Contest Season is Here!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and it’s going on right now! That being, it is contest season in Toastmasters. Our District’s best speakers compete for awards and ultimately, a spot in the World Championship of Public Speaking. Last week, our areas in the division all competed for a chance to hone their speaking skills with the winners moving on to the Division contest in March. I attended my area’s contest which combined with neighboring Area 23. Our speakers, including one of Greensburg’s own, all did well. Those working behind the scenes all deserve a round of applause for their help in the contest as well (judges, timers, ballot counters, chief judge, toastmaster, and zoom master).

For the second year in a row, all of the area contests were held online. In 2022, they were hybrid, meaning they were online and in person. This year, I felt better about attending the contests than I did the first year we did them online. I was totally lost and discouraged back in 2021.

Having a laptop with a working webcam helps too. I didn’t participate in any capacity except that of being a spectator. Areas 23 and 24 will be sending some good speakers to Blairsville on March 16.

In other news, my next Harry Potter book arrives Friday. I finished up Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire last week and will watch the film Saturday night. Order of the Phoenix is the biggest book of the series but I’m more than ready to see myself through reading it. I’ll take some time to get it done to accommodate for Easter, Toastmasters, and working on blogs, I’ll take a break once I’m done. My niece just started the sixth book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I’ll be there in May after I wrap up the Spring Conference.

Last week on my day off, I got some ideas for what to buy with my JCP gift card. I also bought some new magnetic bookmarks which in my opinion are better than regular bookmarks. Just clip them to the page you’re on and start from there when you pick your book up. I even saw some luggage that I might buy for Spring Conference (my first in person Toastmasters conference since April of 2019). When I’m not reading Harry Potter or writing blogs, I’m reading about Barack Obama’s journey to the White House. While at Barnes and Noble last week, I also bought John Stamos’ memoir and plugging into his life.

Recently, my mom straightened up the kitchen upstairs where I frequently work on my laptop. It’s mainly used as a storage area more than an actual kitchen. While mom moved my desk and gave me a much improved workspace, she also put my CD’s in a storage tote. While I was initially in shock, I believe it was for the best. I don’t listen to them anymore and have contemplated what to do with them. It was a way of telling myself to move on. Best Buy has also done away with their physical media, including CDs and DVDs and I’m certain that others will eventually follow suit as well. The way we view media has changed even before the pandemic. Now you can watch everything online or, there’s an app for that.

Remember when kids used to go to Napster and other music swapping sites? Does anyone miss Blockbuster Video or Iggle Video and renting movies on a Friday night? Who’d have thought records 🎶 would be popular again?

I have the upcoming weekend off so I might make the most of my Sunday by taking a road trip. I’m due for a visit with my aunt so I’ll meet her for lunch in Somerset. Coming up this week, Wednesday night is Greensburg Toastmasters but before that I will have my pre-Toast meal at Don Patron and I’ll have my review of the place up as well. I’m spying another outfit/activewear haul possibly next weekend as well.

Today I tried out Cutie’s once again (I went back in January but was in a hurry so I didn’t stay long) and was impressed with the service. I took a seat and enjoyed my stay this time. It was very decorated for Valentine’s Day. I can’t wait to see what they do with the place and look forward to another coffee adventure soon. Maybe I’ll get some friends together and try a flight.

I hope you come along with me on my Stylish journey!

New Activewear from Old Navy!

“Nice outfit! Tell me, where did you get this?” “Oh, this razzle dazzle number? Thanks. It’s Old Navy.”

A few weeks ago, I shopped online at oldnavy.com in the market for some activewear as I plan to up my fitness game in February and March. My busy schedule made it hard for me to unbox my new outfits plus I was a little hesitant for other reasons. Even though I’m a few years into my fashion journey, I still have doubts. I need to stop thinking about what may happen or be said because thinking only gets me into trouble. The only person I need to be successful is me.

Like Maura told me in our chat on Christmas Eve, “Clothes are just clothes. Doesn’t matter who wears them, as long as you are comfortable.” Once I built up my confidence, as I’ve always done, I was ready. Everything from the activewear to tank tops, the latter which will be perfect for layering over clothes, all fit perfectly. I think that I like the hi-rise joggers better than my normal sweats and , except for my SRU sweats and those I just got for Christmas, I will be getting rid of those as they served their purpose. I like pants that go a little bit above my waist and not have to risk having my stomach hanging out. I’m not about that style where pants hang down so low I see someone’s drawers. C’mon man!

With some new tops in mind for my next shopping trip, I’m putting together the perfect gym ensemble. The tank tops can also be worn with jeans and under a long sleeve shirt or sweatshirt.

Any doubts I may have I only need to remind myself, “It’s just fashion.”

3 for Me Deal at Chili’s 🌶️!

This week I went out to dinner before my Greensburg meeting which is usually tradition for me. This week has been different as we’ve seen drier, warmer weather for February. That gave me the opportunity to get outside and walk around at the park on one of those nice days. But, it’s February and, winter will make its triumphant return next week.

Right now Chili’s has a 3 for Me value meal which starts at $10.99 and is perfect for your dining experience and budget. You have the option to choose your beverage, appetizer, and entree, or spice it up by adding a classic margarita, Dip Trio or their famous Cheesecake.

This seems familiar to a meal deal Kings had where you could order an appetizer, entree, and dessert. This is what I did tonight when I ate dinner. Since I’m en route to my Greensburg Toastmasters meeting, I’ll be eating at the Chili’s 🌶️ in Greengate Center.

I got there around quarter to five and was immediately seated. I already knew what I wanted so there was no need to look at the menu. My server arrived at my table and took my order like that 🫰. For my drink, I got the mango iced tea. My entree was the chicken crispers. Also part of the 3 for Me deal was the delicious chicken enchilada soup. All for $14.99!

My server checked up on me to make sure I was happy with my food. Service for my visit tonight gets an A+. Of course I get there before the dinner rush. I’ll challenge myself to eating with a busier crowd next time I eat out. I took my time eating my chicken crispers and even mixed my sauces together. I even ate them with a knife and fork like George Constanza on that episode of Seinfeld. ot that there’s anything wrong with that! I’ll be back next time, hopefully this meal deal will still be going on, and I might get a margarita to drink or a slice of cheesecake instead of soup or salad. Food also gets an A.

It was easy to pay my check at the table with use of their card devices which also have games on them. That way you are in and out and don’t have to wait for change. Personally, I like to leave a cash tip but I can also put it on the card. Channeling my inner writer, I even gave a review on the device. On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest, I gave them almost all 5’s with one 4. Convenience gets a A-.

I’ll be enjoying my second day off in a row tomorrow and having a little shopping adventure. There will be a place to stop for food along the way, I’m sure. My next review will be in two weeks at Don Patron. While they are up the road from Chili’s, they also have a location in Latrobe. I’m not sure what restaurant I’ll go to, but regardless, you’ll be reading all about my experience there.

Coming Full Circle

This weekend I had a full circle moment that I’d like to share in today’s blog. Before I do that, let’s define what this phrase means.

Full circle is an adverb which can be defined as, “through a series of developments that lead back to the original source, position, or situation or to a complete reversal of the original position”.

Facebook memories can either make you laugh or they can make you cry. You can say or do the most embarrassing things and Facebook will take pride in humiliating you on the anniversary of whatever it was that you said or did. Two of those embarrassing moments came early in 2010. The period from 2006-2010 can be considered my dark period. It was post-academia and I had deep regrets about attending college. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life and felt ashamed of myself. But let’s save that for later.

In February of that year, I went on a rant about all the coverage on Snowmageddon. I later apologized for my profanity-laced tirade. The weather was making everyone crazy at this point. A month later, a bad memory from my past surfaced and it threatened to ruin my good vibe. These two incidents can be summed up to feelings that I brought on myself from regrets that I had from my college days.

In a most recent Facebook memory, I came upon an article that I wrote that summed up the 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers season. As I recall, it was an amazing piece and looking back, it’s like I’ve come full circle. I say that because I’ve been enjoying keeping up with this blog over the last four years. Even 15 years earlier, I enjoyed writing. Just like the Facebook memories I mentioned, there was a motive behind this article I posted. Just like 20 years earlier during my first semester at Slippery Rock, when I sent a card for my friend who was taking her PRAXIS, I did it with ulterior motives in mind.

This pic above is from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ last Super Bowl win in February of 2009 when they defeated the Arizona Cardinals, 27-23. A few days later, I posted my piece on the Steelers’ successful run to the Super Bowl from beginning to end.

I don’t talk about this that often anymore but, for many years, I longed to go back to school. I wanted to do it not for my Masters but, to prove a point and, to make up for what I thought at the time was a bad college experience at Slippery Rock. I wasn’t ready to be done with school and just started to enjoy college when I graduated in December of 2005.

At the time that Pittsburgh won its sixth Super Bowl, I was hinting at going back to school for a post-baccalaureate degree in communications. I didn’t care what it took or how much debt I accumulated, I wanted to prove myself. The James of 2019 and beyond wouldn’t believe what the James of the late 2000’s did. It took me a long time, but I eventually got over my past.

It was a long time coming, but no longer do I live in those good old days. I look back on that article and remember those years of self-doubt and taking in everyone’s frustration with their lives. Now, as I look at myself with over 500 blogs, years of involvement in Toastmasters and, a good job with room for advancement, I’ve done very well for myself. It hasn’t been an easy road since with a few steps back along the way, but I’m not giving up.

Coming up this week, I have Greensburg Toastmasters and we have a great night planned with great speeches and amazing table topics. It’s contest season and I will be attending a few contests this week (both in my division). Before my meeting Wednesday night, I’ll go out to dinner and have a food review up as part of my Food segment. Later this week I’ll have a fashion blog up as I try on some of my new activewear as part of my fashion segment. I’ll be hinting at future purchases as well as up my fitness game for February and March.

I hope you’ll come along with me this week.

The Best Part of January is… When It’s Over.

Just like the old saying goes, “The best part of winter is, when it’s over.” I felt the same way about January 2024.

After a wonderful holiday season in 2023, we turned the calendar to 2024. It started out great for the first few days. Eventually, it just seemed to drag on. January just didn’t want to end and then, it did. Looking back on the month and what the good and bad were, there wasn’t that much good to say about it. We had our fair share of snow and frigid temperatures around the middle of January. That snow cover we had a few weeks ago has completely melted and has been replaced by sunshine today to cap off the first day of February.

The snowstorm in Buffalo pushed the wild card game between the Steelers and Bills back a day but, alas, the same result likely would have happened if they played it when scheduled. The weather remained cold through the weekend of Ligonier IceFest. It was perfect if you wanted to see the ice sculptures, but you probably didn’t want to stay outside too long anyway. After attending IceFest the last two years, I wasn’t able to make it this time.

I kind of stayed true to my New Year’s Resolution and made it to the gym a few times in January. I tried to go on my days off but found that hard sometimes as I had other things to do. I’ll make it more of a habit in February. With the upcoming weather forecast set to be dry and a little more mild, it might be a great opportunity to get outside and put in a nice walk as well.

January was as drab and gray as the weather but some good things occurred. I discovered a new coffee shop in town that specializes in coffee flights. Cutie’s Coffee is definitely at home in a town that has some great cafes. I also ordered supplies for my vision board (which I will work on in February). The best thing about a January that didn’t have much sunshine was ordering my digital photo frame.

My mother bought her frame on Amazon and added many good pictures to her collection. There’s at least five years worth of photos on her frame. I have a few pictures of mine on there from this past Fall, as well as from the holidays. I finagled with the settings and have it working perfectly like I want it to. I’ll be getting about five years of pics on my frame as well.

I spent a lot of time reading the fourth book of the Harry Potter series and now I’m very close to finishing Goblet of Fire. It took me a while in December because I was focused on Christmas and growing my content for the month. I’ll start Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by mid-February. This will be the longest read of the series and will take me through the remainder of winter. This weekend I will be watching the third Harry Potter movie, Prisoner of Azkaban, and then I’ll watch Goblet of Fire next weekend. I should be caught up to the books by then.

I didn’t blog as much in January and maybe that had an effect on my mental health. I planned on that in order to give myself a break but I kind of missed writing, even though it gave me more time to read the fourth Harry Potter book. One of my old coworkers texted me that he had a chance to read my blogs and he really liked my content. I will post a little bit more in February as I am passionate about doing this and the days start to get longer. Here’s a look at what’s coming up this month as I close off the blog.

Area Contests in District 13—I’ll be attending two speech competitions next week. All area contests will be done online. I’ll attend more if and when my schedule allows.

Activewear/Outfit hauls—Just got a few things in yesterday and so I’ll be trying everything on this weekend and posting to my socials. “You’re slaying that outfit!” Thanks, it’s Old Navy. This will be part of my Fashionista segment.

Restaurant Reviews—I’ll be going to Don Patron in Greensburg and posting about my visit there. It will be a pre-Toast dinner so I’m looking at February 21 for this visit. I plan on doing multiple reviews starting in March. This will be a part of my Foodie Segment.

Queer Eye Season Eight—Once again, the Fab Five is in the Big Easy making people’s lives better. It’s the swan song for design expert Bobby Berk as he moves onto other projects.

First Food Review of 2024!

Stylish and Hungry and James the Food Slayer have brought you to amazing establishments to try out great food and they will continue to do so. My restaurant reviews have been popular since I began them in the summer of 2021 and that will continue in 2024.

I’ve already eaten at a few places in the new year and I was hoping to try out a local establishment this morning. However, due to other circumstances, Diner Thirty was closed this morning. What was the easy solution? Go across the road to Denny‘s and that’s exactly what I did. Though, I did drive around to see where Katie and Annabelle‘s karate 🥋 studio was, first.

This restaurant has been here since Greengate Mall was still in existence. In fact, across Route 30 where Big Lots stands was an old Giant Eagle that moved up the road to Hempfield Square in the late 90s. That’s the one my family shops at and where I currently work. The Gabe’s was an old K-Mart Department Store.

Service was excellent. I walked in and was immediately seated by the hostess. My server took care of me and was patient while I decided on what I wanted. She was courteous and asked me if I wanted more coffee which I agreed to. In this changing climate of eating out since the pandemic, Denny’s is trying to keep afloat. That means doing different jobs other than your own sometimes. Grade: A.

There were lots of great options on the menu for breakfast (as well as lunch and dinner). Having pictures of food on the menu gives the customer a good idea of what they really want. I was torn between my favorite, Country Fried Steak and Eggs, and the Create Your Own Slam. Denny’s is known for their Grand Slam breakfasts but the popular Country Fried Steak won out for me. I ordered that with hash browns, toast, and eggs overeasy. It didn’t take long for them to prepare and get it run to my table, though I did beat the morning breakfast rush. I had luck on my side this morning. Grade: A.

Food was perfect and not overdone. Eggs ran a little bit but that means that I already had my work done for me and I could still dip my toast in the yolks. Thus, the presentation of how a Country Fried Steak breakfast should look. I savored my meal and took my time, just as I like to. I got my money’s worth on this morning’s breakfast. Grade: A+.

Overall, my experience was great. I was hoping to enjoy a new local establishment but, I learned to adjust by making a quick fix. My attitude was positive and it showed as I enjoyed my breakfast. I also made the experience enjoyable for the other diners and the people working there didn’t have to deal with an unhappy customer.

As I continue my foodie segment next month, I plan on making time for lunch or dinner. In fact, I’m eyeing that Don Patron Mexican restaurant next door at some point next month for lunch or for dinner. That will be my review for the blog. I’ll also coordinate my restaurant visits with the nights that I have Greensburg Toastmasters. That way I can open up my days off to do other things with my time, like shopping or going to the gym or taking long walks once the weather warms up.

Going to a diner this morning inspired me to do a nostalgia segment as well. 20 years ago this summer, I got a job at the old Park Classic Diner to make money to pay for school. It was actually my first real job even though I worked on campus the year before. Looking back, it was the perfect job for me at the time. I was hired as a dishwasher and made $5.50 per hour. I only worked part time but it helped provide for my college tuition and gave me work experience. It was owned by Eat’n Park, so they had some of the same menu items as well. It was messy work and I had to wear a paper hat, but I enjoyed the people and the classic car cruise music.

The first summer, the diner had an island theme and all the staff wore Hawaiian shirts. Even the menu items had some cool names, like Caribbean chicken and coconut shrimp. I kept my shirt even as I went back to Slippery Rock that fall. The next year, the kitchen staff wore normal white t-shirts that had Park Diner’s slogan on them, “Meals made snappy to keep you happy.” The front of house staff wore white dress shirts with bow ties. The first year was enjoyable, the second year not so much. But it was nice to work in a great environment, though I didn’t appreciate it until years later.

That’s because I always looked at school as a “safe space” for many years. This is before the term became the household name that it is now. Even with Christmas break, I just wanted to be on my own. I couldn’t wait to go back and was eager to push everyone away. When I graduated, I didn’t have those feelings of hostility anymore, but I lost my safe space that I had for many years.

For many years, I wanted to go back to college or work in a different field because I didn’t prepare myself as well as I should have and wanted to prove people wrong. I feel like now, I’ve proved the doubters wrong by working on this blog and being authentic, especially in my fashion journey. I’ve published over 500 blog posts and feel like I’m at a good place in life.

Just as I have embraced my style, I’m doing the same in Toastmasters and in life. I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am without embracing that authentic college experience. Sometimes, we need to get to that good place by charting our own path, different from everyone else’s.

A Flight, my Digital Picture Frame, and a Look Ahead to February

Flight—A flight is a journey made by flying, usually in an aeroplane. Flight is one of the three most basic stress responses. It reflects how your body will react to danger. Here, it means your body urges you to run from danger

The flight I’m going to be talking about in today‘s blog refers to the coffee flight. What is a coffee flight? Many coffee shops have joined in on the fun and adopted flights to provide a better tasting experience for their customers. Coffee flights give customers a chance to sample a few different types of coffees. Flights typically come in groups of 3 to 5, and they can choose coffees from the menu they’d like to try.

I first learned about coffee flights from the blog Adventure a la Mode. The two girls who maintain the blog have visited a cafe in Wheeling that offers toast and coffee flights. The newest cafe in Greensburg offers coffee flights too.

Centre Market Cafe in Wheeling looks like an amazing experience and it’s a great place to stop at before or after a trip to Cabela‘s in the Highlands. Cutie‘s Coffee just opened in downtown Greensburg and is one of many great little cafes in my hometown along with White Rabbit, DV8, and Sun Dawg. I follow all and want to talk about some of the seasonal flights that the local establishment has to offer.

Cutie‘s has a Valentine’s Day themed drinks right now. They had an Elf-themed flight over the holidays to celebrate the movie’s 20th anniversary. I don’t know if you drink these on your own or with a friend but coffee flights sound like a lot of fun. Future flights include a St. Patrick‘s Day 🍀 flight and, don’t quote me yet but, possibly an Eras themed flight for all you die hard Taylor Swift fans.

Another place that specializes in flights is the popular Hofbrauhaus in Pittsburgh’s South Side. But instead of coffee flights, I’m talking about beer flights! I visited my fashionable sis in the South Side for Friendsgiving and got to hear about all the fun places that the South Side has to offer. We’re planning a Waffles INCaffeinated date in the future. I’m sure I can talk her into Hofbrauhaus as well. Hey sis, are you in the mood for a mimosa flight?

At home, we have a digital photo frame that plays countless photos over and over in a loop. My grandmother had one that we got her for Christmas several years ago and we took it with us after she passed away. My mother ordered a new one on Amazon and it has five years worth of pictures on it, meaning lots of memories to share. I was inspired to buy one myself after enjoying hers, which sits in the living room. My frame arrived Wednesday evening.

As the calendar turns to February a week from today, I’m starting to make my plans for next month. So far, I’ll be putting together my vision board, watching Queer Eye (season eight) as well as the Super Bowl. I’ll be finishing off the turkey balls from Christmas as well.

I spent part of my downtime Wednesday night figuring out my new toy. It didn’t take too long and I was able to get about 25 pictures up with more coming soon. My mom and I rearranged the room so it would be easier for me to work on my content. The frame sits on my desk next to my laptop. My pics are mostly from the latter part of 2023, including some holiday pictures. While Mom’s pictures are great family memories, mine are also going to be family. But I also have food and fashion pictures, as well as a few from Toastmasters events.

I’m in the homestretch of the fourth book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I plan to finish the book just before Super Bowl Sunday and start the fifth book sometime around mid-February, Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix. In addition to reading the books, I’m also watching the movies. In the next few weeks, I’ll be caught up there as well. I quit the series just before starting Goblet of Fire in December 2018 so I’m making up for it very well in 2023 and into 2024.

It’s also area contest time in our Toastmasters District. All contests will be virtual and I hope to attend a few when the time permits. Our area contest will be February 10 in the morning. Our division contest will be March 16 in Blairsville. The district contests will take place during the conference, which is the first weekend of May at the Doubletree Hotel in Washington, PA. I’ll be attending the conference for the first time since 2019, so it’ll be interesting to see how a hybrid conference works out. I did attend virtually in 2021 and it was well-run.

Closing off the blog, I want to share a story of how things have changed. Recently, I posted my 500th blog and one of my club members congratulated me on my milestone achievement. I thanked her for the encouraging compliment and told her about my experience 15 years ago. If I started blogging regularly back in 2008, content would have likely been weather or sports related. She told me she likes it the way that I do it now, with more lifestyle and fashion posts (especially). You know what?

I agreed 100% with her on that.

The Vision Board, Queer Eye, and an Activewear Haul

Yesterday, I spent some time in the morning looking for images to put on my vision board as well as some inspirational words. Using the book that I picked up from Amazon, I checked off what would go great on my board. This will be my winter project. Originally, I was going to work on it this weekend but there are some things that I will need to make the construction of my vision board go smoother. Here are some questions that could motivate me when working on it.

What inspirational quotes or words best describe me?

Words that best describe me would be that I’m confident. I’m starting to build that in my journey though I am known to take a few steps back. One of my New Year’s resolutions, and I’m not sure I mentioned it, is to erase the lingering self doubt I have about myself. As my fashionable sister tells me, I have a lot to offer. She also refers to me as her icon because of my amazing fashion sense. I’m like her own personal Harry Styles. The third word would be slay, because let’s face it, I slay anything I do.

Where is my most ideal vacation spot?

I’ve taken multiple trips to Cape May over the years. It’s an amazing vacation destination and there’s lots to do. You can shop in town on Washington Street, where you’ll find plenty of specialty boutiques, eateries and dessert shops. This will help you satisfy your inner fashionista and inner foodie. One of the many fun things to do is to take a tour by horse carriage of all the Victorian homes in Cape May. Bring plenty of sunscreen if you go in the summer as the sun is much hotter near the ocean (I learned my lesson the hard way many times).

The Netflix series Queer Eye returns January 24 for its eighth season. Once again, the Fab Five team of Bobby Berk (Design), Karamo Brown (Culture), Antoni Porowski (Food & Wine), Jonathan Van Ness (Grooming), and Tan France (Fashion) will be in New Orleans as they were the previous season. Six episodes will air during season eight in which the Fab Five will change their hero’s life for the better. I’m excited for the new season, but it comes at a price.

Design expert Bobby has stated that season eight will be his final season on the show. Not going to get into the details, but it will be a bittersweet season finale knowing that it will be his last one on the show. However, I do know that he will be moving on to bigger and better things.

Season Nine will see the rest of the Fab Five sans Bobby go west to the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas. That city has become quite the sports town with the NHL’s most recent Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights, as well as the transplanted Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders’ home field, Allegiant Stadium, will host the upcoming Super Bowl (LVIII) on February 11. The game will be broadcast on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

This weekend is for the construction of my vision board, as well as watching NFL playoff games. The upstart Houston Texans are taking on the top seeded Baltimore Ravens; the Green Bay Packers travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers. I’ll also be attending church online at Allegheny Center as the Proverbs series continues.

Next week, I’ll be shopping online for some activewear as I begin to up my fitness game for the later winter months. In addition, I found a few shirts that I really like and maybe some new jeans. When my new outfit haul arrives, I’ll be sure to post it to the blog as part of both my Fashionista and Fitness segments.

That being said, I tagged my fashionable sister on an Instagram post that had some cute Valentines’ themed sweaters and she commented back on how cute they were. There were a lot of hearts so it was easy to react to the post saying that you loved it. We’re in cozy season but before long it will also be heart and chocolate season, in addition. Later this winter, I’m up for planning a shopping trip with my fashionable sis. We can definitely shop for clothes and makeup, but I would really like it if she showed me the ropes on what kind of anime to get interested in. I know of a few series such as Dragonball Z, Sailor Moon, and Pokemon. But, I still want to get to know my sister better.

I still have to use my gift cards and I’m not sure what my JCP gift card will go towards yet. I want to buy a new bag but I don’t know if I’ll buy it at JCPenney, Kohls or wait until the Spring when I attend the District conference which will be held in Washington, PA. That way I can shop at the Tanger Outlets and check out the Coach and Michael Kors outlets. Do I spend the money there or on something else. I’m also interested in some accessories including a new infinity scarf. Decisions, decisions.

The Foodie Segment

With today’s winter weather making travel tricky, I felt that it was best to cancel eating out this week. After the snow, cold temperatures make their arrival for the weekend so I’ll play it safe and stay warm, enjoying the playoff action the NFL has to offer. I will pick it back up next week with breakfast at Diner Thirty, a newer restaurant that just opened up. This diner is located near the martial arts studio where Katie and Annabelle practice karate every week. It looks like they have a great selection on the menu and, I’m dying to try the cinnamon roll pancakes. Also on my radar and in the same area is Don Patron, a local Mexican restaurant. I’m looking forward to a lunch date there soon. Of course, a future Waffles breakfast date with my fashionable sis is coming soon. That’ll be in Pittsburgh, however.

Creating a Vision Board and Keeping Warm!!!

Vision Board—noun-a collage of images and words representing a person’s wishes or goals, intended to serve as inspiration or motivation. Example of vision board in a sentence follows.

“On her vision board she put a log cabin, a sailboat, a red car, and a man and woman dancing on a white carpet”

Vision boards have become a popular thing as of late. People create them as a way to look ahead to the future. I was inspired to create one after following a social media influencer located in the Pittsburgh area. In my previous blog and, in addition, my speech, I mentioned creating a vision board as a great way to make your New Year’s resolutions count.

For my vision board, I plan on using motivational words, inspirational quotes, and messenger conversations between me and my friends. I might just march to the beat of my own drum on this one (there’s a quote for the board). I’ve considered taking a page from one of my social media influencer friends and use clippings from magazines. Next week on my night off, I’ll take some time and look for supplies. I’ll shop at Dollar Tree and either Michaels or Joanns. I’m also in the market for a vision board book complete with cutouts that I can use, and there are plenty to choose from on Amazon.

Here’s how to create the perfect vision board. The first step is to choose your images. Is this image something you want in your life? Does it make you smile or feel motivated. If so, this is the perfect image for your bulletin board. For me, I’d look for a picture of Nashville or New Orleans and draw a fake plane ticket because I’d love to visit those places.

The next step is to clip those images that make you feel good. Grab your scissors, play your favorite music, light a candle, and pour yourself a glass of wine. It’s time to put your board together!

After you’ve put your images up and found some amazing affirmations or a positive mantra, it’s time to arrange all of those and get everything in its place. You can arrange your images by category, color, or whatever makes your heart sing. For me, I want to use images that go with the content I’m posting on my blog (fashion, fitness, food, lifestyle). I’ll also give it a good pop of whatever color suits me.

Once my board is complete, I will put it on my wall and take time to look at it. I’ll take the time wishing I had those things in my life, while also being grateful for everything I already have. Creating a vision board is a great way to make your new year’s resolutions count. Plus, it’s a great way to beat seasonal depression throughout the colder winter months. I’m going to have fun with this project and come up with some interesting images and quotes.

As of today, nine and a half weeks to Spring, people! Winter has officially arrived in Southwestern Pennsylvania with snow on the ground and gusty winds making it much colder than it is. The weather is so bad around the lakes that the Wild Card playoff game between the Steelers and Bills was moved to Monday afternoon. I just joke that it was a bad move by the NFL only because people on social media are doing it to be buttholes, but in all seriousness it was smart to do that. It was dicey here this morning with snow squalls moving through the area (we had a Snow Squall warning earlier) but the sun has done its work and now I don’t have to clean off my car.

Momma (Paula) and I called off our church visit this morning for the sake of staying warm and safe. This gave me an opportunity to enjoy another online church service from Allegheny Center Alliance Church (ACAC) and another lesson from the book of Proverbs. I think for now I will stick with ACAC and make the most of the ten week sermon series. You can take the month of January and read the whole book of Proverbs from New Year’s Day on, but you can always start whenever too. Paula and I will eventually get to church when the weather and time permits for me and we’ll have lunch as well.

If you have a fireplace in your house, you’ll get a lot of use out of it this week as we stay below freezing and don’t see a warm-up until early next week. I may make it out to Fire and Ice in Ligonier this weekend if I have time (most likely on Sunday) and I want to be brave. I may even get a food review in.

New Year’s Resolutions and Making Them Count

The first week of 2024 went off without a hitch. We had our first Toastmasters meeting of the new year, I made the most of going to the gym, and I got to witness the first major snowfall of the season (two inches people). However, I missed the boat on some grand opportunities and mixed up my priorities.

I was off last Thursday and Friday and right there I could taken the time to research some LGBTQ therapists in the Greensburg area. I was given the suggestion to talk to someone last Spring about my journey but held back. I didn’t want to narc on my parents and the negativity surrounding transgender TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney made me once again question my journey. I almost abandoned it entirely until I went back at the eleventh hour (June 23, 2023).

I ate breakfast at Waffles INCaffeinated and enjoyed myself. However, that afternoon I felt the need to rush myself and didn’t hit up all the stores I wanted to. Thus,a shopping day will have to wait. Don’t know if I want to use my JCP gift card on just yet. I could have also worked out a little longer instead of checking the time.

The new week has gone well and I am awaiting the arrival of colder weather making it feel like January. Next week will feel really frigid and have most of us wondering, “Is it Spring yet?”

Tuesday night at Laurel Highlands Toastmasters, I gave a speech on New Year’s Resolutions and making them count as well as some of mine heading into 2024.

One of the ways to make your New Year’s resolutions count is that you don’t have to make them on New Year’s Eve. They can still count if you make them later on in the year too. Maybe you haven’t thought of ways to improve yourself and your wellbeing when the calendar turns to January.

In our Table Topics session at Greensburg Toastmasters last Wednesday, our Topicsmaster asked us questions related to making New Year’s resolutions. In addition, she asked if we were for or against what was being asked of us. I wish I’d have written down the questions to share them to this blog.

Another way to make your New Year’s Resolutions count is to have an accountability partner or friend to make sure you’re meeting your goals. This comes in handy if your New Year’s Resolution is to exercise more, eat less, or even read the Bible in 2024. I’ll hint on my resolutions later on in this blog.

One of my upcoming projects in January is to put together a vision board for 2024. People do this at the beginning of the year and while this practice has been questioned by some, it’s just a fun way to make plans for the New Year. I’m going to hit up a couple of stores for supplies and might even by a vision board kit. Doing a vision board is also a good way to defeat seasonal depression during this time of year.

Now on to my New Year’s resolutions. I made them before New Year’s Eve (and I’ll make a few on February 1, March 1, and even April Fools’ Day). I have plans to exercise more and eat better. That’s the number one answer when asking what the most popular New Year’s resolution is and also, the one that no one sticks to after a month. Last week I stayed true to my promise and went to the gym three times and will be heading there this evening. Tonight for dinner, I’ll be having some salmon.

Another resolution that I made was to go back to church after taking an extended period away from there. I walked away after things came to a head in my personal life in 2021. I hadn’t given it much thought and I wasn’t going back until I knew I was ready to. Saturday night, I attended Allegheny Center Alliance Church and the message was in Proverbs. While I’m in no hurry to find a new church, at least I’m getting fed and I enjoyed the message I got from the preacher. I’ll at least be attending (online) for the duration of the sermon series, which lasts ten weeks. This Sunday, I have plans to attend Living Word Congregational Church in Jeannette with my adopted Momma.

The last resolution that I’ll highlight for now is one that’s past due for me. That is to believe in myself and be confident in myself. I’m responsible for the decisions that I make and I know I need to follow through on them when the situation calls for it. Even if my harshest critics don’t accept my ways, I need to stay true to myself. I can’t continue to live in fear of what may happen, and a great example is my fashion journey and going against the status quo (I wear scarves and own a couple of Coach purses). Some people have worried that it will lead to ridicule or even getting fired (though Giant Eagle is LGBTQ friendly) and suggest that I go back to being more traditional. Also, if I like something then that’s all that matters. The only approval I need is my own.

Finally, with next week’s weather forecast calling for frigid temperatures, what a perfect time it will be for attending Ligonier IceFest. Dress warmly if you’re headed out there next weekend. I have gone the last two years and enjoyed myself, and there’s lots to see and look at (such as the many ice sculptures in the diamond). Stop in for a bite to eat or shop around at one of the many little shops in town. Also, you can take a ride around the town by horse carriage. I’ll try to stop up when I have a free day next week.