Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! 

Toilet, Ten Commandments, and The Girls

Lena Dunham as Hannah

Last week was stress-filled for this Diva, so much so that I left work early on Friday due to a stomachache from Thursday night that insisted on lingering on during work.   I spent Friday afternoon and Saturday morning watching the full two seasons of The Girls, thanks to a free Watchathon marathon On Demand.  It is a Sex in the City with women in their mid-twenties.  So entertaining and the lead character, neurotic Hannah, hit some hot spots that have been going on in my life.  Lena Dunham, the show's creator, director, writer and producer, is beyond brave. She's a bit chubby but has no problem baring it all as her character engaged in sex with a variety of men.  Extremely witty and humorous but unfortunately with no subscription to HBO these will be my only two seasons to watch.

Saturday afternoon I spent on the phone with my Michael as he walked me through fixing my toilet.  The thing was running on and on and driving me absolutely batty!  My over-the-commode cabinet had to be removed in order that I could properly view the tank so my first step was to unload and disassemble it.  Then, I ran back and forth between the boy's toilet so I could view how a tank should properly run.  As Michael patiently guided me through the fix, I turned the water off, on, flushed numerous times, and tried to describe what was happening in the tank.  Finally, after turning the balloon a few times, the tank filling subsided and the problem was fixed!!  Such a great feeling to hear absolutely nothing after flushing. 

Following this accomplishment, I made crock pot macaroni and cheese, a recipe found on my beloved Pinterest, then whipped together a sugar-free pudding dessert that is a big hit in my household. 

Last night Michael and I spent several hours on the phone as we watched all five hours of The Ten Commandments.  Although I had seen bits and pieces of it, I had never actually watched the whole movie, a fact Michael could hardly believe.  Thus he insisted it had to be seen.  Jordan joined in when he came home; at one point I had to make a cup of coffee because a movie at night running past 9pm usually induces a sleep coma.  But I made it through and it was worth it.

This morning the kitchen was on my list to clean then my little Stubbs and I went for a walk, which was a first.  The furry guy is so tiny that I was afraid he wouldn't be able to keep up with me.  Leash intact, we proceeded to the park; at one point, I let him loose and he behaved like a champ.  It wasn't until we were on our way home that he tuckered out, jumping up and down so he could be carried.  Which of course I did and justified by classifying him as my extra hand weight load.

Arriving home, Jordan offered his help and we organized and cleaned the garage, freeing up additional space, tossing garbage, and sweeping.  My next project was the front porch, moving a bench, adding summer chairs, and in general tidying up. 

My hands are dirty but the weather is sunny so there are no complaints from me today.  Welcome spring and I look forward to many more blue-skied days to come.

Reflections on 50

Recently, one of my co-workers turned 50.  She didn't handle it well.  After passing along to her an article from Glamour extolling the virtues of celebrities who had, or would very soon, turn 50, she confessed her main concern.  She felt she wasn't turning heads anymore.  That the beautiful sexiness that she possessed in her twenties and thirties was gone.  This thought coming from a woman who is petite, active, successful, smart, and absolutely gorgeous and, outside of her misguided beliefs, definitely continues to turn heads.

But I understood.  The media blasts us with images of teenagers and twenty-somethings who are tall, thin, with perfectly symmetrical facial features, glossy white teeth, and the world on the string.  We all know these pictures are Photoshopped to achieve this image but in comparison we women who are approaching menopause simply feel inadequate.  And so begins our reflection on life....where have the years gone, how did I arrive to the place I'm at today, oh so many choices that I should have, could have, would have done differently in my youth.  As much as we relish the photos that show celebrities without makeup, which makes them to some extent "more normal", it's vital that we put to death our vain attempts to compare ourselves to others. 

Sure, the twenty-year olds turn heads.  But in their youth they have not learned, have not experienced the life we have.  They have fresh beauty and lack of wrinkles on their side, for the time being, but we have years of wisdom garnered from the highest level of learning - our mistakes.  These account for our wrinkles, our gray hair, our age spots. 

So often I have compared myself to high school classmates.  Oh how she has grown old.  Look at her.  We are the same age but I look so much better, so more put together, so more younger.  But why does this matter?  Instead of comparisons we should feel a sense of peace that our classmate continues to be with us, regardless of her looks.  As many people for whom I hold my looks in comparison, there are so very many more who win the age contest hands down.  And besides the point, no one is keeping score.

So let the youth enjoy their life, let them turn heads, and allow them the carefree spirit we all enjoyed when we were young.  And let us women, who are approaching fifty or have turned fifty and beyond, accept the new chapter gracefully that we are opening, similar to a new book with shiny crispness for which we are eager to read until late at night, folding the corners down to mark our place so we don't miss out on one single sentence.  It's going to be a new adventure that we should all be anxious to begin with enthusiasm, rather than in comparison.

TGIF!!!

Bobs and Zits

I'm not sure where the weekends go....seems like it was just Friday now I've skipped through my days off along with Monday and here it is Tuesday once again.  Sigh. 

Last week I had a follow-up appointment with my doctor, during which time I pointed out a small red patch under my nose. After examining the patch closely, she then diagnosed me with adult acne! Oh for Pete's sake! I've got menopause knocking on my door and now I have adult acne under my nose! Thankfully she was able to prescribe me a gel in order to remove the zit gang under my nose.

I don't remember what occurred on Friday or Saturday, other than watching Zero Dark Thirty (mucho waterboarding.)  Sunday Michael and I spent the whole day at the local mall.  Yes, the Kelso Mall...the one that echos, the one that now contains a sole food vendor along with a coffee/cookie shop, and the mall that includes not five or six anchor stores but simply two - JC Penney and Macy's.  Our first stop was Regis; I wasn't able to get in with my regular hairdresser but I was determined to get my hair colored and cut so Regis fit the bill.  Fortunately, there was no wait and they got me right in.



Bob like this only darker

Although my plan was to grow my hair longer, my locks seemed to hit a plateau.  In addition, the front wasn't growing as quickly as the back so it had become, sad to say, a mullet.  Yes, not a good look for a Diva such as myself.  After looking through pictures and getting Michael's opinion, I decided on a bob. Classic yet spunky. 

Trisha was my stylist.  After describing to her the result I desired, she mixed up the bowls of color and set to work.  During this time, Michael sat by my side on his computer while the hours upon hours dwindled on.  Once the color was finished, Trish then cut my hair into a concave bob with the front longer.  It turned out very stylish, although she was a bit heavy-handed on the light brown in my hair.  I went in very blond and came out lightish brown.  After a few shampoos this should lighten up and the blond will poke through.  Trisha then spent a considerable amount of time drying my thicker than thick hair and straightening it.  Michael scored me a discount by flipping Trisha a copy of the new Justin Timberlake CD - good move babe!

After my color and cut, Michael, with the patience of Job, suggested I continue on my day of beauty and get my nails filled.  God bless my man who could sit through all the girl talk and chitter chatter with a smile on his face.  Thankfully the manicurist quickly whipped out my nails so we could finally go home and relax...about five hours after we started for the day!  There is something about sitting in a chair all day that can really wear a person out! 

TGIF!!!

Happy People!

22 Things Happy People Do Differently

 

There are two types of people in the world: those who choose to be happy, and those who choose to be unhappy. Contrary to popular belief, happiness doesn’t come from fame, fortune, other people, or material possessions. Rather, it comes from within. The richest person in the world could be miserable while a homeless person could be right outside, smiling and content with their life. Happy people are happy because they make themselves happy. They maintain a positive outlook on life and remain at peace with themselves.

The question is: how do they do that?

It’s quite simple. Happy people have good habits that enhance their lives. They do things differently. Ask any happy person, and they will tell you that they …

1. Don’t hold grudges.  Happy people understand that it’s better to forgive and forget than to let their negative feelings crowd out their positive feelings. Holding a grudge has a lot of detrimental effects on your wellbeing, including increased depression, anxiety, and stress. Why let anyone who has wronged you have power over you? If you let go of all your grudges, you’ll gain a clear conscience and enough energy to enjoy the good things in life.

2. Treat everyone with kindness.  Did you know that it has been scientifically proven that being kind makes you happier? Every time you perform a selfless act, your brain produces serotonin, a hormone that eases tension and lifts your spirits. Not only that, but treating people with love, dignity, and respect also allows you to build stronger relationships.

3. See problems as challenges.  The word “problem” is never part of a happy person’s vocabulary. A problem is viewed as a drawback, a struggle, or an unstable situation while a challenge is viewed as something positive like an opportunity, a task, or a dare. Whenever you face an obstacle, try looking at it as a challenge.

4. Express gratitude for what they already have.  There’s a popular saying that goes something like this: “The happiest people don’t have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.” You will have a deeper sense of contentment if you count your blessings instead of yearning for what you don’t have.

5. Dream big.  People who get into the habit of dreaming big are more likely to accomplish their goals than those who don’t. If you dare to dream big, your mind will put itself in a focused and positive state.

6. Don’t sweat the small stuff.  Happy people ask themselves, “Will this problem matter a year from now?” They understand that life’s too short to get worked up over trivial situations. Letting things roll off your back will definitely put you at ease to enjoy the more important things in life.

7. Speak well of others.  Being nice feels better than being mean. As fun as gossiping is, it usually leaves you feeling guilty and resentful. Saying nice things about other people encourages you to think positive, non-judgmental thoughts.

8. Never make excuses.  Benjamin Franklin once said, “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” Happy people don’t make excuses or blame others for their own failures in life. Instead, they own up to their mistakes and, by doing so, they proactively try to change for the better.

9. Get absorbed into the present.  Happy people don’t dwell on the past or worry about the future. They savor the present. They let themselves get immersed in whatever they’re doing at the moment. Stop and smell the roses.

10. Wake up at the same time every morning.  Have you noticed that a lot of successful people tend to be early risers? Waking up at the same time every morning stabilizes your circadian rhythm, increases productivity, and puts you in a calm and centered state.

11. Avoid social comparison.  Everyone works at his own pace, so why compare yourself to others? If you think you’re better than someone else, you gain an unhealthy sense of superiority. If you think someone else is better than you, you end up feeling bad about yourself. You’ll be happier if you focus on your own progress and praise others on theirs.

12. Choose friends wisely.  Misery loves company. That’s why it’s important to surround yourself with optimistic people who will encourage you to achieve your goals. The more positive energy you have around you, the better you will feel about yourself.

13. Never seek approval from others.  Happy people don’t care what others think of them. They follow their own hearts without letting naysayers discourage them. They understand that it’s impossible to please everyone. Listen to what people have to say, but never seek anyone’s approval but your own.

14. Take the time to listen.  Talk less; listen more. Listening keeps your mind open to others’ wisdoms and outlooks on the world. The more intensely you listen, the quieter your mind gets, and the more content you feel.

15. Nurture social relationships.  A lonely person is a miserable person. Happy people understand how important it is to have strong, healthy relationships. Always take the time to see and talk to your family, friends, or significant other.

16. Meditate.  Meditating silences your mind and helps you find inner peace. You don’t have to be a zen master to pull it off. Happy people know how to silence their minds anywhere and anytime they need to calm their nerves.

17. Eat well.  Junk food makes you sluggish, and it’s difficult to be happy when you’re in that kind of state. Everything you eat directly affects your body’s ability to produce hormones, which will dictate your moods, energy, and mental focus. Be sure to eat foods that will keep your mind and body in good shape.

18. Exercise.  Studies have shown that exercise raises happiness levels just as much as Zoloft does. Exercising also boosts your self-esteem and gives you a higher sense of self-accomplishment.

19. Live minimally.  Happy people rarely keep clutter around the house because they know that extra belongings weigh them down and make them feel overwhelmed and stressed out. Some studies have concluded that Europeans are a lot happier than Americans are, which is interesting because they live in smaller homes, drive simpler cars, and own fewer items.

20. Tell the truth.  Lying stresses you out, corrodes your self-esteem, and makes you unlikeable. The truth will set you free. Being honest improves your mental health and builds others’ trust in you. Always be truthful, and never apologize for it.

21. Establish personal control.  Happy people have the ability to choose their own destinies. They don’t let others tell them how they should live their lives. Being in complete control of one’s own life brings positive feelings and a great sense of self-worth.

22. Accept what cannot be changed.  Once you accept the fact that life is not fair, you’ll be more at peace with yourself. Instead of obsessing over how unfair life is, just focus on what you can control and change it for the better.

 

 

From wordpress.com

 

Stubbs Laying in Wait

Stubbs was in rare form last night, hovering over Sam as he ate dinner.  I just had to capture the moment!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Stay away from the Shamrock shake!!!



 

TGIF!!

Doin the Eyeliner!

Oh this picture is so true!  I did learn a new trick for eyeliner - lining the top water line.  A little tricky but it does make a difference.  To the right is a video on the technique - follow it, not the picture below!

 

Gimme the Thin Not the Mints!

Ugh.  Over the last few days my healthy motivation has been waning.  I've eaten sugar.  I've eaten calorie-laden bread.  I've even eaten Thin Mints!  I haven't exercised as much as my normal routine allowed.  For some reason once the contest was over, I felt this subconscious urge to snack and my motivation has not been as high as it was.  However, the good news is that, instead of being in denial, I'm recognizing my behavior before it gets out of control.  My new goal is to get back on track instead of ignoring the problem and avoiding my scale.  And remember that it's much easier to keep it off then to take it off.

The following tips are Six Strategies for Staying Motivated from Dr. Oz, which should help me get back on track with my diet and exercise plan. 

1. Recognize -- and accept -- that, occasionally, eventually, you'll screw up. "Get past that," says Dr. Oz. "The most important thing in any diet plan is knowing how to cope when you make a mistake. When you fail, accept it, embrace it and move on." So you had a slice of cheesecake at a party? "That will never sink a diet," assures Dr. Oz. "What sinks a diet is saying I'm off the diet anyway, now I'll have 450 more calories."

2. Focus on small changes. Just 100 fewer calories a day can make a difference, says Dr. Oz. "Every long-term dieting program has found one uniform insight -- eating 100 calories less today than you would have eaten. That's half a soda less; one doughnut less. It's not the big, three week starvation diet because your metabolism is too smart for that. Starving yourself actually sends a signal to your body to store more fat! You keep your body from going into starvation mode by not under-eating. So, small steps done well are what make it happen."

3. Find something that motivates you to stick with your plan. Something that you want more than you want that slice of cheesecake, that extra serving of lasagna, or that second cocktail," says Dr. Oz, "that reminds you about why you're doing this." Maybe it's a picture of your kids who you'd like to get and stay healthy for. Or maybe it's a photo of you in a bikini from your "skinny days." Put it on the fridge or in your desk drawer or tape it to your bathroom mirror. Dig back in your closet to find your favorite pair of skinny jeans, super slinky LBD -- you know the one you can't bear to toss because you're hoping to fit into it again, someday -- or that itsy, bitsy, teeny, weeny bikini you'd love to wear come summer. Hang the clothes where you can see them every morning when you get dressed.

4. Find a substitute "crutch" for eating. We eat for a lot of reasons besides hunger. If what drives you to crunch and munch is anger, sadness or boredom, you'll need to channel your emotions through another activity. Exercise does double duty -- stops you from eating and burns extra calories -- so long as you're not swigging high-calorie energy drinks as you sweat. But scrapbooking works; knitting; even playing your kids' Game Boy or, better, the Wii. "The nice thing about video games is that both your hands are busy, so you can't eat," says Dr. Oz.

5. Get a diet buddy. Someone you can lean on when the urge to sit on the couch with a quart of double-fudge ripple and a spoon gets overpowering. "We propagate this fiction that we have to be able to do it purely on our own," says Dr. Oz. "But there are a dozen redundant systems in our bodies that force us to eat. Will power alone cannot do it, any more than will power alone will let you hold your breath under water indefinitely. I don't care how much you want to do it, you cannot hold your breath under water. It's impossible. Once you get past that misperception, it becomes a lot easier to get comfortable asking for help."

6. Avoid situations (and people) that might tempt you to abandon your diet resolve. It's a lot easier to fall off the wagon when your pal is begging you to split the cheese fries or crème brulee. "People who hang out with thin people lose weight, and people who hang out with heavy people gain weight," says Dr. Oz. "If there's someone who likes to go out and have a cream pie with you over lunch and talk over your misery, get them out of your life."

Bad Hair and Boutique

Friday found me heading south to Michael's for the weekend.  We hit a few stores, had lunch together, then he waited patiently while my nails were filled.  We then spent the rest of the evening relaxing.

Saturday found us up bright and early to meet his family for breakfast.  I skipped washing my hair, which was a major mistake.  Even though I hit it with the straightener, it felt thick, product-filled, and just was not behaving.  Ugh.  On top of that I couldn't decide what to wear - black pants, knee high boots, with sparkly top or throw on jeans, Adidas, and jacket.  The sneaks won out, especially since my hair was not in its best form and matched the tennis shoes best.

Meeting at Elmer's, we caught up with Michael's mom along with three of his siblings.  I had the best egg white vegetarian omelet...yummy!  Gonna have to make this at home.  Breakfast over, we then made our way to Stevenson, home of sister Eilene's new boutique, Lizette.  Tres chic, it held women's fashion, bras, purses, jewelery and hats.  Hidden in the back was a little coffee house deli, not part of Eilene's business but cute just the same.  All the boutique needed was a hair salon and it would be a one-stop shop!













It was apparent Eilene has come into her own with the new boutique.  I can't think of any better place to spend my days than a retail corner where one can purchase fashion at wholesale prices!  I'm proud of you sis!!

After Stevenson we headed back to Portland where we wandered around more than one Whole Foods just browsing for organic items.  We then had dinner at Cascade Station, browsed some more, then made our way home to rest our feet.  It had been a long day but as always we had a great time together!

Yesterday morning my bags were packed and I returned home, laundry in  mind to prepare for the coming workweek.  However, that was sidetracked while Sam and I watched the movie "Sinister" and I took a cat nap. 

Now here it is Monday.  With the Spring Ahead time change, I feel as if I'm still recovering from my weekend.

Of Dentists and Discussions

The details are often within the words you wished you had said rather than the actual conversation that occurred.  Yesterday my goal was to impress three business professionals during a panel presentation.  Wrapping up the meeting, my feeling was the discussion went successfully.  My next stop following the meeting was an appointment with Mr. Dentist to repair a cracked filling as well as to fix a tiny new cavity.  During that hour long appointment, when my bottom jaw, lip and tongue were numbed to oblivion, I replayed the business presentation in my head.  This would have been wittier; my response should have been more technical; that one comment may have been taken too literally; and on and on.  The experience replayed over and over in my head while the dentist ground and filled my teeth. 

Finally,  after significant analytical examination, I had to banish the event from my thoughts similar to the way my cracked filling was picked apart and broken, bits and pieces vacuumed and discarded by the large, sucking tube which remains a dental hygienist's favorite piece of arsenal. The discussion drifted away from my mind in the next few hours, along with the Novocaine dissipating from my mouth.  As I had to trust my lifelong dentist, who is the utmost experienced, professional, completed my fillings with success, I had to trust my presentation went off with flying colors due to my confident, professional nature.  I'm sure my dentist didn't lose sleep mulling over his performance in my mouth and thankfully, my rest last night was equally as satisfying.

TGIF...and Happy International Women's Day!

Today is International Women's Day,  a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women's Day is a national holiday.

While the U.S. may not suffer the severe indignities to women as in other countries, we still do not have equality in pay.  I remember my mother showing me a pay range listing she had kept when she first went in to teaching, along with my father.  They had a pay scale for Men then a lower one for Women - plain as day and labeled as such.  While there are no more such blatant pay scales, the underlying scale of lower pay for women versus men is still in effect. 

No wonder I took a day off from work today - to celebrate!  Here's to a weekend filled with blue skies and sunshine!!


No man can call himself liberal, or radical, or even a conservative advocate of fair play, if his work depends in any way on the unpaid or underpaid labor of women at home, or in the office.
                                                                                                                                        Gloria Steinem

Awww....So Cute!

Weekend Recap and Second Place

The weekend was wonderful.  Saturday found me cruising to the Centralia Outlet Mall with sister Julie and stepmom Arlene for some window shopping along with lunch.  It was a great visit and one we will have to repeat again in the near future!

Jube, Arlene and Diva during our shopping fest

Once home, I snuck in a 45-minute brisk walk before Michael showed up.  We enjoyed a quiet evening, slept in on Sunday, did a little grocery shopping, then home for another relaxing evening.

Today, the Biggest Loser contest at work concluded and I came in second to a well-deserving co-worker Bobby.  I lost a total of 21 pounds (8.4%) - yippee, but the race is still on for my team as well as myself.  We will continue walking, climbing stairs, and hitting the pavement to rid ourselves of unnecessary poundage.  We celebrated today with a Mexican lunch; however, instead of gorging myself with cheese, guacamole and sour cream, I instead indulged in prawns and veggies with only a bit of rice thrown in for good measure.  And of course a few chips and beans.  It was a nice interim celebration but I'm looking forward to a big party when we all hit our long-term goals!!

TGIF!!!