Month: April 2020

I’m sitting, coffee in hand in my dark cool room.

I took today off.
A mental health day.

A day devoted to recharging and refocusing.
I may or may not get out of my jammies today.

My day may include but not be limited to, coffee. Naps. Pizza. Vanilla crown. Friends. Netflix. Movies. Writing. Shopping.
Ok, that would fill my day and I’d probably need another off to recoup!

And there’s Saturday!

Perfect timing.

Whatever I do or don’t do, today is about me. My mental health.
Stepping back for a few and reevaluating my life plans. Which at times include laundry.
Everyone needs to stop once in a while and just breathe.
Clear your mind.
Take in long deep breaths of positivity while exhaling negativity.

Closing your eyes and visualizing the way you want things to happen. Then the universe will set in motion your desires.
Work at them.
You deserve them.
I’m fortunate to have an entire day.
But it only takes a few minutes.
Sometimes over coffee, in a dark cool room.
Lorene

The closing of a year usually brings reflection.

We tend to look back and evaluate, relive, or just remember.
New year resolutions are made…eat healthier, exercise more, lose weight or even find a better job.
They are most often about improving ourselves.

Hmmmm

I don’t make resolutions anymore. They are just promises I make to myself and most remain unfulfilled, just adding more reason to not like me the way I am and another resolution to the list next year.

I resolve to accomplish all my new years resolutions. !!!!
Meh…not happening.
I’m human.
And I don’t like breaking promises.

I do however, reflect each and every morning when I awake to a new God given day.
Taking one day at a time to become a better wife, mother, Lulu, friend and leader.
The only promise I make to myself is to do my best at being decent, loving, caring and helpful each day.

When I lay down at night, I go over my day and how it progressed. Evaluating my words and actions.
Did I do my best?
How can I make tomorrow better?
I reflect each day so my tomorrows are better.

Daily, not yearly.

It’s too easy to get caught in the trap of thinking how terrible your year was. You gained weight, your relationship is on the rocks, you didn’t finish that project, and the list goes on.
It can be pretty depressing.

All those things you look at as failures staring you in the face all at once and you think, new year, new attitude, my new years resolution is…….yada yada yada

If you have to make a new years resolution, let it be this….

“I will love me as I am. I will make each day better than the last. I will be kind, compassionate, and be the best version of myself, each and every day.”

☕ here’s to the new year, new attitude, new outlook, and the promise of a new love for yourself.
Lorene

Merry Christmas everyone.

I am up early so I can go in and open the kitchen this morning.
No real quiet time for me.
But I wanted to stop and remind everyone today is about love.
What we do for those we love.
Offer our life for them.
Live for them.
And everything in between.
It’s not about gifts, ribbons and bows.
It’s about friends, family and the human race.
It’s a birthday celebration for those that believe and a promise for those that are waiting.
Love
Love
Love
Lorene

Another early morning, cooking breakfast at the hospital.

The day after Christmas just seems like another day.

Whoever decided that Thanksgiving should be later in November really messed up the holiday mojo. It was too swift, the weather was tropic, things just didn’t seem like the holiday.

I worked, I private catered.
I did get some family time after work.
Then I took a nap.

It was an exhausting day.
Not near as exhausting for some.

A friend of mine lost her husband early Christmas morning, my heart hurt for her all day. I would catch myself crying and feeling helpless to help her.
Sometimes bad things to happen to good people.
And she is good people.
I cant imagine nor ever want to feel the pain she must be enduring. I can only pray and send my love to help soften the blows.
I hope she knows she has a support system in the wings to step in and hold her up.
This particular Christmas, Love is needed the most.
Hug your babies, kiss your loved ones, love everyday like its the last.
Lorene

My internal clock is set to 330 am.

No idea why.

My first alarm is at 4 whenever I open.
I hear the older you get, the less sleep you need. That could be to my advantage.
I have a lot of experiences waiting for me. I plan on living each one!
We don’t know how much time we have.

I know I say I am immortal and still work on that daily.

Too much to see and do and not much time to do it.
We postpone living life for numerous reasons.
College, raising a family, career, money, guilt, lots of reasons and excuses.
We wait until the excuse is….
I’m too old for that.

What is too old?
Age is just a number. The amount of times we went around the sun.
Birthdays that were celebrated. Or not.
Time passes whether we count the days or years. Quicker than we would like.

So now is the time and age to live life to its fullest.
It’s ok to say NO to someone so you can say YES to you.
As a matter of fact, it’s about damn time!

Pick something off of your bucket list and plan it for 2020.
Start now.
Make it happen and post it for all of us to see.

Encourage each other to live!
Out loud!
No more excuses.
Lorene

Beauty
You can find it anywhere.

Sometimes it’s not obvious.
A beautiful heart is a gem to discover. One so big they can love the hurt away. Be a big cushion when you fall, and strong arms when you just need to BE.
A heart with so much love, there is plenty to share.

Keeping love to yourself is selfish.
If you feel it, show it. I’m not talking romantic love necessarily, there are so many forms.
From loving a fur baby, family member, close friend or spouse, it’s all different and yet the same.

Love is not jealous, ugly or demanding.
It is given freely from the heart and soul.
Genuine feelings that show you truly care about the existence and happiness of another.

And the greatest gift is love.

Fitting for a giving holiday season.
Never be afraid to show how much you care. For some, it may be all they have to look forward to and give them a reason to move on.
So I jumped from beauty to love. This is why I don’t write for a living.

I guess my brain is telling me they are one in the same.
Be beautiful.
Be Love.
Lorene

Monday

Positive notes;
There is only one a week.
This one is the last one this month, it is also the last one this year, and last but not least, the last one this decade.

Wow

Make this a Monday to remember.
Sip your coffee and look back over the past year, the past 10.
It’s been a crazy ride.
And a quick ride at that.
I’ve been here over half a century.
Jeez!!

I can say I have met new friends, had new adventures, learned to love who I am as I am, and not care when someone else doesn’t.
I’ve initiated a lot more self care.
What a difference that makes.

It’s crazy that 1980 was 40 years ago, not 20.
2 more years and it will be that long I graduated high school.
Whew!
Seriously?

I don’t feel that old.
And I’m sure not going to act it.
I have projects in mind for the coming decade.
I want to entertain more, cook more, attend functions with people with the same carefree attitude.

I’m going to enjoy life.
Day by day.
Period.
Distance myself from the sad Sams, because that can rub off! If you cant tell me anything good that happened to you any given day, you need to reevaluate your purpose and what you want from life. Surround yourself with good attitudes and happiness.
That rubs off too!

2020
A new outlook.
Clear and crisp.
Grab it by the horns and have your perfect 8 second ride, the rest will be a walk in the park.
And start today!

The final Monday.
What a better time.
You got this.
I got this.
Happiest and most meaningful of Mondays to you!
Lorene

The beginning of a new decade will start as I’m writing these words.

What an opportune time to look back at all your accomplishments.
One may have just been getting through the day.
Paying your bills on time.
Getting your bills paid.
Becoming parents.
To twins.
Balancing your checkbook.
avoiding an overdraft this month.
Volunteering at the soup kitchen.
putting food on the table for your family.
Working a 40 hour week.
Holding down 2 jobs.
Being a single parent.
Raising amazing kids.
Graduating college.
Getting your GED.

Each and every accomplishment is amazing.

Never give up.

One day at a time.
One goal at a time.
2020 is a new beginning and a continuing adventure.
Happy New Year my friends.
I’m excited to share the next decade with you.
Lorene

2019
A look back.
I know it was just yesterday. But humor me.

Actually let’s look back as far as 2000.
Personally

We all know most of the worldly accounts, good, bad and ugly. It’s a shame there will always be the ugly things. We can only strive to make our part of the world a better, prettier place.

My decade has been a wild ride.
I found my father, lost my mother, gained 9 beautiful grand babies, fell into the arms of my life partner, watched my children blossom into a beautiful bouquet of successes and individuals.

I was able to reconnect with long time, I wont call you old, friends, family members, even ones I didn’t know I had.
I learned a little about my heritage.
Cuban, 2nd generation American.
I even died. For just a minutes or so, I was too busy to stay there but it was an amazing visit.

My career path was a winding road of Goodyear, convenient store owner, Dollar General Manager, insurance agent, Restaurant manager, then owner and Chef, now a Director of Food and nutrition at the hospital.
Busy 10 years!

But one led me into the other.
I was never afraid to jump in with both feet when an opportunity arose.
I dove into my passion for cooking and was able to live my dream of feeding people happiness at Bistro Lorene.

Not many people can say they lived their dream.
I can. Because I wasn’t afraid to try.

Ok, I’m lying to you.
I was scared crazy!
Truth be told I cried the entire time I cooked my first Rib eye steak for a customer worried they would hate it and send it back.
The curtain that separated the kitchen from the dining room was like that of the Wizard of Oz. I was always afraid someone would find me out. Take a peek behind it and find just a home cook disguised in a chef coat her husband bought her, that loved sharing her dishes. Not some TV chef, although we did make it on Jamie’s Favorite Things once.

It was MY dream, but the people who drove from all around for my food made it a reality. Being recognized in public and told the Bistro is missed is more humbling than you can know.

For that, I am truly grateful.
I’m grateful for the entire decade.
I’ve learned, loved and lost.
Sometimes all on the same day.
This was the decade I discovered,
I BELONG

2020-2029 wont be any different with the exception that I have learned lessons to use as needed, more people around me I love and loved by.
I’ll keep my Aura and spirit bright and loving.
And my feet are ready to jump right in when I see that opportunity.
Look out 2020, this Momma is ready for another ride.

Hang on friends and pack a lunch.
You belong too!
Let’s get this party started!

Lorene

Day 2 of an incredible ride into the roaring 20s.
I started the New Year like I want the rest of the year to go…..
Taking time off, spending time with friends, preparing for the family, relaxing, quality time with Troy, snuggling the fur baby and sipping coffee in my quiet space.

My maximum effort
To make the next decade a memorable one.

I ate some absolutely wonderful, scrumptious, spicy black eyed peas. I’m not bragging on myself, Troy started them while I cooked brunch and by dinner they were amazing! All I did was pour off the bacon grease into the pot. Yummo!!

I also had pizza.
Let’s be real, it’s Lorene here.
Anyone who knows me, knows I can be bought with a double pepperoni pie.

Today will be a back to business day.
End of month paperwork, inventory totals, wrapping up 2019 with a few rubber bands and paper clips.

Saturday will be Christmas in the Wood household. Just when you think you have your children settled down from the holidays, boom! Lulu and Pappy happen.
So yes the tree is still up. And probably will be for a little while.
Nothing wrong with a little holiday reminder.

My cup is empty, and my bladder is full, so I need to run.
Have a great day 2!
Do something out of the norm today, smile at everyone, compliment a stranger or even that coworker that never smiles. Make a smile from them your goal for the week.
😁😁
Lorene