Dare to Dream

Here I am. It's Thursday. And I'm by myself. I do have two roommates (Emma and Michelle, see below. Oh how I love them so) and they are not here. So it with my best intentions that I turn to writing...and maybe some wine... and my two favorite guilty pleasures (cue horny vampires and lustful doctors).

On my way home today, I had the bittersweet pleasure of walking home in snow flurries. Yes, it is the second day of spring, and I am sick of the thought of snow. But the way the flakes were softly falling, coating the cold pavement that is still trying to thaw from the last 10 inches we got just days ago makes the world seem perfectly at peace. And my mind couldn't help but wander. Dreaming. What young adult girls do best.

I love New England. I love the seasons (or lack there of in the recent years) and the foliage. I love the sense of community in Boston. But this is not where my dreams were taking place. They were in an unknown city. A place I have never seen before. I saw myself living there. In my own apartment, a cute studio with a small fire escape that I could climb onto and watch the people in the streets below. Maybe this will happen in Boston. Maybe it will be in San Diego or Atlanta. Or possibly even Chicago. But, it was somewhere. And I strive and long to be on my own.

As exciting as this dream is, this is a scary thought. I have lived with people, friends and family, my entire life. But if my day dreams involve me, on my own, for at least a couple of years, months, days it means that it is ultimately something I want... Something I need to grow and become the best person, friend, sister, daughter, girlfriend, niece, future wife, Christian, that I can be.


It is at this moment that a quote from one of the greatest modern musicians (not just because he was a fellow clarinetist) popped into my head:

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."

~Lester Raymond "Les" Brown, Sr.

In honor of Mr. Brown's words, here are some of my inspirations... I'm drooling just looking at them... dreaming of the day they will be mine (cue Crosby Stills Nash and Young...)

 

Couldn't help but include this awesome picture from Kate Spade NY's tumblr page. Oh to be that care free woman on that fire escape, just dreaming

It's Been a While...

Here it is. Almost spring. How ironic is it that the last time I wrote was when Nemo dumped three feet of snow on New England... No matter. I am here ready to share my thoughts once more. 

Do you ever feel like the majority of your time is spent waiting? Waiting for the bus. Waiting in line at the grocery store. Waiting for a special package or letter in the mail. Waiting for a cherished moment with a special someone. Waiting for Earth's signs that spring really is going to perk up once more... Just waiting. 

I have been feeling like this recently. Not so much in my career path or even my social life. More so in my personal life, as in my relationship with me. I feel like I am waiting for a better me. A smarter, more caring, more relaxed person. Within twenty-four hours this past weekend, I was told that I am too organized. I like planning outings, but that I can be too thorough and too up tight if something goes awry. I like to do fun things, but I can't appreciate the little things in life. And this made me think.

I do appreciate the little things...at least in nature. I love the sounds of birds chirping or the wind blowing through my hair. I love riding horses through the natural beauty that surrounds us on a normal basis. I love the  warmth of precious rays of sun during the cold, frigid days of winter. But what about the sound of a friend's laugh, the hug of a family member, or even the quickest look from a loved one that says everything you need to hear without without him having to actually open his mouth. 

When it comes to other people, live human beings, I fall short. We all do. Instead of meeting up with someone over lunch, we Facebook message them or send them a #ShoutOut on Twitter. When we want to catch up with a long lost friend, we will send an email instead of picking up the phone and letting them hear our voice. We're impersonal. 

Now I may not be able to change the world and the culture that we live in. I am just one person. But I can control my actions. And that is what I vow to do, appreciate human contact while also valuing the beautiful world we live in. Maybe this will make all this waiting, anticipating, disappear. 

(www.wonderfullymadebelliesandbabies.blogspot.com)

New England Found Nemo...

View from my window

...or better yet, Nemo found us. This weekend's past storm was one for the history books. Nemo was the fifth largest snow fall in Boston history. Friday afternoon through Saturday night, the threat of Nemo cancelled flights, caused parking and driving bans throughout the state of Massachusetts, and even shut down the public transportation services in and around Boston.


I have lived through many snowfalls, blizzards and record-breaking snowstorms. Yet, amazement ensued when I looked out my window onto my street that Saturday morning. I could not believe the snow piles on top of cars and roofs, the snow-covered streets and sidewalks. It was the most peaceful I had ever seen a city... Everything looked new and white. Crisp and clean, and very cold.


As soon as we were able to work up enough courage to bundle up and muster outside, my roommate Michelle and I slowly realized that the city was not snowed in; it was very much alive. People were not driving down the streets in their cars. Oh no. They were skiing and walking down them. Families and friends were sledding down snowbanks and piles, while throwing snowballs at each other. I felt like everyone was just happy to have each other. I saw so many happy faces, young and old. And it made this new found city-girl realize something...

Union Square- Somerville, MA

No matter where you are, family and friends are the most important thing in life. Like the little fish with the gimpy fin in the Disney classic Finding Nemo (I couldn't help this reference...), there may be things that make us different or traumatic events in our lives. But we must all keep our heads up and focus on the positive. We must appreciate the people we have in our lives even though they may be annoying or pests. We are all loved by someone. Focus on those people and the little things that happen in that relationship. And I'm sure at the end of it all, you will be happy too!




So thanks Nemo, for refreshing these thoughts in my mind. Thank you for renewing my hope in humanity. And most of all, thank you for the awesome images of a little clown fish swimming above New England. Hopefully, I can keep these positive feelings for a very long, long time.

Bon A Petiet

Many people love Fridays. Who wouldn't? It's finally the weekend. We look forward to two full days of freedom. No nose-to-the-grind mentality. No reporting to the clock. No worries. And I am one of these people. But do not mistaken my love for adoration. I adore Sundays. Cherish them. This one day is what you may call the "holy grail" of my week.

I don't really know why I like this day so much. It could be because this was the day that my family set aside to be together. Or maybe it was because I always woke up early on this day to go to church. Or it could be because my favorite sport is played on this day during the year (football of course!). No matter the reason my earliest memories of Sundays all involve food. Yup, that delicious home-cooked meal that my Mom or Nana would make. Oh the stews, roasted turkey, meatballs, and casseroles. The burgers, potatoes,  pork roasts, and chicken cacciatore. How I love that food...

Since moving out of my house, I have missed those meals and thus came to a conclusion. I have decided to dedicate this day to cooking. Food-prep for the week. Baking. Roasting. Sauteing. I just want to make that Sunday dinner I so looked forward to while living at home. Recently, I have shared the few meals I have made on Sunday with my roommates and loving boyfriend. I love cooking for others and my love of "food Sundays."

I find these meals delectable. Recently, I have made rosemary chicken with asparagus and sauteed potatoes and some veggie pasta dish. But today I'm trying something new. Starting today, I want to make some of those home-cooked meals like the ones my Mom makes (yes, she still cooks Sunday dinner for everyone who is home). This week it will be Beef Stroganoff with Mustard Brussels Sprouts. I am looking forward to this new Sunday activity. It's a great end to my favorite day...

I am thinking I will post pictures of my creations for you all to see and feel free to leave suggestions. Until then, I will use the French phrase made popular by the queen of television cooking herself, Julia Child. "Bon A Petiet" and enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Quick and Easy Beef Stroganoff from Cooking Light
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/quick-beef-stroganoff-50400000125714

"What We Call the Beginning...

...is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from."

-T.S. Eliot

Here is a fun fact about me. I don't like saying goodbyes. In any way, shape, or form. I try my best to avoid them... And today is my last full day at my first job. And I am dreading saying goodbye. I will miss the friendships I created here, the working environment. The great experiences I have cultivated first hand, the mistakes I have made. But I felt the need to move on, which resulted in my taking of a new job at a much bigger business. While only about a mile from my current office, I am still moving. Different roles and responsibilities, different location in my beloved Boston, different industry... I am leaving the non-profit industry, at least for now (I do still dream of coming back to this industry. Helping people is one of my passions!). But I have to learn and grow. I need to learn more about marketing and PR. I feel the need to grow, but I hate saying goodbye...

So I turn to my man, T.S.Eliot. There are such words of wisdom in his pieces...Above he states that in order to have a new beginning, many times it leads to an end, or a goodbye. But goodbyes do not have to be goodbyes; they can be welcomes, or hellos, or even a see you later. So embrace the endings in your life. See the light through the clouds (see the picture below...sometimes I amaze myself with my past experiences and how essential they are). Know that many things are only possible from taking chances and leaving your comfort zone.

So thank you to my Komen MA family. I have loved working with you and look forward to our paths crossing again in the future. And hello to my next adventure. It will be different, but oh-so exciting. I am counting on that!

Sitka, Alaska

New Year, New You

As we all have probably figured out, the world did not end. We have seen the winter equinox, made it to Christmas Eve Midnight Mass, and Christmas brunch with the family. So the only natural progression of the year is the celebratory night for the end of one 12 month period. It's a time to get dressed up, drink some champagne, and kiss that special someone at midnight. Or, if you were like me for most of my life, it is a time to order Chinese food, plant yourself in front of the television with your family, and watch Dick Clark count down the last seconds of the year [side note- this year will be SO different...Let's all hope and pray Ryan Seacrest doesn't mess up Dick's legacy...]. 

But it is also time for those stereotypical resolutions. I have tried to do them in the past. But by March or early April I have succumb to my older ways. Lose those five pounds, how about gain an extra seven... I will NOT eat after 7pm, how about 10pm... Or even, I will read more critically acclaimed novels, nope pack on the three 50 Shades of Grey books...

Have there been glimpses of success? Absolutely! But as unfortunate as this sounds, it usually involves monetary objects. Save up some money for that new iPod or those pair of designer jeans, or even for that mini vacation I am planning for mid-June. Very rarely do I make it to next December saying, "Yes! I cared about others more than myself," or "I changed that one part of me that seems to belittle others," or even "I did volunteer my time for the betterment of mankind..." 

Ok, yes, I am a new grad with less than a year's professional work experience under my belt... But that shouldn't be an excuse...Should it? This year is going to be a year for new beginnings... New job, my first year away from home in my new apartment, and a new outlook on life. (I swear being independent does that to you...). So yes, I will try to weaken my sweet and salty tooth. I will try to continue to work out 3-4 times a week. And I will try to save money by cooking more. But I will also take time for self-improvement. One hour a day (I can wake up an hour earlier right?) dedicated to myself, self-reflection and personal growth. I will try and use tools like self-help books (some of these are really informative... Not just a huge cliche) and the bible. I will take time for me to really figure out who I am and how I can better attain my personal goals. 

So that was my resolution word dump... I hope yours are a little more organized... ;-) Here's to 2013!!

(From the coolest tumblr I've seen... Aesthetic Approach...)
I love the metaphor of snow, a clean slate!

Looking Up

Looking up in New Hampshire after Hurricane Sandy, 2012

 

 

What a phrase... It's been used as a title for Michael J. Fox's book, "Things are Looking Up," described the behavior of the most powerful "super man" in the comic book world, and even featured in song lyrics like Selena's "Dreaming." But let's break it down for a second... The word "looking" implies the use of eyes to view something or someone. It requires one of our five senses, the sense of sight. Second, the word "up" gives the notion of something taller, bigger, or above a designated subject. Together this phrase can have multiple meanings.

It can have a literal meaning. "Joe was looking up into the eyes of a giant bear." Physically, Joe's head was tilted back to look up into the eyes of the bear which stood taller than he. Many of us look up to see things, whether it is to see a bird flying in the sky, a street sign, or, in my case, a friend that is taller than 5'5". We all have eyes that are positioned in the middle of our head; we have to look up to see anything above our heads. And if we never looked up, odds are we would never see the magnificent height of trees in a forest, the looming buildings of a cityscape, or the beauty of a flying bird.

"Looking up" can also have metaphorical meanings. Many times it is used to describe the behavior of someone who has recently experienced a traumatic or upsetting event. This could be a death in the family, the loss of a job, or even a bad grade in school. The most common response to one of these events, "Keep looking up," or "Keep your chin up. It will all get better." In this situation, "looking up" refers to keeping positive. Move forward, as hard as it may be. Stay confident, things can and will get better. In this type of situation, a negative situation produces positive support. The phrase used in this way needs a negative event to happen first. "Looking up," then, can have some negative connotations attached to it.

However, it can also have positive connotations when used with metaphorical meaning. Life may not necessarily be on the downward turn for you to start "looking up." Growth, change, opportunity. Dreaming of bigger and better things. "Looking up" can mean wanting more...

This is why I am currently "looking up." I have a great life; I have a job with great coworkers, a wonderful family, gracious friends, a caring and supportive boyfriend who loves me, and I'm living in a city which has been a dream of mine since the age of 5. Yet, I am looking up. I feel like I'm in a rut. I feel like I'm ready for a change. I'm ready for a challenge. I may not know what it is just yet, but I'm dreaming and hoping that it's one I can grow from.

So here's to looking up, growing, and knowing your full potential. Have faith that things will get better, that you will grow in the areas of your life that you feel are lacking. And never be afriad to look up and see thosee birds flying above your head...