Silver and Sparkle

1980s wedding party kids flowersI love surprise parties. Like, I loooooooove them. I get giddy and happy-nervous and jump up and down a lot.

The last time I was in charge of a surprise party was my husband’s 30th in 2009. It was a large ordeal, and centered around the theme “Party Like It’s 1979.” There were costumes and music and decorations on the theme, as well as a ridiculous amount of food and drink. It’s one of my favorite memories.

On Saturday, my sister and I (with the help of family, friends and McFadden’s Jameson Lounge) threw a surprise 25th Anniversary Party for our aunt and uncle. As my mom’s twin, our aunt has always been like a second mother, and we were both in the wedding (me in the middle, her to the left) and stayed close with the couple in the ensuing decades. While they have no children of their own, they are highly social, and we could think of nothing better than a party to commemorate the occasion. As it was their silver anniversary, and my aunt loves anything with “glitz,” we incorporated plenty of the color and glitter into the occasion.

Lots of work, but totally worth it. We welcomed well over 120 guests to an excellent venue, and enjoyed reconnecting with several wonderful people.

Hard to believe that 25 years have gone by, though I think we’ve all aged with grace. To another 25!

couple two women anniversary party

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Filed under Of Family and Children

Natura Magica

shimmering shores vadhoo maldives bioluminescence

If the maples, squirrels and rain aren’t inspiring enough to make you passionate about environmental preservation, what about a glowing, sparkling shoreline?

Without science, nature is like magic. Explained by science, nature is magic. No matter how clearly you explain to me how a sea creature can glow like this, I will be awestruck, and like a child seeing her first Disney fairy tale. The more I learn about this world of ours, the more I find it devastatingly beautiful. I want to go everywhere.

Check out some of the most magical looking nature out there (as far as we know), and see where it takes your mind. If you decide to go, please take me with you.

Helpful hint: Hit the blue “Prev Page” button at the top. I didn’t design it – just sharing it.

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Back in the Shoes

red white silver running shoes

Last week, I went for a run.

I was just four days shy of two months out from an ankle sprain that I obtained on my last run. It’s gotten a lot colder since August 29.

Happily, I made it farther than I expected, and discovered I’d not lost all endurance. Of course, the fact that I was scanning the ground for devious sticks detracted a bit from the sheer joy of moving quickly through the air.

There was a moment of horror earlier in the day, when I felt a minor pain in a different part of my ankle. I’d already decided that it was time for my first post-injury run, and was gearing up to be pretty darn irritated if it didn’t work out. Fortunately, the pain went away, and no violence occurred.

I have to admit that, while I did visit a sports clinic, I have not been as diligent with my exercises as I should be. Part of the reason for that is that my 19 month old thinks the resistance band is hers, and tries to pull it off my foot during reps.

So, we are back to square one. Or maybe square one and some change. I ask once again, am I running yet?

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Halloweeny Week!

alice wonderland caterpillar halloween costumesHappy Halloween Week!

I’ve always loved Halloween. After Saint Patrick’s Day, it’s probably my favorite holiday.

We are fortunate enough to have friends who own some beautiful farm land in Hamilton, MI, and they generously host two very large annual parties. Every June we open the summer season with a Solstice Party, and every October we dress up for the Halloween Party. There’s always live Irish music. There’s always a bonfire and fireworks. And there’s always plenty of festivity.

Just imagine pulling up to an old farmhouse and barn, both lit with the glow of jack-o-lanterns and strings of lights. Everywhere you look there are people dancing, talking and drinking, and there’s a smell of vegetation and fire in the air. You’re welcomed by those you know, and often those you don’t. There are seasonal gardens, horses, gnarly trees and countless lovely costumes. Every time we go to this party, I swear that we’ve entered some sort of “other world,” and it’s always over too soon.

This year, we were Alice and the Caterpillar. In 2012, Psy and Hyuna. In 2011, gnomes. In 2010, Link and Zelda. The links below can take you on a little tour of these costumes and more, including a Banshee and Banhee, Gomez Adams and his sister-in-law Ophelia and Wesley and Buttercup. I’m considering making a book of these…

Past costumes

And more past costumes…

four zombies zombie walk grand rapids

Zombie Walk 2009 (ft. sister and brother-in-law), Gangnam Style 2012

gangnam style couple Halloween costumes

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Filed under Seasonal

Freelance Equipment: Motor Car

boy girl vintage motor carThere are certain things that one expects to need in a freelance writing career. A computer. A phone. Access to scanners and fax machines. A web cam.

A vehicle, perhaps, might not seem like an essential or regular part of working for oneself. Isn’t the whole point to be able to work in bed and never wear real clothes? Why would a freelance writer want to go anywhere?

If you’re a writer who works from home, you’re likely thinking “um, duh.” Never leaving the house is OK for some aspects of freelance (the actual writing, non-local clients), but can be severely limiting in others. Unless you live somewhere with excellent public transportation, you will have a hard time literally getting out there. And if you want to grow as a freelancer, you have to Get. Out. There.

Social media has made it easier for many creatives to stay in their hidey holes, myself included. But I can say from experience that face to face meetings, networking events and having actually seen the locations about which you blog are vital to an engaging freelance career that goes beyond working as an SEO content factory.

At the moment, my husband and I share a car. Between it and occasional rides from others, we do just fine. But, when Iris is a little older, and I have more time to focus on not just doing the work I have, but really growing, a second car will be a must. Until then, I will enjoy the lower insurance bills.

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Filed under I'm a Professional

Quinoa Meal for a Greenie

Halloween dinner table set food

My sister came over for the evening last night, and it struck me that our meal was quite green in color.

While she is not a vegetarian, my sister makes a point of eating very healthfully. Since we have similar taste (in just about everything, it seems), having dinner with her is usually awesome. Sushi, Indian, vegetarian sub sandwiches and seafood pastas are among the favorites, and we do well eating in or out.

This time, we stayed in, and threw together a hearty but healthy meal with ingredients I had and a few things she grabbed from the store. Oh, and wine. We were raised (responsibly) with the idea that a nice dinner simply isn’t complete without a glass of wine.

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Filed under Health, Recipes

Channel Your Inner Muriquis

muriquis monkey group in tree

For a long time, non-human primates were thought of as aggressive creatures dominated by brutish, and sometimes violent, males.

This may have encouraged humans to believe that we exhibited the best of primate nature… which is certainly debatable, even with the aforementioned criteria.

But with increased knowledge of apes such as the bonobo, we’re beginning to understand the spectrum of primate nature, and our place within it. Further, experts are posing questions about the role of competition in evolution, and whether or not it really is the thing to create more “successful” communities.

Check out this article on the gentle, affectionate muriquis monkey. Perhaps we should accept the chimp in ourselves, but strive to bring out the muriquis.

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Autumn Indulgence

cookie doughnut cider slush asparagus Autumn just isn’t autumn without a trip to a local orchard. And it’s not a proper orchard visit without donuts and cider.

This year, we checked out the Ed Dunneback and Girls Farm just north of Grand Rapids. Aside from the fact that they were all out of ice cream for the caramel apple shakes, the experience did not disappoint. The pumpkin donuts even had a pumpkin spice frosting. Coupled with some cranberry walnut cookies and a cider slushie, they made an excellent feast for our sunny afternoon.

I rounded it off with a jar of pickled asparagus. Since the hubby is violently opposed to pickled veggies, this is an indulgence I get to hoard for myself.

One of these days, I’ll get around to a more thoughtful, healthful post. For now, I’m preparing for the cold by wallowing in a donut coma.

Have an indulgent Monday!

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Autumn Acceptance

girl with veggie pumpkin plateEvery year, I kind of have to resign myself to Autumn. Don’t get me wrong – I like the colors and the cozy and the flavors. I also love LOVE Halloween. I just don’t like how the warmth continues to wane and the gray of winter draws nearer, both events accompanied by drier skin and higher bills.

Usually, though, by October, I’ve accepted it. This Sunday was a gloomy one, and we spent the afternoon with seasonal wines and peanut soup. I got some work done in our upper level, which escaped the deep clean and decrapify we did in the Spring. I even found an unopened package of cushiony socks. It’s the little things.

Hope you’ve started stocking for mulled wine and planning those excellent costumes. Food and festivity are essential for making it through the cold, as are good times with old friends. Get as much as you can – of all of it.

To your week!

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Paleolithic Bodies and Modern Culture

story of the human body book coverThink what you will about Terry Gross, but you gotta admit she has some great guests (when they’re still alive).

On Monday, I heard a large part of Ms. Gross’ conversation with Daniel Lieberman, a Harvard professor of evolutionary biology. I love it when science comes in and obliterates, balances and teaches. Things I heard made me feel good about my diet choices, and revisit some of my opinions on the art of eating.

In a nutshell, Professor Lieberman emphasized the fact that our bodies are evolved to hoard energy, navigate the planet and make babies. We are not evolved to eat large quantities of fat and sugar, nor are we evolved to be healthy for decades on end. We are too obsessed with being squeaky clean. Further, the solutions to our modern health problems are not as easy as a trendy diet.

Listen to the whole thing if you have time. Read the highlights at the very least. It never hurts to think a little on the habits that we observe everyday.

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