Good Morning Dear Reader:

I hope this post finds you in good spirits and at a good place in your life. Having my baby sister with me this week has been a true “upper”. I don’t think there is a drug on the market that can duplicate the joy that comes from spending time with those you have loved all your life, be they spouse, family or just good friends.

In our case, frequently that joy deteriorates into extreme silliness. Pity those in our company who have to endure us, my apologies to all. You cannot imagine the fun we have had with the bounty from her garden, especially “Professor Tomato”.  He has enjoyed some amazing scenarios since we discovered him.

Today, as he continues to ripen, we imagine he spent too much time by the pool, not marinading in quite enough sunscreen (he prefers vinegar).  Or consider the shock he experienced when we asked if would introduce a recipe in this blog for SALSA? I can’t even begin to describe his reaction.

Last night on the news I saw a piece about the tourists fleeing  Cancun in the wake of Hurricane Alex. They all appeared to be distressed and upset that their vacation was interrupted, except for the 9 women who have been best friends since high school. Even forced to rent a car, drive to Brownsville to catch a flight back to Houston, they were upbeat, smiling and I’m pretty sure there was a party going on all the way home.  It’s the only way to go.

Good advice from Vogue

When I think of Vogue magazine, I think of fashion, celebrity features, the social register, and interesting interviews. The July issue has a remarkable article on page 130, Wake-up Call about the dangers of cell phones by Nick Knight.

Knight recounts purchasing a new phone and while reading the instructions is amazed to discover that they recommend holding the phone away from the ear and avoiding letting it touch the head as well as reducing the time spent on calls. Shocked by such a recommendation, his research leads to the following discoveries.

One of the biggest issues is the amount of radiation that cell phones emit and the fact that FCC standards for safety were established in 1982 and updated last in 1999. A 2008 report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer showed that people who used cell phones regularly for ten years had an increased risk of developing a brain cancer, called glioma, on the side of the head they used most with their phone.

In Israel, research connected cell phone use to a 50-60% greater risk of salivary gland cancer.

Children using cell phones are particularly at risk because of their thinner skulls and longer lifetime of exposure versus adults.

What can you do to protect yourself and your family?

1. Text instead of calling.

2. Use the speaker phone. Even the Bluetooth headset and an ear piece with a cord all still transmit radiation, even if less than the phone to your ear.

3. If your phone has poor service, it is struggling to make the connection and thus emitting more radiation (rural areas are more prone to this issue). A protective cover can also impede service.

4. Check your phone’s radiation emission level on the Environmental Working Group’s Website  ( www.erg.org). There is a big difference in phones.

5. Don’t carry your cell phone in your pocket or on your belt, emission can impact your internal organs, and for some men reduce sperm count.

The complete report as well as a listing of cell phones and their emission levels from best to worst are on the web site:

www.ewg.org/cellphoneradiation/Get-a-Safer-Phone

Be safe and have a lovely day!

Diane

Good Morning Dear Reader:

I only wish these were in my yard!

When you have one bad experience, you might write it off as a benign event and never think of it again, but twice, and it becomes a pattern. I have never thought of watermelons as anything but delicious summer fruit. That is until recently, when I was literally brought to my knees by a watermelon.

My sister and I were buying groceries on my last visit to Mississippi and I spied these beautiful, large, round seedless watermelons. I instantly knew they would be tasty and sweet. The store had displayed them in a huge, deep cardboard box and after some feeling around, I finally settled on one.

Strange, it looks sooooooooooo innocent.

I wrapped my arms around the big melon and lifted. Except when I lifted, nothing happened. The melon did not budge. So I gave it an extra hard jerk. I like to think it must have jerked back because the next thing I know, I am heading into the box. Thank goodness for my Bermuda shorts or the shoppers would have had quite a show. Janet helped me and the melon out of the box. I was more than a little embarrassed. Later at the checkout, she pretended she had no idea who I was. That has been the story of our lives.

The melon was yummy and I buried the embarrassing incident. On Sunday at my grocery store, I spotted a beautiful display of round, green, seedless melons–in a deep box. I remembered how juicy and sweet the last one was. I could not resist. I carefully selected a small one that looked ever so harmless. I braced myself between the box and a 3 -level rack of herbs sitting next to the box. Confidently, I reached in, cradled the melon and lifted it off the bottom of the box. As I did, the weight of it threw me off balance and I slid down between the box and herb display. Fortunately, there were only two observers and I had enough cash to pay them off.

If I were you, I would be careful with those seedless melons. All that genetic engineering may have eliminated those irritating seeds, but its left them with a nasty disposition.

Are your teeth bright enough?

So many of our favorite foods have the downside of staining our teeth–berries, tea, coffee, chocolate, red wine, etc. July’s Vogue Magazine has some great tips on page 58, Healthy Living/Beauty.

1. For light staining, try Crest 3D White Professional Effects White-strips ($50)

2.  For moderate to severe staining, your dentist can make custom trays for home bleaching ($500)

3. For in-office treatments that are quicker, plan to spend up to $1000.

4.  After beaching, avoid foods and drinks that stain for 48 hours.

5.  After eating or drinking when you cannot brush, chew sugarless gum or carry Colgate Wisp Plus Whitening ($2) that are disposable.

6.  For maintenance, use a brightening toothpaste like SuperSmile Professional ($13) and of course, floss!

Don’t forget to take your vitamins!

Really dark, yummy vitamins!

Yesterday, I found the best vitamins ever! They are made by Brookside and are a natural source of flavanol antioxidants, have 1 gram of protein, a gram of fiber and you can eat (take) 40 for only 180 calories. The 2 lb. “medicine container” is $9.99, and what a bargain at Costco! I love the Dark Chocolate Pomegrante, but the Acai & Blueberry combo was just as tasty and healthy!

Have a really great day!

Diane

P.S. Beware the watermelons

Good Morning Dear Reader:

World-famous Professor Tomato

It is a beautiful Monday morning! I know you don’t believe that. It is a humid, sweltering Monday morning and possibly the best we can hope for today is rain and air conditioning. Thankfully, my Trane is humming because sister has arrived and we all know by now that she cannot sleep unless the house is a chilly 65 degrees. Okay, she prefers 62, but the fruit bowl was frosting over, so she agreed to a compromise. Boy, will the utility company love us this month.

After dragging in a huge box of amazing produce from her garden and just flaunting it in my face, she insisted on a tour of my garden with the world renown, Professor Tomato.

Here are the comments of “Professor Tomato”:

Professor Tomato evaluates the situation

“I may have arrived too late, it doesn’t look good. This plant has obviously been violated by  night crawling herbivore of a vast size and appetite. ”

Professor Tomato, do you have a recommendation?

“Why yes, I do. Your netting solution is not worth a darn. Your support panty hose may work for you, but it’s not doing a thing for this tomato plant. You realize you will be reported for this!”

Professor Tomato, what about my patio tomato plant?

“This is a more sophisticated plant. It has adapted to urban life and thrives on being watered with leftover margaritas beside the pool. It looks good and will reward you with 90 proof tomatoes, with a slight tilt on the vine.”

Professor Tomato, I know that vegetables are your true specialty, however, I could use a little help with my zinnias.”

Professor Tomato snubs the zinnias!

“Strictly Weedeater fodder. We vegetables consider flowers frivolous and unproductive. Let’s move on to those green peppers.”

Those Eagles Can Still Fly

Last night we had a real thrill! We saw The Eagles at Toyota Center in Houston and those old guys can still rock the house. Their sound, with or without their great back up band and singers is unchanged. They played to a packed house for nearly 3 hours. If they come to a town near you, don’t miss them!

The People’s Pharmacy always delivers

You know I am a fan of Joe and Teresa Graedon’s People’s Pharmacy which is syndicated in newspapers across the U.S. and online at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Today, in the Houston Chronicle they highlight a report from Denmark, Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes July 2010 which studied the health records of more than 1 million people who took NSAID pain relievers such as ibuprofen( Advil, Motrin), diclofenac-(Cataflam, Voltaren), celecoxib–(Celebrex) and naproxen–(Aleve, Naprosyn). With the exception of naproxen, “most NSAIDs are associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity.”

While naproxen (Aleve & Naprosyn) may raise blood pressure it does not seem to increase the risk for heart attack or stroke. However, it is associated with hypertension and gastrointestinal bleeding.

While these medications are all sold over the counter, and taken most of the time without forethought, because they are so accessible, there are serious health risks with all of them. Just be aware and carefully monitor their usage.

Fashion alert!

As you head for the beach, don’t just plop down on any old towel. Hermes has come to the rescue saving us from the likes of Wamsutta, Nautica and Ralph Lauren. Their new terry cloth covered beach mat will once and for all establish your beach chicness. At only $1725, get two.

Have a lovely, lovely day!

Diane

Good Afternoon Dear Reader:

By now you know that I can barely lift my head off my pillow without my morning coffee. Which is why the idea of “fasting” for my annual blood work is just so depressing to me. The prospect of getting out of bed, stumbling to the shower, facing a mirror while decaffeinated, is just frightening. Unfortunately, the bloodsuckers will not make house calls. I know, I have asked.

My strategy was to obtain the earliest morning appointment, sleep as late as possible, thus minimizing my time awake without the benefit of my java. I managed to secure an 8 a.m. appointment and was feeling pretty good about my plan, until the darn air conditioner died and I had to spend my appointed time waiting on Alex and Juan, the repair hunks.

Since I had already procrastinated more than a month going for lab work, I talked myself into getting up this morning and going in even though I would be a “walk-in” and have to wait a little while.

Breakfast of champions--Latte & chocolate Cheerios!

When I arrived at the lab, at 7:50 a.m., there were already 12 people standing outside in the hall waiting for the doors to open. By 8:00, there were almost 20 and based on the level of anxiety, I am pretty sure none of them had their coffee.

We started making silly little jokes like, “which one of us is going to kick that door down first?”.  A twelve-year boy who was along for the ride with his father gave a little speech about antioxidants which really cheered everyone up. He obviously was not a coffee drinker because he used some two and three syllable words. Frankly, my brain was so cloudy, I have no idea if what he said make sense or not.

Gratefully, the door opened and we poured inside streaming toward the reception desk to sign in and secure our place. Only a few people were trampled. Who knew I could leap over a wheelchair? Those aerobics are really paying off.

By 8:30 I was in the car speeding toward Starbucks. When I drove in the parking lot it was almost deserted. As I turned off my ignition and took a deep breath, five cars pulled in almost simultaneously. I leaped out of the car and ran for the door. I think I was followed. I can’t swear that all five were in line with me at the lab, because I was only functioning at 50 per cent, but based on my personal research, I think Starbucks might want to consider relocating. That lab is just a coffee goldmine.

A Shopping Victory!

Eureka! Success at last! After thoroughly combing the Houston market, I have found the “famous” Dryel to Go pen which my friend, Bev swears is the secret to a great trip. This product works on clothing that needs to be dry cleaned. Check the laundry aisle at your favorite Super Walmart. It’s less than $3–a small price for a miracle.

It’s So Alluring!

Allure Magazine is always full  of great beauty tips. In the July 2010 issue there is a simple recipe for a homemade scrub for exfoliation. Combine a cup of sugar with 1/2 cup of olive oil and rub it into damp skin in a circular motion. You’ll get the same results as the $25 stuff! I would recommend doing this outside, otherwise you will have one heck of an oil slick in the bathtub or shower.

Also great for exfoliating, pick up a natural bristle body brush and use it on all dry skin areas before you bathe. Then follow with moisturizer. Avoid the thin skin on the chest area and face. I found a great brush for this purpose at Ulta for about $6.

Have a wonderful weekend! I hope you’ll come back Monday!!

Diane

Good Morning Dear Reader:

As I write this, I am spending a lovely morning in the company of two really hunky guys who are determined to grant my every wish and desire. Alex and Juan arrived discreetly after Victor left for work,  so it’s just the three of us or maybe I should say the four of us, Alex, Juan, me and our tired central air conditioner.

In my husband’s absence, I am in charge of overseeing this task. Ask me to take someone shopping, find them a mate, perform a makeover, plan their honeymoon, but please, please, please do not ask me to be responsible for anything mechanical. But today, I am. And it’s not looking good for our Trane.

Alex requested a hack saw from the garage to work on the outside unit. If he comes back and asks for the chain saw, then I am pretty sure I am in trouble. Juan’s wrinkled brow does not convey a sense of confidence.

I called my husband and tried to describe the situation, who at the time was on his way to a meeting. He did not seem too concerned. He hasn’t seen Alex and Juan. I think I saw them last week on America’s Top Model. I would feel much better if I saw their diplomas from the Air Conditioning and Heating Academy.

I would probably not be so worried about the outcome if my baby sister and her husband were not due to arrive in a matter of days. While Victor and I could tough out a malfunctioning air conditioner, Janet and Steve have to sleep with the thermostat hovering around 65. At their house I sleep in a flannel gown, socks and mittens. Besides the green thumb, I guess we all know who is the real “hottie” in our family.

Wish me luck.

Medicine From the Garden

Earlier this week I had a terrible reaction when I tried an over the counter facial mask after using a moisturizer that had undoubtedly Retin-A or some similar ingredient. After slathering on the mask, anticipating a glowing complexion, my face was suddenly on fire. I washed it off as quickly as I could, but by then my skin was beet red and burning. I kept slapping on every cream I could find with no relief, then I remembered my aloe vera plant in the flowerbed. I ran out clipped off a leaf ,split it and rubbed it all over my face. It felt immediately better.

After it dried, I reapplied it. Then I cut another leaf and put it in the fridge to use later. This works well with any kind of burns. Pick up one at your garden center and stick it in the garden. It is a carefree succulent, doesn’t need much water and at about $3 or so, is a great investment.

Is This Something to Worry About?

If you have been following conventional wisdom and taking fish oil capsules to stave off heart disease and who knows what other awful thing, there is now a question about their safety. It seems that some brands contain high levels of pollutants called polychlorinate biphenyls (PCB), which fish ingest. Until there is more evidence of their safety, eat more wild salmon, nuts and spinach.

YouTube Might be Good Medicine

Wear a dragon towel, have a good laugh!

One thing which seems to be totally safe and has a similar effect as moderate exercise is “repetitive mirthful laughter” says Dr. Lee S. Berk, director of the molecular research laboratory in the School of Allied Health Professions at Loma Linda University in California. Healthy laughing “lowers the levels of cholesterol and stress hormones that suppress immunity”.  SELF magazine, page 87, Health Update by Amy Levin-Epstein.

I’m hoping for a “cool” day–you have one, too!

Diane

Good Morning Dear Reader:

Do not say that I did not warn you that the “hot” romance between Bachelor Jake and Vienna was doomed. Jake is quite the actor already. He’s shed more tears on TV than most female soap opera stars in their entire careers. I read that he has a part in next season’s Drop Dead Diva. We can only hope he plays a corpse.

Be Good to Yourself

The July issue of SELF Magazine just landed in my mailbox with a great article on the best choices for foods at the supermarket.  They came up with a list of 66 with supporting data. I am sharing some of the top ones. SELF consistently has a mix of good health information, fitness plans and news about scientific research to help us make better decisions about our own health.

“And the winners are” by Erin Hobday and Merritt Watts, page 69

1.  Best Plain Yogurt–Dannon All Natural

2. Best Flavored Yogurt–Stonyfield Organic Fat Free Lemon

3.  Best Granola Bar–Cascadian Farm Fruit and Nut Chewy Granola Bars

4.  Best Plain Greek Style Yogurt–Fage Total 0% fat. My personal favorite as well–add a little honey and yum, yum!

5. Best Granola–Special K Low Fat Granola

6. Best English Muffins & Bagels–100% Whole Wheat Thomas Hearty Grains

7.  Best Shredded Cheese–Sargento Reduced Fat 4 Cheese Mexican

8.  Best Mayonnaise–Hellman’s Light

9.  Best Frozen Meat Meal–Healthy Choice Complete Meal Golden Roasted Turkey Breast ( 290 calories)

10.  Best Frozen Pizza--Kashi Thin Crust Mediterranean Pizza (290 calories)

Why is This Purse so Heavy?

Well duh, because it is our home away from home. Our life is in our bag. It is where we carry all the important things we never want to be without, like our beauty products, hair care items, notebook, pens, keys, emergency medications, snacks, coupons (which we forget to use), fabric swatches we need to match, a pacifier (you never know when that might come in handy), measuring tape, bottle of water, glasses (sun and others), and phone. No wonder our backs hurt!

The case runs $20 where Vera Bradley products are sold.

To accommodate our load, purses just keep getting bigger and bigger. I’m getting my next one with wheels. However, for now, I did find a cute space-saver, a double glasses case by Vera Bradley. It is nicely padded with quilting and easily holds two pair of glasses, unless of course one pair are the giant wraparounds and in that case you are just out of luck. They not only need their own case. They need their own purse.

Staying Fashionably Spotless on the Road

My good friend Beverly, the world traveler, has great tips for traveling lighter and with less stress. She recommends two products that come in hand 3 0z. sizes, Febreze to Go and Dryel to Go for keeping clothes wrinkle-free and spot-free. I keep haunting the bins at Walgreen’s, CVS and Target and have yet to find them. I did find Downy Wrinkle Releaser in the 3 0z. size at Target and SHOUT Wipe & Go in individual travel packets. If you find the Febreze & Dryel, give me a heads up!

I always carry a SHOUT packet in my purse and I pretty much always need it!

Thought for Today:

“Sometimes you just have to take the leap, and build your wings on the way down.”  Kobi Yamada

I hope you have the courage to leap for something you want today!

Diane

Good Morning Dear Reader:

It is a lovely Tuesday and, no, I did not break anything, yet. You do know that in the interest of sharing all good things with you that will make your life better, I know no bounds in testing these things first. Let’s just say I could have been writing this from the hospital.

I have been writing about and admiring all the new tennis shoes and flip flops with the revolutionary soles that promise to reshape and tighten your calves, thighs and rear. My tennis shoes have done nothing for me lately as far as I can tell, so I felt compelled to invest in a pair. Anything that improves this body without Spanx is a product I want.

These are the ones!

I bought the Skechers Shape-Ups at Famous Footwear for $99 and I have to say they felt like walking on a wonderful, big rubber mat. The newer ones look less like giant rubber pods on your feet than the originals. Still, there’s a lot going on there. Who cares, if they work.

I probably needed training wheels first since they have a completely different walking motion. Certainly not me, just do it. I met my little walking group yesterday morning and we had a new addition, a power walker/runner. Not only was I attempting to walk in my new rocking, rolling shoes, I was struggling to keep up with our new walker who must have been on speed.

We met a jogger with his Brittany Spaniel on a long leash and she immediately was attracted to me (the dog). I saw her coming and realized I wasn’t sure how to stop these new shoes. The dog lurched, I lurched and thank goodness, my buddy Chris saw me tilting over. We did a little dance. All was well. The jogger was completely irritated that we had interrupted his pace. If I could have gotten one of my shoes off, I would have thrown it at him. Based on the size of that shoe, he’d of been a goner. Today, I will attempt something simpler in the shoes, like walking to and from the mailbox. Report at 6.

Painting in Your Future?

I know it is in mine as I get ready to tackle my bedroom walls and beyond. A great tip from Real Simple Magazine, June 2010 is to mask unpleasant paint fumes with a few drops of pure vanilla extract for each gallon of non-white paint.

Saving $$$$$$$$$

Every time I go in a store to buy an item I try to ask myself if there might be a coupon available anywhere. If you go to Google and put in the store name and “discount codes”, you may be surprised to find one you can print and use.

Groupon.com or livingsocial.com can have store discounts of up to 50% for stores in your area as long as the minimum number of people purchase the servcies by the end of the day.

Don’t forget Restaurant.com when you dine out for purchasing gift certificates for your meal under the face value (a $25 certificate for $10).

To see coupons in your immediate area, go to couponmap.com and enter your address.

The Power of Yoga

Yoga has so many health benefits that it is no wonder that the military is now using it to help rehabilitate soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. An article in the Yoga Journal,August 2010, page 74, Warriors at Peace, by Neal Pollack, recounts the success soldiers are experiencing through its ability to soothe and repair their minds and spirits. Even some for whom traditional psychotherapy did not work. Maybe there is someone you know who needs to try a class. 

Have a magnificent day!

Diane

Good Morning Dear Reader:

Coleus--Something I didn't kill or maim!

It is Monday, and I do hope for you it is looking like a good one! Here, the results are mixed. Mothering a new garden is a heavy responsibility and I foolishly left town this weekend, leaving my new babies to fend for themselves.

Alas, the sprinkler system must have felt burdened with my abundance of new plants and decided to strike. Sunday I returned home to some sad sights. A shriveled zinnia is not a pretty thing and you don’t even want to know what a gnarled Shasta daisy might look like after 100 degree temperatures and no water. Brown is the color of my little pets. Big gulps of water have revived a few, but some will have to go to that big compost pile in the sky.

Coleus–Plants That Even I Cannot Kill !

The varieties are endless! Great color all summer!

What is looking extraordinary are my coleus in the backyard where they have morning sun. Talk about hardy? I can grow these babies. You can grow them from seed, or just purchase the bedding plants, which are still in the nurseries. Once they are established, take a nice size cutting off of one of the larger branches and put it in water inside. In a few days it will sprout roots and will be ready to plant in moist soil. You can continue to do this with your coleus all summer. They also make lovely centerpieces.

They're rooting, but still make for great decor.

This morning I had this strange craving for granola and of course, I didn’t have any in the pantry, so I made my own and it was wonderful and so easy!

Diane’s Easy Granola (and healthy!)

5 cups of steel cut oats or old fashioned oats (not quick)

1 & 1/2 cup of nuts–pecans, almonds, etc.

1 & 1/2 cups of dried cranberries, raisins, apricots (cut up), etc.

1 & 1/2 T. vanilla

1 cup maple syrup

1 T cinnamon

3 heaping T. peanut butter (I used crunchy)

1/2 tsp. salt

Use your imagination for other ingredients. Chocolate chips? Yum

Set oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except maple syrup and peanut butter. Microwave the two in a cup at full power about 1 minute+ until the peanut butter dissolves into the syrup. Pour the mixture over the oat and fruit/nut mixture. Spray a deep cookie sheet with Pam and spread mixture out well. Bake about 35 minutes until lightly browned. Stir after about 15 minutes to  brown evenly. Let cool. Store in an air tight container.

I like my granola with Greek yogurt which has about 19 grams of protein,versus about 9 in regular yogurt. There are many brands on the market that are equally good. In Greece you eat it drizzled with honey and fruit. It is also a great way to get your calcium and probiotics for your tummy.

Martha Stewart Has The Best Ideas!

I just got my July issue of Martha Stewart Living and it is, as always, filled with great ideas, beautiful decor and scrumptious recipes. One decorating idea, which is so easy, is on page 87 in an article about using stripes in your home by Rory Evans. Using a $3 navy and white striped, fringed rug from Ikea, they sewed them together using a carpet needle and filled them with stuffing or a pillow form. They used them on a daybed. They folded another single one up and made a throw pillow.  So creative!!!

Draw, color, sew or doodle. Let your mind wander to the creative side today. You never know what great thing you will discover!

Have a terrific day!

Diane

Good Morning Dear Reader:

I'm thinking positive. These will be mine any day!

My gosh, if it isn’t Friday! Not that Friday isn’t a good thing. It just seems like it has been a long week. Maybe it just seems long because I have made an extra effort to ramp up my exercise program and spend more time outside hovering over these anemic plants. Instead of sleeping better, it has all had the reverse effect.

First, I have had some of the wildest and weirdest dreams ever. The up side of the wild dreams is that I have invented a flying car, well actually two. The first one I invented was the G-23 which was amazing. But then I designed a better one, the G-55, a convertible. I’m not sure when production is going to start on those, but I do know you will want one.

Second, I have discovered some incredibly fascinating TV shows that all air after 1 p.m. One of the most unusual was the program devoted to ( are you ready?), the Moist Towelette Museum. I know you think I am making this up, but just go on the Internet and look it up. This scientist who works in a planetarium thought moist towelettes would be really cool to collect, so he did. Now you can share his joy, online.

Now that's a cake!Possibly created for a circus juggler.

I also watched two hours of Ace of Cakes, which is really an interesting show, but it made me really hungry. The bakery, Charm City Bakery in Baltimore, is run by a guy and his friends who apparently drive all over the country delivering the strangest cakes you ever saw. Like dirt bike trails with mini-dirt bikes, a giant RV and water features. And a replica of their building where a guy proposed to his girlfriend for their wedding cake. And a scale model of the Stanley Cup for two hockey nuts who got married wearing hockey jerseys. It’s all fascinating stuff. Personally, I recommend sleep, if you can get it.

Take a Picture!

I always carry a camera because you never know when you will run into Matt Lauer!

You know I love to take pictures, and I know some of you do as well. Better Homes and Gardens is having a Reader Photo Contest worth $5,000 for the best photos that capture special moments shared between family and friends at home such as celebrations, backyard fun and every day activities. Plus you get a year’s supply of pretzels. Enter today at BHG.com/ItsWhereLifeHappens. You can’t win if you don’t enter!

What, No Wrinkles?

In the July issue of Lucky magazine, the beauty editor raves about a new under makeup perfecting base that she says will even make “your eyes look 1,000 times less crinkly”. That would be a miracle cream. The magic potion isL’Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base, $13. Watch out, there’ll be a stampede!

If you haven’t seen the Brazilian Dancing Baby doing the Samba, go to YouTube immediately. It will give you a laugh producing one gigantic endorphin rush! This child is amazing.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsGk6skcPuM

Have a wonderful weekend and come back Monday!

Diane

Good Afternoon Dear Reader:

One of these days my zinnias will look just like this!!

The exhilaration I felt at the unbelievable bargain I got on plants at Lowe’s completely evaporated as I set out to put some 2 dozen assorted plants in the ground before they were completely dead, instead of just half-dead.

I am pretty sure that this morning the temperature was about 118 degrees with 99% humidity, or maybe it just seemed like it. Nevertheless, I did it. There is not a space of 2 inches in my flowerbed that doesn’t have something in it. I can’t identify most of the plants I stuck in the ground so only time will tell if I am going to be picking daisies or cucumbers.

However, I am delighted to report that this morning I saw my first zinnia sprouting up through the soil from all the seeds I planted on Monday. Pretty soon the area florists will be knocking on my door! I am nothing, if not an optimist.

It’s Real Simple!

Guess what I did after I finishing burying (oops, planting) those new plants?

The newest issue of Real Simple came yesterday and its theme is “energize your life”. I think we could all use re-energizing, especially at this time of year. One article that especially appealed to me was ,”10 Ways to Find More Pleasure Every Day” by psychologist Paul Bloom, page 69. He is the author of How Pleasure Works and Descartes’ Baby.

Just a brief summation of his 10 points:

1. Play your favorite song, over and over.  Repetition increases pleasure, like watching a movie you love, again and again. It just feels good.

2. Learn more about something that peaks your interest, such as wine, or any topic.

3.  Boxed sets of things you love –having them all at once, like DVD’s, books, etc. , may diminish the joy of the hunt. It was just too easy.

4. Keep a few objects in your office desk that evoke joyful times–maybe not those stilettos, but sand from your beach vacation, photos, etc. Looking at them can give you a real mood boost.

5.  Look for stories, movies, or books that give you a sense of awe, things that are inspiring. Even if it is someone else’s story, it lifts you up emotionally.

6.   Spend time outside. Nature has great restorative powers. If you have a real window in your office, that works, too.

7.  Get a dog/cat/gerbil or pet someone else’s. Physical contact with animals “increases the brain chemicals associated with pleasure and decreases those associated with stress.” An attack parakeet will not work.

8. Smile even if you don’t feel like it. You will receive more positive feedback from others and it will boost your mood as well.

9.  Giving to others is a mood elevator–money, service, donations of goods.

10.  Try “benign masochism–that is,  controlled exposure to low-level discomfort. Examples he uses are a too hot bath, a sauna, hot peppers, a pedicure with a rabid manicurist (I made that one up, but have personally experienced it–very discomforting).

11. This one’s mine–get a massage. It is a wonderful way to experience loss of control, complete relaxation, and possibly an hour of quiet withdrawal from all things stressful.

Another Great Sale

Lots of great colors from which to choose, and all are suitable indoor or out.

I stopped in at Kohl’s and found some great buys on household items that were priced at 50% off and more. Their selection of summer fun place mats was amazing. They also have many gift and decor items at 50% off.

Have a pleasurable day yourself!

Diane