Happy Easter 2017

“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.”

As the sun begins to rise on Easter morning, I think of Easter’s past…

Growing up, I went to my grandparents while my parents and aunts went to sunrise service on the beach. Then home to get ready for church. New outfits for church. Sometimes even a trip to the Boardwalk for the Easter Parade in Asbury Park. Then back to my grandparents for a traditional Easter dinner with the whole family. Easter baskets overflowing with candy from the “Carmel Shop” and “Old Monmouth”.

As the years passed, life seemed to get in the way – no more fancy Easter outfits, no more Easter baskets combined with a feeling of not belonging. Then I was blessed with my daughter, Belinda. Childhood memories and traditions came back to life starting with Belinda’s first Easter. Four generations – Grams, Mom, me and Belinda.4 generations Easter

Easter was different. Easter baskets were filled with toys and games because Belinda didn’t like chocolate – I know SHOCKING, right? It was a treasure hunt to find the basket with clues left in Easter eggs throughout the house. I can still remember the squeals of excitement as she found the basket. I even remember making her Easter outfits and heading to Atlantic City for the traditional Easter parade. That is my cutie in one of those outfits!

Dinners were a little smaller but family was still together. The family was smaller – Edythe, Elsie, Grams, Mom, Belinda and I but we were blessed with 4 generations at dinner for several years.

This year is just a little different…. the miles stretch between us, as we each celebrate Easter with extended family. Hubby and I will have dinner with his family.  Gone are the Easter baskets filled with candy. Our loved ones in heaven will be celebrating together while those of us left behind will struggle with making new traditions.  This year is even tougher since heaven gained an angel this week – my Dad.  This is one of my favorite songs…

Blessings from Laura Story:

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we’d have faith to believe

And what if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It’s not our home

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can’t satisfy?

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?

I am blessed. I have a loving, supportive family, and a devoted husband. I have a faith which at times is as small as a mustard seed but is enough to get me through the toughest days. For I know even the trials are blessings from God.

Share your Easter stories and pictures with us.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful Easter!

WOMEN ROCK!

Do I have your attention?  When did it become ok for women to put everyone else’s needs first?  Admit it, we all do it.  As a result, we are frustrated, grumpy, tired and not getting anything done on our list.

It happens because we as women wear many hats – wife, mom, daughter, business owner, employee, taxi driver (you know the mom taxi) and the list goes on. It seems everyone needs us.

In order to avoid conflict and not hurt anyone’s feelings we neglect our own needs and put ourselves on the back burner.  This is not emotionally or mentally healthy. Many of us have become a people pleasers.

There are five things you can start doing NOW to make your needs a priority without feeling guilty.

#1 START SAYING NO

Did you know every time someone asks you to do something, you’re not obligated to say yes?  I know a novel concept, right?  You have a right to say no if it’s not something you really want to do. And you don’t owe anyone an explanation, NO is a complete sentence.

We struggle with this because we don’t want to disappoint anyone and we want to keep peace.  The truth is when we say yes every time someone asks us to do something we are saying no to what we want to accomplish. We get stuck when we say yes to everyone but ourselves. Ask yourself, would the people you’re are constantly helping out do the same for you?

I’ll admit this is challenging, however it gets better with time.  If people genuinely care about you they will respect your response.

#2 SET BOUNDARIES

We have a tendency to spread ourselves too thin and we end up blaming others instead of taking responsibility for our actions.

“A lack of boundaries invites a lack of respect.” If you don’t set boundaries, you can’t be mad when people cross the line.

Start setting boundaries by being honest with yourself and acknowledging how you feel. Pay attention to what’s causing you to feel like boundaries have been crossed. Acknowledge those emotions, even if it is hard.  If you feel like someone has crossed the line, express how you feel to the person who you feel crossed the line. Be a grown-up and have an open, honest conversation.

#3 CREATE ME TIME

Yes, I can see the eyes rolling and with it comes the excuses.  Self-care is not optional, it is important for your personal growth.  When you think of self-care, you think of getting your hair done, retail therapy and mani/pedis, right?  Self-care is more about taking care of your mental, emotional and physical health.

Practicing self-care isn’t selfish, you deserve to block time for you the same way you block time for everyone else.

#4 DUMP THE HEAD TRASH

Did you know we have 50,000 thoughts per day?  Of those thoughts, how many negative thoughts race through on any given day?  When you feed your brain negativity then you can’t produce anything positive.

You are good enough. You are capable of great things. You’re not too old. You’re not too young. You don’t have to be defined by your past. You’re not a failure.  You become what you believe and it’s up to you to begin to shift your thinking.

When you have a negative thought switch it to something positive.  Start affirming the woman you want to become.

#5 MAKE A HAPPY LIST

Do you know what makes you happy? What brings you joy each day?  I don’t know about you but I struggle answering this.  I challenge you to create a list of 50 things that make you happy and be intentional every day to do something off your list. It doesn’t have to be anything big just whatever brings you joy.

Here’s what makes me happy (not in any particular order): Starbucks, the beach, family, doing puzzles, road trips… you get the picture, right?

So I want you to

Say yes to your dreams.

Say yes to your goals.

Say yes to putting you first.

Say yes to doing things that make you happy.

Say yes to change.

Say yes to loving yourself.

Say yes to living the life you were created to live.

Say yes to being free.

If you want to practice some self-care, come visit me tomorrow at the Asbury Park Convention Hall at the WOMEN ROCK event….

It’s a free event full of information, shopping and just hanging out with some of your friends.  Hope to see you there.  Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

The “Unofficial” End of Summer

YEAH!  Today is Friday and for many, they are looking forward to the LONG Labor Day Weekend.  This weekend is filled with the last hurrah before the kids go back to school.  The “unofficial” end of summer.

Being born and raised at the Jersey Shore, I have learned to look forward to this weekend. It is the weekend when most “shoobies” head home.

 A shoobie (if you are from South Jersey) is some one who wears socks and sandals on the beach, typically coming to the shore for a vacation or long weekend or a day trip.  Of course, if you are from Central or Northern NJ, these visitors are called “bennies” and are usually from NY.  They are what keeps many businesses in our area open and able to sustain during the long cold winter months.  YEAH!

When I was in high school, I longed for the summer.  The boardwalk in Asbury Park got busy and I got more hours at work.   We didn’t mind sitting in traffic or the lack of parking spaces.  Fast forward to living in South Jersey near Ocean City and believe it or not, I didn’t think it was that bad, either.  Yes, there was a little bit more traffic.  Yes, there was a few less parking spaces.  Yes, we had to pay to park.  Given all of that, I loved taking the kids to the boardwalk and people watching.  The crowds never seemed that bad.

Fast forward to NOW!  Living in Central Jersey (Brick) again, I am back to CELEBRATING the exodus of people.  For some reason the crowds seem worse, manners were left at home and oh, did I mention the traffic.  I can go back to driving the highways and enjoy my happy place – the beach/ boardwalk in Ocean Grove.  I no longer have to find the shortest or less traveled distance between any where I want to go.  I can enjoy the boardwalk and we can walk the lake. Will I miss the warmer weather? YES!  Will I miss the seasonal businesses that will close?  YES!

Will I miss the “shoobies” and “bennies”?  NO!  Please no hate mail.  All I ask when you visit is that you bring your manners and remember that for some of us, this is home and not just a vacation spot.  We welcome you into our “HOME” and ask that you treat it as if you were a guest in someone’s (physical) home.

So, are you excited about or dreading the start of the LONG Labor Day Weekend?  Share your thoughts with us..

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Tips for the Football Newbie

 

Who ever thought that I would be a screaming football fan?   You know the kind who yells at the TV as if the players could hear you.  Football was NOT a sport we watched on TV in my house growing up.  Don’t get me wrong high school football games were a BIG thing.  Of course the games in HS were mostly about spending time with friends with an occasional glimpse at the score.  Thanksgiving was always interesting with the rivalry between Neptune and Asbury Park High Schools.  I never watched football on TV until hubby came along.  A die-hard Giants fan – many Sundays were spent glued to the TV watching his favorite team.

Whether you are a fan of high school football or are glued to the television for your favorite NFL team, remember there just may be someone who is a newbie to all of this craziness.

I love a recent blog by Amanda Hunter where she shares her take on being a football newbie.  My favorite quote “Monkey see, monkey do. Clap when everyone else claps. And by that same token, sigh or furrow your brow when everyone else does the same.”  

Here are some more  of her tips:

The game clock is merely a suggestion. When the clock says there are 3 minutes remaining, go ahead and settle in because there are 30 minutes remaining (if you’re lucky).

Your lack of football knowledge can be easily disguised with freshly baked and themed appetizers or treats.  

A typical football game lasts 3 hours, probably more, definitely not less. And if all else fails…

Want to get into the spirit of things… why not plan some tailgating fun.  Even an indoor tailgating party will make you a start.  There was a great blog by Kim of The Celebration Shoppe about the “10 Must Haves for Tailgating & Football Season”. Numbers 7, 8, 9 & 10 involve Thirty One products! WoOHoo!!!

Need to convince the males in your life that Thirty One is NOT just about purses! What better way than using our spirit collection.  Get his favorite team colors – let’s him know you are paying attention. Who knows that impromptu tailgating party could turn into a Thirty One catalog party where you get LOTS of FREE product.

So, are you ready for football? 

Yes, I am a NY JETS fan so game day is interesting on the rare occasion that the JETS play the Giants.  What is YOUR favorite team?  Here is to a great football season….

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Summer KickOff

TGIF!!!  Not only is it Friday BUT it is also the start of a long weekend – Memorial Day weekend.  For those of us at the Jersey Shore, this is the official start of “tourist” season or better known as summer.  It is a love-hate relationship.  We love the influx of people for the seasonal businesses BUT we hate the traffic.

Starting today, I will travel the back roads more than normal.  I will avoid the beach and boardwalk area on weekends.  I will secretly pray for Labor Day weekend to come and all the tourists go home.  Don’t get me wrong, growing up at the shore was AWESOME!  I loved working at Kohr’s on the boardwalk in Asbury Park.  I anticipated the start of the season and was excited when we opened at Easter for weekends.  I knew that summer wasn’t far away.  Then I dreaded the final closing of the store in late October for winter.

When I moved to South Jersey, it never really hit home the difference in the traffic or influx of people during the summer.  We were a year round tourist destination.

I think old feelings of owning the beach and boardwalk resurfaced when Belinda and her friends wanted to go to the beach in the summer.  We always took the kids during the week and on weekends prior to Memorial Day.  Then if at all possible, we avoided the boardwalk except for occasionally in the evenings in the summer.  Belinda’s first job was on the Ocean City boardwalk.  UGH!  Traveling back and forth was always a test of timing – not only with traffic but with the 9th Avenue bridge opening.  That love-have relationship was passed on to my daughter.  Shore residents truly believe the best time for the beach and boardwalk is as soon as the weather breaks 60 before the “tourists” (or better known as shoobies) arrive and then after Labor day until you can’t stand the bitter cold anymore.

So, what is your fondest memories of Memorial Day weekend?  Share them with us.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!