Oh No...I’m losing it…

“You know… the thing that holds hot chocolate, above the dish cleaning machine.” 

Translation: I need a mug from the cabinet above the dishwasher….

Forgetting things and words happens with increased frequency, and I hate it.

In the past year, I have left or forgotten the following items during my adventures out in the world:

• Two umbrellas
• One necklace, handmade with a large turquoise pendant
• Five doggie bags
• My favorite fuzzy socks
• Six Pilot purple gel pens
• Countless words (mug, dishwasher, sprinkler, buffet, etc…)
• At least twenty names (sorry friends)
• Copies of Southern Living, O!, and a trashy romance novel
• My tenacity

I have become ‘that’ person… the person who leaves the water running and can never find her car. That person who goes into a panic when she can't find her reading glasses balanced on top of her head. That person who leaves sentences dangling as she madly scrambles for the right word to pick it back up. That person who recognizes a face she's seen 50 times, but can't remember the name of it's owner. That person who forgets the name of the band that plays the song in that movie with so and so who also stared in the movie she can't remember the title of either.

I'm fond of saying, "my hard drive is full" because it's true. My brain is so packed with a half-century's worth of information that there's just no more space to shove anything else in there. And good luck pulling anything back out. My mind's a mess, and I really need a new memory stick.  I rely more and more on spastic arm movements and hand gestures to help convey what I'm trying to say but can't remember how to. It's like being in a never-ending game of Charades.

When one becomes that person, it pays to have a sense of humor, or you will never want to leave the house. So, I look on the bright side of turning so dim: For one, during those times when I can't find the word I'm looking for, I'm forced to come up with some pretty creative alternatives, like "that container where you put dirty laundry" for "hamper," or even, "striped four-legged meow machine" for our cat Buddy.

I’m off to visit what’s her face, on that road by the big orange box store; we're having brunch or lunch or something!?!

Cheers!

Lori

Based on a post by:  Blank Stare, Blink.

“High School Reunion"

My High School Senior Picture

“High School Reunion”

When those three words pop up in conversation or in a Facebook post, your reaction will be one of two things:  Sign me up!  or  No way!

Having attended two of the three reunions for our class (we celebrate once-every-ten-years), I want to encourage you to make the trip back home to Merrillville next summer. I admit that I initially thought No Way!  But on second thought, I remembered having a fabulous time at past reunions and would probably regret not attending the upcoming event when I see pictures posted after the event.  

Here are 10 Reasons to Attend Our High School Reunion:

1. People do change

A big reason why people don’t return for their reunions is that they hated being in high school and why return to the scene of four years of misery? Consider this, by now you and everyone else (well almost everyone else) have long since shed your teenage self-doubt, painful shyness, and clique noteworthy behaviors.  It’s no longer about whom you were then, it’s about who you are today.  Trust me; people will be interested in your journey and the changes that have taken place over the years.

2. No strangers

Over the past decade, adults have flocked to Facebook. You can walk into a room of people you have not seen in person since you walked across the stage with your diploma and immediately jump into a conversation about their golf game, their trip to Florida or their grandchildren. Conversation with someone you hardly knew in high school will suddenly be stress-free.

3. Release your inner 18-year-old

We are now required to behave like responsible adults every single day. At work, as parents/grandparents, and as leaders we suck it up and play the role of a responsible adult. But, for one night, when neither boss nor kids will be there to judge your behavior, channel your young at heart feelings and throw caution to the wind.  Stay out late!

 4. Mysteries revealed

We may have sat through classes together, but how we lived our teenage years were infinitely diverse. At the 20 year reunion I loved hearing stories from my classmates. They filled in some gaps and solved a few long-forgotten mysteries. Now I know who swam naked in the pool, who had a major crush on me, and why our bus driver was fired to name a few.  Also, many interesting conversations started with “Whatever happened to __  __” …mystery solved!

 5. Expressions don’t change

Not to worry, yearbook photos will most likely be on the name tags. Sure, reading glasses now sit on noses, hair has turned grey (mainly the guys J), we have picked up a few pounds — but the smiles endure.  The eyes are the same. The sense of humor of that guy, who drove our Chemistry teacher crazy, is still there, too.

6. Music and dance

While fashion and make-up from the 70’s look dated, the music we loved in high school is locked in our brains as the best party tunes, ever.  You’ll grab your girlfriends and abandon self-consciousness. So what if your kids say your dancing is like the Charlie Brown Christmas characters? You can throw your hands in the air like you just don’t care.

7. The one who broke your heart

Was there one person, who dumped you, or in my case didn’t even know I was alive despite the huge crush I had on him all sophomore year? Maybe he or she will show up, too. Go ahead and seek them out, you might be happy you didn’t make that connection after all (wink).

8. Prom redux

Perhaps you remember our prom as a night of Cinderella-like splendor. No? Me neither. Looking back at yellowed photos, mine seemed more about blue eye shadow and a matching powder blue tuxedo. A reunion is a perfect time for a do-over. Splurge on an outfit you feel great in. Ladies, schedule a hair appointment and drop by the makeup bar. We’ve paid for our daughters and sons to go all out for their proms and weddings, why not indulge ourselves for one night?

9. See how the story played out

When we graduated from Merrillville high school, some of us had definite career goals, others were madly in love, and some went to work in the mill as their fathers and grandfathers had before them. The reunion is a chance to see if those high school romances blossomed into marriage (some did and, remarkably, the couples are still married). Did the kids who already knew they wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer stick with it?  Where did everyone land geographically and what prompted them to move away?  What plans for retirement are in the works? One story I heard at the 20 year reunion was fascinating to me; I would have never predicted he would live where he does and create the business he has.

10. Friends

This is, of course, the real reason you NEED to attend our reunion. If you are in touch with high school buddies, great, this will be a fun night with them. But friendships were more than your best friends. They were the kids you were on yearbook staff with, ones you were in elementary school with but drifted away from in middle school. Maybe you have no connection whatsoever with your high school and you have moved far away. There may be no better way to rediscover a friendship than at a high school reunion. Please consider joining the fun, I want to catch-up!

Please reply “YES” in the comments below if you are interested in attending a reunion next summer.

Cheers!

Lori (Patton) Dorrington

Johns Creek, Georgia

Waiting for the "Right One".....

Brenda and Mario - 03/07/15

Spring wedding season is beginning in Georgia.  I just attended the wedding of one of my best friends in Charleston SC.  It was a lovely wedding with all the trimmings…beautiful wedding dress, fabulous tabletop décor, and a stunning location overlooking the beach and Atlantic Ocean.

During her father’s toast to the happy couple, he mentioned that he had asked Brenda to take her time and wait for the “right one”.  Dad also mentioned that he never imagined that would mean walking his 55 year old daughter down the aisle when he was 82 years old… 

Brenda did wait for the “right one”; she did not settled for less than the absolute best match. Single friends may be wondering, “Will it ever be my turn?” “Will I ever meet the One?”  I’ve been in your shoes and I can say without a doubt, yes you will!

 “When you stop chasing the wrong things you give the right things a chance to catch you.” ~ Lolly Daskal

It may feel like torture to attend one more wedding, buy one more bridesmaid dress, or spend one more year alone–but your time will come. Until then? Meet as many new people as you can. Make that your goal this spring. Try out a new meetup group–give online dating a try–attend more parties–whatever ways you can find to meet more people. Most couples I know met their “right one” through a mutual friend (don’t be opposed to blind dates); or they met through a website like Christian Singles or Match.com.

“Only I can change my life. No one else can do it for me.” - Carol Burnett

Being single can feel never-ending, but it doesn’t have to last forever. Use this time to examine areas of your life that need a change, get out of your comfort zone; start now preparing yourself for marriage.  If you want to make a change in your life, you have to be the one that provides the energy, takes the steps, and draws a line in the sand that says you’re not going back to your old comfort zone again.

“My advice for girls who are waiting for their Prince Charming is to be open for anything. Be open to new experiences, be open to the idea that it may take longer than you planned, but if you're open to meeting new people and new adventures, then the right love will come along.”  - Lily Collins

You are worth it: Don’t settle for less than the absolute best!

Cheers!

Lori in Atlanta

25 Signs That You Are Officially On The Right Track to Being “Old"....

I've always considered myself pretty level headed, fairly intelligent and having a pretty positive outlook on life, but things are changing.  Oh no…. I’m getting old and, oddly enough, I seem to like it! There are far fewer hangovers, considerably fewer terrible decisions being made and many more meaningful friendships.
Life is still fun, but it seems to be a different type of fun.

How do you know you are officially on track to being “old”?
Well your life may look a little something like this:

1.  A massage is literally what you need right now.
2.  What doesn't hurt is currently numb.
3.  That sparkle in your eye is from the sun hitting your bifocals.
4.  Your mind loves to make deadlines your body can't complete.
5.  You wake up early on days you can sleep in.
6.  You consider going to the Costco a “busy weekend.”
7.  People call at 9 p.m. and ask, "Did I wake you?"
8.  You had a brief moment when you literally forgot how old you are.
9.  Teenagers exasperate you.
10. You no longer know every song on the radio…
11. …but you can sing along with the elevator music.
12. You finally know all the answers, but the kids have stopped asking you the questions.
13. You have reached the top of the ladder and find that it is leaning against the wrong wall.
14. You no longer care what you look like when going to the Quickie Mart down the street.
15. A fine wine is your new beer.
16. You turn out the lights for economic rather than romantic reasons.
17. You have a party and the neighbors don't even realize it.
18. You know to avoid certain drinks/shots…
19.  …and you actually avoid them.
20. You know what the word "equity" means.
21. You have a “dream home” board on Pinterest.
22. A fire in the fireplace makes you happy…..
23.  … and so do new socks.
24. You firmly believe that the Dyson Ball vacuum is one of the greatest inventions of our time.
25. You’ve had to look up internet slang…. HAND, TTYL

Cheers!
Lori D.

The Art of Doing Nothing....

I hate to admit this in writing, but I am a procrastinator. For most people a small bit of this won’t hurt anything. For me, it can influence the difference between whether any work gets done in a day or not. Time management is fortunately a skill even an old dog can learn, but taking the initiative to do it, well that is another thing….

Today, I’m committing to better time management in my creative life and this is how I plan to do it… (There, I’ve said it; it’s on paper for the world to see)

1.) I plan to take care of the most urgent tasks of the day first. Example: mailing packages from my Etsy shop sales. This way, urgent tasks won’t be weighing on my mind for the rest of the day. Time management has a lot to do with setting priorities. Completing a task can be quite powerful if you take what is known about forward momentum and put it to use.

2.) I will break down large projects into smaller, more manageable ones. This will help me work on large projects a little bit at a time without feeling overwhelmed or stressed. If I work on different elements of the task on different days, I will stay more interested in it.

3.) I will overcome inertia that binds me. The longer I put off a project, the hard it is to get moving. Inactivity becomes the norm and nothing gets done. Even if I take baby steps it’s at least a start in the right direction.

4.) I will give myself rewards! Giving myself something to look forward to after I’ve completed the “to do” list will give me a good reason to finish the task.

Wish me luck and scold me if you see me wasting time!

Cheers!

Lori

Wire Wrapped Triangle Bead Bail

I have been asked what technique I used to wire wrap the triangle focal bead on my turquoise and pearl earrings.  I originally experimented with 24 gauge wire until I got the look I wanted.   Today I found a good tutorial for the process on the Fusion Beads website.  Below you will find (from their website) a step by step tutorial to help with this technique….

Cheers!

1.) Cut a 4" piece of wire (24 Gauge). Slide wire through the hole of the bead, leaving about 1 1/2 in. on the left side.

2.) With your fingers, bring the wires up - crossing the wires. The short piece should be in front of the longer piece.

3.) Using your fingers, form the wire to the briolette.

4.) Use the tips of your chain nose pliers to grasp the short piece of wire directly above where the wires cross.

5.) Bend the wire down to a 90° angle.

6.) Use the tips of your chain nose pliers to grasp the longer piece of wire directly above where the wires cross.

7.) Bend the wire straight up, forming a 90° angle between the two pieces of wire.

8.) Grasp the triangle that was created with your chain nose pliers.

9.) Wrap the short piece of wire around the longer piece about 1 1/2 - 2 wraps.

10.) With your wire cutters, cut the short tail as close as possible.

11.) Using the tips of your chain nose pliers, grab the wire directly above the wrap.

12.) With your finger, push the wire to a 90° angle.

13.) Using your round nose pliers, grasp the wire right at the bend.

14.) Pull the wire around the round nose pliers until it is almost pointing directly down.

15.) Reposition your pliers by opening your round nose pliers (but do not pull the pliers out of the loop) and pivot your pliers so the bottom tip is on the top.

16.) Continue pulling the wire around the nose of the pliers until the loop is completely round.

17.) If you are attaching it to a chain or ring, this would be a good time. To then wrap the loop, grip the loop with the chain nose pliers and grip the wire with your fingers.

18.) Wrap the wire around the base wire. Continue wrapping the wire down to the first wrap.

19.) Using the wire cutters, cut off the extra wire as close as you can to the wrap.

20.) Congratulations, you have now created a wire wrapped triangle bail!

Thanks for dropping by my blog!

Lori

8 Ways to Enjoy an Unpredicted Snow Day

It's snowing!  Eight ways to enjoy an unpredicted snow day...

1. Discover Your Inner Princess – What girl doesn't want to be a princess for a day; feel special, look special, be special? Step out of the shower and dry off with the “good” towels, you know, the soft fluffy ones that are reserved for company only. Slip on your prettiest pajamas, a silky robe, and a pair of fancy mule slippers. Put a chair in front of the bathroom mirror, sit down and practice pulling your hair up into a new style.  Shape and polish your nails. Pamper yourself!

2. Begin Trimming Your Wardrobe – I know that it’s hard to think of spring on a snow day, but spring fashions are available online already.  Thin out your wardrobe by keeping the things you love and wear on a regular basis; remove the “maybe I’ll wear this again” items.  Chances are if it’s a “maybe” you’re not going to wear it. Next, ‘window’ shop online at your favorite clothing store or browse through the stack of unread fashion magazines.

3. Do Your Recipe Research – Explore cookbooks or recipes online, then drag out that unused appliance from under the kitchen counter and create something new. A snow day is a great day to use the crockpot.

4. Plan a Night out– Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Plan a fun single girl’s night out or a romantic Valentine’s Day with your true love. Make Valentine’s Day cards using materials you have around the house. Write short love notes on post-its and hide them around the house for your sweetie to discover (in the medicine cabinet, in the refrigerator, behind the bathroom door, etc.). 

5. Plan a Trip on Your Bucket List – Snow may keep you in, but travel Web sites, books, and magazines can take you all over the world in an instant. Why not plan a mini break or next year’s trip now? Chuck and I are planning a road trip to Florida this spring.  Now would be a good time to plan the route and reserve accommodations along the way. Key West is on the list!

6. Tea Time – If you’re going to be a princess afternoon tea is a must! Set your table with your best china, silver, and linen napkins. Brew some Earl Grey or Chamomile tea, nosh on savory or sweet treats from your pantry. Open that romantic novel you've had stashed away for a rainy day. What better way to use up time on a wet, cold snow day than a few hours lingering over tea and a good book?

7. Catch Up - Watch all the episodes of your favorite shows that you've recorded on the DVR.  Or start watching Downton Abbey on “Catch Up”; it’s perfect for a snow day.

8. Take a Steamy Bath – At the end of the day indulge in a scented bath. It’s a heavenly way to wind down your evening and relax.

Relax...

Enjoy...

Cheers!