Day 212
Yesterday, my husband asked, "What's the first thing you'll buy next year?" Interesting question.
After a long drought, what do you do in a pouring rain? Dance and frolic in it? After a desperate hunger, eat until it hurts? After sleepless nights, sleep a day away? Or, sit back, sigh, and think, "Whew ... glad that's over." Maybe some of each.
In anticipation of the day the floodgates will reopen, I have started a list. Right now the list has things that I feel are missing in my wardrobe and should be chosen with great care. A swimsuit, for example. I am pretty quick to grab a swimsuit or three at TJ Maxx and hope for the best. I am sure I could make better choices.
So, to date, my list includes socks that match, a swimsuit and golf shoes. I am sure this list will grow but hopefully once those floodgates reopen, I will proceed in a thoughtful and careful manner. Yeah, right.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Happy National Lipstick Day!
Day 211
Yes, it's real. Even I couldn't make up "National Lipstick Day" but I certainly plan on celebrating it!
The most popular of cosmetics, the average woman owns seven tubes of "transformation". That's how I think of lipstick- a transformation for your smile. And I believe I own a few more than seven tubes ...
For thousands of years, women have understood that your smile, possibly the first and most noticed thing about a person, can be enhanced with color. The role of lipstick has changed little through the years. At times fashionable, other times outrageous and sometimes even illegal, a little lipstick goes a long way to define your look. A look through modern American history can be marked with lipstick. The dark red favored in the1920s, the deep red worn by Elizabeth Taylor in the 50s, the shimmer pastels of the 60s, iridescent blue and lime green shades from our disco days of the 70s, the mood lipstick of the 80s and the black lipstick of the 90s all mark their place in style history.
I think the most interesting and telling thing about lipstick is the fact that it is not only recession-proof, the sales of lipstick thrive in a bad economy. It's called "the Lipstick Effect," the worse the economy, the higher the lipstick sales. Can't afford a new outfit, splurge on an $8 tube of lipstick. That $8 tube of lipstick can transform how we feel and how we present ourselves to the world. Powerful stuff!
In this no-buy year, I promised myself that although lipstick is a "legal" purchase, (according to my rules) I can only replace colors that have run out or acquire new colors I do not currently own. I have bought 5 tubes this year. 1 of the 5 was a poor choice, the other four, excellent. I chose slightly transparent, barely shimmery summer shades that make me feel fabulous. I may not have new outfits but my lip color screams fresh and fashionable. Viva la lipstick!
Happy Lipstick Day! Treat yourself to a tube of transformation.
Yes, it's real. Even I couldn't make up "National Lipstick Day" but I certainly plan on celebrating it!
The most popular of cosmetics, the average woman owns seven tubes of "transformation". That's how I think of lipstick- a transformation for your smile. And I believe I own a few more than seven tubes ...
For thousands of years, women have understood that your smile, possibly the first and most noticed thing about a person, can be enhanced with color. The role of lipstick has changed little through the years. At times fashionable, other times outrageous and sometimes even illegal, a little lipstick goes a long way to define your look. A look through modern American history can be marked with lipstick. The dark red favored in the1920s, the deep red worn by Elizabeth Taylor in the 50s, the shimmer pastels of the 60s, iridescent blue and lime green shades from our disco days of the 70s, the mood lipstick of the 80s and the black lipstick of the 90s all mark their place in style history.
I think the most interesting and telling thing about lipstick is the fact that it is not only recession-proof, the sales of lipstick thrive in a bad economy. It's called "the Lipstick Effect," the worse the economy, the higher the lipstick sales. Can't afford a new outfit, splurge on an $8 tube of lipstick. That $8 tube of lipstick can transform how we feel and how we present ourselves to the world. Powerful stuff!
In this no-buy year, I promised myself that although lipstick is a "legal" purchase, (according to my rules) I can only replace colors that have run out or acquire new colors I do not currently own. I have bought 5 tubes this year. 1 of the 5 was a poor choice, the other four, excellent. I chose slightly transparent, barely shimmery summer shades that make me feel fabulous. I may not have new outfits but my lip color screams fresh and fashionable. Viva la lipstick!
Happy Lipstick Day! Treat yourself to a tube of transformation.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Was there a Tiki Bar at Green Acres?
Day 209
In my final "half-way assessment" I'll update about how our day to day eating habits have changed. At the onset of this challenge I knew I would not only have to refrain from gaining weight during this year (so my clothes would continue to fit), but I would try to lose a few pounds so some of my more snug outfit options would work. Weight Watchers was our go-to plan.
My husband read a book after the holidays that examined the quality of food widely available including issues with preservatives, pesticides and mass-farming techniques. It was an eye-opening look at my typical grocery cart. I then read "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" (Barbara Kingsolver) which took it a step further by suggesting we learn to eat "seasonally" and buy locally.
I rarely embark on anything by sticking a toe in the water. With me, it's dive right into the deep end. So, when my husband suggested we revise the kinds of groceries we typically buy, I was ready to clear the back yard to start a farm, live off the land, be sustainable. Join a farm collective. Can tomatoes. Make everything from scratch. Greeeen Acres! I totally see me as Lisa.
Here's where we stand:
In my final "half-way assessment" I'll update about how our day to day eating habits have changed. At the onset of this challenge I knew I would not only have to refrain from gaining weight during this year (so my clothes would continue to fit), but I would try to lose a few pounds so some of my more snug outfit options would work. Weight Watchers was our go-to plan.
My husband read a book after the holidays that examined the quality of food widely available including issues with preservatives, pesticides and mass-farming techniques. It was an eye-opening look at my typical grocery cart. I then read "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" (Barbara Kingsolver) which took it a step further by suggesting we learn to eat "seasonally" and buy locally.
I rarely embark on anything by sticking a toe in the water. With me, it's dive right into the deep end. So, when my husband suggested we revise the kinds of groceries we typically buy, I was ready to clear the back yard to start a farm, live off the land, be sustainable. Join a farm collective. Can tomatoes. Make everything from scratch. Greeeen Acres! I totally see me as Lisa.
Here's where we stand:
- I do not have a "green thumb". I can grow the basics but I killed perfectly healthy cilantro and parsley, my dill disappeared, my basil got slugs and I'm not sure if it's typical, but my spinach got very funky once summer set in. The great exceptions are my towering tomato plants. Over 6 feet tall, each is laden with pounds of tomatoes. The very first ripe tomatoes made an incredible chicken dish this week. Next year I will scale back and focus on the garden successes which I document on my iPad.
- I buy organic whenever possible and really watch out for preservatives. The bulk of grocery shopping is done at Trader Joe's.
- Our meat, poultry, eggs and butter are delivered from a local farm. John Henry's Farm in Millington delivers every other week and the products, all from Happy Animals, are excellent.
- I make all of our marinades, salad dressings and seasoning blends from scratch and I'm getting pretty good at it.
- We buy local produce whenever possible.
We did indeed lose pounds as we implemented this plan. And then, I discovered something wonderful.
I discovered the joys of coconut rum. Coconut rum is like a sip of vacation. We have found a variety of mixers to add for an alarmingly large repertoire of rum drinks. Rum drinks add pounds, but rum drinks make me happy. I'll just bet there was a Tiki Bar at Green Acres!
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Day 207
I suck at golf. I practice and practice but when it's "game-on" I suck at golf.
Golf is hard. From the time you pull your golf club back to the time the tiny little ball (hopefully) leaves the ground, a million things can go wrong. When it's time to hit, everyone else in your group stops to stare. Add heat, wind, rain, any number of external elements, and golf is really hard.
Last Monday I played in my second official outing of this summer. This time I was lucky (?) enough to join my husband, his co-worker and his wife at a beautiful country club.I am always happy to be included and it's nice to visit with people that my husband works with. I had a bit of difficulty really enjoying the day due to three things:
My outfit.
My shoes.
I suck at golf.
I don't have any "real" golf outfits, probably because I only golf a couple times per year. Once again, the temperature was near 100 degrees which takes any pants choice right off the table. I am left with a stupid "skort". My only "skort" is black and the only decent sleeveless top I have is black, therefore I was something of a heat magnet for my group. My husband insisted I looked great but my stuff is old and definitely doesn't "breathe". At least I found two socks that matched.
The next problem was that every time I got into my "golfer stance" I was forced to look down at my hideous golfer shoes. I fully admit I have attention problems (Oh, look! Something shiny!) but how could anyone concentrate looking at those awful, faux-athletic, grungy looking shoes. Ick!
And, as I mentioned, I suck at golf. Add that to bad clothes and shoes and you have a recipe for a long, ugly day. Somehow, though, I manged to have fun, shared lots of laughs and hit an occasional decent shot.
Perhaps, I think, it's not the clothes or shoes at all! Perhaps it's not even the the skill. Perhaps it's all about the experience of enjoying a beautiful day outdoors with my husband and friends. Or, perhaps--no --definitely--I will be getting new golf shoes and at least one good golf outfit next year.
I suck at golf. I practice and practice but when it's "game-on" I suck at golf.
Golf is hard. From the time you pull your golf club back to the time the tiny little ball (hopefully) leaves the ground, a million things can go wrong. When it's time to hit, everyone else in your group stops to stare. Add heat, wind, rain, any number of external elements, and golf is really hard.
Last Monday I played in my second official outing of this summer. This time I was lucky (?) enough to join my husband, his co-worker and his wife at a beautiful country club.I am always happy to be included and it's nice to visit with people that my husband works with. I had a bit of difficulty really enjoying the day due to three things:
My outfit.
My shoes.
I suck at golf.
I don't have any "real" golf outfits, probably because I only golf a couple times per year. Once again, the temperature was near 100 degrees which takes any pants choice right off the table. I am left with a stupid "skort". My only "skort" is black and the only decent sleeveless top I have is black, therefore I was something of a heat magnet for my group. My husband insisted I looked great but my stuff is old and definitely doesn't "breathe". At least I found two socks that matched.
The next problem was that every time I got into my "golfer stance" I was forced to look down at my hideous golfer shoes. I fully admit I have attention problems (Oh, look! Something shiny!) but how could anyone concentrate looking at those awful, faux-athletic, grungy looking shoes. Ick!
And, as I mentioned, I suck at golf. Add that to bad clothes and shoes and you have a recipe for a long, ugly day. Somehow, though, I manged to have fun, shared lots of laughs and hit an occasional decent shot.
Perhaps, I think, it's not the clothes or shoes at all! Perhaps it's not even the the skill. Perhaps it's all about the experience of enjoying a beautiful day outdoors with my husband and friends. Or, perhaps--no --definitely--I will be getting new golf shoes and at least one good golf outfit next year.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
If a Vacation Wardrobe is an Issue ...
Day 201
The front page of our July 18 Oakland Press was interesting! Front page, color photo, headline reads: "Nudists Staying Cool." This is our newspaper, not a trashy magazine. I had to read it. Seems there is a nudist resort in Oxford, Michigan! And, it's a "family-friendly" nudist resort. I just can't wrap my head around it. I had to visit the web site. Like many vacation resorts, Whispering Oaks offers accommodations, camping, swimming and a variety of sports, even nude roller hockey. There are dances. Celebrities visit. There aren't many skinny people (that's from them, not me). And, sunscreen is recommended.
As foreign as this concept seems to me, it is not rare. In fact there are lots of resort scattered around the world ranging from family-friendly to adults-only. I started thinking- imagine how little you would have to pack! No new outfits or fresh swimsuits. No quivering at the luggage check-in counter wondering if your suitcase has exceeded the weight limit. No matching shoes and accessories for each outfit. Just yourself, some flip-flops, sunglasses and a GIANT bottle of sunscreen.
Never mind.
The front page of our July 18 Oakland Press was interesting! Front page, color photo, headline reads: "Nudists Staying Cool." This is our newspaper, not a trashy magazine. I had to read it. Seems there is a nudist resort in Oxford, Michigan! And, it's a "family-friendly" nudist resort. I just can't wrap my head around it. I had to visit the web site. Like many vacation resorts, Whispering Oaks offers accommodations, camping, swimming and a variety of sports, even nude roller hockey. There are dances. Celebrities visit. There aren't many skinny people (that's from them, not me). And, sunscreen is recommended.
As foreign as this concept seems to me, it is not rare. In fact there are lots of resort scattered around the world ranging from family-friendly to adults-only. I started thinking- imagine how little you would have to pack! No new outfits or fresh swimsuits. No quivering at the luggage check-in counter wondering if your suitcase has exceeded the weight limit. No matching shoes and accessories for each outfit. Just yourself, some flip-flops, sunglasses and a GIANT bottle of sunscreen.
Never mind.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
And More ...
Day 200
Wow! 200 days! I am feeling pretty proud of myself. To celebrate, I will share more changes in my life that are definitely working:
Wow! 200 days! I am feeling pretty proud of myself. To celebrate, I will share more changes in my life that are definitely working:
- My filing system: Like most areas of my home, by bills and documents were poorly organized and often ended up in a pile instead of a file. I did an organization overhaul back in February, used the shredder until I could fill Easter baskets for evermore and promised myself I would file everything properly as soon as it was ready to be put away. It is working! At first I had to remind myself to follow through but it has become habit.
- Storage: I organized almost every area in my house and by spring, I was 90% finished. From my bakeware, to serving pieces, to candles to linens, each area has remained organized. I have purchased very little now that can actually see what I have. A little trick I employed was to avoid leaving too much blank space in any one area. My knee-jerk reaction is: see a blank space--fill it! Even if it means things are spread out a bit more, seeing little blank space makes me feel like I have enough.
- Happy with what I have: I could simply suffer for a year but I am really trying to embrace the situation and be happy with what I have. Sure, I complain (often) but I have many fine clothes that I love to wear. I have not had to pass on any event, activity or gathering for lack of a garment. Although I wear things a bit more often, I notice I am taking greater care of my clothes and shoes. I have even embraced mismatched socks. I can't even believe this one! At the start of the challenge, I inventoried about 8 pairs of low cut, athletic socks. As a result of socks that disappear from the dryer (a completely true phenomenon) and a daughter who borrows them, I am left with 7 socks. Not pairs, just 7 socks. This means that most of the time, my socks do not match. If you have ever heard me chant under my breath, "it's okay, at least I have socks" this is why.
For years I had tried to implement these practices into my life. It took the big challenge to give me the motivation to finally make the changes. Strangely, I have inspired myself to maintain these practices because I am proud of sticking with the challenge. I inspired myself. Even to me that sounds strange.
Monday, July 16, 2012
More Things Working
Day 198
When I set out to stop the shopping, I knew I would have to gain control of my existing wardrobe so I could see what I had to work with. Using the "gather and sort" method, I have organized all of my clothes, shoes and accessories. At this half-way point, I have to report that my organization tactics are working really well!
My closet still looks great. I treated myself to matching hangers for my closet, those lovely, slender, velvet covered hangers from Costco. I highly recommend taking your closet seriously!
My rule is: when I wear something, the hanger leaves the general area to a central area. This way, extra hangers are not accumulating in the hanging area and I always know where to find an empty hanger. When I put my laundry away, I use a hanger from the central area and hang the item where it belongs. Easy-peasy. And it works! For months now, my closet has remained organized and neat. I can easily see what I have. It is really amazing how a simple thing like an organized closet can reduce stress.
My closet has been a disaster for years so this organized closet with easy to use rules has been a real bonus.As I have said before, taking on this challenge has given me a real sense of "I can do it!" "Empowered" is a over-used word (in my opinion), but fitting. I feel powerful!
When I set out to stop the shopping, I knew I would have to gain control of my existing wardrobe so I could see what I had to work with. Using the "gather and sort" method, I have organized all of my clothes, shoes and accessories. At this half-way point, I have to report that my organization tactics are working really well!
My closet still looks great. I treated myself to matching hangers for my closet, those lovely, slender, velvet covered hangers from Costco. I highly recommend taking your closet seriously!
My closet has been a disaster for years so this organized closet with easy to use rules has been a real bonus.As I have said before, taking on this challenge has given me a real sense of "I can do it!" "Empowered" is a over-used word (in my opinion), but fitting. I feel powerful!
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