Archive | January, 2014

The DIY (Destination is Yours)

25 Jan
Home Show 2014: Ahmed Hassan, baby Quinn and Tanya Franklin

Home Show 2014: Ahmed Hassan, baby Quinn and Me

Last week, I went to the Philadelphia Home Show excited to attend  Ahmed Hassan’s presentation. He’s the former host of the hit show  from  the DIY Network, “Yard Crashers,” so I had a few questions about my yard and secretly hoped to be granted a free botanical masterpiece. Though no yard makeovers were given, he offered the audience something else, something special.

Ahmed  passionately and candidly discussed what roads he took to get to where he is today.  I found it to be quite admirable of him to disclose not only his triumphs but struggles with us prior to answering questions about landscaping or the excitement that comes with being a TV host. Listening to him made me feel like I am on the right path.  Many people get so caught up in where they are in life, yet they may not know or even consider what it took to get there.

Even in knowing where we would like to end up, it’s tricky because some maps are still being drawn out as we carry out our journeys; there are hills, valleys and terrain yet to be discovered.  As we come across them, we will eventually realize how they helped us get a littler closer to where we want to be, which is absolutely wonderful to me.  As Ralph Waldo Emerson profoundly stated, “Life is a journey, not a destination.” Thanks Ahmed for reaffirming this for me.

All the best,

Tanya

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Shop ‘Til I Drop: Well Sort of…

18 Jan

empty-cartAre you a shopaholic with tons of shoes and clothes in your closet worn once or not at all. Maybe you’re a therapy shopper who feels better after buying that $500 handbag. Me: I’m a shop-around-see-items-I-like-load-up-my-cart-then-drop it-off-and-not-purchase-one-thing-shopper (The abridged version: “shop and drop shopper”). Yes, it is a mouthful, but sadly, this is who I’ve become, and I just don’t know how to break the cycle.

It all started back in 2006/2007 when I stepped out on faith and left my full time job to follow my passion to teach college courses.  Initially, I only had a part-time position and struggled to make ends meet.  I’ve never been one to spend frivolously, but I learned how to be frugal and only purchase the absolute necessities.  Now, seven years later with a stable position as a full-time professor, my indecisiveness while shopping has heightened for some reason, and I have such a difficult time even making basic purchases.  It has become a joke for anyone who goes shopping with me.  For example, I’ll select cute outfits, shoes, or items at the local Home Goods store, but by the time we are ready to go to the cashier, I have purged most of the items from my cart. My sister will laugh and say, “I knew you weren’t going to really buy anything,” and my husband will make fun of me for deliberating so long over making even a $10 purchase as I try to determine if I really should buy the item. “You can always return it,” he says.  Even though I know this, I still had my latest shop and drop episode this past Friday.

It wouldn’t be so big of an issue if I didn’t shop for a while in a store, load up my cart with reasonably priced and sale priced items that could be considered necessities, not just “wants,” then put most of them back. Later on, I’ll give it some thought, return to the store  and find out that the item I want has been purchased by someone else. I vow to work on this habit of shopping and dropping as I have let too many good deals slip through my fingers.  If you have any advice, please feel free to share.

All the best.

Tanya

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I’m All for Seasons!

11 Jan

Tanya ActingThis was one crazy week of winter weather with a high of 8 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday to a high of 61 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday with the occasional snow, sleet, freezing rain or rain shower throughout the week. While some people complained about the cold and longed for warmer weather, others complained about the rain and unseasonably warm weather today.

For me, this weather is an excellent analogy of life’s experiences. Who doesn’t want the weather and seasons to be predictable? Who doesn’t become upset when the meteorologist gets it wrong? This is understandable, but there is something to learn from this erratic weather we’re having. It helps prepare us for the seasons of life: how quickly something can go from cold to hot or from what seems like never-ending rain to sunshine.

As much as I would love to live in a place where it’s always sunny and never cold, the four seasons have taught me so much, especially when spring makes and appearance in the winter.

All the best,

Tanya

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The Journey Continues with Baby Steps

4 Jan

Quinn Stages 1 - 8One of my goals for the new year was to start a second blog dedicated to my journey as a new mommy.  There truly is so much to learn in so little time, but sharing my thoughts always helps me through the learning process.   Maybe they will help someone else as well. Baby Quinn has been my muse as she constantly grows and reaches milestones within a blink of an eye. I am extremely excited about my blog, “Mommy’s Baby Steps” and hope that you will occasionally stop by to check it out. Though I will still be composing posts about my journey of finding me on this blog, I am eager to provide  DIY projects, ways I’ve been saving money as a new mom, the many dilemmas I face, what I’m learning and the adventures of baby Quinn and me.

All the best,

Tanya

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Delighted to Make Your Acquaintance 2014!

1 Jan

Let's Make a Deal 2014As soon as we became comfortably acquainted 2013, it was time to bid you adieu. Though I am sad to see you go, I welcome your not-so-distant relative 2014 with a hardy handshake.

Even though we’ve just met 2014, I am eager to make a pact with you. Give me all that you have to offer, and I will readily do the same! I will give my all to being an even better wife and mother to my husband and daughter than in 2013. Of course, to properly take care of them, I must take good care of myself. Therefore, I plan to continue improving my financial, physical and spiritual health by investing and spending wisely, preparing for the future, exercising and meditating regularly, and reading and applying spiritual and motivational literature to my life on a frequent basis.

In an effort to continue my intellectual, spiritual and creative journey, I’ve decided to start another blog dedicated to my musings and journey as a new mother. It’s hard out here for a mom, actually for anyone parenting a child, so my hope is that someone will find my posts to be beneficial and receive much needed support. I’m excited to get insight and support for myself as well and am presently working on the site, so stay tuned.

It has been a pleasure connecting with people in 2013, and I’m looking forward to making even more connections in 2014.

All the best in the new year,

Tanya

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