Saturday, December 06, 2014

Day SIX: T is For...

T is for...

THEODORE


Theodore has become a special name to me over the years...My one and only brother is named Theodore and he goes by "Theo" for short. In 2001, I started hanging out with another Theodore who goes by "Ted" and he eventually became my husband. Mr. Wonderful aka Ted is also a junior so his dad's name is Theodore as well. In 2006, my nephew was born and because the name was already out there as the #1 choice for our immediate family, my brother named his first and only, Theodore. He goes by TJ for short which is very cute since when my brother was a wee babe, he went by TG.

All of the Theodores in my life except for my father-in-law are in the picture above with another very special man, my Uncle Bob. These are the men that fill my heart and family with love, kindness, comedy, great food and celebration. I love them all dearly.

#DecemberReflections

Love to all of my Theodores,

Friday, December 05, 2014

Day Five: Leaves

December Reflections Photo Challenge

5. Leaves


Sunrise in the Sunshine State through the leaves and the Spanish moss. It never ceases to amaze me and compel me to take a million pictures like this. It's as if the sun is inviting me to celebrate a new day and every possibility that is before me. 

Celebrating the sunlight on us and before us, 


Thursday, December 04, 2014

Day Four: Red

December Reflections Photo Challenge

Day 4: Red


I love red peppers and I love grape tomatoes. Most vegetables, I love. What I do not love is having to cook or chop or dice or cube. I have no idea how to chop vegetables properly (exhibit A above). This year, we tried Hello Fresh as a family.

Hello Fresh sends you a box of meal ingredients that includes everything you need minus olive oil and salt. You follow the recipe card usually a few easy steps with pictures (my favorite), and at the end of about 20-30 minutes of prep and cooking, you should have a delicious meal full of fresh vegetables, herbs and lots of flavor.

Well in the case of the red peppers and other vegetables, this meal turned out really well. One of our faves. My baby girl even jumped in to help prepare dinner with me.

Baby girl helping with cooking the vegetables.

The finished product before plating the meal. 

Dinner is served! Thanks baby girl and Hello Fresh!
If you're interested in checking out Hello Fresh, use my code: L9QBZU.

Enjoy your dinner!

Wednesday, December 03, 2014

Day Three: Best Day of 2014

December Reflections Photo Challenge

3. Best Day of 2014 - Today!




I have a calendar hanging in my office. It's pretty small and has been with me through 2014. It's titled TODAY Is Day One and is the artist series featuring photography by Carl Christensen. It starts by telling me along with a gorgeous photo of flowers that look almost like cotton, "Life is what you make it." In January, in a beautiful turquoise and peach background, it says "Choose Happy." For February, featured near a row of old mailboxes likely on a country road somewhere, is the reminder to "Surround yourself with love." March - my favorite month of the year for many reasons, with a row of bright pink flowering trees, the calendar tells me "You are extraordinary." In April, above a field of beautiful wild flowers at dusk, it says "Be mindful of others." May, in a nest with one small bird egg - "Today is day one." June brings a field of sunflowers for summer and confirms that you should look around since "Beauty is all around you." For July, "Time cannot be hurried" is placed high in a blue sky above a pier on the ocean. August is a carnival scene with "Play is the secret of lasting youth." September is a big huge dandelion and above it, instructions to "Dare to dream." October is a photo of an old camera (Clack brand/Made in Germany) with the words "Revel in the beauty of each moment" above it. November is an old truck with New Jersey plates sitting in a wooded area asking us to "Remember to be who you are."

So for day three's reflection, I choose TODAY as the best day of 2014 as I'm reminded by the months that TODAY is everything and holds possibilities and beauty and breath and the opportunity to be whatever you want to be and choose whatever you need.

To your TODAY and all that it holds, 

Tuesday, December 02, 2014

Day Two: Light


(Jump in and join this month's photo challenge! It's not too late.)

2. Light


This photo was taken at a friend's wedding in April. The wedding event team (since I know this type of work takes a team/small village) transformed a neutral colored gym into a Pinterest looking wedding venue full of candles and white lights. It really was breathtaking. The lighting really made it all so special. Now the same couple are expecting a baby in a few weeks. Wishing them and you, light and love on this second day of December.

Enjoy every day, 

Monday, December 01, 2014

December Reflections 2014: Day One

Here we are! It's December and Susannah Conway has posted the very first December Reflections challenge to "close the year out in style." Challenge accepted. To kick this off right, here's reflection numero uno below. Enjoy!

1. Drink


This is my Miami Dolphins cup full of water. I drank from it today on my way to the office. In addition to sporting the cup, I'm wearing the shirt and the socks to support the team during Monday Night Football as they take on the Jets in New York. My family and I will be watching the game later tonight.

#FinsUp #StrongerTogether

Happy December! 

Saturday, November 08, 2014

BINGO with the Orlando City


Had the pleasure of attending a Ladies Luncheon where I got to play Bingo and hang out with the Orlando City Soccer Club. Ashelee and I took the above photo with some of the players. All of the tables had different themes...Ours was "Cowgirls with a Soccer Problem." Along with Ashelee, I got to party it up with Giselle, Kimberly S. Kimberly M., Sue, a friend of Sue's and Cassandra. What a blast! Can't wait to go back next year!

Yes, I'm a Cowgirl with a Soccer Problem!

Friday, November 07, 2014

Happy Blogiversary...Number NINE!


It seems kind of crazy that it has been 9...NINE years since I first started blogging here at Dragonfly.

I have loved having this space to express and share and connect. Looking back, it wasn't clear what I would really be doing here. Just wanted to have my own blog because it reminded me of my passion of journaling. Since then, I've been able to record my days and moments...The big, the small, the good, the not so good. Mostly, I've been able to capture the celebrations of life and the people who fill my heart...many of them live here next to the words I pieced together on that day over the last nine years, and they even make repeat appearances.

For this space, I am grateful.

For those who stop by every so often, I thank you.

For every word, and every post in the near future, I appreciate you and do not take anything for granted.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Epcot Food & Wine with the VooDoo aka My Soccer Team


The only photo we took as a group and it doesn't include the newly newlyweds Dex and Ashley. This is the fourth year (that I can remember) that we've gone to the Food & Wine Festival as a team. Awesome day!

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Orlando City Soccer: Thank You Rob Valentino!


Last year at the EDC BBQ (above photo), I had the opportunity to meet some of our very own Orlando City players. Soluna and I ended up talking at length with Rob Valentino, #22, Defense and Captain of the Orlando City Soccer team.

Today, it was announced that Valentino will not continue with the team as it heads into its first year as an MLS club. Of course, I am disappointed since he is by far my favorite City player. I remember specifically asking him about this transition and how he hoped he would be a part of it all.

Now that the news is out, I want to publicly thank Rob and the other City players who have helped build this team over the last several years. You all have been amazing for Orlando and you will be missed. All the best in whatever is in store for you.

#LionNation #ForeverALion

Monday, September 15, 2014

Remembering Erin

This past Thursday and Saturday, families and friends gathered to say goodbye to a sister, a daughter, a wife, an aunt, a mother, a friend and a beautiful person. 

We will miss you Erin. Your spunk and strength and compassion. It's hard to put all of what I'm feeling into words. Instead, I will post my favorite photo that I came across at her and her husband Stephen's home. It was taken at the annual Blessing of the Animals at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Daphne, Alabama. Chloe, Erin and Stephen's dog, was blessed that day.


With love and peace. 

Saturday, September 06, 2014

NICOLE AND CHRIS GOT MARRIED!

Amber H., Beautiful Bride NC, Katharine and me

photo credit: mckenzie stewart
The wedding day for Nicole and Chris ended up being a beautiful one from start to finish. Starting with a girls morning at the nail salon getting pretty fingers and toes. The guys went to lunch at Ale House. After nails and toes, we headed to the hotel to start getting hair and makeup by the fabulous Brush Savvy (Sonya). From the hotel, we loaded in a shuttle...fought a little rain and got to the History Center in Downtown Orlando to prep for a 7 p.m. start time. No matter how many hours away it seemed, there never was enough time to get it all done before wedding time BUT we did. I absolutely loved her flowers that were so thoughtfully pulled together by KS.

The ceremony was beautiful and the reception was intimate and full of fun, dancing and photo booth action. Good food too!




To Nicole and Chris: Mr. Wonderful and I wish you lots of love and happiness in the every day, through the years of moments and may all your dreams for each other and together come true as you grow in love as a married couple. 

their first kiss as husband and wife
(photo credit: Jenn Sugarmann)

Thursday, September 04, 2014

My First Own Goal and Of Course, At a Playoff Game

photo credit: fetti/photo planet
Yup...It finally happened. After playing co-ed rec soccer since 2006, I scored on my own goal during last night's game. Not just any game...A playoff game so as soon as the ball lifted off my shoulder and did a direct dive curving into my own goal, I knew the game was over. Felt bad since we really wanted some new t-shirts to wear in our upcoming world tour at Epcot's Food & Wine Festival. But we're getting new jerseys anyway so I'm moving on. Mostly the team wanted to play next week so by losing the game, we're out of the next round. So on behalf of my fellow VooDoo-ians, especially my fellow defenders - Robb & Chris - I want to sincerely apologize for following your lead (Robb) and scoring the winning goal for the other team. It was not my intention no matter how much I wanted to avoid overtime and PK's. And remember, there's always next season!

Tuesday, September 02, 2014

NC's Getting Married! Let's YOGA.

Post Yoga pic: Kimberly, Nicole, Shannon (Instructor), me and Andrea
So instead of the celebratory lunch as we send off our girl NC into wedded bliss, the team decided to do a yoga class during lunch at Sweetwater Yoga & Fitness in honor of her big day that is happening on Friday.

For a lunch class, it was very well attended and we focused less on Vinyasa's and more on some deep stretches and my favorite - half moon/balance poses.

Thank you Shannon for a great class! Congrats NC on your wedding this week! All the girls hope it's a beautiful day for you and Chris!

Possible wedding day photo idea...

Source: http://www.bridesloveyoga.com/blog/archives/11-2012

Monday, September 01, 2014

Character and Friends

Celebrating friendship with my honorary cousin, So, and my sister-cousin, Tan-yo in Downtown Orlando at Monkey Bar in 2012. These ladies make me smile and never cease to amaze me with all they do for the boys in their life. 
Every day I stop by here to say hello to my friend, this blog...She has remained with me for more than half a decade and doesn't require much except a post now and then. So today, I want to share the following quote that I've kept on my desk calendar since Aug. 22.

Character is so largely affected by associations that we cannot afford to be indifferent as to who and what our friends are. They write their names in our albums, but they do more, they help make us what we are. Be therefore careful in selecting them; and when wisely selected, never sacrifice them. 

- M. Hulburd

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

The Power of Friendship - Celebrating It Today!

"Friends remind us we are a part of something greater than ourselves, a larger world, and the right friends keep us on track." - Barbara Jenkins

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

What I Learned In April...

1. Every day, no matter what is known, is different. 

No matter how much you plan, schedule, rearrange, work around, cancel that, add this…The moments still occur beyond anything you can really anticipate or prepare for…whether it's personal or professional. A good reminder that you really don't know what you don't know.

2.  I literally have the best brother in the entire world.

It makes me so happy to know that at any time from anywhere, I can connect with my brother. It's something I do not take for granted, not even for a second. Happy birthday month Theo!

3. Sometimes things, all at the same time, breakdown/do not work/bans together and doesn't like me.

Let's just say the beginning of April after a week of vacation at the end of March brought a lot of technology challenges. These devices that we so rely on just love to completely die…in threes…simultaneously. It's the last day of April and I'm still trying to catch my breath after two weeks of the not-one-piece-of-technology-is-working-for-me roller coaster ride. I threw my hands up, closed my eyes and just waited until the lap bar was released. I may have whisper-screamed a few times, "Weeeeeeeeee."

4. My best friend is truly the absolute best. 

The stars aligned and my "be-fri" came to town with her entire family. She could arrive with 23 lemurs and I'd welcome her with open arms because two minutes with Joy makes up for the thousands of non-Joy minutes I have the rest of the year.

5. I need a budget again

I mean for reals. I've worked budgets before and then you get comfortable. Like anything that truly matters, it is work so I'm back to working it. Be the boss and let money do its job. All of a sudden, "She Works Hard for the Money" is playing in mind. Maybe I'll change the words to "She's the Boss of Her Money." Ha!

Another month in the books. Here's to May! 

Wednesday, January 01, 2014

Made It - 2014!

So happy to see you. Let's be amazing together.

Happy New Year to you! Let's sparkle.