No Sugar Update and Other Stuff

Hi All,

I just wanted to touch base and tell you how the "no sugar" lifestyle is going.  I'm not going to say it has been easy or that I am doing things perfectly, but I am monitoring myself more and I feel better already.  It isn't as hard for me to give up bread carbs as it is to go without sugar.  I don't know why that is, but I think they call it addiction for a reason.  It is hard to give up sugar!  Anyway, I find that I am relying on natural sugars from fruits and veggies to tame my cravings.  I did address that in my previous post and I decided to do fruits in moderation, and not cut them out altogether.  Any hoo, Audra and I did a quick stop at Target today to get her snacks for the week.  These are a couple of items she picked up and I think they signify that autumn is in the air!!

On the other hand, I will not be indulging in the deliciousness of fall.  I am going to give you an awesome recipe that I made this evening.  Don't judge it until you try it.  I made this up and my family loves it!  Audra had already eaten a complete dinner when I pulled this out of the oven.  She ate again.  I don't know where the girl puts all the food.

Assemble the ingredients:

Half of a package of Lipton Onion Soup Mix (dry)

1 8oz can of crushed pineapple with juice drained

1 splash soy sauce (told you I made it up)

1 pkg Jennie-O Ground Turkey Breast

1/2 white onion diced

1 Log Fresh Mozzarella (this one had some kind of spices and oil packed in it)

2 slices white bread soaked in a couple tablespoons milk (I used gluten free, but you don't have to)

1 Pkg large mushroom caps (2 per package)

** I only bought one package of mushroom caps because I figured Audra would want hers on a bun or bread.  I was wrong, she ate the mushroom one.  She commented that she doesn't even like mushrooms and it was delicious.  

I mixed all the ingredients in a bowl, leaving the mozzarella out so I could top the meat with it later and melt it.  If you chunked it and put it in the meat, it would be delicious too.

Then form into meatloaf, burgers and/or top mushroom caps.

Bake 350 degrees for 20 minutes, then I topped with a red bell pepper that I wanted to use up and cheese.  Let it melt for another 5-7 minutes.  I couldn't get them to stop eating the meat.  I really wanted to save it for leftovers because we have a busy week coming up.  I think I will name the meal "Hawaiian Turkey Burgers."

I also made roasted sweet potatoes and carrots and steamed some broccoli.  Here are my lunches for the week and Audra's dinner for tomorrow night.  Voila!! Yum!!

Here is a shout out to all of our friends in Florida.  I know they are getting hit with the hurricane as I type this post and am thankful to hear that Irma may be losing some of her punch.  Let's keep praying for Florida and our friends in Mexico who withstood a devastating earthquake this week.

Have a great week.  Let's try to have a complete week without a major weather event!!

Casual Lunch with Friends

Hi All,  This is my first outfit of the day post.  I thought I would share what I wore to lunch with my college girlfriends today.  We had a ton of fun and I look forward to this outing every year.

Shirt   Converse Sneakers   Jeans   Necklace   Earrings

I don't know if you will agree, but I find that if I visit the actual store, the price on the items is exponentially cheaper than buying it online.  The necklace is $21.99 online, but I paid a little more than $9 for it at the store.  The shirt is adorable with bell sleeves that make it really modern.  This is a size large and I wish I had bought it in a medium.  I bought the navy in a medium and it sort of stretches out a little when I wear it, so downsizing is smart.  When washed, the cotton/modal material holds up well and doesn't lose shape at all.  

This picture was taken at my mother's house and you can see my sister's house in the background.  It is under construction, and I have enjoyed watching the renovation all summer long.  She lives across the street right now, and is moving on the other side of my mother.  I told her that she has mother issues.

I promise the picture quality will get better.  I hate blurry, fuzzy pictures.

Audra's bike has been in the driveway all summer.  She uses my mother's bike all summer, and had an unfortunate brake line failure the other day.  The cable broke, and thankfully, was still able to use the other brake to stop.  She texted me that she needed me to buy her a new bike.  She has been angling for a new bike for many years, but I can't justify it for the 6 weeks a year that we spend in Connecticut.  So, I was very happy when the bike shop was able to fix it for $15.  I call that a win!  I don't think Audra would agree.  She wants a beach cruiser (not!).

5 Under $5

     On the heels of my Favorite Things post, I decided to share some amazing products that I use daily that don't break the bank.  Each item I use retails for under $5 and I use them every day and cannot live without.  Again, I am not being paid to sponsor or endorse any of these products.

Goody Ouchless Hair Elastics

     In case you see my hairdresser, please don't tell her.  I have been doing nothing to my hair this whole summer.  I have curly, processed hair that usually gets put through some pretty harsh heat styling on a daily basis.  Summertime is the one exception.  I generally pull it back, wet or dry, and forget about it.  I don't have too many social outings that take me away from the beach, so the ponytail/bun look is totally acceptable.  That's where these hair elastics come to the rescue.  I don't know about you, but if the elastic is too thick and heavy, it weighs down the pony tail.  To solve the droop problem, I secure the elastic a lot tighter and get a major headache by the end of the day.  These little plastic puppies are perfect because I can secure it high or low and it never budges and  doesn't get tangled in my locks when I take it out at night.  They are light weight and come in colors, so they don't show in your hair.  I bought the black and it works with my hair color, but I could also get away with the brown or the clear.  They are made of smooth plastic and come is a variety of sizes depending on the thickness of your hair.  I have less hair as time goes on (let's not even go there), so the smaller size works well for me.   This actually works to my advantage because Audra needs the mack daddy of all hair ties for her thick mane of hair, so shucks, we can't share them.  Anything we seems to share, I seem to come out on the losing end of, so these babies are in my drawer.  I guess it really doesn't matter because the package of 400 was only $1.99.  I could afford to take two!  I bought mine at Marshall's.  I snapped them up when I spied them in that impulse section right by the cash registers.  I do see they are more expensive at Target but still under $5.  

Goody Ouchless Hair Elastics

     

Burt's Bees Peppermint Lip Balm

      This product is really the balm!!  I have been having a problem lately with dry mouth and, after extensive research, have figured out that it is causing my lips to become chapped and very irritated.  So, I spent a fortune on lip creams, balms and even resorted to using a lanolin based product that nursing mothers use on cracked nipples.  None of them solved my problem until I reached for my daughter's tube of Burt's Bees Peppermint Lip Balm.  I don't know if it is the vitamin E or the peppermint oil that calms the irritation immediately and seems to protect my lips from stinging when I eat very spicy foods.  I have used an entire tube this summer and cannot live without it.  It retails for around $3 a tube, but multi-packs offer more savings.

Burt's Bees Peppermint Lip Balm

NYX Makeup Setter in Matte Finish

     I wear makeup daily, and this product was a game changer for me.  Previously, I was finding that my makeup was wearing away during the day.  Surprisingly, I would wash my face in the evening to find very little foundation would be left on my face from the day.  I am careful not to touch my face ever, but was often embarrassed when a smudge of foundation would transfer to to a person's shirt when I went in for a hug.  That's when I took the advise of another blogger, and looked into makeup setter.  I learned to spray the setter first, before applying my foundation, to set the stage for a budge-free finish.  Then I apply all my makeup and spray again.  The key is to spray four times on top of makeup, once in all directions, to set the full face.  It has never failed me and I get comments all the time from co-workers about how fresh I still look at the end of the day.  No more smudge transfers to clothing either!  I purchase the matte finish because I don't like to look shiny, but they do have a dewy finish that I may have to try eventually.   When I started buying the product, it retailed for around $5.  Probably due to major popularity, the price has gone up a little bit, but don't despair, it's name brand counterparts, like Urban Decay All Nighter, boast a price tag of $15 or more.  Yikes!! This is a product I use daily and cannot live without.

NYC Makeup Setting Spray

Sock Liners from GAP Factory

     These sock liners are amazing.  Let's be real here for a minute, I have a size 10 foot and most socks are snug (at best).  I have even had to buy some men's socks to get a proper fit, but this isn't the case with these beauties.  They are women's shoe liners and for all purposes, are no show socks.  I love the extra padding on the bottom of the sock, but it doesn't seem to take up any additional room in my shoe.  I am now wearing these with all of my sneakers and shoes.  I will be wearing flats to work soon and these save my pedicure from being ruined and also keep my feet comfortable without any sign of rubbing or chance of foot irritation during the day.  I love wearing a thin stockings like these because my feet don't get as tired as I am walking the school hallways and, not to get gross, no foot odor can arise, like when you are sporting your converse barefoot.  Joy!!  The price online is $6.99, but I scored them for $2.27 because I had an additional 10 percent off and redeemed some rewards.  Your price in the store would be $4.99, but here is the real kicker.  I opened the package thinking there was one pair, and to my surprise, there were two pairs of socks in each package.  So, I got 6 pairs for a whopping $6.81.  Score!!

Women's Sock Liner

                                        

Gold Disk Earrings

     As an avid style watcher, I have noticed that statement earrings are all the rage.  Who doesn't love a good door knocker hanging from your ear, right?  Any hoo, I was naturally obsessed with the earrings seen on my favorite reality television shows.  I won't admit bore you with how low I have stooped with regard the old boob tube.  I am trying to make it right and say it is for research purposes only, but that would be a lie.  I will do a post about the withdrawal I suffer because I am planning to clean up my viewing act.  Here is an example of the pair of earrings that caught my eye most recently.

Lisi Lerch Disk Gold Earrings $95

So, I am walking through Walmart the other day and stopped dead in my tracks when I spied a gold disk earring on a display round.  At a whopping $2.88, I couldn't stop myself.  I have enjoyed wearing them this summer. I was concerned about the weight of some of the large earrings out there.  I wouldn't want anything heavy that would pull on the lobes.  These Walmart wonders are light as a feather.  Yay me!!

As an aside, and not part of the 5 under $5 theme, I thought I should mention a great product to help with heavy earrings pulling on the lobes.  I recognized I had a problem with my lobes stretching when I started wearing Kendra Scott Jewelry.  My daughter turned me on to the Lobe Wonder that we buy right at the Kendra Scott store.  They are little patches for the back of the ear to support and not pull on the lobes while you wear your favorite torture devices earrings.  They range in price from $6-$15 and it looks like there are around 60 patches in the box.  Here are some options.

Claire's Version but also sold at Walmart

Kendra Scott

Charming Charlie

My Favorite Products Summer 2017

      I am spending time with friends and family this summer and recently compiled a list of my favorite things.  I am excited to share these gems with you and hope you try them and love them as much as I do.  I know that a product is a keeper when I share it with my sister and mother and they start using it too (they are a tough crew!).  I am going to share five wonderful products, that by the way, I am not getting any payment for endorsing.  Sit back, relax and enjoy my favorite things for the summer of 2017.

Karma Wellness Water

     My friend, Liz, introduced me to Karma water and I am in love with this product.  It is full of  A, E, D, and B vitamins and probiotics.  It comes in awesome flavors like pineapple coconut. berry cherry, acai pomberry, and strawberry lemonade, to name a few.  I bought these at CVS for between $1.50 - $2.00 per bottle.  The calorie count is around 20-30 calories for the entire bottle and my daughter is obsessed with the packaging.  You have to lift the label on the lid and then press a button to release the dry mixture into the water.  You shake well and then drink.  It is very portable and I am sure that I will stock my refrigerator in my classroom with these drinks to quell the late afternoon sweet attacks that are sure to strike.  I also love that these drinks are not sickeningly sweet. They are more like a water with a hint of flavor.

Karma Wellness Water on Amazon

Confidence in a Cream

     I would consider this product to be a splurge at $48 for 2 fluid ounces.  It claims to rejuvenate skin with a creamy emollience that softens skin, but doesn't make it greasy.  I am 52 years old (that's probably too much information about a person that you just met, right?) and find that I am dehydrated regularly (more TMI) and my skin will often appear crepey and dry (don't go visual!).  I started using this awesome product last winter because my skin was feeling tight and cranky.  The assault on my skin was caused by the addition of the dry heat inside as the temperatures outside plummeted.  I like to keep the house warm during the day (much to my husband's chagrin), probably around 78 degrees and it was taking a toll on my skin.  With one use, my face immediately felt less stressed and my skin felt soft to the touch.   It also didn't interfere with my foundation that I applied over the Confidence Cream.  Sometimes, my foundation will separate or disintegrate when I use greasy products that claimed mega-hydration.  So, I was super skeptical when this product claimed to be emollient, which is really code for greasy.  Nope, it was like I gave my skin a huge drink of comfort.  I don't have a problem with large pores, so that is a claim that I'm uncertain about.  I have average sized pores and the cream didn't settle in the pores or create acne, like some of the other emollient creams I've tried. It also claims to make skin appear younger and make fine lines and wrinkles decrease.  I would agree with this claim.  I feel my skin looks younger as a function of it being well moisturized without excess grease.  If there is one product that you must try, this one is it.

Confidence in a Cream

Jergen's Bronzer

     Okay, I took a different approach to tanning this summer.  Since I spend the summer on the Connecticut shore, I was feeling a little pale when we showed up at the end of June.  I am a teacher and my skin hadn't seen the light of day since the previous summer, so I decided to take matters into my own hands and "fake bake" until I was able to achieve the real sun kissed glow I desired.  I used this great bronzing foam that was easy to spread and soaked into my skin, creating quite a realistic tan in one application.  I was not offended by the smell and did take the time to exfoliate before attempting to slather my whole body in this luscious foam.  It worked like a charm.  I was comfortable enough to wear shorts and sport the old tankini on the beach the very same day!  I still use it to even out my tan.  I find myself sitting my bottom on the beach chair and not moving until it is time to head home.  That being said, the back of my legs don't get much color, so I slather some more foam on after my shower and voila, an even tan. Love, love, love it!!! The price is around $9 and is worth every penny.  My daughter caught me using the bronzer and I now have to wrestle her to the ground to get a handful or two.  I recommend you hide it if you have any female teenagers in the house.  We do laugh at our brown palms if we don't wash our hands quick enough.

Benefit Cosmetics "Precisely My Brow" Eyebrow Pencil

    I don't know about you, but our Ulta store boasts very little in the way of customer service.  The reason I mention this is because the stars must have aligned the day we hit Ulta in Old Saybook.  It was music to my ears when the sales person actually asked if she could assist us with anything.  My sister stepped up with her priority list and the sales person worked some kind of magic on her eyebrows.  Being the older and bossier sister (she calls it "leadership skills"), she insisted I get in the chair and have the lady fill in my brows with this magic pencil made by Benefit.  I was sold!! It was the perfect color and camouflaged the sparse hairs that I once called eyebrows.  Again, I'm told that this is perfectly normal for a woman of my age, but I'm here to tell you that the hair that used to be on my head and eyebrows is now showing up on my chin and neck.  Don't know what that is all about, but I'm just going with it.  This Benefit product is awesome.  I just outline the shape I want the brow to be, fill it in with the pencil and then use the other brush end of the product to smudge it and make it look very natural.  I am using the color #3.  Audra, who is much darker, scored a pencil in color #4.  I must have lost my mind that day because the pencil, or should I call it gold, retails for $24.  The pencil comes in 6 shades, so there is surely a color for everyone.  I will let you know if I find a cheaper dupe out there for this product.

Rosehip Oil

     It really seems like this blog should be about my favorite anti-aging products.  From a very reliable source (Women's Day Magazine), I learned that rose hip oil helps re-hydrate the thin skin under the eyes that seems to get thinner as I get older.  I noticed a huge problem with my under eye skin when I used thicker concealer to disguise my dark circles.  The thick concealer really settled into the fine lines under my eyes and made a huge mess and if I added any powder, I looked like the bride of Frankenstein.  So I took the advice of my trusty grocery store rag and started applying rose hip oil that I secured from Whole Foods and was satisfied that the oil was stamped "organic."  I have later learned from my sister that I need to make sure that I purchase pure rose hip oil that has not been laced with any filler oils (referred to as carrier oils).  Yada yada.  I have been amazed with the level of hydration I was able to achieve with just a couple drops of this very concentrated oil.  It is nothing short of miraculous.  My thin, crepey eye skin has flattened out and even plumped up a little. It takes the concealer wonderfully and I even mix it with my concealer if I am using a really thick one like Bye Bye Under Eye.  That stuff is like spackle and I only use it in emergency situations, like the nights I lie awake in bed even though I am dog tired and don't catch a single wink of sleep.  This goes on for nights on end, and the doctor thinks it's some consolation when she tells me it's part of menopause.  I digress, use the rose hip oil and trust me when I tell you that it works wonders.

I hope you enjoyed my 5 favorite products!!  After I finished this post, I feel like I should write an entire blog just dedicated to the subject of aging and menopause.  I would have enough material to keep me busy for years!!  Let me know what some of your fave products are by commenting below. Hope you are having a blessed summer!!

Thrifting

From Left to Right: Steve (bro in law), My Mom, Audra (my daughter, age 15), Laurie (my sister and Steve's wife)

Me and Audra enjoying a mother/daughter photo opportunity!  She indulges me when I take her on these wild goose chases.  She laughed a lot today because her Uncle Steve wouldn't stop talking.  I told him that he was ruining my thrifting experience.

     We decided to go to a local antique shop in Essex, Connecticut that gets new inventory every week from estate sales.  I dub my mother the winner of the day with some really interesting pieces that I am excited to share with you.  She found a Wedgewood set of china that includes service for 12 with dinner plates, cups, saucers, dessert plates, salad plates, and a large beautiful oval serving platter to boot.  It was priced reasonably at $150 and we later found out on the internet that it is a discontinued pattern and the name of it is Kutani Crane.  The following picture is one I found on the internet, but I am also including the photos of the actual pieces she scored. We laughed because to us it looked like a peacock, not a crane. 

     I was so excited for mom because she really does not buy much for herself or the home, but I could tell she was lusting after this delicately colorful set with the most beautiful bird at the center of the design.  It looks gorgeous in her home that is a mixture of neutral tones with grey tones and white cupboards, built ins and trim.  There is a perfect bank of cabinets in the kitchen that serve as china storage and I am planning to decorate  them with these lovely dishes so they are on display and will make mom happy every day when she looks at them.  Now that she is living in Connecticut full time, after spending a couple of winters in Dallas with us, she will happily set the holiday table and enjoy the china for years to come.

    It appears there are some replacement pieces out there and they are going for a pretty penny on ebay.  Here is just a couple of examples of what the pieces are selling for currently.

     Here are the pieces after a good washing.  They even came with the dust covers which can be expensive to buy them at the store.

The bird is my favorite.

Already looks great in her house.

The oval platter is my favorite!

     Mom showed me her next find and I wasn't sure what to make of it until we looked it up on the internet.  She scored a Mikimoto frame for $5.  Here is the beauty in it's original box with tag and satin lining.  

Found several of these on ebay and they are asking $50-$90.

     I hesitate to quote these ebay prices because they are asking prices, not the actual amount that the item will be sold for, but I was encouraged to see that we got a great deal at $5!!

Happy thrifting!!

Are We Alone?

     Ok, before I give my husband access to the blog, I thought I would talk about my shoe obsession share my philosophy about shopping and fashion.  I am a lover of fashion because I love to play dress up and accessorize on a regular basis for work and pleasure.  I am 5'7" tall and wear a standard size medium in tops and an 8/10 in skirts and pants.  This affords me the pleasure of being able to shop
"off the rack" and throw caution to the wind without a worry that anything will need to be altered or hemmed.  I mention this because my maternal grandmother could buy nothing without alterations and always envied those of us who could shop with reckless abandon and buy and return on a whim.

     My birthday is September 27 and I am a libra which means that I am attracted to pretty things, but my sensible side doesn't like to spend a lot of money.  So, I like hunt for my treasures because handing them to me on a silver platter would somehow seem dissatisfying.

     I am fortunate to have some free time this summer and especially enjoy shopping at the nearby TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Clinton Outlets and Westbrook Outlets and thought I would share some pictures of a few treasures I have found in my travels.

    I will be going to a brunch or, as it is properly named, "The Hunt Breakfast" on July 16th at the beautiful Griswold Inn located in picturesque Essex, Connecticut.  If  you would like to check out the venue or menu, here is the link:

       http://griswoldinn.com/food-wine/sunday-hunt-breakfast/

     This is the outfit that I plan to wear to the event. The shirt is casual with rolled sleeves and is a basic. I paired it with this beautiful striped pencil skirt with side slits from Ann Taylor Loft in Westbrook ($17.99).  Told you I love a good bargain.

    The earrings are from Kendra Scott.  If you haven't heard of Kendra Scott, she is a jewelry designer from Austin, Texas and her baubles are all the rage.  People in other parts of the country weren't familiar with her designs, but lately I'm seeing everyone on television and social media wearing her incredibly versatile pieces.  Nordstrom carries portions of her line, but for the full line check out her website at the link below.  We are lucky enough to have a Kendra Scott store in Plano, Texas where we live full time.

    I chose to wear wedge heels with the outfit which makes me the jolly green giant, so I would opt for a pair of flat sandals like the ones pictured below if I were attending the event with my husband.

Tee Shirt 
Kendra Scott Bracelet/Earrings
Wedge Sandals
Tassel Necklace, skirt Ann Taylor Loft (no website available)

                                             
 Jessica Simpson Sandals from Marshals

                               
Kate Spade Sandals with Tassels from TJ Maxx $36.00 (love)

Embellished Sandals TJ Maxx

     I wear a size 10 shoe and I just happened to hit the jackpot with the beauties.  There was a large
selection of footwear at the stores we were at, but I am particularly loving the Kate Spade black tassel sandals.  I will wear these a ton for work.

     Since I am still getting the hang of blogging, I have gotten the product links to work but need to improve the quality of those.  I will include more pictures of people in upcoming posts because I enjoy seeing the fashions on real people, but for now enjoy the goodies and happy shopping!