Queen Maureen

Today I mashed up 4 bananas, and embarked on the task I have been avoiding for days.  Making banana bread is one of my triggers.  It brings me back to the day I first met Vanessa, when she brought chocolate chip banana bread to my house warming party.  We were both new to the city, and trying to make friends.  We joined a blossoming community of young adults, and quickly found our tribe.  She mentioned that day that she had bananas that needed to be used, and I was hosting a potluck, so she made the delightful dish to share.  Before she and her husband left, she asked me if I wanted to keep the leftovers, since there were only 2 of them at home.  I gladly agreed, even though there was only one of me.  Money was tight, and I was stressing about how I would feed myself for the next month.  With the help of my freezer, Vanessa's banana bread kept me fed until the next paycheck.  Even in the midst of my anxiety attacks, when my appetite was ...

"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people."  These words are famously attributed to Elenor Roosevelt, wife of president Franklin D. Roosevelt, and first lady of the United States from 1933-1945.  Elenor was a classy and inspirational woman whom many, myself included, look up to.  But one might easily find her words condescending toward those interested in their friends and family.  Being very extroverted myself, I find other people to be one of my greatest interests!  Does this make me a small mind?  Well, Elenor Rosevelt cannot make me feel like a small mind without my consent, but let's talk about it! Some people are naturally interested in ideas, some in facts, and some in people.  Each of these interests comes with its own set of strengths and temptations.  People who are interested in other people often face a temptation to gossip, just as those interested in facts and ideas face temptations toward o...

Many of our loved ones are having birthdays right now, and we are left to wonder how we can make their day special, even though we cannot be with them.  A birthday is not merely an occasion of recognizing an age, but a day of appreciation for a person and their life.  This is worthy of celebration, whether near or far.  So to all the socially distant party planners, here are a few ways to celebrate someone without breaking the health and safety guidelines. Carline Parade : The most popular solution to a socially distant birthday seems to be rallying up the friends, and driving slowly past the house, while the birthday boy or girl sits and enjoys the parade.  If you want to add extra pizzaz, bring balloons to fly out your window, or confetti to throw. Virtual Karaoke:  If not everyone is close enough for a drive-thru party, gather them over Zoom, FaceTime, or your favorite online platform.  Have everyone belt their favorite song, and share their birthday...

I have now been quarantined for well over a month, and I can finally say that I am settling into a routine.  For the first time in human history, everyone is workin from home, all students are homeschooled, and all relationships are long-distance.  But depending on your state's guidelines, you may be able to see each other in person, so long as you keep your standard 6 feet.  Is that still long distance, though? Seeing each other through a screen is better than nothing, but at a certain point, we miss face-to-face communication.  It just isn't the same when you can't hang out with your friend, neighbor, or significant other in the same room.  I have been using my thinking cap, and watching various couples and friends on social media, and I have compiled a few date ideas that are both social-distancing-friendly, and do not involve the use of electronics. Water balloons .  Start 6 feet apart, and see how much further you can go.  This works well on ...

During our time of social distancing, quarantine, and isolation, a lot of us are left wondering what to do while at home.  It can be easy to get cabin fever, or to get sucked into the internet, so here are a few ideas of things to do while at home without using the internet. Read a book .  Think of all the books you have wanted to read, but lacked the time.  Now is your chance!  Read that book, annotate it, and maybe even write a review! Fly a kite !  It's cliche, but if you have a little wind, why not dig out that childhood toy and have some back yard fun? Make a rubber band ball .  This is a good one if you have a lot of time to kill, as you will need to hunt down about 100 rubber bands of all different sizes.  But once you're done, you will have all your rubber bands in one place!  You'll thank yourself later, as long as you remember where you put them:) Call or video chat your friends and family .  Now is a great time to "waste time...

This is a post for the gents.  It's been awhile since I've done one of these, so I thought it was about time to revive them. A lot of guys these days are left wondering what a girl really wants in a guy, and what qualities are universally attractive to women.  Well, here it is gents! We want honor and respect. We are done with cat calls and whistles.  Nobody wants deep down to be treated that way.  Although you will see some girls dressed or acting in a way that does not demand much respect, if a guy respects a girl anyway, without making a big show of it, it strikes a chord.  It reminds her that she has more to offer than what society tells her to flaunt.  It challenges her to a higher standard. We want protection. We want security in the knowledge that we are protected.  Even if a woman is single and not looking for a relationship, it is appreciated if a man will walk her to her car, or intervene if she is in danger.  Especially those o...

This post will be a shorter one. Do you ever hear your friends say terrible things about themselves?  Have you ever wondered how to helpfully respond when they do this?  It can be hard to know exactly what to say, and it's painful to hear a friend say things like, "I'm so stupid", or "I suck at life".  I have heard people I really care about say these things, and I've found myself saying them too.  It's hard on both ends!  So what do we do? When someone expresses a sentiment like this, don't shut them down.  Clearly, it's something that's been going through their head, and will continue if it's not addressed.  If your friend says "Nobody loves me" or "I'm ugly", clearly this is something they are either believing, or it has just popped up on a whim.  Don't suppress it.  If you respond by saying, "Oh that's terrible, don't say that!", all you are telling them is that you don't want ...

When I was very young, I somehow got the idea that a boy wouldn't like me unless I was more like a boy.  I thought that feminine qualities were seen as superficial and shallow, and that a guy wouldn't want a girl who wore pink, painted her nails, or appeared "girly" in any way.  So I spent most of my high school career trying to fit in with the guys.  I played sports with them, I tried to walk with a more manly gait, and I worked out, in an attempt to look more athletic like them.  I refused to wear skirts to school, on the basis that they were "impractical".  I didn't want to seem needy, so I would never let anyone else carry my backpack.  I loaded it with textbooks until it was over 30 pounds, and insisted on always carrying it myself, just to show that I could.  I ended up having a lot of guy friends.  They thought heavy backpacks were cool, they thought working out was cool, and they thought a quick game of hacky-sack over lunch was cool. ...

A lot of my friends are headed off to college, and about to live away from home for the first time, so I thought I'd make a post for them.  If you are a returning student, you may also find this helpful. So here's my advice for college life: Go to bed at a reasonable hour.  You may not have classes as early as you did in high school, and Mom's not making you go to bed at nine, but maintaining your usual bedtime is still a good idea.  It keeps you healthy, and it helps keep balance and consistency. Get up at the same time every day .  This also is healthy and fosters consistency.  You probably will not have your first class at the same time every day, but morning routines are crucial. Don't get involved in other people's drama.   It's none of your business, and it's not worth your time.  Everyone wants to help in some way, but it's not your job to solve your friends' problems.  They are adults, and they can do that themselves.  You hav...

To all the young ladies out there, here are some practical tips for living out your best life: Don't get into a car with a stranger unless it's your Uber driver. If someone doesn't like you, it's their loss, not yours. Never date a loser out of sympathy. It has been said, "Don't spend more than $10 on mascara", but I say, "Don't spend more than $4.99 on mascara." The first time you wear a new pair of shoes, bring bandaids in your purse. Always carry a pen with you. Know how to use pepper spray.  And that includes reading the owners manual! Call your mom at least once a week! Your dignity is not measured in inches around your waste. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Your family is the group that you'll have contact with the longest.  Don't let any other relationship come between you and your family. Leggings aren't pants. There's no such thing as a perfect person. Don't travel without money. Don't ...

To all the women who have lost motherhood through abortion, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all the ways we have failed you. I'm sorry for all the tears you cry silently, after the rest of the world has gone to sleep. I'm sorry for the invisible pain that you carry everywhere you go. I'm sorry for the pang you feel whenever you're at a child's birthday party. I'm sorry you cannot hear your child's heartbeat. I'm sorry you will never know your baby's gender, hair color, or eye color. I'm sorry you can never see his little feet running, or hear her precious laughter. I'm sorry that you've been robbed of the chance to cradle your child in your arms. I'm sorry there was nobody there for you when you needed help. I'm sorry you went through a traumatic and violating procedure. I'm sorry we have lied that this is empowering. I'm sorry we told you that this was your best choice, and then left you afterwards. I...

To all the children who have been lost to abortion: On behalf of society, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that we shoved your mothers into the clinic instead of counseling them through their crises. I'm sorry that we didn't love them enough to take care of them. I'm sorry that we didn't love you enough to protect you. I'm sorry that we have voted to have their bodies and yours violated. I'm sorry that we broke your mother's heart by stopping yours. I'm sorry that we did not give you a voice when you were voiceless. I'm sorry that we've inflicted the ultimate pain on you both. I'm sorry for leaving your mother alone to face her pain afterwards. I'm sorry for failing to address the before-math and aftermath of abortion. I'm sorry we weren't there for either of you. I'm sorry for not stopping to hear the beating of your tiny heart. I'm sorry for not showing your mom your little footprints. I'm sorry for not gi...

"He danced only four dances, though gentlemen were scarce; and, to my certain knowledge, more than one young lady was sitting down in want of a partner." -Lizzie Bennet ( Pride and Prejudice , page 128) I'm sure all of us ladies have had a Lizzie Bennet moment or two.  Back in her day, everyone agreed that Mr. Darcy was rude.  But nowadays, it has become socially acceptable for guys to just stand against the wall and watch while several girls don't get asked to dance.  How did this happen? There are a few myths that the 21st century has adopted, and I am going to lay them out one by one and destroy them. Myth #1: You have to be Dating a Girl to Ask Her to Dance How do you think you'll ever end up with a girlfriend if you never ask a girl to dance?  This brings me to the next myth. Myth #2: You Can't Dance with a Girl who has a Boyfriend In the words of Donald J. Trump, "Wrong.  Wrong.  Wrong."  You aren't taking her out, you are jus...

Well ladies, it's been a while, but I'm back.  And this time I'm more irritated than ever!  It's homecoming season, and I've been doing some online shopping, and I am getting extremely frustrated with some of the current modeling trends.  Every time a dress is modeled, even just when girls are getting their pictures taken in their lovely dresses before they run off to the dance, there is always a picture that features whatever unique cut-out this dress has.  It's like that's the most important thing about it! To be fair, I do appreciate when the online pictures of the dress are honest, and I know everything about the dress before I buy it.  And in all honesty, I don't claim to be perfect with regards to modesty.  I've definitely had my share of wardrobe malfunctions, and instances where I buy something that looks fine when I try it on, but when I go to sit down, bend over, or kneel in it, it's not so fine. But the way the stores are adve...

What do you think of when you hear the word, "breakup?" Probably something in the realm of ice-cream, Netflix, and crying, followed by a series of ackward and unfriendly encounters between you and your ex.  Is this how it has to be?  No. Despite what you might believe, it isn't like this for everyone.  We all have witnessed, and maybe even experienced a terrible breakup, and it's what we are most aware of.  It's what naturally wins the most attention, because the people who are having the terrible dramatic breakups are the ones making the biggest deal out of them.  What we don't see is the healthy breakups.  What?!  Yes, there are healthy, positive, and sometimes happy endings to relationships. There are endless variations of breakup situations, each with its own details and complications.  I can't go into all of them, but let's at least look at some of the classic scenarios together. Situation A: You were in a bad relationship that you are ...

Yeah, I know I've done this post every year since I started my blog, but it's that season again, and I simply can't resist the urge. And hey! These are all things I'm actually doing this year, so bonus! Water balloons You can get them at just about any store! They can be a pain to fill up, but no pain no gain !  Always a great way to cool off and have a great time. Pool parties Even if you don't have a pool, there is no excuse to avoid pool parties and public pools. Camping Camping is, in my own stubborn opinion, a right of passage.  We all have a right to be dirty once in awhile.  If you haven't been, this is your summer.  Do it! Mall Madness I'll admit I'm not a natural shopper, but if you've never even set foot in a mall, at least go and check out the food court. We all scream for... ICECREAM!!! Free Slurpee Day at 7-Eleven Yesterday, being 7/11, my family and I went to the nearest 7-Eleven to take advantage of their free...

Well ladies, it's been a while, but I'm back.  I haven't had a lot of things come up that have inspired me to write...until tonight.  This morning, actually.  Yes, when it's one in the morning, and I can't sleep, what do I do?  I write a blog post about women's safety! They told me in karate class when I was young that there are five basic rules to personal safety.  I still remember the instructor's spiel: "Use my thoughts, use my words, use my legs, ask for help, use my defense."  A karate kid is not supposed to use his moves on another person until he has mentally assessed the situation, and exhausted verbal power, tried removing himself from the situation, and failed to acquire help. These five basic rules don't just apply to the kids.  We can use them too.  Admittedly, I'm not a trained professional, but I do have a few tips to offer in each of the five areas, to get rid of creepers. Several of them I have used before, and I have fo...

As we begin 2018, we all have hopes for a successful, productive year.  New projects, promotions, enhanced resumes, and tight agendas are all in our dreams.  Are we planning to waste time on Netflix, social media, and playing video games?  Nope!  But will we?  Probably. Killing time with a screen is very common in 21st century American society.  It is a trap that we all fall into at times, and it is painfully difficult to get out of.  When we find ourselves with nothing to do, there is a whole in us, and we rush to fill it before we feel its full effect(boredom).  We use our phones, TV's, and computers as fillers to keep boredom at bay, and entertainment comes to us, rather than allowing us to come find it.  As I'm sure we all know, this is not a healthy, or even satisfying coping method.  So how can we avoid it? First off, we need something that involves us more.  Human beings are not made to sit and do nothing.  We are mea...

There's a saying that goes, "well behaved women seldom make history".  In this post, I'll give  you a few examples of well-behaved women who not only made history, but made my list of top role-models for girls. Our Lady Mother Teresa Abigail Adams Maria Montessori Sacagawea Pocahontas St. Elizabeth Anne Seton St. Katherine Drexel Sr. Lucia of Fatima St. Jacinta of Fatima Clara Barton Betsy Ross Laura Ingles Wilder Helen Keller Amelia Earhart Nancy Reagan Queen Isabella of Spain Christina of Sweden Marie Curie Anne Frank Hopefully this has given you some hope and inspiration.  Be fearlessly you, be ambitious, and do what's right.  Without apology!

This is another post for the ladies, particularly teenage girls.  I was going to expand on each point, but I think each one says it all. You're less-than if you don't have a boyfriend You can't be completely happy without a boyfriend It's more important to be skinny than to be healthy Beauty is pain Appearing in public without makeup is social suicide You won't be liked unless you dress in a way that puts your body on display You won't be an influence on the world until you do all the same things that men do Your boyfriend will like you better if you loose five pounds You're not worthy of the title "beautiful" unless you look like all those edited, retouched pictures in the magazines What everyone's saying about you is what defines you. Always know that these things are absolutely false.  They have no validity.  If you feel like one of them is true, write it down on a piece of paper, and rip it up!