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!

Off To See The Wizard!

Friday, March 26, 2010-03-26

Accommodations: MGM Grand @ Foxwoods

Concert: Norah Jones – Theater @ MGM Grand

One of my sister calls Foxwoods, Oz because it appears out of the forest of upstate Connecticut like some mirage beckoning you to come and have some fun. Well we stayed at the MGM Grand @ Foxwoods which makes the Oz reference even more apt since MGM produced the classic The Wizard of Oz movie.

We stayed in a deluxe room with 2 queen beds on the 23^rd floor. OMG the bed was a D-R-E-A-M – more on that later! We had a great view that looked out over 2000 acres of trees. A lovely mini-bar but I don’t touch the mini-bar in any hotel I stay at – are you kidding me? Mini schmini bar – not happening if Valerie is staying in the room. I actually woke up Friday evening from a codeine cough medicine induced sleep and saw my sister holding one of the items, cashews or something in her hand and yelled, PUT THAT DOWN! I was under the impression that once you picked any item up it signaled the front desk that some fool had taken something from the mini-bar, CA-CHING and it popped right onto your bill. I was wrong but you never know these days and I’ll have you know I double checked my bill when I checked out on Saturday – Y-E-S I did and I am not ashamed to say it.

The shower was rain-fall shower which I love and the toiletries were French. Yippee if you love French toiletries – makes no difference to me just as long as the hotel offers them because I scoop them right up and donate them to a local group that creates baskets for homeless families.

The other amenities in the room are as follows: 32" LCD HDTV flat-screen TV with video on demand, iHome clock radios, hairdryer, coffee maker, in-room safe, wireless high-speed internet access, marble shower and vanity area, 24 hour room service, which I normally LOVE but since I was only there for a short time there was no need for the 24 H.R.S.

Now let’s talk about the B-E-D! I walked into the room and fell face first into it. Just like that commercial when the wife and husband return from vacation, burnt red like lobsters mumbling into the mattress how much they missed their bed. Well I just gave a silent prayer of THANKS for the genius who designed this one. The usual stuff: 300 thread count Monaco imported linens adorning feather-pillow topped beds that envelop you in a warm caress of blissful comfort. Yes, Yes, & more Yes! I didn’t know a bed could bring such comfort – I don’t know if it was the 300 count 100% cotton linens, done up in the triple sheet style or the loft blanket. Individually each item might not have had the same effect but all together each element produced a feeling of a floating cocoon. YEAH!

I had to pull myself away from the bed so I could go and see the incomparable Norah Jones. It was my first time seeing her and I tell you I will go and see her again. She sounds just like her CDs and her playful attitude made for an enjoyable musical experience. She was on the stage with 2 Jumbotrons, which I normally don’t like but they seemed to bring Norah closer to the audience – amazingly it was a rather intimate affair.

All in all it was a good evening of great music and blissful sleep!

Until I write again -

Life Goes On!

Life Goes On!
Post #14 – August 12, 2009
1:13 PM

In about 47 minutes, I have a phone interview for a job in Packaging. And, what am I doing? I am blogging. Because I have reviewed all the information about the company and my answers are ready. If this job is for me then it will be mine. I am excited but you know you have to keep on making plans because life goes on! Keeping that in mind, I’ve signed up for full-time substitute teaching. Let the games begin. I will also be teaching a creative writing 8-week continuing education class in my hometown. The class will be 1 night a week for 2 hours and the focus will be character development for fiction writers. If you want to learn how to create great fiction characters sign-up by clicking on the link below.

http://www.stamfordadulted.org/CourseCatalog/classView.asp?id=1174

This is how I live: If a traditional job is not forthcoming, I have to make my own way. We can’t depend on others to make anything happen for us. When you do that, you end up beholden to them. We all can use support, a connection and/or a chance and I am all for that. But just sitting around waiting for the door to be opened for you is tiresome. Just accept that sometimes you have to go in the side window or God forbid the back door. Don’t waste your energy worrying about the way you get in just focus on making sure you get in.

And don’t define yourself by your job. If this recession has one lesson that should be it: You are not what you do. Unfortunately, some people don’t get that. I was just reading online this morning about people who have kept their job loss a secret from their friends and neighbors. The primary reason was they fear those “friends” and “neighbors” will shun them. I hate to tell them but those friends and neighbors are neither. But then again if your whole life is about keeping-up-with-the-Jones, I guess you would be concerned about being shunned. What a sad, sad commentary on the lives of those types of people.

Life goes on! Everyone has to decide for him or herself what type of life they want to live. Then they have to go about manifesting it. A life based on their terms not their neighbors, friends or family. Be courageous and do what you say you want to do!

And be truthful with yourself. Know what you are willing to do and not do. That goes for both your personal and professional life. I don’t want to be VP of anything, not that there is anything wrong with that, it’s just not for me. I would rather have a career-ish job position because for me there is so much for to life than work. Employees need to realize that there is no guarantee in their current or future employer’s ability to keep them employed. And an employer should not expect blind loyalty. We should all come to the table from a place of truth: I, the employee, possess a skill set you are seeking while you, the employer, have a compensation package that includes a salary, benefits, and paid vacation. We will exchange what we each possess until it doesn’t work for one or both of us. Truth goes a long way!

Find your place in this world because Life Goes On!

The phone interview went well! Now I will see if they want to bring me into their office for a look-see. I will keep you posted.

Hope this was Tasty and Informative for you like Cupcakes & Travel Magazines.

Love Your Life!

Creativity Flowing Freely

Creativity Flowing Freely
July 20, 2009
Post #13

(I was unable to post from my Writing Retreat hence the difference in the post and today's date)

Today is the first day of my Writer’s Residency for Fairfield University in Mystic, CT on Enders Island. It feels good to be back in stride again – all you Maze featuring Frankie Beverly fans know what I am talking about.

Anywho, this morning part of chapter 1 of my novel, Chocolate Martini was work-shopped. It was good to hear both the good and the bad or what I like to call the “what they like about my work” and “areas for improvement.” Fair and supportive was what I got and you can’t ask for more than that. The instructor Da Chen gave me some excellent advice that I think will free me to “not be so politically correct” as he said. I had not realized I was being PC but sometimes we need that objective eye to help us “see.”

Da said he can feel restraint in my writing. I can’t have that so I have to let it rip! After all my character is a woman who does as she pleases and to hell with the world’s perception of her.

I’m going to go for now as I have to get to my afternoon workshop at 2 PM – Thank God it is in the room next door.

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

Love Your Life People!