Need Me? I'll Be In A Meeting

I went on a purge last year where I backed off, backed away, and backed down from a majority of professional and personal commitments. At the time, I had the distinct feeling my life ran me versus the other way around. 

Backing off helped and I feel my time is more my own. Life, however, is creeping back in. This is not necessarily unwelcome. But looking at the ol' calendar I'm realizing I need to be careful or I'll again quickly be overwhelmed. So far, I have the following weekly and monthly commitments:

Monthly

•  Animal Protection Society 
• Animal Protection Society Board
• Rockingham County Arts Council Board
• Western Rockingham Chamber of Commerce
• Radio Show
• Blue Moon Advanced Toastmaster
• Teach New Choices class at Women's Resource Center
• Mastermind Marketing Meeting
• Soon adding 2 separate networking meetings

Weekly

•  Monday - Hill runs
• Tuesday- Trainer
• Thursday - Trail Run
• Saturday - Long Run
• Yoga - 2x
• Allergy shot

Looking at it now, the schedule doesn't seem so bad. And after all, all the weekly commitments are "fun" stuff I do for personal enhancement. But when I add in drive time to each event plus client meetings and "life" appointments (hair cut, vet, occasional coffee or lunch with friends) I feel like I'm grasping at spare moments to do actual work. Plus, the meetings are just the start. Then there's the work to be done as a result of meeting.

Blair and I have decided to start reserving as much of Sundays as possible for our time together. Hate to have to schedule "us" time but I'd rather schedule and have it versus leaving it to chance. 

How's everyone else faring? Finding decent work/life balance or is the scale stacked against you?

The RIGHT Way to Eat Chocolate

Late yesterday afternoon a client called and said his networking group was meeting tomorrow near my end of town and did I want to attend in his place as he would be busy with clients?

As it turned out, my schedule was free so I said yes. This morning I raced home from a trail run, showered, pulled out non-yoga or working-out related clothes and off I went.

BONUS. One of the presenter’s at today’s event was the owner of Loco for Coco, a gourmet chocolate shop in Greensboro. Her presentation included giving everyone a sampler tray of chocolate and teaching us the correct way to eat chocolate. Apparently my method of shoving huge chunks in my mouth and swallowing them almost whole is incorrect. Who knew?

Here’s the correct method:

1. Smell the chocolate. I was AMAZED at the difference smelling the chocolate makes in the taste experience. We tried to identify fruits and spices in the chocolate and just the aroma alone set the taste buds exploding.

2. Break the chocolate. Observe the texture. Was there a sharp snap? Is it a soft chocolate?

3. Place a small piece of the chocolate in your mouth and let it melt there for a moment. Then chew 3-5 times, allowing the remainder to dissolve on the tongue before swallowing.

Oh people—you must try this. It took the chocolate experience to a whole new level. Plus, I felt FULL after only a few small pieces of chocolate. Her 5-minute presentation transformed the way I will forever more eat chocolate.

The samples were wonderful, especially a dark chocolate with ginger and wasabi. Even with my love of chocolate, I would never think to pick up a piece that had either ingredient. OMG. Probably my new favorite food on the planet. She also had a kaluha Belgian truffle that – when eaten slowly, as instructed, just exploded in the mouth. We tasted chocolate, the liquor (non-alcoholic), and chocolate again.

If you’re in the area, I strongly recommend you go by Loco for Coco at 1420-D Westover Terrace (across from Lucky 32). And if you’re not in the area, I suggest you get here, pronto, and eat some chocolate.

And buy some to send to me. =)

Sisterhood Blog Award

Hurray! Angie Bailey of Eclectic Catladyland chose to present me with the Sisterhood Award, seen in all its glory above. Angie and I connected on Facebook some time ago and she has fallen into that new and odd category we all have in our lives since the introduction of online social networking of "someone I've never met who I consider a friend." C'mon. How can I NOT like someone who loves cats and whose Facebook pic is often of a cat wearing an orange wig? (Click on her name in this paragraph and you'll be taken to her Blogger profile which has the cat pic.) Plus, she's got the greatest smile ever.

Now it's my turn to pass on the award. I've chosen to name for the Sisterhood Award the blogs of several close friends of mine. (Note to all: You want me in a position of power as I reward friends and family. I think I would do very well in politics, thank you.)

To my male blogger friends - sorry this go round. I'll keep my eyes peeled for a brotherhood award to pass on to you.

Visit my friends sites below and say hi and tell them I sent you!

Laine Cunningham: My writer friend Laine spent 6 months camping in the Australian Outback--BY HERSELF-- to do research for her first book, Message Stick, now available. Aside from the Sisterhood Award, Laine also wins my "bad ass friend" award for this "You couldn't pay me enough to do that" life-changing event.

Southern Fried Woman: My dear friend Pamela King Cable writes with the beauty and depth of any of your favorite Southern Writers. She also cooks a mean orange french toast. Grace, beauty, and wit all tied up with a bundle of Southern lovin.'

Marisa Pirih : My beloved trainer! Marisa has completed several Ironmen and is on a mission to show all women how powerful they can be—physically, mentally, emotionally. If you can get past the fact that Marisa is beautiful AND one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, you’ll enjoy her blog!

Amy and Tamara are members of my running group. Their job is to keep us laughing. From Amy I learned the phrase “dreadmill” (for treadmill) and Tamara has a “quit your whining or I’ll hurt you (with love)" attitude. I adore them both.

Melody Watson: My day wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Melody’s blog as I never know what I’ll find. Could be musings about shadows and light, could be technical info on how to improve a website, or could be pictures of her beloved nephew, Mr. Pie.

On the Run: This is the blog of the North Carolina marathon, written by my friend Lisa Watts. Informative, funny, and lots of heart.

Danielle Hatfield: Graphic Designer and PR person for artists, I met Danielle through Twitter. Who says social networking doesn’t work?

Mariela Perez Simons: Internet Marketing and Web Design blog written by my favorite Cuban friend. =)

I hope you enjoy all these blogs--I know I do!