Take The Time: Image Matters! Blog

Sock Sense for the Guys

2011-11-05T02:56:00.000-07:00

Rather than writing this myself, I am going to quote Carson Kressley from his book, OFF THE CUFF, because he's funny.

SOCKS

Men seem to be eternally bewildered about what color their socks are supposed to be. It's okay. I'm here for you. First of all, it's always better to stray on the side of darker socks, meaning your socks can be darker than your suit. Promise me you will never, ever-ever-buy flesh-toned socks. You'll look like you're wearing nude panty hose and just those three words-nude panty hose-give me the heebie-jeebies. When in doubt, match your sock color to that of your shoes; it will create a seamless line. You don't want to match socks to pants, because you could wind up looking like you're wearing stirrup pants. Basically, if you buy yourself an army of black and brown cotton or silk dress socks, you'll be just fine. If you want to try some patterned socks, remember to keep it simple.

A good quality dress sock should always be long. They shouldn't be as long as control-top panty hose, of course, but they should always be long enough to go well up to your calf. I do not want to see the gap between your sock and your pants when you cross your legs. First of all, hopefully your pants will not be that short to start with. (Clam diggers are always the wrong answer.) Your socks should also be able to stay up without Levitra. If your socks are falling down around your ankles, making you look like you have elephantiasis, or you're wondering where you can find yourself a good pair of sock garters like your great-grandfather Ebenezer wore, it's time to get new socks. High-quality socks of the proper length should come up to your calf and stay there.

Socks are sized one and a half times larger than your shoes. If you wear a shoe size eight, you're a nine and a half in socks. Irritating but true.

FAT? WHO CARES!

2011-10-19T09:54:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was reading a magazine for women and I came across an article in which Dr. Linda Bacon, Phd. was interviewed. The article was titled: FAT? WHO CARES!

Dr. Bacon says that there's something called the "obesity paradox" - that people who are heavier tend to survive longer than thinner people with the same disease. In addition, diets rarely work and dieting has shown to cause some health problems. She contends that if we excercise and eat healthy foods, our body will become the weight it is supposed to be.

Dr. Bacon ends the interview by saying, "We need to resist the notion that being thin is the path to happiness. It isn't. Trying to become thin can make people very unhappy. We've become so obsessed with weight that it's a major revolution for people to say, "Hey, I can choose to see myself as attractive." We'd all be much happier if we honored size diversity and focused on healthy choices, letting our weight fall naturally where it may."

What I found interesting is that in that same magazine, there were ads for no less than six weight loss products!

Dr. Bacon has written a book titled, Health at Every Size. I am going to read it.

http://haesbook.com/

It's a Big, Hairy Deal!

2011-10-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

Well, I said I sometimes intend to use this blog to report on my experiences in aging, so, as ugly as it is, here I go.

Neck hairs.

A few days ago, I was plucking the hairs on my chin (yes, I have had them for some time now) and I was shocked to notice a long black hair sticking out of my neck! As I lifted my head higher to better see it to pluck, I noticed another one....and another one! I plucked at least six of them from my neck! They were not in one patch as those pesky chin hairs are, but spread over a range of about three inches wide and an inch tall. I am not kidding when I say they were all almost half an inch long!

Why had I not noticed them before? Why hadn't my husband or a good friend told me? HOW MANY PEOPLE NOTICED THEM BEFORE I DID? Could they have just popped out overnight? I mean, I am pretty diligent about inspecting my face with a magnifying mirror!

This gives a whole new meaning to Nora Ephron's book, I Feel Bad About My Neck.

If you don't already have a good magnifying mirror, now is the time to get one! Don't wait another minute! And please tell me if you notice anything on my body that probably shouldn't be there!

Let's Have a Conversation About Aging

2011-08-24T12:17:00.000-07:00

"Mark Twin once wrote: "Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." Well, for contemporary women, it's not that simple. It is time to recognize that the disquieting emotions women feel about their changing looks are reflections of a deeper, more complex experience than what has traditionally and automatically been labeled as superficial vanity. We all need to accept the reality that our sense of well-being is at least partly invested in the face we present to the world. Our appearance matters in spite of, and perhaps even because of, all the advances that have led us to live long and productive lives.

Let's face it: looking and feeling great matters at every age, and it is time to bring this topic into the conversations among smart and thoughtful women."

From the book, face it, What Women Really Feel as Their Looks Change
It's time to have this conversation. How do you feel about your changing face and body? I want to use this blog to talk about my experience with aging, both physical and psychological, and would love to have some honest feedback from you about your feelings.

The second, and more important thing I want is to change the concept of what it means to age. I am finding that while I am not wild about the physical changes to my body, I am more self-confident than I have ever been. Maturity brings a wonderful sense of knowing who I am and realizing that I am much more than I ever imagined!

How do you feel about it all?

Style Tip for the Pear-shaped Body

2011-06-20T13:19:00.000-07:00

Do you carry most of your weight on your bottom half? The classic Pear shape? Don't you love it when you are compared to a fruit? Well, you are in the majority when it comes to women. Read this article to find out why this is so:

http://http//www.nutritionresearchcenter.org/healthnews/why-weight-on-womens-thighs/

Most of us don't have to worry about survival during times of drought any more, but we still have those genes and we still tend to often have more weight in that area than we want. No amount of exercise is going to make that change. You may slim down, but if your bottom half was bigger than your top when you weighed 180, it will still be bigger than your top half at 130.

So what's a style-concious girl supposed to do?

Give those thights a hug and tell them you love them, then dress them in figure-flattering styles like pants in substantial fabrics with no side pockets. Don't let shirt hems end at the largest point of your thighs, and, wear shirts with shape. That means shirts, tops and jackets that are tapered at the waist and with details like a v-neck or necklace that draws attention to the top half of your body and your pretty face!

Straightening Out Stevie Nicks

2011-05-24T06:21:00.000-07:00

The other day I found a short interview with Stevie Nicks in More magazine. Asked about her fountain of youth, she made this comment:

"Onstage, I can't look like a 63-year-old grandma. I have to keep my hair beautiful and my body pretty cool. I have to wear something youthful but not age inappropriate, and I can stay young as long as I want to."

Now, I love you, Stevie, but I have to straighten you out on a couple of things.

You can not stay young as long as you want to. There is no getting around aging, short of dying. What you can do is stay as young looking as long as you want to.

You do look like a 63-year-old grandma. Well, I don't think you ever had children, but the fact is, you are 63 and you could be a grandma.

So, Stevie, for future interviews, I would like to hear you say, "I want to show the world what a 63-year-old woman looks like when she cares about the way she looks and lives her life to the fullest!"

Rock on, Stevie!

Everybody Crazy 'Bout A Sharp Dressed Man

2011-04-20T10:20:00.000-07:00

Oscar Schoeffler, Esquire magazine's legendary fashion editor, once warned, "Never underestimate the power of what you wear. After all, there is just a small bit of you sticking out at the neck and cuff. The rest of what the world sees is what's draped on your frame."

Yesterday, I posted this quote on my business Facebook page, Someone left a comment saying, "Fads and fashion make us so judgmental." Well, yes they do. Actually, we make judgments on things all day long. It doesn't make us bad; it just makes us human. Whenever the eye sees something, a message is sent to the brain and the brain judges it. Is it good or is it bad? Is it safe or is it threatening? Is it pretty or is it ugly? When something looks nice on the outside, it is assumed that what is inside is of equal value. This why realtors know a house must have "curb appeal."

The way we look, from head to toe, plays a big part in determining whether or not we get the job, the promotion, a date or make a new friend. Make your own choice, but as for me, I'm putting my best foot forward. And it's usually covered with a cute shoe!

A Little Funk, Class and Sass!

2011-04-08T09:09:00.001-07:00

I met Ali, a barista at The Flying Joe coffee shop in Levis Commons, Perrysburg, Ohio a couple of weeks ago. She looked so cute, I was inspired to take this picture of her. Ali has style. The pieces of clothing she has put together are casual and fun with bold colors contrasting and creating this snappy look. My favorite thing to do, whether I'm in a woman's closet or taking her shopping, is showing her how to create her own style by mixing pieces in what may seem an odd combination, but work when she has them on. Anyone can look nice and even be called stylish when she wears pieces that were meant to "go together," but creating YOUR OWN STYLE requires thinking out of the box and pairing up pieces that seem unrelated. That's what I call dressing with Funk, Class and Sass! A woman who can put herself together like that, knows who she is.

Are you bold enough to wear these colors together? Can you get creative with the clothes in your closet and come up with some new funky, classy and sassy outfits? Maybe it's time to play dress-up and see what "new" outfits you can find.

The Man's Corner

2011-03-16T08:03:00.000-07:00

Whether it's right or wrong, you are judged by the way you look and there may be no place more important to remember this than in the workplace. If any part of you looks sloppy or dated (and that includes hair and glasses) it can send the message that the product or service you represent may be sloppy or dated, as well.

For many businesses there is a much more relaxed dress code in the workplace. Some are even saying that dressing down is becoming the new power suit. Getting the look right can be confusing and tricky. How do you dress down but still look professional? This link gives some very good tips, as well as pros and cons for dressing down.

http://http//articles.latimes.com/2000/apr/30/business/fi-24980

It can be intimidating in the men's department of a department store when the shirts are in one place, pants in another, and sweaters somewhere else. How do you put an outfit together? Let me take you shopping and help you get it right!

Look Your Best In The Moment!

2011-03-07T11:35:00.000-08:00

The other day a friend found out she may be on TV sometime in the future and her first comment was, "I've got to get in shape! Lose weight (the camera adds 10 lbs), get a facelift!" I think she may have been kidding about the facelift but she was serious about the other part.

Why do we so often think we have to be something other than who we are to be OK? What if you are OK, just like you are? What if you don't have to change a thing? Take delight in your body and dress it up in things you enjoy wearing. I have said many times: It doesn't matter if you're a size 4 or 24, you can look wonderful. Maybe you just need a few new pieces of clothing and a new haircut and not plastic surgery.

Just show up with the body and face you have.

And rock it.

Is a Name Brand Better?

2011-02-16T08:03:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had an interesting conversation at a Chicos store. Chicos is a favorite store of mine, so when I found myself with an hour to kill before an appointment, I stopped in the nearby store to check out the sale racks. I have a lot of Chicos clothes in my closet and they have all been bought on sale. I think their full-price clothes are just too pricey. Actually, I think that of most places. I am definitely a sale shopper. At Chicos yesterday, I found a pair of ankle pants, a black long sleeve tee, and a "crinkle" jacket, all for just over $100. I was quite pleased with myself.

Back to the interesting conversation. One of the saleswomen noted that I was wearing one of their skirts and she said, "and our jacket." It was a blue denim jean jacket and I told her, no, it wasn't Chicos and she said, "are you sure?" I didn't remember what the brand was but I told her it was just a cheap one and slid it off my shoulders. We looked at the lable and it was St. John's Bay, a JC Penney brand. The sales lady said, "Oh, I think they're all made by the same manufacturer anyway."

I was really surprised to hear her say that!

On Turning 60

2010-11-24T07:44:00.000-08:00

I turned 60 last month. I think that officially makes me a "senior." I dislike that word. There are so many negatives attached to it. I swear, if I hear one more person say, "don't get old," I am going to scream. I mean, really, what's the alternative? But you know that when people say "don't get old" they are not talking about dying; they have just finished telling you about some physical ailment they have, as if that is what determines what aging is all about. Another thing I would like to never hear again is: "I am having a senior moment." All old people don't have memory loss.

OK, this 60 year old body doesn't move quite like it used to, my knees hurt sometimes and God knows, when I see myself naked, a few things have changed. How did my breasts get down there, anyway?

I refuse to think of myself as a "senior citizen" (I kind of like, "mature chic".) I don't want a label attached to me when it comes to age. Don't assume anything about me because of my age.

Well, I have to go now. I need to get dressed in a sassy outfit, put on some sassy red-toned lipstick and turn this sassy gray hair into a sassy style with my flat-iron. I have to do some grocery shopping and meet a client to shop for some sassy jewelry.

Bra Fitting for Different Size Breasts

2010-11-01T07:43:00.000-07:00

At a presentation I gave a couple of weeks ago, a woman asked how to find a good fitting bra when you have two different breast sizes. Most of us have one breast larger than the other and this usually isn't a problem. However, some women have a significant difference in the size of each breast and bra shopping can be very frustrating.

I called my favorite specialty bra shop, Sunny J's in Plymouth, Mi. and they said there are several options and once they see the shape of the breast, they will know which one to use. They have many shapes of silicone fillers and water cups or they may find a partial prosthesis the best option.

If the difference isn't that great, this link will give you some suggestions,

http://thestir.cafemom.com/beauty_style/5322/different_sized_breasts_how_to

Fruit of the Loom's Pick Your Perfect Pair bra allows you to pick each cup separately in sizes A through D. http://www.shopfruit.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=pick+your+perfect+pair.

Finding Petite Clothing

2010-10-13T08:52:00.000-07:00

We all find it difficult to find things that fit every now and then, but I think my petite friends have the most difficulty. There are more options when shopping on-line but it is hit or miss when it comes to the fit. However, if you know brands that are a good fit for you, buying on-line is often a good option. http://petitewomenclothes.com/

Two stores that have a good line of petites are Ann Taylor and Talbot's, both in the Westfield Mall in Toledo.

It is often well worth it to have your clothing altered to fit well. When you wear clothing that is too big for you in the shoulders, for example, it not only makes you look sloppy, it will make you look larger as well. A great seamstress in Toledo is Phyllis Sheets on Rugby Dr. 419-382-7490.

Fall Fashion

2010-09-07T06:48:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year ... one day it's hot and the next it's cool. Many of us struggle with what to wear when we get dressed in the morning, fearing we will be either too warm or too cool. And there's always the problem of going from warm temps to an overly air-conditioned room. To add to the problem, we don't want to spend a lot of money on new clothes that we will only wear for a few months.

In my own closet, I have very few pieces of clothing that can't be worn year round. The trick is to layer the warm weather clothes with jackets, long sleeve tops, tights or leggings and boots.

Do you have a pair of capri pants that will take you into fall if you put a pair of tights under them? Do you have a sleeveless dress that will look great with a jacket or wrap? Don't forget about scarves. You can add warmth and style by wrapping a scarf around your neck.

Don't worry about wearing the "right" colors for fall. Wear the colors that flatter you and the colors that make you feel great! But just in case you're curious, check out this website for 6 trendy colors for fall 2010. http://www.refinery29.com/fall-2010-top-color-trends.php

Have fun with your clothes and feel good about the way you look!

6- Week Makeovers at Elizabeth's House

2010-08-09T06:19:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth's House will be offering a 6-week makeover series starting next month. The following is the part that I will be doing:

Reinvent...YOUR IMAGE Class Title: Six-week Personal Makeover Group
A customized program to help you create your personal style. Experiences may include: shopping for clothes, bras, and accessories, color analysis, makeup instruction, hair advice from a professional hair stylist, and a clothing swap.
Group will meet Saturdays (1:00 - 2:30 pm) September 11 - October 16, 2010
Facilitator: Louise Kahle, Style Coach for Women, Take-the-Time Image Matters! FEE: $120 for six weeks
Register by calling Louise at 419-343-8579 or email her at louise@take-the-time.com

Other programs include:

Rethink...Your Relationship with Others
Your Relationship with Money
Your Health
What's Stopping You?
Renew... Your Spirit

For more info on these programs, email me at louise@take-the-time.com and I will forward it to you or email elizabethshouse@bex.net or call Beth Collins, co-creator of Elizabeth's House at 419-356-5533.

Mineral Oil Truths and Myths

2010-06-30T06:30:00.000-07:00

I thought the controversy was over about mineral oil in skin care, but the subject came up yesterday when I was sitting around a table with a few women, so I thought it would be an interesting subject to blog about.

Right up front, I will say I have been selling Mary Kay for 10 years. I started my image business 5 years ago and I use Mary Kay when I do color/makeup analysis. Very often my clients want to buy the products I have used on them but I don't try to "sell" them. I even have references for other skin care lines.

So, having said that, let's get into the fun stuff.

I referenced The Beauty Brains, http://thebeautybrains.com/whoare/, a group of cosmetic scientists who research skin care products, makeup, shampoo, etc. They share their unbiased expertise through their blog. There are two parts for mineral oil and it will probably take some time reading it because it is so entertaining reading the comments and the Beauty Brains counter-comments!

Enjoy!

http://thebeautybrains.com/2006/11/28/the-top-5-myths-about-mineral-oil-part-1/

http://thebeautybrains.com/2006/12/01/myths-about-mineral-oil-part-2/

Unwanted Hairs!

2010-06-02T07:53:00.000-07:00

When I found a hair growing under my chin that was a half inch long, I knew it was time to write the blog about grooming! Chin hairs are far from new to me, I have been plucking those stiff little boogers on the left side of my chin for years. Some are black, some are blonde (OK, white,) but this one escaped me because it was under my chin and it wasn't stiff, merely long.

I share this with you because at some point you, too, will most likely have a few stray hairs to pluck. It's one of the cruel tricks of nature that the hair on our heads will most likely thin and hair will show up in places where we don't want it.

The thing is to stay on top of it by examining your face with a high-powered magnifying mirror (I like the ones with the suction cup) every few days. Don't be shy, get one that shows every little pore! I know, you're thinking you don't want to see your face that close up, especially without makeup. We think we're more attractive in dim lighting, too, don't we? Believe me, after the first few times of seeing your face that close, you'll get used to it.

In addition to the chin hairs, you will probably see more black hairs on the skin between your nose and your upper lip. It hurts, but pluck them. And it's not true that two will grow back for every one you pluck. I have heard that it hurts less if you numb the area with an ice cube first. Frankly, I can't be bothered with that and it sounds like it could get kind of messy. Of course there are also other ways of removing hair: waxing, laser, electrolysis and for more severe cases, hormones and medications.

Don't forget to pluck the stray hairs around your eyebrows. Not only are those stray hairs showing up under your eyebrow, but, you will get them above your eyebrow, too. You'd be surprised how far they can stray!

Last but not least, seeing your face up close is a good way to keep tabs on a mole or a "blemish" that doesn't go away. I had one of those a few years ago and if I hadn't been keeping close watch, I might not have made the trip to the dermatologist quite so soon.

After all this happy news, I have to end on a high note ..... I don't have to shave my legs nearly as often as I used to!

The Way You Dress Affects Your Behavior

2010-05-05T07:33:00.000-07:00

There was an article in the Toledo Blade the other day about teens and "dirty dancing," or what is known as freaking, bumping, grinding and other sexually suggestive dancing. It seems that this is the way kids dance now and at the school dances, teachers and parents are uncomfortable and sometimes having a difficult time stopping it. Of course it's what they see on TV and kids think it just all in good fun. Oh, that generation gap.

I'm not here to judge one way or another, but to note that one assistant principle said they haven't had any concerns at prom, perhaps because it is a formal event. "When kids are dressed formally, it sets a tone for them to act appropriately," she said.

This is also true in the workplace. Twenty years ago "business casual" was instituted in many businesses for Friday dress. The thought was that people would be in such a good mood that they would work harder. While there are always exceptions, what they found was usually quite the opposite: casual attire transfered to a casual attitude about the job, almost as if Friday was "weekend eve." Then, it didn't take long before "business casual" turned into "dress down" and then slipped into the rest of the week. Some businesses woke up and required more business-like attire, but it doesn't seem like enough to me. Just a personal observation here.

What it comes down too, is that the way you dress does affect your behavior. It also affects what others think of you and most importantly, what you think of yourself.

Buying a Swimsuit. Aaaghhh!

2010-05-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

Is there a woman out there who likes swimsuit shopping? I am sure not one of them.

A couple of weeks ago I found a top, a "tankini" to be exact, at Sunny J's in Plymouth, Mi. Sunny J's is a bra specialty store that I have found is worth the trip. They also sell swimsuits, so I tried on a few since I needed a new one.

Most of them were not flattering at all and I am here to tell you, it's not my body that's the problem, it's the suits that are the problem. I, like most women, have a body that doesn't fit the definition of "normal." While some suits fit in one area, they didn't fit in another. That is true of all clothing, but it's a little more troublesome in swimwear since it hugs your body!

As I said, I did find half of a swimsuit and didn't think it would be much of a problem to

find a bottom I liked since I had received the Land's End swimwear catalog and I knew they had several styles to choose from. I decided to make a trip to Sears today (where they sell Land's End) and try on a few and order it there. There is no shipping charge if ordered from Sears.

I tried on a "SwimMini" and contrary to its name isn't a mini anything. It is a skirt-type swim bottom that looked pretty cute on the 20-something models in the catalog, but on me looked like an old-lady swim bottom. I think it had something to do with my age. Next, I tried on the "#2-leg bottom" that came about an inch below my belly-button with about 4-inches on the sides. Good so far. The problem was the front part of the leg hole. It was cut a little too high for my liking. "No problem," said the perky sales clerk, there are more options on the website and I know we have #1-bottoms and they are cut a little longer." Unfortunately, she found that cut only came in plus-size. I was starting to get frustrated!

I have a pretty good shape but I will be 60 this year and the texture of my skin is ..... well, just not that pretty anymore. I would feel a whole lot better if I didn't have to show too much of it in a bottom that looked like a swimsuit bottom and not an old lady mini skirt!

So, I ordered the #2-leg bottom in a style that was slightly different than the one I tried on, and I ordered another bottom that was really a very short short in a swimsuit fabric. The salesclerk said it's what the soccer playing women wear and I thought it might not look too bad. I'll just try them both and make a choice, or maybe I'll get real lucky and love them both!

One last thing .... can anyone tell me why I wear a size 10 in jeans and pants and wear a size 14 in a swimsuit bottom? Not that I think there is anything wrong with wearing a size 14 ... it's just I would like to see a little consistancy in sizing!

I'll tell you the end of the story in a few days!

Banned Lane Bryant Commercial a Double Standard?

2010-04-26T03:55:00.000-07:00

I am reprinting this from the CNM News Network. It perfectly expresses the way I feel about this. Don't miss the link at the bottom to view the add.
"Banned Lane Bryant Commercial a Double Standard? Ashley Graham, a beautiful “plus sized” model was recently featured in a Lane Bryant lingerie commercial. We’ve all seen women’s underwear ads, typically from Victoria’s Secret. In the ads we see miles of legs, taut bellies, and everything but the goodies – and we don’t think much of it.
Place a curvy women in a bra and panties and all of a sudden the commercial is “indecent.” Recently, both ABC and Fox banned a Lane Bryant lingerie commercial. Fox did eventually show the clip, but had extensive editing requests and aired it only during the final segment of Dancing with the Stars.
The average American woman is 5′ 4″ tall and weighs 140 pounds. The average model is 5′ 11″ and weighs 117 pounds. In addition over $40 billion annually is spent on dieting and diet related products in America.
Half of the children in grades 1-3 want to be thinner – and yet for some reason or another society is banning the showing of lingerie ads featuring women that look more like … well … everyday women. The statistics shared come from the following written sources: (Crowther et al., 1992; Fairburn et al., 1993; Gordon, 1990; Hoek, 1995; Shisslak et al., 1995., US Department of Health and Human Services, HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report 1998, Treatment Advocacy Center, 1999, Smolak, 1996., Mellin et al., 1991., Collins, 1991., Shisslak & Crago, 1995.)
Many are calling the banned Lane Bryant commercial a double standard. On one hand it’s perfectly okay to showcase scantily clad women via Victoria’s Secret commercials during prime time. On the other hand, showing a robust woman is showing “too much” skin.
The Ashley Graham commercial will remain controversial most likely until the issues are addressed. On one hand we tell young women to celebrate who they are and to love their bodies. On the other hand, networks won’t show various ads because they show “too much” of a curvy woman’s body.
What do you think about the banned Lane Bryant Commercial? You can find a link to the YouTube video here."
Source:
Stylist.com

Doing Business at Elizabeth's House!

2010-04-20T06:18:00.000-07:00

I am very excited and honored to have been asked to be a partner at Elizabeth's House, a renewal center for women. The motto at EH is, Rethink, Renew, Reinvent and the work I do is alligned with that. My mission/purpose: To inspire women to feel good about the way they look.

Elizabeth's House is located on the campus of the Sisters of Notre Dame Provencial Center. The House is in the old music building, the first building at the Secor Rd. entrance. It has a big room with a stage at one end and 10 small room on the sides. I have had the pleasure of decorating one of the rooms and turning it into the "image" room where women will be able to come in and "play." I am collecting scarves, jewelry and makeup samples for women to play with while they are in the room. I also have my collection of books on dressing, color, and more (even ettiquete!) for women to look at while they are in the house.

I will be doing consultations with my clients at Elizabeth's House and I have access to the big room with the stage for presentations and workshops.

For more information about Elizabeth's House, read this article that was published recently in the City Paper and Toledo Partent: http://toledocitypaper.com/index.php?/The-City/City-Side/the-doors-always-open.html. Drop in on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 - 2:00 during You Time and see what it is all about!

I couldn't be more pleased how everything is unfolding!

"If it doesn't jiggle, you're allowed to wiggle"

2010-03-29T07:56:00.000-07:00

Last week I read a Facebook posting about seeing size 20 bikinis in a store. She asked the question, "what size is too big for all that exposure?" It got lots of comments, including mine. So much judgement!

Some of the interesting comments were:

The title of this blog
"I wouldn't be comfortable showing off my body in anything over a size 12"
"There is always jiggle at a size 20"
"I've seen some pretty solid plus-size women"
"When I buy a bathing suit I have to go up a size or two"
"And that would make you a 6?"
"I feel fat right now"
"I would never expose people to that"
"Whatever your size, wear whatever you're comfortable in! Others don't have to look"
"As long as your body is toned"

and my favorite .... "Could we celebrate the body in all sizes and with all its flaws? You're only acceptable if you're fit and don't offend my eye?"

Some extra thoughts from me:

Extremely thin women can jiggle, too.
If we live long enough, we're all going to jiggle someday.
The only opinion that should matter is yours.
Wear whatever makes you feel good!

What do you think?

The Bare Truth

2010-03-23T05:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was cold and rainy and I posted on my Facebook page that I was working from home all day and wearing a baggy old sweatshirt and no makeup. I got several comments, from "and still beautiful" (my favorite) to "sweatshirts can be fashionable and no makeup is the new makeup." I decided to do some investigating but stopped when I found this site because it's interesting and fun. http://seehere.blogspot.com/2006/08/celebrities-without-makeup.html

Of course, these before shots are are the worst possible and the after shots have a lot of enhancements, from airbrushing to digital alterations, but when we see a picture of a celebrity in a candid shot wearing some makeup, hair combed and wearing an outfit that she probably put together herself, she doesn't look all that much different than the rest of us.

There are many women who are beautiful without makeup, especially if they are smiling, but after a certain age, all women can look better with a little. I know I certainly do.

And as for that sweatshirt thing. Yes, sweatshirts can be fashionable, sometimes even stylish, but not the one I had on yesterday.

2010-03-08T16:54:00.000-08:00

In the March edition of The Oprah Magazine, Oprah does a "closet cleanout." Wouldn't we all love to be a beneficiary of something in Oprah's closet? Oh, yeah. With the help of Adam Glassman, O's creative director, she was able to let go of some things.

My question is, how can "normal" people relate to these things? By normal, I mean, small time mid-western women. I am one of them. Transplanted here from, originally, New England, then various places on the east coast and Italy, I can't afford this stuff. Yes, I have lived in some wonderful, trendy, exotic places while my husband was in the USN, but I didn't rub shoulders with the "beautiful people." My tastes run more to the fashions in the stores in Toledo, and I make no excuses for that. I am proud of my humble leanings!

Here is what Adam had to say about one of Oprah's handbags, "In the '80s and '90s, everyone either owned or coveted Barry Kieselstein-Cord! With a simple suit or sheath dress, it will complete your outfit."

Who is "everyone?"

The people I know are content with buying our handbags from Dillard's or TJ Maxx.

Nasty Old Shoes

2010-03-03T11:36:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, the Cherry St. Mission held an event called Clothing your Community. I think the story was that 25 families who were down on their luck were picked to recieve clothes. I heard that volunteers were needed because they had bags of clothes to the rafters that had been donated and needed to be sorted.

I decided that since I didn't have anything to do one day, it would be a good told her. She had so many shoes coming at her by the time she got to mine, I had sometimes forgot the size. I asked if I could have a marker and do it myself, but apparently there was onlything to do. I signed in, was given a pair of rubber gloves and sent to a table with people sorting shoes. There were boxes and boxes of shoes and I had to find the size, wrap masking tape around the pair and hand them to someone else who wrote the size on the tape when I one. That annoyed me, but that's not the point of this blog.

I left after just 45 minutes because I was so disgusted with the quality of the shoes. I would say the majority of them were dirty and in bad shape. I was angry that people would donate such things!

Just because people are poor doesn't mean they want your nasty shoes!

Come on people, when you are cleaning out your closet if you come across something that you wouldn't dream of wearing yourself, just throw it out. Don't throw it in a bag with the better stuff just because you are too lazy to dispose of it.

There, I got that off my chest.

Makeup on Children

2010-02-26T06:57:00.000-08:00

One of my clients recently told me that at 9 years old, her mother told her it was time to start wearing makeup. No that is not a typo, she was 9 years old. While we may not be all that shocked at seeing a young girl with makeup today, this would have been around 1960. 9 year olds did not wear makeup. Except for Nancy.

What are parents thinking when they put makeup on their children, dress them in skimpy costumes and parade them across the stage? Have you seen the show, Toddlers in Tiaras? When I was little, I played with dolls, I wasn't made into one. Just my opinion.

Back to Nancy: She remembers her friend's mother saying, "Nancy, you're wearing makeup!" Of course, Nancy knew the other little girls weren't wearing makeup. The message she took away was that her face wasn't good enough without it. She said that for her whole life she hasn't even been able to take out the garbage without makeup.

Recently, she has had to stop wearing makeup for awhile for a medical reason, and it has been very difficult to go out without it. She even covered her face when her boyfriend came over and told him she looked ugly. He assured her that to him, she looked the same as she always did. A little part of her has begun to think that maybe her face is OK in it's natural state.

Do you have any negative beliefs about yourself that you have been carrying around for a long time? It's time to let them go and create a new belief. How about looking at yourself in the mirror and saying, "Hello, gorgeous?" Try it, please?

The Ridiculous ... JMO (just my opinion)

2010-02-20T10:49:00.000-08:00

Well, I had hoped to do another post earlier this week. Knitting got in my way. I just began learning about 3 weeks ago and I am finding I don't want to do much else!

Anyway, here goes. I found an article in a magazine about how you can brighten up your wardrobe with a pop of color. The color in the picture featured was a little more than a pop, it was the biggest part of the outfit. It was the pants. And, they were bright orange. Actually, coral, but they looked orange to me.

Now, don't get me wrong ... I loved them! But here's what I find ridiculous:

They are modeled on a woman who drives a forklift in the garden department of

a home improvment store and were a suggestion for taking her usual neutral colored pants up a notch. Stay with me here. The pants are a linen-silk blend and cost $295! I can only speak for myself, but I don't spend $295 on pants for wearing anywhere.

What do you wear when you're driving the forklift?

Joy and Opinions

2010-02-16T07:14:00.000-08:00

From now on I will be doing more blog postings. Sometimes they will be related to fashion,image and style and sometimes about the challenges, and mostly joys of aging. Sometimes I will post something that I think is funny and sometimes I will rant about the ridiculous (in my opinion.)

I have found that as I help women find joy in the way they look, I am finding that this journey is bringing ME more joy. I am discovering the things that bring me joy, doing more of them and eliminating things that I thought I should be doing but brought me little joy. I like that word, JOY! I hope you follow me on this journey and my wish is that something I say or post will bring more joy for you.

My next blog will be in the next couple of days and it will be about fashion and the ridiculous (in my opinion.) Since I will be stating a lot of things that are just my opinion, I will from here on use the initials, JMO. Please feel free to state your opinions about my opinions!

Blue Jean Baby

2010-02-09T08:59:00.000-08:00

Jeans trivia: Levi claims to have made the first jeans specifically cut for women in 1939.

I wonder what that woman was shaped like. I doubt it was like one of the skinny models of today. Today women come in all shapes and sizes and only 6% have that fashion model shape. One of the most difficult things for a woman to find is a good fitting pair of jeans. It takes work to find the ones for you and many women give up and wear anything that is a close fit. There is nothing worse than wearing a pair of jeans that you're always tugging at. Wearing jeans that give you the dreaded muffin top is a horrible feeling even if they fit perfectly everywhere else. I know, I've done it all!

You should feel good in your jeans. When you look in the mirror, you should be saying, "I look good in these jeans." And you can! Don't settle for a pair that is less than a great fit. Your perfectly fitting jeans are out there. Take the time to do some research to find the right brands for you. There are many different body types and there are jeans for every figure type. You just need to know which ones to look for.

A friend told me about Zafu http://www.zafu.com/, a website that will help you find the jeans for your figure. You just answer a few questions about jean fit and, for a nominal fee (a discount code is at the bottom,) they will send you a guide to download that will list the best brands for you and much more. They list brands of all price ranges, too. While you may not want to wear $80 jeans to do your gardening, there are many other places where they might be well worth the money.

Have you considered the pocket placement? It can make a big difference in making your bum look bigger or smaller, droopier or perkier. Do you know where to get the best bargains on jeans? Learn this and much more from Zafu.

For a discount on the price, enter my code 46924.

Plus-size fashion frustration!

2010-01-24T09:49:00.000-08:00

Recently I gave a presentation to several ladies and the one thing I took away was the frustration that plus-size women feel when trying to shop for clothes. One woman commented that when shopping in the Women's dept. of stores like JC Penney and K Mart, all she sees is clothes that look like something her grandmother would wear. It appears that those stores are still catering to the dated idea that women want to look old when they are no longer young. OK, "no longer young" is an ambiguous term that means different things to different people, but you know what (who) I mean.

There is a market for those clothes but the women who are my clients are not those women. They want a contemporary look without having to worry that they look like Brittney Spears. Well, take heart, there are plenty of stores where you can find the styles you are looking for.

In Toledo, Dillard's has a large Women's dept. with very stylish clothes and decent prices. Also, there are several specialty stores like Lane Bryant, Catherine's, Ashley Stewart, Avenue, C J Banks and Torrid (this one is definitely for the younger woman.)

After you have found the styles and brands that you like in the stores, then you will feel more comfortable shopping on their websites where you can sometimes get more selections and markdowns!

Are You Aging or Olding?

2009-12-02T07:20:00.000-08:00

Last night I watched the 6:00 news and noticed that the over 50 crowd was targeted with ads for drugs,Depends and cosmetic procedures. It seems that aging has become a disease, something we must fight with all our might!

I refuse to worry about it all that much. In fact, I posted that comment on my Facebook page and because of the responses, and because a friend who is my age (59) recently told me that "it sucks to get old," I decided to blog about it.

Now, I am not naive, I know that I am aging. My skin is not as smooth or firm as it used to be, my hair is thinner, I don't move as quickly as I used to, and that's just the start. That is the natural process of aging.

Shortly after making that comment on Facebook, I made another: "If you think you're old, you are old." You have to be careful what you say on the social networks because people reading your comments don't know what you are thinking when you write them. Here's what I think: Aging is a fact. There's no way to avoid it short of dying and that's not very appealing to me right now. However, THINKING OLD is another matter.

Do you sometimes catch yourself thinking old?

Cats and Beauty

2009-11-20T10:36:00.001-08:00

This morning as I held my cat, Lucy, in my lap, I thought about how self-assured she is about her beauty. She has long, silky hair and big tufts of fur coming from between her toes. She is long and lean with the grace of ... well, a cat.
My other female cat, Sami, is round. A curvy girl. And, I am sure she thinks she is every bit as beautiful as Lucy.
Actually, I am pretty sure neither one of them thinks much about what they look like, but you probably know where I'm going. Wouldn't it be nice if we never worried about what we look like? Not because we didn't care, but because we knew that we were beautiful, just because we were women. If we felt that self-assuredness, if we loved and honored ourselves just because we're wonderful and unique, if we could feel joy in everything we do (like my 7-month old kitten,) we would be beautiful. It would ooze from every fiber of our being.
Cats don't look at other cats, size themselves up and and find themselves lacking. They just take delight in being themselves. Why can't we do that? Why do we strive to look like the airbrushed, photoshopped celebrities we see in the magazines? Why do we squeeze ourselves into Spanx and wear makeup to try to make ourselves look better? Who are we trying to look better for? Is the biggest reason so we'll feel better about ourselves?
To read more about this topic, look for my next newsletter over the weekend.
Not signed up for my newsletter? Visit my website at www.take-the-time.com and click on the link.

2009-11-07T02:48:00.000-08:00

One morning this week, I had coffee with a woman who attended one of my presentations a few months ago. She works for the USDA and wears a khaki uniform shirt when she's working in the woods with bugs. You know the type: big and boxy, designed for a man's body.
Her sister is a costume designer and when she visited her a few month's ago, she suggested that the shirts would be more flattering to her if if she tapered the sides a little.
My new friend got out her little 5-lb sewing machine and did some tapering. She shared with me that the first time she wore the newly tapered shirt, she felt like a princess. She said it made her feel so good she was dancing around all by herself in the woods with only the bugs as witnesses. This is truly how wearing clothes that you know make you look good can make you feel different. She was feeling her "pretty" that day!
Many women who wear bigger sizes hide behind clothes that are big and boxy. They only look bigger in them. They should try wearing clothes that have some shape to them and they would find that the clothes give them a flattering shape.

Unhealthy Body Images

2009-11-06T10:52:00.000-08:00

"Many women, even those who consider themselves healthy, classify what they have eaten or how much they have eaten or how much they have exercised as a marker of their worth in the world," from the book Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters.
This quote is one of my recent Facebook postings. After a few people commented on it, I said I would be blogging about it today. It is such a broad subject, I don't know where to start!
Maybe a good place is to start from how I see my business now, compared to how I started. First of all, the name I picked seems wrong .... Take The Time: Image Matters! Yes, image matters, but the most important part of what matters is how you see the image in the mirror. How do you see yourself? Does the way you look cloud your vision of who you really are? Does the way you look reflect the way you feel? If you looked better, would you feel better?
In the beginning, my purpose was to teach people that the way they looked had a direct effect on what they would get in life (job, boyfriend, opportunities, etc.) My purpose was to show you how you could look better so you would be get the things you wanted and be happier.
That doesn't feel good anymore.
My passion is inspiring women to feel good about the way they look. That's different.
My purpose is to show a woman that she can look good and feel good about herself no matter what size her body is. Women, even teens and younger, are judging themselves on the way their body looks. Because of this, many of them are not getting the food they need and they are spending too much time in the gym. Many of them are disgusted with themselves because they find it hard to diet and or they don't make the time to go to the gym. Where is the happy medium?
All I know is that the most important thing for your body is for it to be healty, and that comes in all shapes and sizes.
Some of you reading this have heard my "famous" tagline: "If a woman doesn't take the time, time takes the woman." That doesn't feel good anymore, either.

More Finding Your Pretty!

2009-10-30T09:40:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking how much the evolution of Take The Time: Image Matters! is as much about me as it is about the women I serve. In the last couple of months, I have developed and given the presentation, "Finding you Prettyness." The first time I gave it, a friend came up to me after and said, "I have heard you give a number of presentations but I have never heard you give one with such passion." I have found my passion!

I spent the first two years with this business trying to do what I thought (and what other people suggested) an image consultant should do. The last two years have been about finding what gives me the most pleasure, consequently, giving my very best to the women I serve.

My purpose is to get women to love themselves .... right where they are, with all the so-called "flaws." I teach women to love the way they look, with the body they have. My purpose is to change the way she sees herself. With the right clothes and accessories she will feel good about the way she looks and when that happens, a woman feels better and more accepting of who she is. When she feels good about the way she looks on the outside, she will feel better on the inside and everything changes, from her self-image, to her attitude, to the people she attracts into her world.

It has dawned on me that I have to be less rigid about the colors I wear and the colors I tell my clients they should wear. Even after having had a color analysis and knowing which colors are ones "best" colors, I have to say, if a color makes you FEEL good when you wear it, you should wear it, because I have learned that more important than looking good, is feeling good.

I wish I still had that lime green top I wore under jackets. I used to feel pretty in it but after learning about color and knowing it wasn't flattering to my skin tone, I got rid of it. I actually put it on after knowing it wasn't a good color and was surprised to see that I looked pale and kind of sickly in it even though only a little bit of it was peeking out from the blazer. Now, I would like to see if I still think it makes me LOOK sickly, or does it make me FEEL pretty!

The next time I go clothes shopping, I am going to be trying some different colors!

Road Trip!

2009-10-22T02:52:00.000-07:00

My bags are packed and ready to go! No, I'm not leaving on a jet airliner (remember that song?)

My friend, Beth Collins, co-creator of Elizabeth's House, is picking me up at 8:15 this morning and we're taking a road trip to Virginia. Beth's mother, Margaret lives in Salem and we're going down to help her throw a girl party.

Margaret is one of my clients. In 2008 she was here over Mother's Day and for her present, Beth gave her time with me. We had fun doing color and makeup analysis, shopping at Coldwater Creek and lunch at the Elephant Bar. This year when she was here, I took her to my hairstylist for a sassy cut.

Well, Margaret's husband died a couple of years ago and she has a lot of friends that get together regularly. Most of them are couples and when Margaret entertains at her house she always invites the men and women. When she was here a few months ago, Beth asked her why didn't she just invite the women over sometime. That was something she had never considered and she didn't feel comfortable asking the men to stay home. Beth said, "how about if Louise and I come down and help you?" She liked that idea, so in a couple of hours we'll be on our way!

Margaret is expecting about 10 women (I even designed cute invitations for her to give them) and it should be a lot of fun!

I'll tell you all about it next week!

Wrinkled? So What?

2009-10-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

To me, "looking old" has nothing to do with the number of wrinkles you have on your face.

I gave a presentation the other day to a roomfull of women who were anywhere between 50 and 85. There were women in their 50's who looked old and there were women in their 80's who looked much younger. The difference was the way they dressed, their hairstyle and the expression on their faces. It was their attitude.

I chatted with one woman who told me that she "looked so old." She was referring to her face which was deeply lined with wrinkles. I assured her that she certainly didn't look old. She had a short, stylish haircut and was dressed in black pants and a black sweater. She had on a lot of jewelry that she said she'd had for a very long time and never took it off. She wore several necklaces, bracelets and rings. It may sound like a lot but the pieces were small and worked for her. She looked very stylish and you can't wear your clothes with flare and look old!

I understand that life can get you down sometimes and it can show in the way you look. I also know that when you take the time to make yourself look a little better, life can look a little better, too.

Are you taking the time?

Finding your Prettyness

2009-10-10T00:44:00.000-07:00

This week I gave a presentation titled "Finding your Prettyness" at Powerful You! Women's Network, http://www.powerfulyou.com/. I define "prettyness" as a woman's true essence, her spirit. We came into the world knowing we were pretty and smart and powerful but often that spirit was taken away. Many of us were groomed to be perfect little girls. We were told how to behave, what to wear and who we were. We learned that girls/women took care of people. Now, there's nothing wrong with that, but there has to be a balance. We have to learn to nurture and love ourselves. We have to put our well-being first or we're not going to be our best for anyone else.

One of the ways we can start to love ourselves is to stop the negative self-talk - "I'm too fat, I'm not smart enough, I'm not pretty enough - you know the talk. Think about the negative things you say to yourself and work on stopping it.

One way you can start to feel better about your body is to dress it more lovingly. Wear the things that make you feel pretty!

What is the one thing in your closet that makes you feel pretty?

Name Change!

2009-10-05T11:40:00.000-07:00

No, not my name or my business name, but the name for this blog. While I may post about image matters, I want to post about whatever is on my mind. So here goes:

The more I uncomplicate my life and my business, the more joy I find I have. I have learned to be more discerning about where I spend my time and energy, as well as the women I want to serve. I have learned that more important than making a woman look good, is making her feel good.

I bought a pair of red high-heeled shoes last week. They are not practical and the $50 might have been better spent somewhere else, but they make me feel good. They make me feel self-confident and sexy. I'm going to wear them a lot.

Fireside Chats

2009-09-09T02:21:00.001-07:00

At first I was disappointed that only 5 women showed up for my two-hour presentation at the Victory Center, Toledo's cancer wellness center www.thevictorycenter.org. But as often happens, it turned out to be for the best.
It was cozy and intimate and like sitting in someones living room as we sat on couches and chairs in the corner of a big room. I talked about over-stuffed closets, dressing for your proportions (ie. should you wear that shirt on the outside or tucked in?) and showed how wearing the right color next to your face could make you look healthier, younger and happier. Some of the women brought clothes they had questions about ..was it still in style, etc. One of them brought a beautiful long brown skirt with an off-white top with big, brown buttons off to the side, wanting to know if they went together. I said yes, then showed what a difference putting the right necklace with it could make. It went from being a top and a bottom to a stylish outfit.
It was a lot of fun and with just a handful of women, it was personal. Thinking about it later, I called it a Fireside Chat and decided that I wanted to do more of them. Bring your clothes that you have questions about while we sit around a cozy living room and I will show you how to take an ordinary outfit to extraordinary by adding a scarf, necklace, belt, jacket or vest. Maybe we could even do a clothes swap. Doesn't that sound like fun? Should I start at my house? I have a fireplace.

They're Back!

2009-08-11T05:33:00.000-07:00

They have arrived. The fall line of clothing is in the stores. On display are racks of clothing in autumn colors. Do these dull colors with their warm, yellow undertones flatter your skin tone?

They don't flatter most people, yet in the fall many of us wear them (not me, not any more, anyway.) For most people, the best color pallette for them is the bright cool colors of summer. These colors have blue undertones that make your skin look pink and healthy.

When you are young, you can get away with wearing most any color and still glow with that youthful vibrancy. As you age it's another matter.

Don't you want to look your best every day? Find the colors that flatter you and make them your year-long, and life-long pallette.

Just a Little Belt

2009-08-06T09:25:00.000-07:00

It was just a belt. But it was the key to her transformation.

Earlier this week I helped a woman purge her closet of things she never wore. Probably more than half of her clothes still had the tags on them. I brought six garbage bags of clothes to Goodwill and she brought the rest of the clothes to a consignment shop where they picked out the ones they wanted and paid her $120 for them.

After the closet, we went shopping. My client bought new clothes that she had never considered wearing before in styles and colors she had thought weren't for her. She bought pants, a pair of jeans, pull-over tops and button shirts and a couple of jackets. I said, "let's try a belt." She said, "oh no, I can't wear belts." I said, "lets just try." With skeptisism, she fastened the belt over her pull-over top and said, "see, it looks terrible." The belt emphasized the biggest part of her body and only drew attention to it. I said, "that's not the way you will wear it," and I held a jacket for her to put on. Now the belt was just peeking out from under the jacket. I watched her eyes get big as she said, "I love it!" The belt, worn under the jacket, looked very chic, in addition to giving her a waistline. Of all the things she bought, the belt was her favorite.

Do you have beliefs about your body and what you can or cannot wear? Try it, you just might like it!

A Healthy Weight Gain

2009-08-01T05:40:00.000-07:00

I did it. I just bought my first pair of size 12 denim capris and boy, do they feel good. For years, I had been wearing a size 10 or 8. Monday I purged my closet of all clothes that were too tight and I have a big laundry basket full of clothes for the consignment shop. There will be no telling myself that I will take off the extra weight around my middle (that seems to be the only place it is) and I will be able to fit in them again. This is the way it is at this point in my life AND I LIKE WHERE I AM. Did you know that the fat around your middle has a lot of estrogen in it?

I never thought so, but now I believe that I was too thin. A few years ago I was told I had osteoporosis. When I told my new gynocolgist, she said, "yea, you're thin, you're fair," like it was to be expected. Oh sure, I looked good, BUT I HAD A LIFE THREATENING DISEASE!

A few months ago I changed the way I eat. Now I am eating (most of the time) grass fed meat without hormones, whole milk and a lot of butter. I feel good with this weight gain, weight that will protect my bones, and I think I look better for it. In addition, my knees no longer hurt and my acne has cleared up. I'll bet my bones are getting stronger, too!

"They don't have to look frumpy!"

2009-07-27T10:23:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I did a presentation to a group of women age 55+ and I asked people I knew to tell me what they liked or didn't like about their mother's style. Here are the responses I got:

Ladies from church: They wear pastels and look so washed out! All have the same hairdo - needs updating. One gal look smashing - wears bright colors, modern haircut and great accessories.

Mother is 83. No makeup except lipstick and she usually wears pastels. She has bolder colors but rarely wears them.

My mother has a great sense of correct colors but her style is very outdated. She's stuck in a rut. She hasn't updated her hairstyle - still gets it teased once a week!

Let the 55+ crowd know they don't have look frumpy!

My mom is 84 and in a nursing home with advanced Parkinson's disease, but she always has had (and still does) have style. What I liked best was she always knew how to dress for her body shape, always accessorized and wore makeup, simply and tastefully. She was a great role model for me!

Styles that older women tend to wear that I don't like: shirts tucked into high-waisted pants, pants too short or tapered leg, sneakers worn everywhere.

My mom's hair is a georgeous gray in a contemporary, stylish cut. she makes an effort to style it as it was intended and not revert back to the old style. Scraggly gray hair is witchy and aging!

I like that my mom always has updated, modern looking clothes. She's not still wearing outfits from 10 years ago. Her clothes are appropriate but still look cute and fashionable.

I love that my mom, in her 60's, wears her maturity with class. She works out, takes care of herself and dresses to enhance her looks with updated classic clothing and makeup applied with a light hand. She isn't trying to be younger, but keeps a 'young' attitude. I believe that if a woman carries herself with grace and poise, age is merely a number. The maintenance of health, mind and optimism go far!

I don't believe that there are very many women who chose to look frumpy. I believe that they just don't know how not to. All they need is someone to take them by the hand and show them how to update their look, and maybe most importantly, give them permission to do it!

Minneapolis Bound

2009-07-17T10:10:00.000-07:00

I'm leaving in the morning for four days in Minneapolis. I want to have a good looking outfit for everyday, but I don't want to take a lot of stuff so I will have extra room for the new clothes I bring home. Oh what a dilema!

Mike is going to a conference there and we are staying downtown near all the cool stuff. We will be within walking distance of the warehouse district and the Nicolette Mall. I've got maps to two upscale consignment shops, too. And there's the Mall of America. I wasn't going to go there (too big) but Mike wants to go. Might as well, I guess.

OK, here's what I'm bringing: a couple pair of capri pants, white jeans, tees and a jean jacket. And, of course, jewelry and makeup.

Did you know that Bob Dylan went to the University of Minnesota? He enrolled in 1959 but dropped out a year later and moved to New York to persue his love of music. I think he made a good choice, don't you?

Reeling and Healing

2009-07-08T10:31:00.000-07:00

Your image is as much about the things that can't be seen as the clothes you put on your body. When you live each day with gratitude and the joy of being alive, people see radiance in you without knowing what it is they're seeing. They just feel good when they are near you.

For two days this week I had the pleasure of being around women who had breast cancer. I had the priviledge of giving two presentations at Reel and Heal, http://www.realandheal.com/, a fly-fishing retreat for breast cancer survivors. Not only was it great fun to learn to cast a fly rod and catch a couple of fish in the beautiful Manistee River, I got to hear each woman talk about how they received a gift along with the diagnosis. As we sat around the campfire, these amazing women brought tears to my eyes telling about the way they look at life after getting a potentially fatal disease.

It's so easy to take the next day for granted and complain about the little things, isn't it? Cancer puts things into perspective, I think.

Hair, There and Everywhere

2009-06-30T08:55:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I got something in my eye while I was putting on mascara. I assumed it was an eyelash but I couldn't find it. How can you have something in your eye that feels like a toothpick and not be able to see it? Eventually I found the eyelash, but it was a couple of hours later and it's hard to think of anything else in the meantime.

What is it about hair when you've passed your half century mark? It falls out more easily and it grows where you don't want it. Just this morning, while plucking those pesky chin hairs, I found a jet black one, about 1/2 an inch long, growing out of the front of my neck! I swear it wasn't there yesterday.

How about the hair on the top of your head? Got as much as you used to have? Didn't think so.
The important thing is to have a great cut. I got mine cut today in a sassy short cut.

I took a client shopping earlier this week and I was looking forward to seeing her hair. When I did the first part of her image consultation, a couple of weeks before, she asked me what I thought of her hair and I told her I thought it would look great just a little shorter in an updated style. She made an appointment with my stylist and I knew she had been to see him last week. He took some length off and cut it in layers with the bangs off to the side. Very cute.

While shopping, I complimented a lady on her hairstyle. It was gray/silver, short and spikey. It was wonderful. She told me she was 76 and her stylist wouldn't let her curl it, telling her if she did she would look like an old lady. He was right. That cut made her look sharp.

Why do so many women, regardless of their age, keep the same hairstyle long after it has gone out of style? Check out this link and see some before and after pictures of hairstyles:
http://www.allure.com/magazine/2009/04/anti_aging_hairstyles

An Unhealthy Glow

2009-06-30T07:20:00.000-07:00

I just read an article in which the writer described tanned skin as having a healthy, radiant glow. When are we going to stop believing that? Or, more precisely, when are the last holdouts going to stop believing that?

Take the time to read the following article from The Cleveland Clinic:

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/Skin_Cancer/hic_Sun_Exposure_and_Skin_Cancer.aspx

Paying Full Price

2009-06-26T06:25:00.000-07:00

I paid full-price for a piece of clothing yesterday. Actually, it was an accessorie, a belt. It cost $58 and I am still feeling a little guilty. I found it at Chico's yesterday where I spent three and a half hours doing mini color consultations for Chico's guests. It was a lot of fun and lots of time to brouse the store. http://www.chicos.com/

When I shop for clothes, I scan the full-price items as I head to the sale racks. Every store has tons of sale items right now so why should I need to pay full-price for anything? That is usually the way I think, anyway. I love to find the bargains. I love the hunt. And I thought the belt was 30% off, but when I paid, I discovered that the belts on sale were the ones on the other side of the rack. Naturally. I bought it anyway because it looked so great on me. After I had the Spanx on. I tried them on and kept them on because they were so great. After a while I went back and got another pair in a different shade. I paid full-price for these, as well. I have bought other body shapers in the past because they were cheaper, but I never liked them that much. Once I tried on the Spanx I discovered why they cost more. They are worth the extra price. http://www.spanx.com/

Some things are well worth paying full-price. I will get a lot of use from that belt and it will be cheap compared to some of the belts I have that I rarely wear because they don't look that great on me. But they were a bargain. Well, there you go, I think I need to heed my own advice to my clients more often: if it doesn't look great on you, it shouldn't be taking up closet space.

I don't feel guilty about the price of the belt any more, either!

What have you willingly paid full-price for?

Let's Face It

2009-06-23T13:03:00.000-07:00

If you had the money, would you get some "work done" on your face if the only thing you didn't like were the signs of aging? I don't think I would (notice the word "think" here.) My face seems to fit the rest of me and where do you stop? Get one thing done and the thing next to it looks worse than ever.

Here are some quotes from some famous people about the subject:

Cher, 63: "I had my nose done, my breasts done, my teeth done, if I want to put tits on my back, it's nobody's business but my own."

Linda Evangelista, 44: "Models are not superhuman. We grow old. I use Botox, and I'm not afraid to say it, though I do like to keep some movement in my face."

Dolly Parton, 63: "If you've got the money and you're going to be out there, you owe it to people not to look like a dog."

Joan Rivers, 76: "You Simonize your car, so why not your face?"

Courtney Cox, 45: (She tried Botox) "You know you messed up when people close to you say, 'Whoa, what are you doing?"

Lisa Rinna, 46: "I saw a picture of myself and thought, uh-oh. You have to be careful. I'm a perfect example of that."

According to a study done by Case Western Reserve University, 40 is the age at which a few extra pounds will actually make your face younger looking. The research also found that too much drinking, smoking and sun still make us older looking.

Cleavage - is it just a little skin?

2009-06-17T14:57:00.000-07:00

A couple of postings ago I mentioned the website Boomer Women Speak and one of the forums is Fashion First. There has been an on-going discussion about the way women dress that started with the innocent question about the length of shorts. Women sure have opinions about what is appropriate! This will be great fodder for this blog!

One of the things that has come up is cleavage. These days cleavage is no longer just for evening wear or at the beach- it's everywhere - in the boardroom, on the Senate floor and at your local bank. I have to ask the following questions:

Is there an age limit? If you've got some, is there a minimum age? Is there a maximum age? Does size matter?

A New Look

2009-06-12T12:47:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I did a closet makeover for a woman who had 5 decades worth of clothing in her closet. She knew she needed to down-size but couldn't decide what to get rid of and what was still in style. It was more than just getting rid of dated clothing, it was about not wearing "old lady" clothes while still looking appropriately dressed for a woman her age.

All this took quite a bit of time so we decided to take a break and after a quick lunch, we went to Fallen Timbers Mall. She bought some new things at both Penney's and Dillards, then back to her house to finish the job. There was a dresser and a half full of sweaters and vests she wanted me to look at! Not surprisingly, after she saw how great she looked in updated clothes, parting with the rest of the things was easier for her!

My father-in-law recently died and my mother-in-law had nothing to wear to his funeral, so my sister-in-law, Kathy, and I took her shopping. After finding black pants and a pretty turquoise jacket for the funeral, we kept going. All of mom's clothes needed updating so we found pants and tops she loved and could wear in different combinations. When we got back to her room at the nursing home, Kathy and I purged her closet. We left just a few of her old things and did that reluctantly. Mom was a little miffed with us for throwing out clothes that still had "wear left in them," but every time we see her she has the new things on and tells us how much the other women in the nursing home like them!

It's not just older women, either. I had a client who said, "you mean I have to shop once a year?" and she is younger than me.

Do you like to shop?

When are shorts too short?

2009-06-05T08:47:00.000-07:00

I recently joined the National Assn. of Baby Boomer Women, http://www.nabbw.com/. There is a sister site, Boomer Women Speak, http://www.boomerwomenspeak.com/, and do they ever. There are many forums to comment on but the one I went right to is Fashion First. Interestingly, there seem to be some who put fashion last and are proud to say so. It would probably be boring if it was otherwise.

In this forum, the founder of the association, Dotsie Bregel, asks if anyone is wearing good, 'ole shorts this summer. At this point in her life she leans towards capris and longer shorts. I'm with her on that one, except for "play" when it's really hot.

What is your opinion of wearing shorts above the knee when you are past, let's say, the age of 50?

Fashion, Aging and Fun

2009-06-03T06:04:00.000-07:00

I recently gave a presentation titled, What's Age Got To Do With It? at a 55+ women's retreat. What fun!

A 74 year old came up immediately after my talk, and hired me for the whole image package (color analysis, makeup, closet and shopping.) She warned me that she still had clothes from 1965 in her closet! The ironic thing is, while she has had a hard time updating the way she looks, when I opened my big datebook, she whipped out her Blackberry!

Isn't it sometimes funny where our strengths and weaknesses are? I struggle with technology but I can put together a cute outfit in no time!

Which leads me to another question .... which will get us further in life .... brains or cuteness?

Oh, never mind. I'm just kidding.

Shopping at Lane Bryant

2009-05-11T05:41:00.000-07:00

"I am hiring you to take my daughter shopping. She doesn't wear clothes that look good on her and she thinks that nothing will." This is what one mother recently told me about her 18 year old, plus-size daughter. Although mom has talked to her, she thought it would mean more coming from me.

This past Friday, "Trixie" and I met at the Westfield Mall. We sat in the food court for a few minutes while I got to know a little bit about her. I wanted to make sure she had the same concerns as her mother. She did. She had on jeans and a top that clung to her body. To make matters worse, it had wide horizontal stripes. As we walked, she kept pulling it away from her waist, indicating that she was self-concious about her middle, where she carried most of her weight. She said that all of her tops were tight.

After a brief look around one of the anchor stores, I suggested that we go to Lane Bryant. The first thing we did there was have someone measure her for a new bra. The one she had on didn't fit her and made her look even heavier. She found a pair of capri pants that looked great on her and four tunic tops that she loved, as well as two bras.

Was she happy with her new look? Here are her exact words: "I look so skinny!"

Rethinking Aging

2009-05-04T05:59:00.000-07:00

May is Older Americans Month and later this month the Wood County Commission on Aging is honoring seniors 55+ (good grief, that would include ME) with a program titled "Celebrating Your Life." I have been asked to do a presentation that I am calling, "What's Age Got To Do With It? 10 tips for looking sassy and classy." It should be a lot of fun.

Barbara Riley, director of the Ohio Dept. of Aging says, "Today's seniors are shrugging off traditional stereotypes about growing old. Instead, they are living healthy and active lives, engaged in multiple endeavors. Our theme this year echoes the change that is happening in how older adults see themselves. They want to matter and make a difference, and our communities will be stronger with their participation."

In this mornings paper there was a short article titled, "Reminders of age undermine memory."

It states that older people who believe that memory loss goes hand in hand with aging may be undermining their own performance, based on research. This makes perfect sense to me since I am an absolute believer in the Law of Attraction. What you think about and speak about, you bring about. The universe gives you just what you ask for, or in a more biblical term, ask and ye shall recieve.

While dementia in older folks can't be denied, can we slow it down or stop it all together by thinking and behaving differently? I think so.

A Great Month!

2009-04-30T03:26:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy month! My husband had two valves replaced on April 1st and that was a bit scary, even though we knew he would feel much better after. He doesn't have any heart disease, just valves that hardly worked any more because of the Rheumatic Fever he had as a child. No wonder he had been getting so run down over the last two years! He is like a new man already!

He will be going back to work next week and it has been nice having him home this month. We have been able to go for rides and take walks. We have changed the way we eat to almost exclusively whole, organic food. Last week we drove to Defiance to C/J Farms, http://www.cjgrassfed.com/, and bought meat and cheese. These animals have never seen the inside of a cage, been fed genetically modified corn or given anti-biotics. It's food the way it used to be!

This past Monday I was at the WEN Trade Show selling Maggie's Fabulous Fashion Jewelry. That is such a fun part of my business. Actually, it's all fun!

Stay tuned for more blogs on a more regular basis!

"I'm Going To Make That Audience Rock"

2009-04-19T04:32:00.001-07:00

Those were the words of Susan Boyle, before she opened her mouth and a beautiful song sprang forth. I'm sure you have heard of Susan by now - the frumpy, not-so-beautiful woman who brought the audience to their feet on Britain's Got Talent. If not, listen to her performance before you read any further. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

I have listened to it twice and both times the tears ran down my face.

Susan Boyle is a perfect example of a late bloomer - someone with a hidden talent and passion that has been put on the back burner because of the needs and duties of everyday life. Only when the circumstances were right did she dare to show the world what she could do. She dared to take a chance. She knew people would laugh at her and decided it was worth the risk.

She is also the perfect example of people judging you by the way you look. The outside doesn't reflect what's on the inside or what abilities and talents we possess, but it often is a pretty good indicator, or so we assume. Only on rare occassions do we get the chance to prove otherwise.

We are judged by the way we look, so why not strive to look the best you can if that might reflect who you really are?

Actually, I CAN believe it's not butter

2009-03-31T13:47:00.000-07:00

This post has nothing to do with image, but it is about something that I am becoming passionate about: whole, natural food. I recently bought the book, Nourishing Traditions, The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0967089735/bookstorenow57-20

The introduction is eye-opening to say the least.

Here is a paragraph about Hydrogenation .... "This is the process that turns polyunsaturates, normally liquid at room temperature, into fats that are solid at room temperature ---- margarine and shortening. To produce them, manufacturers begin with the cheapest oils -- soy, corn, cottonseed or canola, already rancid from the extraction process --- and mix them with tiny metal particles --- usually nickel oxide. The oil with its nickel catalyst is then subjected to hydrogen gas in a high-pressure, high-temperautre reactor. Next, soap-like emulsifiers and starch are squeezed into the mixture to give it a better consistency; the oil is yet again subjected to high temperatures when it is steam-cleaned. This removes its unpleasant order. Margarine's natural color, an unappetizing grey, is removed by bleach. Dyes and strong flavors must then be added to make it resemble butter. Finally, the mixture is compressed and packaged in blocks or tubs and sold as a health food."

Just something to think about.

A Real Woman

2009-03-30T06:27:00.000-07:00

Here is a refreshing comment and a candid observation from Jo Frost, Supernanny, who was on the cover of Figure Magazine, http://www.figuremagazine/, last month:

"What's accepted as a beautiful woman's body here (America) is basically what you'd see on a 13-year-old at Abercrombie and Fitch." When she saw the cover of her most recent book, with her wrinkles airbrushed out, she insisted they be put back in. "I like my face. My wrinkles tell the story of my life. I don't believe women should feel pressured to fight every sign of aging."

Wouldn't it be wonderful if every woman felt like that?

Shopping

2009-03-26T08:06:00.000-07:00

"I need help. I have gained 20# and 3 kids in the last year and all the stress that goes with that. I have nothing in my closet I like. I have 3 pair of pants that fit! I keep trying to shop but when I find the time I am so disappointed because nothing fits right and I end up feeling awful! What can you do to help me? Anything?"

I received this email a couple of weeks ago from a 38 year old who needed to update her wardrobe with some clothes that made her look good and feel good. She just wanted some casual clothes and in two hours of shopping at Target and TJ Maxx last Saturday she had 3 pairs of capris, two denim jackets (white and blue), a number of tops, a scarf and a pair of white flats. She was thrilled. She brought her 12 year old daughter along and she had both ends of the age spectrum telling her which outfits were a "yes".

Mom, would you trust your 12 year old to dress you?

Middle-aged Spread

2009-03-20T10:56:00.000-07:00

Who was that women sitting on that bike? It couldn't be me, at least not the me I carry around in my head. Or the woman I see when I intentionally look in the mirror to make sure I'm looking as good as I possibly can. That woman stands up straight and sucks her belly in. While I certainly know that I am not the most attractive woman I know, I think I'm pretty hot for 58 years old. That woman in the mirror at Lifestyles could not possibly be me. That woman looked like a bean bag sitting on the seat.

Of course, it was me. It was the physical me, anyway. I'm not in bad shape, but I'm no spring chicken and parts of my body don't sit where they used to. But, you know what? It's OK. I'm good with it. I like getting older and when I don't catch unexpected glimpses of myself in the mirror, in my head I'm hot. Call it vain if you want, but the world would be a better place if we all had a healthy dose of self-exteem.

Let's hear it from the strong, beautiful women (that would be all of you, if you only knew it!) What do you know about yourself that you really like?

Friendshop and Warm Weather Dressing

2009-03-18T05:51:00.000-07:00

It's been a month since I have posted, and an extraordinary month it's been. I have had a beautiful two week vacation with my best friend and the weekend after I got back, I went on a retreat with several other women. The past month has been a time of reflection on where I am in my life and I have to say I have never been happier.

Warmer weather is here and it is time to get out of the cold weather clothing. Does this time of year sometimes cause you to think you don't have the right clothes to wear? The transition time of spring and fall was always a struggle for me, when I thought that I couldn't wear the winter clothes and it wasn't yet warm enough for the summer clothes. I thought I should have seperate clothes for those in between times. With little money to spend on clothes, I usually felt I was not dressed the way I would have liked to be. I thought, when I have more money, then I can dress the way I want. Well, I have more money and I spend less on clothes than I ever have. These days, I dress smart.

Don't worry about having a seperate set of clothing for those transition times, just wear a light weight jacket with the warmer weather clothing, put a light weight pair of leggings or tights under the spring dress or wear light colored boots.

Too Many Clothes??

2009-02-07T03:49:00.000-08:00

Do you have too many clothes? I'm not talking about the clothes that don't fit or are hopelessly outdated, I'm talking about the clothes you actually wear.

This week I helped a client go through all of the clothes in her closet because she was frustrated with the jam-packed mess she had. She shared a closet with her husband and he had more clothes than she did, but that's another story. "Lucy" easily parted with some things that she knew didn't look good on her, some she had never even worn, but still wanted to keep more than she should have. She said, "I wear them". I don't make anyone part with something, but I ask them if they think they look great in it. It plants a seed and they may decide it doesn't have a place in their wardrobe when they start feeling better in the other clothes they're wearing. After all, why should you settle for second best?

We think we need to have a lot of clothes. We think more clothes give us more choices, but in reality, it makes getting dressed more confusing and stressful. When we have a lot of clothes we usually have all colors of the rainbow and many different styles of clothing. One thing I know for sure, not all colors will be flattering to your skin tone and not all styles will flatter your body shape.

Figure out what style and colors work for you and stick to them. Find your style, the look you like. I wear denim jackets a lot, both with casual bottoms and dressier/business bottoms. Denim jackets may not be your cup of tea, but they work for me.

You will reap compliments and save money by wearing only the clothes that you look your very best in. I don't know about you, but I want to look my best everyday.

Business Casual Defined

2009-01-29T07:01:00.001-08:00

With President Obama now in office, the dress code in the Whitehouse is changing. He was photographed on his first full day in office with his suit jacket removed. Under President Bush, this was a no no.

Over the weekend, his aides didn't know how to dress. Some showed up in jeans and some were in suits and ties, so the President issued an informal edict that weekends were "business casual." He set the example when he showed up for a meeting with his chief advisor dressed in slacks with a gray sweater and a white buttoned-down shirt.

Hooray! The President knows what business casual means. Many people, including business owners, will be wise to take heed and note that there is a difference between "business casual" and "dress down."

What Were They Thinking?

2009-01-28T13:21:00.000-08:00

My client had been invited to attend a ball at a country club. She was very excited, as well as nervous, wanting to make a good impression on everyone there. She felt like she might be a little out of her element among these women of good breeding and fine taste. Three days before the ball she brought her dress to me to get my opinion and see if I thought the shoulder pads should be removed (they were) and an hour before the ball, she came over in her beautiful dress with her hair styled and I put her in some pretty makeup.

She called the next day to tell me she felt beautiful and very much at ease amongst the others. She said she wished I could have been there to see how some of the women were dressed. One well endowed woman had on a very tight bodice that squeezed her breasts so they popped up about three inches high. They were squeezed so tight they didn't even jiggle!

Another lady, who was no spring chicken, wore a dress with see-through panels from under her breasts to her hip bones. Another had a dress with a big ruffle wrapped around the whole length of it. She said it looked like a sheet of toilet paper wrapped around her. And then there was the very well-endowed lady in the strapless gown who had to hold it up while she danced. And one more, the woman with the deep V-neck that shifted so much when she moved my client was afraid the girls might fall out.

Breeding and good taste?

Taking Care of Your Skin

2009-01-24T07:00:00.000-08:00

My skin gets so dry this time of year! That's the comment I hear from many people these days. This last month has left many of us with dry, flaky skin, but increasing our moisturizer may not be the entire answer.

We get a new layer of skin about every 30 days and when we cleanse our face we get rid of most of the dead skin cells. As we age, the turnover is slower and the dead cells can cling to our face (sounds awful, doesn't it?) more easily if we are not vigilant at exfoliation. Most brands of skin care carry a microdermabrasion product that does a great job of getting rid of the flaky skin, but you can do a pretty good job with a washcloth, too. Lather up the cloth with a good cleanser and gently scrub your face in a circular motion. Pay extra attention to the spots you know are dry and pay attention to the easy to miss spots like the sides of your nose. Good exfoliation helps unclog pores.

Always follow with moisturizer twice a day. Yes, you need to remove your makeup at night!

Love It or Hate It!

2009-01-23T10:52:00.001-08:00

It seems everyone has an opinion about the dresses Michelle Obama wore on inauguration day.

The dress and and matching jacket she wore during the day was a yellow/green. The designer, Isabel Toledo, calls the color lemongrass. I think that descibes it pretty well. As near as I could tell, it has an undertone of green. It is a warm color and I doubt if Michelle's skin tone is warm, but she could carry it off better than lighter skinned women.

I heard someone say they thought the green gloves didn't look right with the dress, but they were a perfect compliment, especially with the green sash on it.

I was, well, kind of shocked when I saw the ball gown. She would have looked so much better in a vibrant color and there was way too much frou frou going on. I thought it was much better suited for a debutante ball.

I would be interested in hearing what the rest of you think .........

Oh, the burgundy scarf the President wore during the parade looked wonderful!

Chic For Less

2009-01-19T07:28:00.000-08:00

I am all about looking great without spending a lot of money and I'm very excited about being interviewed this week by The Mirror, Maumee's weekly newspaper, at CJ's Closet at Parkway Plaza in Maumee! CJ's is an upscale consignment shop where you are apt to find designer labels at very affordable prices, as well as more modest labels. The Mirror, http://www.themirrornewspaper.com/, is doing an article about saving money at consignment shops.

With saving your money becoming the smart thing to do in this economy, resale and consignment shopping has become chic ("elegance by virtue of being fashionable"). There are different styles of chic, for example geek chic and shabby chic, so you can be elegant and fashionable in your own style. With consignment shopping, you can try out different styles and find your personal persona at bargain prices.

For those who want to accessorize with designer labels but don't want to buy them, they can be rented. Check out these websites: http://www.bagborroworsteal.com/ and http://www.blingyourself.com/. They are fun to look at even if you're not interested in renting!

Share your great finds from consignment shopping.

A Balanced Life

2009-01-10T12:14:00.000-08:00

I am just loving this snow day! I have started taking down the Christmas decorations and while I took a break from that, I finished a good book I have been reading.

I just started reading again this past fall. Since I started my business three years ago I had read nothing but books that would help me grow my business. I hadn't realized how much I had missed getting lost in a good novel!

The other thing that I started doing again over the holidays is counted cross stitch. I used to do it while I watched TV and I had an unfinished piece I hadn't picked up in years. Now I am well on my way to getting it done!

And, the funny thing is that I am getting more business and finding myself unstressed about it! I am sure it is because I have found some balance in my life.

What do you do to balance yours?

Ideas, Inspiration and Possibilities

2009-01-02T08:02:00.000-08:00

A new year brings new possibilities and I am really excited about the direction Take The Time: Image Matters! is going. I am open for the ideas and inspiration that I know are coming my way!

Turns out, this business is not what I thought it would be and the reason for that is because I have kept my mind open to possibilities. I have dared to think that it really could be all about having fun!

In the beginning I found that some of my speaking gigs were stressful because I was repeating things that I had learned about image from other people. I was trying to sound like an expert. What I have discovered since, is that I have much more fun when I just try to sound like me! I even dress differently now. The suits that I used to wear to every meeting and event are now more likely to be mixed with something more casual.

Isn't life just easier when you don't try to live up to what you think someone else thinks you should be?

The Right Stuff

2008-12-26T13:00:00.000-08:00

Dragging out the boxes of Christmas decorations (and two trees) just isn't as much fun as it used to be; in fact, it's hard work. It's kept in a little crawl space that is off the spare bedroom and I have to crawl in the opening on my hands and knees. This year I decided I didn't need all of it. Not by a long shot. I collect santas and snowmen and had way too many that didn't mean much to me. Now I only have my favorites. Someone who shops at Goodwill got some great decorations this year.

Along with the decorations, quite a few nattily dressed stuffed bears went in the Goodwill pile. For a few years I collected bears (not just that I had all over the house year round. I have changed and my decorating tastes have changed, too. I know someone thought they hit the jackpot when they found those bears.

This morning I took another swipe at my closet and got rid of even more of my clothes. I have been doing this for quite some time but my eye gets more critical as time goes by and I am more sure of the way I want to look.

Whether I am decorating my home or myself, I don't want to have a lot of stuff. I just want to have the right stuff!

Me and Oprah

2008-12-10T10:04:00.000-08:00

It's all over the news ........ Oprah has gained weight!

Well there you have it, she's human after all. Just suppose she's not supposed to be thin. It could be she is healthier at a heavier weight. It's certainly not healthy to have your weight yoyo. Or so they say. Anyway, Oprah looks good no matter what her weight. It's all about wearing the right clothes.

Which leads me to me. A year ago I seemed to be losing weight for no reason. So, just to be sure there wasn't something wrong, I had a physical and it seems everything is in order. Whoopy, I thought, I don't have to feel guilty having dessert. Or two. I should have known ...... it caught up to me. In the last week I have discovered that some of my clothes are way too tight.

If my eating habits hadn't changed and I had gained weight, I wouldn't be concerned. I think a few extra pounds would be good for my bones. But I know exactly why I have gained weight ..... all the extra sweet stuff. That can't be healthy. I'm cutting back on the sweets (not eliminating them, mind you) and I expect I will get back to where I was.

Or somewhere close, anyway. I'm not getting rid of the "skinny clothes" just yet. I will give myself four months and if I can't fit into them by then they're "outta hear".

After all, I have to practice what I preach.

2008-12-10T09:06:00.000-08:00

It's all over the news .......... Oprah has gained weight. Ya know, maybe she isn't meant to be thin. Maybe she's spent all these years agonizing about her weight for nothing. Everyone has a differ

Forever 21

2008-12-01T11:09:00.000-08:00

I'm back from a wonderful vacation in Traverse City. It snowed like crazy while we were there and it was just too nasty to go out much of the time, but we didn't care! We were in a nice condo overlooking Lake Michigan. We had fun cooking great dinners and reading books.

It was kind of nice taking the week before Thanksgiving off because it has seemed almost like a two week vacation!

I took a twenty-one year old shopping yesterday. I was hired to "talk to" this young woman who doesn't dress appropriately for her job as a receptionist. I decided she needed to be shown, rather than talked to, so we went to Forever 21, http://www.forever21.com/, where I had her try on clothes that were appropriate for her job yet were very stylish for someone her age. I showed her how she could get a lot of outfits from a few simple pieces of clothing.

It was a lot of fun for me - like playing dress-up with a life-size doll! And she had a good time, too. Two or three times she said, "I never would have thought of putting that with that!"

She didn't buy anything right then because she was broke but she said she was coming back to the store soon. And, she assured me she had some things at home to wear now that she knew how she could mix up some pieces. And the most important thing she had? A little black skirt.

What one piece of clothing do you have that you wear with many other things?

My can't live without piece is a jeans jacket.

The Week in Review

2008-11-15T04:22:00.001-08:00

Like most weeks, it's been a busy one. Tomorrow we are leaving for a week in Traverse City, MI, so much of my thoughts have been devoted to that!

On Monday I went to the WEN West meeting. I hadn't been in a couple of months because of another group I became involved in - the Boomer Resource Network. I am going to stop going to those meetings. The focus is on aging and my business is all about age not even being an issue. At least as far as image is concerned.

Tuesday I had a table at the Maumee Chamber Business Expo. I sold some jewelry and gave away an hour's consultation to a woman who is very excited about a wardrobe makeover!

Wed. evening I went to an EFT class (Emotional Freedom Technique). I learned how to tap on meridian points to unblock the flow of energy in my body that contributes to much of the negative things going on in ones life. Don't think it's woo woo stuff - it's used in hospitals, Hospice, on people with PTSD and more.

Thursday night I went to the Women's Council of Realtors Holiday Gala. In a silent auction I gave away another consultation to a woman who desperately wants her wardrobe redone. What fun this all is! In the beginning, I thought I had to get paid for everything, now I am giving away lots of stuff and the business I am getting paid for is increasing! Hmmm, sounds like the Law of Attraction at work!

How is the Law of Attraction working in your life?

Strong Women!

2008-11-07T07:53:00.000-08:00

When I wrote my last blog I didn't know that I would be going to see Menopause the Musical. I saw it on Wednesday night with some friends.

What starts out lamenting all the down sides of menopause (hot flashes, mood swings, etc.) ends up with celebrating womanhood.

Women are tough. We go through puberty, menstruation, childbirth, menopause and deal with it all. Every stage of life has its challenges and most women meet them all and come out stronger on the other side! I celebrate the woman I have become every day!

What part of your life have you celebrated recently?

What's Age Got To Do With It?

2008-11-01T13:13:00.000-07:00

This morning I was sending e-mails back and forth with someone after she sent one asking if, like her, I had trouble sleeping at night since my newsletter went out this morning posted at 4:00 AM. I replied, no, that's just the time that I set it to be sent when I did it yesterday, however, I was awake at four this morning (and it seems like most of the night) because I kept having hot flashes. They were especially bad last night. She told me they would pass and I said that I was 58 and have been done with menopause for eight years and was tired of waiting.

She replied that she had forgotton that I had told her my age a while ago, "I just look so much younger than 58, especially as a blonde".

Now, I am not a blonde and haven't been one for over a year. I am now my natural color which is a gray/silver. While I appreciate the compliment, I think she was hinting that I would look even younger if I went back to blonde. The thing is, I love my real color. I know it hints at what my age is, but ya know what, I don't care. In fact, aside from the fact that the color is pretty, a big part of the reason I don't color it anymore is that I think that age needs to stop being an issue when it comes to the way we look, the way we feel about ourselves or anything else, for that matter.

I don't want to look good for my age, I just want to look good. I think I do, but it comes from more than my physical appearance, it comes from liking (loving) the woman I have become!

The Important Stuff

2008-10-26T14:12:00.000-07:00

OK, so much for blogging every day. Can't do it, don't want to do it, so I'll do it when the inspriation strikes me.

I have about twenty minutes while I wait for a pot of white chicken chili to get done simmering on the stove. I really like to cook when I can be creative and have been having quite a good time at it lately. For a long time I thought I didn't have time to cook like I wanted to, but ya' know, you can do just about anything if you make it a priority.

It's been a busy week! Since I have found my niche, wardrobe makeovers, I have been getting busier. Monday night I did a prestentation about image to some Arbonne women, had two wardrobe makeovers this week and had a table last night at a Girls Night Out.

I am having so much fun with my job (it doesn't seem right to call it a job). How cool is that?

In today's newspaper, there is an article about high-heeled shoes being the newest look for shoes. I mean REALLY high heels. I have not read the article yet so am interested in what it says. Just a year ago flats were the hot new style. They are most definitely way better for your feet, back and mood, but if "fashion" doesn't keep changing with the seasons, no one would be making money.

what are your favorite pair of shoes?

follower of fashion

2008-10-22T08:52:00.000-07:00

Will women ever stop wearing things THEY KNOW do not flatter their figure? Is it for the sake of current fashion or that they can't find anything better to wear?

Monday night I gave a presentation about image to a group of women. I sat throught the whole meeting to take questions from women when it was finished. One woman alternated between standing and sitting while she spoke for 10 minutes or so. She had on a thin knit pull-over top that clung to her "curvy" waistline. She was obviously uncomfortable with they way the top clung to her because she kept pulling at it. It did everything to show that she was not svelte around her middle, so why would she wear it? Surely there are better options.

Either she didn't care (but she did!) or was too lazy to look for something that would look better on her or she just doesn't know where to look.

In my experience working with women, a lot of you are just overwhelmed when it comes to shopping. Too many choices and little knowledge of what flatters your body. One of my clients and I walked into Steinmart and she said if she was by herself she would be so overwhelmed she would head for the same old things she always bought. This is the woman who hired me because last Nov. she said she was looking at photos from past Christmases and she had on the same outfit the last three years.

Yesterday, I was talking to someone about the book I am writing, titled "It's My Closet and I'll Cry If I Want To" and I said that when I was 23 or 24 I had actually cried while looking at my closet thinking that I had nothing to wear. My friend said, "That's nothing, I have cried while standing in the middle of the women's dept. in a store." I know that when I cried about the contents of my closet, the problem was that I didn't understand what looked good on me. I thought that when I had more money to spend on clothes, then I would look great. Now I know that is not the case at all - it is making smart choices when you buy your clothes. The amount of money you have to spend has very little to do with it.

Does your bra FIT?

2008-10-19T13:51:00.000-07:00

I was just reading a blog, http://www.boomergirl.com/stories/look_good/, about her experience with The Bra Whisperer and feel the urge to write again about the exact experience I had in June. I went to Sunny J's http://www.sunnyjs.com/ in Plymouth, Mi. and was fitted by a real bra fitter. Boomer Girl got the same brand and style bra that I did, Fantasie 4510 and, just like me, she went down one # size and up one letter.

I see so many women who are wearing the wrong bra size! How do I know, because the girls are sagging! Ladies, that is not the way you should look when wearing a bra. When you hold your arm next to your body, bend your elbow so your arm is shaped like an L. Look at yourself sideways and your breast should be half way between your elbow and your shoulder. If it is not, you are not wearing the correct size bra! It may be time to find a store that sells only bras with a wide variety of sizes.

Sunny J's also specializes in swim suits. I plan to go up and get a swim suit before February. Should we plan a caravan trip, Toledo readers?

But then, why would you want to wait?

I Should Be Bloggin'

2008-10-17T06:19:00.000-07:00

Bloggin'. Isn't that the way Sarah Palin would say it? Oh, never mind. Being a girl from northern New England, I've been know to drop an r or two from words and add one onto others - like, don't you think that's a good ider?

Anyway, politics or linguistics is not the topic of my blog today.

I have been telling myself that blogging takes too much time out of my day and I am trying to put more balance into my life by taking more time for ME. I am actually reading a novel for the first time in a long time and it is hard to put down. It is Oprah's latest pick, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. I recommend it but as Oprah said, don't read the inside flap first because it gives away too much. But, since I know people who I assume are far busier than me and are writing great blogs almost daily, making an attempt to step it up.

I have had some great things going on. I have an article published in Oct. issue of Mature Living. It is titled, "Are you a late bloomer?" I am pretty proud of that.

Last week I picked up my new bookmarks I had made for my business. They are better to hand out than business cards because they tell people what I do in just a few words.

Tuesday afternoon one of my clients brought her winter clothes over for me to look at. In the spring I went to her home and went through her summer clothes and a few days later, took her shopping. She said she had been getting so many compliments that I had to help her with winter clothes. Her biggest problem is that she wears clothes for years because she HATES TO SHOP. There are a lot of women like that, that's why I have put the focus of my business on shopping in your closet and then shopping in stores to fill in the gaps. It's what women want the most and it's what is the most fun for me!

Well, that was easy and not too time consuming. From now on I am going to post most every day!

How do you bring balance into your life while trying to build your business?

Women's Expo

2008-10-04T17:13:00.000-07:00

This afternoon my husband and I went to the Women's Expo in Sylvania. There were booths selling a varity of things with an emphasis on cosmetics, jewelry, purses and various wrinkle creams. We can get that stuff anywhere. Where were the booths related to the important things women are concerned with - - caring for family, jobs, juggling family and jobs, cutting costs, raising children, stress relief .....

Walking to our car I said that it was kind of creepy. My husband said, "the only thing missing was the live liposuction."

Did anyone else go, and what was your take on it?

Skinny Legs

2008-09-26T09:12:00.000-07:00

I had coffee this morning with a friend and we were talking about body image. The negative kind, of course. You know, how we focus on the bits we don't like and never mind how good all the rest is.

My friend thinks she has skinny legs and won't wear capri pants because of it.

"Oh my god, girl, will you look at those skinny legs!"

Unfortunately, when she was young, she was teased about her legs. She spent her high school years at a school where she had to wear a uniform and for girls, it was a skirt and shirt. She told me she would wear layers of knee socks to make her legs look bigger and of course had to have a larger pair of shoes to accomodate. I'm guessing she didn't worry about big feet.

I wonder if she would think she had skinny legs if those kids hadn't teased her.

My best friend won't wear capris, either (skinny legs) although she has no problem wearing shorts. I don't get that, but she seems to think her skinny ankles look unsightly sticking out from the capris.

All that angst about legs when, you know what? They both have such pretty faces I'm pretty sure no one is looking at their legs!

10 Things That Age A Woman

2008-09-24T06:48:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth's House

2008-09-21T13:43:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I went to the one year anniversary celebration of Elizabeth's House. Elizabeth's House came from the dream of life coach, Beth Collins. She had long wanted a place where women could gather to uplift and nurture each other. One year ago that dream became a reality when she opened EH on the campus of Notre Dame Academy. I was luckly enough to have been one of the first women to have been "gifted" a membership.

I can't say enough about what Beth has done for me in the past year.

I am coming up on the 3 year anniversary of my business and have now figured out what my business is! For some time, I tried to be what other people said an image consultant should be. I thought I had to fit a mold to prove that I really was an image consultant. In the process, I lost "me". I now know that I don't have to do all these things. I don't have to prove anything. I just have to do what I love doing, what I am good at, be who I am and everything will fall into place!

Today at Elizabeth's House, I stood up and said that I used to wear suits at meetings when I was representing myself as an image consultant because I thought that was what I had to look like. Today, I wore tight jeans and I AM AN IMAGE CONSULTANT - the kind of image consultant that is authentic and represents all aspects of a woman.!

If you want to find some direction in your life or life work, drop in to see Beth during "You time" at Elizabeth's House, from 10:00 to 2:00 on Tues. and Thurs. You won't be sorry you took the time.

Elizabeth's House is on the campus of Notre Dame Academy. It is the first building on the Secor Rd. entrance.

A Fun Evening

2008-09-19T06:44:00.000-07:00

I attended a fun event yesterday evening, a fund raiser for the YWCA, http://www.ywcatoledo.org/, called Bagnificent.

It was held at the Loft and Home with bags both inside and in a tent outside. There was wine and delicious food from Manhatten's and lots of women. The bags were new or gently used (they all looked new to me), some were well known brands, some lesser known and some homemade. They were all fabulous.

In the far end of the tent were the less expensive bags, and I bid on three. The bidding closed at 7:00 for this table and I "won" all three! I got a small beaded bag, a midsize "martini" bag and a black and white tote that included two bottles of wine and four black bamboo placemats. All of this was a bargain at $75!

After that I left since the high end bags were not in my budget and I had time to stop at the Toledo Woman's Club where I had been invited to a wine and cheese party with a fashion show by CAbi. I reconnected with some people I hadn't seen in a while, got a speaking engagement for January and got a great pair of black pants for 50% off.

That is what I call a great evening!

Fear of Aging

2008-08-29T12:05:00.001-07:00

This summer I have listened to two doctors talk about cosmetic surgury as though it was a perfectly natural thing to do. They played to the fears and insecurities of women. One even said that he and his wife both get Botox injections and he couldn't have been more than 35, even accounting for the smooth skin.

I was listening to 101.5 The River while driving my car this morning and the DJs were calling women who applied and had been selected to attend a Botox party at the station. Maybe I shouldn't have been, but I was quite surprised they were doing this. While I listened, they contacted three women. One of them had a good reason for wanting this - she had the scowl lines that didn't go away even when her face was relaxed. The other two had reasons that were quite superficial, in my opinion. One said, "I work out and I'm a mother of two and I just think this would be an incentive to keep working out and eating right." Does she realize that it's going to wear off in a few months? The other's reason was that she was going to a class reunion. Well, I guess she'll show the rest of the old hags!

Somebody's getting rich off our fear of looking old and it's not the women who are having the procedures.

Blooming in Mid-life

2008-08-28T12:18:00.001-07:00

I am a Late Bloomer. After 34 years in banking, I found my true passion by accident and I am having the time of my life!

I started my own business when I was 55. I didn't know the first thing about image consulting, I just knew I could do whatever it took to do it. I have been trained by an image consultant with 30 years experience, I have trained myself and gone way beyond what she could teach me in just 10 days and, most importantly, I love doing it! I have brought more into it than I could ever have imagined in the beginning (probably a good thing or I would have chickened out) and the best is yet to come!

Are you a late bloomer, could you be a late bloomer or do you think you probably couldn't make a huge change?

Summertime and Shopping

2008-08-09T07:12:00.000-07:00

I guess it's time to get back to blogging. Summertime has been taking me away and I make no apologies for that!

I have been working also, although I find it very difficult to call what I do work. I have so much fun! And isn't that the ideal job?

A few weeks ago a client had a closet party and one of the guests hired me to take her shopping. She sells a product with a direct sales company and recently attended a conference and said she was the worst dressed one there. Another conference is coming up at the end of this month and she needed some different things to wear. I assumed she was in her early twenties. In an hour and a half we found black slacks, brown slacks, a black jacket and four tops she could wear with both pairs of slacks. Since we had not used all of the time she had set aside, we had lunch and I discovered some surprising things about this young lady. She not only sells her product, she also grooms dogs and horses and trains and shows horses and she is only 18 years old!

Here is the e-mail I recieved from her this week:

"I have been getting ready for the convention in Utah and I feel really confident. In fact I went to Dillard's yesterday to take another look around and I found a suit for $80 that was originally $300. I would never have bought it if you had not come with me and shown me what to look for ........... thank you so much! I will have to send you a picture of me wearing it at the convention."

I knew I could dress middle-aged women, now I know I can take an 18 year old dressed in a denim mini-skirt and high heels and put in her some professional-looking clothes and have her love it!

Don't miss this!

2008-07-29T11:08:00.000-07:00

Most of us will be touched with having to deal with aging parents or grandparents. Read my blog posting at www.boomersresourses.blogsplot.com to learn about the new concept in nursing homes. It's here and it is amazing! My in-laws live in this fabulous place!

What do your boobs say about you?

2008-07-21T12:40:00.000-07:00

Saturday I was flashed at my hairdresser's.

I was just waiting while Sheila cut my husband's hair.

Cathy, another stylist, asked me if I wanted to see something really cool and I said, of course. Her client, who was waiting for her hair highlighting to take, followed us into the back room. Cathy explained that Michelle was a breast cancer survivor and had reconstructive surgery. That was when Michelle lifted her T-shirt and showed me her breasts.

She had the pink breast cancer ribbons tatooed where her nipples used to be!

Don't you love it?

Scary Drivers

2008-07-07T12:17:00.000-07:00

This holiday weekend I witnessed two scary incidents involving an older person behind the wheel of a car.

Saturday we went to The Anderson's and as we were moving into the left turn lane on Talmadge there was an old Cadillac with his left turn signal in the lane for going straight. He was back a ways from the car in front of him so Mike approached carefully, thinking he might move over in front of us. He didn't, so I watched out my side mirror to see if he was waiting to pull over behind us. He didn't and I assumed he didn't realize his blinker was on. Lucky for the people in the two turn lanes, our light stayed red while the two straight lanes turned green. Unbelievably, the Cadillac turned left right in front of all the cars waiting to turn.

He turned into Anderson's just in front of us and pulled in a handicap spot. By the time Mike parked our car several spots away and we walked by his car he was just getting out of the car with difficulty, using his cane. Mike walked up and asked him if he knew that he had turned left from the straight lane and could have caused an accident if all the lights had been green. He had no idea he had done that. His excuse was that he was not from around here. I told him that even so, it was pretty hard to miss the big arrows painted on the road.

The second incident happened at Kenwood and Cheltenham in the Old Orchard neighborhood.

This intersection is a four-way stop, with a flashing red light and stop signs. Mike and I had just pulled up to the stop on Cheltenham when a car went sailing right in front of us without even slowing down. Mike laid on his horn and the car's brake lights came on. The really scary part was that there were two little girls playing on the grass between the street and the sidewalk.We pulled out and watched the car drive slowly, but somewhat erratically up to the light at Secor. We pulled up right beside the car waiting for the light to turn. An old lady sat in the drivers seat with her window down and I asked her if she knew she ran the red light. She said she did and was sorry. Mike said, "You could have killed those kids!" and again she said she was sorry.

Sometimes sorry just ain't enought.

When is it time to take away the car??

Got Boobs?

2008-06-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

Does your bra fit? I tell my clients that the most important piece of clothing you put on your body is your bra. It must fit! What I didn't know, until last week, is that I was not wearing the right size!

80% of women are wearing the wrong size bra.

A few years ago, I was measured by one of the fitters at J.C. Penny. I was wearing a size with just one letter and she told me I should be in a smaller number and a double letter. Last year I was measured again by a fitter at Dillard's and discovered that I had "graduated" to the triple number!

My best friend, Paula, just spent a few days with me, and on the first day she was here she was telling me about this bra store in Rhode Island she had been too. She then told me I wasn't wearing the right size. I had to admit that when I first put it on in the morning it was fine, but all day long I was tightening the straps, then loosening the straps, tugging on the back and trying to get the girls where I wanted them. A bra just shouldn't be that hard, but I just thought it was my cross to bear. In that size, I didn't have many options, or so I thought.

Paula and I looked on the net and found Sunny J's, http://www.sunnyjs.com/, in Plymouth, MI and the next day we were there. I stood in the dressing room in my bra and told the fitter the size and she said that it wasn't the right size. My excitement was building!

She very quickly wrapped the tape around me one time (she didn't even measure around my rib cage) and disappeared. She came back with one that fit like a dream. I bought three! The shocking part was the size: I went down one number and back to a single letter but three letters above what I had been wearing! Not in a million years would I have imagined such a thing! They don't even sell that size in "regular" stores.

Without your bra on you may not look like you did when you were twenty, but when you are wearing one that is the correct size and shape, you should. It's worth driving a few miles to Plymouth.

Aging gracefully?

2008-06-13T05:55:00.000-07:00

"Between 1997 and 2007, the number of Botox treatments in the US rose by 4,159%."

Yesterday I attended a luncheon where the featured speaker was a doctor who helps people look younger with the use of Botox and Restylane. He had a power-point presentation and we got to look at pictures of wrinkled faces while learning the names of all the wrinkles. Did you know that those squinchy wrinkles between your eyes are called bunny wrinkles? He talked about crevices on the face (caused by loss of fat under the skin) and even talked about one woman having one like the "Grand Canyon".

What I used to think were my unique facial features, making me look like me, are now horrible flaws! I am suffering the ravaging effects of aging!

Seriously, I respect anyone's decision to have cosmetic surgery. I will never say that I would not do it myself at some point in time. However, this guy played on every woman's insecurities to the max! I learned more about my face than I ever wanted to know, and I'm pretty sure that when I removed my makeup last night, there were some wrinkles there that hadn't been there in the morning!

Now I'm going to start looking for sinkholes!

Jack 1990 - 2008

2008-06-11T10:50:00.000-07:00

It is with a heavy heart, tight chest and teary eyes that I write this post. In one hour I will be taking my beloved cat, Mr. Jacky, to the vet's where I will have to say goodbye. Jack was diagnosed with heart failure a few weeks ago and we have been watching him go downhill since. It is time to let him go.

We got Jack, and his side-kick Tony, in 1992 when we moved to Toledo. Tony died about 3 years ago. Mike and I have always had cats and have made up stories about them, but none more so than Jack and Tony.

The boys were well known in NW Ohio and anywhere they showed up a crowd was sure to follow. They were big rum drinkers and when they walked into a bar the red carpet was rolled out. They knew how to entertain a crowd! But I have to admit, they were not welcome everywhere. They were banned from the Whippy Dip in Woodville after doing their rendition of the humpty dance. Some folks just don't know how to have a good time!

They loved heavy equipment. There were no constuction sites in the Toledo area that were safe from Jack and Tony. After the work was done for the day, the boys would borrow bulldozers, cranes and anything they could get there paws on and take them for a spin. I don't know what all the fuss was about, most of the time they returned everything!

I know Mr. Tony is waiting with a CATerpillar and a cup of rum.

Thanks for listening. I am going to sit with Jack until it's time to leave.

Reading Books

2008-06-10T05:29:00.000-07:00

In this morning's Blade there is an article that says debt stress takes a toll on ones body. Well, duh! Any kind of stress will do that. But stress, or debt, is not what I want to talk about this morning.

Another article in the Blade, by Homer Brickey, is titled: Even before information age, many found real books too slow a slog. He recently contacted some local business people to get comments on books. The result: people don't have time to read anymore.

I know I haven't read a novel, except on vacations, in several years and boy, do I miss it! I have been a reader since I could read my mother's Nancy Drew books. She also had many from the Hardy Boys, and Judy Bolton (a lesser known girl detective) series. I read them over and over. I also got books from the book mobile that came to my rural school.

I have read one book after another until a few years ago and it is the biggest stress relief that I know of. I can lose myself in other peoples adventures and troubles for hours. E-books and books on cd are just not the same, although I am listening to The Power of Now by Eckart Tolle in my car. For me there is nothing like sitting in a comfortable chair and holding a good book in my lap.

I need to start reading for fun again!

I'm going to do it, too - - - as soon as I have more time.

Tieing one on

2008-06-06T12:04:00.000-07:00

In today's Toledo Blade, there is an article from the Wall Street Journal about the demise of the tie. You remember, those long things worn around the neck?

Men just aren't wearing them any more; at least not like they used to.

Here is a quote from the article:

Ian and Shep Murray, the founders of Vineyard Vines tie makers, don't feel any need to wear a tie to the office. "We make ties for other people so we don't have to wear them," said co-CEO Ian Murray, 33, who on a recent afternoon in his Stamford, Conn. office was wearing shorts, flip-flops, and a polo shirt.

Mr. Murray said he and his brother, who is 37, quit their white-collar jobs in advertising and public relations in New York in 1998 partly because they hated the rigidity of wearing suits and ties to the office every day. They claim that Vineyard Vines ties, featuring whimsical illustrations of whales, martini glasses, and beach chairs, inject some fun into an otherwise dreary article of clothing.

"It seems like if people had the choice, they would not wear a tie," Ian Murray sad. "So if you are wearing a tie, you might as well make it fun."

I am pretty sure that if you are required to wear a tie to the office and you show up in one with martini glasses on it, you wouldn't be taken too seriously in some professions. Even on casual Friday.

Wouldn't that be kind of like wearing flip-flops with a suit?

Dated Clothing

2008-06-04T11:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had lunch with Sandy Pirwitz. She owns Sandy's Stuff for Women, a resale shop on Sylvania Ave. in Toledo.

Sandy only takes clothing that is in style and she was talking about how many things women bring in that are dated. This is even after she has told them on the phone that they must be in style. When she tells women she can't take these things because they won't sell, they seem surprised or angry.

Women hire me to go throuh their wardrobe with them, helping them to get rid of the things that are dated or don't fit in their lifestyle anymore. After we have eliminated the baggage, we "play" with the clothes that are left, finding new outfits by mixing pieces up and showing how jewelry or scarves can be worn them. I find that most women have quite a few things that are dated and they either don't realize it or they wear them anyway because they have mileage left in them.

I think this is why Sandy finds many of these things being brought into her shop. We (and I say we because I have been here) tend to think that if the piece is still in good condition, someone else will probably like it. Especially if we paid a good chunk of money for it and we haven't worn it enough to get our investment back. And I am not putting a price on that because as far as I am concerned, any "chunk of money" is good!

Sandy is a smart business woman and she is not going to have things in her store that won't sell. And, from the perspective of someone who likes to shop resale, I am not going to spend much time in a store if I have to rifle through a lot of old, dated things - - no matter how good a shape they're in!

What interesting garment do you have hanging in your closet?