Hi. It’s been a while since we spoke. I was going to say “hot minute” but I can’t tell you how much that phrase irks me. i’m glad to be back as I believe we all need to concentrate on what we appreciate, what we love and care…
One thing I’ve been blessed with is an absolutely fantastic career. One big part of this career over the past 26 years has been having meaningful conversations with clients, potential clients and other people I don’t know very well. I’m sure there are a lot of people…
Look no further. The best margarita recipe is here. Once you make this, you’ll never, ever use a mix again. These, hands down are the best drinks to usher out the summer. if you want a plain, delicious margarita recipe, see this. But if you want to shake…
Recently, I transformed this blog from The Appreciator to Joy Seekers Collection. And to be completely honest, I’m not sure where I’m going with it. That’s not completely honest. I kind of have a plan but if you are going to be a champion of seeking joy –…
I think I may have found a killer chili recipe. Actually, I have several really good chili recipes – but this is no ordinary recipe. This is fancy chili. This ain’t no throw it in a pot and watch it boil type of chili. It’s stay-in-on-a-cold-Saturday-afternoon-light-a-fire-in-the-fireplace kind of chili. in our case, we…
This quote is the key to entertaining. Memorize it. I love to have people over. The whole experience should be smooth, fun and lovely not only for your guests – but for you. Why? Because whether you are having friends over for dinner, your spouse’s colleagues around for a…
Have you ever felt like you’ve lost your mojo? That is how I’ve felt this year. I hate saying that out loud because I have so much to be thankful and happy for when so many of my friends and acquaintances are going through a hard time. Do you…
I don’t know if you do this or not, but whenever I’m reading something or I see something online that I love, I screen grab it. Are those two words or one? Screengrab? Anyway, I’ve been doing this for years and now that the iPhone actually separates your screengrabs…
Not my typical playlist. That’s my disclaimer for –arguably– the best playlist for this dreary, tepid, news-saturated month. So turn off the boob tube. Go on. Open this playlist and start at the top. Damn it’s good, if I do say so myself. I’ve made it collaborative so…
scrambled eggs? am i off my rocker? what about turkey, cranberry sauce or harvest rolls? nah, you’ve got that covered…it’s too late for that. but what you really need to know is how to make world class eggs. guys, listen up. and by that i truly mean guys. …
it’s 2 for tuesday. here’s a little sumethin-sumethin for you on this most lovely tuesday. these are two things i feel like talking about and since it’s my blog, i will. you’ll thank me for it. if you like to eat and like to listen to good music,…
there’s something i want to remember every single morning. but i don’t. i wake up and go through my programmed routine and i forget. in the beginning i didn’t forget. and i made myself promise that i wouldn’t. i don’t want to forget to remember to live this…
ROF was not happy about the idea of grilling pizza. we were doing our pre-dinner ritual of playing cards when he kept saying things like: “so i don’t get it. how does it work? i mean, do you roll the dough out?” trust me, love. look at all…
listening to harry janes & his orchestra – the “i’ve heard that song before” – takes me right back to age 22 when i first realized that woody allen’s movies were the slice of life movies i loved. especially this song in hannah & her sisters. i know. i know. lots…
are you one of those color-shy folks that likes to stay neutral inside your house for fear of…. fear of… fear of WHAT? what exactly holds you back from showing a little leg inside your house with a pop of color? now more than ever, it’s easy to…
pink is a color i’m obsessed with for some reason i have yet to figure out. maybe it is the awful weather we’ve had here in detroit. like, the worst in the country <insert sympathy for me here> but pink just seems to warm everything up and…
social media can be daunting, especially if you’re already having trouble fitting your to-do list into a normal day. who has time for it? you say to anyone who asks. social media is very important in this current year of 2014. you can’t ignore it anymore. but there…
like the margarita, the martini has many great memories for me. at an early age, i always thought the martini glass was chic, hip + intimidating, all at the same time. as a teenager and in my 20’s, i used to watch clips of the rat pack and…
as my avid readers know, i’ve launched a new series called: what younger women need to know It stems from a need to connect with older, confident women. i want all those tidbits, advice and most of all the perspective. a couple of weeks ago, i profiled shirley…
nothing beats a juicy pot roast on the weekend. whether you’re one person or 10 – this is a winter necessity. so buy some meat today for the weekend and make your house smell fantastic! i received some requests for shirley’s pot roast recipe after my post last…
this isn’t going to be that deep. it’s just an idea + a little advice for you. this past week, i was driving to work and stuck in rush hour traffic. i don’t really complain because i like the time by myself. i typically go through my to-do…
every man, once he passes the beer only or the tumbler of rum (or jack) + coke phase of drinking, needs to learn how to make a good cocktail. it needs to be one that he likes, impresses his friends + becomes a signature drink his lady friends…
I love older women! older than me, that is. i think about all i’ve been through in my 44 years – the things i’ve done, seen, loved + cried over and, well, it’s a long list. that’s why i appreciate hearing from other women that are even…
everyone is looking for that killer chili recipe and i may have found it. this is fancy chili. this ain’t no throw it in a pot and watch it boil type of chili. it’s stay-in-on-a-cold-saturday-afternoon-light-a-fire-in-the-fireplace kind of chili. in our case, we made it before the super bowl…
this week has been filled with encouragement. and it’s only tuesday! sunday’s sermon was excellent about God giving you courage and encouragement when you need it and pray for it. ROF and i did a bible study last night based on the sermon and it asked us to…
i’m not going to complain about how cold it is up here (and everywhere for that matter) but something in me just wants to look at the color yellow. top left: beautifully bold yet simple room. i love! courtesy of a beautiful mess blog click here top right:…
read more about how special this trip is to me here or here and now i’m going to be there!
a friend introduced me to this incredible facebook page you have to “like” instantly. it is the most unique facebook page i’ve ever encountered. and that is saying a lot. you have to have a little bit of an artsy point of view to get it. it’s called HUMANS…
when i think of flannel, i typically think of plaid. and i think of… don’t you? ah, eddie vedder. hand’s down, my generation has the best music ever. but that is not what this post is about. it’s all about flannel + plaid. two things that have fall…
salt + caramel = 2 things that go together like soni+cher, peanut butter + jelly and vodka + lemons. after pumpkin, the one thing that says ‘fall’ is salted caramel. there is just something about the sweet + salty togetherness that when you mix it with the background…
suddenly i’ve hit an age where i feel somewhat wise. not in a smart, know-it-all kind of way. it’s just a result of age. i feel wise because, for me, i’ve may have figured it out. priorities. you know when you are in your 20s and 30s (at…
so this brief blog post is to say that i appreciate the fantastic guy who works in our building downstairs who holds the door kindly for all of us leaving the building around 6pm – 7pm. the door locks so he does this so we don’t have to…
last night ROF and i watched movie # 25 on our quest to watch the A.F.I (american film institute) top 100 movies. we have been working our way to #1 and it has taken us about 3 years now. you can read about our journey here. the #25…
man, i love rush hour. but i didn’t always. i inherited my dad’s massively short attention span. for those of you that like my presentation skills in front of car dealers, it’s because i try to present to people like me. keep it short, keep it entertaining, keep…
it’s not normal for me to rant on my blog called “the appreciator” but i feel like it. and it’s my blog. have you noticed how incorrectly people use the words “thank you”? especially in this modern day communication via email, i notice that people say “thank…
ROF and i are embracing the michigan lifestyle and this includes going “up north”. if you don’t know what that is, check out this video: we’re slightly crazy about it and are thinking of renting a cabin for the summer next year. if you’re not familiar with michigan…
we’re planning on going to paris in december. i’ve been wanting to go to paris for over 25 years. i just really wanted to go with someone i loved. like romantically (sorry mom.) so now, ROF is using his one week of vacation to take me there! december…
this past week i was fortunate to be forced out of my comfort zone. if you remember, i like turbulence on a flight because it shakes me out of my thoughts and forces me to be present. well, that is kind of how this past week was for…
if every big time advertiser partnered with one or more charities and gave the cause just :05 attention on their TV or digital ads, think about the much needed attention that charity would get.
now that i think about it, i was always driven by inspiration and passion. i was far from an all star all “a’ student in high school. in fact, i don’t even remember caring to be one. that seems like such a sin to say out loud in…
there are so many little things to love, here are a few things i’m loving right now… 1. portlandia. this show tickles me. carrie & fred are my new best friends after flying around the country with them on my ipad. it pokes fun at portland in a…
this past weekend, ROF and i scurried off to toronto for a weekend getaway. it was my first time ever in canada and i loved it. only 4 hours away from birmingham, michigan it wasn’t a bad trip at all. i was glad to read my friend and…
i’ve always loved new things and experiences. like the first day of school after goofing off all summer. new clothes and a new notebook with that first blank page just begging to be written on with your new pen from your new book bag (didn’t have backpacks back…
for some reason, this has weighed a lot on my mind lately and i can’t remember what has brought it on. maybe it is moving and all the emotions that go along with that. it’s something that is easier to see being applied to someone else – but…
while in NY for business, i got a chance to stay until saturday at my sister/brother in-laws house in chatham, nj. you can’t beat new jersey in the fall. you know, now that i think about it – new jersey and detroit are very similar. yes, one is…
what a great sermon we listened to this sunday. thank you Dr. Blair Monie! it was uncanny that my mom had mentioned something similar to the theme of the sermon the evening before. it was talking about being really mindful of where you were, where you have been…
on september 25th, my dad will have been gone 7 years. hardest for me to believe (and i’ve always thought this) is that a living, breathing human being who was such an integral part of my life is just…gone. never to be spoken to again. maybe some…
this has been a crazy week. glad to be unwinding with a little cab franc and this 60 degree weather in dallas. so this week was interesting in the way of travel and photos. kinda cool to get the photos i got messaged to me. oh, i love…
by now you may have learned that ROF and i are moving… it’s bittersweet. i’ve always embraced change but at the same time there is something in me that wants consistency and same-ness. there is comfort in what you know vs. the fear that comes with what you…