Mr. Sunshine Smiles

Well, hello friends!

Yet another Monday has decided to grace us with its presence. I hope that you were all able to enjoy the beautiful sunshine and spring-like weather (minus the rain) that Mother Nature decided to throw our way over the past couple of days.

Last week, I celebrated my 30th blog post with 30 fun facts about myself that some of you may (or may not) have known. Hope it was an exciting learning experience for you as you learned about Mr. Sunshine on a more intimate level. 

I moved to the City of Lancaster back in October of 2016. I have never been (and I’m still not) someone who needs fancy things in a home to keep me happy. For those of you who might remember, when I wrote my blog post about my house many weeks ago, I specifically stated that there is dust on the floors, cracks in the walls, and other imperfections that I’m totally OK with. In my viewpoint, it is just a few of the entities that make a house beautiful.

But…it seems as though I have caved just a bit to the trend of house remodeling. It has been something that has always been in the back of my mind, but this year, was the year to make it happen. When I wrote my goals for 2019 in the front of my daily planner, one of them was to complete 3 house projects.

And after all the hours of time invested in Property Brothers and Fixer Upper on HGTV…well, you can guess the rest.   

Today, Sunshine Cottage becomes the latest “war zone” for dust and debris on North Plum Street in Lancaster. 

This is obviously a facet of my life that I don’t have much expertise in, so figuring it all out has been a bit of a challenge. Where did I begin? As the famous song in Sound of Music tells us, “let’s start at the very beginning…a very good place to start.” 

What are my tips for tackling a project like this?! Well, here you go.

1.       Determining A Budget 

2.       Figuring Out The Projects 

3.       Finding A Contractor  

4. Breathe

The most important aspect for me was figuring out a budget and how much resources to put into the project. I did a lot of research as far as how to go about getting the $$ for this project and finally after a lot of digging and crunching numbers, I landed on a good deal with a personal loan through Discover. I’ve laid out the final numbers and have a payment plan in place for the next several years to make sure it is all paid off effectively and on time.

Next, after the money situation was all lined up, it was time to figure out the projects to tackle. Now, I’m sure a lot of you homeowners have experienced moments here and there of wanting to demolish everything around you and start from scratch. I’m not someone who needs the big, the fancy, and the most expensive luxuries.

After a lot of looking at images on the Internet and embracing my HGTV love, I’ve gone with the projects of gutting the bathroom, painting the living room, doing a minor remodel of the kitchen, and re-decking the front porch. And those of you who know me…know I’m NOT a handy man at all, so that is where the next facet of remodeling Sunshine Cottage comes in…

Finding a contractor to do the work. For this part, I went to Facebook and put out feelers about who to use. And after several leads, I went with Campbell Cub Construction. I had attentive communication with the owner, Aaron, and he was incredibly articulate with my needs and helping me figure out exactly what to do since I’ve never done this before. Aaron came over to my house one night to take a look at my ideas (or lack there of…haha), take pictures and measurements, and discuss a timeline. He made me feel at ease right away and I knew that I was in good hands. I can’t even wait for him to begin!

Lastly, through all of this, I’ve had to remember to breathe. One of the most important aspects of the entire process. This is a HUGE undertaking, especially for me because I’m always on the move and have never really put time or money into my home like this (or anything for that matter), so breathing is a must. Throughout the process, I’m sure there will be moments of panic and stress; however, the light at the end of the tunnel will be incredibly good for me.

So, there you have it. How I’ve gotten to this point of remodeling Sunshine Cottage in order to make it just a little bit brighter.

Come back in a few months when it’s all done to see the results!

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Well, Monday greetings everyone! It is the start to a beautiful new week! And what’s even more exciting is that this week marks my official 30th post! Where is the time going?! It has been quite the adventure thus far writing for an audience and releasing new material each Monday with topics of all shapes and sizes. I hope that each and every one of you has been enjoying the reads week after week and will only continue to come back for more sunshine, kindness, and positive energy!

Well, shall we dig right in to this week’s post?! I thought I would do something a bit different this week and share 30 “fun” facts about myself in honor of this 30th post. Hopefully, these facts will give an even more intimate glimpse at the one and only, Mr. Sunshine!

So grab your cheesecake, your favorite beverage, and keep all arms and legs inside the car at all times because here we go…it could be a bumpy ride!

1. My favorite roller coaster at HersheyPark is The Great Bear. I literally could ride it over and over again. ALL DAY.

2. My least favorite aisle to go down at the grocery store is the cereal aisle. Why, you ask? It’s because there are just too many choices and all of the boxes that surround me feel like they are invading my personal space and closing in on me–taunting me with their colorful branding and mascots on the front of the box.

3. I’ve never broken a bone in my life. I now feel like I should go knock on wood about 750,000 times because I probably jinxed myself.

4. Elevators scare me…a lot. I do not like being in them and I really dislike when they move incredibly fast. One of the reasons I’m so scared of them is because of a storyline that took place on my favorite soap opera from YEARS ago called “Passions.” Literally was my favorite to watch because it was so campy. Anyway, there was an ongoing storyline with an elevator and each day for like 18 weeks (what felt like 18 weeks), it feel down like 2 flights of a tall building and it has paralyzed me ever since. 

5. I’m terrified of flying in a plane. So, if you ever have to travel with me on one, please make sure that you bring me a sleeping pill, Xanax, or all the wine. Or all three just to be safe.

6. My favorite condiment is Mayo. Literally…LOVE mayo. SO much.

7. I feel asleep when I went to see Beauty and the Beast on Broadway because I was so tired from walking around the city. It was such an ugly, wintry day and I was not wearing the proper attire at all.

8. I’ve applied and sent audition videos to be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune multiple times. To go along with this, I also used to pretend to be Vanna White in my basement and “touch” the wall like it was the puzzle board and clapping as imaginary contestants played the game with me and shouted out letters and spun the wheel. I still need to get on this show because I literally am so goo at it–and I’m not just saying that. Often times when I watch at home, I know the answers because any of the actual humans playing do. 

9. I used to love going around the house during the summer when I was younger pretending to be a model on The Price is Right showcasing off items from my house as I announced them to the imaginary audience. “It’s a new dining room and piano!” (And cue fancy hand gestures that the models on the show do–I was always really good at it…and I still am if I do say so myself).

10. I don’t like to sleep in sheets. Most nights, I lay on top of my bed/comforter with a blanket.

11. I had to perform the Heimlich on my dad once, which I will never forget because I was the one in the family who stayed calm.

12. I have to shave my face in the morning every day; otherwise, something just doesn’t feel right about my day. 

13. I must leave the house wearing make-up. I wear Cover Girl liquid in a natural beige in case you were wondering.

14. I really want to learn how to perfectly twist soft serve ice cream into a cone. Literally, I see people do it and it amazes me. 

15. Growing up, I used to LOVE getting Dairy Queen cakes with Barney on them. I still LOVE Dairy Queen cakes, but I’ve grown out of getting the purple dinosaur on them.

16. I prefer Wawa coffee over Sheetz coffee, but Sheetz sandwiches over Wawa sandwiches. Hazelnut is my FAVE coffee flavor and a toasted chicken sub with spinach, cheddar cheese, tomato, mustard, and TONS of mayo is my FAVE sanwich.

17. I love fun socks and have 70+ pairs currently.

18. A big struggle for me is learning how to accept compliments. It is something I’ve never been good at and I’m still evolving learning how to do so.

19. Cranberry vodka is my go to drink at the bar. Otherwise, if I forget how to ask for one (because I’ve had too many), I usually just ask for “something fruity.”

20. My least favorite household chore is a tie between laundry and dusting.

21. Sweatpants are not something I will leave the house in unless absolutely necessary.

22. The legs are my favorite part of the body–on myself and others. I’m a leg man. It is also my favorite muscle to work at the gym. CARRIE LEGS all the way. #carrielegs

23. I do not enjoy ferris wheels. Two years ago, during Memorial weekend, I was in one with my friend Missy down at Wildwood and we got stopped at the very top while they unloaded people at the bottom. It was such a windy night and I literally think I peed myself and gripped the seat so tightly because I was terrified out of my mind.

24. My absolute favorite meal is meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

25. I’ve been out of the closet for 14 years and single for all of those except the period of about 2 months back in 2012.

26. I’m currently involved in my 23rd production at Ephrata Performing Arts Center since starting there in 2010. This includes on and off the stage.

27. My favorite movie of all time is The Wizard of Oz.

28. I’m a huge fan of quality time with people I love, especially my family and closest friends.

29. I’m not a big fan of traveling–the only time I’ve been out of the United States is Mexico for some mission trips.

30. I still hold my “v card” in the deck of cards of life.

…And that’s all she wrote, folks.

Well…that’s all I wrote…for you…this week.

Hope you enjoyed getting to know me a bit more with these facts.

Cheers to 30 and hopefully 30 more!

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Well, it is time for yet another week of sunshine and smiles! WOO! This is officially my 29th blog post since starting out, which is insane to think about! It feels like only yesterday when I was launching this official endeavor. Thank you to everyone who has come back week after week to enjoy the posts, offer support, and spread sprinkles of sunshine throughout their daily lives!

Last week, I gave you an exclusive look and taste into the current playlist of my go to tunes that keeps me moving and grooving on the daily. Those songs are a good source of energy and excitement when I need that extra jolt to get through!

So, what will I be discussing this week?! Well, a big shout out to my PB4L (porch buddy for life in case you were wondering), Rainer, for giving me this week’s topic!

May I have the drum roll please?!

::DRUM ROLL::

This week’s topic is inside the fantasy dream job of Mr. Sunshine!

:: Cue thunderous applause and cheers::

For as often as I can remember, Ellen DeGeneres has always been a huge role model for me in life. From her courage to coming out of the closet to express love freely–to her overwhelming compassion of performing acts of love and kindness and her crazy fun dance moves–I love it all…and can relate to it all.

This is why that it should come as no surprise that my fantasy dream job is to be Ellen DeGeneres with my own talk show.

This is something that has been on my mind for many years now and it all began senior year of high school when I was voted by my fellow classmates as the person to “most likely have a star on the walk of fame.” When writing some short reflections about the honor for my fellow high school classmates to read in the yearbook, I wrote that I wanted to be the “male version of Ellen.” Well, there you have it. That was in 2006. The rest is history.

Is there a part of me that secretly wishes I could dance on the stage, under the lights, and be on national television in front of a LIVE studio audience with the biggest smile on my face for households all across the world to watch? Absolutely.

Is there a part of me that wishes I could become a household name synonymous with the terms ‘love,’ ‘compassion,’ and ‘kindness?’ Most definitely.

Is there a part of me that wishes I could honor the heroes around me that embody stories of strength and courage with extreme praise, adoration, and surprises? 100%.

There is something about having my own national talk show where I can embody the principles of love, compassion, and kindness that gets me so fired up and excited. I mean…come on! Who wouldn’t love that?!

My dearest Ellen…are you thinking about retiring anytime soon? Well, let it be known that this 31 year-old from good old Lancaster, Pennsylvania is ready to take over whenever that day may come.

Please…and thank you.

And while there are no LIVE studio audiences, there is a part of me that looks around at my life and believes that I am already living out my dream job.

I was given the nickname of Mr. Sunshine from my Singing Lions show choir group during my freshman year of college in 2006. It is a nickname that has stuck with me ever since…even 13 years later. It has become a part of me.

On the daily, I try to always embody the principles of love, compassion, and kindness as I live out my life day in and day out. I smile at the stranger, I look for the good in all people, and I try to always see the bright side of life no matter how dark the world around us seems.

It is my deepest hope that how I live out my life is able to bring some type of joy and happiness to others and that it catches on and continues to flow throughout both the community and the world. The moments when I get communication from individuals that mention how much the positive energy or posts have inspired them, it brings warmth to my soul than I can’t even possibly begin to express.

The nickname of Mr. Sunshine is something that I truly try to embody 150% each and every day. Are there days when I want to scream? Yes. Are there moments when all I want to do is say every explicit word in the book? Um…yeah.

I know that it can seem my attitude toward life is all “sunshine, rainbows, and glitter”; however, I can tell you that there are moment where that isn’t my mentality. I have my moments of clouds and thunder. No matter what is happening life, I always try to figure out how I can personally encourage positive change and gets others around me to do the same.

Maybe the fantasy dream job of having my own national talk show and becoming the male version of Ellen DeGeneres will still happen. Who knows what the roads ahead hold in store?

However, I do know with 100% confidence that I will continue to dance through life with love in my heart, compassion in my eyes, and kindness running throughout my veins.

If there’s one thing I would like to leave you all with in this post, it’s this:

The world around us can be cold, cruel, and dark. There are people who want us to give up the faith more than anything. There are people who want us to fall down, falter, and give up.

But have heart. Have courage. Be strong. Keep the faith and let love and kindness enter inside your soul and fill you with the energy needed to invoke positive change in others.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

How is it that another week has come and gone already?! Like, we are already into the second week of March and less than 10 days away from the first day of Spring! Oh…and in case you didn’t already notice it on your own…there is Easter candy popping up in our faces at local grocery stores everywhere.

However, I must say that I’m quite excited for the fact that it ISN’T snowing this week as I write. In fact, it almost felt like Spring time today with the mild temperatures close to the 50’s and sprinkles of misty rain. Let’s just say I’m anxiously awaiting the sunshine!

Anyhoo enough about the weather…I’m no meteorologist and I’m not here to talk about Mother Nature and her bi-polar attitude.

What am I here to talk about this week?! Well…golly gee! I thought you would never ask!

Let’s read on! Shall we?!

Music is an integral part of our world. Of our culture. Of our lives. It is a universal language that can bring us together in times of distress and it can help us to feel the most real and most raw of emotions that are inside our souls. It can make us happy. It can make us sad. It can make us laugh. It can make us cry.

No matter what way we slice the cake, music is something we can all relate to on the daily.

We all have our favorite songs–our “go to” tunes when we need that quick jolt of happiness or want to belt out lyrics at the top of our lungs because of that douche canoe boy that just doesn’t get it.

I love and listen to music all the time. When I’m running, when I’m driving in the car, when I’m working out–there always seems to be a constant playing of tunes in my ear.

And the million dollar question is…what might be playing in my ear?! Well, I thought you would NEVER ask!

Below are the 20 songs right now that comprise my “Mr. Sunshine Go To Tunes” playlist. These are the songs that make me happy, allow me to belt at the top of my lungs without a care in the word, empower me to be better, inspire me, and just always seem to make everything a little bit better. So, happy reading…and hopefully happy listening as well!

1. Rainbow; Kacey Musgraves–literally heard this song for the first time when Kacey performed it at The 2019 Grammys and immediately fell in love with it. The lyrics are beautiful and it is one of those songs that makes me grateful for everything around me and to never take anything for granted.

Well, there you have it. The playlist of Mr. Sunshine. Anthems of empowerment, upbeat tunes of feel good sunshiney moments, and ballads to make you feel all the emotions.

What are the tunes that you find the most meaning in? What are your “go to” jams throughout the daily of your life when you need a moment to laugh or cry? I would love to hear your feedback and suggestions.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Well, hello there everyone and welcome to another week with Mr. Sunshine! This actually happens to be my 27th blog post, which is absolutely crazy to think! Before you know it, this adventure of blogging will be a year old! Hope you all are enjoying it each week!

I don’t know about you, but I must say that I am quite sick of Mother Nature and her white stuff piling up around us. I will admit that it is pretty to look at on trees and from behind the warmth of a window, but when it comes to shoveling it off the sidewalks of your city home and brushing it off your car…well that…that is where I say MMMBYEEE to Mother Nature and her Winter schemes!

Anyhoo…enough about Winter and this white stuff! We are just going to pretend that it doesn’t exist at the moment.

Back on December 10th, I wrote a blog post in regards to anxiety and how even someone like me…someone given the nickname of Mr. Sunshine can experience it throughout this crazy thing that we call life. And just to give you a quick recap, here are some statistics from the ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America):

• Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year.
• Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet only 36.9% of those suffering receive treatment.
• People with an anxiety disorder are three to five times more likely to go to the doctor and six times more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric disorders than those who do not suffer from anxiety disorders.
• Anxiety disorders develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events.

Now, let’s quickly switch gears, so buckle up your seat belt and stick with me!

Webster’s Dictionary defines the word extrovert as the following:

noun

2. A person characterized by extroversion; a person concerned primarily with thephysical and social environment.

Welcome to a new week of sunshine, friends!

I hope that everyone survived the cray cray weather Mother Nature decided to throw our way this week. Literally, I can’t handle the back and forth between hot and cold, snow and rain. Like…make up your mind! Does anyone actually even remember what season we are in?

For anyone who is familiar with my life knows that I am constantly on the go. And that is not an exaggeration. Literally, it is go, go, GO! And you might even need to take a shot of espresso (or three) to keep up…or a nap…or both!

Working a full-time job for 40 hours a week, working a part-time job for about 15 hours a week, running 1000 miles to raise $10,000 and awareness for pediatric cancer, being musical director at my church and directing the choir, being an ensemble member in a production of “Ragtime” at Ephrata Performing Arts Center, stage managing a play at the Ephrata Performing Arts Center, personal training twice a week, making plans for house remodeling, doing wash, organizing my closet…and I’ve only just begun.

Did I lose you yet? Are you still with me? Did you have that shot of espresso and nap yet in order to keep up?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been the type of person who thrives on being busy. Give me the jam packed schedule, a few Arbonne Fizz Sticks, the occassional Dunkin’ Donuts hot vanilla coffee (with 3 cream and 3 sugar of course) or Starbucks White Chocolate mocha and I’m all set.

Ready…

Set…

GO!

So, how does one stay organized amidst what you are probably thinking sounds like “chaos?” How does Mr. Sunshine keep the clouds and darkness away even during the most hectic of times?

Well, here are my secrets…so…grab a pen and paper (or your Iphone notes app) and pay attention!

1. Invest In A Planner.
-This is seriously my biggest secret. My planner is my everything. LITERALLY. If I were to lose it, I would probably cry like I do during the death of Mufassa in The Lion King or during the series finale episode of The Golden Girls. It’s not pretty…seriously, I would become a waterworks. I don’t ever want to lose my planner. If I could attach it to my body, I would. Call me old fashioned–I LOVE writing everything down. It also gives me a chance to show off my handwriting skills that I learned from elementary school. But seriously, a planner. The best $10.00 investment that I make each and every year.

2. Color Code In Said Planner
-Remember that list just a few paragraphs previously where I was listing all my tasks and activities that I’m involved with? How do I keep them all straight? I color code EVERYTHING. Each branch for the facets of my life that fill up the daily days has its own unique color.

Pink=Work Activities
Purple=Church Activities
Turquoise=Theater Activities
Green=Family Activities
Blue=Personal Life Activities/Friends

While this might sound elementary, it is life-changing in so many respects. Seriously, try it. Like, now. Go find some fun-colored writing utensils and get on board the color coding train because it is coming to a station near you. CHOO! CHOO!

3. Mental Mind “Pre” Brief & “De” Brief
-This might sound strange; however, I have found it to be so helpful much like the art of taking deep breaths when you are feeling overwhelmed. The art of this task is much like the purpose of a “to do list” but does not require any writing. Each morning, when I wake up, I take about 5-10 minutes to “pre” brief about the day. What are some of the tasks that I would like to see myself accomplish today? How am I feeling physically, mentally, emotionally? What are some things that I feel good about and what are some things that I don’t feel good about? To go along with this, after each day is done and I’m on my bed (or couch if you know anything about me), I do a little “de” brief about the day as well. What did I accomplish? What did I do that I felt good about? What did I do that I didn’t feel so good about? What brought me joy? This is such a simple way for me to visualize each day and connect with my inner soul. And the great part? You can do it wrapped in a blanket in the privacy of your home, in the shower, in the car…wherever you feel most comfortable. One-on-one time with just you to stay organized and focused. Glorious.

4. Outfit Prepping
-Welcome to the new trend that ISN’T meal prepping! This is one way that I stay organized in my fast-paced on the go lifestyle. Outfit prepping. I prepare my outfits on my dresser the night before. The shirt, the pants, the undershirt, the boxer briefs, the fun socks, the shoes, the necessary accessories (I do love me some fashion scarves)…it’s all laid out on my dresser prior to me hitting up dream land. The same goes for my workout clothes too–the tank top, the compression tights, the short shorts, the headband, the socks, the shoes–it’s all laid out packed in my gym bag ready to go. And just like you meal prep for multiple days of the week, if I feel ambitious, I will prepare outfits for 2 or 3 days in advance. Yep, you indeed just read that correctly. Call me crazy.

…and…scene!

Well, there you have it. The secrets of how I stay organized in life of a fast-paced environment of going from one aspect of life to the next and none of them involved caffeine! Imagine that!

Until next week, friends!

Same time. Same place.

Write it in your planner…

…and color code it.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Back on September 19, 2014 when a friend of mine named Kaitlin Boland posted a comment on my Facebookwall about considering running The Hope Express. I remember thinking that it was the craziest idea that I had ever heard of in my 27 years of existence. But, it got me thinking. And that night I went home and the wheels in my head began to turn as I thought about the idea more and more. And the more I thought, the more I realized that this would be one heck of an awesome way to involve myself in the great student-run philanthropy in the world that had become so close to my heart during my four years of involvement at Penn State. So, two days later, on September 21, I submitted my initial application.

I remember for the next week I was constantly checking my email more than five times a day to see about whether or not I was considered to be a “Hopeful.” The day I got the email telling me I was an official “Hopeful,” I remember having an excited burst of energy, but also that slight nervousness of “What the heck did I get myself into?” The next months were a complete whirlwind—having the initial fundraising conference call with Carolyn learning about the ins and outs of raising funds, planning fundraisers and working on an execution plan, writing letters and emails to potential donors, setting goals for myself, and scheduling the highly anticipated phone interview with Autumn.

The night of my interview is still as clear as day in my head. I remember my palms being incredibly sweaty and when Autumn answered the phone her first question was something along the lines of “What would you do if I said I was the meanest person in the world?” I was a bit taken aback by the question, but remember answering withsomething like “I wouldn’t believe it.” Autumn made me feel very at home and I had no problem having conversation with her and sharing my true passions and feelings about the questions that she asked—and she made me think—very hard and deep down into my heart’s truest emotions and feelings. 

The next week or two were filled with the final push for people to get their donations in for the initial fundraising period. (And I must admit that Carolyn was not kidding when she said that you get incredibly happy every time you receive a donation. I for one was always doing a little dance in my room every time I got an email from Carolyn about online donations or check in the mail!) I remember waking up Thanksgiving morning and being so anxious to either receive the call or email about whether or not I had been selected to be a part of the 2015 Hope Express. I kept loading my email on my IPhone as I watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and frowning each timewhen it told me there wasn’t a new message. 

And then, it was there! I took a deep breath and I remember reading through Hank’s email thinking that it was worded telling me I was not chosen and my heart sank, but he was a trickster! Toward the end paragraph he wrote that the list of runners was attached. I took a deep breath and opened the attachment…and I cried. My mom was right there with me and I gave her the biggest hug in the world out of complete joy that I was being given the honor to be a part of something so incredible. The next week was full of runs around my town in beautiful weather and just enjoying the scenery around me and taking every moment in. I remember receiving another email from Hank a week later on December 2 that told us who had been chosen to be a “Mountain Runner” and I saw my name listed. Hank told us in the email that there was no greater honor than being selected for a mountain, so I again I had feelings of super excitement, but also the “What the heck did I get myself into?!” thoughts as well. I remember picking out some hills in my head that I thought would be good training spots for me to practice. 

I ran my first hill on Christmas morning—and it was a killer. I remember gasping for breath and my legs feeling like jello by the time I got to the top. The words of “I can’t do this” kept bouncing around in my head, but then I would think about who I was doing it for and the immediate jello feeling in my legs disappeared and my motivation and energy suddenly powered back into my system. It was an incredible feeling. 

Leading up to runner’s weekend, I remember going on Facebook and seeing all the “runfies” that my fellow teammates were taking on their training runs and I would just smile. I remember getting more and more excited with each inspiration email that came from Hank. I remember going through all the emotions possible every time I read each heart-felt story. 

On January 12, 2015, I received word that a very good friend of mine who I had done shows with at a local theatre had lost her battle with cancer. Her name was Wendy and she always was full of life and always had a smile on her face no matter how crappy she felt. It was my first day at a new job and I remember not being able to cry because I didn’t want to be perceived as a wimp who couldn’t handle the job. And as soon as I clocked out and got in the car, I cried. In fact, I bawled. I got home and walked into my roommate and hugged her for 5 minutes without moving or speaking and just cried. I went to my room and cried for the next hour and a half. I was so mad. I was mad at cancer. I was mad at life being unfair. I was mad that God couldn’t have done something to me. I struggled a lot the next few days and found it very hard to not cry uncontrollably at any given moment. The death of Wendy helped me realize and get even more motivation for doing The Hope Express. It helped me put a lot into perspective about my life and what I take for granted and realize that cancer doesn’t discriminate and that it doesn’t care about who it attacks. 

Runner’s Weekend was an awesome experience and I loved every second of getting to know the teammates that I would be sharing this incredible journey with and hearing about their stories. The next four weeks leading up to the actual run were filled with many emotional runs full of tears and anger. There were mornings where I didn’t want to get out of bed because it was so cold, but in the back of my head I kept remembering why I was doing it. And I kept seeing Wendy’ face. 

The week of the run, I remember becoming incredibly nervous and getting butterflies in my stomach. But the minute I would remember about who I was doing this run for, the butterflies would go away—I even made a special collage of people that I decided to honor during my run—Lexi, Ellen, Carlene, Sally, Kristin, and Wendy. I can’t tell you how many people asked me the week of the run about how they expected us to run in the weather because they were expecting extremely cold temperatures—historic numbers in fact. And I remember telling every single person that the pain and cold we would experience would be nothing compared to what these kids and families go through with this disease. 

The day of the run, I couldn’t wait to see everyone again and I remember jumping around in my seat as I drove to the Angus home. Being reunited with my Team Hope was incredible and the absolute best thing. I couldn’t wait to spend 24 hours with these people. My first leg (which occurred around 12:40am) was brutally cold—the wind chill was around -25 degrees and the snow drifts on the country road I was running were intense, but I crushed it. The constant thought of these kids and the collage of my personal friends and family I was running for kept me going. I remember at one point during the run seeing lights up ahead and thinking “Yes! It’s the RV! I’m almost done!” However, it was a horse trailer parked in a lot, so a false alarm and I remember my heart sank because it felt like three miles had already passed by. 

But I kept running…faster and harder. My second leg wasn’t as cold, but still bitter. It was during sunrise and the scenery around me was gorgeous and I remember taking in everything around me and being in awe about what all of us were doing. The passion and commitment we all shared in common was just overwhelming. I remember taking a nap during my second leg because my third leg was the mountain leg (known as Tussey)—the one that Hank kept telling me throughout the training period that I had no idea what I was getting into. 

While I was still in the trailing car waiting for Meghan to get the handoff from Ami, I remember Wendy giving me a hug and telling me, “Crush that mountain!” Those words stuck with me in my head until the end. I remember arriving at the Whipple Dam Store where I was to receive the handoff and seeing my parents there—and it was pure joy. I ran out to them and gave them a huge hug! It was the perfect motivation for me before beginning my toughest trek yet. I remember getting the handoff from Meghan Duffy and hugging her three times—she was crying because she was just so emotional that she had completed her last leg.

I started down the mountain with the backpack of letters on me and my photo collage around my neck. It seemed normal. And then I began to hurt. And the pain set in. And the wind was blowing. And it was cold. And I began to feel weak. And I began to cry. And I began to start walking. I remember Ryan and Lynn who were in the trailing car behind me shouting out motivating comments to keep me going, but it was so hard. I would begin running again for a few seconds and then I would walk again. I asked for some water and remember taking sips here and there. I continued on and remember walking and then hearing those shouts of “Keep going, one foot in front of the other!” Cars were coming down on the other side of the road and complete strangers were honking in admiration and encouragement. Moralers were passing by and shouting out the window. 

Halfway up the mountain, I saw my parents on the side of the road cheering me on and I began to cry again. It was all becoming real to me. I pushed on. And I remember mumbling “F*** you cancer” under my breath in my ninja mask and began saying the names of the people on my photo collage—Lexi, Sally, Carlene, Wendy, Kristin, and Ellen. It was so painful. I felt like I just needed to give up and let cancer win, but I didn’t. I wasn’t about to let cancer win and take over the HOPE that all of us were trying to spread. I remember seeing Stephanie at the handoff and greeting her with the biggest hug ever and crying. I hugged my mom and dad and cried. And Ryan from the trailing car came out and hugged me. It was all so surreal. The emotions were raw. 

To say that the whole experience was the greatest thing that I’ve ever participated in would be an understatement. The Hope Express was the hardest and most rewarding experience of my life. The friendships I’ve made with the people who share such passion and drive for this cause are priceless. The people behind the scenes who make this come together every year are invaluable. I’m proud to say that HOPE lives on in each and every one of us and we will continue to fight until HOPE lives on in every single person of the world.

It’s currently 11:43pm, which means it is the peak time for Mr. Sunshine blog writing. 

Are you ready? 

Let’s take a moment to be honest with ourselves. 

At some point in our lives, we’ve all dreamed of our lives being a romantic comedy.

I mean…who doesn’t want Zac Efron, Ryan Reynolds, or Bradley Cooper to suddenly step in your life and sweep you off your feet with the highest degree of swooning possible?! 

Count me in. 

Sadly, as much as society pushes for us to believe by sticking it in our faces that life is its own romantic comedy or “like a box of chocolates”…it’s not. 

Well…not for me at least.

And this week we get to experience all the sweetness of little chocolate hearts, scents of fragrant roses, the cuteness of stuffed animals, sappy social media posts, and luxurious five star dinners as the world celebrates the Hallmark holiday acclaimed to be the day of love…more commonly known as Valentine’s Day. 

Excuse me while I go puke little chocolate hearts. (Shout out to my former college roommate Jolie who used to always use this phrase around this time of year.)

While I’m not one to celebrate or enjoy this holiday at all, there is one love that I’m very excited to share with you all today in my post. 

And that, my friends, is the love of myself and being single. 

This is something that I’ve often struggled with on the daily and even at age 31, it is still something that doesn’t come easy.

Why is this still a struggle for me? 

Let’s take a little trip down memory lane…

Growing up through the years in elementary school, middle school, and even high school I was the one who was poked fun at for being skinny. The one who was looked at as being different because I acted more feminine and enjoyed hanging out with girls more often than not. I was the one who enjoyed theater and music. I was the one who wanted to watch Wheel of Fortune or classic TV shows like I Love Lucy instead of sports or thriller movies that were considered to be “masculine.” 

I went through the days, weeks, and months of the school year learning to ignore the remarks from those that decided to pick on me, but I still have flashbacks every now and then of those moments that bring up extreme feelings of insecurity. 

When I came out of the closet in 11th grade, it was a huge moment for me in life that was greeted with joy and relief and released an energy of excitement and self-discovery inside my soul. To some people, it was a moment that was supported and loved whole-heartedly while for others, it was just another aspect of life that made it an easy target for being made fun of. 

I’ve been through the bullying. I’ve been through the name calling. I’ve been through the stares that people give because of being considered or viewed as “different.” 

These are the moments from my life that have helped me to become intentional about embracing my single status and learning to love myself.

For me, one of the greatest joys with being single is having the power to involve myself in things that make me feel fulfilled and happy on the inside. Whether it is working with customers to help their businesses grow bigger and better, helping fellow colleagues to improve their personal growth, running miles to raise funds for pediatric cancer, or working with 60 plus kids on the production of a classic Disney tale, my heart seems to constantly be overflowing with love and compassion to fuel my drive to push forward with the greatest of energy.

These days, more than ever, society tells us (or at least influences us) that we must have a partner by our side in order to be happy. It feels like a social stigma that is pushed on us from all different angles as we live out our daily lives. Whether it is that latest story line arc happening on TV’s most popular show, the plot from the hit movie currently playing at the movie theaters, or the damn advertisements for the next great romantic comedy on The Hallmark Channel, it just seems to be around every corner…something that we can’t escape from no matter how hard we try.

Currently, in my life I I don’t feel it necessary to have someone by my side to make myself feel “whole” or “complete.” I am my own person who gets to have control over my entire life–from setting the wake-up time on the alarm for those early mornings to determining my own bed time every single night. It’s glorious. And what’s even better is that I don’t have anyone around to judge me on those nights when I want to eat raw cookie dough from the container…that’s right…I do that. And I embrace it 150%.

Here are a few other things that I embrace 150% about myself…

1. I don’t like sleeping in sheets, so I will wrap myself in a blanket on top of my bed.

2. I enjoy sleeping on the couch more than anything.

3. I could watch the same episodes of The Golden Girls for the rest of my life and be incredibly content. 

4. I can listen to Katy Perry’s “Firework” on repeat for days and not get sick of it. 

5. I like to eat ice cream from the container, especially when I’m stressed. 

6. My love language is words of affirmation.

7. Social media is something that makes me jealous and blurs my judgment on the daily. 

8. I still struggle accepting compliments from others. 

9. I find washing dishes very therapeutic. 

10. My least favorite exercise at the gym is pushing the sled. 

11. My least favorite aisle to go down in the grocery store is the cereal aisle because there are too many choices. 

What are some aspects of my life thay help me embrace my self-love and single status?

1. I volunteer at EPAC doing a multitude of theater work including stage managing, acting, and music directing.

2. I decompress for at least 30 minutes each night whether it be watching The Golden Girls, reading, or coloring.

3. I work out with a personal trainer twice a week.

4. I involve myself in a cause that is close to my heart to share joy with others.

5. I embrace the principles of love and kindness and always look for way to display them.

Now, hit on the brakes and let’s take a quick U-turn! Hang on to your seat belts!

Are there moments in my life when I want to throw my phone at the wall and scream my head off because I see sappy photos of love birds all googly-eyed about their love for each other and perfect life with the hashtag of #blessed? 

Yes, absolutely. 

Will I be experiencing some of these moments this week on Thursday, February 14th?

Probably. 

Do I wish that Shawn Mendes would serenade me to sleep every night?!

DUH. Is that even a question? 

I don’t have the latest fashions. I don’t have the latest Iphone. I don’t have the biggest bank accounts. I don’t have the largest home. I don’t have the boyfriend to hug and say it’s going to be all better when I’ve had a crappy day.

And I’m OK with that. 

I came across the following quote a few weeks ago that has stuck with me ever since: 

“Single is not a status, it is a word that describes a person who is strong enough to live and enjoy life without depending on others.”

Amen. 

Embrace it. 

Love yourself.

The end. 

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy new week everyone!

I hope you all survived the bitter, brutal cold weather that Mother Nature decided to send our way and I hope that you are ready for the spring-like temperatures that we will be greeted with this coming week. Mother Nature is bi-polar and I for one am not able to handle it! 

Last week, I shared some of my favorite hot spots in Lancaster to explore during my “free time. Hopefully, we will get the chance to run into each other at one of these locations in the near future! 

As many of you already know (whether you are friends with me or just follow my blog), I am someone who fills my planner with lots of activities. And I mean LOTS. Like, we are talking jam packed full. If you were to open my planner, you might pass out because it is THAT full. Don’t believe me? Well then, just continue reading on and you will see Exhibit A for official photo evidence. 

Exhibit A:

One of these many activities filling up my planner is that of Mary Poppins Jr. at the Ephrata Performing Arts Center. Today concluded the third show of opening weekend, which has been a huge success. 

So, how have these kids captured my heart? Well, grab your popcorn and caffeinated beverage because here we go! 

Four years ago, I was asked if I would be interested in music directing the Kids4Kids production. Not trusting that I would be able to handle the task with teaching music for an entire production, I was a bit reluctant to say yes. However, through the positive encouragement and words from several parents, I decided to give it a shot. 

Words don’t even begin to express how thankful and grateful I am for saying that simple three letter word of “yes” four years ago. 

Auditions for Mary Poppins Jr. took place in October over a period of several days. After seeing almost 200 kids, it was quite overwhelming and exhausting to think about working with the other members of the production team to narrow down the cast to approximately 60 individuals. What a daunting task! 

But it happened. After many hours of discussion, it happened. A cast of 60+ kids of all ages (5-16) ready to take the stage in telling the classic tale of American’s favorite nanny. 

We started music rehearsals back in November—yes, that’s right. November. The score for this production is much like that of an adult production—there are SO many songs and SO much music…it’s mind boggling! Yet, these kids didn’t complain at all during the rehearsal process and learned each song with precision and grace.

Since the very first day of rehearsal when we sang Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, my heart melted. These kids had captured me through their genuine innocence, smiles, love, and incredible voices! It is quite possibly the best feeling that a 31 year-old music director can feel. 

Scratch that. IT IS the best feeling that a 31 year-old music director can feel. 

Through countless hours of rehearsals, choreography adjustments, set moves that are a beast, quick costume changes, and snow weather cancellations, we were all feeling on edge the week before opening. Blood, sweat, and tears went into this production…literally. This production is not simple. In fact, it could be considered a main stage show because of how HUGE it is. And you know what?!

These kids are crushing it. CRUSHING.

And Friday night, at 7:30pm, the lights went up and these kids gave the performance of their lives for the audience members that attended to fill the seats of the theatre. It was truly magical…right up to the very last moment when Mary flew across the stage with her famous foot position. 

I’ve had the opportunity to be backstage learning the reigns of stage manager duties which I will be handling this week and I can’t tell you how much of a joy it is to see these kids sing, dance, and smile. I’m not going to lie, I sing along backstage because it is impossible not to with these songs. And these kids just bring you into the story with their energy that you just have to sing with them.

I look around at the world we wake up to each day and see darkness, hate, negativity, and violence. It is upsetting.

I look around at these kids and see passion, love, kindness,innocence, hopefulness, and a bright future. They are the ones who can encourage and embrace positive change.

Mary Poppins Jr. is the kind of show that this world needs right now. It is full of heartfelt moments, laughs, catchy tunes, bright costumes, beautiful sets, and moments of joy around every corner and rooftop. 

These kids have tugged on my heartstrings to make me beam from ear to ear and tear upwith their performances. And we have still have two more weeks of shows. I don’t even want to know how much of a mess I will be on closing day, but we won’t go there…yet.

I’m one heck of a proud music director for sure. 

I’ve been working with the Kids4Kids productions for the past four years and I can say without a doubt that this show is easily my favorite. And this cast–talented, kind, hard-working, passionate, and fun loving.

Don’t miss out on the magic. Don’t miss out on having your heart captured by the smiles and passion of these 60+ young performers. 

A spoonful of sugar might be just what you need to forget about the dreariness of the world for a short second. 

As Mary Poppins says, “anything can happen if you let it.” So let yourself go from the stress of life and let these kids take you on a journey through London unlike one you’ve ever experienced before.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy new week everyone! 

It’s hard to believe that we are coming to the end of our first month in 2019. BUT LIKE seriously though…where does the time go? I swear it goes by faster each and every year. 

Before I move on to this week’s post, I just want to extend a huge, heartfelt “thank you” to everyone for the support and love from last week’s post. It was truly humbling to get so many messages from people and just seeing the love shared in facets all over social media. It ended up being my most viewed blog post to date, which is awesome. Words can’t really describe how thankful I am for all of you who come back week after week to join in the antics of Mr. Sunshine. 

Anyhoo, on to this week’s post! Quick shout out to my friend AND “porch buddy for life (PB4L),” Rainer for the topic idea! 

I’ve lived in the incredibly cool city of Lancaster for just over two years now. And for those who follow my life and know me, realize that I’m always on the go…and I mean ALWAYS. Therefore, if you ever run into me out and about in the city, it is a rare occurrence…which means you should either circle the date on your calendar or try your luck at playing the lottery. 

So…what are my favorite “hot spots” to experience in the city when I’m out and about for those rare occurrence evenings? Well, read on to find about my faves! 

1.    The Fulton Theatre

-I know. I know. Shocker! It’s ok…you can tell me your jaw dropped to the floor. I’ll wait. This one is like a given to anyone who knows me. I’m a sap when it comes to theater and the arts, so naturally, this is one of my favorite spots to spend an evening. Dazzling costumes, talented individuals, electrifying choreography, and luscious sets and sound make for an enchanting evening worth every penny. There are so many shows that I want to see this season, so if you are someone who appreciates the arts, hit me up and maybe we can plan a night of supporting live theatre. And what is the show that I’m most excited for this season?! Hands down without a doubt it is Mamma Mia! 

2.    Pottery Works 

-The place where the creative brain can be unleashed! A wonderful way to decompress from the stressors of life whilst in the company of friends and possibly even some adult cocktails too! There are so many choices of pottery to choose from that it can be a bit overwhelming at first; however, once those artistic juices are flowing it’s no stopping! Seriously…so much fun! Now if I could just get the same motivation and energy that I have when painting pottery to paint my actual house…

3.    The Pressroom 

-Whether it is a team dinner with my co-workers or date night with good friends before a night at the theatre, this place has got it all! Fabulous cocktails, wonderful service, cute waiters and bartenders (yeah, I said it…get over it), delicious food, and a fun, laid-back atmosphere. I can say that in all the times that I’ve populated this place, I’ve never had a drink or meal that I didn’t enjoy. My favorite menu item and cocktail combination is the grilled marinated chicken and Moscow Mule. The perfect pair…well…it is for for me and my tummy. And…you know what’s even better?! The fact that you can enjoy this place year-round with their outdoor Park Bar too! It is a casual, simple outdoor area to enjoy fun and companionship with good friends along with the deliciousness known as FROSE! Literally…SO GOOD. 

4.    The Belvedere Inn 

-This is one that should also come as no surprise to anyone who knows me. There are so many wonderful things about this place almost too numerous to mention. Cocktail beverages to die for, food that is so incredibly tasty, spectacular staff, great atmosphere, a grand piano, and a hallway of mirrors…which can still freak me out to this day. My current obsession is the Hammond Pretzel Crusted Pork Cutlet. It is to die for. As far as cocktails, I can’t really say what my favorite is because I usually end up just asking for “something fruity” from the bartender whenever I end up here. This place is also within walking distance for me (or running distance…yes, I ran home one night, but that’s a story for another time). 

One of my favorite things about the city is that I can walk almost anywhere. I can step out of the bright blue door of my casa and take my legs in any direction to find something unique, inspiring, and fun! 

And what’s one more perk about the city? I get to live only a few houses down from my best friend, which is pretty cool. How many people in life can say that?! But like…that’s pretty awesome if you ask me! Be jealous.

There you have it! Some of my Lancaster favorites! I know it isn’t a huge list; however, in the world of someone with three jobs, trying to run 1000 miles, and participating in shows at the EPAC, there isn’t always time to check out all the cool places the city has to offer.

Well, friends. The clock is about to strike 11pm, which means I’m turning into a pumpkin, so it’s time to bring this blog to a close. 

Until the next time we meet…and who knows, maybe it will be at one of these great places in Lancaster City?! You just never know, so be on the lookout. Mr. Sunshine could be right around the corner!

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!