{L*O*V*E*} Bryce Dallas Howard - Kate Spade Autumn 2011

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photos via Kate Spade

Wednesday Words of Wisdom

Jealousy is simply and clearly the fear that you do not have value.  Jealousy scans for evidence to prove the point - that others will be preferred and rewarded more than you.  There is only one alternative - self-value.  If you cannot love yourself, you will not believe that you are loved.  You will always think it's a mistake or luck.  Take your eyes off others and turn the scanner within.  Find the seeds of your jealousy, clear the old voices and experiences.  Put all the energy into building your personal and emotional security.  Then you will be the one others envy, and you can remember the pain and reach out to them.  ~Jennifer James

{Tried & L*O*V*E} Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha

Fall is my all time favorite season.... not just because the heat of the summer is a thing of the past, but because of the rich colors, textures, and flavors only the fall can bring us.

Last year, I tried Starbucks Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate and their Toffee latte.  Loved both.  This year they have enhanced their menu with the introduction of the Salted Caramel Mocha.  Of course I was intrigued.  (Remember, I am the one that believes caramel should be a food group!)  Last couple of times the temps were a wee bit too hot to consider anything but a frappachino.  But today was perfect.  I was greeted Sunday afternoon by a brisk fall breeze upon leaving to run errands.   So I knew, this would be the perfect day to try Starbucks new drink.

One word can describe it....*SIGH*.... DELICIOUS!

It had just the right amount of caramel and sea salt to enhance the mocha taste.  It will definitely be a latte on my autumn faves list.

Monday Muse....

* Schools back in session...miss my Lil Diva & Lil Man, but they are loving school so far....

* Had a stressful week dealing with individuals who should have kids safety in mind, but don't.

* Stood my ground, and had the issue corrected... I am, after all, my child's top advocate.

* Loving the cool fall weather....

* Have a full schedule of after school activities....they begin today!

* Enjoyed the weekend with the family at Six Flags Great Adventures...

* Got an amazing deal for season passes for next year, had to jump on it!

* Started walking around the reservoir again with a great new friend.

* Began a new tradition of giving Lil Diva mani's Sunday afternoons.

* Figured I would do the same too.

* So ready for my sushi date with a great friend.

* Looking forward to the week ahead!

Ten Years Later - 9/11/01

 

It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

It is so hard for me to remember exactly what happened two weeks ago, but I can remember clearly each and every detail of that day, ten years ago today.

- How blue the skies were that morning, not a cloud in the sky as I walked toward my midtown office building.

- The overjoyed feeling knowing my mom was on an American airlines flight to NYC at that very moment, to visit us and see the very first home we had purchased 6 weeks earlier.

- Wondering as I looked out my 34th St office window shortly after 8:46 am, while eating a buttered egg roll and coffee for breakfast, what could have possibly happened to the pilot to make him veer towards WTC Tower #1.

-  Calling Mr. Man, who worked across the street from the WTC to see if he felt anything, or had seen what happened.

- Looking on in shock as my coworkers and I saw the fireball emerge as the second tower was struck.

- The sheer panic and fear knowing America was under attack..... my mind registering, my Mom is on a flight that could possibly be filled with hijackers....my husband mere feet away from the disaster happening in lower Manhattan.  My sister alone with my daughter and nephew back in our home 70 miles away. 

Life as I knew it, had changed forever at that very moment.  My mom's flight was grounded in North Carolina immediately.  Once they landed, the choked up flight attendant informed the clueless passengers as to the reason why they were requested to land.  Hearing her voice on the phone was a welcome relief.  

The hours ticked by as I waited to hear any news from Mr. Man. I called his cell phone frantically, but since a Verizon cell tower was located on top of the WTC, my efforts were fruitless.  Finally, a little before noon, he contacted me to tell me he was walking uptown from Wall Street....approximately 7 mile walk.  I met up with him in front of my grandmother's apartment on Park Avenue and 38th Street.  Save for his shoes and bottom of his pants covered in soot, not a scratch on him.  

So many lives lost....2,977 innocent people murdered by an act of terrorism.  I pray for those families who mourn not only every September 11, but every day.  Those individuals will never be forgotten.

Wednesday Words of Wisdom

Everyday is a chance for a new beginning,

Don't fret about what's been lost, but be thankful of what is left.

-Unknown

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