Tag: friends

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Holiday Spirit

by SymoneF2 Comments on Holiday Spirit

I grew up in a household where people were always stopping by – they loved my parents, they loved my sister and I, and most importantly, they loved my parents food! Interestingly enough, it has passed on to me. I love having people around but I put so much pressure on myself because I always want everything to be “perfect”. I need a little notice so that I can make sure in here isn’t a royal mess, I need to know that I can offer you something to eat or drink, and I need to know that you will thoroughly enjoy our company and would want to come back.

Since we moved into our new apartment, I haven’t had the opportunity to have people over as I’d like plus we’ve been travelling like crazy which has left me rather drained and in here always filled with suitcases etc. So I decided at the end of last month enough was enough – I’m throwing a Christmas party! I designed the invitation, got names and addresses (what’s a good party without a formal invite mailed to you?), threw together a menu and then thought to myself what the hell am I doing… If everyone RSVPs I’ll have just over 20 people here. Panic has kicked in – I’ve never done this before, not this many people, will I have enough food? Will they like my food? Will everyone find our place and good parking easily? Will they want to come back again next year?

If you haven’t picked up yet, I’m an over-thinker with a little OCD.

Preparation has begun. I’m sure I have enough glasses and alcohol already, I think I’ve covered everyone’s diets with my menu, I bought an over-the-door coat rack for everyone to hang their coats and I have sorted the decor and layout of our apartment. I’m praying this will be an epic party and I can only try to outdo myself next year.

I’m hoping to share this journey with you as I’ll be doing some dishes that I’ve never done before and that’s even more daunting as I now have to do it in bulk averaging 2 pieces per person. Hopefully my husband won’t mind the nagging that comes with it lol. He is very happy that I have chosen to this as he is very aware of how much I love planning events and cooking. I may put a lot of pressure on myself but I’m always very pleased with the result. I’m still trying to keep healthy and exercise and look after myself and not let this get the best of me.

Facebook has given people the mindset that you need to have a 1000 friends, but I really need those I know I can count on and who know they can count on me. And that is why I have no problem stressing myself to make sure that they have a wonderful time at whatever I host. What makes this more interesting is all of the different circles that we have pooled together to make this party come together. To let them know how much they are appreciated by us. We definitely didn’t have friends like this 2/3 years ago so it feels really good to be able to do this and also have everyone meet each other and make new connections.

Have you got plans to host a holiday party or even Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner? Feel free to share how you deal with it, it may help me try something new :).

Real Simple is telling the truth!

xx

Life, Uncategorized

Age Ain’t Nothin’ But a Number

by SymoneF2 Comments on Age Ain’t Nothin’ But a Number

This weekend I celebrated my 25th Birthday. The last time I had so much fun, I turned 21. Even though I wasn’t surrounded by lots of family and friends like I was for my 21st, the love I felt from the few was enough to make me feel like there were many and the luckiest girl in the world. We didn’t do Vegas like we did for my husband but I felt like I was in Vegas even though I was home. I started my celebrations Thursday night by going to Reggae Night at this lounge downtown Seattle and there were three of us and we had a BLAST. Friday, (a little out of it from Thursday night) I spent the whole day out, then dinner and club time… which left me nursing a mini hangover on Saturday – my actual birthday. However! I was able to recover, get dressed, and go for round 3 – dinner and club again!!! We had dinner at this restaurant and I couldn’t eat all of my birthday cupcake (that my husband made sure he got for me even if it wasn’t a whole cake) and we got our coats and in leaving I forgot the cake on table. Before we even got back to the car I remembered it and my husband went back for it and they threw it out!!! Even worse is the fact that I had asked for the box back because I couldn’t eat all of the cupcake, so they “should” have known it wasn’t empty. He was more upset than I was about it. I knew he hated that I couldn’t enjoy the one thing that meant the most to him. I told him I’m having such a wonderful time that something like that won’t upset me. I felt too blessed. I’m simply not supporting that restaurant anymore (it was one that people told me was good and it wasn’t to me and I’ve never had a restaurant throw out something so quickly that I’d left behind). I didn’t want it to spoil my night, so I’ve just decided to not have anything to do with them. The little bite is all I was able to enjoy.

New York Cupcakes – My FAVE!

Anyway, I intend to take on this year of 25 with a joyful heart and to learn and grow wiser and humbler and sexier ;). Life can only be what you make of it. I still have more celebrations going on this week and I’m sure that even though I’m far away from my family, God is blessing me with another one that is blessing my spirit every day.

25 is the new 21! #Ballsohard 😉

Life, Uncategorized

Friendship and Lent

by SymoneF2 Comments on Friendship and Lent

I just want to say thank you for following/reading my blog. This will be a long post so get comfortable!

I was on a blogging roll… Then I got sick! I was trying to push a post every other day or at least twice a week but my husband was sick and then it seems I got a sinus infection. It was awful but Allegra D has been my friend. I still sound very congested but I’m not sneezing or coughing so as far as I know, all is well (for now).

I really started to feel it coming on Friday. I woke up and I was determined to get laundry done, clean the kitchen and do a few other things as I was to meet a friend for yogurt. While she insisted I stay home and rest, I insisted that she meet me as I needed to get out of the house even if for a little bit. I was to pass by the mall and get something for myself and her and then meet her, by the time we met we had about 10-15mins to get our yogurt but they were more than enough. First off, I felt like a pig in shit that she was still happy to see me and even more that she didn’t care if I was sick (not knowing if it was contagious or not at that point and she was travelling in a few days).

I think I can safely say that when someone doesn’t scorn you or make you feel like a leper when you could really do with a “pick-me-upper”,  it makes you see that person in a different light. I mean, she is one of two females (not related) I have in my life that I can truly say are my main girls who don’t hide their feelings from me. Isn’t that what we really need? A friend who isn’t afraid to ask questions most would shy away from. A friend who wants to talk to you about issues instead of festering them until they reach a boiling point. A friend who tells you as it is even if it’s not what you want to hear. This is a real friend and that is what she does.

To those who know me well and for those whom I’ve met recently and I know can take what I give, I try my best to be honest. I say try my best because not everyone can take the truth and I don’t always have the best delivery, especially if it’s a heated issue. I’ve been learning over the years how to censor what I want to say and blogging has definitely helped with it. I was once said to be very frank and not everyone can take/accept the truth or my opinion in that fashion. Either way it is important to have someone around us who helps us to see the good and the bad from a different perspective. More important is that (and I think I’ve mentioned this before) we need to let our family and friends know how much they mean to us. When they say something to us that we may not have expected but appreciated, let them know.

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” ―Mother Teresa

Simple, kind acts go a long way. 

Today is Ash Wednesday and I went to mass at noon. I walk around for the whole day with ashes on my forehead because I am not ashamed and I quite enjoy the puzzled looks people give me as I’ve forgotten it’s there. I went to FedEx after mass and the clerk kept looking up at me with a puzzled look. I thought, today I’ll wait for people to ask, I won’t offer information. She didn’t ask but I still thought it was quite entertaining. After I left there I went to a Starbucks drive-thru and when I got to the window, the cashier told me the lady in the car in front paid for my drink. I was in shock. I was actually twitching and stuttering as my hand was lost with what to do with my card and I didn’t know what to say to him. As I drove off, still in shock, I said to myself I only have one choice, to pay it forward. I intend to do just that the next time I go there.

Up to last night I couldn’t decide what my sacrifice would be for Lent. We’re often told we have to give up something for Lent, but we should really be concentrating on trying to get closer to God: helping others who are less fortunate than ourselves, praying during the week if we find ourselves only doing it when we want something or on Sundays only, giving up gluttony. I won’t say what I intend to do, but that lady who paid for my drink really touched me today. That simple act of kindness.

I’ve been told that if I have clothes I don’t wear I should take them to Goodwill and I can claim it on my taxes, or sell them. My taxes weren’t a concern when I bought them so I don’t see why I should try to claim something. I just want to know that someone who is less fortunate than myself has something to wear and feels warm and clothed. I’d donate any day before I sell to gain something. We need to look within ourselves when we do things – give more selflessly and less selfishly. My prayer is that this Lenten season (whether or not you are religious) everyone will gain something from a little introspection.

xx