#25... Visit Gpa G.

Soooo happy to be crossing this one off the list so soon... visiting my Grandpa up in Connecticut. It's just nice to see that it didn't take me 3 years to visit him... and to know it won't be the last time in the next 3 years! I love my Grandpa... he is 83 years old but you would never guess it. The man still mows his lawn and is very much self sufficient... I woke up on Saturday morning to him driving a shovel into the ground so he could plant a rose bush... Grandpa has some gumption! I was surprised to say the least but it just made me smile... he is 83 but he's not going anywhere soon :)

We didn't do too much for the two days we were there. We ate. A lot. Grandpa is 100% Italian... Italians not only love to eat, they love when their guests eat (and get offended if you don't!). Worked out for us though, we got to eat his homemade sauce and meatballs... YUM!

We took this BeAuTy around the lake twice...

That's right... my Italian Grandfather name his boat "The Godfather". I love it... my Grandpa is funny like that :)

We also fed his "pet" chipmunk.

This little guy has been coming around for a couple years now. Grandma named him "Bushy"... Bushy is not so bushy anymore. I think he got in one too many fights :) Grandpa feeds him everyday and gets worried when he doesn't come back for more seeds.

We visited Grandpa's shop...

Genovese Manufacturing. They make replacement parts for Brown & Sharpe screw machines... I don't really know that much about it but I like seeing what Grandpa did for a living :)

 We also made a pit stop on the way home. We turned off the 'lovely' Jersey Turnpike and went to IKEA!! Josh was dying to go.. so we did. I love that place... oh what I could do with a couple thousand bucks :) We did make one purchase... a Picasso!

The perfect piece for our fireplace.

I thoroughly enjoyed our trip. It took some stress off my shoulders knowing how well Grandpa is doing and that he has people looking out for him. 

Things that made me smile during our trip:

watching 'Goodfellas' with my Grandfather... nuff said :)

not dying while driving through the Bronx

jamming out with my husband to 'Mumford & Sons' on my air banjo

having a guy with a Jersey Shore haircut fill my car up in Jersey

listening to G-pa tell 'Bushy' not to be scared of Josh and I

doing puzzles with Grandpa

eating pie for breakfast

 Captain Genovese... adore him!

 

Share Your Passion...

contemporary pilgrim:

“This is your life. Do what you love, and do it often. If you don’t like something, change it. If you don’t like your job, quit. If you don’t have enough time, stop watching tv. If you are looking for the love of your life, stop, they will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love. Stop over analyzing, life is simple. All emotions are beautiful. When you eat, appreciate every last bite. Open your mind, arms and heart to new things and people, we are united in our differences. Ask the next person you see what their passion is, and share your inspiring dream with them. Travel often, getting lost will help you find yourself. Some opportunities only come ones, seize them. Life is about the people you meet and the things you create with them so go out and start creating. Life is short. Life your dream and share your passion.”

This simply makes me smile :)

Don't Be A Debbie Downer...

So here is the situation… I just finished up my ‘101 in 1001’ list and I am super excited about it. I am mentioning it in conversations and filling people in on what it all means. A few days ago at work I was talking with one of my clients about vitamins and how I am terrible at taking them and that I need to get into a routine, and so on. He gives me his two cents on how I can be more consistent and things I can do to help remember. Fast-forward 2 days… I remembered to take my vitamins! I was so excited and I told my client about it, we high fived and all was great. Then I mentioned my list and this is how the conversation went:

  Me: “It means a lot to me to be able to do this b/c it is a goal of mine. I actually am doing this really neat thing by setting 101 goals in 1001 days… and taking a multi-vitamin everyday was one of the goals” (and you can hear the excitement in my voice… I swear)

Client: “What?! That’s WAY too many goals over WAY too long of time, you’ll never finish.”

Me: “Nah, I’m really excited about it… it will be good.” (trying not to sound annoyed at this point)

Client: “No, no, no… you just need to set 10 goals. 5 easy and 5 hard… that way you might actually get some accomplished.”

Me: (Inside my head...) What!?! Why would you discourage me from setting goals!

And this is MY two cents… don’t be a Debbie Downer. Don’t rain on somebody’s parade just because you think you know what’s better. Don't let the first thing out of your mouth be a negative comment... it often hurts more than people know (no matter how small the topic is!). My client's comment hurt my feelings and I almost instantly became defensive... he made me feel like I had a foolish plan. So again, don't be a Debbie Downer... nobody likes to be around her! Life is too short to focus on the negative aspect of everything. 

So...

lighten up...

allow people to be excited...

sometimes you do need to keep your opinions to yourself...

be an encourager instead of a 'nay-sayer'...

slow down and listen to what people are saying...

be gentle. be joy. be peace.

That's just my two cents...

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

 ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Here it goes... 101 in 1001

Okay... here it is. My list. 101 in a 1001. What does this mean?? I am setting 101 personal goals and I plan to accomplish them in 1001 days. I was creeping on someone's blog one day and came upon this... I was very intrigued and thought it would be a fun project. Turns out just making the list was fun.... 1. because I am an avid (slightly crazy) list maker and 2. because it gives my life direction. For the next 2.75 years, instead of saying "I have always wanted to try that" or "I really need to start doing that", I am actively trying to do it. My goals, dreams, and aspirations are laid out right in front of me. I'm pumped. Who's pumped with me :) I know Josh is... he has started his own list... oh yaaa!

Start Date: 5/28/2011

End Date: 2/22/2014 

1. Find a piece of furniture on the side of the road.

2. Leave this country.

3. Learn how to surf. (in progress)

4. Look into starting my own business.

5. Start a blog. (accomplished 5/28/11)

6. Setup a decorative bookcase.

7. Find/use green cleaning products.

8. Read the entire bible. (in progress)

9. Find a piece of furniture or decorative piece at a twice-around-store and restore it.

10. Start scrap booking/organizing photos.

11. Go out with Jenny, Kristen, and Becky. (accomplished 8/1/11)

12. Send birthday cards... ON TIME... for 4 months!

13. Get together with old friends/classmates when I'm home.

14. Learn how to sew (specifically buttons!).

15. Have lunch with my sister-in-laws.

16. Host a dinner party.

17. Learn how to hang glide.

18. Eat at a local restaurant once a month for 8 months.

19. Learn how to snowboard.

20. Plant a garden.

21. Go to the Wright Brothers Memorial in Nags Head.

22. See Jack Johnson in concert.

23. Go on vacation to a place within the U.S. that I have never been.

24. Organize our bookshelf.

25. Visit Grandpa Genovese in Connecticut. (completed 6/18/11)

26. Read at least two educational articles a month for 4 months.

27. Buy a nice pair of heels.

28. Organize my recipes/make a recipe book.

29. Cook at least once a week for 1 month.

30. Buy fresh. Buy local.

31. Go to the beach at least 10 times in the summer.

32. Hike part of the Appalachian Trail.

33. Learn how to use our camera.

34. Run a 1/2 Marathon. (in progress) (completed 11/13/11)

35. Sing with the band at church.

36. Go to a Bed & Breakfast with Josh.

37. Go paddleboarding.

38. Attend at least two festivals a year.

39. Buy a nightstand.

40. Buy new sheets and a comforter for our bed.

41. Donate blood.

42. Watch 11 movies recommended from friends that I have never seen.

43. Watch the sunrise.

44. Take a bus ride to New York City.

45. Get a pedicure & manicure.

46. Throw Josh an awesome 30th birthday party. (completed 5/12/12)

47. Bake a bumbleberry pie from scratch.

48. Buy Josh new pillows.

49. Buy new work shoes. (completed 12/25/12)

50. Go to lunch with my mother-in-law.

51. Go to a NFL game (if it still exists!).

52. Try Zumba.

53. Buy a bike.

54. Eat something I have never tried or that I am grossed out by.

55. Join a league volleyball team.

56. Take a multi-vitamin everyday for 3 weeks.

57. Pass the CSCS. (completed 4/18/12)

58. Be with my family once during Christmas.

59. Set up/start a retirement fund. (completed 2/2012)

60. No fast food for 2 weeks.

61. Pay it forward... a random act of kindness.

62. Take 4 girls from the youth group out to lunch/dinner.

63. Go on a missions trip. (accomplished 8/13/11-8/20/11)

64. Talk with my Mama at least once a week and talk with my brother/sister at least once a month.

65. See a 3D movie.

66. Go to church when we are on vacation.

67. Watch the entire TV series of 'One Tree Hill'. (completed 5/15/12)

68. No Facebook for 1 week.

69. Plan a girls trip!

70. While on vacations, visit at least one restaurant/food place that was featured on The Food Network.

71. Get a new pair of glasses.

72. Get into PT school. (completed 2/2012)

73. Test drive a nice car for fun.

74. Travel by train.

75. Go whale watching.

76. Catch and pull in my own BIG fish.

77. Use natural skin care products.

78. Get on a consistent weight training program.

79. Offer to buy a homeless person a meal.

80. Learn how to jitterbug.

81. Call the Farm and Grandpa Genovese at least once a month.

82. Eat one vegetable or fruit with every meal for 2 weeks.

83. Go fishing from the shore.

84. Learn/execute all power lifts. (in progress)

85. Eat fish once a week for 2 months.

86. Get my hair done every two-three months.

87. Bake brownies from scratch.

88. Grow an herb garden.

89. Work on my road rage... for real!

90. Read a book series.

91. Rent or buy a townhouse or house. (accomplished 7/29/11)

92. Visit my family in Florida.

93. Get a trunk.

94. Get a headboard for our bed.

95. Give a 50% tip.

96. Buy new luggage.

97. Go to a play with Josh.

98. Get a passport. (accomplished 7/28/11)

99. Go on a canoeing trip with Josh and his parents.

100. Save all coin change for the entire 1001 days.

101. Volunteer or give a donation at least 5 times in one year.

Mmmm... I don't know if my heart could handle it :)

Behind the name...

So... first thing, making a blog is NOT easy. Geesh... my brain hurts right now from trying to understand it all. Hardest thing for me... picking a name. I wanted it to be 'me' (doesn't everyone). Josh and I were throwing around all sorts of ridiculous names, which was actually fun because it turned into who could think of the dumbest name. 'Fill Yo Head Wit Knowledge Pearly' will remain one of my favorites :) I decided on 'Hold Your Pants On' because it is my own saying. I have said this phrase for as long as I can remember. Unbeknownst to me, it is not an actual saying. And my ever-so-vocal coworkers let me know it. They made fun of me the first time they heard it... "April, it's either 'Keep your pants on' or 'hold your horses', NOT 'Hold your pants on'!! NOBODY says Hold your pants on." You can imagine how I felt from this... my mind was blowing, how did these people not know of this saying! And then one magical day I was watching The Office and the secretary (Erin) was frustrated. Someone asked her to do something and she yelled back at them "Hold your pants on!" =D That's right... MY saying was on a television show. In your face coworkers!