More Magazine!

Hello People! I know I have missed a few days but that could not be prevented - had to finish a paper for my MFA program. Now onto my post for today - June 27, 2010.

I received my issue of More magazine last week and had to laugh out-loud - again. I laughed because when I first saw More on the stands a few years ago I immediately thought it was a magazine for full-figured women like moi!So I purchased it thinking I knew what was between the pages. I was leafing through the magazine and remember saying to myself where are the plus sized women? What kind of plus size magazine is this? So I went back to the beginning and started again - then realized it was for women over 40! Not a problem there since I was indeed over 40 so I relaxed and started reading the magazine for what it was - and lo and behold I enjoyed it.

I picked it up from the stand on and off until last year or two years ago when I got myself a subscription. More's tagline: For Women of Style & Substance - alright now! And for advertising purposes, it is described as: More is the leading voice of today’s sophisticated, affluent and accomplished woman, who is enjoying the richest years of her life, sharing news and advice on beauty, fashion, health, career, travel, money and relationships from her distinct perspective. I am a More Woman and I'm sure you are too so check it out, even if you aren't over 40. http://www.more.com/

I also love the fact that I thought it was one thing and it turned out to be something else. A something else that still fit me. I like to think my More magazine incident was a lovely mistake.

I hope this has been tasty and informative like Cupcakes & Travel Magazines.....

Share the Love!

Hello Everyone! For those who don't know I live with family, just like the Ewings from Dallas the 80s television show. However, there are no evil machinations going on in this house. Nothing but love. Now don't get me wrong we do get on each other's reserve nerve sometimes but the underlying emotion is L-O-V-E!

Tonight my mother, Barbara aka Babs made some chicken soup for my younger sister, Daryl, to help her get over a cold. Now my mother can burn some pots and she LOVES getting compliments about her cooking. She always asks if we had some of whatever she has cooked and then she waits for your reply. In those moments between her asking the question and the reply, it is so obvious that she needs to hear how good the meal was.

Tonight I realized how brave it is of her to show her need for a compliment. Most of the time we try to act as if we don't need anything from anyone. When in fact the truth is plain as the nose on our face: we all need a positive word, compliment and sometimes, pure adoration from those we love.

When presented with the opportunity to bestow a compliment, kind word, or plain old adulation on someone you LOVE, go on and just do it. Tell them what they mean to you and how much you love what they did for you! Why not? You will both feel blessed and loved. So go on and reward your loved one with the truth. Reward their courage and bravery.

I hope this has been tasty and informative like Cupcakes & Travel Magazines.

Follow Those Dreams People!

What did I say on June 20th? I said that I would blog everyday, even if said blog was only 2lines - well I didn't even do that - but don't be disappointed in me because I will keep this promise to myself. Let's all keep the promises we make to ourselves. I mean if we can make and take the time to do for others we must, must, must make and take the time to do for ourselves!

I am working towards my dream of being a published writer by pursuing my MFA in Creative Writing at Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT. The program is low residency, which means you attend 2 10-day residencies in December and July and in between you work with a writing mentor. I'm am so loving this program. When I have completed the FU MFA I will have a novel in my hands. All you writers and/or aspiring writers check out the site: http://www.fairfield.edu/cas/mfa_index.html. While I am glad to be part of the FU MFA low residency program there are other programs across the country that may interest you: http://lowresmfa.blogspot.com/.

Whatever you want to do - like Nike says, JUST DO IT! And yes I am going to share all the cliches and truisms that we have heard before and now will hear again: Life is short, We aren't promised tomorrow, You don't want to say woulda, shoulda, coulda, Time waits for no one, etc. etc. etc. Get up and go out there to find your DREAM, BLISS and PEACE OF MIND.

And for those who don't know what they want to do or what will make them happy, just start looking, start trying different things or just ask yourself: If you didn't have to worry about paying bills, what would you do for free? See what pops into your head, write it down, share it with someone, don't share it with anyone. Look at what you wrote on that piece of paper, stare at it, accept it, whisper it, shout it out loud. Let it out!

Make a plan and start doing it. Come on out and play! When I get to the other side I want God to say: You used what I gave you all up Valerie, job well done my child!

I hope this post has been tasty and informative like Cupcakes and Travel Magazines.

HodgePodge of my Life! And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Good morning people! It is June 20, 2010 Father's Day and I am making a promise to myself to Blog everyday going forward. Even if the blog is only 2 lines. I make time to do the things I don't like to do like work so I might as well make time to do the things I LOVE to do, which are talking and writing about travel, writing and cupcakes. Alright now!

I returned to Jamaica in May and had a RELAXING vacation with my two sisters and my sister from another Mother, Courtney Oliver. We swam, drank some Ting-tinis (not Daryl since she is still doing her meds), had a massage at the Rockhouse Spa, ate great food and basked in the Blessings that have been bestowed upon us all. And Lord knows we have been blessed in the last 7 months what with Daryl's diagnose of multiple myeloma. Luckily the cancer was contained to her lower back so she is handling her treatment of chemo and some other drug, that breaks her arms out, with grace, coolness and overall Darylness.

She is a trooper because we have been trooping through some airports in the last few months starting in May with Rainique's college graduation from Central State University in Wilberforce, OH on 5/8. Then we headed off to Negril from 5/17 until 5/24. Then back on the we headed out to Long Island on 6/5 to celebrate the high school graduation of our cousin Kody Michael Jarvis from St. Mary's College Prep HS at a family dinner at Carrabba's in Central Islip. Then we were back on the road the weekend of 6/11 back to Ohio for the college graduation of Corey Lamarr Gaddis from Ohio University in Athens, OH. We would not have missed one of those celebrations. I was actually sick during Corey's celebration but nothing was stopping me from hearing Corey's name being called out. We have to make time to observe and celebrate the accomplishments of the youth in our lives. Well if truth be told, we must take the time to celebrate the accomplishments of those we love. And I do love a good get together.

I've recently had the opportunity to participate in few get-togethers that were short and sweet. For Daryl's birthday my Aunt and Uncle, Florence & Elton Etheridge drove from Southampton, LI to join us for lunch in Westport, CT. It was filled with laughter, love and sangria! And then my family met at Carrabba's in Central Islip for Kody's HS graduation dinner - we all met there, celebrated and then headed back to our individual lives. It was FABULOUS. And I look forward to more of those mini-get-togethers with my loved ones.

I hope this was tasty & informative like Cupcakes & Travel Magazines!