of a stride before this either. :P  I don't know what my problem is, but I just can't seem to get myself together enough to blog! It's not even that I don't have topics about which I'd like to post, because I do! There's books I want to tell you about, several half written reviews in draft, recipes I could write about, cookbooks I could write about, photos to share and so on. I have a list of blog post ideas! The good news is that I'm sitting here right now typing this post, so hopefully it will actually make it to published status and I can pick up the pace around here. I hope so, because I miss you all. And speaking of all of you... I finally bumped over to 200 followers (google). I know there are even more of you who follow or subscribe to my blog in other ways, too. I just want you all to know that I appreciate each and every one of you who take the time out of your busy life to stop by and read what I have to say. It would be pretty lonely here without you.. so thanks. :)

In my last post, I shared My 100 Day Happiness Project with nine tasks that I'd like to take on between March 1 and June 9 to help boost my personal happiness. So far I have done none of them. You can laugh. I did when I just typed that. But it's okay, because I know I'm going to do them. Next week. Ha ha! I'm kidding. I'm putting things in motion for all of them to happen very soon. I thought my new fitness goal was going to be to bump up my regular runs from 3.2 miles to 5 miles.. which I still might do, I suppose. It's just that I haven't felt much like running lately so that kind of stinks. I'm trying to think of a different fitness goal in the meantime. Or maybe I'll get re-inspired to run with spring right around the corner. We'll see.

Speaking of the Happiness Project business, I saw on Mari's blog that she and her friend Lisa from Lit and Life posted lists of 100 Things they love last week. I love reading lists like that! It's a fun way to kind of get to know someone better, don't you think? I decided to make a list, too--you knew I couldn't resist the list making part, right? I have to say it was a very good exercise in self-reflection. There's an awful lot of food on my list... hmm.. that explains things. *sigh*

Check out my list below. I hope you have fun reading through it and that I inspire you to make your own. If you do, let me know--I'd love to read it. :)

100 Things I Love 

naps 
cycling 
working out 
 gardening 
homegrown tomatoes 
fresh basil 
 ice cream 
kettle popcorn 
really good pizza 
 campfires 

 pumpkins 
romance 
books 
instagram 
blogging 
 meeting people and making new friends 
snowy days 
sunny days 
tulips 
peonies 

 lilacs 
rose gardens 
the scent of boxwood 
memories of my oma 
u-pick farms 
cross stitch stuff 
cuddling my husband, kids, pets. 
 sexy music 
my idevices! 
 coming home 

 hand written letters 
kittens (cats, too) 
cooking my family's favorite foods 
a romantic diner - at home or out 
 living healthfully 
 National Parks 
waterfalls 
fresh corn 
 reading 
 cooking magazines 

 libraries 
bookstores 
cooking things from scratch 
BLTs 
crumb cake 
 Hayao Miyazaki films 
coffee 
 a good conversation with a friend 
singing along to the radio in the car 
vanilla anything 

 good quality chocolate [Belgian is my favorite] 
 Christmas cookies 
 fairy lights 
backyard patios 
backyard vegetable gardens 
visiting other people's backyard vegetable gardens 
quilts 
 art projects
 epic movies with elaborate cinematography and costumes 
 happy endings 

 just-baked bread 
love stories 
exploring books on goodreads 
hiking 
hearing 'i love you' 
climbing into bed at the end of the day 
 new york city 
whimsical, romantic movies like Amélie [french film] 
Paris
 traveling 

 taking photos 
 used book sales 
vintage postcards 
my husband playing guitar 
chai tea 
vegetables roasted with garlic and olive oil 
 omelets 
 berries 
 lemons & limes 
Indian food

 kissing 
 sex 
a day at the beach 
stretching 
Thanksgiving dinner 
bird watching 
 making lists 
the scent of hearth fires in the air 
the feel of the sun on my face 
sushi

 baby animals 
little roadside farm stands 
laughing 
the Olympics 
the beauty and majesty of our planet 
diversity 
kindness 
tolerance
 acceptance 
peace among people and nations                        


the end. :)

march 13, 2013

My 100 Day Happiness Project

Did you know that being happy and having a positive attitude not only feels good, but improves your overall health? Being happy is a good for your health! But don't just sit there waiting for happiness to find to you.. make it happen. Choose to be happy.

How do you choose happiness? Do things that make you happy and send happiness out into the world. If it's cleaning your house, then so be it. If it's gardening, then do it. Recognize the things that make you happy and do them. Know, too, that helping others does a lot to contribute towards your own happiness.

Stemming from the realization that our happiness comes with a personal commitment to be happy, Mari who blogs at the Partyka project created a 100 Day Happiness Challenge to help her create some extra happiness in her life. I love a good challenge--and making lists-- and since I've actually been feeling a little down lately, I think this project would be good for me. Here's my list of things I'd like to do in the next 100 days, March 1 - June 9, in hopes of creating a little extra happiness for myself. :)

Made with my own image
text added using PicMonkey.com

Visit the Partyka project 100 Day Happiness Challenge for more info and to sign up! By the way, you don't have to make a fancy list like I did. You can just jot down a few things.. or just one thing. It's totally up to you!

Wish me luck! :)

Farewell February

I can't believe March is upon us! Is it just me or is 2013 flying by already? I've been reflecting on the year so far and wanted to document some of my thoughts and goings on. My mind is all over the place lately and I'd like to be able to come back and read this post to remember what I was thinking and doing.  The new year started out on a sad note for us when my elderly father-in-law passed away in early January. Being the full time caregivers for an elderly parent in our home for the last six years was often very challenging, especially in the later years. While I do have some sense of relief of the burden and strain his care put on my husband and myself and even our daughters, I greatly underestimated the empty space in our home and in our hearts that his absence would create.

For the last three years or so, I started working out early mornings so that I could be home to care for my father-in-law when my husband left for work. Now that I no longer have that responsibility, I've been getting out of the house more during the day. I'm meeting friends for lunch or coffee, doing all kinds of errands that were a hardship before, and revisiting the later morning fitness classes I used to take at the gym. I hit several of those 9 am classes in the last couple of weeks instead of my customary 6 am ones. Would you believe I've decided that I actually prefer the 6 am classes?! Truly! Sometimes I go to both. Sometimes I just go for a short run around 8 or 9 am. Like on this day when the snow started coming down..

At the park on a short run in the snow
before the paths get too slippery.

This new-found freedom to be able to leave the house whenever I want comes with a cost, though. I've been spending less time reading or blogging. I'm already five books behind in my goodreads challenge to read 101 books in 2013. My favorite books so far this year? The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley and Sins & Needles by Karina Halle! I loved both of these books.

10" of snow

We got about 9 or 10" of snow when snowstorm Nemo blew through town in early February. Lots of hours spent outdoors shoveling, sledding and skiing, too! Someone in our neighborhood sculpted a huge snow sculpture of Nemo from Finding Nemo on his lawn--the namesake of the storm. Pretty awesome!

Nemo snow sculpture

I went skiing with my husband--without our kids--for the first time in almost two decades. I was flooded with memories from our dating years and at the same time reminded of my age--exhausted and a bit grateful to end the day at 4:30 pm instead of trying to squeeze as many runs in at the end as possible.

Hers & His skis
On the chairlift with my husband. :)

I'm still having tons of fun on Instagram. I was doing so well with my Project 365 but missed a day completely in November. It really bugged me so I'm attempting to complete 2013 with a photo every day. So far so good! Knock on wood!!!! The new instagram profiles online are really snazzy. Have you seen them? http://instagram.com/thehappilyeverafter I'm having fun doing the monthly photo-a-day challenges hosted by Australian blogger Fat Mum Slim. It encourages creative photo ops and I'm meeting cool people from all over the world.

I'm continuing with the #fmsphotoaday challenge in March and am also going to give a go with #EstellaGram -- a bookish photo-a-day challenge hosted by Estella Society. Fun stuff! Click the links for the daily photo prompts.

Are you on instagram? Let's follow each other there-- find me at thehappilyeverafter .

Last, but not least, a new friendship is blossoming between myself and another similarly minded reader-athlete-mother-wife-individual whom I met recently. We met the other day for coffee and it was the saving grace of my week. I was frazzled, if not utterly stressed by something going on in my world and she knew just what to say to help me let go of some of the worry and negative energy and focus on the things I have control over and the things that welcome happiness into my life. I'm already so appreciative of this friend.

Speaking of happiness... I hope you're finding happiness in your daily life, too! Scratch that! I hope you're making happiness happen in your daily life! What? .. Make happiness? Yes! Make happiness. More on that tomorrow..

March is upon us, my friends. I hope spring is right around the corner because I'm craving sunshine, long bike rides and growing things in my garden!

What has the new year brought you so far?

Time's Up! 101 Things To Do In 1001 Days

A little over 1001 days ago I started a little quest to complete 101 things on my to-do or wish list in 1001 days. This was inspired by The Day Zero Project--a project concept started by a New Zealand blogger in 2003 to challenge and encourage people to set and achieve 101 personal goals within 1001 days.

I set out with my list of 101 things on May 7, 2010. February 1, 2013 was 1001 days later. I didn't complete all 101 tasks on my list. In fact, I only finished 26 of them and 8 of them are still work in progress. Only about 30% of the tasks were completed or attempted.

My original post is HERE.  I made two updates to my list ... one that was super thrilling for me at the time right HERE and another one HERE involving composting a SunChips bag.

Below is my list of 101 Things. 
The things highlighted in ORANGE are the ones I've completed. 
The things highlighted in BLUE are still in progress. 
The things highlighted in PINK are the ones for which I've made comparable substitutions. A bit of a cheat, I know. 

Friday, May 7, 2010 was Day 1.

Friday, February 1, 2013 was Day 1001.

health & fitness 
1. Lose 10 lbs. 
2. Lose 10 more lbs. 
3. Lose 10 more lbs. 
4. Lose 10 more lbs. 
5. Lose those last 5 lbs.  Grrrrr! *mad face*
6. Participate in a triathlon Sept. 11, 2011 Finished in 1:28:44 
7. Conquer my cycling loop through the reservation, climbing all the hills without stopping 
8. Run a 5K race in 33 minutes or less. Feb. 27, 2011 Ran a 5K Race in 30:44:02. 
                                                            Oct. 1, 2011 Ran a 5K Race in 30:02 
                                                             All 5Ks under 31 minutes now.. :) 
                                            
9. Run 500 miles : Ran 530.79 miles! 
10. Bike 1000 miles : I BIKED 2881.83 MILES! 
11. Hike the Sierra trail in the Reservation. 
12. Learn how to cross country ski But I went SNOWSHOEING! :) 
13. Find a yoga class or video that I really love 
14. Go running in Liberty State Park : 5K Race on October 16, 2011

just for me 
15. Find the perfect bra 
16. Find the perfect pair of jeans 
17. Find the perfect little black dress : not yet... but I found a pretty hot purple one! ;) 
18. Treat myself to a new wardrobe 
19. Find a flattering bathing suit 
20. Treat myself to a spa day 
21. Start writing my memoir : I attended a local memoir workshop.

family 
22. Have at least one date night with my husband every month Not quite... 
23. Establish a monthly family game or movie night PFFFT! What was I thinking???? 
24. Make a family tree : .. work in progress using Ancestry App on the ipad 
25. Enforce a chore schedule for my daughters :   Sort of. They still do very little :/

trips 
26. Go camping 
27. Go to the MOMA 
28. Take a trip to Acadia National Park in ME 
29. Visit the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens 
30. Get everyone's passports updated : Summer 2010 
31. Travel somewhere off the continent : Family vacation to Europe Aug. 2011
                                                                    Iceland UK July-Aug 2012 
32. Explore Central Park north of the Great Lawn 
33. Visit SoCal for a weekend

photography 
34. Organize our digital photos 
35. Use iPhoto (instead of desktop folders) : Did this for a while but folders are pretty convenient. 
36. Figure out how to use Home Sharing in iTunes [well, I kinda get it now.. doesn't really work when users have separate computers?]
37. Make my own time lapse photography video 
38. Photograph a hummingbird in the yard 
39. Complete a 365 Photography Project : ALMOST! I missed a few days in 2012 so I'm trying to make it to Nov. 11 2013 without a miss.

books & games 
40. Learn how to play chess : But I keep forgetting ... 
41. Learn how to play Majong 
42. Get a ping pong table :) 
43. Graduate from Medium to Hard on RockBand Band. :) : I did it.. but prob lapsed back to Medium since we rarely play anymore.
44. Read the last Harry Potter book 
45. Read all of the currently published In Death books by J.D. Robb : ACK! Still going.. 10 books left?

arts & crafts 
46. Learn how to knit 
47. Knit a hat or scarf 
48. Finish the kitchen cross stitch sampler I started ages ago 
49. Finish the love cross stitch project I started ages ago 
50. Frame the moongate print from Bermuda 
51. Stitch a personalized sampler for youngest daughter 
52. Do some craft project with all those seashells I keep collecting 
53. Do some craft project with all those pinecones I keep collecting 
54. Complete a mosaic project 
55. Get sewing machine fixed 
56. Sew something : Powerpuff girl costumes for Halloween '10 
57. Complete a block printing project 
58. Make a travel scrapbook album 
59. Make homemade candles 
60. Complete a wire working project 
61. Make some botanical rubbings 
62. Create my own unique header graphic for my blog

in the garden 
63. Re-establish my herb garden 
64. Re-establish my vegetable garden : Sort of .. but I don't like the spot so I'm redoing it in 2013 
65. Re-establish my perennial garden 
66. Plant 100 tulip and daffodil bulbs 
67. Plant raspberry bushes 
68. Landscape the side yard 
69. Landscape the other side yard 
70. Plant at least one fragrant rose bush 
71. Plant peonies 
72. Plant the rhubarb in a permanent spot : Spring 2012 
73. Plant a fruit tree 
74. Press flowers and make something artsy with them 
75. Put one of those new biodegradable SunChips bags in the compost pile and see how long it takes to decompose : It worked! It's gone. :)
76. Grow LOTS of basil and make LOTS of pesto to last the whole winter 
77. Grow alpine strawberry plants from seed 
78. Attract hummingbirds to the yard with feeder and flowers

in the kitchen 
79. Make homemade vanilla extract 
80. Make my own yogurt 
81. Make lemon curd from scratch : Lime curd May 2012 
82. Make homemade gnocchi 
83. Tap the maple trees in the yard and make homemade maple syrup 
84. Create 12 unique ice cream recipes {seasonal flavor of the month} 
85. Buy a new canning set for processing homemade jams 
86. Make several varieties of homemade jams & jellies for Christmas gifts 
87. Bake homemade bread from scratch : Does pizza dough count?

in the home 
88. Design spare bedroom to be a study & craft room 
89. Get backyard fence put up 
90. Design and install storage system for the master closet 
91. Organize the garage {hello bike rack}
92. Clear out, fix up and sell father-in-law's vacant condo 
93. Create a gallery of family photos on one wall in the house 
94. Refinish the bureau in the girls' bathroom 
95. Organize eldest daughter's closet 
96. Organize youngest daughter's closet 
97. Install new weather proofing on front door or a new front door! 
98. Buy a new slipcover for the sofa... or buy a new sofa! : Slipcover July 2012. But I'm not loving it.

miscellaneous 
99. Use the good china just because 
100. Host a cocktail party 
101. File next year's tax return by March 1 Hahahaha!!! SO FUNNY!

If I ever make a list like this again, it will be a shorter list within a shorter time frame. I think it's too easy to lose sight of your goals when the time frame is so long.

Maybe a list of 50 things to do before I turn 50... ?

Have you ever made a list of long term goals like this? How did you do?

Is there any particular item(s) on my list that you'd like to do for yourself? 

Any item(s) you'd like to hear about me finally doing? 

With Sadness

It is with sadness that I write this post to tell you that my dear elderly father-in-law, who has been under my and my husband's care for the last six years, has passed away this morning at 87 years old. Having suffered a severe stroke over a decade ago that left him in need of assistance with his daily life, my husband and I took him into our home and under our care when my mother-in-law passed away in late 2006. We expanded our home to include a bedroom and bathroom for him on the first floor [more about my father-in-law in our home here] and then three years later he suffered another minor stroke that left him more dependent than ever where he could no longer be left alone without supervision. My husband and I have been his full time caregiver pretty much every day, around the clock for the last six years. It has been very challenging to provide this kind of around the clock care for an elderly parent-- requiring personal and familial sacrifices and more patience than you can fathom. In that same breath, however, I will say that it has been an honor to have shared the role of care giver to this man who has lived his entire life with immense kindness, generosity and unconditional love towards other people--especially those lucky enough to be counted among his loved ones. He will be greatly missed.

My #20minaday Challenge

Samantha from samanthacycles.com, who also reviews at FictionVixen.com, came up with this nifty challenge idea for December. The idea is to take at least 20 minutes every day for the whole month JUST FOR YOURSELF. What a great idea, right? I bet most of you spend a ton of time taking care of other people, putting yourself last, especially this time of year. Right now would be a great time to make sure you take care of yourself as well. I personally think it's a good habit to carry on all year long. Just 20 minutes a day. Take care of yourself and you'll be able to better take care of the ones you love. The bonus? Samantha is giving away a $25 Amazon gift certificate to one lucky participant at the end of the challenge.

For more information on the #20minaday challenge and how to join in, visit Samantha at her blog samanthacycles.com and on twitter @samanthacycles.

Here's my #20minaday list for December which I'll update this post as I go along.

I'm going to try to NOT use working out as me time, because while that time and effort is 100% all about me, I do it all the time. For this challenge I'd like to make a point of doing something different just for me.

12.1  Worked on my Spanish/Spanglish glossary of This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Díaz. 
12.2  Went shopping for new sneakers + boots for ME! Didn't find anything, though. :(
12.3  Gathered and admired my collection of holiday cooking magazines. :)
12.4  Lunch with Claudia at ATH! :D
12.5  30 minute nap. *bliss*
12.6  Caught up with Angela on the phone. My dear friend since we were 4 years old!
12.7  Caught up with Dee on the phone. Free therapy session! ha
12.8  Watched a movie with Gabe.
12.9  60 minute nap.. so tired lately.
12.10 Went to Charlotte's to juice.
12.11 Played a couple of games Scramble with Friends with my husband. I lost every time.
12.12 Watched last night's Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition with my girls (DVR)
12.13 Organized the living room & game closet. Feels so good to have purged stuff!
12.14 Played with the colors of my blog. Fun.
12.15 Snuggled and talked with my youngest.
12.16 Napped. I see a strong trend here..
12.17 Had a midmorning coffee + cookies with Gabe. He baked them!
12.18 --- Youngest got sick last night..  pretty much kept her company, rubbed her back,
12.19 ---          and watched tv with her all day
12.20 --- SICK! Bleh.. in bed with stomach bug. 
             Husband had to stay home today to take care of everyone. 
12.21 --- 
12.22 --- Started watching "tvd" on Netflix w/Maria
12.23 ---  I exercised and read, but I promised myself I wasn't counting those towards 
12.24 ---      as #20minaday 'ME' time. 
12.25 Backing up my 1st gen ipad and restoring data onto my new ipad mini!!! :D
12.26 Participated in Joy's #NewYearsBook twitter chat
12.27 Watched "tvd" with my girls
12.28 Watched movie with Gabe.
12.29 Watched more "tvd" with my girls.
12.30 Built our gingerbread house!
12.31 Went out for a romantic NYE dinner with my husband

Happy Halloween!

Hey everyone! I hope you had a really safe, happy and fun Halloween today!

I made this Halloween banner tonight using a really fun, easy and FREE photo editing website called PicMonkey.com using a photo I took four Halloween's ago when we hosted a Halloween party for the high school volleyball team. That post is one of my most popular hits on my blog. I think because of the pumpkin carved like a volleyball. :)

Hurricane Sandy pretty much put a damper on Halloween this year in our area. Schools are closed for the rest of the week because of power losses everywhere and the dangerous conditions with fallen trees and power lines all over the place. Trick-or-treating has been rescheduled for Monday, November 5th. Kind of anti-climactic, but hopefully the kids will get into it.

In the meantime, since we're among the fortunate to still have power, we've opened our home to friends who need a warm place to visit, a hot meal, outlets to charge their cell phones, ice for their freezers, a washer and dryer and most of all the cheerful company of friends.

Hope you're having a spooktacular week! xo