This is why

I don't bring my phone into work. I have like 100 self portraits and no work done!

Damn you, iPhone! Why must you be so entertaining??

Lori Ann

Just close your eyes

 My impromptu reading party and lunch.

This picture doesn't do it justice. It's beautiful.

Last time I went to the doctors I got some blood tests done and my doctor told me that I was deficient in Vitamin D. 

So today, instead of my usual running of errands and running back to my apartment, I stopped at this fountain that is near where I shop, just outside of Wilmington, Delaware. 

I ate my apple and yogurt and read a few chapters of Hunger Games. And soaked up some Vitamin D. 

Lori Ann

Le poisson

Tonight; for the very first time in 32 years, I ate salmon. 

Salmon and a spinach and cheese salad. 

I was surprised by how good it was. I'm kind of excited to try new salmon recipes. 

I'm sorry this blog has been all about what I'm eating. Blogging has been helping me get through this first month of vegetarianism. Once February hits I'll be back to my stories about work and crafting!!

Lori Ann

Peanut Butter Jelly Time

Tonight I decided to explore the whole 'eating vegetables' part of vegetarianism. I made this premixed stir fry. 

I can proudly say that I ate about a third of the plate before my gag reflex would not let me have another bite. I'm going to have to figure out another format for vegetables because stir fry is not it. On a less depressing note, I did get about 8 serving of vegetables because I kept refilling my glass of V8 to wash the vegetables down:)

All hail Vegetarianism Day # 25! 

Lori Ann

All about the Benjamins, baby!

I have been feeling really inspired lately. 

Maybe it's the meds. Who knows?

Anyway, my newest idea...

Spend only 100 dollars in the month of February!

That includes gas, food, etc. Anything that is not a bill. 

Of course this means I will have to dial down my Ground Hogs Day and Leap Day party plans.

I'll keep you posted!

Lori Ann

Jackie Boy

Thanks to my brother in law Jack for his amazing black bean burrito recipe. I didn't get to process the beans (because I was hungry), but I followed the rest of your steps and it was AMAZING. I think this vegetarian thing is going to work out ok. 

Lori Ann

I need somewhere to begin

This is the view outside my window this morning. It makes me want to write a Gothic novel. All we need to complete the day is for the night to be dark and stormy!! 

Lori Ann

p.s.- It's ok to be jealous of my superior photographer skills. Believe it or not, I took this picture laying on my living room in my pajamas:)

Randomness

There has been a lot going on in my life lately. Well, kind of. 

In some ways it's the same old routine, but I feel different. So, that's good, right?

Anyway, here's your completely Random Lori Life update!!

I've gone vegetarian for 23 days now. I'm so proud of myself. It's had the desired effect. Making me think about what I am eating. Today I made myself this fancy semi healthy dinner! 

 It was shrimp bisque. Which actually isn't SUPER healthy, but I only ended up eating 3 bites, so that should count for something.

 I finished my black bottomed cupcake though. It was a struggle, but I persevered. 

After working for so many years in mental health I finally decided to hop on the bandwagon and get myself on some meds for my "I hate when people don't like me, I can't stand to be in trouble" anxiety. and Oh. My. Gosh. Why did I wait this long? You know that really good way you feel after getting an amazing nights sleep? Like NyQuil quality sleep? I feel that way EVERY DAY. 

I've been decorating my apartment for Valentines Day. My friend Jennie made me this amazing wreath!

Yes. It says what you think it does. It's kind of a strange office joke. What can I say?
We're therapists.

I have altered my Ground Hogs Day goal after finding out the truth about Punxsutawny. Apparently it's not  like the movie. It involves a 3 am bus ride into the woods and lots of drunkness. Not how I care to celebrate the groundhog. So instead, I've convinced my mom to dress up my dad's cat  Thomas in a cape and bring him outside at sunrise. We'll see if he sees his shadow!

Well, I am off to finish my Valentines Craft project (featured above), take a bubble bath, and watch Season 2 of the Big Bang Theory!

Lori Ann

56

I can't explain it, but this is my favorite picture of my mom.

My mom's birthday was three days ago. So, this blog tribute is a little late. In years past I have done lists of interesting facts about my mom or things like that. This year I wanted to do something different. So, here it goes..

Thank you, Mom for...

All the times you worked late nights and long hours to provide for us.

The matching dresses you made me, Erin, and Danielle. 

Teaching me that I can do anything I set my mind to.

Letting us bake with you when we were little, even when we messed up the recipes so badly that dad wouldn't even eat the cookies.

Always telling me the story of how, when I was born, you said "I've got three girls!" and the doctor said he had three girls too. I love to hear that story. 

The time you and Dad bought me the fall wreath and pumpkin spice candle. It made my new apartment feel like home. 

All the times you took us to the ER to ask a nurse if we were ok.

Being one of the smartest people I have ever met. 

Being the world's greatest grand mom. Those are the four greatest kids and I am so happy that they'll have wonderful memories of their childhood with you.

Always letting me live with you if I needed to. And not making me feel like I was a burden or a problem.

Teaching me to love the music of the Elvis, Cher, Lulu, and every single band from the 50's. 

Sending me flowers when I passed my LCSW exam. And that one time on my mission. And when I was an intern at Hedwig House. 

That one time when our car broke down at the doctors office in New Jersey. Do you remember? We spent like 2 hours fixing it ourselves in the dark??? I think about that night whenever I have to do something I'm not sure I can do. It helps me to be strong. .

I look forward to the years ahead and all the craziness. Shopping in Paris for Elly's prom gown. Watching Snapped marathons. Plotting Dad's demise. Trying to get Thomas to lose weight. Your luck of the Irish training. More under cooked turkeys. Bailing Katy out of juvenile detention. Hours of quality criqut time. 

Thanks for everything, Mom. Enjoy the rest of your birthday week! 

Love,

your baby

Lori Ann

I shouldn't blog before 9 am

I guess it's kind of a Random Updates: Tuesday Morning Edition. With the emphasis on RANDOM. 

I saw this sunset when I was driving home on Saturday night. This picture does not do it justice in any way. I love Pennsylvania sunsets. And yes, I should stop taking pictures while I'm driving. 

Jack, Danielle, and I ended our emotional journey of Harry Potter by watching the second half of Deathly Hallows. Jack now has surround sound to go with their flat screen!! It was epic. Despite Danielle falling asleep in the middle and missing all of Jack and my interesting commentary on the differences between the movie and book :)

Despite recent unrest and rumors of mutiny, the secret club was able to meet. It was the best time of my life, as it always is with my muffin babies. 

Elly has begun the transformation into her dream of being a cat. 

Speaking of cats, this is my dad's cat, Thomas. My mom and I like to swaddle him. Dad says it makes him "schizo", but we know he likes it! 

Speaking of my Mom, it's her birthday today! Happy Birthday, mother! Your blog tribute is in the works!!

Lori Ann

He's my brother

Well,

I guess I always knew this day in my career as a therapist was coming. 

I just didn't know it would happen this soon. 

Yesterday, in one of my sessions, I called my brother to answer Star Wars trivia questions for me and my client.

Yep.

And the sad thing is that it's far from the first time I've involved my family in my practice. I call my dad for ideas on working with addicts, my mom for questions about health problems, my sisters for everything else, and now Junior...Junior is my go to source for Star Wars questions.

I guess I should pay him some kind of consultation fee, right?

Lori Ann

Cupcakes, son!

Today I had a very existential experience. I was making cupcakes whilst watching Cupcake Wars. 

It was surreal. 

These are actually black bottomed cupcakes. It's regular chocolate cake mix, topped with a cream cheese mixture and chocolate chips. I don't think I did it exactly right. Oh well. It was fun to bake again. 

10 days of vegetarianism down. I have been doing ok. The biggest thing that I have noticed is my hair. It's really dull and lifeless. I guess I need to up my protein. My diet of ginger ale, cupcakes, and frozen cheese pizza probably isn't getting the job done:)

Lori Ann

p.s.- On an unrelated side note, I went to Bath and Body Works Semi Annual Sale and got a wallflower ( scented plug in thing) that is called "Winter Cabin" and its making my apartment smell like cinnamon and happiness. 

p.p.s.- My post title is what I would name my cupcake shop. But you've got to say it all edgy and street smart, like "Cupcakes, son!" You could add a "You better recognize" after that, if you wanted. 

Oh how I forgot what's its like

So...

I have been officially vegetarian for 8 days now.

And off facebook for 7.

It feels strange. Good strange,  I think.

I spent twenty minutes today watching the sunset from my sunroom window. I feel like everything isn't such a rush anymore.

I guess what I mean is that eating better and getting off facebook has given me more clarity of thought.

So, week one down. 51 more to go!

 Being off facebook has reignited my love affair with youtube. This was making me laugh all week! Jimmy Kimmel is the BEST.

 Lori Ann

I told you so

All the ingredients you need for the BEST. DINNER. EVER.

First step: Add the butter

Next Step: Add the Mayo

Third Step: Parmesan Cheese, baby!

Last Step: Hot sauce!!!

Finally...Enjoy. This is what I would request if it were my last meal on Death Row. Well, this and a variety of things cooked by my dad. 

It just got real in here.

Lori Ann

Love me do, I think it was

"The key to change...is to let go of fear."

 Rosanne Cash

This is so going to be my motto for 2012.

Lori Ann

p.s.- 3 days of vegetarianism down. 363 to go. (It's a leap year)

p.p.s.- In the spirit of letting go of fear, I have stopped trying to photoshop artsy pics of myself and put a pic of me that is representative of what I look like every day in my blog header. Disheveled hair, bent glasses, round face, one eye bigger than the other. Yep, that's me. I'm going to make it a point to put awkward and unflattering pics on here. Oh yeah..this is just the beginning! 

Just close your eyes

Obviously I am changing the format of my blog...AGAIN. So, for the next few days I will be messing around with it. Ignore the picture of me that looks like my face is melting. Photoshop is the devil!

Also, all of the blogs I read have disappeared, but fear not. I will find you and return you to my sidebar!

Also ,beware..I got the instagram app and I plan to be instagramming all my photos. This one is the last night  with my beautiful Christmas tree. *sigh*

Now on to the Valentines Day decorations!!!

Lori Ann

So live your life

I think I write about my New Years Resolutions every January. 

I like to make plans, so New Years goals suit me really well. 

This year; instead of my usual 3 million goals, I have only a few. But they are kind of intense.

Without further ado..my Goals/Resolutions for 2012

1. Go vegetarian for all of 2012. This one has been on my Bucket List for 10 years. It's not really about animal rights for me (although I do believe animals deserve better treatment). It's more about being conscience of what I am eating and sacrificing. Today is day two. Only 363 more day to go!

2. Get off Facebook for 2012. I deactivated my account a few hours ago. I could never completely erase it. It's the only form of contact I have with some important people. Mission companions, cousins I never see, etc. I'll be back in 2013. It's just...facebook; for me, is too much like pretending to live. This year, I want to live. Like Walden Pond live. 

3. Go to Therapy. The longer I am a therapist the more wrong it feels that I have never been to therapy. I need to learn more empathy for my clients and maybe work on my anxiety or something.

4. Write my book. Even if it's never published, read by anyone but my family (oh yeah..don't try to get out of that, family. I'll be printing you all copies), I want to write. It's just something I need to do.

5. Volunteer. I haven't been very charitable for a while. I have been blessed in so many ways and I need to do good for others. 

And Last But Most Important...

EMBRACE THE AWKWARDNESS. 

I want to live the rest of my life so that; when I am 80, and I look back, I won't regret too much. So, I want to do things that are hard, or awkward, or daring. Like talking to people in elevators. And going hiking.  And being more real, even on this blog. More honest. 

I don't know. I guess what I really mean is that I want to LIVE MY LIFE, you know?

Lori Ann