I have been reading this blog lately, and the family is a friend of a friend. Please read and keep Chaia and her parents in your prayers. This little one has a long road ahead of her but has come so far already. And she's pretty darn cute, too!
http://mustardrevolution.blogspot.com/
Friday, October 28, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
My Awesome Friend
So I have this awesome friend named Emma, who I posted about here. As you can see, I think she is a pretty awesome person and find her very inspiring. Elections are coming up and because Emma is so cool, she was featured as part of the Summit DD campaign. Check Emma out! The girl can swim like a fish and is just an all-around fun person! Love my silly pickle!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Pinterest Fun!
Lately I have become a bit addicted to the website, Pinterest. Basically what it allows you to do is create virtual "bulletin boards" with different themes, and on each board you can "pin" ideas or objects that you like or that interest you. Recently my coworkers and I have been using this as a way to get some fun crafting ideas from other people. Let's face it, in New Concord there is not much else to do, and our apartments will look damn good by the time we are through!
Here are some of the things I have been working on lately:
I also made another crafting project tonight, but it is going to be a gift so I can't post it quite yet. I'm super excited about it and will most likely be making many more in the future. More crafting ideas already in progress. Just need to buy supplies or actually get around to doing them!
Anybody else have some fun craft ideas they've tried lately??
Here are some of the things I have been working on lately:
The canvases I posted about awhile ago. Hung and with bigger canvases on either side
Wine bottles, Elmer's Glue, hemp. Used these as vases at my parents' party but forgot to take pictures with flowers in them!
And finally this headband, made of 5 strips from an old t-shirt braided together. Can't say it's a favorite but I'm sure it will be useful on lazy days!
Anybody else have some fun craft ideas they've tried lately??
Sunday, October 16, 2011
RIP Jim
Amidst the chaos of planning last-minute details of the anniversary party and carrying out Mental Health Awareness Day at work, I received a text message from a past co-worker and friend telling me that our boss had passed away. I began working at Grabham's Candies in Cuyahoga Falls the summer before my senior year in high school and haven't stopped since. Even when I was away at college or grad school I came back at Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day and whenever I could to help out. The business was started by Jim's grandmother and everything there is handmade and delicious. Jim was the mastermind behind it all. He was constantly coming up with new recipes to try and they always turned out great.
I'll never forget when I first started working at Grabham's and I was absolutely scared to death of Jim. He was not a particularly intimidating guy, but the quiet, shy girl I was in high school was certainly unsure of this man. It may have taken me a bit of time and me coming out of my shell a bit, but I got on Jim's good side and we developed a good relationship where we could joke around and talk about our common interests (guitar and then eventually, our cats). Jim was always bringing pictures out into the store to show us of his new guitars or basses, Kitten doing silly things, or anything else we may have been talking about at the time. Jim was quite possibly the biggest eBay fanatic I have ever met, and that turned into our go-to Christmas gift for him each year. I will never forget the many feasts he made us for lunch on Christmas Eve each year or the cookies and donuts he would randomly buy us (as if the candy wasn't enough of a temptation!). I have so many memories of this man and his store, and it already feels strange to go in without him there.
Jim touched many lives and will be missed deeply by so many people in the community. The number of people at his calling hours in just the hour or so I was there is testament to the number of people he reached. I know it is going to be tough for his wife and daughter for some time, so if you are reading this please keep them in your prayers. They are a wonderful family with hearts for the people that work for them and the people they serve. I am honored and blessed to be part of the legacy that is Grabham's Candies and am looking forward to going back at Christmas this year to once again spread the joy of their wonderful chocolate! I only hope that Jim knew how much he meant to me and to so many others out there. Rest in Peace, Jim...I know I'll see you again one day.
I'll never forget when I first started working at Grabham's and I was absolutely scared to death of Jim. He was not a particularly intimidating guy, but the quiet, shy girl I was in high school was certainly unsure of this man. It may have taken me a bit of time and me coming out of my shell a bit, but I got on Jim's good side and we developed a good relationship where we could joke around and talk about our common interests (guitar and then eventually, our cats). Jim was always bringing pictures out into the store to show us of his new guitars or basses, Kitten doing silly things, or anything else we may have been talking about at the time. Jim was quite possibly the biggest eBay fanatic I have ever met, and that turned into our go-to Christmas gift for him each year. I will never forget the many feasts he made us for lunch on Christmas Eve each year or the cookies and donuts he would randomly buy us (as if the candy wasn't enough of a temptation!). I have so many memories of this man and his store, and it already feels strange to go in without him there.
Jim touched many lives and will be missed deeply by so many people in the community. The number of people at his calling hours in just the hour or so I was there is testament to the number of people he reached. I know it is going to be tough for his wife and daughter for some time, so if you are reading this please keep them in your prayers. They are a wonderful family with hearts for the people that work for them and the people they serve. I am honored and blessed to be part of the legacy that is Grabham's Candies and am looking forward to going back at Christmas this year to once again spread the joy of their wonderful chocolate! I only hope that Jim knew how much he meant to me and to so many others out there. Rest in Peace, Jim...I know I'll see you again one day.
Working On That Bucket List
Back when I first started this blog I posted my newly created "Bucket List." I can't say that I've had many opportunities to complete many of these items while finishing grad school, finding a job, moving, etc., but I can finally say that I accomplished one (along with the help of my sister), and I must say we did it well!
My parents' 30th wedding anniversary was this past Monday, October 10th. A few months ago I was talking to my sister, Erin, about it and suggested that she come in town (she lives in Washington, DC) for the weekend to celebrate. At first we talked about doing a dinner for them with us and their parents but then the wanna-be party planner in me decided we should throw a surprise party. We decided to to keep it pretty small (yes, we both have jobs, but we're both young professionals with college loans to pay off!) and invite close family and friends. Needless to say, for the several weeks leading up to the party Erin and I were both stressed and both had dreams that our parents found out, weren't excited, etc.
The way our plan worked is that Erin would drive from DC to my apartment in New Concord on Friday evening, then we would drive to Akron together Saturday morning to get everything done for the party, have the party Saturday evening, then drive back to New Concord on Sunday so that Erin could head back to DC. Plans ended up changing a bit, but Erin and I were both in Akron Saturday early afternoon and felt like spies or something trying to make sure we knew where our parents were at all times so we wouldn't run into them. We honestly went as far as playing our games of Words With Friends with our mom--if she took her turn we knew she was at home because she can only play through Facebook!
Finally we got everything set up and the party was ready to begin.
The party took place at my grandpa's condo party room. The day of the party was also the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur. My mom's side of the family is Jewish and my grandparents were at temple part of the day. The plan was that my grandpa and step-grandma invited my parents to go out to dinner to break the fast. My parents picked them up at their condo and my grandpa told them he needed to drop something off at the condo offices (in the same building as the party room), and my step-grandma convinced them to come inside to see the renovations. Our dreams thankfully turned out to be completely wrong. Our parents were absolutely shocked when they walked in to the party.
As we predicted, Mom cried and Dad teared up but held it together nicely, although his face turned beat red! Luckily I was on hand with napkins (in all of our planning we somehow forgot tissues!). After the initial shock, crying, and calling their daughters sneaky liars (that's putting it nicely!) our parents had time to eat, talk, and relax with friends and family. I, being the persistent person I am, kindly informed my parents that they had to go through the whole cake-cutting process like a married couple typically does at their wedding.
The food was good, the cake was good, and the company was good. All in all, a successful party I'd say. Glad that I could start ticking off those Bucket List items with an event such as this. Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad! I love you very much!
Oh, and we couldn't forget a lovely Brady Family pic!
My parents' 30th wedding anniversary was this past Monday, October 10th. A few months ago I was talking to my sister, Erin, about it and suggested that she come in town (she lives in Washington, DC) for the weekend to celebrate. At first we talked about doing a dinner for them with us and their parents but then the wanna-be party planner in me decided we should throw a surprise party. We decided to to keep it pretty small (yes, we both have jobs, but we're both young professionals with college loans to pay off!) and invite close family and friends. Needless to say, for the several weeks leading up to the party Erin and I were both stressed and both had dreams that our parents found out, weren't excited, etc.
The way our plan worked is that Erin would drive from DC to my apartment in New Concord on Friday evening, then we would drive to Akron together Saturday morning to get everything done for the party, have the party Saturday evening, then drive back to New Concord on Sunday so that Erin could head back to DC. Plans ended up changing a bit, but Erin and I were both in Akron Saturday early afternoon and felt like spies or something trying to make sure we knew where our parents were at all times so we wouldn't run into them. We honestly went as far as playing our games of Words With Friends with our mom--if she took her turn we knew she was at home because she can only play through Facebook!
Finally we got everything set up and the party was ready to begin.
The party took place at my grandpa's condo party room. The day of the party was also the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur. My mom's side of the family is Jewish and my grandparents were at temple part of the day. The plan was that my grandpa and step-grandma invited my parents to go out to dinner to break the fast. My parents picked them up at their condo and my grandpa told them he needed to drop something off at the condo offices (in the same building as the party room), and my step-grandma convinced them to come inside to see the renovations. Our dreams thankfully turned out to be completely wrong. Our parents were absolutely shocked when they walked in to the party.
As we predicted, Mom cried and Dad teared up but held it together nicely, although his face turned beat red! Luckily I was on hand with napkins (in all of our planning we somehow forgot tissues!). After the initial shock, crying, and calling their daughters sneaky liars (that's putting it nicely!) our parents had time to eat, talk, and relax with friends and family. I, being the persistent person I am, kindly informed my parents that they had to go through the whole cake-cutting process like a married couple typically does at their wedding.
The food was good, the cake was good, and the company was good. All in all, a successful party I'd say. Glad that I could start ticking off those Bucket List items with an event such as this. Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad! I love you very much!
Oh, and we couldn't forget a lovely Brady Family pic!
Monday, October 3, 2011
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