CHRISTMAS IN JULY

We celebrate Santa in my family and every year I’m determined to start slash finish shopping early.  Like, early meaning that I’m not shopping on Christmas Eve.  That’s right, I totally procrastinate when it comes to holiday shopping.  I won’t use the word unorganized because once I finally get to it, I’m totally regimented and I get down to business: gift lists, stores to visit, wrapping paper breakdown.  It’s no joke.  But the shopping issue can definitely be categorized as procrastination and there has to be something behind it.  Something had to have happened to me as a kid during the holidays that I’ve blocked from my memory because I do this every freaking year.

So, here's my plan for this year, the grand scheme if you will.  I’m challenging myself to start and finish early for real.  And, of course, I’ve broken it down into tasks by month.  1) Excel list (natch) with names & gift ideas done by the end of this month.  2) Shopping started by August, finished by October.  3) Gifts wrapped by November.  Think I can swing it?  I’ll sure try.  I’m usually pretty good once I put pressure on myself and have a plan in action so I'm feeling good about this. 

You know I’ll post my trials and tribulations via FB and Twitter, maybe add addendums here.  And friends and family, don’t for a minute think I’m going to list actual gifts on here.  Nice try.

Only problem?  Where to store everything once I have it.  Maybe I can turn that into another challenge as I go.  Oh, and feel free to join me on this journey if you'd like - or I'm down for some free advice if you have any.  You can post here if you're so inclined.

CUPCAKE TOUR

Anyone who truly knows me knows that I could and would eat an entire cake in one sitting. A pint of ice cream is child's play.  A dozen cookies or more at once?  Don't make me laugh.  I love my sweets and would eat them all day long if my grown up, anti-diabetes voice didn't take over and steer me in the direction of vegetables and whole grains.

It was obviously a no-brainer then to sign up for a cupcake tour of NYC.  A guide of where to find the city's best mini treasures including a sample at each one?? Check please!  I already had my favorite spot, naturally, but was willing to keep an open mind.

I had to cancel my first excursion because of an interview of all things. Trust, I would've rather have been stuffing cupcakes in my face.  My 2nd date fell right in the middle of the heat wave and while I wanted to reschedule, my grown up voice kicked in again and wouldn't let me flake.  I just hoped I could enjoy the deliciousness without passing out or puking due to the sugar/heat combo.  How embarrassing would that be?

I'm so glad I endured the heat because this was one of the most delicious and interesting things I've done in a while.  Not only did I try cupcakes from spots I've been meaning to check out, but our tour went through areas of town that I don't normally go to unless I have a reason.  I also learned that cupcakes were originally topped with fatty lard and that it was Winston Churchill who suggested putting a sweet frosting on top. That's a solid man right there.

Sadly, I couldn't eat my way through all of the treats (one cookie and one gelato stop included - cookie is Dutch for cupcake (or something) and the gelato was to cleanse our sophisticated cupcake palettes) and I know the heat had something to do with it.  My inner child was shaking her head at me in disbelief.  It's probably for the best as eating half a dozen treats, while delicious, isn't the healthiest thing to do in an hour and a half.  Granted, we walked a few miles in the process, but still.

Despite the heat and the fact that I couldn't "perform" the tour was wonderful. Our tour guide, Mallory, was super knowledgeable; she answered all of my random questions and was probably amazed that one person knew and cared so much about cupcakes. And the buddy I made for the day was sweet, though she didn't like cupcakes; she was there as chaperone only to her pre-teen daughter and her friends. I think that right there speaks volumes about my tastes...

Overall experience was great.  And I would totally do another tour again.  The company (Great New York Tours) has excursions of all kinds throughout the city.  Oh, and I have a new favorite spot. Molly’s Cupcakes down in the Village.

LIVING LIFE

I made my way to Pottery Barn last Sunday for an Outdoor Entertaining Class as part of my Living Life to the Fullest exercise.  Keep in mind, I don’t have any outdoor space but I figure I will someday so I’ll need inspiration and I love this kind of stuff so of course I signed up.  Throughout the class though I couldn’t help but feel depressed, suddenly claustrophobic, and almost desperate to move. 

Thankfully the teacher, Leslie, had TONS of great ideas for bringing the outdoors in as well so class wasn’t a total flop.  I learned how to use low- to no-cook summer meals in entertaining so I can avoid heating the apartment unnecessarily with the oven, how to decorate with outdoor elements in ways I had never thought of, and (best part) how to repurpose things I already have (like glassware) so as not to waste valuable storage space in my NYC apartment.

My class mate was a woman about twenty years older than me who just bought a house in South Hampton for her family so I lived vicariously through her; planning her 4^th of July party and her husband’s birthday in mid July.  We brainstormed on favor ideas and on what food and drinks to serve, how to set the table, and what décor would work best.  It was great.  I was hinting at invites but I don’t think she was getting it.  It’s OK, I have other friends with outdoor spaces that I can mooch off of until my dream for fresh air space becomes a reality.  And when it does, you better believe that I’ll be ready to throw a doozie of an event! 

Experience Result?  Success!

So, I'm torn.  Do I post my experiences here and list them under Challenges and encourage you guys to tell me about your own experiences?  Or leave them on Facebook as I've been doing?  What do you guys think?  Or both??  Oy.

TO THE FULLEST

I’m only thirty-something and there have been too many times where I’ve felt like the lamest person in the world.  Too many nights spent settling in after dinner, watching TV, catching up with friends via FB, text, maybe over the phone, and then calling it a night.  Anyone feeling me?  Sad, sad, sad (SMH).  In talking to many people though I’ve realized that I’m not alone here; this is actually somewhat “normal” behavior (especially for parents) but still, I don’t have to like it.  I’ll have plenty of time to sit around and watch TV when I’m dead.  Right now I want to do cool stuff.  I want to have fun stories to tell, I want to live.

            

So here’s the plan for my new life.  Finding time: I don’t have to shuffle my schedule around to “live”.  I’ll pick days and times that I’m already free so there’s no stressing over finding time or a sitter (never mind the added cost).  This is supposed to be fun, not torture.  Finding extra money: I’ll pick activities that aren’t super expensive and trade out other things for them.  Instead of getting my nails done or buying more clothes I don't really need one week, I’ll do X instead.  And if I find something a little pricey, who cares.  I’m doing it anyway.  Finding ideas: I already subscribe to a ton of email deal sites (more than a normal person can keep up with) like Groupon, Living Social, Urban Daddy, and Daily Candy so ideas for this new life should be easy.  These emails come across my desk every day and I think, “Ooh how fun does that look?”  Now I’ll actually know first hand what this stuff is all about.  Whether I use the deals or not, the ideas are there for the taking.  Could be as simple as trying a new restaurant with friends, could be as intense as a private flying lesson.  And the sites offer everything in between.

Point is, get out there and make it happen.  We only get one shot at this thing called life so let's make it good.  No, fantastic.  And if the class/experience/food was awful?  Hey, at least you get a good story out of it.  No?