MindComet

Valentines Day Tips

We’re rapidly approaching Valentines Day, the holiday of love and appreciation.  It’s the time of year when people want to express themselves and hope to receive similar declarations in return.  If you are in need of some ideas, I have a little list for you!

1. Everyone loves baked goods and you will get extra points if you remember your special person is gluten free.  Bake it yourself though, don’t cheat and get something from the grocery store to pass as your own.
2. Girls like flowers, it doesn’t matter what we’ve said.  Whether it’s a huge bouquet or a single bloom, you cannot go wrong with flowers.
3. If your funds don’t live up to the expectations, you may want to try crafting a well written “love note” to your special someone.  It must be handwritten to count, texts, email, tweets or wall posts are not a substitute.
4. Candies are always a classic, but I recommend chocolates.  Nothing says I love you more than a small box of chocolates.  Don’t get a large box, no one needs all those calories.
5. If done correctly, crafty gifts are also good.  An easy crafty gift is a photo collage of you and your special person.  It’s not a bad idea to reinforce all of the positive times you’ve had with photographic evidence.
6. The dinner date is also a nice, if not predictable, Valentines Day staple.  If you opt for this, make sure to make reservations in advance (even if it’s just the pizza parlor) as this is a busy night for the food service industry.
7. A word of caution about giving jewelry on this day… If you’re going to do it, you can’t go cheap.  Jewelry given on Valentines Day has a higher expectation level placed on it than jewelry given on Arbor Day. 
8. In the same vein as jewelry, if you’re thinking about taking your relationship to the next level please have that talk on some other day.  Don’t be cheesy and use Valentines Day as the catalyst for something you’ve been thinking about for a while.
9. If nothing else, Valentines Day should be fun for both you and your special someone, so if you’re feeling a lot of anxiety about this holiday take the time to talk about it with your sweetie.  I’m sure they’ll appreciate that conversation more than the inevitable freak-out that will be the outcome if you just continue to spin like a top. 
10.  Remember, it’s all about how you express yourself.  This list is just to get you thinking about what you could do.  Good luck, have fun, and enjoy being in love.

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Posted by Jennifer Carey on Jan. 28, 2011

Holiday Traditions Part Seven - The New Year’s Resolution

As I get older I begin to understand both myself and the world a little better.  I know that I am a morning person who likes the occasion sleep-in.  I know I am overly sensitive to concerns of fairness and equality.  I know that I am occasionally surly and occasionally sweet but most often live somewhere in the middle.  I also know that life isn’t fair, that people will step on you if they can, and that no one is owed anything.  These are the things I have learned during my time on this planet.  What came to me as a startling revelation, and yes I may be slow to the game, was that I usually take these wins and losses as they come.  I am a passenger in my own life.

My resolution in 2011 is all about remedying that perspective.  I am not a passenger in my own life, but rather the captain of it.  So, to that end, I have only two resolutions.  They will be challenging to both me and those around me at times, but the whole purpose of the New Year’s Resolution is to better yourself in some way.

Resolution One
I am simply going to start asking for what I want.

Resolution Two
I am going to be as straight-forward and positive as possible in my day to day communications.

I hope you too take a few moments to take stock of your life and find areas, no matter how small, that can be improved to the benefit of both yourself and your loved ones.

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Posted by Jennifer Carey on Dec. 31, 2010

Holiday Traditions Part Six - Christmas

I wish all of you a very merry Christmas and happy New Year.

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Posted by Jennifer Carey on Dec. 24, 2010

Holiday Traditions Part Five - The Office Party

I love the Christmas office party.  At MindComet, we usually have two or three office parties.  To be clear, we have the traditional office party (the bring your spouse or significant other kind of party), a smaller company-only party, and a lunchtime holiday potluck (also a party, don’t judge).  This year our “traditional” party was at a wonderful tapas restaurant in downtown Orlando.  We had tapas (of course) and sangria (of course) and flamenco dancers.  It was a wonderful event that was enjoyed by all and filmed by none!  We will also have a smaller internal party, where gifts are given and champagne/wine/beer will be consumed.  This smaller party is usually held right before everyone starts to depart for the holidays.  And lastly, we have the holiday “potluck” lunch.  While this isn’t a party per se, we make any gathering of more than eight MindCometeers a party.  This year, the potluck will be on December 23rd and I am baking my famous chocolate bourbon pecan pie!  Everyone else is encouraged to bring food of some sort.  End the year on a sweet note! 

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Posted by Jennifer Carey on Dec. 20, 2010

Holiday Traditions Part Four - The Christmas Card

The tradition of sending cards during the holidays started in 1843 in England.  Since then, the practice of sending greetings and wishes during this time of year has become expected.  I have not decided how I feel about Christmas cards.  To illustrate my dilemma, I’ve made a Christmas card Pros and Cons list.  Let me know what you think.

Pro
- Indicates that your liked, by at least one person (remember poor Charlie Brown never got a card).
- They make a nice room decoration without having to actually purchase another room decoration.
- They occasionally make good fire-starters.

Con
- If I receive a card from you, I then have to check my list to see if I sent you one.  If not, then I have to rush and remedy that “oversight”.
- I feel bad that you sent me a card I will just toss in the trash in the next thirty days.
- I am subject to either your horrible sense of humor or lack of one…

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Posted by Jennifer Carey on Dec. 14, 2010

Holiday Traditions Part Three - The Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

I like parties and I like dressing up (fancy or costumes, makes no difference to me), so I am naturally a big fan of the Ugly Christmas Sweater party.  I have a phenomenal hot pink blinking sweater that is really only missing sound to round out it’s audaciousness.  I’ve owned this particular sweater for three holiday seasons and I love when I can break it out.  Without fail, there is someone who has not yet witnessed the full magnitude of my sweaters ugliness and their response is almost always the same… “Wow!, that is an ugly sweater!”.  Music (I wish I had some) to my ears.  What’s your favorite holiday party?

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Posted by Jennifer Carey on Dec. 08, 2010

Holiday Traditions Part Two - Letter to Santa

Writing a letter to Santa is a long standing holiday tradition.  While visiting my grandmother in February, I found a letter my mother had written to Santa.  Apparently, my Grandmother found it as amazing as I do and that is why she kept it.  Here is my seven (7) year old mother’s Letter to Santa, enjoy.

Dear Santa,
I have been a very good girl this year.  I would like a bike and a nylon sweater for Christmas this year. 
Also, a watch and a statue of the baby Jesus.
Judith

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Posted by Jennifer Carey on Dec. 01, 2010