Beyond Words

 

I’m trying something new this Thanksgiving. I’m doing my sweet potatoes in the crock pot. I know it’s probably not the best day to try out something new but I’m doing it anyway!

 

I love sweet potatoes. Normally I make a canned yam casserole with pineapple and marshmallows for Thanksgiving but my new recipe calls for real sweet potatoes and I couldn’t be happier.

 

So what is the difference between yams and sweet potatoes? Truth be told, they’re both sweet potatoes but according the Ree Drummond of TV’s “Pioneer Women” fame, if you’re living in the U.S. you’ve probably never seen a true yam. Wait, what? The cans I see on grocery store shelves clearly say they are yams.

 

Not so fast my friends. Real yams are actually tubers of tropical plants and are related to native grasses and lilies found in Africa, South America, and the Pacific. They come in various sizes, some as big as 100 pounds, but don’t pack the healthy beta carotene punch that American ones do. So, what gives? Why are those bright orange canned goods called yams?

 

Drummond writes that when orange sweet potatoes were introduced to the U.S. in the 1930s, shippers labeled them “yams,” which is the English form of the African word “nyami.”  And although they are an American Thanksgiving staple today, they really weren’t a part of the annual November holiday until the 1800s.

 

 

 

I prefer real sweet potatoes and can’t wait to make my casserole for Thanksgiving.  Not only are they delectable to eat, they are chalk-full of nutrients. One large sweet potato contains nine times the daily recommended allowance of vitamin A while sweet potatoes in general:

 

Contain high levels of potassium

Have twice as much fiber as other potatoes

Are rich in Vitamins C and E

Are natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatories

Are rich in beta-carotene

Have a low GI, which helps reduce blood sugar

Are a good source of manganese

Possess antibacterial and antifungal properties

Help improve skin and contain collagen

Help prevent rheumatoid arthritis

Are soothing for the stomach and prevent constipation

Contain iron

Promote a healthy digestive track

Help with emphysema

May lower health risks associated with heavy metals and oxygen radicals

 

What’s not to love, right? And, you can love them in more than just casseroles, baked, or mashed. Sweet potato soup is to die for, and don’t forget those two southern staples: candied yams and sweet potato pie.

 

One more thing before I share my recipe: when you buy sweet potatoes, look for smooth skins and firm bodies and store them in a cool, dry place. If they come in a bag, take the out of it and never put them in the refrigerator. The longer you store them after harvest, the sweeter they will be. Enjoy!

 

Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole

By iwashlaundry.com

 

Ingredients

5 medium to large sweet potatoes

2 cups chicken broth

¼ cup butter, cubed

2 eggs lightly beaten

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup brown sugar

 

Topping

½ cup brown sugar

1/3  cup melted butter

1/3 cup flour

 

*I will also be adding cubed pineapple and mini marshmallows to the topping and will not include pecans as the recipe called for.

 

Instructions

1. Peel sweet potatoes and cut into 1-2 inch cubes. Place them in crock pot. Add chicken broth and cubed butter. Cook on high for 3 hours or until potatoes are soft enough to mash.
2. Mash potatoes and add eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla. Add to crock pot.
3. In separate bowl combine topping ingredients and sprinkle over potatoes. Cook on high.
4. Serve and enjoy!

 

 

 

Reading my book last night (the wonderful “Traveling with Pomegranates” by Sue Monk Kidd) I came across a thought-provoking passage where her daughter, Ann Kidd Taylor, writes about the fear of “losing herself” when she gets married. She’s contemplating who she will be and what her name will be. Hyphenated? Just her husband’s last name? Keep your maiden name? Obviously she chose to use both her maiden name and her husband’s last name with no hyphen, but it got me thinking.

 

Why is it that the bride changes her name but not the husband? Here’s a little history that I found fascinating.

 

Some historians trace the idea back to the days of hunter gatherer clans. Members of clans were mostly all related to each other so young members would meet with other tribes or clans to find unrelated spouses. When they did, the woman would join her husband’s clan so she took the name of his clan. Vice-versa was never the case.

 

In medieval Europe, women were considered owned by men; first by their fathers and then by their husbands. (cough, cough, gag, gag.) This is still the case in some restrictive Arab and Muslim countries but tell my daughter and her friends that they will be “owned” by their husbands and you’re liable to get “owned!” In those ancient times though, when Mary Jones married John Smith she did not become Mary Smith, but rather Mrs. John Smith! Surprisingly this was even common practice up until the 1970s and the fact that my parent’s checkbook was for “Mr. and Mrs. Tony Luna, Jr.” is proof of this. I can’t even imagine.

 

Royalty is a whole other story. It was assumed the husband would inherit, buy, or build the family home so his last name was the name of the house. For example, Tudor, which I know of as home design style, but it’s much more than just half-timbered gabled homes in high-end neighborhoods. The House of Tudor was a royal house of Welsh and English origin that descended in the male line from the Tudors of Penmynydd. I have no idea how to pronounce that but I’m guessing their home was in “Tudor style” and I’m guessing they were the big dogs of their time.

 

Another privilege of being royal is that you don’t even have to use your last name. Does anyone know Prince William’s last name? His full name is actually William Arthur Philip Louis Mountbatten-Windsor. “Windsor” because that’s the name King George V, Queen Elizabeth’s father and William’s great-grandpapa, chose as the royal surname in 1917, and “Mountbatten” because William’s granddaddy and the Queen’s late husband Prince Philip, had the surname Mountbatten. But, Prince William occasionally draws his surname from his “Prince of Wales” title, which means in a roll call he would be called William Wales. He also sometimes chooses to go by William Cambridge from his Duke of Cambridge title and his wife Kate’s official title is Duchess of Cambridge. Confusing, right?

 

One more royal tidbit. One is never called Sir <<enter first name here.>> For example, Lawrence Olivier is to be called Sir Lawrence, not Sir Olivier. More confusing, right?

 

 

It seems women had had enough with all this surname ballyhoo and decided to make it simple: they’d keep their first names but use their husband’s last name. Very good.

 

In Spanish cultures it’s totally different though. When Isabella Lopez marries Diego Garcia, she becomes Isabella Lopez de Garcia, which basically means she is now Isabella of the Garcia house. If I lived in Spain or Mexico or Panama, I would be Carla Luna de Smith. Hmmmm….

 

As with almost anything, much of this can be traced back to the bible. In biblical times, when a woman got married, she would join her husband’s family so it made sense that she also took his name as she was now a part of his family not her father’s family.

 

It all sounds a little unfair to women, but historically it was also to remind the man of his responsibility for the well-being and support of the family. He was the head of the house and seeing his name everywhere kindly reminded him of it.

 

Fast forward to today and things are much different, even with conservative ole me. Before I got married I was a TV news anchor and reporter and my on-air name was naturally Carla Luna. When I got married I remained Carla Luna on air. It is normal for women on TV to do so and it was also in respect to my dad who had passed away. I love my maiden name and chose it as Kristen’s middle name. You can take Luna away from the girl but you can’t take the girl away from being Luna.

 

Unlike my book’s character, I never considered marriage as a threat to my individuality. I didn’t recite a vow of “obedience” (and if you remember my favorite royal, Princess Diana, also famously left that part out of her vows) but I do consider taking Smitty’s last name as a sign of my commitment to our marriage. Plus, with Smith I knew I’d never have to spell my last name again and I could name our children anything I wanted!

 

 

Another issue that came up in “Traveling with Pomegranates” was what name do children take in a marriage where the wife retains her maiden name? I would think it would all be very confusing and complicated if Kristen had a different last name than mine. That’s also one reason why I opted against hyphenating my last name. But, that’s just me.

 

So, there you have it; the story of the mysterious lost maiden names. In today’s world of powerful and independent women and husbands who are sharing household chores and child rearing, it’s kind of surprising that upwards of 60 percent of brides take their husband’s last name. Imagine that, something old-fashioned holding steady. I like it.

 

That is one of my favorite and most trusted prayers. In it, God is telling me, “I’ve got this Carla. Trust me. You have my word. You have my blessing and my grace.”

 

I’ve always liked the name Grace for a girl and who doesn’t love the song “Amazing Grace?” It’s a beloved classic and the lyrics are, well, amazing. What is grace though, and more specifically, what is meant by God’s grace? Is it merely a prayer we say before a meal? Heavens no!

 

Better yet, what is mercy? It’s a common name for a hospital and “mercy me” is often uttered but is it understood? What does it really refer to and/or mean? Mercy me I’m confused!

 

 

An email I received this past week compared grace and mercy. It said grace is getting what we don’t deserve and mercy is not getting what we do deserve. Huh? Max Lucado helps out by saying the difference between the two is best illustrated in the Prodigal Son parable. Mercy, he writes, gave the son a second chance and grace gave him a feast. Remember, this reckless son squandered all of his inheritance through unscrupulous living, as opposed to younger his brother who stayed and worked his father’s fields. Yet, when the older son returned and asked his father’s forgiveness, his dad through a lavish party for him. The younger son became angry and envious but later came to understand that his brother was given grace and mercy because “he was lost and now is found.”

 

That’s how God works too. Broken lives can be touched by His mercy and grace. Just like with the prodigal son, it is never too late.

 

“It is an insult to God to think your sins are greater than His mercy.”

Mother Angelica

 

Grace is generally defined as a supernatural gift from God that helps one achieve eternal salvation. Mercy, on the other hand, is when God extends compassion to those in need. God shows mercy to sinners and we in turn are expected to be merciful to others. We are His hands and feet here on earth and are to live as He would.

 

In reading about grace and mercy, I found that neither is earned and are often undeserved yet God, in Psalm 136, promised His loving mercy “endures forever.” I love how “Our Daily Bread” stated it, “In our disposable culture and temporary world, the permanence of God’s mercy gives us hope. We can trust Him because His mercy will never fail.”

 

We’ve all uttered the phrase “There but for the grace of God go I” and many of us have visited Graceland in Memphis, the famous home of Elvis Presley. But, did you know that “graceland” can also describe the place you find yourself when God forgives you and brings you out of darkness? Even when we are most down and downtrodden, sin and envy-filled, God’s grace can enter our lives as Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 12:9.

 

 

A Year Of Mercy

Earlier this year Pope Francis proclaimed an “extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy,” which will run December 8, 2015 through November 20, 2016. His hopes are for the church to “make more evident its mission to be a witness of mercy” and a “place of mercy freely given.”

 

Holy Years are usually held every 25 years, the last one being in 2000 in celebration of the Great Jubilee. Extraordinary holy years, like the upcoming one of Mercy, are less frequent but also feature pilgramages and celebrations, calls for conversion and repentance, and special opportunities are provided for believers to experience God’s grace through the sacraments, particularly confession. By doing so, you will be strengthened, healed, and better equipped to fulfill God’s plan for your life.

 

Again, it’s never too late. As Pope Francis said, “God doesn’t tire of us; we are the ones who tire of seeking His mercy.” Grace, it’s amazing!

 

 

In a recent email I received, the blog spoke about the difference between “going” to church and “being” the church. Today I witnessed firsthand what this means. If you are a Facebook friend of mine, you might already know what I’m talking about. My post today reads:

 

“Sometimes you go to church and get more than you ever expected. Today during mass me and my fellow Hospitality Ministers are told a homeless man is in the Bride’s Room asking for a ride to the bus station. After debating calling Uber for him, two of the male ministers offer to drive him there. We pitch in, buy him a bus ticket, get him donuts from our coffee and donuts ministry, and give him cash for the trip. Then as I’m driving away I see a bunch of school busses arriving and dropping off middle and high schoolers returning from a weekend retreat. I feel so grateful and blessed but all I did was witness, witness the virtues literally come alive before my eyes.”

 

Yep, I will say those two Hospitality Ministers know what it means to “be” the church. They know it and they stepped up and became it. So are all the chaperones and ministers who accompanied the teens on retreat.

 

 

It’s not uncommon to hear someone say “I don’t have to go to a church to be close to God or to pray.” That’s true, but more than likely when you go to church regularly your faith grows and so does your longing to be the church. It reminds of the sports coaching technique of “be the ball” and it’s kinds like being a member of a team and who wants to sit on the bench? This is good for the church and it’s good for you.

 

Studies show spiritual people and those who attend church are less likely to smoke, abuse alcohol, and be stressed. Sadly, a recent Family Circle poll showed nearly 40 percent of respondents “hardly ever” take time for spirituality with their family. America, we have a problem.

 

I’m well aware that not everyone who attends church lives a perfect life, I certainly don’t and I’m certainly a sinner, but like anything that keeps you in check, going to church has a way of also keeping you grounded and reminding you that you are accountable for your actions or even inactions. The homeless man today was what most of us would consider a “charity case,” but aren’t we all? Aren’t we all in need of the virtue of Charity, which is basically love?

 

Interestingly enough, the Biblical Greek word for grace is “charis,” from which we get the word charity. Grace is charity and it is through grace that God helps us. How many times have you said, “There but for the grace of God go I?”

 

“Courage is the ladder on which all the other virtues mount.”

Clare Booth Luce

 

In my Facebook post I wrote that I witnessed the virtues come alive. What are the virtues I wrote of? Virtues are basically good habits that enable someone to perform an action with ease. The virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love are famously contained in 1 Corinthians 13 and are considered God-given. The other virtues: Wisdom, Justice, Courage, and Temperance are acquired on our own and are developed through practice. You might say God gives us the first three and then watches as we put them to use through the other four. I saw virtually all of them today at mass. For that, I am grateful to have gone to church.

 

 

We are all busy and live crazy busy lives and I’m the first to admit no one loves to sleep in more than me. At the same time, churches can sometimes be intimidating if you haven’t been to one in a while, but give going to church a shot. Think about it, pray about it, and be about it. I think you’ll be glad you did.

“Nearly all men can stand adversity,

but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”  

Abraham Lincoln

 

The Benghazi committee hearings have come to a close and what does Hillary Clinton have to say for herself? She thanked committee members for “contributing” to her campaign by way of an influx of donations following the hearings. As always, it’s forever about her. Not the four Americans who died (although she did state she has weathered more sleepless nights than anyone…again, all about her) and not about how it happened or why it happened. I’m confused. I’m baffled.

 

Here’s the deal: I’m a Baby Boomer Hispanic college-educated female who thinks for herself and has raised a strong and successful daughter. I’m deeply religious and a proud conservative Republican even though I grew up very middle-class and in a predominantly Democrat hometown so yes, I’ll take your “you are biased” comments up front. I’m also slightly obsessed with current events and have been for literally as long as I can remember. It’s one of the reasons I studied Journalism in college.

 

So, get to the point Carla. The point of this blog is that I’m puzzled and disappointed. I just don’t get why anyone, especially a woman, would support Hillary Clinton for anything much less President of the United States of America. But, my purpose here is not to sway you against Mrs. Clinton, but rather to ask those of you who do support her, a simple and honest “why?”

 

It truly perplexes me that any woman who calls herself a feminist, a Democrat, or anything in between can stand by a woman who has “stood by her man” through public betrayal after public scandal, even though she so famously claimed she wasn’t and wouldn’t. Have we become so desperate for a woman president that we’ll vote for whatever female runs regardless of her lack of true accomplishment and substantiated trust? Is she really the best the Democrats have to offer?

 

I’m pleading with you, my sensible, logical, and smart friends who I respect and admire, what is it? How is it that you so blindly and vehemently support Hillary Clinton?

 

Is it because she has so many accomplishments that you can name?

Is it because she is a publicly humiliated yet loyal wife?

Maybe it’s because in your heart you consider her honest and trustworthy.

Perhaps it’s only because she’s a Democrat and she’s a woman.

Do you just feel she’s “earned” the “title?”

Her successes you cannot deny, but at what cost?

It could be that maybe you’re still just crazy about her husband and long for days gone by.

I can see how you admire her smarts but what about her standards?

Okay, how about it’s because she’s full of new ideas and represents a fresh start for a country on the brink of discord?

I get it, she’s intelligent and accomplished but so is Carly Fiorina and you hate her. Go figure.

 

One thing’s for sure, Hillary Rodham Clinton is polarizing and I doubt she will bring our nation together. Keep in mind she was defeated by a previously unknown former community organizer. What has she done since then that makes her more worthy today than she was eight years ago?

 

Let’s look back.

 

Hillary Rodham Clinton burst onto the national political scene in the 1980s when her husband Bill ran for and was elected president. She was an accomplished yet somewhat controversial lawyer who undoubtedly saw the fast-lane to power through her husband. It seemed like what he had she wanted and she would do anything for and put up with anything to get. The scandals are lengthy and historic, and without going into any gory details, which I’ll let you do if you doubt me or don’t remember them, and these are just a few:

Using the IRS and FBI to target political opponents

Stalking and harassing the legions of women who claimed harassment from her husband

Helping herself to taxpayer-funded White House items

Vince Foster

Travelgate

Filegate

Whitewater

Pardongate

 

And now Emailgate and Benghazi. Let’s look at these two more closely since they are front and center today.

 

“Character is doing the right thing when no one is watching.”

J.C. Watts

 

 

I Want My Own Server and I Want It Now

When HRC became Barack Obama’s secretary of state in 2009 she went through the trouble and expense of acquiring a private email server, something none of her predecessors had ever done. As anyone who’s had simple internet set up knows, much less an entire server, this is no easy task. To do so for the United States’ secretary of state means even more security and precaution. The fact that she claims to have done so for the convenience of using one hand-held device is not only ludicrous but downright insulting.

 

Then there’s the little detail that a State Department employee was paid by her family to maintain the private server, an employee who has since invoked his constitutional right against self-incrimination if called to testify.

 

It goes without saying that the United States State Department had a perfectly good and secure server, but Clinton chose to send, receive, and store emails on a private server during her 2009-2013 term. This begs the question, why? And, it’s estimated that more than 65,000 emails were deleted, thousands of which have since been determined to contain classified information, including material regarding the production and dissemination of U.S. intelligence.

 

And you want to be our president.

 

Equally amazing is that the IT company that maintained Clinton’s private email account was run out of a loft apartment in Denver and the company’s servers were kept in a closet. Emails for the secretary of state of the United States of America and our national security were stored in a closet. In Denver.  Unbelievable, and anyone who doesn’t find it even a tad dubious is either lying to themselves or brainwashed beyond reasoning. Had Condoleezza Rice or James Baker done even half of this, they would have been run out of Washington faster than you can say “vast right wing conspiracy” and they certainly wouldn’t be running for president.

 

 

Four Americans

Then there is the 2012 attack on the American compound in Benghazi, Libya that killed four Americans including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens. Clinton was secretary of state during the attacks and her leadership and honesty have been the subject of Congressional hearings. In the months leading up to the attacks, Stevens repeatedly requested additional security, to no avail, resulting in him being the first U.S. Ambassador killed in the line of duty since 1979. That’s 33 years people.

 

After the bombings, Clinton and her staff as well as the Obama administration all publicly laid blame for the attacks on an anti-Islamic video even though it was later revealed that she had privately communicated with both her daughter and the Egyptian prime minister that it was what she labeled a “planned attack” by an “al Qaeda-like group.” She’s also on record as saying “at this point what does it matter?” Shameful.

 

This is all nothing new. In a 2008 speech, then-Senator Hillary Clinton recalled a trip she made to Tuzla, Bosnia as First Lady, saying, “I remember landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base.”

 

But, news footage of her visit revealed her “sniper fire” claim wasn’t just exaggerated, it was completely false.

 

NBC news anchor Brian Williams was fired for making a similar claim. A news anchor.

 

It’s no coincidence that “Clinton” has become synonymous with scandal. Many would claim that all politicians lie and cheat, but something about the president of the United States conducting sexual affairs in the Oval Office just makes my skin crawl. The fact that his sexual escapades lead to a subsequent impeachment by the U.S. House of Representatives on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice is no laughing matter. He used a cigar; a cigar! And his loving and ambitious wife stood by him and tarnished the character of multiple women who laid similar claims against him. That doesn’t sound like someone I want having my back or fighting a “war on women” and it certainly doesn’t sound like a feminist.  Again, ask yourself: what if this had been George and Laura Bush? She would have been laughed off the page and sent packing to Crawford with all the other so-called rednecks.

 

It seems Hillary Rodham Clinton’s “war on women” consists of covering up and accepting her husband’s multiple affairs and accepting Clinton Foundation donations from countries that have abysmal women’s rights records. Are these facts alone not troublesome to women voters?

 

Pyschologists often say the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. Kinda scares me.

 

Sometimes people just become so accustomed to stretching the truth they don’t even realize they’re doing it. When you repeatedly get away with doing so, it’s almost like people start to believe you and you feel you’re above the truth and above the law. Apologies are rare and think about it, when have we ever heard Hillary Clinton apologize for anything?

 

Again, is she really the best we women can offer our country? Shouldn’t we be demanding someone more trustworthy and respectable and a little less flippant and secretive? Just what are her accomplishments anyway? Yes, she’s held the title of senator and secretary of state, but name just five incredible and admirable things she did as either. She ran for senator in a state she wasn’t from and she seems to running from the truth every time I turn around.

 

Still, millions support and adore her. My mom met her years ago at an event in Santa Fe and said she was nice as can be. Cool. I’ve heard Taylor Swift is nice too but I don’t want her running our country.

 

In my opinion, Hillary Clinton seems anything but nice or friendly. In fact she comes off as downright angry and out to get people. I’m not sure I want that in the White House. There is already enough anger out there. We don’t need someone full of resentment and an “I’ll show you” attitude commanding our military and trying to make this country work again.

 

So friends, do we punch the gender lever just because Hillary Clinton is female or do we dig deep and demand someone who will turn this country around and who we have no doubts about? Do we truly believe our country is in such great shape that we want more of the same? I for one am done with a Clinton and Bush campaign and am instead opting for someone new. I will always love and respect both Presidents George Bush and George W. Bush, but I am also a thinking woman who refuses to stay the course and choose a candidate based solely on a name and my loyalty. I prefer a president who is going to offer us a new direction and renewed hope.  If anyone can convince me otherwise, I’m listening. Do tell.

 

 

Fall, my favorite season of the year, is upon us and any day now I’m hoping to be able to start wearing some autumn attire. I love everything about fall: the colors, the weather, Thanksgiving, and the clothing. Aaah, the clothing.

 

 

Several trends were spotted on the fall runways, many of which were not to my liking (wide leg pants, tucking in everything, and skinny scarves to name just a few), but many I did like. Best of all, a lot of them are actually wearable, which is always something I look for in anything trendy or new that I’m thinking of buying.

 

If you are thinking of purchasing clothing you’ve seen everywhere of late, remember my two golden rules: 1. Don’t go overboard on any certain trend and don’t invest too much money in one. Keep in mind trends come and go…and go quickly!  2. If something was previously trendy and you wore it, you’re probably too old to wear it the second time around.  Example in my case: wide leg pants!

 

Here is a quick peek at some of the Fall 2015 Fashion Trends I do like:

 

 

Athleisure

I’m a casual kind of girl. Yes, I love getting dolled up for a special event, but day-to-day I’m much happier in casual clothing and footwear. I’m all Austin and very little Dallas, hence my love of this take on casual yet fashionable that, if done right, can tastefully go from the office to the gym to the happy hour. Women love it and it’s not going anywhere so feel free to stock up on your Altheta, Lulu, and any other chic après-sport lifestyle wear. Just be sure to leave the grey sweats at home.

 

 

Plaid

Anyone who knows me knows I’m mad about plaid. Madras. Buffalo check. Window pane. Mel Gibson’s kilt in Braveheart. You name the plaid; I love it so I’m loving this fall trend! The prep-school pattern doesn’t need to be stuffy though. Pair it with something edgy and you’re good to go. Best of all, you need not spend a ton of money on it…Target is as mad about plaid this fall as I am!

 

 

Capes

Ann Taylor                         Ted Baker             Vivienne Westwood

These outwear alternatives to a classic coat were all over the runways and I’m all over them. They are both stylish and dramatic and are the perfect winter cover for Texas’ mild winters. Pair them with a fun mini, take cover, and be your own superhero!

 

 

Car Wash Skirts

How fun are these?! More refined than fringe and more sensational than a plain wrap, these whimsical numbers are best teamed with simple blouses. Show off those legs and swing away!

 

 

Long Blazers

      InStyle magazine

I’m not a big fan of blazers in general, but perhaps that’s because they really don’t fit my lifestyle. So, when I saw this trend I thought, “Okay, I can go for it.” Longer than a traditional men’s cut, these jackets add a bit of polish to your look as well as warmth.

 

 

 

“Accessorize Me”

 

Color Block Bags

             Furla                               Longchamp                    Prada                    Valentino

Probably not something you want to carry if you’re sporting hot plaid, these bags are still to die for. A little mod, a tad retro, and a whole lot of style!

 

 

Gloves

My bridesmaids wore them in our wedding and Amal Clooney brought them back at the 2015 Golden Globes, and all I can say is “it’s about time!” Audrey would be so proud and I’m so happy they’re back!

 

 

Block Kitten Heels

Call me old-fashioned or call me just old, but I love me a stylish kitten heel. Thankfully I can be a bit trendy this fall with the hot new crop of block-style kittens. Sky high and stiletto have met their style match in this fall’s trendiest heel. Can I get an amen?

 

 

 

Fall 2015 Trends I’m Not Loving But Not Hating

Fringe

                    Shopyourway.com

Some of this I like, some not so much. I’m not big on looking head-to-toe western, but a tasteful bootie or bag with fringe make me smile. Pair with something dressy and think more Rodeo Drive than rodeo.

 

Bows and Tie-Necks

I had one on my wedding dress and I loved Princess Di’s obsession with them. Now they’re back on everything from blouses to wrap dresses. Keep everything else traditional though so you don’t scream “Alexis Carrington.”

 

“Tips Not Trends”

Give Them The Boot

                InStyle

Boots are everywhere this fall and winter. They are fun, sensible, stylish, and often comfortable so what’s not to love? What’s not to love is when a certain boot is mismatched with clothing.  In a nutshell, booties or ankle boots look best with maxis or anything that falls right around the ankle. Midi or moto-boots look great with slit skirts and those that tickle the mid-calves, while over-the-knee boots are a mini’s best friend as long as they are flat unless you are a super model.

 

Here are some other tips from “Good Housekeeping” magazine. (Perhaps not the “Vogue” of fashion, but I thought this visual was both helpful and accurate.)

 

 

 

Coat Check

I love winter coats but sadly I really don’t get the chance to wear them much so I try not to invest too much money on them. As with boots and almost anything fashion-related, there are rules to live by when choosing what coat to wear.  If you’re wearing a pantsuit, choose a maxi coat and if you’re wearing a dress, opt for a chic cinch-waisted wrap coat if possible.  Knee-length skirts look best with short swing or what I like to call “car” coats, and if you’re brave (and young!) enough to wear a mini skirt, keep it classy with a traditional double-breasted long coat.

 

So there you have it, my humble take on fall 2015 fashion. Shop wisely, have fun, and keep it classy!

There’s been a lot of talk in the news lately about a privately funded granite monument of the Ten Commandments being ordered removed from the grounds of the Oklahoma state capitol. I guess some people find the 10 rules offensive, but why? My guess is because they are God’s Ten Commandments. Were they some government’s or court’s “laws on how to live,” I bet people would be way more supportive of them.

 

Think about it. What can anyone possibly have a problem with guidelines declaring you to respect your parents, not kill, not cheat on your spouse, not steal, not be envious, and not gossip? Well, surprise, those pretty much sum up much of those ten rules God handed down to Moses, rules that both Christians and Jews believe.

 

As a refresher, here are the Ten Commandments:

1. I am the Lord your God.
2. Thou shall bring no false idols before me.
3. Do not take the name of the Lord in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
5. Honor thy father and thy mother.
6. Thou shall not kill.
7. Thou shall not commit adultery.
8. Thou shall not steal.
9. Thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. Thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s wife or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

 

Pretty basic, right?

 

Okay, I get the whole “God thing” about the first four to a degree if you are not a believer, but after that, what’s the big deal?

 

It’s easy to see that the first four deal with our relationship to God and how to worship Him, and the rest are about our relationships with other people. “Well I certainly don’t kill or steal” you might say to yourself, but have you ever left someone feeling lifeless just by what you said? Do you bring life to the people you meet or do you leave them feeling empty and unworthy, thereby killing their spirit?

 

At the same time, “I’ve never cheated on my wife” may come out of your mouth but keep in mind that cheating can be more than sex. Much of society today is sadly indifferent about sex and we live by a “as long as I’m not hurting anyone it’s okay” mantra, but perhaps this is where the “bear false witness” and “steal” enter the conversation. Do you “steal” time away from your husband or wife pursuing your own personal interests? Do you “steal” someone’s reputation through lies or gossip? You may not covet your neighbor’s wife per se, but are you envious of those infamous Joneses? Makes you think doesn’t it?

 

It baffles me that people find these rules offensive and inappropriate for public display. Let us not forget that our country was founded on Christian principles by Christian men and women and that Christians are still the majority in our country…at least for now. Still, we are somehow being pushed to the back of the room and all liberties and rights are being afforded to everyone but Christians. And don’t start with the whole “church and state” thing because it doesn’t fly. The separation of church and state was created to keep the state out of the church, not vice versa.

 

I find it amazing that other countries such as Ghana, whose first line of its national anthem is “God bless our homeland Ghana” and Nigeria, whose anthem includes “O God of creation, direct our noble cause,” have no issue with those lyrics and yet “God Bless America” and “In God We Trust” suddenly bother so many Americans. Go figure. Go pray.

 

Another thing that baffles me is how and why atheists or agnostics are so troubled by the mere mention of God and by things like those Oklahoma Ten Commandments. Even the devil believed in God. Besides, if you don’t believe in something, how can it offend you? Wouldn’t that be like me being offended by public displays of unicorns? Wait, there I go, bearing false witness against my neighbor.

 

Even though I have never watched, or in many cases even heard of, at least half of the shows nominated and honored during last night’s Emmy extravaganza, I watched the show off and on for, if nothing else, the fashion; the gowns!

 

So, without further ado, here my personal “Bests,” “Worsts,” one “The Verdict is Still Out,” and one “Trend Alert” for the ladies of last night’s red carpet. Let me know what you think.

 

BEST DRESSED

Jaime Alexander in Armani Prive

The minute I saw this gown I died. The color. The fit. The details. The slicked back hair. Perfection. And how gorgeous is she?

 

 

Tatiana Maslany in Bouchra Jarra

The early arriver stole my heart from the get go. I loved her pantsuit choice that played peek-a-boo. Sleek. Streamlined. Stunning. I only wish it was tailored better. She’s young. She will learn.

 

 

Ariel Winter in Romona Keveza

Showing many of her elder stateswomen how glamour is done, young Ariel brought old-school Hollywood glamour to the red carpet in her strapless sophisticated gown. Soft waves in her hair just added to the feel. You go girl.

 

 

Zoe Kazan in Miu Miu

Call me crazy but I’m crazy about this candy-striped confection. Playful yet dramatic and accessorized to perfection, it was one sweet gown!

 

 

Christine Baranski in Zac Posen

How uh-mazing does Baranski look? The “Good Wife” star definitely knows what looks good on her and on a red carpet (if you don’t believe me, check out previous year choices) and she does it all so age-appropriately and with glamour and style. Loved the hot pink and how hot (yet classy) she is.

 

 

Viola Davis in Carmen Marc Valvo

Hats off to Davis for wining and for the somewhat unknown Valvo for putting her in such a gorgeous gown. Who wasn’t cheering for her and who won’t be Googling Valvo? A win-win.

 

 

Maggie Gyllenhaal in Oscar De La Renta

One rarely goes wrong when Oscar is chosen and Gyllenhaal did it right in this purple delight. Dubbed too “promy” by some I say “hey, if I could have worn Oscar to my prom, I’m in!” Loved the full skirt and the tie-back.

 

WORST DRESSED

Kerry Washington in Marc Jacobs

Much like Jessica Alba, Ms. Washington could wear a Hefty bag and the glamour squads would applaud. Many of them did so for last night’s tea-length razzle-dazzle but I didn’t care for it. At all. And that hair! Mine looks just like that and I’ve had strep for a few days. Ugh.

 

 

Heidi Klum in Atelier Versace

Heidi, Heidi, Heidi. What were you thinking? Unflattering color, bad cut, and just wrong on so many levels. And why were her legs so much darker than her chest and arm? Looks like Ms. Project Runway needs a new Project Manager.

 

Tracee Ellis Ross in Zac Posen

You want a bad prom dress, here it is. The “Black-ish” star should have been very “if-ish” on this choice.

VERDICT STILL OUT

Christina Hendricks in Naeem Khan

Although I loved “Mad Men” and her role in it and I adore how Hendricks adores her own curves, I’m not sold on this dress. The detailing feels like it should work but something just doesn’t.

 

TREND ALERT

Chain Straps

Both Taraji P. Henson in Alexander Wang and Claire Danes in Prada rocked the chain straps. I loved Henson’s look head-to-toe (The cut-out!  The sleek Bob!) and I kinda liked Dane’s purple sparkler, but that hair! It’s like she wore a youthful dress then decided on a 1980’s anchorwoman hairstyle. Not good. On anyone.

 

 

 

And that’s a wrap. Let me know what you think and share your favorites and not so favorites!

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow school officially starts for me, as my little three-year-olds begin their year in my preschool class. “Carla’s Crayons” are in for a year of fun and learning, growing and doing. Why the Crayons? Because I love to color! My class has always been the “box of crayons” and our class book is “The Crayon Box That Talked” by Shane DeRolf, but little did I know a bunch of preschoolers were on trend!

 

Apparently coloring is the new “it” thing…for grown-ups!

 

 

Check your social media sites and visit a local book store. Both will be full of coloring pages posts and coloring books. But I’m not talking Dora the Explorer or Frozen, I’m talking about very detailed and intricately designed coloring books for adults.

 

There are coloring books featuring animals, flowers, Hindu and Buddhist symbols, and pretty much anything you might want. I still prefer coloring Barbie, dogs, Winnie the Pooh, and princess books, but am pretty sure I could color just about anything.

 

 

So, why coloring and why now? The reason for its boost in popularity among adults is a mystery, but the benefits of doing so are scientific. Expert after expert raves about the positive effects of the fun and colorful activity normally associated with children, and are keen on the fact that coloring uses both the holistic and tactical sides of our brains.

 

Coloring slows people down. In today’s “hurry up, hurry up” world, sitting down with a coloring book slows your heart rate and reduces stress by lowering the activity of the amygdala, the part of our brains that controls emotions affected by stress.

 

Sitting down with a color sheet also relaxes you and quiets your mind. It takes us back to our childhoods and simpler times filled with more playing and less stress.

 

 

The other parts of the brain that coloring incorporates are those that stimulate creativity, logic, and motor skills. While coloring, we use our imaginations and even though we use someone else’s design, the end result is our own, personal and unique work of art. You get to choose what to color where, and in the end, you feel artistic and a sense of accomplishment all thanks to a little box of colorful crayons.

 

The childhood pastime also not only helps little ones focus, but grown-ups too. While coloring, especially a very detailed piece, your brain is completely engaged in your work. Unlike other tasks like surfing the web or even knitting, it’s very difficult to multi-task while coloring.

 

Finally, it works on our tendency to want instant gratification. We are so accustomed to Googling everything and instantly responding, that we’ve lost our ability to wait for something to happen. You can’t hurry coloring and you can’t hurry art. It’s a win-win.

 

 

As I write this, sitting in my desk drawer is a big box of crayons, the one that has a sharpener on the back. That box of 64 crayons was always my dream as a school-aged girl. Much like Cocoa Krispies and store-bought Play-Do, I couldn’t wait to buy one as an adult. Not far from that box of crayons and in the closet is the Halloween costume I wear each year in my class. Yep, you guessed it, I’m a giant crayon. I guess you could say my fascination with crayons goes way back even though I am not artistic. At all.

 

I also love Sharpies, which could very well be considered the crayons of grown-ups. I’ve always said that if I win the lottery I will write with nothing but Sharpies!

 

 

So popular are adult-targeted coloring books right now, they are on many a bestsellers list in both France and England. There are also coloring clubs being formed across the U.S., leading some to consider them today’s quilting bees for group therapy and socialization. All things coloring are also of course everywhere on the internet, ranging from print-at-home pages to Facebook pages boasting nearly 4,000 members.

 

So, the next time you’re feeling stressed or unfocused, don’t reach for a cocktail or a smart phone, reach for a box of crayons and get coloring! Who’s with me?

 

 

 

 

Happy First Day of School!

 

Although my girl is off being a grown up, I love seeing everyone’s photos of their kids headed to their first day of school. It got me thinking about an activity called “History that Matters” from a training training I attended that asked:

• Name the 10^th president of the United States
• Name the last three Heisman Trophy winners.
• Name your best friend in high school.
• Name last year’s World Series champions.
• Name the vice president in 1974.
• Name three gold medal winners from the most recent Olympics.
• Name last year’s Oscar winner for best actor.
• Name a teacher who touched your life.

 

What does this tell you? As we head off to school today, let’s help kids remember that the teachers they have will matter much more to them in the years to come than any athlete or actor.

 

Here’s to all teachers and students.