New Toys....New Toys

I had dinner last night with a niece, newly graduated from college with a degree in Nursing, her boyfriend, and his sister. I'm about 25 years older than them, but I have such a delightful time when included in their fun! The girls and I met at a nail salon. In our area, there's one on every corner of a main block, it seems. We got mani's, I got a pedi (old feet NEED them) and the boyfriend watched amused. They graciously accompanied me on a brief 2 block walk to drop in on a great nephew, the 5 year old....who wanted us to visit for a minute so he could tell us about his day at school. Conversation never lagged during dinner, and when we were about to go, I asked for directions to the new Walmart that had been built about 5 towns away. (Yep, it's the ONLY one in the County). We're not deprived, we have every other store/mall imaginable. Just not a Walmart. Well, I have been cooking up a storm lately, and wishing I had some basic tools I see in magazines, other peoples blogs, etc. I bravely whipped out a credit card and took the leap into the 21st Century of Cooking. I bought a stand mixer (with the dough hooks) AND a food processor. Yep, I didn't go nuts and get the Kitchen Aid I lust after every time Pioneer Woman posts a pic on her blog, but I'm happy with the Sunbeam. and I did get both for under $150, so I won't be going into debt (grin).

I promised to make a few cakes for a Church supper tomorrow night, so I am raring to open the boxes and get mixing! I just wanted to take a few minutes and catch up here first.
What's your favorite kitchen 'toy' and what do you make with it? MC

Bloggers and Blogging and BlogReading, OH MY!

In a previous post, I wrote about
http://lifeisgood-mc.blogspot.com/2009/10/ok-now-im-hungry.html
reading Julia Childs book, My Life in France.   (I do have to learn how to make words into links...  anyone have a simple explanation?)  It was interesting, and made me hungry!  Well, today I watched the movie Julia and Julie.  It was cute, and definitely worth a rental!  (Thank God for Netflix on snow logged days)

It's been a good weekend, (so far).  Friday night a much beloved niece graduated from college, with a major in Nursing.  There was a lovely ceremony for just the Nursing department grads.  Afterwards, there was a family party.  Everyone was relaxed and really seemed to have a great time.  Saturday was shopping in the next state, at this HUGE mall.  I've been looking for a converter to play my old VHS-C sized home movies in a regular VCR, so I can get someone to load them onto DVD's for me.  I hate the technology change overs....especially when it's old home movies.  I've already done the Super 8 to VCR conversions in the 80's  LOL   Isn't once enough?  Anyway,  Best Buy had one!  SCORE!  I helped a faux niece find a lovely dress for New Years Eve, she's a TALL girl, and everything seems like a micro mini on her....  this dress was short, but cute, a liitle formal but she looked like a million in it.  Isn't it great that I can get as excited over her dress as I would be if I had found one????  We hit a coat outlet, where she found a Micheal Kors long coat, and her sister found a dressy P  Coat style, so shopping was a success.  We went to a family party (the faux family) and saw folks I haven't seen in a year or two, and came back to our state to watch the Devils hockey game on a big screen.  I left for home about 10p, just as the snow was really hitting!  After a quick stop to ShopRite for snacks for today, I hunkered in.    

I got up today, dug out the car, scrubbed the bathroom, (oh the mundane chores of life) and read blogs for a LONG time.  I watched 2 movies while I played on the computer.  I am now (seriously) going to log off and write Christmas cards.  If they don't hit the mail tomorrow morning, they'll turn into New Years cards!!!  Thanks to all the interesting peopkle who blog....  You made my day!   Hope you all had a relaxing weekend, are staying (or getting) stree free for the holiday, and are taking time to enjoy the 'now'!  MC

Gadget Magic

Sometimes, as I wander through a store, I'll find something (usually inexpensive) that makes me say  I wish I'd thought of that!!!!  So, when it happens, I'll post my finds under the title Gadget Magic and share them with you all!  Today, I found this

What is it, you may ask?  It's Socket Splitter...  costs about $3.50 in Walmart, made by a company called Bell Automotive.  You plug the plug on the left into the cigarette lighter/utility socket in your car, and voila! Now you have two sockets to use.  I NEVER remember to charge my GPS until I'm lost and I dig it out from under the front seat where I hide it from valet parkers and car robbers.  Like, they would NEVER think of looking there... but, I digress....  As always, when I'm lost, I need the GPS AND my phone to call whomever I'm supposed to meet to tell them I'm late and lost.  This frequently involves plugging in my phone, also.  Which, until I found this, meant plugging in one and unplugging the other, back and forth!  So, for less than 4 dollars, I can have an extra thing to stick in my glove compartment for emergencies....which, may (ahem) actually be a need for GPS and an IPOD on a road trip.  C'mon, 'fess up.  Did you know such a thing exists?  AND you never told me?????   What odd little thing have you found shopping that made your life easier, simpler, or just more fun?  How much was it, and Where can I get one?

I love my New Shoes!

One of the best things about losing a lot of weight is that you have an excuse to shop.  Seriously,  to shop!  Nothing fits except whats new.  During the rapid weight loss phase, I shopped Goodwill, other people's closets,  the clearance racks at Wallmart and KMart and any other Mart I could find.  I wore things too big, too long, too tight, anything , as long as it covered me and didn't let body parts hang out.  I've been the same size for almost 5 months now, so this may be where I am settling in.  I could lose a few more pounds, and I might, but size wise, it will probably be here in this size.  I wrote the other day about going shoe shopping with a friend from work, one of the women I eat lunch with.  Here are the shoes I got:

They are Dansko clogs, with a back!  The pattern makes them go with so many outfits, and they are so comfortable!  I had to facilitate a dinner for 50 after work on Tuesday, so I needed to wear a suit and shoes that would carry me from dawn to midnight and be comfortable.  I can't speak in public if I'm fidgeting wtih my clothes or wearing cruel shoes.  OK, I can, but I really hate it. 

I, however, have always loved shoes.  I've had to give up heels a long time ago, due to knee troubles, but I can appreciate a lovely pair a Jimmy Choo's as well as the next girl!  My shoes are almost always flats, but I have heel envy.  I think pumps look soooo professional peeking out from a really sharp pair of trousers.  Spiky heels elongate a leg, and who doesn't want long legs????  (I'm 5'3" (and a half))  I miss heels, but not the pain.  So, I've adjusted to flats, and low heels.

As far as the changes go, the friends I went shopping with told me she always wanted to see Italy, but had no one to go with...  and she knew I traveled a lot, and would I want to go next year...  wow...  something to think about!  I've also visited a dating site, checked it out.  I'm not ready to plunk down some cash and fill out all the surveys, but I'm getting there!  My skin's looking better with all the makeup and moisturizer and such, and the new haircut got a ton of compliments at the dinner.  Changes are happening! 

Do you/did you have a favorite pair of shoes?  Why did you love them?

Progress Report!

OK,  it's slow and steady, but progress has been made!  I wore makeup everyday for the past week and a half  (well, at least, I wore it to work...)   I dug out a tailored suit, and wore it to a meeting.  More than one person remarked how great I looked!  I went shopping to the outlet malls in my state, and tried on a zillion outfits, and bought 2 new suits.  They fit well  (That, in itself, it so damn amazing!), and I'm happy with them.  I got them in a store called  Kasper.  Apparently, that's the line name as well.  One's a muted olive green, almost a brown from a distance, with a skirt, as well as pants.  The second is a grey pinstripe with a creamy light peach silk blouse. They're classic styling, and will go from fall to winter easily.  Today I went to the mall and bought a pair of shoes I had my eye on for the past week.  I'm getting a kick out of these clothes binges.  It wasn't so far back I was limited to whatever Lane Bryant and the Avenue had, and it wasn't much!  Now, I can walk into almost any store and find something I like in MY size.  Wahoo!!! 
  OK, back to the progress.  After a meeting today, I asked a colleague if she wanted to go the mall after work and give me an opinion on some shoes.  We could grab a bite afterwards.  I had a good time shopping with her, and I was proud of my attempt to make a friend.  Granted, it was someone I've known forever at work, but we had never shopped together before, so I still get points! 
   I'm beginning to see my mall as one of my 'happy places'.  I don't always have to buy stuff.  I just like walking around, looking in the store windows, getting some exercise in a climate controlled, (warm and dry) environment, and people watching.  I have a cafe I like, and frequently will sit, have a nice cuppa tea, and watch the world go by.  It's peaceful.   Barnes and Noble is another one of my 'happy places'.  Even if I don't buy a book, I like browsing and the cafe. hmmmm, this could be a pattern.  Where's your happy place?