day nineteen

the last thing we ever want to do in this life is hurt.  hurt someone physically, mentally or emotionally.  unless you want to end up on the streets in a fight. no thanks, i'm good.  we don't want hurt ourselves, in any of these forms either, and we certainly don't like it when we are hurt.  if you throw a punch, you'll be punched back.  in this crazy thing we call life, the pain comes with the good.  if we don't hurt, we can't feel love. tomorrow is my birthday. as i embark on another year of life, i think of how much i've grown as a person and learned from the many people i have surrounded myself with, some are still around, some have gone in different directions, and some have passed away, in the past year.

i have been hurt, i'm sure as many of you have been, on mulitple occasions in the past year.  my guard isn't always low, it isn't as tall as the berlin wall, although on some occassions, i'd like it to be. or maybe it's just as thick and stubborn as the berlin wall.  we must learn from these hinderances and from the people who have hurt us. what do we want?  what do we need?  what do we not want?  what do we not need?  we can do our best to prepare ourselves for everything that is headed our way.  make a list if you need to. 

i feel as if i have hurt, and it is not something i am ever proud of, and many times, its not on purpose, its just how feelings swing and sway. with question marks. and "what ifs." and even, sometimes, with circumstances that may be out of our control. we are human. God gave us the gift...okay, sometimes more of an annoyance or stressor...of thinking. although thinking can create confusion and anxiety, it can also give us clarification.  clarification of the postive things we have in life: health, family, friends, a job -- and its two jobs i love, to boot.  it sounds Oprah and cliche but really, we have so much to live for.

i have learned recently --mom, its the big one -- to let many [i'm not quite at all] things go -- okay mom, small steps here.  if you can't live this life, and not sweat the small stuff, it's gonna be okay.  find AND do things that make you happy.  learn to do them well.  i don't care if its gardening or the killer heels you just scored for the summer.  if the flowers make you happy, grow them with love and as tall as you can.  if the heels give you confidence and make you feel good, so be it.  do it for yourself. 

for us to have love, we have to have hurt.  maybe the hurt lasts a day, a week, a month, a year, or more.  everyone is different, everyone feels different, and these feelings need to be taken into consideration with not just new relationships, whether personal or friendly,  but with older and pre-existing relationships as well. happiness and love is contagious, give some today.  read my amazing friend libby's blog and her post on how love enhances our life.  help others find love, i know people who need it, i'm sure you do too.

a very big thank you to my family and friends who have been there and supported me through my drama and this-and-that.  i love you.

now, im not saying go out and be all sensitive and heart on sleeve. find a balance because in this life, a strong backbone is an important foundation. don't put up with the bs. stand up for yourself. use your head wisely.

its life, and its all we got.

the very best, always,

alexandra

day eighteen

i hope you all survived mardi gras! are you ready for St. Patrick's day? before you put away all your beads, keep the green ones and reuse for this occasion!

so, chances are, this isn't your first St. Patty's day rodeo.  you wear green. you drink green beer. you may even eat green eggs (and ham). it's the holiday where everyone is Irish for a day, right?  i like to think that after St. Patrick's day, spring just flies on in.
this is the perfect occasion to host a group of people for heavy hors d'o'euvres, allow and prepare 12-15 pieces per person.  when choosing the perfect menu, think guinness, both as drink and dessert, and choose the perfect soda bread -- traditional or with a twist.  You also must remember the "water of life," Irish whiskey, yes, with an "e," it symbolizes that it came from Ireland or the UK, Jamesons or Bushmills is the perfect addition.  make sure you have the correct glassware, not plastic cups, noone wants to worry about a ping pong ball from university flying into their cup.

after reading twitter this morning, i was inspired by the tissue paper flowers, from fellow planner Lauren Grove and  Nicole Lucciola.  make green ones special for St. Patrick's day, and sprinkle four leaf clovers (if you're lucky) around your table settings. after the holiday is over, make more flowers in other colors and decorate giftbags, centerpieces, or a shadowbox frame. stay creative and have fun!

the very best, always,

alexandra

day seventeen

bonjour!

i hope you all have your plans set for mardi gras aka "fat tuesday!" 

if you are hosting a party, remember: purple, gold and green as your accent colors.  create simple centerpieces. tie tight bunches of purple flowers, such as daisies, with nice greenery around and a few pieces of gold groovy willow, or colored feathers.  beads are a MUST.  decorate your table with them and have baskets filled, ready for your guests.  remember, lighting is everything! keep with the purple, gold and green, by layering colored sand and inserting candles into the sand.  the Fleur De Lis is a great example of New Orleans tradition.  Find confetti to accent your table.

now, your menu. entertain with a menu fit for Bourbon Street restaurant.  Begin with the classic seafood gumbo, or craw fish with horseradish sauce . When the Spaniards took over the colony from Louisiana to west of the Mississippi, influenced by the French cuisine and the classic Spanish dish, paella, they introduced jambalaya, a great main course.  Whatever the correct history is on the word jambalaya, one things for sure -- its a one pot dinner that's sure to impress. Finish your evening with a king cake.  Believed to have been originated in the 12th century in France, it is a celebration to the three Kings.  Hidden inside the sweet cake filled with fresh fruit or cream, is a small plastic baby to symbolize Christ Child, whoever finds the baby inside their piece is said to have luck but they must continue the tradition with the King Cake next!

if you are attending the party, pre mix or bring the special ingredients needed and help bartend to make one of the five cocktails that were said to have originated in the big easy.

remember when picking out the perfect outfit that you incorporate all of the classic mardi gras colors.  find a great gold or purple pump to accent your look.  gold bangles are always the perfect accessory, and you will wear them on more than one occasion, i promise! invest! pair a skinny green belt with a black cardigan, and you are doubling up on the bright color trend for spring!

either way you are spending mardi gras, celebrate this occasion responsibly, call a cab or have a reliable safe ride home!

the very best, always,

alexandra