It's In The Sauce!

Change and a Wet Baby

Posted on July 20, 2019 by Patti Fralix

Our world is constantly changing. One change that we experience is the availability of new services, even services that we may not be aware that we might want or need until we use them. I experienced one of those recently, and think I am probably not the only one who may not be knowledgeable about this. The service I am referring to is Instacart. If you are younger than the Baby Boomer generation, you are probably already aware of this, and even use it if you cook for a family. The fact that I was unaware of this and needed a younger person to educate me on it is because I am of the Baby Boomer generation. Continue reading →

Posted in change, life, social media | Tagged Baby Boomers, calls, change, convenience, cost effective, delivery, Fralix, generation x, generational, Golden Rule, groceries, instacart, Mark Twain, ordering online, Patti Fralix, Platinum Rule, preference, self checkout, social media, technology, texts, The Fralix Group | Leave a comment

Joshua Becker and Minimalism

Posted on July 11, 2019 by Patti Fralix

What an honor to meet Joshua Becker!

I have few heroes, but Joshua Becker is one of them. As humble as he is, he would probably be uncomfortable being considered anyone’s hero. But nonetheless, he is mine. I first learned of him through a niece’s Facebook post (thank you, dear little Dianne, who isn’t little any longer, but will always be called that!) several years ago. I have followed him since, through his blog, his online course, and his books. It was a thrill to see and hear him in person this week in Charlotte. Continue reading →

Posted in best self, change, life | Tagged author, Charlotte, face ourselves, focus, Fralix, Joshua Becker, live out our purpose, Minimalism, organizing, owning less, Patti Fralix, purpose in life, speaker, stuff, The Fralix Group, The Minimalist Home, too much stuff, uncomfortable questions, What is the purpose of home | 2 Comments

Free to Be You and Me

Posted on July 4, 2019 by Patti Fralix

david-everett-strickler-KpAi3H4MCbU-unsplash July 4^th, Independence Day in the United States, celebrates freedom, our independence as a nation. On this day in 1776, the Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence. Americans should remember how many still fight for this freedom around the world. While we are celebrating this holiday with family and friends, we should pause and remember those who died fighting for our freedom. We should never forget their sacrifice. Continue reading →

Posted in best self, life, thankful | Tagged 4th of July, free to be you and me, freedom, individually, Patti Fralix, responsibility, sacrifice, The Fralix Group, U.S. Soccer, women soccer, World Soccer, World Soccer Cup semifinals | Leave a comment

Those Lazy Days

Posted on June 26, 2019 by Patti Fralix

Sunset from our deck at Caswell Beach, NC

How is your summer going? While summer technically just started a few days ago, in our area, the eastern U.S., it has felt like summer for several weeks. To the delight of many kids, school is out for a couple of months, and summertime activities are in full swing. Continue reading →

Posted in best self, change, Leadership | Tagged 21st Lessons for the 21st Century, Be disciplined, beach, Caswell Beach, choices, Distractions, effectiveness, First things first, focus, lazy days, Oak Island, Organize Daily, Patti Fralix, Perform, plan, Prioritize, productive, Purge, summer, The Fralix Group | Leave a comment

Letting Go

Posted on June 20, 2019 by Patti Fralix

I have always had a hard time letting go of anything. This includes stuff, clothes, and even organizations. If I want to analyze this, it probably comes from my childhood, which was chaotic, at best. Continue reading →

Posted in best self, change | Tagged clothes, clutter, collector, Fralix, hoarding, Joshua Becker, Leah Friedman, letting go, membership, organization, organizer, Patti Fralix, Raleigh Green Gables, Replacements, simplifier, stuff, The Fralix Group, The Minimalist Home, The More of Less, work in process | Leave a comment

Common Courtesies Not So Common

Posted on June 13, 2019 by Patti Fralix

View from our Hilton Head condo.

Our family is on our annual week-long trip to Hilton Head. There are 10 of us for the entire week, and there are a few others for a portion of the week. We are staying in more than usual this time due to lots of rain, but we are still having a wonderful time. We have completed one puzzle and are on our second. We have eaten in more than usual and have watched many World Cup Soccer games because our 12-year-old granddaughter, Elsie, was assigned that by her soccer coach. I am going into this much detail about our schedule to validate that we haven’t even had the usual involvement with others outside of our family. Yet we have all commented on the lack of common courtesies. A few examples. Continue reading →

Posted in family, life, travel | Tagged cell phones, Common courtesies, connect, family, Fralix, Hilton Head, Hilton Head Island, parenting, Patti Fralix, pool etiquette, pool noodles, puzzle, role model, social media, The Fralix Group, travel, vacation, World Cup Soccer | 4 Comments

More Experiences/Less Things

Posted on June 7, 2019 by Patti Fralix

Off to New York!

Many people today are electing experiences over things. I am one of them. While I have always loved things, I have become more and more aware of the impermanence of them. Regardless of what we collect, things wear out, break, and lose their luster and even attraction over time. Experiences stay with us, and their memories last forever. Mike and I took our oldest granddaughter, Mary Grace, to NYC this week for an experience I hope she will always remember. Continue reading →

Posted in family, life, travel | Tagged 9/11 Memorial, Bergdorf's, Broadway, Brooklyn, Central Park, Eataly, Empire State Building, Fralix, Gramercy Tavern, Grand Central Stationn, Le District, Macy's, magic of New York, Metropolitan Museum, more experience less things, My Fair Lady, new york city, New York Public Library, NYC, Open air bus, Oren's Coffee Shop, Patti Fralix, Perfect Pint, Saks, Statue of Liberty, Tavern on the Green, The Fralix Group, The Today Show, Tiffany & Co | 2 Comments

A Life Well Lived

Posted on May 29, 2019 by Patti Fralix

Bernadette loved lobster!

She called me on my birthday last November and sang “Happy Birthday” to me on my voicemail. I saved it, so I can still hear her voice. I found her last handwritten “Thank You” note this morning, thanking me for a gift of perfume that I sent her. So, I have her handwriting as a memory of her thoughtfulness. I have a lovely crystal vase she gave me several years ago, for which I failed to send her a thank you note, although I always planned to. She will never receive that note. My daughter Tara and my granddaughters drove to Canada to see her last summer, and she and they had a wonderful time together. In her thank you note to me mentioned above, she said, “I did so enjoy my visit with Tara and the children. Hope they come again.” They wanted to go back this summer, but if they do, they will not be able to see her. Continue reading →

Posted in gratitude, life, love | Tagged Bernadette Hession, big hat, Canada, celebration of life, death, gifts, grace, happy memories, hat, joy, life well lived, love, memories, no guilt, no regrets, no troubled relationships, Patti Fralix, The Fralix Group, visit | 4 Comments

Being Worthy of our Platforms

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Patti Fralix

We owe it to those who came before us and those who follow us to present ourselves as worthy of respect.

I have my faults; trust me, I know what they are. I am far from squeaky clean. I work hard on being my best self, knowing that I sometimes fail. I may have said or done something that a reader remembers when I was not being my best, and if so, I sincerely apologize. To those I know that I have hurt or offended, I have apologized. Some of you come to mind. And in a fit of anger, which hasn’t happened to me many times, but has happened a few times, I have used some of the words I am writing about. But I have not used these words in everyday language while doing so seems so commonplace these days by many people. A few examples. Continue reading →

Posted in best self, change, Leadership | Tagged appropriate, authors, best self, Blake Shelton, commonplace, communication, Fralix, inspire, language, leaders, legislators, Patti Fralix, profane, profanity, speakers, teachers, The Fralix Group, The Voice | 1 Comment

Changing Me from the Inside Out

Posted on May 17, 2019 by Patti Fralix

Change Me

I went back to WW today, the first time since October of 2017. I have been paying monthly yet not going during that time. I have avoided the WW scale, although I get on my scale at home every day and watch it fluctuate a pound or two most days, weeks, and months. I have been kidding myself into thinking that I was counting points and calories, yet not changing some of the habits that have been in my way. A good friend of mine was my inspiration for these changes. Thank you, MoMo.

I finally faced myself head on and made a major change. And I am not talking about the change of going back to WW. Going back to WW was the result of the other Change, (which I am calling “The Big C,”) a change I am not ready to talk about yet with most people. I will be transparent about The Big C that is driving other changes once I hit ninety days with no backsliding. I am on day ten. Stay tuned. Continue reading →

Posted in best self, change, life | Tagged Atomic Habits, Audible, authentic, be the change, best self, Brene Brown, change, Changing Me from the Inside Out, commitment, confidence, Gandhi, goals, habits, happiness, happy, health, I Thought It Was Just Me, identity, inspiration, James Clear, Patti Fralix, process, Stress Mess and Less, The Big C, The Fralix Group, weight loss, world desire, WW | Leave a comment