It’s still about a month away, but November is coming. It’s the time of year when we will start to worry about our Christmas shopping and contemplate how to avoid annoying family members at the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. But, a few thousand people (like, about 100,000), will be burning the [...]
photo credit: Whatsername?
I’ve been listening to Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones in the car recently, and I’m in love.
She often mentions the phrase “writing practice” when talking [...]
I’m happy to announce that today I launched a new website for my freelance copywriting business! Check it out and let me know what you think!
Like what you read? Bookmark it or share it with others.We are halfway through 2009, what a great time to assess how we are doing with goals set for the year, or set new ones for the next six months.
For my personal life I didn’t set measurable goals, more thought of changes to make.
Things I’m proud of so far include:
Organizing [...]Today the Roanoke Times published an article about the Jarrett Lane Memorial Fund, and the upcoming golf tournament that will support the fund. It’s a great article that touches on how we want to use the memorial fund to better the lives of youth in Giles County.
Golf event to [...]
I saw a friend post this on Facebook and thought it sounded like fun.
Fifteen books you’ve read that will always stick with you. First 15 you can recall in no more than 15 minutes.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand The Awakening by Kate [...]I traded big city buildings for big rolling mountains last week and went to visit my family in Narrows. Sometimes life gets a bit confusing and a girl just needs to go home and be with the people that have known her the longest.
It was a good trip full of [...]
Yesterday I heard the end of All Things Considered, just in time to catch the You Must Read This segment. Author Jeffery Eugenides shared one of his writing secrets: how to overcome fog brain. I don’t know if you struggle with fog brain, but I battle it most days. And [...]
In “Writing Down the Bones”, Natalie Goldberg tells stories and gives tips from her life as a writer. She calls her daily writing “practice” and equates it to meditation and practicing Zen. Over and over she talks about her spiral bound notebooks. Years ago she made a commitment to herself [...]
On my iTunes:
Loving “Writing Down the Bones” by Natalie Goldberg.
I splurged to buy the audio recording, and it was well worth it. Listening to Natalie tell stories is becoming what I look forward to most each day.
Book on [...]
I’ve been a slacker lately with blogging, but that’s about to change. Over the next few weeks I’ll be adding some new stuff on here about writing, my journey over the past several months and finding (err…searching for?) fulfillment in life. On my professional blog I’ll be writing [...]
Notice the lack of posting around here? Well, that is because it’s April. The most difficult time of the year for me as I “prepare” for the anniversary of when Jarrett was killed. I’ve been feeling a lot of stress and worry about the upcoming anniversary, but I’m trying to [...]
It’s time for another clothes swap, ladies!
"My Wife Needs Clothes" by House
Clean out your closets and bring all your unwanted clothes to my house on Saturday for the ultimate swapping event. Trade in that ugly sweater your aunt gave you at [...]
This year marks 10 years since I graduated high school, so that means it’s time for a reunion. Mine has been scheduled for sometime this summer, but tonight some of my former classmates are gathering to plan the celebration. I’ve decided to make the drive back home to attend the [...]
Last night I went to Refresh Richmond’s monthly meeting. This month they gathered a panel of local professional bloggers. Telling us their stories, we got an pretty good review of the start, growth and success of This Young House, Mac Rumors, and, [...]
On my iTunes:
I found my iPod and want to load it up with podcasts that will help me focus more on work.
Book on my nightstand:
I finished reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, and I loved it!
Now I’m reading The [...]
I’m going to guess that like me, many of you have a lengthy to-do list you’d like to tackle this weekend. Mine includes finishing up some projects for work, cleaning out my flower beds and conquering the mountain of laundry that I’m fairly certain has devoured at least one of [...]
Work
I’ve had a run of good luck lately with obtaining new clients and projects! Which has been good when realizing I need to make money, but not so good when I realized this means less time can be spent napping.
Circus
Yesterday I drove to Roanoke to attend the circus with Fawn, [...]
I spent some time reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society last night and came across a passage that perfectly showcases why I want to devote my energy and time to writing.
The following passage is from one of the literary society members in letter which [...]
On my iTunes:
I've heard the way to devour this book is to listen to the author's audio recording
My wonderful business coach is letting me [...]
Like many of you, I celebrated the holidays by eating too much, staying up too late, enjoying too many homemade snacks, drinking too much and taking daily naps. It was too good.
But, then I had to come back home and face reality. Sleepless nights, lazy days, inability to focus and [...]
My neighbor’s dog has gone missing. Please spread the word so that Flip can come home soon.
Here are the details:
Name: Flip
Occupation: Being super cute
Type: Dachshund aka wiener dog
Appearance: Brownish red with white patch on chest
Gender: Male
Weight: Approx 13 pound
Clothing: Red Crocodile Collar [...]
Pretty picture on cover of Skirt's January Issue
Ladies,
If you haven’t already read Skirt! Magazine, I’d like to recommend that you pick it up, or visit their website to read their collections of essays.
Also, maybe you’d like' [...]
Lately I have become a goal-setting, list-making fiend thanks to my business/life coaching. Even before I started my coaching, few things would get me as excited as writing lists. I have often written lists knowing full well that I will not accomplish most of the items in this lifetime. There [...]
On my iTunes or Pandora: Holly Brook
Soothe voice, good lyrics, great hair - a Pandora must!
Good book, weird title.
I got my nephew and nieces Pound Puppies for Christmas. Here they are enjoying them:
Landon
Kaydance
Kennedy
Like what you read? Bookmark it or share it with others. [...]My nephew is on his way to becoming a rock legend
Giving his internet debut, I present Landon:
Please watch the whole video because the best part is towards the end. (Sorry for the low quality, but as any true fan would do with their favorite rock star, my sis took this [...]
On my iTunes: Music to keep me sane while making holiday gifts
Book on my nightstand: No book, just knitting needles
Drink in my cup: Not strong enough to keep me going while crafting
Latest add to my Google Reader: No time to read. Must craft.
Biggest Adventure: Going to Michaels to buy more [...]
I recently started a business/life coaching program. Each week I meet with my coach and in between sessions I have homework assignments. One of my homework assignments for last week involved writing a list of 50 words that describe Jarrett, plus writing a list of 50 words that Jarrett may [...]
A friend sent me this video, and I thought that I should share it hear as a helpful warning to all boyfriends/husbands.
(Ladies, prepare to laugh…..and maybe get a little angry as you remember previous gifts you’ve received from your special guy.)
Like what you read? Bookmark it or share it with [...]On my iTunes: Nada. But wanting to catch up on A Prairie Home Companion.
Book on my nightstand: Bright Lights, Big Ass by Jen Lancaster. I don’t normally read chick lit, but this book is hilarious, and full of bitchiness - I LOVE IT!
Drink in my cup: I need to be [...]
As most of you know, I lost my job a couple months ago in a round of cutbacks. I still remember the pain and confusion I felt as I sped out of the company parking lot for the last time, with my former boss’s luxury sports car in my rear [...]
Ladies,
It’s time for another book club gathering! This time we will be discussing the second section of Eat, Pray, Love - so, that would be the “Pray” part. Even if you didn’t make it to our last meeting, feel free to join us for this one.
Eay [...]
I’ve been struggling with my grief over Jarrett, and decided it is time to get some help. I know that my life will not be the way it was before he died, but I need to learn how to live a healthy, happy life without him, and I need to [...]
Dear Friends,
I’m sorry that I have ignored your phone calls, Facebook messages and smoke signals this week. It’s not that I don’t like you, because I do, I love each of you madly. But, it’s just been one of those weeks. You know, the kind of week that beats up [...]
On my iTunes: Searching for podcasts about copywriting, marketing and starting your own business.
Book on my nightstand: Gave up on Atlas Shrugged and instead I have picked up A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf.
Drink in my cup: Champagne. Loving it with grilled cheese!
Latest add to my Google [...]
Finally, Halloween has come and gone. Finally, the nightmares about unfinished sheep can stop. Finally, I will be able to have conversations without bursting out into uncontrolable “baaing”.
As a thank you for listening to all my complaints about this horrible fabric that made my house look like a crime scene [...]
Napping with cats
In between job searches and developing plans for world domination, I take plenty of “cat naps”.
Like what you read? Bookmark it or share it with others.
[...] On my iTunes: iTunes is on vacation while I spend time drooling over Kirby while watching Lipstick Jungle.
Book on my nightstand: Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand….and it will probably be there for a long time.
Drink in my cup: Tonight I had sparkling wine!!
Latest add to my Google Reader: The one and [...]
Months ago a friend gave me a book of daily readings called Simple Abundance. I don’t open it every morning, but on the mornings that I do I have found I have “better days”. The readings often inspire and empower me to live a more authentic life.
A reading earlier [...]
I know all of you are dying to know how I spent my first day of unemployment. After spending a weekend sulking, I decided to be productive today. But, first I needed to watch the latest episode of Lipstick Jungle. Then, I updated my resume, website and my Aquent profile. [...]
I think this past week will be included in my list of Life’s Top 10 Shittiest Weeks.
On Tuesday my family & I had to attend our Hardship hearing. Just take a moment to think about that….HARDSHIP hearing…..and it certainly lived up to its name of being hard. I was a [...]
On my iTunes: Nothing. I don’t have time for iTunes….Gossip Girl has a new episode I need to watch!
Book on my nightstand: A book about blogging that I borrowed from a friend.
Drink in my cup: Fall is here – chai tea is in my cup
Latest add to my Google Reader: [...]
Notice the lack of blogging here lately? Yes, I’m still alive, just been really busy.
I spent this past weekend in Ocracoke with some lovely ladies from work. We went down to celebrate the marriage of one of our other co-workers. I will confess, I was nervous about traveling with 4 [...]
Yesterday was Landon’s first day at pre-school. I can’t believe how quickly he is growing up. Not only does he look like such a big boy, but he road the bus by himself!
Here he is with his Thomas the Train backpack and his “I was born awesome” t-shirt, ready to [...]
Hi Ladies,
I have been wanting to start a girls only book club for a couple of years, and it is finally happening (thanks to to some strong encouragement from my neighbor). Our first book has been a popular read over the past year - Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love.
We [...]
Hey fellow neighbors in Church Hill, I’ve got a few questions.
1 - Do any of you know someone up here on the hill that can teach me how to reupholster furnture?
2 - Do you guys know where I can take my large area rugs to be cleaned?
3 - If any [...]
Ladies - This is a reminder that this Saturday form 1-4 I will be hosting a clothing swap at my house. Feel free to bring yourself, some friends and some clothes/shoes/accessories/purses you don’t want any more and we can trade.
Hope to see you there!
On my iTunes: Hours and hours of podcasts on topics ranging from creativity, business, money management, marketing and culture
Book on my nightstand: Eat, Pray, Love (book club on 8/30)
Drink in my cup: Water, water everywhere
Latest add to my Google Reader: iCiNG - Crowing your beautiful life
Biggest Adventure: Going to [...]
Yesterday I was reminded of a scene in movie I recently watched. In the scene a woman compared a previous relationship to a small, windowless room. Each day the walls close in on her a bit more, and the room gets smaller. It continues to shrink until it is like [...]
I have a few friends who are new fans of Anne Lamott….and I have a few that have loved her for years. I found this video of an interview she did last year at the 2007 Writer’s Symposium by the Sea.
Do you have some clothes you need to get rid of? But also have the urge to add some new pieces to your closet?
Instead of throwing out our clothes and buying new ones, let’s trade!
Bring out those clothes, shoes, jewelry and handbags that just sit [...]
Playing on my iTunes: John Mayer’s newest live album that my boss kindly shared with me
Book on my nightstand: A couple of books about eating raw and a book about pilates
Drink in my cup: Mimosa.
Latest add to my Google Reader: Anne & Nate’s traveling adventures
Biggest Adventure: Going to the [...]
Today while wasting time on the internet I found my next big craft challenge. I want to knit this beautiful wrap:
I can not stop thinking about this wrap. I must have pulled up the picture a dozen times this afternoon to look and drool over it.
I [...]
I’m loving the relaxed summer life that makes people focus a little less on work, and little more on what is really important to them. I’ve recently had some great weekends spent with friends. Lots of fun and laughter. Why don’t we live like this all year round?!
This weekend is [...]
“A life of geekery and glitter, a life of bliss is finally mine.”
This is a quote from a blog I just discovered. BlissChick amazes me with her gentle inspiring words that capture the spirit of creativity. When you’ve got a few moments check her out - for it’s definitely [...]
After dinner at last week’s potluck, a few of us gathered in the great room on the cozy red couch and chair to sit under the breeze of the fan and chat. Our conversation eventually revolved around Anne Lamott. Some of us just recently discovered Anne Lamott, while others [...]
I don’t have any big travel plans for this summer. I made a trip to Baltimore, will head to Narrows for a weekend or two and if I’m lucky I’ll get to go to the beach for a day. But, while I’m spending most of my summer in my inflatable [...]
Along with some friends, I took Friday off of work and we all headed up to Baltimore for a fun-filled weekend. We ate good food, drank, went to a concert, shopped, played in a pool, drank some more and spent more time playing in the pool. We treated each other [...]
For several months we have been hosting a weekly potluck dinner on Thursdays. Each week we pick a theme and friends come over to sometimes cook, and then devour food and drink. We share recipes with each other, introduce each other to new foods and friends, we drink, we laugh, [...]
One of the cutest, and sweetest couples I know had their first child yesterday. I got to meet Lucy tonight. She slept most of the time I held her, but woke up just in time for a few family pictures.
As you can tell from the picture, [...]
A few weeks ago I went to Narrows to watch history in the making….Landon started playing sports. Here are a couple shots from his first t-ball game.
Of course his sisters were there to support him….and look stylish.
I can’t believe it’s been 14 months since I’ve seen him or heard his voice. Even harder to believe is that I still have years left without him.
Today I pulled out an old journal that I’ve only halfway filled. After spending some time adding a new memory to the pages, I flipped through the older entries and briefly relived excitement and worries of the past. Amidst the random entries and writing exercises I found a quote scribbled [...]
It seems that each season of depression and loneliness changes me a little more and takes me a little further from the person I use to be. This last bout of sadness zapped my motivation and inspiration. Its scary to see myself lose interest in the things that I usually [...]
I’m wondering how many poetry fans are out there. Especially, how many of you would be interested in a Wine & Poetry Night? Are we comfortable enough with each other to read our favorite poems with each other…..or, if not, are we comfortable enough to get together and drink all [...]
1. Do morning pages each day.
2. Drink 100 oz. of water each day.
3. Walk/Bike for 30 minutes each day.
4. Water my newly improved garden every day.
After another day spent digging grass, leveling ground and move about a ton of rocks - we now have a walkway. The big brown spot you see beside the patio is where the pool will go.
[...]Transforming our backyard into enjoyable, livable space is becoming a reality. Here’s a pic (taken with my mobile) of the completed patio & fire pit bowl. Tomorrow 2 flower beds will be added and a walkway. Then on Monday I will finally tackle the vegetable bed.
I’m expecting a good deal of back pain to set in on Sunday or Monday. That is because I am going to spend most of tomorrow moving 2 tons of rocks to make a patio and a walkway through our backyard. When it’s finished and I’m laid up b/c of [...]
Here is an example of why I have the most amazing friends…
Last night a few friends gathered for a bbq. After we ate, we sat in the hot tub for a bit. Yeah, I had to put on a bathing suit - only to discover that the year of storing [...]
I spent a little over 8 hours doing yard work on Saturday. Right now everything on my backside from the top of my shoulders to the heels of my feet hurt. And my reward? Three leveled, mulched flower beds. Only one more bed left to take care of - the [...]
I didn’t go to bed on Friday night. Instead I made jewelry while catching up on some of my favorite TV shows. On Saturday morning I headed over to the Fan and set up a booth at the Strawberry St. Festival to sell my jewelry, for the first time ever [...]
Tomorrow I will be setting up a booth at the Strawberry St. Festival with my friend Aimee. I’m getting very nervous about selling my jewelry. I go back and forth between fearing that I won’t sell anything at all and extreme excitement that a total stranger might take [...]
Jealous of my VP’s extensive vocabulary, a co-worker & I signed up to receive “Word of the Day” emails. One of my words over the weekend was sub rosa which is a new phrase to me, but truly captures my circle of friends. Meaning secretly or privately, sub rosa comes [...]
I’m so excited about today that I woke up at 7:30. I never get up that early on the weekend. Dan is going on a fishing trip today with a couple of guy friends, so I get full run of the house! Right now I have covered our dining room [...]
I’m in a funk and want to run away. If I could go anywhere in the world right this moment I would go to this beach in Italy and sip wine:
Where would you go?
[...]Finally, someone has spoken the truth:
10. A man’s place is in the army.
9. The pastoral duties of men who have children might distract them from the responsibility of being a parent.
8. The physique of men indicates that they are more suited to such tasks as chopping down trees and [...]
My sister took her cute babies to have their birthday pictures made. Landon turns 3 mid-May, and the twins turn 2 at the end of May. By some miracle we made it through the entire photo shoot without any tears. I had thought for sure one of the babies, the [...]
What do you do when nothing in your life seems to fit you? That’s how I’ve felt most of today. It’s like every piece of my life - relationships, job, hobbies, dreams - feel like jeans that are a size too small. Tight, uncomfortable and causing me to feel horrible [...]
Over the past year I’ve attended a few too many ceremonies and memorials, most of which I have thought were a waste of time and didn’t come close to capturing Jarrett’s spirit and life. But, this week I had the privilege of attending a ceremony that I enjoyed. It was [...]
For those of you in the Narrows area, there will be 2 memorials in honor of Jarrett:
Wednesday 4/16, 7pm: Prayer Vigil at First Baptist Church, Narrows (609 Wolf St.)
Thursday 4/17, 11am: Bridge Dedication, Rt. 724 off of Rt. 61 (Wolf Creek Rd - about 2 miles past Narrows Town Park)
Join [...]
Thursday & Friday were bad days for me. It was nearly impossible for me to get through work and all I wanted to do was curl up in bed. Friday after work I finally got to have some time to try to cheer myself up. It started with a friend [...]
I feel like I haven’t had a normal heartbeat in days, nor a complete, sane thought. I can’t focus on my work (shhh…please don’t tell my boss), I’m exhausted all the time and every morning I wake up with a headache. Nothing seems to bring me the clarity and peace [...]
Dear Friends,
I have decided to build raised beds for my vegetable garden this summer. I want to build the beds using wine bottles. Please drink lots of wine and save your bottles for me. If you need help emptying the wine bottles, just call me.
Love,
Alicia
Last night was my Birthday Potluck. I can’t remember a time when I’ve heard a group of people sing Happy Birthday so loud, and having a group of friends serenade me has never meant as much as it did last night.
I don’t know where to start [...]
Earlier this week I was wasting time by playing on the internet and came across Hope Revolution, a project that was started in NYC to spread encouraging thoughts. Essentially, people are creating notes with positive, hopeful words or phrases on them and then hiding the notes for others to [...]
I came upon this post on Maternal Spark today and thought her words on the creative life were so right on, that as a friend, I had to share them with you (in my own words).
1. Write it down!
This is also a lesson I have learned from my [...]
Friday is Jarrett’s birthday. Being the first one we will celebrate without him, my family & I are headed to the beach for the weekend because Jarrett loved going to the beach. Here is a note my mom put in her community paper, inviting her neighbors to celebrate Jarrett’s birthday:
Jarrett [...]
The Roanoke Times published a story today about my mom and her faith. Along with the article there is an audio slide show.
So, you know how we all have those things that we want to do….learn a skill, travel the world, start a garden, take an art class….but we never have time to do them?! Well, one of mine is to craft and sell my crafts to make money to buy more [...]
Dan & I went up to Maryland this weekend for Mike & Sarah’s wedding shower. After the shower, I drove us back home to Richmond, and most of our drive was after the sun had set. Although I was only able to see a few yards of highway lit [...]
