57 Days

I am not counting but I have to face the facts.

High school graduations will be taking place across the country. Some earlier than others depending on where you live.  Our daughter has 57 days (only 57 days) until she graduates from high school. I know we are looking at it much differently than she is. To her, life is around the corner. College and all the opportunities that lie ahead of her. To me, she’ll be leaving home for college and life as I have known it for the last 17 ½ years, will never be the same. She is leaving home. She is leaving me. She’ll be hours from me, not just down the hallway in her room.  There is so much change ahead of me that I try not to think about it right now, even though I am planning. Planning for graduation night, planning her graduation party, planning for her move to college.

Her senior year has been a big year for her as well as me. I jumped at the chance to volunteer for Project Graduation (a night-long drug and alcohol-free celebration). A small group of mothers have planned and carried out numerous fund-raising events to raise money to provide a free, fun-filled night for all the seniors. Their last social event as high school seniors before they go their separate way in life. It has been a fun year but very busy for us; however, we reached our goal and are now planning gift giveaways for their last night together. Only 57 more days to get everything done.

We are so proud of our daughter. She has had another great year and she continues to impress us. She has maintained high grades (making the scholar list, 95 average and above) while taking several AP courses, working and participating in several clubs. She is the editor of the yearbook and has spent hours working on that. She is also on the track team again this year despite telling us she did not plan to join. We were glad the coach talked to her and she changed her mind. It is been a busy year for her but it is all coming to an end. 

The seniors will head to Boston in June for their senior trip.  It’s a quick 3-day trip jam packed with sight-seeing and fun activities! I hope her and her friends have a great time and enjoy this trip – last one of their school days.

It's that time of year - College Acceptance Day!

It’s her Senior year! So much going on sometimes I get dizzy. We are so proud of our daughter!

Last July, Olivia and I traveled to the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) for a campus tour, baking demonstration and an admissions informational meeting. It was a hot July day and the campus was beautiful, small and inviting.  We had a long day with a lot of information to digest. We ended the day with Olivia applying before we left the demo. We handed her application in, free of charge, saving us a $50.00 application fee. Since it was early afternoon, we made arrangements to meet her friend once her class ended. While waiting, we browsed the campus store and found some items for Olivia. We met Josie who took us to a few of the kitchens to meet some of the chefs. We went into the bread kitchen, I wanted to roll my sleeves up and stay, and met the chef. We did not stay long as a class was in session. On to another kitchen and we met three chefs. One chef took us into the kitchen, working students all around us, as he talked to Olivia. Josie asked permission to let us try one of her desserts she had made and he said yes. He was thrilled that Olivia would be enrolling in the Baking and Pastry Arts program.  He said “I’ll see you in class.” What a nice welcome!

After our kitchen tours, Josie took us to her dorm room so Olivia could see her room which was different than the staged dorm room we saw during the tour. We thanked Josie, gave her a little thank you gift and headed for home.

School started and Olivia began her senior year – class of 2018!  On September 25, Olivia received a large envelope from the CIA congratulating her on her acceptance to the CIA!  The envelope looked like a cutting board and printed in one corner was “you made the cut”.  Clever! She was excited as we all were!  If you plan to go into a field like baking and want to eventually own your own business, you need to go to the best school and the CIA is the best!

Mail started coming on a regular basis and we filed our financial aid forms. Olivia started applying to numerous scholarships and I started making my lists.

Just a few weeks ago, we traveled to the CIA again for Acceptance Day! We attended several informational sessions hosted by various departments, enjoyed lunch and received a gift - a pasta cookbook - since we had already paid the acceptance fee. 

We will be taking her to college in September but Olivia and I will be making one more trip in July for a mandatory weekend at CIA.  She gets to sleep in a dorm and I’ll have to stay in a hotel.  She’s going to have a great time and it’s just the beginning.

A New Look

I haven't posted anything in so long. Life has been busy and time has gotten away from me. 

Lat fall, I stripped our main bathroom. I removed the wallpaper that had been up for over a decade. Yes I know, it certainly was time for a make-over.  Wallpaper was removed, walls were scrubbed, and the ceiling was washed as well. I painted the ceiling first, then the walls. I just loved the color! Amazing how a fresh coat of paint can make one happy. After two coats, then painting the trim, I decorated.

I also saved money by using coupons on the shower rod, shower curtain, pictures and wall shelf! It came together very nice as I admit, I am not a great interior designer. 

We all love the new look! Since these pictures were taken, the baseboard has been installed.  Sorry no pictures of that.