Happy New Year!

I know, you're all thinking I'm off my gourd, it's September, right? Well beginning tonight at sundown, Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) begins a 10-day series of very holy days in the Jewish faith. This begins the year 5772, and while it's not as traditionally festive as the New Year's we've all come to love or hate, there is great celebration in having another year under our belts.

What I love about these days is the philosophy behind them. Between Rosh Hashanah (New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), you are responsible for making amends, for "cleaning out your closet" of all the bad things you've done, the people you've hurt, the anger you hold on to. Many people reach out to each other in these days, to try and right the wrongs. As the belief goes, if you do this, you'll be added to the "good" book for the year to come, which, let's face it, who wants to be in the bad book?

There's just such a positive message with this. While traditional New Years has become more about parties and resolutions, I feel like Rosh Hashanah is more about bettering yourself by working with others, working on your relationships, working on your self. I can't think of a better time, as fall approaches, to think about the "death" of all the resentment and anger I hold onto and the "birth" and refreshing of a new year.

So, L'Shana Tova! And may you find peace with yourself and with others...

It Will Rain...

If you know me in real life, you know how I'm addicted to good music, especially good lyrics. The more haunting the song, the better. I was excited to see that the first single off the Twilight Saga-Breaking Dawn, Part 1 Soundtrack was Bruno Mars' "It Will Rain," which I have discovered as an amazingly written, haunting song.......

The Song:

The Lyrics:

If you ever leave me, baby,
Leave some morphine at my door
‘Cause it would take a whole lot of medication
To realize what we used to have,
We don’t have it anymore.

There’s no religion that could save me
No matter how long my leaves are on the floor
So keep in mind all the sacrifices I’m makin’
Will keep you by my side
Will keep you from walkin’ out the door.

Cause there’ll be no sunlight
if I lose you, baby
There’ll be no clear skies
if I lose you, baby
Just let the clouds, my eyes will do the same if you walk away
Everyday, it will rain

I’ll never be your mother’s favorite
Your daddy can’t even look me in the eye
Oooh if I was in their shoes, I’d be doing the same thing
Sayin there goes my little girl
walkin’ with that troublesome guy

But they’re just afraid of something they can’t understand
Oooh well little darlin’ watch me change their minds
Yea for you I’ll try I’ll try I’ll try
I’ll pick up these broken pieces ’til I’m bleeding
That’ll make you mine

Cause there’ll be no sunlight
if I lose you, baby
There’ll be no clear skies
if I lose you, baby
Just like the clouds, my eyes will do the same if you walk away
Everyday, it will rain

I’ll do the same
goodbye, don’t just say, goodbye
I’ll pick up these broken pieces ’til I’m bleeding
That’ll make it right

Cause there’ll be no sunlight
if I lose you, baby
There’ll be no clear skies
if I lose you, baby
Just like the clouds, my eyes will do the same if you walk away
Everyday, it will rain

Relax

What do you do to relax? To me, a trip to the family cabin is always the best bet for "recharging your batteries" as my boss says. There's something that I still really appreciate about the crisp, fresh Northern Wisconsin air, and it's the act of returning home that always warms your heart. I miss it so much. I've been trying for awhile to look for jobs up there, but nothing has been worth leaving my current position for. I always thought that I would love living and raising a family in the city, but the more I see my son play outside at our cabin, the more I wish he had woods, or at least a bigger yard to run around in.

Being from Northern Wisconsin, I feel like it's something I was somehow bothered by when I was in college and grad school. But as life got more stressful and I need that solace, I realized all the amazing things I was taking for granted. Things are just different up there, and I don't say that in a bad way. It's slower, cleaner, fresher, cheaper, and it's home. There's no way to escape the beautiful turning of the fall leaves, or the fresh snow on the pine trees. I just love nature, and I want that for my son. . .

Lake Metonga, Crandon WI

Wolf River-Around the bend from the Cabin

My favorite drive...Hwy 55

So I guess the moral of this is that you should embrace who you are, where you're from and all the things of your past. I think the harder you run from something, the more you deny it and walk away from it, the more you yearn for it and the more it really feels like home.

Fun Fall Things...

I love fall! For anyone that knows me, I have a wardrobe of basis staples. I like neutral, basic colors (black, grey, tan) and the staples (jeans, black pants, black sweaters/shirts). What I really love is accessories. I can't get enough of them. I don't wear a lot of bright colors or patterns, so accessories are my chance to express myself and let my flair show. Every season, I like to pick up a couple pieces to spice up my existing clothes to help ring in that season. Here are a couple things I love for fall:

Blowfish Hodah Shoes
$39.00
www.blowfishshoes.com

TOMS
Camel Cords
$54.00
www.toms.com

Forever 21
Faceted Dome Ring
$2.80
www.forever21.com

Forever 21
Striped Floral Scarf
$8.80
www.forever21.com

Blowfish and TOMS are my absolute favorite shoe brands. If I could survive off of those two alone, I would. So comfy! And I love to get my accessories at cheaper places like Forever 21 and H&M, because they're always on point with what's "in," but it's also priced right, so you don't feel bad spending $30.00 there, because you're getting a ton of stuff!

Who Doesn't Love the Muppets?

I grew up watching the Muppets, and I adore them. Trying to pick a favorite Muppet is like trying to pick a favorite child. I can't wait to bring my son to the new Muppet movie, out at Thanksgiving....

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44625932/ns/today-entertainment/#.Tntr_-zigpg

How cool has their marketing campaign been? Their parodies of movie trailers have been spot-on!

Welcome to Quirky in Wisconsin!

Ah, the decision to blog. I think discovering www.hellogiggles.com has inspired me to share my quirky, crazy life. I am really a complex woman... my best friend (also my ex) called me unique last week and I took it as a total compliment. I am unique, and I want to make that okay for everyone. Not everyone has to fit into a mold of being one label or the other. When people ask who I hung out with in high school, I say everyone, because I did! I didn't want to just be the student council geek, the good student, the drama kid, the track star. I wanted to be friends with everyone because I value the person, not what they're interested in.

So here I am...inspired to start a lifestyle blog and see where it takes me....I'll comment on my life, what I like to do, see, wear, cheer for, love, appreciate, loathe and support. I want whomever reads this to be inspired to be who they are, even if according to society, those interests conflict with each other...

So rock out to who you are....I'm Quirky in Wisconsin... who are you?