Happy Picture of the Week: The Marvelous M'DLee

Lee as Annie Hall!

As you, loyal readers, know by now, I'm a bit of a theme-driven celebration maniac! I've been promoting "Carpe Diem Day" quite heavily, with contests, blog posts, podcasts, and on social media.

Though I haven't garnered many more followers to my little tribe," I've added one new friend who is so creative and wonderfully participatory that she is worth more than a million uninvolved followers.  Her name is Lee MacIvor.

Lee, invited by the ever-supportive Becky Burns,  I discovered was nicknamed "The Duchess" and shares my penchant for costumes and word-play. I quickly rebranded her M'DLee (M'Duchess Lee rather than M'Lady) and I am "CarpeDita" (another Becky nickname!)

M'DLee immediately joined my February contests with creative zest for both Wear Red Day and Umbrella Day.  Hooray!

Lee mysteriously peeks out from her beautiful red cape on Wear Red Day

Pure delight in this umbrella-laden photo!

But that's just the beginning!

Lee didn't need any prompts or contests to creatively celebrate Valentine's Day, "Lady and Tramp"-style (the famous spaghetti-eating scene) with her long-distance boyfriend. She writes:

Like many, my Valentine and I weren’t able to celebrate the day in person due to COVID. So, I invited him to a 'Lady and the Tramp’ dinner via phone. We both cooked a spaghetti dinner and ate together while talking, laughing, and toasting ourselves and to COVID-free days. I dressed as Annie Hall since that was one of the first movies we saw together.

Lee celebrated Mardi Gras in style as well. No pandemic is going to stop this woman from seizing the day!

Lee's thoughts:

Tomorrow is Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Pancake Day, Shrove Tuesday, plus about 40 other celebration days, including Do a Grouch a Favor Day (love it!). I share a saying with you - everyday is an adventure. It was my standard answer to whatever fresh chaos was challenging me at work. Mae West said that everyday was a holiday - apparently she had a better grip on things than me.  For the holiday, I prepare Cajun food, listen to Doug Kershaw’s ‘Bully of the Bayou’ and Hank Williams’ Jambalaya (On the Bayou), and toast the day with a Sazerac (or two).  This year I’m making etoufee and having some King Cake I had sent up from New Orleans.

My final February Contest is for the first official Carpe Diem Day, on Friday, February 26, 2021.  (By the way, it was very exciting that Carpe Diem Day was added by DaysoftheYear.com this week!)

Lee told me what she's planning for this occasion via a Zoom "bed-in" interview. Leave it to Lee to even find a way to make a party out of a Zoom interview!

Lee, re-enacting John and Yoko Ono "Bed-in" for Peace Interview

I will hold off on revealing her special celebration for now, but let me just say it captures the spirit of what I envisioned for Carpe Diem Day celebrations so perfectly..  showing resilience, love, generosity, and the preservation of legacy.

I don't know how well-known Carpe Diem Day will ever be.. whether it will be celebrated much further than my little circle of friends (or even by my circle of friends!)  But it will be celebrated this year by one very special lady in one very special way.

Happy Pictures of the Week: National Umbrella Day

One of my highlights this week was hosting a February 10th National Umbrella Day competition!

I picked celebrating Umbrella Day because I wanted an excuse to buy this flamingo umbrella!

When Michele's pictures were of Monet's Woman With a Parasol, I decided to follow her lead!

Love the cute kid umbrella pictures!

Lee is VERY thematic with umbrellas large and small in a Asian setting!

Michele's recreation of Monet Masterpiece

This was Ronald Richard Garcia's Entry from a show called "The Prisoner"

Sarah's entry with her son who looks like he's ready to fly like Mary Poppins!

Teresa's entry of an adorable little girl.

Another cutie!

Can't get enough of these cute kids!

Jackster's Ball Peen Hammer Umbrella

Becky taking a Yoga Stance with an Umbrella in the background

Tony (the winner!) with a flamingo umbrella (just like mine!) in a flock of flamingos!

Me with my Umbrella Hat from 2019 Bolder Boulder!

Happy Pictures of the Week: Discovering Iris Paper Folding

 

Making Valentines -  Iris Paper Folding Virtual Class

I love discovering cool things that I never knew existed and one of those things I discovered this week was Iris Paper Folding.  A virtual class was advertised in a Boulder Lifelong Learning Adult Education email and it turns out my daughter, Megan, and daughter-in-law, Stella, were also interested! So fun that we were all able to attend together via Zoom!

The technique turned out to be surprisingly easy, with plenty of templates available for free online! There really aren't too many crafts that I make that end up looking good on the first try, but these cards are very easy, yet look very artsy!

Megan and my grandson, Diego sold cards at a craft fair they were hosting

The cards, obviously, are just in time for Valentine's Day, but there are several other February occasions where they come in handy:

Today (February 4) is Thank a Mail Carrier Day,  February 7 is National Send a Card to a Friend Day, and the whole month of February is National Heart Month. 

I'm learning all about these special days in preparation for the big one on February 26th: National Carpe Diem Day! 

I checked in with some of the Websites that publish all these special days to see if they can get National Carpe Diem Day added to their lists.  Even though I'm getting some traction, it certainly is not a quick and easy process.  I signed up to become an Ambassador for National Days Calendar and I'm using this month to up my game with social media.  I'm even hosting 3 contests to try to get more followers to my Carpe Diem Connections Facebook Group.

Overall, I'm having fun celebrating and promoting these different weird and wacky holidays, And an additional unique and fun event was Scotty's commissioning into the Space Force!  Pretty cool that he is in this first generation of Space Force Guardians!

Scotty transitions from Air Force to Space Force!

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Super Carpe Diem Woman Talks about February Celebrations

Happy Pictures of the Week: Wintering in Colorado

 

Four weeks into the New Year and I have kept up all of my healthy habits, including a daily walk, whatever the weather.  If it weren't for Covid, I'd be in Florida now...  I'd really been looking forward to being a Snowbird and enjoying winter days on the beach. Like these geese, however, I didn't fly south for the winter after all.

Once I realized I was going to be home in Colorado for the winter, I made a list of ways to keep warm and have fun.  Even when the temperature drops, usually the sun is still shining and the air feels brisk and invigorating. The views of the mountains are spectacular and it's nice to have a chance to wear the winter coats, scarves, and boots.

I've also been doing a lot of cooking, experimenting with delicious soups, chili, and roasted or sautéd veggies. And, of course, there's also my lovely bath ritual to keep me warm.  I've even been creating little cozy spaces to snuggle up with plenty of comforters and blankets.

With no commute to worry about, it's really quite nice being home for the winter!

Bundled up and ready for a winter walk

I love boots!

My nook in the basement almost feels like Florida

Lots of healthy food to keep me warm!

Unemployed Individuals Can Work For Themselves With These Tips

Today's post is courtesy of Cherie McLaughlin of couchbasedbiz.com

Looking for work can be an incredibly frustrating process, especially during these uncertain times. The competition can be tough, but you can forge your own path by working for yourself. 

Whether you’re looking for a full-time job or just a side gig to make extra money, there are some important things to consider before you jump in, including figuring out what your skills are and whether becoming an entrepreneur is right for you. Read on for tips on how to get through the process of starting a business, courtesy of My Carpe Diem Life.

Prepare to work from home

There are lots of options available nowadays for those who want to become an entrepreneur, including freelancing or starting a small business. No matter which path you choose, the key to working from home is to set realistic goals for yourself; otherwise, it will be a struggle to get your work done when something unexpected pops up, such as a doctor’s appointment. It’s also crucial to set up the right workspace, including a solid internet connection and a laptop or computer with lots of storage space. If your current device is a few years old, consider upgrading. You can find some great online deals with several options to choose from so you can make the most of your budget.

Make yourself marketable

Once you’ve created a workspace for yourself, think about how to market your business. Whether you want to sell handmade scarves or baked goods, Ecommerce Platforms notes there are several online platforms and resources available for entrepreneurs to sell their wares and services these days. While there are typically fees associated with these sites, they can also help you build your brand and get exposure to a wider audience. 

If you have experience with email marketing, social media tools, or creating a website, utilize those valuable skills and get to work putting your brand out there yourself. You can also take advantage of an existing blog, or create a new one that uses ads for monetization. 

Select your business structure

Before you get your business up and running, you need to register with your state for tax purposes. This will involve selecting a business structure, which can feel pretty complicated if you never had to think it through before. There are all sorts of terms to learn before you make a decision; for instance, you might be wondering what is a sole proprietorship business? Should I use a DBA (doing business as)? Do some research and make a decision with confidence.  

Plan for paying your taxes

Working for yourself comes with many benefits, but it also means you have to plan for tax time a little differently. TaxAct points out that many people who are self-employed must pay their taxes quarterly, although this means they aren’t left with a large lump sum due at the end of the year. Talk to your accountant about how to set up such a plan, and learn more about your responsibilities as a self-employed individual. 

You’ll also need to obtain a business license in your city, which typically costs a small fee and is issued after you pay any local tax due for the year. 

Becoming an entrepreneur takes a lot of dedication, but if you’ve struggled with finding the right job lately, it might be for you. Network with other self-employed individuals or small business owners on social media, as this will help you make valuable connections and gain insight as you get started.

For more ideas and information to encourage and inspire you, connect with My Carpe Diem Life.

Photo via Pexels

Carpe Diem Day eBook Experiments

For the past year, I've been experimenting with social media and how I might promote Carpe Diem Day. One idea I had was to create an eBook and maybe a newsletter.

One nice thing about not having many followers is that I don't stress too much about trying things when they are far from perfect.  

Right now, I'm just experimenting with how I'd distribute an eBook using Blogger.  If you stumble upon this post, you can try these different options and let me know what you like best. I'm actually going to give them a try myself now to make sure they work at all!

It looks like I can give readers a direct link to the eBook:

Click here for the Carpe Diem Day eBook

Another option is to give readers a link to a shareable PDF version from Drive.

Click here for the PDF version of the Carpe Diem Day eBook (from Drive)

One more option is to give readers a link to a shareable ePub version from Drive.

Click here for the ePub version of the Carpe Diem Day eBook (from Drive)

OK, Let's go see how these work!

Happy Picture of the Week: Biden Inauguration

 

I'm still riding a New Year's high, but this week I'm especially happy because we have a new President who has a message of unity. What a welcome change after four years of Trump.  And, of course, along with the rest of the nation, I'm breathing a big sigh of relief that we had a peaceful transition of power.

Even though that fireworks picture is one I got off of the internet, I enjoyed watching the ceremony and celebration and felt such a huge since of pride and hope for our nation. I know we have a lot of challenges ahead, and that there's still a huge divide to overcome, but finally, we have a grown-up in charge.

I wore pearl earrings on Inauguration Day, along with thousands of others who donned pearls to show support for Kamala Harris and empowered women everywhere.

Happy Picture of the Week: Zooming with Mom!

 

Mom and me on Zoom

I'm still going strong with my New Year's mojo! I've kept up with all of my New Year's resolutions and goals! One of said goals is to blog at least once a week about something that made me happy during the week.  Even better if this happy thing is a solution to something that is not-so-happy.

I was not-so-happy that I wasn't able to physically visit my 85-year-old Mom in Sacramento at all in 2020. I normally visit around the holidays and my plan (now that I'm not working full time) had been to spend the better part of December with Mom, helping her specifically with something that I love... technology.  It turns out, though, that I'm able to help her remotely without a problem!

Before Covid hit, my siblings and I chipped in to get Mom a new Chromebook for her birthday.  I setup a bookmark for ChromeRemoteDesktop on her Chromebook, which, once she generates a code, very easily gives me visibility to her machine. I can even control her machine remotely!  This makes it very easy for me to she's doing when she's unsure and to even show her, by taking control of the mouse, what she needs to do.

Mom still is a bit... what's the word... "stressed?".. about using the Chromebook, so one of the presents I gave her for Christmas this year was that I would give her little lessons to help her get more comfortable with it.

Between Zoom and ChromeRemoteDesktop, I was able to help Mom with her email and introduce her to all kinds of fun sites: YouTube, Amazon, Netflix..   We went on a little virtual shopping spree and I was able to buy her a book that was delivered to her house in two days..  she found it all amazing and acted like it was the best present I'd ever given her.

Even though I know most people are suffering a bit from Zoom fatigue, I am so grateful for the technology that is available to us these days..  most of it, free of charge and very easy to use!

Yay for Zoom, ChromeRemoteDesktop, and Mom's willingness to learn!

2021 is a Happier New Year!

I don't know about you, but I am ALWAYS motivated in the new year to...  well.. do everything! I want to eat better, exercise more, get more organized, write more, read more, hike more, dance more, learn more, play more, ... you get the idea. 

Even though we still have to worry about Covid19, there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Some friends and even my son (who works in health care) are getting the vaccine next week. I know we're not completely out of the woods yet, but with an end in sight, it's easier to continue with virtual parties and follow all the social distance guidelines.

This year I didn't have to worry about going out in the cold to celebrate. I rarely go out on New Year's Eve anyway, so this year was actually more fun than most! I had private Zoom parties with friends and relatives and it was fun to don one of my silly hats and plan for 2021 adventures.  My friend, Lisa and I have plans to go to South Carolina in the spring and I'm planning a November Mexico trip with my friend, Nancie!

I also am happy that today I was able to finish up all my New Year's cards complete with my custom "Carpe Diem" seal.  I switched to New Year's rather than Christmas cards several years ago and love that tradition.  Rather than rushing to write cards in the midst of all the Christmas mayhem, I can take my time and thank anyone who sent me a card. I also will have any of their latest updates and most current address!

How about you? What are you looking forward to in 2021?