Tuesday, December 31, 2013

New Year's Eve and Resolutions

     I have already decided. I am going to spend this New Year's Eve at home. Quietly reflecting on this past year, 2013. Okay really, I have no life. With no fancy party or parties to attend. I just heard on TV that only 14% of people go to parties, so that means I am in good company.  And I know that going to bed well before midnight, is exactly what will happen.

(Update: I spent last night binge watching Downton Abbey. I love that series. How did I miss out on it for so long? Now I have to watch all three seasons so I will be caught up by Sunday)

       I sort of wish I had somewhere to go. Getting dressed up is one of my favorite things. For some strange reason, on New Years Eve, everyone drinking age is expected to get hammered. I choose not to drink for religious reasons. So that makes most of the New Years parties over priced. I went to one a long time ago. Spending $99 with the promise of a buffet. The Buffet was fettuccini Alfredo, grocery store rolls and broccoli. And the "buffet "was only open for an hour. I just cannot eat $99 worth of pasta, rolls and broccoli in an hour. Turns out the "buffet" was all you could drink alcohol. And that doesn't really appeal to me. I don't find being drunk, falling down drunk, hung over, or vomiting fabulous.

     Every year I make New Year's Resolutions. Doing a pretty good job of keeping them. My grade on keeping resolutions is about 75%. The only resolution where there is trouble is eating more fruit and vegetables. That is one resolution I really want and need to keep.

     I know that many people have given up on making resolutions. In thinking of the many reasons people don't keep their resolutions. Perhaps there is an all or nothing mentality? Or the goals are too hard to obtain or even stick with? If one makes a resolution to eat better and messes up one or two days, all is not lost. Or if you plan to exercise and you miss a day. Then get back in the saddle and do not give up.  It's never failure until you give up. Messing up and then readjusting and trying again is a learning experience.  If we fall down seven times, we must get back up eight.

     Now I know that you all have been waiting with baited breath. To hear my resolutions. Drum roll please.....nah just kidding.  Well here they are.

1) Read the Bible and Pray everyday
2) Eat one fruit and one vegetable a day, conquer my food nemesis
3) Exercise for 30 minutes, six times per week
4) Do my hair and makeup every day working on looking my best and most fabulous
5) Spend an hour a day becoming organized
6) Stay organized once I have become organized
7) Work on piano lessons at least 30 minutes a day six days a week

      Blogging every couple months about my resolutions will keep me accountable. I have a feeling that the whole veggie thing is going to be the hardest. Next hardest is becoming organized. Being a creative soul, it is really hard to put things in their proper place. It will be really hard to read my Bible everyday. Bible reading is just really hard. I can read and comprehend Jane Austin and Charles Dickens really hard books, but Bible reading goes in one ear and out the other. Will be working on concentrating.

     There is just something so wonderful and promising about a brand new year. Making plans to work on your life and improve it. And that is why I find New Year's Resolutions fabulous!

Happy New Year!

**Note: Don't began any exercise or diet program. Or make any health goals without first consulting your doctor.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder


  


     I have been thinking for a while. We woman are so hard on each other. And we are so hard on ourselves. We are sold a bill of goods by some ad executives and are made to feel like we are less than, if we don't measure up to this impossible standard of beauty. I know for a long time I was really hard on myself. So many flaws and so little space to name them all.

     So I have decided that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Even though I am far from perfect and I have many flaws. I have big pores and I am an apple shape. I will never have a thigh gap. Even when I was a Tiny Tina, I didn't have a thigh gap. And who on earth decided that a thigh gap was a desirable trait, but I digress.

     So in my search for helping woman feel better about themselves, I found this video on You Tube. Which I also call the Tubey Place, just so you know.  I wish I knew more about the person that made it, they are brilliant. There is just a bit of side boob and no nudity in this video, I checked.



   And this is from Dove Soap. Their Campaign for Real Beauty



     So as we see from those videos. These real women were turned into something they are not. They are attractive women. They were turned into a creative photographers idea of what a woman should look like. We can't compete with that! A famous supermodel once said that she wished she really looked like her print ads.

     I bought into the idea of what a beautiful woman is supposed to look like. I dyed my hair blond. I couldn't afford to go to the salon so I bought grocery store dye. I don't recommend it. It wasn't very attractive. I cringe at those pictures from the early 2000's.

     So just because I am working on loving myself. That doesn't mean that I can give up. I am still going to exercise and eat healthy. I am going to be my most fabulous self. I am just not going to buy into the idea of what fashion magazines say is my most fabulous self. I am still going to wear make up and lovely clothes. I love fashion.

     In this blog I hope that I can give tips on how to be fabulous. Which you can take or leave, completely up to you. And affordable tips to boot. You will never read me telling you that you must have this adorable, yet plain white t-shirt, that is so affordable at the low, low price of $600. No way that won't come out of my blog. I don't care who makes it, a plain white t-shirt should cost no more than $10. If you add a picture of an adorable Japanese Chin, like Olivia. That is different.

    Just remember dear reader. To love yourself. You are like a fabulous snowflake and one of a kind!