Do I tell her she will make mistakes?

I often wonder what I would tell the younger version of myself, if time travel were possible. How far back would I go? And what would I say, to the happy little girl that still feels like her childhood was idyllic.

Do I tell her she will make mistakes? I don't want her to be afraid or not trust her gut.

I could let her know that when she was in 2nd grade and that dark-haired boy that kept yanking her pigtails, was doing so because he liked her. I won't say boys are dumb. That's not true. But at *that* age, they often don't know how to show that they are fond of you. My mom set me straight on this, so maybe I won't have to tell her.

I think I should tell her that sunscreen is important. And that she is worthy of having herself surrounded by like-minded people, that truly care about her. I want her to know that real, true love, comes easily, and often without fanfare. It just *is*. That doesn't mean that relationships don't require work. It means the *right* relationship, is worth the required work.

I should probably mention that the circle of life can be hard to witness and accept at times. And that her grandma and 'Pap' are in a better place, until she sees them again. It's also really, really hard to lose a pet. She will learn to accept her new normal, but it's still hard.

Honestly, what I want her to know most of all, is that she has no reason to be hard on herself during anything *trying* that may be going on in her life. Don't freak out. Just breathe. You know what to do. You need to trust yourself and your decisions.

And finally, you will be lucky to grow up with a big, loving extended family that tries their best to keep in touch.
You'll fiercely support every single friend and family member, no matter what.
You will show up, and ask, 'what can I do?' when it's necessary. Because they do the same for you.

When you stand at the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, you will be moved. Enough so to write about it.
Just like seeing the turquoise water in Cancun, and the view of Hawaii from the top of Diamond Head. That you just climbed! And you thought you were afraid of heights, ppsshh.

Okay you're still afraid of heights. But you will logically talk yourself out of the fear, should you find yourself zip-lining in Jamaica. Trust me. You won't die above the jungle. Also, don't pull on the pulley. Your glove will get stuck and then you'll have to be rescued.

Be present in the moments. Even the seemingly insignificant ones. Please. They will soon become memories and I want you to be able to remember them fondly.

Oh and write in a blog. Then you can look back and read what your thoughts were, from years past.

I'm thinking of these things because I'm gifted with another year wiser on March 30th.

Thank you for being here friend(s), I'm lucky to have you!
Tiffany

P.S. Breakfast at Tiffany's continues with fresh fruit, protein, and a hand-written, carefully thought out plan, for world changing ideas. Or maybe just a short list, I never know for sure. 😁

Oh and the birthdays? Embrace, celebrate, and enjoy every last second of the celebration of you.

*picture at top, on left, me on my third birthday

And remember....this too shall pass

I have a tendency to feel overwhelmed when it feels like issues are beginning to stack on top of each other.
They are usually every-day things that of course can be easily handled, yet still, when it's one thing after another, I become claustrophobic.

What inevitably occurs is a shift re-focus, if you will, where it becomes apparent that I've been sweating the small stuff. I'm sure you have heard of that mantra, 'don't sweat the small stuff'.

It's valid advice.

So while I was in fairly excruciating pain yesterday, trying to accept the inevitable root canal that I *knew* was in my future, and thinking about the check engine light that glared at me from the dashboard of my car Sunday, and remembering my moms impending eye surgery.....I thought, okay universe. That's enough. Please cease at least until I can catch my breath.

Then I learned a friend from my hometown passed away today.

And I thought, there it is. That reminder I've received many times.

These things that happen in our lives that truly mean very little when compared to the big stuff, are not the devastation they seem to be. They are easily fixed with some attention and scheduling.

By nature, Im not one to complain much about anything. I've reminded friends and family at various times that 'this too shall pass'.

My friend was way too young to be gone so soon. Now, I grieve for her familys loss, and her time cut short on this earth. The unfairness of it. That is real devastation. Not my dental issues, or car troubles.

I hope things are going well for you, friend(s). If the list of issues is beginning to stack, remember; 'this too shall pass'.

Take care of yourselves, and be kind to one another.

Tiffany

P.S. Breakfast at Tiffany's of late has been filled with fresh fruit from the local Farmers Market. I think strawberry crepes sound delicious, don't you?

To thine own self, be true....

From pen to page, keyboard to screen, or, in my head, I've been writing my thoughts since I learned how to form a sentence. It occurred to me today, that many of these stories, written or not, are the culmination of *the* story. My story.

I live the pages every day, and every night in my dreams. I mean, isn't each paragraph that we live, a high point?

Maybe not. We certainly don't choose to have things go wrong, when they do. Or, not go how we imagined, or wanted them to. Still, I've always believed, and often said out loud, that a person is the sum total of everything they have gone through, and experienced, until right now. Present tense. Today.

My birthday is coming soon. I always do a fair amount of reflecting before the day of celebration arrives. You see, this year is a milestone birthday. So they say. I actually think they are all milestones in a way. Good grief, we just went twelve months past the last celebration, that's cause for another big hooray, isn't it?

I've found myself smiling and thinking, 'you know what? I am actually, sincerely, proud of myself!'
I work hard on a job that challenges me, that I committed to twenty-four years ago. I don't love it every day, let's keep perspective here, but as a whole, I'm proud of my work.

That isn't as important as the rest though. It's a means to the good stuff. The real living is just outside the work bubble.

And I finally...get...it.

I had my epiphany!

'So, did you have yours?' the artist asked me, as he was preparing to create my favorite word, well, one of them, on my arm. I told him that I did.
He smiled without looking up, preparation takes concentration.
'Are you going to SHARE what it is? Or is it a secret?'

It's a very simple, stolen quote, that my mom has said to me, since I was an awkward teenager trying to figure out the why's and what for's of the world. "To thine own self, be true".

And now, I say it to you, dear friend. Be yourself. There is only one 'you'. You are unique. You matter. You count. You were made for a reason.

So I say, laugh out loud and especially, the deep belly laughs that bring tears because you can't stop laughing. You want to wear the crazy hat, or make goofy faces when someone is taking your picture? Do it! All of your friends love country music but you like classical? Pump the Mozart volume! You know I could go on and on, but I'm certain that you understand.

Just.be.you.

And share your gifts, the world would be so boring if we didn't.

I decided to do the thing that many girls do at the most random hour; tell the stylist to cut a few inches of my hair off, add some highlights and layers, for a new fun look! Oh I know, it's a girl thing mostly. We often take excitement with doing this sort of thing. Although, I do have guy friends that love to as well. Plus, Spring has mostly arrived in N.Texas, and Summer isn't that far away. It's a great way to stay cool outside, with a fresh, albeit shorter, hair-do.

Of course I had to do a selfie to be able to show my mom and sisters! And, as always, I was being silly when I took the picture, they expect this you see. I love laughing, and making people laugh, and smile. I am sure we can agree, that the world we live in today, needs smiles. And reasons to laugh.

I've come to realize that waking up and deciding to be happy is the best decision ever. It's not always easy, but the days I master it, are forming a pattern of a great week, which turns into a great month. On the days where it might he a struggle, I turn to my favorites. A good book, a conversation with my comedian son, a walk, a great movie, a random phone call from a best friend....

So as Spring arrives, and we turn the clocks ahead, do a little Spring cleaning, and shift our thoughts towards warmer days, I hope you are happy and fulfilled. And if you ever need a reminder that you have unique gifts to share, I'm here.

Because there is only one you. And,

You matter!

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

P.S. Breakfast at Tiffany's will have mimosas included tomorrow, I'm going to a Spa! Maybe I'll write about that next time. Until then, be kind to everyone you meet. Okay?

It's during the not-so-perfect times that love is in its most perfect state

 

I read a blog post yesterday that resonated so loudly, I'm still thinking about it. It's like I found a really cool piece of jewelry, a bracelet maybe (I love bracelets) that I had to buy and now I don't want  to take it off.

I don't know the author personally, (Donald Miller), but I do know the friend that shared the post in social media (Hi Felic), and she is one that I will ready anything she posts, because she is a good investment of my time.
That phrase was chosen carefully, you will see.

I'm sure the author won't mind if I share the link here, especially since I have nothing but praise for what he has written.

http://storylineblog.com/2015/08/17/who-gets-picked/

He had me at the title of the post, "The Secret to Getting Picked". I am not going to elaborate in exact detail as I would just be pasting what he wrote, here.

No pressure to read the post, I can only tell you what I gleaned from reading it, and let you know that if you find a few minutes in your day, it is well worth the read.

Donald writes his point near the end of the post, and that is where I will begin:

The point is this:

"If we want to be picked in life, we should ask our selves a single question: Am I a good investment?"

I can go down my own road with this thought alone.

Are we a good investment? This can be applied both personally, and professionally, as Donald explains so eloquently.

We are living in the time of right now, it seems. Applying the question on a personal level, it is often that I find men and women both, not looking into their own reflection when pursuing relationships. Some look to the partner to fulfill what they want and need, without also checking to see if they are a good investment for that partner. We all know the old adage, "love is a two-way street". There are many more, "relationships take work", "marriage is hard work", "a good relationship takes commitment and sacrifice to thrive, and last".
I am lucky in that I have so many shining examples in my family of what a good, lasting marriage looks like. I've never wondered, because I've seen it with my own eyes. Love isn't always romantic, and pretty and perfect. Sometimes it is gritty, and tired, and has to fight ugly things that life can bring, like cancer, and the loss of a loved one, and other hardships or tragedies. As I've grown older, I realize that it's during the not-so-perfect times, that love is in its most perfect state.

Applying the question on a professional level, I think about what we can bring to the table in our positions at work each day. Rather than getting caught up in office politics (which I abhor), or what is fair regarding workloads if we are part of a team, a great amount of productivity can be had by those that give their best each day, to their employer. If what  your coworker is doing does not have an effect on your job performance, shift focus to what you are accomplishing, and dig in. I've always thought that anything having my name on it, should be the best work I've done. Whether it's a large project, or something seemingly mundane and insignificant. Let the rest go, focus on what you can do, in the best way that you know how.

Am I a good investment? I've been asking myself this question since I read the post. Do I leave people better than they were before we spoke? Do I leave my signature on the best work I've done, every day? Or do I hurriedly do the work and then scribble an unintelligible scrawl of my name.

Whether the answer is yes or no, I can tell you that I will now be mindful of the questions.

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

P.S. I don't always want breakfast-type food in the morning. Sometimes I want to live on the edge, you know? Like salad. Or chicken. Or if I want to get really crazy, Breakfast at Tiffany's could be canapes! (def: a thin piece of bread or toast, or a cracker spread, topped with cheese, caviar, anchovies, or other savory food)
It doesn't even have to be a cracker!

With love from the shore.......

As they say in Paris, Bonne Année.

My family has been beachside in Florida since December 20th. During my just-as-I'm-waking thoughts this morning, I remembered that it has been a while since I've written you, my reader friend, and that I must catch up with you and see how you are. I hope you are doing well and preparing to celebrate the conclusion of 2014.

As far as how I am:

I can tell you about the breathtaking sunrises over the ocean.......

Or about the sunsets on the Banana River.....

 

 

I just have a feeling that you already know that being near the ocean, close enough to walk in the sand, looking for the perfect shell or just breathing in the salty air, is nothing short of a perfect paradise.

But mostly, this message I am writing is my Happy New Year wish for you. Whether 2014 brought many changes, or everything remained the same, I hope it was a year to reflect on, on this last day and to celebrate all of the things that came along as each month rolled into the next one, seemingly quicker this year than the year before.

It's always fun to think of the New Year as a fresh, clean slate, isn't it? Off with the old, and on with the new. I don't ever feel like discarding the year, and I've had a few tough ones, rather, I feel like tucking it away in the memory box, saying thank you for letting me have it, and moving along to what's around the corner.

My wish for you in the coming year:

May you have sunshine within when it's cloudy outside, money in your pocket when you feel like you're poor, a good friend that listens when you need someone to hear you, family that loves you unconditionally, new books to read that you can't put down because they're that good, and a refreshed feeling of hope for the future, when you wake up each morning.

So much to celebrate. Wherever you may be tonight, please stay safe and,  I wish you a very Happy New Year!

With love from the shore,
Tiffany

PS Breakfast at Tiffany's has been seafood galore, it's a must when I'm this close to the ocean!

Don't forget to look ahead.......

When I get older I want to be the type of friend who has people over for drinks and excellent food.

We'll spend the evening talking about the wondrous things we've seen, the places.... the people... the food....the shows....the geographical places that make our eyes search every detail with wonder, never knowing if we will be able to make it back to that place again.

Of course I want to be this type of friend now, too.

When I get older, my house will be so organized that nothing will be hard to find and everything will be in order. Can you imagine?

I want it to be this way now, too.

When I get older and things slow down, I want to travel to far off places and explore hidden alleyways in cities, and book stores nestled in corners on streets that I have never been before.

I want to see my family more.

 

 

 

I want to do volunteer work where it really makes a difference.
                                                                       

I want to do all of this now, too.

I think the cool thing is, we always have something to look forward to. I may find time to fit some of these things into my life right now. But if I can't fit it all in, at the same time, I'll always have something just around the corner, waiting for me to enjoy.

In these days of seemingly mundane things, like work and work and more work and a little play here and there, and Mondays turning into Thursdays before we can blink, don't forget to look ahead. It's all out there, waiting.....

See you soon friend!
Tiffany

PS I wasn't kidding about wanting my house to be more organized. Such a daunting task! But one I can master, I'm sure of it. Maybe some rainy Saturday morning will begin with Breakfast at Tiffany's, and then....organization at it's finest. I'll keep you posted.

 

Let's keep in touch more often, okay?

 

Getting back to the basics, is what I've been thinking about today.

When I was growing up, I remember being so busy. I was all over the place, especially during the summertime. Man were those the days. My sisters and I would be up and out of bed in the mornings, with the intent of squeezing every last drop of summery goodness out of the day. Freedom and youth are an extremely tantalizing combination, the possibilities are endless. School is out, so the schedule is completely up to you.

We had great ideas back then, like putting a rubber band around the garden hose nozzle so it would continue spraying when we let go of the handle, and then throwing the hose over a tree limb in the backyard. Voila! Instant fun with a way to stay cool. I'm sure my parents loved our water bill during these times. They didn't complain though. Dad would BBQ and mow the yard, and we would all play on the swingset or at the picnic table on our patio.

Did you ever take a playing card and attach it to the spokes on your bicycle with a clothespin so it would make a sound when you rode your bike? It's inventive!

Of course time doesn't stand still, so as Summer winds down to a close, and Fall is showing signs of life, I never felt sad to see the seasons change. I love Fall as you know, so the crisp air and swirly fall leaves, and the promise of Halloween made me just as excited as the last day of school did.

"I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?"--a favorite quote from the movie "Stand By Me"

Isn't it the truth?

Time marches on and we all grow up and become the best version of ourselves if we're putting forth the effort. And hopefully we still keep in touch with some of those childhood friends.

The busy schedules don't necessarily dissipate, more like, change form I think. My "busy" stems mostly from work, so when it's time to sign off and go live life, I have no problem doing so. I'm finding as I get older, that the simplest things are my happy place. The basic things.

With adulthood comes the knowledge that if your family is spread out over several states, it is much more difficult to recapture those long summer days, where we were all together under one roof, playing hard and seizing the day. But we do try to get all of us together as much as possible, so there's always a future get-together in the making that we can look forward to.

So, Friday night, it's very, very good to see you. I purposely left the slate clean so that I could just sit still, in quiet mode, and not think about numbers or spreadsheets or system errors, and the like.

And, dear reader, who is my friend. It's very good to see you too. It has been too long!

Let's keep in touch more often, okay?

I hope your Summer is filled with all of the important things. You know, family. Baseball. Books to read and walks if you're lucky enough to live in the proper climate for them. BBQ and swimming, and evenings on the patio. And....Breakfast at Tiffanys.

See you soon!
Tiffany

PS I've developed an addiction for Nova Lox bagels for breakfast. Good grief are they good. If you love smoked salmon, give them a try!

"I played my best for him...."

At my last update I talked about a friend who became very ill. I'm sadly reporting that she is no longer with us, but in a much better place, so there's comfort in that. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

I realized recently that sometimes my want to post in here is few and far between, and other times I have something to say every day. Inspiration can come from the smallest source, or on a larger scale. Then, at times, not at all.

In listening to the Pentatonix version of the Little Drummer Boy, I was reminded of how I feel sometimes.
"I have no gifts to bring" (pa rum pum pum pum)
I want to at least bring a gift if I'm going to share with you, it's the neighborly thing to do. I'm sure we all have days where we feel like we have no gifts to bring.

I've always said that some of my most favorite gifts I've received are not the kind that I can hold in my hand, but more of a gift of talent or sharing of ones life stories. A song, a guitar playing melody, a poem or haiku that someone wrote, someones fingers dancing over piano keys as if they were born to play. Or....a drummer maybe?

"Shall I play for you? pa rum pum pum pum....."

Most of the time we have to pay to hear someone play, you know, a concert or a symphony, or even a small gathering at the beach (which is way cool I might add). Or,  you can walk the streets of New Orleans and hear jazz like none other, and it's up to you if you would like to contribute to the hat or box they've placed in front of them. New Orleans is on the rise, but these people are poor for the most part. Yet every day, they get out there and play their best. There's no guarantee they will get any money at all, it's completely up to the generosity of strangers.

"I played my best for him...pa rum pum pum"

The Little Drummer Boy felt that he should say, that he was a poor boy too. The best connections I've found with people are the ones where we find common ground.

"Then, he smiled at me pa rum pum pum.....me and my drum"

If we can make anyone smile, with our talents, or sharing of stories, if only for a moment, isn't that what Christmas is all about? Aren't those the important and most cherished gifts?

I was worried that the Christmas Spirit would find me later than usual this year, but it didn't. I decorated the tree and scattered twinkling lights throughout the house, and listened to some of my favorite Christmas music. These small details bring a lot of happy for me, so am now enjoying this 2013 holiday season so far, and it's only December 2nd!
I am wishing you a very Happy Holiday Season, and best wishes for the New Year.
See you soon friend,
Tiffany
PS I'm learning how to make Challah Bread, so Breakfast at Tiffany's has smelled heavenly of late. Try it!

Traditions

When I was growing up my family developed traditions not only around the holidays but other times during the year as well. I'm not sure if we, as kids, realize how much we come to love them. Now that I'm older I can look back and see the familial patterns, and I smile when I think of them.

I used to love Saturday mornings. Especially in the Spring in North Missouri. My dad would start mowing the yard early in the morning, and my sisters and I would play outside all day long. I think there's a picture somewhere of me in pigtails sitting on top of the swingset we had in our backyard. We weren't afraid of anything back then. Then my dad would invariably get the patio and grill ready for what we would have for dinner later in the day, and that is why to this day I love the smell of charcoal as the coals are turning white. I watched him clean fish that he had caught while out on his boat at one of the local lakes, I didn't really participate too much in the cleaning as much as just the observation of it all. They're squishy and I couldnt bear to look at their open eyes. But I will say this, the dinner they created was absolutely delicious.

We were pretty creative in thinking of fun things to do, especially when the weather turned even warmer. We had a hose with a sprayer on the end of it, so we wound a rubber band around the handle of the sprayer so it would have a continous blast of water going, and then tossed the hose over a tree branch. Voila! A sprinkler you could run under. How fun is that?

I know my sister Melissa (she's the one on the left in the photo, circa 1975) will love me for including this one: we used to play inside moving boxes. I mean the really big wardrobe type, that we could climb inside of, cut out an opening in the front that went halfway down, and then pretend we had our own business that you could visit at that window. We did this in the front yard, which completely cracks me up that we never thought it might look strange to the neighbors and passersby.

They say your friends are your chosen family, and I couldn't agree more. With my family spread out in between coasts, my friends are who I can see more often. Today my chosen family and I are going to see Silent House, I think there is only one of us that doesn't care for scary movies, so he'll be waiting for us after the movie to move along into the tradition we've created over the last few years, Joes Crab Shack. What better way to discuss a movie than over crab legs!

Winter seems to be lingering in Dallas, at least for today. Overcast and chilly makes for a great day to see a movie. Of course Monday it's supposed to be 80 degrees. Welcome to North TX.

Do you have favorite traditions that you still participate in even today?

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS I think I have some new friends that have heard about Breakfast At Tiffanys. Some ducks were quacking loud enough outside my window to wake me up this morning. I SWEAR I heard one of them say, "dude just keep quacking, she'll feed us if she wakes up. Trust me". He was right.

Leap! 2012

This morning I tweeted about Starbucks new coffee they started brewing today. A medium, rather than dark/bold roast, called "Blonde". It was delicious, I'm glad I tried it but somewhat surprised that I did considering I really like the bold, dark coffees.
I'm a creature of habit, and don't care for change that much. Or at least, I didn't use to like change that much. I've come to find out that actually, change isn't that bad. It can bring many new, exciting things to your life if you decide to embrace it, instead of running from it. Of course, a leap of faith is usually involved.

LEAP!



This is my One-Word for 2012. How appropriate given that February will have that extra day this year. But really, I'm not selecting it because the calendar has an extra box tacked on to the end of the second month of the year. I chose leap because it kept pestering me today. All day long.

Serenity talked about her word here http://www.serenitybohon.com/2012/01/my-one-word.html , and Felicity kicked off the New Year with her word here http://www.felicitywhite.com/2012/01/one-word-365-dare/ . Both blogs are always a favorite place to go if I want to visit a friend, be inspired, laugh, think, or maybe just sip coffee and reflect, so naturally this one-word idea has been percolating for a while.
I'm not sure where Leap first appeared, it definitely wasn't a neon sign flashing above my head, or a  BOLD printed word in a cartoon bubble that followed me around, capturing my daily dialogue.

It's just the idea of it. I want to LEAP right into 2012, with arms raised and total belief that where I land will be right, every time. I know it won't always be perfect. But that's where faith comes in. Right?

I have a tendency to find small niches that I fit comfortably in, and plant myself there for what seems like centuries to some. I've always heard that when one becomes comfortable, it's time for change! Or something like that. I can be brave when I have to, and do a leap or two, but it's not what I'm known for. Felicity wrote "this year I want to be daring". I can't read that statement and not want to leap out of a comfort zone of sorts and do something, anything, that requires gumption and dexterity.

That would probably tie in with a new exercise regimen. Let's face it, when I tried yoga for the first time two years ago, I wasn't sure I would be able to get OUT of a downward dog position, much less get there to begin with. Now, I can do it with ease because practice makes perfect. But, that's one position. There are so many. I'm determined to shake things up a bit with cardio and stretching and pilates and the like. It's time to reach past the comfort zone and.....leap. Maybe I could even start running! (You have no idea how far that statement is from my comfort zone). But why not? Why can't I run? My mom always says "can't never did anything". And she thought I wasn't listening, psshh.

I'm really hoping that in my work life, I don't have to leap out of necessity, rather, because I choose too. You know the "reduction in forces" time, I've discussed it before. It's upon us yet again. I won't dwell long here, but I would like to select something at work that scares the hell out of me that previously I've always said I can't do, and go to my manager and say, "give this to me, I can do it". Then......after he recovers from shock and checks my temperature, I.....leap. I can dig in and attempt to excel when I'm given no choice. But in 2012, I'd like to stand up and choose with the attitude of  "watch this".

Not that a new health regimen, and work aren't personal, but let's get more personal for a moment. In You've Got Mail, one of my favorite movies, Kathleen Kelly poses a question: "Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around?"

I've never felt that my life wasn't valuable. But I have felt that it was rather small, not in a bad way mind you, a more comfortable, this is me world! I don't want to be loud or in-your-face in any way.

I just want to Leap. More. Unfathomed. Trusting. Brave.

Good grief, what have any of us got to lose?

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS There are so many fantastic words that exist, I can't wait to see what word you select. Breakfast is a good word. When you add "at Tiffany's" it's even better, yes?

it's just as much filled with promise, as yesterday was

Hope


Smiles from the threshold of the year to come,

Whispering 'it will be happier'...

- Alfred Lord Tennyson

I think we all have that clean-slate, fresh start feeling come January 1. In spite of the year's 12 months-of-our-daily lives, for some reason when that calendar flips to the last month and counts down to the last day of December, the hope of a new year rises within us and we celebrate what has been, and what lies ahead.

I don't like taking down my Christmas Tree.

 It's not because of the physical labor that's involved. I just don't like letting go of the holiday season. I give myself the same speech every year, "we carry that holiday spirit with us all year through, if we so choose". I do pretty well with this mantra. But I decided that I need snow to keep my holiday spirit going. Oh come on Mother Nature, you've done some crazy things this year. What's a little snow in Southtown going to hurt, hmm?

I spent Christmas in Florida this year, with my family. I wasn't sure if it would feel Christmasy to me, given how warm it can be at the beach. I found that the Christmas Spirit resides just about everywhere, even where there are seashells. I walked the beach Christmas Day, and found a glimpse of exactly what I was looking for.

A family had left a message by the ocean, a Merry Christmas by the shore. Complete with a pile of shells and a signature from each family member. I smiled when I stumbled upon it, and had to take a picture so I would remember.

I thought, well it doesn't matter where you go. Christmas, and it's spirit, arrives wherever you are. I didn't give the new year much thought when I was on vacation. When my family gets together, and it's been a very long time since we ALL have been together at Christmas, it's nothing short of slight chaos. Chatter and noise and kids running around and conversations I can barely keep up with,  and music and boat rides, and....well you get the gist. I lived in each moment, and had a fabulous time.

On the long drive home, I had a lot of time to reflect. I was excited for 2012 to arrive, and started feeling that "it's going to be a great year" idea long before I reached Dallas. With tidbits of sand everywhere (and I mean everywhere) I smiled and thought about a resolution or two, as I drove part of the beach home with me. As I type this post, I look up to see the new calendar above my desk, shouting "It's January 2012!" and think about all that I have to fill in on those blank boxes. A wedding to go to (my sister got engaged Christmas Eve), pending visits from my family in May, a possible visit to Cozymel in June with friends, a trip home (Missouri) in my favorite month, October, for Mizzou football and hopefully a KC Chiefs game too. Many things to look forward to, as January rolls in and brings that clean slate.

I do like the "off with the old, on with the new" feeling, but I don't want to erase. I just want to flip the page over, and write the next chapter.

I hope your new year has started off with great things, and has reminded you that it's just as much filled with promise, as yesterday was.

Happy New Year my friend,
Tiffany

PS Breakfast at Tiffany's will be mostly protein and fresh fruit for a while, it's time to get in shape for good things to come!

"Who is your Santa?" he asked.....

Hustle and bustle indeed, but I haven't really got caught up in it too much yet this year. Oh I'm decorated, and actually mostly done shopping, but I mean the rat race that begins in November and doesn't end until after the after-Christmas sales. Nice and easy is the theme of my 2011 Holiday Season.

I was out being an elf this weekend, by myself mind you, because I get so much more done when I'm alone. I was making the usual display of myself singing along to Christmas music in the car, with Starbucks coffee in a cup by my side, and not really minding the cold temps and rain coming down.

After Starbucks my first stop was the local Ace Hardware Store. I love going in there during the holidays, they have cool things I don't find anywhere else. I was on the hunt for a specific sized light bulb but I looked around for a while before I finally had to ask for help, there are over 100 kinds of light bulbs in there, did you know? Now, you may think I'm making this up, but the man that helped me could of been St.Nick himself. I know that sounds cliche at this time of year, but seriously, he even had the glasses. He was very helpful, he lead me to what I needed, then lead me to checkout. As he was ringing me up, I noticed he smiled with his eyes, he was quite infectious. He asked me the simplest question. "Who is your Santa Claus this year, little lady?" he asked, as the register totalled my purchase.
There are few times that I have ever been asked something where I had to pause before I replied because I didn't know how to answer. I finally said, "Well, Santa Claus himself of course. He's real you know" He laughed and gave me a candy cane as I left, saying Merry Christmas to him.

I left the parking lot, windshield wipers at full speed and Christmas music playing, to head for the next destination. At the stoplight, I fell into deep thought about what he asked. "Who....is my Santa Claus"

I've been thinking about this for a few days.

My Santa Claus comes in many forms. The friend that absolutely did not leave my side when I had surgery the day before Thanksgiving, who stayed right there with me the whole time to make sure I wouldn't wake up and not recognize someone in the room. The countless friends offering help of all kinds during recovery. Anything from a Thanksgiving feast delivered, to chauffering, cleaning, shopping, and just talking. The constant phone calls and text messages, emails, asking how I was doing. Sounds like Santa to me.

The people who care for sick kids in the hospital during the holidays, not only making sure the Christmas spirit stays alive inside the hospital, but also inside the families hearts and minds, as they struggle to learn that their child may not get to come home for Christmas this year.

The coworkers who pitch in without asking, to take up slack for anyone that is missing from the office for a while. I may have jokingly made fun a time or two about these people, but seriously, they're all like my second family. I love them. And they're my Santa too.

The soon to be 18 year old boy that while it may not seem cool to his friends, wants to visit people in a nursing home around the holidays, in case they don't have family. If that isn't Santa, I don't know who is.

The cute (oh well okay, yes I said it) guy at Tom Thumb that always smiles at me when I come in, asking how my weekend is going, if I want any Starbucks (because he knows my love) and then when I can't get something to ring up that I KNOW isn't two dollars, I suddenly receive "help" from him, paying a dollar for something worth way more I'm quite sure, with him always saying, "don't worry about it, I'm a manager, see?" as he points to his name tag with credentials. (lol I really do laugh out loud when he does this)
HE is my Santa.

The man that hurries to my car to hold an umbrella over my head as rain pours down while I frantically try to move bags from cart to trunk. Yep. Santa.

The doctor that removed cancer not once, but twice from my beautiful cousins body. I love this Santa. LOVE.him.

People that make me laugh out loud on a daily basis, with either a tweet, a facebook post, an email, or "live" in person. I love to laugh, so if you can easily make that happen, you're my Santa too.

The sister that welcomes our entire family to her home in Florida, for Christmas. Oh that brave soul. She's a Santa for sure.

So let's rewind this movie, I'm back in Ace Hardware. At the counter, checking out with "Nick"/ (I've dubbed him Nick, you know why).
"Who is your Santa Claus this year, little lady?" he asked.

"I don't know if I can name all of them, how much time do you have?"

I hope your December has started off with greatness, and you're happy, and excited about Christmas and the New Year. Sit down at the end of the day, relax. Don't rush it. Just.....enjoy it.

Happy Holidays to you and your family!
See you soon,
Tiffany

PS my family is having the traditional pancake breakfast on Christmas morning this year, with Mimosas of course. Guess who gets to make said pancakes. =) What are YOU having?

I love this music. I think someone with this gift may be a Santa too.

I've always said, the funniest people are the brilliant ones.

One of the funniest shows on television, for me, is The Big Bang Theory. I'm not always into humorous shows or movies, sometimes I need something quite deeper to hold my interest. But this show hooked me from the first episode, whether it be with Sheldon's idiosyncrasies, Raj's inability to speak to the opposite sex, Penny's less-than-genius way of working through things, or Wolowitz's sheer genius brain coupled with his not-so-genius way of woo'ing girls. And let's not forget Leonard, a an experimental physicist with an IQ of 173, yet he falls short most of the time on the social scene.

What's not to love, right?

The combination of these characters makes the show nothing short of brilliant, but I have to say, Sheldon is my favorite. His borderline excessive compulsive disorder doesn't come across as a problem with it being coupled with the fact that he received  his PhD at the age of16. I've always said, the funniest people are the brilliant ones.

I've since come to realize that the part I look forward to the most during these episodes is the last 3 seconds after the credits roll, and that would be, Chuck Lorre's notes titled "Chuck Lorre Productions". I don't always agree with what he writes, but that's the point isn't it? I've finally learned that stimulating conversation, or "reading" is supposed to make you see something you didn't before, and then you decide whether or not it's for you.

There are literally hundreds of these, but I'll select this one to share for an example.

                                            CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #239


                                                                TO DO LIST

Live to see a highly educated, deeply thoughtful, articulate, cool, biracial President who is not overly crippled by childhood wounds and capable, in no particular order, of freeing the nation of its oil dependence, restoring its international standing, creating universal health care, resurrecting the economy, ending two wars, rebuilding the public education system, finally bringing about an end to the mindlessness of racism, encouraging science and technology, firmly addressing environmental issues and global warming, and uniting the nation - and the world - in a giant cultural, tipping point leap forward.

Meet super-intelligent aliens who disarm the entire planet, cure every disease and take us all for rides across the galaxy.
Play a round of par golf.
Trade solos with Eric Clapton.
Win an Emmy.
Get married, stay married.

One down, five to go.

Indeed, Chuck.

Happy Friday, and Happy Weekend to you my friend,
Tiffany

PS Do you ever have breakfast food, for dinner?

Are we meant to be with just one mate, for eternity?

You know the old saying, "penguins mate for life", right? I've always loved the idea. I've seen this very thing unfold in my own family. My grandparents were married before they were twenty years old and were then married for over 50 years.












Imagine that. A lifetime together. It almost seems unreal to me in this day and age. I don't think I'm jaded, and I'm definitely not against marriage. It just seems so easy these days to bail, when the going gets tough in a marriage, or relationship even.

I've had several people that are in healthy marriages, or committed relationships, tell me that it's a choice. A conscious choice to remain monogamous to their partner/significant other/spouse. I completely understand that, and believe it. It is a choice. I believe it's also hard work. Many people have told me that as well. Although single right now, I've been inside of this hard work before, and it can be tough.
I think fairytales have planted seeds in our little girl brains (I'm speaking for the females here obviously) that provide wonderment, and awe inspiring ideas of what our futures look like with that perfect mate. I know that life doesn't always mimic the fairytale. But, I still believe that it can.


I won't live in a castle per se, or will I?


I spent time in a castle in France two years ago. Someone has to run that place don't they?



My point is, it may not be Cinderella riding in a coach, wearing glass slippers and a sparkly gown, on her way to a ball every evening, held at the castle she will live in one day.


It may be an apartment on the Upper West side in the city, with no yard, with no grass to speak of to walk barefoot through, and no room for a pet. Or, it could be a small house in the country, outside of the small town you grew up in. Maybe a cottage next to the ocean. (I told you I can dream big people)


It could be an apartment in a city that is so jam-packed full of people that you're grateful that suburbs exist. *cough*

I think your fairytale depends on you, and your choices. Daily choices after the big choices. Carefully selecting who you want to spend time with, to allow a relationship to grow. Do you believe in love at first sight?
I don't. I believe in fluttery feelings at first sight. Definitely. But not love. That takes a little time to determine.

I may get flak for this, but I don't know that we are made for just one person for eternity. I'm not against those that feel they are, and they are living that very idea. I'm one hundred percent in support of them. I've just learned so much from a few different relationships that I've had, where I wouldn't change my own story for a thing. Ah well, we all have our own book don't we. Every chapter, every sentence, even the characters, are our own.

I pretty much live my days with full knowledge that this day, and the other day, and tomorrow, brings promise and gifts.
I haven't learned otherwise yet.

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS Tea, scones, crumpets, fresh fruit.....for Breakfast. That's what they have in a fairytale don't they? See. We can create our own.

Human nature showing me once again, that we really do celebrate each other

Bloggers of the world, unite.

I know I need to get moving, I have a lot to do today. But I read inspirational blog posts from some of my favorites, and my wheels start turning. I read funny ones and laugh hysterically. Sometimes I read sad ones even, where one has lost a friend....or a spouse, maybe a pet. I feel their emotions because they put thought to page so beautifully.

My Sunday thoughts are swirling, Fantasy Football (oh Brett Favre you better show me you're the QB I know you are and thank you for falling into my draft.....stay healthy k?). Dallas visitors in the form of lifelong friends, a favorite of mine. Scary movies-I love them. I always have Halloween and fall on the brain at the end of August. So ready for my favorite part of the year to begin. With Wednesday comes September, I'm gonna give it a hug.

In 4 months 2010 will come to a close. Has this been a productive year for you? I'd like to think it has been for me, but I'm not done yet. I don't know if my work is ever "done" per se, but it changes often. With college courses possibly in the works, my agenda is g r o w i n g. Talks of a cruise next July or August (I'm dying to make this happen), have a wedding to go to in November, spending Thanksgiving with family in Missouri.....a lot to look forward to.

I think having things to look forward to is necessary, but I also think it's important to be happy in the "now". Just be content wherever you may be. I'm an observer, sometimes I can get away with this without anyone noticing. I like to watch people interact with each other, especially when it's in celebration. There were two birthdays being celebrated simultaneously on either side of my friends and I, at the place we went to watch Houston beat Dallas last night. Let me rephrase, where we went to watch the Dallas Cowboys play football (smiling). The birthday girl, (and boy) were both glowing. Their friends were celebrating their life in a very large, loud fashion. And then of course, when it comes time for the live band to sing happy birthday to them, they become shy, but the rest of the crowd joins in as if we've all known each other for years. Yet, before last night, some of us had never seen each other.

Human nature showing me once again, that we really do celebrate each other.

Even if we've never met.

See you soon,
Tiffany

PS I'm celebrating YOU over breakfast, join me if you like fresh fruit and omelettes. Or.....I could make pancakes!