SuzieQ Cottage

Mexican Fiesta Part 2

At last: Mexican Fiesta Part 2! There are good reasons for being a little tardy with the post (trip to Asheville, have a cold, preparations for the 1st Holly Springs Community Arts Festival, yada yada…), but WOW was Mexican night mucho bueno. Our Mexico travel stories Our two trips to Mexico–well, to “tourist” Mexico (Cancun), 10+ years ago–left us with fond feelings, but also knowing there’s much more to see...

2013 International Night series starts with Mexico

We’re kicking off a new festivity in our house this year: a monthly International Night. And our first destination is: Mexico! We love to travel, and before our daughter arrived and I left my lucrative-yet-constraining ad agency career we did quite a bit of it, both home and abroad. There was so much to experience: new sites and sounds, local cuisine, discovering afresh all the ways that “normal life” can be different–and...

Can people change?

Can people change? That’s the question at the top of many people’s minds in January. This year I resolved not to have resolutions to change; instead I am experimenting with a new approach, boldly tricking myself into bringing out the best parts of myself by keeping my focus on how to BE more of who I would like to be: “the runner,” “the strong, flexible yoga lover,” “the writer,” “the traveler,” “the thinker,”...

Call of the Road

Joining the ranks of New Yorkers who’ve succumbed to North Carolina’s call (very happily, I might add), has also led to many hours on the road, driving back and forth from new home to old as we satisfy our longing to visit with family and friends. Since my parents emigrated from England and visits were few and far between, I’m very conscious of, and thankful for, being able to hug our loved ones after a “short”...

Monday Poetry Prompt results in Ambition

I recently joined a Meetup called Living Poetry. Today’s Monday Poetry Prompt offered up 30 words to incorporate into a poem in 3 minutes. This took me 30, but since I don’t write very much poetry I’m happy–and share it without guilt! The initial inspiration stemmed from a recent encounter (though not a cousin) but the majority of the verse is pure playful fiction. Ambition, fresh and tart like lemons squirting on her...