Two is Better than One
22 Jul 2010 19 Comments
in Inspiring Moments, friends Tags: For Erin, Virtual Baby Shower, Vlog
Today’s post is part of yet another wonderful collaborative “Bloggers Unite” effort; it’s all for the lovely, fabulous, beautiful, about-to-be-a-mom, Erin. If you’ve never met Erin, you’re missing out. I suggest you take a trip to meet her immediately.
If you weren’t already aware, Erin is having twins (soon!) and her baby shower is tonight; since most of us can’t be there in person (insert sadface here), the equally as lovely Renee suggested that we share a vlog on our blogs to commerate her special day, talking about our favorite things that come in pairs.*
So, Erin, without any more jibber-jabber, this one’s for you. (I’m sorry it’s so short but I started to get all emotional at the end and didn’t want to cry on camera. I wish there was a more eloquent way to say this but I’m so freakin’ excited and happy for you, Ted and what’s going to be your family!)
I rummaged around my head trying to come up with some great words of wisdom as you embark on your journey as a mom, but not being one, I don’t have much. Fortunately I stumbled (or Googled, either way, right!?) upon this poem recently which made me think not only of my mom but also what I have no doubt in my mind you’ll be over the coming years.
What is a Mother?
by Unknown
A mother can be almost any size or any age, but she won’t admit to anything over thirty. A mother has soft hands and smells good. A mother likes new dresses, music, a clean house, her children’s kisses, an automatic washer and Daddy.
A mother doesn’t like having her children sick, muddy feet, temper tantrums, loud noise or bad report cards. A mother can read a thermometer (much to the amazement of Daddy) and like magic, can kiss a hurt away.
A mother can bake good cakes and pies but likes to see her children eat vegetables. A mother can stuff a fat baby into a snowsuit in seconds and can kiss sad little faces and make them smile.
A mother is underpaid, has long hours and gets very little rest. She worries too much about her children but she says she doesn’t mind at all. And no matter how old her children are, she still likes to think of them as her little babies.
She is the guardian angel of the family, the queen, the tender hand of love. A mother is the best friend anyone ever had. A mother is love.
Wishing you, Ted and The Girls nothing but the happiest of days, fullest of hearts, and scrapbooks filled with memories and soul-warming moments. Enjoy your Baby Shower Day!
* This is my first Vlog so apologies for the severe lack of technically savvy-ness!
Wishin’ & Hopin’
14 Apr 2010 24 Comments
(Forgive the “bullet” type posts, friends. I’m smackdab in the middle of midterms and my brain can’t process complete sentences, much less paragraphs lately. Side Note: Don’t forget to enter my Dove Visibly Smooth Deodorant Giveaway! Only two more days left to enter.)
I wish…
… that bad things didn’t happen (or threaten to happen) to amazing, beautiful people.
… I could find a real Adam Braverman.
… things like teleportation really existed because I can’t handle not living close to my far-away best friends much longer.
… my left knee would stop misbehaving. I have a race to run in May and it’s full cooperation is greatly appreciated.
… that I didn’t care so much about grades. Once a perfectionist, always a perfectionist?
… BelleRenee a Happy Birthday today.
… I wouldn’t get teary-eyed every single time I see a rabbit, squirrel, goose or other furry animal dead on the side of the road. Or that people would slow down a little bit and be more aware of their surroundings.
… that texting/reading emails/writing emails while driving was completely illegal in Missouri. So dangerous. If I see you doing it, I shake my fist at you.
… May 14th would hurry up. (Okay, and May 21st and 28th too!)
… the pollen that is covering every nook, cranny and crevice of StL would magically disappear. The whole stoner eyes-swollen nose-raspy breath thing is getting really old.
… many prayers for several of my blog lovelies and real life friends going through some rough times.
… that chocolate and massages came standard at a full-time job.
What do you wish for today?
Letters: Junkpunch, April Showers, Fried Food and more
23 Mar 2010 21 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: April showers, Easter, fried food, Johnny Depp, Lent, May flowers, open letters to no one, so i'm a hippie- what are you going to do about it?, spring is here
Dear Customer who is making my life crazy,
If you aren’t careful, I will fly out to see you just to do this:
Sincerely,
A Young Professional who can’t seem to do anything right for you
Dear Graduate Level Finance,
Why must you be so complicated and difficult to decipher? I don’t do well with “if this, then this, but don’t forget about this and this” type math problems. Try not to be such a butthead for the next nine weeks. Also having to buy a financial calculator that I will never use again is just plain silly.
Yours,
I’m-so-not-a-numbers-person
Attention: Spring
From: Nora & her Allegra Prescription
I admit, I’m excited for your return. April Showers. May Flowers. All that jazz. I’m not stoked about the prospect of having to carry around a box of tissues for the next two months while sneezing and wheezing. I guess it’s all worth it in the end if it means I can wear flip-flops though. Just try to be kind this year and don’t let everything bloom all at once?
Fried Food,
I’ve missed you these past twenty-something days during Lent. However, come Easter morning, I don’t think I’ll be letting you back in my diet much. It was fun, but I feel much better without you.
See you around,
The girl who likes it when her pants are too big for her
Barnes & Noble,
Thank you for being such a hospitable studying environment.
I’ve managed to learn to study with you a few times and leave without having purchased a new book. I wish I could say the same for the delicious drinks you sell. I don’t stand a chance when I see that you offer the Blended Creme Double Chocolate Chip beverage.
- The girl who loves all things chocolate
Dear Johnny (Depp),
I’ve always been a big fan. I’ve loved you when you’re playing a crazy, drunken pirate, a guy with scissors for hands, gangster or a mad hatter who wears more make-up than I’ve ever put on in my life. However, I have to express my displeasure with the fact that you’re doing a movie with Angelina Jolie. Please don’t let her steal you away from your fabulous longtime girlfriend, children and French Chateau. She seems to turn everything she touches into drama and problems. And don’t be surprised if you don’t see me there during opening weekend.
With Love,
One of your biggest fans
Dear World,
I still want to open up a free hugs store. There’s too much heartbreak and sadness in the world and sometimes I like to think that with a little Dave Matthews Band music and a lot more hugs, things could be better. I know, I’m a huge hippie. Deal with it.
Peace & Love,
Nora
Any letters you’d like to write today?
Love Harder
20 Jan 2010 9 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: For Brandy, Small Groups can make a Big Difference, The power of the internet
(The contents of this post are brought to you by LiLu and a fabulous band of 30 bloggers; check out LiLu’s blog for the complete list of participants who made this possible!)
The quandry: We feel terrible. Just horrible. And oh so helpless… if only there was something we could DO for them.
The answer: Ummmm. Did you forget that WE ARE THE INTERNET?!?!!??! And also, Yes We Can!!!
The result: Brandy and your Hot Awesome Dude… this one’s for you. Love, The Internet.
Our Plea
Our friend Brandy is a brilliant writer, a wonderful teacher, and a generous friend. And she is in love with a man who has just been diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
We are raising money for the Multiple Myeloma Research Fund in his name. For the price of a cinnamon dolce latte, half-caf, hold the whip, you can be part of an effort to cure a disease that affects approximately 750,000 people worldwide.
Every dollar brings us a dollar closer to a cure. And every donation brings a sliver of hope to a girl who needs all the hope she can get.
Love Harder,
Nora
What You Can Do
Give. Be part of a worldwide effort to cure a disease that affects approximately 750,000 people worldwide. Every dollar helps.
Pass it on. Forward this story to five people. Share this blog post. Become our fan on Facebook.
Love harder. Life is short, love is unbending, and no one knows what could happen next. Tell someone you love them today.
Where Your Money Goes
The American Institute of Philanthropy recently named The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation one of the best organizations to give to in terms of their accountability and use of resources.
By working closely with researchers, clinicians and partners in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry, the MMRF has helped bring multiple myeloma patients four new treatments that are extending lives around the globe.
The MMRF has advanced twenty Phase I and Phase II clinical trials. They need your support to advance these clinical research programs and accelerate the development of better, more effective treatments.
The MMRF’s Multiple Myeloma Genomics Initiative recently became the first to sequence the multiple myeloma whole genome in its entirety.
A whopping 98% of your donation to the MMRF will be used immediately to support high-priority multiple myeloma research.
With diminishing funding for early stage drug development and the next myeloma treatments not expected to be approved until 2011, the MMRF desperately needs your help.
Just a reminder of Brandy’s story:
Brandy’s Story
My name is Brandy. And I have a blog.
And a plea.
I use my blog to showcase the crazy I meet everyday, share the stories of the kids I teach, and document my love for tequila, dairy products and the abdominal muscles of Ryan Reynolds.
Rarely do I talk about personal issues on my blog– as personal as the dude that I adore. But I need your help. And it involves my dude.
He’s a guy who made math comics for my class, so they would love learning about addition. He’s the guy who sends my friends gift cards when they are having hard times, who remembers every story I ever told him, who was the first person I celebrated with when I got a teaching job.
He’s the guy who sent flowers to me at school– dozens of my favourite pink roses just because he loves me. He’s a guy who has spent a year patiently explaining (and re-explaining) everything there is to know about football during the important games when silence is preferred.
He’s made me word puzzles and comics and stayed up late playing Scrabble with me (even though I beat him almost every time). He’s listened to me cry about school and family and jobs. He is everything I never knew I needed and everything I always knew I wanted.
I realize this all sounds dramatic, a Lifetime movie in the making– but this is life. Right now. And I’m throwing away any hint of ego and am humbly asking for you to pray or think kind thoughts. If you are able to pass this on, thank you.
This isn’t a call for sympathy or a plea for pity. It’s just one girl hoping you can think positive thoughts for the person she adores. If my current heartache provides you with anything, let it be the reminder that life is short, love is unbending and no one knows what could happen next.
Thank you for reading this, and if you haven’t already? Please tell someone you love them today.
I did.
DONATE: http://www.loveharder.org
CONTACT: theloveharderfund@gmail.com
FACEBOOK: http://facebook.loveharder.org
MORE INFO: http://www.themmrf.org
Angelou
17 Nov 2009 21 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: Maya Angelou, quotes to make the day better, what inspires me
Quite some time ago, I confessed that I have a thing for Tyler Perry movies. As in, I kind of love them. While I realize I’m likely not his target demographic, the messages are strong and the movies are funny, insightful and enjoyable. Last night I watched one I had not seen before and lucky me, Maya Angelou was in the movie, playing, I suspect herself and her character at the same time. So today’s post is all about Maya Angelou and a few of my favorite quotes from her because everyone needs a little inspiration and uplifiting, right?
“Love is many things. It is varied. One thing love is not, is unsure.” – Maya Angelou
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
“If you have only one smile in you give it to the people you love.” – Maya Angelou
Do you have a favorite go-to quote that makes everything a little bit better for you?
9. Within
09 Nov 2009 45 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: NaBloPoMo, sadness, this is how a heart breaks
One year, during a bachelorette party in Key West, you get your palm read.
The palm reader is dead on when it comes to you, your tendencies, your heartaches, what you long for.
She tells you that you’ll meet a man in the next two years. Someone you’ll love. Someone you’ll cherish. Someone who will reawaken your soul, your spirit, your capacity to love.
She’s right.
He’s not like anyone else you’ve ever met before. Intelligent. Funny. Hipster. Sexy. A bit of a dork. A bit of a hopeless romantic. Handsome. Strong. Sensitive. Caring. The dates are whirlwinds of nerves, laughter and butterflies.
Within a month, you’re exlcusive.
Within two months, you’re traveling together to Canada for a wedding.
Within three months, you’re spending the holidays with each other’s families.
Within six months, you start talking about living together.
Within a year, you start talking about the serious possibility of a future together.
Within 16 months, something goes wrong.
You remember the day you met the palm reader and search your memory for any bit of information on if she said it was going to last. Or if it wasn’t to last, how would it end. You come up empty handed.
You can’t pinpoint the moment it happens or why it happens, but suddenly your entire world is tossed upside down.
It feels like your souls are drifting apart and even though you want them to continue to float along together in the universe they are drowning in a sea of confusion, hurt, frustration, hope and still, above all, love. But love isn’t always enough.
Within one week, you’ve cried enough tears to fill the Mississippi River.
Within two weeks, you’ve spent more evenings awake, wondering if it he has changed his mind, if things could be different.
Within three weeks, you call him just to make sure this is how things are supposed to be.
Within four weeks, you realize that though there will be hurt, pain and sorrow as you mourn a relationship and best friend, this is where you are supposed to be. You don’t know why, but this is where the universe has taken you and you have no choice but to move forward.
There are fewer tears but still a deep ache within your soul.
There are fewer sleepless nights but still the emptiness fills up your bed.
There are fewer messages and phone calls but in the silence, you know there is truth.
There is less certainty in your life but instead an eternal hope.
There are memories stashed deep inside your soul assuring you that you’ll never forget.
There is the realization that this is the best decision for both of you, despite the sadness and hurt you’re learning to cope with.
There is peace in heartbreak at last.
7. Magic
07 Nov 2009 12 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: Magic Kingdom, Mickey Mouse, NaBloPoMo
Using today’s NaBloPoMo writing prompt (mention three things that you associate with a fond memory) my three things are:
1. Florida
2. Mickey Mouse
3. Magic Kingdom
A little known fact about me is that my family didn’t always live in the StL- as a matter of fact we moved to StL in the early 90s from just oustide Orlando, FL. While we only lived in Florida for two years it was plenty of time for us to have yearly family passes to all the Disney attraction parks.
Between all the family that came to visit us and the random evenings we’d drive to the theme parks for just a few hours, we came to know Disney inside and out. The Hanuted Mansion. Pirates of the Caribbean. The Tiki Birds. Tom Sawyer’s boat. Epcot. Coca-Cola from around the world. Roller coasters. Log flumes. The tourist groups that would come through, usually in January and February, spearheaded by a brave soul who carried their country’s flag high and proud. What days to avoid the parks for fear of attack by children and strollers. What days the fireworks were the best.
I’ve only been back to Disney a handful of times since we left and each time I’m there I feel like a little girl. Standing there holding my parents hands, waiting in lines with anticipation even if I’ve been on the ride countless times. Excitement. A buzz of natural energy. Falling asleep in the backseat after a long day to the pleasant hum of the car engine and my parents voices.
I know I was truly blessed to be able to go to Disney as often as we did and hopefully if I ever have children I’ll be able to take them to the very same theme parks I went to as a kid, sharing the same rides and experiences with them.
I leave you with a behind the scenes video of my family’s favorite ride, ever. I think one night we rode it five or six times in one night! (Johnny Depp makes a few appearances in this video since they have rennovated the ride since the release of the movie, in case you needed incentive to watch the video.)
Guest Post Mania
10 Aug 2009 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: blog friends are the best, bridesmaids, guest blogging, wedding
While Tabitha is on her honeymoon, I blogged about Bridesmaid Do’s & Don’ts. I promise, it’s worth the read.
And while Miss Lys is busy adjusting to her new life in Wisconsin, I shared some of my own thoughts on what home is to me.
A Blogger’s Birthday
22 Jul 2009 8 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: 20 SB Blog swap, birthdays, blogger birthdays
It’s 20SB Blog Swap day! Be sure to check out my blog (er, uh, meme) that I wrote for her.
Here’s a note from Sarah, my Blog Swap Partner, on her thoughts behind this post.
While I would be celebrating my birthday tomorrow, I thought of writing something related to it. Being a blogger, I wondered if how s/he spends his/her b-day and this is what I came up with. Since I enjoy writing poetry, I tried to jot down a piece with a poetic touch. I hope it would entertain your blog readers and followers alike.
Donned with a crown of thoughts and random muses
She braces herself for the special day
And slowly sips coffee with a kiss of chocolate
As she traces her way into the blogging alley
A blogger’s birthday in a bloggerville may not be so real and live
But the pretty play of words as birthday greetings lets her soul have some jive
She pens down a birthday post as a blogging treat and sends a few networking invites
Then heads off to twitter to flip through the tweets and retweets too, at her delight
She, then unveils the soulful images on Flickr of the cherished moments and mos
And finally concludes her blogger’s bash on Facebook by thanking her friends, and dear fellows
While there are no candles to glow and no balloons to blow in the ever-evolving bloggerville
There’s always a lot to give and a lot to share on a blogger’s birthday truly depending on one’s will.
Where’s Nora?
29 Jun 2009 9 Comments
I’m a tad busy this week with moving, midterms and research papers, dealing with crazy government clients, trying to get my jumpy co-workers to settle down and did I mention moving? Rather than let my blog go dark this week I’ve been fortunate to have some lovely ladies and possibly a gentleman post for me this week. Show them the love you show me as these posts are all spectacular! I’ll be back later this week assuming I’m not buried under moving boxes.
