Sometimes Upset is not Strong Enough

There are a few things in life that get me upset, I really make an effort to "Keep Calm and Carry On", to let things roll off me and channel any frustration I may feel into something else - like business, or decorating or banging my head against a wall.

Oh wait, did I just say that?  Yes, well even I am not, you know, perfect at letting it go.

But for the past 12 years I have worked (and yea I mean worked) hard at keeping peace in my blended family.  I have not always succeeded - for example school was not a subject we agreed on - but I tried.

Yet sometimes it is one person who can continue to do things, whether out of innocence or not, that make all of your good efforts go away.  I grew up with a stepmother who really did not like me (or my brother or sister) very much.  She went out of her way to ensure that my Dad did not see us or talk with us much.  It took many years for me to forgive my Dad - I did not know it wasn't his fault and that he was in the dark too - but thankfully, I was able to have a good relationship with him for a few years before he passed away.  But from this I knew how "not" to be a stepmother.

I did not attend certain parties or events out of respect for the children.  I held my tongue when things were said that were hurtful to me or my family.  I gave in when my family was excluded from events.  And I thought we were finally past it all.  Until last night.

And I realized it won't ever change.

I (and my family) will always be the "other one".

I'm finding this one hard to let go .  I don't know if I should.  Maybe it is time to "Screw Calm and Get Angry".

Because sometimes upset is not strong enough.

Especially for a strong woman.

Downey UNSTOPABLES...Wow!

Because of the wonderful folks at Vocalpoint I have been lucky enough to get to sample new Downey UNSTOPABLES (tm) and share the results with you.

As the folks at P&G say "With New Downy UNSTOPABLES^™, the closet can be the freshest place in the house. The dissolving scent beads go in before you start the wash—so more scent  infuses into fabrics—and the freshness lasts for more than 30 days (in storage).


In our house there is nothing quite like a teenage boy and his towels!  And for me - the one who washes those towels - it's not always a good thing.  So I decided to do his wash and I used the Downey UNSTOPABLES with my regular detergent. The fresh smell right from the wash (and no dryer sheet needed!) was a welcome relief.


And five days later (after a few uses) when I grabbed the towel to wash again, it did not smell like a locker room - it still retained that fresh scent.  Opening the closet for a fresh towel was a treat for the senses as well.


As someone who has relied on dryer sheets for that fresh scent only to have it fade quickly, I am sold on Downey UNSTOPABLES and I hope you will be as well.


Thanks again P&G and Vocalpoint for the chance to sample this product!  Wow! And don't forget to sign up for Vocalpoint for your opportunity to get great samples. 

Dear Congress,

Dear Congress,

I just want to have a little talk with you.  Yes, all of you.  Republican, Democrat, Tea Party or Independent, I don't care what party you are, I just want you to listen.

I am not asking a lot here, I would just like you to settle your differences enough to pass the bills that need to be done to keep our country running..and you know, solvent.

My dear Father in Law needs his social security, my son needs his college loans and I have many friends who have children or spouses in the military - who are putting their lives on the line - and you people cannot agree on a few things and pass a bill.

Stop kicking sand at each other.  Stop voting on bills that you all know have no business being voted on.  Go ahead, cut some spending, raise a tax or two but most of all...learn how to play together.

We will all remember this.  We will remember in November, and we will keep looking for leaders who want to lead, not have petty, churlish discussions that are meaningless.

Because you all have an agenda.  And your agenda is not to help us.

Step up and do the right thing for this country.  It's time.

Thank you,

Your Constitute

P.S.  I will be in Washington, DC next week and would be happy to stop in and talk to you in person.  Maybe if I use the same tone of voice that I use to ask my son to do the laundry you'll listen.  Nagging could work.....

Yard Sale Saturday

Where have all the Yard Sales gone?

I was so looking forward to starting this year another round of Yard Sale Saturday, showing off all the great items I had found all around the NJ region.

But guess what?  There is nothing. nada. squat.

It has been one disappointing Saturday after another.  More baby clothes than I have ever seen.  Broken toys, tools that are rusty and old and the list just goes on and on.

Are we all keeping to good stuff for ourselves?  I was hoping that people would be motivated to hold yard sales and raise some money...but no.

Well, I still have a few good weeks left - we'll see what happens!

Pause, Reflect and Refocus Time

After a great long weekend celebrating our great country, which, by the way, included a lot of family time with my handsome son and hubby, it feels like time to regroup.

Time to work the plan for my business over the summer.
Time to plan for the Fall catalog that is coming out in a few weeks.
Time to finish the steps/projects that I laid out in the Spring!

In my life, I have found that there are natural breaks that give one the opportunity to pause, reflect and refocus.  The December holiday season (once the rush is over), Early Spring time, the 4th of July and of course, September (that back to school time!).  Each one of these usually include some sort of three day weekend, which provides you with that "extra" day.

The "extra" day can be used in so many ways - family, spiritual or business - to pause, reflect or refocus your life, your business, your priorities, your goals.

So find where in your life you have these natural breaks and use them to your advantage!  Do you need to pause or reflect or refocus?  These actions are what help to make us successful - not just in business, but in the most important place - your heart.  And I have found that unless my heart is "in" as fully as my mind, I cannot be successful.

As I fully work my plans and goals for the remainder of the summer into fall, I will be thankful for the holiday break...and the time to pause, reflect & refocus.