Monday, September 16, 2013

Why can't I say NO?!?!

This is a question that I ask myself time and time again when I can't find time to blog, cook, clean or sleep.

Why do i say this? Well, before I dive into that conversation, let me just say how lucky I am. Really! I'm lucky that family hasn't disowned me yet and that my husband hasn't asked for a divorce.

You see, I just can't say no when asked to help out at the school. I'm not talking about the occasional lunch duty or library mom.....I'm talking about starting this school year by saying:

"Yes, I will be willing to be the PTA president."

"Oh, it's a two year commitment? No problem."

"Yes, I can definitely do the monthly newsletter for the high school."

"Yes, I can easily build a whole new website for the PTA."

"Oh and the constant contact thing? I can totally set that up and get it running for two different school districts. No problem!"

"Yes, I will be willing to do the 80+ page playbill/ad journal for the high school musical."

Piece of cake......



Really? What in the world am I smoking? Actually, I don't smoke, but seriously..... what's wrong with me? 

You would think that after spending fours years on the Education Foundation (two of which I was co-president) I would high tail it and run for the hills when approached to help the schools, but in all honesty......I actually enjoy it. 

Ugh! Yes!

I. Enjoy. It.

There, I said it. grumble....grumble....

I enjoy working 80-100 hours a week and not collect a single penny.

I enjoy having one meal a day and have it be a frozen dinner because I'm busy working on PTA stuff.

I enjoy being the only nut who is awake at 4am working on a flier because I can't find the perfect font. Can you say font freak? That's me! The end all be all of font freakism.

No, but seriously, I really do enjoy it. It all makes it worth while when I see the children benefit from something that I was a part of.

And it gives me a way to be creative.....

We had a teacher breakfast the week before the kids came back and I think they really liked it. I put together a little gift from me to them as a small token of my appreciation, with my phone number on it. (That may prove to be a mistake, but so far so good!)

We welcomed the teachers with French toast, bacon, sausages, eggs, Coffee, juice, and fresh fruit.....and of course, French Cafe Music.


Welcome set up for Teacher Breakfast.....

I got this idea from Pinterest....


The feedback I got was amazing! The teachers were so happy to get a warm breakfast and they loved the whole set up.....one teacher asked if they could have this everyday - she felt as if she were in France.

So, although I may complain and not get any sleep these next two years......it will be worth it. I love to see the smiles and know that I had a hand in it!

So, to all the PTAs, PPOs and all the other acronyms I can't think of right now....ask me to help, why not...... I'm in a giving mood and here is a little tip.....I can't say no. 

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

5 Things.....


I saw this little exercise on Stephanie's Life-Unexpectedly and thought that it would be fun to do. So here we go.... in no particular order

5 Things I have a passion for:


  • family
  • music
  • lyrics
  • computers/gadgets/graphics (that's the geek in me)
  • cooking

5 Things I'd like to do before I die:


  • enter a dance competition (Tango all the way!)
  • learn another language - Italian or French --- or better yet, both
  • write a book and have it published
  • see my children grow up to be happy, responsible adults
  • learn how to really code & start my own web design company

5 Things I say lot:


  • Uh-huh....
  • Did you hear what I just said?
  • Hurry up!
  • Love you honey (this is from my Baltimore days)
  • I'm tired (because it's true)

5 Books I've recently read:


  • Inferno by Dan Brown 
  • Divergent by Veronica Roth (yes...... I heart teen paranormal romance books)
  • The Host by Stephanie Meyer (better written than the Twilight series - I'm Team Edward!)
  • Defending Jacob by William Landay
  • Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (hated the ending!)

5 Favorite Movies:


  • Under The Tuscan Sun (probably my all time favorite)
  • Dirty Dancing
  • Pretty Woman
  • Independence Day
  • Gladiator

5 Places I'd like to travel to:


  • Italy - Tuscany
  • Morocco
  • Croatia
  • Germany
  • France

5 Blogs I'll tag: Like Stephanie, I would like to open this fun little game to everyone....so let me know if you decide to partake. I would love to see some of your 5's!!!!


Sunday, August 18, 2013

Chillin in Cape May

So it's the middle of August and I'm just starting to relax. What have I been doing this whole time? Well, for some reason....during a brief moment of insanity, I agreed to be the President of PTA for my youngest daughters elementary school. 

Yup.... Sucker.

Honestly, I do enjoy it to some degree. I love working on the computer - making newsletters, finding new fonts, playing with photo images..... I actually just finished creating a brand new website for the PTA and I must say --- not too shabby.

Anyhow, here I am finally relaxing by the shore and I thought I would take this time to send out a post.

It's about 3pm right now and we've had a full day already....kite flying, shopping, arcade house, scooting, reading, eating and napping.


This is actually our fourth year vacationing in Cape May New Jersey ...and we love it. We've been coming here with my sister and her family (love my niece & nephew) and my mom & dad - its truly my favorite time of the year.


Here's my kid sister as we take a little respite at an organic coffee/ice cream shop called Bliss (cute little shop on one of the back streets of Cape May).




Where is your favorite place to vacation?