"Don't ask what the world needs (from you)...ask what makes you feel alive (and do that)."
I heard this on my (Christian) radio station today and it has resounded in me all day. I've never heard it said that way before. Don't ask what the world needs - ask what makes you feel ALIVE! I SOOO love this. Just saying it awakens little sparkles in me.
My husband asked me if I was going to keep my blog going, you know, now that I've found a job. Which is what started this whole thing for me. I wanted a way to express my greatness and the greatness that I saw in others and I wanted a way for people who didn't "know" me to get to know me in an intimate way.
I AM going to continue to blog as it makes me feel alive, connected, authentic, and in communion (of sorts). I AM going to continue to blog because I STILL am a stand for greatness (mine and others). I AM going to continue to blog because there are more stories to tell about how great people are and how all these great people people are connected to their next level of greatness.
My stand is still the same ~ I am still on the path to creating the grandest version of myself that God has intended for me. I am still determined to fill my life with joy, love, and creativity. And I am still loving all that I have discovered along the way.
There is clearly a morphing that is transpiring for me this past few months as I discover this next "me" that I am becoming. Not just as a business owner, or a baker, but also as I begin my seventh body ~ you know, the shedding of yourself (literally and figuratively) every seven years. This body seems to be more connected to my brain and my brain seems to be struggling for every single scrap of authenticity it can capture. I like that this body is less afraid than the others and I like that this body doesn't give as much of a crap about everybody else's stories. I really like that this body/brain knows they are just "their stories" and I don't have to make them mine.
And I like blogging. It gives me a way to touch another's heart and sometimes I don't even know who's heart I'm touching by just speaking my story. It's just one of the many things in life that makes me feel alive.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
I'm supposed to be sleeping!
No quote today...it's too darn early in the morning to do research! :o)
It's 4:30 in the morning and I, on one of my last days of being able to sleep, or rather wake, like normal people, am wide awake. The pressure of the bakery is getting to me. Not like "oh no", but like "uggh...enough already...let's just be done and get going". My brain simply will not turn off and any little noise will wake me.
You know, like the sound of cats wanting to play, or a husband lightly snoring, or this weird dripping noise that the gutter outside of our bedroom window makes (even when it's not raining). My brain is so wide awake that after an hour, I just gave up and came down here to pout. I don't pout much, yet it feels "safe" to do so here.
I'm a get it done, do it great and as near perfection as you can kinda gal. You simply can't do that when you open a new business. There just aren't the funds or resources to do it that way. So I find myself stressing over the things that aren't just perfect. I keep telling myself that in time it will come or that it doesn't matter ~ but truth be told, those little sentences never work for me. Mirror Mirror on the wall, I am my father after all.
But it really IS OK. Maybe the sleep will come after we're open. Funny. I thought that was when I was going to miss sleep. For now, there simply aren't enough hours in the day, so I shall allow myself some grace and acceptance if I find myself not sleeping at 4:00 in the morning and blogging about it instead. And then I shall move on to another task that needs to get done ~ like my Girl Scout agenda for this year or an article for CityGal magazine or figuring out my next class or one of the millions of tasks that still need to get done for the bakery.
As my best friend's husband says, "I can sleep when I'm dead", right?! I have a feeling that at about 2:00 this afternoon, I may feel like the walking dead! Verona Blend Starbucks with Coconut Creamer here I come!! Now that's making lemons into Vodka and Lemonade folks!! :o)
Sweet Dreams!! (unless you're dreaming of muffins and truffles and cookies and chocolate dipped brownies and lemon raspberry cupcakes and and and...well then you should really open a bakery if that's the case!!)
It's 4:30 in the morning and I, on one of my last days of being able to sleep, or rather wake, like normal people, am wide awake. The pressure of the bakery is getting to me. Not like "oh no", but like "uggh...enough already...let's just be done and get going". My brain simply will not turn off and any little noise will wake me.
You know, like the sound of cats wanting to play, or a husband lightly snoring, or this weird dripping noise that the gutter outside of our bedroom window makes (even when it's not raining). My brain is so wide awake that after an hour, I just gave up and came down here to pout. I don't pout much, yet it feels "safe" to do so here.
I'm a get it done, do it great and as near perfection as you can kinda gal. You simply can't do that when you open a new business. There just aren't the funds or resources to do it that way. So I find myself stressing over the things that aren't just perfect. I keep telling myself that in time it will come or that it doesn't matter ~ but truth be told, those little sentences never work for me. Mirror Mirror on the wall, I am my father after all.
But it really IS OK. Maybe the sleep will come after we're open. Funny. I thought that was when I was going to miss sleep. For now, there simply aren't enough hours in the day, so I shall allow myself some grace and acceptance if I find myself not sleeping at 4:00 in the morning and blogging about it instead. And then I shall move on to another task that needs to get done ~ like my Girl Scout agenda for this year or an article for CityGal magazine or figuring out my next class or one of the millions of tasks that still need to get done for the bakery.
As my best friend's husband says, "I can sleep when I'm dead", right?! I have a feeling that at about 2:00 this afternoon, I may feel like the walking dead! Verona Blend Starbucks with Coconut Creamer here I come!! Now that's making lemons into Vodka and Lemonade folks!! :o)
Sweet Dreams!! (unless you're dreaming of muffins and truffles and cookies and chocolate dipped brownies and lemon raspberry cupcakes and and and...well then you should really open a bakery if that's the case!!)
Thursday, August 19, 2010
I Just Love, Love.
"The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift of life is yours; it is an amazing journey; and you alone are responsible for the quality of it." ~ Dan Zadra (The Book of Moxie)
One of my bestest friends of my life got married one week ago today. Rhonda has had a difficult, crazy, fun, challenging, sad, love-filled discovery of her self and her life the past dozen or so years. She came to the self aware, self loving, thump on the head realization that she is gay. I think God wanted her to discover her true self when she did so she could have the children she had and I now think the same of her partner, Michele and her three children.
So there they are -- a Brady Bunch for a new generation. A generation that has hopefully learned to speak more from love than from fear. A generation that hopefully will learn that all people were created in God's image to create the greatest version of themselves that God intended for us to. Hopefully.
I'm proud of Kay (my nickname for Rhonda) and The Professor (my nickname for Michele as she is on the track to securing her PhD and become a professor - go her!!). I'm proud because they found it important to invite the 60 people they love and cherish to come and celebrate with them as they announce and profess their commitment, desire, and belief in each other and their partnership in love. Take that Wisconsin and your "laws".
Because really, isn't that what it is REALLY all about? Isn't what we have found for another human being beyond anything written down as a law or rule or jurisdiction? Does your heart listen to what others tell you? Not if you lead with love.
And Rhonda always, always does. She ALWAYS leads with love. She has for the 29 years that I have been friends with her and she never waivers from her stand. For me, a good day is the day that we all understand how much better HER stand is than where we are currently planting our feet. For me, her stand for love is nothing short of beautiful. As for me, I always have and I always will stand with her.
One of my bestest friends of my life got married one week ago today. Rhonda has had a difficult, crazy, fun, challenging, sad, love-filled discovery of her self and her life the past dozen or so years. She came to the self aware, self loving, thump on the head realization that she is gay. I think God wanted her to discover her true self when she did so she could have the children she had and I now think the same of her partner, Michele and her three children.
So there they are -- a Brady Bunch for a new generation. A generation that has hopefully learned to speak more from love than from fear. A generation that hopefully will learn that all people were created in God's image to create the greatest version of themselves that God intended for us to. Hopefully.
I'm proud of Kay (my nickname for Rhonda) and The Professor (my nickname for Michele as she is on the track to securing her PhD and become a professor - go her!!). I'm proud because they found it important to invite the 60 people they love and cherish to come and celebrate with them as they announce and profess their commitment, desire, and belief in each other and their partnership in love. Take that Wisconsin and your "laws".
Because really, isn't that what it is REALLY all about? Isn't what we have found for another human being beyond anything written down as a law or rule or jurisdiction? Does your heart listen to what others tell you? Not if you lead with love.
And Rhonda always, always does. She ALWAYS leads with love. She has for the 29 years that I have been friends with her and she never waivers from her stand. For me, a good day is the day that we all understand how much better HER stand is than where we are currently planting our feet. For me, her stand for love is nothing short of beautiful. As for me, I always have and I always will stand with her.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
I can't believe how much I suck at this!
"A good garden may have some weeds." ~ Thomas Fuller
HA! Some weeds? SOME! I'm not sure how much more I can take. If I read one more lovely blog about how your garden grows or see one more beautiful picture of how lovely your tomatoes (or cucumbers, Mary) :o) grow, I might just throw up. OH -- don't get me wrong and DO be clear...I am TOTALLY JEALOUS!
I'm not afraid to admit that. Look, there are two things that I am REALLY REALLY REALLY bad at...gardening (apparently) and making Chinese food. Yes I went to cooking school, but what can I tell ya', it wasn't in China.
My ex-mother-in-law taught me how to garden and to her defense, I USED to be really pretty good at it. I planned out my gardens, knew what to plant next to what, knew what I wanted to grow (as in what was worth the effort to get garden fresh taste), tarped my garden to keep out the weeds and warm the soil, even started my own seeds in February so they'd be ready for the 14 growing season in Wisconsin, and cared and tended to my lovely babies.
What the hell happened?
I (now) only grow tomatoes and peppers and I have to say, "GROW" might be a stretch of a new definition. It really is as pa-thet-a-sad as my stir-fry. I can't take it! Mary posts pictures of her lovely plants, Dani posts pictures like these of beautiful items she buys from the local farmer's at the market, people I don't even KNOW (from the "blog circle of love" as I call it) post this and this and this! OH! This last one REALLY got me! I implore you all -- STOP the madness!! I can't take it!
Maybe I should post my very own pictures so you can see what I am talking about. In fact...I WILL. OK -- I JUST took these.......
HA! Some weeds? SOME! I'm not sure how much more I can take. If I read one more lovely blog about how your garden grows or see one more beautiful picture of how lovely your tomatoes (or cucumbers, Mary) :o) grow, I might just throw up. OH -- don't get me wrong and DO be clear...I am TOTALLY JEALOUS!
I'm not afraid to admit that. Look, there are two things that I am REALLY REALLY REALLY bad at...gardening (apparently) and making Chinese food. Yes I went to cooking school, but what can I tell ya', it wasn't in China.
My ex-mother-in-law taught me how to garden and to her defense, I USED to be really pretty good at it. I planned out my gardens, knew what to plant next to what, knew what I wanted to grow (as in what was worth the effort to get garden fresh taste), tarped my garden to keep out the weeds and warm the soil, even started my own seeds in February so they'd be ready for the 14 growing season in Wisconsin, and cared and tended to my lovely babies.
What the hell happened?
I (now) only grow tomatoes and peppers and I have to say, "GROW" might be a stretch of a new definition. It really is as pa-thet-a-sad as my stir-fry. I can't take it! Mary posts pictures of her lovely plants, Dani posts pictures like these of beautiful items she buys from the local farmer's at the market, people I don't even KNOW (from the "blog circle of love" as I call it) post this and this and this! OH! This last one REALLY got me! I implore you all -- STOP the madness!! I can't take it!
Maybe I should post my very own pictures so you can see what I am talking about. In fact...I WILL. OK -- I JUST took these.......
And you thought I was kiddin'! Puh-lease, for your own good, if I ever invite you over for dinner, ask me what I'm making! And NEVER, EVER suggest we get together for a homemade Chinese New Year -- especially if you want to do that at the height of gardening season -- just for fun.
This will be my last garden for I simply can not take the slap in the face year after year after year. I don't make Chinese food either anymore.
Sometimes it's just good to acknowledge...and move on!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Looking for Inspiration...
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find us working." ~ Pablo Picasso
Some days, no matter how you try, you just can not make the black letters type out anything that moves or stirs your soul. I can't help but wonder why that is. Seems there's a lot to talk about in my life lately, but nothing is moving me or the end of my fingers across the keyboard. Is this then stalling actually? Hmmm....
Life is moving very quickly now (as those of you who read my bakery blog know). Construction is in full swing and I am hoping to be open before my next rent check is due. Cuz that would just be nice, right?! Seems like I can not do things fast enough right now, which, for those of you who know me well, know that it would be darn near impossible to get MORE things done in a day than I do. Yet, it's still not enough right now. Far cry from 6 months ago.
I'm excited to start writing for City Gal magazine. I have been mulling over the plan for that with execution to follow shortly. I'm nervous to take my next class but refuse to take a semester off -- just 9 more classes until I have my Associates!! WhooHooo!! But the excitement is tempered by the nervous energy of anxiety. How much can one pack into a day before breaking? Huh...I'm pretty tough...I gotta think a bit more!!
My heart has been touched by so many people lately. Maybe that is what I should write about today? My bestest friend, Jeanne (Cupcake) spent 1/2 of her Saturday helping us paint -- something that she simply doesn't have enough of (time) with all the transitions going on at her work. But she gave me that time anyway and I loved it and her help! My Dad worked the entire day yesterday cutting the pieces for his crew to install so that I would only have to pay the guys for their labor hours building -- Not to mention the trips we have used in his big ol' truck w/ his trailer to haul the materials in and out. My (step) Mom helped John and I for a couple hours on Sunday getting ready for the contractors to start first thing on Monday and NOW my sister Tam's family (all 5 of them!!) are coming to help me w/ their truck and my dad's trailer to haul out all the debris from the shop. How could I/we ever do all of this without them helping? Truthfully we could, but it would be sooo much more work and I wouldn't have a piece of all of their hearts with me in my shop! OH! And don't even get me started on all of the kind things people have SAID and or prayed for for our success and joy!
Wait...DO get me started! That sounds like my next post!! :o)
Some days, no matter how you try, you just can not make the black letters type out anything that moves or stirs your soul. I can't help but wonder why that is. Seems there's a lot to talk about in my life lately, but nothing is moving me or the end of my fingers across the keyboard. Is this then stalling actually? Hmmm....
Life is moving very quickly now (as those of you who read my bakery blog know). Construction is in full swing and I am hoping to be open before my next rent check is due. Cuz that would just be nice, right?! Seems like I can not do things fast enough right now, which, for those of you who know me well, know that it would be darn near impossible to get MORE things done in a day than I do. Yet, it's still not enough right now. Far cry from 6 months ago.
I'm excited to start writing for City Gal magazine. I have been mulling over the plan for that with execution to follow shortly. I'm nervous to take my next class but refuse to take a semester off -- just 9 more classes until I have my Associates!! WhooHooo!! But the excitement is tempered by the nervous energy of anxiety. How much can one pack into a day before breaking? Huh...I'm pretty tough...I gotta think a bit more!!
My heart has been touched by so many people lately. Maybe that is what I should write about today? My bestest friend, Jeanne (Cupcake) spent 1/2 of her Saturday helping us paint -- something that she simply doesn't have enough of (time) with all the transitions going on at her work. But she gave me that time anyway and I loved it and her help! My Dad worked the entire day yesterday cutting the pieces for his crew to install so that I would only have to pay the guys for their labor hours building -- Not to mention the trips we have used in his big ol' truck w/ his trailer to haul the materials in and out. My (step) Mom helped John and I for a couple hours on Sunday getting ready for the contractors to start first thing on Monday and NOW my sister Tam's family (all 5 of them!!) are coming to help me w/ their truck and my dad's trailer to haul out all the debris from the shop. How could I/we ever do all of this without them helping? Truthfully we could, but it would be sooo much more work and I wouldn't have a piece of all of their hearts with me in my shop! OH! And don't even get me started on all of the kind things people have SAID and or prayed for for our success and joy!
Wait...DO get me started! That sounds like my next post!! :o)
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
And it Came Crashing Down
"God always teaches us patience when we don't have time for the lesson."
OK, so we've established, often, my lack of patience. But yesterday, God really tested me. I had my first computer virus/crash EVER in my over 15 years of owning a computer. Yesterday sucked and the rebuilding of today (and I'm sure days to come) isn't much better. Still can't believe it happened. I'm so good about knowing that stuff, but this one got me...damn it.
Yeh, like I have time for this!
Well, thank God my last class just ended. And thank God Building Inspectors and Dads still communicate by phone. And thank God in all actuality, I DID have the time yesterday to take care of this issue. I didn't WANT to, but I did, and that is the distinction. So, technically, I guess I should be happy about the whole thing.
Yeh...happy.
My Papa had another mini-stroke last week. It's hard to imagine my Papa not being invincible. He will be 85 in a month and he and my Nana still live in the house that he built in 1953 and they raised 7 children in. It's my favorite house in the whole wide world. Ever. Well, I clean their house for them once a month. I can't even tell you how much I love seeing them when I do this! Well, maybe I can...I am the oldest of about 40 grandchildren and great grandchildren and just think -- I get them all to myself for this hour-ish. Yes, I said 40. That is no exaggeration. So to have them all to myself for any amount of time is so special to me. And they appreciate very much how pretty I make their house again!
OK, I need to wrap this up. I'm typing this while I am blanching my veggies for broccoli-cauliflower salad for dinner tonight and the girls and their daddy have just jumped in the pool. Which means the Bloody Buddy Basketball game has started and so I need to hurry and get in the pool in case someone needs to call 9-1-1. And usually we do....... :o) Seriously, I gotta get this on film. It cracks me up!
OK, so we've established, often, my lack of patience. But yesterday, God really tested me. I had my first computer virus/crash EVER in my over 15 years of owning a computer. Yesterday sucked and the rebuilding of today (and I'm sure days to come) isn't much better. Still can't believe it happened. I'm so good about knowing that stuff, but this one got me...damn it.
Yeh, like I have time for this!
Well, thank God my last class just ended. And thank God Building Inspectors and Dads still communicate by phone. And thank God in all actuality, I DID have the time yesterday to take care of this issue. I didn't WANT to, but I did, and that is the distinction. So, technically, I guess I should be happy about the whole thing.
Yeh...happy.
My Papa had another mini-stroke last week. It's hard to imagine my Papa not being invincible. He will be 85 in a month and he and my Nana still live in the house that he built in 1953 and they raised 7 children in. It's my favorite house in the whole wide world. Ever. Well, I clean their house for them once a month. I can't even tell you how much I love seeing them when I do this! Well, maybe I can...I am the oldest of about 40 grandchildren and great grandchildren and just think -- I get them all to myself for this hour-ish. Yes, I said 40. That is no exaggeration. So to have them all to myself for any amount of time is so special to me. And they appreciate very much how pretty I make their house again!
OK, I need to wrap this up. I'm typing this while I am blanching my veggies for broccoli-cauliflower salad for dinner tonight and the girls and their daddy have just jumped in the pool. Which means the Bloody Buddy Basketball game has started and so I need to hurry and get in the pool in case someone needs to call 9-1-1. And usually we do....... :o) Seriously, I gotta get this on film. It cracks me up!
Monday, August 2, 2010
New Bakery Blog
"Come give us a taste of your quality." ~ William Shakespeare
I have had so many people ask me "When are you gonna open?", that I decided to start my Sally's Sweet Shoppe blog before we actually open for business. I promise to update on a regular basis our progress, what has happened or is happening, and of course the answer to the question so many are asking (as soon as I know it!!).
I hope you will all join me there (you can link at any time on the sidebar as well) and I hope that you join our bakery blog as a "Follower". I will use it in the future to send you super sweet-cret (secret) discounts that you can use when you come to visit us!
I have had so many people ask me "When are you gonna open?", that I decided to start my Sally's Sweet Shoppe blog before we actually open for business. I promise to update on a regular basis our progress, what has happened or is happening, and of course the answer to the question so many are asking (as soon as I know it!!).
I hope you will all join me there (you can link at any time on the sidebar as well) and I hope that you join our bakery blog as a "Follower". I will use it in the future to send you super sweet-cret (secret) discounts that you can use when you come to visit us!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
My Momma's Words
“The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave…”
My Ma doesn't know this, but I decided that SHE is gonna write my blog today. Rosie (as we call her, nicknamed that because she is SOOOO the Golden Girls character, Rose Nyland, played by Betty White) is a fiercely passionate person about our US military.
Fierce, unyielding, passion.
My brother in law, Big Joel (well what do you call a man that is 6'8" and 275 pounds of solid muscle -- and a little beer, he'll tell ya') has been in Kuwait for almost a year for this most recent tour. He was also promoted to Major this past year and my two nephews and my (baby) :o) sister are all holding down the fort w/ my Momma until Big Daddy comes home in three weeks!
So there's the background on my military family, that I am soooo proud of, and here are the words of my Ma from her email to me/us today (seriously, can't you just feel the tears of pride welling up as you read her words!!??!)...
Just a note to let ya all know that Joel received the Bronze Medal two days ago for his service in Iraq. Not that you will hear this news from Joel or Taryn, especially Joel, but allow me to toot that horn. Joel of course feels he did not sacrifice enough to earn this medal of merit and honor, but that's Joel. Even though he was selected to do a report that went to the Pentagon and on to the Sec. of Def. that has nothing to do with his service, the man is way too humble. Which all our service men and women are, I wish that they were appreciated more and people would thank them for their service. When I worked at Home Depot, any person whether in uniform or not (once I found out they were in the service) I said Thank You to them!
Thanks to PAPA for his service, thanks to my stepfather for his service, my brothers for their service in NAM, to Uncle Mick, to grandpa Gee, and grandpa Sam, and Joel's great great great grandfather who fought in the civil war. Just say THANK YOU!
Ya gotta appreciate what these people give to this country. I have seen the sacrifice that these people go through, just these kids being without their father for a year is tough, don't kid yourself. Taryn and her duties are endless and yet she, like so many other service wives keeps it together and keeps the home front safe. In Taryn's case, she builds on to the home front. Love you all! Dot
You go Ma! You stand on that hill I am convinced you will die on! For your pride and love is contagious and beautiful!!
OH, and, congratulations my baby brother-in-law...hope you don't mind that we tooted your horn for your -- on behalf of ALL of our service men and women! You totally rock our world!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Isn't she cute...
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Steady on the Path
"If we stay steady on the path and don’t lose heart. If we open ourselves up to the whispers of our soul and listen in faith rather than fear." ~ Dani Sutliff
I had a lot to say today, a lot of things I wanted to blog about. It's very peaceful in the morning when you start your day out with a hot cup of lemon tea and check all of your favorite blogs to see what's true for so many terrific people that day.
I had a lot to say today. I don't anymore. As I was reading all of these fantastic insights into the world around us as seen by all of these women, most of whom I don't even know, the words, my words, seemed to leave me. It was as if a stillness came in and quieted all the chatter. It's almost like therapy some days - both the reading and the writing.
I had a lot to say today. But today, the words of my friend (above) seem to be all that I want to say. For today, I am steady on my path to open my bakery, be a contributor to CityGal Magazine, and still be the mother, sister, friend, wife and daughter that I want to be. I think fear has left me entirely about so many things and I truly believe that I am "listening in faith". These words resognated so loudly in me today, that I feel like I could conquer the world, and based on the results of this morning's actions, phone calls, emails -- I AM!
I had a lot to say today. But it sure is quiet when I don't.
I had a lot to say today, a lot of things I wanted to blog about. It's very peaceful in the morning when you start your day out with a hot cup of lemon tea and check all of your favorite blogs to see what's true for so many terrific people that day.
I had a lot to say today. I don't anymore. As I was reading all of these fantastic insights into the world around us as seen by all of these women, most of whom I don't even know, the words, my words, seemed to leave me. It was as if a stillness came in and quieted all the chatter. It's almost like therapy some days - both the reading and the writing.
I had a lot to say today. But today, the words of my friend (above) seem to be all that I want to say. For today, I am steady on my path to open my bakery, be a contributor to CityGal Magazine, and still be the mother, sister, friend, wife and daughter that I want to be. I think fear has left me entirely about so many things and I truly believe that I am "listening in faith". These words resognated so loudly in me today, that I feel like I could conquer the world, and based on the results of this morning's actions, phone calls, emails -- I AM!
I had a lot to say today. But it sure is quiet when I don't.
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