Younger eyes

I’m not trying to kid anyone, including myself. I look in the mirror and realize I’ve aged. Hey, I’m a grandmother – twice! However, it’s nice to have people act truly surprised to learn my age. I’ve even been asked what I do to look younger than my age, and that’s perhaps the best compliment.

I have used several different products over the years beginning in my mid-twenties. I once heard you should always choose products that are available in your grocery store, and have followed that advice for the most part. Occasionally I’d try specialty “serums”, but although they felt really good going on, I didn’t notice that they did a better job than my regular Oil of Olay moisturizer.

eyes

Image courtesy of Carlos Porto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I remember when I first began to notice pesky little lines around my eyes. I was in my early thirties and thought that was a little crazy. After all, I’d just gotten used to not fighting pimples. Shouldn’t there be a good decade between pimples and wrinkles? Apparently not.

I began to use more moisturizer around my eyes. At one point I ran out of moisturizer and panicked! The only moisturizer in the house was my Jergen’s hand lotion. I didn’t want to use that all over my face, but I did dab it around my eyes. I found it worked better than my regular face moisturizer, so I continued to use it around my eyes. I also learned that applying the moisturizer with my ring finger was best as it has the lightest touch. Who knew?

petrojellyI was quite happy with my routine until my cosmetologist friend mentioned petroleum jelly as a moisturizer. I did some online research and found some great information at JudyForeman.com.  Foreman, a nationally syndicated fitness, health, and medicine columnist interviewed several dermatologist regarding moisturizers. According to the article, no moisturizer penetrates the skin, but some do a better job of retaining moisture. “Substances like petroleum jelly and oils are quite effective. They are heavy, greasy and work precisely because they sit on top of the skin and preclude evaporation of water.”

I decided to give it a try around my eyes. To make it easier to work with, I spritzed some water on my eyes and then applied a thin layer. I like the results, but because it is heavy and greasy, I only use it at night and only around my eyes. It works AND it’s very inexpensive! Now, that’s fighting wrinkles with *finesse!

 

My wrinkle fighting *finesse level:  Novice     Advanced beginner     Competent        Proficient        Expert

What’s your wrinkle fighting finesse level?

*finesse (skill, flair, grace elegance, poise, assurance)

Always in our thoughts

Yesterday came and went without mention of our daughter’s birthday. She would have been 32 years old. I know I remembered and I know the husband remembered. It’s something you don’t forget. Even if you could forget, that’s not what you’d wish. Remembering is the only thing that keeps her alive in our hearts.

I was about 28-weeks along in my pregnancy and on bed rest after being diagnosed with preeclampsia.  It was Jan. 20, 1981 and my due date was March 25. I was so bored and couldn’t imagine resting for the next nine weeks.

Watching television was not a cure for boredom as the only thing being broadcast was news of the American hostages being freed from Iran and the inauguration of Ronald Reagan. I was thankful for the release of the hostages, and the inauguration was interesting, but only for an hour or two.

I noticed some lint on the carpet and decided I could vacuum without exerting too much energy. I figured I could even sit down and just move the sweeper back and forth.

Once I was on my feet, I felt a little funny. I sat back down. I can’t really describe what I was feeling, except that something was off. I went into “mommy-mode” and sat still until the husband came home from work. I asked him to take my blood pressure.

“170 over 120,” he said calmly.

“That can’t be right,” I said. “Take it again.”

He did, but the numbers were the same.

“You must be doing something wrong,” I insisted. “Call the fire department and have them send someone to take it.”

This request was granted, but this must have been hard for the husband. He was a volunteer firefighter and had passed his EMT class. He knew how to take someone’s blood pressure.

Charlie from the fire department arrived and took my blood pressure. Still 170 over 120.

We called the doctor and he said to come right in and be prepared to stay until the baby was born.

I was given magnesium sulfate, which gave me a horrendous headache, but did not lower the blood pressure. My doctor transferred me to a hospital with a neonatal intensive care unit. My blood pressure came down, but was still in the danger zone. I was stabilized until Jan. 29, when I had a seizure.

I now had eclampsia. According to preeclampsia.org, eclampsia is “a very serious complication of preeclampsia characterized by one or more seizures during pregnancy or in the post-partum period. In the developed world, eclampsia is rare and usually treatable if appropriate intervention is promptly sought. Left untreated, eclamptic seizures can result in coma, brain damage, and possibly maternal or infant death.” Fortunately, I wasn’t aware of what was happening or how dangerous the condition was for my baby.

I had an emergency cesarean section and our beautiful little girl was born 8 weeks early weighing three pounds, eight ounces. Rachael Suzanne was tiny, but perfect in our eyes.

Her little lungs were another matter. Her lungs collapsed a week later and on Feb. 8, we chose to remove her from anything that artificially kept her breathing. The first time we were allowed to hold her, she died in our arms.

At the time I thought I’d lose my mind, and I never thought I’d be alright with the grief. Surprisingly, I didn’t lose my mind and the grief is just ingrained in who I am. It’s like a scar, only it’s on the inside.

We recently learned that friends of ours lost their nine day old granddaughter. The husband and I sobbed in each others arms as if the loss were our own. Yes, the scar is on the inside, but it’s very close the surface.

How I saved nearly $250

I’ve wanted to purchase new bedding for our master bedroom for several years, but wasn’t quite sure what I wanted. Needing inspiration, I began purchasing accessories I loved and finally hit upon a direction about a year ago (see my pinterest board).

I envisioned a light blue comforter with pintucks. I thought I’d just plug “blue comforter pintucks” into Google and voila, a page would pop up showing exactly what I wanted. Not exactly…

beddingSome items came close, but no winners, until I saw a special advertised on BradsDeals.com. The bedding set at Kohl’s was almost exactly what I’d imagined, and it was on sale. Additionally, I could save 20 percent on top of that with the code offered.

I wanted to save even more, so I went to giftcardgranny.com to see if I could score a discounted Kohl’s gift card. Giftcardgranny shows all discounted gift cards (physical and electronic) available through various gift card resellers. I like using them because there’s a level of credibility if a reseller is listed on their site (I always check the web to see if there’s anything negative with a reseller before I purchase from them for the first time). I can also compare the discounts between multiple resellers.

I found an electronic Kohl’s gift card discounted by 10 percent. Its value was $143.21, which was about $25 shy of purchase price. I choose to get as close to the amount I need without going over so I use the entire amount of the card. I paid $128.88 for the card. It took 24 hours for the electronic gift card to land in my e-mail box, so I had to wait to place my order, but this was certainly faster than waiting for a physical card to be mailed.

Here’s the breakdown of my savings. The 16-piece comforter set, which includes comforter, bedskirt, 2 shams, 2 Euro shams, 2 fitted sheets, 2 flat sheets, 4 pillowcases, oblong decorative pillow & square decorative pillow, was listed at $399.99. It was on sale for $209.99 for a savings of $190. I had a code from Bradsdeals for 20 percent off, for a savings of $42, lowering the price to $167.99. I used the electronic gift card valued at $143.21, purchased at a 10 percent discount of $128.88. The balance between $167.99 and the gift card was $24.78, which went on my VISA card. The sale saved me $190, the 20 percent saved me $42 and the discounted gift card saved me $14.33 for a total savings of $246.33 or slightly more than 60 percent. Yep, that’s *finesse!

I can’t wait for the bedding to arrive and continue remaking our master bedroom into the soothing retreat I’ve always imagined.

Have you saved 60 percent or more? How did you do it?

My shopping *finesse level:  Novice     Advanced beginner     Competent        Proficient        Expert

What’s your shopping finesse level?

*finesse (skill, flair, grace elegance, poise, assurance)

ThredUP worth a look up

I really enjoy shopping for my granddaughters. Kids’ clothes and toys are just so darn cute! However, since my funds are finite, I need to be wise and stretch my dollars as far as possible. I’ve written about my love of thrift store shopping, but kids are hard on their clothes and toys, so finding items in great shape can be difficult.

moneysavingmomI was reading through a post on moneysavingmom.com and learned of a children’s clothing consignment site called ThredUp. I was encouraged to check it out because first time buyers were offered $10 off their purchase. They don’t offer clothing smaller than 12 month size, so that left out my youngest granddaughter (she’s so petite – she probably won’t be in 12 month size until she’s 18 months old!). However, they offered a great selection of clothes in my older granddaughter’s size, which was great because nice clothes in her size are very difficult to find in thrift stores.

They had SO many really cute items at great savings, so before I knew it, my total was $300! Needless to say, I had to do some serious cart editing, but I settled on two very cute name brand dresses that were new with tags still attached. My total with shipping was just a little more than $7. Now that’s shopping with finesse!thredup

I had the dresses shipped directly to my granddaughter since she lives out of state. My daughter called when the box arrived and she was so pleased. She was already making plans for pictures of my granddaughter in one of the dresses. I’m definitely going to shop ThredUp again!

If you’ve found ways to purchase nice clothes for kids inexpensively, I’d love your feedback!

My inexpensive shopping *finesse level:  Novice     Advanced beginner     Competent        Proficient        Expert

What’s your inexpensive shopping finesse level?

*finesse (skill, flair, grace elegance, poise, assurance)

Brooklyn Tabernacle fan

I’m not one for viewing presidential inaugurations regardless of political party. I really don’t care what’s said. I’m more focused on what an administration will do in the next four years. I kind of wish they’d take the oath and just get to work. However, I am going to tune in today to the second inauguration of President Barack Obama long enough to listen to The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.

Under the direction of Carol Cymbala, the wife of Pastor Jim Cymbala, the 280-voice choir will sing the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) extended an invitation to the choir back in July, his privilege as chairman of the congressional committee planning the swearing-in, well before the election would be decided. Choir members said they would have been excited to perform no matter who won. The committee told them what to sing and that they had to keep their performance to 3 ½ minutes.

Part of my BTC collection

Part of my BTC collection

I have been a fan of Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir for more than 20 years. I was drawn to their style and spirit before I knew much about them, but appreciated their talent even more after I learned their backstory.

The choir began with nine people in the mid-1970s, becoming a vital part of the worship services of the Brooklyn Tabernacle. They recorded their first album in the early 1980s with much of the song written by Carol. They funded the production by pre-selling albums to their friends and family members. The choir, which continues to be mostly composed of vocally untrained church members, has recorded three videos, three DVDs and numerous albums, winning five Dove Awards and six Grammy Awards. They’ve sung at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, and the Madison Square Garden Theater.

According to their website, The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir is “a highly unlikely group of people, a mixture of ethnic and economic backgrounds, in the heart of a city synonymous with coldness and decay. Made up of attorneys and former street people, nurses and ex-crack addicts, the choir is a unique cross section of humanity.”

Pastor Cymbala explains: “None of us would have met if it weren’t for Christ. Our backgrounds are just too diverse. But all of us have one thing in common: we have all been lifted up and changed by the power of Jesus Christ. So the choir sings, not about am mere theological doctrine, but about what has happened to them. It’s not just the lyrics of a song; it’s a reality to each of them. “

Starting each rehearsal with prayer reinforces that principle as the choir asks the Lord to bless their music and anoint their songs for the services. “I just want to see people drawn to Jesus Christ,” Carol Cymbala says. “I want the music to be the arrow that points them to him.”

Integrity deficit

I’m not a cycling fan, and I have never worn a “Livestrong” bracelet, so it’s not surprising that I really was not interested in whether Lance Armstrong was guilty of doping. I was not interested in his interview with Oprah admitting his guilt. However, the husband had the news on this morning and I couldn’t help but hear snippets of the interview.

It caught my attention because his words have been repeated many times. Lance Armstrong is the current object of disgrace, but not too long ago it was golfer Tiger Woods. The field is not limited to athletes. Consider the former governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, former presidential candidate John Edwards, and for those of you old enough to remember, former presidential candidate Gary Hart. Go way back in history and you find Israel’s King David with a serious integrity issue when he sleeps with another man’s wife, gets her pregnant, tries to cover it up, and eventually has her husband killed.

In a revealing comment, Armstrong said, “My ruthless desire to win at all costs served me well on the bike, but the level it went to, for whatever reason, is a flaw. That desire, that attitude, that arrogance.”

Armstrong admits that not thinking it was a big deal was scary, not thinking it was wrong even scarier, and not feeling bad about it the scariest.

“There were plenty of other reckless things,” admitted Armstrong. “That would be a very good way to characterize that period of my life.”

Maybe I’m over-simplifying it, but it appears it only takes two steps to remove integrity from our character. The first step is not keeping desires and motives in check and the second step is to justify ones behavior. The two steps keep repeating, each stride lengthening and taking you further and further away from your goals, while you are firmly convinced you are achieving your goals.

Perhaps the deception is the saddest part as Armstrong revealed, “I didn’t know what I had. Look at the fallout.”

Outrun the flu

Last week we were inundated with news of the flu. Every night it seemed the lead story on the national news was about the flu. Facebook friends related the misery of dealing with flu symptoms. Clearly I needed to outrun this evil virus, so I turned to the internet and found FLUF.A.C.T.S (F.A.C.T.S stands for the five symptoms of the flu; Fever, Aches, Chills, Tiredness, and Sudden onset).

wash handsNumber one on the list of prevention is hand washing. According to the website, the influenza virus can live for two to eight hours on surfaces. How many things do you touch that are touched by numerous others who may be infected? Elevator buttons, handrails on stairs and escalators, the appliance handles in your lunch room at work, menus in restaurants and the remote you share with your family are just a few of the things that come to mind. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with SOAP and water. When soap and water aren’t convenient, use hand sanitizer to kill those germs. I always carry a small bottle in my purse.

Second, cover your sneezes and cough, but not with your hand. Use a tissue, or as one of my favorite little people reminded me, use your “wing” (inner elbow). If you use a tissue, throw it away. They aren’t expensive, and they were invented to be disposable.

K_face covered

My youngest granddaughter likes to sleep with her face covered.

And then there’s the flu vaccine. I’m a weenie when it comes to shots, possibly because I have to occasionally give myself injections for relief from migraines, so I try to avoid being poked by additional needles. However, I did get the vaccine this year, and for one very good reason – my granddaughter! I don’t want to be sick and miss interacting with this precious little girl, and I certainly don’t want to unknowingly pass the virus to her.

Maintaining ones health on a daily basis is the best way to not only outrun the flu, but stay well in general. Provide your body with the proper rest, exercise and nutrition it requires. I’m also a big believer in taking Vitamin C, as mentioned in a previous post.

Stay well, my friends!

My flu fighting *finesse level:  Novice     Advanced beginner     Competent        Proficient        Expert

What’s your flu fighting finesse level?

*finesse (skill, flair, grace elegance, poise, assurance)

 

Patience rewarded

corelle

From a practical point of view, Corelle ware is great – nearly unbreakable. It will outlast the popularity of its pattern by decades! The majority of the Woodland pattern set we purchased 34 years ago served through every meal and holiday dinner, endured two children and a million trips through the dishwasher. It was still in great shape, but over time, I came to hate the sight of the brown leaves that circled every plate, bowl and cup.

It was time (way past time according to my kids) to replace the dishes. I looked at purchasing china and fell in love with the White Palace pattern by Noritake. However, I was blown away by the price and couldn’t justify the expense. China’s not really practical for every day, anyway, right?

corelle_whtInstead I chose to replace the old Corelle with new Corelle (guess I’m not very adventurous). Knowing this stuff will probably survive any natural disaster, I opted for the Enhancements pattern, which is basic white with a little swirl detail. I figured basic white wouldn’t become dated over time.

I found a loving home for the old Corelle and happily began using the new Corelle. I was just fine using the new dishes day in and day out, but when special occasions rolled around, I still secretly wished for the Noritake White Palace china to grace my table.

allthetrimmingsI found contentment in my growing collection of Christmas china I found at thrift stores. I was hoping to find Noritake White Palace china, but in all my exploration, I didn’t find a single piece. Even on eBay the price for the china was more than I was willing to spend. It’s important to note that the husband would have no problem with me purchasing china, even at retail prices. I was the one who was unwilling to pay that amount for something we’d only use a few times a year. So, I sort of gave up on the idea except for the occasional eBay search.

A week after Christmas I was doing a little eBay shopping and decided to do another search for Noritake White Palace china. What the heck, right? To my surprise, a 53-piece set including nine five-piece place settings was available for about one third the price of retail! Some pieces were described as gently used, however some pieces were new with price tags attached.  Oh, happy day!

noritakeI watched the item for a few days. No one bid. I waited until the auction had about 12 hours left then placed my bid at the starting price. I wanted the china, but I already decided that I wouldn’t increase my bid if someone bid higher. I held my breath (figuratively) and when the auction was over, the china was mine!

It arrived within a week and it is beautiful! I’m glad I exercised a little patience and waited for a price that allows me to enjoy using it even more.  And that my friends, is *finesse!

*finesse (skill, flair, grace elegance, poise, assurance)

2013 goals

I learned quite a bit reviewing 2012, and used that information to make a plan for 2013. However, it’s time to stop looking back and start moving forward!

Writing Goals
Post blogs three days a week:  I realize that blogging five days a week is not realistic for me, and trying to do so was causing more stress than pleasure.
Write 1000 words per week: I want to finish a writing project this year, but it’s a little overwhelming. I’ve decided to tackle it chunk by chunk.

Health Goals
Research and try migraine treatments: I saw my neurologist in November and there is nothing new on the horizon for the treatment of migraines. However, I am always receiving kind messages from caring friends who have heard that this or that worked for someone. I’m open to trying anything with the approval of my doctor.
pilatesConsistent exercise: I enjoy my treadmill and Zumba, but both tend to bother my tennis elbow. Yoga is challenging and I usually feel like a complete klutz, so I stopped exercising for a few months. An acquaintance mentioned her love of Pilates and gave me a couple of DVDs to try. So far I’m liking it!
PT for tennis elbow: Speaking of tennis elbow, I need to get back to doing the physical therapy. No excuses!

Household Goals
Organize every room and closet in the house: This shouldn’t be too difficult since there are just two of us living in our home. It’s really not too bad, but there are a few things in every area that are driving me a little nuts. There are 12 rooms and closets, so organizing one per month seems very doable!

Personal Goals
Read two books: For those who are voracious readers, this may seem like a very small and silly goal. I love to read, but it’s always something that gets shoved to the end of my priority list. I love history and set out to read a biography of every president before I leave this world. I’ve only read two so far, so I need to pick up the pace. The husband and I have chosen to eliminate some television so we can both spend more time reading.
Document family history: Again, I love history and what better way to explore it than by discovering the roles my ancestors played. I hope to keep scanning photos and documents my mom and I uncover while organizing her house (that’s another goal!) I’m limiting this to one day per week as it can burn a LOT of time.
Plan 34th anniversary trip: The husband and I take turns planning long weekends to celebrate our anniversary. It’s my year and I have some great ideas for a memorable getaway!

devotions

Spiritual growth: This is an ongoing goal. Truthfully, nothing else is very successful and I’m out of balance if I neglect to nurture spiritual growth.

I have a few other goals I’m considering, but for now, these seem realistic. And as always, I plan to accomplish them with *finesse!

What are your goals?

*finesse (skill, flair, grace elegance, poise, assurance)

Looking back – Part 2

Yesterday I shared about the process my colleagues and I went through after finishing a major project, reviewing what went well and what didn’t. Having just finished 2012, it’s a good time to do the same on a personal level. Yesterday I reviewed what didn’t go well or as planned, so today I’ll focus on the positive side of 2012.

I started a blog! As stated in the previous post, I wasn’t as consistent as I’d hoped, but I took the plunge. Fortunately, some of you joined me and have stuck around. You are much appreciated! I’ve enjoyed the interaction and feedback and hope to receive more of that in 2013.

I began a writing project! No, I’m not as far along in the project as I’d hoped, but it has been an amazing experience just doing the research. So many things have just fallen into place that I KNOW I’m supposed to continue and am looking forward to sharing my progress with you.

I tried two homeopathic remedies for the treatment of migraines. Neither was successful, but I’m actively doing all I can to reduce the frequency and severity of the headaches.

I was consistent enough with my exercise routine in 2012 that it hasn’t been difficult to pick up the pace this year. That’s a huge plus!

On a much more personal level, I was blest with a new granddaughter thanks to my son and daughter-in-love.  In addition, I have a renewed relationship with my daughter and 18-month-old granddaughter.  To top it all off, the husband and I celebrated 33 years of marriage!

Having spent some time thinking about the things that either exceeded or failed to meet my expectations in 2012, I realize that I need to make some changes in the way I approach projects so there are more successes to celebrate. I’ll keep brainstorming ways to make that happen – with *finesse.

Tomorrow: Goals for 2013!

*finesse (skill, flair, grace elegance, poise, assurance)