Well, I did it again; party planning.

Remember some time ago I told you I was asked to plan a baby shower? The request was totally unexpected and was not in my frame of mind at the time. I agreed to do whatever was needed anyway. So, I had to play a part in getting the baby shower done but I lead the charge. I rolled up with reserves of things that weren't on my to do list for the event and made the whole thing fly. Just my thing! Besides, it is important to be prepared, and its family.

Well, we had the baby shower today and it went very well. My guests were pleased and the celebrant was very happy. I guess I will keep getting these events under my belt and build up to a money making business. I am so tired! It was a hectic day for me but a very satisfying day. All of the pieces came together, the weather was great and the company was delightful.

Hey, I'm available to plan and host your event. I am ready, from invitations to clean up and any piece in between, a full service operation. Get on board with the hostess with the mostest! That's what I was called today! Thank you. You guys makes it easy for me to make you happy.

Every one loved the party favor we gave them in the box above. What do you think, nice box, eh?

The House on Mango Street 25th anniversary

I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting Ms. Sandra Cisneros today at a book signing session at our local Rec Center. What a treat! This is the 25th anniversary of the publishing of The House on Mango Street. She is promoting the 25th edition with a new introduction which talks about how she wrote the book.

Sandra Cisneros is the most delightful person. She is a real gentle soul who is candid, funny and inspiring. Her talk was easy, comfortable and engaging. I think we all felt that she was talking to us, just a conversation. I loved her voice, such childlike idyllic tones as she read the chapters in The House on Mango Street. It was a very nice experience.

I went with my kids and brought along a copy of the book. My older daughter read The House on Mango Street in eighth grade, back in 2000. Of course I read the book then too. I was happy to have been able to dig up our copy of the book for the event. I called my daughter who is away in college to tell her about our trip. She was just as excited to learn of our event as we were to be there. I fondly discussed our first encounters with the book with her and talked about her favorite stories in the book.

The evening was replete with good memories for me but I have some favorite parts. A special part of the evening for me was her story about the times she spent with her mother as a young girl. She told the story about how her mom dragged them, her and her brothers, to the library before they knew how to write. The library trip was a regular event for them and they each had a library card. She recalled making weekly trips to the library as she grew older to borrow and return books. As she told us this 'story', I looked over at my daughter because that story brought a smile to my face and heart. The story reminded me of myself with my kids when they were younger. My daughter ignored my glance as if to say, “Yeah mom I know. We did that!” I thought that was cute. I think this piece also made an impact on my daughter. At the end of the session my daughter asked me for her library card that I had been holding for her all these years. She would ask me for the card, use it and return it to me to keep as we did through out the early years. This time she took the card from me and put it into her wallet. Hmmmm, the end of an era? New beginnings!

My son pulled out an assignment sheet from his bag when we joined the line for the autograph. He had gotten an assignment to do from the book, The House on Mango Street. What a coincident! It was cute how he showed the assignment to Ms. Cisneros and got her signature on it. She signed our book too. How cool was that! Of course we got a picture too! A great evening and a good experience for everyone in the room. I was sorry that my other daughter wasn’t there as well.

Another favorite of the evening for me was the question and answer period. We were fortunate to get practical and excellent tips on writing and finding our passion and how to avoid writers block. She told us to find joy in our lives. We should find what is different or the thing that makes us special and apart from everyone else and focus on that and we will avoid writers block. She shared her favorite authors with us and some favorite books. Thick Nacht Hahn, is an important writer in her life. She said that his works helped her to change her life. I thought this was an awesome statement so I checked him out and liked what I saw. I will share a quote from one of his books with you.

If in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. If we really know how to live, what better way to start the day than with a smile? Our smile affirms our awareness and determination to live in peace and joy. The source of a true smile is an awakened mind.
From Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life, Bantam reissue, ISBN 0-553-35139-7

Sandra Cisneros is on tour so check to see if she will be near you and go see her. Bring your book or purchase one at the event and line up for her signature. It was great, I'm still beaming.

Sandra Cisneros is writing a new novel and I will be waiting to get my hands on a copy. She is real and she is fun. Thanks NoMAA for putting this event together.

See The House on Mango Street on my Shelfari bookshelf.

Getting closer to the workout

Hooray! I got my stuff!

I made my way to the mall after work today to pick up my bag that I inadvertently left in the store on Saturday. No problem. I walked into the store, told my story, handed over the reciept and was given my bag, stuff intact. I didn't do any more shopping there today. I just grabbed the bag and made my way out of the store. After all I still have other issues to resolve before I can begin my fitness program.

I made two stops on the way home.

1. I stopped at a local gym along the way to check it out. I collected their info and took a short tour of the facility. It was vey busy with lots of people seriously working but with a smile.

2. I stop at my favorite market where I buy whole grains, organic foods and really fresh and lovely foods. I picked up a few items that I needed and a couple of thing I wanted to try.

I think I am working through the process in my mind, and crossing items off my ' to resolve' list as well.

What do you think? I'm getting close to being ready?

For one thing I though I would make it back to the store by today to pick up my bag. I did.

Just m-a-y-b-e I might do a little more that the walk down the block.

I might really start it off on Wednesday.

Lets see! Who do you have your money on? huh?!

My workout gear caper

Have you ever heard the saying your mind can play tricks on you? Well I had a big mind trick this week end which left me wondering if the mind can be that tricky.

I haven’t been able to get into the swing of a fitness routine for some time now but I’ve been planning on it. I am all about health and wellness. In fact I am one of those people who are always reading the magazines, or watching the programs or joining the conversations about diet and exercise but is a poor practitioner.

I've been really thinking about starting a fitness routine to try to improve my health and reduce my weight. Mind you, I know what to do and how but I just haven’t. So I've been on this kick for a couple of months now; looking at gyms, TV shows on FitTv , reading news clips about diet and exercise but haven’t started anything. Well, I’ve been doing a little more walking lately. I have a lot of things to do before I will be ready for my program. I have to set a schedule, make sure it will be regular, figure out where, the cost of the gym, travel time and opening hours. I will also have to figure out the space in my house to use as an option, or find an outdoor path, finalize some other time consuming things etc. I need workout clothes! I have to resolve all of these things so I can start, I tell myself.

This Saturday while I was out shopping with my friend, who is a 3-4 day a week gym person, I bought 2 workout outfits. I spotted the clothes and begun the conversation about my plans to start exercising regularly. She was very encouraging but not forceful. I was very happy with the items and talked about getting started. Of course I have plenty of stuff that I could use, appropriately, for exercise but you know how the mind works. I would eliminate that need or issue. I picked up some other unrelated stuff in the store and headed to the cash register. I paid and waited for my items to be bagged. Happily we walked out of the store with the bags, thinking I had all of the goods. You will not believe what happened, or will you?

This is a really funny and perhaps a sad commentary about my readiness to get fit. Or maybe it’s coincidental. I actually left the store without the bag with the workout clothes. I got everything else home except the work out clothes. The Cashier did not give me my bag with the workout clothes - maybe I didn’t pick up all of the bags from the counter so the workout clothes were left. What do you think that is telling me? Did I trick myself into leaving the work out clothes in the store because I am really not 'ready'? Mentally I haven't reached the 'tipping point'? I'm in denial about my fitness and health condition or this was jsut a simple mistake. Should I sit around and ponder the situation or just get busy and work up a sweat?

Well, I will go to pick up my bag tomorrow and see where it leads. Hopefully I will get physical on Wednesday.

Why Should we exercise
According to About Women Health, Studies have shown that regular exercise significantly increases life expectancy and improves overall health. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis. It can reduce or improve symptoms of menopause, PMS, diabetes, as well as numerous other conditions. An improved self-image and increased energy level are frequent added benefits of exercise.

I want improved health, self image and increased energy level! If you aren’t on a regular fitness routine, its time you get started too. Maybe we can support each other towards better health. You might motivate me to not only get started but to stay with it. What I know is this, it is important to talk to your doctor first and check out the vitals. Get yourself some gear as a motivation, set a schedule get a healthy food plan going and let’s get fit, happy and healthy together.

Here is another article, for good measure with 4 Good Reasons to Exercise by BNET just to get you there.

See you on the threadmill!

A long awaited Girls day out

On Saturday afternoon I went to meet my friend for lunch. We had been planning this get together since last December. Somehow we managed to push the time forward for various reasons; illness, work, scheduled travels etc. I’d been thinking about calling her since mid-week to set up our meeting for Saturday. I wanted to do something different this Saturday instead of the same old Saturday stuff besides our lunch outing was well overdue. It was a very good day; the sun was shining, it was about 70 degrees and calling me out to play. It’s a good day for the outdoors and fun and laughter.

Of course I woke up and it’s Saturday morning and I didn’t make the call. As I sat over coffee thinking about how I lost another opportunity to visit with Barb my phone rang. Oh yeah, it was her! Weird right! Of course I was stunned and I blurted out, “you’re gunna live a long time! I was just thinking about you”! (The old saying, right) I explained my failures this week and we laughed about it. We went ahead and set a time to meet. Yeah!

We met at two o’clock and had a great day. We talked, laughed and enjoyed the company over lunch at Panera Bread. We discussed all sorts. As we ended lunch, she made a comment to something we were discussing that I had never heard before. I found it very profound. We had such a hearty laugh. I decided to write the phrase down. I didn’t want to forget it because I wanted to share it with you. We then went shopping and mall hopping until late evening talking and laughing as we went along. She is such a trooper.
So anyway here is what she said.

She said, “Humans are like tea bags; never know its strength until its placed in hot water”.

Believe me, I though I knew a lot of idioms because my grandmother was the queen of maxims. I said it before; my grandmother always had a good ‘line’ for us for everything. But this was a new one for me. It got me thinking. This is so true! You know, until you are faced with a tough situation you don’t quite know your resolve. But one thing for sure, you know you have to get through it. And so you pursue it with such vigor and strength. You find the angles because you must survive. When you are on the other side of the problem you then reflect with wonder and amazement on how you got through it. I guess it is another way of saying, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. The tea bag idea though is more poignant. I like it!

How many of these have you heard before and how true to form do you think they are or your encounters revealed?

Here are ten common aphorism
Never judge a book by its cover
Necessity is the mother of invention
One never know the looks of a lousy cat
Cross that bridge when you get to it
Never sell your self short
Be careful what you say/do when you are at the top because you don’t know who you will meet on your way down
What goes up must come down
A promise is a side pocket to a fool
A hard ear makes a soft (sour) behind

Please share your favorite idioms with us!

Thanks for a wonderful day! Thanks for the memory!