Shopping at the Aunt's

Both my aunt and I were born on the same day. Or should I really say that my Mom picked my Aunt Marilyn's birthday to have me. (I was cesarean, she did have a choice.)

So this weekend Marilyn decided that she was going to throw herself a 70th birthday party at a swanky new Peruvian restaurant. Great food, by the way.

At some point during the night she sat down next to me and told me that she wanted me to go shopping in her earring drawers in her jewelry box. I can have any pair, other than the pair currently in her ears.

OK. Twist my arm.

The first pair she shows me are this pair of one inch square earrings encrusted with black and white diamonds. Umm...really? You want me to take expensive of a pair?

Apparently yes, because the next few pairs she shows me are also encrusted in diamonds. Like I said...twist my arm.

I can't imagine picking a pair encrusted with diamonds so the first one I really pick up and try on are these...sterling and sapphire.

And then this other pair catches my eye. I now have one of each in each ear. I tell Marilyn that I can't decide which one I want.

Her response. "No problem. Take both."

So I also now own a pair of earrings with 32 crystal clear, full cut diamonds on each (can you see the diamonds?), along with the 4 sapphires. (I think the fact that these have an "S" on them made them tough to pass up.)

Some nice birthday present, huh?

WOW! She has always been my favorite aunt!

Oh, and to top it all off...she says "And I want you to wear these as every day earrings. Wear them with jeans"

Well, they are her directions...

The sterling ones will be easy, but those diamond ones, will be tough to put on with jeans.


But I'll do it!!


Thank you Aunt Marilyn!!! I love you!!!

No happy medium.

OK, when I first started this blog I wanted to write about my creative process while trying to deal with 2 middle school boys. Then...all of a sudden, what I thought was just a freak injury turned out to be a chronic disease. It is much easier to speak to people about having a bad back than telling them you have an auto-immune disease. Let alone telling them that you actually have two.

I have had a really bad week this week. Sunday, though having beautiful weather, my loving hubby didn't think I should go for a walk because he could tell I was in pain. Some days I wish he wasn't a PT. I don't want to have to put my life on hold because of that. So we went for our 2 mile walk on an Indian summer afternoon. It was really nice. Come Monday afternoon I was in pain all over my body, on both arms and legs, joints, muscles and skin. I was worthless that night. Tuesday morning I was is a very weepy mood and I had an appointment with my rheumatologist.  I walk into the office and my Remicade (poison) nurse is standing there. She says, "Oh you have an appointment with her before your appointment with me?"  Umm...I guess so. It's a good thing she happened to be standing at reception! And because of my stupidity I have yet another weepy day. Then Wednesday, I am trying to get my weepiness under control by looking for an online guided meditation. After I turn off 3 because I have decided that I don't like them...the phone rings. It's from my hair dresser. I forgot my appointment with her today. Now this is something this almost totally grey 44 year old cannot miss. Since I'm usually quite prompt for appontments she calls me and says she'll wait for me. I do not have to reschedule. Thank you Sue! I guess it pays to stay with the same person for 21 years. And of course because of my stupidity once again, I have another bad day. Then I have to finish this lease I promised to have done by afternoon. OK. I can do this! I finished it before dinner.

Today...

I just lost it when I was taking a shower. I kept crying and had problems stopping.

Damn it! My eyes are starting to tear up again!

I would love to talk to people on a regular basis without them thinking I'm complaining or whining about "a little pain", "everyone has pain", or having people tell me that I am taking the wrong course of action to tackle my health issues. Or the other extreme...some people look like they feel sorry for me. I am not looking for pity...just for a place to blow off some steam. Some days I just need to talk for a couple of minutes about my bad health and then I would love to hear about your life...good and bad.

I don't think there are too many people in my life that I can do that with. Any takers?

I think my one buddy has got to be getting really tired of hearing me talk some days. She's a real sport, and I want to thank her. (She knows who she is. I love ya!)

I will get past this. I have to.

Finally!

NO MORE FRIZZ!

I have found the perfect product!


Suave® Professionals Captivating Curls spray gel


 
I have been using this with damp hair for the last few weeks. Even with the drizzly, rainy days lately...and no frizz.

I love this stuff! I have been searching for a large portion of my (almost) 45 years and have never found a product that does this well. And...It is actually the cheap version of a Redken® product. I can even have a good hair day the day after I wash my hair. It's amazing!

What made me just decide to write about this particular product was the fact that I had a hat on for about an hour. I came out of it with hat head. Of course!

Then...I scrunched my curls a few times and...

VIOLÁ! No more hat head after a little while!

YAY!

(Can you tell just how excited this curly haired girl is? I just can't stop raving about this product!)

On the right track

It is offically a month into school and I can honestly say that I have made it to the gym, 3 times a week for the last month.


Yay! I guess I really am on the right track!


I was determined to do it and I have. At least I've got one thing headed in the right direction.


And I think it is definitely healping me. I empltied the dishwasher the other day and I didn't hurt like I normally do. I guess I am getting stronger. It's just a pity I'm not getting smaller like I had hoped. 


Darn!

Oh well..I guess I can't have everything, right?


Something similar to this machine, is my favorite.






I love it! I'm not sure why... but I feel great when I'm done with it. I've actually been feeling great when I walk out the door to the gym. 




I'm hoping it will continue to get even better.


Like I said...I'm on the right track!

Not "Do SomeTHING"

Sorry, Carrie!

I just wasn't "into" it this time.

I don't know why. But I'm going to work hard at work (getting paid for, work) and taking pictures for my destash shop and working on making yoga bags for my regular shop...I'm almost out of simple ones.

Gotta, gotta!


I think I need help to get motivated.

Shame usually works well.

Do SomeTHING: day 23

My collage of the last 20 years with my hubby is not quite done but this is how it looked last night when I decorated last night's dinner table with it...

Do SomeTHING: day 22

Well...this project is supposed to be done by now...

This is the only the first coat of mod pod.

And believe it or not...It looks like I ran out of pictures. Oh well. I don't have it in me to look for more...nor do I have the time for it either!

I hope he likes what I put together!

I will post a picture of it when it is totally done (without the distracting newspaper behind it).