How Embracing Yoga Has Positively Changed My Life-Part I

In my youth I avoided yoga as something only crunchy vegetarian tree huggers practiced. It seemed foreign and inaccessible to a klutzy, ungraceful woman who embraced daily wine, a USDA prime steak so rare it mooed, and couldn’t imagine twisting my body into the pretzel like shapes shown in magazine ads. 

Then in the spring of 2002 I looked in the mirror and saw I’d lost my muscle tone, gained the post 40 fifteen pounds and considered that I’d experienced excruciating back pain for no apparent reason. It was time to act if I wanted to enjoy life to my chosen age of 96.

So I joined a fitness center that included various toning, Pilates, aerobic and yoga classes.  I decided to give yoga a try. The classes available that fit within my schedule were a more advanced power yoga class and a more gentle Hatha class.

These classes weren’t easy; I struggled; but I found that I’d been completely misguided about yoga.

 

There was no expectation that I immediately contort my body into inaccessible poses. Instead, I found that true practitioners of yoga encourage one to accept what one can do on any given day, understand that all bodies are created differently and some bodies are not physically capable of all poses, and that I needed to do what was right for me on any given day.

I kept going back. The environment wasn’t ideal at a mixed-use fitness center. Yoga was not the focus, only an offering among many fitness options. The instructors were not certified yoga practitioners / teachers. But, I learned a lot and decided that this was a path for me to embrace a holistic approach to mind, spirit and body health.

Starting My 2nd Re-upholstery Project

Even though I purchased the fabric for this project last spring, I’ve procrastinated. There were other projects that needed my attention over the summer such as spreading mulch, painting the interior of the house and pulling up ceramic tiles in the laundry room and kitchen.  And, I found out just how much work it takes to remove move than 1000 staples, keep track of fabric pieces and then re-assemble a wing chair.

I discovered why it costs so much to have a wing chair recovered. The instructions that I’d found online and You Tube videos provided some guidance. However, my chairs were custom made 25 years ago and I knew I would be dissatisfied with the results if I took short cuts. I also knew that if the job did not look professionally done my husband would not allow the chair in our living space. Better a cat defaced heirloom quality chair than an obvious DYI that screams “good enough for government work”!

My first project turned out great for a first effort. But that chair sits in my office, the darkest room in the house where nobody is likely to see the flaws. This chair, however, accents our family room where it will be on display to all who come calling. So there is a bit more pressure to kick it up a notch.

At least I’ve learned some valuable lessons from round one. Buy extra fabric.  Mark each piece of fabric as it is removed – the order and location. Use the pieces carefully removed from the chair as pattern pieces and cut the fabric generously.  Be cognizant of the fabric design and measure, measure, measure to ensure the design is centered and all pieces are laid out in the same direction! Do not rely on a staple gun, staples and glue alone.  To get the fabric pulled tight it is necessary to use upholstery thread and needle and hand sew the pieces together on the chair. Trim can hide minor mistakes. A nice throw can also disguise minor flaws.

So I started this evening during Jeopardy and managed to remove the bottom back pieces in about 2 hours. That’s why I’ve put this off. I now know just how much time and effort this project will require. But I know now that I can do this and that I will be pleased with the result at a fraction of the price of a new chair with cotton/linen fabric.  So tallyho!

Everyday Heroes & Heroines – My Sister!

 

I truly believe that each of us are privileged to know and love everyday heroes and heroines – not those that exhibit bravery in extraordinary circumstances – but the unsung brave who fight everyday to survive in an inhospitable, sometime unfair world.  These are not athletes, movie stars, television personalities or military fighters. Instead they are people that are faced with adversity or challenges that get up every morning, get out of bed and just take the next step no matter how painful.

A little more than 10 years ago a diagnostic exam noted a lump in one of her breasts. She scheduled a lumpectomy. A lumpectomy is an ordinary procedure undergone by thousands of women throughout the world daily. Some women receive scary results. Others are relieved. My sister was relieved. The lump was benign.

However, the procedure that required general anesthesia caused a latent autoimmune disease to come alive – lupus. It took several years to diagnose, caused her to lose weight she couldn’t afford to lose, turned its dastardly attention to her pancreas & digestive system, awakened celiac disease, and caused her to face days, weeks, months, and years of uncertainty.

Once her myriad of doctors ruled out every other potential cause of her deteriorating condition, they determined she had lupus and finally found a pharmaceutical cocktail that could make life tolerable.

Most people in her shoes would have succumbed to the fear, the frustration, and loss and curled up into a ball of denial or self-pity or embraced the concept of disability. But she did not.  She refused to accept that a disease would cause her to give up a career she loved as a PhD and teacher; that she could not be there for her children; that she should just give up on life and be a shell of what she strived so hard to accomplish.

So she underwent experimental treatment, continued to teach, researched recipes and prepared food for her family that she couldn’t eat, traveled to seminars and family events and took her own food, celebrated small victories and refused to give into defeat.

Last Friday her doctor told her she needed emergency surgery. Her daughter, my niece, was scheduled to be married 8 days later. Delaying the surgery could have been catastrophic. So she scheduled the surgery for Monday and knew she would press through the adversity and be there for her daughter on Saturday.

Fortunately, she has some amazing friends that gave love, support and encouragement.  She pushed through the pain, made the decision to celebrate life, ensure the wedding went forward as scheduled and caused everybody who knows her to admire the fortitude, dedication to family and love of her children.

We are sisters and have had our disagreement, arguments and misunderstandings over the years. However, I can think of nobody that I admire more as an everyday heroine.

Still On The Quest For The Perfect Jeans

I'm still on a quest to find the perfect jeans. Of course, what defines "perfect" has morphed over the years with changes in fabric technology and my aging physique. At the age of 32 I could make any garment work. But during that phase I had abandoned jeans for more sophisticated fashion during my days in Hong Kong...a time when " smart casual" jokingly meant "sans tiara" 😎

Once I'd returned to "real life" jeans once again became part of my wardrobe. But it wasn't until I moved to the country and started working from home full time that I divested my closet of all of my suits, donated anything that required dry-cleaning or ironing( except my 19th Century fashions), and settled into a life consisting primarily of denim and leggings.

Comfort and fit are key. At 56 I can still rock a pair of skinny jeans and have no intention of giving up on fashion to resort to mom jeans or those LL Bean "comfort waist" abominations. So, I've been experimenting and can report that there are numerous options for women of a certain age.

1) my favorite jeans so far for fit, style and comfort: Joe's mid rise Vintage 1971 ankle jeans. I could sleep in these and I feel terrific wearing them. Expensive, but watch for sales.
2) NYDJ skinny jeans have the right amount of stretch for comfort and are flattering for adults;
3) Paige premium denim skinny jeans were the most expensive; but hey! I'm worth it!
4) Madewell jeans fit great, are comfortable and reasonably priced. My 22 year old niece recommended Madewell and I highly recommend them for women of all ages.
5) Chico's designs some stylish jeans with a bit of stretch and some bling.
6) Talbots keeps trying but still hasn't gotten it quite right. A good option on sale.
7) LL Bean flannel lined strait leg jeans are just perfect for clearing the driveway after a snow storm. But, these jeans are utilitarian.

No doubt there are other fabulous options. I've heard great things about AG. But I can't bring myself to pay over $200 for denim. Perhaps if I were one to keep only one or two pair on hand; but that isn't me. I want options.

So, what do you recommend? I'd love some feedback and recommendations!

My Niece Is Getting Married 10/10~ Where Did The Years Go?

My 22-year-old niece is getting married October 10^th. She has grown into a beautiful, thoughtful, smart, self-assured young woman who knows what she wants.  She has an honest, straightforward relationship with her husband to be that many far older would envy.  I wish then years of happiness.

It is difficult to believe that the baby I held during her Baptism is now an adult getting prepared to raise her own family. I have fond memories of her sitting next to me at a holiday dinner and removing my earrings to affix them to her own ears; of bending over with her butt up in the air in front of the fireplace painting her toenails at the age of 3; of my dragging her to the National Gallery, Mount Vernon, the National Cathedral, and the Gettysburg National Battlefield with the promise if a visit to a nearby outlet mall as a carrot.  But she always had an insightful comment or thought to share at each cultural site about George Washington’s architectural design sense, the difficulty of sculpting a gargoyle, the perspective of Fra Lippo Lippi’s painting, or the benefits of holding the high ground in a battle.

We’ve had our times of closeness and separation over time and geography that is a natural part of family and life. But I am proud of the young woman she has become and thrilled to be a part of her special day.

It seems like only yesterday that she was a child – as if I blinked my eyes and the years passed in a whirl. But that is why I’ve learned to enjoy each moment and savor each feeling, experience, sight, sound and smell. It is all so fleeing. But I am intent on embracing each moment and celebrating each milestone with my whole being – hoping that my experience, strength and hope will give some guidance to the next generation.

Here’s to Katy & Trey! Wishing a long, happy, joyful, prosperous life filled with love and abundance.

Estee Lauder Lost Me As a Customer by Making Kendall Jenner Its New “FACE”

Estee Lauder has every right to retain Kendall Jenner as its new “FACE” and spokes model. And I, as a member of the discerning cosmetics buying public, have the same right to boycott Estee Lauder for its misstep in selecting a member of the untalented, publicity hungry, tasteless Kardashian/Jenner clan to represent the brand. Estee Lauder has plummeted to the depth of tastelessness in pursuing this relationship.

Okay- so maybe Estee Lauder doesn’t care that it has lost my business. But I can state with absolute certainty that there are other women of taste that are looking for other options to fulfill their cosmetics needs as a result of this misstep.

Fortunately, I’ve found a BB Cream that will more than adequately replace my previously  “ go to “ Estee Lauder Double Wear All Day Glow BB cream. – the Smashbox Camera Ready BB Water SPF 30!  Were it not for the Estee Lauder decision to pander to the unwashed masses that watch reality TV and more than likely cannot afford Estee Lauder cosmetics, I would not have strayed and found this marvelous product.

So ultimately, I should be grateful to Estee Lauder for making such an unfortunate marketing decision. This gave me the impetus to search out new products that better suit my needs and the image I want to project.

Now, I need to research replacements for my previous "go to" Clinique products since this brand is also owned by Estee Lauder. I just cannot support the concept of "faux celebrity".