Lookie Lookie It's Back to School Time!

Lookie Lookie It's Back to School Time!

I saw a sad photo of my friend's child on FaceBook yesterday because the kid had just been told that he had only 4 more weeks of summer.  Truly, the boy looked like he had lost his last friend and his dog had gone the way of his friend, too!

For those of us at Community Partners of Dallas, school is almost always on our minds. 

• We know that kids at risk of abuse are safer in school.
• We know that school is a place where kids can interact with well-functioning adults.
• We know that kids will be educated and hopefully break the cycle of abuse in their adult lives.

Today, we gave out 1,972 backpacks filled with age-appropriate supplies and uniforms to children with open cases at CPS.  Tomorrow (and for weeks) we'll continue the job by distributing a bunch more.  We couldn't do it without our great donors and volunteers.  Thank you if you helped us.  It's not too late -- we provide school supplies to kids 365 days a year.  Visit our website at www.CommunityPartnersDallas.org -- the kids need you!

Here's a pic from today!  All of those sacks and boxes are filled with new supplies and uniforms.  We're ready -- are you?

Good things about getting older

As they always say, the good thing about getting older is that it's better than the alternative.

My friends and I think a lot about getting older -- we talk about our doctors, how our hips hurt, how we can't sleep well at night -- really everything.  So, I enjoyed seeing the cast of The Today Show putting out their pics using the FaceApp this morning.  All of them ended up looking good as older people.

They have editors who must know what they are doing!

Look at this

I may end up looking like this, but I can also tell you that I'll be better at a lot of things...

• I always tell my nieces that you don't know anything until you're 40 (really it's 50, but I don't want them to think they have to wait THAT long).
• I absolutely love my job and know I'm really good at it -- after 17 years at Community Partners of Dallas, I ought to be.
• I've lived in Dallas so long that I know a ton of people, so I almost never walk into a room of strangers.
• I know what I like to eat and drink and watch and read -- and if I want to do any of these things at any hour of the day, I do it.
• I live in the present.

And I can have some work done if I want to.  This is the same photo with the Hollywood application

The real me is in the round one.  I'm OK!

What else gets better with age?

Need the Shingles Vaccine? Fuggedaboutit.

What's wrong with me?

To be honest, there are probably a lot of things wrong with me.

• I'm getting really sick of my frizzy hair.
• I cannot make a breakfast sausage casserole that is satisfying to all.
• I'm certainly overweight and have no willpower to change.
• I'm getting really sick of my frizzy hair.  Wait -- did I already say that?
• I'm pretty much a couch potato in my leisure time.  If I didn't have a job, I'd really be in trouble!

And I'm also at risk of shingles.

NOTE:  My friend Corinne told me that the shot hurts for weeks -- and she just left to get her second one.  Who knew that it was such a pain to be in pain?

I've been asking doctors about getting the shingles shot for years and the doctors -- different ones, BTW -- have always blown me off.  I used to think it was because I don't look (almost) 58, but now that I'm in a frenzy to find the damn thing, I'm beginning to think it was because the f-ing doctors didn't care if I got the shingles.

My Tom Thumb Pharmacy told me they are saving theirs for the waiting list (but when I asked to be put on the waiting list, they said no).  A few days later a friend on FaceBook posted she was getting her's at my Tom Thumb and that she was on the waiting list.  

NOTE:  Why would they put her on the wait list and not me?  Michelle is very pretty (and no frizzy hair) -- hmmmm...

Today, Corinne told me there is a vaccine locator website to look up who has the shots.  The Walgreens near me said they are holding their inventory for second shot patients and to call back.  

Another pharmacy on the vaccine locator website told me they had the shots, but that I had to be a Native American to get one.  

NOTE:  My Ancestry.com profile will not help me here.  Not one f-ing iota.

I'm SOL.  Stay away from me if you have shingles.  I'll make an exception if you have Cheetos or a flat iron.

Uniforms for all!

Have you ever worn a uniform?  

I haven't -- except at Camp Longhorn and at gym -- and I sucked at gym.  I went to public school, and back then public schools didn't require uniforms.

NOTE:  I'm so old that when I started working in the mid-1980's ladies couldn't wear pants to work.  I'm sitting at my desk now in pants and a top, but could easily be in blue jeans and a t-shirt, but I have a meeting at a donor's office in an hour.  My, how things have changed!

Anyway, now uniforms are worn by students in public and private schools.  At Community Partners of Dallas, we provide uniforms for abused and neglected kids in Dallas County to be able to start school with dignity.  If that child has an open CPS case and is living in their own home or with a relative, our donors make sure that that child has a fresh new uniform to go back to school and fit in with the other children.  A uniform is an equalizer for our kiddos who often feel like they don't measure up. 

Adults sometimes wear uniforms too...  Servers at restaurants, grocery stores, mail carriers.  Airline personnel, pest control employees.  Police officers, firefighters, and the military.

Are you the type of person who will pay for a police or firefighter's meal if you see them in their uniform?  Buy their sack of groceries at the store?  Buy a service person a beer at a bar or a coffee in the line at Starbucks?  I am.  Half the time when I ask the server to put their bill on my credit card, they say someone else has already provided payment!

NOTE:  I always like to do this anonymously and ask the server not to tell the officer that I'm the one who paid.  It makes it a real feel-good moment for me!

I think it happens all the time and it should.  I know some restaurants comp the meals for service persons and those restaurants should be celebrated and patronized by all of us. 

BUT

It doesn't ever happen for a group I believe deserves the comped meal just as much -- CPS caseworkers.  The caseworkers of CPS walk amongst us, having dinner or lunch, buying groceries for their families, and are not wearing a uniform.  We don't recognize who they are and what they do.  

They save children's lives.  They help families through crises and find safe homes for children.  They make sure kids are safe -- sometimes risking their own lives to do so.  They leave their own children at home with family and sit all night in a hospital room with a child on life support.  They drive miles and miles in their own cars with kids in car seats who are screaming and vomiting.

I wish I could give them a uniform so you could spot them and buy their lunch or a cup of coffee.  I know you'd do it if you could.

P.S.  If you are so inclined, we have lots of opportunities to feed and nurture CPS caseworkers.  Visit www.CommunityPartnersDallas.org

Four Favorite Things I Love Right Now -- Part 25

It has been some time since I wrote a Four Faves post -- see the most recent one here: http://blog.paigemcdaniel.org/search/label/Four%20Faves -- but the people who read this blog before (literally 3 of you), have asked me to do this again.  Your wish is my command, loyal readers!

Four Faves, reboot style:

1.  I've probably admitted my addiction before, but Garrett's Cheese Popcorn is my kryptonite.  I'm drawn to it like a bee to a flower, like a fly to honey, like e coli to raw room temperature shrimp.  I get their emails and usually, I delete without reading because it's dangerous, but about two weeks ago they had a special on for National Cheese Day and I couldn't resist.  I ordered one can of cheese and one can of Garrett's mix (caramel and cheese mixed) and, well, you can see what happened within a week.  The cheese is long gone and the mix is hidden in my closet to leave the premises soon.  A pox on you, Garrett's!

2.  I watch a lot of reality TV and am an expert in all things Bravo.  Note photo of me with the Bravo guru Andy Cohen and my niece at this year's Chick Lit Luncheon benefitting Community Partners of Dallas.  Such a nice guy!

But my current addiction is 90 Day Fiance on TLC.  I have a friend who also watches and some nights we are keeping the texts ON FIRE as we comment back and forth.  And the franchise doesn't stop there -- They now have a show called Pillow Talk where former and current cast members lie in bed and comment on the evening's episode.  It is hilarious.  Well worth several hours of your time a week -- and yes, you read me right, SEVERAL HOURS...

3.  I ordered this Jin Soon Nail Polish on Amazon after seeing a recommendation somewhere.  I do my own fingernails and am always trying to find one that stays on better.  Light colored nail polish is my favorite (because I can't see the chips and imperfections as much), so I ordered away and hoped the polish would look good.  It does and the best part is it dries SUPER quickly.  I do the bottom coat, 2 coats of color, and a top coat, and I'm not kidding, it seems to be pretty dry in about 10 minutes.  My old polish (Chanel, Essie or OPI) would crease even after hours of drying.  This stuff is a winner!

4.  Traders Joe's Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend is the BOMB.  I was late to the game, but my friend Cynthia told me about using it on avocado toast and it is a revelation.  I've tried it on baked potatoes, mac and cheese -- it would be good on anything.  Don't walk, run to the store and make yourself avocado toast and put an over easy egg atop it tomorrow.  Sprinkle away.  YUM.

What are your faves?

P.S.  I do not know why I cannot get these photos to right themselves.  Enjoy the neck stretch...

Who Replaced The Toilet Paper?

The title of this post isn't quite right, because what I really want to say is:

Why am I the ONLY one who ever replaces the toilet paper?

In fact, "say" isn't the right word, because I really want to shout it!

Like most of us, we are totally used to changing the rolls at home and even for those of us who live with others, you probably have a system of how the rolls get changed -- even if you have to shout at your family to do it -- or you may have just resigned yourself to doing it over and over again.

But (ha!) at work, I'm at a loss.  I feel like I'm the TP Queen.  Seems like almost every time I enter a stall, I need to replace the roll(s) -- and you better look first, people, or beware!  We do not have extra rolls in the stalls...

Part of the problem is the brand-spankin' (ha!)-newness of our building at Community Partners of Dallas.  We have new, modern fixtures, and there is NO STORAGE in the bathrooms; plus, the TP holders are kind of a pain.  There is a key to open them and it's difficult to figure out how to do it.

NOTE:  I did put my foot down when we decided upon the toilets -- I want to flush the commode my self -- no automatic flushers here, as well as at the sinks.  I absolutely hate the automatic ones.  How many times at the NorthPark AMC Movie Theater have you had to shuffle to the next sink to finish washing your hands after waving frantically to no avail?  And don't get me started on the yucky toilets that don't flush or flush while you are using them!  Horrors!

But (ha!), then again, if it's not my job to change the rolls, whose is it?  No one at CPD has it in their job description and while we do have a janitor service 3 times a week (God bless them), someone has to do it.  It can be me.

P.S.  I do know that I am not the only employee who does this, in fact, I bet all of us do it.  I'm lucky to work with a bunch of great people who know it takes a village to paper the pots!

Forgetting Is Yeezy

I forgot to blog today, so am trying to keep my commitment by writing now. Even with fun of the holiday on Monday and our annual Community Partners of Dallas’ Staff Bonding Day Tuesday, it's been a tough week. I’m so grateful to have a fantastic group of women to work with each day and I would put my team up against any group in town.

Come back and visit me next week and I promise something pithy and funny — I have some stuff I’m working on and you are going to enjoy it, damn it!

Ps. Did anyone see the preview of David Letterman getting dressed by Kanye on The Today Show this morning?  Dave looked amazing and I think everyone was surprised (including Kanye)!

Well, hello again.

Hello, it's me.  I've thought about us for a long long time.

Shout out to Todd Rundgren

I gave up blogging a few years ago.  I liked it -- in fact at times I loved it -- but I do miss the practice.  It made me feel smart.  And if you know me very well at all you know I like to feel smart more than anything.  I'd rather be smart than pretty any day!  Hasn't that worked out well for me?

Truly, the reason I quit it was that we raised the funds and built a new facility for Community Partners of Dallas in Dallas' Caring Corridor.  As the President and CEO, I was involved in every donor ask and every decision made on the building from carpet to ceiling.  We moved to the new building in January and it is wonderful.  I'll write later about those choices and how they were made, but know that this place is going to be a revolution in how children are cared for by CPS.  

And abused and neglected children need all the revolutions they can get!

The garden (a British floral designer I heard recently asked why we call our yards "yards" instead of gardens, so I'm embracing it now) has had work done, but you can get an idea here.

 

Thanksgiving Catalyst, Reporting for Duty!

I have written a few past Thanksgiving posts from Fredericksburg, Texas -- a place I love to visit, especially when I am with the Clark family.  It is such a joy to be with a large and fun family with multiple generations and lots of laughter.  I feel blessed to have shared so many great experiences with Joe and his family for Thanksgivings past.

This year (like many others -- I used to kinda switch off my turkey eating each year), I'll be here in Dallas with my own family and Joe will be with us.  And the best part is -- I'M COOKING AT MY HOUSE!

Let me explain...

My sister-in-law cooks the turkey and its trimmings almost every year, but this year she is in a boot, so I offered to cook at my house.  Joe and I are planning the meal and cooking it (mostly) and my mother is going to be with us for moral support (aka telling us what to do).  Mom and I decorated the table and I pretty much totally copied Alicia Wood's tablescape from The Lush List blog (http://www.thelushlist.com/2016/11/elegant-thanksgiving-tablescape/), so it looks fantastic.  I'm trying my friends Cynthia and Nick's turkey cooking method.  All is set.

I'm grateful to have friends and family coming over for a full table and I'm certainly blessed to live here in the USA and have a job that I love and plenty to eat.

Hope you'll join me in feeling blessed and happy, because you are blessed and happy.

So much happier than the kids we serve at Community Partners of Dallas.  We are collecting toys right now and we're short on tablets for our older kids.  If you are willing and blessed enough to be able to donate one, we really need you.  Go to Amazon (https://smile.amazon.com/All-New-Amazon-Fire-HD-8-8-Inch-Tablet-8GB/dp/B018SZT3BK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1479762451&sr=8-4&keywords=fire%2Btablet&th=1) and buy a fire tablet and have it sent here to our office:

Community Partners of Dallas
ATTN:  Paige
1215 Skiles Street
Dallas, TX  75204

All kids need an escape and abused and neglected kids need an escape more than most.  A tablet can do that.  Thanks for sharing your blessings with a kid who really needs it.  Feel free to tell the people around your Thanksgiving table about what you did for us.  You can be a catalyst for change!

Grateful Doesn't Say Enough

Please allow me to take a moment and point out that I am

SO SUPER EXTREMELY GRATEFUL AND BLESSED TO HAVE A HOME FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS OF DALLAS WITH THE MEADOWS FOUNDATION!

Truly, how many landlords (that receive no rent and pay for everything except the electric bill) provide and plant beautiful pansies out front?  What a gift The Meadows Foundation gives to non-profits in Dallas!  Their support has been the largest gift we've ever received.  I'm in tears writing this, just thinking about the hundreds of thousands of abused and neglected children they have supported through our agency alone over the past eight years.

Today, I'm happy to have pansies in our front beds and every day I'm happy that The Meadows Foundation chose us to have this building.  Three cheers!

REALLY?

Are you who you think you are?

I keep thinking about polls (natch) and how the system puts us in a box.  You know the stereotypes:

• I'm from Highland Park, so I'm snobby.
• I'm 55 years old, so I have dry skin.
• I'm from Texas, so I love country music.

Actually none of the above are true for me.  Of course, stereotypes typically have a kernel of truth -- otherwise they wouldn't make sense.  We do tend to put people in boxes because it's an easy way to get out of having to get to know them -- really know them.

It's so much easier to just assume that because someone doesn't dress that well or doesn't live in my neighborhood that they just don't deserve my attention.  

Earlier this week I went over to a volunteer's home to pick up something that I had purchased at a charity auction.  Not only did the volunteer not introduce herself to me, she made me feel like I wasn't welcome in her home.  I think she thought I was old -- and I did nothing to dispell that thought because I was unable to quickly find the ticket number she required on my cell phone.  I don't know why she was unfriendly -- maybe she had a bad morning -- but I can tell you that her treatment has only made me check myself.

Am I who I look like?  Who I think like?  Seth Godin often talks about the "people like us do things like this" mantra when we make decisions -- such as "people like us" buy i-phones, eat at Mi Cocina, go to college.

But are we really that easy to label?

I heard a speaker from the New York Flower School who did a demonstration for my garden club last week (and yes, I realize that being in a garden club sticks me smack dab into that flower box for you).  She said that 90% of her brides who are blonde choose pastel flowers for their bouquets and 90% of her brunette clients choose darker tones.

Maybe others can make assumptions about me.  I do fit a lot of the typical stereotypes, but I'm going to quit judging and try to get to know people.  Why don't you join me?

I worry most about the kids we are serving at Community Partners of Dallas.  Will Jason always be the boy who was sexually abused?  Will Heavenly always be the girl who came to school dirty and withdrawn?

Will you give them a chance and get to know them for who they really are?

As a reminder -- I'm no beauty.  Here I am in all my glory -- wet hair and all -- but I am worth knowing.  You are too.

Hello From the Other Side

It's been 10 months since my last blog post.

NOTE:  That reminds me of my short stint as an Episcopalian about 20 years ago:  "Forgive me, Father, it's been ten months since my last confession..."

NOTE to NOTE:  Surprisingly, blogging fills a similar role -- confessionally speaking, I mean.

I'm not sure why I stopped, other than feeling as though I was super busy at work and personally.

NOTE:  Didn't even plan to start blogging again today, just decided to jump back in on a whim.  Boom.

Anyway, back to our story:

I guess the biggest personal change is that I MOVED!

I used to move about every two years because I would buy a house, make it beautiful, sell it for a profit, then buy another one and repeat.  But my most recent move (about 10 years ago) into where I thought I'd be living for the rest of my life, was not my last move.   As the years went on it became apparent that I had one more move in me and I have now moved into and decorated what will be my final home -- yippee!  I posted a couple of photos below.

So, I'm going to try to get back to blogging occasionally.  Can't promise I'll return to twice a week like before, but who knows?  Life is fun and we all need a little confession occasionally.

Thanks for reading.

Four Favorite Things I Love Right Now! Part 24

How about a Four Faves -- Christmas version?

Isn't that all we're thinking about today?  Christmas -- or as the Real Housewives of New Jersey would say -- baby Jesus's birthday?

I'm ready to go with gifts and have been for about a month.  I know some of you may be jealous, but I went to Europe a couple of times this year, so I started early, plus I did shop a little yesterday for a few Christmas Eve gifts for the family.

Without further ado, here are my Four Faves Christmas Style!

1. Blue Bell Peppermint Ice Cream is the best!  Good luck finding it in Dallas today, as I only left 4 at the last store -- and I would bet $100,000 that they are out now. 
   
2. These new Pajamas from Soma are the cutest, most glam things ever.  LOVE!  I feel like Lady Gaga and Sia would approve, don't you?
   
3. This sweet book brings me to tears every year.  The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado is part of my personal tradition every year. 
   
4. Everybody knows my a Chex Party Mix (called Trash in my family) is the best -- despite the flawed result of a party mix contest at Community Partners of Dallas a few years ago.
5. Recipe:
6. 2 C Corn Chex
   2 C Rice Chex
   2 C Wheat Chex
   Plus 2 more cups of your fave of the above -- I mix it up.  My niece Lina loves Kix, so I throw them in here too sometimes
   1 C pecans
   1 C pretzels
   1 T soy sauce (I add a little more here)
   1/2 C butter
   1 1/4 t season salt
   1/4 t garlic powder 
   
   
   Melt butter in electric skillet at 250 degrees.  Stir in seasonings and blend well.  Add all and stir to coat.  Cover with vents open.  Heat for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.  Cool on paper towels.  Enjoy!

Hope you are spending lots of time with family and friends.  Merry Christmas!

First World Problem Hodgepodge

New Hodgepodge this week!  Thank you, Joyce, for always coming through with thought-provoking questions for the weary bloggers out there...

1. What's your biggest 'first world' problem?
I have no garage. I don't really miss it for the car -- I have a circular driveway -- but it is at holiday time that the storage for decorations is nil/packed in the attic.  Makes it so inconvenient to access. My other option is to take my only guest room and store it in there.
2.  Each year Time Magazine names a 'Person of the Year', someone who has 'for better or worse...done the most to influence the events of the year.' It was recently announced they've named Angela Merkel Person of the Year for 2015. Your thoughts? If you were in charge, who would you declare Person of the Year? 
Since this is the time of year that we give out 10,000+ toys to abused and neglected kids, I'd give it to the donors and volunteers who make children's dreams come true.
3. Do you have a nativity set in your home? If so share it's history and how you display the pieces.
Yes!  I have quite a few!  I have a few small ones that stay out year round.  I love this one (the first one) and it is fun to collect the pieces, but my favorite is the one Joe gave me (it's the second one). It is the most beautiful, I think.

4.  Do you make an extra effort to give back in some way during the holiday season? How do you encourage those who need encouragement this time of year?
I love volunteering at my church during the holiday -- this year I'm not attending on Christmas Eve in order to have more room for visitors. I'm attending the travelers service and ushering.
5. Who is your favorite person to shop for? Why?
My mom is tough because she buys everything she wants for herself and she has spectacular taste. When I find something for her it's a Christmas miracle!
6. What's the last delicious thing you ate?
My homemade chicken salad.
7. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is________________.
Tell strangers that they are beautiful/handsome. Smile and laugh a lot.
8. Insert your own random thought here.

Three cheers to Willard Scott upon his retirement from The Today Show today. My grandmother always called him her secret love.  He is mine too. 

Was Frank Sinatra One of Us?

Yesterday I heard a program about Frank Sinatra.  He was never my favorite rat-packer (I'm more of a Dean Martin fan), but it was very interesting to hear about his life and they also had a guy playing the piano and crooning a few of his songs throughout the speech.  Fun event.

One of the stories told was about Frank as a young boy telling his parents that he wanted to be a singer like Bing Crosby.

His dad told him he'd end up a bum and his mother threw a shoe at him.

Funny how Frank's story turned out, huh?

My mother really wanted me to be an attorney.

I was a theatre major.

My dad told me I was getting a degree in basketweaving.

I loved acting and singing and while I didn't become another Sinatra, I did get to perform in the Junior League of Dallas Show each year and I know my degree helps me to be a good speaker -- and I know that helps me at Community Partners of Dallas.

We don't have to have parents who support us or agree with every decision we make, do we?  If you have the drive, you can still become a success.

The kids we help at CPD don't really have anyone who supports their dreams for the future.  They can still make it.  Frank did.

They don't have to know exactly what they're doing while still young.  They can still do it.  I did.

I bet you did too.

Remember these thoughts from Dale Carnegie:

Do you remember the things you were worrying about a year ago?  How did they work out?  Didn't you waste a lot of fruitless energy on account of most of them?  Didn't most of them turn out all right after all?

A Christmas Hodgepodge

Christmas Hodgepodge!

1.  Many families have a story they love to tell every year around a holiday. Does your family have one? Are you the star of that story, or does another family member take center stage? Share your story if you want.
I can't think of a story, but I usually do bring up the time I saved my brother's life when I pulled him out of the ocean. The entire family needs to know why they exist.
2. Are you afraid to speak your own opinion?
No.  Who're you looking at?  Huh, huh?
3. Pantone has announced the color of the year for 2016, and for the first time have chosen two shades-rose quartz and serenity. Hmmm...did you know serenity was a color? You can read the thought behind their selection here, but essentially it's blending the warmth of rose quartz with the tranquility of a very soft shade of blue. So what do you think? Are these colors I'd find in your home or wardrobe? Will you add something in these shades to either place in the new year?
They are currently in my wardrobe and yes, I'll buy more.  Love both and think it is interesting that the choices are pale -- like me. My skin tone is pretty rose-quartz -y, so maybe I don't need to buy it after all!
4. If you could be in a Christmas carol, which one would you choose? Why?
Joy to the World.  It has always been one of my faves. When I was a teen, our church always let the high schoolers do a service (sermon, read the verses, congregational song choices, etc.) in the summer and I always made them sing Joy to the World -- breaking rules and creating scandal ever since.
5. December 9th is National Pastry Day. Will you celebrate? When did you last purchase something from a bakery? What's your favorite treat that falls under the heading of pastry? Do you make it yourself or buy from the professionals?
Buy it. Even if I make a pie, I always use the Pillsbury refrigerated crusts. When you can buy something that tastes that good and is so easy, why not?
6. When it comes to holiday decorating_____________________________.
More is more.  I hired someone to help me this year and she came up with a lot of new ideas. Moved the tree to a new room too.
7. When did you last laugh so much it hurt? Explain.
It wasn't painful, but I cracked up the other night watching SNL -- the sketch where Ryan Gossling was cracking up too.  Kate McKinnon is just hilarious.
8.  Insert your own random thought here.
Christmas card addressing is looming, so I'm out.  Happy to be back with Joyce and the Hodgepodge!

Words I love. The struggle is real.

I love words.  Quotes, especially, but really just words.  I have an account on Instagram, but really it's words for me.  Of course, I'm a reader -- although lately, I've been slacking on my novels for work-related stuff.

So, for today's blog post, I'm hitting you with a few of my new and long-time favorite phrases:

1. Hello from the other side.  I must have called a thousand times to tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done, but when I call you never seem to be home.  These words are on everyone's minds right now due to the earworm, but I really do find the lyrics striking from Adele's latest.  And gosh, isn't she just absolutely beautiful?  Sings pretty well too.
2. The struggle is real.  Not sure why I find this so interesting, but I've never heard anyone in person use it.  I have heard it a couple of times in commericals.  I love it so much that I used it in conversation with Joe the other night.  He just looked at me.  Obviously, he doesn't know how f-ing cool I am.
3. If it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes a village to abuse one.  This is from the film Spotlight about the Catholic priest sexual abuse scandal and about how it was first reported by The Boston Globe.  The quote is so true -- it is very difficult to engage in ongoing abuse of a child without someone knowing or suspecting something.  If you suspect abuse or neglect, you must report it -- it is your legal duty to do so.  In Texas call 1-800-252-5400.
4. She's the coolest girl in school and everyone worships her because she's heaven.  This is from my favorite Christmas movie, Love Actually.  Get the popcorn ready.

Happy Friday, friends!

Thanksgiving Blessings

I missed my traditional Thanksgiving post yesterday, but that doesn't mean I'm not grateful -- in fact, I have to give God the glory for more abundance than ever!

You may have noticed that I haven't been posting lately.

The blog break started when Joe and I went to Paris and London to visit our wonderful friends Cathy and Tom who are living over there for a short time while Tom stars in Wicked in London. What a wonderful trip and the best part was being with our friends. Blessing!

The blog break continued when we returned and I came down with a terrible cold. I've still got the end of the cough.  I sat next to a darling girl on the way to Paris who was blowing her nose the entire trip, so I blame her.  While I wouldn't normally think a cold is something for which to be thankful, I know that God directs my steps and that He can make all things work for good.  I do know that we all need to slow down periodically, and sometimes a bad cold is a forced slow down.  Blessing!

Other reasons for dogging on the blog are numerous, but most of it is the hustle of the holiday -- December is our biggest month at Community Partners of Dallas as we are scramble to fill wishes for 5,500 kids -- along with the official beginning of the leadership phase of our capital campaign. Finding the donors for CPD is my favorite blessing of all!

Thanks for sticking with me and the blog. Not sure if I can keep up weekly posts, but I'll try.  You're a blessing too -- Paige

P.s.  One of my favorite things about being in London was that Tom got recognized ALL THE TIME because Frasier is played on TV there every morning and Tom was on that show. Vicarious fame is how I roll!

Hat Lady Hodgepodge

It's Hodgepodge Wednesday!  Let the games begin...

1. Are you comfortable with silence? If you're home alone, do you like silence or do you need regular background noise? Do you seek out times and places to be silent? What's your favorite place to find silence/be silent?

Hmmmm.  Even as I write a leaf blower is loudly working outside my window, a baby is crying down the hall (we let babies come to work until they're 6 months with their moms at CPD), and Joanna is talking on the phone next door, so you'd think I'd crave silence.  Nope.  I pretty much have TV or radio on all the waking hours of the day, unless I'm reading or praying and I can do those things anywhere.

2. October 28th is National Chocolate Day. Can't let that go by without a mention now, can we? Will you celebrate? How? Let's say you can have one of the following right this very minute... a cup of hot chocolate, a strawberry dipped in chocolate, a bowl of plain chocolate ice cream, or a slice of chocolate pie...what's your pleasure?

Ice cream or pie for me.  I'd probably choose the pie first since ice cream is a bit more of a constant for me.  Working at a charity makes chocolate candy everpresent.  We must have it for the kids -- at least that's what we tell ourselves.

3. How do you feel about blue jeans? Favorite thing in the world to wear or nope, don't own a single pair? How often do you wear blue jeans in a typical week? Do you own a blue jean jacket?

LOVE blue jeans!!!  I wear them several times a week.  We are super casual at work, and sometimes even wear them as a uniform with our CPD-branded T-shirts.  I love the way jeans hold it all in (if you know what I mean) and yes, I own several jackets too.  I don't wear them as often, though.

4. Are you superstitious? If so, in what way?

Yes, a little.  Mostly for my sports team faves.  When the Mavs won the NBA championship I couldn't even watch them because if I watched, they lost.  They owe me for their win.  Here's the post I wrote about it: http://blog.paigemcdaniel.org/2011/05/controlling-mavs.html

5. If you had to come up with a costume using only things you have on hand right now, what could you come up with? 

I have lots of hats -- Santa Hats, Ball Caps, Witches Hat, Headband with a Reindeer on it, Headband with Bunny Ears, Birthday Hat, etc.  Hat Lady, I guess.

6. What scares you a little? What do you do when you feel scared?

I watch scary shows all the time.  Right now American Horror Story is freaking me out quite a bit.  What do I do when scared?  Make popcorn and keep watching!

7. Perhaps today will be the day I ______________________________.

Hear back from some people I'm trying to get in touch with for CPD!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

What has happened to all of the Chinese restaurants in Dallas?  When I was young there were so many good ones -- Schezwan Pavilion comes to mind -- but now, it's pretty much either delivery or nothing.  Thank goodness for Royal China!

Four Favorite Things I Love Right Now! Part 23

Sorry that I've been an absentee blogger for a week or so -- life sometimes does get in the way of blogging, doesn't it?  I haven't had time to even read my favorite blogs, must less write one.

BUT, since it is threatening to flood in Dallas today and we have only a few brave souls in the office at Community Partners of Dallas, I have a little time to write.  And you know if I get to write about my Four Faves it's a good day -- yay!

If you are new to this blog, I write about my favorite things periodically.  Visit the most recent one here (and so on):  http://blog.paigemcdaniel.org/2015/08/four-favorite-things-i-love-right-now.html

I decided this morning that I'd do a few of my favorite morning things with one evening thing thrown in so you know I'm loads of fun at all hours of the day (and night)...

I spent a little time this summer reverting to my high school days when I ate no breakfast in the morning.  I thought this might help me to lose a few, but it hasn't and my recent visit to a new doctor had her lecturing me that I was doing the exact opposite thing that I should be doing -- ugh.

NOTE:  Never again will I go to a young, skinny female doctor.  Give me a fat old male doctor every time.  If he also smokes that's a bonus.

1.  I love this Applegate Naturals Sausage that my friend Katie told me about years ago.  You can heat up one or two pieces in a skillet and you're ready to go.  I usually have a few grapes with it too. Red grapes are just fantastic right now.

2.  My new Green Smoothie is the best!  Add these things to your blender in this order:
One 1/4 C water (or you can use coconut water -- I use good old filtered tap water)
Handful of spinach (if I have it I add some kale too and sometimes a little pineapple)
Navel orange, peeled and pulled into a few sections
1/2 of a frozen banana, cut into 1/4 inch slivers
Dash of cinnamon
Squirt of honey
Blend this, then add 1/2 glass or so of ice and a tablespoon of hemp seed (for protein) and pulse/blend again.  Delish!

3.  This is not food, but I'm absolutely smitten with this Scarf from Hadleigh's in Highland Park Village.  They are opening a new store on Madison Avenue in NYC next week, so get your scarf now while you can.  It is oblong and can be a scarf or used as a shawl.  Fabulous patterns!  Not cheap, but SOOOO wonderful.

4.  My friend Sofia told me about Yogi Tea to relax at night and I just love it.  Has a slightly sweet flavor without any sweetener added.

What are your Four Faves?