Author: Nicole DiGiose

Things to Never Forget

Posted on by Nicole DiGiose

Author Unknown

I cut this out of a local paper a few months ago and kept it on my desk so that I’d be reminded of the important things. This is something worth reading.

1. Never laugh at anyone’s dreams.

2. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt, but it’s the only way to live life completely.

3. Don’t judge people by their relatives.

4. Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something, and has lost something.

5. Remember the three Rs:

Respect for self,
Respect for others,
Responsibility for your actions.

6. Don’t overlook life’s small joys while searching for big ones.

7. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

8. Be the first to fight for a just cause.

9. Remember that no time is wasted that makes two or more people better friends.

10. Never say anything uncomplimentary about another person’s dog.

11. Don’t think expensive equipment will make up for lack of talent or practice.

12. Memorize your favorite love poem.

13. Do the right thing, regardless of what others think.

14. Judge people from where they stand, not from where you stand.

15. Life will sometimes give you a magical moment. Savor it.

16. Don’t confuse comfort with happiness or wealth with success.

17. Be the first to forgive.

18. Spend some time alone.

19. Be an original. If that means being a little eccentric, so be it.

20. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

21. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

22. When you say “I Love You”, mean it.

23. Watch your attitude. It’s the first thing people notice about you.

24. Remember that the more you know, the less you fear.

25. Be humble & polite, but don’t let people push you around.

26. Don’t let weeds grow around your dreams.

27. Remember that how you say something is just as important as what you say.

28. Read between the lines.

29. Don’t think you can fill an emptiness in your heart with money.

30. Remember that the shortest way to travel anywhere is to have good company with you.

31. Take criticism and praise with equal grace.

32. Remember that what’s right isn’t always popular & what’s popular isn’t always right.

33. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

34. Never risk what you can’t afford to lose.

35. Remember that ignorance is expensive.

36. Learn the rules, then break some.

37. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

38. Don’t confuse foolishness with bravery and kindness with weakness.

39. Life is too short. Eat more pancakes than ricecakes.

40. Follow your own star.

41. Remember the ones you love.

42. Follow your dreams.

When I Was A Kid In The Summer

Posted on by Nicole DiGiose

Buzz of the pool, barbeque’s glossy air

Swaying beneath painted skies

Drops of chlorine slipping from the ends of my hair

Splattering around prune-like toes, mixing with the popsicle raining down my sticky wrists

Family and neighbors laughing with food in their mouths

Dog’s eyes scurrying up the table

Chicken lathered in sauce, bread stuffed with meat, butter melting into corn on styrofoam plates, sheltered under umbrella

Brothers and cousins chasing me up the slide as I snatch the first firefly, only to release it to the first twinkling star

Tips To Make A Bad Day Good

Posted on by Nicole DiGiose

Exercise. This always works for me. Go for a run, ride your bike, do yoga, walk your dog. Endorphins can reverse a bad mood in no time!

Go to sleep early. It’s true that things usually get better in the morning. It’s a fresh start for a new day.

Talk to somebody you’re close with. Vent to someone who understands you for some comfort and good advice. Getting negative thoughts off your chest will help clear your mind.

Do something for someone else just because you can. This will automatically make you feel better about yourself. It’s magical.

Make a happy list. Remind yourself of everything that makes you smile. There’s nothing like triggering positive memories or goals you know you can reach.

Get fresh air. Sometimes all you need is a step outside to breathe and collect your thoughts.

Change up your look. Buy some new clothes or style your hair differently. When you look good, you feel good.

Snuggle with your significant other. Being reminded that you are loved and cared for will brighten up any lousy mood.

My Favorite Dog Breed

Posted on by Nicole DiGiose

From athletes to farmers, the Border Collie is a favored dog breed. Originally developed to herd sheep along the border between England and Scotland, it’s an energized and remarkably intelligent workaholic. Also known to be a top dog in agility, flyball, Frisbee, obedience, and sheepdog trials, it’s a highly-trainable companion.

Bred to be on the move, Border Collies should be kept occupied with plenty of exercise. Without activities or a challenge for the mind, this working class pooch can wind up getting into trouble, as it may challenge the authority of its owner.

That said, this smart canine isn’t ideal for someone who isn’t going to keep it active. This breed isn’t recommended for apartment-life or families with small children, since it has strong herding instincts and may try rounding up kids.

With lots of love, exercise, space, and physical and mental activities, the Border Collie will be satisfied. Know that it also requires some brushing, as this breed does shed. On average, it lives 12-15 years and weighs between 25 and 45 pounds.

Snacks That Will Make You Miss The ’90s

Posted on by Nicole DiGiose

DunkAroos – More cookies than frosting, every time. Tasty, but as a kid, I was disappointed when I had to scrape up what was left of the frosting tucked into the corners of the little square to get my fix.

Handi-Snacks – I don’t know about that “real” cheese, but I’d day dream of these things as I waited in the classroom for lunch time.

Gushers – No question about it, these explosive treats were in every kid’s lunch box.

Fruit By The Foot – You always had the longest one, even if you really didn’t. Looks of envy swung your way if you whipped out this edible, artificially flavored rope of plastic.

Fruit Roll Ups – Who didn’t enjoy unraveling these masterpieces to pop out Nickelodeon characters, Sonic the Hedgehog, or some random made-up shape? Unfortunately, there were those who just stuffed them in their mouths without appreciating the designs sketched into them.

Welch’s Fruit Snacks – Bursting with flavor, there were always handfuls to share with the pairs of hungry eyes around you. Always something to marvel at when some of them were stuck together.

Lunchables – Made you feel like you could cook. Lunchables seemed more like real food compared to what the other brown-baggers discovered. There was a moment of pride when you slapped that glossy piece of turkey on that giant cracker and topped it with that overly bright slab of cheese. The half-filled packet of special sauce gave it that extra kick. Read More

Lisa

Posted on by Nicole DiGiose

A feature article I wrote in September 2010 on a journalist I attended SUNY Purchase College with.

Junior journalism major Lisa Eadicicco always had an interest in writing. Her adoration for making stories from the written word stems from her childhood.

“In third grade I’d love when we had to write stories with our vocabulary words for the week,” she said as she flipped her long hair behind her shoulder. “I took a creative writing class in my senior year of high school and I absolutely loved it. It was so much fun,” she said. “We wrote fiction, screen writing, bits of everything.”

She said her interest in music has also been a big inspiration for her writing.

“I played the drums in a band in junior high and I played the guitar as a freshman in high school,” she said with a smile, eyes squinted beneath brown bangs. “I was into magazines like Spin, Rolling Stone, Alternative Press.  I’d love to write for them,” she said. “Now that I’m really into journalism, I’d write for any publication.”

Eadicicco said when she first got into journalism, she wasn’t sure what to expect, but decided to major in it because she liked to write. “In journalism, it’s all about the hard facts and to me that’s interesting,” she said.

Read More

Mikey

Posted on by Nicole DiGiose

A feature article I wrote in September 2010 on a musician I attended SUNY Purchase College with.

Singer-songwriter, Mikey Ballou, a junior composition major from Westchester, looks up in thought. His bleached blonde hair dangles over his eyebrows.

“Flexibility is important,” he says. “The music conservatory here offers more flexibility than most programs in other colleges. I don’t want to be limited to playing one instrument. I want to be in the studio and I want to record every instrument.”

He shakes his head and the hair over his eyes moves to one side. “I can network here. It’s nice to be in an environment where there aren’t 800 other musicians. Competition isn’t magnified as much.”

Ballou says he was exposed to music since he was a baby. He gives credit to his father, a professional musician, who he says he got his ears from. He considers himself independent from his father but it wasn’t always that way.

“My dad forced music on me ever since I was a kid and it sucked for the first few years. I wasn’t interested.” Read More

The History of Pimm’s No.1 Cup

Posted on by Nicole DiGiose

 An article I wrote for Chilled Magazine. I just finished and submitted it today. If anyone has any feedback or information, please leave a comment!

Pimm’s No. 1 Cup was invented by James Pimm, the owner of a London oyster bar, in the early 1840s. The thirst-quenching drink is based on gin with a mixture of herbs and fruit extracts. The original recipe included quinine because of its medicinal qualities. Pimm originally served his brew as a digestive aid in a small tankard called the No.1 cup, hence the name, “Pimm’s No. 1 Cup.” The drink was a big hit, so Pimm expanded his business to sell it by the bottle to other taverns.

Pimm built a chain of restaurants in many locations, including The Old Bailey and other places that businessmen would likely come across. By 1859, Pimm’s No. 1 Cup was on sale outside of his restaurants. Years later, Pimm sold his tonic drink business because the rights to it ended up with the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Horatio David Davies. It was Davies who made the drink fashionable, particularly amongst the military, because of his connection with London Society.

It was after the Second World War that Pimm’s expanded their range. They began using a number of different spirits as bases for cups. Pimm’s No. 2 Cup was scotch-based while No. 3 used brandy, No. 4 rum, No. 5 rye and No. 6 vodka. The vodka cup and brandy cup are the only ones still in production out of the sequels. The original No. 1 Cup is still very popular. It is often thought of as the number two English drink (tea being the first). The gin-based beverage is downed by the gallon in England during the summer months, especially during sporting events like the tennis tournament, Wimbledon Fortnight and the rowing event, Henley Royal Regatta. The first Pimm’s bar opened at the 1971 Wimbledon tournament, where over 80,000 pints of Pimm’s and lemonade continue to be sold each year. Read More