List: Ten stereotypes about millennials that need to go away.

I've reached my wits end at work by recently getting into an argument with a coworker.
While I'll spare you all the boring, job specific details of the exchange, I will share the instigator.

As a younger female in the corporate world, I've heard my fair share of insults throughout the years.

"You're too young to understand that."  "That's because you're a female."

"Oh, don't be such a  g i r l  all the time."  "Your generation couldn't possibly appreciate that."

..and there it is...my alter ego - the millennial.
As if the world didn't have enough ammunition to spread hate, a generation itself became an insult.

What is a millennial?

Millennials are the people that were born between the years 1980 - 2000.

That's it.  The year you were born is the single qualifier.

Being born in 1988 is apparently one of my biggest downfalls in life.  Who knew!

At the sound of the word millennial I cringe and immediately become defensive.

That reaction usually gets me the best response ever.

"Well, you don't act like a millennial.  You must have been raised right."

I didn't realize you can raise someone out of a generation.  I blame my millennial brain for my ignorance.

The truth is that there are lots of stereotypes circulating about my generation.

I know they are stereotypes because they don't apply to me or other millennials I know personally.

Please join me in squashing the stereotypes.

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Ten stereotypes about millennials that need to go away.

1.  Millennials are lazy.

More than half the millennials I know are working more than one job to survive.  Lazy?  I think not.

2.  Millennials love to whine.

Every time I hear this one, I want to ask why that non-millennial is whining about whining?

The only whining that I see millennials are guilty of include a cork and a glass!

3.  Millennials don't even know how to write a check.

We do, but we may choose not to.  It's called online banking and it's convenient.  Plus, it saves trees.

4.  Millennials don't know hard work.

Technology has advanced making some jobs easier than they were in the past.

...but, statistically speaking, we still work a lot more hours than previous generations...

5.  Millennials are selfish.

There are selfish people of all ages, sex, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, nationality, etc.

Does no one else find labeling an entire generation as selfish a little silly?

6.  Millennials are entitled.

The only things we are entitled to are the four jobs between two people that it takes to run one household.

7.  Millennials are victims of bad parenting.

The funniest part of this myth is that the person saying it is typically insulting themselves.

Well, I mean their child probably is the exception to the rule, right?

8.  Millennials are stuck behind screens.

Statistically, Millennials spend more money on experiences than previous generations who spend on items. 

Who needs fancy china when I can make memories?  I call that having my priorities straight.

9.  Millennials are financially irresponsible.

The cost of living has drastically risen, pay remained pretty stagnant, the cost of education inflated significantly, and yet Millennials still have more saved for retirement than baby boomers.  

Just click here if you don't believe me!

10.  Millennials don't use a top sheet.

This one is probably true.  A top sheet is pointless.

*****************

Ladies and gentleman, I can admit to being many things.
I am anxious, obsessive, nervous, and probably a little annoying.
While all of that is true, there is one thing I am certainly not.  I am not sensitive.
It takes a lot to offend me.  If you're offending me, you're probably offending the majority of a generation.

Let's build each other up instead of spreading hate, judging, and creating a new form of discrimination!!

*****************

Do you believe that an entire generation should be subject to these stereotypes?

Life: Vacation

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We are on our way to St. Lucia.

We will be spending a week on the island.

Lord, protect us on the plane and on the island!

Can you tell that I'm real anxious about this trip and plane ride?

While we're making the best of it, the trip isn't really a vacation.

Our children and I will be meeting my mother in law for the very first time.

My husband will be seeing his mother for the first time in 11 years.

She lives in a country that's near impossible to get out of, even for vacation.

After years of saving and planning, we're finally able to meet her in person.

R&W will resume on October 14th.

See you then!  I hope.

Life: Friday Rambles

Friday Ramblings

I get real happy every time...

...I look outside to see my fall mums potted and scattered throughout the deck.

The nursery owner told me that if planted in the ground, mums could come back every year.

We got an extra plant to try it out!  It would be a lovely surprise to see them sprout next Fall.

We did this with daisies.  They came back but my hubby thought they were a weed and murdered them.

I just had to deal with the tragedy of...

...Oral B discontinuing my daughter's favorite flavor of toothpaste.

We have tried to replace it with every flavor and brand under the sun, but have failed.

We now have an endless supply of children's toothpaste under our bathroom sink.

...and she still throws a hissy every morning when she has to brush...

I'm wishing my husband lots of luck on...

...his exams for state and county licensing required for his new job.

He's been working real hard to excel at this job and is getting frustrated with the testing.

He's great at what he does but is a very nervous test taker.

Here's to him passing the upcoming test!

I'm eavesdropping on...

...two male voices talking some serious crap about Gwenyth Paltrow.

I don't understand why she has such a bad rep.  She seems like a kind soul and is beautiful.

One voice said "I'd give her a chance" and I wanted to yell out "I bet she'd be thrilled about that"!

I let out a high pitched EEP when...

...my husband surprised me with a new band for my Fitbit.

I wear my Fitbit all day and all night.  Due to the high wear, the original straps broke beyond repair.

I was so sad when I had to retire my Fitbit thinking I'd never have the time or money to fix it.

He bought rose gold, leather straps this time instead of the rubber ones that broke.  It looks so chic!

I'm hysterical laughing in hindsight at...

...my husband, daughter, and I hunting down a cricket like there was a lion loose in the living room.

It literally took 3 hours to find the intruder, but we did hail  v i c t o r i o u s.

I really don't understand the hype about...

...a pumpkin spice latte.  I mean, ew.  They taste like a bad perfume.

Now if there was a pumpkin muffin hype I'd be all about it!

What are your Friday Ramblings?

Review: Stitch Fix

Ladies and gentleman, I have a new obsession.

...and it's probably more expensive than drugs, so don't tell my man...

It's called  S t i t c h  F i x.

What is Stitch Fix?

Stitch Fix is a company that sells you clothing hand picked by a stylist to fit your size, shape, and needs.

How does Stitch Fix work?

You take a detailed quiz that goes over your size, shape and style.

After taking the quiz, you pick a date for your Fix to arrive and leave a note for your stylist.

It's important to tell your stylist what you're looking for and if you have any special events.

Note- It may take your stylist a couple of tries to get it perfect, but when they do, watch out!

Can you show us an example?

Yes I can!

Three weeks ago I placed an order with a very specific note.

I requested casual outfits for a trip to St. Lucia and specified the desire for a sundress and sandals.  I also requested a professional statement piece for a big corporate event I have within the next couple of weeks.  I reminded the stylist that I wanted items that couldn't be found in the store and that fit my very petite frame.

I'm probably more petite than you realize at 5'0 and 115 lbs.  This makes shopping a nightmare for me.

Four days earlier than my Fix was scheduled to arrive, it surprised me at the front door.  It was filled with a sundress, a romper, a business dress, a pair of shorts, and a white blouse.  It also came with a lovely little note from my stylist explaining how the pieces were meant to be worn.  She also apologized for not having any sandals at the moment in my size.

I ended up purchasing all 5 of the above pieces.

I mean, how couldn't I?  Look how lovely they all look!

Pros -  

-I've been sent some pretty fabulous pieces of clothing that fit my petite frame perfectly.

If you ever tried to shop for petite clothes in the store, you'll understand how big of a win this is!

-They have brands and pieces of clothing that are exclusive to Stitch Fix which means unique items.

-The stylist can put together a look for you that you otherwise wouldn't know how to do.

-You may discover a new look or trend that you weren't aware of.

-Their clothes and outfits lead to lots of compliments.

Cons -

-What they send you is dependent upon their current inventory.

-Sometimes the stylists don't get your actual style on the first or second try.

This is why it's so important to be honest with your stylist and give detailed feedback.

-In order to fit a "want", they may take a chance with a different size resulting in an unwanted piece.

-There is a styling fee that you pay for each Fix.  If you choose to purchase, that fee comes off the price.

-The pieces can get pricey so you need to be able to exert some self control.

I have been using Stitch Fix for a while now and it's usually great!

I did have a few bad Fixes when my original stylist either left the company or me.

After a few bad Fixes from stylists that didn't get me or my style, I finally found one that's perfect.

Have you or will you try Stitch Fix?

If you haven't yet and want to, holler out, because you and I would get $25 for friend referrals.

List: Ten ways to stop procrastination.

Before I went on a temporary blogging hiatus, I typed up a draft and saved it in my posts.

This draft was created on March 5, 2016 with my last post being September 26, 2016.

This post was ironically entitled "List:  Ten ways to stop procrastination."

Ladies and gentleman, I give you the ultimate procrastination!

To add insult to injury, this was my only remaining draft.

I could have deleted this draft, accepted my fate as a procrastinator, and moved on.

Instead I am choosing to change my ways.  

 I will no longer let today's problems become tomorrow's problems.

Here's to the start of something new!

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Ten ways to stop procrastination.

1.  Learn to prioritize.

Sometimes things are pushed to the side because of time restraints.

Get organized by acting on the most important items first.

Tip- Do my favorite activity and write a list with the high priority items at the top.

2.  Plan out your day.

At the start of your day, make a plan.

Think of all the things you need to do and schedule the best time for all to ensure everything gets done.

An itinerary may get gruesome, but sticking to a plan eliminates the risk of procrastination.

3.  Identify your most dreaded tasks.

One of the biggest reasons for procrastination, at least for me, is not wanting to do something.

 The things that sit and wait are the things that we are just not excited for.

Identify these tasks and get them over with early to ensure that they are done and not lingering.

4.  Keep your focus.

Once you have prioritized, made a plan, and flagged your most hated items, focus and get it done.

This means shutting the door, putting your phone on DND, and turning off anything else prohibiting focus.

Anyone else famous for getting distracted?  I could do that thing now but, oh wait, there's spaghetti!

5.  Talk about your tasks and deadlines.

Commit to your tasks by going public with your action items and timelines.

Strategically speak to people who will hold you accountable and question your progress.

You're more likely to do something timely when your reputations is on the line.

6.  Don't overthink something.

When we dread doing something we tend to complicate it.

I can't be the only one that does this!  Complicating simple things is another one of my many talents.

Try breaking the task down into smaller steps to simplify the process and ease the dread.

7.  Stop with the excuses.

Procrastination is usually found hidden below a pile of excuses.

Stop making excuses and do what needs to be done in a timely manner.

The world may implode, an ox may fall onto your roof, and aliens may invade, but they are still excuses.

8.  Find someone to do it with you.

When you have a friend going along for the ride, you may be less likely to procrastinate.

If possible, pick a buddy that isn't flaky and is just as invested as you are.  

You may find yourself forced to continue simply because someone else is involved.

9.  Track your progress.

One of the best motivators is to acknowledge the milestones along the way.

...within reason, people!  I'm not going to cheer for a one sentence start to a 30 page report...

Many times you may find yourself eager to finish simply because you started.

10.  Plan a small reward at the end.

Just because you're doing a daunting task, doesn't mean you can't create incentive.

Promise yourself that if you complete the required tasks by a certain day/time, you'll indulge.

Well, now that this overdue list is done, I'm heading off to Coldstone for a treat.  See ya!

How do you stop procrastination?

Life: Friday Ramblings

Friday Ramblings

I fell head over heels in love with...

...this adorable vampire pig!

Unfortunately, my husband doesn't feel the same way.

Every time he walks past my vampire pig, he just shakes his head and sighs.

I have a thing with pig decor, so he's been shaking his head a lot throughout the years.

I feel powerless because...
...my poor baby boy has a virus with a fever.
Every time he coughs my heart breaks.
Although Nanny keeps telling me it's a fake cough for attention..

I feel really, really dumb when...
...my six year old daughter gives me directions to places I go to often.

I feel even dumber when...
...I make a wrong turn with my GPS on and my six year old says "Mommy, where you going?"

I realized that...
...I'm really uncomfortable writing with a pen.
I know that sounds ridiculous, but I only use pencils or markers.
I wonder if that has some sort of hidden meaning?

I'm FREAKING OUT because...
...my family and I will be boarding a plane in less than two weeks.
It's one thing to fly alone because I can medicate and panic in silence without worry.
It's another thing to fly with your babies next to you.
Please send good vibes and prayers our way for a safe trip there and back!!

I've replaced my red baseball cap with...
...a stylish fedora that I can't take off.
I've learned to protect my skin from the sun in my old age.
Not to mention, it was on clearance for $3!

I'm losing a war with...
...the vines that have taken over our flower beds!
We've cut then down, dug them out, and sprayed them with dangerous chemicals.
Despite our best efforts, the vine keeps returning with a vengeance.
 These vines are about to choke out my beautiful cabbage roses and then I'm really going to cry!
Any tips on how to get rid of the ivy?

What are your Friday Ramblings?

Let's Discuss: The Flat Earth Society

The Flat Earth Society has been making its way around my social media platforms.

At first glance, I thought it was nothing more than a really odd joke.

After seeing it pop up a few more times, I decided to do some investigating.

Turns out that The Flat Earth Society is a real thing.

They have a real life following with a significant number of members.

They have their own website and FAQ pages.

They have their own social media pages including Facebook and Twitter.

They even have their very own soccer team called Flat Earth FC.

You're not an official "society" until you have own web page and sports team.  Just saying!

A few clicks later and I just couldn't stop reading.

While I didn't join the movement, I did learn a whole lot of information surrounding it.

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What is The Flat Earth Society?

The Flat Earth Society is a group of people that believe the Earth is flat.

Well, that was anti-climatic, wasn't it?

What about all the scientists that say the Earth is round?

They believe that the "Round Earth doctrine" is nothing more than a hoax.

They believe that they have scientific backing on their claim that the world is flat.  

One of their scientific pieces of evidence included a six mile body of water that did not have any curvature.  This was called the Bedford Level Experiment.  Another piece of scientific evidence that they reference is called The Bishop Experiment.  This experiment supposedly proves that the Earth is flat because on a clear day with a telescope you can see a beach 23 miles away.

What about the people who went to space and saw a sphere?

The Flat Earth Society justifies this by suggesting that people have never been to space.

To be clear, space travel is a separate hoax and is not associated with the round Earth hoax.

Furthermore, they dismiss all pictures of a spherical Earth from space or otherwise as fake.  They believe these pictures were created as part of the elaborate scheme to make society believe man has been to space and that the Earth is round.  While they do not blame NASA for filling our heads with circular lies, they do blame NASA for the motive of a time travel conspiracy that somehow ties back to lies of a round Earth.

Is your head spinning yet?  Mine was just about now.

If the Earth is flat, why hasn't anyone fallen off yet?

This one was simple for them to explain - There is no edge!

...and this is where I stopped researching because my brain hurt...

What do you think of The Flat Earth Society?

List: Ten activities to do this Autumn.

In honor of the first day of Autumn, I made a list of some fun fall activities.

Autumn is my favorite season because I love the cooler weather, Thanksgiving, and fall produce.

Also, because of my hair.  My hair loves the fall season.

I get to replace my shorts and tank tops with jeans, scarves, and boots.

We get to decorate our stoop with pumpkins, barrels of straw, and beautiful mums.

We get to decorate our fire place with our cornucopia, gourds, festive candles, and glass pumpkins.

It's also the season to lower down the AC and open the windows for some crisp, cool air.

List:  Ten activities to do this Autumn.

1.  Take a road trip to the farmlands.

Depending on where you live, this could be a day trip or a weekend getaway.

Every year my family and I spend a few nights at a resort called Villa Roma in Callicoon, NY.

We have lots of fun visiting farms to pet the animals, buy fresh produce or honey, and pick out pumpkins.

Since we are missing the trip this year, I posted a picture from last year's adventure above.

2.  Visit a haunted house.

One of my favorite activities to do during this season is get scared!

It's easy to do on Long Island with all the haunted houses, corn mazes, and even gazebos available to tour.

3.  Jump in a pile of leaves.

...and then immediately take a shower because the whole concept skeeves me...

Whoever helps daddy rake up all the falling leaves in the front & backyard gets to jump into the pile.

4.  Get an Autumn themed manicure and pedicure.

Every month I go to the nail salon for a fresh powder gel mani and spa pedi.

My favorite nail polish colors are Fall themed and consist of pale grays and silvery blues.

Don't judge, I work real hard and deserve to indulge with some me time every month!

5.  Go on a hay ride.

I like a traditional fall themed pumpkin picking event.

My babies have to take a hay ride and trek through a muddy field to pick their pumpkins.

Not only is this more fun, but it usually involves a homemade pie and a grilled corn stand as a bonus!

6.  Visit the local festivals.

We love to spend the day at the local apple festivals, harvest festivals, and even the spooky festivals!

These are not only fun and typically inexpensive, but they support your community and local businesses.

Tip-  These are usually filled with local vendors where you can find some unique holiday presents!

7.  Make homemade s'mores.

If you are lucky enough to have a fire pit in your backyard, invest in some marshmallows!

There's nothing more fun than spooky funny stories around a campfire while making snacks.

The fire will keep the night air the perfect temperature.

 ...and a sweater will hide the effects of the s'mores on your belly...

8.  Have a pumpkin painting party.

Invite over some of your closest friends to carve and paint your pumpkins.

Choose a grown up or nonparticipant to be a judge and pick their favorite pumpkin.

Winner gets to be the first person to bob for apples and eat their snack!

9.  Bake a homemade pumpkin pie.

The cooler air makes it more bearable to have the oven on.

This is the perfect season to bake some season friendly desserts and save on heating.

Other ideas are pumpkin bread or my favorite - ricotta cookies!

10.  Watch the Macy's Thanksgiving parade.

Thanksgiving is not only my favorite holiday, but it's my holiday to host.

Watching the Thanksgiving parade with my family while the turkey is in the oven is what I live for.

My favorite memory each year is my daughter's face at the grand finale of the parade!

What are your favorite Autumn activities?

Life: Friday Ramblings

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Friday Ramblings

I come home smiling because...

...I love the Autumn decor throughout my home.

We decorated early this year because it makes me happy.

I jumped up and down cheering when...

...my son took FOUR wobbly steps from the TV stand to the couch.

He did it all on his own and didn't even realize what he did.

I'm real proud of my baby girl because...

...she started ballet lessons and already looks like a ballerina.

She has the rhythm and grace for it, but needs discipline as she thinks she knows it all.

I tried to show her some ballet moves and she just said "Mommy, you look like a lunatic."  Hmph!

I'm totally not looking forward to...

...all the Halloween candy that is about to make it's way into my home!

It's a month away and yet my hubby still finds the need to eat stock up on it.

I'm really, really, REALLY excited for...

...Supernatural to start in a couple of weeks!!!  Hello, Sammy baby!!

To prepare for season 15, we are watching some of our favorite episodes each night.

I'm freaking out because...

...my family and I are about to board a plane.

It's one thing to put myself at risk, but bringing my babies along has me loosing sleep.

I'm literally having nightmares!!  It's making me wish this trip was over before it starts.

I'm a little shocked that...

...it's time to book our Christmas card pictures already!

I got an e-mail from my photographer that they were booked out through October.

I'm in pain and little scared because...

...I did a minor procedure on my belly button and it looks like a war zone.

I was awake for the procedure, saw lots of blood, and felt every tug!  It was awful.  Bleh gag barf!

What are your Friday Ramblings?

Idea: Storing fresh herbs from your garden.

September is the time to start gathering your herbs from your garden.

You want to gather as much as you can before the chilly nights and your plants frost.

I pulled my herb plants (parsley, basil, oregano, and cilantro) from the roots.

The second step is to clean them.

...every single leaf...

Then lay them out to dry on a clean paper towel.

Next, I work on preserving them so that I have fresh garden herbs throughout the Winter.

If you told me 8 years ago that I'd spend a day preserving herbs, I'd say no way.  I'm officially o l d!!

Depending on the herb, I preserve them by either drying them or freezing them.

I dry all of the oregano and half of the parsley.  I freeze all of the basil and the cilantro.

To dry them, I wash the herbs on the stems and then hang them upside down to dry in the sun.

Tip:  Hang them inside next to a window.  I use dental floss to bunch the stems and hang them.

After 7 - 10 days, they should be fully dry and crisp.

You want to take two fingers and slide down the stem.  

All of the leaves will fall off perfectly and can be stored in a plastic container or bag for future use.

To freeze them, I remove the leaves from the stems before washing.

I then pat the leaves the dry, but don't let them sit too long otherwise they will wilt.

The last step is to lay the leaves out flat and freeze in portions.

Remember, once frozen, they are very difficult to separate without fully defrosting.

I always make sure to date and label the bags because some herbs linger like mint and cilantro.

Have you or will you preserve fresh herbs?

List: Ten games to reinforce learning with your first grader.

My baby girl just entered the first grade.

Yes, I'm crying.  Don't judge me.

To keep her brain stimulated during the Summer, we got creative with playtime.

I felt that it was important for her to reinforce the skills she learned before she lost them.

She was happy to play and we were just happy that she was practicing reading, writing, and math!

She could thank her playtime for the confidence displayed on her first day of school.

Equipped with her new Jasmine backpack, gigantic hair bow, and special dress, she skipped onto the bus.

Here's to another fabulous school year filled with knowledge, fun, and lots of laughs!

Ten games to enhance learning with your first grader.

1. Mail Man

With my daughter on one side of the house and me on the other, we pretend to deliver mail.

When one person takes the turn as the mailman, they also have to write and deliver a secret message.

This requires writing a message, reading a new message, and a whole lot of pretending.

This is by far my daughter's favorite game.  It's also mine because I can do it while cooking dinner!

2.  Restaurant

Using Mushy Face's Peppa Pig kitchen as the main prop, she will pretend to be a cook/waitress.

She's required to write down the order, sometimes cook it in a pattern, and man the cash register.

This requires writing, making patterns, and using math skills to add prices.

3.  I Spy Books

 One series of books that my baby girl  l o v e s  is I Spy.

Together we will hunt through pictures to find different items lost in a photo of a million things.

This requires reading the items and memory skills to find new ones.

These books make great gifts and come in different themes appropriate for unique occasions.

4.  Making Necklaces

First we take a trip to a craft store to buy inexpensive string and all different types of beads.

Then she's challenged to make different necklaces following the "recipe" that I lay out for her.

This requires math skills, following directions, and making patterns.

Mushy keeps asking to sell her necklaces online to get money for the ice cream man!  Anyone interested??

5.  School

My baby girl loves to take out her easel and pretend to be the teacher.

She will write out simple math problems, words with missing letters, or even mimic a calendar.

This requires math skills, reading skill, writing skills, and basically anything else you want!

6.  Cinderella

To play this game it's very important to dress up in a Cinderella costume.

Once in uniform, she'll pretend to do small chores by adding and subtracting different actions.

This requires math skills and following directions.

Bonus points for doing real chores!  Take 4 fork and 3 spoons out of the dishwasher to put away 7 utensils.

7.  Pet Store

The first step is to take out all of the stuffed and/or action figure animals in your room.

Then you put them on display, wait for a customer, and then sell away.  Don't forget to write a receipt!

This requires math skills, writing skills, and speech skills.

This game always ends with putting the animals to sleep in their "homes".  Hello, clean room!

8.  I'm Thinking Of...

This game we can play virtually anywhere because it's simply a guess game of you're choosing.

She can think of something that starts with a letter, ends with a letter, lives in a place, etc.

This requires spelling skills, science skills, and memory skills.

I love this game because you get what you make of it.  Well, until she thinks of made up words...

9.  Library

My one year old son and I will take a trip to my daughter's book shelf library.

There we will pick a special book and ask the librarian to read it to us.  Reading is fun with an audience!

This requires reading skills and learning patience with a baby that doesn't focus as your audience.

10.  Bakery

I'm constantly searching the internet for children friendly recipes and then buying the ingredients.

When we play bakery, Mushy Face has to read the simple recipe and make the item.

This requires reading skills and following directions.

...plus I get to see the bright smile on her face when we eat the finished product.  It's priceless!

What are your favorite games to enhance learning?