Writing to Sanity — A blog portfolio for Desiree Allen.

Social butterfly: How do I make quality friendships in this digital age?

by Desiree on August 3, 2010

I’ve been called a “social butterfly” on more than one occasion since I was a little girl and, while this quality has been an asset in so many situations over the past couple of decades, I have realized since moving to New Jersey that it’s not as easy to make friends as an adult when you have to begin anew.

Read my observances on what I’ve tried to do in making quality friendships as I give my first post on Jersey Moms Blog and share what’s worked for you!

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Why I’ll never be the same

by Desiree on June 25, 2010

My kids left NJ today and headed back to CO so they can spend the summer with their dad. I’m sad that they’re gone, but can’t wait to explore as much as possible, doing things that I wouldn’t have time to do otherwise.

In fact, my two best friends in the world are coming to visit me next week and I’m going to show them my new haunts and even brave NYC with them. I’ve been there plenty of times since I moved to NJ, but this will be my first as “hostess”. I hope they have as memorable a time as I did when I first visited in 2008. Actually, it was two years ago this month that I flew out here with my then-boyfriend for a whirlwind visit with my parents, who have now been here about 5 years.

The documentation of my trip back then is extensive but, seeing that it’s an anniversary of sorts, I’d like to share some of those memories with you. Here is the first entry, originally blogged with words, but recorded now for your listening pleasure.

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June 2010: National Internet Safety Month

June 17, 2010

The internet offers a world of opportunity to communicate and socialize with others, but there are certain risks, such as: inappropriate conduct, contact and content. You can start early with teaching your children about protecting themselves — as a parent, you have the first opportunity to talk to them about what’s important before anyone else does and research suggests that when children want important information, most rely on their parents! Keep communication with your kids open by initiating conversations and talking with them about your values — it’s the best way to keep them safe.

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One World, One Love

May 14, 2010

Throughout the course of his career, Michael Bolton has sold over 53 million records. He has earned multiple Grammy trophies for Best Male Vocalist and countless other honors, including six American Music Awards. He has performed with such powerhouses as Luciano Pavarotti and Ray Charles, written songs with Bob Dylan, and penned hits for the likes of Barbara Streisand, Cher and KISS.

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My first trip to Radio City Music Hall

March 26, 2010

I’ve been a lover of music for a long time. People who know me best are those who know I was raised on Neil Diamond, John Denver, and Sousa marches. In regards to my own tastes growing up, I wasn’t like most of my school friends. Instead of listening to pop sounds of my youth in the 1980s and 90s, I became lost in the classic sounds of Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and, later on, doo-wop. I recall nights with my boom-box on my bed, right next to my ear… and falling asleep to “Doo-Wop Sunday Nights” on Denver’s KXKL-FM. And, as an adult in my thirties, nothing’s changed. Enter the ever-powerful Celtic Woman.

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The importance of child literacy

March 5, 2010

Say it with me: reading is a GIFT you give your child.

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My hypocrisy and how I plan to resolve it

March 1, 2010

There are Ten Commandments, my friends, and I’ve broken nearly all of them at one point or another. Sometimes repeatedly.

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Remembering a civil rights leader

January 18, 2010

Martin Luther King, Jr. has always fascinated me. He was gone long before I was a twinkle in my mother’s eye, but it’s his message that endures, even now, 42 years later.

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I pledge allegiance: New Jersey vs Colorado

December 22, 2009

This Friday past, I returned to New Jersey from a brief trip to Westminster, Colorado, where I was tying up loose ends of a personal matter. While the trip was a success for me in terms of completing my “mission,” I left my hometown with a feeling of emotional unrest as the airplane I had boarded just a few moments earlier launched into flight.

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