I was listening to Bob & Tom this morning and Costaki Economopoulos was on (see Post No. 218). His birthday is December 25 and he mentioned that his grandmother had a reversible vinyl tablecloth she used at Christmas. One side had Christmas print on it and the other had birthday print. At lunch time on Christmas day she would flip it over and it would then be his birthday. She wanted to make sure his birthday wasn't "lost" in the Christmas celebrating. His mom found one on eBay and gave it to him for Christmas this year. How sweet!
I laughed out loud while listening in my car. My parents have used this same tablecloth for as long as I can remember (40+ years)! It's in great shape and has been used for countless Christmas/birthday celebrations. And I thought we were the only family in America that had a tablecloth like this!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
#247 Must-Have Shoes
Last year I read an article about 10 shoes every woman must own. You can read the article yourself, but will give my take on it.
1. Nude Peep-Toe Pumps. No. I like them on others, but they elongate the leg (the nude color blends in with the leg) and my legs are long enough, thank you very much.
2. Black City Boots. I do have a pair of these. Not too high of a heel. Pretty comfy.
3. Ballet Flats. LOVE ballet flats! I especially like them with a bow on the toe. I have several.
4. Wooden Platform Sandals. I have a couple pair of these. One is more of a cork heel. The other is covered in fabric. Both are really comfortable.
5. Canvas Sneakers. I have a couple pairs of Chuck Taylors.
6. Black Pumps. I have a few of these in different heel heights. One is a pair of Nine West 3" Mary Janes with pointy toes. I just bought a pair of Sofft black patent leather Mary Janes. Love them!
7. Metallic Sandals. The only metallic sandals I have I bought as a bridesmaid for a wedding. Other than that, I am lacking in this category.
8. Suede Booties. I do have black smooth leather booties, but none in suede. I do have some Sofft maroon suede 3" Mary Janes though.
9. Flat Leather Sandals. These I do have. I wear these in the warmer months when I go out on the town so I don't tower (as much) over the guys.
10. Gorgeous Work-of-Art Shoes That Make You Happy. I have one pair of these. I bought them last year to wear to a banquet. My dressy outfit consisted of an Isaac Mizrahi black tulle skirt I bought for around $10 on the sale rack at Target and a shiny silvery sleeveless top I got on super sale at Ann Taylor. I felt that I could splurge a bit on the fab shoes that really made the outfit. I found some J. Renee silver sparkly 3" heels with an ankle strap.
What's in your closet?
1. Nude Peep-Toe Pumps. No. I like them on others, but they elongate the leg (the nude color blends in with the leg) and my legs are long enough, thank you very much.
2. Black City Boots. I do have a pair of these. Not too high of a heel. Pretty comfy.
3. Ballet Flats. LOVE ballet flats! I especially like them with a bow on the toe. I have several.
4. Wooden Platform Sandals. I have a couple pair of these. One is more of a cork heel. The other is covered in fabric. Both are really comfortable.
5. Canvas Sneakers. I have a couple pairs of Chuck Taylors.
6. Black Pumps. I have a few of these in different heel heights. One is a pair of Nine West 3" Mary Janes with pointy toes. I just bought a pair of Sofft black patent leather Mary Janes. Love them!
7. Metallic Sandals. The only metallic sandals I have I bought as a bridesmaid for a wedding. Other than that, I am lacking in this category.
8. Suede Booties. I do have black smooth leather booties, but none in suede. I do have some Sofft maroon suede 3" Mary Janes though.
9. Flat Leather Sandals. These I do have. I wear these in the warmer months when I go out on the town so I don't tower (as much) over the guys.
10. Gorgeous Work-of-Art Shoes That Make You Happy. I have one pair of these. I bought them last year to wear to a banquet. My dressy outfit consisted of an Isaac Mizrahi black tulle skirt I bought for around $10 on the sale rack at Target and a shiny silvery sleeveless top I got on super sale at Ann Taylor. I felt that I could splurge a bit on the fab shoes that really made the outfit. I found some J. Renee silver sparkly 3" heels with an ankle strap.
What's in your closet?
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
#246 Back In Business
Several months ago I read "Foundation: Redefine Your Core, Conquer Back Pain, and Move With Confidence." I read about this book in Bicycling magazine. I'm all for ending back pain, and I tried some of the exercises but did not do them regularly. The book claims that if you do the exercises regularly (three times a week) for two weeks your back pain will be gone. Although you do need to continue doing the exercises for the pain to stay away. (They do say MOST back pain. Nothing that requires surgery.) So I'd do it for a week, then not make time, then do it again, etc. I have degenerative disc disease, which for me means annoying pain in my lower right back. Sometimes it feels pretty good, sometimes I have to lean my forearms on the sink to spit after I brush my teeth or squat when I want to pick something up. No bending over!
So after several starts and stops I decided to DO IT beginning January. Last week I did it Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday. After Sunday I had some muscle pain (different than my "regular" pain) but it was gone by Monday night. Pain free through Wednesday. A little less muscle pain after Wednesday's session. The real test was Friday at my circuit class. My back does not appreciate it when I run, and we ran a lot in my class. We jumped rope for a minute and ran a lap around the gym track. We did this three times, then ran two laps where we sprinted the straights and jogged the curves. Then we did the entire running/jump rope/running thing one more time. The whole time I thought, "I am going to pay for this tomorrow!" However, Saturday morning came and...NO PAIN! So first thing that morning, I did my third exercise session of the week.
This week I made time last night to do it. The moderate exercises take about 30 minutes. I put on music and it goes by pretty fast. You do each string of exercises three times. They are mostly yoga moves and not hard at all. I do "feel the burn" so to speak while doing it, but it doesn't really hurt.
I am hooked. I feel so liberated to not have the pain any more! I can bend over at the gym's water fountain and not have to brace myself on my knees. I can bend over and pick up my weight workout sheet. It doesn't hurt when I go to sit on the mat to stretch after a workout.
I highly recommend this book to anyone with general back pain. There are three levels of exercises (beginner, moderate, advanced) and the book contains pictures of the proper form. The exercises are easy to do and they really don't take that much time. For me, the time it does take is SO worth it!
So after several starts and stops I decided to DO IT beginning January. Last week I did it Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday. After Sunday I had some muscle pain (different than my "regular" pain) but it was gone by Monday night. Pain free through Wednesday. A little less muscle pain after Wednesday's session. The real test was Friday at my circuit class. My back does not appreciate it when I run, and we ran a lot in my class. We jumped rope for a minute and ran a lap around the gym track. We did this three times, then ran two laps where we sprinted the straights and jogged the curves. Then we did the entire running/jump rope/running thing one more time. The whole time I thought, "I am going to pay for this tomorrow!" However, Saturday morning came and...NO PAIN! So first thing that morning, I did my third exercise session of the week.
This week I made time last night to do it. The moderate exercises take about 30 minutes. I put on music and it goes by pretty fast. You do each string of exercises three times. They are mostly yoga moves and not hard at all. I do "feel the burn" so to speak while doing it, but it doesn't really hurt.
I am hooked. I feel so liberated to not have the pain any more! I can bend over at the gym's water fountain and not have to brace myself on my knees. I can bend over and pick up my weight workout sheet. It doesn't hurt when I go to sit on the mat to stretch after a workout.
I highly recommend this book to anyone with general back pain. There are three levels of exercises (beginner, moderate, advanced) and the book contains pictures of the proper form. The exercises are easy to do and they really don't take that much time. For me, the time it does take is SO worth it!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
#245 Look For Your Life
In “The Sound of Music,” the Reverend Mother tells Maria, “You have to look for your life.” I’ve seen this movie numerous times, but that specific line has never really struck me before. Maria tells Georg this when they are talking in the gazebo, when they realize they love each other. She returned to the family after the Reverend Mother gave her this advice.
The Reverend Mother is right – we do have to look for our lives. We can’t just sit back and wait for things to happen to us. Yes, some things do “just happen,” but the best things are things that we “look” for and are open to.
The Reverend Mother is right – we do have to look for our lives. We can’t just sit back and wait for things to happen to us. Yes, some things do “just happen,” but the best things are things that we “look” for and are open to.
#244 Holy Night
I babysat my almost two year-old goddaughter Maggie December 23. While eating lunch, she started singing, “Holy Night, Holy Night” over and over. It was so cute! She had a smile on her face and rocked back and forth in her chair. I started singing “Silent Night, Holy Night” and she sang along with me.
On Christmas Eve I was at church with my parents. At the end of the service the congregation lights candles and sings carols, always ending with “Silent Night.” My mom has a beautiful voice and I especially love to hear her harmonize. She always starts to harmonize on the second verse of “Silent Night.”
How sweet it was to hear little Maggie, and my 84 year-old mother, singing the same beautiful song.
On Christmas Eve I was at church with my parents. At the end of the service the congregation lights candles and sings carols, always ending with “Silent Night.” My mom has a beautiful voice and I especially love to hear her harmonize. She always starts to harmonize on the second verse of “Silent Night.”
How sweet it was to hear little Maggie, and my 84 year-old mother, singing the same beautiful song.
#243 Lengthy Lady
Last week I had lunch with a friend in Irvington and then stopped at a couple of the local shops. As we left one of the shops, a man walking down the street looked at me and said, “You’re very lengthy!” I must say that no one has ever said that to me before. He asked my height and said his daughter was the same height. I asked her age (23) and he continued by saying she played in the WNBA for Minnesota. It was Amber Harris’ dad. She went to North Central High School and Xavier. We walked and chatted with him until we arrived at the next street and then went our separate ways. Interesting!
#242 Here Comes The Sun
Last Tuesday night I watched the Kennedy Center Honors on CBS. The show is one of my favorite parts of the Christmas season. One of the honorees was Yo-Yo Ma. At the end of his musical tribute, out came James Taylor! My favorite! He sang, “Here Comes the Sun.” It was absolutely beautiful. I sat there on my sofa and tears came to my eyes. On the show, the camera showed the audience and stayed on Anne Hathaway. She had tears in her eyes too! Ahhh, it’s not just me. The music, the words, all of it really spoke to me. Here comes the sun! It’s all right! God has blessed me in many ways. Now, I wasn't really sad about anything, but was reminded that no matter what, the sun will come out again and He will make it all right!
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