VernetteOutLoud

Purple Crayon Day

Trinidad & Tobago has 15 public holidays. Yes…we give new meaning to the term “holiday destination”. That said, today’s daily prompt is an opportunity to add yet another holiday to our list – if only in the blogosphere – besides, 15 is an odd number…let’s make it nice and even, and add #16.

Let’s celebrate: Purple Crayon Day!

Date: on a Thursday to be announced.

Colour: Purple…DUHHH!!!

…and BLUEBERRIES will be to this day, what pumpkins are to Halloween and Fall.

What kind of life would you create for yourself, if all it took was a purple crayon and your imagination?

Inspired by the book Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson – one of my absolute favourite books – this holiday is a chance to create a day for yourself that is only limited to what you can imagine.

“One night, after thinking it over for some time, Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight.” So begins this gentle story that shows just how far your imagination can take you. Armed only with an oversized purple crayon, young Harold draws himself a landscape full of beauty and excitement. But this is no hare-brained, impulsive flight of fantasy. Cherubic, round-headed Harold conducts his adventure with the utmost prudence, letting his imagination run free, but keeping his wits about him all the while. He takes the necessary purple-crayon precautions: drawing landmarks to ensure he won’t get lost; sketching a boat when he finds himself in deep water; and creating a purple pie picnic when he feels the first pangs of hunger.” – blurb from GoodReads

According to the internets, purple is the color of good judgment. It is the color of people seeking spiritual fulfillment. Also, if you surround yourself with purple you will have peace of mind. The colour purple has been used to symbolize magic and mystery, as well as royalty. No wonder, Harold chose it as his colour of choice!

On this holiday…you create a day that exists in your imagination. I imagine malls and store windows decorated in purple, purple crayons selling out EVERYWHERE. People will organise creative “purple” fund-raisers and picnics. Lovers, will deliver red-wine soaked pears (which I know from experience look purple) and gourmet lavender ice-cream. There will be purple napkins and table cloths for a ratatouille dinner and kids will refuse to eat their purple cauliflower but still want their blueberry pie dessert!

Purple Crayon Day, will be more than the “resolutions” of New Year’s Eve or the introspection of Thanksgiving, it will be an opportunity to look inward and to express outward that which only you can imagine. It can be a small act of taking a moonlight walk around the block with your loved ones or by yourself like Harold or it can be a day filled with mystery comprising several activities. The whole family can get involved and plan a “purple crayon” adventure that everyone can enjoy.

Oh my…I’m so excited thinking about all the things I could do to celebrate Purple Crayon Day, I almost wish this day did exist!!! I’m feeling a Pinterest board “Purple Crayon Inspiration” in the making. Note: I’m seriously considering starting my very own, “Purple Crayon Day” tradition. I think it will be something nice to celebrate with my future children someday.

If “Purple Crayon Day” did exist, how would you celebrate it?

Monday Inspiration – Start Today

HAPPY MONDAY!

If you’re like me, it really isn’t such a happy occasion but we are alive and this is a new day, so let’s live like we mean it.

I’ve decided that I’m going to do an inspirational quote every Monday going forward, so that I can set the right tone for the week ahead. Kinda like setting my intentions from the outset, hopefully it will inspire a different approach to and way of thinking about Mondays.

People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily. Zig Ziglar

So while you have your morning coffee or tea, think about this quote and I hope it inspires positive action for the rest of your day and week.

Start today. Start now.

Weekly Photo Challenge – Foreign

These photos were taken on my first trip to Jamaica! I experienced lots of “firsts” and had a real culture shock while there. I absolutely love the place, food and people. Even though we get “jerk” in Trinidad…it does not compare to the real deal. I’m such a “jerk” snob now. These pictures represent some of what was “foreign” to me on that lovely trip. If you ever make it to Jamaica, please make a trip to Prendy’s in Hellshire! Trust me it is worth the drive.

Kissing Frogs

A Prince you say?

I got up this morning, had my usual breakfast smoothie and then headed to the shower. As I was finishing up, there in the corner of my bath was *scream* a frog!

HEART ATTACK!!!

I think we noticed each other’s existence at the same time. I almost broke my neck trying to get away from him and in his bid to get away, the frog jumped towards me for what, the Lord alone knows.

I know I didn’t get all the soap rinsed away but that was ok because no way was I going back in there. How that frog got into the bathroom is still a mystery to me. He must have been hiding under the shower curtain and when he heard the water got curious about what was happening. *bletch*

Disney's Princess and the Frog

To kiss or not to kiss?

If that was my Prince Charming…ah well. Fortunately, I do not believe in that crap fairy tales. Hmmm…this is not entirely true. I believe that other people get the fairytale ending…just not me.

Other people like my brother and sister. My sister got hers last year and now my brother is getting married too. My baby brother is getting married tomorrow! I am ecstatic and happy that he has found a love that satisfies his soul and I’m a little sad too. Mum is not here to experience this, we are truly saying goodbye to childish things and entering a new phase of adulthood – the baby is getting married and well….I am still single.

Being around all this wedding stuff again, has me doing some self-appraisal. That little frog episode could not have happened at a more appropriate time…if there is ever an appropriate time for a frog to squat in your shower WHILE you are showering that is.

What happens when you’re the frog?

Egads! Vernette, is that you?

My self-appraisal brought enough clarity for me to deduce that, while I may think I’ve been kissing royally challenged frogs (see what I did there?) the croaker is actually me. Afterall…who is the common denominator in all these equations?

ME!

And guess what ladies and gentlemen? I’m learning that there is nothing wrong with being a frog. We need love too. And in the interim…kisses. Lots and lots of kisses.

Damn! Kissing can cause tied tongues.

So…if you happen to kiss a frog or three and you don’t get the fairytale ending, does it make the love less real? If it does not end with a ring, does it mean that it was not a strong, earth-shattering, changed-forever kinda love? I still don’t believe in fairy tales. But I do believe that if the love is real, you are changed forever. Not into a prince or princess…but a better you, warts and all.

Ribbit! Ribbet!