Reclaim Your Free Time!

"Culturally, there's now a vision of work without end as the central focus of one's existence--but leisure is a crucial part of the American Dream."

These words really spoke to me this morning as I lay in bed, about to get up and start my day. Today's plan was to include a complete overhaul (ie: Spring cleaning) of my house. I still intend to take advantage of this day to whip things into shape, but first I'm taking a moment to blog and do something that I enjoy.

"To reclaim our free time--and enjoy it--'shifting our standards is critical... our expectations that we can get everything done are totally out of sync with our lives.' We would be happier if we prioritized time for ourselves, thereby allowing ourselves to tackle our responsibilities later in a better frame of mind. In our survey, women who set aside free time on a regular basis even though they had not finished all their chores were happier, more cheerful, and more optimistic."

Dangerously Delicious

Today I discovered an amazing new taste sensation... Girl Scout Trefoil cookies + Trader Joe's mango butter. Yum! I ate an embarrassingly large quantity of these today when I got home from work. Oops!

PS: I just realized that this month marks my THIRD ANNIVERSARY of blogging. I have to admit, I was completely shocked by this, and had to go back to reread my first post and verify that it really was written 3 years ago. Where did the time go?!

Thankful Thursday

Tonight has turned out to be an incredible evening because of some lovely ladies in my life. About a month ago I decided to start my own Mary Kay business, and so each week I have a training meeting. And these meetings offer so much more than just training. Motivation. Support. Hugs and smiles. Encouragement. Suggestions. Supplies. Even though I only just now got home (notice, it's nearly 10pm), I am feeling more energized than ever. The neat thing is that the more time I spend in this company (of women), the more I feel the positive energy rubbing off on me. What a blessing!

Knock, knock...

Who's there?!

So I guess I missed my chance to blog about all things January 2012. Suffice it to say I was B-U-S-Y, mostly because I started my own business. I am excited to share that I am now a Mary Kay consultant! Have any of you ever sold MK before? Just wondering...

Several of my friends have nudged me to get back on here and blog. This is a short one to say the least, but it's late! It past my bedtime, and I should be asleep already. I'll just leave you with one little picture of my current sewing project.

Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012!

What a year it's been! I waved goodbye to my twenties, took some amazing trips with my hubby, finished a quilt that I'm very proud of, watched my little sister get married, got a promotion at work, and received a dSLR camera from Santa. Each of these blessings has come with challenges, but I feel like I've learned a lot and come out the better for them. It's funny, but I feel like it took turning 30 to finally get to know myself. Maybe wisdom really does come with age?! I know that I'm blessed to have a hubby as supportive and loving as B, as well as friends and family to balance my life. I just wouldn't be "me" if it weren't for all of you!

Here's to a happy, healthy new year for you and yours!

Cheers!!

Pinterest giggle...

The English teacher in me just LOVES this one. I couldn't help but chuckle, and then jump right over here to share it with you. Maybe you'll giggle, too!

Crunch, crunch, crunch!

Yeah, I went out of my way to walk through a pile of particularly crunchy leaves today. Hehe!

Hakuna Matata

We're back from seeing The Lion King on Broadway. AMAZING! We had such a great trip.

We took a bus to NYC and checked into our 4-star hotel, The Kitano, right on Park Avenue.

We had just enough time to freshen up before heading out for our dinner reservation at Joe Allen's. We started with fried calimari and a yummy Malbec. Bruno ordered a steak, and I had shrimp-pesto pasta. Delicious! After dinner we wandered around Times Square a bit before heading to the theater.

For the show, we sat in row K, 11 rows from the stage and just two seats from the aisle, which was perfect since animals walked down the aisle multiple times throughout the show. One of the coolest things was a life-sized elephant (I think there were four people working the puppet: one in each leg), but my favorite were the giraffes! Bruno loved the rippling sun that looked like it was really rising over the African savannah. There were bird kites that flew above our heads and a stampede of animals that rushed down the stage. The singing and music was so moving, they nearly brought me to tears several times. The show was truly everything I had hoped for.

The Good Stuff

1. National Writing Day was a blast! I loved sharing with my kiddies
2. Getting re-inspired to record "things that speak to me" in my Olmert notebook
3. Shopping for fabric. Jackpot and I bought the makings for 2 quilts that our sewing club will donate
4. Hearing that little N wondered where "Auntie C" was today after school
5. A good work-out at the gym
6. A long, hot shower (no need to rush because of work)
7. Planning my NYC outfits: dresses everyday!
8. Looking forward to seeing The Lion King on Broadway... check that off the bucket list
9. The house to myself for a while
10. Papa John's for dinner with hubby

My Chat with Bono

On my way home today, I heard U2's "One" on the radio. It came as such a pleasant surprise. You know, one of those songs you don't often hear on your commute home, but that holds such a comfortable, familiar place in your heart. For some reason (maybe because of the events that had happened today) it really spoke to me today. Here are a bit of the lyrics, along with my internal monologue... I felt like I was having a conversation with Bono today, and he gave me such a good kick in the butt! A little reality check about life. It's too short to get caught up drama.


Is it getting better? (no)
Or do you feel the same? (sure seems that way) 
Will it make it easier on you now? (one can only hope)
You got someone to blame (oh, is that what I'm doing? crap!)
You say

One love
One blood
One life
You got to do what you should (hmph! I don't need a morality speech)
One life  (true, true)
With each other
Sisters (that's debatable)
Brothers
One life (I know, I know... let's get it right this is the only chance I get)
But we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other


One


So you know, I'm not exactly excited about or motivated by the thought, but I'm thinking this was a subtle reminder to rise above and be the best "me" that I can be. Unfortunately, that's not always so easy. Nonetheless... thanks, Bono.

Did you feel the earthquake, too?!

If you felt the earthquake (whose epicenter was identified near Richmond, Virginia) leave me a message saying where you were at the time!

This was my first-ever earthquake experience, and just think, it was the strongest in recent recorded history! I heard that the last "significant" earthquake in this area happened in 1885 and was 4-point-something on the Richter scale. And this one was a 5.8... yowzer!

I was in Ellicott City, Maryland, and felt it rumble through my whole body! At first I thought it was construction or someone working on the roof of the building.

When I got home, things seemed to be in good order: nothing broken or damaged. However, the earthquake obviously had its way with my house, too! Several things were knocked over, and some doors had "magically" opened. My poor little ceramic bride and groom did a belly flop off of the top shelf!

Happy Anniversary!

It's been four years, B! I love you.

P.S. - We didn't even realize that today was our anniversary until we saw the date printed on our train tickets. We're turning into B's parents: they never know that its their anniversary until B calls to wish them a happy day. Hehe...!

I searched HIGH and low

and I finally found my newest nail polish color: "Braziliant." You could say I was a bit crazy looking for this particular one... just because of its name. Last week I went to five different beauty boutiques looking for it. Apparently, it's one of summer's hottest new colors because I never found it! I had given up. And then today, I just happened to be in the beauty aisle, and I just happened to glance at the Essie colors. And it just happened to be sitting there, alone, not in its right spot. Can you believe that I finally found it in the place I figured I was least likely to find it?! You know what happens to watched pots...

A Bit of Indulgence

Oops!

I confess. I (the one who never goes to McDonald's) have been to McDonald's twice already in the time I've been here in Brazil.

The thing is, they have this sandwich -- the Cheddar McMelt -- and it's different. And quite yummy! Hamburger, cheddar cheese sauce, and sauteed onions on a whole-wheat bun. That's it!

I guess you could say I'm hooked. So what have you indulged in recently?

10 for Tuesday

I'm taking a cue from my dear Jackpot. Here are 10 random thoughts floating through my head:

1. I've been hearing A LOT of Portuguese lately. Not sure how I feel about that... At times it becomes so much that my brain just shuts down. How do my ESOL students survive day in and out?!
2. My brother-in-law is graduating from college this summer. Today he gave us a copy of his graduation photo - a group shot! Man, I so wish that were our custom here. I had many friends in my program that I would've liked to have a photo of. You know, something sentimental to look back on.
3. Amarula is a yummy precursor to dinner! Why can't I have this every night?
4. Last night I had a lot of good laughs with my hubby and his brother. Usually my BIL is quiet, so I don't feel like I've had many moments with him throughout the years. It was so nice!
5. Thank god for summer break.
6. Why even bother with dinner? Let's just skip straight to dessert every night!
7. Tomorrow I'm thinking I'll take some time to play with my camera. Maybe I can get some cool shots of the architecture?
8. Has anyone seen Bad Teacher yet? I can't wait! I know it's giving my profession a bad name, but I'm betting Cameron Diaz's character gets to do a lot of things we only wish we could do!
9. Thank goodness I traveled with my computer! I was entertaining myself with Sims all day today.
10. I wish I could hear what I sound like to native speakers when I talk in Portuguese. I imagine I say things like, "it was accident" and other little-kid sounding things. Oh well! At least people can understand me!

Just Like That

My sister is having a make-up artist come as part of the wedding prep, so she advised me to find a picture that I could show the woman. I've been keeping my eyes peeled, and I think I finally found what I was looking for. In this particular photo, Naomi Watts has a very natural look: her cheeks and lips have a bit of rosy color, but her eyes are really the main attraction. I love it!

So that's how I want my make-up done. Just like that!

PS: I found this while waiting for Bruno to get his hair cut. I didn't know if I'd be able to find the same photo again, so I ripped/stole it from their magazine! I felt so reckless (hehe).

Sew Many Machines!

I wish I had taken a picture today. The back of my car was FULL of sewing machines. And I mean full. Nine machines in all.

And I am tickled pink.

Many, many months ago, my co-worker (buddy, partner-in-crime, bff), Jackpot, and I decided that because we've both been having so much fun sewing, we wanted to see about starting a sewing club at school for our students. It turns out that our Home Ec teacher didn't have any sewing machines in her department. It's the modern world, baby! And PS: she's not the "Home Ec" teacher anymore... she's the "FACS" teacher. That stands for Family and Consumer Science.

So, despite the minor set-back, we persevered. With the help of our FACS teacher, we got connected with her boss and found out that there would be some old machines being retired at the end of the school year. Yes, our school year is STILL going on. Today, we went and picked up those nine machines. So excited!

Tomorrow is the last day of school -- and that's a good thing -- but with these new machines just arriving, I'm secretly already chomping at the bit! I can't wait to get our club up and running next year. We're hoping the kids will be excited to put their sewing skills to good use! We'll be looking for sewing projects and ways to donate our handiwork...

...and maybe we'll make a few things for ourselves along the way, too.

E's Bridal Shower!

As my little sister's matron of honor, it was my job to plan her bridal shower. Luckily for me, she has chosen six other women as bridesmaids... and they all rock! Between the seven of us (plus help from my mom), the shower was amazing.

According to my grandma, we "carried it off with panache." Wow, what a review!

The trick for me, was that I wanted to have her quilt finished before the shower. As you may recall, I'm not the best with deadlines and was actually still hand-stitching the binding on my grandma's quilt after she opened it on Christmas.

So, classic me, I was pressed for time. But with a little perseverance, and one all-nighter, I finished! And she loved her quilt. Hooray! (I'll write more about the quilt in a later blog).

Joyous Juror

Ha! Hardly...

Today I woke up at my normal, crack-of-dawn time (5:30). I showered, make-uped, and even breakfasted. Wow! By 7:30 I had parked my car and walked to the Circuit Courthouse. Where I sat and waited. Then they called all of us to the registration counter. After which point, I sat and waited. And waited. Luckily I had been forewarned about said "waiting" and had brought my laptop with me. I actually got a lot done on the digital scrapbook I'm currently working on.

But back to the verbena.

I chose a seat in the very last row near a wall outlet. I plugged in my computer and got to work. I couldn't help but notice that NO ONE sat near me. There was obviously a buffer of empty seats around me, most likely because of all my coughing and sniffling. We all sat miserably for several hours. Then the bailiff came and started summoning people. I realized he was reading down the list in alphabetical order. So I held my breath and crossed my fingers. He called McCorey. Then Taylor. PHEW! I was free. So at 11:15 I marched back to my car and drove back to my house. Of course I'm still on-call for the next week, but I'll just have to take this one day at a time.

...and right now, it's nap time!

Bad Karma

I'm not sure what I did to deserve this, but I'm sick. Stupid summer cold. So I decided to take the day off tomorrow to rest and feel better. To make matters worse, I had a voice mail waiting for me when I left work today. Telling me that I MUST report to jury duty tomorrow. At 8 AM. UGH! The timing just seems horribly unfair.