Category Archives: Our Community

Warning: Kindness May Lead To Shock

Showing others kindness seems to be a rarity these days. You’ve heard the phrase “kill them with kindness” I’m sure but did you also know kindness and manners tends to shock people these days?

Today FedEx delivered my replacement Galaxy Note 5 phone. Admittedly, I have felt a bit lost without this device for the last few days! I use my cell for both personal & business so it’s been interesting. Late last year I purposely chose this phone for it’s S Pen to scratch notes down quickly. It has come in handy as a writer and most recently I use it as an illustrator.

“Thank you sir, I appreciate you bringing the package to me personally,” I said (I was working in the garage). He had parked his vehicle across the street and until he noticed me working, he was headed for the front door.

He looked at me somewhat surprised and said: “You, young lady, are the first one to thank me today and smile, you’re very welcome.”

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I realize he was doing his job but it was 3pm and by this point it was near the end of his shift. I’m certain some of the packages he simply left on front porches, but the fact that it dawned on him that others he had come into contact with hadn’t uttered the words “thank you”? How sad is that?

It’s the little things that make a difference, like saying thank you and smiling- it can brighten someone’s day! Tell those in your life that you appreciate them. Be kind today, even it’s just a smile to a stranger.

No Crying Nor Lace In Baseball…Only Leather For My Style Of Baseball Glove

I prefer a unique style of my own just as much as the next gal (or guy) but some things aren’t meant to hang in my closet! And to be quite honest, I’m sporting sweats and a t-shirt presently as I type-cool and comfortable, that’s my style.

I was Googling “unique baseball gloves” today online and came across some memorable mitts. I found I am partial to anything with a vintage flair to it as far as to acquire and not actually use it. My preference on gloves to actually use? I’m not completely sure yet, but I’ll keep you posted. While I am female, my style isn’t to wear anything too girly so no pink mitts unless it’s a special one to support breast cancer awareness 🙂 And no lace, I’m not a fan of lace.

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How amazing are these vintage 1926 leather handball gloves by Ken-Wel? These I would proudly place in my coffee & consignment shop I am planning to open in Marshall, MI as decor only-NOT FOR SALE! Beautiful condition and I love the look. An immaculate, historic home built in 1898 is my hopeful location for the store but God’s going to have to work a miracle for that to happen-keep the faith! These gorgeous gloves would look fantastic sitting right beyond the counter I have planned in front of a wooden maple fireplace, on the mantel.

I believe my baseball (ok, softball) glove of choice to use in a game would have a similar look to these. (No lace, only leather). I’ll keep searching and I’ll post my top 3 choices just before the 2015 MLB All-Star Game. Remind me, hold me to this, I could forget, I am approaching 40-years-young 😉 If you would like to send me your favorite style of baseball gloves, please do! I will give you a shout out mention on Twitter and here on the unveiling of my 3 favorites if I choose yours.

It’s great to be back with all of you! I am truly touched by all of the messages I received while away from this website. Thank you for your support and love and following me.

Go Tigers! (yeah I’m Belle of Baseball…but ya’ll know my passion is for Detroit)

Let No One Steal Your Joy, Shout it From the Bleachers!

***Composed Friday evening, 1/26/13***

Snow in the D!  I am sitting in the hotel room as I compose this post just a block away from Comerica Park!  Tiger’s Fanfest 2013 will be in full swing tomorrow just across the street! We only live an hour away but for the sake of not having to rush, we thought to make it a little more of a trip 🙂  I honestly don’t know how I’m going to sleep! The excitement within me is already at a dangerous level…well dangerous in regards to  foreseeing sleep deprivation for me tomorrow.

Ya’ll know by now how much I love the game of baseball.  It’s a simple sport yet has a complexity to it as well that only a true fan of the game can appreciate.  What makes us love it so much?  I’m not certain I know how to translate it into a type written form. But as I stand in the on deck circle and now up to the plate, I’ll give it a try.

How do you explain why seeing past television footage of moments in baseball’s history can bring you to tears?  My team is obviously the TIgers and every time I watch certain clips, the tears fall, but they are happy tears from the passion I have. Even commercials will emotionally move me.  No shame!  I love the fact that I can feel so deeply about baseball, about Tiger’s baseball. 

When anything in this cruel, hard world invokes your emotions, ignites your passion, gets under your skin…hang onto it!  Life it tough, stressful and the people in it can be not-so-loving.  Tears of joy are a blessing to be able to shed, so shed em!  I have witnessed too many people in my life and heard too many stories of people that have for some reason hardened themselves to…I don’t know…to feeling? To being able to feel?

You know what I’m talking about here or what? We allow the blah of life to steal our joy.  Crack a dang smile when you hear a young child giggle!  Shout hallelujah when the preacher reveals one of God’s truth to your heart you hadn’t pondered before!  Jump off the couch when your team has just drove in the tying run in the bottom of the 9th inning! Now are you smelling what I’m stepping in?  I joke, yes, because I love humor, it’s good for the soul…but I am also being serious people.  Unleash the passion you have inside and use it for good.  Do you know how contagious it can be?

I believe it stems from love.  Whatever or whomever you love creates a passion inside you.  Great.  LET IT OUT! If ya ain’t vocal, that’s alright, let the gal or guy you love know in a note, tell them how special they are, be gushy once in awhile, it won’t hurt.  Your loved ones need to know they mean something to you.  If you’re anything like me, then you want your loved ones to show you how they feel.

Anyways, show some love.  Whether it be to someone or about something you enjoy.  Like so many baseball fans I have seen hold at games, make a sign and share your joy!

I gotta get to bed now so I can hopefully fall asleep soon.

 

Love to all the baseball fans out there-and even to those of you that aren’t 🙂

Play ball!

Love Covers All the Bases

***NOTE: I WROTE THIS ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14TH, AS THIS HORRIFYING EVENT’S DETAILS WERE CONTINUALLY BEING RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC***

Comfortably reclined on my sectional couch with my fingers poised I took notes on my laptop as I was glued to the TV news throughout the day Friday.  Anyone else find they were unable to function at times as details of the Connecticut school shooting streamed through your media devices?  This tight-knit town of Newtown, CT had a very low crime rate and is a place where everyone knew everyone.  Truthfully, my stomach is still upset.  I knew without a doubt, even though I had long durations of sitting there frozen, that I would write about this tonight.

My 3-year-old daughter, Lylah, sat curled up next to me watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on my tablet-a much happier program than the one unfolding before me.  This led me to think on the sweet innocence and joy children have within them, such gifts from God.  To witness the fatality count of elementary children was heart-wrenching and it truly did leave you asking…”why?”  What causes the alleged 20-year-old gunman, Adam Lanza, to shoot not only all these children and adult school faculty staff but also members of his family as well?  You will hug your loved ones a little more often today and ask yourself whether you and your family are as safe as you once thought.

News teams scramble to get the most updated information to give answers to the questions all of us watching have.  Admittedly, I was on the edge of my couch cushion trying to put the pieces of this horrible tragedy together as they became available.  It seemed the more information relayed to the public, the less it all made sense.  I found myself relating the compassion I felt for the people affected by this tragedy to my passion for the game of baseball.

We desperately try to analyze what went wrong to cause this horrific shooting by gathering any and all facts relating to the suspect(s), victim(s), gun control is again brought up, school (and other public places’) security revisited and so on.  And this is done not only to prevent future sickening incidents like this one in Connecticut but also to ensure those responsible for the crime are brought to justice.  Baseball players (and teams as a whole too) analyze their individual/team struggles in order to learn from it, fix the problem(s) and continue to put them into practice to record the most wins they can in the 162 game season.  Each player has their individual stats but they add up to team stats.  They each contribute to make their team the best they can.

Likewise, the people in Newtown make up their small community ‘team’ in Connecticut.  From what I understand, people seem to care about one another, they know one another, they help one another out in times of need…and they suffer this tragic loss together.  People step up to plate in love to take care of those that need healing.  The aftermath of a senseless crime like this brings people together and we are already witnessing this as they are backing each other up in comfort, love, prayer and tears.  This should be the main focus for this quaint town as they begin the healing process.

The answers we all seek and especially asking why as we look back really shouldn’t be so focused on.  I realize by saying this it probably isn’t too popular.  I do truly understand the need/want to try to prevent these tragedies however I believe we can’t completely predict human behavior, we can only theorize what could happen.  Trust me, I was audibly asking why with tears in my eyes sitting in the living room with my daughter too.  Our minds are intricately complicated, along with the emotions created within us and even those differ by gender, upbringing, personality etc.  Truth be told my friends, just as a bad season for great baseball players happen, there are awful things in this world that happen that we have no explanation for and no control over.  I challenge you to be a light, an outstanding teammate in your community because you know what happens when you are?  You expose the darkness around you.  You can be the light to someone’s inner darkness with prayer, a kind word, a good deed…you never know how much of a difference you can be.

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I DO KNOW THIS: Love covers all the bases. LOVE covers a multitude of evil in this world.  If I have a decision to make (a more substantial one than how I’m wearing my hair to a special event or which shoes should go with the fabulous new outfit I bought), I strive to lean towards the side of love.  I literally ask myself, “What would be the most loving response?” or “how can I best show love here?” I have to constantly remind myself to put on love and control my reactions just like everyone else and more times than I care to admit, I fail.  It might sound cheesy but even if it doesn’t produce positive results or if I never know the result, I’m good with knowing I chose love.

Perhaps instead of why, we can ask in the present, how?  How do we move forward from this point?  How can I help the people where I live?  And regarding the shooting, I believe the people of Connecticut will soon move forward to asking themselves how to help heal those family and friends affected.  Hope is always alive!  Jim Leyland, Detroit Tiger’s manager, always encourages his team by saying, “we play hard 9 innings.” The game isn’t over until the last out is made, in baseball, you can be behind 5 or more runs and comeback in the 9th inning to win-which are extremely exciting games to watch, assuming it’s my Motown Boys with the comeback win!  However, you win and lose as a team.

Keep the hope going; pass that onto others with genuine care, encouragement, love and prayer.  Tragedy often brings people together and I believe the folks of Newtown will mourn this loss together.  Press on as a team, one pitch at a time, one inning at a time, one game at a time.  Let your team know that you have their back for the full 162 game season, through the good and the bad.

Hug your loved ones today. I am grateful to have both a personal and professional support team in my life!

Until next game,

Belle of Baseball

Future Facelift Plans…For Website

Pinterest.  I love it.  It’s addicting…and the set up and design of their website is brilliant and organized!

This is the future facelift plan I am speaking of!  I plan to incorporate a similar look onto http://www.belleofbaseball.com so we can easily view different posts, photos, videos etc on a one page ‘corkboard’ like Pinterest, keeping the baseball theme with feminine touches.  If any of you have ideas, please feel free to pass them onto me, I’d love to hear them!

This is one of my short term goals, let’s see…I’m going to give myself a reasonable time frame of 1  year to acquire this.  I’m assuming this website will grow in numbers and even if it doesn’t, I’m ok with that; but I have found when you have an obvious passion for something, it’s contagious and people want to be a part of it and grow with you.

Another short term goal I am continuing to work on today actually is linking this site to my brand new Etsy store http://www.etsy.com/shop/HollybelleBags.  WordPress.com blog owners must abide by certain rules regarding links so I am researching and learning how to do this within those boundaries.

My store is open but somewhat ‘under construction’ as I’m establishing my shop design,  information, as well as adding items for sale.

I will be selling handbags in 2 different categories: Upcycled and Baseball-Inspired New Bags.  Inventory I am currently posting are all upcycled handbags which means they have been created into purses, totes, handbags from clothing no longer being worn.  The baseball inspired handbags will have 3 different styles/sizes to choose from-I have nearly completed the second purse design to share with you soon!  When I have 3 finished handbags of each design/style, I will post them for sale as available on Etsy and will share them here as well.  From that point on, I will create purses as I wish in my free time and they can be ‘made to order’ (customer places an order, then I create one for them but not customized).

Anyways, thank you for being here now and growing together.

I have to go for now, I have a 3-year-old that wants to play Legos! 🙂