Friday, December 31, 2010

Wrap it Up


Wrap it Up
December 31, 2010 at 5:19 pm by Jeannine Trimboli

So here we are.
2010 is coming to a close. The end of another year. Before I go out and celebrate this evening I am taking time to review the lessons I have learned big and small. I welcome you to do the same. If you haven’t started a journal yet now would be the perfect time to get out some paper and make a first entry.


Here is my final one for 2010. I may contradict myself a little.


1. The best decisions are not always the easiest and often what we want short term is not what is truly best for us longterm.
2. Follow your heart.
3. Take your time, be sure, but once you are sure, do not stop moving forward, and never doubt your initial gut sense.
4. Love really is more powerful than anything else in this world. That can be a positive and a negative.
5. Pain and sadness are a part of life. Do not try and push them away when they are near because they will only manifest elsewhere.
6. It really is okay to have specific standards and to actually think you are worthy of what you truly want from life and from others.
7. Not everyone is always going to be as strong or as ready. It’s okay to be alone sometimes.
8. No matter how hard you try to control circumstances in your life or in the lives of people around you know that ultimately you never will. The only thing you can control is you.
9. If you want something badly enough, passionately enough, and you aren’t sure how to begin just start anyway. If it is really meant to be and you keep working for it things eventually fall into place.
10. As soon as you decide to go for what you want the world will throw as many roadblocks at you as possible. Consider it a valuable test.
11. No matter how many times you reach out to others and get shot down, shut out, or just plain ignored, keep reaching out.
12. Do not dumb yourself down or compromise your values just to feel more included.
13. If you don’t truly love you and all you have to offer no one else’s love will make it better. When you truly love yourself someone else’s love for you will just be an extra special addition to your life but it won’t define your life.
14. Sometimes things just don’t work out. Wait a couple months or even a couple years and then you’ll look back and know why. Also remember this when things don’t work out.
15. No matter how much life throws at you it is always possible to take it on when you believe in your own ability, strength and power. You are more radiant, powerful, capable, amazing, and special than you could ever imagine. Start believing it. Allow your light to shine through a little more every day until you just radiate from every fiber.


When life throws more at you ‘Get Bigger’.
I wish you all a very safe and wonderful New Year’s Eve.


See You Next Year,
Jeannine M. Trimboli


Tuesday, December 28, 2010

More Ellie stories ...


I took Ellie to the grocery store yesterday. One of her favorite things to do is smile at people doing their shopping to see if they smile back. Once she 'scores' she happily tells me, "Mommy, that lady with the brown hair smiled at me." When I responded, "That's because you are the cutest little girl ever," she just looked at me deadpan and said, "Well, duh!" She's so fresh!




This morning I knew Ellie was already awake, so on my way upstairs with coffee in hand I called out, "Ellie meet me in the bathroom, it's time to brush our teeth." Silence. "Ellie c'mon it's time." Again, nothing. So I headed to her room. She was sitting naked in her little princess chair. When I asked, "Ellie, why didn't you answer me?" she responded, "Mommy, I couldn't because Ursula took my voice." After I explained she was not Ariel and needed to get her day started she began to talk non-stop.




Last night for dinner I made pork tenderloin, roasted sweet potatoes and applesauce with cinnamon. When I made Ellie's plate I told her, "Look El I made cinnamon applesauce for you!" Very excitedly she said, "Mommy, that's what Miss Tammy makes for us at lunch. How did you get her recipe?"

Monday, December 27, 2010

Love & Affection

Jude 3 1/2 and John 6 months

During our recent trip to Saratoga, Ellie had the fortune of spending time with Gianni. She exhibited all the wonderful attributes of an older cousin .. she wanted to be touching, hugging and kissing him, A LOT! I know to others it must have seemed as though she was hovering .. and was she always like this with smaller children? To be honest, no, she isn't. She loves her cousins. Josh is older by 10 years and she loves playing with him - card games, shooting the basketball, and generally anything else she's able. With Gianni, she waited patiently to have a 'new baby cousin' and is now basking in the glory of it.

It reminds me of how I felt when my 'baby' brother, John was born. I waited for him. And then when he was finally here I couldn't keep my hands off him. I LOVED HIM! I would hold his little hands, I would kiss him anywhere I could get to - forehead, cheeks, back of his hands even.

I really love that Ellie feels that way for Gianni, the way I felt for John. Babies grow up, and don't let us smother them with kisses. I'm glad she celebrates having this beautiful little boy in her life ... and that she's not shy with her affection! Too soon they'll both be growing up with little time to give kisses this way.

Today I'm celebrating that kind of love. Honest, familial love.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Best Christmas Ever .. the only one that matters!

Under the Christmas Tree on Christmas Eve

Christmas Morning excitement!!

JOY!

New Ornament .. Hot Cocoa

Ellie's present to us
an ornament made at school !

Friday, December 24, 2010

Let the Magic Begin ....


The day was filled with preparation for Christmas Eve dinner (manicotti, spinach with garlic and shrimp cocktail), Christmas breakfast (crabmeat quiche and cinnamon/pecan coffee cake) and Christmas Dinner (porcini encrusted beef tenderloin with blue cheese butter, potatoes au gratin and green beans). Ellie loved helping in the kitchen .. and then promptly went down for a nap to make sure she could stay up 'late' tonight. I used the time to wrap all the last minute gifts and make sure we're ready for the magic yet to come ......

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Christmas in Saratoga









After a whirlwind trip to Saratoga to celebrate Christmas with family and friends .. many memories were made. We gathered with the Fricano clan on Friday evening .. exchanging gifts and celebrating! Sunday brunch was with my siblings and mom .. for food and more fun.

Highlights for me include:
Ruiz Party Saturday night with all my State Farm friends
Coffee with Alicia at Coffee Planet Saturday morning
Trudi & Doug's Sunday evening for making chocolate truffles and dinner
Haircuts for Ellie & I Friday afternoon
Monday visit to State Farm office for more time with Ed, Paula & Jennie K
Playdate for Ellie & me with Sofie and Trina - too many years apart!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Holiday Movie Classics

Bill & I have a family tradition of the days leading up to Christmas watching all our favorite holiday movies. Last year we began to add in a Classic to the mix as well. Here's our list for this year (links to movie description included!)

The Family Man

Love Actually

The Holiday

White Christmas

The Family Stone

Noel

The Bells of St. Mary's

Nothing Like the Holidays

Saturday, December 11, 2010

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ...



1) The tree is decorated
2) The Village is done
3) Presents for Saratoga are wrapped & ready
4) We're counting down the days to see family & friends!!

Friday, December 10, 2010

Happy Birthday Grammy!

Today is a milestone birthday for my mother - she'll celebrate her 70th today! We were fortunate to have had a party for her here in Charlottesville two weekends ago when she was here. I know she has plenty of wonderful celebrations planned for her birthday week - so we're sending her out special birthday wishes today, in anticipation of our arrival in Saratoga in just a week!


Also today, Happy Birthday to my good friend Paula who I love like a sister! Can't wait to see her next Saturday to share great wine, lots of laughter and a big hug!! Miss you!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Ellie's Kids Christmas Party






State Farm's Kid's Christmas Party was at our Bounce and Play this year. She LOVED the running, sliding, climbing and bouncing!








My Favorite Things 2010

These are all my favorite things this Christmas ....no, I'm not giving them to my studio audience -- I don't HAVE a studio audience!!


1 - Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer .. LOVE IT!


2 - Stony Creek Band
Jody let me burn a copy of the disc and boy does this bring back memories
of the ranch, great friends, good times ... all about 25 years ago!


3 - Freedom by Jonathan Franzen .. Oprah's Book Club Selection

4 - iPad - such a treat to have a such a handy device that fits in your purse


5 - Juice Beauty Antioxident Serum - the secret to great skin!!

6. Skippy Natural Peanut Butter with Honey

(creamy, of course!)

7. - Breadworks - Molasses Cookies


8 - Running!


9 - my iPod


10. Parenthood on NBC, Tuesdays at 10pm