It’s time for another edition of Wednesday Hodgepodge! I know I have said this before, but I love this blog hop! We’d love if you would play along… hop over to visit Joyce and grab this week’s questions. Answer them, link up on Wednesday and join in on the fun!

1. When is the last time you experienced nostalgia? 

I experience nostalgia all the time, and it is usually related to smells. I will get a whiff of something and it makes me nostalgic for a different time – the smell of a repair shop reminds me of my dad, the smell of pipe smoke reminds me of my grandpa… strange, right? It can be the weirdest smells too – there is this hair product I use that smells like soft serve vanilla ice cream. Whenever I smell it, I’m taken right back to my childhood when we would get vanilla cones at our local ice cream place.

 2. September 29th is National Coffee Day. Do we need this? Ha! So are you a coffee drinker? If so how many cups per day, and tell us how you like it. Is there a recipe you enjoy that calls for coffee as one of the ingredients? 

Do we need any of these weird national holidays? I am a foo-foo coffee drinker – I only drink cappuccino or frappuccino. Honestly, if you see me drinking hot, black coffee – chances are I am hung over. I usually only drink my foo-foo coffee every once in awhile – not even once a week. I do have a chili recipe that uses brewed coffee in it… I am not sure why, but it is sooooo good.

3. Do you find praise or criticism to be more motivating? Explain. 

It depends on the situation. It motivates me when people notice the things I do, especially at work. I think hearing “you did a good job” or “great idea” is a great motivator to anyone. It makes a person want to achieve great things.

However, criticism can motivate or demotivate. I am currently in a situation where I do my very best and no matter how good it is, it gets torn apart for the littlest thing. It is very demoralizing and demotivating. It makes me want to do the bare-minimum to get by and not strive for excellence.

But, then again… criticism also made me learn to play tuba because I was told I couldn’t and wouldn’t be good at it.

4.  What’s a television series you keep coming back to and re-watching? 

Nothing recent – I tend to gravitate to my old favorites. During the day, I usually have on the Golden Girls or I Love Lucy. I also rewatch Are You Being Served?

5. As the month of September draws to a close give us three words to describe your mood. 

Cozy. Spooky. Colorful.

Hey, what can I say… it’s fall.

 6. Insert your own random thought here.

Tomorrow starts my favorite month of the year! October! I love Halloween and harvest and the entire autumn season. I am not sure how this year’s Halloween is going to look, but I have been seeking out alternative ideas to help make it special. We are even going to a “drive-thru” haunted house! I have heard our town is doing a trunk or treat type event rather than have kids going house to house. So, if you have any alternative ideas for Halloween for my kids… share in the comments!

Julia is the divorced mom of twins, a blogger, a sometimes crafter, crazy snailmailer, and a corporate bean counter. In her "spare" time, she scrapbooks, travels, makes cards, blogs, designs jewelry, searches for missing cleats and pom poms, enjoys good dark chocolate, and sneaks naps.

6 Comments on Wednesday Hodgepodge Vol. 388

  3. I liked your example of criticism working both ways. Not sure what’s happening in our area regarding Halloween. We normally go to a party but our friends aren’t having one this year. We don’t have a lot of kids in our neighborhood so never many trick or treaters. I’m sorry for yet another disappointment that will be felt this year. Small in the grand scheme of things, but they are piling up. Have a good day!

  4. I hope this comment will work. When I tried before it keeps saying my login expired. Hmmm. I’m glad we are entering your favorite month. It’s one of my favorites, too.

  5. #3–yes. When there is only negative feedback, one doesn’t like to put out more effort. I hope your situation improves.
    Enjoy your favorite month!

  6. Hi Julie,
    It took me awhile to find you. You are a no-reply so I couldn’t email you back. Thank you for stopping over last week. I was out of town and getting home without our little Skye here is hard. So sorry to hear about your dad and brother.
    True, smells do bring nostalgia, especially cut grass for me at my dad’s cottage. Sorry about your situation where no matter what you do it isn’t enough. Halloween will be different. We have decided not to hand out candy which makes me so sad. We always buy 3 or 4 packs of full size candy bars at Costco each year.
    I will put you in my feedly account. Take care.

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