Wit & Wisdom from a Southern Belle

October Book Update

2009-10-24T01:28:00.006-04:00

I have given up on finishing 50 books before the end of the year...now I am just going to try to read as many as I can... Who knows what may be added to my list by the end of the year...the books seem to keep changing...I have learned my lesson...book challenges are Challenging!

Red = Read, Purple = Reading, Green = Planned for November

Fiction
1 - 4. Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
5. The Cider House Rules by John Irving
6. 1984 by George Orwell
7. Saints at the River by Ron Rash
8. The Shack by William Young
9. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
10. The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve
11. Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe
12. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
13. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
14. Evening by Susan Minot
15. The Constant Gardner by John LeCarre
16. Serena by Ron Rash
17. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
18. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
19. The World Made Straight by Ron Rash

20. The Wilderness by Samantha Harvey

21.Tribute by Nora Roberts

22. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

23. Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

24. Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

25. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

26. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

27. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

Non-Fiction
28.The Devil's Picnic by Taras Grescoe
29. The Canon - A Whirligig Tour of the Beautiful Basics of Science by Natalie Angier
30. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
31. Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
32. Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert
33. The Inner Path of Tai Chi by Caroline Demoise
34. A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
35. Rx for Survival by Philip Hilts
36. A Woman's Guide to Sucessful Negotiating by Lee & Jessica Miller
37. Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn
38. Three Cups of Tea by Mortenson and Relin
39. The Art of War for Women by Chin-ning Chu
40. What I Know Now - Letters to my Younger Self edited by Ellyn Spragins
41. Basic Black by Cathie Black
42. Better by Atul Gawande
43. The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman
44. The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
45. Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand
46. Audition by Barbara Walters
47. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
48. Life is a Verb by Patti Digh
49. The Holy Blood, & The Holy Grail by Lincoln, Lee & Baigent

50. A Home on the Field by Paul Cuadros

National Healthcare IT Week

2009-09-22T23:10:00.003-04:00

I am having a great time in DC this week for National HIT week! DC is exciting with all of the health reform chatter. Today I met a ton of very interesting individuals...more to meet tomorrow. I am keeping my fingers crossed for good weather tomorrow! More on #NHIT tomorrow!

Bee Stings & Grass!

2009-09-13T11:45:00.006-04:00

I haven't fooled with my bees in the past few weeks...until yesterday. I decided it was time for an inspection and more sugar water for my babies. As usual my mother helped me with the task. Either I was not gentle enough or they were simply agitated...but between the two of us we received 5 stings. My mother got 4 stings...ear lobe, foot, and two in the head and I was stung on my right elbow. She wasn't wearing any protective clothing, sat too close and had hair gel on...all no-nos. Her ear is very swollen...I have been teasing her and calling her dumbo...She really hates that!

Yesterday was also full of work. I planted grass seed in the front yard - I hope it will grow. Last year's planting was not that successful. We are considering selling the house and want to make slight improvements, just in case we decide to sell.

Next week...the job hunt continues. My mother has had a few leads and I really hope she finds something in the next few weeks. I think she is ready for a change...after 35+ years of working for the State, I think she is ready for something different for the next 10 years of her working life. I am also ready for a job! I am so sick of people telling me I am over-qualified for some things and that I do not have enough experience for others. I do not understand why HR people do not get the point that skills are transferable and that young, highly educated people ARE capable of doing jobs they have never done before! I'll get off my soap box...and on to other tasks for the day...buy airline ticket...get ready for company that will arrive at 3...and clean!

Last Suntan of the Summer

2009-09-06T17:08:00.003-04:00

Yesterday my arms, neck and shoulders were sunburned while I was outside caulking windows all day. I absolutely hate caulking...and I am terrible at it! How do people make such perfect lines? I am just thankful I bought 50 year caulking - I hope to never do it again!

The weather has turned somewhat cool and I can't wait for fall to arrive! October is my favorite time of year, complete with rustling leaves, crisp breezes and my favorite holiday - Halloween. I haven't decided if I'll dress up or not - I haven't in a few years. That is a few weeks away... I have much to do until then - DC trip, find a job, finish up gerontology field experience, finish up cleaning out the house, and so much more! This year Labor Day will be full of labor...just the bad kind...unpaid :(

Props to Katherine Howe & others

2009-08-16T18:12:00.005-04:00

I went to the library this weekend and picked up a copy of The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe. I have seen this book everywhere and I finally had the opportunity to read it yesterday evening...way on up into the night. I was hooked from the beginning and now I am on page 176 - almost half-way through the book. I highly recommend you all check the book out as well as her website! I am also reading several other books that have reeled me right in - The Ghost Map by Stephen Johnson and The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. I can only dream that one day I will write as well as these authors.

Happy reading all & don't forget that the season premier of Mad Men is tonight at 10!

Ruby on the Style Network

2009-08-12T15:27:00.005-04:00

Generally I am not a fan of reality shows. However, in the past couple of weeks I have discovered the show Ruby on the Style Network, now in its second season. Every Sunday night at 8PM, I have been transported to Savannah, Georgia and tuned into the life of Ruby Gettinger, an obese Southern Belle who is on a journey to loose weight and uncover her past. Ruby has many fun and sassy friends on the show who are supporting her while she sheds some serious poundage. Ruby has already lost a significant amount of weight, down from her high of 716 to her current weight of less than 350 pounds. Viewers get to see how Ruby learns to live a skinnier life and how her blocked childhood memories may be the reason why she is overweight. I highly recommend that you check out this sweet Southern Belle's show.

July book update

2009-07-20T00:59:00.004-04:00

As usual I am behind...but really enjoying what I have read!

Red = Read, Purple = Reading, Green = Planned for July

Fiction
1 - 4. Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
5. The Cider House Rules by John Irving
6. 1984 by George Orwell
7. Saints at the River by Ron Rash
8. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
9. The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
10. The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve
11. Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe
12. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
13. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
14. Evening by Susan Minot
15. The Constant Gardner by John LeCarre
16. Serena by Ron Rash
17. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
18. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
19. The World Made Straight by Ron Rash

20. The Wilderness by Samantha Harvey

21.Tribute by Nora Roberts

22. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

23. Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

24. Cataloochee by Wayne Caldwell

25. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

26. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

27. Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

50. A Home on the Field by Paul Cuadros

Better Stale?

2009-07-09T01:43:00.005-04:00

I believe that there are some things that are better after they become stale. My favorite stale food is Kashi Heart to Heart... love it. I haven't tried the new flavor warm cinnamon oat yet (someone please let me know how it is!). I also love stale corn chips. Some people even like soft drinks better after they are flat...but I prefer the fizz. Since we are on the topic of things getting better as they get older...I want to complain a little. I ordered banana pudding at a restaurant a few days ago. For everyone who isn't a savvy Southern and doesn't know any better... banana pudding should sit overnight BEFORE being served...no crunchy wafers!!! I'll get off of my soapbox and go to bed!

Ramblings

2009-07-08T02:26:00.006-04:00

For whatever reason I have been thinking about some simple things that I love today. For instance I have been thinking about my favorite yet really unhealthy snack, which I haven't had in years - an ice cold Coke in a glass bottle (I swear it tastes much better than Coke from plastic) and a Baby Ruth candy bar. Mmmm...I am getting hungry just thinking about it! I have also been thinking about my new addiction... Swaptree - a site where you can trade books for free (all you pay for is the cost of shipping the book to someone else). I absolutely love it - I have had great luck with all of my trades and I can't wait to trade more. One book that I got through a trade was Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen. I started reading it last week and I think it is one of the best books that I have read in awhile. I liked it so much that I took it outside to read while I was sunbathing...and I got so into the book that I forgot to flip over....so I burned my back and rear end pretty badly. I can't complain though... I'll take a sunburn for a great read any day.

Today I watched most of the Michael Jackson memorial service on TV. I hadn't planned on watching it but I sort of got sucked into watching...It was very interesting but I never thought it would end. Although I really feel for his family...I hope the media frenzy will be over soon - I am sick of hearing about it and I am sure they need a break. I understand that the Billy Mays tribute will be sometime this week. I may check it out...I certainly will miss him in the late night infomericals that I watch when I can't sleep!

Happy Birthday America!

2009-07-04T01:11:00.002-04:00

I wish everyone a very happy 4th of July...full of watermelon, fireworks and fun in the sun!

Media Overload

2009-06-25T23:57:00.007-04:00

The past few weeks have been great for the media. Three notable deaths - Michael Jackson, Farah Fawcett, and Ed McMahon (I imagine Patrick Swayze will soon follow) ...one sad yet hilarious scandal with SC Governor Mark Sanford...oh and don't forget the Jon and Kate + 8 drama! There are other ongoing events that I'd rather not think about...North Korea...Iran...swine flu...but I can't seem to stop listening. If I didn't know better I would say the media has planned these events to coincide with the lull in summer programming -- to me the only descent thing on this summer is Harper's Island and I am sure it will run out of steam soon since nearly everyone has been killed off!

Venting - job search

2009-06-06T02:58:00.006-04:00

I have been out of a job since I finished graduate school. I have been searching for about a year now, with little luck in my area. I have had offers but I would have to leave and move too far away. I am really getting frustrated and discouraged. I am so sick of filling out applications....but I know that I must.

Antiques Road Show Tickets

2009-06-02T21:32:00.005-04:00

I have been cleaning out my house this year and I have found several items that may be valuable. I thought that it would be a good idea to have them appraised but I don't have a how I should go about finding an appraiser. I found out earlier this year that the Antiques Road Show was coming through my state to Raleigh, NC. I was so excited that I could get my items appraised for free! I had never considered going to the show, so I didn't know how ticketing for the event worked. I discovered that tickets are free but are given out through a lottery system. The system is supposed to allow people from all parts of the state attend the show does not state how individuals are selected.

Unfortunately...I didn't get tickets :( I just can't help but think that there are a ton of people who will not be able to make the show at the last minute...to think all those tickets going to waste! I think there has to be a better way to distribute tickets. I would even be willing to pay for tickets. If anyone out there has tickets for the show in Raleigh on June 27th - please let me know!

Challenging Book Challenge

2009-05-31T15:51:00.006-04:00

Once again I am behind on my reading... surprise, surprise. It is my goal to read more this month. I even joined a reading program at my local library. The more books you read, the greater your chances are to win prizes. I hope this will inspire me to read a little more!

Here is my update for the month of June - I have added and removed some books. At the moment I am working on trading some of my books that I do not want for books on my list. I have recently joined swaptree to try and acquire some books that I plan to read in the near future. So far, I really love it!

Red = Read, Purple = Reading, Green = Planned for June

Fiction
1 - 4. Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
5. The Cider House Rules by John Irving
6. 1984 by George Orwell
7. Saints at the River by Ron Rash
8. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
9. The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
10. The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve
11. Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe
12. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
13. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
14. Evening by Susan Minot
15. The Constant Gardner by John LeCarre
16. Serena by Ron Rash
17. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
18. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
19. The World Made Straight by Ron Rash

20. The Wilderness by Samantha Harvey

21.Tribute by Nora Roberts

22. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

23. Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

24. Cataloochee by Wayne Caldwell

25. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

26. The Host by Stephanie Meyer

27. Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

50. The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews

All is well with the bees!

2009-05-30T01:56:00.005-04:00

It is hard to believe... today I have officially been a beekeeper for one month! My two hives -- Minverva and Juno are doing quite well and I have only been stung one time! I have to say that I am thrilled. I am even beginning to get excited about the honey I will hopefully get in the fall. I will be taking a class on honey harvesting in a few weeks at the Brushy Mountain Bee Farm.

How did I ever become interested in this...who knows - I guess it is being unemployed and needing to feel useful. Of course it could be I am just crazy...or perhaps both.

I am thrilled that Haagen-Dazs is continuing to love honeybees! I love their new video ~

busy as a bee

2009-05-08T08:45:00.004-04:00

This spring I decided to do something sort of crazy and really out of character - become a beekeeper. Back in February I joined my local beekeeping association and I started to learn about bees. This past weekend the fun really began when I went to pick up my bees at Brushy Mountain Bee Farm. My mother went with me to pick up my girls (most bees are female). We both were a little scared and very concerned about the first step in the beekeeping process - inserting the bees into the hive. I had the pleasure of "pouring" the bees into the hive, which was a very odd experience. I survived and so did my mother - check out the pictures. No stings...yet! We are both much more comfortable around bees and we can't wait to check on the bees after leaving them alone for one week - a necessity so they can get settled into their new homes. So far I would recommend beekeeping to any newbies out there who may be considering this unique hobby.

Planting trees

2009-04-24T00:25:00.004-04:00

For the first time ever, I am planting trees in my yard. I went a little crazy and purchased more trees than I should have! Today decided on placement and dug the holes for four trees that will be in the front yard. In the front yard there will be a cherry tree (dwarf stella), a golden chain tree and two hydrangea trees (bushes pruned to be trees). In the backyard somewhere I plan to plant the following fruit trees: Mayhaw, Pomegranate, Paw Paw (2), Persimmon, and Mulberry. Digging should be interesting.

Last year my my garden didn't do all that well. Melons did the best so, this year I decided to go with what worked last year. I also purchased too many melon seeds - white pumpkin, orange watermelon, yellow watermelon, red watermelon and about six different varieties of canteloupe. If it ever stops raining I'll be creating a ton of hills for my seedlings. I also plan to plant a few tomato and hot pepper plants. Wish me luck!

April Book Update

2009-04-04T01:44:00.005-04:00

I am sad to say...I am still behind in reading! I really do not have high hopes for April either...I do not expect my schedule to slow down until early May. Red = Read, Purple = Reading, Green=Planned for April

Fiction
1 - 4. Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
5. The Cider House Rules by John Irving
6. 1984 by George Orwell
7. Saints at the River by Ron Rash
8. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
9. The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
10. The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve
11. Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe
12. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
13. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
14. Evening by Susan Minot
15. The Constant Gardner by John LeCarre
16. Serena by Ron Rash - Book club add on for May
17. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
18. The House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne - Book Club for April
19. - 25. Harry Potter Series
50. Tribute by Nora Roberts

Non-Fiction
26.The Devil's Picnic by Taras Grescoe
27. The Canon - A Whirligig Tour of the Beautiful Basics of Science by Natalie Angier
28. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
29. Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
30. Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert
31. The Inner Path of Tai Chi by Caroline Demoise
32. A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
33. Rx for Survival by Philip Hilts
34. A Woman's Guide to Sucessful Negotiating by Lee & Jessica Miller
35. Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn
36. The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews
37. The Art of War for Women by Chin-ning Chu
38. What I Know Now - Letters to my Younger Self edited by Ellyn Spragins
39. Basic Black by Cathie Black
40. Better by Atul Gawande
41. The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman
42. The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
43. Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand
44. Audition by Barbara Walters
45. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
46. Life is a Verb by Patti Digh
47. The Holy Blood, & The Holy Grail by Lincoln, Lee & Baigent
48.
49.

Junkin'!

2009-03-21T16:50:00.006-04:00

Since the economy tanked in 2008, I have noticed that that people have been selling things left and right. People are having large yard sales and junk stores are opening up on every corner. Today I went junkin' at several yard sales and a new junk shop. I bought a few items, mostly functional items that I just couldn't live without. If I could only find the time to get rid of all the junk in my garage and basement...

Today while junkin' i remembered one of my favorite television shows that is no longer on the air - Junkin' with Val and Dave. Why do they always take the good stuff off the air??

St. Patrick's Day 2009

2009-03-17T01:20:00.003-04:00

My second favorite holiday is St. Paddy's day! Unfortunately, where I live there aren't any festive parades or celebrations (perhaps a pub in the Unifour area could start one!). The highlights of today will be going to my local public library to see Irish Dancers from the NC School for the Deaf and watching QVC's Irish extravaganza (Ya know I love my Irish sweaters and jewelry).

I may also go shopping for some St. Patrick's Day decorations that should be on sale. I realized this year that I don't have nearly enough green for this important holiday!

Soap!

2009-03-08T00:09:00.007-05:00

For the past several months I have been trying to find a small business that I can run on the side while I work (I WILL have a job soon!). I want the business to be fun, creative and relatively easy. I have been thinking about a homemade soap business. I know that many people sell homemade soap all over the world as well as online. So, my head has been churning about how I can make the most unique and the best soap in the world. I am not sharing my bright ideas here...but I think I have a few great ideas that will give me a competitive advantage. The only problem is - I have never made soap before! So tonight I played around with melt and pour soap - the easiest type of soap making. (Melt and pour soap is soap that has already been made you are just shaping and scenting it). I had fun and learned a great deal from my first experience. I created St. Patrick's Day soap (glycerin with a green apple scent) and an exfoliating shea butter bar with lavender vanilla scent (I do not like this scent). I hope to keep on experimenting...I knew that I should have paid more attention in chemistry class!

Update on my 50 book challenge

2009-02-28T02:50:00.005-05:00

OK - it is the end of February. By now I should have read 8 or 9 books this year for my 50 book challenge. Has it happened? Well...no - I have only completed 5 books and I am currently reading 2. I have been really busy and haven't put the effort into reading lately. I honeslty haven't felt like it. I have made several additions to my list and it is still growing. I shall do better in March! I also need to catch up on my book reviews - I have 3 reviews to write to catch up!

Fiction
1 - 4. Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer 2 out of 4 completed - Finish in March
5. The Cider House Rules by John Irving Done - January
6. 1984 by George Orwell
7. Saints at the River by Ron Rash
8. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
9. The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
10. The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve
11. Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe
12. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
13. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
14. Evening by Susan Minot
15. The Constant Gardner by John LeCarre
16. Serena by Ron Rash - Book club add on for May
17. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates - Book Club Selection For March - Reading NOW
18. The House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne - Book Club for April - March
19. - 25. Harry Potter Series
50. Tribute by Nora Roberts - Done!

Non-Fiction
26.The Devil's Picnic by Taras Grescoe
27. The Canon - A Whirligig Tour of the Beautiful Basics of Science by Natalie Angier
28. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell - March
29. Blink by Malcolm Gladwell - March
30. Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert
31. The Inner Path of Tai Chi by Caroline Demoise
32. A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
33. Rx for Survival by Philip Hilts
34. A Woman's Guide to Sucessful Negotiating by Lee & Jessica Miller
35. Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn
36. The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews
37. The Art of War for Women by Chin-ning Chu
38. What I Know Now - Letters to my Younger Self edited by Ellyn Spragins
39. Basic Black by Cathie Black
40. Better by Atul Gawande
41. The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman
42. The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
43. Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand
44. Audition by Barbara Walters
45. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell - DONE!
46. Life is a Verb by Patti Digh - Reading through and completing exercises Author's site
47. The Holy Blood, & The Holy Grail by Lincoln, Lee & Baigent
48.
49.

Mushrooms!

2009-02-23T01:12:00.004-05:00

I don't even eat mushrooms....but I now know how to grow them. This past Friday I went to a local mushroom farm, Muddy Creek Mushroom Farm, to learn how to grow shiitake mushrooms. I had a great time! I learned along with many other people, the processing of innoculating oak logs with spores. It was physically challenging work - drilling holes, filling holes with spores, and covering holes with wax. I do not think I am cut out to be a large scale mushroom farmer. However, it was really interesting to experience the mushroom growing process. Mushrooms and truffles are up and coming industries in NC, slowly replacing cash crops such as tobacco. I can't wait to see what the future holds for growers!

I was shocked to see that I was quoted in the local paper regarding my mushroom experience! http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/feb/21/made-shade/

Take the time to watch the short video on the site too!

Krispy Kreme - In Trouble?

2009-02-10T15:08:00.005-05:00

I heard today that one of the best Southern companies - Krispy Kreme, may be in trouble. Krispy Kreme started in Winston-Salem, NC back in the 1960's and they have stores in many countries around the world. I personally have never had a doughnut that comes close to Krispy Kreme - even beignets from Cafe Du Monde in New Olreans pale in comparison in my book.

Krispy Kreme has been offering many new products and has given away many free doughnuts this past year. On election day and inaguation day, they offered one free doughnut per customer. Krispy Kreme has always given kids one free doughnut on halloween. However, this year was the first year that I noticed that they offered doughnuts in shapes - pumpkins, stars and now hearts for valentine's day. They are even producing smaller sized dougnuts they call minis. Lately I have seen coupons appearing in my local newspaper. I am definitely going to start buying more dougnuts because I want Krispy Kreme to stay in business. I encourage everyone else to do the same! I hope you will buy your valentine some doughnuts - certain stores are giving away 12 Valentine's Day cards for a free doughnut with the purchase of a dozen doughnuts.

If you haven't tried Krispy Kreme's....what are you waiting for?

The quest for bread and milk

2009-02-02T15:52:00.003-05:00

I woke up this morning and learned that snow is likely in the next few days. In the part of the South where I live, the foothills of the NC mountains, we tend to panic when we hear that snow is coming. Most Southerners immediately run to the grocery store to get two essential items - bread and milk - regardless of how much snow is coming. It is the strangest phenomena - bread and milk even sells out at some stores before a snowfall. Why bread and milk? Most people do not even get other helpful things like canned goods or items that can be eaten without cooking, in case power lines are down. Well...I better go play my part and get my bread and milk!

Deer

2009-01-20T01:17:00.003-05:00

For the past several weeks we have been having deer come into our yard - in broad daylight - to eat our grass. I am fascinated that they are willing to get so close to humans - someone must be feeding them in our area. I know it is wrong and dangerous to feed wild animals, but I can't help but think that I could give them water or food! I certainly do not want to attract other animals that are roaming around here - this past fall a coyote approached me during the middle of the day. I have no desire to see him again.

Yesterday I found this really interesting Youtube video of deer playing in the snow that is really relaxing ~

NO Fast food challenge!

2009-01-07T02:35:00.004-05:00

I can't sleep and I am craving some good greasy food. One of my new year's resolutions is to stop eating fast food - entirely! So far I have made it 7 days! I need to go out and celebrate my accomplishment....I'd love to go to a fast food place! I read someone's blog that they made it about 190 days....how long will I last?

What is it that attracts us to fast food? I swear there are "addiction chemicals" in the food that have us craving more. It can't be the quality of the food...I can make much better food than they serve. Right now I really want a double cheeseburger, fries and iced coffee from McDonald's! They are open 24 hours too! I have to travel in a few weeks...whatever will I do?? I keep telling myself that nothing tastes as good as looking good feels. Chant this...I can't take this pressure!

OK...I am going crazy...I am going to have to think about the definition of what a "fast food" place really is...maybe then I'll make it through this year!

Year of Productivity in the Midst of Chaos

2009-01-03T14:58:00.003-05:00

One of my resolutions for 2009 is to be more productive. By the end of last year, I had slacked off in my school work, job search, cleaning, and home improvement tasks. This year I have started fresh, with new energy. I have been cleaning out, organizing and throwing away more things than I could have ever imagined. I am even tempted to go through my shoe collection - Yikes!

One of my other resolutions is to keep up with my email & mail correspondence. Right now I am doing better than usual - only 275 emails to deal with and only a dozen letters to write!

If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it!

50 Book Challenge Picks - Help me find more!

2009-01-02T20:18:00.007-05:00

I have picked the following books for my 50 book challenge. Any recommendations for the remaining spots? I am reading 25 fiction and 25 non-fiction.

Fiction

1 - 4. Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer

5. The Cider House Rules by John Irving

6. 1984 by George Orwell

7. Saints at the River by Ron Rash

8. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

9. The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

10. The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve

11. Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe

12. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier

13. East of Eden by John Steinbeck

14. Evening by Susan Minot

15. The Constant Gardner by John LeCarre

16.-25. ??????

Non-Fiction

26.The Devil's Picnic by Taras Grescoe

27. The Canon - A Whirligig Tour of the Beautiful Basics of Science by Natalie Angier

28. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

29. Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

30. Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert

31. The Inner Path of Tai Chi by Caroline Demoise

32. A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

33. Rx for Survival by Philip Hilts

34. A Woman's Guide to Sucessful Negotiating by Lee & Jessica Miller

35. Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn

36. The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews

37. The Art of War for Women by Chin-ning Chu

38. What I Know Now - Letters to my Younger Self edited by Ellyn Spragins

39. Basic Black by Cathie Black

40. Better by Atul Gawande

41. The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman

42. The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

43. Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand

44. Audition by Barbara Walters

45. - 50. ?????

Any suggestions???

Chicken Poop!

2009-01-02T20:07:00.003-05:00

Hands down, the best present I received for Christmas was Chicken Poop...chapstick that is. It is all natural chapstick that does not contain any poop. Aside from its catchy name, it is really a great product. I can't wait to try other products by the company like Good Gravey. Check out the company https://www.ilovechickenpoop.com/

I Caved!

2008-12-30T21:07:00.002-05:00

I finally bought Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. I am trying not to buy books since I own so many books that I have not read. I plan on starting Twilight tonight - It will be the first pick for the 50 book challenge. I have heard the book moves quickly and is captivating...we will see!

2009 50 book challenge

2008-12-27T17:42:00.003-05:00

In 2009 I am going to read more. I am taking on a 50 book challenge, and given my busy schedule, it will be a great challenge! I estimate that I have about 2,000 books in my house - it is about time I start reading them! Part of my challenge is that I cannot buy books to read for the challenge - I must read what I have or borrow books from the library or from friends. I am working on putting together my list of books to read. Right now it seems non-fiction heavy...so I need to find some fiction books to add to my list.

Any suggestions?

Year of Death & the Death Diet

2008-12-27T14:18:00.006-05:00

I have always heard that death comes in 3's...but I am not so sure. This year there have been 6 deaths in my family - my grandfather, my father, two great uncles, one great aunt, and a cousin - and the year isn't over. We have had many more friends and acquaintances to die as well this year. I also have several terminally ill friends and frail relatives that I don't expect to hang on much longer.

I had hoped that there would be no more deaths this year...but I was wrong. This morning my great aunt died. My mother and I were planning on going to see her next week, but instead we will be going to her funeral. I am so sick of funerals, death and sad tears. When will it end?

Several weeks ago someone noticed that I had lost weight - about 30 lbs. They wanted to know how I had accomplished this great feat. I simply said the "death diet." They didn't know quite what to say to me. It was the truth...death and grief have caused my mother and I to loose about 30 pounds each. Although we have had a rough year, I can imagine that there are other people that have had an even more tragic year.

It is my sincere hope that 2009 will have fewer deaths (I am not so naive as to wish for no deaths) and that my family and friends are happy and healthy.

A Long Hiatus!

2008-12-26T17:57:00.005-05:00

I have taken a little break from blogging...but now I am back! I plan on posting several times a week (hopefully more).

Last night (Christmas) my mother and I saw the move The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I was really impressed - I hope to see it again soon, and I might even purchase the DVD. The movie touches on many subjects, which are important to us all - aging, death, happiness, destiny. It is sad at times, but really touching. It was very long and left feeling like I need to see the film again to see what I missed. Cate and Brad did a great job with this one!

After I came home from the movie I got online to see if I could find the original short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I found it, but it was very short and very different than the movie. Overall, I really liked the movie much better. I was also inspired to learn more about buttons and button making. Fitzgerald would be proud to have a movie inspired by his work in 2008!

New grocery store products

2008-03-26T13:10:00.007-04:00

I went shopping earlier in the week and I found several new products in the grocery store...some were very interesting.

Dial has a new product line for women- soaps/bath wash with a moisturizing yogurt protein. I can't really say that the soap is any better than other soaps - my hands are only slightly more moisturized. The soap comes in two scents - vanilla honey and aloe vera. I really like the vanilla honey scent, but I think it is sort of strange to wash your hands with yogurt protein. Overall the product is not bad and is reasonably priced, but I doubt it will be on the market very long - I have seen no advertising and I don't know anyone else using it.

I also purchased scrubbing bubbles action scrubber. I cleaned my bathtub and sink with this product and I love it! It is much easier to use than a rag and a cleaner and it cut down on my scrubbing time. I will definitely continue to use it! The website is also offering a $1.00 coupon for the product. http://www.scrubbingbubbles.com/coupon/2008-02-AMG/

I saw two interesting products that I decided not to purchase. Townhouse is offering new crackers called FlipSides - they are a cracker on one side and a pretzel on the other. I didn't purchase these because I don't think that I would like it I like my crackers and pretzels separate, thank you!

I was looking for my favorite ice cream - Haagen Dazs Bailey's Irish Cream when I saw their new Limited Edition flavor - Green Tea. I drink green tea and I like it but I don't think I want green tea ice cream. I may try it in the future because it is so different. I took at look at the Haagen Dazs website and discovered something really interesting - they are trying to raise awareness about the disappearance of bees on their new site http://helpthehoneybees.com/. The site is really interesting and includes free wallpaper and a screen saver. You can even design your own bee. Check it out!

Book Inspires me to Give Second Life a Second Chance!

2008-03-16T00:34:00.003-04:00

Au’s book is inspiring! Admittedly, I have always been curious, yet skeptical about Second Life. I have never taken the time to really explore the virtual world –sure, I have logged in a few times, but I have never really “lived” in SL. After getting a glimpse behind the scenes at SL, I am completely in awe of what can be accomplished in SL. I am left with more questions than answers…and as Martha would say, that is a good thing! My avatar is now ready to explore SL for the second time! I now have ideas about places I would like to visit and businesses I would like to start! I am incredibly busy at the moment but I plan to re-visit Second Life in a few weeks.

I'd like to thank Harper Collins for this book - it was the first book I recieved from the First Look Book program - http://www.firstlookbooks.com/ I wish other publishers would start programs like First Look!

Curves

2008-03-10T01:54:00.003-04:00

Several weeks ago I received a coupon for a free month at Curves for myself and a friend. I asked a friend to join me and we tried out a local Curves. We both ended up joining. My friend seems to really like the circuit training and going to the facility works with her schedule, even though she hasn't lost any weight. I however, am not completely convinced that I like the circuit training. I am accustomed to using a health club and I haven't quite gotten used to Curves. I really want to use an elliptical machine at times and I miss water aerobics! However, I seem to be losing weight...so I decided to keep doing the program. I am not really certain that Curves is the reason why I lost weight. I am taking a medication that lists weight loss as a side effect, so it could be the medication. I have lost approximately five pounds and I haven't changed my eating habits.

I'll keep everyone posted on the weight loss and Curves.

Earth Shoes

2008-02-23T11:44:00.006-05:00

For several years now I have been thinking about buying some Earth Shoes in hopes that my feet and body would feel better. I finally took the plunge a couple weeks ago and bought the Battu Pacific Nubuck Shoe online. The shoes arrived last week and I have been trying them out. I am still trying to get used to the negative heel technology, where your heels are slightly lower than your toes. I haven't had the chance to run or take a long walk with them - I hope that will happen in the next few weeks.

Overall, I think most of the Earth shoes are really ugly--but I am OK with the Battu I bought. They are certainly not the most attractive pair of shoes I own, but they are not nearly as ugly as some of the older Earth shoe styles. I actually really like some of the new styles in their Spring 2008 collection. I really like the following shoes: Stunning, Enchant, and ChaCha. I just hate that they are so expensive - I don't really understand why they feel the need to charge $120.00 a pair - I am sure they are made in China, so they can't be that expensive to produce! With all the money they are making they should be able to design gorgeous shoes!

I guess I should be grateful that I no longer have to really search for shoes every chance I get. I wear a women's size 11, medium, and in the pre- Internet era it was a struggle to find shoes that I liked and that fit. Thanks for existing Zappos, ShoeBuy and 6PM!

Living Smart book Review

2008-02-22T12:54:00.004-05:00

Here is my latest review and is posted on most online bookstores as well as LT. It is not a "fun" book, but is nonethless very useful.

--------

Living Smart: Five Essential Skills to Change your Health Habits Forever
By Joshua Klapow and Sheri Pruitt

Not Your Typical Smart Goals

4 stars

Overall, this book is as interesting and as motivating as a book can be about health behavior modification. In graduate school I took a required course in health behavior and health education, which I found to be dreadfully boring and for the most part, unhelpful. In the class I learned the traditional SMART acronym (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely) for setting goals. Hands down, I believe this SMART system (Set a goal, Monitor your progress, Arrange your world for success, Recruit a support team, and Treat yourself) will be more effective at motivating individuals to make changes in their health than traditional SMART goals. I only wish I had used this book in the course I took in graduate school – it would have made the class so much more interesting and useful in my everyday life!

Second Life

2008-02-21T14:07:00.003-05:00

I just received a book about Second Life to review - I am looking forward to it, even though it is not my typical choice of a book. I just realized that I haven't really heard that much in the news about SL recently. SO - I decided to check out their website http://secondlife.com/. I haven't actually used the service in over a year and even then, I think I only logged on several times just to see what all the hype was about. I didn't have the time then (and don't now) to play with my avitar to see if I really like interacting in a virtual world. Perhaps I will soon...I saw that SL now has a new (or new to me) service, Second Life GRID that allows organizations, schools and nonprofit orgs to have their own virtual space to work and play. Anyone use SL Grid? How useful is it to ordinary, non-technical people? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Wendy's Fish Sandwich & more

2008-02-11T02:02:00.000-05:00

Today I tried Wendy's new Premium Fish Sandwich. First of all, I don't get what is so "premium" about it. I recall eating cafeteria fish sandwiches in school that were better than this! It wasn't horrible by any means...but it certainly wasn't worth the 3.00 I paid for it. My advice, if you like fish sandwiches try other places that are cheaper like Burger King & McDonalds. For now, I'll stick with my usual chioices, Mandarin Chicken Salad or the Chicken Grill. By the way, Wendy's is now selling breakfast at certain locations around the country. Overall the breakfast is good, but just be prepared for the square biscuits - very odd!

The Winter Rose

2008-02-05T22:29:00.000-05:00

I was a little apprehensive about reading this daunting 700 page novel for two reasons. First, I hadn’t read the prequel, The Tea Rose. Secondly, this was the first historical romance novel that I have read. Despite these facts, I jumped into the book feet first, and when I did, I discovered that for the most part, it was worth spending weeks reading it. Some critics have called this book an early 20th century soap opera and I agree – I love soap operas, they help me escape from my reality.

I enjoyed getting to know the characters and reading about adventures in England, Africa and America. In particular, I liked getting acquainted with the newly minted female physician, India Selwyn Jones and I enjoyed reading about her quest to find love. I look forward to reading Donnelly’s next novel, The Wild Rose –I just hope it is more concise.

4 Stars

The Perfect Valentine's Day Gift

2008-02-05T20:54:00.000-05:00

My latest book review for "The Break-Up Diet" by Annette Fix. Although it has little to do with dieting, I still give it 4 stars. More reviews to come soon - I am on a roll!

Annette Fix's memoir is a wake-up call to women - stop banking on your five year plan that includes that oh so perfect man. In an instant, your life can change leaving you to pick up the pieces. In the book, Annette shows the reader that picking up the pieces after a break-up is painful- yet can be done and that it IS possible to move on. Annette's memoir is also inspirational, encouraging women to pursue their dreams...even if it means doing things in the meantime that are not ideal, like topless dancing. By writing The Break-Up Diet Annette has fulfilled her dream.

I thoroughly enjoyed Annette's style and wit in The Break-Up Diet - I sped through the book in no time. I was quite surprised that I related to her story even though I am a southern belle, leading a vastly different lifestyle than the Orange County supermom. I am also impressed with the book's companion website - http://www.thebreak-updiet.com/. I am already looking forward to her next endeavor but, next time, please cool it with the too-cute chapter titles and recipes, they were over the top!

New Philosophy Products

2008-02-01T22:40:00.000-05:00

Philosophy has just come out with inspirational, fruity scents. I just ordered a few products and I am impressed. The scents are lemonade, pomegranate, tangerine, lime and grapefruit. The shower gels produce a great deal of foam and the lip gloss is silky, not gooey. Tangerine is my favorite.

I typically order my Philosophy products from the company website or from Sephora. Sephora often has tons of free samples to give away and shipping over 75.00 is always free. I have purchased items from QVC, but I really don't like paying for shipping or taxes.

Overall, I love philosophy! I just wish the products were less expensive and came in smaller sizes (for gifts). Also, I hate that several products that I love have been discontinued over the years - especially guru!

Library Thing & Upcoming Book Reviews

2008-01-26T22:07:00.000-05:00

I would like to thank Library Thing and contributing publishers for giving me the opportunity to review several books. I don't know how you all select reviewers, but it seems to be working for me - I have been selected for two books.

I will be reviewing the following in the next few weeks:

The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly - currently reading & is great -- just 700 pages long!
The Break-Up Diet: A Memoir by Annette Fix - the website is great! http://www.thebreak-updiet.com/

Book Review: The Arthritis Handbook - Osteoarthritis

2008-01-26T22:01:00.000-05:00

Here is my review of The Arthritis Handbook by Grant Cooper:

4 stars

Encouragement to Take Charge of Osteoarthritis

In The Arthritis Handbook Dr. Cooper presents a take charge approach for individuals suffering with osteoarthritis. His plan focuses on managing the symptoms of osteoarthritis using nutrition, exercise, and dietary supplements, while recommending surgery and medication only when other approaches have failed. I am most impressed that Dr. Cooper recommends complimentary approaches to managing arthritis such as the practice of Tai Chi, which is also endorsed by the Arthritis Foundation.

The book is not a typical arthritis help book – it is peppered with personal and cultural references that are as informative as they are amusing. The book also includes a glossary to help readers understand medical terminology and a list of websites for readers to learn more about osteoarthritis. Overall, the best aspect of the book is that it encourages patients to communicate with healthcare professionals, and notes key times when patients should seek professional advice.

Despite the fact that the information in the book is sound, the book is somewhat disorganized and at times seems to be addressing two separate audiences. Also, I would have liked to have seen a detailed reference list of the studies described in the book. Ultimately these stylistic shortfalls do not detract from the promising message of the book – osteoarthritis can be managed by lifestyle changes that are described in the book.

Book Reviews

2008-01-17T15:38:00.001-05:00

I have recently started reviewing books - It is great hobby, too bad it doesn't pay! I plan to post my reviews here in addition to posting on Amazon, B&N, etc.

Catching Fireflies

2007-07-12T23:16:00.000-04:00

Tonight I went outside to check on my plants and on a whim I decided to try and catch fireflies in a jar. Despite the fact that our yard was peppered with these insects, I only managed to catch two in a jar. I eventually let them go... I think I am getting too old to catch the critters...they are so hard to see and move to fast! Most of all, I loved to watch them glow in unison. I was pleasantly surprised at how fun this activity was - I'll have to try it more often and not wait 15 years until I try it again!

Smart Makeup - Fact or Fiction?

2007-07-11T02:39:00.000-04:00

I never could have imagined a makeup that would change colors based on your skin color...but Almay has created it - Smart Shade! I actually bought it on a whim but since using it I have read and heard so many good things about it. I used it today for the first time and I was impressed! It goes on white and turns to your perfect skin color. It looks very natural and stays on long. It is not all that thick and would be perfect to wear at the beach - it has SPF 15. I saw on their website that they make Smart Shade bronzer and blush. I'll have to check them out too. For most of my life I have used either Clinique or Lancome...perhaps it is time to change.

Can't get motivated

2007-07-09T18:59:00.000-04:00

Now that I have time to work on some work, I am not motivated. Instead I have the desire to sleep and to read. I have started several books...only one has really intrigued me - Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier. I was not a huge fan of Frazier's first novel Cold Mountain, but this book is much more appealing to me. I was also not crazy over the movie Cold Mountain. I especially didn't like Nicole Kidman in the movie - she should have practiced her Southern accent a little more - she was horrible. Renee Zellweger was excellent though! While reading Thirteen Moons, I can't help but wonder who will play the characters in the movie.

This Blog

2007-07-07T07:55:00.001-04:00

I guess I really haven't explained this blog and how it came to be... A friend of mine from Uzbekistan and I were chatting one day and he started talking about Southern "bellies" and I had no clue what he meant. At first I thought he meant the bellies of Southern people, since we eat all kinds of unhealthy food and nearly everything is fried in the South. It dawned on me that he was talking about Southern belles and he didn't know the "e" was silent. I thought this was so funny that it inspired me to create this blog - "southern bellies."

Since I am on the subject of bellies, I was in a Barnes and Noble yesterday and it seems that nearly young woman I saw was pregnant! It was very odd to say the least - I just hope it isn't in the water!

Peacock Murdered - must have been a Southerner!

2007-07-03T00:04:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite quotes from the 80's show Designing Women is "...this is the South and we're proud of our crazy people. We don't hide them up in the attic. We bring 'em right down to the living room and show 'em off. See, Phyllis, no one in the South ever asks if you have crazy people in your family. They just ask what side they're on."

Today I thought of this quote when I read a man brutally killed a Peacock because he said it was a vampire. To read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070701/ap_on_fe_st/odd_peacock_attacked

I immediately thought this man has to be Southern - he has got to be crazy- he isn't just one of those unfriendly & odd yankees. For those of you that don't know Southerners exhibit a special kind of crazy. Some call this Southern eccentricity, but let's face it - it's craziness! Great examples of this type of craziness can be found in the book/movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - A must read for anyone thinking of moving to the South.

It's OK to be a little nerdy...well somewhat

2007-06-30T23:57:00.000-04:00

Ya'll,

Recently some of my friends made fun of me for watching educational shows on TV. They have even gone so far as to call me a nerd! Admittedly, I am fond of watching shows like Forensic Files, Cities of the Underworld, Naked Science and Little People Big World. But it is not as if I watch only "educational" shows! I also enjoy Nip/Tuck, ER, Medium, Grey's Anatomy, and Brothers and Sisters. Hell, I even have to watch my soaps - One Life to Live & General Hospital! Sometimes you can't help but watch some stuff that isn't exactly mainstream with all the reruns and crappy reality shows on the air. I urge everyone to rebel and watch some educational shows...soon you'll be addicted too! I am just glad my friends don't know what I read...they really would think I was nerdy if they knew my taste in books.

T