May Challenge – The Final Post (X, Y, Z)

Want to talk about cutting it close on getting all my letters in. Call it cheating, call it what have you, but I’m getting my May Challenge done IN May. So here I am, banging out a long and final post for the challenge. Hold tight, it’s been an exciting ride!

X is for Xray

In Canada with Caroline after breaking my arm

Call me lame by choosing xray, but give me a break – I’m not creative enough to pick another word or topic. When I think of xray I think of all the times I’ve broken fingers and wrists – most vividly the time I broke my arm up in Canada playing soccer, sat in an emergency room for nearly five hours in pain because the Canadian health system allows everyone to go for free and in the end getting a plaster cast because apparently they don't have fiberglass there. So as I sat there in agony, Mrs. Brown sat with me patiently as Canadians were waiting for splinters to be taken out of feet and blisters to be popped. COME ON MAN!!! Stupid Canada. I made do the rest of the trip, however being 12 years old and having to be bathed my your best friend's mom is a bit mortifying. Wanna see some cool xray photos? Here is 28 Awesome and Crazy X-Rays.



Y is for Youth

Just heard my boss today tell her 5-year-old son over the phone “Life is just a party for you it’s it?!”

Honestly as soon as I heard her say that I thought to myself, “you know what – life IS a party in your youth.”

My youth was great and I would go back in a heartbeat. As the summer heat has been pounding our skin over the last 4 days it brings me back to the memories of spending everyday of every summer at Memom and Poppop’s house in Worcester. Each morning myself, my sister, and my cousins (Jackie and Tyler) would pile into my mom’s Ford Explorer and off we would go for a week worth of running, swimming, playing, eating and more playing.

Missy and I with Nick and Jay Donis

Our days started off with Eggo waffles at our house where Tyler would eat nearly a box himself. We would then get to Memom’s around 8 a.m., just in time to watch 6ABC followed by morning talk show classics like Sally Jessy Raphael and the Ricki Lake Show.

By 10 a.m. we were ready to get our day going as the Piccirilli/Smith clan would meet up with the Barr/Donis clan for a day of festivities. The Donis’ are our cousins living two doors down from Memom and the Barrs were the Brady Bunch (3 girls and 3 boys) who lived directly next door. Our ages ranged dramatically between us all, but that didn’t matter…we all stood together.

We played in the woods, we played in the pool, we had our own town with a grocery store, gas station and business district. Being bored never came about and being too hot outside only brought the fun inside.

I have a few classic memories I will never forget from my youth.

1. Memom and Poppop’s above ground pool always had too much chlorine in it. To the point that if you opened your eyes under water, your retina would be fried.  We couldn’t splash and we couldn’t be too loud (WTF?! But that was their rules) but we still made the best of it. Now for the memories – one day while Missy, Jackie and I were in our pool, the Barrs were in their baller underground pool next to us. Jackie decided to be a smart guy and got out, standing on the deck. Shaking her tush and acting like a weirdo, Missy and I look up to see completely through Jackie’s swim suit ---the chlorine stripped its pink coloring to clear. SEE THROUGH – lady parts and all. Let’s just say the Barr boys got a really good show that day.

Poppop and I :)

2. Another story pool related is the time when all of us kids (12 in total) thought it would be a great idea to make a whirlpool in the Barr’s above ground pool. After we had that thing going and going SUPER fast, each kid swung around, grabbing the ladder to exit. One by one, Missy – Jackie- Kevin – Kathleen- etc., they all got out. Me being the littlest I was out last because I couldn’t hold on from the force. Finally I got out of the pool, took one step off the latter and right then –BOOM. The entire pool collapsed and was thrown like a rag doll. Galloons of water exploded out flooding the yards. Good thing I got out just in time.



Z  is for Zero

I’m going to be honest – I had zero expectations for my May A-Z Challenge other than to just finish it on time. But after reflecting on the last 30 days, I will have to say this Challenge has been a great success.

Over the last month, I have had the most hits EVER on my blog, with huge reactions from several of my posts and nearly all of my guest bloggers had record numbers on reads.

I would like to give a big thank you to all of the readers – seeing reactions, receiving comments and private messages on Facebook makes me feel as though my writing is still important and that people care. I know this blog is for ME but it is also for each and every one of you. To open your eyes to new experiences, to encourage you all to try new things and to view situations in other individuals eyes.

Secondly, thank you to all of my guest bloggers. There is no way I would have been able to do this without you all. I love each and every one of you and you’re always welcome to post in the future on Take Your Pic.

Until the next challenge!!!

Xox

GUEST BLOG POST: W is for Wife

My mother is fantastic. Since I was born my mom has been my backbone, my support system and my best friend. Through some of my toughest times in life she has always been the one to lean on, giving me advice and helping me when I’m in need (whether it was my fault or not.) To this day, I don’t think I can give enough thank yous, foot rubs, kisses or hugs for her to really realize how truly thankful I am for her and everything she has given me (her caring nature, her humor and most importantly adorable looks haha). I love you, Marmee, more than you know. Xox

I have been a wife for almost 34 years, a role I welcomed with open arms at the age of 20.  To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect or what was expected of me.  My role models went from one end of the spectrum to the other.  My mother was a housewife for over 40 years before going back to work; however, she went back to work when I was in elementary school so I only remember her as a working wife.  Her marriage was tumultuous.  She was a hot-tempered red head know-it-all and my father was a mean drunk.  This combination always made life “interesting”.  Then there was Carol Brady, a stay-at-home wife with 6 perfect kids and a live-in maid.  See what I mean?  Normal existed somewhere.

My parents at their Junior Prom at Methacton

I’m pretty sure at my wedding I promised to obey.  I never thought to look at the vows ahead of time and I never would have asked to change them if I had.  I, like my mom, am also a red-headed know-it-all (although the hair color does not come naturally, the temper does).  Me obey??? Not so much but you say what it expected of you at the time.  You hopefully marry the love of your life.  I moved in with my new husband and desperately wanted the Brady thing.  I’m still waiting.  I married a mechanic who wears work clothes and comes home filthy dirty.  No suits or briefcases at our house.  There has never been a cleaning lady and 95% of the time dinner is literally on me.  But that’s okay.

In the 60’s, a wife was responsible for the house, dinner, laundry and the kids. Most women then only worked out of necessity.   In the 80’s, some wives stayed at home and some worked, not out of necessity but because they wanted to.  I was always a wife who wanted to work.  I liked the satisfaction of doing a job well and being acknowledged for it.  I complain on a regular basis that I do everything (mostly because I do), but I wouldn’t go back and change anything.  As a teenager, I cooked dinner for my father and brother because my mom worked nights.  I also grocery shopped as soon as I was able to drive and was expected to help clean the house.  I was a little bit resentful of this, especially when I felt like a wife and my friends were going to the mall or a Friday night football game.  So I was happy to become a wife at a young age.  I’d rather be taking care of my own house.  I was probably at an advantage over most people due to my extensive training!

Here are a few valuable lessons I’ve learned as a wife:
1. Your husband can talk trash about his family all he wants.  You may agree and have actually been waiting for this opportunity to add a few flaws he’s inadvertently missed.  DON’T DO IT.  His family may have burned down an orphanage, but as soon as you say something, you are a bitch and your family is worse than his.  It’s best to just listen and then trash talk about them to your friends behind his back.  This saves a lot of grief and heartache.  Take note this also works in reverse.  He better not say anything about your family either.  You know what I mean?

2. Never assume your husband knows what you want.  I’m not talking birthday and anniversary gifts, I’m talking about taking out the trash or helping clean up after dinner.  You can’t be pissed off because he’s playing video games while you’re doing everything (see above).  You have to be specific with your requests.  While this often gets construed as nagging, you got to do what you got to do.  However, be prepared for the nagging thing to come up in a future marriage counseling session.

3. The tone you set at the beginning of your marriage often last for the next 34 long, long years.  If you expect him to share all the responsibilities, start that way from the beginning.  I have friends who make their husbands breakfast and lunch before they leave for work and they are happy to do it.  I also have friends whose husband will pack them lunch.  Our house is like Switzerland.  I don’t pack him lunch and he’s never packed mine.  There is no right or wrong here.

Circa 1982-83ish??

4. At some point in your marriage, you will have to Shout out the skid marks in his underwear.  It’s a fact of life.  This is another one of those things you may not want to point out to him until he’s in the right frame of mind.  At our house, this could be dinner table discussion but we are twisted in the head and proud of it.

5. Lastly, try to be kind.  A kind word or gesture goes a long way.  Fight fair and remember anything you say can and will be used against you in future years.  Your husband may forgot to take out the trash or what time it is when they having “one more drink” with friends and he’s already an hour late, but a nasty comment from you will be remembered for a lifetime.

GUEST BLOG POST: V is for Veganish

Welcome Jennifer Lawson to Take Your Pic. Jen and I were coworkers at The Reporter together where she is still currently their education reporter. Cubical neighbors, Jen and I had a blast everyday - making jokes and laughing our faces off, while busting our butts to produce amazing content for our readers. Jen has been in the journalism business for many years (From Las Vergas, Atlantic City and now back in her hometown) and she does such an amazing job each and every day. Her talent is clearly visible and her drive to bring out the better in everyone is contagious. Miss you Jen, keep kicking butt over there and congrats on being a new homeowner!! 






Veganish.

If I had to put a label on my way of eating, it would be veganish.

I’ve been a vegetarian for 16 years, and about a month ago I cut back my dairy consumption by about 80 percent.

The result is that I feel cleaner, lighter, less gunked up, healthier and more positive about the role I play in the world. I’ve also lost a few pounds, which is always nice, especially as summer approaches.

Here's my fruit for the week. 

You might be wondering why I’m not more absolute. Why didn’t I eliminate all dairy from my diet?

The reason is that I’m human. I’ve gone 100% vegan twice before, and the last time was a year ago when I decided to eat vegan for 30 days. I put so much pressure on myself and it really stressed me out. I was miserable. And, of course, when I caved, I felt like a failure.

About a month ago I decided to do it again, but this time, I didn’t want to have strict rules. I would not eat any dairy, but in situations where avoiding dairy would be difficult, I would eat it. I see it more as a decision-by-decision way of living rather than a sweeping choice to absolutely cut out all dairy.

My boyfriend and I go food shopping at Trader Joe’s every Sunday morning. He is vegetarian (or almost vegetarian, since he eats seafood) which is one of the reasons why I’m more relaxed about my diet. He helps me pick out vegan stuff and reads labels with me, but when he orders chickpea fries that come with aioli (a type of mayonnaise, containing egg) on them at our favorite bar, I’m going to have some. I think it’s important to be sensitive to those around you, and I don’t want to cause a commotion because a menu might not have many vegan options.But given the choice at the grocery store to buy real cheese or vegan cheese, I’ll buy the vegan cheese.

The main question people have when they find out about my veganish diet is, “What do you eat?” The answer is I eat whatever I want. I don’t want to eat meat, and I don’t want to eat dairy, so I don’t (or try not to).

This vegan, yogurt-like treat is so good.

During a typical work day, I’ll have an apple on my way to work. I’ll have 20 ounces of black coffee. I’ll have a snack pack of Trader Joe’s hummus and pita chips, a few oranges or bananas, soy yogurt and raw almonds.

Dinner could be marinated tofu with kale and butternut squash, or vegan pizza (I make it with pita bread, vegan cheese, grape tomatoes and basil), or a vegan burger made by Dr. Praeder or Morningstar Farms, or brown rice pasta with marinara sauce.

Sometimes we have salad with dinner, which could consist of arugula or baby spinach, tomatoes, carrots, beets and avocado with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

My biggest indulgence is hummus and pita chips. I have three containers of different types of hummus in my refrigerator right now. It’s delicious and addictive and it’s pretty healthy as far as snacks go.

Another common question is, “Where do you get your protein?”

Protein deficiency is not an issue in first world countries. Think about it. Protein is in much of what we eat. If a vegan eats a varied diet and consumes enough calories, he or she will get a sufficient amount of protein.

Most Americans get too much protein, which is more of a problem. Eating an excessive amount of animal protein has been linked to pancreatic, prostate and endometrial cancers, not to mention obesity and heart disease.

You might be wondering about cravings. Do vegans have cravings for pizza? Greek yogurt? Ice cream?

To be honest, I will always crave pizza. I might even give in and have a slice on occasion. But cravings aren’t the best indicator that your body is in need of something. People who are addicted to cigarettes crave cigarettes, and that doesn’t make smoking okay.

This pasta is made from ground brown rice instead of wheat.
Quinoa is also a healthy alternative to regular pasta products.

Also, since I’ve learned about the dairy industry and how it’s actually worse than the meat industry, it makes me not really want to be part of a creature’s suffering, so the desire evaporates and turns to disgust.

This leads me to another question that people ask, “Why are you a vegetarian/vegan?”

It started in 1993 or 1994 when I saw the movie “Alive” on TV. It was about a rugby or soccer team that got stranded in the mountains in the middle of winter after their plane crashed and they resorted to cannibalism.

I know this was just a movie, but the meat that the characters ate looked like steak, but it was human flesh. A light bulb clicked on: The meat we eat are actually carcasses, corpses, dead things. I wouldn’t eat a dead person, so why is it okay to eat a dead cow? Jeez, I wouldn’t even want to touch a dead body, but we happily put dead bodies in our mouths.

Over the course of the next three or four years, I eliminated all meat from my diet as I got more and more grossed out by each thing. Red meat was first, then pork, then poultry, then fish.

I adopted my first cat the same year that I went completely vegetarian and that added a more personal element to my decision. I see all animals as equal. I often wonder why we put animals into categories – dogs and cats are part of the family, but pigs and chickens and cows are food. Why?

Is it because pets are cute? Is it because they’re smarter? Pigs are thought to be among the most intelligent animals with the IQ of a two-year-old human child.

I would not eat my friends or family. I would not eat my cats or my dog. I would not eat a farm animal. Under our skin, it’s all steak. We all bleed red.

Peanut butter is another staple of my diet.

 For me, it’s an ethical consideration. I don’t want to support the suffering of animals. There’s no reason for it, when there are lots of other delicious things to eat.

This leads to another question people ask, “Does it bother you if I eat meat in front of you?”

The answer is of course not. Everyone has the freedom to make their own decisions, and diet is something that is highly personal. It makes my heart sink when I hear about vegetarians or vegans getting preachy, because it’s nobody’s business.

So, veganish. This isn’t a fad diet that’s unsustainable in the long term, and it’s not a 30-day challenge.

This is how I want to be, by making the best decisions that I can on a moment-to-moment basis.

When I eat crap, I feel and look like crap. I want to have the healthiest and happiest life possible, and being nice to myself and being mindful of what I eat is a good step toward achieving that.

We only get one body – might as well take good care of it.