Today’s post is more photo-driven as I let the pictures tell the story. Recently I used my Old Navy gift card to purchase some fall-related tops and other cooler weather outfits. You’ve seen my outfit of the day pics on social media and these new fits will not disappoint.
First up are these cute Halloween themed tops. One is charcoal with pumpkins and another is black with ghosts. I have a lot of these t-shirts with little patterns, like my sunflowers and a few others with flowers. I also have a couple of palm tree tops in light blue and pink that sing summer. These shirts will be perfect for wearing to the pumpkin patch, apple picking or on a hayride. But, bring a light jacket if you go because early fall temps range in the 60s, with nighttime lows in the 40s.
I love them both but I give a slight edge to the pumpkins. Maybe I’ll wear this one when I get my first Pumpkin Spice latte of the fall season.
White cable knit sweater–I saw this and had to have it. I love cable knit sweaters and this is perfect to wear with jeans or leggings and a pair of boots for a daytrip to Ligonier or even an upcoming Fall picnic. Extra care is recommended when washing.
Brown Henley–I already own three Henleys and love them all. These go great with a scarf. I’d also like to wear this with a cropped jean jacket/vest or faux leather jacket and a beret. Maybe another Fall picnic outfit is in the making.
Gray long sleeve Henley–Another nice casual staple that will make a great outfit of the day for a Toastmasters meeting. I’ll pair this with black jeans or leather leggings.
Forest Green Satin Polo–I’m thinking of this as a nice dinner outfit in September or October or a casual piece to wear to a Toastmasters meeting. Pairs well with dark jeans and boots or a nice pair of dress shoes.
I’m hoping to add a few more nice pieces to my attire in August that have me looking forward to Fall. I like having my own style but I also want to keep learning to love myself in the process.
Country music has its power couples. While some look at George Jones and Tammy Wynette as one of the originals, others look at Faith Hill and Tim McGraw as the most popular (I love their duets). For me, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood rank up there as my favorite country music couple. Garth is #1 and Trisha is #2 on my list of favorite country music artists.
While Trisha has had a successful recording career, she has done the same with her cooking show. I am a fan of Trisha’s Southern Kitchen which airs on Food Network. She is also a good writer and has penned a few cookbooks. I happen to own two of them, including the one in the thumbnail. As my interests shift to home decor and back to cooking, as well as fashion and style, I want to try some of the recipes that Trisha has put in her book. Because, there’s nothing better than a home-cooked southern meal.
On Trisha’s show, she has had various guest stars help her out in the kitchen, including her husband, Garth Brooks. I remember Kelly Clarkson appearing in an earlier episode of Trisha’s Southern Kitchen. On Season 17’s premiere, she celebrated the 30th anniversary of the release of her debut album and she and her band even performed “She’s In Love With The Boy”
I might refer to a few of the episodes or her cookbooks when preparing something for this upcoming Thanksgiving or Christmas season.
Every Friday, I read a chapter from Miranda Lambert’s book, “Y’all Eat Yet?”. I’ve learned so much about her life growing up. Despite not having much, her family made the most of what they had. One thing that they made of the most of was their vegetable garden. From what I read last week, stir fry and other dishes taste better when it’s your own peppers that you picked.
Canning is a great way to preserve our fruits and vegetables and sauces. Nothing says summer in January more than a jar of spaghetti sauce that you made in the heat and humidity of July. It’s a great hobby to take up and it’s a great way to prep and to save money, as is growing your own vegetables. Also, one thing from last week that I learned is that salsa is like “love in a jar” according to Bev (Miranda’s mom) and another condiment when you’re in East Texas. Get your ingredients together, get your chips, and dig in!
Tonight, I read about her dad’s love for his cast iron skillet. He also explained how to properly maintain it. Also, in the recipe section is how to make this special sauce called “Paw Paw Sauce” as well as brisket.
When you all get together for a gathering, why not put your guests to work? Assign them a task if you have a big dinner party planned. “What can I do to help?” is what we can ask our host. It’ll make them feel important and you will feel less stressed when it comes to the planning and preparation. When it comes to entertaining, give your guests a task to do even if you write it on cards. Every job is imporant.
Why didn’t we consider this when we planned Turkey Ball Day, Christmas Eve or other gatherings at our house? When you make Christmas cookies, assign someone with the other tasks such as frosting and sprinkles. The best part isn’t eating the cookies when they’re fresh out of the oven, but the memories made preparing them.
This Fall, I have some books that will be coming that I’m interested in reading. One is by a design expert from an award-winning Netflix series. Another is by a girl whom I discovered on Instagram who loves Fall and finds the joy in every season. Third is a lifestyle book written by a country music and multimedia icon and entrepreneur.
Recently, my interests shifted over to home decor and back to country music. Part of the inspiration is from people whom I’ve followed on social media who have their own small business ventures or who are influencers. The other is from my family, particularly my mother who owns quite a few cookbooks and home decor books herself. Mom introduced me to country music at age 12 when we listened to Garth Brooks on road trips. Before that I never really listened to music much and turned it off every time I heard it.
Here’s the three home decor and lifestyle reads that will have me feeling at home this coming Fall season.
Bobby Berk–Right at Home–September 12
Bobby Berk’s first book is one full of do-it-yourself projects to help you make every room in the house shine. He is the design expert on Netflix’s Queer Eye (2018). His rise to fame didn’t happen overnight and he had to really go through the rain to find the rainbow. I learned about him from the Queer Eye book I got for Christmas and watching the series on Netflix. Compared to the other experts (Antoni, Jonathan, Karamo, and Tan), he is definitely more behind the scenes and has a team in place to help him on the home repair projects that occur on the show.
Steffy Degreff–A Home for Every Season–September 26
Steffy Degreff (@steffy) is a content creator and Instagram influencer who loves the color orange and finds the joy in every season. I’m a follower and love what she posts, from home decor to holiday ideas to outfit inspiration. Her living spaces include an A-Frame cabin nestled in the Catskill Mountains of New York as well as a Cape Style home in Long Beach, NY.
The book has: a year’s worth of ideas; eight holidays to decorate for, including Christmas; and five seasonal recipes made to please your party guests. I looked to one of her posts for inspiration as I was getting ready to celebrate my first Friendsgiving a few years ago.
Reba McEntire–Not That Fancy–October 10
It’s Tri-Bond time. Country music icon, multimedia mogul, and entrepreneur. What do those three things have in common? They describe Reba McEntire, who is releasing her first book in over 20 years. Pictures speak many words, and Reba’s new book is photo-driven. It’s a behind the scenes look at the things that guide her life. Included are: inspiring anecdotes; funny and cute stories; and, tasty recipes as well as lighthearted lifestyle tips. Her success on the country music charts puts her in great company with George Jones, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton.
The foreword is written by Garth Brooks.
I’m looking forward to getting all these new reads and I’ll be able to make good use of what’s left on my Amazon gift cards. Maybe I’ll learn a trade along the way. I am looking forward to taking a road trip to pick up one or two of these amazing books. Target run and Barnes and Noble trip, here I come.
Before I close, I want to let you know I am enjoying my Miranda Lambert book “Y’all Eat Yet?”. I will be starting a new chapter tomorrow. I don’t binge read or binge watch because I like to savor my books and my shows and I plan to have this lifestyle/storybook/cookbook read by the end of September, just as these new reads are coming out.
Today’s blog post is about going with the flow, but before I get into it, here’s a definition on what it means.
To go with the flow means you let things happen or let other people tell you what to do, rather than trying to control what happens yourself. In my current job and at my previous job, we work as a team (that’s debatable sometimes). Doing our own thing may not be what’s best for the crew, so it’s imperative to have a leader in place. You may not agree with what’s being said but if you show up, shut up, do the work, and go home at the end of the day (or night), there will be less drama.
You go with the flow.
Three examples of going with the flow from my personal experience include not only the work flow, but also how a Toastmasters meeting runs.
I work five minutes from home at Giant Eagle. I was hired there in November 2021 as I was ready to make a change of years of traveling to other stores to do inventory. O ur work flow has us starting in grocery, sometimes breaking it down, before finishing other departments (UNFI, dairy, frozen, and HBC; with the exception of dairy, three of these come every other night).
After much consideration, we changed our work flow last week. After starting in paper for so long, we now start in the heavier aisles with condiments (Aisle 1) and canned vegetables and pasta sauce and everything else (Aisle 2), ending with the easier bulk items like laundry detergent (aisle 13) and baby (aisle 14)
For 13 years, I was employed by WIS International. I traveled to other stores to do their inventory and, as is the case with my night crew at Giant Eagle, worked as a team. Here, I’m going to talk about how different the work flow was from store to store.
At Target, we had four different work flows at the beginning. We had a crew starting in Grocery, one in Electronics, a bunch starting in softlines, and a stockroom crew. A normal crew size for Target was around 40-50 people. Eventually, as we finished our departments, we all met up together and got the rest of the store done.
Lowe’s inventories were run over the course of two days. Day one we got two-thirds of the store done, saving the other for day two. The inventory manager had a list of what departments needed done and the audits for those departments. Day one we always got the perimeter done and the back line of the store, including plumbing (the worst part of the store to count by far). Day two we always did hardware, tools, and either seasonal or paint. It always varied. One thing was for certain and that was, you always came home covered in dust.
My final example of going with the flow takes place at a Toastmasters meeting. We have an agenda for the meeting with roles including speakers. Also, time management is a vital part of every Toastmasters meeting or event. If you are running a meeting and it goes over, then you run the risk of losing a prospective member if you have guests at your meeting. Keep the meeting running smoothly and if you have to, schedule only one or two speeches or shorten table topics to a few participants. Trim down your presentation if you need to so the program can get done on time.
Back in the Fall of 2007, my mom and I were out shopping at Westmoreland Mall. This was back when they had bookstores still in the mall. We stopped at Borders (formerly Waldenbooks). This was back when I was just out of college and trying to figure out what to do with my life. I was between furthering my knowledge of the restaurant business, studying Culinary Arts, and just going back to school for another unrelated post- baccalaureate degree. My mom saw how interested I was in cooking and encouraged me to buy a cookbook that looked like it piqued my interest. “Anyone Can Cook” from Better Homnges & Gardens was the name of it. It also would have made a perfect Christmas present for me, but I digress.
Sadly, we never really went further with it. This would have been a nice way for my mother and I to collaborate on something together. I owned that cookbook and Anyone Can Bake as well. Despite not using them much, I still haven’t lost interest in this craft, even in 2023. Being employed by a grocery store chain means you become a food enthusiast at some point. I know I get a craving for pasta when I’m stocking the pasta sauce in Aisle 2 at my Giant Eagle. Market District is a food enthusiast’s paradise and I love going there when I have the opportunity.
Recently, I used my Amazon gift card I got for my birthday (plus what was left over from Christmas) on the newest edition of the Betty Crocker Cookbook, which came out in October of 2022. It’s delicate so I’m handling it with care. The 13th edition is completely revised with 375 new recipes. I have a 12th edition which is spiral-bound. This cookbook is for both the novice and experienced cooks. One thing I do like about it is that it tgives you: a rundown of the basics, what utensils and ingredients you need, plus how to store everything and for how long.
It also keeps up with trends, and one of the biggest right now is charcuterie. I was first introduced to this popular trend during 2020 when I took to following small businesses and giving them my support during the pandemic. At our Fall picnic the following year at Laurel Hill, we had a charcuterie board as part of the spread. I loved it so much that I had to get a picture of it and send it to my friends.
Another popular trend right now is eating vegetarian or vegan, as well as eating foods that are plant-based. It is a healthier trend and I’ve experienced this as I’ve ate with friends. Back in November 2021 just before I started at Giant Eagle, I was invited to a Friendsgiving celebration with my “sister” and her friends. They had a vegetarian spread as Sara was trying out this new way of eating. It turned out very good and we did it again a few months later when we had tacos with cauliflower instead of meat.
There are some heirloom recipes I’d love to try (eggs benedict and chicken noodle soup) as well as some hip, newer ones as well. This book teaches you about different types of pasta and meat as well as how to make international foods.
My mom has collected cookbooks over the years, including those written by Ina Garten and Ree Drummond and I’m dating myself but the Frugal Gourmet. I have a few from Trisha Yearwood and I am a fan of her show on Food Network (Trisha’s Southern Kitchen). Garth Brooks has written the Foreword part of the book. I am a fan of both of their music.
Once Fall gets here and we get closer to the holidays, I’ll be checking for great seasonal dishes and learning how to make them. Lots of memories were made as we put Christmas cookies together.
It took me six months to use my Amazon Gift Cards from Christmas but a week to use the one I got for my birthday. Go figure! Anyway, when I was finally ready to spend the ones from Christmas, I used part of them on a book by Miranda Lambert. The book is part cookbook, part storybook and is called “Y’all Eat Yet? Welcome to the Pretty B*tchin’ Kitchen!”
I started the book last week and finished the first two chapters. I like to savor the book and not finish it in a day or a week. With my interests shifting to home decor, design, and my listening preferences going country, this was a perfect use of my Amazon gift card funds. In the first chapter, I’ve learned about Miranda’s girl gang including those who have become family. I also read about her relationship with her grandma (she calls her her “nonny”) and some of her nonny’s favorite foods, recipes included. Did I mention that this is part cookbook, part storybook?
Like my Gram, Miranda’s Nonny also loved Christmas and I’m sure had her own traditions as well. Endless Gaffron Christmases were always a thing in Gramma Hilde’s house. Reading about how close Miranda was with her Nonny and her family has taught me to be more appreciative of my own relationship with family.
Living at home, I’ve become somewhat complacent and started taking things for granted. When I do get to see my cousins and relatives, I am appreciative of their compliments and their support when it comes to my fashion sense and my journey. I just wish I could get that same feeling at home but since I don’t I feel the need to hide my true self. I do this out of fear of what they might say. Sadly, this has felt like my whole life.
Getting back to Miranda’s book though, I’m starting to learn to be more appreciative of all the little things my family does. This just from reading it from her point of view. It’s starting to bring a change of attitude for me and it’s paying dividends. My anxiety has gone down from where it used to be and, anyway you slice it, that’s big. Sometimes you need to take time to stop and smell the roses.
I look forward to learning more about Miranda’s girl gang in the coming weeks. I’m really excited to read the chapter on the holidays and she and her family celebrate.
For 13 years I traveled for my job as an inventory associate for WIS International. I worked out of the Pittsburgh Office (3609) so most of our trips were in Pennsylvania with a few occasional trips to West Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland. I got to see many places, and some very scenic. The countryside in Pennsylvania always had some picturesque views, especially when the fall foliage was nearing its peak.
I’ve since moved on from WIS and work five minutes from home now for Giant Eagle. Instead of traveling for business, I’m now doing it for pleasure. The road trips I like to go on are stranger to the beautiful autumn colors, decor, nostalgia I see along the way. Today I share a few of those experiences with you in my blog. These trips will take place in the Laurel Highlands and along the ridges. Nothing from Pittsburgh or going on the PA Turnpike or other interstates.
I was inspired by a fellow Toastmaster to write this blog post. She gives amazing speeches on places in the world and educates us on all things Geography and Weather-related. We knew each other from WIS but now I’m starting to know her better through Greensburg Toastmasters.
Three scenic rides I’ll talk about:
October 2022 (driving through Stahlstown on 711 after the Fall picnic at Laurel Hill).
We had our Fall picnic at Laurel Hill in October of 2022 and we couldn’t have been blessed with a more beautiful fall day. Getting there was just as fun as my ride home would be. After getting off PA 31 and going towards Laurel Hill, you are greeted with splendorous fall colors of yellow and orange.
Coming home later that afternoon, instead of taking PA 31 home through Mount Pleasant, I turned right on PA 711 and drove through Stahlstown going towards Ligonier. More fall colors greeted me and I felt tempted to stop in Ligonier and sit in the Diamond, but I ready to go home. I hope for a repeat experience this coming Fall. Note: I always take PA 31 when traveling to Somerset because I’m not a fan of traveling the Pennsylvania Turnpike between New Stanton and Somerset
Various times (driving down 403 to US 22 from Johnstown; PA 56 to US 22; PA 271 to PA 711 towards Ligonier).
This drive dates all the way back to 2000 for me as we always passed through Ligonier en route to Westmont and the Hiram G. Andrews Center. PA 711 to PA 271 is nice most of the year but in winter it can be tricky. On our way back to HGA in my first semester, we even saw a little snow on Columbus Day. Our alternate route back to school was US 219 to PA 403, whether it was snowy or were coming from Somerset or Berlin.
In later years as I’ve made road trips to Johnstown I’ve traveled US 22 past Blairsville and gotten off at either PA 56 or PA 403. You see some beautiful countryside in the little towns of Armagh and Cramer. There’s also a place to stop along PA 56 just before coming into Johnstown and it’s really nice (Conemaugh Gap). The scenic overlook is the deepest gap east of the Mississippi. Eventually, you’ll make your way into Cambria City and the heart of downtown Johnstown.
December 2022 (driving down PA 31 from Mount Pleasant to Somerset; US 30 to PA 985/601)
Never a fan of the PA Turnpike between New Stanton and Somerset, I’ve always favored these longer roundabout ways. PA 31 takes you through the heart of Mount Pleasant and eventually up the mountain. You pass through Donegal and on your way to Somerset is the entrance to Seven Springs, turn right at Sarnelli’s Market and you’ll be in Champion. Kooser and Laurel Hill State Park are in your sights. Nice places to swim and have a picnic in the warm summer months. Both parks are of some importance to my family.
If you’re feeling adventurous, take US 30 and drive out past Ligonier and Laughlintown. Eventually you will find your way up the mountain and on top is Jennerstown. Stop for a bite to eat at the Coal Miner’s Cafe or Green Gables Restaurant. Just make sure you drive the speed limit because there is a cop in town and you will get a ticket if you aren’t mindful of it. The Quecreek Mine rescue site is along PA 985.
After a full day of travel, I am back home now. What a beautiful Fall day and I even stopped and picked up a few things in my travels. Time to sit down and relax with my cup of Starbucks coffee and enjoy a little Sunday afternoon football.
Today I celebrated my birthday and had lunch…. In style.
Originally we were going to eat lunch at the Olive Garden but Mom asked me if I wanted to trade up for a better dining experience. So I agreed and we went to EDO Hibachi Bar and Restaurant. The Japanese restaurant is located behind Westmoreland Mall in what’s known as the Westmoreland Crossings. At one time, Buffalo Wild Wings was in the spot before they moved up to the Sam’s Club plaza in the mid 2010’s.
We arrived at 11:30 for lunch and thus, we had no trouble getting seated. Centered around our table was a huge hibachi grill where they cook your food. After waiting for about 15-20 minutes, our chef introduced himself and got to work.
I felt like I was truly entertained watching him prepare our lunch. We all got hibachi (Mom and Annabelle got the steak; I got the shrimp). Never in my life have I been so close to flames 🔥 than I was today. Not even at a magic show. It was the best experience of my life so far.
Watching the butter melt, as well as the little volcano he made from the sliced onions was just amazing. He tossed our steak and shrimp on the grill and offered a little fried rice, to which we agreed. Our lunch was served and we knew we weren’t going to finish it all in one meal. Plenty to go around for dinner and for a late night lunch break at work.
Did I mention this hibachi contained onions and mushrooms? Did I mention that I enjoyed it?
Today wasn’t just a great dining experience, it was also a day of change for me. Lately I’ve dropped a lot of the things that have been holding me back and one was being tense. I’ve relaxed a lot and it’s paying dividends for me.
Today was trying new experiences. I’m passing both those tests. Not with A’s but enough to show that I’m trying to better myself.
The food was amazing, the experience had me on the edge of my seat, and the service was excellent. I found my spot for my monthly dinner with Mr. Clougherty for August. Be warned: If you don’t like vegetables then this may not be the place for you.
I will be back for dinner with Mr. Clougherty, and I’ll try to talk Katie and Matt into doing this as well.
Recently, I’ve gone on a country music kick. Pardon the pun, but isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve been listening off and on to country since I was 12 years old when my mother introduced me to Garth Brooks while we were in the car (our old 1988 Dodge minivan). It was his self-titled debut album from 1989. Where am I going with this? My summer reading this year will be re-reading a book about Garth Brooks from several years ago. I also purchased a book by Miranda Lambert with my Amazon gift card from Christmas.
Miranda Lambert’s “Y’all Eat Yet?” is not just a cookbook even though it boasts of some of Miranda’s and her family’s favorite recipes. It is also a book about her life growing up in East Texas, family, and who has your back. I own a couple of Trisha Yearwood’s cookbooks and I am a huge fan of her music and her cooking show on Food Network. If I had to pick my favorite country artists, Garth and Trisha would be #1 and #2, respectively. I’m excited to see what Miranda’s book has to offer. The girl has a lot going for her and she was raised well. Omelets with mimosas sounds like an amazing way to start the day. I love my ’90s and 2000s country, but I needed a modern artist to follow. Miranda is that artist.
I used my latest Amazon gift card to buy an updated Betty Crocker cookbook. To the critics who tell me that I’m silly to buy something they think I’ll never use, WATCH ME. Plus, I wanted a hardcover since spiral-bound books aren’t the greatest to keep intact. But then if it falls apart, it was used quite a lot. Nah, I just wanted an updated copy. I have books on pre-order that’ll come in the Fall, including Bobby Berk’s design book and Reba McEntire’s new book. Don’t disappoint me, Amazon.
I also used my Old Navy gift card to purchase some new Fall outfits with more coming soon as I like to make use of my Super Cash they send me. Gotta Love Old Navy! Included are two cute Halloween tops. Cute as anything pink and cherry. These really caught my eye. I also got a cable knit sweater which will come in handy when cooler weather arrives in the Fall. I’m going to have so many outfits I can coordinate now. For sure I’m going to be slaying it. Perfect for the Fall picnic or a September/October trip to Ligonier.
There’s too many pics to post on here so you’ll see them later.
For me though, this is a huge victory after I almost ended my nonconforming adventures once again. Those words I received two years ago at the start of my journey cut me like a knife and I almost thought I would be forced into conversion therapy. I was this close to dropping everything off at Goodwill but it’s damn near impossible to uproot an entire wardrobe like that. When I put together my outfit for TLI and rocked it, I knew I made the right decision. Division A Director Dana was impressed and he praised me for what I was doing (breaking down boundaries and being true to myself). Brogan and Donald would be proud of me for staying with my journey too. My store leader Dana is also proud of me for this and getting full-time. Glad we’re on good terms at Giant Eagle.
Closing words from my old co-worker,
“The world is a better place because of who you are.”
True words of wisdom in this display. I think I’ll let this picture tell the story.
Last night was our first Greensburg Toastmasters meeting of the new year. It was also my first meeting as President of the club. It’s not my first rodeo (12 years strong as a Toastmaster) and this is third time leading my home club. Overall, the first meeting of the new Toastmaster year was a smashing success.
On the agenda were three speakers giving three diverse topics. I gave a Storytelling speech that was about my first semester at the Hiram G. Andrews Center. Greg gave a practice speech for a toast he’s going to give at his sister’s wedding. Jim spoke on youth leadership for his project that inches him closer to the title of Distinguished Toastmaster. Table Topics saw us answer all types of questions. Mine was “What’s Your Greatest Skill?”. Our evaluators all gave great feedback to their respective speakers and I picked up some great takeaways for my next speech. I plan to retool my speech at Laurel Highlands and make it about Slippery Rock or Transfer Day when I discovered my next place of higher education.
Our club is the new home club of the Division C Director. Greensburg welcomed a new member before the June 30 deadline. That one member was all we needed to qualify for the Distinguished Club program. We finished as a Select Distinguished Club in 2022-23. Madame District Director Vornbrock also told us that Area 24 (our area) achieved Distinguished honors. In addition to Greensburg achieving Select Distinguished honors, Achievers and BPMI achieved President’s Distinguished honors. A big thank you to Jim and Michelle Teague for the leadership in the club these past four years. Both took turns serving as President. Jim in 2019-2020 and 2021-2022; Michelle in 2020-2021 and 2022-2023.
Very soon, our club will be welcoming three new Distinguished Toastmasters, or DTMs for short. Jim and Michelle are about to finish up their requirements and Mary Ellen is very close. She ran an amazing summer TLI/Club Officer Training event a few weeks ago. I’m looking forward to seeing what she has planned for the division in 2023-2024.
For me, I’m going to focus on the Moments of Truth, the Club Success Plan, and the Distinguished Club Program. If I stay the course and when we grow our club’s membership, I’ll meet my goals. Thus, I will solidify my case that Greensburg Toastmasters is indeed… a club of champions.
