ok ladies....

Are we women our own worst enemies?  I have to ponder this today because I made a new friend on the beach and we got to talking about it.  I know I'm a glass half full person by nature, so I always think everyone means well and needless to say I have found out otherwise many times, but it has not changed how I instinctively react to people.  I truly believe in the good and I love meeting new people and hearing their stories and finding out what drives them.  But I do understand the point my friend Joann was making and it has made me think twice.  When I personally read about or hear about a women who has done something amazing or inspiring, it in turn inspires me and I think I can do something great too.  When I see a really attractive, fit, fashionable female, I aspire to that and want to feel and look better myself.  But I know there is truth to the fact that many women do not think this way, rather they resent when someone else has something they don't have, does something they can't do, looks a certain way, is thinner, smarter, is in a good relationship, appears happier, etc.  (Should I re-think my happy helen project? haha)   But seriously, as Joann so clearly put it today, we need to stand together and respect each other's choices and decisions even if they may not be the same as our own.  We need to be supportive, not judgmental and feed off each other for inspiration. As one of the olympics commercials just quoted, "if we support each other, we can do anything".  So let's.

happiness project

I read the book called The Happiness Project during a weekend vacation to Turks back in early March.   It is not a typical self-help book as it may seem, but is a real accounting of a woman who looks at different aspects of her life each month to analyze how she can be happier in each of them.  What I loved most about it was that her idea of finding happiness did not include leaving her life to go seek it elsewhere... rather, she looked INSIDE her world to find out how to be happier in her existing life.  I love it when a book stays with you long after you read it and it somehow effects your life without your even knowing it.  Initially after reading it, yes, I made the impulsive move of starting my own company which I've had on my mind for some time (years actually) and the combination of the book and having the time to talk it out with Tom for 3 days while we had a weekend alone in paradise, just took me over the edge.  It was more like I was possessed when I got home, and things just took on a life of their own within one week and there was no turning back.  I'm not saying it wasn't scary and there were certainly some intense issues involved in it which caused me some sleepless nights, but it has truly been a turning point in terms of my own happiness at work.  I'm not suggesting that every person who reads the book needs to start a business (or a blog, which was another item on my 'do list') but it's interesting how I still look at pieces of my life and wonder how I can be happier in each.  Do I really think happiness can actually be a job or a program that I commit myself to?  I'm not sure but for now I'm gonna keep my little "happy helen" project going and see where it takes me.  


http://happiness-project.com/

breakfast in the sandbox

 

Some people just have the cutest ideas for a business - the Sandbox Cafe is one of those!!  This place manages to make you feel like you are at a cozy bed and breakfast with a few people cooking you the most amazing and unique breakfast you have ever eaten in your life!  seriously.  I wish I was a polished writer and could describe it properly, but thank goodness I can just post pix in spite of Juli's embarrassment when I take them. There are cozy corners with tables, cute little elements of decor everywhere that seem so random but are clearly thought out by someone with taste... the vibe is relaxing.... everyone in the place seems relaxed and even though most people have to wait quite a while to be seated, it clearly does not effect the mood once inside.  The 'ceiling' is comprised of trees and/or umbrellas, but overall it is an 'open air' situation so they have to close up when it rains, which can be disappointing if you were counting on it as we were the previous day, but it was well worth the wait.  Charming, relaxing, cozy and delicious.  A few menu highlights - Parmesan eggs, Tropical pancakes (which are HUGE by the way) and Banana Bread French Toast (think about that for a few minutes... )  Yum.  Enough said.

in the news

I don't really remember ever having my picture in the newspaper, but this week Tom and I made the local new!  nothing major, just a photo from the ECLC fundraiser (Fashion Show) which was held in May and I guess I should mention that I actually modeled in the show as well.  Not exactly what I signed up for when I took the PTO job, but thankfully life is full of surprises.  And after all the years or working behind the scenes on the high school fashion show, it was funny to experience the other side of the scene.  It was a little (a lot) nerve wracking that night.  The outfit was from Coldwater Creek, not my usual style, I had never even been in that store before - white jeans (I never wear white on my lower half for a reason), a flowery blouse with a kelly green jacket!  omigosh, no black?.... I added my own crazy shoes, of course.... I'm not sure if I was more worried about falling on my face in the shoes, or just the idea of walking on that runway with all eyes staring at me, but after the initial few seconds out there, I actually had fun.  supermodel helen signing off.

hot day + cape may

hot and sticky - that's how the day started and it only got worse..... the breeze was off the bay, so we knew there would be no relief at the beach, so I had the genius idea to take the kayak out with Juli... it's a one-person kayak, but we figured we could both fit.  I think she wasn't realllllly into it, but she kinda goes along with my crazy ideas at times, maybe she doesn't want to hurt my feelings, or maybe she just figures she has nothing better to do, so off we went with the kayak sticking out of the back of the truck.  Getting it in the water and launched was amusing enough.  It was pretty windy and wavy at the bay - but a HOT AND STICKY wind.. nothing pleasant about it.  When we got out a ways, it got more and more choppy, and when we tried to turn back, the kayak flipped and into the bay we plunged.  I think we were both pretty surprised and then it just got funnier and funnier.  We laughed so hard we could hardly get back in the kayak and then I finally got in and Juli hung on the back in the water while I dragged her along to a nearby dock and then she tried to pull herself aboard and ended up with a handful of splinters and through it all we were still laughing our heads off.  So we made it back, still feeling HOT AND STICKY... and figured maybe it would be better on the beach... so off we went and we were there for all of 5 minutes when the "attack of the flies" began!  It was like a bad movie. They swarmed us.  Then we came up with the final idea of the day, head to Cape May for some late afternoon shopping and dinner - hopefully something with air conditioning involved.  I have to say, it continued to be hot and fricken sticky as ever... it was really bad, but the stores, which are so quaint and the restaurant (Island Grill) had AC so there was some relief on and off.  After all that, we made a quick stop to put our feet in the sand and in the 3 minutes we parked to take some photos, we scored a $30 parking ticket for not putting money in the meter.   I guess that topped off the uncomfortable day, but I think we tried to make the most of it!  We are now on the couch watching The Bodyguard.  I''ve wanted to watch it with Juli ever since the passing of Whitney Houston, so we have finally gotten to it.  Juli is soaking her hand full of splinters and so ends the hot and sticky day... the temperature has finally dropped and there is a cool breeze at last.  WHEW......

birthday puppy

ok, so I don't spew love thoughts about my dog like other animal lovers do, but I do care about her... I mean I do complain about all the dirty work, picking up the poop, cleaning her and her crate, dealing with her doctor issues and yes, I'm the one who cleans up the vomit when that happens, so yeah, it's annoying, but she is a good dog truly and I felt I owe her at least a little belated happy birthday entry since she made it to 13 - which is 91 in doggie years!  (July 21st was her big day)  Happy Bday pooch!  xo

sunsets

They happen every day and they are so often so breathtaking,  but I am never really aware or paying attention except when I'm on vacation or at the beach.  I hate the thought that I'm missing something so magical every day... but how do I fix that?????  I need a sunset app.

same old but different

The best way I have found to get to know any city immediately is to go for a run (outside, not on a treadmill in the hotel gym).... it's weird how that just puts me in touch with everything about it so quickly, the lay of the land, the vibe of the people, the look of "everyday life" in it, and the small non-touristy things about it... You see things 'close up' in a way.  I have been to Disney World at least a dozen times or more over the years and this is the first time I'm in the city of Orlando and it is NOT to see Mickey, so the first hour I found to myself I decided to go for the get-to-know-it run..... now I feel like I've been to Orlando.  Thanks to google maps I located a little lake nearby and did a few laps around it while people-watching.  This is definitely NOT where the tourists hang out.  There were no Mickey Mouse ears or draping sashes loaded with Disney pins to be seen.  Just local people out for a walk, some neighborhood kids in the little playground and couples strolling around watching the swans on the lake.  The sunset was hidden, but the sky turned pink and was pretty cool against the pink fountain that I will admit, had a HINT of "Walt" about it.  The hotel - Grand Bohemian - is pretty quirky with lots of wacky artwork in every corner.  It is the closest thing to a rockstar hotel here I guess you could say, with celebrity and sports figure sightings I'm told.  I decided to end the night with a relaxing swim in the pool, but got there to find a very loud-mouthed girl with a heavy caribbean island accent talking loudly and aggressively to her boyfriend in the hot tub, so the karma was off and I left.... I will have to just enjoy the peace of the hotel room and a good night's sleep before the roller coaster of tomorrow's shoot begins!  and ps... I didn't know Rolls Royce had anything to do with making airplanes.. I was surprised to see their logo on the right engine of the plane.

lovin' lbi

 

• Watching fireworks on the boat on July 4th.
• Sunsets on the Bay.  Many. Breathtaking.
• The Moonrise over the ocean.  Rare. Magical.
• Opening up the house after the winter and that happy feeling inside.
• Jonathan's arcade obsession (maybe this should go way lower on the list)
• Riding big 'ol beach bikes here there and everywhere...
• We are regulars at The Greenhouse!!
• Remembering the 'wagon' days.... lugging the kids and all the toys up to the beach....
• Guys go golfing and me & Juli have girl time at Broadway Pizza... and Copper Cloud :( and Rita's :)
• Tommy's obsession with Flow Rider... and of course Jonathan too.
• Running and biking and NO HILLS to content with, but there is that wind factor.... brutal.
• Wicked thunder and lightening storms that are like a spectacular light show!
• The Dog Day Race - annual tradition with Jack & Eileen spectating every single year.
• Joanna determined to kick Tommy's ass at the Dog Day Race (a girl can dream)
• Tommy rolling over for the first time on the historic kitchen table and then... 'BAM'.... driving off in the jeep one day leaving Camille and I in tears out front.  (time goes too fast)
• Wakeboarding!!!!!!!!!  need I say more?
• Annual BBQ's with great food and fun times.
• The block party that will go down in South 1st Street history....
• Pink Flamingo decor phase.
• Molly jumping in the bay... back in the day when she was a younger pup...
• 500 rounds of Flamingo Golf (at least....)
• Tea time at How You Brewin'
• Embracing the sailing experience.... so peaceful.....
• Tommy and Jon Haverty - the beach brothers.
• The beautiful night sky - moon and meteor showers!
• Tom and the many house improvements... right up to the IPE deck and zen-like sculpture!
• The kids as babies napping on the beach... ahhhh... 
• Tommy learning to surf so long ago... and then becoming a really good surfer!
• Jonathan's annual birthday piñatas... tradition.....
• Boni on the beach!
• Cheryl and Lisa and the 'compound'
• Beach reports from Sal - "it's a 10"
• Kristen's annual week at Polise South 
• Tommy and Juli having "pillow talk"
• oh that damn new Donut place.... !  deadly delicious...
• Karen and Bagel-diddies!
• Juli reads lots and lots of books.....
• The sound of the cars crunching on the rocks...
• The annual beach badge photo wall
• Missing some of our neighbors whom we will always remember:  Jack, Bob, Bob and Anne

celebrity siting

He just walked into my office one day with a big orange beach style bicycle, kinda looking like a scruffy messenger but the minute I saw him I thought "it's Birdy" and of course I could not think of his name.... he was looking for a recording studio which I believe is on the 2nd or 3rd floor in the building, so I buzzed the freight elevator and asked for guidance, but I was so excited to meet him and the fact that I was just chatting with him like it was just another day and that I was not actually talking to freakin MATTHEW MODINE himself after seeing him on the big screen time and time again (Full Metal Jacket, Vision Quest, Any Given Sunday and the list goes on).... I felt like jumping up and down (which I kinda did after her left) and the few other people in the office didn't even know what the heck I was so excited about since they didn't even recognize him..... ahhh.... anyway, before he got away I did have to be bold and so I reached out and shook his hand and blurted "it was so nice to meet you, I'm a big fan and I've loved watching you over the years, thank you for sharing your talent and my favorite was Birdy" and I'm sure I sounded like a rambling fool but he was so gracious and said thank you so much and off he went to his recording.  love it..... Just thought about it again when I was sharing the moment with my mom and dad the other day and they TOTALLY GOT IT being the avid movie-goers that they are and so I was jumping up and down all over again!! ha.  I'm nutty.