It may be hard to believe but we are on the last day of the month already. 2023 is going by so fast. January has seen me grow where I didn’t in 2022. I’m still making mistakes and getting in my own way but I’m starting to realize it’s on me and no one else. I’ve begun to evaluate my choices and give myself feedback (like in Toastmasters when we evaluate speeches and projects). That bodes well as we turn the calendar tomorrow to February.

While I want Phil to not see his shadow and have an early Spring, or my team to win the Super Bowl, it’s best to focus on the things I can control.

What do I want out of February?

I plan on eating out when I have some free time so I can post about my experience on the blog. One breakfast/brunch review and one lunch/dinner review. Look for my first review some time next week.

When the weather’s warm I would like to get in a walk at one of the state parks (Keystone most likely). Going against the flood of people making New Year’s resolutions, I want February to be about physical fitness and so I’m going to make trips to the gym and keep track of it. These will make for perfect upcoming Self-Care Saturday segments.

I have some new Spring outfits planned and they’ll be here soon. I want to put my Old Navy gift cards from Christmas to good use and put them toward some new jeans. I’ll do try-ons and post pictures on an upcoming Fashionable Friday segment.

I plan to watch season 6 of Queer Eye and wrap up that series and start season two of Bel-Air. I also plan to go back and finish The Office starting in March and continue reading my Office books and listening to the podcasts.

Finally, I’ll be publishing my 400th blog post sometime in Feburary. I plan to celebrate with a trip to Going, Going, Gone for some new activewear, as well as dinner at a place TBD sometime in March.

Let’s check off some items on the list and hope for warmer weather, as well as celebrate ourselves because every day is a gift.

Welcome to the first of many posts on Self-Care in my new segment on the blog, Self-Care Saturday! I’ll be highlighting the many ways that you can give yourself a “me” day and take care of yourself. You work hard all week and you have a household to take care of and bills to pay. Give yourself a break and I’m not talking about with a KitKat bar, though there’s nothing wrong with a snack to keep you moving.

Self-care is not always just about having a spa day with the girls, yet it can be as simple as a walk around the block with your best friend or even opening that book you just bought at the local second hand bookstore. Second Chapter Books trip anyone? I made a New Year’s resolution to start reading the classics, so I picked up a set by Jane Austen as well as the Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Right now I’m reading Sense and Sensibility.

I’m also reading my Queer Eye book that I got for Christmas and learning great ways to pamper myself and style my clothes. I also have Michelle Obama’s latest book which has a bookmark with her likeness in it. I have plans to read Homer’s works this Fall, as well as the Nutcracker when the holidays begin to approach.

In the past, I’ve read all kinds of books covering a multitude of subjects. Jeff Pearlman is a great sportswriter, covering topics from Walter Payton and Brett Favre to the Lakers of the Showtime Era. I’ve read books written by former NFL head coach Tony Dungy including Uncommon and Quiet Strength. I just mentioned I’m reading Michelle Obama’s latest memoir. I recommend you also check out Becoming. I got that book as soon as it came out and read it within a month or two.

Take five minutes and read a chapter in the Bible from one of the Gospels or from Proverbs or Psalms. A future Self-Care Saturday blog post will focus on attending church.

Self-care is not just about putting on that moisturizer and making yourself feel younger, but also feeding your mind. It’s also whatever you want to do that will help you feel relaxed. You can make yourself a cup of coffee and work on that latest blog entry. Hey that’s what I’m doing right now.

In my previous blog post I talked about what will be covered in this blog. Those of you who have been with me before know I do restaurant reviews. You’ll get those posts two or three times a month when I’m available to get out. However I’m adding two other segments to my blog.

Fashion is one of my main interests and I have a great sense of style. I am inspired by Harry Styles and Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness and Tan France because of their flamboyant and fluid way of dressing. Beginning next week, I will doing a Fashionable Friday blog post (as well as one on Wednesday called “On Wednesdays I Wear Pink”) where I post my outfit of the day, talk about other interests, and look ahead to what’s coming up.

My favorite stores to shop at are Old Navy and Target when it comes to great deals on clothing and accessories. For Home Decor I definitely love a good Target run. I’m past due for a shopping spree since I have gift cards to spend. Looking forward to pairing together some cute Spring ‘fits and planning for Summer when I go to Delaware in June.

Food is another interest of mine. I work in a grocery store so I’m around food all the time and I do love eating out and getting coffee at whatever hip and trendy local cafe I can find. Look for my next restaurant review very soon at the eating establishment of my choice. The Kitchen on Main in Ligonier and Guy Fieri’s restaurant inside the Live! Casino are on my list and I’ve been waiting to try them.

Coming to the blog tomorrow I will be posting my first Self-Care Saturday blog post. Self-care has its own definition. It doesn’t have to be a spa day but it can be whatever you want it to be. It could be something as simple as that book you picked up and started to read, or even a walk around the lake on a sunny Spring day. 2023 has so far been about growth and continuing to love myself.

If I didn’t learn to love myself, I would likely have dropped the gender nonconforming adventures completely and that would have been a shame because I’ve been told that I am an inspiration to a lot of people.

I just got a MarcoPolo this evening from my cousin Katie and it was Patrick thanking me for the gift cards (he and his little brother Henry got Chick Fil A while their parents got Starbucks). All thanks for Katie and Brendan gifting me their laptop so I am able to work more on my blog and do other things. Since I posted my top ten of 2022 before Christmas I did not include this. However, it was one of the best things to happen for me in the last year.

I’m closing in on a milestone very soon as I should have 400 blog posts by February. I’m aiming for 500 later this year. I started this platform in November of 2019 (under a different name) and have developed a passion for writing. My friends enjoy my work and I’ve blogged about lifestyles, Toastmasters, and fashion. I’ve also done food reviews.

We hit a bump in the road when COVID happened in 2020, health issues sidelined me in Spring 2021, and mental health issues as well as a lack of technology led to regression in 2022 after a period of growth in Fall 2021.

2023 may just be my most complete year yet for this platform. I thank my cousin for providing me with a laptop and her support as she too has her own blog.

Without further ado, here are the main topics that I will be focusing on in this blog going forward.

Fashion—My Instagram handle is James the Outfit Slayer. I am nonconforming in my fashion and being confident out in public has not come easy. I’ve really had to earn it and not worry about everyone’s opinions or what they might say. Look for pictures of me posing in my amazing fashionwear when I’m out and about or by myself at home. I’m starting to become more confident, however, after a 2022 that saw me take one step forward and three steps back.

Food—My eating out reviews began in July of 2021 and became a big hit. I took a step back last year to work on my mental health issues and to get comfortable with my work schedule at Giant Eagle. I plan to relaunch “Stylish and Hungry” in February with two or three visits a month to restaurants to research them and a give a review of my experience and my meal. I hope this helps you if you decide to eat at the establishment I’ll be reviewing.

Self-Care/Self-Love–There’s different ways to go about this. Sometimes, we need to recharge our batteries and give ourselves a self-care day. Jonathan Van Ness of Queer Eye fame is all about that self-care and also giving yourself some self-love. For example, one way I’m taking that on is by putting on moisturizer and taking care of my skin. I haven’t become consistent with it every day but I’m starting to get there.

Learning self-love has helped me in the rebirth of my non-binary journey. I almost gave it up last Spring because I felt I was getting no support whatsoever. Starting a new job at the end of 2021 was needed but, in the beginning, it initially brought a culture shock with it. I wasn’t sure how to handle my new overnight schedule and didn’t know how to make time for myself. By the second half of 2022, I was able to right the ship and get back on track.

I’ll continue to find my own self-care definition throughout 2023 as I make time to address those needs. Good time management is key to good self-care. So far this year, I’m feeling a lot better about myself than I did in January 2022. Self-love has definitely helped make a difference as well.

So far this weekend has been about as good as any January weekend can be. Despite the lack of sunlight, on and off snow, and post Christmas boredom, I was able to make this weekend enjoyable. Football has kept me entertained with the younger generation of quarterbacks trying to lead their teams to the Super Bowl.

I’ve taken the time to think about how I want to use my gift cards I got for Christmas. The Dairy Queen gift card is very convenient for me as I eat there on my way to Laurel Highlands Toastmasters. But, what to buy with my other gift cards. I’m looking at a webcam for my laptop, and clothes and other accessories with the other gift cards.

I’ve started my shopping at Old Navy (i’ll wait and use my gift cards at another time), purchasing a ca-ute matching cardigan and sweater tank top as well as another patterned top. There’s more coming from there. I always get great deals with all the sales going on as well as Super Cash which can really help you save (example, spend $75 and get $30 off).

I’m in the market for sleepwear which I’ll most likely buy at JCPenney. All my sleep bottoms are perfect for the holidays and it’s time to move away from that. I think red is a good color as well as something lighter. I need a robe and maybe some slippers as well (not Homer Simpson or Garfield either lol). I’m also interested in some Steelers/Penguins gear, as well as some gloves and a hat of my own (I’ve looked at a few berets on Amazon). Not sure what I want from Target yet. Maybe some socks if I can’t find what I want at JCPenney. I also want to check out Going, Going, Gone (the Dicks Sporting Goods discount store) for deals on activewear. There’s two locations in the Pittsburgh area and fellow Instagrammer ‘Venturealamode’ (two girls who also have their own blog) has mentioned it before.

Needless to say, the possibilities are endless.

My self care post on Friday turned out to be a big hit and I’d like to put more self care topics on here in the future. We all have a different definition of what we want self care to be. To some, it can be as simple as taking a walk outside or talking to a loved one or friend on the phone. It can also involve getting in your car and going to therapy (retail therapy).

Finally, I will once again be doing my restaurant reviews starting in February. I have a few spots lined up for next month. When Mr. Clougherty and I begin our monthly dinners again in the Shok lot , I’ll make sure we eat at Guy Fieri’s Bar and Grill.

But, for this week, time to enjoy some retail therapy and try on my new winter outfits.

Last week I took advantage of my Monday off to make a coffee date with myself at White Rabbit. I hadn’t been there for a while and I hadn’t frequented there much since COVID hit in March of 2020. I put on a nice outfit, got some nice comments from family and friends, and enjoyed my caramel latte while watching the world go by. It was a true #joyspotted moment in the making.

I was informed of a new coffee shop located at the Greensburg Amtrak called Steep Mountain Tea Company. Since I have some time this afternoon before I lay down–I work tonight and I always nap in the early afternoon or evening on my day off–I figure I’ll check it out and give my review. I might even spot some joy watching the trains go by.

I am fan of the independently owned coffee shops but I also love Starbucks (be it inside Barnes and Noble or freestanding). It’s nice to have a place where I can work on my blog or just read, enjoy my coffee and watch the world go by. I love White Rabbit and Abigail’s Coffeehouse in Ligonier. I have yet to go to Kingfisher which is down by Second Chapter Books. I’ve been in 512 Coffee and Ice Cream in Latrobe few times and have been impressed with the service there as well as the decor. David Newell aka Mr McFeely was there during the Banana Split festival in 2021.

I’ll be making my second visit to the Kentlee this Saturday en route to the Ice Festival. I visited there last January and got to know the manager Katie, who is also a proofreader. I have yet to meet the owner Kendra in person. Seems like we have ties to Slippery Rock having attended there at different times. I follow them on Instagram though. I hope this will be the start of many coffee dates in 2023.

My first visit to Steep Mountain Tea Co. was very good. I went in the middle of the afternoon and it was busy as I took some time to find a seat. This cafe opened in the Sunmer of 2022 and it looks like a popular spot for the Seton Hill kids and another great place to get coffee in downtown Greensburg. A longtime friend of mine mentioned this place and I knew I would have to try it sometime soon.

The service was excellent and the atmosphere is very laid back and relaxed. There’s merch that you can buy (I saw this on their Instagram page as well) as well as tea which you can take home and brew. The decor is beautiful and you feel at home here. There’s also upstairs seating but it can fill up quickly.

I ordered the Christmas Chai and a Lemon Cream Muffin. The drinks are filling and the pastries will satisfy your sweet tooth. I wish I learned of this place during Fall so I could try a Pumpkin flavored drink. This place is definitely a great option for coffee in the Greensburg area.

This week I’ll be ordering some cute winter outfits from Old Navy and looking for some cozy loungewear and self care options from JCPenney and Target. Saturday I’m headed to Ligonier and IceFest. Looks like the weather won’t be as cold as last year but it’ll still be a good time regardless. Here’s a pic of me and my sisters enjoying ourselves at last year’s event.

During this time of year our hours at Giant Eagle get cut (for the part timers at least). I have a little mini vacation going for me this weekend which is fine. Things will eventually pick up once the weather gets warm.

It’s times like this when I need to be making a self-care date for myself. A few ways I can do this are: come up with a daily mantra for myself, put on a mask and cleanse the pores on my face, and take some time to get out of the house (which is what I did this afternoon).

Self care comes in all different shapes and sizes. Even after today, I’m still trying to figure out the meaning of the word. 2022 was a year that saw me struggle with my mental health and question my nonconforming lifestyle because I felt I had no support and didn’t love myself enough. However, 2023 has felt like quite the opposite so far. Self care will continue to be on the agenda for me throughout this year.

This morning I showered and put some moisturizer on my face to give my skin some love. That’s a habit I need to get into more. I made a cup of grapefruit matcha tea and watched an episode of Next in Fashion on Netflix, which is hosted by Queer Eye Fashion Expert Tan France. Later on, I’ll watch the Easy Bake competition which is hosted by QE Food and Wine Expert Antoni Porowski and of course, Queer Eye. All things just keep getting better.

I’m currently in the process of shopping online at Old Navy for new winter and spring outfits, as well as some new sleepwear. All my sleepwear is Christmas themed and I know that Tan France would agree that I need something different to sleep in. Retail therapy, as long as I don’t overdo it, is something I really enjoy. I find it easier to shop online because it’s easier to find something that might not be in store, and so I won’t get weird looks because of my sense of style.

Tomorrow I’ll be spending part of the day going to the Ice Festival in Ligonier. I’ll have my camera charged up and ready to take some nice pictures that I’ll post on my blog . Maybe I’ll do a photo blog, tomorrow highlighting my experience at the Ice Festival. There’s a sculpture of a lion celebrating 25 years that Abigail’s Coffeehouse is in business. I definitely want to get a picture with it and the many other ice sculptures I’ll see tomorrow. But first… coffee.

I’m looking forward to my coffee date en route to the Ice Festival. It’ll be my second time visiting the Kentlee and I hope my experience there will be just as good as the first time.

It’ll feel good to treat myself this weekend and to remind me not to take this free time for granted. As the old saying goes, ‘Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.’

Once again this year I made my way to the Ligonier Ice Festival. The weather was overcast with temperatures in the mid-30’s with a light breeze. I spent the better part of the day wishing I’d brought gloves. Regardless, I still had fun and enjoyed myself.

I took the time to admire the ice sculptures which were courtesy of Jeannette’s own DiMartino Ice. I have to say that some of the sculptures were well-done. They lined Main and Market Streets and along the Ligonier Diamond. Here’s a few of the sculpture designs.

Abigail’s Coffeehouse is celebrating 25 years serving the residents of Ligonier great drinks, hot and iced coffee options, and delicious ice cream. It’s one of my favorite places to stop and have coffee with friends when I’m in town. In a town that fancies itself as the Little Stars Hollow, Abigail’s is the Luke’s of Ligonier.

I tried to get lunch at Carol and Dave’s but felt out of place being by myself. It was going to be at least an hour long wait anyways. I think everywhere was going to be just as busy so I just decided to walk around and take in all the sights and sounds of IceFest. I could have just waited the hour but wanted to take in everything in a short amount of time.

The highlight of this year’s Ice Festival was taking a carriage ride around town. For five dollars, you could take a relaxing ride around downtown Ligonier. It was a short but sweet ride and the sleigh even provided a blanket to keep the riders warm. It was rather comforting. I think at this point in the game it’s too late to say sleigh because it sounds too much like Christmas which was over a month ago. But I digress.

While I sleighed it at IceFest, I was slaying it this morning with my outfit. I stopped for coffee at the Kentlee on my way to Ligonier. I was last there almost exactly a year ago but this time I finally got to meet the owner, Kendra, in person. We kept in touch through Instagram but it was nice for each of us to put a face to each other. She knew my name and took my order in an efficient and friendly manner. Even though we never met face to face until today, it seemed like we both knew each other for a long time already.

We both have ties to Slippery Rock University, having attended there as students during different times in our lives. She was very courteous and considerate and let me enjoy my coffee. She praised me for my fashion sense and was glad I decided to keep going. We talked about U.S. Foods and mentioned how I dealt with them many times in my Eat’n Park days. She got some pictures including a selfie of us before I departed for Ligonier. They turned out very good. I’ll post them here once she has them up on her Instagram. Here’s one I posted from this morning.

Time for me to do some online shopping and some Winter and Spring outfits. Enjoy the weekend and stay safe and warm.

I took advantage of my day off on Monday and got a haircut. I always go to the same place and they always do a great job. Four stars everytime. I always get the MVP deal at Sport Clips. A haircut, shampoo, and a massage. They turned me on to that Tea Tree shampoo and conditioner that I buy at Target and Giant Eagle.

Later that afternoon as the sun came out, I made a coffee date with myself and went somewhere I hadn’t in quite a while. I discovered White Rabbit back in 2016 when I had a day off at WIS. I’d go there periodically to relax and have a cup of coffee or a pastry. Like many small businesses, they took a pretty big hit from COVID but, fortunately, they are still going.

I took a seat by the window and had a nice view of outside where I saw the sun beginning to go down for the day. I was plugging into my new Michelle Obama book and enjoying my coffee and pastry (I got the snickerdoodle). Looking at my phone, I was relishing the compliments on my outfit and documenting everything on my social media (Facebook and Instagram).

The reason I posted about my Monday was that I want you all reading this to have the opportunity to spot joy in every part of your day. A few years ago I met a girl on Instagram who does this herself (she calls it #joyspotted). I started doing it myself and it made a difference in how I see the day.

With us going through the coldest part of winter and my work not leaving much time for anything else, I try to make the most of my opportunities to get out and enjoy and live life. That means dressing nice and always slaying my outfits.

I’ll be shopping for some new ‘fits soon and making the most of my gift cards from Christmas (plus I have a few left from my birthday last year). That Amazon gift card might help me get a webcam for this laptop which would give me the opportunity to better attend online Toastmasters meetings via Zoom. Plus I plan to get back into photography after a few years away from my camera.

This past Christmas has brought me joy and given me new opportunities as well

2023 is only a week old, and already I’m feeling a lot better than I did at this time last year. I want to go out more (when I’m not working or busy doing other things), I’m more social now than I was a year ago and, I’ve rekindled one of my old passions. No, I’m not talking about the weather, but nice try.

The laptop I got from my cousin as a gift at our Gaffron New Year’s Eve party has been a godsend. For those of you who follow my blog, I didn’t put out much content last year. I wasn’t up to it, I was questioning some of my life choices, and I had very limited resources on hand to help me come out with decent content. But a week into 2023, it feels like I left off where I was going into 2022. Maybe one step forward, three steps back was a good thing.

As soon as I got home from the party and was counting down the hours to the new year, I got my computer set up and had a blog posted just before Midnight on January 1. For those of you keeping score, this is my sixth post of the year so far. Now 2023 isn’t even a month old and anything can happen, but I’ve felt a renewed sense of confidence in myself regardless.

I was always into photography even back in my college years. That passion and drive for taking pictures lasted well after I graduated. I’ve been through many cameras and have always loved photography. However, not having a working laptop and not going out much due to COVID, adjusting to a new job, and not being confident enough to show myself meant that my interests had waned. But last night, I pulled out my memory card and my laptop read it. I came across some pictures I took in 2018 and 2019 including Hersheypark, as well as downtown Greensburg and from a family picnic in the summer of 2018.

I’d like to share some of my old work with all of you (thanks to the magic of Facebook) so I can show how much I loved taking pictures. These are from my early post academia years as I was really trying to find myself.

With my love of photography officially reborn, I’m excited to see what I can do after being away from it for so long. I’ll post the pics from my camera’s memory card at a later date.

Look for restaurant reviews which will be coming soon. I already have Guy Fieri’s Restaurant and Bar in mind for a review (don’t know when that will be but I’m looking at sometime in the Spring months). I’m also interested in eating at French Express in Latrobe sometime this winter and trying their menu (I could go for some crepes). Also looking forward to some coffee dates this week.

I’ll be shopping this week for some winter outfits at Old Navy as well as some bath accessories. Target run here I come! I’ll be posting pics to the blog and social media. James the Outfit Slayer is on it in 2023.