Happy 2012!

Happy Happy New Year friends!

Last year was very much an adventure for me, but then again when isn't life an adventure?! I had many up and downs, learned lots of lessons, gained and lost friends, tried some things for the first time, had a plethora of new experiences both good and bad; I laughed, cried, loved and lived and I am utterly grateful for every single moment! I can't believe another year has come and gone but I'm very much looking forward to all the surprises and gifts that 2012 holds for me! Here's to a beautiful year ahead!

This bright new year is given me

To live each day with zest

To daily grow and try to be

My highest and my best!

-William Arthur Ward

Thursday Mind Musings

* Christmas is only 17 days away!!!!! I'm so excited I can barely stand it! How am I going to get all my shopping and decorating and baking done before Christmas?! Ahhh!!!

* The weather is definitely cooling down here on St John! The days remain a balmy 80 to 85 degrees, but the nights have been bringing cooler air in, which is awesome since like a majority of the island, we don't have AC!

* I've been listening to Christmas music non-stop! My playlist of favorite Christmas and holiday tunes grows by the year:

Christmas Eve/ Sarajevo 12/24 by Trans-Siberian Orchestra

The Holly & The Ivy by Annie Lennox

All I Want for Christmas is a Real Good Tan by Kenny Chesney

Ave Maria by Celtic Women

Carol of the Bells by Mannheim Steamroller

Last Christmas by Wham!

Christmastime is Here by Charlie Brown Holiday Hits

Silent Night by The Temptations

All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams

Happy Xmas by John Lennon

* To sum life up these days: work, beach, bar, home, love, friends, happiness & laughter: Life is good, and I am very thankful:)

* Oh and I've decided to rename these entries from "Mind Dump" to "Mind Musings" for two reasons: first, I love alliteration! And second the word "dump" was making me uncomfortable!

Hope everyone has a beautiful day!

St Thomas Carnival 2011

Here are a few pictures I took during the parade in St Thomas for Carnival this year. These shots aren't the greatest, but you'll get a vague idea of what the Carnival parade was like! I'll try to upload a few videos in my next post of the dancing and music!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is touchy for me this year. There were several times that I wanted to bring up the subject with Sky, but I kept backing out and changing the topic. Last night I finally found the nerve to bring it up and Sky told me that he had planned on celebrating me this year on Mother's Day! I wanted to cry when he told me that. I think it's very sweet and supportive that he's doing this for me. I don't know what he has planned, but I'm excited to find out!

Meanwhile it's on my To Do list to stop by the store and buy several Mother's Day cards for both of our moms, grandmothers and a few other family members. And we'll of course call and wish them all a good day, but that's about the extent of our Mother's Day plans. Pretty much normal for me!

Easter Memories

One of my most vivid Easter memories was terrible and it took me YEARS to get over. I was about 6 years old and my siblings and a few cousins and I all lived with my Granny in New Jersey. We grew up poor and when Easter came around that year Granny didn't have enough money to buy Easter baskets for everyone. I remember her pulling me and my older brother aside to talk to us. When we asked where our Easter baskets were she told us that on the way to our house, the Easter Bunny had gotten into a car accident and had to go to the hospital. She then proceeded to show us a picture in the paper of an actual car wreck, and told us that was the Easter Bunny. Well of course I freaked out! She told us not to tell the younger kids so they wouldn't be scared. So I kept it to myself. This haunted me for years until I realized that the Easter Bunny wasn't real. And while I know she was just doing the best she could, this my personal lesson #865 on how not to raise children!

In Honor Of...

Happy Barbershop Quartet Day! Here's a clip of one of my all-time favorite actress/singer in honor of today:

Everyday is a Holiday!

Did you know that just about every single day of the year is a holiday? For instance today is Draw a Picture of a Bird Day!! How interesting!! A few of my favorites:

- National Deep Dish Pizza Day (April 5th)
- National Margarita Day (February 22nd)
- National Kiss Day (January 19th)
- Positive Thinking Day (September 13th)
- Book Lover's Day (August 9th)

Go here: Holiday Insights or Google "everyday is a holiday" for tons of websites with international, standard and bizzare holidays that are celebrated! Let me know your favorites:)

Happy Friday all!!