Laredo needs some Love…

July 16, 2010 | No Comments »

One of the things I was most excited to do during my Texas Road Trip was explore all of these quirky little Texas towns that I may never have the opportunity to visit again. Well, the trip kicked off Wednesday with a trip to Laredo and while the drive was BEAUTIFUL (pictures to come), once I got there, things were a different story.

A few weeks ago Tropical Storm Alex blew through town and the Rio Grande river flooded both the Texan and Mexican sides of the border. According to the Houston Chron, the Rio Grande at Laredo (where flood stage is 8 feet) reached 41.5 feet. The bridges between cities were closed and many people’s properties were flooded. It’s the worst flood the city has seen since 1971.

I had heard that there was flooding before I went, but it wasn’t until I got into town and heard people’s stories, that I realized how bad things were down there right now. My client sponsored the Laredo Heat Soccer game and I was lucky to meet a bunch of amazing people, many of whom are still reeling from the flooding. I heard stories from people who watched their cars float down the street and from people who couldn’t afford flood insurance whose entire houses were submerged.

It reminded me how blessed I am. And it reminded me what all of Houston and Galveston went through with Hurricane Ike.

So here’s the fun part. Donate! I did some research, and as of today, federal assistance isn’t yet available for Laredo. I called the Red Cross, and while you can donate money to disaster relief in general, there is no guarantee that the money will go to the Laredo relief efforts. SO. I finally read about the Alex Ten account the city of Laredo has set up to help its own. Get out those check books people!! We’re going old school here.

To donate, make a check out to “The City of Laredo/Alex Relief Fund Account” and mail it to…

The First National Bank
6625 San Dario
Laredo, Texas 78041

If you have questions, you can call the San Dario branch at (956) 523-7800.

Ready… set… donate!

And as soon as I hear there is an easier way to donate, I’ll post an update!!

Posted in Road Tripping Texas |

Road Tripping Texas: Maggie Style

July 13, 2010 | 4 Comments »

For the next month and a half, I will be traveling all over Texas (with stops at home to refuel and repack) for a client project and I seriously. Cannot. WAIT.

I love road trips, I love Texas and I love the client I’m working for… so it’s the perfect project for me.

Tomorrow morning, I set out for Laredo… and am pretty sure that my excitement level regarding the upcoming six hour drive finally proves I may be a little bit crazy.

Thanks to Flickr user Amarillo Chuck for this great Texas view!

Posted in Awesome Clients, Road Tripping Texas |

On Belief and Cotton Candy

May 7, 2010 | 9 Comments »

Since the beginning of 2010 and the kickoff of my personal quest for happiness, one of the things I have struggled with is a precise definition of what I believe in. I think having something to believe in contributes a lot to one’s life having meaning… and from meaning comes that oh-so-coveted happiness.

What I discovered is that a simple definition does not cover my personal belief system. So after months of making lists in my notebook, scribbling all over the back of my church handouts and writing notes on meeting agendas as ideas come to me, this is the belief system that I prescribe to.

I believe in the power of friendship and the importance of a good support system. I believe in my mother and my sister and the strength they bring to my life. I believe in a loving God who is always there, even when I do my best to ignore him.

I believe that treasures are found in the most unlikely of places and that when you are open to them, they will find you.

I believe in the power of laughter and that cotton candy is always a great idea. I believe sometimes it’s better to cry than to pretend everything is perfect and I believe that when things seem like they can’t get any worse, an upswing is just around the corner.

I believe that one needs stillness from time to time to really think things through and that living a healthy lifestyle leads to clarity of mind. I believe in the power of a good hug and that you shouldn’t put too much stock in what fortune cookies tell you.

I believe in fairy tales and happily ever after and that I am living mine now.

That is the short list… and by no means complete.

I am still searching and would love to hear what things bring belief and meaning to your life… If it’s not cotton candy, what does it for you?

Thank you Flickr user Indrani Soemardjan for the beautiful image!


Posted in Happiness, People I Love |

And now I can’t stop tweeting about Golf.

April 5, 2010 | 2 Comments »

I am not what you would call a golf fanatic… not even close actually. But this weekend I fell in love with a golf tournament. The Shell Houston Open to be exact. And I’ve got to be honest… the actual golf didn’t have a whole lot to do with this love affair.

I am an absolute sucker for charities and before the Shell Houston Open became one of my clients, I had no idea how much good the tournament has done for charity in our city. Since 1992, the tournament has raised almost 50 million dollars for Houston charities. Yeah. You read that right. 50 million. The love affair started right there.

Since the Shell Houston Open is one of my clients, I was lucky enough to be the bearer of a media pass and had permission to take photos. The pass got me access to everything from the Shell Skybox to the media room. The view from the Skybox was amazing and there was a never-ending supply of treats. I loved working out of the media building but let me tell you. Those golf reporters are super serious. Snort when you laugh and they will all look at you like you are a crazy person… but I’m pretty used to that.

According to Culture Map, the Shell Houston Open is the nicest stop on the PGA Tour. And while I have never been to another golf tournament, I can attest to the fact that all of the volunteers are super friendly… one even let me stand in front of him on hole 10 while I was taking pictures because “Come here honey, you know you want to take a picture of Adam Scott. Girls think he is a cutie!!”

Maintaining my silence and NOT snorting at this point was almost impossible but I managed.

I could not have had more fun that with the people I was with… Fellow MMIers Melissa, Sarah and Amanda came out on alternate days and two of my favorite people in Houston, my other half Monica and the hilarious Chris Pitre, joined us as SHO social media ambassadors. Special surprise additions to the fun were Paul from the Loop Scoop and James, the fiery famous guy.

Over the course of the tournament, I got a chance to hang out with Mike and Mike from ESPN, get autographs from both Emmitt Smith and Adam Scott, and high-five the President of Shell, Marvin Odum. Have I mentioned lately how much I really and truly love my job? Without MMI, I never would have had this opportunity.

If you didn’t get a chance to come out this year, you missed out and you better be there next year! Why wouldn’t you want to hang out in the sun with a frosty beverage… all for the chance to help out Houston children?

And since I know this post has convinced you that you MUST be at the tournament, here are some things to remember before you head out to the course:

  1. When everyone is silent, “That’s what she said jokes” sound a lot louder.
  2. People who wear jeans to golf tournaments are just asking to be shunned.
  3. But eople who wear purple pants to golf tournaments are awesome.
  4. It’s Phil Mickelson. Not Paul.

And because this post wouldn’t be complete without pictures…

Adam Scott:

Adam Scott’s Signature:

View from the Skybox:

The awesome purple pants:


Posted in Awesome Clients, Good Causes, Houston Events |

Oh! Hello there blog.

March 1, 2010 | 20 Comments »

Once upon a time, I said I was going to blog once a week… which has clearly not happened.

And you know what? I am really okay with that. So rather than going into a long rant about how much I suck at blogging, or making a promise to myself to blog more or even writing something thoughtful at all, I’m just going to tell you in a nice, neat, numbered list, what my life has looked like over the past two months.

  1. I lost my happiness
  2. so I quit my amazing job
  3. I spent way too much time in my PJs
  4. and watched too many sappy movies
  5. but then I read a really amazing book about happiness
  6. I started running again
  7. and got organized
  8. I spent a lot of time with my best friend Monica
  9. which involved TONS of laughter
  10. I started finding happiness all around me
  11. and started wearing high heels again
  12. And then out of the blue I got a wonderful job offer
  13. I took it
  14. and my first project was Mom2 (hooray!)
  15. I changed a tire wearing a yellow dress
  16. and fell in love with the Mom2 Crew all over again
  17. I spent some time by a campfire
  18. and did some more organizing
  19. Today I woke up…
  20. and discovered a peace in myself that I never knew existed

I would say that as tumultuous as they have been, the last two months have been two of the most AMAZING months of my life! And it all boiled down to figuring out how to solve my own problems… with a ton of help from my beloved friends of course.

And because this post wouldn’t be complete without it (and because it totally cracks me up every time I see it)…

Photo evidence of Jenny and I changing a tire in evening gowns. And in case there is any confusion, I totally stole this picture from Jenny’s blog. So I am Maggie and Me is Jenny… if that makes sense.

And because I think this post needs a picture of Jenny and I looking like ladies (ie, without our asses in the air), here is this one with she and I and Gwen that I love just as much as the tire-changing one.

And because why not? BANGS:

Posted in Awesome Books, Conferences, Family, Houston Events, Mom2Summit, People I Love, Social Media |

My Happiness Project Begins

January 7, 2010 | 15 Comments »

One week ago today was my last day at Schipul.

After I wrote my farewell letter on our company blog, I was immediately flooded with all kinds of messages asking why. I have remained somewhat quiet on the subject up until now but I figure it’s time I explained the real reason I left a job I loved.

First things first: No, I am not moving. Yes, I realize it is a recession. No, I am not crazy.

Here is why I said Goodbye.

I have been working really hard to reach one goal or another ever since I was 15 and got my first job. My “Goal” list looked sort of like this:

  1. Graduate High School. Check!!
  2. Join the Army. Check!!
  3. Get into University of Houston. Check!!
  4. Major in Public Relations. Check!!
  5. Get a Cat. Check!!
  6. Participate in few great internships. Check!!
  7. Fall in Love. Check!!
  8. Graduate with Honors. Check!!
  9. Buy a sweet truck. Check!!
  10. Land a job. Check!!

A few months ago I looked at my list and noticed there was nothing left to check off. I had everything I had ever wanted and I was only 25. I should have been hopping up and down in excitement… Only I wasn’t. I was missing something I really really needed… and I didn’t know what.

So I decided to join the Peace Corps. Before you freak out, I didn’t… I already said I wasn’t moving right? I quit my job instead.

Fast forward to this Monday: I woke up JOBLESS but totally at peace. I wasn’t really sure what my next steps were because I’d reached the end of my list, but for the first time in my life I was okay with that.

Enter Laura and the Happiness Project.

On Tuesday I went to drink coffee and eat cake with the lovely Laura. As I was walking out the door to her house to head to my own, she stopped me and handed me a book.

“I just got this in the mail but for some reason I think I should give this to you.”

I looked down, it was The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.

“Are you sure? You haven’t even read it yet!”

Laura ensured me it was fine and shooed me out the door.

My Happiness Project

I went home and immediately started reading. Within the first few pages, I was smiling… and I knew it was time to embark on my own journey to happiness. This is the quote from Gretchen that did it:

Se says to herself: “As soon as I have some free time, I should start a happiness project.”

Well I do have free time… and vast amounts of it! Why not start my very own project while I read Gretchen’s story?

My Happiness Resolutions.

Like in the book, I would pick one happiness resolution to work on every month. That makes 12 happiness resolutions total. Gretchen picked all of hers before she started her project but I’m still sketching out all of mine so I’ll just start with the first and what I’m working on in January: Organization.

So here is what I did today to kick off my Happiness Project:

  1. I started cleaning out my closet: Let’s face it. I’m never going to be a size 2 or an A-cup ever again so it’s time to get rid of those clothes I wore when I was 18, blond and bartending and make room for things that look good on my body now.
  2. A whole lot of shredding went on: I like to keep things… but do I really need the syllabus from my freshman “Intro to Public Relations” class? No. I allowed myself to keep the book, but shredded the rest.
  3. The recycling bin on my computer desktop is by new best friend: Like the syllabus, it’s not necessary to save every little thing. Chances are, if it was really important, it’s in my email archives or I can find it online somewhere. That .jpg of the UH logo has got to go. Trust me, it’s you can find it somewhere else.
  4. I died my hair: Come one. EVERY good project needs to start with a great hairdo right?!

So here is to 201o and my Happiness Project. I hope you start your own!

I’m heading to Austin tomorrow morning to do a reading of my 6 Word Memoir (join me!!) and then I’ll be babysitting my teenage cousins over the weekend. If you don’t hear from me on Monday, I would suggest heading to Austin with a rescue party. You may find me hanging upside down from an oak tree… tethered with nothing but toilet paper.

Posted in Uncategorized |

Happy Holidays from Me to You!!

December 17, 2009 | 9 Comments »

Monica + Twilight = My 2009
Perfect.

Happy Holidays

Make your own at www.merrynewsinator.com. It’s fast and fun!!

Posted in Awesome Books, People I Love |

Loves Box Wine in Solo Cups

December 16, 2009 | 7 Comments »

On Saturday I opened gmail expecting to find the usual emails from twitter, my sister and Monica. Those were all there… but there was also one with this little gem of a subject line:

Your Six-Word Memoir is Going to be Published!

Let’s rewind for a second. What is a Six-Word Memoir?!? Over a year ago, I heard the tale of Ernest Hemingway’s Six Word Memoir and I was pretty immediately hooked. As a former bartender, the story had me at hello. Why?

It takes place at a bar!! One night, Ernest Hemingway was out on the town and a fellow patron challenged him to write a memoir in six words… and he didn’t hesitate. His response?

For sale: baby shoes, never worn.

I know what you are thinking. BABY SHOES? And you were HOOKED? Well I was enchanted with the idea of a life summed up in six words… and I would soon find out that millions of other people were as well. Thanks to SMITH Magazine, the challenge lives on. SMITH believes that everyone has a story, they just need a place to tell it… And you can… right on their homepage.

For a while, I was a six word stalker. I read other people submissions, which range from heartbreaking (These bruises prove he loves me) to hilarious (Never really left the Trailer Park). On January 28, 2009 I finally strapped it on and posted my own.

Loves box wine in solo cups.

And on Saturday I got the wonderful news that it’s going to be published in a book called It All Changed in an Instant: More Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure. You can pre-order it from Amazon now!! Or come to the book tour. I’ll be at the one in Austin on Friday, January 8 at 7 pm at BookPeople on Lamar.

Yes… it’s only 6 words. But it’s my six words.What are yours? Leave them in the comments section!!

Oh – and check out the video JMO filmed to help me commemorate the occasion.

Posted in Uncategorized |

An open letter to myself… At 16

December 15, 2009 | 24 Comments »

Today marks ten years to the day that I found out my father committed suicide. I was 16 and would be just getting home from school right about now. Today marks ten years to the day that everything I knew to be true was shattered.

I thought long and hard about actually posting this, and almost didn’t, because it is intensely personal. But upon reflection, I realized that if I so needed to hear from someone ten years ago what I am about to say, then there might be someone out there who need to hear it too…

I wish I could go back in time and hand this letter to myself right after hearing the news.

Hey little girl…

Lets get this out of the way first. It’s not your fault.

Now chin up. And let me tell you a few things.

I know you are hurting. I know this is the absolute worst day of your life. I know that for the first time in your life, you truly understand what it means to have a broken heart… because I know right now you can feel yours breaking.

But also know this. You will wake up tomorrow and every day after that… and it will get a little easier. This doesn’t mean that you will ever forget Daddy, it just means that your will remember how to breathe, and more importantly… you will remember how to live.

Know that you will laugh again in a few days and know that it is not a betrayal of Daddy to do so. He was a funny guy… he would want you to laugh.

Know that even though he is gone, you will always carry parts of him with you and that when you need him most, you will feel him there.

Know that you are strong and smart and amazing. Know that you will do things with your life (I’m not going to tell you what–you’ll see) that will make Daddy so proud.

In three days you will sing “Eagle’s Wings” at Daddy’s funeral in front of all of our family… that was always the song you loved singing with Daddy in church. On the last note your voice will fail you and the cantor will finish for you. Afterward, you will sit down in the pew and you will swear to yourself that you will never sing for an audience again… because you wanted the last time to have been for Dad.

Don’t make that promise. We regret it later.

Keep singing sugar,

Because you and I? We end up just fine.

Daddy

Oh and one last thing… dump Phillip. That guy is a serious douche.

Posted in People I Love |

#Best09: Brought to you by MommyMac & Pizza

December 13, 2009 | 7 Comments »

Tralalala la la la la… this post is in response to Gwen’s “the best of 2009” Blog Challenge. Check it! I missed yesterday so this is a double one.

December 12: New Food. You’re now in love with Lebanese food and you didn’t even know what it was in January of this year.

I’ll make this one short and sweet. Monica and I spent my birthday week in New York and it one of the most amazing trips of my life. I’ve been there several time before but I’ve never (please don’t throw things at me here) eaten the pizza from one of the little pizza places that seems to reside on every corner.

This time in NYC, both our new Irish friend John and Monica made me try it out… and oh boy it is amazing.

It’s not delivery OR DiGiorno. It is DEELISH!

Pizza

Thank you flickr user Daniele Sartori for the awesome photo!!

December 13: What is the best change you made to the place you live?

Recently I moved back home to dear old Tomball to live with Mom. There were several reasons behind this change, the biggest and most important probably being the need to save money saving and to pay off those old student loans.

I lived on my own all through college and for a few years after so I was a little nervous about the transition at first, but the last couple of months have been so much fun.

My Mom lives on a cul-de-sac and we’ve become really great friends with all of our neighbors. We become a fun, sometimes dysfunctional, always silly family that lives together – only in separate houses. I swear I’m going to write a book about this motley crew.

We’ve got the widow, the 20 something that lives with her Mom (clearly that’s me)… we’ve got the single mom and then the cougar. We’ve got the family with yours-mine-and-ours and then on the corner there is the overweight president of the homeowners association (we try to stay as far away from him as possible). Probably the most normal of all of us is the pharmaceutical rep.

We have made it a habit to get together every few weeks in someone’s driveway, drink lots of wine, and stay up talking as long as possible. You can imagine the variety of the stories that are told and the wonderfully different perspectives you get on things.

It is this eclectic bunch I bring all of my problems to first and it is these people who have picked me up time and time again when I’ve thought things are too hard. I have plans to move back into the city sometime in spring, but I don’t think I could have imagined a better place to live in my 26th year. How I love my dear little circle.

Oh… another great thing about living at home are having conversations like these (this occured five minutes ago):

Me (yelling from the kitchen): Mom!!

Mom (yelling from the computer room): What?

Me: I bought you some really great chips!!

Mom (walks into the kitchen): What did you say?

Me: Ummm. I bought you some great chips?

Mom: Oh thank goodness! I thought you were yelling about eating some “good shit” and I thought that was just so white trash!! Good chips. That’s funny.

Me: Wow Mom.

My little sister is coming home from college this weekend. Can’t wait.

my-family

Posted in #Best09, Family, People I Love |

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