Old School
Billy’s 30th Birthday – Go Big or Go Home!
April 20, 2011
I go through these phases where I love to write. Right now is not one of them. I mean, I still love to write, but I simply have no voice. No creativity. My fingertips are not moving faster than I can even think. I have nothing important, significant, thought provoking or interesting to share. Therefore, I suck.
I have this goal to have an awesome blog where people love to read my thoughts, leave comments and think I’m really awesome. Well, I’m not really awesome. I have nothing good to write about. I’ve hit a drought. Life has enveloped me. I’m tired. I’ve used up all my extra energy and creativity.
Where did it go? I think everything I had was used on my hubby’s 30th birthday party. See, I work in marketing and we do a lot of events. His birthday party was an event. No big strategy, corporate initiative or anything like that — but the logistics and stress was all there.
This is how it all went down:
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Creating Moments That Last Forever
December 2, 2010
The best things in life are so simple — to me, it’s moments and memories with family and friends. No one can take them away. They keep us forever tied to those who mean the most to us.
Family first
Some of the closest people to me are my cousins. Although half of us are in NJ, and the other half is in Canada, we are like brothers and sisters. My aunts and uncles are like parents to me as well. We spent weeks together in the summers and over holidays — travelling to Virginia, the Jersey shore, camping — and used to stay up all night playing cards, coloring and laughing. We’re the only ones that can laugh about how I flew off the see-saw, into the air and pretty much knocked myself out … how we found some of Uncle Paul’s (real) Easter eggs the following year … and how Sarah used to wear bright red lipstick.
Now that we are older, our time together has shaped how we want to raise our own children. I want my (future) children to have what I had … what I have. A close-knit family is something that my husband and I can always provide — no matter what the economy looks like or whatever else is going on in our lives. It’s a gift that’s free and lasts a lifetime.
Saying goodbye and moving on
A few weeks ago, we buried one of our youngest “sisters” — Margaret. It was a sad, sad day. So unbelievable, especially since we had just been together a few weeks before. She read at my wedding and was glowing — so beautiful, wise and grown up. It was something so unexpected, but the opportunity for me to grow and be strong. In my saddest moments, Margaret helped me do the things I was afraid of … and I did things for her that I am proud of. I spoke at her viewing, touched her hand, shoveled dirt on her grave and visited the place where she passed away.
Margaret’s death taught me to live life with no regrets, to be thankful for family, memories and moments. It reminded me how precious and short life is, and to live it to the fullest. During that time, I also learned how to let go and forgive.
I’m so thankful that shared moments together that will stay with me forever.
Flea Markets: Walk, Shop, Eat … and Enjoy!
March 21, 2010
You never know what you’re going to find when you go exploring the local flea market. It’s a one stop shop for all kinds of food, music, jewelry, cell phone accessories, things “As Seen On TV” and the latest trends — right now, scarves in high demand. To me, that’s a wonderful thing.
I first fell in love with flea markets as a little kid. Every Saturday, my dad used to take my brother and I to the Berlin Farmer’s Market (Berlin, NJ). I remember holding on to two of my dad’s fingers or and even riding on his shoulders. We’d get gigantic flavored popcorn balls and those little boxes of white things that < <::SNAP::>> when you throw them. (Does anyone know what they’re called?) That’s where I fell in love with that cardboard/pizza rink pizza, orange soda and Bubblicious gum.
One time, my dad got us a bunch of parakeets! We had an entire cage full. Oh, the best was when he’d get freshly cut cheesesteak from the butcher and we’d have homemade sandwiches for lunch.
Now, it’s a treat to go to the flea market. I usually go with my BFF, Danielle to the Columbus Farmer’s Market (Columbus, NJ). It’s pretty routine — she comes to my house on a Sunday at 8ish and we head out. On the ride, we catch up and listen to music, stop to get cash at Wawa and put a shopping strategy together.
We’ve gone through a number of obsessive buying trends — for example, those stretchable Italian charm bracelets and “designer” handbags. I remember when my dad got us “Oakley” windbreakers there! Man, I was the coolest thing in sixth and seventh grade.
Now, Danielle gets her candles from a store inside; I get “meat on a stick” (yes, that early); we eat Pete’s Pizza; and get bags of candied nuts. The last time we were there, I got a pile of hair accessories for $5. It was four for $1, fill a bag for $5. No lie, it was all stuff by Conair and Goody. I strategically stacked everything inside the little plastic bag. I swear, there were 25+ packages of pins, clips, rubber bands, headbands, etc. — all with cute designs on them.
I guess the main reason I like to go is to walk around, get exercise and try new foods like roasted corn, fried oreos or pizza on a braided pretzel. You never know what kind of bargains or random things you can buy or eat!
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AllThingsGwen.com is my unofficial guide to health and happiness. It's a chronical of me finding my way.
I encourage you to think about “AllThings[YOUR NAME HERE]” and what’s really, truly important to you. Hope you enjoy my recipes, fitness tips, motivational posts and aha moments.
- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Got my lucky Giants sweatshirt on. Bill's wearing his lucky Alfred Hitchcock tee, brown zip up and Merrell sweatband.
- Whenever I'm super sore, I make my husband undress me. It's not sexy by any means.
- Enjoying Dim Sum with my husband. Giants SuperBowl tradition!
- Enjoyed my Crossfit workout with friends! Totally shin planted on box jumps and may have punctured an ovary, but it's all good! :)
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