Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel

I am thankful for so much in my life....

My beautiful family.
My businesses that seem to be doing well - thankfully, because we certainly work very hard!
My friends who are my extended family.
My extended family - who are also my friends.

The different people I meet each day, who all have a story - and many who have touched my lives though they truly have no idea that they did.

My upcoming move which is almost ready to take place.

I am beyond thankful that my husband is amazing in areas that I lack in.

I am thankful that my children are healthy - and I hope that they are additionally happy.

And I am thankful to be alive.
I like my life....and I am blessed and thankful every day for all that I have.  If not for those around me, I would have nothing, and I never lose sight of that.


Monday, November 21, 2011

Lights out....

Tonight I took my Dad to see the new house.
It was darker than I'd hoped it would be at 5:00 - and let me tell you, I learned a little somethin' somethin' about this new area as a result.

My street has no streetlights.
NONE.

And let me tell you.....it's a dark street.  Looks like we're going to have to invest in lots of outdoor lighting.  I've never seen a street without lights before?!? 

But you know what was amazing about it?

As I pulled up to the house, what came running out of my new yard and up my new driveway?
Three baby deer!!

The yard we have is really big and split into two sections; the grassy part of the yard goes right into the forest...we're surrounded by forest behind us, and actually on some parts of the street which is kind of interesting to see how there's this neighborhood carved into it.

The kids are excited because when I told them that, they realized that their bedroom windows overlook both the back and front of the house (T's room is over the grassy yard, Princess Petunia is over the front yard) and so at night, they stand a real chance of seeing little creatures when they look out their window.  How fun is that??

Seven days from today... just seven more days.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

Only that in you which is me, can hear what I'm saying.

I am a part of all that I have met.

Losing an illusion makes you wiser than finding a truth.

There are some remedies worse than the disease.


Tomorrow always comes, and today is never yesterday..

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Chippin' around - kick my brains around the floor, These are the days it never rains but it pours

Under pressure.

I had a dream last night that it was Thanksgiving Eve, and no one was in the store.  No one was in or shopping.  Anxiety dream?  Ya think?! . 

In 11 days, we'll have passed papers on our new house.

I think I'll feel better about the store, after this weekend when everyone who's taking furniture from us - comes and actually takes it from the house.  Then I'll feel more accomplished in the packing.  It might sound silly, to link work with my move -  but it goes hand in hand.  I am shopping at the store for one of our biggest nights of the year, and I am moving 4 days later.

Stocking the store up.  Breaking my house down.

"This is our last dance.
This is ourselves.
Under pressure."

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Stewie: For the love of God, shake me! Shake me like a British nanny!

You know what?
I am beyond sick and tired of the news these days.

I've had it with hearing about pedophiles raping little boys - and those who did nothing to prevent it from happening. 

Enough with the Republican Presidential candidate who has sexual harrassment charges.

I'm all set with the lazy protestors who are taking their 1st Amendment right to protest, and making a complete and total mockery of their cause (or multiple causes, as it seems to have morphed into) by abusing it right to a hair below anarchy.

Done with the mother who drank too much and "blacked" out while her baby is now missing.

Make it stop...!
lalalalalalalalalalalala (she says, sticking her fingers in her ears....)

You know what I want to hear about, for once?

The woman or man who beat a Stage 4 Cancer - and their spouse who lovingly stood by their side through it all.

The child who went out of their way to help a neighbor who's elderly or sick.  Or maybe, helped another child.

The couple that celebrated their 40th or 50th Wedding Anniversary.

Or how about the people who aren't celebrities, who donate their time and effort to local charities, day in and day out.

I know that these stories are out there.  And yes, I know that they are "boring"....but my God, haven't we had enough horror to last us for a little while?  Wouldn't it be nice to turn on the news and have them say that there's nothing really going on to report? 

Or rather, they choose to take a night off from the bad things and maybe share some of the good things at the leadoff story in the broadcast, rather than the last 30 second segment on the 11:00 news?

Color me crazy, color me optomistic - color me bored.  I'm tired of the tragedy and disgrace that surrounds us, and I'm longing for silver lining in the dark clouds.  I want to hear the good in humanity, because we already are far too well aware of the bad.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Run to the hills...run for your life....

One of my SIL's asked if I'd be interested in doing a Spartan Race with her.  I wasn't sure what it was, but when she showed me the site, I said "absolutely!".

A sales rep of mine did Tough Mudder this past summer -and when I saw what that was, I thought I'd like to try it at some point. Put it on my bucket list, and think about it at some point down the road.  But, it seems that Spartan Races are similar, but in shorter increments; so this is a 3 mile course, as opposed to the 10 mile one - and there are far less life threatening obstacles (translated to "no running wet between live electrical lines") - but crazy physically challenging none the less.

I'm so excited!  She actually wants to do the 8 mile one at Killington -but that's in September so I think the shorter one in Amesbury in August would be a good precursor to that.  Sort of walking before running, or at least jogging towards a run.

I am such a goal oriented person and truly haven't had anything to work towards physically in so long.  The training for this is going to be crazy, but I figure between yoga and running - as well as maybe some weights, I should be okay. 

Good times...good times.

I'm sure I'll keep everyone posted on the training, once I start. 
Post holiday season, but of course.
Listen, I'm crazy...but I'm not that crazy!

Friday, November 11, 2011

“ Laughter relaxes. And relaxation is spiritual.”

Triple Peppermint soap.  Almond Biscotti candles.  Icy cold sushi.  My yoga mat.  A strong backrub.  Anything by Ray Lamontagne.  Laughter.  Hugs & Kisses that aren't asked for.  Vanilla & Bergamot exfoliator.  A silky, big red wine.  Warm down comforters and cool sateen sheets. Peppermint Water. 

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Supercalifragalisticexpialidoches....

Tonight was the Holiday Shopping Extravaganza at the store.
Considering it was pouring out - we had a fabulous turnout!

Had it not been raining - I think it might have been overwhelming, so it's all good.  It was a good precursor to the holiday.  And we had some delicious wine, as well as some equally delicious new food items that everyone seemed to love, so that makes me feel good to see how happy everyone was.

I love that the store is a destination...the type of place that people like to come to and spend time in.

Beaming with pride.... without doubt.
And now...without further adieu - I'm going to crash for the night.
Hard.

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

All parts of the human body get tired eventually - except the tongue.

I am supposed to be packing tonight.
Truthfully, I'm too tired to do it.

I wish there were people that could pack for you.
I mean, there are - they're called movers.  But my God they charge a fortune.
And I don't have a fortune to spend.

My problem is - time.
If I still had my desk job, then I could take a day or two off and get it done. 
But now...
Not so much.

It's one of the busiest times of the year at the store - and we are moving during it.
Did I mention that we had a meeting today to discuss our potential third store?
Clearly, I like have 30 million balls up in the air at once.

Listen, some of us thrive under pressure.
It's a pressure I place upon myself so obviously I know I can handle it.

I just hope my body can!
Well, at a minimum -- I'll be sleeping like a baby most nights for a long time to come....

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Blinded by the light...

I have to ask this question....

What is up with all of the headlights in cars these days that are insanely bright?  It's like everyone is driving with their high beams on.  And they're not just regular headlights, oh no....they almost are a blue, so much so that I sometimes feel like there's a police officer behind me.  Are they LED?  Because I have a new car, (well, relatively new - it's a 2010) and my lights don't look like that.



Some of them aren't blue though - they're almost pink.
What is up with that?!?!

Someone, anyone....clue me in as to what the need is to be so bright and shiny?  I mean come on - they're lights for God's sake.  They weren't exactly dark to begin with.....

Sunday, November 06, 2011

Living Vicariously....

Hi, My name is Rebecca - and I think I've become an official HGTV addict.
Well, as much as one can be given what little time I have to actually watch television.

Selling LA and Selling New York - are my MUST DVR shows.  I am blown away by the homes that are hidden in NYC - and the ones that are in abundance in LA.  I'm fascinated by what the dollar value buys you in different areas of the country.

Same to be said about House Hunters; I watch them all from the US episodes, to International - to the Dream Home.  The only one I don't love are the Vacation Home episdodes where a family picks their fantasy house.  I prefer the real life decision episodes when a person is making a serious investment financially.  G and I have been talking lately about how we should stay in this house we're buying "forever" (code for at least 15 years) but buy condos in different parts of the world we love like NYC, LA, and possibly even internationally - so we have investment properties and vacation places. So these shows are amazing for seeing how the dollar does or doesn't stretch.

My latest guilty pleasure:  Donna Decorates Dallas.  I love, love, love her design style.  At least on the episodes I've seen thus far.  I do think she tries a bit too hard to look young - she's a very well put together woman, who really does make ordinary spaces very....beautiful.   It's funny how on one hand she has these extravagant clients who clearly have no budget so she can just do whatever it takes to make the space come to life; but yet she shows how inexpensively things can be done when she's helping her daughter do her own space.   In some ways, she reminds me of my MIL - who also is a designer, and will show me the extravagant things a client needs or wants - and then show me less expensive ways to achieve a similar look.

What are your television "must sees"?

Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Crying, over you...



Okay, I'm either hormonal -- or just plain getting old.
I never cry...
But I got choked up like three different times watching "A Dolphin Tale" yesterday.

Really?!?!?
Really.

What a great movie - definitely a "feel good" kind of story, and even if you don't have kids to watch it with -  it's worth going to see it. 

Not an Academy Award winning plot clearly, but trust me when I tell you that you will walk out of the theatre feeling like it was money well spent; rather than walking out of a movie like "Black Swan", feeling disappointed and irritated.

Who doesn't love to feel happy?!?!