Happy Columbus Day!! I hope everyone had a relaxing long weekend….If you are looking for a fun, easy read choice for your October book club, I recommend, Barbarians at the PTA by Stephanie Newman. Dr. Newman is a psychoanalyst/psychologist/author and public speaker has practiced in New York over 25 years, treating adults/adolescents and families struggling with anxiety, depression, workplace concerns and more recently Covid-19 stress.
Barbarians at the PTA is a hilarious must read, with the same sharp and witty tone of Mrs. Maisel. Here is the story:
Desperate Housewives Meets Mean Girlsin this Heartfelt and Hilarious Debut Novel about a Mother-Daughter Duo Facing Cliques, Cyberbullying, and Snobs in a Wealthy NYC Suburb
Victoria Bryant is starting over. After a rage-inducing scandal and the realization that her dreamy fiancé is faker than a faux Fendi purse, she moves her psychology practice and 10-year-old daughter, Rachel, to Mayfair Close, an idyllic Westchester, NY, suburb known for its manicured lawns and excellent schools.
The transition is initially seamless; several PTA moms befriend Victoria, her already busy practice booms, and Rachel finds a group of friends. But before anyone can say “helicopter mom,” in walks Lee DeVry. Wealthy, glamorous and perfectly toned, the PTA president is everything Victoria is not.
Vic tries to fit in with Lee and the other SUV driving, athleisure-wearing mothers. At first, she manages to balance the demands of her practice, single parenthood, and her budding romance with Jim, a handsome school administrator. All seems well until Rachel is suddenly targeted, first by the girls at school, and then by an anonymous cyberbully. As Rachel spirals, becoming isolated, playing hooky, and exhibiting signs of depression and disordered eating, Victoria vows to find out who has been messing with her daughter.
After she learns a secret that will help her rescue her child, Vic faces the ultimate dilemma: should she expose the bully publicly, despite the potential consequences to her professional reputation and relationships with Rachel and Jim? – Amazon.com
For more information or to purchase this book, click HERE. Also, Dr Newman is available to come speak to your book club via Zoom and talk about the book in detail!! I cannot wait to do this! If you are interested Email Me and I can help set it up!!
Why is it that you travel? To see more of the world? To bring back memories? For a lot of people, there is a sense of achievement that comes with broadening one’s horizons. But if you’re longing for that feeling, there are even more ways to bolster that sense of achievement and purpose with your trips away from home. Here are some interesting suggestions.
Link to Image – Pixabay License
Start A New Career
If you’re a travel lover, there are plenty of jobs that can help you see more of the world. What’s more, you can get into a career that helps you gain a whole new sense of satisfaction wherever you go. You can look into being a travel consultant. In this position, you will understand your clients needs and suggest suitable trips, especially now since travel is mostly local. And, there is still great demand.
Learn the lingo
If you want to not only get a sense of achievement but also foster some real improvements in your trip, then there are few better ways to do that than by learning to speak the language. By being better able to interface with the language of the place you visit, not only can you communicate better, but you can navigate better, spend more wisely, and even make some friends on your travels. Linguistic apps like Mondly can make a huge difference to the way that you see travel, even if you don’t necessarily become fluent. And you will be all ready and well prepared for your next trip, when the time comes.
Engage with the wildlife
Wherever you go, there will be wildlife to see and, sometimes, to interact with more closely. Safari trips can be deeply satisfying because they can allow you to get closer to animals in their natural habitat than you ever would, otherwise. Learning to fish with sites like Tailored Tackle can be just as engaging. Not only can you get involved in the struggle of nature locally, but you can also come back with a souvenir too. And pick up a new hobby!!!
Preserve the places that you visit
There’s an increasing trend towards forms of responsible travel that allow people on vacation to help take care of the places that they visit. Volunteer travel programs as described in Volunteer Forever have some great tips for helping to organize a trip to help the environment that you visit.
Vacations away from home offer far more than just things to do and attractions to see. They offer ways to accomplish new goals and develop further as a person. The above examples can help you see how to do just that.
Happy Friday!! We made it through another week. Congrats!!! I was out to dinner last night and I have to admit it was pretty cold sitting outside under a tent ever with heaters. I looked around and took note of what other people were wearing. I saw a bunch of turtle neck sweaters, which is really not for me, too itchy!!! I saw a bunch of wraps, which does work but THEN!!!! I saw a girl wearing the chicest cape. And I knew right then and there…THAT is what we need to get. The cape idea is brilliant. You can keep it on while you eat. It’s not too bulky and most importantly it will keep you warm while still looking chic. I’m sold. Here are some of the amazingly beautiful capes that I found!! Click on the images below for more information!
I’m back with more soup recipes. I made this Pumpkin soup courtesy of The Barefoot Contessa. Another blogger wrote to tell me that a pumpkin tureen was on sale. I ordered it and it was delivered the same day!!!!! Of course, I had to make the soup for my daughter and me right away!!! I love this recipe because it is a combination of squash and pumpkin and it doesn’t have a ton of spices, which I normally don’t love in pumpkin soup!! I hope you try it..I know you will love it!!!..
Ingredients
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon good olive oil
2 cups chopped yellow onions (2 onions)
1 (15 – ounce) can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 1/2 pounds butternut squash, peeled and cut in chunks
3 cups homemade chicken stock or canned broth
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup half – and – half
Creme fraiche, grated Gruyere, or croutons (see #2 below), for serving (optional)
- Heat the butter and oil in a heavy-bottomed stockpot, add the onions, and cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, or until translucent. Add the pumpkin puree, butternut squash, chicken stock, salt, and pepper. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes, until the butternut squash is very tender. Process the mixture through the medium blade of a food mill. Return to the pot, add the half – and – half, and heat slowly. If the soup needs more flavor, add another teaspoon of salt. Serve hot with garnishes, if desired.
- Cook’s Note: To serve with croutons, remove the crusts from 2 slices of white bread, cut them in 1/2-inch cubes, and saute them in 1 tablespoon of butter until browned. Season with salt and pepper.
I am really going to try to keep my Wednesday post focusing on decorating. Last week we looked at options for decorating by the front door. This week, it’s time to turn around and decorate the back. Now more than ever we are spending time with friends and family outdoors. This does not have to stop just because the summer is over. It is so easy to transform your outdoor space into an Autumn wonderland. You can add some mums and pumpkins and even switch out your pillows for some darker shades, like forest green, burnt orange or navy blue. Maybe add a cozy throw and you are all set. Here is some inspiration to help you with the transformation.
A 2019 research by the General Social Survey suggested that more Americans are growing increasingly unhappy with figures indicating a deeper nose-dive since 2000. Meanwhile, other studies have suggested that acquiring happiness is more of a habit than an act. In his book titled “authentic happiness,” well-known American psychologist Martin Seligman suggested that being happy in life is more of a pursuit than something you can acquire. While this makes sense, it does not mean you will stay upbeat all the time. For example, being at work can make you feel important – yet unhappy, so you should strive to stay happy most of the time. Are you finding it challenging to cultivate this habit? Here are a few tips to make your pursuit of happiness easier for you.
- Choose happiness
If it were that easy, we would not be here, but trying to see issues in the positive light than negatively can go a long way. In case you do not know how, begin by being mindful of your self-talk. Pay attention to the words you say to yourself, and if they are not positive, replace them with nicer things. A few people naturally focus on positives, yet for others, the first thing they observe is negative. Make a conscious effort to change that as it is even crucial to your psychological wellbeing and happiness.
- Create a personalized work-life balance
Balancing does not mean half work and half leisure. It is about choosing what is appropriate for you. Start by identifying what is more important to you and create room in your day or week for that. This will ensure you go through life doing the things that add value to you. To deal with that, there are loads of skills you will need; building firm boundaries and discipline is one significant skill to achieve the right work-life balance.
- Stay away from perfectionism
The quest for perfection often leads to disappointment, and eventually leads to negative self-talk. At that point, it is just a matter of time before it starts taking a toll on your mental and psychological well being. Endeavor to accomplish your best work and excuse yourself on those days that it is rarely perfect. This will reduce the pressure you put on yourself and help you to stay grounded. Fortunately, there are several online resources you can use to learn more about the subject.
- Comparisons are unhealthy
One problematic aspect of the journey towards happiness is not understanding that things may be okay the way they are. More often than not, some people allow the drama and dilemma of each day to get in the way of their happiness. However, there is no point in feeling frustrated about things you cannot change. There is also no reason to change who you are for people to validate you. It is unhealthy to compete with others as everyone has their own path, and you are right where you should be. Whatever discomfort you should feel should be geared towards making yourself better than you were yesterday.