Making Sense Of The Oklahoma Tornadoes

With the rash of disasters lately- both man-made and natural -- I have become quite empathetic to the cause of working towards  relieving the pain and suffering of my fellow citizens. Here are some ideas, no matter where you live, that show compassion and support during these troubling times







What is the number one simplest, cheapest, and less time consuming way to help others in a disaster situation? Give Blood. Your donation of one pint of blood can help three separate individuals in need. 

This is not a new activity for me. I have given blood once or twice a year for over 20 years. What is different now is that in the past, I gave in connection with blood drives at my church. Always the same old routine: sign up on a sign up sheet, show up on the assigned day and time, give blood, eat snacks, go home. But today, I gave my 0+ universal blood type blood because the local blood bank called me personally and told me they needed my blood NOW for the disasters. Because there was no prearranged blood drive, I had to go to the blood bank to donate. I've driven past the blood bank on numerous occasions but never went inside before. Let me tell you: it was a great experience; way better than blood mobiles or make shift donor centers in a church recreation hall.   

For one thing, everything was state-of-art and computerized. All I had to do was click a mouse to answer the mandatory questions. The pre-testing to make sure I didn't have a temperature, that my blood pressure was normal, and that I had enough iron in my blood, were done in the privacy of a curtain-drawn room. But the best part was the actual blood donation area. All I have ever done before was lie down on hard, portable bed/tables. Not today. I got to sit in a reclining chair!!! Very comfortable. It made all the poking and prodding totally worth it. After just a few minutes, my donation was completed and I was ushered to the galley for the mandatory 15 minute eat, drink, and refresh yourself time before I left to resume the rest of my day. This part of the donating is definitely a highlight for me because you are free to eat and drink all the sugary, carbohydrate snacks you want, all so that your system can begin replenishing the blood that was lost. Final analysis: best time giving blood ever. Especially since it was a spontaneous donation for a critical situation.

Utilize Technology. This is a relatively new and quick way to make donations. You can find out almost instantly on line, after a disaster, what organizations are doing to help out and how you can support their efforts. For instance, I found out on Facebook about numbers you can text a one word message to and upon your approval, $10 dollars is sent to that organization. Your contribution is just added to your regular monthly phone bill. How amazing is that?   After texting twice, I was able to make donations to both the Red Cross (text REDCROSS to 90999) and the Salvation Army (text Storm to 80888). I love technology.

Support your community's efforts. Especially if you don't live anywhere near the disaster. Cities have channels already in place to assist other cities; churches have connections with other congregations; service groups have chapters all around the country. The organizations you are already familiar with and trust can put you in touch with opportunities to give.

There is no need to stand by and observe the suffering that follows disasters. By tapping in to familiar channels, utilizing technology, and giving blood, you can quickly and confidently serve your fellow man. With the rate of all these disasters lately, who knows...your area might be needing assistance next. It is always so much easier to receive help if you are in the habit of giving help first.

How have you supported others after a disaster?

DIY- Flower Corsage

Call me old fashioned, but I love corsages. There is just something so feminine about them. I've worn them to dances as a teenager and twice as the mother of the bride.  I especially love to wear them for Mother's Day but unfortunately my family usually forgets this little fact. Not to be disappointed this year, I decided to make my own corsage. It was easy, fun, and very cost effective.   

I actually first learned how to put a corsage together when I took a floriculture class in high school. I had totally forgotten that I had taken the class until a couple of weeks ago when I was asked to help make corsages for my friend Karen P.'s daughter's wedding. Under the tutelage of Nancy M, an experienced flower lady and dear friend, I relearned the skills  I had once used and helped assemble corsages for an entire wedding party. It was so much fun that I immediately began brainstorming other opportunities that would allow me to make more. Since I don't have anyone getting married in the near future, I thought Mother's Day would be a perfect reason.  I decided to give some away to friends and a couple of widows I know.

DIY Flower Corsage

What you will need:

Flowers- It takes five to seven flowers to make a corsage

Filler (baby's breath, fern, etc.)

Floral Tape

Floral Pins

Floral Wire (20 gauge)

Floral Ribbon 

Step 1: Choose the flowers you want to use and prepare them for the corsage. Cut off stems to within a quarter inch of the bud. Insert a piece of wire through the bottom of the bud and twist to secure. Leave about a six inch tail of wire below the bud. Beginning at the base of the stem, wind floral tape around the wire until you get to the bottom of your wire tail. Repeat for each of the flowers you will be using. 

Step 2: Prepare a ribbon bow. Make six to eight loops, from right to left, having each set of loops bigger than the set before. Secure by twisting some wire in the middle, leaving a tail of about four to six inches.

Step 3: Assemble the corsage. Biggest flowers in the center. Fill in with baby's breath and put fern to the back. Don't forget to add the ribbon at the bottom. Wrap all stems together with floral tape. With the remaining wire tail, wrap it around a pencil and pull off, forming a twisted vine at the bottom. Mist with water to keep fresh.

Step 5: Packaging. Corsages can be made up to 2 days ahead of time. Just make sure they are kept refrigerated. Since I was giving mine away, I wanted them to look professional. I found some cellophane bags I had on hand, opened them up, and misted the inside with water before putting the corsage inside. I folded over the closure and secured it with the floral pin---just like if I had bought it a floral shop!! 

Additional Tips (aka what I learned along the way)

1) Buy your flowers wholesale --not retail. You can find great buys at Costco, Sam's Club, even Trader Joe's. Better yet, Google a wholesale flower distributor near you. I bought an entire mixed bouquet plus an extra stem of the purple filler flowers for just $10!! The mixed bouquet had baby's breath and fern included so I didn't have to pay more for those items. Of course, if you have flowers in your garden, that would be better yet.

2) Use an odd number of flowers. That was the only thing I really remembered from taking that floriculture class 36 years ago. I don't remember why that is so; some sort of design principle. All I know is that you are supposed to use an odd number.

3) Use coupons--You can buy all the floral supplies (tape, pins, wire, ribbon) at Michael's, JoAnne's, or Hobby Lobby. Each of these locations have weekly coupons so that brought down my cost even further. I spent about $10 for these supplies. So, for just $20, I made six beautiful, stylish corsages. It would have cost me at least $25 per corsage if I had bought them at a florist.  

3) Check Your Wire. Not all floral wire is the same. You want 20 gauge. I originally bought a higher gauge and it was too flimsy to go through the flower buds so I had to go back and buy more. 

4) Boutonnieres are just a smaller version of a corsage. Use the same steps as with a corsage, just with one big flower or three small ones.   

Being wedding season and all, knowing how to put together corsages and boutonnieres can really come in handy. Not only to save money, but to create a unique design all your own. And heck, why stop at weddings? Presenting a guest of honor with a corsage or boutonniere on their big day just makes a special occasion all the more special. 

So glad I remembered how making corsages is a great way to share the beautiful flowers of any season. 

Superior Source: Not All Vitamins Are Created Equal

Aren't convinced that daily supplements and vitamins are really necessary? Have a hard time swallowing pills? Hesitate taking one more thing with artificial anything? These concerns were my concerns about observing a regular vitamin regime until I visited the Continental Vitamin Company -- home of Superior Source Vitamins.

I received no compensation for my visit with Superior Source. They did give me samples of some of their products and provided lunch. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

 

Since 1969, the Continental Vitamin Company has provided trusted vitamins and dietary supplements to the public. I was recently invited along with six other bloggers to tour their manufacturing plant in Los Angeles to see firsthand their state-of-the-art, GMP compliant and FDA-certified facility.  

I also was able to learn about the more than 120 dietary supplements in their Superior Source product line. Everything from Vitamin B-12 to Vitamin D, Biotin and Women's Health supplements-- just to name a few..

Upon our arrival, we were greeted by members of the Superior Source family, including its amiable founder, Ron Beckenfeld and their real live dog mascot.

Our visit included an overview of the Superior Source product line and a guided tour to see how the vitamins are produced. Each production step is completed in a clean, sanitized environment and undergoes strict quality checks. Even though I was a visitor,  I was required to be suited up properly before I could enter the manufacturing area. 

Raw materials used in the vitamins and supplements come from all over the world and are delivered directly to the factory where they are immediately tested for their purity and potency. Right from the start, the company wants to make sure the ingredients are of the highest quality and that they remain that way throughout the process. To insure this, testing is done several times before the final product is ready for distribution.  The entire process can take up to a month to complete.   

After the tour, we went back to the main offices where Mr. Beckenfeld and his assistants answered questions about Superior Source. I learned that when the company first started, Mr. Beckenfeld sold his vitamins and supplements out of the trunk of his car. He has personally overseen the growth of the company and it is very important to him that consumers know the high standards his company upholds. It certainly made a difference with me.

What impressed me the most about the Superior Source product line?

1)   They are natural. No added sugar, no added color, no added artificial anything. Superior Source vitamins and supplements contain just three ingredients: the raw material (vitamin or mineral), lactose (what the microgram amount of raw material is attached to), and acacia gum (the property that binds it all together). This simple composition has enabled Superior Source to be a member of the Natural Products Association since 1997.

2)    They are easy to swallow. With only three ingredients, Superior Source products are not only small in size but have been engineered to melt quickly under the tongue. This patented feature is called Micro-lingual. Could there be anything worse than struggling to gag down an over-sized pill?  What a great feature, especially for children and older adults.

3)  They are efficient.  The smaller, soft-molded tablets allow for a higher concentration of active ingredient to bypass the digestive system and go directly into the system. Other vitamin and supplement brands generally use compressed tablets--lots of fillers, not so much active ingredients. With their product, you either have to take more tablets or swallow a larger pill to get the same effectiveness found with Superior Source.

4)   They are easy to find. You can get them at your neighborhood drugstore like Walgreens, or on-line with one of their  22 retail partners.

I appreciated the opportunity to visit CVS, meet the friendly and dedicated people behind the company, and see for myself the outstanding quality that is Superior Source products.  

The older we get, the more conscientious we need to be in making.the right choices to sustain a healthy lifestyle. After my tour, I’m convinced that adding Superior Source to my daily routine will benefit me and my overall health goals. In the future, I am going to explore specific vitamins and supplements designed for aging baby boomers. Stay tuned.

What daily vitamins and supplements do you take? How are they making a difference with your overall health? 
    

    

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Mother's Day- Dine In or Dine Out?

Everyone likes to give mom a day off from cooking on Mother's Day. Preparing a home cooked meal is nice. Treating her to a meal out at a favorite restaurant can be nicer, especially when it includes PIE!!. 







Marie Callender's Restaurant and Bakery in Riverside, California recently invited me to try their new menu. No other compensation was given.  All opinions are my own. 

Marie Callender's has been a family favorite since I was a little girl. We used to go to the Toluca Lake, California location for family dinners and as I got older, it became a great place for girlfriend meet-ups.  While I have always found their menu reasonable and delicious, I'm not going to lie: it was all about the pie!!  Pie is hands down, my go-to, all time favorite dessert so a restaurant that specializes in pie is of course going to be a favorite. I was excited to be invited to Marie Callender's in Riverside, California to be reacquainted with a familiar brand and to sample their new special meals--which also just happen to include a slice of pie.

Pasta and Pie Amore features four new pasta dishes, some with salad included, and all with your choice of pie, starting at $9.99.  I thought this was a great value, especially since the serving portions were quite generous.  I chose Baked Rigatoni with Caesar Salad. The pasta had a nice "bite" to it and just the right amount of sauce (not swimming in it). I always appreciate it when I request for dressing on the side for my salad and the server does not hesitate. What that means to me is that the salad is fresh, made to order.

My hardest decision of the night? Which pie to have from the over 30 choices on the menu. Traditional berry? Cream? Seasonal? Or their featured pie of the month: lemon cake pie, layers of lemon cake, zesty lemon filling, and cream cheese frosting in a flaky pie crust, finished with whipped cream. Wow!! What did I end up with? Well, it is Spring after all which means fresh strawberries are at their peak: fresh strawberry pie. Yummy.

One thing Marie Callender's has always done right is customer service--and this evening was no different. The server was friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful--as was everyone else on staff. A very fun, relaxing, and tasty evening for me and seven other Southern California Lady Bloggers. 

Returning to Marie Callender's brought back great memories and was the beginning of new ones. 

Dine in or dine out? How will you be treating your mom this Mother's Day? 

A Mother's Day Gift That Gives Back

Do you have a hard time coming up with just the right gift for your mom for Mother’s Day? It can get tricky being original AND thoughtful. Here’s an idea that not only will lift your mom’s spirit but the spirit of a total stranger too.

I am a member of the Everywhere Society and Everywhere provided me with product from the Macy's Heart of Haiti line. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own. 

I’m sure you were just as saddened as me watching the news coverage coming out of Haiti on January12, 2010, when it was struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake.

An extremely poor country (70% of the people lived on less than $2.00 U.S. dollars a day), the earthquake devastated the region,  killing 220,000, injuring over 300,000, and affecting over 3.5 million people. Hundreds of thousands of homes and schools were destroyed, water supplies were compromised, and cholera went rampant. At first, there were lots of donations going to the country but after three years, those donations have dropped off while the need to rebuild continues.

Enter Heart of Haiti, a “Trade, Not Aid” initiative launched by artist and social entrepreneur, Willa Shalit, TheClinton Bush Haiti Fund, and Macy’s. Through this program, hope and improvement for Haiti is being achieved through self-reliance and personal industry, not just by handouts.  Haitian artists have been given an opportunity to improve their lives through employment, using their talents to create and sell over 40 different home decor items and jewlery. So far, 750 artists have been able to earn money to feed their families and pay their children’s school fees.

Sold exclusively on www.Macys.com/Haiti, the Heart of Haiti collection is made almost entirely from recycled and sustainable items such as old cement bags, cardboard, oil drums, and local gommier wood. Each piece comes with an explanation of the program and a certificate of authentication that confirms the purpose of this project.

Everywhere Society  gave me a picture frame from the Heart of Haiti collection so that I could see firsthand the craftsmanship used. It is made of metal, gently shaped and carved. Both the color and design is modern and goes perfectly with my home décor.

A “gift that gives back.” That is what Heart of Haiti is all about. What a great idea for a Mother’s Day gift to someone who has given you so much.    

My Mom And The Three L's

We all learned about the three R's in school, but my mom taught me the three L's for life.  









Pattie Jeanne Hooper Coleman is my mother extraordinaire. She's the best friend a girl could ever ask for and has been a remarkable purveyor of teaching me what I needed to know to be successful in my life. For me, her Three l's have been the best lessons I have ever learned. 

Loyalty

"When the world leaves you behind, your family will still be standing with you."

Could there be anything worse to a teenage girl than to feel like an outcast, to be shunned, or left behind on the social roller coaster called high school? On those darkest of days when who I thought were my best friends, didn't invite me to a party, walked past me in the hallway, or just flat out right ignored my very existence, my mom was always there to pick up the pieces, remind me that I had value, and restored my self confidence. She drew my campaign posters, stayed up with me when I procrastinated a deadline, punished me when I broke the rules, listened to my dreams. She showed me by her example that friends come in all sizes, shapes, and ages and to value others for their uniqueness--not how they rated in a popularity contest. Who I came to be was from her never giving giving up on me. I still hear and feel her say: believe in yourself, look for ways to help others, always do your best. And when those bad days come, never forget, your family is and always will be, your one true safe harbor.

Laughter

"Never let the truth get in the way of a good story."

I am the serious type. Concentrated, calculated, deliberate. I get a lot done in an efficient manner but I can also be a tad rigid. In her lighthearted way, my mom reminds me to smile more and laugh often. She has shown me that a little levity can go a long way to lift your spirits, forget your troubles, and ease some pain. It is often difficult to tell when my mom is giving the facts or embellishing the truth. But in the end, how much does it really matter?  Her version is so much more entertaining. I've learned that drawn out explanations might get a little long winded, but those details are well worth the laughs and engagement received in return.  

Learn

" There are no guarantees in life. Pursuing education will always benefit you no matter your circumstances."

My mom never finished her formal university training, but that didn't stop her from pursuing lifelong learning. Using her natural talent for art, she learned how to decorate cakes and turned that knowledge into a thriving cake business for over 35 years. She learned how to keep books so she could serve as treasurer for her service group. She sought out new exercise techniques and healthy eating strategies. She learned how to quilt to create a handmade blanket for her first great grand child. And today, at 79, she is familiarizing herself with technology to help others with their genealogy work. As one of three daughters, my mom always stressed to me and my sisters the importance of having and learning new skills so that we would always be self sufficient. Her example fueled my desire to always be learning. I am a college graduate. I teach others in education and business settings. I find the courage to pursue new experiences.  I fine tune my talents and learn new ones like using my writing skills to write this blog. My mother's great example reminds me that it is never too late or you are never too old to learn, adapt, change and grow.   

This is a blog hop. Please read about other great lessons taught by the mothers of the women in Generation Fabulous:

Is Your Bra A Comfortable Fit?

Editor's Note: This popular post originally appeared on the blog in February, 2011. Recently, I had the occasion to return to Creative Woman to purchase some new bras for me (something every woman should do every two years) and to take one of my readers for her first fitting. When she left with a bra that had a cup size 4 SIZES BIGGER than what she was wearing in to the store, I figured this post was worth sharing again.





So, how is your bra working for you?  Is it too tight? Or is it all stretched out? Does it ride up? Are you wearing the same size you did twenty years ago?  Does your bra make you look shapely or saggy? Due to our age, circumstances, age, eating habits, environment, age---we are never the same size and shape for a long period of time. And just like our dress size goes up and down, so does our bra size.  How do you know if the bra you need is the one you are wearing?  I decided to take a field trip to Creative Woman - The Wizard of Bras Since 1975 in Monrovia, California to find out everything a woman needs to know about having the right bra for them--today. 

To get started, I arranged a meeting with the owner of The Wizard of Bras, Bonnie Kaufman. I was curious as to how she got in to the business of bras and other women's "unmentionables." Bonnie began her career as a designer of custom clothing. As she met with all kinds of women, she often heard the same complaint, "Where can I find a bra that fits?" Bonnie had very strong feelings for the status of women and how they felt about themselves which led her to specialize in designing bras. She began her company in 1973 in Duarte, California and two years later moved to her current location in Monrovia. It is a forward thinking company that keeps modern and current in all aspects of the business from the latest styles and trends of undergarments and swim suits to installing solar tubing and water efficient restrooms. Bonnie, a widow, spends 60 - 70 hours a week developing her business and loves what she does.

It is all about service with Bonnie. Bonnie and her custom fitters truly believe that the customer comes first and that a bra shopping experience should be fun. They feel that their number one job is to inform and educate women about their bodies and the choices that are out there for everyone. The problem with department stores is that they don't offer enough variety for all of the variety of women's bodies. The Wizard of Bras stocks 17,000 different sizes and styles of bras, representing 49 brands which range in size from a 28 to 58 band and from a AA to N cup. (I had no idea that cup sizes continue way past a double D-the largest size in most department stores. Not that I would ever need one of those. But good to know information for hard to fit women).

Bonnie reviewed with me the procedures that are followed with each customer when they first enter the store from signing in to being assigned a fitter and a dressing room to the initial measuring. There are two important measurements: across the top of the chest for the band

size and then across the fullest area of the breast for the cup size. The most important feature for a bra is the band fit. Support for your breasts come from the band fit, not from your shoulders. Therefore, straps should not be adjusted to make your bra fit better. Instead, focus on the band fit. It should fit as low on the back as possible for the proper fit and wear. Never pull down on the band but rather adjust it at your waistline and then pull the bra up by the straps.

Bonnie had to leave for a lunch date with her contractor (She is putting in new flooring at the shop). So, she turned me over to Sandra, a fitter with 17 years experience. Sandra said one of the biggest hangups for women is being fixed on the letters and numbers of a particular bra size. She said a good bra is all about the fit, not what size it is. Sandra educated and helped me with the proper way to put on a bra and how to effectively get my breast tissue in to each cup. Did you know that breast tissue is distributed from the front of your chest all the way to your back? For a proper fit, you need to pull all that tissue from the back to the front and 
wa- la...anyone can have some pretty impressive cleavage. Even me. Based on my measurements, Sandra brought me several types and styles to try on to see which one fit the best. I finally settled on a mocha-tan, under wire, slightly padded with lace sides. Sandra didn't let me see the size until I was ready to purchase it: a 32 C. Who would have thought? I originally came in with a 34 A. What a difference the right fit made.

Sandra stressed that women should be properly fitted for their bra every couple of years due to their body changes. And one last helpful hint: never put your bra in a washer or dryer. Hand wash and hang dry to extend its life.

All in all, it was a fun and enlightening experience. A big thank you to Bonnie, Sandra, and The Wizard of Bras for helping me be informed and feel comfortable about my bra choice.