Nov 21, 2011
I wasn’t sure what to write about today. It’s Thanksgiving week, and I’m thankful for so many things indeed!
I was looking through some old posts and photos for inspiration. There have been so many wonderful experiences in the past year, I thought I’d share some with you.
This first photo is my fireplace, with the first fire of the year. I love my fireplace. I love being a homeowner, and being able to host friends and give my daughter a comfortable place to grow and be. I love that during a summer storm, we sat and made s’mores right here in our house. I love the warmth the fireplace offers, and the decor. When we lived in an apartment for over 10 years, we didn’t have a fireplace, and we had one door and only three windows. I love being a homeowner. And I love my fireplace.
This next photo is from the first snowfall last winter. We don’t typically get a lot of snow, and it was so beautiful to wake up to this. It lasted all day, and into the next before the sun came out and melted it all away. I love that it covered the entire yard, and wasn’t just patchy. There’s a calm and silence that comes with quiet snow. I don’t know what it is, but the world seems to slow or even stop to enjoy the beauty.
We weren’t sure we could renew our Disneyland Passes last spring, but on what we thought would be our last day at the Parks, we were able to. I didn’t tell Hannah about it. For the last two years, our friends the Wright Family has taken us to the Parks in March. On that day, Baylee was going to purchase her own annual pass and we had a plan all set up. She talked Hannah into walking up to the ticket kiosk with her, and as they waited in line, she would tell Hannah, “You should ask your mom if you can renew your pass. Just ask her! Just do it!” We knew Hannah wouldn’t ask for such a thing without nudging, so Baylee kept at it.
Meanwhile, us moms (me and Stacie) were off to the side chatting. Stacie asked me a question that I can no longer remember. I held up my hand and told her, “Wait. Something really great’s about to happen.”
Then Hannah said, with no hope and a shrug, “Mom. Baylee says to ask if we can renew our passes today.” I simply said, “Sure.” We all laughed except Hannah, who took about 20 minutes to really process it. Even after we got the renewals and walked into the Park, she kept saying, “Wait. I don’t understand. What just happened?” It turned into one of our best trips to the Parks in a long time.
In April, we took our first ever Three-Generation Vacation. I treated my mom and daughter to a weekend at the Mission Inn in Riverside, CA. It’s a beautiful historical Inn, and has been the temporary home for several authors.
It was terribly cold and windy and even raining after the sun went done, but we were determined to eat at the Bella Trattoria. The problem was, it only offered outdoor seating and the wind kept blowing out the heating lanterns.
Nonetheless, we stuck it out. And I ate veal for the very first time in my life. I discovered… I like veal. I had always inherently been opposed to eating baby cow, but this was delicious. It was their veal lasagna. And of course, whenever I go somewhere new, if there’s an Italian dish on the menu, I can’t not try it. So I did. And I loved it. I loved it like I breathe, like the sky is blue, like I was born for that particular moment…
Until the tiramisu arrived. And then I was beyond satisfied. Especially because Con Te Partiro was playing over the sidewalk speakers. This was not the end to dinner. This was an experience. This was more than a memory. I may never eat there again. But I will never forget those flavors and aroma and atmosphere. It was heaven.
This is a view of Sunday morning outside our mini-suite. I woke up early and was transformed by the tranquil beauty and heritage of the building around us. It was so quiet, so peaceful and renewing. I want to live there forever.
Summer came and I got my first-ever BBQ. The exact same one my brother bought for himself a few weeks earlier and a few hundred miles away. We had fun laughing about that. This is my first-ever grilling experience: I roasted vegetables and grilled chicken.
The flames made me really nervous, but it turns out I can totally handle a grill. And that made me feel pretty confident.
The Three Generations again took a trip; this time to visit my big brother and his family in Las Vegas. I love driving, and my brother is so good at giving directions, so I had no problem finding their new home. We drove around the Hoover Dam, walked through a few casinos. But the most memorable moment (and what Hannah had been waiting for all weekend) was the Cokes Around the World tasting at World of Coca-Cola. They give you two trays with eight drinks each: the different flavors of Coke from everywhere. They were unique, they were flavorful, and some literally made us gag. It was a blast to share and taste and figure out who would like which one. We each had our own favorites. Surprisingly, mine was not from Italy. I don’t remember which one I liked best, but I do remember this fun experience.
My daughter took this last photo when I decorated for Christmas last year. I love nutcrackers. I mean, I love nutcrackers. Each year, I get at least one new one to add to my collection. Hannah doesn’t care for them. She really doesn’t care for them.
But she still managed to take this great picture and photoshop it for me. She’s really talented when it comes to art and photography. Someday she’ll be famous for it. Until then, here’s a sample of her work.
Well, those are my most favorite photo-memories for 2011.
Happy Thanksgiving to all, and to all a Good Turkey.
And Frankly, My Dear… That’s all she wrote!
Oct 10, 2011 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
On Saturday, I took my daughter and her friend, Nathan, to Disneyland. Since we live in Southern California, we’re lucky enough to have annual passes so we try to get there at least once every two months.
This trip I spent some time alone, wandering through the Parks. Instead of riding the bigger roller-coasters, I slowed my pace, enjoying the shops and attractions. On Main Street USA next to the timeless favorite Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, I found myself pulled into the Disney Gallery, currently showcasing the art of Mary Blair. It was, in typical Disney fashion, quite magical.
This was a place with no young children calling and pulling their parents along. No loud noises. No big crowds. It was simply a journey into the mind and beauty of one of Walt’s favorite animators, responsible for the themes behind Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Cinderella. She was also the designer/inspiration for that iconic ride, it’s a small world.
Throughout the rest of my day, it was a pleasant surprise to see those little touches throughout the Park. Of course, we had to ride the ride together just after twilight. I’m not sure why we usually do it then, since it’s an indoor ride. For me, I think, it’s because the line is shorter and you have the added thrill of exiting the ride into the lit-up world of Fantasyland. It’s never the same. There are so many details that can be so easily lost in the larger picture. So there we were, Hannah, Nathan, and myself, floating smoothly and singing along to the soundtrack that’s as integral to Disney as Walt himself. I found myself ignoring the big picture in order to selectively view those dolls and settings created by Mary Blair. It was just as exciting when Nathan pointed out the doll for Cinderella, which he’d never noticed before, and when, after all these years, I realized that I’d known the entire soundtrack, including Italian scene lyrics, since I was a child (thanks, Disney long-playing records!).
The other thrill of the day, was finding a Hidden Mickey that I’d been searching for, for about two years. I’m not big on stopping traffic in order to look about. Disneyland works better, for me and others, when someone doesn’t suddenly cease walking and gaze about in foot traffic. With Hannah and Nathan over at Disney’s California Adventure, and no plan for the immediate time, I strolled again down Main Street USA, taking it the sights, sounds, and smells of a century ago. Slowly passing the areas I knew had Hidden Mickeys – those head-and-ears icons that are stylishly designed into the structure of the park. It can be quite a challenge to see them, as there often are people blocking the view. But not this time. I glanced up at a mock-door, and there they were. Two of them, in fact. One at the top, the other at the bottom. To make it even more special, it was on the door of the Casting Agency, with a painted quote by Walt: “It takes People to Make the Dream a Reality”. I immediately snapped a picture with my cell phone and sent it to Megan.
There were other new experiences as well. This is the third time all three of us have gone together, and each time we try to eat at somewhere new. My daughter’s favorite, Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante, was our first trip. She loves Mexican food! Our second trip, we stopped at my favorite, the French Market, sitting on the outside patio reminiscent of jazzy New Orleans and right next to the Haunted Mansion (always our first ride). But this trip, we chose to eat in California Adventure and found ourselves at the Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill. Yes, another Mexican grill. But this one had different offerings, and they were just as uniquely delicious as Zocalo.
I rode Pinocchio’s Daring Adventure while Hannah and Nathan enjoyed “ElecTRONica”. Sure. It’s for young kids. But Pinocchio is my favorite Disney movie (he wears red, he’s Italian, it’s full of adventure and color… what’s not to love?!). So I took a ride. It was great. And not once did I feel awkward being alone (well, maybe just a little, but once I saw Jiminy Cricket, that feeling ended!).
They filled their afternoon with Tower of Terror, Space Mountain’s Ghost Galaxy, and the animation studios.
We ended the day as Nathan took us to D Street, a store in Downtown Disney District (which is a great place by itself, even if you don’t go into the Resort Parks). D Street is the place to purchase Disney Vinylmation: cute Mickey icons designed like, well, almost anything. It’s a new collection obsession that I have resisted for several years… until Nathan bought one each for me and Hannah. He collects the “blind box” ones where you can’t tell what you have until you open the box. That’s part of the fun, he says. Purchasing, keeping, and trading (I’d tried pin trading, but could never get into it… I like the few pins I have and don’t want to give them up…).
There’s all kinds of themed sets. I was hooked as soon as Nathan let me open a Star Wars blind box he’d purchased, only to discover it was a “chaser” that was more rare than the regulars, and necessary to the completion of his friend’s collection. Within five seconds, he was on the phone, arranging a trade.
Seeing our intrigue, he went into the store and purchased an “Animation Series 1” for Hannah, and a “Have a Laugh Series 1” for me. I thought it was cute and fun: I didn’t plan to get hooked. But apparently I am, because I’m already saving for my next Day at Disney.
After nearly 12 hours of walking, riding, shopping and seeing, it was time to head home. A short day by usual standards, but an exiting one.
All in all, it was a pretty great adventure: the familiar feeling of Disneyland, combined with the thrill of new experiences.
I can’t wait to go back. Each trip is an adventure.
Sep 16, 2011 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
My mom and I and Dot are all pretty close. Three generations of women living in close proximity (don’t forget the five female felines!). Mom lives alone, just down the street, but we’re at each other’s house often enough. We talk every day, often. Our houses even have the same floor plan, but reversed. (That explains why we zig when we think we should zag.)
It’s pretty hilarious when I call my mom and we both have the same topics in our heads. We both want to make mac-n-cheese on Saturday. We both watch the same news, listen to the same music (Charlie Rich, Jimmy Dean, and Sinatra… now that’s music!). We both order the same QVC kitchen product, at the same time. We both have the same ideas about home decor, although her theme is Country Spring and mine is Coffee House Autumn colors. Even some of our furniture is the same (she likes white, I prefer dark mocha colors). Not all of this is planned. We just like the same things. We just have the same views on life. We are distinctly different, and wonderfully in sync.
Now, I’m not saying we’re identical. She won’t go to Disneyland with us. I don’t read the papers like her. She doesn’t rock out to the Backstreet Boys and I’m not too successful at gardening. We don’t spend every single moment together. She kicks me and Dot out of her house when she’s tired, and I send her packing when it’s time to watch “Friends” with my daughter. We do separate and have our own lives. We just share them with each other. A lot.
My mom’s turned into my best friend. I wouldn’t be who I am without my Mom. She instilled my love of words. I can’t remember her not reading to us as children, or giving books as toys.
I remember once when I was about seven, she came home from the store and gave my brothers toys. Things they could play with, interact with. And I got a Golden Book, something about a puppy. I was so upset. You can’t play with a book. You can’t make it climb things like a stuffed animal. You can’t build with it like Legos. And so I cried.
Until Mom came over and opened the cover, and asked me to read the first page. Aloud. Without realizing it, I had been swept into a world of saving the puppy, or the puppy saving something else, I forget. What I do remember is the feeling of freedom. While my brothers were confined to the physical attributes of their toys, I had the whole world in my hand. I had an adorably soft little critter who looked at me with his tiny eyes. I had the power to help him on his page-turning journey. I had imagination. I went to sleep that night holding my book. I dreamt of the puppy and our adventures together. The next day, I took out my stuffed animals and reenacted the story.
Indeed, my Mom gave me much more than words on paper that day. She gave me life.
There is no greater thrill I have then my mom’s daily phone calls after she’s read my blog or whatever other writings I’ve sent her way, and to hear her say, “You did good today.” It’s those little backpats that make it worthwhile. Because while I write because I can’t not write; and I write because I was born to write; it’s not her approval I’m after. It’s because I love her and the way she raised me that I write, and try to write well. I’m proud of my mom. I love my mom.
And this is my way of returning the world to her. This is my way of saying, “Yes, I can be the person you raised me to be.” This is my way of letting her know she did good, too.
Thanks, Mom. I heart you.
Aug 18, 2011 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
This couponing gig is more fun than Disneyland!!
Okay, so on my second day of couponing, I first started by getting organized. I went to the local office supply store and spent less about $14 to get small plastic envelopes and one big one, and a pack of labels.
I came home and sorted my coupons and fliers. I now have categories for: Specific Stores (department stores like Kohls or Payless Shoes), Pet Care, Restaurants, Dairy/Meat, Canned Goods, Refrigerator/Freezer, Beverages, Desserts/Sweets, Condiments, Snacks/Chips, Cereal, Toiletries/Hygiene, Household Items, and Receipts.
The big envelope holds the small envelopes and the weekly store fliers. I. Am. Ready!
After checking in with my Coupon Coach to verify my strategy, I headed off to the local Walgreens. Walgreens is a beautiful place. A land of free-flowing sales and wonderfully attentive clerks. A cool, clean atmosphere. And best of all, sales.
Walgreens doesn’t require a Club Card to get their bonuses. They’re available to everyone, all the time. The trick to working them is to know ahead of time what you’re looking for.
If you read my post last week, Nail Polish: If You’re a Guy, You Just Don’t Get It, you’ll understand my excitement at paying just $0.88 for NYC nail polish at Winco. Obviously I’m not into spending much beyond that. But when it’s right, it’s right. And there I was at Walgreen’s, ad in hand, looking at Revlon nail colors. I bit. I bought.
I made four transactions tonight. Four wonderfully successfully cheap transactions. For being my second day of couponing, I call it a huge success!
First, the nail polish. $4.00 plus tax. But I got $3 RR (Register Rewards) back.
Second transaction: Two deodorants on sale, 2/$5.00. I used the $3 RR from above, so only paid $2 plus tax, AND got back $3 RR again.
Third transaction: Two bags of Brach’s autumn mix candies, 2/$3.00. I used the $3 RR from #2, no tax, and got back $1 RR. Can you imagine? THEY paid ME $1 to take the candy!
Fourth transaction: 12 rolls of Cottonelle toilet paper, on sale for $5.00. I used a $1.00 store coupon, $0.75 manufacturer coupon, and the $1.00 RR. Walgreens will let you stack coupons for the same item, as long as your total items equal your total coupons. Meaning, because I had two Toilet Paper coupons, I needed two items in this transaction. So I picked up a $0.49 Snickers bar. The toilet paper cost me just $2.25 plus tax.
All told, I purchased $23 worth of goods for less than $10 Out Of Pocket. That’s “OOP” in coupon lingo. Another important word in the Couponing World is “Stockpile”. As in, I now have 12 rolls of toilet paper in my stockpile cabinet.
Hey. It’s a (cheap) start. Egypt wasn’t saved in a day. The point is, it was saved.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
In April, we took our first ever Three-Generation Vacation. I treated my mom and daughter to a weekend at the Mission Inn in Riverside, CA. It’s a beautiful historical Inn, and has been the temporary home for several authors.
