tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46619602798778930122024-03-05T04:50:37.022-05:00Life's Five: live. laugh. learn. like. love.This blog is for remembering the stuff I don't want to forget in order to keep track of what life is saying to me. Something I heard my life tell me the other day: "You must get better at remembering." So I'm trying to keep track of the things in my life that come my way that make me appreciate each day. I call them my Life's Five: Live. Laugh. Learn. Like. Love. I've shown you mine. Now show me yours.paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-47765436389886855602010-11-21T08:18:00.003-05:002010-11-21T10:44:33.617-05:00Wow. This is embarrassing.It's ALREADY November! Didn't I post on here, like, yesterday(ish)?<br />
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Today, I'm returning temporarily or perhaps permanently to my original blogging format, where I focus individually on the five words in this blog's title. I wanted to tell you in advance so you could go get your husband out of bed, call your mom, and text all of your texting friends who are not your mom. They will NOT want to miss this exciting change.<br />
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So...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KRiD1n3yl4uL9MO3U61SFgF77fPXnYHTuCBudzw2AXSrSmDQBOCW15EoOPiThUluy8ekZUn0UZ-paEzUvxRqBeG-qYuyzC7-4meSFnj4fNexfB3Z1tbEzZS_dfjlf8OW1_HAeaBR5Rlh/s1600/epcot.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KRiD1n3yl4uL9MO3U61SFgF77fPXnYHTuCBudzw2AXSrSmDQBOCW15EoOPiThUluy8ekZUn0UZ-paEzUvxRqBeG-qYuyzC7-4meSFnj4fNexfB3Z1tbEzZS_dfjlf8OW1_HAeaBR5Rlh/s320/epcot.gif" width="320" /></a></div><i><b>Live.</b></i> A lot has happened since my last post about boots and movie props. In October I traveled to my former country of residence, Bermuda, with my family. During our two-week stay, we mostly went to the pink beach and drove a golf cart around to look for escaped golf balls who figured out that they really weren't part of a REAL sport, but rather, were merely the victim of a more sophisticated version of "Kick the Can." Our newly-found 11 golf balls are currently trying to reconnect with their past in Orlando, where their Mothership landed many years ago. Unfortunately, some golf balls are separated from Mom early in life and are dropped quickly from the confines of their comfy, spherical molds only to get whacked in the head by their new, adoptive parents who think that paying $250 to walk on grass and hit their new children in the head is not only sporty but also bound to impress the boss. Where have our values gone? No wonder Russia won't let us adopt any more golf balls.<br />
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<i><b>Laugh.</b> </i>My daughter is four. She is a "Knock-Knock" joke whiz. Seriously, we're pretty sure she's a genius. Allow me to brag and share her latest work with you:<br />
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<i>Her: Knock Knock! </i><br />
<i>Me: Who's there?<br />
Her: Chicken!<br />
Me: Chicken who?<br />
Her: Chicken fingers!</i><br />
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</i></div><div><i></i><i><b>Learn. </b></i>I don't know WHY on earth THIS just popped into my head, but have any of you ever stopped to wonder what EPCOT means? <i>"Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow."</i> Did you know that "prototype" means "an original model on which something <i>later</i> is patterned"? Did you know that I lived in London for four years, which explains why sometimes I put the punctuation <i>inside</i> the quotation marks and sometimes I place the punctuation <i>outside</i> the quotation marks? There is a reasonable explanation, even if you never wondered or noticed why I do this. It is simply an homage to the Queen. It has nothing to do with my <i>*ahem, directly correlated* </i> California vacation on which my family took my sister and me for two weeks during the 11th grade where I missed (translation: completely abandoned with glee) my English class's in-depth analysis of <i>To Kill A Mockingbird</i> via book, movie, discussion, and punctuation review. While I was out galavanting for 14 glorious days, throwing caution to the wind, I was underestimating the 50% value of that semester's grade for which old <i>Mockingbird </i>accounted<i>. </i>I didn't give my English class one thought while at the beach, amusement parks, the Hoover Dam, Red Rocks, the Spruce Goose, Catalina Island, or Vegas. <i>(Note: some of the aforementioned sights are not in California. I may be from Kentucky where I missed two weeks of English class while on vacation, but I did not miss ANY geography classes.)</i> The part of that glorious trip that I still recall with such fondness is the exposure to new customs and ways of life. For example: I will never forget the breakfast I had in Encinitas: <i>scrambled eggs with salsa, fried potatoes with salsa, orange juice with salsa...</i> We brought these western ideas back to our homeland, where no one had ever heard of salsa before. Or Mexico, which is now California.<br />
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<i><b>Like</b></i><b>.</b> I put the "Like" category in here so I would force myself to realize that it's okay to really appreciate something without saying that I <i>loved</i> it. I use the word "love" a lot. I can't help it. I'm a lover. I'm a hugger. I'm a midnight...<i>nevermind.</i><br />
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<i><b>Love</b></i><b>. </b>I love NYC. This place is like a lottery ticket in the sense that the impossible is actually possible here. Confirmation of that blasts you in the face every time you step onto the sidewalk from your apartment door. In the past few weeks I have: been in the presence of legendary songwriter, <a href="http://www.bobdorough.com/">Bob Dorough</a> from School House Rock and <i>Blue Christmas</i> fame; met the author, illustrator, and star of a new children's book, <a href="http://anklesoup.com/">Christmas Feet</a>, featuring a gorgeous French Bulldog, Carlos; screened a new short <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1651112/combined">film</a> written by a good friend, David Tianga; become friends with an HBO documentarian and a guy who is a producer of a Broadway <a href="http://americanidiotonbroadway.com/">musical</a> (warning: turn down your monitor volume). Everyone here is doing their thing. And everyone is doing it well. I love the challenge of living among these folks. The atmosphere and network keep you moving, keep you creating, keep you thinking. Maybe this city is actually more like <i>buying</i> a lottery ticket. You might lose. You might get lucky. <i>Anything</i> is possible here...even the impossible. But the point is: you have to work at it to find out. No one ever won the lottery without scratching off the silver box.</div></div></div>paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-77108208936516968072010-09-29T16:51:00.002-04:002010-09-30T08:49:05.606-04:00I'm alive. And I have the boots to prove it.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fall. It is life to me. I am finally free of the steamy days of summer 2010. Hot NYC days kill people. Hot NYC days kill people's dreams. Mainly mine. I can't be creative in the summer. I don't want to leave the house if it's above 80 degrees. This body was built for cold weather, fireplaces, hot cocoa, and creativity. Summer is death to me. Taking trips in the summer is a great escape, but on a day-to-day basis, I need mini-trips...mini-trips where I can get out and see things, listen to the world, hear conversations, and enjoy the creations of other people's souls. Today is the first day I have felt inspired in a long time. It's as if something is awakening inside and telling me to "get on with it" or "get back to it cause you've been gone too long." I feel like I can breathe again without the help of an oxygen mask. I've been taken off the breathing machine. I'm out of the coma. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAn2GW2yz4ove_aYUNhV5USkbXR_PPP1siPMkeCiaL-kD58DtGizNr2nO1TlEHS764DsHhASC1pZaj9fBN_XsfbjB0hKDLK8Qx9oBx1TqttDF3xOwgt2wBvSQR-PayNR6ykNC4tjbmS93/s1600/think+coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAn2GW2yz4ove_aYUNhV5USkbXR_PPP1siPMkeCiaL-kD58DtGizNr2nO1TlEHS764DsHhASC1pZaj9fBN_XsfbjB0hKDLK8Qx9oBx1TqttDF3xOwgt2wBvSQR-PayNR6ykNC4tjbmS93/s200/think+coffee.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAn2GW2yz4ove_aYUNhV5USkbXR_PPP1siPMkeCiaL-kD58DtGizNr2nO1TlEHS764DsHhASC1pZaj9fBN_XsfbjB0hKDLK8Qx9oBx1TqttDF3xOwgt2wBvSQR-PayNR6ykNC4tjbmS93/s1600/think+coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLi1qe7eAnGje7FXvBJYoQqk2DwUVMvEx2Yl8JgnU3cCC1InFQLFXirUSjRzxo3Un0BFDZADvWxNpJWWecn5AsHbdfeoxRGvcGWvb4wDVBSFwxaxxBJSn1TSFlr0Q0vsSn0M5g-HSTlEd/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-09-29+at+3.20.03+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It started with a pop-in at one of my local coffee shops today. I had just dropped off my dear daughter at school. I cruised into Think Coffee, ordered a bowl of minestrone soup and sat down at a table near a window, which, if you know me even a little bit, is always the spot I'll choose if given a choice. There were two girls next to me talking about auditions for Bath & Body Works commercials and voiceovers. One was wearing flip flops, the other wearing black suede boots which she purchased at DSW for $85. (I was by myself, pretending to read something. I didn't mean to hear every word.) The girl was cute, young, and knew what she was doing. That's all I needed for confirmation that my boots from last year will work for this year. Strike that worry off my list. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLi1qe7eAnGje7FXvBJYoQqk2DwUVMvEx2Yl8JgnU3cCC1InFQLFXirUSjRzxo3Un0BFDZADvWxNpJWWecn5AsHbdfeoxRGvcGWvb4wDVBSFwxaxxBJSn1TSFlr0Q0vsSn0M5g-HSTlEd/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-09-29+at+3.20.03+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLi1qe7eAnGje7FXvBJYoQqk2DwUVMvEx2Yl8JgnU3cCC1InFQLFXirUSjRzxo3Un0BFDZADvWxNpJWWecn5AsHbdfeoxRGvcGWvb4wDVBSFwxaxxBJSn1TSFlr0Q0vsSn0M5g-HSTlEd/s200/Screen+shot+2010-09-29+at+3.20.03+PM.png" width="160" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just sitting there, in the window, alone with my soup, listening and looking around, I felt lighter. Maybe it's NYC. Maybe it's a few moments to myself that completely recharge me. I do know that I need to be outside to feel alive, which is why staying inside this summer made me want to take lots of pills. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Think Coffee today wasn't terribly interesting, but I wrote down what I saw anyway:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">students, models, actresses. alone or with friends. </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">reading, drinking, thinking, talking, computing, writing, texting. </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">50/50 caucasian and asian. mostly girls. </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the caucasian gals were fair-haired and freckled with animated gestures talking to friends. </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the asian-esque gals were reading or working on their computers. alone. (I'm really screwing this up from a pc viewpoint). </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a 65 year old lady wearing a replica of an outfit i have at home. </span></i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i></i>That's when I left. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I've got a great pair of boots I can wear AGAIN this fall and winter, but I need to get rid of that old lady outfit. See what you can learn while drinking coffee?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After I left the cafe, I strolled over to Union Square. It's a Wednesday so the Greenmarket was in full swing. Today there was a special eco-friendly exhibit, which I checked out. Park rangers, light bulb folks, eco road pavers, solar panel vendors, sustainable goods, everything you'd expect to see was represented today. But then I spotted it. The gem. It looked like a table of old stuff, but when I saw the sign I realized there was more to it than that. Film Biz Recycling. Yes! I looked at the price tags. $4 here, $9 there. Good, cheap finds from film sets. Liz, in the photo, used to work in the film business and she said that when films wrap, they have all these props that they don't know what to do with so they panic and throw things away. She and her boss decided to create this wonderful little eco-friendly, repurposing, charity where they collect the goodies from film and tv sets and then redistribute them back to those of us who watch films and look at tv sets. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4CuhgzMDxuY6O5BowBYxoJJ1PRa0R-Yam7ClvmIMPySLnNA0T7pTxLAjywYLJny7zzHhGA3E83QDiYFEIWfjvFJ_AGRS4JWdhg60rhSswUY9D-z0YL6bxyFGNBG5ph3O-2Z94DNRBgPl/s400/filmbiz.jpg" width="400" /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I brought cash to buy vegetables at the market, but I couldn't resist two items. One was functional and the other was a little fanciful. Below is my "functional" and therefore, totally justifiable, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tambourine"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">tambourine</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. It has a nice sound, retro look and was used in the film, </span><i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1127896/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Taking Woodstock</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Th</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is tambo has grit. And for $5 it was a steal!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdMBXsduS8Ku7q2LVeWKvD1SwhWKZxlZUOFNFFgaFCyDly6KXmrLIxzG3AhpbhGDdXIXWMAwB9yPkUvMgVuYOLhrFHIb3k2ubx17nFR19WK8fFE-WuKFOrsBxLxg3mG663077Z7GUnHXb/s1600/IMG_2208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdMBXsduS8Ku7q2LVeWKvD1SwhWKZxlZUOFNFFgaFCyDly6KXmrLIxzG3AhpbhGDdXIXWMAwB9yPkUvMgVuYOLhrFHIb3k2ubx17nFR19WK8fFE-WuKFOrsBxLxg3mG663077Z7GUnHXb/s400/IMG_2208.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZX_5JRCVY5v6cvLBT9ahKL9ShTUEyXlWrIjPPOGXzavTxt4gcl17D0IKqTRBVcLVlFqS-HvFHlyoUvbCSrQZRfWV82OG2LjqBOOg5rajzIAK6JqbywfChuHClDgq35ELsfIE3I_4ymJMB/s1600/IMG_2215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZX_5JRCVY5v6cvLBT9ahKL9ShTUEyXlWrIjPPOGXzavTxt4gcl17D0IKqTRBVcLVlFqS-HvFHlyoUvbCSrQZRfWV82OG2LjqBOOg5rajzIAK6JqbywfChuHClDgq35ELsfIE3I_4ymJMB/s200/IMG_2215.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other treasure is from the film, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0879870/">Eat, Pray, Love.</a> I will admit it. I loved the book. And I enjoyed the movie. Regardless of what people want to say about <a href="http://www.elizabethgilbert.com/">Elizabeth Gilbert</a>, I have tried to ignore the negativity of critics and any of those pesky, unfortunate facts surrounding Ms. Gilbert and just enjoy the book. And then the film. I found both of them to be a welcome escape. To the right is a photograph of my little treat from the film set. It is a decorative bottle, presumably used to capture angel dust or fine, French perfume. It is about 5 inches tall and is adorned with gold wire. I like it. It was $6. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moving on to my last find of the day. My favorite: the fruit of our soil.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love going to the <a href="http://www.grownyc.org/greenmarket">Union Square Greenmarket</a>. Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, you will find farmers, florists, bakers, and other vendors selling their wares. I particularly adore tomatoes. When my dad was alive and tending to his garden, he grew the best tomatoes. I didn't care much for them as a young girl, but his enthusiastic attempts to get me to like them over the years eventually won me over. Now, I especially love Heirlooms. <i>Side note: When you get a sweet, juicy Heirloom tomato, put a slice on top of a warm "everything" bagel with a little cream cheese and you will be in love (thanks, Kate P. for that delicious tip).</i> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wsbDBv3t0fqU4twq4QUiGiTnQJgjb3OhKnqUnP_ThCdqI3BbdPnc6LUJgZqyPY9TirRRkjBe5d62L_yiLWOA-Ud0vY2mqnM_3CsWpLSJagshOJs4RjrKS6DJVYmwyFZ-ICvRUzwqUJat/s1600/IMG_2211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wsbDBv3t0fqU4twq4QUiGiTnQJgjb3OhKnqUnP_ThCdqI3BbdPnc6LUJgZqyPY9TirRRkjBe5d62L_yiLWOA-Ud0vY2mqnM_3CsWpLSJagshOJs4RjrKS6DJVYmwyFZ-ICvRUzwqUJat/s400/IMG_2211.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back to my point. Today I bought a variety of pesticide-free cherry tomatoes. In my bag I placed four types, which were named (according to the vendor): Sun Gold, Chocolate, Brown, and Red Cherry tomatoes. I'm not sure about the validity of a few of those names, but they sure taste good. A pint for $3 was a pretty good deal.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My little jaunt brought me a lot of joy today and a few items that have inspired me: </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><blockquote>1) for dinner it looks like homemade Chicken Parmesan with pasta and cherry tomatoes; </blockquote></span><br />
<blockquote>2) in honor of my new tambourine, I think I'll write a new song about coffee shop observations;</blockquote><blockquote>3) my gold-adorned jar will catch the dust of angels as they fly by and keep me cool and sane when the temperature threatens to rise above 80; and </blockquote><blockquote>4) for fun, I'm going to put on last year's boots and walk around the apartment in my underwear just to keep it interesting for the office-bound stiffs across the street. They need inspiration too, you know.</blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Get out and enjoy life. Grab that special something hanging in the air just waiting for you to take it. Then go and make something even greater from it. </i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>xo</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Paulette</i></span><br />
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</span>paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-47834296756540651962010-09-18T17:48:00.004-04:002010-09-18T18:02:46.694-04:00"The point, gentlemen...is that they lived"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyS28onMMe1Npm1uJGkIxtzzT1sSoKFvCtUS6SurRBMNDlJequ-x3i44fjFMAvCRB_q0_JKbvH5bC_8bHntGxjaRkgB3EadMRHmBrmDbvok1FgSVSzTgIAyctRpFJPMfnGoj7Rz4jVOHTw/s1600/cindy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyS28onMMe1Npm1uJGkIxtzzT1sSoKFvCtUS6SurRBMNDlJequ-x3i44fjFMAvCRB_q0_JKbvH5bC_8bHntGxjaRkgB3EadMRHmBrmDbvok1FgSVSzTgIAyctRpFJPMfnGoj7Rz4jVOHTw/s400/cindy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is it wrong to love fairy tales? I can get completely lost in a story, especially fairy tales. One of my favorite films is </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245844/"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Count of Monte Cristo</span></i></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. If you haven't seen it, you're missing out. I only mention this movie because it gives me cover for another favorite movie, which is the whole point of this blog post. It is called</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120631/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ever After</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">starring Drew Barrymore and Dougray Scott (crush) and is the Cinderella story with a bit of creative license. It's by far my favorite contemporary version of the classic tale, which has, of course Greek origins. (Greece sure makes a lot of claims.) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is the last line of the story, which refers to the newly-married Prince and Danielle (Cinderella), that offers a high note which makes you think. The Prince and Danielle are commenting on their own fairy tale while looking into each other's eyes. It goes something like this, with thanks to script-o-rama:</span><br />
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<pre>And we, Princess, are supposed to live happily ever after.
Says who?
Do you know...I don't know.
(woman) <i>My great-great-grandmother's</i>
<i>portrait hung in the university...</i>
<i>... up until the revolution.</i>
<i>By then, the truth of the romance...</i>
<i>... had been reduced to a simple fairy tale.</i>
<i>And while Cinderella and her Prince</i>
did <i>live happily ever after...</i>
<i>... the point, gentlemen...</i>
<i>... is that they lived.</i>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And this is where I start boo hooing every time. I look around at everything I have...think about all the places I've been...consider all the friends and family who are so near and dear to me... gasp at this city of wonder in which I live, and yet I still feel it necessary to ask myself, "Am I really living?" I want to do more than just observe the beauty that surrounds me. I want to actively dig in, suck, chew, wrestle, discover, toil, absorb, and adore every moment of my life so deeply that I will have no regrets about how I used my time on this planet.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't need a fairy tale. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I do want someone to say about me, once my time has come and gone...</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"She really lived."</span>paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-62798599398166678692010-05-17T13:51:00.004-04:002010-06-03T11:02:34.678-04:00A few of my favorite things...mostly things to eat apparently<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SeNneokW-PtXXZGNhBQfIsi8tEZUgyCRj_ahOybowIxIWBSOLnLsU0uqF1_T68D1imO4SPuuWTGfvgFjQDIZtUmBqaRdytud5J9xrkNoianxW0gBnEmVN4UzUu6FvizqRceuC2SS1SVL/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-05-17+at+1.24.03+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SeNneokW-PtXXZGNhBQfIsi8tEZUgyCRj_ahOybowIxIWBSOLnLsU0uqF1_T68D1imO4SPuuWTGfvgFjQDIZtUmBqaRdytud5J9xrkNoianxW0gBnEmVN4UzUu6FvizqRceuC2SS1SVL/s320/Screen+shot+2010-05-17+at+1.24.03+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://www.nomablissartist.com/Artist.asp?ArtistID=25348&Akey=YXNRY2J6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Noma Bliss Art.</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I want to introduce you to a talented artist and wonderful lady in the form of Noma Bliss. Buy something she's painted. Seriously. You won't regret it. I have two of her pieces and we are planning a commission of the third as I write this. Her illustrations and art have appeared in the London Times, Harvard Business Journal, and other publications. She is a gem whose craft is grounded in her heart and not the marketplace. Whimsical, folksy, and deep all at the same time, I am really enjoying getting to know Noma. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In general, my unsolicited advice is to get to know people whose work you love. It will make their work more special. Let's just say, if people were cakes, most of us barely get past the icing: what does the person do, where are they from, how many kids do they have, etc. Now, don't get me wrong. Icing rocks my socks. But after a while, you will find that you need a bit of cake to balance out all the one-sidedness of the icing. The cake itself will give you the texture of someone's personality...are they funny? Do they have a special talent? Easy to be around? Sometimes we get our fill of the cake and tend to push it away too soon. But I recommend that you always take one last bite to see what's in the middle. Sometimes you will come up dry and other times you will discover a custardy filling that oozes with goodness. That's the heart of a person. That's what they're made of. Keep eating people cake until you get to the part where you are smiling from your own heart when you think of them.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://public-nyc.com/">PUBLIC Restaurant</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Went here with hubs last night even though I was sick, sick, sick with cold. The sitter had been booked in advance so we went with it. The last date we had was to Home Depot from where we returned with a mop. As thrilling as that was, I wanted to see if a real date could top it. And our meal at Public absolutely did just that. We happened upon this treasure while walking the streets of the city in search of a meal. I like to feel the neighborhood, see how many people are eating in a place, and get the vibe of things so walking around, I have found, is a much better option than just booking online. We were lucky enough to get the best table in the place--a table on the edge of the terrace. Just inside enough for the atmosphere. Just outside enough for the night air. Loved the Sunday Supper. Changes weekly. And be sure to visit the bathroom to pick up a cool little bar of soap they have on offer in a vintage, cover-less vending machine. (I love free stuff.)</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.grownyc.org/greenmarket"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Greenmarket in Union Square</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Check out the Sheep's cheese from the vendor who calls his cheeses things like "derriere and hooligan". Can't remember his name...but will post it in comments next time I see him. Also buy an ounce of Wheatgrass juice at one f the stands for good measure. It's $3 an ounce but it makes you feel sooo good inside.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">New fruits. If you've never had a </span><a href="http://www.champagnemango.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">champagne mango</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, dump the regular old mango and get yourself a new friend. It's rich and creamy...like ice cream. Or chocolate. But it's fruit and you can eat all you want and no one will look at you like you're the glutton with spaghetti wrapped around his ankles in that movie SEVEN. Also try the Mangosteen. It looks like a clove of garlic once you cut through the perimeter of the hard outer shell, but it tastes like bananas with a smooth, lychee like texture. Just try it even if you think it looks like fish or eyeballs. </span><a href="http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/mangosteen.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everything you ever wanted to know about a mangosteen, including something about being erect.</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Look, I didn't write it. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Corn on the cob. I already love corn on the cob. Especially in summer. But you haven't tried corn until you've eaten it from </span><a href="http://www.cafehabana.com/locations.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cafe Habana</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> on Prince & Elizabeth in NYC. Grilled, with some kind of cheese and hot pepper on the outside, there's a reason an order of corn comes with two pieces. Truly, all the food here is amazing. Cuban decor all the way down to the seating, ceiling fans and beaded doorways. Great vibe. And there's takeaway if you can't get a seat. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just realized that most of today's post was about food. Maybe I will one day write about the joys of working out. But not today. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until next month...or so it seems. xo</span>paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-70575647024114051642010-04-06T20:32:00.000-04:002010-04-06T20:32:51.403-04:00Opening for Greta's Bakery in Ardmore, PA!<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Come see us open for <a href="http://myspace.com/gretasbakery">Greta's Bakery</a> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>THIS THURSDAY AT 8 PM at <a href="http://www.milkboycoffee.com/">MilkBoy Coffee</a> in Ardmore, PA!</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i>Greta's Bakery is a national act so we are honored to be asked to open for them. Come out for a great night of music, wine, and food at THE BEST MUSIC VENUE in the Philly area: MilkBoy.</i></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>MilkBoy Coffee</b></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>2 East Lancaster Ave</b></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Ardmore, PA </b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Tickets are only $8 pre-sale or $10 at the door. $5 BYO.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Buy tickets <a href="https://milkboy-mainstage.ticketleap.com/Member/event.aspx?event_id=844AA5EB-09DB-4095-8BD0-A9B66455DB1&ref_name=">here</a>!</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4N9poPd3ioU6zuA_7OTPK3-u6U237F25elGx1vZClmcJyG0mwdoV1FStuQcYzWqpaI4hgEmy6CU00BUKRSEbrUG3583uBgjrA1TLOii9NjsNjr_dDC2FwhSxyNoKRUKeVM4uj_jYEMqz/s1600/band+shot+bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4N9poPd3ioU6zuA_7OTPK3-u6U237F25elGx1vZClmcJyG0mwdoV1FStuQcYzWqpaI4hgEmy6CU00BUKRSEbrUG3583uBgjrA1TLOii9NjsNjr_dDC2FwhSxyNoKRUKeVM4uj_jYEMqz/s400/band+shot+bw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #444444;">Paulette Dixon (left), Lynn Lovette (center) & Laurie Pfeiffer (right) </span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #444444;">will play Thursday's show!</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-1964825311858018462010-03-02T17:17:00.006-05:002010-03-02T18:49:06.296-05:00Life's Five: NYC Learnin'Living in NYC opens up all kinds of opportunities. Opportunities to meet people. Opportunities to eat anytime, anywhere. Opportunities to learn stuff. This post is dedicated to some of the "learnin'":<br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>Learn.</b></span> In NYC you will randomly run into folks you know because there are a million people walking around in the streets. So the odds are in your favor for chance meetings. The moral of this story is that <span style="color: #274e13;"></span>one should shower more than one used to when one lived in the suburbs and was able to simply wave at friends from the comfort (and distance) of his or her car. <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Learn.</span></span></b> There is so much to do here that I have found no desire for shopping. I realize, to many of you, that sounds like heresy or blasphemy or a lie. After all, I'm in NYC and that is what one does in NYC. But honestly, I have no need for anything. The creative energy here overrides any of those pesky retail urges. And that's a good thing. (Just ask hubs.) (Alert: The following sentence is going to appear to contradict the preceding sentence, but there will be an explanation.) While in the <a href="http://www.utrechtart.com/stores/dsp_viewstore.cfm?storeID=87">art store</a> today (I needed art supplies. This does not count as shopping. It was a planned trip. I spent under $20.), I met lovely people who were willing to <i style="color: #274e13;">teach</i> me how to go about my art project. I dug that! Free advice from NYC art students who are dying to tell you all they know because they want you to know they are artists even though they are working in an art store instead of surviving off of their art. It's complicated, but somehow it's working in my favor, and I'm all about favor.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJI_9tej9yPvr44Kgn94GQsV5cOT5ezQrES6L7zTycviE1af5gTkxt3NCVve461awYRrdMNp033Y7JaEbQWhYTY0iugTc7XB3Rf672dL0GuHoKvATcZdnWpVrbW73vg_h27NyJq1Dsapro/s1600-h/chestnut" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJI_9tej9yPvr44Kgn94GQsV5cOT5ezQrES6L7zTycviE1af5gTkxt3NCVve461awYRrdMNp033Y7JaEbQWhYTY0iugTc7XB3Rf672dL0GuHoKvATcZdnWpVrbW73vg_h27NyJq1Dsapro/s200/chestnut" width="100" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: #274e13;">Learn.</b></span> This place rocks the exercise gene. Yesterday, I took my girly kid to <a href="http://www.centralparkzoo.com/">Central Park Zoo</a>. We walked there. From Union Square. That's like a gazillion blocks. She's not even 4. She did not complain once. In the old days, she couldn't even make it from The Gap to Starbucks at Ye Olde King of Prussia Mall. I call that SERIOUS progress. And while we were walking, we <i style="color: #274e13;">learned</i> all kinds of stuff about the city...like where to shop. IS THAT ALL YOU PEOPLE DO HERE?! Oh, I would like to offer the city of New York a little feedback. Please get rid of the 3 kajillion chestnut roasting stands. I got dizzy from the odor and nearly passed out. What?! Yes, I'm completely sure I got sick from the smell of rancid nuts. And no, it had nothing to do with walking 49 blocks in wedge boots. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: #274e13;">Learn. </b></span>There are loads of restaurants in NYC. Some are not good. We tried a vegetarian spot in Chelsea recently. Like the meat-eating, cow hater that I am, I got the veggie burger because I wanted to see how closely it compared to the real thing. That hideous slab of soy paste didn't taste a thing like the real thing. Sidebar: Apparently, you're not supposed to mention MEAT in those places. I tried shouting "BEET" repeatedly in the direction of the staff, but they were on to me. So, anyway, I <i><span style="color: #274e13;">learned</span></i> that some people are awfully serious about their vegetables. While hubs was glad he didn't wear his leather jacket that day, I wildly waved my alligator gloves in the air upon our exit. <br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>Learn</b></span>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaffolding">Scaffolding</a> in NYC is a necessary evil, but it is just so ugly. Why don't they wrap twinkle lights around it? Or how about letting <a href="http://davidblaine.com/">David Blaine</a> do some tricks on it? Or put the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr6H241usvY">Solid Gold dancers</a> up there to shake it after hours. I'm on the topic of scaffold because there is some right across from our apartment. There is never anybody on that scaffolding. And with no dancers or magicians or twinkle lights, it's just downright rude to be there at all. I did <i style="color: #274e13;">learn</i> there are permits of expiry on scaffold here and it appears that the permit for our offending structure expires on April 1st. That had better not be a joke 'cause I'm no fool. Although...I'll take scaffolding over burnt nuts any day. Ooh, and let's add some bloody MEAT to 'em while we're at it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLq-coGCwbpH9a362muZCOJFycZNgKOyepT9e4-vn6SRLhwqY4071IM7nH9Pl5Y702xZBaAVQYMgSIATIN5y7OA5ehLQk_KfWNalresi27eKoAf3uxFevdoAGFObYIiKJzCjuo_kiFN2AC/s1600-h/beets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLq-coGCwbpH9a362muZCOJFycZNgKOyepT9e4-vn6SRLhwqY4071IM7nH9Pl5Y702xZBaAVQYMgSIATIN5y7OA5ehLQk_KfWNalresi27eKoAf3uxFevdoAGFObYIiKJzCjuo_kiFN2AC/s400/beets.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oops. I meant beets. </span></div>paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-91584796927334167112010-02-16T16:25:00.002-05:002010-02-16T16:27:56.114-05:00Love Is An Action<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We tried </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">a new church on Sunday and enjoyed the message from Pastor Brian Moll at <a href="http://www.forefrontchurch.com/">Forefront</a>, which meets in a theatre in Gramercy. Brian began his four-part series called "Falling (and Staying) in Love." The bottom line of the sermon was to make "love" a verb....to love one another, just like Jesus said to do....to put the other person before yourself...to make the other person a priority. </span><br />
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</span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_o4iFyu6qOg4gtvyJ1wL1pS3s84eSDlKY9dWNkOhhxf-1GNlAwDRjWZD1cdoEYaN0Jv4VcUZLIWeZjTamBNKWM9ZbbaH8D-PfKI1r_ce22FxF13eCPdi8FahAEXv-ftW-OTx7YbJB_GSy/s1600-h/fallinginlove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_o4iFyu6qOg4gtvyJ1wL1pS3s84eSDlKY9dWNkOhhxf-1GNlAwDRjWZD1cdoEYaN0Jv4VcUZLIWeZjTamBNKWM9ZbbaH8D-PfKI1r_ce22FxF13eCPdi8FahAEXv-ftW-OTx7YbJB_GSy/s400/fallinginlove.jpg" width="270" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sounds easy. But is this what we do? I contend that we are we mostly a vain, selfish people. I know I can be. I don't think we mean for it to be this way. I believe it's a natural reaction. An act of self-defense, self-preservation, or self-promotion. Whatever the reason, it's not attractive. Yet, it is very difficult to let go of the ugly little "self." </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I feel disappointed that "me, me, me" is our most comfortable stance when life is about so much more than "me" or "you". It's about "us" as couples, families, teams, nations. If you stop and think about when you feel happiest in life, it's probably when you're doing something for someone else. Isn't it a joy to bring joy to the lives of others? Then why do we suck so bad at love?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you'd like to view the message by Brian Moll, it's right <a href="http://www.forefrontchurch.com/fallingandstayinginlovepart1">here</a>. Maybe, like me, you will start to think about how you can change things up in your relationships. Could there be hope for successful marriages, close families, and dare I say it...peace on earth?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Be good. Be blessed.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-89427435009207613262010-02-13T13:15:00.035-05:002010-02-14T08:57:10.475-05:00Welcome to NYC<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As a tribute to the upcoming holiday of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">LOVE</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">, this is just going to be a post of loves: things I've seen or done or people I've run into or general things that have made me happy since the move to NYC</span>.</i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">LOVE.</span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Jenna Torres </span></b></span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b></b>Singer/songwriter. Amazing wonder woman, talented writer, beautiful spirit. Introduction by the one and only </span><a href="http://myspace.com/scotsaxsongs"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Scot Sax</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">. So pleased we will be working together, Jenna! Find out more about Jenna </span><a href="http://www.jennatorres.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">here</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">. </span></span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
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</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQL9fIao91IqVRbcJKy2XX0F6x5e67ie9OymrvDv8hwnKFSEVUgi33b1lYQQgL8e0HTa_2gRzzBroqMlB5vXcyDwVHFtHHBVDh1V2VRDoKQXY1xBilotEc6QIexXBW159c-C6kAgD1ZUcP/s1600/kitty+cat" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQL9fIao91IqVRbcJKy2XX0F6x5e67ie9OymrvDv8hwnKFSEVUgi33b1lYQQgL8e0HTa_2gRzzBroqMlB5vXcyDwVHFtHHBVDh1V2VRDoKQXY1xBilotEc6QIexXBW159c-C6kAgD1ZUcP/s200/kitty+cat" width="137" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">LOVE.</span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pipsqueak Chapeau</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I grabbed one of these alpaca wool kitty cat hats in light pink for my little girl from this </span><a href="http://www.pip-squeakchapeau.com/shop/kids/cat-hat"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">designer</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> in Brooklyn. This little hat turns heads. Lots of beautifully-knitted clothing and accessories for both kids and adults.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">LOVE.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Eclipse NYC</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My new friend, Simon, from Eclipse NYC measured, ordered, and installed shades within one week for my large and largely unprivate bedroom windows. Nice guy, great work, and very affordable. </span><a href="http://www.eclipsenyc.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Get in touch</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> if you need privacy or just want a bit of drama. </span></span></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dYZpyJTh4Fcj_4nXXXOapMosryiQdFdta2uPIo3VybJhD6N80dXEj8TDvlf14Ryf7MQ5hWFTPXGPLr0Q5HqIILcR5zbkwUTZIlMDGomPnV-_E-L4tmQdmEENVwnYWrBYC3ARPi5ejAOv/s1600/piano+hoist+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dYZpyJTh4Fcj_4nXXXOapMosryiQdFdta2uPIo3VybJhD6N80dXEj8TDvlf14Ryf7MQ5hWFTPXGPLr0Q5HqIILcR5zbkwUTZIlMDGomPnV-_E-L4tmQdmEENVwnYWrBYC3ARPi5ejAOv/s400/piano+hoist+2.jpg" width="223" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">LOVE.</span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Auer's Moving & Rigging</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">These <a href="http://www.auersmoving.com/">dudes</a> are studs. If you want to hoist something through your window, book 'em. A team arrived yesterday to bring the piano into the new apartment. Perfect execution. Not a scratch. And super nice to boot.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">LOVE.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Doma Cafe & Gallery</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">In the West Village on Perry Street. Great vibes. Check it <a href="http://www.nycnosh.com/?p=312">out</a>.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">LOVE</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Gramercy Park Hotel</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Speaking of drama...after a night out or if you just need a wee little break during the day, stop in and have a seat in the lobby of this celeb-chic hotel. The piped-in aromatherapy, grand fireplace, and people-watching opps make it a worthwhile, "take a load off" kind of <a href="http://www.gramercyparkhotel.com/lobby.html">place</a>. You never know who you might run into...Julia, Uma, or in my case, "weird, bipolar lady" nodding off on the opposite end of the couch. Just another typical day in NYC.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i></i><i></i></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"></span>paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-12986154176597313552010-01-22T09:30:00.000-05:002010-01-22T09:30:07.092-05:00Life's Five: Entry 20We are moving! More to come soon...paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-7911089785981973292009-12-28T09:48:00.058-05:002009-12-29T09:05:09.261-05:00Life's Five: Entry 19<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><i>Live.</i> Hubs and I watched<i> It's a Wonderful Life (IAWL)</i> last night for the first time in years. Who doesn't love that movie? Its theme never grows tired for me: <i>the hopes and dreams we THINK we have for our lives may not be the ones we're really MEANT to have, but we have to pay attention to WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE to grasp that. </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9PWxyeeOqHaJjKE_VZSB7026pLtVs4VA0iMXa02_PnCM1u_0kD1ShklWKgCiIBVMfRPs7BZQkIroIWF3b7H4hPE_pe9UBvgHcTx1b4sjjz96n0SXwZ8ZQYIKXtwi4Fp8gvfVx_foJl43/s1600-h/iawl" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9PWxyeeOqHaJjKE_VZSB7026pLtVs4VA0iMXa02_PnCM1u_0kD1ShklWKgCiIBVMfRPs7BZQkIroIWF3b7H4hPE_pe9UBvgHcTx1b4sjjz96n0SXwZ8ZQYIKXtwi4Fp8gvfVx_foJl43/s200/iawl" /></a>See, we set up these big ideas in our heads, just like George Bailey did, of what we are going to do with our lives, where we're going to go, how famous we'll be or how much money we'll make. These grand ideas (or delusions) never really allow us to BE HERE in the moment. We're always THERE thinking about how we're going to get it, become it, make it, taste it, buy it, decorate it, see it, slay it, etc. When we're THERE we don't sincerely respect and appreciate all that we have RIGHT NOW...before us...for what it is...in all its glory. And that attitude assures us that we will NEVER GET THERE. Why? Because tomorrow is made up of everything you put into today. If you plant a disrespectful, unappreciative seed today by looking at the present as a means to an end, you will only reap the same kind of harvest tomorrow. Plant seeds of joy, contentment, and gratitude instead. Because it is from those things, my friends, that dreams are made.<br />
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<blockquote><i>"Most people are prisoners, thinking only about the future of living in the past. They are not in the present, and the present is where everything begins." </i>Carlos Santana<br />
</blockquote><br />
<i>Laugh.</i> <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/dave-barry/story/1397654.html">Dave Barry's Year in Review: 2009</a><br />
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<i>Learn.</i> <b>CAUTION: Picking up balls of wadded-up wrapping paper can be hazardous to your health.</b> After spending three hours in the emergency room yesterday thinking I had a kidney stone, when I was really having horrendous back spasms that made labor seem like a paper cut, I have decided I should start working out a bit more. Well...more than once every quarter. On Saturday after Christmas, while simply bending over to clean up wrapping paper weighing the same as, oh, say, an air bubble, I tweaked something, I guess. So, after my back is all healed up, it's back to the gym for me, soon after which I hope to be lifting paper towel rolls and cans of beans with ease...and without an ambulance.<br />
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<i>Like.</i> I like it when you give a Christmas present and the recipient really likes it. And you know they really like it because they put it on immediately, or better still, they put it to use when you're not even looking. That happened this year with this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/listmania/fullview/R3SVO8AGFIW08I/ref=cm_lm_pthnk_view?ie=UTF8&lm_bb=">cake pan</a> and its 13-year-old-pastry-chef-in-the-making-recipient. I <i>really</i> like that cake pan. It makes these cute, little, miniature three-tiered cakes. I showed great restraint by not buying one for myself. Maybe my little pastry chef friend will read this blog and bring me one of the cakes instead...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwY53riTw8iE04faZFFcnRvozUh-4UgSUZ4f6lK2lIZNmxORL_w4JtFXbW92QSBhpJr2UEhQW-oFSL8567iYcL4PJ6cGy7MwXUFwAEYj40SDjwEywIo_08orEWmM4W7ur-fyqDWGjgrnPC/s1600-h/Community_Circle_Links_logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwY53riTw8iE04faZFFcnRvozUh-4UgSUZ4f6lK2lIZNmxORL_w4JtFXbW92QSBhpJr2UEhQW-oFSL8567iYcL4PJ6cGy7MwXUFwAEYj40SDjwEywIo_08orEWmM4W7ur-fyqDWGjgrnPC/s200/Community_Circle_Links_logo.gif" /></a><i>Love. </i>I love business peeps who give back to their communities. It's really the way it should be. Just like <i>IAWL's</i> George Bailey and his old Building & Loan, my money is in your house, and your money helped grow my business, and really we're all in this thing together, right? So let's keep the circle in motion by GIVING.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZ3syECRyDW-dtXVud7KYFnVOaaWdDCG4O5XJervfZLUXHPOJk6PIwvypo9QnO7Vf3VlHUNqBTVa7ZI9qJq730FKidfU2erTaXgztg7C7S8pb0Jg_smLKqrBn0s3UqKXjuou_5AYncBAM/s1600-h/kalp+baby" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZ3syECRyDW-dtXVud7KYFnVOaaWdDCG4O5XJervfZLUXHPOJk6PIwvypo9QnO7Vf3VlHUNqBTVa7ZI9qJq730FKidfU2erTaXgztg7C7S8pb0Jg_smLKqrBn0s3UqKXjuou_5AYncBAM/s200/kalp+baby" /></a>That's exactly what my talented friend, Kristen Kalp, of Essential Imagery in Wayne, PA is doing. A Main Line Philadelphia Children's Photographer, Kristen started a project called GIVING IS AWESOME in 2008 that gave back to her community by offering free heirloom photography to a needy family. Her gesture set off a domino effect, leading to hundreds of photographers joining in the effort across the country and the WORLD! This year, Kalp and her photographer friends are repeating the sounding joy and even more folks are jumping on board.<br />
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You still have a chance to nominate a deserving family for Kristen's prize (deadline is Dec 31 for her) if your nominated family lives in her area, but if not, you can go to GIVING IS AWESOME's <a href="http://www.givingisawesome.com/">website</a> and find a photog that makes geographic sense for you/your nominated family. <br />
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To read more about the project, check out this <a href="http://www.mainlinemedianews.com/articles/2009/12/26/main_line_suburban_life/life/doc4b314b6193de4406850151.txt">feature</a> written by Cheryl Allison of Main Line Media News. You can also view Kristen's beautiful work on her website, <a href="http://essentialimagery.com/">essentialimagery.com.</a>paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-3525197106705141942009-12-15T09:06:00.005-05:002009-12-16T09:39:58.100-05:00Life's Five: Entry 18<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcO2zU0mnUyxmvLfK5eiNyhIS1hpa4mSMlO7UAGh4d4ZViZkdrFIimf3UZL33hvfUGIQAXt0QwCm8XKvv70NDkbInQ17AVScHKYmaGmPvgqdVDnDlPwxDgO9hyR3PEnVlUHylisaUi8dc/s1600-h/cocoa+by+fire" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcO2zU0mnUyxmvLfK5eiNyhIS1hpa4mSMlO7UAGh4d4ZViZkdrFIimf3UZL33hvfUGIQAXt0QwCm8XKvv70NDkbInQ17AVScHKYmaGmPvgqdVDnDlPwxDgO9hyR3PEnVlUHylisaUi8dc/s200/cocoa+by+fire" /></a><i>Live. </i>Hot chocolate by the fire is one of my favorite activities. Add friends, a movie or a book to the mix, and I'm in heaven. I like mine with whipped cream but marshmallows will do in a pinch. Since I mentioned "pinch" I can tell you I've definitely felt pinched for time lately. Now only a few weeks away from our move to NYC, I believe there will be quite a shift here at Life's Five. I expect to be blogging a lot more often. I'm sure I'll want to share all my new excitement with you once the crazy dies down. Maybe you'll come see me over the winter months and we can share the fun over that nice cup of hot chocolate I mentioned. Check out the top NYC places we could go for cocoa, listed in one of my favorite blogs today: <a href="http://mommypoppins.com/newyorkcitykids/ultimate-nyc-hot-chocolate-crawl">Top Spots for Hot Chocolate in NYC</a><i> </i><br />
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<i>Laugh.</i> Yesterday morning my sick daughter, having had fever the entire night before, decided to let me find her in her room playing dead with her eyes wide open. I did not find it funny because I didn't even know she knew that game. I freaked, especially when she continued to lie still for a few seconds after I freaked. When she decided to snap out of the dead-deer-in-the-road-look, her expression turned into a smile. I was relieved she felt good enough to play a prank, but then I had to ask her, "Why would you do that?!" She said, "Because I thought it would be funny!" I gave her a tickle and laughed along with her...after I told her to NEVER DO THAT AGAIN.<i> </i><br />
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<i>Learn. </i>Never buy energy-saving Christmas lights unless your theme is "Nightmare Before Christmas."<br />
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<i>Like. </i>I'm just now sorting out the "Listmania" stuff at Amazon.com. I made my first list of recommended items on there today. Admittedly, one item hardly makes a list, but I think it's a pretty cool item. I hope our nephew likes it too. Since I'm posting it on my blog, it's good that he can't read yet. Well, even if he could read, I'm pretty sure I have no 5-year old male readers in my visiting demographic. For that matter, I'm not sure I have any readers in my visiting demographic. :p <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/listmania/fullview/R3SVO8AGFIW08I/ref=cm_pdp_lm_title_1">Stuff I Found That You Might Like</a><br />
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<i>Love.</i> I adore the Christmas season, the true meaning of Christmas, the lights, the friends, the cooking. I just absolutely love, love, love this time of year. In the midst of all the schedules, parties, deadlines, cleaning, and wrapping, I hope you will find time to sit by the fire with your family. Drink a hot cup of cocoa. Read a Christmas story to your kids. Pet the dog. Kiss your man or kiss your girl. And just let the pine needles drop from the tree to the floor and STAY THERE. You can get them tomorrow. Suck out every drop of goodness from this delicious month and you will be better for it in the new year.paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-81919985677964582842009-11-30T18:42:00.002-05:002009-11-30T18:57:22.114-05:00Life's Five: Entry 17<i>Live.</i> I lost a good friend late last week to pulmonary fibrosis (<a href="http://pulmonaryfibrosis.org/">pulmonaryfibrosis.org</a>). Too young to go, too sick to stay, I'll miss you, Stu. You were a good man, good doctor, and a good father. I enjoyed knowing you. So glad I got one last chance to talk to you before you left us. You will be missed. <i>(People aren't around forever. If somebody's been on your mind lately, call them, email them, stop by, or send that note.)</i><i> </i><br />
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<i>Laugh. </i>One sermon I think this Mom will never forget: "Dear Lord," the minister began, with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face. "Without you, we are but dust." He would have continued but at that moment my very obedient daughter (who was listening!) leaned over to me and asked quite audibly in her shrill little girl voice, <i>"Mom, what is butt dust?"</i><br />
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<i>Learn.</i> I like to think I'm just a little creative. It's fun to make something out of nothing, isn't it? Whether it's taglines, lyrics, clay, or paint...true creativity occurs when what's inside of you is simply turned inside out. I am amazed at this video. It started with the composer looking at a photograph in a way no one else had before. Do you need to look at things in a fresh, new way? I know I do at times. Super duper really very much extra medium wish I'd thought of this first: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoM4ZZJ2UrM">Birds on Wires </a><i> </i><br />
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<i>Like.</i> Great blog for mommies in NYC. I'm gonna need you, <a href="http://www.mommypoppins.com/">Mommy Poppins</a>!<i> </i><br />
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<i>Love.</i> Could you live off the grid if you had to? <a href="http://www.details.com/culture-trends/career-and-money/200907/meet-the-man-who-lives-on-zero-dollars?currentPage=4&printable=true">Modern Day Cave Dweller</a>paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-6977292342646904022009-11-12T12:50:00.008-05:002010-01-26T01:14:14.420-05:00Life's Five: Entry 16<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Live. </i>We found an apartment!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Laugh. </i>A converted industrial loft, it is virtually soundproof so we can laugh as loud as we want to. I'm envisioning lots of belly laughs...the ones you can't control.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Love.</i> We love the space. We love the building. We love the neighborhood. We love that the search is over. And I love that I can start functioning again. I am in need of a shower. Exercise wouldn't hurt either. But more importantly, my fun Hunter rainboots arrive today. (I admit these boots have nothing to do with this blog post, but fun new boots don't require an introduction.)<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Moving + Loft + Preschool sorted + Hunter Rainboots =<br />
Big Happy Butterflies<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is the living room area of our loft. The huge windows make me giddy.<br />
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My new rainboots are being delivered today...ahhh. (Ooh. I think FedEx is at the door now!)<br />
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<i>Be</i><i> good. Be blessed. And please...write it down. </i><br />
</div>paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-15730762401322607882009-11-05T11:28:00.000-05:002009-11-05T11:28:58.727-05:00Life's Five: Entry 15<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Live. "Our life is frittered away by detail...simplicity simplicity, simplicity."</span><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Henry Thoreau<br />
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Laugh. "Dad always thought laughter was the best medicine, which I guess is why several of us died of tuberculosis. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jack Handey, "Deep Thoughts" (Saturday Night Live)<br />
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Learn. "There is no oil without squeezing the olives; no wine without pressing the grapes; no fragrance without crushing the flower. So when you are pressed, God is just bringing out the best in you." </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Author Unknown<br />
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Like. "Getting people to like you is merely the other side of liking them.” </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Norman Vincent Peale<br />
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Love. "It is one of the severest tests of friendship to tell your friend his faults. So to love a man that you cannot bear to see a stain upon him, and to speak painful truth through loving words, that is friendship."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ~ Henry Ward Beecher</span><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's the little <a href="http://www.cass.city.ac.uk/media/story_9_1148_175709.html">article</a> with a link to the video of the entries. </span><br />
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</div>paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-36574966566432288822009-10-27T08:29:00.000-04:002009-10-27T08:29:19.279-04:00Life's Five: Entry 13<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Live</i>. Waking up before the sun. Listening to a morning rain that sounds like a Hawaiian waterfall. Feeling the rush of words race from my fingertips. Thinking how nice it would be to have a cup of hot tea in my hands...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Laugh.</i> Still in bed, all warm and cozy with my little girl who sleepily shuffled into my room at 5AM, I hear the snap of a mousetrap downstairs in our old farmhouse kitchen. In the stillness after the snap, the mousetrap lurches across the hardwood floor...then pauses. Lurches...then pauses. Then it finally scrapes to a halt. And this is the explanation for why I have no hot tea in my hands.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Learn</i>. I love photography, photoshop, <a href="http://www.photojojo.com/">photojojo</a>, photo shoots, etc. Today I downloaded the ShakeItPhoto app, which adds a Polaroid look to your iPhone pics. I love the vintage feel and can almost smell that Polaroid smell. For only 99 cents, this app will add a nostalgic touch to your current library photos or new ones. The scoop on this app came from my friend </span><a href="http://www.essentialimagery.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kristen, of Essential Imagery,</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (only the best child photographer on the planet!) </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Check out my first iPhone Polaroid:</i></span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like.</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Last night I got "Boo'ed". I have never heard of being "Boo'ed" but some little friends brought a bag of goodies by my house that was filled with candies; cookies with orange, sprinkly icing; stickers; a blinking pumpkin necklace; and a can of silly string, which was tested by me for ummm...safety reasons. One can never be too safe, especially near Halloween. Also inside the bag was a little white ghost, which I am supposed to hang on my door to let my neighbors know I have been "boo'ed". My brief, according to a poem inside, is now to find three other houses that haven't been "boo'ed" and do the same to them. When husband came home and checked out our "Boo Bag" he said, "This is a pyramid scheme." Then he promptly reached for the cookies. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like the idea of reaching out to three people. It probably won't be a Halloween tradition for me, but the pyramid (multi-level marketing) concept of giving is a great way to build community. Connect with people and show them you care. And by asking them to do the same for someone else, they will have to find a little time in an otherwise busy schedule--or find a little courage inside their cowardly lion--and make a new friend. Pretty soon, it'll be friends all around. Who could <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&defl=en&q=define:boo&ei=6NzmStOWIMrDlAfLxZGFCA&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title&ved=0CAoQkAE"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BOO</span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> that?!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love. The big news around the house this week was the release of my sweet little EP, <b><span style="color: #666666;">"Bite Of The Sky"</span></b> on <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=336512202&s=143441">iTunes!</a> Seriously, folks, I'm just a girl. But now I'm a girl with a downloadable CD on iTunes. I'd <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=336512202&s=143441">LOVE</a> it if you'd check it out, grab a copy and <i>maybe...even tell three of your friends???</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Be good. Be blessed. And please...write it down.</i></span>paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-16510377797161662042009-10-22T18:43:00.000-04:002009-10-22T18:43:36.332-04:00Life's Five: Entry 12<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7dm1jOfhx-FK2EeZUd6VEyeQuc60VUzzQdSarM8TKhI8c6YjfjDiihXHCKjB4wt2pyH-uWnj31s4BbdrTCKNNXIb5zyr2u2Deaz2oUArufPfNEdT7cNpyXNx8-jN7VGM0QqOTUV5rd_q/s1600-h/album+cover.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7dm1jOfhx-FK2EeZUd6VEyeQuc60VUzzQdSarM8TKhI8c6YjfjDiihXHCKjB4wt2pyH-uWnj31s4BbdrTCKNNXIb5zyr2u2Deaz2oUArufPfNEdT7cNpyXNx8-jN7VGM0QqOTUV5rd_q/s320/album+cover.gif" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>My EP is now </b></span></i><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="background-color: black;"></span>available on iTunes!</b></span></i><br />
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</div>paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-17743317418430489042009-10-15T19:28:00.000-04:002009-10-15T19:28:36.018-04:00Life's Five: Entry 11<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Bermuda Trip, October 2009</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tXHid1AnTM0ERzFlvvvarnEo_2RyKF58shOvS_jcwW4Ryx_zWAxX8SR2lgX0-1BTZ9xXFeHR2-Zek1cOixEJ-Vo7FL8p0WncpUZdug9nJvPd4etsFxU131a3Ae8TxW7MWdLre8y5ZBh2/s1600-h/live.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tXHid1AnTM0ERzFlvvvarnEo_2RyKF58shOvS_jcwW4Ryx_zWAxX8SR2lgX0-1BTZ9xXFeHR2-Zek1cOixEJ-Vo7FL8p0WncpUZdug9nJvPd4etsFxU131a3Ae8TxW7MWdLre8y5ZBh2/s320/live.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Live.</i></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(Spa pedicure. All-over-cure.)</i></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDhcoOztgkG7EvIaOQqfRaTiEzvPwMywauNqR3-lJZfvUuaJ59THQd56q9y1Rf9RwXO7Snhx_uKOVJCNVG4RkD3eso0SE1ePwjl4P-Vh3f1N3jR3wKS-NqF4gCb71SJbaPTmv56Z2I7-8/s1600-h/laugh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDhcoOztgkG7EvIaOQqfRaTiEzvPwMywauNqR3-lJZfvUuaJ59THQd56q9y1Rf9RwXO7Snhx_uKOVJCNVG4RkD3eso0SE1ePwjl4P-Vh3f1N3jR3wKS-NqF4gCb71SJbaPTmv56Z2I7-8/s320/laugh.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Laugh.</i></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(Chicken Litter. Kitten Leader.)</i></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuWus3jg0mSk9Kta66-djto_BfHKyRYAV6gTE1YAiIFOf5mQKQnuojweys2uPTvX3FjRR7YRKGOivkaE9Xw0mG1oB1Ig41oLqd-7qk2N0Qy5IM1QO8K9nSt5OBZ91bwLf4ydHNhp9akk2/s1600-h/learn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuWus3jg0mSk9Kta66-djto_BfHKyRYAV6gTE1YAiIFOf5mQKQnuojweys2uPTvX3FjRR7YRKGOivkaE9Xw0mG1oB1Ig41oLqd-7qk2N0Qy5IM1QO8K9nSt5OBZ91bwLf4ydHNhp9akk2/s320/learn.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Learn.</i></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(The Unfinished Church. Many meanings.)</i></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg710fut-bLr-npt66Y-2wcJn3EZjzqPSRP1MA6dRWXEdgwGfTtquoSFq_XPixEW254jzwI0XthyXIV-PjVTiorlfAEEvqYU7fkk3xOWtQW7wLzZWOIj4nfQhbNOvCGeZyA2DPgSlSLA-zK/s1600-h/like.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg710fut-bLr-npt66Y-2wcJn3EZjzqPSRP1MA6dRWXEdgwGfTtquoSFq_XPixEW254jzwI0XthyXIV-PjVTiorlfAEEvqYU7fkk3xOWtQW7wLzZWOIj4nfQhbNOvCGeZyA2DPgSlSLA-zK/s320/like.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Like.</i></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(10 second timer. Infinite view.)</i></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNw2Z7n8v7d4TRDeqE3bsYEallTtJjRglCYW7m7rvpDv1uhPfxO_6A4_ISpDcnEBJaNQFhpjFMuZ9V7ADcW0oZC61T4UpPc8XTxl-nkKxC3PIUDDr0ZxK3DJDhwt9B2VV8weLAlhDkuwe4/s1600-h/love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNw2Z7n8v7d4TRDeqE3bsYEallTtJjRglCYW7m7rvpDv1uhPfxO_6A4_ISpDcnEBJaNQFhpjFMuZ9V7ADcW0oZC61T4UpPc8XTxl-nkKxC3PIUDDr0ZxK3DJDhwt9B2VV8weLAlhDkuwe4/s320/love.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Love.</i></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(Little footprints. Lasting impression.)</i></span><br />
</div>paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-4980179245429107752009-10-13T22:52:00.003-04:002009-10-13T22:59:08.933-04:00Life's Five: Entry 10<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCc0Hgka6k7QTuhO-zvw0qLNvNOIsQrfQwL4SAzUKXxcY_9MwhawB769PNVxYuGZN6pauIyGJUob22X5En5uOj1PHlEJzarGA6EyUKWOQ3DU8OT-5AFmQ_9UsH951vDRHsU05GRycg3f11/s1600-h/shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCc0Hgka6k7QTuhO-zvw0qLNvNOIsQrfQwL4SAzUKXxcY_9MwhawB769PNVxYuGZN6pauIyGJUob22X5En5uOj1PHlEJzarGA6EyUKWOQ3DU8OT-5AFmQ_9UsH951vDRHsU05GRycg3f11/s400/shoes.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My New Red Shoes: </span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Live. Laugh. Learn. Like. Love.</i></span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-style: normal;">That is all.</span></i></span><br />
</div>paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-52349773149799471932009-10-01T10:53:00.003-04:002009-10-01T11:16:03.050-04:00Life's Five: Entry 9<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Live.</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> A group of women come together in a stunning NYC apartment on a sparkling Saturday morning to share, listen, learn, and support each other. There is a collision. There are sparks. It is beautiful. The women feel more alive after plugging into each other's energy, dreams, and challenges. They are grateful to Danielle LaPorte of <a href="http://whitehottruth.com/">whitehottruth.com</a> for her gifted insight and for bringing them all together. The best part is...<i>the story didn't end there.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;">Laugh.</span><br />
<blockquote><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3-year-old Daughter:<i> Can I eat breakfast with the Barbie spoon?</i></span><br />
</blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me:<i> I don't think we have a Barbie spoon. What does it look like?</i></span><br />
</blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3-year-old Daughter:<i> It has Barbies on it.</i></span><br />
</blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me: <i>Right. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Learn.</i> I learn a lot from my friends. If you're not learning anything from your friends, you need to get some new ones. Today, I'm honored to share with you three new friends who also happen to be creative giants by the way:</span><br />
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<ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Aidan Donnelley Rowley.</b> Author / glad she escaped the law firm / wow hostess with fab apartment / book coming out in the Summer. <a href="http://ivyleagueinsecurities.com/">http://ivyleagueinsecurities.com/</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Michelle Ward.</b> Life coach to creative peeps / giant smiley face / energy bubbling over / left acting behind to really make a difference. <a href="http://whenigrowupcoach.com/">http://whenigrowupcoach.com/</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sarah Burningham.</b> Totally rad lit chic / author with something deep bubbling underneath / publicity expert with great specs. <a href="http://sarahburningham.com/">http://sarahburningham.com/</a> <a href="http://littlebirdpublicity.com/">http://littlebirdpublicity.com/</a></span></li>
</ul><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://littlebirdpublicity.com/"></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Like.<span style="font-style: normal;"> I like dreams. I'm really into them actually. I sometimes have dreams that warn me of impending danger or reveal a truth. I believe God wants to speak to us through dreams but I don't believe all dreams are from Him. For instance, last night I dreamed Beyoncé and Jay Z got married in my backyard. No one told me about the wedding until all the guests arrived. Guests like the Backstreet Boys and the Pope. When I saw the guests under the oak tree in the backyard, I ran inside to clean the house. A huge downpour came and forced 100 guests into my house. I gave up on tidying up and went to my bedroom to chill. That's when Beyoncé appeared. She walked into my bedroom and we chatted like old friends. She showed me one of her booty dances and then rejoined the wedding party. (That girl is in </span>really<span style="font-style: normal;"> good shape.) I have no idea why this party was at my house. And I don't know why the Pope was there, but he was there and he was very tired. By the time he showed up in my dream I was sitting on the couch watching everybody throw beer bottles on the floor. I looked over and there was the Pope sitting on the other end of the couch falling asleep. My good friend Scot was walking around with a Radio Shack camera (do they even make cameras?) taking pictures of people. He wanted to take a pic of the Pope falling asleep on the couch but instead of asking the Pope for permission, he intentionally dropped the camera on the Pope to wake him up. The Pope didn't like that very much and wouldn't let Scot take a picture after that. I suggested to the Pope that he move to my bedroom to get some better rest. And that was pretty much the end of the dream. <span style="font-weight: bold;">I'm thinking...when a dream invites the Pope into your bedroom...it's probably time to wake up anyway.</span></span></span></span><br />
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</span>Love.</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I am free to announce that we are moving to NYC soon. I love that we are getting a new opportunity, but I don't love telling all my friends here in Philadelphia that we are leaving. We have had plenty of experience with moving around so we're used to it and actually enjoy going to a new place. It's not fun if you're the ones left behind, though, and I realize that. Likewise, I share with my friends that "The going is easy. It's the leaving that's hard." But I look forward to many sleepovers and shopping weekends and cultural escapades with our visitors. We are already planning for your stay: <span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=102&f=4680">http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=102&f=4680</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Be good. Be blessed. And please...write it down.</i></span>paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-48042995504813702262009-09-21T14:43:00.001-04:002009-09-22T00:00:14.458-04:00Life's Five: Entry 8<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Things have been really crazy around here lately, so I'm a little behind on my Life's Five, but I'm still keeping track of most of the messages around me. This past weekend I was blessed with the offer to stay in a treasured friend's wonderful city apartment, which she uses as a retreat from the suburbs. Based in Center City, Philadelphia the apartment was close to restaurants and parks that I love. I invited husband to come along Friday night for our anniversary while fab friends of mine watched daughter. The next day we picked up daughter and went back to the city with her. We loved that the <i>Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show</i> was taking place in the park for the duration of the weekend. Exhibiting around the perimeter of the park were hundreds of artists presenting thousands of original pieces. In the center of the park were the student artists. I found several pieces there that I really enjoyed and could afford. It's always a good thing to support and encourage young people in their craft too.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My post today has been inspired by my weekend in the city of brotherly love... <br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Live. </i>City life is not for everybody, but I happen to really dig it. After living in London for four years, I developed a lifestyle, though, that doesn't translate well to non-city life. In the city you pop out to grab a coffee on the corner. You look forward to picking up two or three fabulous newspapers that you pour over for hours in between Sunday naps. At any moment you might go out to a new restaurant, see a show, or meet for drinks at a museum. When you move out of the city you have to plan...everything. Being in Philly this weekend gave me a break from having to plan anything. I got to do the pop-outs, try new restaurants, and drool over beautiful art. There were other little gems too: a table of eight girls laughing as they dined in an alley next to a restaurant; a sweet, pink house with red glass cylinders above its top floor windows; a pair of historic, black-iron, horsehead hitching posts to tie up your pony. I really enjoyed myself. Visit a city near you soon and pop out of your daily routine. But don't bring your pony. City people nowadays tend to frown on that. <br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Laugh.</i> My biggest laugh came when husband recounted our experience at <b>Pico de Gallo</b>, a cozy Mexican place on South Street. Our server was adorable but so new that I had to point it out to him that I knew he was new so he would calm down. Husband thinks the restaurant manager pulled him off the street an hour earlier because they needed an extra hand. No more than 21 with wild, dark curly hair, and wearing a baseball cap, our darling little server dropped glasses, spilled ice, had no idea what we were ordering, didn't know the drinks, and couldn't pronounce the words on the labels at the bar. He had a really fun personality though. That's entertaining. And that beats a perfectly dull server any day.<i> </i><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Learn.</i> Saturday morning I ate Eggs Benedict at one of my favorite Philly restaurants, <b>Parc</b>. I sat and wondered if "Benedict" had anything to do with Benedict Arnold for betraying one's waistline, but I learned that the name is simply a matter of a suggested recipe by one of three people named Benedict who claim to have created the dish. I'm going with the earliest account. In my book, if you "tweet" it first, it's yours. From Wikipedia,<br />
</div><blockquote style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"In an interview in the "Talk of the Town" column of <i>The New Yorker</i> in 1942, the year before his death, <b>Lemuel</b> <b>Benedict,</b> a retired Wall Street stock broker, claimed that he had wandered into the Waldorf Hotel in 1894 and, hoping to find a cure for his morning hangover, ordered "buttered toast, poached eggs, crisp bacon and a hooker of hollandaise." Oscar Tschirky, the famed maître d'hôtel, was so impressed with the dish that he put it on the breakfast and luncheon menus but substituted ham and a toasted English muffin for the bacon and toast."<br />
</blockquote><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Like.</i> I really, really liked the work of <b>Sarah Pollock</b> and <b>Hanneke de Neve</b> this weekend. That is all I want to say. Art doesn't need a bunch of puffed-up elaboration. <br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.sarahpollock.com/">http://www.sarahpollock.com/</a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.hannekedeneve.com/works.aspx">http://www.hannekedeneve.com/works.aspx</a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Love.</i> I love food. I love chocolate. I love food covered in chocolate. This weekend at the Rittenhouse art show I stopped by <b>John & Kira's</b> chocolate booth. Chocolate is of course an art form, but I was so surprised to see the actual JOHN of <b>John & Kira's</b> handing out his delicate samples of delightfulness. I shared with John that I discovered <b>John & Kira's</b> a few years ago when I moved to Philadelphia. They're the best chocolates I have ever eaten. They are filled with a variety of flavored chocolate ganache, including real Garden Mint (fresh mint, not peppermint), Bergamot, Lavender Honey (my personal favorites), and more. The ingredients are sourced from local and family farms, and the packaging is as gorgeous as the chocolates. I especially love the Lovebugs and Bees collection. (And shipping is now only $4.95 flat rate. Good move, guys! xo)<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.johnandkiras.com/SHOP/Spring-Gifts/12-Delicate-Caramel-Bees_2">http://www.johnandkiras.com/SHOP/Spring-Gifts/12-Delicate-Caramel-Bees_2</a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Other links:<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.rittenhousesquarefineartshow.org/">http://www.rittenhousesquarefineartshow.org/</a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.parc-restaurant.com/">http://www.parc-restaurant.com/</a><br />
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</div><i style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Be good. Be blessed. And please...write it down.</i>paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-76775013849062467122009-09-16T23:07:00.002-04:002009-09-16T23:08:05.859-04:00Life's Five: Entry 7<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Live.</i> "Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music." ~ John Milton (English Poet, Author) </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Milton">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Milton</a> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<i>Laugh.</i> "We cannot really love anyone with with whom we never laugh" ~ Agnes Repplier, (American Essayist) </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<a href="http://www.library.upenn.edu/collections/rbm/mss/repplier/repplierbio.html">http://www.library.upenn.edu/collections/rbm/mss/repplier/repplierbio.html</a> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<i>Learn.</i> <span style="font-family: georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;">"<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">People learn something every day, and a lot of times it's that what they learned the day before was wrong." ~ Bill Vaughan (American Columnist) </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_E._Vaughan">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_E._Vaughan</a></span></span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<i>Like.</i> "What is a friend? A single soul in two bodies."<i> ~ </i>Aristotle (Philosopher, after Socrates and Plato) </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Love.</span></i> "Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius." ~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Amazing) </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozarthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozart">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozarthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozart</a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div>paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-42156997124875029422009-09-14T22:34:00.000-04:002009-09-14T22:34:05.117-04:00Life's Five: Entry 6<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Live.</i> A friend of mine has a play running as part of the Philly Fringe Festival. When I told him I was going to come see it, he hesitated. When I asked what was wrong, he said, "There's a lot of talk about sex in the play. I'm just warning you." I laughed. He was protecting me because he knows I'm a Jesus Fan. I appreciated his concern. I guess it gets pretty raunchy. Still, as the mother of a 3-year old, I'm pretty sure I know what sex is, folks. Being a Christian does not make me a prude or dead to the world. Actually, it makes me feel really alive. Anybody else out there think they have to be perfectly prudish to get to heaven?<i> </i><br />
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<i>Laugh. </i>Last Friday, 9/11, I celebrated my birthday at World Cafe Live in downtown Philadelphia. One of my favorite music venues, World Cafe was hosting the "Philly Song Shuffle" which consisted of "four minute sets, four second set changes, fifty artists on one stage." I enjoyed discovering a few new artists as well as seeing my friend Alfred perform--my amazing cellist friend--from the Alfred James Band. Most of the music was folk-centric. One guy sang about strangling his Betty Lou, and he went into detail about how he would do it. Another man sang about the naked guy at his gym, which I found pretty funny. I probably laughed the hardest at myself when a man by the name of Abe Dubb came on stage. I read his name as "Ah-Bay." Then I thought about it for a minute: "Ah-Bay" singing folk music? I don't think so. Anyway, I chuckled to myself. We live in a land of diversity. And it seems that I have fully assimilated.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1252977749766">http://www.myspace.com/alfredjames</a><br />
<a href="http://www.worldcafelive.com/">http://www.worldcafelive.com</a><br />
<i> </i><br />
<i>Learn.</i> After the post about my father's suicide Thursday, September 10th, (which, unknown to me at the time of the post, was World Suicide Prevention Day), I learned that many of you have also suffered the death of a parent, relative, or friend via suicide. I'm so thankful you had the courage to talk about it. At the same time, I'm very sad it has happened to so many of us. I also learned that some of you have had thoughts to end it all but didn't. <i>For that I am grateful. </i>Each one of us has enormous value, great purpose, and a beautiful destiny. Call a friend if you're struggling. Please...don't ever be ashamed to share with someone your darkest thoughts. We are here to look out for each other. If you feel like you have no one, contact me via my website. For more information about Suicide Prevention, visit:<br />
<br />
International Association for Suicide Prevention</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.iasp.info/">http://www.iasp.info/</a><i> </i><br />
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<i>Like.</i> Still in high school when <i>Dirty Dancing</i> was released, my very lovely and protective mom--who had not seen the movie--would not let me go see it, which I found terribly frustrating. So...my best friend and I waited until it came out on video and we watched it at <i>her</i> house. After it was over, we both looked at each other like "What was the big deal?" We were really disappointed to find absolutely nothing inappropriate in the movie. I admitted to mom later that I watched it and she replied with "So?" I quickly reminded her that she had forbidden me to see it earlier. I guess she forgot. All that stress with the sneaking around, all the hype about what I would see in the movie and didn't, all of it...wasted. Anyway, I liked the movie. And I liked Patrick Swayze. I hate cancer. Rest in peace, Johnny Castle.<br />
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<i>Love.</i> I love the days in which we live. At our fingertips is a medley of global interactions through a variety of social networking platforms. Today I watched Kanye West's interruption of Taylor Swift's award at the VMA's. If you haven't seen it, you will. It was totally unprofessional but not unexpected from Kanye West. It's fascinating how quickly society responds to these gaffes. There's no hiding from your mistakes anymore. Whether you're Serena Williams, Kanye or Miss Teen South Carolina, your mistakes are out there...in a million places...forever. And people are going to comment on them...forever. It's horrible. And yet, I think it's a little bit like a continuation of playground socialization. Everybody knew your business on the playground. It's also where you got beat up, Dodgeballed in the head (never happened to me, I swear), gossiped about, bullied, picked last, dissed, and kissed. On the Twitter playground today lots of tweets looked like this: "Yo Patrick Swayze ima let you rest in peace but you know Michael Jackson had one of the best deaths this year." Should make Kanye feel pretty low. Drunk or not...it's not right to upstage anyone under any circumstances. But if you do, you can count on this: all the kids will hear about it and you will get it tomorrow in Dodgeball. Don't say I didn't warn you. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<a href="http://www.dodgeballusa.com/">http://www.dodgeballusa.com/</a><br />
</div>paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-53611137539852916992009-09-10T23:59:00.001-04:002009-09-11T00:31:39.215-04:00Life's Five: Entry 5<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today's post is a serious one. I received a Facebook message today from someone I do not know. She wrote to me asking for advice. A friend of mine referred her to me because we have been through the same thing--the suicide of a parent. A lot of people know what happened to my father--that he took his own life--but it's not something I tell everyone--until today. When I received the message from my new friend, it was a call of desperation. She couldn't believe her father too had recently completed suicide. She needed advice to help her through it, if I didn't mind. I wrote her back right away. When you go through something this painful, you need someone to talk to, listen to, sit with, cry with, but to have someone who has also been to this horrific place is even more comforting.<br />
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Suicide rips through families, workplaces, churches, schools, and communities. It is shocking, confusing, and feels like total darkness for everyone left behind. Since my dad died in 2001 I have never really thought about the advice I would give someone. Thankfully, I have never been asked until now. As I started the email to my new friend, I didn't even really have to think about what I would write. It just came. It came easily to me because I lived it. I lived it slowly--it was not a situation quickly resolved or healed. I am posting this today in my blog because I think it is sound advice. If you're reading this, maybe it will help you or someone you know. I think these thoughts cover all five categories today: live. laugh. learn. like. love. They're all in here.<br />
<i></i> </span><br />
<blockquote><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1) Cry a lot. It helps. I used to cry out loud in public places. I didn't care what people thought. The loss of my father was painful enough, but it also seemed to bring up a load of stuff from my past I suddenly had to deal with--all at once. </span></i></blockquote><blockquote><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2) Give yourself time. Ask others to give you time. You will probably break down in tears at the strangest of places and most unexpected times. It's okay. It will take a long time before you are able to control that. It took a full year before the fog was lifted from me. I felt like I was going insane. The whole world as I knew it turned upside down and I barely even recognized myself. But when the fog lifted I knew what I was supposed to do. My song, "Just Fly" is about this time in my life. You can find it on my myspace page. </span></i></blockquote><blockquote><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3) Pray. You will need the strength and hope only God can give you. Without that inner peace, nothing else makes sense. </span></i></blockquote><blockquote><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4) Forgive your dad. Completion of suicide is not an easily-explained event. No one knows the heart or mind of that person. If a person goes through with it, they are probably very sick in some way--mentally, physically, or under influence of medication. My dad was taking Prednisone, which has psychotic side effects. (Be extra careful with this drug.) <br />
</span></i></blockquote><blockquote><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5) Forgive yourself or anyone else who may appear to be the cause of his choice. Forgive anyone who could have "saved" him. It doesn't work that way. No one can make someone complete suicide. Again, it goes back to forgiving your dad...for he likely did not even know what he was doing.</span></i></blockquote><blockquote><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">6) Create. Do things, make things, paint things, write in your journal, write poems or songs...whatever your outlet is...it's a good time to let it flow. You will be amazed at what comes out--truth, lies that you believe, love, memories, deep emotions. A creative outlet will help you to see what's inside of you. Then it will help to heal you. </span></i></blockquote><blockquote><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">7) Focus. Focus on the things you love: Your family. Your friends. Your pets. Whatever you love dearly, love it or them more dearly than ever before. Don't let your despair overshadow the beauty that remains. </span></i></blockquote><blockquote><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">8) Remember. Remember the good about your dad. Don't listen to anything negative people may want to tell you. I know it sounds crazy but people will do it. Just put your hand up and walk away. You want your memories to be positive ones. </span></i></blockquote><blockquote><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">9) Reach out. In the midst of our greatest sorrow, there are always others who are hurting. Helping someone else in even a little way will help both of you. And allow others to help you by letting them know that you just can't do it all. People want to do things for you. Let them. </span></i></blockquote><blockquote><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">10) Get back to basics. Eat well. Sleep. Exercise. Stay or get healthy. When you are suffering emotionally it is important to be physically healthy. There are days when you don't feel like eating. You feel like you don't even deserve food because he is gone. Eat anyway. </span></i></blockquote><blockquote><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There is not a road map to recovery from this. For me God is the only light at the end of any dark tunnel. Hold on to your family. Hold on to Jesus. It's a rough ride but the roughest parts will end eventually. I promise you that. And you will survive. And you will laugh again. Don't feel guilty for having happy moments. You are alive. Celebrate your life. Your dad would want that more than anything."</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></blockquote><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I hope what I went through helps my new friend and others who are suffering. Eight years later I am pretty healthy upstairs and am enjoying the amazing life I have been given. I haven't forgotten Dad. He comes to my mind everyday, but I don't cry as much anymore. Over time the crying subsided and more and more the laughter started to take over. I miss him a lot, but I still feel happy. And I know my dad would have wanted that for me too.</span><br />
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<div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Be good. Be blessed. And please...write it down. </i></span></div>paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661960279877893012.post-17496211533296737242009-09-08T22:36:00.008-04:002009-09-09T09:03:00.633-04:00Life's Five: Entry 4<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i>Live.</i></b> This is the time of year when I burn rubber at green lights. Summer is great because I say to myself, "nobody is expecting a thing from me today so I'm going to do absolutely nothing and not feel bad about it." But when September 1st hits, I shift into high gear and peel out. The weather invigorates me. The smell in the air is refreshing. I feel happier. I feel like producing, creating, writing, exercising, studying, loving, living. I pretty much want it all in the Fall.<b><i> </i></b><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i>Laugh. </i></b>I laugh at myself a lot these days. I laugh because I'm on Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, now Blogspot, my own website, iTunes soon, and the list goes on. What happened to the privacy I once held so dear? A year ago, before this social networking madness took over, I was absolutely convinced the CIA was behind Facebook. But who could fault me? <i>Have you SEEN this video?</i></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<a href="http://albumoftheday.com/facebook/">http://albumoftheday.com/facebook/</a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>Learn. </b></i>I'm pumped to see singer/songwriter Ingrid Michaelson next week in Philly. I learned today that she has 25,000 followers on Twitter and almost 30,000 fans on Facebook. I have 95 and 140, respectively. It's humbling. For all of us out there who are doing what we love with the hope of finding someone to appreciate and accept it, maybe it's just not our time yet. (Check out the article below.) Our time is coming. Until then, for me anyway, I'll keep working hard at what I do and simply enjoy being a fan of Ingrid Michaelson's until she becomes a fan of mine.<b><i> </i></b><br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i>Like.</i></b> My purpose is in life is not to be adored by the masses, but I liked this story I read today:</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/why-your-greatness-is-missed.html">http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/why-your-greatness-is-missed.html</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b> </b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>Love.</b></i> A friend said to me this morning that he really doesn't like music at all. I knew what he meant. I love music but there are plenty of times when I can't bear it...because I want silence. I need it. I crave it. The way of the songwriting world is to know the masters and study them, emulate them. I do find myself listening more and more to the legends to honor them and to develop my craft, but ultimately, I really need to do my own thing. I don't want to copy or even "sound like" someone. I just want to sound like me. And in my quietest moments, that is when I find out more and more what that sounds like.</span><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So turn down the music sometimes. You might just hear a song that isn't here yet.</span><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Be good. Be blessed. And please...write it down.</span></i></div>paulette dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858501511664875009noreply@blogger.com2