Venturing into the New Year: Do-Overs, Re-runs, Repeats and Fresh Starts

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Venturing into the New Year: Do-Overs, Re-runs, Repeats, and Fresh Starts

So what’s going to be different about this year? I can’t say for certain, but I do have this blog now. That is something I didn’t have a year ago, to help me stay accountable for this. Like anyone else out there, there are many things I wish I could do over and have a fresh start with. What better chance for that than a brand spanking new year? A blank slate where you get to choose your destiny and decide which way the year is going to turn.

I know you can’t choose or control everything that happens around you. You can’t just decide your destiny and what’s going to happen to you. Things change, plans changes, stuff happens beyond your control that may get in the way of your master of plan of how things would be in a perfect world. Oh boy, do I know that one, even though its only 10 days into the new year. It’s been a pretty challenging 10 days so far and everywhere I’ve gone it seems like one thing or another has gotten in my way to try to prevent me from going to where I was attempting to go to, but yet I still managed to make it. I just had to change my path to get there. It may have taken longer than I would have liked, but what else can you do besides just keep moving on?

I’ve noticed a trend lately, that instead of  a New Year’s resolution, people are choosing words to guide the New Year. As we venture into the 2nd week of the new year, I’ve been thinking about (as I tend to over think everything) what my word should be for the year. Many come to mind, and thus it’s been a struggle to just.choose.one. In the end, I’ve chosen to go with the word:

Persevere

To persist in or remain constant to a purpose, idea, or task in the face of obstacles or discouragement.

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Here are just a few things I would like to persevere in this year:

1)Work– I’ve been stuck subbing for YEARS. I NEED to get into something else. It is time. I cannot afford to try to stick it out and wait until all these teachers supposedly retire or the district’s budget issues resolve and can afford to hire back all the 100’s to teachers that should be working. I’ve been hearing that since I received my credential back in 2005. I’ve been looking for another type of job non-teaching related for a while, but employers seem hesitant to give a poor teacher a chance, which really baffles my mind. I’m very trainable and teachable, I learn and pick up things very easily on my own or from direct instruction from someone. At 70wpm I most likely type faster than anyone in their office. Or maybe that’s the problem?  That I can think for myself and have a mind of my own? If the conventional  type of job isn’t going to give me a chance, then I need to start getting more creative in this manner and think more outside the box.

2)Blogging– This ties into number one. I need to be more consistent in how often I post, and spend more time on my blog and look for more opportunities for sponsored posts and ways that I can make blogging more like my “job” and less of a hobby. That would be ideal since I truly enjoy blogging and all the fun adventures I have been given from it. Blogging can also be very overwhelming at times, I need to make sure I don’t let that get to me. Same thing goes for anything I may not be invited to that other bloggers are. That can be disappointing, but I know there will be other things that I will get to go to that others will not. That’s just how it is. I need to always remember to not get discouraged from that and not take it personally.

3)Working Out/Exercising More– Last year I didn’t completely fail at this. I did end up running in 3  1/2 marathons and I earned the Beach Cities Challenge Medal. After that was finished though, I totally slacked off. This year I’d like to stick to running a few 5K’s, make it to the gym at least 4 days a week, and I’ve been thinking of maybe taking up swimming again. I never got the chance to in high school, since I chose gymnastics over swimming as a team sport. In college I did take a few conditioning swim classes with some friends my freshman year and I was pretty much offered a spot on the team if I wanted it. I didn’t take it as I was so busy with school, working at the optometrist office, and riding and showing the ponies, I didn’t think I’d have time to add swim team to that list.

4)Horses– I want to get out to the horses more and at least try cross-country once this year and see how I like it.

Here are some people you might know who persevered and never gave up on their dreams and aspirations. This sincerely gives me hope for the new year that I too can accomplish what I’d like to as long as I keep going and work hard at heading in the right direction and not let a “NO” answer get me down and frustrated as it often times does.

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Walt Disney-  Mickey Mouse? Disneyland?  His first animation company went bankrupt. He was fired by a news editor because he lacked imagination. Legend has it he  was turned down 302 times before he got the financial backing for creating Disney World.

J.K Rowling-  The Harry Potter Series? Twelve publishers rejected her manuscript! A year later she got a deal to publish the book but was told that she should get a day job because there was no money in children’s books.

Dr. Seuss– Cat in the Hat? Green Eggs & Ham?  Some of my favorite books to read as a child.  43 different publishers rejected Dr. Seuss’s first book To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street.

Colonel Sanders— Kentucky Fried Chicken? KFC? He was rejected 1,009 times before he heard his first YES!

There is no success without failure.

Decide what is important to you and take action everyday even  if it feels like a lost cause. Success doesn’t happen without failures. It’s reality. Accept it.

Deal with it.  Succeed.

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Good-bye 2012, Hello 2013

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Good-bye 2012, Hello 2013

By Erin

As the clock ticks away into the first hours of the new year, one often wonders what the New Year has in store. Maybe this year will change your destiny. Perhaps you are meandering through the path of life, seeking answers to your deepest issues. Whatever your future may be, you must welcome the New Year with an open heart and open mind. Make the best of today, so that your tomorrows can be better. Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do right now. TODAY! Otherwise you’ll be in the exact same spot you are right now, this time NEXT YEAR in 2014 wondering the EXACT.SAME.THINGS.

“The past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it.”–Thomas S. Monson

I love that quote immensely, and it fits the new year and all of its hopes, dreams, and desires that it brings all of us perfectly.

So first the past. Here is my recap of 2012 in pictures.  I am still in my first year of blogging, so I am going to start with the month of April, since that’s when my blog was “born” and came into this world. On April 10th, 2012 to be exact. Along with Mary’s brainchild, Along Comes Mary.

APRIL 2012

 Horsing Around In LA was created.

In 2012 I wanted to explore more tea houses, salons, and rooms. I was able to visit quite a few of them! This is something I wish to explore further in 2013. So far my favorite place for tea is Paris In A Cup in Orange, CA. Their Summer in Paris tea has won me over.

I was able to make great use of my Disneyland Annual Pass in 2012.
I was able to partake in a fun ocean adventure on a sailboat.
MAY
A fun day was spent at the spa in Glen Ivy with friends for my birthday.
Allie joined the barn. I LOVE this horse!!!! <3 🙂
 Stroll & Savor adventures on 2nd Street that I look forward to every year in Long Beach. If you are a foodie like me, then you have to check this out!
JUNE
Celebrating my Grandparents 65th Wedding Anniversary and my Grandma’s 90th Birthday
A yearly tradition I hope to continue into 2013! Our 3rd annual Girl’s trip out to the river! So much fun!! 🙂
Lake Havasu/River Trip with the Girls
Disney Fireworks. Yes, I went there a lot this year! I just can’t get enough Disney in my life. 😉
 JULY
What kind of Disney fan would I be without a trip to go visit Carsland at Disney during the summer?

 I was lucky to be able to fly out to Minnesota/North Dakota for 2 weeks to go visit family. This was at my cousin Bethany’s wedding in Medora, North Dakota. It was a beautiful wedding, fit for a princess. White Horses and Carriage included. 😉
Out at my Uncles Farm House in Minnesota. Can you see why I love it out here?
An Experience of a Lifetime at a Dodger Game with fellow friends and bloggers, Jamie & Mary for one of their blogger nights.
AUGUST

Of course, to be fair, we had to hit up an Angel’s game as well!
Trip out to the Black Hills, South Dakota for an exciting celebration for another cousin getting married by spending the week before in an amazing cabin in the hills! This is a place I want to come back to! The cabins here were just out of this world. Wish I could live in one of them!
The Cabin
The Lovely Couple Erin & Andrew at their wedding.
The Wedding Party
Crafted–Blogger Event At Crafted. Tons of hand-made goods that are made local here in the Los Angeles, CA area.
SEPTEMBER
We made it down to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center to watch a Grand Prix. This gorgeous Friesian horse and his rider performed during the National Anthem and after the event. I just love how beautiful they both are turned out! I would LOVE a headstall as shiny and blingy as this guy has to go riding around in.
OCTOBER
One thing I have been wanting to go to was to Disney’s Halloween Party. This year I was finally able to make that happen.
The year of weddings. My good friend from college, Kellie and her new hubby Ryan. I wish one of them were my own… but no such luck there…
Be on the lookout for a post on Grimmway Farms soon! I was ever so blessed to be able to visit them up in Bakersfield, CA and I learned all about carrots and where much of our produce comes from in CA! This was definitely a highlight of my year in 2012 as I LOVE the country/farm life and food in general if you have not noticed. It reminded me so much of being back in Minnesota/North Dakota!
NOVEMBER
CHILL!! With fellow blogging buddies Jamie & Mary.
DECEMBER
Another tradition I started and hope to be able to continue is a Holiday Dessert Exchange with friends and family. You get to sample so many tasty goodies and take some home with you. It’s been a highlight of the holiday season for me.
Helping my grandparents get their tree and house ready for Christmas. This was the first year that they weren’t able to do it all by themselves. So I treasured every minute with them since I never know if they will be here with us come next Christmas. Especially since my grandfather has been in the hospital again since this past Sunday evening and was also in the hospital for few days earlier in December. He gave us a major scare back in September when he had to have an emergency brain surgery.
Celebrating Christmas Eve with my grandparents.
There’s nothing like Disney at Christmas time! I love all the decorations, music, and holiday cheer at the happiest place on earth.
In a nutshell that was my year. The good, the bad, the ugly. A lot has been learned and many memories made. May 2013 bring better health to my family and friends, better opportunities, more good times than bad, important lessons learned, and growth in the right direction to make all of our dreams come true. In my next post I will continue with my goals, resolutions, aspirations and where I hope 2013 will take me. As we say our good-byes and close the door on 2012, I say hello to 2013 with open arms.

Dole Floats in the 2013 Rose Parade

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Dole Floats in the 2013 Rose Parade

By Erin

Earlier this month, my friend Jamie from Minnesota Girl In LA invited me out with her to go check out the Dole Floats that were in the making for the 2013 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade. The Rose Parade has always been something I have looked forward to watching every January 1st, so of course I had to jump at this amazing opportunity. The theme of this years parade is “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” Being a Dr. Seuss fan, I LOVE the theme they have going on for this year!! Here was the schedule of events for the day:

The floats are located at Fiesta Floats in Irwindale and while there we also were able to meet the designer Raul Rodriguez, have some delicious food, and just relax and enjoy the festive environment while trying out some Dole products. The theme of this years float is “Dreaming of Paradise.”  That sure is a place I’d love to go! 😉

As the two-time reigning Sweepstakes award winner, DOLE is vying to become the only company to win the Sweepstakes award every year they have entered.  They are striving for a three-peat! I have every faith that they will be able to accomplish this. The float is breath-taking to say the least!

The Queen and her Royal court were also present, and of course, us SoCal Lady Bloggers had to get a picture together! (Jen from Toddler Trails, Jill from Sandy Toes and Popsicles, Myself, Jamie from Minnesota Girl In LA and Mary from Lets Play OC!)

We also just had to get a picture with the designer:

Jamie, Raul, and Myself

Here’s a little more information about Dole’s float for the parade! The float will feature a 26-foot massive volcano which will erupt with smoke, steam and fire shooting 20 feet into the sky over a vibrant and lush tropical rain forest of Latin America teaming with prowling tigers, fluttering butterflies, chimpanzees, parrots, and dragonflies. Incredible parrots are going to be fashioned in floral feathers of blue iris, red poinsettia, carnations and Pee Wee anthuriums accented with Kermit button mums. Lava of 8,000 vivid fluorescent orange roses majestically will flow over the volcano surface decorated in black lichen moss. Three waterfalls feature over 1,000 gallons of cascading recycled water as well as a misting system  to add to the tropical mood. Throughout the float are fresh and healthy fruits, including bananas, pineapples, mangoes, papayas, peaches, strawberries and blueberries that were grown by DOLE just for this use on the float. Traditional Costa Rican folk music will be played with performers dancing on the street on both sides of the float. I don’t know about you, but this sounds like a marvelous tropical paradise!

 The playful chimpanzees have fur fashioned in dehydrated cranberry foliage with highlights of pampas and pharmitas grass.

Just look at the amazing detail of the butterflies on this float! Orange marigold and yellow strawflower petals are detailed with black onion seed and white sweet rice.

Let me show you some of the oh so delectable treats that DOLE has available now. We had a little taste of paradise with these yummy (and healthy) treats!  The new frozen DOLE Smoothie Shaker is a paradise for your taste buds (I tried the Peach-Mango flavor).  No blender required!!  You can create a perfect frozen smoothie with real yogurt and fruit just by shaking the DOLE Peach Mango Smoothie Shaker with juice for 30 seconds and enjoy! Made with all natural fruit and real yogurt, DOLE Shakers are a good source of calcium and are nutritionally fortified with an extra boost of protein, each 11 oz serving is under 200 calories.

Another treat that you and especially those with kids will think is a little bit of snacking paradise is the new Squish‘ems!  A squeezable fruit snack that kids will love to squish!  Squish’ems! is real fruit sauce in a great squeezable pouch with a fun resealable cap. No need for a spoon, just pop the cap, squeeze and enjoy!  Each Squish’ems! pouch contains 1 full serving of fruit that is made locally in the US with all natural fruit, has only 70 calories and contains 100% daily value of vitamin C.

We also sampled Trio Granola Bars filled with tasty and nutritious fruits and nuts.  My absolute favorite though, was the Dole Dippers!!  Small bites of frozen bananas covered in dark chocolate, a true taste of paradise for your senses. At only 100 calories a serving, that truly is paradise! I was enjoying these snacks so much, they were demolished before I was able to get a picture of them! Oppps!! 😉

I just had to include  a couple of pictures of the yummy food that we graciously were able to indulge in for lunch! They had a food truck that featured Central American Inspired Tapas called VCHOS. It tasted just as good as it looks! I will definitely be coming back for more. The fried plantains and tacos were a piece of heaven, very fresh and flavorful.

Of course you can never go wrong with In-N-Out!! I just had to have a burger as well, even though I was stuffed from the VCHOS truck and the DOLE samples!

Decorating of the Dole float has resumed this weekend and will be adorned with fresh roses for us to enjoy.  I cannot wait until Tuesday morning to see the finished product, and will be looking forward to heading up to Pasadena after the parade to view the floats (another New Year’s tradition that I have enjoyed ever since I was a little girl). Enjoy and Happy New Year 2013!!!