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Tuesday, March 20, 2012


Here I go again, getting involved in something new, something I can't wait to share! Here are the reasons I'm encouraging you to take a look at this organization- it may or may not be for you but I hope you'll take a look.  And also if you think of someone else that would like to attend- please let me know and I'll invite them or just pass it along!! Here are my top 10 reasons I'm for this effort:

1. It is inclusive- everyone is invited! All ages, all communities
2. It is all about raising awareness about great philanthropic efforts in the community
3. It is democratic- those involved get to vote- we'll educate one another about need in our community.
4. There is room for all- people can share their vote/spot- I can help you find someone!!
5. It is about the math- 100 x 100- wooo hooo- lots of good things can happen with that donation!! What fun it will be to see the non profits receive that gift!!
6. It is about LICKING COUNTY- local local local dollars staying here- local helping local!! This will make my life on Newark-Granville road better
7. It is a grass roots effort with great structure- it works somewhere else and we're bringing it here! (reading this from outside of Licking County Ohio- check and see if your community has one- probably does!)
8. Great leaders- Amanda and Kelli are passionate moms who are leading this effort and I'm impressed and supportive!
9. We'll have a great oppertunity to network, connect, support one another at the same time.
10. We can have a bevie while we vote and we are not required to do volunteer hours....unless we want to I bet the organizational rep can share that kind of info too.....

Take a look and let me know your thoughts and questions. Hope to see you on the 17th!


Have you heard of 100+ Women Who Care, Licking County? It’s an organization for women to support various local philanthropic efforts. We kick off with our first meeting on
April 17th (gathering at 6:30
meeting to take place promptly between 7-8:00)
at the 21st Street Grille
We hope that after reading a bit about us and other Women Who Care organizations around the country you will want to join. This is not an “invitation only” event! Whether or not you decide to become a part of the 100+ (and we hope you do!) please pass the word along to others until this reaches all of the women in Licking County, multiple times! Below are answers to just a few commonly asked questions. We invite you to check out our website for the most complete information: www.100wwclickingcounty.org
  • Who are we? Women in Licking County with a common goal of saving and enriching lives here locally.
  • What are we? A giving circle. Individual donors each giving a small amount in order to have a big impact immediately. We strive to be 100 members strong. Each giving $100 dollars a quarter for a total donation to a given charity /non-profit of $10,000. (Team option also available, click here for details.)
  • How does it work? At the meeting we randomly choose three members to pitch their cause. After hearing about the charity/non profit and a short Q & A, we each cast a vote as to which one receives our collective donation. There is no middle person and checks are written directly to the charity chosen. We eagerly await the next meeting when we can hear about the difference our funds made!
  • Why? We live here. We work here. We raise our children here. We want this to be the kind of community that lifts members up and extends a hand to a neighbor in need. Maybe we don’t yet know that neighbor. This is our opportunity to meet her and find out how to help.
  • Benefits to members: An improved sense of belonging and civic engagement, increased awareness of community needs and those organizations that try to meet those needs, a feeling of “doing good”, ability to give strategically and thoughtfully with relatively small effort while obtaining a large impact.
  • Benefits to the community are truly endless. We will enhance associations already helping in the community and enable other opportunities that may need a hand.

It’s about making lives better, in multiples.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

I WAS TAGGED- I'M NOT GREAT AT THIS BLOGGING THING BUT TRYING TO GET BETTER. I'M ENJOYING MEETING NEW CREATIVE PEOPLE OUT HERE- OR BETER SAID GETTING TO KNOW PEOPLE BETTER. I ADMIRE THE MANY POSTS AND VIEWS, THIS GAME OF TAG IS ONE MORE WAY TO CONNECT SO OF COURSE I LIKE IT......

Tag! You're It


That's right.. in a blog-tag off! I hope others will play along and enjoy a good old fashioned game of Tag.

The Rules:

*Post these rules
*You must post 11 random things about yourself
*Answer the questions set for you in their post
*Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer- I made it 8 I like the number 8
*Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them
*No stuff in the tagging section about you are tagged if you are reading this. You legitimately have to tag 8 people!  I'm trying to do 8...like the number and I don't follow 8 blogs...yet!!

11 RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME:

1. TYPING IN ALL CAPS BOTHER ME
2. I drove a fork lift at one time, I've shared this enough in my life it may not be random anymore
3. I like my cookies crisp and I pick out the crisp french fries
4. I always wanted to be a mother, I loved to baby sit as a teen
5. I look better in dresses
6. I prefer gold to silver
7. I love Lilly of the Valley
8. I wish I had dark hair and blue eyes- not really but I like that look
9. My travel bug is waking up again
10. I have fond memories of peanut butter with fluff, pickles, bacon (not all on one sandwhich)
11. I prefer roast beef on a kaiser roll

11 random factoids about ELLIE:

1. I'm obsessed with Sour Patch Kids, especially the red ones.
2. I only look through magazines that have a crisp cover. It makes me cringe reading a wrinkled one.
3. I offically have the travel bug, especially after traveling to 8 countries in the past 7 months with Zach.
4. I love airports and could sit in them for hours watching people. Ironically, I met my boyfriend on a plane.
5. Flowers are over-rated unless they're out of the blue.
6. I secretly wish I was a professional sand volleyball player, or a newscaster on E! or the Travel Channel.
7. I love anything to do with horoscopes.
8. I started playing basketball when I was 8 years old and played through my sophomore year of college.
9. I want to be the event lead and coordinate the Oscars, Emmys and Espy Award Ceremonies including the after-parties.
10. I want to be on The Today Show (with good/happy news of course)
11. I am not a picky eater and will try anything once.
11a. I LOVE spicy foods/hot sauce.

11 Questions from Ellie:

1.what’s your biggest pet peeve? people not saying hello
2.who’s your favorite author?  Hmmm- lately I really like Ann Patchett
3.where’s the next vacation/trip you’re taking? Charleston- Spring Break baby!!
4.who will win the super bowl – 2013- go Ravens!
5.what’s your dessert of choice? something with crunchy meringue
6.if you could have a superhero power, what would it be? if you could have one: super endurance
7.what’s the best thing about blogging: an outlet, opporutnity to share and extrover- gets my mind going
8.would you rather drive in rain or snow? snow
9.what kind of car do you drive? Toyota Sequoia so I can fit each child and a friend/cousin
10.how do you spend your free time? free time? lately in bed watcing Downton Abbey on my macbook
11.if you could meet a celebrity, who & why? Tom Hanks- I've always liked him and he does amazing work

11 questions for the lucky ones I tagged:

1. What is your dream car: convertible bmw or BMW station wagon- actually both not or
2. Dress/Skirts or pants/shorts and why: dress- I've never grown up and probably because my mother said so
3. Favorite movie: Rear Window
4. Favorite Columbus restaurant: The Flat Iron
5. Math or English: English
6. If you could live in one country, where would it be and why?  Scotland- It spoke to me
7. Spicy or Sweet: sweet
8. Would you rather go back in the past to make something better or live in the future? Past
9. How do you like your coffee: black
10. Homebody or social butterfly: social butterfly
11. what invention do you wish was your idea:  standup mixers

8 questions for my tagged folks:

1. Hometown: Granville, OH
2. Where were you born: Virginia
3. How many pillows do you sleep with: 2 3 if you count the bolster
4. Can you wear flip flops- no- not real ones with the thing between the toes
5. favorite appetizer: cheese and crackers6. plaid or polka dot: plait
6 what do you want to be when you grow up: something to do with travel
7, first dog/pet: boaz-bassett hound
8. a sound that makes you smile: quacking ducks- many of them together

Now time to tag 8 others... 

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Smell the flowers!  February is a great month to stop and smell the roses.  Funny that I ended up with this vase at this point in the year.  I LOVE this for many reasons including:

  • I love where this vase came from (Enzo- fabulous tea house for so many reasons- the owner, the food, the setting, the great conversations I've had there)
  • I love the blue and white, the cut out art work, how it goes with my new decor!!
  • I love that it was on sale!!
  • But most of all I love the sentiment- please smell us....
The sentiment of "taking time to smell the roses"isn't just about appreciating where you are in the moment it is about using all your sense- don't just look, smell- breath deep and this fits into so much of my life's philosophy of the world across disciplines- the liberal arts, working at a center for art, history and science!  It ties to the fact that I am a "jack of all trades and master of none" but I'll save this for another blog some other time!  Back to February....

Lots of great flowers to stop and smell this month!  First and foremost Sarah's 40th birthday! Last week we toast her wonderful milestone- a few years ago we were not sure we'd all get to that point.  I was able to travel to Maryland to be with her beautiful family, have lunch with my parents and breathe in the happiness and joy that surrounds them! We also tasted some amazing flavors too!!

Second, Joe and I celebrate 13 years of marriage- boy has it gone fast!  I'm so lucky to have my this man and all he is and does and creates with me.  I'm grateful for our marriage and all that entails. He truly makes me far better than I am and the past 13 years are truly the best I've had on this journey of life.

And there is so much more- the kids, the friends and other family members, the job, the town, the projects, the sports, the arts, the opportunities, the learning.  My life on Newark-Granville road is a beautiful garden and I love to pick the flowers and savor all they bring!! Thanks for taking in their beautiful scents, sites and what they represent to me.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Twelve Days of Christmas

So this blog is where I encourage Christmas Card recipents to visit to learn more- past posts have addressed this if you scroll down.  I often have ideas, events, thoughts I'd like to share out here but time just gets away from me. There is much going on with us right now- like most of our friends with kids our kids ages, volunteer efforts and full time jobs we love.  This year we added redecorating three rooms in our wonderful old house on Newark-Granville Road just to give us a bit more to do in December, a December that includes 3 kids starting their basketball season.  We certainly weren't thinking when we took on those efforts...but all is good, we're happy and we're glad to be busy, healthy and engaged on Newark-Granville Road.  


I've talked a bit about the 12 days of Christmas with friends and family and will elaborate here. We embrace the "twelve days of Christmas" on Newark-Granville Road, not in any formal way but simply in the way of recognizing it isn't done in a day. Christmas is a wonderful holiday filled with much love and happiness, hope and jo.  We simply want all the effort to get to the point to keep going!  This stems from Susan's childhood.  Life on Forrest Drive or Ridge Avenue included keeping the tree up until epiphany (the 12th day- the day the kings arrive) as it was Gaga's birthday.   The fun on Newark-Granville Road is January 6th is Sally's birthday!

The older we get the more real life shows its challenging sides- too many funerals in December this year. However grace shined and the energy of these beautiful lives live on in our friends’ children and their children and it seems to shine a bit brighter with Christmas.  So now is the time to say Merry Christmas to each of you. Thank you for sharing the beauty of 2011 with us and we hope to see you on Newark-Granville Road in 2012- maybe at our Kentucky Derby party that will return this year-May 5th!! Stay tuned for those details and no doubt it will be here before we know it. But for now we're only 3 days in to Christmas and loving the beauty of the season. 

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Thankful for Thanksgiving..

Joe and I both love Thanksgiving for so many reasons! This year was particularly wonderful as it provided a true vacation!  When we travel to Maryland we're able to truly relax and take a break for the regular world. The kids have so much fun with their cousins and we soak up the fabulous hospitality my parents offer.

Not only was it good to be together with everyone healthy and happy- many many things to be grateful in our home this year!  We also enjoyed a number of great activities! We mixed the Works Civil War theme into the trip with a trip to Gettysburg and also a stop at Ft. Necessity (French-Indian War) as that tied to the 4th grade curriculum!  We shopped locally, ate crab cakes, raw oyster and other fine Maryland fare, tapped into our creative talent with gingerbread decorating!  We also visited the house where I grew up, taking Matthew and I back to life at 909 Forrest Drive!  What a treat! We're very grateful for the home owners (childhood family friends!!) for giving us the opportunity to visit and unlock happy happy memories (and find inspiration) for today's house!!  I've enjoyed doing this with here on Newark-Granville road and it was interesting to be on the other side, the person visiting.

The time away also allowed our wonderful painter to finish the work we've started on Newark-Granville Road!  For years we've wanted white wood work and brighter colors on the 1st floor.  We came home to just that....the rest of the fun will continue with updating fabrics and furniture!  Being the planners we are it is kind of odd this sort of just happened.  We probably needed a change of pace, something fun and exciting to lift our spirits after Sparky's death.  The peeling and cracked ceilings were calling too much attention so we hired someone to fix those.  That led to the need for a painter and that led to needing to remove wallpaper, and that led to painting three rooms and if we were going to do that it was time to do what we'd wanted to do since we'd moved-in....white woodwork and bright colors.  I'll keep you posted as we progress and finalize the front rooms changes!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Art Inspiration

All sorts of art inspiration not far from Newark-Granville Road these days!  Here is a quick run down of why I'm encouraging you to experience:

-Matter of Representation @ The Works: BEAUTIFUL colors, lines, processes, arrangements, subjects make are truly inspirational.  Jeny Reynolds’s reverse glass painting tickles the senses; Karin Dahl's collages provide depth and vibrancy, Jane Heller's colors warm, transport and soothe- what a treat to be surrounded by the art of these local artists.  And you just can't miss Christian Faur's lovely, creative, scientific, original presentation of art with crayons and dollars. It is a treat to take in this art every day- don't miss this show! Join us on Thursday the 20th from 6 to 8 for a reception to celebrate this show's beautiful run.

-Fine Grain by Abram Kaplan at Denison.  This is a must see! The pictures just don't do it justice and take the time to read Abram's story of his journey and the perspective his art plays with his work and life.  I'm a big fan of the countryside, barns, and rows of crops so it isn't a surprise that I like this work.  The presentation is like nothing I've seen and explanation that accompanies the exhibit is thoughtful and insightful, giving me pause and insight I value in my busy life.

-Amy Butler Designs.  Run don't walk to a store today that carries her work. I had the privilege to attend a presentation by Amy tonight at the RHM. Thank you to my friend who encouraged me to take the time to attend. Thank you to my job for making it "work" to attend. The creative entrepreneurial spirit emulating from Amy and Dave is beautiful.  Thank you to all who made tonight possible- what a delight. Tonight's event gave me many pearls!

-The Denison Museum- once again "work" took me to a place that delighted the senses, taught and touched me in ways I didn't anticipate.  The museum's exhibit connected to their 5th year and the traditional wood gift was filled with art and lessons.  The tea exhibit a wonderful showcase that transcends so many cultures and places- take the time on a Tuesday when tea is provided by Petoli!







Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Book Club on Newark-Granville Road...... And my favorite book didn't event make the list! Okay so I admit I haven't read any of the books that made "the list" but a friend (who also lives on Newark-Granville Road) brought "Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home" by Jeni Britton Bauer for me to review and I'm so glad she did!  Somehow it didn't get to the "other recommend list" either....I will add it now!  I took a look tonight and I'm in love!

So most of you know I really like Jeni's ice cream. I like the taste, flavors, stories, passion and innovation. After a quick read I'm even more impressed, inspired and appreciative of what Jeni and her team have created and shared. I can't wait to start applying some lessons from this book to my own cooking.  Not that I'll be making ice cream any time soon but utilizing her underlying philosophy and coaching in other ways.....I love to cook- it is how I soothe myself, show love, escape and find happiness so it is not surprising that cook books often are at the top of my list!  Friends please share your thoughts about this cookbook!!  Who else has it?!!

Life on Newark-Granville Road is busy right now- school and kid activities have started back up. Work is demanding and challenging in good ways for both Joe and me. And our dear Sparky is in a pen in the green house recovering from his accident last week.  So it is not surprising that I've found even greater pleasure in the book list created by a valuable group of friends around the table on Newark-Granville Road.



DateBookAuthor
3-OctA Dog's PurposeW. Bruce Cameron
7-NovPeople of The BookGeraldine Brooks
5-DecYear in ProvencePeter Mayle
9-JanMurder on The Orient ExpressAgatha Christie
6-FebRevolutionJennifer Donnelly
5-MarSomeone Knows My NameLawrence Hill
2-AprLight in AugustWilliam Faulkner
7-MayThe Moment I KnewTerri Spar Nelson-editor
4-JunOkay for NowGary D. Schmidt
2-JulRoom: A NovelEmma Donoghue
6-AugLove and SummerWilliam Trevor
10-SepRead from Recomm listMeet at Susan's to plan!
1st MondaysCVL Lodge Lobby 7:30 start
REcommendations- didn't make "the list" but they look good!!!

TitleAuthor
The Art of Racing in the RainGarth Stein
Dreams of JoyLisa See
The Wish List
John AdamsMcCullough
TrumanMcCullough
Pillars of the EarthFollet
Winesburg OhioSherwood Anderson
**Movie- Amazing Grace
The End of the AffairGraham Greene
And Then There Were NoneAgatha Christie
Battle Hymn of the Tiger MotherAmy Chu
Fall of GiantsFollet
The ImperfectionistThomas Rachman
Poetry by Mary Oliver
Poetry by Billy Collins
DocMaria Doria Russell
Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness Alexandra Fuller
the Tree of Forgetfulness
The Geeks Shall Inherit the EarthAlexandra Robbins
Half Broke HorsesJeannette Walls
Family FangKevin Wilson
Stories I only tell my friendsRob Lowe
Before I FallLauren Oliver
UnBrokenLaura Hilderbrand
Brideshead RevisitedEvelyn Waugh
The Life and Time ofBill Bryson
the Thunderbolt Kid