9Jan
“What did you do last year?” When I hear this question, I try to anticipate the amount of time the questioner has allotted for my answer. If I hit the highlights, it will take me 30 minutes, if I dive into it, it could take all day. I have joked with friends and family that “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”. In all reality, I am more thankful than I could ever express for a year with my family, a year to reflect on my past, and a year to plan for the future. I am going to format my “written” answer month by month, with pictures – for the more visual of inquisitors.
January
When I asked each of my four children what they wanted me to do this year, my youngest daughter, Mary-Kate, was quick to respond with a simple request. “Pick me up from school.” From January – June, my daily event was to eat a late lunch in the pick-up line at school and then take Mary-Kate to swimming or soccer.
In addition to my mommy chores, I researched Hemp Farms, scoped out the ideal piece of property for greenhouses and looked into hydroponics and solar energy. If anyone is looking for the best place to purchase high quality hemp products, I recommend Palmetto Harmony (www.palmettoharmony.com).
January brought about my new workout regiment on Amazon Prime – Studio S Live Bootcamp (https://www.amazon.com/Studio-S-Live-Bootcamp/dp/B01MY03YWK). Sara Moreland jump started my day for most of 2019 (with the exception of my “treadmill days”). If you are like me and prefer to be by yourself when you work out, this is a SERIOUS workout that allows you to get in amazing shape in the comfort of your own home. I am still not able to run marathons, but I do feel better than I have in years.
On January 14th, we celebrated my eldest daughter, Kayla’s, 16thBirthday.
My January travels took me to Clearwater, FL to visit my parents, brother, sister-in-law and nephew and to North Tonawanda, NY with my mother-in-law to visit my 94 year-old Grandmother-in-law. Florida provided us with warmth while the -20-degree temps of the Buffalo area gave my iPhone more than it could handle. Thankfully, after 30 minutes of heat – my iPhone came back to life.
February
Early February surprised us with a 70-degree day, so I was able to have a “spur of the moment” picnic lunch at school with Mary-Kate.
I spent the middle of February planning and coordinating Mary-Kate’s first birthday slumber party. Compliments of Gym-Fit Sports (www.gymfitsports.com) in Ayrsley, we were able to get this energetic group worn out before dinner, swimming, and slumbering at the Embassy Suites. Mary-Kate had an 11thBirthday that she will never forget.
I finished out February with a quick trip down to Edisto Beach to enjoy the unseasonably warm temperatures.
March
In March, Mary-Kate wrapped up an impressive swim season and on March 17th, we celebrated my eldest son, Tommy’s, 16thbirthday. Which reminds me, If you’ve never had a “Palmetto Pie” (pictured as Tommy’s birthday cake) from Hey Sugar Shop in Rock Hill, it’s an incredible experience for those of you with a rich flavored sweet tooth. (www.heysugarshop.com)
At the end of March, my mother and I boarded the Celebrity Silhouette Cruise Ship for a 12-Night Cruise of the Southern Caribbean. Mary-Kate told people I had gone to see the “Saints” and I am fearful many of the elderly at our Parish assumed I had passed away until she explained the ship’s itinerary included:
St. Thomas
St. Johns
St. Maarten
St. Lucia
St. Kitts
St. George’s Grenada
Barbados
Dominica
April
In April, my husband, Tom, and I spent a week in Panama. Panama City is the most modern city we have visited in Central America. The Panama Canal is the busiest passage we’ve ever witnessed. Our resort allowed us to watch the ships cruise from the Caribbean Sea into the canal on their way to the Pacific Ocean. Casco Viejo was my favorite day trip, although getting stranded on a small speedboat in the middle of the Panama Canal was likely the most memorable moment.
At the end of April, I worked with my niece, Zoey, my nephew, Quinn, and three of my kids to dig out two 20-year-old hedges around the mailbox. We planted a new garden in their place. Although it seems minor, it’s something I wanted to do for years and it felt like a huge accomplishment to find the time to get it done.
May
In May, I was one of those bad parents and I took Mary-Kate out of school for a week, so she could go to Disney World with my mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, and nephew, Colin. I have to tell you, Disney World in the off season is HEAVENLY. I am sure the school system would not approve, but I think everyone should take their kids out of school once in their lives during one of the slowest Disney weeks.
At the end of May, my two eldest children, Tommy and Kayla completed confirmation into the Catholic church at St. Philip Neri.
June, July & August
It’s best for me to clump the summer months together. After a year of planning and 14 years of saving Hilton Honors points, Tom, Mary-Kate, Tommy and I spent the summer traveling out West. Kayla went to Honduras on a mission trip and Nicholas went to Ecuador on a mission trip. Our itinerary was extensive and included the following destinations:
Girls trip to the beach with my niece, Zoey and Mary-Kate just before school starts
The end of August brings an end to all of our summer travels and the beginning of another school year.
September
September was a “get back to reality” month. In September, the Nation Ford High School Marching band was in full swing. This year, I was able to volunteer to make gluten free/egg free/nut free desserts for the band kids, volunteer to unload the band equipment truck, concession sales for the NAFO Exhibition, and sort/inventory the fruit & butter bread fundraiser delivery. It was wonderful to help in ways I never had time to do previously.
We were able to go to Spartanburg and celebrate my parent’s 50thWedding Anniversary.
Oh, I almost forgot – I was instrumental in helping Nicholas get an A on his Plant Cell project. It’s amazing what candy from the Dollar Store and a little glue can do.
My mom and I took a trip to Huntsville, Alabama to visit my Aunt, Uncle, and Cousins. I could have stayed there for another week just catching up on lost time and still not have said it all. I have missed them all so much over the years with just not being able to find the time. During this trip, I learned how to shoot a gun. I am not a gun enthusiast, never wanted one in my house, but my cousin is retired from the Air Force, so I took advantage of his expert training lessons. He is a fabulous teacher, but I am far from a marksman. I’m pretty sure I left a row of divots in the dirt, and I am thankful we didn’t find any deceased cattle following the lessons.
October
October started with a trip to Myrtle Beach with my mom and Mary-Kate. Mary-Kate’s first trip to the Top SC Tourist Destination. We had a wonderful time visiting some of our Celebrity Cruise friends and seeing all of the changes that have taken place in Myrtle Beach since we were last there 10 years ago.
After a nice long weekend away, I started my “yard project”. Once completed, we had planted over 35 trees and bushes, created three retaining walls, and dug over 350 square feet of flower beds. I can’t wait to see what the yard looks like in 5 years after our plantings have matured.
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October also began the building out of Carolina PRG’s office. Brian Passarelli and I were so excited to see the framing go up!
We closed out October with another impressive State Championship for the Nation Ford High School Band in Columbia, SC. What a great way for Tommy to wrap up his Junior year of Marching Band.
November
November started with a quick trip to Spartanburg, SC to bring home my Great Grandmother’s Hoosier Cabinet. Before there were built in kitchen cabinets in farm towns across Indiana, these Hoosier Cabinets housed kitchen essentials and provided a countertop/prep station. I still remember seeing this in my Great Grandmother’s home before she passed away and I am so happy to have a little part of her here in our home.
The Carolina PRG business planning and buildout was in full-swing this month with Business Card Designs, stationary orders, vendor selections, business insurance, business licensing, trademark application, furniture & interior design, internal employee interviews, budget meetings, website design, LinkedIn set-up, Facebook set-up, Twitter set-up, signage design, and accounting/payroll service selections.
The middle of November my mother-in-law and I took another trip to North Tonawanda, NY to celebrate Grandma’s 95thBirthday. Playing scrabble into the late hours of the night and visiting with family rounded out the highlights.
I wrapped up November with a nice relaxing week/Thanksgiving with family at Edisto Beach.
December
December brought about the final touches in our office space. We’ve seen it go from framing and hanging cables, to an impressive, modern, office space just waiting to be filled with the buzz of our recruiting business. We extended an offer to an impressive Office Administrator/Recruiting Coordinator, and we are hopeful to have a Certificate of Occupancy by December 31st.
We rounded out our year with another 50th Anniversary Party. We were able to surround my mother-in-law, Carol Quinlan, and father-in-law, Peter Quinlan, with friends and family in Hilton Head to celebrate this momentous occasion.
When I think back about this year, I am overwhelmed with the opportunity I was given to enjoy friends, family, travels, and business planning with a great business partner. As Mary-Kate tells people, I am Nervecited (nervous & excited) about the new business. I am looking forward to building an incredible company that is service-based – giving hope to those that are both looking for a job and looking for a great hire. I know what I will miss most are the little intimate moments at home – like a 16-year-old brother and 11-year-old sister randomly playing the piano together on a Wednesday afternoon around the Christmas tree, but I miss the excitement and enjoyment of creating remarkable career moments for professionals in Charlotte. 2020 will give me the opportunity to join Brian Passarelli in doing just that. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
