Yesterday my 5 year old saw the boxed up Easy -Bake oven that my older daughter (almost 16) had used. I am trying to get my car, house, and yard cleaned up and I didn't want to get any major projects started. I don't think the baking will be as big or an ordeal as I'm making it out to be, and she is so ridiculously excited, we will probably be baking sooner rather than later.

Problem...the outrageously expensive mixes.

Solution:Google!

http://pinterest.com/chloeu/easy-bake-oven-recipes/


http://www.eborecipes.com/

I so appreciate people who take the time and make the effort to look good and smell good. I know it isn't for MY PLEASURE that make themselves nicer to be around, but it is interesting to think of it like that. 

I am still trying to lose weight. I keep having setbacks with health issues that make it hard to get my exercise in and stress issues that make me turn to food for comfort sometimes. Nothing like it used to be, though. 

I want to lose at least a little more weight.  I want to get rid of some midriff fat. If I can get my waist down to 32, that will be great. That is what Dr. Qz said should be my maximum. Waist size is a lot more important than weight. I carry SO MUCH fat around my midsection. I imagine fat is crowding my organs. I expect I have a very large omentum, like the big one Dr. Oz displayed on his show. 

Right this moment, I feel very sick. I am at the Y playing with my daughter. She is making me a pretend pizza. I did spend an hour on the treadmill and  just a few minutes on the rowing machine. I have had 2 bottles of water today. I have eaten well, and not too much. I have a migraine and just took some medicine for it. I have no makeup on and my hair is in a single braid down my back. So, at this moment, I pretty much look like crap. I just want to go home and go to bed, but I should have at least put on some eyebrow pencil, eyeliner, and mascara and some of my Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in "Watermelon". I guess I should cut myself some slack on these days. When I feel badly, I often rub my face and eyes and would smear makeup.

But if I had felt well today, I would have taken a shower after I worked out and spent a few minutes on makeup and put on some fragrance.  I know some people are sensitive, but I think a little bit should be okay. I was in an elevator yesterday and it smelled very strongly of some man's fragrance, and nobody was in there! That was a bit much, I think. I took a shower last night and washed my hair before I went to bed. I liberally applied "Shower to Shower" deodorant body powder.  I didn't sweat much on the treadmill and I think nobody will be smelling any BO coming off of me before I get home and take a shower. 

I heard it say that the French think it is ill-mannered to go out without making yourself attractive for those who have to look at you. I think it would be ill-mannered of someone to think badly of me for the way I look today, because I am really too sick to go to any pains with my appearance. 

Yesterday I saw a young woman in a whole set of flannel pajamas at Wal-mart. She didn't look sick to me.  I have thrown a coat over my nightgown before when I have made a medication run to the pharmacy. But that is not my usual routine.

It is really just as important for me to look good for MYSELF as it is for me to look good for others. When I look good and smell good, I feel good, or at least BETTER than I would not fixed up.


I have accumulated a pretty good wardrobe for the moment. I think when I lose weight, I will try to alter some of my favorite clothes I am wearing now. I pay very little for clothes at the thrift store and I get some VERY nice things. I need to spend more money on pantyhose, underwear, shapewear. Shapewear makes a HUGE difference. My measurements don't line up to any size chart. My bust and belly are my biggest parts...my hips and thighs are much smaller. I expect to have to take a lot of things in to make my clothes really flattering. 

I need to make friends with my sewing machine and I need to have my alterations lady do the tricky things,like resetting shoulders for me when I have lost some weight. 

My daughter got a prom dress at the Thriftstore for $20 and I am trying to hem it and take in the bodice myself. My son has a forensics tournament coming up and I got a Ralph Lauren Navy blazer (one on Kohl's website that is similar ir not identical says it retails for $175, but they are selling it for $99). It is size 38.  Looks like it fits him well, but there is a tiny moth hole I will try to mend after I get it cleaned. A button fell off as he was trying it on, but we kept it and I already sewed it back on. I'll have to keep an eye on those metal buttons. I think they cut thread quickly. That boy needs to learn how to dress like a gentleman. A Navy blazer/dress sport coat is an essential item. He is still growing, I think, so it is good to not have to spend a lot of money on something he might not be able to wear for long.

I need to learn to do more mending and alterations as well as how to put outfits together. Found some neat websites:


http://thriftygent.com/blog/

http://anaffordablewardrobe.blogspot.com/2010/01/make-minor-repairs.html

http://www.ravefabricare.com/true-quality-cleaning/2010/12/28/reweaving-moth-holes-(or-rips-or-tears)-in-your-fine-garments.aspx   details about repairing, but not a 'how to"
http://www.esquire.com/style/tips/blazer-vs-coat-vs-jacket-0709 this esquire site looks like it has lots of good info on the subject of "Style and Grooming"


http://blog.suitupp.com/2009/04/13/how-to-repair-your-suit-reweaving/
http://www.awesomeguides.com/money_maker_reweaving_book_tailor_sewing.htm learn how to do your own reweaving!
http://shrouduniversity.com/frenchreweavinginstructionbook.pdf
http://www.realmenrealstyle.com/mens-clothing-flexibility/

http://www.thefrenchreweavers.com/