REJOICE! BAGS
{please visit rejoice! bags here}
You just never know where you are going to find someone fabulous.
I put up something for sale on Craigslist. Of the people who emailed me, one woman seemed to meet all my requirements: her emails were friendly and prompt, she seemed excited to come over, and, most important of all, she seemed totally normal and in possession of all her acute faculties. When Larissa Nicodemus came over, I immediately liked her. When I checked out her online shop later that night and saw her bags, I immediately loved her.
Rejoice! Bags started in response to turmoil. When Nicodemus’s husband lost his job in 2008, the stay at home mom started to panic. As the months lengthened, her anxiety grew. Until, one day, she decided to rejoice and be thankful in everything and for everything. The rest, as they say, is history. Nicodemus’s positive, faithful attitude is evident in all her bags. Bright, bold, and confident, they are the kind of bags you can pair with anything. To Miss B. and I, these bags scream summer, which is convenient, since one of you will be winning a lovely bag just in time for your trip to the beach. Just another something to rejoice about.
Larissa Nicodemus is giving away one Hip Hobo in her very popular floral pattern. In order to win, please answer the following question by Saturday, July 4, 2009.
How have you turned lemons into lemonade? (Or share your favorite story of someone who did.)
Please check the winner’s box starting July 8, 20009. Good Luck!
My boyfriend bought a small distribution business and I had a few weeks off, so I started helping him get organized. I’d never done sales before, but he needed someone to meet with customers for him. I started doing it and it turns out that I’m really good at it! Two years later, I run his company while he works someplace else. We broke up, but we have enough trust and respect for each other that our business relationship works. And, I got a new career out of it!
a lil more than a year ago last year, my mom got a mastectomy, and it was really physically and emotionally hard on her. it was difficult for me and my sister to see her in such pain. i would spend the few ‘me-times’ i had during the ordeal exercising, and i pushed myself to workout even harder during kickboxing class knowing that my mom was at that very moment going through so much more than i was, and yet, she still has on a brave face.
My hubby poured his everything into building us a house with the aid of his (former) employer. The home was custom built for us under his employers company name, and hubby poured in blood, sweat, and tears. During the first few months of our one and only little girl’s life he spent most of the time with her snoozing b/c he was spending all his extra time working on that house, and our friends and family all put in volunteer hours too. After all was said and done, when we went to get the mortgage on the completed house (at cost of building, a fraction of what it would have sold for at full price) we couldn’t get a mortgage on it without 20% down (and we had about 5% handy) b/c his boss wouldn’t get the proper paperwork to get homebuilders insurance. After all that, his (former) boss wound up selling the house to somebody else, and my hubby was crushed. He was paid a decent chunk for his work on the house, but our friends and family were still really steamed b/c they had worked for free under the impression they were helping us out.
We wound up buying a fixer-upper instead, and putting down 10% on it after all was said and done. We’re pretty happy with our location and everything, and we’ve made some friends we probably wouldn’t have if we had moved into that other house. It was hard not to be bitter about the whole experience, but we moved past it and are happy with our current location and the fact that we wound up putting down a much bigger down payment. Now we’re renovating the house like mad and we’ll make a tiny profit on it when we move on in a few years. If we had gotten that house we would have been there forever, and where we are now gives us a little more flexibility, so when a nice house with a bit of acreage shows up on the market we will be able to go for it without the angst of selling a home we built from the ground up.
i went on a trip to war-torn uganda over thanksgiving a year and a half ago. we visited a refugee camp run by the government and spent the day in solidarity. the women of the camp taught me how to prepare food and chop wood – all the while laughing at me for not knowing how to do so many things that have become second nature to them. we also learned how to do their tribal dances and played with the kiddos. we were told that the simple act of visiting these people gave them hope that uganda’s war would end and life would be restored to their people. quite humbling.
Last fall I was living in an unsafe neighborhood, at a job I hated (with an emotionally abusive boss to boot), and on the verge of ending a relationship with the only man I’ve ever seen myself marrying. Everything I’d spent my early 20’s building was falling apart – it was time for a change. So last winter, I quit my job (with no prospects), my boyfriend left for Europe for a 2 month internship, I spent the holidays with family and then returned to my city and moved in with my best friend – in a much safer neighborhood. I spent the early part of this year working to set things straight again. Now (after a LOT of work, and my own much needed European trip) I am at a new job that I love, with colleagues who respect me; because of the new job, I was able to move to a much safer / nicer apartment of my own, and have patched things up with the boyfriend, who returned in March – we are living together, coming up on our 4 year anniversary and just adopted kittens. I made it through the winter and into spring. It hasn’t exactly been what I’d planned, but it’s so much better now.
A few years ago, they raised my rent – it was the end of the world! I loved my apartment, with it’s 1920’s details, glass french doors, and old subway tiles in the bathroom. I loved the eclectic neighbors – from artists to musicians to financiers and everything else. But it just wasn’t worth the increased rent as they tried to upscale my neighborhood. It turned out to be the kick in the pants I needed to make some pretty drastic changes – I ended up buying an apartment, moving to a new neighborhood, met some new folks, and then met my fiancé – all due to that increase in rent. So I thank those building owners for bringing all these good things into my life – unintentionally!
When I was in high school, I had all the potiential in the world.
My parents always bragged that I would be the first in our family to go to college, and they had such high hopes for me. It was all they talked about. In my junior year however, I fell in with the wrong group of friends, and started doing drugs. I slept in all my classes, and my grades plummeted. At the end of my senior year, my parents couldn’t take anymore, pulled me out of school, and I graduated through a homeschooling program. Im 20 now, and I am just not about to start college. Ive worked for the past 3 years, to regain my relationship with my parents. And oddly enough, even though Im not where they had expected, they say they’ve never been prouder.
Our car got a flat on Sunday- Mother’s Day- when we were on our way home from out of town- almost 6 hours from our house. We were in the middle of no-where, with a shady looking guy telling us the only tire place he knew of was Walmart- 25 miles back. It was so ridiculous, we just started laughing. We headed back, ended up reuniting with an aunt who lived in the area, having a beer and just having the time of our lives that night (while we waited for the Walmart to open). Best flat tire ever.
one of my friends is a missionary in argentina and at a conference she met a 13 yr old girl who tried to kill herself because her stepdad and uncle had been raping her at home. my friend pursued this young girl, did counseling with her and her mother and is helping the family on the road to healing. i am inspired by my friend’s willingness to get into some of the most horrible things in the world, and change people’s lives. she truly make lemons into lemonade in argentina.
Last August, my husband, who is a teacher in Camden, NJ, found out he was going to be transfered to a new high school. A fantastic high school with a 0% drop out rate and an emphasis on growing the students as human beings as opposed to test takers. We were both thrilled! He went to training in Rhode Island and all was set. Until he received a letter in the mail the week before school, telling him to report to one of the middle schools. We were both ticked off, but heard that things would be taken care of. The weeks went by, and they kept pushing his transfer date back further and further. Eventually he realized that he would have to remain at the middle school.
Turns out to be the best thing that could have happened. This past year has been his favorite so far! He realized just how much he loves teaching 7th graders, and he was even able to get involved by coaching girls basketball. He really embraced the school he was placed into and wouldn’t leave even if he had the opportunity.
By improving the circumstances of things less fortunate than myself. It was “lemons” for a small abandoned kitten, starving, and left to die out in the summer heat of our apartment parking lot. We fed and watered it cautiously, and I watched as it heaved slowly on the pavement under a car. I just knew that sooner or later, it would die from the heat or get run over, so I went out and brought it inside, much to the chagrin of my other two cats (and husband, lol.) After a bath, a flea treatment, and much love, we nursed the little guy back to health, and found a wonderful home for him. Had I not intervened, he may not have lived to experience life or become a blessing to another human. Sometimes, the best way to help yourself is to help someone (or something) else.
A couple years ago, I had a huge setback and had to transfer out of the college I was attending. While I still miss the city and my friends there, I have fallen into a wonderful crowd of people with very similar interests and beliefs to myself, and I have had incredible opportunities to make a difference in the world. I have founded a non-profit organization “from scratch” all by myself and learned more about myself and the world by leaving that school than I ever could have staying.
I really have nothing to add which makes me realize how very fortunate I have been. Life has not always been rosy but I have never gotten to the point that some of these stories highlight. Anything I would put would seem trivial compared to some of the shared stories. Thank you all for sharing.
I like to think everyday I turn lemons in lemonade. As an event planner, my job is very stressful, but I try to remain calm and make every mistake or every wrong turn into a challenge that will make me stronger. My mother taught me this and I have kept it with me ever since she passed away almost six years ago. She was the strongest woman I ever knew and made lemonade everyday of her life.
Yes, for sure – I am home all alone with my fiance on the road but I am finding a way to enjoy lots of “me” time
After 1 year of marriage, we were ready to let a child into our life. Birth control went out the window, so it should be just a matter of time. Years went by, no baby. We finally went to see Drs. and found I had many problems preventing us from having a child. After 13 years of marrige, 3 miscarriages, and 2 surgeries later, we finally welcomed the newest member of our family, albeit 6 weeks early. I never knew that I had the strength to keep the hope and determination alive. It also brought my husband and myself closer than we ever would be without the challenge we tackled together, our lemonade.
When I’m upset, sometimes I embroider. I have this sweet little embroidered hanging I made on my wall that says “When life gives you lemons, find someone to throw them at!” It always makes me smile. :)
When school wasn’t going well and my personal life seemed to be far more dramatic and damaging than I preferred, I started my blog (“All Things Fabulous”) to remind me (and others) of all of the joy and happiness in my life. Right after I started the blog, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and broke her leg. The blog kept my spirits high and the daily updates made her day too. I love to remind myself why I love my life. The blog helps me do that.
Spending many nightime hours awake after I’m disturbed by a wakeful baby…finally decided to make the most of this time as my personal time to do any of the many things I can’t do during the (busy) day…knit, read, sew.
i had a rough childhood and have finally started therapy as an adult.
i feel like it’s doing wonders for me and i’m so glad to have started this analysis. i think it’s turning something i’ve always felt was negative into something profoundly positive for the rest of my life.
When our house caught fire I thought we had the worst luck, but turns out the damage wasn’t as bad as we anticipated and the insurance paid for all new siding! It’s like we got a whole new house!
not long ago i moved to a new city with my best friend, after a few months she decided the city wasn’t for her and she left…with 7 months left on a lease. instead of arguing, i found a new roomie via craigslist – we get along great and are the best of friends now. instead of letting something petty get in the way of our friendship, i now have 2 great friends…one i live with and one i can go visit!
My beloved 12 year old beagle girl had cardiac arrest in my house recently. It was the saddest morning ever. This fell on the same day of my scheduled annual gynecologist visit, and while that usually bums me out I was glad to go for my appointment because for a short while my mind was elsewhere.
I think I’m about to turn my lemons into lemonade. I’m at least squeezing the lemons….
I love crafts and I love making things by hand. I now make my own jewelry as well as scrapbooking and card making. My best friend shares the same love for crafting so we’re thinking of opening our own Etsy store.
While it’s a small feat, it feels like a big step for us. I’ve never sold any of my stuff before. I mostly give it away. However, my love for crafting has grown and I want to share it with the world. I enjoy it and it makes me happy.
So I’m taking my lemons and I’m squeezing them to one day have a nice big pitcher of lemonade.
I have to tell you about a dear friend: a little over a year and a half of marriage her husband left her and their young daughter. She was heartbroken and devastated, however she still managed to sing praise amongst the tears. I had no clue she was such a strong woman. She loved her husband despite his infedility and stuck by his side until the day he left. Now, her life seems stable and she continues to pour her love into her child. I have learned so much from her in this horrible situaiton and can only hope I show the same dignity and grace she has through tough times.
So many people have experienced layoffs, salary cutbacks, or some measure of insecurity with our jobs over the past year or so. I am inspired by a particular friend who was laid off, but negotiated a way to stay on as a consultant for a few months, allowing her the time to transition to starting her own business. On the day she had completely cut the ties with her job, she already had a check in-hand from a new client. Now, less than a year later, her business is thriving, she has written a book, and is traveling to speaking engagements. Her layoff was literally the best thing that could have happened to her, professionally and personally. She is so much happier now. I tell this story as I say goodbye to yet another laid off colleague at my own office, wondering when the axe will fall on me. But I take so much inspiration from this friend who made more than just lemonade from life’s lemons, and she helps me remember that I can create the same opportunities for myself, when and if the time comes.
My parents’ neighbor, Miss Dee, definitely turned some sour lemons into the sweetest lemonade. A fire destroyed her house a few months ago and she lost everything except a change of clothes. Now she’s decided that she should move to Europe and start completely fresh! Though I’m sure it’s a big challenge in and of itself, how sweet is that?
My husband was laid off for 10 months and just went back to work. At a time when foreclosures are at a peak, my husband and I had to get resourceful. We have managed to keep going by reselling online items that we purchase at garage sales, thrift stores and discount stores. The lemonade was always sweet as we worked hard.
My husband is the most independent, resourceful person I know. Sadly, it was losing his mom to breast cancer at the age of 12 that gave him these traits. Although he misses her everyday (we named our son after her) he acknowledges that he would be a different person and his life would likely be totally different, too if he had not suffered that loss.
I am certain I have any number of examples of turning lemons into lemonade in my own life, but I can’t remember any. And, in a way, isn’t that the goal? An incident can shape you, and who you become moving forward, but it shouldn’t become everything you are. I try to remain upbeat, happy, make others laugh and be glad for every day I have. Heck, I’m swimming in lemonade! :)
when I was diagnosed with crohn’s disease, I just wanted to curl up and hide from the world. instead, I put on my big-girl pants and decided that I was better than that. I joined a support group; I became the volunteer,non-clinical faciliator; I helped with fundraising; I tesitfied before our state’s senate; I appeared on local television trying to gain support for a change of law that benenfited individuals with disability–I was empowered!
My mother wanted to make icebox cake, with the pudding and cake and bananas and all that goodness. She went to the store and they were out of one of the ingredients, so instead she picked up chocolate waffers which had a receipe on the back for an alternative icebox cake – chocolate waffers and whipped cream. She bought some heavy cream and 15 minutes later had whipped up a gorgeous white ice box cake. To this day, her kids prefer the simple ice box to the labor intensive ice box and have it at EVERY birthday.