Thankfulness

Thanksgiving has come and gone, but the memories will remain with me for a very long time.

2009 marked a bit of a milestone. Hubby and I hosted our very first Thanksgiving lunch/dinner in our home. Since marrying in 2007, we've always traveled to Jefferson City for traditional Turkey Day lunch with my side of the family, and then returned for traditional dinner with his side of the family at HK's in The Lodge of Four Seasons.

This year, both my mom & sister, who had hosted in years past, were...quite frankly...deserving of a reprieve! After all, what kind of caterer would I be if I couldn't even come up with a simple Turkey Day dinner for my family?!

I have to tell you that I was VERY excited to have everyone, and Hubby seemed to share my enthusiasm. So, we came up with an e-vite to send out to our collective families so that they knew how much we wanted them to be there. We planned a casual feast with turkey, ham and all the traditional fixings...to make it easier...we ordered our bird from HoneyBaked Ham! What a LIFESAVER!

For two days leading up to Thanksgiving day, my 9-year-old niece stayed with us and helped me prepare the house and the food. She and my beagle, Puddin', really filled my home with laughter and love, and I'll cherish those moments. Even the moments when Wizards of Waverly Place was blasting on the television while Valerie and Puddin' chased each other through my small kitchen and, more than once, I almost fell over both of them!!

The day before the big event, I captured Valerie and Puddin' sharing a moment by the fire...a peaceful scene worth remembering.

Although not everyone was able to make it, we did have a full house with satisfied family members watching football and having friendly conversations about everything under the sun. My kitchen overlooks the dining and living areas, so I was able to stop while cleaning and pan to observe the smiling faces and warmth surrounding me. At 43 years old, I'm finally realizing that it is really all about family and am so very grateful for the maturity that is actually beginning to stick!!

I'm thankful to be a very lucky woman, and am looking forward to a wonderful holiday season filled with my family and friends.

May God bless you and yours this year and every year!

Freedom's just another word for...

... "nothin' left to lose."

Oh, how I love me some Janis Joplin. But, I don't agree with that line from "Me & Bobby McGee" which I believe was actually penned by Kris Kristofferson, but I digress...

To me, freedom means the chance to be your authentic self without fear of judgment - or maybe, without regard for judgment. When I look at birds, I see total freedom and great beauty. It's very relaxing to watch them and I'm fortunate to have a great view in order to watch them daily.

Recently, my hubby and I made a trek to Vermont to see the Autumn leaves in all their glory. While staying in Manchester, we discovered The British School of Falconry. Like I said...I love birds and I was able to attend the 1 hour school and actually hold (on my heavily-gloved thumb) - launch & feed a falcon. It was an amazing experience that my husband was generous enough to make happen for me.

Initially, I was concerned that the falcons were kept housed in cages, and that they were used to entertain folks like me. Isn't freedom the best answer for these birds?

The falconer (Dawn) explained that, if these birds were in the wild, it would take them 7 - 8 times out of 10 to actually catch their prey and, if left wild and free, most of these birds die of starvation. There are strict Federal and State rules and regs that are religiously enforced in order to house, train and maintain birds of prey. The birds housed by "falconers" are treated well, well-fed, and quite sassy.

Upon launching "Sprint" the year-old falcon, my heart rate lowered, my muscles relaxed, and my thoughts turned to the freedom of just being in that moment. I looked at my husband and, although he is not as much of a bird enthusiast as I...he was smiling, taking pictures and seemed relaxed as well.

Such a wonderful feeling. And, not unlike marriage.

THE RIGHT WAY TO RECONNECT

At some point in our lives, most of us will experience apprehension over a reunion of some sort. Whether it's a class reunion, or seeing that person you haven't spoken to in years at the deli counter of your local grocery store. You revisit incidents and accidents and, hopefully, your own accountability in the deterioration of whatever relationship you had with that person at one time.

I've experienced my share of apprehension, along with regular chats with the gods of accountability and forgiveness. Most recently, I was a bit panicked over a weekend gathering of ladies from my high school graduating class; not all of whom I was close with during my less-than-stellar high school years. However, the reason for my lack of relationship with most of these wonderful women was due, in large part, to the fact that during high school, I was one of the most immature young women you could ever meet. Totally inward, insecure and looking for my place in this world. In short, I let my mind and not my heart, take over!

But, I am a different person now...and high school has been in my rearview mirror since before graduating in 1985!!

On Friday prior to everyone's arrival, my good friend, Rhonda, generously agreed to spend the morning running errands with me so that everything would be perfect for everyone elses arrival. Rhonda is a calming force in my life, and as I've found out over the weekend, in the lives of many. In short, she's the bomb!

We ran errands, then returned to my home to share sushi and Prosecco. She assured me that everything was going to go just great, and left to join the others at the pool. She helped me tremendously, and I was determined to enjoy the weekend and "fit in" by opening my mind and my heart.

Although I do stay in touch with and see some of the ladies on a regular basis, there were quite a few that I haven't seen in 20+ years. I found everyone relaxed and eager to reconnect with one another; so happy to share stories, pictures, memories and laugh until our faces hurt! Everyone had something to share, and each of us was genuinely happy to be able to take part in reconnecting even for just that brief moment in time.

We looked through pictures, "documented" that everyone had crazy 80's hairstyles and clothing, and that none of us really felt all that "cool" even if we ran with the most popular crowd at JCHS.

This may sound a bit cheesey, but during our fairwell dinner on Saturday night, I looked around at these beautiful "friends" and couldn't help but feel blessed by all the warmth and love. It was a very special moment at which I completely understood that keeping an open heart and mind is the right way to reconnect.

Regardless of what has happened in the past, today is a new day, and a new opportunity to make things right not only with others, but with yourself. By keeping things open, truly putting aside apprehensions and past regrets, we gather love to us and connect the way we were meant to as human beings - with love and mutual respect.

Here's to our 2010 reunion!

Creating Quality Time

Finding quality time to spend with family (and friends) can be difficult these days. Between daily deadlines and demands, we often find ourselves too exhausted to make the effort. Because quality time means taking the time to allow another person into our “sphere” so to speak, it requires that we literally jump off our gerbil wheel, set aside the iPod or Blackberry and redirect our energies on another person.

But, that kind of time is crucial to our relationships; it helps relieve stress and forces us to make vital prioritizations in our lives. It takes determination, but making the effort to listen, exchange ideas and take a genuine interest in others makes us happier people. In doing so, we also become more efficient and effective as business people because we’ve taken the time to refresh and refocus on what is truly important in life.

So, how do we get started? Following are a few simple tips to help you get started thinking about how you can create “inexpensive” quality time with your own family.

Get cookin’! The easiest way to get quality time with your family is mealtime. If you are always the one to make dinner while the rest of the family watches television or plays on the computer, ask them to join you in the kitchen and have specific jobs for each to complete. Turn off the television, home and cellular phones and invite the rest of your family into the kitchen to help prepare a meal. Your family will feel that this meal is special, and you’ll be surprised at how much they look forward to that particular night each week. The key is to pick a night, stick to it and just do it!


Family fun fest. All of us have a deck of cards, board games or pictures stashed in a closet or drawer, so why not spend the evening playing a game or putting together scrapbooks? Spreading out pictures and remembering stories, or playing an interactive board game on your kitchen table can be a wonderful way to bond, and generate some healthy competition. Maybe only one person can win the game, but everyone gets to participate, communicate and feel part of something important…family.

Nurture by nature. Outdoor activities like walking, hiking, biking and swimming are healthy for us by helping us lower stress and aiding in our absorption of vitamin D. Although we are often too tired to exert ourselves physically, just picking a nice evening to walk the dog with our family can bring about turning points and realizations in our lives.

Potluck pasta party. For an inexpensive way to connect with family and friends, ask them over for a potluck pasta party. Each family brings a favorite pasta dish to share, and you provide salad and soft drinks. If your table is not big enough, to hold everyone you wish to have there, you can still make it casual, comfortable and conversational. Pick a room, pile whatever pillows you have on the floor, pitch blankets down picnic style and focus on enjoyment. Don’t worry about sauce and spills…you can do the laundry later!

By taking the time to engage and listen, you will discover important things about the vital people in your life that you wouldn’t have known otherwise. The most important thing to keep in mind is this: no matter what you choose to do to improve quality time with your family and friends, communication is the key and consistency is crucial to your success.

Taking a Step Back

Recently, a friend confided in me that although she and her husband have great jobs and are doing well, they have so many dreams that have to be placed on the back burner due to the economy and financial struggle. It's soul-crushing not to be able to fulfill your lifelong ambitions because the wall in front of you gets a few more layers of brick and mortar each day. She worries about her husband b/c he hates his job, and although she actually likes her job, it's not her life's ambition. As I read her email, I felt my heart go out to her, and wished that I had the magic words to help her feel better about her personal situation.

So, how do we find peace with what we have while maintaining hope for our futures? Do we reconcile the fact that maybe our dreams just aren't going to happen or do we take a step back and say, "it's okay for now, but not forever!" Based on personal experience, I would suggest choosing the latter.

When I moved to Nashville, Tennessee, as a small town girl with bigtime dreams - I experienced many disappointing setbacks mainly due to my financial situation early on. I moved there on a whim with only a little bit of money in my pocket, a few pieces of clothing and a 1990 Geo Storm with cheap tires and a temperamental starter! But, I did have a few key "truths" that I held close to my heart: my degree, my ambition and, most importantly, my faith in myself and my talent.

As I waitressed to support myself until landing a job in my chosen field, I made an agreement with myself that I would be the best waitress I could be for as long as I was required to do so. The timeline, however, was up to me! I spent every extra dime I made putting out resumes and networking to seek out key people who might help me get to where I knew I could go.

In short, I did not expect anything to just "come to me." I made a conscious choice to "make it happen daily" in order to inch (literally!) my way towards my goals which, I'm proud to say, eventually took shape. Although my life has definitely changed from the ambitious, single 20-something to the content, happily-married 40-something, I still have goals and dreams and my faith in myself has never waivered.

Taking a step back to assess your current situation and quietly telling yourself that it is fine for now, but making a pact with yourself to move in a forward motion is the most important thing you can do right now! No matter your goal, whether it's starting a family, realizing an artistic dream like writing a book or movie script, or even creating your own business, YOU can do it!

My dreams have changed, and even though I am blessed with a beautiful, wonderful individual who shares my vision, it's up to ME to ensure that my goals (both new and existing) are attained.

Take a step back to visualize success and failure will never be an option!

Believe in the power of YOU!

Becoming Your Own Brand

Let's face facts, folks...individually, we are the only ones who can take charge of our own financial destiny. I've worked in so many fields you could say I'm a "jack (a$$) of all trades, mistress of none!" But, I'm confident that this wouldn't be the case.

While it's true that I have had several "jobs" - meaning, I've been employed by various companies since the time I was 16 years old, it doesn't mean I've actually "job-hopped." In truth, I've been building a strong, solid portfolio which spotlights a professional who has over 20 years of experience in an important aspect of commerce...BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT!

I have worked within many industries as both an employee and a contractor, including multi-media, healthcare, automotive, non-profit and technology. However, in each of these industries, I have held virtually the same type of position: sales, marketing and public relations. In the late 90's, I created a company from $50 worth of business cards; and picked up clients by listening carefully and figuring out where I could "make" myself a job. I am not bragging...I'm getting ready to tell you why I'm telling you what I'm telling you.

YOU can become your own brand; your own commodity, able to always make money and take care of yourself regardless of the economic climate. If you were to break it up into percentages, I would say it's 25% preparation, and the remaining 75% of equal parts ATTITUDE and CONFIDENCE in yourself! This is NOT, I emphasize NOT a get-rich-quick scheme or idea because you are better off not to focus on monetary outcomes in order to prosper. This is all application, and so simple that you'll probably re-read this blog, shake your head and realize that if someone of moderate intelligence (me) can stay afloat or better without having a "job" in this economy, then there must be something to it.

Quite simply, if YOU assess your strengths, accentuate the positive, and become a shameless self promoter you'll parlay your experience into the ability to be your own best commodity. With the help of close friends who know what you do, you will be able to more easily get in the door. Again, YOU should assess your own strengths and ask only those other individuals whom you respect and trust, to help you outline your abilities. You may be surprised at what they say and they may help you pinpoint the thing(s) that you actually do BEST!

Don't, under any circumstances, let defeating thoughts and negative comments stop you in your tracks, always continue to move in a forward motion. Once you figure out what you are best at, let your family and friends know that you are ready to introduce yourself to potential clients and ask for their help.

The key here is to "ask." If you do not ask, you do not get answers. The worst that anyone can say is "no." Keep in mind, if you believe in yourself, others will believe in you!

So, assess, accentuate the positive, put that energy out there and GO FOR IT! GOOD LUCK!

www.chocolate-ink.com/branding

Super Summer Snacking with Sauv Blanc & Cheese!

Okay, I have been so slammed with deadlines lately that I felt it was imperative to take a moment to look out at the Lake and reflect on my favorite subject: Cheese. I enjoy cheese, wine and food in general, but since being on Nutri System (and losing almost 20 lbs so far!!) I find that my thoughts, more often than not, go directly to wine and cheese pairings! Not getting a lot of that on N.S.! hehe

Sauvignon Blanc is one of my favorite wines, and extra sharp English cheddar is absolutely, hands down, my favorite cheese. Guess what?! The two go together beautifully! Indulge me for a moment, if you will...

Sauvignon Blanc wine is a crisp and refreshing favorite, especially during the summer months. When paired with the right cheese, it’s a fresh treat that will delight your friends and family.

Although by no means a wine expert, I do know that Sauvignon Blanc is one of the world's most popular white grape varieties. The S.B. grape has been under cultivation for over a thousand years, yet like its cousin Cabernet Sauvignon, it was more likely originally a “wild” grape or “sauvage” as they say in France which is where it is believed the grape’s origin lies; specifically in the Bordeaux region.

While Sauvignon Blanc is typically on the more aromatic side, its flavor profile can vary greatly depending upon a number of factors such as sunlight, heat exposure, oak treatment, and of course, soil conditions. As a result, it can be difficult to know what to expect from Sauvignon Blanc, but knowing where your Sauvignon Blanc hails from can help you maintain a little more constancy of flavor. Although today you’d be hard-pressed to find a wine region that doesn’t produce Sauvignon Blanc, for the purposes of this article, I’ll focus on an area that I have found to consistently produce delicious, high-quality Sauvignon Blanc which pairs beautiful with some of the more widely recognized (and affordable) cheeses.

In the 1980’s, New Zealand emerged as a leader in Sauvignon Blanc production with their bold, citrus flavors. Today, New Zealand S.B. is still a delicious, surprisingly economical and easy to find in your local wine shop. New Zealand S.B., specifically from the Marlborough region, is particularly intense, crisp and perfect for the upcoming hot summer months. My personal, inexpensive favorite is Matua Valley, but when I want to splurge, I go for Kim Crawford. Even then, you can count on spending less than $20 per bottle!

Although the Sauvignon Blanc grape is most pairing-friendly with a broad range of goat and sheep’s milk cheese, there are a surprising few cow’s milk cheeses that work with it particularly well. But, if you’re like me and have a penchant for hot apple pie smothered with a melted slice of cheddar cheese, then pairing New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with sharp English or Wisconsin cheddar is for you. I tend to think of this pairing primarily when I want an easy-to-pack snack for a romantic picnic or day on the Lake.

For more elegant, visually appealing pairings, I like softer, milder cheeses such as French Neufchatel or an American Teleme. Neufchatel (pronounced Nuhf-shah-tull) can often be found
blended with cream cheese or in a blend called Alouette. But, it is important to steer clear of the
flavored blends of Neufchatel such as garlic and herb, or tomato basil which will overpower and diminish the flavor of S.B. Think mild, slightly salty and mushroomy!

A perfect cow’s milk cheese for eating with a cold, crisp New Zealand S.B., Teleme is similar in texture to domestic Brie. It has a pronounced tangy flavor, and is about 50 percent milk fat, which is substantially higher than the cheeses previously suggested. Teleme becomes runnier and stronger in flavor as it ages so you may enjoy heating this one up and breaking out the spoons to get every gooey drop of this one.

I intend to make summertime snacking a way of life all year when I'm finally off this plan! That day is just around the corner!!