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Love it! I would have done something different with the fireplace surround--it feels McMansion to me. But every other detail was interesting, especially the floors. I'm in a dark-kitchen phase, and appreciated the green tiles and wallpaper.
I'm in love with the triangle, multi-hole birdhouse on his front porch! Wow....I want one! ❤️ Lots of beautiful collected items. Unique furniture pieces. It's well put together!
I love almost everything about this home, and Lewis Miller is so charming. The thing I did not like is the kitchen. While lovely, it seems too dark to me without enough counter space to really prep/cook. There are too many items on the counters. However, he did say that he isn't the one doing the cooking, so maybe it works for him. Thanks for sharing Gizmo.
Wishing you a wonderful birthday, Funky! All the best to you.
Thank you all! I had a nice day! ❤️😎
I won't be celebrating until Friday but then I am a Birthday WEEK kind of gal!
I hope your day was filled with love and joy!
Legomom, I had a weekend like that a few weekends ago. In the moment, you feel like you've completely derailed all progress, when, in fact, you can get back on track in a few days. I have to regularly remind myself of the overall journey.
Not much news to report here. My workouts have been good. My walking partner is back! I have incorporated more stretching and yoga, even for a few minutes, which feels really good. I'm still focusing on protein and at least 5 different vegetables every day, usually more.
A friend recommended tracking my fiber, which I did for a few days. I get enough on most days. I thought about adding psyllium husk to my diet, but I think I'm fine without it. I may revisit this, this summer, since I tend to eat fewer beans and lentils in warmer weather.
I'm still not sleeping as much as I should. I know why (I'm a night owl), and I know what I need to do. I have never had sleep problems per se, but I just don't sleep enough.
Impressive, kswl! But, yeah, I don't do great with tracking either-- I am very competitive even if only with myself. You'd think that would be helpful in managing what I am eating but I get super obsessive and critical and often end up eating less than I should which doesn't help me in the long run. What works best for me is to track for a limited time (1-2 weeks) which helps me get into a groove and then I back off.
I have been focused on fiber for many years-- it really does make a difference in appetite management and in keeping my digestive system moving. As I have mentioned before, I don't restrict carbs but I do focus on the nutrient rich, high fiber complex carbs. And good thing for me, I generally prefer them to the simple carbs!
As for getting rest and a bit of a break, I appreciate the thoughts and wishes ... the good news is that things will ease up sooner than expected. The bad news is that they will ease up sooner because my deadline was moved from Friday to EOD Wed (due to a newly added request to have the CIO review my submission). Today and tomorrow are going to be long research/writing days -- and the person I need to work with is unexpectedly OOO today. I am determined to finish strong ... but really, I can only laugh at this point. I will be working well into the night on my birthday! I just cancelled my birthday dinner and I had already postponed my birthday trip later this week. What a way to ring in 60. I am considering this a serious wake-up call to find more work-life balance in my coming year.
Yuck on those changes Funky. That's kind of a bummer. I know a lot of people really don't care about their actual birthday, but I always like to have some plan, so I'm sorry your work is hindering your celebrations!
kswl- that is some seriously impressive tracking! Good for you.
I don't track calories, although I think a couple weeks of tracking would be good for me to see what my maintenance calories are, so maybe I can lose some more weight one day. But I do eyeball the protein and fiber throughout the day, mostly just trying to incorporate my meals around them in some way. @feathers - with all those veggies, I bet you do get to your goal!
In high school, my kids worked for a local bakery and did the rounds of farmers markets in the Chicagoland area. (Bpath, they did the Winnetka, Wilmette, Glencoe circuit a few summers. You may have met them!) They always brought home interesting jellies, a random bag of fruit, etc., that they would "trade" with the other vendors at the end of the day.
My own city has a wonderful farmers market that sort of "centers" our town. In winter, it's located in an old historic building, and it's largely just baked goods and meats from local farms. In warmer months, it's held outdoors in our city's main gathering area. I know local farmers who sell there, and I buy their items. Most vendors are local, although some do drive over from neighboring states. I only buy produce that would otherwise be in season (apples in June are probably from Costco).
On a related note, one of my kids' friends from high school suffered a series of concussions, and did not entertain going to college because of the effects. Instead, he moved to Arkansas, bought some land, and now runs a vegetable farm. He sells to local restaurants and farmers markets. I follow him on Instagram, and his produce is amazing. He's one of the most industrious, hard-working people I know. I always smile when a picture of his dirty hand holding a freshly picked beet, or a panorama of his stand early morning before the market opens, shows up in my feed.
We have an amazing farmer’s market. Vendors are restricted to local produce with the exception of two larger stands that can bring in things grown in other parts of the state. Eastern Washington has a very different climate than ours, so they grow things that can’t be grown as well locally. Asparagus, artichokes, melons, sweet cherries (WA produces the most in the USA), many varieties of apples and pears. There are a few craft vendors, but the market is very selective for high quality so there isn’t junk.
Thursdays, the vendors give a senior discount and all vendors take food stamps/EBT. The two large fruit stands give free apples to kids. I am unsure how prices compare because I don’t (luckily) have to pay attention and am willing to try to support our local farmers.
" If only more of our 'leaders' would be more forward thinking about these things... "
I agree about the need for more vocational training opportunities. I don't think available programs and schools, and there are many, are at capacity as is. One problem is that the interest in and decision to enter vocational training requires more than short-range thinking. And a degree of maturity that many recent high school grads or dropouts lack. It should be a no-brainer - many are not cut out or interested in academic advancement, vocational training leads to satisfying and well-paying jobs with lifelong career opportunities.
Nothing happens until the interested person walks in a door, dials a phone number or connects on a website. Point the finger at parenting failures, not political or public ones.
I remember my mom and my aunts talking after they had all been widowed and saying how the old men who had lost their wives were all out looking for another wife to take care of them, but the old ladies who had lost a husband were in no hurry to take on the work of another husband. Been there, done that.
This rings true today, anecdotally, IME.
My condolences to your FIL, Mtn. I do believe that his actions in the finality of his wife's life isn't what the above is referring to.
I quoted jojoco from 2 days ago. She nailed it!
@jojoco Same! I was telling DH about this thread and quoted Jojo too!
I have 5 Aldi's within about 5 miles. One of the stores does not have self-checkout, and usually has just one cashier. I avoid that store.
I love my Trader Joe's store, which I've been shopping for 20 years. I have so many fun stories about the employees there. But I'm holding a serious grudge that they discontinued the blue cheese roasted pecan dip.
TJs asked for my ID when buying alcohol long after it was warranted, well into my 30s. My gfs and I would laugh over this at the bus stop.
Once I had dental surgery, and couldn't speak afterward. I went into TJs just for some soup. When I explained to the cashier using my hands, and pointed to my swollen jaw, that I couldn't talk to answer his "did you find everything?", he had someone bring over a bouquet of flowers to send home with me.
Nowadays, most of the exchanges are the pleasantries like, "Omg, have you tried this yet? It's so good!" and "Any plans for the weekend?" They must train their employees in Niceness.
I recall reading an article about their hiring practices that explained the qualities they look for in potential employees - big ones being extroversion and positivity.
My opinion of Aldi gets worse every day. There have been a number of threads on their Aisle of Shame Facebook page dealing with the rubber mulch they sell. By far, the majority are negative. And for good reason; that's some nasty stuff! Threads are often closed by moderation and some of the more truthful posts are deleted.
I've had cosmetic botox only, but wasn't interested in continuing because the minimal results simply weren't worth the expense and upkeep to me. Overall, I'm happy with my skin appearance. (My gray roots... that's another story.) I have more of a "from the inside out" skincare approach. Here's a podcastthat some might find interesting.
eta: re: RBF, I was made aware in my 20s that I have this. As a result, I am uber-attentive to my facial expressions, especially when meeting new people or casual acquaintances. My kids once told me they could only tell I was angry by the tone of my voice, not my facial expression.
@jilly FYI…(it works for me.)
“The 2022 American College of Gastroenterologists (ACG) guidelines recommended left lateral decubitus (LLD) sleeping position as one of the lifestyle modifications of GERD management with unequivocal evidence[5]. However, although it is common practice for physicians to educate GERD patients to sleep with the head elevated to prevent nocturnal acid reflux, there is a lack of interest in recommending that patients sleep on the left side. Recent evidence has shown that sleeping with the head elevated and lying to the left side reduced gastric acid exposure and improved nocturnal GERD symptoms and [6]. This improvement can be explained by the pathophysiology and anatomy of the faulty gastroesophageal junction in GERD patients. Lying on the right side would position the esophagus inferior to the gastroesophageal junction, further precipitating reflux and promoting longer acid clearance time[7,8]. This systematic review aims to evaluate and consolidate accumulating evidence regarding the effect of LLD sleep position on nocturnal symptoms in GERD patients.”
Thanks, maddie, so true. One night I got so @#$& sick and tired of having to sleep on the wedge, I threw it off the bed and used my pillow normally.
I woke up in the middle of the night, on my right side, severely choking on acid. I could hardly breathe (I have LPR with the GERD). I got my wedge, apologized to it, and happily slept on it again. :D
I had so many fails over the weekend, including an embarrassing amount of Swedish fish and ice cream with my nieces.
But I also stumbled upon a Jodie Foster clip about being in her 50s and 60s. I like the message about not competing with a former self. Funky, jsk, and Sueb, it's just a number, and perhaps marks a time to define your future self and your next path.
legomom, you got the kind of dexa to check for bone density/osteoporosis/osteopenia. I have to get that one every two years to see if my osteopenia has progressed to osteoporosis. I think this is the kind you were wanting: https://www.questhealth.com/fitnesity-dexa-scan.html or this one: https://www.dexascan.com/
Yes! That is what I want to get - my fault entirely for not asking enough questions before hand. But it's good to know no osteoporosis or osteopenia as of now :) We just don't have any of those type of places locally and I wrongly thought I would get more info from any Dexa scan.
I flew home today to Chicago, and landed at O'Hare around 1 pm-ish. I wasn't planning on viewing it, but when I arrived home, opened the shades, walked around the house... there was a distinctive cast of unusual light that made me pause.
I read an article on the plane about how ancient civilizations would have been fearful of this natural phenomenon. It was a great reminder of how our modern science allows us to appreciate this wonder.
Holy carp! The stories you will tell.
If you didn't drop dead from a heart attack right there in the field! ;-)
Next up, swarming cicadas. REPENT!!!!!
That's a beautiful table! It's one of those jobs I finally get around to having done, and then wonder why I didn't do it much sooner. You'll enjoy the table for a long time.
Gorgeous. Now you'll have to figure out where to put all the stuff that was covering it!
Edited to add - Hope the refinisher doesn't have too many Insta followers thinking it was you that trashed that nice table!
Wow, that's amazing!
I wish I knew of or could find a good refinsher. I have a large burl wood coffee table with inlay that I just adore. It's my favorite piece of furniture. I would love to have it refinished to fix some small mishaps but I am afraid of it being ruined.
I just keep going up and down with the same 3 lbs or so. I would really like to lose 8-10 lbs before my bday in Sept., which should be totally doable if I can stay focused. To be honest, I feel like I have been trying to lose weight for most of my life and it’s getting tiresome (not to mention frustrating). I am not obese but I might be 15-20 lbs over an ”ideal” weight — I know that number is not realistic for me, but I can get myself halfway there and be satisfied with that.
I have had some weird foot issues that might get better with less weight, just guessing but it’s another reason to get back on track. Obviously the extra weight is not helpful for any of these aging joints and tendons! I got a little carried away with jelly beans last week and now they are gone, and I have a fridge full of healthy food.
I heard someone say that women should do some kind of weight training for at least one hour per week — not all at the same time (unless you want to). So I have committed to myself to do three 20-minute strength training sessions — via Peloton — per week. I did the first one yesterday and it felt good! In past I have mostly done 10-min "arms and light weights" programs but this was a full-body workout. Hello, squats and planks. So I have my weight training scheduled in my calendar for the next 3 weeks. 20 min on the bike and 20 min with the weights. Just this small change has me (almost) excited to exercise; I hwve been getting a little bored with the bike…which is dumb because there are so many options for programs. I just got into a rut.
Also, listening to Dr Mark Hyman recently and was reminded that the best breakfast includes protein and fat. I had been getting lazy about that recently so it was a good reminder. This morning I had a hard boiled egg, greek yogurt (not low fat), and berries.
I hate those 2-3 lb fluxes.. I know they are natural but I still celebrate when they trend down ;)
My birthday is in 2 weeks-- I'd have to cut off a limb to lose 8-10 lb by then. I do hope to have a healthier attitude by then (regarding weight loss ... but I could use a better attitude in general too lol)
Nicole, I have bought 2 skirts like that-- both inexpensive (target and old navy) but I don't love either one on me. Believe it or not my much shorter NYDJ denim skirt looks much better on me.
Thanks so much for keeping this thread going, Funky. Maintaining is a success! We are all bound to have slips from time to time due to life difficulties, travel, etc.
@barncatz Please do not beat yourself up. You have been going through a very difficult time. I self-medicate with sugar, so I get it. We are all here to support each other.
After I developed long Covid around Christmas, I forced myself to cut most gluten, sugar and alcohol from my diet. It has been hard, and of course I have indulged in those things a time or two. However, when I do I feel so much worse and it takes me a couple of days of rest and clean eating to recover. This has reinforced my functional medicine doctor's view that in those with long Covid, the body is filled with inflammation and anything you can do to cut the inflammation will help.
I am also taking a ton of supplements, and am slowly getting better. I have been able to get back to my 3x per week at Pilates, and my stamina is improving. I am still not able to walk for exercise due to continuing ankle joint pain. DH does the dog walking these days! I would like to lose about 5 pounds, but I don't really fret about it. Being post-menopausal, it all seems to settle in my belly.
I like the green dress and cardi, too. The length is super flattering. Your latest outfit is lovely and you look well-assembled, but not as ”Easter-y” as the dress.
I will be honest and say your original dress does nothing for your figure. It seems perhaps you’re still dressing your former covid shape and haven’t embraced your current slimmer figure.
You look amazing and healthy, and those arms look good, too! Don’t hide inside baggy, shapeless clothes.
A lady behind me wore a hat-she looked cute, but mostly men/boys in cowboys hats BEFORE coming into church.
Love that Ralph Lauren navy wrap tunic, too.
I can't believe that was 18 years ago! Time sure does fly. Thanks for sharing, Kswl! (An ear pick with a compass?)
Around here they are scarce so they’d fetch a good price, certainly higher than Baptists, which are abundant!
😂
I have never had a Circus Peanut. And if their flavor is banana, I never will. I don't care for artificial banana flavoring.
So, Grandma and the Peeps... the siblings have all addressed the sugar issue with her at some point in time. We are all conscientious about sugar consumption among our kids. Grandma has always taken pride in being an outlaw and spoiling her grandkids in ways that sometimes defy the parents' wishes. This is a whole other matter, and I'm not inclined to address an issue that will fall on deaf ears. My adult kids are among the oldest grandkids, and the fact that 75 of the original 80 Peeps are still sitting on the counter, even though said kids have been here the past few days, is a good thing to me. (My oldest scarfed down 5 yesterday, and he's probably had his fill.)
I won't even bother donating them or giving them away. Come Monday, however many are left will go in the trash. I'm the Scrooge of Easter, I guess.
My sweet baby girl (age: 23) gave me an Easter gift!
In case anyone doubted my love for Peeps. 🤣🤣
They ARE marshmallows, Lars - sugar coated marshmallows 😀
I'm not lipstick-savvy, but agree with others that a pinky-coral or nude would look best with that dress, which, btw, is fantastic!
Another thing, if your lipstick is close to the color of the dress, I think it would be overkill. Peony Pink makes the colors put together.
Love the dress ❤️
I know people who have horses, and one, in particular, has shared with me the maintenance. One of his is a male horse, so if you know, you know. He also considered a career as a farrier. Horses don't seem to me to be brush-and-go creatures.
I think horses are beautiful animals, but I've always been afraid of them. I have a fear of being suspended (not of heights, but of suspension, as in ferris wheels). Jilly, the image of you and your DH racing across the pasture makes me queasy. I fell off a horse once as a child, and although I got right back on, as was insisted, it never felt comfortable or natural to ride one. I enjoy them from afar.
My sister road a horse, side saddle in her wedding dress, during her wedding procession. It was lovely.
Jennifer, the music lol
Horses and cats reminded me of one of my favorite ads ever:
Here's part of what I wrote in the thread that Jilly posted above:
I take collagen supplements and hyraluronic acid supplements. I take the collagen for my joints (I notice when I do not take them), and started the HA supplements about 6 months ago. I noticed my eyes have not been as dry over the winter. My facial skin seems thicker and more... plump? Definitely never dry. My neck doesn't seem as crepey as it was starting to become.
And here is a randomized, double-blind study with no stated competing interests that demonstrated the efficacy of oral hyaluronic acid:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10661223/
I'm currently using this product with bakuchiol. It has basic ingredients and is very reasonably priced.
https://www.goodmolecules.com/products/bakuchiol-oil-blend-for-dry-skin?variant=33073002643556
PS I am thinking the disposable eye patches would be used for special occasions when I want to look good. Definitely not a daily thing.
Today is my botox consult! Ironically also the day I see my dentist about the crown that partially broke thanks to teeth grinding. I definitely want the botox for the grinding/TMJ but I could be convinced to do a tiny bit around my eyes…curious to see what she recommends.
@Kswl one of the eye masks I looked at contained caffeine, niacinamides, and some other stuff, most of which is in theEmogene eye serum I already use. I think the masks are substantially the same as using eye cream and plastic wrap. 😆 I think I’ll pass.
I did not realize the Emogene eye serum I use also contains bakuchiol!
The PA I saw yesterday had just had microneedling done the day before. Her skin is gorgeous and she does not wear make-up. I meant to ask her about microneedling for me and forgot.