The Midlife Guru

What is an APP?

2012-03-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

We mid-lifers have become quite tech savvy. Many of us regularly use all of the latest and greatest devices and methods currently available to mankind. We surf the web, compose tweets, like on Facebook, and post/comment on blogs. But, when you do this stuff, do you really know what is behind it all? Take smart phones. They do lots of amazing things-- if the user knows how they work. One really cool feature of smart phones are all those applications, aka APP. You probably have downloaded several APPS and use them daily. Do you know what an APP is? What about the purpose of an APP? Do you know what all an APP can do for you? I kind of do. I figured it was about time to really get a handle on APPs and then share what I found with you, my devoted reader, just in case you just kind of know too.

First off, I thought it was pretty impressive that the word APP was voted "The number one word of 2010." That means APPs must be pretty important. According to smallbiztrends.com, basically, an APP is "a software program but not just any old software program--it's a special type of software program. An app typically refers to software used on a smartphone or mobile devices such as the Android, IPhone, Blackberry or IPad, as in 'mobile app' or 'iphone app.' An app can also be considered as being a 'shortened' or narrow software application, that perhaps does just one function or that provides a small bit of entertainment."

I found an even more impressive explanation on You Tube. It is done by Sprint but the information they share can be applied universally:

There are literally over a million APPs out there. How do you find out which APPs are the best? Might I suggest a great web site: appSmitten This site makes recommendations on the best APPs to download -- the ones that can help keep you organized, entertained, and productive. If you sign up for their free newsletter, they will hand select the best APPs just for you and send this information directly to your email. I was asked to try out appSmitten's services by Blogher. I have really enjoyed getting their regular APP information and keeping on top of the latest trends that have relevance to me. In fact, I have been so impressed with them, I joined their affiliate team to help spread the word. Please visit their site, using the link I have attached and sign up for their newsletter. I will get credit for sharing their services to you and their recognition comes back to me in the form of a small payment to this blog. I am confident you will appreciate having qualified APP recommendations come directly to your personal email in box. It is a great source to get the best use of all the APPs out there.

Why not give appSmitten a try?

One Woman, Feminism and Continental Airlines

2012-03-06T15:32:00.000-08:00

This week, Continental Airlines was officially dissolved and became a part of the biggest airline company in the United States, United Airlines. Thus, another airline carrier of my past has gone the way of corporate take overs (remember PSA, Western, TWA-- to name a few). However, this particular takeover is different from the rest as it has personal significance to me. You see, my grandmother, Idalene Standish Coleman, was one of the first five employees of the original Continental Airlines, and the only woman. In today's terms, that is no big deal. But this was back in 1934 and that was a HUGE deal. Commercial airlines were in their infancy and just trying to figure it out, not to mention the public was a tad skeptical of this new mode of travel. And women in the workforce was largely unheard of in the 30's. Consequently, my grandmother WAS a big deal.

In the beginning, Continental Airlines was not Continental Airlines but actually a new leg of Varney Speed Lines. It started out using two airplanes to travel between Pueblo,Colorado and El Paso, Texas. It's main business was carrying U.S. mail, but it also offered to transport the occasional brave traveler between those destinations in one of its eight passenger seats. In 1936, the route became its own entity and changed its name to Continental Airlines to reflect its expanding travel up and down the center of the United States.

The five original employees consisted of two pilots (one pilot also acted as president), two mechanics, and MY grandmother, the "Girl Friday" for the operations, handling secretarial and clerk duties. At the time, my grandmother was married and the mother of a two year old son (my dad) when she began working for this fledgling operation. It just wasn't common to have women (let alone a married, young mother) in the business world. I guess you could say my grandmother was a true-blue feminist of her time.

When Continental was bought out in 1938, the new owners moved its headquarters from El Paso to Denver, Colorado and my grandmother and her family followed. Employment opportunities and other circumstances did not pan out for her husband and they ended up divorcing, with him moving back to El Paso. Instead of retreating back to family and familiar surroundings, my grandmother stayed on as a single, working mother in Denver, continuing her pioneering as a front-line participant in the development of modern air travel. It couldn't have been easy being a woman in a new field composed primarily of men. It couldn't have been easy raising her son on her own in an unfamiliar city. But she did it and she was successful. She stayed with Continental until 1944. At the time of her departure, she was the controller/executive secretary to the president.

In today's world, it is common and accepted to see women in the workplace. We take for granted all of the trailblazing, pioneering, and sacrifices that was endured in year's gone past so that we can have what we do now. It is gratifying for me to know that my grandmother was one of those women who contributed to making this happen.

High Gas Prices Got Your Down?

2012-03-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

The price of gasoline is skyrocketing here in the US. I live in California where in some places, the price for a gallon of gas is quickly approaching $5.00. Unbelievable -- and sick (the bad kind of sick, not the teenager good kind of sick). Not only does the high cost of gasoline affect the freedom of driving habits but other consumer quality of life issues such as food costs, clothing costs, and energy costs. It is Economics 101 in action: whatever extra costs are incurred by a manufacturer, those costs are immediately passed on to the consumer to bear the brunt. There doesn't seem any relief in sight for these soaring costs, so we consumers need to be proactive and take charge. The best way to survive is to be self reliant: being free from external control and constraint.

There are many ways to be self reliant. This post is going to focus on the self reliance principle of storing food. How does storing food keep gas expenditures down you might ask? Each trip you make to the supermarket to buy food takes gasoline. The more times you go to the store, the more gas you are going to use. If you were to plan out your weekly food menu, you would know exactly what items you need and you would only have to go shopping once in a week or even every two weeks. Another way to cut down on gasoline costs is to purchase extra, non-perishable staples that you use regularly, each time you visit the market. This not only allows you to take advantage of sales for your items of choice, but also helps you create a food storage for the future. If you keep extras of items you regularly use on hand, you won't have to run out to the market as often, thus saving money at the pump.

This past week, I made for dinner a meal exclusively made up of canned goods from my pantry that I had bought in months past.

The meal was quick and easy to put together, there were leftovers for later (another saved trip to the grocery store) and tasty too.

Here is the recipe for the main course:

Chicken Can Can

1 can each: Evaporated Milk; Condensed Cream of Celery soup (undiluted); Condensed Cream of Chicken soup (undiluted); Chicken Noodle soup (undiluted); Chunk White Chicken (10 ounces), drained.

1/4 cup flour

1 package Chow Mein Noodles

In a large skillet, combine the flour with all of the can ingredients except for the chicken. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes, until thickened. Add the chicken; heat through. Serve over chow mein noodles. (The chow mein noodles add a nice crunchy component to the dish. However, chow mein noodles do have a shelf life. You could always use regular noodles or even rice instead to be more self reliant as these items store longer).

To make it a complete meal, I also served canned pineapple chunks and canned green beans. Yum. Yum. Yum.

What other ways have you found to help cut down on the high price of gasoline?

Losing a Friend

2012-02-28T15:01:00.001-08:00

This past week I lost a dear friend. But this friend wasn't of the human kind. The friend I lost was my sewing companion of the past 31 years, my beloved Singer Touch-Tronic 2000 Memory Machine. Please don't think I am too weird for mourning the loss of a sewing machine. The fact is, you see, this machine and I had a long history together.

I purchased this machine brand new at the Singer Store in the Glendale Galleria, (a shopping mall in southern California), in 1980. I had just started my first full time job as a teller for California Federal Savings and Loan and buying this sewing machine was the first "grown up" purchase of my life. I bought it for $1,000, a big sum back then and a big sum now. It was Singer's first electronic sewing machine and was on the cutting edge at that time. I loved to sew and up to then, I had used either a school's or my mother's sewing machine. I knew that one day I would be getting married and that having a sewing machine of my own would bring me great joy and satisfaction in making items for my future family. And because I had a full time job, with no real obligations to speak of, I figured that I could certainly afford the price tag at that point in my life.

Through the years, I did indeed sew a lot of things for my home and family. Using my Touch-Tronic machine, I made curtains, a bedroom ensemble and other items for our first home. I sewed baby bunting, clothing, Halloween costumes, holiday wear, and garments for my children. I mended all kinds of stuff to save money. I made heirloom quits. And I sure made my share of various kinds of crafts for our family and for gifts. For a few years, I didn't sew at all and my machine sat in a closet unused until about a year and a half ago when I rediscovered my passion for sewing. I returned to this beloved hobby and have since made purses, aprons, a wall hanging, and even a rain coat. Learning and creating all of those projects have brought me so much joy.

Last weekend, I was just starting on a birthday gift when I noticed my machine was making horrible noises. I kept sewing any way, thinking that is just how old machines sound. Then, my thread wouldn't catch and I noticed that the arm that holds the needle wasn't entering the fabric properly. The afternoon was getting late, so I hurriedly packed everything up and drove to my favorite sew and vac store. When I got there, I found the parking lot empty. The store had closed ten minutes before I arrived. Getting more anxious by the minute, I sat in my car, figuring out my next move, when I noticed movement in the darkened store. I ran up to the door and began knocking. Luckily, the store clerk heard my pathetic rapping on the door and came to my aid. I explained my dilemma, and she was gracious enough to let me in. It didn't take her very long to determine that some of the gears had broke. She explained that because my machine was so old, finding replacement parts would be difficult -- and expensive. Certainly not worth the repair cost. She said that a new and better machine could be bought for a little more than what the repair would amount to. Again, this clerk was gracious enough to show me some new machines and answer my questions about the ins and outs of getting a new machine. Before I left (45 minutes later), this kind clerk assured me that my machine had run its course; that I didn't do anything wrong and that the machine had just outlived its usefulness in due time. I authorized the shop to dispose of my machine, after they salvaged whatever parts they found useful. Now, all I have left to remind me of my machine are the owner manuals and the accessories that came with the machine:

I have spent the past few days mourning the loss of this dear friend. So many memories, so many special occasions, so many life events were shared and created between me and my machine. It will be missed and always remembered. Farewell dear friend.

With no sewing machine and no prospect of buying a new one in the near future, finishing my remaining projects will be a little tricky. Two dear "human" friends have offered to let me borrow their machines. I also have a sewing machine from church available for my use temporarily until I figure something out. My sewing life will be able to continue even though my future sewing machine status is in limbo. Thank heavens.

Is there an inanimate object in your life that you have sorrowed over its loss? How did you get over it?

Heart Attack -- Not Me

2012-02-23T10:45:00.000-08:00

What in the world would cause me to stop dead in my tracks while doing my daily work out? A report on the Fox News Channel that said I may be having a heart attack and not even know it.

I already know that heart attacks are the #1 killer of women (cancer is second). I already know all about "Wear Red for Women" in February as a reminder and to bring awareness of this #1 killer. I am a regular contributor to the American Heart Association in honor of my maternal grandmother who died due to heart complications. What was it then that I didn't know that caught me so off guard? That after extensive research and findings, there is a very real possibility that I might never know I am having a heart attack. And what a drag that would be because by the time I figured out something might be wrong, it would be too late.

Apparently, the common signs of a heart attack (chest pressure, aching right arm, shortness of breath) are not so obvious with women. For some reason, heart attack symptoms in women are more subtle and can often be mistaken for the results of a stressful day, a case of the flu, or even just the normal aging process. Because as women it is in our DNA to "work through it," our natural tendency is if we aren't feeling well, just take a deep breath and push forward instead of take stock of what our body is saying and get some help.

What are some of the womanly signs of a heart attack that you should take note of? Severe back pressure, dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting. If these (or any of the traditional symptoms) persist for 2-3 minutes, immediately call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital.

Moral of this story: Don't be proud. If something just doesn't feel right and lasts more than a minute, GET HELP RIGHT AWAY. A little possible embarrassment in case you were wrong in your diagnosis is worth your life don't you think?

P.S. Did I happen to mention, that with all this emphasis this week on strokes and heart attacks and overall good health habits, I made an appointment with my doctor to discuss these items and a couple of other things that have been on my mind? When was the last time you had a "heart to heart" with your physician? More to follow.

What is a Stroke?

2012-02-21T07:00:00.000-08:00

Did you know that the chances for experiencing a stroke doubles for each decade of life over age 55 but that anyone can experience a stroke, including children? Other factors to consider whether you are at risk for a stroke include family history of strokes, race (African-Americans are at a higher risk than Caucasians), gender (men are more susceptible than women), and having a prior TIA, stroke, or heart attack.

The people I am intimately aware of that have had strokes have all been Caucasian women over 35. (So much for the known risk factors). About half of these women survived their strokes with minimal after effects. That also means that half of the women I have known who have had strokes passed away at a very early age.

While my family history is relatively free from strokes occurring, I personally have experienced several TIA's through the years which I have to admit, have been scary. I remember one time having my mind go completely blank, rendering me unable to speak right in the middle of a conversation with my grandmother. It lasted only under a minute but I felt so helpless. I knew I was trying to speak but my body would not cooperate. My elderly grandmother's reaction was so cute. Her reply? "That's OK sweetie. It happens to me too sometimes."

Going numb suddenly has also provided some anxious moments for me in the past. Having already experienced these symptoms previously, I feel it is extremely important for me to be aware of the signs of a stroke and to inform those I hang out with as well. If not for my own well-being, but also to feel confident that when I am out and about, I can help someone in need, regardless their age.

The subtle, tell-tale signs for a stroke have recently been updated to represent the first three letters of the word stroke:

S- Smile

S- Stick out tongue

T- Talk

R- Raise arms

If the person you are attending is unable or has difficulty performing these simple functions, chances are they are experiencing a stroke. Medical help should be immediately contacted. Take note of the time these symptoms occurred because time is of essence in treating a stroke victim. For additional tips and information, please go to the American Stroke Association web site.

Those are three little letters that no one can afford to forget.

Anxiety Relief

2012-02-16T18:24:00.000-08:00

"Sometimes, you don't choose a journey -- the journey chooses you."

On a recent podcast I recorded for the web site, The Power of Moms,  I interviewed Donna W., loving wife for over half a century, accomplished mother of 10 children, grandmother to 43 grandchildren, and community volunteer extraordinaire. Donna credited her consistency with meaningful, love rituals that she has practiced with her family through the years, as a measure of success for the things she planned on -- and for things she didn't like breast cancer and heart surgery. Her established rituals are being put to the test again as Donna deals with her husband's progressing Alzheimer's disease. As her husband struggles and Donna adapts to this new change in their relationship, it is the maintaining of loving rituals that creates the security her husband is trying to hold on to and the ability to cope that Donna faces every day. Donna has found that keeping life as normal as possible during abnormal situations is a productive way to deal with a journey not chosen.

Another strategy is to (as hard as it might seem) just get up and face each new day even if you feel you lack the capacity to do it. Sarah G. is a young, first time mom, who is my oldest daughter's age and who I've known since she was a teenager. Last year, shortly after her son was born, he was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Sarah has spent most of her son's first year in and out of the hospital, facing life and death situations for days and weeks at a time. I'm pretty sure when Sarah was playing house as a little girl, this scenario was not part of her activity. Last April, while in the thick of things, Sarah summed up her coping strategy on her Facebook page: "All it takes is all you've got." With the love and support of her husband, her family and friends, Sarah has found the inner strength to greet the unknown of each new day with courage and optimism. Facing a journey head on has proven to be the best way to navigate it.

By this mid-life stage of life, it has become quite clear that life isn't always fair. Each of us at one time or another have been on a journey not of our choosing.  And while we can't always pick our journey, we can choose how to deal with it. As long as we keep pressing forward and include optimism, courage, fortitude, and our regular rituals, joy will ultimately shine forth, in usually unexpected ways, on that journey of ours.

Are there other skills have you discovered to provide anxiety relief and keep you moving forward on your journey?

Academy Award Worthy Valentine

2012-02-14T16:44:00.000-08:00

Our family is particularly fond of going to the movies, watching DVD movies at home, and quoting various sound bites from the movies we have seen. Now that it is Oscar season, we are being more critical of our movie choices. We want to make sure that we have seen as many Best Picture nominees as possible so that when we watch the big Oscar night production, we will have had formed definite opinions and are qualified to be rooting for our favorites among the featured films.

Of the ten films nominated this year, so far, we have seen half of them. And of those five we have viewed, there are three that in my humble opinion are not only original, outstanding movies, but are shows that would make for a great Valentine date night as well. Here are my recommendations:

1) Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

While this film is loosely based on the 9/11 tragedy, it is more of a movie about family, coming to terms, moving forward, testing limits, and the goodness of the human spirit. This is a movie for those who like to think and unravel the many layers of a story. It is not for those who want to see a show that is fast and loud and in your face entertainment. It is a movie that stays with you and gives you lots to contemplate which makes it a great Valentine movie because after it is over, you and your date will have lots to talk about and share. I just really appreciated the quality of this film.

2) Midnight in Paris

There is no more romantic city than Paris and this film gives you all the sights and feelings of that marvelous place. The story is imaginative and whimsical. Going back in time acquaints the viewer with the nostalgia of an era gone by while the present day scenes are full of quaint reminders of why and how people fall in love. A delightful film for a playful evening with your Valentine.

3) The Artist

Unquestionably, my favorite movie of the season and maybe even of all time. This silent movie about silent movies is unlike anything else on the screen. It is everything a movie should be and more. The cinematography is exquisite, the scenery authentic, the acting divine. This is one movie that will keep a smile on your face long after you have left the theater. I am hoping this film takes all the awards it is nominated for because it certainly deserves it.

So there you have my suggestions for the perfect, cinema filled, Valentine celebration. No need to let the Valentine spirit fade away after February 14. Keep it going by seeing one of these wonderful films.

DIY - Valentine Swap

2012-02-07T17:42:00.000-08:00

I am participating once again in the Valentine Swap sponsored by the blog, the stationery place. My challenge each year is to come up with an idea that is simple to put together (busy schedule you know) and that utilizes as much as possible my craft supplies that I have been hoarding for 30 years.

This year, I was inspired by the pennant banner craze. It seems that most holiday and party decorations as well as every day wall decor these days always include some form of a pennant banner. If you don't know what that is, a pennant banner is a bunch of elongated triangles hanging from a ribbon or string.

The foundation for my cards were some glossy, egg shell colored, zig-zagged edged,4x6 flat cards from Paper Source that I bought like four years ago. For the string that the pennants hang from, I used embroidery thread. In the 80's, I was an avid counted cross-stitcher. I have a slew of embroidery thread in every imaginable shade stored away. To secure the thread line, I used some pink mini brads that I had leftover from another paper project. I did have to go to Hobby Lobby and purchase four coordinating scrapbook papers to make the pennant flags. While I was there, I spied an adorable rubber stamp with a valentine greeting. My penmanship leaves a lot to be desired these days, so having a stamp insured that my recipients would not only be able to decipher my message, but read it in a cute font too. Rubber stamps do need ink, so I had to purchase one more thing: a coordinating ink pad. All of these materials were on sale at 40% off. I spent less than $5.00 on my supplies.

The first preparation I had to do was make the triangle pennants. I drew a diamond on a piece of paper first to make sure the size was right, then traced that pattern on to a piece of craft cardboard so that it would be a cinch to replicate over and over again. On the back of the different scrapbook papers, I traced the diamond shapes and then cut them out. Folding them in half made the perfect triangle pennant.

Next, I measured and cut the appropriate length of embroidery thread for each card. I tied a double knot at each end so that the thread would not unravel and so that I could secure the thread under the pink brads.

To assemble the banners, I opened each triangle and used a glue stick on one half of the diamond shape. I then placed the string in the middle of the wrong side of the diamond and folded the top half over the string,having it stick to the bottom half. I repeated this step with the other three triangles, fitting each triangle tip to tip along the string. When the banner was complete, I slipped one side of the string's knot in between the prongs of a brad, pinched the prongs back together, and pushed them through the card. (To make this step easier, I used the head of a sharp nail to make a tiny hole in the card. The brad easily slipped through the pre-made hole and didn't crease the card). When one side was secure, I did the same thing to the other side. The last step was to center and stamp my greeting under the banner. Here is the finished project. They came out pretty darn cute if I say so myself. Total time to make six valentines: one hour from start to finish.

Sending a valentine is so thoughtful and receiving a valentine is so uplifting. Even more so when it is handmade. Will you be sending out valentines this year?

Happy Couples

2012-02-02T10:25:00.000-08:00

In the spirit of LOVE that is such a prevalent topic during the month of February, I came across this article by Maggie Gallagher in Townhall.com, "The Happiest Wives in America."

http://townhall.com/content/c2a9866c-a7ed-4b31-a603-1a1dbf020a1f

The title caught my attention because being a wife of 30 years, I was curious to see what this author found to be the source of happy wives. After all, without a happy wife, there would be no happy husband and therefore no happy couple. In the article, according to a recent report by the University of Virginia's National Marriage Project, women who attend church at least weekly with their husband and who have four or more children, are among the happiest wives in America.

It was determined that if you and your spouse are both committed to a religious belief that includes weekly worship together, this commitment carries through in your relationship as a couple as well. Being devoted to a cause outside of oneself, such as religious observance, will most likely mean the husband will be devoted to his marriage, his children, and to other selfless causes. When challenges occur in marriage, the commitment to overcome the challenge and get back on track is greater. Certainly, wives are most happy when they are recipients of their husband's loyalty.

Regarding children, the study actually found that couples with no children and those with four or more children, are the happiest. While it is a known fact that having and rearing children is a major source of marital stress and strife, it is also the source of greatest marital joy and an attribute to longer and more fulfilling lives.

So, where do I stack up with these findings? My husband and I do attend church together weekly and share the same religious beliefs. In fact, this practice was a major factor in our getting married in the first place. We have experienced many highs and lows during our 30 years and in one instance, there was a major setback that with other couples, was the source of their broken marriage. However, it was this thread of religious commitment to a higher source, that got us through and allowed us to return to a happier frame of being.

We have three children so I guess I missed out on the finding's second "happiest factor." Now that they are all grown and gone, I have often thought that having more children (at least one more) wouldn't have been all that bad of an idea. Oh well. Can't do anything about that now. Certainly, raising our three children has brought tremendous happiness -- and growth -- that I wouldn't have traded for anything.

I enjoyed the perspectives that Maggie shared in her article. I especially appreciated finding out about The Marriage Project which is "a nonpartisan, nonsectarian, and interdisciplinary initiative located at the University of Virginia. The Project's mission is to provide research and analysis on the health of marriage in America, to analyze the social and cultural forces shaping contemporary marriage, and to identify strategies to increase marital quality and stability." There are many interesting findings and helpful resources on the web site and I encourage you to check it out. After all, anything that actively supports marriage and families in this day and age, is a winner in my opinion.

What makes you a happy wife?

The Best Day

2012-01-31T07:00:00.000-08:00

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Are you as amazed as I am that today marks the last day of the first month of 2012? Where has it gone? I've heard that the older you get, the faster time goes by. I support that message. All the more reason to make sure that I am not wasting time but rather appreciating the time I have and am working to make the most of each and every day.

This realization was reemphasized to me during the past few weeks after hearing about two personal experiences:

The first experience shared with me was from a complete stranger. I met Jennifer at the place where I get my nails done. I couldn't help but notice Jennifer's adorably decorated wheel chair. I had never seen glitter and glam all over the back of a wheel chair before. It appeared to me that Jennifer might suffer from MS as she had a hard time holding her head erect and moving her arms. Jennifer and I both finished our nail service at the same time and ended up sitting next to each other as we had our hands under the ultra violet drying light. I complimented her on her chair (of which she thanked me) and then she opened up and told me why she was in the wheel chair. Last September, she was working at her job as an emergency room nurse when she collapsed and went unconscious while assisting a patient. Jennifer has chronic asthma and everyone thought her situation was caused by a severe asthma attack. However, not only could she not breathe, she also lost feeling in her limbs and was totally incapacitated. She went in to a coma and fought for her life. She eventually recovered from the coma but she was still unable to control her muscle movement. She has had to relearn how to eat, talk, and do simple tasks. She can't walk or pick up things and swallowing is difficult. She tires easily. Her doctors have struggled to find the root cause of her condition. Finally, after months of different treatments, they diagnosed Jennifer with Neuro Muscular Movement Disorder. Basically, what that means is that her muscles have atrophied to the point that they are unresponsive. She needs assistance to do everything. Her wheel chair provides some stability but every movement is a chore. The good news is that the doctors believe her condition is temporary. The bad news is no one knows how long it will be before she fully recovers. Jennifer told me that after having her whole world turned upside down in a matter of minutes, she now takes nothing for granted. She is so grateful for each new day and for every little success. Her positive attitude was truly inspiring. When it was time to leave, I gave her a hug and thanked her for not only sharing her story, but for sharing her incredible peace and optimism.

The second event occurred to a former high school teacher of my son's. Andrea M. is a darling young wife and mother of two adorable little girls. One day after the holidays, no one could reach her mom. A neighbor was called to check in on her mother, and when they entered her house, they found that she had passed away. Andrea's mother was not that old and had not been sick; there were no signs that something had been wrong. She just suddenly passed away. Andrea and her family are now dealing with the huge loss that was thrust upon them without any warning.

Both of these experiences were a vivid reminder to me that no matter what we do, we can never predict what might come our way. Every day, we assume our own risk management aka life. Our best antidote to deal with the unknown is to live without regrets. Speak kindly, help others, learn from our mistakes, take time to smell the roses. If we regularly practice these simple acts, we need not fear for our future, because our past will be filled with the best days of the year.

When Your Grandchild is a Dog

2012-01-26T07:00:00.000-08:00

You have seen me mention my grandson Jack many times on this blog. He lives with his parents (my daughter and son-in-law) in Washington.

Bet you didn't know that I have another grandson, Max. Max lives with my younger daughter and her husband in Idaho. Max, however, is special. You see, Max has four legs and a tail. Max is a dog. My daughter and son-in-law are using Max as sort of a preparation for future human parenting. Max is treated and loved and disciplined and is a true member of their family just as much as any six month old would be.

I wouldn't call our family a hard core dog lover family. We had two dogs while our children were growing up. The dogs were considered friends, companions, playmates, but were still dogs. I realize that many people treat their pets as another member of their family in all regards. But that just wasn't our way. We held a distinction between pets and people. So I was surprised when my daughter and son-in-law decided to parent their puppy. They talk to him like they would a baby and have outfitted him like you would a baby complete with clothes, food, toys, and bed. They cater to his every whim and include him in on everything including outings and Christmas cards. He is really their baby (for now).

So, as not to offend my daughter's feelings by showing favoritism to Jack, I've decided to play along and treat Max with the same respect that his parents do. That meant sending him his own Christmas gift along with my daughter and son-in-law's packages. The jacket he is wearing is what I gave him this year. Heck, it is cold in Idaho. And not to be out done, my other daughter (Max's aunt?) sent him for Christmas some matching booties to keep his paws warm in the snow.

I recently visited my daughter and her family in Idaho. Now, when I go to visit Jack's family, I always bring a little trinket for Jack. You know that little something that grammie's do to aid and abet in the spoiling of their grandchildren. Since that is a tradition I've started for current and future grandchildren, I had to keep it going with my trip to Idaho. I made sure I packed a little something for Max for my arrival; gourmet dog treats that Max found to be irresistible. My present was a hit with Max and appreciated by his parents. Thus, the spoiling continues for all of my grandchildren.

Pets are highly regarded in our society. They aren't just relegated to exist behind back yard fences, waiting for an occasional tousle or bone any more. They are considered active, vibrant members of families in the truest sense. So, what's the harm in joining along when your children treat their pets as their children?

Do you find yourself in this same circumstance? How do you handle it?

Lost and Found Dog

2012-01-24T17:54:00.000-08:00

Ever since our family dog ran away on Christmas Day, 2010, I have become more compassionate towards lost dogs. Previously, if I came across a stray dog, I would simply say, "Go home little doggy," and continue on my merry way. Then we had our lost dog episode. I can still recall my forlorn feelings when I asked strangers if they had seen my dog and a couple of men replied, "Yes. She was walking down my street and acted like she knew where she was going so I just let her be." Come on. She was well groomed and healthy looking but no way should she have been walking down a side walk unattended. I was so grateful to the woman who eventually picked up our dog and took her to her home until we could be located (even if her home was 50 miles away). After that experience, I vowed that in the future, I would always come to the aid of any lost dog that should cross my path.

Well, my first opportunity to fulfill that vow occurred last week. I was out on my regular morning power walk with my sister who was visiting from out of state. We were almost home when we came upon a very lost dog on a very busy street corner. He appeared to be a Bichon mix and was in good shape. Without hesitating, my sister and I picked him up and took him back to my house to begin the search for his master. Immediately, we knew we had found a special little guy. For when my sister picked him up, he settled in to the crook of her arm, gazing up at her with his big, brown eyes.

We got a block away from home and came upon my neighbors that live behind me, out walking their dog. We told them about our predicament and these good neighbors took the dog's picture with their cell phone and offered to make and distribute "Found Dog" posters for us. How kind was that?

We put the dog in the garage until we could determine how it would behave in a strange environment. We gave him food and water and towels to lay on. He was so docile and loving. Every time we went to pet him, he would cuddle in to us. Such a lover!!! At this point, we all agreed that we would keep him should his true owner never claimed him.

When I was all cleaned up, I took the dog to my vet to see if by chance, he had a microchip. After our lost dog ordeal, the first thing we did was put a microchip in our dog. Unfortunately, the vet could not detect any such device. So I brought the dog back to my house as lost as ever.

By night time, there were no responses to our posters, so we had another overnight guest. Up until that time, the dog was pretty quiet and compliant. However, that all changed when we all went upstairs to bed and he was left alone downstairs. He began to bark incessantly. In order to insure everyone's rest, my husband put the dog in his truck in the garage for the rest of the night.

The next morning, still no word from any worried owner. My sister suggested that we call the local animal shelter for leads and to report that we had a lost dog. I was on hold with the shelter when another call rang through. A desperate gentlemen was on the other end claiming we had his dog. Just to be sure I wasn't talking to a dog stealer, I had him describe some of the dog's features, all of which this man was able to identify. As it turns out, the owner was out putting up his own "lost dog" posters when he came across our "found dog" posters. We had a match!!!

The owner and his teenage son were at our doorstep in record breaking speed. When I opened my front door, they were so relieved to see their dog. From our brief conversation, I learned the dog's actual breed (Lahsa Apso), weight (15 pounds), age (2-3 years old), and its name---Infinity. The owner explained that they had only had the dog for three weeks and so the dog wasn't familiar with their neighborhood yet, thus he got lost. The owner and his son thanked us profusely. I told them I knew exactly how they felt due to our mishap in 2010. Then they all drove happily away.

I have to admit, even though we only had the dog for 24 hours, I still got pretty attached to him. Who wouldn't? His temperment, adorable bear-like face, and affectionate ways were so heartwarming. Especially when compared to our prissy, full of attitude, yappy Maltese. It actually took me a couple of hours to stop missing Infinity and get back to our one dog life.

Losing a pet is traumatic. I was glad that I could play a part in this happy ending.

What have you done to safeguard your pet in case they should wander away?

FYI - Allegiant Airlines

2012-01-19T07:00:00.000-08:00

I am always looking for a deal. It doesn't matter what I am shopping for, I generally will not purchase until I am satisfied that I found the best price. Whether it is every day stuff like food, clothes, cleaning supplies, etc. or bigger items like the stuff we are currently in the market for (a car, painting the exterior of the house, refinishing the kitchen cabinets), I research until I am satisfied I am getting the most for my money. Call it being cheap or conscientious or just a good steward over limited resources. I am very careful about how I spend my money.

This week, I am visiting my daughter Rachel, her husband Jesse, and their puppy Max in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Trying to get to Idaho Falls from Southern California can be pricey. I have tried many methods in the past to get the the best travel value. I have flown semi-direct from Ontario Airport to Denver and then to Idaho Falls on United Airlines. Convenient yes, but not necessarily cheap. That round trip ticket cost over $500.00. Thank heaven for frequent flyer miles that helped to ease the out of pocket expense.

My usual routine is to take my favorite, Southwest Airlines. I get a fairly priced ticket to Salt Lake City, Utah, then either rent a compact car or take the Salt Lake Express shuttle service from the Salt Lake Airport to Idaho Falls. Since I have done this a few times, I am familiar with the drill and feel comfortable with the process. While well under $500 for a round trip air ticket plus a round trip shuttle ticket or rental car, what I save in cost, I lose in time. This method is an all day affair. Two and a half hours of air travel (includes one stop) plus a four hour car ride. Yikes. I bring lots to read and lots to listen to when I chose this alternative. And I definitely can't be in a hurry (which sometimes isn't so bad).

When planning this trip, I tried something different. I have heard a lot lately about Allegiant Airlines where "Travel is our deal." They don't fly a lot of places, they tend to use smaller airports, there are no frills, and you are limited as to the days they fly. But you can't beat their LOW FARES. My daughter, some of her friends, and even some of my friends, have flown on this airline without too many complaints. Since Allegiant has a flight from Los Angeles to Idaho Falls, I decided to give them a try.

When you book a flight on Allegiant using the Internet, you are first attracted to the cheap air fare rates. For instance, my round trip ticket for this trip was $137-- a far cry from the $500+ ticket the last time I flew to idaho Falls. Once you agree to the air fare and travel dates, watch out. You have to be super careful because Allegiant will try to "add" to your base fare for relatively common benefits. For instance, the website will automatically give you checked luggage and reserving a seat. Both of these items cost extra, any where from $19.99 to over $40.00 each way. If you are an experienced traveller that knows how to pack and doesn't mind where you sit, make the effort and manually decline these options. Otherwise, the fees are tacked on to your final cost. I opted out of both when I booked my flight and decided to travel as "open seating"-- taking whatever seat is available when you board the plane. Later, however, I did go back and have to add the baggage fee because apparently I didn't meet their carry on restrictions. According to Allegiant, you can only carry on two things: either a purse and a laptop or a purse and a backpack. Anything bigger than the dimensions of a large back pack/duffle bag has to be checked. And, if you don't prepay for the baggage service before the day of your trip, they charge you $15 more at the gate. So, to save paying the extra and to avoid any hassles, I decided to just eat it and pay ahead of time. My $137 ticket now was costing me $177. Still a relatively good deal.

The web site says you can get your boarding pass 24 hours in advance, just like most airlines. When I went to do this, I found out that I would have to pay an extra "priority boarding fee" to get my boarding pass. I wasn't about to do that so I opted out once more and had to check in the old fashioned way: in person, at the ticket counter, at the airport. Ugh.

The attendants at the ticket counter were friendly and efficient. Because everything was paid ahead of time, they simply checked my bag and gave me my boarding pass and I was on my way through security and to the gate.

The gate area was packed with people of all ages, shapes and sizes. Cheap fares mean crowded flights. I got a little dismayed when I looked around and saw lots of people with the same size luggage that I had paid the extra fee for to check, ready to bring theirs on board. So many in fact, that I inquired of the gate attendant what was up. She replied that the airlines was lenient on the exact size of what you could carry on. And if they run out of space in the over head bins, they will just check them in for you for free. Translated: I didn't do so good with the checked baggage confusion and ended up paying $40 more than I should have. Boo.

The flight was on time and waiting was minimal for boarding. Getting on the plane was another learning experience for this first time Allegiant flyer. Initial boarding went to those people who paid the priority boarding fee. Next, the folks who paid the reserved seat fee got to get on the plane. After that, families with children under 10 or who had special needs were allowed to board ( I swear, some people found extra ten year olds around just so that they could board sooner). Last but not least to get on the plane were the rest of us; the open seating cheapskates. I was fully expecting an elbow fight for positioning at this point but alas, Allegiant knows how to avoid bodily injury with its passengers. The open seating types were instructed to board in the order of checking in at the ticket counter. In other words, the sooner you arrived, the sooner you got on the plane. This process was done in groups of ten. My number was 80, so I had to wait for seven groups before I could hand over my boarding pass. Being a single flier, I was hoping for an empty seat near the front and totally lucked out when I only had to go as far as row 15 when I found an empty aisle seat next to a friendly couple about my age.

Of course, any food or beverages during the flight cost extra. What is free on other airlines, (soda, water, juice), cost $2.00 on Allegiant. I knew this ahead of time so brought my own water and snacks.

The flight was comfortable. The airplane was in good order. The stewards were kind and helpful. Everything worked. A quick one and a half hour flight. We arrived on time and it was easy to get my luggage and be on my way.

Allegiant returns to Los Angeles again in four days. I have no worries as I know the routine now and hopefully my return trip will be just as non-eventful.

If bottom line cost is all you care about, I recommend Allegiant Airlines. Remember to check off all those automatic fees and don't be worried about the carry on baggage threats. Also, before booking, check the air fare a few times. The people I sat next to on my flight out were experienced Allegiant fliers. I bought my ticket in October and they bought their's only a month in advance. Guess what? They only paid 39.00 each way!!!!! Now that was a real deal!!!

Another Midlife Birthday

2012-01-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

On January 15th, I had the pleasure of experiencing another wonderful birthday. Number 52 to be exact. At our house, we are accustomed to birthdays lasting not just one day, but rather at least a week if not more. There is just too much to be celebrate to cram it all in one day. Our traditions include choosing the food you want to enjoy as well as the activities you want to do on your special day. I have one daughter who loves ice cream and so for her birthday she always chose to have an ice cream sundae for breakfast. No problem. It was her birthday!!!

Since my birthday fell on a Sunday this year and our family choses to observe the Sabbath Day, our celebrating took place on Saturday. My husband and I are planning some big projects and I wanted to spend some time on those. We drove around different neighborhoods in our area checking out exterior home colors to get ideas for how to paint our house. We are also in the market for a new car, so we went and test drove my first choice (more on that later). Then, we ended our day by going out to dinner where I splurged on menu items I don't normally partake of: prime rib, french fries, and an ice cream treat. Yum Yum.

On my birthday, I received many messages of well wishes by phone, by text messaging, and on Facebook. I love receiving social media birthday messages. I did get some wonderful birthday cards in the mail on the days leading up to my birthday. I personally love to send out birthday cards the old fashioned way and so getting them is a real treat I appreciate. I will note however that our mail service is not very consistent. If there is a car parked anywhere close to our curb side mail box, the mail carrier just drives right past. That is exactly what happened the day before my Sunday birthday so I am sure a few birthday cards got delayed. Oh well--- another reason to keep the celebration going.

A friend, Cheryl E., recently posted on her Facebook page, "Do not regret getting older. It is a privilege denied to many." With my recent birthday and all, I really took heart with that quote. I have much to be thankful for: family, health, opportunities. And most of all, the gift of getting older.

Don't you just love birthdays?

Zumba Resolution

2012-01-12T22:32:00.000-08:00

Did you know that the most popular New Year resolutions involve diet and exercise? Everyone likes to start out the new year in a healthier frame of mind. And then, as the year progresses, they usually lose their commitment either due to a litany of excuses and/or just plain life getting in the way. If you really want to find true, lasting, lifestyle success with your health, I highly recommend (based on personal experience), these three things to consider:

Be Consistent

Like What You Do

Change It Up

Let's look at how these three essential steps relate specifically to exercise.

With exercising, being consistent means you need to commit to a particular time and place. If you are out most nights or get home from work exhausted most evenings, trying to exercise at night will just set you up for failure. Likewise, if you can barely get up and out each day, saying you're going to work out in the morning would not be such a good idea. Or, if you are motivated by being around other people, going to a gym would be the perfect choice. If you are serious, pick a time and place that you know (barring any earth shattering emergency) you can keep your exercise date. For me, when I started to work out consistently 21 years ago, I chose first thing in the morning at home. Why has this worked for me? First thing in the morning, it is quiet, there is no one around to bug me, I'm a morning person, I don't have to leave the security of my home, I save time by not having to go somewhere, I don't have to pay extra gym fees, and I don't have to take more than one shower a day.

Liking what you do to workout is another important component to success. If the only reason why you are doing it is because your friends are doing it or if you really don't like what you are doing, you will for sure fail. For instance, there is no way I am going to be successful if I run for my exercise routine. I think running is boring and it hurts my knees and back. I have tons of friends that run and it works for them but not for me. The same goes with swimming and biking. What I really enjoy is being outdoors so hiking or just fitness walking is my favorite. I also like step aerobics and strength training.

The last way to insure success with an exercise regime it to change what you do. With exercising, if you keep doing the same thing over and over, not only do you set yourself up for boredom, but for possible injury too. Also, when your body becomes used to a certain form of exercise, it will reach a plateau. That means you stop seeing and feeling positive results. That is why the experts say, cross training is the most beneficial way to work out. Once I have mastered an exercise skill that I enjoy, (which might take a couple of years, like with yoga) I will then go on the look out for something new to add to my exercise routine. That is how I got started on the elliptical, the BOSU, and for this year, Wii Zumba Fitness.

Last fall, I enrolled in a Zumba class. Even though I am pretty uncoordinated, I liked the music and the fact that while I might not be doing the steps right, I was always moving during the one hour class. But the timing of the class did not fit my mantra to be consistent. It was on Fridays at 4:30 p.m. Not a particularly good time for my schedule so I wasn't consistent in going and I quit. After the holidays, I decided I really missed doing Zumba. Knowing that it would be extremely difficult to be in a class, I went on line to see if I could buy some DVD's so that I could do it at home on my time, first thing in the morning. As I did my research, I came upon Wii Zumba Fitness. We have the Wii console and controllers and I was familiar with how it works. I read all the reviews and they were quite favorable so I decided to purchase it on Amazon. So far, I really like this workout. It is fun, different each time I do it, and keeps me moving. It has been a great addition to my regular workout routine.

There you have it. If you are one of the millions who have resolved to exercise better in 2012, remember these tips. You will be more fit in no time.

DIY Christmas Gifts Received

2012-01-11T21:35:00.000-08:00

Last month, I posted how our family has changed our gift giving strategies for the better. While my immediate family has been observing this practice for a couple of years now, this year, we were going to be including extended family -- my parents, sisters and their families. There were a couple of reasons for this: 1) My extended family was getting together to celebrate Christmas for the first time in 15 years, 2) Since this was a momentous occasion, we wanted to exchange gifts with everyone, and 3) No one wanted to feel burdened with extra cost. Everyone was genuinely excited. The only anxiety came in trying to decide how to incorporate the DIY rules of either making something yourself, having someone else make it, or have it be a gift that the person receiving it could make something for themselves.

There was plenty of notice to get the gifts done; approximately 2-1/2 months to decide and create. The only person who ended up not meeting the deadline was ME!!! It certainly wasn't due to a lack of planning. I had gotten my ideas and bought my materials way back in October and even had started working on my projects. But then came Thanksgiving and our nine day trip to Seattle. That was immediately followed by me being gone a week to a state school board conference. Then, I had to set aside time to complete our long standing holiday traditions like cookie trays and Christmas cards. It soon became apparent that I was not going to be able to finish my gifts. So what did I do? I proceeded to have a major meltdown. That was when my husband had had it and proceeded to give me a strong lecture on, "See what happens when you leave things to the end?" He also gave me some helpful suggestions on how to avoid this fate from reoccurring next year. For now, it was obvious that an alternative plan was needed so that I wouldn't end up being a total flake. I hastily made some personalized stationery cards for my mother. For my sisters, I purchased for a copy of one of my all time favorite books, The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, so that they could make the most of 2012. Get it? A real stretch on the official rules, I know. But heck, it worked. And, as an added benefit, I don't have to worry about what I'm going to be giving my sisters for their next birthdays.

Luckily, everyone else was much better with their planning and their gifts were all lovingly wrapped and ready to present on Christmas morning. Here is what everyone came up with:

My cute, 77 year old mother, made these adorable dish towels to put on your stove door handle. Not only did she make them for our family, but she also gave some away to her friends. Her friends liked them so much that they paid my mom to make some for their friends. All in all, my mom made 50 of these items this holiday season.

My older sister made us this "To-Do List." She took coordinating scrap book paper and pasted them together to make a cute pattern on the back of a picture frame. Then, on top of the glass, she glued puffy lettering to personalize it. We also got a package of dry erase markers to write on the glass.

My younger sister really went all out. She decorated for each family a set of eight parfait glasses. Each family got four different designs in coordinating colors. Not only did she hand paint the base of each glass, she attached wire and beads to the stem in similar colors. She also included some parfait and smoothie recipes to use in the glasses. All I can say is that the stemware is gorgeous and that they will become a family heirloom in no time.

Social Media New Year Things to Do: Facebook, Emails, Twitter

2012-01-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

While watching the Rose Parade on New Years morning, I was also catching up with my tweets and came across a timely idea that was tweeted by The Washington Post. The tweet suggested to give your Facebook profile the once over.

This is especially important since yet another change, Facebook Timeline, is currently being rolled out. What was encouraged to do was to go through and update everything under your home tab, namely your Account Settings and your Privacy Settings. If you are like me, you haven't paid too much attention to this area since you first set up your Facebook account. What better time than the new year to make sure your information is up to date, current, and relevant. My occupation needed updating and I was so embarrassed when I saw what I had down for favorite movies, television, and books. So "last year" and so not true today.

After making these minor corrections, I got to thinking that I should probably be paying some attention to the other branches of my social media life and clean house with them as well.

Last year, I had a lot of activity ordering items and getting information from various vendors using my email account. Well, I'm sure you know. that once you purchase or even just inquire with a vendor, that establishment hooks on to your email account and they begin sending you endless emails, announcements, and other tidbits. The lazy way to deal with it is to simply delete or move to spam every time you see that vendor pop up . But that takes extra valuable time to do that and heaven only knows, we are all short on extra valuable time. So, being the new year and all, I decided to go through my emails and actually unsubscribe to all of those accounts that I have no need for now. This does take a little bit of time. You have to scroll down to the bottom of their email, click on unsubscribe, and then click another time or two to make sure you have been completely unsubscribed. Some vendors don't make it easy but in the long run, you are better off for your effort. I am starting the new year off receiving emails that I truly care about and not a lot of junk.

I am new to Twitter so I am in the process of learning the ropes of this great tool. I recently purchased the book, Twitter for Dummies which I heard about at the BlogWorld conference I attended in November last year. After all, "knowledge is power" and I want to make sure I am using this form of social media to its maximum potential. The new year is a good time to review who you are following on Twitter as well as who is following you, and make additions/corrections as needed. For instance, just today, I got a tweet from someone I don't know that contained profane language. No thank you. I unfollowed that person in a heartbeat.

The new year is the perfect time to sharpen your social media skills and make any necessary adjustments.

New Year Things to Do

2012-01-04T14:25:00.000-08:00

2012 is four days old and I have been busy cleaning out last year and getting ready for the next 361 days. My professional activities don't start up again until next week, so I am using this week to get caught up with random chores that I don't have time to do doing the year or more accurately put, don't want to make time for during the year.

Yesterday, I finished putting away the Christmas decorations which also entails dusting the now boring looking house. Since I store half of my decorations in my bedroom closet (the ones most delicate to the environmental changes in my attic) I decided to deep clean my closet. Besides creating a clean space to store my decorations, I was also inspired by the fact that my husband is coming off a bad head cold and I wanted to make sure all left over germs were completely destroyed. My cleaning fetish included dusting out my closet shelving before replacing the storage boxes, vacuuming the deep dark corners of the closet as well as behind and underneath the clothes hamper, organizing the shoes, and getting rid of anything not worn or used in the past year.

After the closet was spic and span, I next focused on the bedroom itself. I stripped the sheets off the bed, flipped the mattress, and vacuumed behind my head board. Have you looked behind your head board lately? It can get pretty nasty back there what with all the layers of dust. This is obviously an area I choose to overlook when I am doing my regular weekly cleaning. I was sneezing a lot but I persevered. Then I thought, "Why stop with behind the head board? I've got all the necessary equipment up here. Might as well hit other areas that I don't pay much attention to." So, I went on to vacuum underneath all of my dressers, the cedar chest, and then I proceeded to dust the tracks in my window sills. I remade my bed paying particular attention to hospital corners and straight lines. When I was through, I had a really impressive, deep down cleaned bedroom.

Next, I moved to my hallway and the linen cupboards. I went through and organized everything and threw a ton of junk away. I pulled out a lot of blankets that haven't been used in years and gave them to a friend who is making a trip to Ensenada, Mexico to donate items to the needy down there. Not only was I cleaning out, but I was being charitable too.

After the hall cupboards were in order, I moved on to the guest room and repeated what I had done in my bedroom in there, to the last detail. Even though we don't expect any guests for a month or so, at least I know the room has had the once over and I will only need to do a quick spruce up when our visitors come.

All of this cleaning frenzy took eight hours of tedious attention but I was sure proud of all that I accomplished when I was done. Everything just looks and feels so sparkly. Knowing that my house is in order, now I can concentrate on other things, like this blog.

Have you gotten the deep cleaning bug too?

New Year Activities

2012-01-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

So, how are you spending the New Year holiday? I will be spending mine pretty much how I do every year with our traditional activities:

1. The Tournament of Roses Parade.
I begin my holiday faithfully watching the Rose Parade on KTLA Channel 5 with no commercial interruptions. I love this parade beyond compare. The beauty, the pageantry, the floats, the bands, the equestrian units, the crowds. All is simply FABULOUS!!!

If you have never been to see it in person, I highly recommend it. There is nothing like it on this earth. I have seen it in person six times and each time was such a thrill.

I especially love the tradition of the Rose Queen and her Royal Court. When I was growing up, I begged my parents to move to Pasadena so that I could run for Rose Queen. Since that never happened, I have spent the ensuing years cheering on each Royal Court, marveling that their poise and beauty.

2. College Football Frenzy.
I am a HUGE College Football fan, so this day is hog heaven for me. I watch every bowl game on television.

3. The New Years Day Spread.
Our family's tradition is to have a gigantic food spread ready to go by noon that we graze on all day long. The spread usually includes: Lumpia (a Filipino dish), Sweet and Sour Meatballs, Veggie tray, assorted dips and chips/crackers, croissant sandwiches with various fillings, Acini salad, and multiples of delicious desserts. Yum. Yum. Yum.

4. Family Games.
If the football gets a little slow, we will turn to old fashioned family game time. Card games, board games, and Wii are our usual choices. It is always a good thing to get up and move around a bit during the day.

There you have my annual ritual. What activities does your family enjoy on the New Year holiday?

Happy New Year Wishes

2012-01-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome 2012.

May the coming year bring you twelve glorious months of endless possibilities.

Best of 2011 Lists

2011-12-30T13:47:00.001-08:00

I'm not going to lie: I love reading all of the end of year lists that come out this time of year. It is a great way to quickly recap all that has transpired during the past 365 days that I have largely forgotten about because I have been too busy paying attention to my own mundane existence.

My favorite list of all has to be the one that tells of everyone who died during the past year. I always get a bit sad and thankful at the same time when I review all of the lives that have left their mortal existence. It gives me one last opportunity to pay my respects to those individuals and the contributions they made.

In the spirit of all those "Best Of..." lists, I would like to offer my own:

The Best of The Mid Life Guru 2011

Here are the five posts that have garnered the most hits this past year, my first year in existence as a blogger:

5. Old Hobbies Become New Again, January 20, 2011

4. Meet Diane Ricks, Wearable Art Designer, January 28, 2011

3. Happy Feet=Happy You, July 19, 2011

2. Try It, You'll Like It (My First Giveaway), June 21, 2011

And the number one read post of 2011:

1. DIY Baby Headbands, April 14, 2011

As 2011 wraps up, I want to thank you, my devoted reader, for letting me be a part of your life. Stay tuned to 2012 where I will be ramping up by offering more cool tips, sharing more interesting insights, introducing you to more fascinating people, and giving away more free stuff. I am truly looking forward to discovering 2012 with you!!!!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-22T07:00:00.000-08:00

May the true meaning of Christmas fill your heart with joy and hope.

Merry Christmas from the Mid Life Guru

DIY Christmas Traditions #3

2011-12-21T07:00:00.000-08:00

For as long as I can remember, putting together cookie trays for neighbors and others have been one of our family traditions. When the kids were little, we would choose four or five families that we felt needed some extra Christmas cheer. Then, on the chosen night, we would go and "ding-dong-ditch" them and leave a plate of cookies at their doorstep. Such great memories!!! I loved watching the kids plot their attack route and then run frantically away victorious.

My husband and I have decided to still continue this tradition, without the "ding-dong-ditching" part, however. This year I made six different kinds of delectable cookies that filled eleven trays. That little project took an entire day of baking and arranging but was sure worth it in the end:

Since I love to bake, I know I will be hanging on to this tradition for many years to come. What is your favorite Christmas cookie? I am always on the look out for new recipes.

DIY Christmas Traditions #2

2011-12-20T07:00:00.000-08:00

Next on my list of Christmas traditions last week were Christmas cards. My husband keeps telling me that this is a dying tradition (evidence: the downfall of the US Postal System) and that I should let it go and just send out email greetings. I have a few problems with his opinion: 1) I don't have email addresses for all of the 150+ cards I send out; 2) It is fun to receive "real" mail (as opposed to bills and the like); and 3) I just plain like doing this tradition. So, for this year at least, I kept up with my annual Christmas card ritual.

Since friends and family comment on how much they like to receive updated photos of our family, I prefer to send out photo greeting cards. One year I sent out the word only type, and boy, did it cause a stir. I find that Costco offers the best and least expensive options for picture cards. They are fast (24 hour turn around), give extra envelopes in case you mess up, and if you aren't thrilled with the results, you don't have to keep them or pay anything. I spent the better part of two days last week addressing the cards because I hand calligraphy in red and green all of my addresses. I know you are thinking I am crazy, but it's tradition. Then I had to stuff the envelopes with the cards and a little family update message. Last was the stamping and mailing. I nearly choked when I got the grand total for the stamps (another reason why my husband says enough is enough).

In addition to the regular cards I sent out, I decided to participate in a handmade Christmas card exchange sponsored by the blog, brooklynbrideonline.com. My daughter who is a stationery blogger told me about this fun idea and I thought it would be a neat way to connect with other bloggers plus stir up my creative juices.

I was matched with six other bloggers including the owner of brooklynbrideonline.com. and women from New York, Ohio, and Singapore. I wanted to make my cards with materials I already had on hand. So I pulled together some pieces of Christmas scrapbook paper,plain red flat cards, and some stick on jewels. I created two styles by cutting out Christmas trees and poinsettias and applying them to raised sticker pads to give a 3-d effect. Lastly, I wrote messages with a black calligraphy pen. Here are the finished products:

I think they turned out pretty cute. What do you think?

DIY Christmas Traditions #1

2011-12-19T14:46:00.000-08:00

Dear Reader,

First off, let me apologize for not checking in with you last week. Being my first year of writing a blog AND doing my annual holiday traditions, threw me off just a tad. With only 24 hours in a day, working full time substituting at a local high school, and the need for getting some kind of sleep each night, I was faced with making choices on how to best use my remaining free hours. Unfortunately for you, the traditions won out. But now I am back and ready to share what I've been doing. Perhaps my sharing will give you some last minute ideas to fill your remaining yule time.

The last time I posted, I told how gift giving in the Payzant household has evolved to giving homemade gifts. The homemade gift I am most proud of this year is a raincoat I made for my oldest daughter. She and her family recently moved to Seattle, Washington where her husband became gainfully employed. Now, if one lives in Seattle,Washington, one needs to be fully prepared for the ten months of precipitation that is recorded there annually.The standard rain gear includes rain boots, scarves, mittens, and a rain coat. I did not want my daughter starting her first rainy season in Seattle in a mamby-pamby raincoat, so I decided I would sew an original, trendy, efficient raincoat for her. I got the idea for this present from one of my mentor/friend/relatives, Judy B. Judy is an excellent seamstress who just happened to make a few raincoats last year for her daughter/daughter-in-laws. Having already gone down this path, Judy offered encouragement and helpful hints so that my project would be a success.

The pattern and laminated material was created by the very talented and amazing designer, Amy Butler. I bought them online at Fabric.com which sells at a discount and offers free shipping on orders over $30.00. I purchased most of my notions at my local Joann Fabric and Craft Store.

The fully lined rain coat took about 35 hours from start to finish. I was extremely careful throughout the entire process, reading each step over and over again and sometimes practicing a particular skill to make sure I got it right. I paid particular attention to matching seams, covered button holes, and pockets. What I ended up with (in my humble opinion) was a masterpiece. To tell you the truth, I think this was one of the finest items I have ever made in my whole life.

We went to Seattle for Thanksgiving and celebrated Christmas the day after with my daughter's family. Tthat was when she got to open her present. Luckily, she was thrilled with her gift and is looking forward to wearing it on those never-ending rainy days. Already, some of her friends have been inquiring about my availability to make them a rain coat. I don't think I'm going there. This first (and maybe last) rain coat was definitely a labor of love.

Rethinking Christmas Gift Giving

2011-12-08T16:08:00.001-08:00

A couple of years ago we faced a dilemma with our Christmas gift giving. Our children were all adults and their gift needs as well as our gift giving capacity had changed. Because they were "grown up" and mostly on their own, they really didn't require or desire the over-the-top gifts of years past. As parents, we felt the same way. It gets to a point that all that really matters is spending time together especially since we are all strung out around the country. I didn't want to give up gift giving all together. After all, that is part of the joy of the holidays. But something had to change in the how and why of giving presents.

For the first two years of this grown-up Christmas phase, we planned family destination Christmases. The money we would have spent on gifts went toward a family vacation. One year we went to Utah and went skiing. It was the first time skiing for our kids and they were excited to try. Some skied, some snow boarded. We had one son-in-law at the time and one almost son-in-law who both had lots of snow experience and were great helps assisting our children at their first skiing attempts. It was a very memorable Christmas.

The next year, we decided to take a mini-cruise. We live near the Port of Long Beach in California so it was convenient to catch the ship going to Catalina Island and Ensenada,Mexico. We were worried that it would be weird hanging out with strangers on such a special holiday, but our non-traditional celebration turned out to be quite fun. We all pitched in for the tickets and considered it the ultimate group gift.

Then, the first grandchild came and we had to rethink our grown-up Christmas gift giving once again. I believe it was one of our daughters who suggested that we observe a handmade Christmas. All gifts were to be either 1) made by the giver or 2) made by someone else or 3) something the receiver could make something with. Everyone put on their creative hats to figure out how their gifts could meet the new criteria.

I have to admit it was really fun to come up with ideas that matched the person. The first time we tried it out, we gave our son and son-in-laws tools and our daughters received kitchen themed gifts. I made them darling aprons and they each also received a cookbook and a cupcake tree. In return, our children were just as clever in preparing gifts for my husband and I. They either made items or went on Etsy to purchase things for the family. Christmas morning was so electric with everyone gushing over their clever gifts. You have never seen such a grateful family. We definitely hit on a low cost and meaningful gift giving strategy.

That first go at a handmade Christmas was such a success, we decided to repeat it this year. Once we saw the possibilities of what could be considered, we were all excited to replicate this idea. We're even including extended family this year and they are just as excited to play along.

The only drawback is that you do have to think ahead, especially if you are doing the making of the gift. But hey, Christmas is the same day every year. It isn't like it is a surprise or anything. Just one more thing to schedule out.

Keeping Christmas gift giving simple, meaningful, and from the heart. Isn't that what the holiday should be all about?

Holiday Activities

2011-12-06T17:04:00.001-08:00

Have you started to feel the holiday spirit yet? Granted, this time of year is naturally ultra busy, but now that I am an empty nester, my calendar is not all that full. It definitely isn't like in years past when there were a million activities mostly centered around what the kids were involved in. No kids, no cute holiday programs. Since my husband now owns his own business and I am mostly a freelancer, there are no company parties to go to. I was out of town for our annual church party. So, in actuality, we really don't have any of the regular holiday obligations that we had counted on in the past to supply us with that warm holiday glow. I have needed to regroup and figure out new ways to join in the holiday fun.

A fallback has been the Hallmark Channel and it's nightly Christmas movies. I love Hallmark movies and ever since Thanksgiving, the Hallmark Channel has shown Christmas movies from their archives as well as a couple of new movies featured for 2011. I prefer the Hallmark Channel to the ABC Family Channel's 25 Days to Christmas nightly fare. On the ABC Family channel, some of their movie choices are more commercial and silly rather than the warm fuzzy feeling that the Hallmark Channel always seems to provide. If we have other things going at home or just want a chance to hold hands on the couch, we'll watch one of these shows. I DVR them so that we aren't tied to a particular time and place. Love the convenience of technology.

Another great resource to participate in the sights and sounds of the holiday is at your local schools. Just because you don't have kids involved doesn't mean you still can't attend. Pick your preference. If you like the little kiddies with all of their cute little antics, call your neighborhood elementary school and see which nights they are featuring the lower grades. For a more sophisticated program, check with your neighborhood junior high and high school. Their choral and instrumental programs always have special holiday events planned and they would love the extra support. Since you don't have anyone featured in the programs, you can sit in any seat and leave right after the grand finale without worrying about getting stuck in traffic. Your local schools are a wonderful resource for quality entertainment.

I was aware of a nearby high school (not one that any of my kids attended) that has a nationally renown theater department. This December, Chaffey High School in Ontario, California, was awarded the opportunity to put on Phantom of the Opera. I got tickets for us and a few other empty nester couples to attend. We all went out to dinner before. Our seats were amazing and cheap. We saw the most outstanding production ever. It rivaled the Broadway version we had seen in the past. We had to keep reminding ourselves that it was a high school performance. Simply magnificent. It was an evening never to forget.

Decorating the house and the tree, baking and sharing cookies and other kitchen marvels, helping out someone in need....all great activities to feel the holiday spirit. Simple, easy ways to make new holiday joy.

What are you doing to bring home some good cheer?
,

Immunity Booster

2011-12-01T17:00:00.001-08:00

I am a germ freak. I am well aware that we live in a world filled with complicated cooties and I try my best to not let those pesky germs invade my private space. I get a flu shot religiously every fall. I wash my hands a billion times a day with very hot water while singing, "Row, Row, Row Your Boat," to insure I am washing the proper amount of time to kill germs. If I'm not near a water source, then I use one of the three bottles of anti-bacterial gel in my purse. Elbows are great for pushing buttons on elevators. When I hear coughing or sniffling around me, I shudder, hold my breath, and run away from the source. (I am not the friendliest this time of year) I even have an anti-bacterial key ring. I found it on USA Today a couple of years ago. When I approach a door knob (a proven germ magnet), I simply press a button and wa-la-- this hook pops out which I then insert over the door knob or bar and pull gently to open the door. Am I fanatical? Probably. People do give me strange glares. But I don't mind. Since adopting these habits, my incidents of colds, flus, and other gross and disgusting illnesses have certainly been curtailed.

With the season of holiday joy and flu misery upon us, I am always on the look out for additional ways I can boost my germ fighting capacity. Today, I found a cool tip in a most unexpected place: The Annual Education Conference for the California School Boards Association. I am in San Diego, California this week to attend this conference. Today's key note speaker, Jamie Vollmer, was speaking on "Increasing Public Support for America's Public Schools" and in his presentation he gave "Five 'S' Tips" to utilize in changing the conversation of schools from being negative centered to a more positive outlook. He also happened to mention that these same "Five 'S' Tips" can be used to improve your immunity. How is this possible you ask? Well, when you are in a negative frame of mind (getting upset with your husband or your kids; yelling at the rude driver in front of you; worried about your bills; etc.), you actually are compromising your immune system and therefore making you more susceptible to germs and sickness. Research has shown that when you are thinking and acting in a positive manner, your immune system is fortified and more efficient in fighting off illness.

Mr. Vollmer's "Five 'S' Tips" to going from negative to positive are:

Stop your negative thoughts and words immediately.
Shift your attention from a negative way of looking at the situation to a positive one.
Share something positive instead. Remember a good turn your husband or kids did for you; focus on the roadway and the sites instead of that pesky driver; think about all you have and make a plan to pay down your debt.
Sustain your efforts. When the automatic tendency to go to the dark side hits you, remember your commitment to be healthy and run to the positive side first.
Start NOW!!! Don't wait for a possible negative situation to arise. Begin now looking at the positive side of any circumstance. Verbally share your thanks and appreciation at every turn. By getting in this habit, it will be a lot easier to not get wrapped up in negativity the next time you find yourself in a trying situation.

Hip Hip Hooray for another way to stay healthy and strong during the season of holiday joy and ultimate cooties.

A Giving Spirit

2011-11-29T16:37:00.001-08:00

The day after Thanksgiving, my friend Lori L. posted this thought to her Facebook profile:

"Don't you think it is ironic that Americans spend the most money on new things the day after they say they are grateful for what they already have?"

Now, I'm not going to lie...my daughter and I did leisurely make our way over to the mall in Bellevue, Washington on Black Friday to see what deals could be had. And it just happened that the best bargains we found were on items for ourselves. We didn't go overboard. We just purchased a few things that we had been wanting/needing and got swallowed up in the whole high energy frenzy of the day. When I got on line later that day, and read Lori's post, I did feel a tad guilty for buying more "stuff" especially since I am coming off of my year-long clothes fast. Suckered by retail hype AGAIN.

The holiday season is full of glitzy messages to buy, buy, buy. Buy for others and while you are at it, buy something for yourself. It takes a lot of self control to not fall in to all the traps and stay focused on the the type of holiday you want to create and not on what retail says you must do.

Perhaps, a more appropriate holiday mantra to follow would be to give, give, give. Not so much in a present-giving type of way, but rather in a time and means kind of way. What better opportunity than the holiday season to change our mindset and look actively for ways to give from ourselves. Donate funds to charities that serve those less fortunate. Donate time to help those charities fulfill their goals in reaching out to the community.

When I was around ten years old, I heard Jon Huntsman Sr. tell how when he was first married, even though he and his wife did not have much in the way of money, they committed to donating a small portion, something like $5.00 each month, to a worthy charity. As the years went on, and the Huntsman family made substantial more money (they are one of the richest families in America today), they have maintained the same charitable ideals, giving more and more of their means. Part of their donations fund the world renown Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Hearing Mr. Huntsman's talk many decades ago struck a chord with me then and the spirit of his message has stayed with me ever since. While I may not have millions, what I do have is considerably more than what the typical world citizen has. So, I try to give a little here and a little there throughout the year to causes I am interested in. I am grateful that I can give of my time and money and my life grows richer when I can help others.

I have told my family and my extended family that gift giving isn't going to be as elaborate as in years past. Instead, my gifts are all going to be homemade, either by me or someone else or is something that the receiver can make. Everyone has welcomed this simplified and meaningful change. And with the resources I am saving, I can apply those savings to helping others in need.

What are you doing to give of yourself this holiday season?

A Thanksgiving Wish for You

2011-11-24T07:00:00.000-08:00

As I count my many blessings this day, included among them is my gratitude for you, my devoted reader. Thank you for being interested in my blog and for sharing it with others. It really means a lot.

Gratitude for your Health

2011-11-22T07:00:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is the natural time to ponder on the many things we have to be grateful for. It began as a celebration for a rich abundance of food, shelter, and new friends. Today, however, the focus is largely on fancy feasts and football games. These are great traditions, but the need to devote quiet reflection on bounteous blessings is an important life skill that should not be ignored. Recent research has found that grateful people -- those who perceive gratitude as a permanent trait rather than a temporary state of mind -- have an edge on good health. Regularly expressing gratitude is a stress buster, an immune booster, and helps one better deal with life's setbacks.

Besides remembering to say thank you more often, other steps that can be taken to become a more grateful person include:
1. Keep a Gratitude Journal. Devote a written record to identify every day those things that you are grateful for.
2. Verbalize your Gratitude. Each night before you retire, recite five things out loud that you were grateful for that day.
3. Think Positive. Talk to yourself in a creative, optimistic manner.
4. Send Thank You Notes. Written expressions of gratitude are never out of style and are always appreciated.
5. Look for Grateful Opportunities. Keep your eyes and heart wide open to see all the good in your life.

Need a little help remembering what you are grateful for? Check out this video and let your gratitude shine.

Meet Quenta Hatch, Blogger on Pie Parade

2011-11-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

Of all the desserts on the planet, pie has got to be my absolute favorite. I absolutely love any kind of pie. Well, except for two: banana cream and rhubarb. I am allergic to bananas and rhubarb because, well, it is rhubarb. I will choose pie over cookies, cake, and ice cream. Not only do I love to eat pies, I love to make them. I am always looking for new recipes to expand my pie repertoire. Recently, I was introduced to the blog, Pie Parade and I knew right away I had found a kindred pie lover in the blog's author, Quenta Hatch. Quenta started her blog as a way to learn new computer skills, fill her spare time now that most of her six children are grown, and of course, share her love of pie.

Describe your venture: I author a blog devoted to pie. My blog includes recipes, restaurant reviews, equipment reviews, tips, and fun stories relating to pie.

What set you on your path to your venture? I enjoy following a blog about cupcakes that a friend's daughter writes. I thought I could have fun doing the same thing with pie as the subject. My sisters suggested that we all work together to contribute and my niece agreed to be the techy. With these promises of help, I had the courage to move forward.

What skills/talents do you have that compliment your venture? I know how to make a great pie!!!

What fears did you have getting started? I worried about the time commitment and the technical aspects of running a blog.

What was involved in getting started? I stored up a bunch of photos and recipes to keep me going for a few weeks. I talked to my family and friends about different material that would be interesting. I asked for help from my sisters. My niece and I did a photo shoot for the header.

What were your start up costs? What are your ongoing costs? The cost was $0 to start up. The continuing costs are really just my everyday food expenses and my indulgences in new equipment and pie plates, which are completely irresistible to me.

How much time a week do you spend on your venture? Two to three hours posting and another two to three hours making pies.

What have you learned along the way? I have learned a little about blogging but mostly I have realized there is a ton more to learn. I have also enjoyed trying out so many new recipes.

What do you like best about your venture? By far the best thing is having followers comment and support my blog.

What do you see for you and your venture in the future? I think my blog will be a project with an end. It is a fun venture for this time in my life, but I won't always have a houseful of kids to eat my pies. Plus, I have had to give up my other passion, quilting, to spend my hobby time on the blog. But in the meantime, I hope to dress up my blog a little and make my way through the hundreds of pie recipes that call to me!!!

Looking for new ways to spruce up your Thanksgiving pies? Visit Quenta on

pieparade.blogspot.com

Podcasting a Message: Motherhood Matters

2011-11-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

Last summer, I was introduced to a magnificent project: The Power of Moms. This endeavor was begun a few years ago by two young moms, Saren Eyre Loosli and April Perry, who wanted to connect with other mothers interested in honing their craft of mothering. What started out as a forum to share the ups and downs of motherhood has grown into a worldwide community providing support and learning tools such as seminars, podcasts, videos, essays, and book reviews-- all dedicated to inspire mothers of all ages and stages. The original dream has grown in to an organization with a board of 32 outstanding women committed to providing "A Gathering Place for Deliberate Mothers."

After hearing about this wonderful project, I knew this was something I whole-heartedly wanted to support. I met with April to see how I could be involved. I have to admit I was a little intimidated at first because it seemed that the majority of their staff and followers were in the young mom bracket. Would my services be accepted by those of a younger generation? But then I thought, "Hey-- even though my kids are grown, doesn't mean that my interest in motherhood has waned. Besides, we of the midlife set, have acquired lots of experience and reflection that is valuable in supporting the role of motherhood." April agreed and so, in August, I came on board with The Power of Moms as a "Podcast Host."

What is a Power of Moms "Podcast Host" you ask? In this role, I get to digitally create and broadcast each month on the web site, interviews with really cool moms focusing on the "Power of the Month" -- a theme that enriches the mothering experience. Previous to this volunteer opportunity, I was only barely aware of what a podcast was, let alone know how to produce one. But April coached me through the details and another gal on the board, Lacy Anderson, takes what I record and spruces it up for a quality auditory experience. I am really enjoying this whole high tech interview process. Add another venture to my expanding resume in to the vast world of technology and social media.

This month, the topic of my interview is, "An Attitude of Gratitude." I interviewed a high school math teacher and mother of three, Sara Sahagun, on how she instills an attitude of gratitude with herself and her family. Sara recently became widowed at age 45, and in spite of the trials this event has brought, she has never abandoned her appreciation for life and its' ongoing blessings.

I invite you to tune in to my interview with Sara on The Power of Moms web site. It is especially appropriate for this season of Thanksgiving. As a mother and grandmother, I am thankful for women dedicated to the art of deliberate mothering.

Social Media Matters

2011-11-10T21:09:00.001-08:00

The most important thing I learned at BlogWorld 2011 is that Social Media---Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, etc.--is a growing industry that matters. Currently, over 800 million people are on Facebook and 100 million use Twitter. It was predicted at this conference, that in the next few years, all of our important and relevant information will come to us first from these two sources, followed by blogs. This form of communication is quickly overtaking the more traditional modes of communication that we grew up with: print media, news web sites, and even verbal conversations with friends. With this reality staring us in the face, it is imperative that we embrace, develop, and move forward with our social media skills.

Any form of good communication has rules of engagement that once learned and used, makes social interaction more effective. Whether you write a blog, have a Facebook profile or are a tweeter, here are Seven Social Media Truths that I learned at the conference that once understood and utilized, can improve your online presence in a positive and meaningful way.

1. Traffic- Getting people to want to engage with your on line presence is the name of the social media game. Each time you post, your purpose should be to lead as many individuals as possible to join in your message.

2. Title- Begin your posts with eye catching, intriguing, and inviting titles that will interest your readers to want to read more.

3. Key Words- Both in your title and in the body of your post, use key words that people can identify with and that they will want to search for. Key words should be timely and have a high level of general interest.

4. Rich Content- Always use your best writing skills when creating a message. Use your authentic voice but remember to include proper language usage.

5. Links- This is where you include interesting sources outside your own area of expertise. Lead people to videos, articles, pictures-- things that interest you. Or, have your content so compelling, that others will want to link their friends to you.

6. Conversation- Not only create your own posts but return the favor by commenting on other people's Facebook, Blog, and Twitter posts. Let them know that what they are saying is valuable to you and encourage two-way communication..

7. Respond to Comments- Since the whole purpose of social media is to engage in conversations, it is important to recognize and validate those who give comments to your posts. A common courtesy that shows that your reader's voice matters.

Which of these ideas did you find most useful?

Social Media is here to stay. The more we can learn about this type of communication and then incorporate in to our daily usage, the more relevant our conversations will become.

Hugh Hewitt, BlogWorld, and Me

2011-11-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles, CA (Hugh Hewitt, BlogWorld and Me) 11/7/11/---

Last week, I attended the most amazing conference ever: BlogWorld Expo 2011 Los Angeles. I learned so much about social media, met interesting people, and came away with a greater appreciation for the whole social media industry. More details on the conference later in the week.

On the first day of BlogWorld, Hugh Hewitt, national conservative radio talk show host extraordinaire, was broadcasting live on site at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Hugh has been a great supporter of this event since it began five years ago. When I heard that he was going to be there, I was giddy with joy. You see, Hugh Hewitt is my all-time favorite radio host. What an honor and a thrill it would be for me to see him in person.

After my last session and before the final keynote address, I had about 20 minutes to go and seek out Mr. Hewitt. Locating where he was not an easy task. I asked several of the BlogWorld staff and they didn't have a clue who Hugh Hewitt was, let alone where his broadcast location was. Finally, it was at the Media Check-in desk, that a worker was able to direct me to the Exhibit Floor area. I panicked at first because I knew the Exhibit Hall was off limits to regular attendees that day. If he was broadcasting behind the great barrier curtain, I wasn't going to let that stop me. I resolved that I would just have to devise some plan to sneak my way in to see him. Luckily, no such plan was needed as a security guard alerted me to a non-secure area behind a big column in the middle of the room. Sure enough, behind the column, was Hugh Hewitt, broadcasting live to America, in a make-shift studio. All of his fancy radio equipment lay haphazardly across a portable, six foot long table. Two smaller tables were placed on each end of the long table and provided space for the engineer at one side and Hugh's famous producer, Duane (who looked nothing like I had imagined from his voice on air) on the other side. Across the table from Hugh were his regular Thursday guests, James Lileks and Larry O'Conner. There were only about 10-12 people standing around observing the show. It was all very laid back and casual. I just blended in with all that was going on and watched the show unfold.

When there was a commercial break, I inched over the protective u-shape table arrangement, and said, "Sir.." to catch Mr. Hewitt's attention. He looked up at me and I said, "I just want to let you know that I am your biggest fan and I wanted to tell you thank you for all of your good work." At that point, Mr. Hewitt jumped up, shook my hand, and thanked me for my kind words. He asked if I was with a company at the conference to which I replied, "No...I am my own company...I have a blog: TheMidLIfeGuru.blogspot.com." Then, to my absolute surprise, Mr. Hewitt asked, "Can you stick around? I would like to have you on the next segment." and then he went back to his post as the commercial was ending and he needed to go back on air. I turned to Duane and said, "What did he say?" and Duane nonchalantly answered, "He wants to have you on the air. Do you have a business card? "You bet," I replied and handed him one of my cards. Then, I moved over to the side, watching the current segment, nerves building, as I waited for my cue.

When Mr. Hewitt finished interviewing Michael Stetzner, SocialMediaExaminer.com Founder and CEO, he announced to his audience that after the commercial break, his next guest would be "TheMidLifeGuru." (ME!!!) Duane showed me where to sit, how the the fancy headphones worked and I waited. During the commercials, Hugh asked me a few questions about myself, and then I watched in amazement as these three very famous men (Hewitt, Lileks, and O'Conner) all pulled up MY blog site on their laptops and did some quick reading. Then the countdown...5-4-3-2-1 and Hugh began: "Hello America. I'm broadcasting live from BlogWorld and am here with Caryn Payzant, TheMidLifeGuru.blogspot.com." For the next five minutes, I was interviewed by Hugh Hewitt, James Lileks, and Larry O'Conner on live national radio!!! You can't get better exposure as a new blogger than that!!!

After the interview, Hugh thanked me and I asked if I could give him a hug (He said yes). I also thanked Mr. Lileks and Mr. O'Conner. They were all so gracious and kind. And then my five minutes of fame was over. I can now say that I was interviewed by a world-renown radio personality. I appreciated all the attention my blog received in those five short minutes. Thank you Mr. Hewitt for giving a start-up like me a such a wonderful opportunity and an experience of a lifetime!!! .

Fall Frolicking

2011-11-03T07:06:00.000-07:00

I am off to BlogWorld Expo, the world's largest social media event. Located this weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center, there will be over 275 speakers conducting three days of workshops and seminars devoted to making the most of social media opportunities. I am attending this expo so that I can expand my knowledge about blogging and then use this knowledge to improve and keep my blog current and relevant for you, my devoted reader. I am especially looking forward to perusing the gigantic trade show floor, meeting possible vendors and partners for my blog as well as coming home with lots of cool swag. Also, I will get the chance to meet lots of cool people who are involved, like me, in the blogging and social media world. Needless to say, I am very excited and will be anxious to share with you, devoted reader, what I see and hear and experience. I love learning new things and I am sure that there will be lots for me to learn at BlogWorld Expo 2011 Los Angeles.

The only thing I am NOT looking forward to is the drive. Fifty five miles of trudging along on Los Angeles freeways. It has been a million years since I have driven in early morning, rush hour traffic. Oh well. A sacrifice I am willing to make in order to be a part of this grand event.

While I am gone, please take the opportunity to spend a few minutes gazing at this beautiful fall foliage. What do you smell? What do you hear? Where might this road be taking you?

image: flickr.com

Just close your eyes and dream.......

Halloween Candy Tricks

2011-10-31T14:04:00.000-07:00

Halloween: the one day of the year dentists across the land panic and rejoice. They rejoice because of the prospects of more client visits but at the same time, they panic due to the number of fillings they need to complete in a short period of time.

When my children were avid trick or treaters, every year, we would get together with the Shafers to go out and fully enjoy the spooky evening. My daughter Rachel met Lauren S. in kindergarten. Lauren's mom Emily and I became fast friends too. Every Halloween, our families would alternate between the Shafer's or our neighborhood to go trick or treating. We would stay out about an hour or so until the kids felt like they had gotten enough candy. Then, we would retreat to the host house for candy inspection. This was my time as a conscientious and dutiful mother to go through all the candy and pick out those pieces that I just knew had a razor blade or drugs inside. It was also a time to bargain for a few of my favorite pieces before the kids took ownership of their stash. During the next week or two, I regulated how much and when the children could eat their loot, managing the sugar highs and lows around the house. After two weeks, whatever was left, was thrown away. That seemed fair enough to me.

I have acquired quite a few yummy dessert recipes that include some type of chocolate candy as a main ingredient. Around Halloween, I usually decide which of these tasty desserts I want to make in the next few months, and plan ahead as far as which type of candy I will be needing. Then, when I do my sorting for poisonous/dangerous candy, I pull out the particular candy I need for the recipe. This saves both time and money in buying the candy later. One year, I discovered the "day after Halloween half price or more" candy sales at various markets and drug stores. Markets (especially our neighborhood Stater Brothers) have the best assortment and the best deals the day after Halloween on all kinds of popular candy. Who cares if the candy is in the shape of a ghost or a pumpkin or wrapped in colorful orange and purple wrappers? It is the candy flavor that I am after. The specialized, holiday themed candy, stores well and stays fresh months after Halloween. With a little planning, you can really save on the otherwise expensive candy component for your favorite cakes and cookies.

Here is a recipe that I found this year and have already made once. I found it in a magazine featuring Kristin Chenowith, a favorite star of mine who was the original Glenda the Good Witch in the Broadway hit, Wicked, plus numerous television shows and movie appearances. If you like Butterfinger candy bars, you will love this fast and rich dessert:

Kristin Chenowith's All Time Favorite Pie

6 Full size Butterfinger candy bars, chopped

1 Tub Cool Whip

1 Graham Cracker Crust

Carefully fold in the chopped Butterfingers in to the Cool Whip and spoon the mixture in to the pie crust. Freeze for a couple of hours before serving. Devour.

Caryn's Additional Helpful Hints:

1) Forget paying over a dollar a piece for full size Butterfinger bars. Just use 16 mini bars. Start with getting them out of your kid's or grandchild's Halloween candy and fill in the remaining number with an 8-count mini-Butterfinger package found at most dollar stores.

2) Use low fat Cool Whip to cut down on calories or better yet, try the healthier alternative: Tru Whip. You can find this product at Sprouts or Whole Foods. I used Tru Whip for the first time when I made this pie and found it to be quite tasty.

3) Homemade graham cracker crusts are so much better for you than the one's you buy in the store which are loaded with preservatives. To make a graham cracker crust, buy a box of any brand graham crackers and crush one and half packages in to fine crumbs (I use my blender to do this quick and easy). Place crumbs in a bowl and add a scant half cup of sugar (I prefer Stevia to keep the calories down) and one third cup melted butter. Mix all together and pat in to a 9-inch pie plate. Bake for 8 minutes at 375 or you can chill until firm. Cool and add filling.

Wishing you and your family a safe and spooky Halloween !!!!

Meet Lisa Carpenter, Blog Author -Grandma's Briefs

2011-10-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

Where does one turn when you are a writer whose job is eliminated due to the economic downturn? Well, if you are Lisa Carpenter, you choose a non-traditional route on your detoured road to becoming a traditional published author. In July 2009, Lisa followed the advice of "write what you are passionate about" and began her blog, Grandma's Briefs. Enjoying a large following, Lisa has found her niche for sharing daily experiences, humor, and all kinds of great ideas as she pursues her desire to make a positive difference in the world-- as well as a little money.

Describe your venture: My venture is the website Grandma's Briefs, www.grandmasbriefs.com. It is where I share thoughts (that's where the "briefs" part comes from) on this new phase in my life. My three daughters are grown and have moved on, I have become a grandmother to two incredible little boys, and now my husband and I fill our empty nest with new adventures and new possibilities.

What set you on your path to your venture? I was the editor of the special sections department at the local daily newspaper for many years. But with the economic downturn, my department was eliminated in December, 2008. As all print publications were going kaput, there wasn't much call for editors, or even writers, and I needed to find a new outlet for writing as well as a way to possibly make some money. So, in July 2009, I kicked off Grandma's Briefs.

What skills/talents do you have that compliment your venture? I've been a freelance writer most of my entire adult life--even while working non-writing jobs. I've had relative success at it, so I must be writing things people want to read. Eventually securing a newspaper position that required me to learn some marketing, design, and advertising skills provided additional tools that have come in useful for Grandma's Briefs.

What fears did you have in getting started? I feared that no one would care to read the thoughts rumbling around in my heart and head; my personal ponderings not often spilled onto pages for public consumption. Although I'd been a writer for a long time, blogging would be a level of personal exposure that frightened me.

What was involved in getting started? Figuring out how to get a decent website produced when I had no HTML skills. A programmer friend recommended checking into Squarespace, which was exactly what I needed (mostly because they have an awesome support staff who save my butt again and again).

What were your start up costs? What are your ongoing costs? Start up costs were minimal. I signed up for a free 14-day trial with Squarespace then moved into the monthly fee of less than $25 per month. My other costs have been business cards, postage fees for shipping out prizes now and then, conference costs, etc.

How do you get the word out about your venture? I got the word out about Grandma's Briefs by signing up on every search engine I could think of and every network for bloggers I could find. I also commented, commented, commented on other blogs. It was quite rough in the beginning (and still is at times) because the "grandma blogger" niche is quite small and has yet to be given the notice it deserves. There are quite a few of us, but, as a group, we need to make more noise.

How much time a week do you spend on your venture? Far too much for the revenue it generates, to be honest, but I know it will eventually pay off. The biggest chunk of every day (including weekends at this point) is spent doing Grandma's Briefs things, such as creating content, commenting, making the rounds on the social networks (or trying to), and so forth. Then I fit around the things that actually make me money: a part-time job as a site coordinator for the local Children's Literacy Center, a freelance gig writing posts for another site, and the this-and-that of waiting for my agent in NYC to get published my two books she is promoting to editors.

What have you learned along the way? I've learned that creating a successful blog/website takes far more than content. I can write every day, post every day, but it's all the other necessary stuff that makes it a real job, a real challenge.

What do you like best about your venture? I love connecting with readers and sharing bits of my life with them. Offline, I don't normally share a lot about myself with those outside my family, so stepping outside my comfort zone online exhilarates and excites me.

What do you see for you and your venture in the future? My goal is to eventually make my living off blogs and books. It's tough in this economy, but I am determined to make it happen.

Check out Lisa and her blog: www.grandma'sbriefs.com

Spooky Treats: Popcorn Balls

2011-10-25T20:40:00.000-07:00

The holidays are a natural time to start and continue family traditions. When it comes to Halloween, our family observes a lot of food traditions. We especially like to give special, homemade treats (no tricks allowed) to family and friends. We make pumpkin-shaped sugar cookies (using my tried and true recipe) and we make popcorn balls.

The popcorn ball recipe we use was perfected by my mother when I was growing up. The elementary school I attended, Colfax Elementary in North Hollywood, California, used to throw a Halloween Carnival every year. It was one of those old fashioned type of carnivals that the PTA put on. They had all kinds of activities that you bought tickets to trade for doing an activity. My favorite booths were "Spin Art" and "Goldfish toss." I loved winning a goldfish, bringing it home, and guessing how long it would live. And of course, there was the famous PTA Bake Sale: a delectable array of homemade goodies for all to purchase and consume. My mom's contribution to the bake sale was her popcorn balls. The popcorn balls were one of the most popular items and would sell out quickly. After a few years, my mom not only offered the popcorn balls to sell, but she also sold her recipe for something like a dollar for every copy.

Later, when I attended Walter Reed Junior High (also in North Hollywood) and I was taking the mandatory cooking classes that were offered, I bragged to my cooking teacher Ms. Dragoo/Miss Nuccio/Mrs. Harlow (she was married/divorced/and remarried during my three year tenure at the school and I LOVED her) about how wonderful and different my mom's popcorn balls were. Ms. Draggo/Miss Nuccio/Mrs. Harlow had my mom come in and demonstrate the popcorn balls for all the cooking classes and the recipe became a staple at the school for years after.

When I started my family, of course I had to carry on with the popcorn ball tradition. My kids loved eating them and giving them away to their special friends and teachers. Today, even though there are no kids around the house to eat them, I still enjoy making the time honored popcorn balls and giving most of them away to very grateful recipients.

Whether you have your own recipe, or are looking for a new family tradition, I invite you to

try:

Pattie Coleman's Famous Popcorn Balls

Begin with 2 quarts popped corn. Put in a large tray or bowl.

(Fun Fact: the pan I use belonged to my grandmother and is the exact one my mom used in making the popcorn balls for our family when I was growing up. Just keeping the family tradition thing going all the way, if you know what I mean).

To make caramel, combine in a saucepan:

1/2 cup clear, Karo syrup

1-1/3 cup sugar

2 cubes margarine (you could use butter but I like the taste of margarine better)

Bring ingredients to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Continue boiling, stirring occasionally about 10 minutes until the mixture becomes a light caramel color.

Remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla.

Pour caramel over popped corn and coat well. I like to stir everything around with a large, plastic spoon.

Form the popcorn balls when the mixture is still hot. You will need to grease your hands with butter to prevent them from burning and blistering while you make balls.

Place the balls on waxed paper to cool.

In the olden days, you would wrap the balls in waxed paper to give away. Most years, I used orange cellophane to wrap around the balls and tied the cellophane at the top with green curling ribbon so that the popcorn balls resembled a pumpkin. Finding orange cellophane isn't as easy as it used to be, so lately I just put each ball in a Halloween gift bag and use either a silver twisty tie or curling ribbon to tie at the top. Either way, the popcorn balls look pretty festive and inviting. Yum. Yum.

The Best Pillow For The Best Sleep

2011-10-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

Another important foundation for getting the most restful sleep lies with your pillow. While I was at Banner Mattress, I asked Manager Julian how pillows fit in to the whole better sleeping equation. According to Julian, a pillow accounts for 5-10% of your sleep experience.

Basically, the best pillow for you depends on what kind of sleeper you are: back, side, or stomach:

Back sleepers benefit from a flat, thin pillow. It is also recommended that back sleepers use a lumbar pillow tucked beneath the small of the back so that their body is properly supported during sleep.

I am a side sleeper. I constantly roll over from side to side throughout the night. So, I was particularly interested to learn that the best pillow for my kind of sleeper is a soft pillow that fills in the gap between the head and the shoulder. One type of pillow that provides this kind of head support is called a boomerang pillow. Shaped just like it sounds, it is the best form for supporting shoulders. In the October/November 2011 issue of Reader's Digest, they recommended a boomerang pillow from Bed, Bath, and Beyond. After reading the positive reader comments, I am more likely to try out this style of pillow.

Sleeping on your stomach is not recommended if you want to get a restful night's sleep because it tends to throw your back out of whack. If you must sleep in this incredibly uncomfortable position, no pillow is advised for your head. Rather, use a pillow to support your pelvis in order to keep your spine in a more natural position.

The Reader's Digest article also suggested a pillow for people who snore. The Sona Pillow is designed so that you can tuck an arm underneath it, encouraging side sleeping, which promotes open airways. Open airways mean less snoring.

Today's pillows are primarily made from man-made materials like latex because they provide the best resistance for dust which is problematic for allergy and asthma sufferers. Down pillows are extra soft and great for us side sleepers. But again, do not use if you deal with respiratory issues.

And don't forget, always try out the pillow at the store before purchasing. In most cases, pillows cannot be returned. I have to admit, the idea of trying out pillows that perhaps someone else has also tried, kind of freaked out my germ-conscious self. Julian assured me that at Banner Mattress at least, they have disposable covers to place over the pillows. They care about germs too.

The average cost of a good pillow? $50. - $400.00. I have never spent even close to that for a pillow in my life. In fact, I am usually drawn to the cheapest one I can find. Before doing this research, I thought price was the biggest issue, thus the cheap pillows. Not any more. Now that I know the importance of a good pillow in order to obtain the most restful sleep, and at $19.99 for a boomerang pillow, there is no excuse for having a pillow that will support both my sleeping style and my frugality.

Memory and Sleep

2011-10-12T15:27:00.003-07:00

Of all the age-related deficiencies that pop out, the ones I have noticed that I am already beginning to experience have to do with vision and memory. Nothing serious----yet. I can still assist my declining visual acuity with cheap, over-the-counter reading glasses (I blogged about this here) and I practice different brain games daily to keep my mind sharp (I blogged about that here). Still, I panic a tad whenever I forget why I am doing something or when I try to figure out what I wanted to remember. Minor memory loss is just part of the growing older reality but of course it can lead to signs of more serious diagnoses like dementia or even Alzheimer's disease (my personal fear). Lucky for us, there are tricks we can do today to keep our minds sharp and improve our memory capabilities.

Recently, I read an article by Madonna Behen entitled, "Seven Easy Ways You Can Improve Your Memory Now." (USA Weekend August 26-28, 2011) These seven ways came from leaders in the fields of cognition and aging and include:

1. Paint a Mental Picture- It is a lot easier to remember a vivid experience than a boring name or date. To help you remember names or dates, visualize a vivid picture that represents the parts of the name or date.

2. Switch Things Up- I learned this when I attended brain research seminars. The brain thrives on new experiences. Change up how you look at things. Something as simple as changing the font on your computer will help you retain unfamiliar facts. A new font causes your brain to concentrate more intently on the information.

3. Talk to Yourself- No problem here. I talk to myself all day long---internally. If you want to boost your memory, say something you want to remember out loud. Using more senses (visual, auditory) along with speaking at one time, helps you remember.

4. Use it or Lose it- What is true for your body is also true for your mind. The more you work it, the healthier and sharper it will be. What is especially effective is developing and using language; not only English but other languages as well. Switching from one language to another strengthens the connections in our brains.

5. Don't be a loner- The more social you are, the less likely you are to develop memory problems and other signs of mental decline as you age. A great excuse to not only cultivate relationships in person, but on Facebook and Twitter as well.

6. Take a walk- Taking a brisk, 40-minute walk three times a week improves memory.

7. Get a good night's sleep- Uninterrupted sleep is crucial for memory consolidation.

There, you have it. Some solid research on how to slow the aging process as it relates to memory and brain function. And don't forget, sleep is an important component for a strong and fluid memory.

And The Winners Are....

2011-10-10T10:24:00.001-07:00

Thank you to everyone who entered to win on my first double give away. I accepted entries according to people's technology comfort level which included Facebook, email, and of course, here on the blog comment section. Winners were selected by a random drawing of all names entered for a particular item.

And the winners are: The seashell encrusted tea candle holder: Karen P.

The silver and gem necklace/earring set: Janet G.

Patti and Janeil will be mailing out the prizes to the winners this week, so be looking for them in the mail.

Again, thanks for entering and congratulations to the winners.

Please keep reading the blog. I've got more fun surprises and great information to come.

Why Zzzzzzzz's Matter

2011-10-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

This blog is a huge proponent of a balanced life---keeping it real by allowing time for the critical elements in life. Maintaining a balanced life includes equal time and attention for exercise, nutrition and sleep. Much has been written on this blog about exercise and and nutrition during the past year (and will continue to be). Today's focus is on the third aspect of a balance life:

sleep -- the never can get enough of, can't live without it, wonderful sleep.

There are all kinds of studies related to the need for meaningful sleep. But achieving the best kind of sleep is often elusive. Part of the blame can be placed on one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century, the light bulb. Invented by Thomas Edison in 1911, that one device turned our sleep world upside down. Previous to its development, people got up when the sun rose and went to bed when the sun went down. In the summer, they got a tad less sleep due to the longer days, and in the winter, they got a bit more sleep because of the shorter days. It all evened out. What mattered was that everyone's body was accustomed to a regular amount of sleep and a routine sleep cycle. Enter the light bulb. It essentially provided an opportunity for endless days of never-ending light, allowing humans to extend their wake up hours and decrease their sleep hours as they desired.

Restful sleep requires complete darkness. If you think about it, in our light-bright world, we hardly ever find ourselves in perfect darkness. (Think of your neighbor's porch light shining in your window or all the "power" lights illuminating from your vast assortment of technological devices, or the cute little night light you provide for your guests to find their way in the dark). It is really tricky to create an optimum sleeping environment.

Over-scheduling is another villain to meaningful sleep time. When I was raising my family, I was at my busiest. I routinely got up most mornings at 4:45 a.m. so that I could work out before getting ready for my day. My days were always filled to the brim with millions of tasks, appointments, and routine household activities for myself and my children. I went from one thing to the next, with hardly a minute to pause, well in to each night. Bedtime usually came around 10:30 p.m. On the average, I got a little over 6 hours of sleep a night. I am a morning person, so I was pretty attentive early in the day. But between 2:00 and 3:00 each afternoon, I hit the wall. I could manage it most times but relied on a second wind to get me through to my night time activities. If that second wind didn't materialize, I was toast. Many a late night school board or church meeting found me fighting to stay awake and paying attention. Embarrassing. I wasn't disinterested. Just sleep deprived.

So, how much sleep is enough? In April, 2011, the New York Times published information about a study that asked this question. The results of the study showed that eight hours of sleep nightly is the amount needed to maintain attention and cognitive abilities. The average American sleeps 6.9 hours on weeknights. What this means is that for most of us, our thinking is not as clear as it should be. "We are trading time awake at the expense of performance." Performance to make clear decisions, to drive safely, to be aware of our surroundings, to be there for our friends and family. We just aren't as sharp as we think we are because we aren't getting the sleep we need to be at our best.

According to the book, Lights Out, lack of sleep is also associated with many modern day ailments: hormone deficiency, depression, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, overweight, heart disease, cancer, and dementia -- ailments all to familiar to an aging generation. All of these problems can be tempered and even avoided by simply sleeping eight hours each night.

Getting more sleep sure makes a lot of sense for overall health and balance in our lives.

A Celebration of Fall -- Then and Now

2011-10-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

I adore fall. The warm-to-hot weather finally takes a break. Mornings and evenings are crisper. Rain falls now and then. The brown and orange and red hues are rich and inviting. A signal that the holiday season-- beginning with Halloween, running through Thanksgiving, and climaxing with Christmas and New Years... will soon be here. Hip Hip Hooray for fall!!!

I have begun my annual ritual of decorating the house for fall. For me, nothing sets the tone of the season and symbolizes all the wonderful family traditions and memories more than putting out cherished decorations.

My original Halloween/Fall decorating definitely had more of a kiddie theme to it. I totally played in to the traditional Halloween ghouls, ghosts, and goblins. My children were my inspiration. The more I could do to encourage their Halloween excitement, the more joy I got out of it. However, now, with the children grown and gone and a grandson hundreds of

miles away, I have decided to refine my Halloween/Fall decor. Of course, I've kept the favorites, the ones that when I pull them out of the box immediately bring back happy memories. But I have gotten rid of most of the silly, inconsequential stuff and have carefully chosen more sophisticated items to my cadre of decorations. A blend of old and new traditions.

This one actually was from my childhood and my children absolutely love him. They fight over who will inherit it.

This was the first Halloween decoration I got after we were married. I made it at a church craft night. I love mice, so it is especially significant.

One year, when my kids were young, a few friends got together once a month and we made tole painted wall decorations for every holiday. This one was my very favorite of all we painted.

New for this year, a wreath for the outside door and a pillow for the family room. I got both of these items at my favorite home decor store, Tai Pan Tradiing. They have several locations in Utah and miraculously opened up a store in my hometown of Rancho Cucamonga as their first destination location. The wreath can span through October and November and lets my visitors know that fall is celebrated here. I started collected holiday pillows this year to make the family room more cozy and festive, especially since we don't have a lot of flat space to display decorations.

My other more sophisticated but fun look had to do with my plate hanger in our kitchen nook. Usually, I have three decorative plates displayed here, but then I got the idea to put holiday themed plates in the rack throughout the year. It has been fun finding three different plates to depict a particular holiday season.

Yep, fall is in the air and in my home. How do you usher in a fall festive mood for your family memories?

Double Giveaway!!!

2011-09-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

I hope you have enjoyed meeting this month some truly outstanding women who have made a business out of their passions.

Two of our September Friday Features have generously donated a product from their business for a Mid Life Guru giveaway!!! Patti Gagan, of Patti Seashell, has donated a shell encrusted tea candle holder:

Janeil Glazier, of Rooster Blue, has donated a sterling silver/blue gems necklace and earring set:

Wouldn't you just love to have these hand crafted items? All you have to do is write a comment on this post by next Friday, October 7, telling me which of these items you would like to win and why. Don't forget to include your email address in your post so that I will know how to contact you if you are a winner. It is that simple. I will conduct a random drawing after October 7 and notify you blog readers who the lucky winners are on Monday, October 10.

Thank you to Patti and Janeil for donating such beautiful pieces. And thank you blog readers for entering in the fun.

Reciprocal Behavior

2011-09-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

This month the focus on the blog has been on women who have turned their passions in to a business. And along with that, as a business owner, how to model effective customer service. But what about the consumer side? As the one who purchases goods and services, the consumer has just as much responsibility to show patience and tolerance to those who are just trying to make a living.

There has been a lot in the news lately about the lack of civility in the public arena. Whether it shows up in the form of road rage, foul language, or arguing, this kind of behavior is never pleasant and is often destructive. Sure, life is fast paced which in turn brings a lot of stress. It is at those stressful times that we need to step back, take a breath, and not convey our personal circumstances on some unknowing sales clerk, citizen, or fellow driver.

Last spring, we were visiting a conservative college town for our son-in-law's MBA graduation. We were just minding our own business, driving down a residential street, and the car in front of us was going EXTREMELY slow. The street we were on was only two lanes, with a stop sign on every corner. You can imagine our frustration at lumbering along behind this driver who was oblivious to any other car on the road, especially those behind him. We had an appointment to get to so we were somewhat in a hurry. After about four slow stop signs and slower meandering along the road, my husband gave our horn a little honk to alert the driver that we were behind him and to encourage him to speed up or at least let us pass him by. Simple enough, right? Well, instead of speeding up or moving over, the driver rolled down his window, and proceeded to make an internationally known gesture that is not very complimentary. We were shocked. Not only did he maintain the position of his middle finger as he continued to drive, but he slowed down even more. At the first available turn, we took it, putting us off our route and adding more time to get to our appointment. It was an episode that we were not able to shake (obviously, I'm relating it to you now, six months after the fact). We just couldn't get over how rude and obnoxious this guy was at us who did nothing. It definitely put a damper on the rest of our day. And we were late to our appointment to boot.

All of us have had experiences where someone has not exhibited the best behavior in a public setting. We feel embarrassed for all parties involved and it affects our own ability to continue with our plans. But what about when we are the cause of some poor customer relation choices?Not that we would purposely swear or cut someone off, setting up a dangerous situation. Still, there have been times when perhaps I wasn't the nicest to the person helping me with a purchase. Maybe that sales person was slow and I needed to get out of there in a hurry, and I lost my cool. Or maybe a sales person couldn't find what I was looking for or didn't want to find what I was looking for. Does that mean I am now allowed to forgo civil discourse and resort to hotheadedness instead? Not exactly.

My most recent episode had to do with a lemon meringue pie. Marie Calendar's was having their pie sale. I was having company and wanted a lemon meringue pie for dessert. Now, the closest Marie Calendar's pie store is quite a distance from my home. On this particular day, I planned my activities so that I would eventually work my way over to the store. When I arrived, it was after the lunch hour. I quickly went in and placed my order. The girl behind the counter said they had no lemon meringue pies. I couldn't believe it. At that time of day, during a pie sale, they didn't have any of their most popular pies? I got belligerent, asked to see the manager, wanted restitution for me being put out, threatened to never return, and to tell others never to return as well, just because my plans were messed up. It wasn't pretty. I wrecked that girl's day and my own. All over a dumb pie.

One of my daughters has recently reentered the world of retail sales. I asked her what her company had to say about handling the irate customer. She said that they were told to bend over backwards to meet the customer's satisfaction. My husband owns his own business. When his customers get out of hand, at no fault of his, he makes a conscious effort to just back off, even giving their money back after work has been completed, to calm their disgruntled actions. He figures, an unhappy customer will share their unhappiness, and he doesn't need or want that for his future business. What this shows is that despite bad behavior on our part, businesses really do want to make sure we are happy. Shame on us to take advantage of their good will by letting our unruly actions manipulate the situation.

So, the next time you feel a lemon meringue pie moment creeping up, take a deep breath and back off. Instead of mirroring the bad we so often witness, reciprocate the good you appreciate in others. The result: a lemonade kind of day for everyone.

Meet Janeil Glazier, Co-owner/Designer, Rooster Blue

2011-09-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Janeil Glazier is an accomplished woman, wife, and mother. Her interests are varied and rich. She has been a ballet dancer, piano teacher and performer, is a gourmet cook, and creative seamstress, just to name a few. Janeil has raised her five children to embrace their unique talents as well. They have become a lawyer, an MBA, an Industrial Design Engineer, an Information Systems Management major, and a Design major. So when Janeil teamed up with her sister to start a jewelry company, Rooster Blue, it just became another way for Janeil to express yet another gift and passion.

Describe your business: My sister and I have a jewelry design business called Rooster Blue. We oversee the design, manufacturing, and distribution of sterling silver and gem necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

What set you on your path to your business? We jokingly call it a hobby that got out of hand. We started making jewelry after I took a class. Then our designs were admired by friends and family who wanted to purchase them. We just sort of grew from there.

What skills and talents do you have that compliment your business? I have loved making crafts of all sorts my whole life. I also love and appreciate jewelry. I have a natural eye for color and design. I am a "Type A" personality who likes order and balance.

What fears did you have getting started? Trying to figure out how to get our designs out there, market the products, and of course, finding the money and the financing.

What was involved in getting started? We grew very gradually. It almost took a life of its own. We've made the business into different incarnations and directions along the way depending on events in our lives.

What were your start up costs? What are your ongoing costs? That is hard to pinpoint. We invested our own money initially. Our biggest ongoing costs right now is the ever increasing cost of silver.

How do you get the word out about your business? We attend marts and trade shows and send out catalogs to interested buyers.

How much time a week do you spend on your business? Depends on the time of year. During holiday ordering time (September through January) it can be 60 - 80 hours a week. Spring and summer are much quieter. Besides the jewelry making, there is the bookkeeping, photographing for catalogs, marketing, etc.

What have you learned along the way? Draw on the expertise of professionals to guide you, particularly with the financing end of the business. I've learned that no matter what happens in the business, my relationship with my sister is the most important thing.

What do you like best about your business? It is fun to take the components and make a piece of jewelry that is beautiful and unique. It has been a team adventure and journey with my sister as partner!!!

What do you see for you and your business in the future? We have decided to narrow our focus to catalogs and select stores so that we have more time in our lives for family. We love the business but being self-employed requires a constant effort at balance. We are also looking in to starting an Etsy shop after the first of the year.

You can reach Janeil at Janeil@RoosterBlue.com

The Business of Being Kind

2011-09-20T16:21:00.001-07:00

No matter what business you are in, being kind should be a priority in every mission statement. Our world has become more and more desensitized to giving and receiving common courtesies. People are in such a hurry, too caught up in their own agendas, that they have forgotten to use the simple skills of a smile, a pleasant hello, a sincere how are you, or an appreciative thank you. The best way to see a return of public kindness is to model kindness in everything you do and say.

Last week, at Rancho Cucamonga High School in Rancho Cucamonga, California, a new generation of citizens were practicing their art of kindness. The school observed a RCHS Week of Kindness, "Where Kindness Matters." Encouraged by the school's ASB, students had daily opportunities to practice a dose of human kindness. The week's activities included:

Monday- High Five Day. Students were encouraged to give a "high five" of friendship and support to their fellow classmates throughout the day.

Tuesday- Smile Day. Wear a smile and a something yellow and receive some lemonade in return.

Wednesday- Say Something Nice Day. The theme of the day was, "It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice!" Students were given "Cougar Roars"--a quarter sheet of paper to send a message to a teacher or student letting them know how much their kindness mattered.

Thursday- Unity Day. The lunch time activity was to form a "unity chain"-- everyone holding hands and working together for a common cause. The freshmen also attended a special assembly on "bullying"-- what constitutes bullying, what to do if it happens to you or if you see someone else being bullied. This is a phenomena that has ramped up the last few years in public schools. I am sure it has a lot to do with society's kindness deficiency. Some students prefer to threaten or get angry or even physical when things don't go their way. Intimidation has become the easy way out instead of observing the higher road of being kind and empathetic.

Friday- Carnival of Kindness. A celebration, complete with games, and a reinforcement for a lifelong commitment to being kind.

I loved how the students recognized that what our world needs is a lot more kindness and that they they made the effort to practice this positive behavior.

We can all use a reminder to try kindness first, no matter what business we are in. Being kind will always be the preferred customer relations tool. Did your kindness show today?

Meet Lizanne Schader, Executive Director - The Neighborhood Playhouse

2011-09-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

Lizanne Schader is living a "lucky break." Growing

up in North Hollywood, California and graduating from UCLA, Lizanne was surrounded by actors. She learned at an early age that acting was a craft as well as an employment opportunity. In 1988, Lizanne moved to Seattle, Washington to begin making her living in theater, first acting, then teaching and directing. Lizanne met her husband of 23 years in the Seattle acting world. Today, they have two "remarkable" daughters, a dog, and a growing non-profit children's theater,

The Neighborhood Playhouse, in Bellingham, Washington. Lizanne's business started in "a backwards kind of way"-- first by offering workshops and character-trait assemblies in schools, then moving on to after-school drama clubs, school musicals, residencies and summer drama camps before founding the theater 10 years ago. Today, Lizanne is fulfilling her dream of producing local shows with local talent, introducing children and their families to different ideas, cultures, and situations.

Describe your business: Providing quality theater for children and their families.

What set you on your path to your business? Growing up, I was inspired by my music and drama teachers. Whether I was part of the cast, in the chorus, playing the lead, or being the stage manager, I always felt at home around the stage. Although I graduated in French Literature from UCLA and lived abroad in Paris, I still felt deep down inside that I wanted to be in theater. I finally took the leap in 1988, moving to Seattle to be a part of that city's wonderful theater environment.

What skills/talents do you have that compliment your business? I'm a kid at heart. I love being around children. I am self-confident. I am organized which is a necessary skill for scheduling and planning productions.

What fears did you have getting started? I didn't have any fears about the business itself because I knew children loved the opportunity to act. I worried about how I was going to balance my home life with my work. Since I started out in the schools, I also worried about whether or not the local education establishment would find value and legitimacy in what I was offering. I had concerns about how I was going to maintain classroom management while dealing with students of different ages and from different environments.

What was involved with getting started? I contacted a few teachers at the local schools that I knew and offered to put on free workshops. By word of mouth, my reputation and my workshops grew. I expanded step-by-step, doing what I could. Producing shows came later.

What were your start up costs? What are your ongoing costs? Since I already had the acting skills, my first cost was obtaining a business license for $30.00. I have spent about $20,000 - $30,000 on rental space, set pieces, royalties on plays, some actor expenses, and on printing costs for the scripts.

How do you get the word out about your business? Right now, promoting the theater is a weakness. Again, word of mouth is key. We also get a lot of attention from the summer camps we offer. We put up posters around town. We have a website and we have articles in local newspapers.

How much time a week do you spend on your business? 25 - 30 hours a week. I spend some conscious effort on the business every single day. It is always on my mind.

What have you learned along the way? Patience. Acceptance of differences and allowing those differences to matter. I have realized that I am a role model and that is a huge responsibility. Pacing is key. Taking the time to get it right. I have also appreciated working with teachers. They have helped me a lot in getting started and in spreading the word. I have learned that the key to creativity is teamwork, accepting everyone that is involved, discipline, and listening.

What do you like best about your business? Getting people to feel emotions when they are engaged in the shows and helping children to realize their own emotions when they are performing.

What do you see for you and your business in the future? Acquiring our own space for a permanent theater. Providing workshops during the school day for classes to participate in. Also offering afternoon workshops. Developing acting curriculum units for schools. Most of all, continue offering quality plays for young audiences and their families.

You can reach Lizanne at TheNeighborhoodPlayhouse@q.com

Visit the web site at TheNeighborhoodPlayhouse.net

Mid Life Guru has been featured!!!

2011-09-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

I would like to announce that The Mid Life Guru is featured today on the blog, Grandmasbriefs.com

My daughter met Lisa Carpenter, the grandma behind Grandma's Briefs - bits and bytes of life's second act, at Blogher11 in San Diego last August. Since Lisa and I both write blogs aimed for the baby boomer set, my daughter thought we would hit it off. I was honored to be interviewed by Lisa for her weekly feature, "Grilled Grandma." You will be able to learn more about Lisa here on this blog on a Friday Feature next month.

Please be sure to check out www.grandmasbriefs.com

The Golden Rule

2011-09-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

Whether you are a customer or a business owner, receiving and giving good service is a must. Consumers are more likely to give their business to establishments that value truly value them. And a smart (and successful) business owner quickly realizes that the customer is always right.

My friend Mary H. shared with me recently a piece of her family history that proves my point. Mary's great-grandparents, along with some of their siblings, opened The Spearville Mercantile Company in 1910 in Spearville, Kansas. For one hundred years, this store only used hand-written charge tickets when selling their goods. On the back of every ticket was their philosophy:

OUR BELIEF

We believe in the merchandise we are selling.

We believe that honest goods can be sold to honest men by honest methods.

We believe that one man's dollar should have the same purchasing power as another's and we believe in the absolute one-price system to all - as the only basis of fair dealings.

We believe in giving value received for every dollar you leave with us. If we don't we cheerfully refund your money without quibble or question.

We want you to know that however small your purchase made from us, if it should prove unsatisfactory, that you have our positive guarantee of your money back cheerfully believing your interests are our interests.

In trading at our store every safeguard is thrown around your interests.

If you know of any fairer way of doing business tell us and we will gladly adopt it.

THE SPEARVILLE MERCANTILE COMPANY

Spearville, Kansas

Dry Goods, Furnishing Goods, Clothing, Shoes, Groceries, Hardware and Paint

What a great professional creed. These are ideals that anyone who has a business should keep. I don't know about you, but it makes me wish I lived in Spearville, Kansas where I could have frequented this store that obviously cared about their customers.

After 100 years of family-run ownership, the store was sold last year. One of the first changes by the new management was to go computerized and do away with the hand written charge tickets. I hope they didn't do away with store's beliefs as well.

Meet Patti Gagan, Owner, Patti Seashell

2011-09-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

How do you fill your spare time if you have a Bachelor Degree from UC Berkeley, an MBA from USC, and a successful career in the facilities division of the second largest school district in the nation? Well, if you are Patti Gagan, you start a side business creating home decor items using seashells. Patti is a self-declared "beach freak." Growing up, her family spent a lot of time on Florida and California beaches. A Los Angeles resident, Pattie is married and has an adult step-son. Vacation destinations are still usually near a beach. Patti has always enjoyed picking up seashells and other interesting, pretty items as she walked along the shore. Her collection of shells and love of the beach are the basis for her business, Patti Seashell.

Describe your business: I glue seashells on things. I make home decor and gift items using seashells and sea glass.

What set you on your path to your business? I have always picked up seashells and kept them in bowls in my house. I decided to make gifts one year, and people encouraged me to sell them.

What skills/talents do you have that compliment your business? The craft part of my work requires patience more than anything. I have always been good at jigsaw puzzles and I think the way I assemble my pieces is a lot like putting together a puzzle. My MBA has helped me with the business end.

What fears did you have getting started? My business evolved from a hobby, so I didn't have anything to fear. I was making items out of love. When I started selling them it was tricky to know how to price them. I shopped a lot at stores that would be good candidates to sell my items, such as beachy souvenir shops, craft stores, and home decor boutiques. The scariest part was approaching store owners to gauge their interest in showing a few of my pieces.

What was involved in getting started? Each of my handcrafted items use a large quantity of shells, so I learned quickly that I can't rely solely on shells I find myself. I started supplementing my own sea shells with quantities I purchased from wholesalers I found on the Internet. Later, I bought individual lots on eBay as well. When my condo became overrun with product, I knew I either had to stop making items or sell them. I rented space in a craft store where I created a mini-shop. At the same time, I started posting on Etsy and a friend recommended her sister-in-law to help me set up a very simple website.

What were your start up costs? What are your ongoing costs? I buy shells at about $100 at a time. I usually have an inventory of glue, ribbon, beads, velvet, and felt of maybe $150. Undecorated items such as wreaths and tissue boxes are worth about $150 and last me a long time. I buy additional items to decorate like picture frames, lamps, and clocks on eBay. My logo and website cost under $500. I buy small quantities of mail and packing material as I go along because our condo is tiny. So, in all, my start-up costs were around $1,000. Honestly, my sales just cover my ongoing material costs, so I come out a little ahead each year.

How do you get the word out about your business? My items are listed on Etsy and my Patti Seashell websites. I have a Facebook page. I have given up my mini-store at the craft shop but sell my items on consignment at some beautiful and beachy shops in Newport Beach and Balboa Island, California. I generally sell everything just as fast as I can make it.

How much time a week do you spend on your business? I work full time, so the only time I have for Patti Seashell is after dinner and on weekends. I will spread my stuff out in front of me while my husband and I watch TV, and put it away each night. On weekends, I visit craft stores like Moskatel's for supplies and occasionally second hand stores for items to decorate. I try to visit my consignment shops once every couple of months. And of course, I head to the beach at every available opportunity.

What have you learned along the way? I have learned that to make money, I will really have to hire others to help me assemble my items. This is something I will consider in the future. For now, I find it is enough for me to sell what I make and to cover my own costs. That way, I can do what I love without expense and without the inventory crowding out our small home. We have beachy decor, naturally, but if I didn't sell anything, our home could easily turn in to an over-the-top ocean themed disaster.

What do you like best about your business? I have gained many valuable things from Patti Seashell. I get to do something artistic and creative with materials that I love to surround myself with. I have a fun hobby that gets me to the beach regularly. I have an honest-to-goodness business that makes a little money. My husband encourages me and indulges me greatly. He recently had a carpenter build me a massive cabinet with lots of drawers and cupboards for my shells and supplies. And best of all, it makes me really happy!!

What do you see for you and your business in the future? For now, I am comfortable with the small scale of Patti Seashell. If I find myself out of work, I might find the time to put more effort into sales so I can grow the business.

You can see more of Patti's work at her website, pattiseashell.com and at pattiseashell.etsy.com

A Month of Personal Inspiration

2011-09-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

The fall season will shortly be upon us even if my thermometer is well over 100 degrees today.

When I was raising my family, fall meant a new school year filled with new beginnings. It had a much stronger meaning of setting goals to me than the traditional New Year resolutions did. As my children were embarking on a new grade, new learning, new friends, new ambitions, so was I. I would always be on the lookout for ways to enhance my own life with my own new opportunities. After all, I figured, why should my children be the only ones to have all the fun and all the stress of accomplishing new things at our house? I guess this whole idea of starting out fresh and ready to learn in the fall has just become a part of my DNA.

When you look at the big picture, as mid-lifers, you could say that we are in the fall of our own lives. Our birth to our twenties was our spring, full of newness at every turn. Our summer, the ferocious heated pace of our busy, busy lives, came at the end of our twenties and rolled right through to our forties. And now, it is time to take a breather and enjoy our fall. A time to embrace how our interests and priorities have matured along with an occasional late season burst of new energy. It's the era of relishing cool, rewarding breezes of past jobs well done. And the time to savor crisp glimpses of the additional creating ahead of us-- just at a slower, more dedicated pace.

Fall is a great time to look back before you go any further forward. To remember what it was that you liked to do the most and try it again. Forgotten what those interests were that used to bring you pure joy? Simply revisit your past hobbies and passions and you will find them there in those old memories.

In a previous post, I mentioned that I did this with sewing. As a teenager, young married, and new mom, my spare time was spent at my sewing machine. As my children grew up, life for me sort of got out of control and there was no more free time for sewing. It has just been in the last 18 months that I returned to my love of sewing and creating fabric projects. During this time, I have gotten my 31 year old sewing machine cleaned and in good operating condition, I took lessons on how to better use my machine, I sat in on tutoring sessions where a master seamstress has shared her vast knowledge of sewing shortcuts, and I have taken a few classes to master new techniques. It has been fun and challenging and I've loved every moment. I know I won't ever be a professional seamstress, but still, my old/new skills can be put to good use in making items to share with others.

In her book, The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin talks about increasing your happiness by spending meaningful time with your passion. Treat your passion as a priority instead of an "extra" thing to be fit in a free moment (which most people practically never have). Purposeful planning of putting priorities on our passions will improve the quality of our lives. And who knows, these priorities might lead to other possibilities as well. (Phew-that was a lot of "p's" in that paragraph) :)

This month on Friday Feature, I am going to introduce you to some amazing women who have done just that: turned their passions in to businesses. Coincidentally, I have known all these women for over 30 years; a couple even since grade school. I have seen them change and evolve in to fabulous women in their own right, women who have taken their interests to a new level at this time in their lives. I know you will enjoy meeting them and seeing how they are braving the ups and downs of developing businesses from their passions.

Not only are these women amazing, they are generous too. They have graciously consented to donate some of their passions for a GIVEAWAY. At the end of this month, I will be asking you which Friday Feature interested you the most and why. That comment will enter you in to a random drawing for an item from that woman. How fun is that? Making new friends and a prize to boot? It doesn't get much better than that.

How Will You Remember?

2011-09-01T20:58:00.000-07:00

There are just ten more days before the tenth anniversary of the day that changed the United States of America.

Where were you on that fateful day? How did you get the news? How did you respond?

I remember working out on the treadmill, watching the morning news on Los Angeles station, KTLA, Channel 5. At the time, they were reporting an accidental, small plane crash in to one of the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. I watched the matter-of-fact reporting of a small plume of smoke coming from the tower with little emotion. Just another news story of a sad accident in busy Manhatten. It wasn't until I was on my way to work, as a substitute teacher at Etiwanda High School, that I finally grasped the seriousness of what had occurred. I listened intently to the radio to the unbelievable reporting as the first tower tumbled, and then the second. As the details became more known, I was shocked with unbelief. Our country had been attacked. I kept the news station on in my classroom the entire day so that we could all hear the latest updates. Most of my students had no idea what had happened. You know how teenagers are. They don't pay much attention to the news. At the beginning of each period, I made a short announcement regarding the tragedy and told the students that life in the United States would never be the same again. My intent wasn't to scare them. Rather, just to make sure they were aware of the implications of this tragic event.

As the days after 9-11 unfolded, I was glued to the television and read as many reports that I could get my hands on. I was in awe. I was trying to internalize what exactly had happened. Most of all, I cared deeply for those who were personally affected. On the one year anniversary, I watched the memorials and pledged, "I would never forget." As each 9-11 has come and gone, I have not forgotten. I give my moment of silence and pray. Pray for the families, pray for the country.

This year, the tenth anniversary, there will be the official public memorial at ground zero for the nation to come together and remember. In addition, there are other, more personal ways being offered for individuals to show their respect and support. One such opportunity is detailed on the website mygooddeed.org The sites' organizers, David Paine and Jay Winuk, started this nonprofit website to coordinate volunteer efforts on the anniversary of 9/11, providing a forum for people to share their personal good deeds done in honor of those who lost their lives on 9-11. Jay lost his brother, Glenn, a lawyer and volunteer firefighter, in the South Tower and this was his way of creating a long-lasting tribute to him. In 2009, President Obama signed in to law David and Jay's vision, the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. This year, 24 U.S. cities and several foreign countries have planned events. More importantly, thousands of individuals will be performing and recording their own tribute of service on the website. I am planning to work in a local food kitchen as my act of remembrance.

One other way I plan to remember 9-11 is to re-read the book, 102 Minutes -- The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers by Jim Dwyer. My daughter introduced me to this book last year and I read it around the 9-11 anniversary. It is a complete account of the tragedy, including information about the twin towers and how they were built, the minute to minute details of what exactly happened on 9-11, and the accounts of the people involved from those caught in the towers to the first responders who came to help. These accounts were derived from the relatives of those who died and from first person accounts of those who survived. It is truly one of the most compelling books I have ever read and I vowed after I finished it last year, that I would read it every 9-11 from then on as a personal tribute to the over 3,000 people who perished.

On this important anniversary, what will you do to remember?

Best of Summer #9- Just Slow Down

2011-08-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Another great summer is coming to a close. The last waning days of August are upon us and September is right on its heals. The first weekend of September, "Labor Day Weekend," has reigned as the official end of summer for forever and has long been designated as the signal to return to the overly-scheduled, overly-involved regular state of affairs. But before we put away the beach chairs, the bathing suits, and the shorts, it would be wise to contemplate and hold on to the lessons that summer has offered.

First off, a lot of effort went in to consciously including a fair amount of leisure time to make the most of the longer and hotter days. I found that I ate less and read more. I allowed myself to "lounge around"and not be so "productive." I planned vacations so that I could spend quality time with loved ones. I tried new things. I appreciated the every day things. I paid attention to the details. In other words, I just plain slowed down. Man, did that ever feel good. I was rejuvenated. I was balanced.

Slowing down is a needful attribute that our culture has dismissed as being lazy and unnecessary. With so much emphasis placed on getting ahead, slowing down would mean falling behind and therefore loosing your edge. Years after years of incorporating this thinking has left us with a population of over-worked, over-tired, over-stressed adults who are mentoring this poor behavior to the next generation. Not good.

Studies have proved that slowing down actually makes you better at your game. You become more alert, more attentive, more devoted when you slow down. In addition, your overall health improves. Your heart becomes stronger, you breathe easier, your digestive system is more efficient---all by just slowing down your daily pace. Those are benefits too good to ignore.

I am only one but my sphere of influence reaches to many. I want to preserve a quality of life where I can enjoy my family, my friends, my co-workers, my hobbies, my passions for many years to come. The best way to survive is to thrive and slow down. I can and must incorporate more leisure in to my routine and not feel guilty about it. Why should summertime get all the fun? If I spread it around to all seasons, I will have the peace and balance I need to face the challenges that rise up in the second half of life.

I am committing to a lifestyle that includes opportunities to slow down more. How about you?

Best of Summer #8 - Family Reunions (Part C)

2011-08-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

The Payzant Family Reunion was held August 9-12, 2011, in Island Park, Idaho, close to the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Here are some things I learned from this experience:

1) Being in charge means added costs and responsibilities. Being the family in charge, not only did we make the executive decisions of what the reunion would look like, but we incurred added expenses not experienced by the other participants. For one, we basically threw the opening night Meet and Greet. Since this activity set the tone for the next three days, it couldn't be lame. While each family was asked to contribute a dessert for the potluck, our family also contributed all the paper goods, tablecloths, bottled water, materials for the game we played, and even the scented candles to ward off the mosquitoes.

I assigned to my two very talented and creative daughters additional costly responsibilities to help make the event inviting. One daughter created a welcome banner for the pavilion where we met up so that everyone knew right away where the activity was being held.

Another daughter was assigned to take the artwork that she created for the reunion logo and stencil it on to muslin bags. Each individual family received a "reunion treasure bag" the first night to be used to collect their treasures from the reunion. Those treasures could include the signatures from the game we played the first night, nature items from Yellowstone, snacks for the trip, etc.

One treasure that everyone received in their bags was a book written by my in-laws, a life history of their early years up until the time they were married. (They had written a companion book recording from their marriage to the time of our last reunion held in 2002 which everyone received at that time). Everyone seemed excited to receive their welcome gifts so it was worth the cost and effort.

2) Being in charge means worrying a lot. Worrying if everyone would arrive on time. Worrying that everyone's accommodations were adequate. Worrying if everyone was enjoying themselves. Worrying if everyone would meet when and where the schedule directed. Worrying if everyone had enough time to do the things we had planned. Worry. Worry. Worry.

3) You can never start planning too early. I really thought 8 months was plenty of time to get started but when trying to nail a location and cabin arrangements, our choices were limited even when we began so far ahead.

4) Planning long distance has its challenges. The internet and email are wonderful and necessary tools to help in your planning. One problem that we ran in to and couldn't determine until after we were at our location, was how far apart our cabins were from each other and from our planned events. Even though we stayed in the same geographical area, that area was quite spread out. We were in a national park after all. Also, we ended up doing a lot more driving than anticipated. This proved to be especially difficult for families with babies in car seats.

5) Allow for flexibility. While a schedule is absolutely necessary to keep the event moving, I didn't realize that some family members would add their own activities in or even want to change what was planned at the last moment. That wouldn't have been such a big of deal if I hadn't made reservations ahead of time which involved outside establishments that were counting on us.

6) Arrange for a photographer. Luckily, we have a very talented niece who is a professional photographer and who was willing to share her time and talents to record the event. Knowing ahead of time what to wear, when to take the pictures, and what shots to take, saves time in getting this important event done efficiently.

7) Being together is the name of the game. Any opportunity for different family members to gather together makes for priceless memories.

So, there you have the Payzant Family 2011 Reunion.

Does your family hold regular reunions? What are your tried and true secrets for a successful event? What are you going to include in your next family reunion?

Best of Summer #7 - Family Reunions (Part B)

2011-08-24T12:43:00.000-07:00

What do you want to accomplish? It was my goal to plan a Family Reunion that was low cost, low maintenance, and a time to remember for every one, especially my in-laws, Russell and Betty Payzant. They were in my thoughts every step of the way in planning this reunion. It had been 9 years since our last all-family gathering and their posterity had grown two-fold since then. Russell turned 91 in February and Betty 88 in April. Their health has been up and down this year which caused many concerns. Looking forward to this reunion was what kept them going.

I especially wanted to have an event where Russell and Betty could enjoy lots and lots of one-on-one time with their extended family. So in my planning, I arranged for them to rotate spending their meal times with different family units. At first, they were worried because they don't eat much and going to three different meals a day was overwhelming to them. But I explained that they didn't have to eat very much each time. In fact, they didn't have to eat anything if they didn't want to. The real purpose of these meal times was to give them a chance to spend more intimate time with each family unit. And what better occasion than around a table, sharing good food and good conversation. Russell and Betty really did end up enjoying these smaller gatherings with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They got to experience first hand each family's nuances and social graces. And it gave the extended family a chance to get (re)acquainted with the patriarchs of our family. This meal time swap was one of the biggest highlights of the reunion.

Breakfast Time at our Cabin.

Keeping costs down was not all that difficult. Not knowing each family's complete financial situation, I planned the reunion so that they could contribute what they could on a family unit basis. Each family unit was in charge of their cabin rental (determined by the rental company based on size of cabin needed), food, carpool arrangements in to Yellowstone (there was a $25.00 fee per vehicle), and extra-curricular activities. Again, all fees for combined activities were posted well in advance of the event so that everyone knew exactly what to expect and how much to bring. Of course, there was also the added expense of getting to the location. Having family members all over the country, some flew in but most drove.

The reunion ended up being very low maintenance by the sheer fact that I didn't overbook the activities. Each day, there was only one combined activity planned. Tuesday night was a Meet and Greet Welcome Activity and Dessert Potluck. Wednesday was Yellowstone Park and visiting where Grandpa was a park ranger. We had a picnic lunch at Mammoth Hot Springs, took pictures, and looked around. After, each family was free to explore the park on their own. An entrance fee is good for a week, so several family groups returned to the park after the reunion was over. On the last day, Thursday, there were more formal family pictures taken. I also had made reservations at the Bear and Wolf Museum and a local pizza joint for the adult cousins and their spouses to have a "date night" together while the grandparents babysat. The rest of the time was family unit down time where they could plan their own activities. One family set up a zip line for their grand kids and another family had a bounce house set up.

Knowing your goals ahead of time of what you want to accomplish, keeps your plans on track for a successful event.

Best of Summer #6 - Family Reunions (Part A)

2011-08-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Last summer, two of my good friends, Diane R. and Ericka S., shared with me their wonderful tales of their family reunions they had recently attended. Diane and Ericka have participated in these traditions, where their extended families (siblings, parents, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins, second cousins, etc.) have gathered for several decades. That puts them in the "experts on family reunions" category in my book. They both related with such fondness how every other year these reunions bonded their big families and gave their own families a sense of pride and togetherness. As I listened to Diane and Ericka each tell their stories, I kept thinking, "Our family would like this," "Our family needs this," and finally, "Our family has got to do this."

Now, when you think thoughts like that, it only means one thing: you will be in charge. But I didn't mind. I do like planning functions. And this way, I knew a reunion would become a reality. Not to mention that I had my two great reunion pros to run questions past. So, last fall, I embarked on my adventure of being a family reunion planner.

In my next few posts, I will be sharing my experiences in planning and carrying out a family reunion. Hopefully, my findings will inspire you to be in charge of your own family reunion in the near future.

Step One- Determining an Interest

The last Payzant Family gathering was held in 2002. At that time, the family consisted of 35 people: my in-laws, their four children and their spouses, nineteen grandchildren (of which three were married) and three great-grandchildren. Fast forward to the present and the family has now grown to 64 people!!! Since family members live all over the country, many of these "new" relatives have met maybe once at a wedding or some have never met before, especially in the case of the 25 great-grandchildren. To me, this was reason enough to have a reunion. But I wanted to make sure everyone else had an interest as well. So, I collected the emails for each family and sent out an inquiry to see if anyone else wanted to have a family reunion in 2011. The response was overwhelmingly unanimous in the affirmative. My work was about to begin.

Step Two- Determining a Date

This step just about derailed the whole project. I sent out a survey to each individual family with choices for four prospective dates, preferred duration for the reunion, and possible activities. I thought starting a full eight months ahead would give all families plenty of time to plan and secure a date that everyone could agree on. There were definitely common dates coming forward, however , one family unit could not attend ANY of the dates I proposed. I couldn't believe it. Here we all had a desire for a reunion but the whole idea was going to have to be scratched at the get-go because we couldn't agree on a date. Very depressing. The family with the conflict ended up throwing out a totally different date from the original four that were suggested. I re-surveyed the rest of the family and everyone said they could go with the new date. Phew. Reunion saved. We finally had our dates: August 9-12, 2011.

Step Three- Determining a Location

Agreeing on the location was way easier than settling on a date. When choosing a location, consider a place that not only will accommodate the size of your group but that has some significance to your family as well. In the 1960's, my husband, his siblings and parents spent two summers in Yellowstone National Park while my father-in-law worked there as a park ranger. You can imagine the memories they all have from these great adventures. There was a definite interest for the entire family to go to Yellowstone and experience firsthand the memories of our forefathers and mothers.

Step Four- Determining Lodging

Looking online and talking with several friends who have recently had family reunions in Yellowstone, we settled on Island Park, Idaho to stay. It is close by the West Yellowstone entrance to the park and there is a large selection of cabins to rent that are in close proximity. We decided that each family unit (one of the original four siblings and their extended family) would rent their own cabin. The cabin our family rented had a pavilion area connected with it which provided the perfect place for entire family meet ups and activities. We secured our cabins last October. Half of the payment was due at the time of booking and the remaining amount was due 60 days before the event.

Step Five- Determining Activities

On the survey, I included a list of 13 random ideas that we could do as a whole group. I asked each family to go over the list and pick their favorites. There was even space for a family to write in an idea that they liked that I might have missed. I wanted to make sure that everyone had a say in what the final plans would be and that I had direction of what to follow up with, especially if it involved outside vendors. Everyone liked almost all of the proposals, so the final choices for the schedule were eventually determined by the positive feedback I had heard on line and from friends who had done the same things at their reunions. When the final schedule was set, a copy was sent out to each family in the Spring, so that they could give comments and approve it well before the reunion. I also included dollar amounts for the events (if applicable) in case cost was a deterrent for any families and so that they would have plenty of time to budget. What I received back was 100 % approval for what was proposed. I went ahead and made reservations for two of the activities: The Bear and Wolf Discovery Center and Wild West Pizzeria and Saloon, located in West Yellowstone. I explained to both venues how we were having a family reunion and both were very accommodating. We got special group rates at the Discovery Center and our own family time to feed the live bears. Wild West even agreed to make reservations for our group, something they normally don't do.

The big pieces all came together very nicely.

Best of Summer #5 - Free Stuff

2011-08-17T13:50:00.000-07:00

The opportunities to participate with free, summer activities has certainly improved since my kids were little. About the only summer program available in the 80's and 90's in my area was the summer reading program held by our local library. By accumulating reading points, my children were able to earn various coupons for different food vendors in the area. We all appreciated the yummy rewards for simply reading a lot of books.

Today, communities have a lot more to offer in the way of free, family entertainment. This is due to all the grant money available for designing and carrying out worthwhile programs that meet their lifestyle goals. There is still the tried and true summer reading program, but our city also offers free family movies and free family concerts in several parks throughout our community. These activities are also offered at our local outdoor shopping center, Victoria Gardens. I like how there is so much variety close to home so that there are ample opportunities to participate no matter what your summer schedule looks like. While these venues are loaded with young families, they are also a great alternative for cost-saving conscious, people-watching empty-nester types.

A fabulous free option that I discovered just this summer is offered by Bank of America called Museums on Us. This program enables the cardholder of a Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit card to get in FREE, on the first full weekend of each month, to a whole host of museums all over the country. All you have to do is show your card and a picture I.D. and wa-la, the museum gives you a free ticket to enter their doors. Pretty neat value for something you might very well be keeping in your wallet.

I tried this perk for the first time the first weekend in August. I just happened to be babysitting my grandson in San Diego while my daughter attended the Blogher11 Conference. Now, my grandson is just a little over a year old, but he is a smart little guy who appreciates a good cultural experience. He has already been to several museums in his new Seattle home. However, while he is exceptionally bright, his attention span is that of a one year old: very short. So, no matter how interesting and enlightening a museum might be, visits don't last very long. All the more reason why a free ticket was appealing. I didn't feel pressured to "get my money's worth" when I knew that my ticket cost me nothing.

We had several museums to pick from in the San Diego area for that weekend. I finally decided on the Birch Aquarium at Scripps in La Jolla. I had never been to the University of San Diego campus before which made this choice even more appealing. I love visiting college campuses when I am on vacation. I so enjoy seeing firsthand their heritage, school spirit, and learning environment, not to mention their football stadiums.

As soon as we walked into the museum, my grandson went nuts at the gigantic sardine aquarium in the lobby. He could barely contain himself until I could release him from his stroller. From there, it was one giant aquarium after another in quick succession for our viewing pleasure. Jack loved nosing up to the huge windows and pointing out all the various types of sea creatures. We also saw a seahorse exhibit and played in the tide pools. The view to the ocean below was breathtaking. We spent some time in the energy exhibit, a hands-on look at how various types of energy is produced. Of course, Jack found the water energy table the most fun. He loved splashing around and changing the path of the moving water. We ended our visit eating a snack and crawling around the fountains at the entrance. All in all, a most enjoyable grandmother/ grandson activity for about two hours of free fun and learning.

There are tons of free possibilities to spend the lazy days of summer. What have you discovered?

Best of Summer #4- Chicken Taco Salad

2011-08-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

Another salad staple in our home is this Chicken Taco Salad. A dear friend, Karen P., shared this recipe with me years ago. You can prepare the chicken breasts and dressing in the morning when it is still cool. Add some crusty bread and fresh fruit, and you have a quick and delicious meal after a long, hot day.

Chicken Taco Salad

2 boneless/skinless chicken breasts

3 tablespoons flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1/3 cup unsalted butter

Coat chicken in flour mixture and fry in butter. Refrigerate and cut in bite size pieces.

Dressing:

1/2 cup canola oil

1/4 cup vinegar

1/3 cup Stevia

1/3 cup salsa (we use La Victoria medium with cilantro)

Mix all together and chill.

When putting salad together, layer romaine lettuce, chicken, crushed tortilla chips (we use the flax seed tortilla chips from Trader Joes), and dressing.

Do you have a main dish salad recipe to share?

Best of Summer #3- BLT Turkey Salad

2011-08-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

Summer time is the best time to break bad eating habits by eating lighter fare. When it is really warm outside, eating a heavy, calorie laden meal just isn't appealing. Plus it adds to general lethargy. My husband and I try to have a main dish salad for dinner at least twice a week when the weather is hot. Salads are refreshing, don't take a lot of prep time, and are good choice when made low-fat.

I got this recipe from the Trojan League Cookbook. It was submitted by Thelma Orr, a member of Town and Gown. Eat Right and Fight On!!!

BLT Turkey Salad

2 cups torn romaine lettuce

1 cup turkey, cubed (I use the nitrate free turkey lunch meat from Trader Joes)

1/2 cup chopped tomatoes

1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese

4 turkey bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

1/4 cup chopped green pepper

1/4 cup chopped red onion

1/4 cup chopped cucumber

Combine all the ingredients in a large salad bowl. Just before serving, whisk the dressing ingredients and pour over the salad to coat. Makes two-three servings. Just double up on each ingredient to serve more.

Dressing:

1/2 cup plain non-fat yogurt

1/2 cup non-fat mayonnaise

3 tablespoons Stevia

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Best of Summer #2-DIY Sun Dried Tomatoes

2011-08-04T10:55:00.000-07:00

I have the perfect spot for growing amazing tomatoes. On the south facing corner of our house, the original owners had made a small planter and put a couple of topiary trees there. When we moved in, we found the topiary trees a bit old fashioned and difficult to keep trimmed. After a couple of years when we re-did the front landscape, we got rid of the topiary trees and just the left the planter empty. About 5 years ago, when I first attempted to grow tomatoes, I decided that that empty front planter would be the perfect spot to plant them. Tomatoes love tons of sun and that area got tons of sun.

Each year in April, I rake up the dirt in the planter to aerate it and then I go down to Home Depot and purchase a six pack of Early Girl tomato starters. I transplant the starters to the planter, plop in a metal tomato cage over each tender plant, and water. I water frequently for the first week or so, then I spread out my watering once the baby plants begin to grow. Why? Because tomato plants do best when you alternate between starving them for water (to the point of just wilting) and drowning them. Occasionally, I will add some special tomato "vitamins" into the water for extra nourishment. And that's it. Very minimal care with maximum results. I have managed to harvest almost 200 tomatoes every planting season. One year, when the weather was relatively warm and mild well into fall and winter, I was even able to keep the same tomato plants producing for a whole year!!

What does one do with over 200 tomatoes? This is what I do:

1) Eat them. That is obvious. I use them in salads; casseroles; sliced, sprinkled with olive oil, and topped with shredded mozzarella cheese and fresh basil for a yummy side dish. This year, I have even stuffed them with some Mock Tuna Salad, a recipe from Raw Food Made Easy. Hooray for fresh tomatoes. They don't taste like or smell like anything you find in the grocery store.

2) Give Some Away. My neighbors can all see the abundance of tomatoes growing in my yard, so I love to treat them to some. I also give some away to summer visitors and friends needing a bright red lift.

3) Can them. Ever since I was a teenager, I have enjoyed canning. Tomatoes are the only vegetable that doesn't require a pressure cooker to process them because of their acidity level. They are really easy to can. Simply plop them into boiling water for a few seconds to pop their skin, then transfer to cold water to cool them down and to make peeling easy. Once the peels are removed, quarter the tomatoes and fill clean mason jars to about 1/2" from the top. Add a 1/2 teaspoon of salt and seal with a canning lid and ring. Process jars for 40 minutes in a steamer canner. When done, carefully transfer jars on to a towel on your counter for complete cooling. When completely cooled, the jars are ready for long term storage to be used in the future for spaghetti sauce, salsa, or other yummy dishes requiring whole tomatoes.

4) Make sun dried tomatoes. Last year, when visiting an elementary school's Back to School Night, their PTA had home made baked goods for sale. There were lots of cookies, cakes and sweet breads but the thing that caught my eye were the sun dried tomatoes. I quizzed the mom who donated the sun dried tomatoes how to make them. After learning how quick and easy the process was, I was determined to use my excess tomatoes and try it myself this year.

All you need are 15 or so tomatoes, some olive oil, some diced fresh basil, some garlic salt (I like Lawry's brand) and a dehydrator. Wash and thinly slice the tomatoes. If you have a mandolin slicer, that will make this part of the process super fast and easy. Place tomatoes slices on a dehydrator tray. Be careful that the slices are not touching each other or else they won't dry right. Brush on olive oil to each slice. Sprinkle with basil and garlic salt. That's it!!!

Repeat for additional trays. My dehydrator has 5 trays and I was able to get approximately 3 tomatoes worth of slices on each tray. Turn on your dehydrator to the fruits and vegetables setting and let it process for about 24 hours to make sure all of the moisture has been removed. Carefully pull dried slices from tray. Depending upon when you are going to use them, you can just put them in a Ziploc baggie or a clean mason jar with a lid. For longer storage, seal them in a Mylar bag. Sun dried tomatoes, when stored properly, will keep for over a year. This is an inexpensive way to enjoy a gourmet item year round.

Do you have a favorite way to use up the bounteous harvest of summer tomatoes?

Best of Summer #1-Berry Picking

2011-08-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

Since summer is in full swing, I thought I would dedicate the next few posts to enjoying the bounty of blessings that summer brings. This month, some of the topics I address will include ways to prolong summer's harvest, how to plan a family reunion, and how to cope on long, hot days.

Last month, I visited with my oldest daughter and her family in Seattle, Washington. They have just moved there for my son-in-law's job. Because none of us have ever been to Seattle before, we were definitely in the "let's discover Seattle" mode. At first, we went to all of the regular tourist attractions: Pike Place, the Aquarium, and the Science Museum. But we also wanted to experience what it is like to be an official Seattle-ite. My daughter researched that berry picking is a really big deal in the area. Being city-folks, we have never had access to working farms where you could actually go and pick your own berries. The idea definitely fascinated and excited us. Just our luck, Remlinger Farm in Carnation, WA (is that the cutest name for a town or what? We had to pass through a one-stop light town, Fall City, to get there. Loved it) just opened their raspberry field. We were off and picking.

We spent about an hour at the farm getting our berries. I ended up being the main berry picker as my grandson preferred to crawl in the dirt among the berry bushes and needed his mom to supervise. We were totally amazed at the vibrant color and size of the berries. Some were as big as strawberries!!! You sure don't see that in California markets. One of the benefits of DYI berry picking was that we could taste test our crop as we went down the row. It also ended up being quite the educational adventure. For instance, I had no idea the center of a raspberry looked like this:

When we were all said and done and ready to check out, we had 5 pounds of raspberries and it only cost us $10.00. That same amount of berries would have cost $56.00 in the market and wouldn't have been nearly as fun to eat.

You might ask, what does one (or two people) do with five pounds of fresh, picked raspberries? Well this is what we did:

1) Wash, sort, and freezed some. Raspberries are extremely fragile and delicate. They start almost immediately to mush out after you pick them (thus the high cost in the stores). As soon as we got home, I carefully washed the berries and separated them in to two piles: freezing and cooking.

The freezing pile was made up of the firm, almost ripe berries. After cleaning them, I stood them on their ends to dry. They looked like miniature raspberry mountains. Once dry, I transferred them to trays and put them in the freezer so they could flash freeze for just a couple of hours. Then, I put them in Ziploc bags for long-term freezer storage. I did this with 6 cups of the berries. They looked so beautiful when they were all prepared for their icy slumber.

When the mushy berries were washed and dried, I used them for other projects:

2) Made raspberry freezer jam. With four cups of the mushed berries, I followed the directions on the Sure-Jell fruit pectin package and made nine, 8-oz jars of delicious freezer jam. My daughter plans to give the jars of jam away for Christmas presents. Yum. Yum.

3) Made a triple berry crisp. I had about 1-1/2 cups of mushy berries left, just the right amount to make a triple berry crisp. I found this recipe a while back on the blog, Gina's Skinny Recipes.

We just had to buy some fresh strawberries and blueberries to make it complete. The dessert turned out beyond delicious. We ate it after dinner and for breakfast too!!! More yum, yum!!!

All in all, it was a wonderful experience picking fresh berries with other like-minded women who wanted the benefits of fresh produce for their families. Even better, we didn't waste one berry from our harvest. We were able to use some now and save same for the winter months when a red, ripe raspberry will taste absolutely delicious.

Summer Movie Watching

2011-07-28T14:55:00.000-07:00

I don't think there is a more fun family activity than watching a movie together. This is definitely a favorite Payzant past time. Whether it is going to the movie theater, or renting a show to see at home, we love getting together and sharing the big screen marvel.

My oldest daughter's first movie was Lady and the Tramp. She was about two when I took her and I think we spent as much time in the restroom (potty training time) as watching the show. When my son was two weeks old, we all went to see Hook. He slept through the first showing of course, but if you can believe this, Peter Pan and Hook were his first, all-time favorite movies.

Finding quality films that we all can and want to watch has become trickier the past few years. We have our personal criteria that we stick by in choosing our movies which has limited our viewing with some of the recent blockbusters. Still, there is plenty to pick from for this favorite family activity.

Since summer officially began on Memorial Day, here is a list of movies we have seen so far, along with my ratings (based on a school grading scale of A - F):

Jumping the Broom- Probably not a movie that I would have picked off the list of movies showing at our local theater. We saw it based on the suggestion of one of my favorite talk show radio hosts, Hugh Hewitt, when I listened to him interview the director of this film. The movie had some great comedic moments and advocated enduring family relationships. I also really enjoyed watching all of the beautiful people who starred in this movie. Rating= B

Pirates of the Carribean IV- On Stranger Tides- Was a little hesitant to see this movie since number three was such a bomb. This show went back to the original genius of when the franchise first started. Very entertaining with lots of fun twists and turns. And typical of these films, if you don't stay until the very last credits have rolled by, you'll miss the "real" ending. Rating= A-

The Next Three Days- Starring Russell Crowe. We rented this one and were totally satisfied. The ending is not quite what you are expecting. Love it when it goes that way. Rating= B+

Unknown- Another rental. Liam Neeson is the main star and I don't particularly like his acting. But the movie itself is a crazy thriller/adventure/mystery movie, a "not what you think it is going to be" type movie. Keeps you guessing the whole way through. Rating=B+

The Company Men- We watched this movie using our ClearPlay DVD play e r to edit out the bad words. I watched it with my daughter and son-in-law because my husband said it sounded too "true to real life" for him to sit through it. Yes, it was true to current economic circumstances, yet had an optimistic ending. Just like what we are all hoping for when the recession that hasn't recessed yet has finally moved on. Rating= B+

Country Strong- Rental number four of the summer. I watched it with my daughter. We both really liked it and both agreed that our husbands wouldn't have liked it. Good music, good acting. I kept thinking about it days after I finished watching it. Rating=B+

Captain America - The First Avenger- Now, I am not a big fan of the "comic book" genre so I don't exactly race out to see these kind of films. However, when there is a lot of buzz about a comic book movie, it does pique my interest. This movie has been getting fabulous reviews and when I found out it was directed by the same guy who did Iron Man (my favorite comic book movie), I wanted to see it. Also, whenever Tommy Lee Jones is in a movie, you know it will be entertaining. (*See Company Men) It has been advertised as an "art deco" movie and it really came through. Extremely entertaining. Loved it. Rating= A

Cowboys and Aliens- Doesn't come out until this weekend but I plan to be one of the first to see it. I have been waiting for this to be my summer blockbuster. So far, I've heard nothing but great reviews. And any time I can watch Daniel Craig in a movie for a couple of hours, I am there.

What movies have you seen this summer? Do you have any recommendations?

Update: Container Garden

2011-07-26T12:44:00.001-07:00

In April, I shared in a previous post my experience in starting a container garden. As with most things in life, it hasn't gone exactly according to the directions. Here is my update with this project:

Because I knew that water is the main issue with container gardens, I diligently watered the plants, daily at first, then every other day when I found the soil was remaining moist from the previous watering. At first, my transplants took root and were green and growing. The seeds I planted took a little longer to sprout than what the seed packets had said, but I didn't mind. They were still sprouting; just late bloomers I supposed.

But then, after about four weeks in to the project, most of my plants began to turn brown and wither. I watered more but the brown leaves persisted. I finally decided that having my containers on the South side of house, on concrete, maybe was what was killing my plants. Even though all of the information tags and seed packets said full sun, perhaps you can have too much full sun. So, I moved all of my buckets to our back yard. They now face the East and receive full sun for only about 8 hours. The house shields the containers from the harsh afternoon sun and they have more foliage to hang out with. Within days, the plants perked up and started growing again. Problem solved--well sort of.

Everything seemed to be progressing nicely, then I noticed the leaves turning brown again and no more flowers were appearing. This time I reasoned that maybe I wasn't watering them enough. Watering the containers in their new location is a bit tricky. A few years ago, we started redoing our backyard. We got to step one: dig up back yard and finish the house addition. Then, my husband lost his job, started a business, we had three college expenses, and two daughters got married. Get the picture? The back yard hasn't exactly been a priority since. The original water supply was cut off from the back yard when it was dug up and was never replaced as there still is quite a bit of work to complete before it can be reinstated. Therefore, watering my containers is a real chore. I have to fill a 2 gallon watering can in the front yard numerous times, then traipse back forth to the back yard a zillion times to deliver this life giving commodity. In other words, watering is not convenient and due to the inconvenience, I figured I probably wasn't watering my containers as much as they required. When everything started to fall apart again, I resolved to be a better waterer, and made an extra trip or two between the front hose and the back yard. The results have paid off and my garden is growing again.

Unfortunately, my yield has not satisfied my husband enough for his initial investment. So far, out of my garden, I have gotten 6 strawberries, 5 green onions, 2 cucumbers, 3 tiny radishes, and 5 even tinier carrots. I have yet to see any zucchini squash or jalapeno peppers. They have both produced flowers but no veggies. (Everyone has told me that zucchini is easy to grow but I am beginning to wonder). My tomatoes are doing great. I have already picked one crop of about 50 tomatoes and the next batch of the same amount will be ready to pick in a week or so.
But I always get a great crop of tomatoes so that is nothing new.

In my younger years, I would have counted this project as a failure. I didn't get what I was expecting. I did my research, followed the directions, asked questions, and stayed with it. Still, with all this effort, the results have been less than what I had hoped for. But my "over-50" self is saying: "Good job, Caryn. You took a chance, learned something new, applied your new knowledge, and worked at it. So what if you haven't been as successful as you planned. It is the journey that matters and not so much the end result. Hang in there. Stick with it. Be satisfied with your results." Wow--I never thought I could really say that and mean it. If anything, my past life experiences have taught me that I need to relax more; appreciate the small victories; take what I have learned (no matter how much) and apply it to the next great adventure.

I was speaking with an older friend yesterday and she said she has heard that a lot of people are having problems with their gardens this year. (Yay--I am not alone). She suggested to try planting winter veggies in the fall. With cooler weather, it is a whole different garden experience. Now that is something I have never done before. I am excited to give it a whirl come September. Until then, I'll be rooting for those zucchini plants to get going and start producing..