Kayleigh Apicerno

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Catching Up Over Coffee - April 29, 2018 at CBBG Dessert Bar in Watertown

My sister and I decided a while back to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state. This blog series serves as a review of the coffee shops we visit.

April 29, 2018 - My sister and I have been working crazy, opposite schedules this year and I have been sick twice. We haven't been able to see each other since Christmas! But, we were finally able to make plans to get together and after doing some Googling, came across a place that sounds like it was made for us - CBBG Dessert Bar in Watertown, CT.

My sister had to work on this Sunday morning, so we decided to meet at about 2pm at the dessert bar. It is quite difficult to find a coffee shop or bakery that is open past 2pm on Sundays. CBBG is open until 7pm on Sundays!

Fortunately, there is a large parking lot behind the plaza where CBBG is located. I arrived a couple of minutes after my sister and we walked into the shop together. My first reaction as we walked in was that it was a little smaller than I expected. The entire place consisted of a bar made of pennies (as seen in the picture above), one display case, and about five or six tables. There was one other group sitting there when we arrived.

My sister and I were able to taste a sample of coffee that the gentleman behind the counter had just mixed up. It was based on a fire hot candy and had a little more spice than I normally have, but it was tasty. My sister didn't like the taste, but she loved the pink color.

After ordering our coffees, we had to pick what we wanted to eat. She chose a brownie that was covered in fudge and topped with an Oreo. I settled on a red velvet cupcake that was filled and topped with cheesecake.

My favorite part of these coffee dates is being able to catch up with my sister. I was so happy that we were able to take our time and didn't feel rushed while we were sitting there.

I liked my cupcake, but was a little disappointed with the flavor of the cheesecake filling and the fact that the frosting was buttercream and not cheesecake. My S'mores coffee was quite tasty. My sister enjoyed her brownie and caramel latte.

CBBG Dessert Bar is located on a main road, at the road side of a plaza that goes back from the street. It was easier to get to for both my sister and for me. If the weather had been just a little warmer, we would have sat outside, but it was drizzling, so we sat by the door inside.

Overall, I recommend visiting CBBG Dessert Bar if you are in the area or passing through. If you do, be sure to let me know.

---

This post is one in a series of monthly posts. If you are wondering why I am writing this series, head on over to Catching Up Over Coffee to read the explanation.

Then, check out the other places we have visited so far:

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe in Manchester

Catching Up Over Coffee - February 2016 at Focaccia's Cafe in Shelton
Catching Up Over Coffee - March 2016 at Half Moon and Mr. D's in Wallingford
Catching Up Over Coffee - April 2016 at Cheshire Coffee in Cheshire
Catching Up Over Coffee - December 2016 at Caffe del Mondo in Southington
Catching Up Over Coffee - January, 2017 at NIX in South Windsor
Catching Up Over Coffee - June, 2017 at Two Wrasslin' Cats in East Haddam
Catching Up Over Coffee - October, 2017 at J Rene in West Hartford

Monday, April 9, 2018

Catching Up Over Coffee - October, 2017 at J Rene in West Hartford

My sister and I decided a while back to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state. This blog series serves as a review of the coffee shops we visit.

October, 2017 - Now that all of the wedding stuff has quieted down, my sister and I have tried to get back into meeting for coffee once a month. However, that is proving difficult. She has started working a more steady schedule at a restaurant, which means a lot of nights and weekends. With my office job, I work a Monday through Friday office schedule.

Four months since our last date, we finally found some time that worked for both of us. This was mostly because I was already planning a trip up to pick up an end table from a friend's mother who lived a town over from where we decided to meet. It was raining by the time I was down putting the table in my car and heading to the cafe, but I didn't really mind. On the other hand, my sister ended up sleeping in later than she expected and was about an hour late meeting me (not for the first time).

Finally! My sister and I found a coffee place that actually does designs with the foam! This is what I have been waiting for! Fortunately, the lattes were tasty because I was not impressed with the food. I was excited when I saw bundt cake, but it was dry and not very flavorful. My sister said her pastry was good at least.

It was really cool to visit a place that added the designs to the foam. It was also fun to be in a coffee shop that served coffee four ways - drip, pour over, French press, and siphon - I believe. Walking into their cafe looks a little like walking into an old-timey laboratory. There are copper pipes everywhere and the staff wear aprons. The limited seating that there is lends itself to meeting new people, which is nice, but my sister and I were trying to spend some quality time together. The two top tables that they did have seemed to be the first to be filled. All of the people where were there seemed to be studying for some class or other, so we felt we should try to be a little quieter than normal as to not disturb them.

Overall, I could see myself popping back in there to grab a coffee while walking around the area if I ever find myself back in that part of the state. I'm looking forward to trying out the next location.

---

This post is one in a series of monthly posts. If you are wondering why I am writing this series, head on over to Catching Up Over Coffee to read the explanation.

Then, check out the other places we have visited so far:

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe in Manchester

Catching Up Over Coffee - June, 2017 at Two Wrasslin' Cats in East Haddam

My sister and I decided a while back to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state. This blog series serves as a review of the coffee shops we visit.

June, 2017 - With all of the wedding prep, my sister and I saw a lot of each other between January and May of 2017, so we took a bit of a break from our regularly scheduled coffee dates. Before I go over seas on my honeymoon, I wanted to make sure to get one more coffee trip in with my sister.

This time, we decided to visit a place that I just knew we would both love as soon as I heard the name, Two Wrasslin' Cats in East Haddam.

I read about their story online, sent my sister a link, and then we immediately made plans on when to meet. It took each of us about an hour to get to from our respective homes, and boy was it worth the trip! Not only was the coffee delicious, the food was too, including the ice cream!

My sister and I ate our food inside at one of the many tables and chairs. The cafe is built inside an old house, and so it feels as if you are eating at a friend's home. Up the small ramp to the left of the counter, we found three or four small rooms that were filled with an eclectic mix of furniture. Every wall and the ceiling was covered with decor, mostly of the feline sort.

After we finished our food, we went back up front to order ice cream, which we then took with us outside to the back yard where we found a fountain, a small patch of grass, and some trees. We had the yard to ourselves the whole time we were there. It was a nice day, but not a great day, so I could see why it wasn't as busy as it should have been.

On our way out to the parking lot, we saw that even the concrete sidewalk had been cat-ified:

I believe my sister has already been back to this cafe with some friends of hers. I know I'll be back the next time I go to a show at Goodspeed Opera House, which is less than a mile down the street from Two Wrasslin' Cats

---

This post is one in a series of monthly posts. If you are wondering why I am writing this series, head on over to Catching Up Over Coffee to read the explanation.

Then, check out the other places we have visited so far:

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe in Manchester

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Catching Up Over Coffee - January, 2017 at NIX in South Windsor

My sister and I decided a while back to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state. This blog series serves as a review of the coffee shops we visit.

January, 2017 - Thirteen months after saying yes, and less than four months before the big day, it was past time for me to pick out bridesmaids dresses. I had gone once before with my best friend and narrowed my choices down to two, but I couldn't decide. I wanted to see how one of my other bridesmaids would look in the dress. So, I made an appointment at David's Bridal in Manchester with my sister.

Unfortunately, it snowed all day the day of the appointment. Manchester is over an hour away from me, but I figured if I drove slowly and carefully, I would be fine. I was right. There were hardly any cars on the highway compared to normal rush hour traffic. My sister got to the appointment on time and started to try on the first dress. I made it there soon after.

We video chatted with our other sister and decided to go with the second dress. I love how it works with my dress!

After the appointment, we were planning on going to a cute little coffee shop in South Windsor, but they ended up being closed due to the snow. We did try calling and no one picked up but there was no message saying they were closed. We decided to drive over to the plaza to check.

Fortunately, there were lots of little shops in the shopping plaza, including a few tea shops. Even the Ben & Jerry's served coffee and tea. By this time, we were hungry, so we decided to try NIX. We thought they had coffee and tea, but they only had regular Lipton tea. The food, however, was great!

I had the ahi tuna salad with a lemon vinaigrette and my sister had risotto and a side of mac and cheese, which she claimed was the best mac & cheese she has ever had. It did look good, but it was the last day of my Whole30 challenge, and I didn't give in!

Even though we didn't have coffee, we still had a great conversation and a great meal. It counts.

---

This post is one in a series of monthly posts. If you are wondering why I am writing this series, head on over to Catching Up Over Coffee to read the explanation.

Then, check out the other places we have visited so far:

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe in Manchester

Catching Up Over Coffee - December 2016 at Caffe del Mondo in Southington

My sister and I decided a while back to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state. This blog series serves as a review of the coffee shops we visit.

December, 2016 - So much for meeting up once a month for coffee! For four months in a row we were good, but then life got in the way. My sister and I saw each other now and then with the rest of the family, but we didn't go out for coffee just the two of us, so it doesn't count for this blog.

We finally got a chance to catch up over coffee in December. My sister has recently taken up sewing after watching 10+ seasons of Project Runway. She bought herself a nice Brother sewing machine and has found that she has some skill. I asked her if should would be able to make my wedding veil and she said yes. We decided to meet up at Jo-Ann Fabric in Southington so that we could also go out for coffee in a different town as well.

Before I headed up to Southington, I did a quick search online and found a coffee shop that was close to Jo-Ann Fabric called Caffe del Mondo.

The Caffe was rather small and quiet with a few rustic style wood tables and chairs. A long bench was built into the side wall opposite the door. To the left of the door was a charming fireplace with big comfy chairs.

For food, my sister could not resist the gingerbread cookie and I had the cinnamon twist. For coffee, she had an iced coffee and I had a Milky Way latte. This turned out not to be our favorite place. My food was dry and the coffee was alright but not great. The service was average.

Would we go back? Maybe for a quick coffee fix if we happen to be back in the area, but I'm not planning a special trip.

---

This post is one in a series of monthly posts. If you are wondering why I am writing this series, head on over to Catching Up Over Coffee to read the explanation.

Then, check out the other places we have visited so far:

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe in Manchester

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Catching Up Over Coffee - April 2016 at Cheshire Coffee in Cheshire

April, 2016 - This month, my sister and I decided to meet about half way from our homes, which turned out to be Cheshire, CT. There is a coffee shop in this town fittingly called Cheshire Coffee. I had been there a few times before, but not with my sister, so we figured this would be a good time for her to try it.

This coffee shop is located in a stand alone building and has it's own parking lot, something we don't see too often around here.

Inside, the place is spacious yet cozy. There are photos hanging on the walls, big comfy chairs scattered around, and some tables for those who want to eat and work. The people are always so nice on both sides of the counter as well.

For food, I had the turkey wrap with smoked Gouda and asparagus. My sister had a chicken panini. This is the second or third time I had this wrap and I will probably have it again next time I go. I also had the caramel macchiatto while my sister had a flavored iced coffee. I don't remember exactly which one, though.

Everything was delicious and tasty. Would we go back? I know I would!

We weren't done with our day yet...

As an added bonus, we visited a well known ice cream shop called Sweet Claude's . Boy did it live up to its reputation! Even in the light rain, there was still a line, and we found out why. The ice cream was so smooth, thick, and creamy. Delicious. In a state full of top notch ice cream, it's hard to stand out. Very few are as well known and respected as Sweet Claude's. My only regret is that this was my first time visiting.

---

This post is one in a series of monthly posts. If you are wondering why I am writing this series, head on over to Catching Up Over Coffee to read the explanation.

Then, check out the other places we have visited so far:

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe

Catching Up Over Coffee - February 2016 at Focaccia's Cafe
Catching Up Over Coffee - March 2016 at Half Moon and Mr. D's

Monday, January 30, 2017

Catching Up Over Coffee - March 2016 at Half Moon and Mr. D's Bakery Wallingford

March, 2016 - My sister and I actually have one more sister who lives in Wallingford. We all met at her place and chatted for awhile before the two of us headed out to chat at our March coffee stops.

We actually decided to go to two places this month - Half Moon Coffee and Grille Cafe and Mr. D's Bakery. These two places are practically next door to each other. First we had dinner at Half Moon, and then went to Mr. D's for cupcakes and coffee.

We weren't really impressed with Half Moon, though it wasn't bad. The clear winner was Mr. D's Bakery. To be fair, it's not really a competition. Mr. D's offers cupcakes, ice cream, toys, and candy, which are much more exciting than coffee. As we walked into Mr. D's, my sister said something to the effect of wanting to move in and never leave!

One of the first items that draws your eye as you walk into the store is a carousel horse.

There are actually a couple of these around the store, but the others can be missed, believe it or not, because they are surrounded by bright, fun toys, and cupcakes.

Oh, the cupcakes! I don't know how anyone could have just one. My sister and I each ate one there and brought a box of six home for later (and to share).

We each had another medium coffee while we ate our carefully chosen cupcakes. A few unoccupied tables were tucked out of the way in a corner near the front window, where we were able to enjoy our treats and take a more careful look at our surroundings.

Below are some photos of the rest of the store.

---

This post is one in a series of monthly posts. If you are wondering why I am writing this series, head on over to Catching Up Over Coffee to read the explanation.

Then, check out the post from January, 2016:

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe

Catching Up Over Coffee - February 2016 at Focaccia's Cafe

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Catching Up Over Coffee - February 2016 at Focaccia's Cafe

February, 2016 - Since I visited my sister in January, this month she drove down to my hometown for our monthly coffee meetup. We were originally planning on checking out this new place downtown, but she was running late and they were closed by the time we got there around 4 p.m. on a Sunday. I don't know why they close so early on a Sunday, but they are new, so maybe they are short staffed.

Anyway, we ended up going to one of my favorite coffee places, Focaccia's Cafe in Shelton, CT. I visit at least once, but usually more like three, times a week. This visit, however, was special. Instead of just getting a regular coffee, I ordered the Focaccia's Caramel Macchiato. It is a little more pricey than the rest of the coffee offerings, but it is so worth it. Here is a picture (after I had a few sips):

See the layers? See that handmade whipped topping? See those bubbles? Each bit is so good. This is a drink to savored.

I got right to drinking my coffee before I realized that I didn't get a picture of my sister's drink! The pic above is both of our drinks and the cup for the homemade chips that Facaccia's gives out with every meal. Everyone raves about the chips!

My sister's coffee was very tasty too, but for the life of me, I can't remember what it was. I tried going back and ordering what I thought it was, but it didn't taste the same. I guess I will just have to keep going back!

Once my sister and I finished our drinks and our conversation, we headed to another favorite spot - Peachwave Frozen Yogurt for some dessert. It was a very nice afternoon. If you ever find yourself in Shelton, CT, I highly recommend stopping into Focaccia's Cafe for a coffee and/or a meal.

----

This post is one in a series of monthly posts. If you are wondering why I am writing this series, head on over to Catching Up Over Coffee to read the explanation.

Then, check out the post from January, 2016:

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe

Monday, April 4, 2016

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe

January, 2016 - My sister and I met one evening in late January for some dinner and coffee at a small cafe in Manchester, CT. We had decided to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state.

For our first outing, we met closer to her home. She lives about an hour north of me with our father, so I got a chance to see him as well. Since we were in her area, she got to pick where we would go and chose The Landmark Cafe.

I got there first and picked a table, which was a bit of a challenge for me because each table was unique and had its own charm. Even each set of salt and pepper shakers were different. I picked one and sat down to wait.

My sister and I ended up ordering sweet potato fries for an appetizer, which came with a mayo based dipping sauce, which was very tasty. She had a Alfredo pasta dish and I got a veggie wrap. Both were quite tasty.

After dinner, we finally got to the coffee. We learned that Landmark Cafe has specialty lattes and mochas, which made our night. My sister ordered the Caramello and I had the Banana Fudge (closer mug). Both were very delicious!

The Caramello tasted just like you would expect a latte version of the candy bar to taste. The thick foam carried the taste of the toasted marshmallow and smooth caramel from mug, over taste buds, and into the stomach. It was a joy to sip.

Sweet chocolate and creamy banana pair so well, it seems, in any form. Each sip of the Banana Fudge latte was a treat. This is the kind of experience I hope to have each time I order a latte.

Now for the real test - would I visit this cafe again? The answer is yes. In fact, I already have. I happened to be back in Manchester to go wedding dress shopping and brought my entire party here for lunch. They all enjoyed it as well!

If you want to learn more about our coffee adventures and why we are doing this, read the first post, Catching Up Over Coffee

Next - Catching Up Over Coffee - February at Focaccia's Cafe

Catching Up Over Coffee

My youngest sister and I are 9 years apart and live an hour away from each other in the same state. We have just a few things in common. One of them happens to be coffee.

At the end of 2015, we decided to be more proactive in our relationship. Between the age difference and the miles between us, it was very easy for us to go months without speaking to each other. We were each living our own lives in our own little worlds and not working on our relationship or making it a priority.

I started this post by saying my youngest sister and I... which would rightly imply that I have another sister. In fact, I have another sister and a brother. My other sister just had a baby, which is a naturally good reason for us to see and talk to each other. My brother and I have been in touch regularly and have a common interest in tech.

With so many of us in my family and so much always going on, I decided it was time to focus on my relationship with my youngest sister. One day late last year, she mentioned that she liked coffee. We started talking about coffee and cafes and realized that we finally had something in common. I suggested that we travel all over our home state of Connecticut, and visit a coffee shop once a month. We would get to see the state and catch up with each other while sharing our shared love of coffee. She loved the idea, so we picked a date in January to start.

I decided that I wanted to blog about our experience and the different coffee shops and towns that we will visit, so here it is! This blog will focus on the coffee shops and towns and not so much on our relationship because that is our business.

As we visit more places, I will keep the updated list with links to the individual posts here.

January at The Landmark Cafe in Manchester, CT

February at Focaccia's Cafe in Shelton, CT

March at Half Moon Coffee House and Grille and Cafe in Wallingford, CT (and Mr. D's)

April at Cheshire Coffee in Cheshire, CT

December at Caffe del Mondo in Southington, CT

January at NIX in South Windsor CT

June, 2017 at Two Wrasslin' Cats in East Haddam, CT

October 2017 at J Rene in West Hartford, CT

April 2018 at CBBG Dessert Bar in Watertown, CT

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Budgets Suck - But This Tool Makes It Suck A Little Less

Currently, I am reading a book called "Rich Bitch" by Nicole Lapin. The budget breakdown presented in this book has been the number one best tool that I have found. I can only speak on behalf of myself, but the general percents and the explanations about each one has led me to finally set a decent budget for myself.

I have tried to do all sorts of budgets - working backwards from what I typically spend, guessing at what my needs will be in the coming week/month/year, and all the other suggestions out there - but this one makes sense and works.

Once I set up a spreadsheet and input my income, I was able to do simple calculations to figure out how much money I had for each bucket. Then I adjusted to make it work for me. I am fortunate enough to walk to work now, so I did not need 15% for transportation. However, my rent is a little higher than 25%, so I moved the some of the money from transportation to housing.

I have been using this system for only a couple of months now, but it has really helped me understand my money. I have been able to set real goals and I know what my limits are. I feel empowered!

Since I love content marketing and designing graphics, I designed the one below for my own reference. By sharing it here, I hope you will be able to use it as well.

More about the book and the budget on Nicole's website: http://nicolelapin.com/richbitchbook/

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Dear Future Self - A Letter Series About Lessons I Have Learned

Dear Future Self,

Over the past few months I have started a new job and, well I'm not sure if this is because of the new job or not, but I have been noticing something specific about leadership.

There are those who are leaders and those who are doers. It becomes clear who is who once you learn to see the signs. Something small is all it takes. For example, I have recently heard people ask me if they were correct. They would say something that they felt, like a bottle cap is screwed on really tight, and then say, "Don't you think so?" They ask me to confirm their feelings or opinions. These are not young people either.

On the other hand, there are some people who speak with authority. They say things they mean and if it is an opinion, it is clear that they know that. They would say, "This bottle cap was screwed on very tightly."

Leaders are never concerned with others confirming their opinions. However, if they made a mistake, they are usually the first ones to admit it.

Some people could never be leaders. And that is perfectly fine. Imagine if everyone wanted to lead! Those who are not leaders, I call doers. Tell a doer to do something and it will get done. You might have to explain exactly how and when to do the thing, but it will be completed.

It will be interesting to see if this observation holds true over the years or if I end up expanding on it. Only time will tell on that one!

Written 7/22/2015

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

I Want To Do This!

I just read the article 'Connecticut State Parks “The Sky’s the Limit” 2015 Hiking Challenge' on the CT state DEEP site. Now I want it to be warmer out so I can go hiking.

Maybe I am not the luckiest person in the world, but I might win some prizes along the way, according to the site! Stranger things have happened.

So, here is how this challenge works:

Step 1: Go hiking. There are 14 places around Connecticut that count:

Norfolk: Dennis Hill State Park, Dennis Hill Pavilion, Route 272
Groton: Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park, from the top of the monument, Park Ave.
Norfolk:Haystack Mountain State Park, Haystack Mountain Tower, Route 272
East Hampton: Hurd State Park, Split Rock Vista, Route 151
New Milford: Lovers Leap State Park, Scenic Vista along Falls Mountain Trail, Grove St.
Kent: Macedonia Brook State Park, Scenic Vista, 159 Macedonia Brook Rd.,
Goshen: Mohawk Mountain State Forest, Mohawk Scenic Vista, 20 Mohawk Mountain Rd.
Litchfield: Mount Tom State Park, Mount Tom Stone Tower, Route 202
Voluntown: Pachaug State Forest Chapman Area, Mount Misery Overlook, Route 49
Stafford Springs: Shenipsit State Forest, Soapstone Mountain Observation Tower (currently closed).
Hamden: Sleeping Giant State Park, Stone Observation Tower on the Peak of Mt. Carmel, 200 Mount Carmel Ave.
Southbury: Southford Falls State Park, Fire Tower, 175 Quaker Farms Rd., Rt. 188
Simsbury: Talcott Mountain State Park, Heublein Tower, Route 185
Hamden: West Rock Ridge State Park, Scenic Vista by the Upper Pavilion, Wintergreen Ave.

Step 2: Take 2 photos of yourself at each location. One with the shield sign and one in the park.

Step 3: Email photos of at least 10 locations above to deep.stateparks@ct.gov or mail them (no thanks). Info must include your name and home address.

Step 4: Wait to see if you won! Winners will be announced 1/1/16.

More info on the DEEP site:
http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?Q=559438&A=4707

Sunday, November 16, 2014

NaNoWriMo Day 16 - Staying Warm

How to keep your fingers warm during NaNoWriMo:

A. You could use a blow torch and run it over your fingers. But then again, you would probably end up with burnt fingers and a lot of unnecessary pain. So, don't do this one.

B. Moving on, you could get a cat, train it to sit on your fingers and purr while you write. But then again, it would take a lot of effort to move your fingers, slowing your typing down and causing your word count to not be where it needs to be. So, maybe don't try this one.

C. Here's an idea. Move to a state that does not get down to the mid thirties at 5PM in mid-November.

D. Or, bring a heated blanket to all your write-ins. When people complain that there are not enough outlets to plug their laptops and other devices in, tell them they are just jealous they did not think about bringing such an awesome blanket and should have thought about that before they even attended. Then again, none of us would say that. This won't work.

E. Ok. Here is it, This one will work. Order a large coffee or tea. hold the cup in your hands long enough to be able to feel the excessive heat emanating from within, take a sip, and then put it down for five minutes so you can write. This may slow down your writing a bit, but you will have the added benefit of caffeine.

F. Do they make heated keyboards yet? Probably not. Computers still have to remain somewhat cool. Pity.

G. Gloves! It may only be November, but sometimes you just have to get up to the attic or go digging in the basement or garage for an hour to find your winter outerwear. Fingerless gloves obviously work best. There are also heating options available now and they plug right into your laptop.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

NaNoWriMo 2014 Day 5 - Behind & Distracted

I am 2 days behind in my word count and trying to stay focused on my story. It has been especially difficult today since today was the day we laid my Grandmother to rest.

NaNo has become a way to distract myself from the sadness and a way to keep doing something besides mourn. However, trying to focus and write is difficult since I do have all of these emotions to deal with. I find myself procrastinating by checking Tumblr and Facebook even more than usual.

It doesn't help that I have also been thinking in terms of stories (as I do every November) and have come up with another idea for another story. I want to write this new story while these emotions are fresh since it has to deal with the events surrounding my Grandmother's passing.

Instead of writing a full length story, I will attempt to write it in one paragraph:

Grandmother's Passing
My Grandmother passed away Halloween night. They say that Halloween is a special night during the year. It is the time when the vale between the living and the dead is at its weakest, making it easier for the dead to cross back into the world of the living. My Grandmother's husband and youngest son, who have both passed on years ago, realized this and came to see her. She was unsure about crossing over and they came to help her break free from the suffering of this world and join them. She smiled when she saw them and, after a long conversation, decided it was time. She was in fact done with this world and was ready to move on. That was when her journey with this life came to a close.

Sunday, November 2, 2014

NaNoWriMo 2014 Has Begun - Day 2

It is day 2 and I am already behind by a couple thousand words. I can already tell this is going to be the toughest year yet. Between professional, volunteerism, and personal events and issues, I have already lost 4 days of writing. I am going to have to work really diligently to find time and always be prepared to write.

My grandmother, the relative I was closest to, passed away in her sleep sometime between 4 and 5AM on November 1st.

Living an hour and a half away, I was not able to get up there to see her one last time and will have to live with that for the rest of my life. I do not regret it and said my good byes each time I was up there over the past few months just in case. I know that she knows how much I love her and I know how much she loves me. I also understand that she would have wanted it this way. She wanted to be alone and not have anyone see her in that state.

I have not shed any tears yet, though I know I will. I have so much going on and it does not yet feel real, so I have not been able to cry. That in itself is a difficult emotion to deal with.

Last year I had to put my dog down during the month of November. It was the worst feeling ever. She was my baby and my love for her is still unmatched.

I have learned that there are many different kinds of love and none of them are less than any other. Though time might not heal all, with time comes higher levels of understanding and acceptance.

I am not excited to starting the grieving process again, but at least I have a lifetime of good memories to look back on and a better understanding of the process.

My grandmother was adopted. Her adopted father passed away shortly after she was in his life. For most of her early life, it was just her and her mother. She had two sons, though one was killed in a car accident in his early twenties. Her one living son had five children, all of whom love her to no end. She has many friends and family members now.

She was the strongest and most independent women right up until the end. Those traits will live on in me.

Grandma Margaret Niles, I love you.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Instagram Hashtags

Twitter might have started and popularized the hash tag, but many sites utilize them, to varying degrees of success.

Take, for example, the photo sharing app Instagram. I have a love/hate relationship with hash tags on this app. The more hastags I add to my photos, the more attention that photo gets. It can be a difference of 30 or more likes if I pile on the hash tags.

However, if I do load up the caption box with tags, fellow users tend to think I am being pretentious or even ridiculous.

I have heard a few of my friends talk about this issue a couple of times and can only imagine what they would have said if I was not in the room. I understand where they are coming from. Seeing lines of hash tags below a photo does tend to look like a cry for attention or just a mess.

So how do users get their photos more attention? I have been trying different approaches and strategies to get my photos more likes and get me more followers and will submit my report soon.

For now, all I can ask is for you to check out my account @sugarcursed and like the photos that appeal to you and I will do the same.

Fortunately, other sites have found ways of incorporating hasth tags into posts in ways that are not so in the reader's face. This site, blogger, is a good example. Bloggers add labels to their posts in a separate box from the body, using commas to separate each lable. In this way, the posts can be indexed with the tags without them being so obvious.

Winter Blues

This winter really seemed to get to me. Not only did we get a lot of snow, it also seemed very dark and long.

Spring is right around the corner and the days are getting longer, but I still feel drained and lethargic most of the time.

There have been moments when I felt motivated and ready to take on the world, but there were also many times when I felt like doing nothing.

Winter blues, go away. I need to make sure this is my year!

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Book Update Read in 2013: The Importance of Being Earnest

The Importance of Being Earnest
by Oscar Wilde

4 of 5 stars

bookshelves: 2013

Read in October, 2013

A local organization, Center Stage, was putting on a production of The Importance of Being Ernest, which was one of the classics that I had downloaded on my nook. "What better time to read it than now", I asked myself.

It was a very quick read and I found myself enjoying it more with each page. The plot, two men fall in love with two women, the men each tell the women their name is Earnest, and the women both state that they will only marry a man with the name Earnest, was fun and funny.

This is definitely not a story for someone who is looking for something serious!

Overall, I enjoyed this book and appreciated its shortness. It made me want to go see the live show.