In light of my Facebook post of today…
“Overheard at the gym today: lady telling our trainer that she was in California and visited a “balance” class but was rudely told that, as a Texan, she probably couldn’t handle the class. She proceeded to tell her maybe not, but at least Texas can balance its budget. Then she went on to work out right next to her and killed it!”
…I thought I’d share some cute and funny workout pics. Enjoy!
Sometimes you have to stop waiting for tomorrow and “just do it.”
Summer is upon us, which means summer clothes and swimsuits. It’s the time for shorts, miniskirts, sun dresses and bikinis, right? Well, according to a new survey, it all depends not only on how in shape you are, but on how old you are.
If you’ve got it, flaunt it, right? Wrong! Instead, if you’re over a certain age, cover up! I’m not saying no swimsuits and long pants all summer long, I’m saying, and 2,000 women surveyed said, act your age!
Two Piece or One Piece?
Let’s start with pool and beach attire. Being a full-figured girl myself, a two-piece would never “suit” me. In fact, I’m more prone to sport a skirted suit then a two-piece anything. What about you? You may work out, you may watch what you eat, and you may fit in size 6 clothing but according to those polled, if you are over age 40 you shouldn’t wear a bikini.
I tend to agree for the most part. Nothing irks me more than a pool or beach-full of women wearing bikinis that do nothing for them. Yes, they fit but unless you have abs of steel they are not flattering on you. Legs and arms are often the easiest to tone, but bellies are a whole different beast, even if you consider yourself in shape. By research consensus, fit does not mean you work out at the gym and attend yoga or dance classes. Fit means you teach those classes and have a six pack rather than drink one. Once you hit a certain age or have kids of a certain age, unless you have a banging body…and by that I don’t mean simply thin or surgically enhanced, a sexy and classy one-piece will be much more flattering on you. It’s time to leave the strings to the younger set. Still wondering if you should put on that bikini if you’re a mature woman? Here’s a tried and true test: sit down in one. If any of your tummy moves at all, buy a one piece.
Stop With the Crops
Crop tops are all the fashion rage right now but apparently not everyone should be wearing them. Yes, Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson and other stars do so, but when has anything Hollywood been considered reality? Instead, here’s what the survey said: if you’re over 35 you should put away the crop tops, short shorts, and miniskirts. Belly rings? Don’t even go there!
Again, I tend to agree. I’ve always been a big fan of Bermuda shorts, and thankfully they are staging a huge return this summer. They are a great substitute for short skirts and with heels they are a casual alternative to a pencil skirt. Paired with neutral sandals, they give the illusion of legs for miles. Save shorter shorts for the golf course, tennis court, or track.
Skirting the Issue
In general, skirts to the knee and pants above the ankle make your legs look longer. Another good fashion canon is petite women look best in skirts that hit just above the knee while taller women should wear knee length or longer.
If you do love skirts, consider these rules of thumb:
Pencil skirts define the waist and can show off a curvy figure in a good way but if you have a pear or hourglass figure think about balancing the tapered hemline with volume on top and height on your feet. Two darts in the front will also make your hips and legs look leaner
Miniskirts work best on boyish builds. You also have to be young (under 30) or have great legs to pull off a mini with class and style. The most flattering minis are slightly A-line, are not tight, and never ride up. Looser tops match best with them and think long and hard about your undergarments! Boots and flats are your shoe best bets.
Full skirts flatter wide hips, create curves, and camouflage thicker thighs. They are best paired with a fitted top or chunky sweater. Avoid boxy tops and jackets with them. They should hit right at your knee. Anything shorter will look juvenile.
Trumpet skirts show off you backside best, which is something to embrace or something to eschew. Avoid wearing anything tucked in with them and the length should never be below the knee lest you look like a Flamenco dancer. There’s a lot going on with a trumpet skirt so keep everything else simple. Shoe-wise, save any style that ties around the ankle for other skirts.
Maxi skirts were everywhere last fall and winter, but in the right fabric, are nice summer wardrobe staples as well. Maxis aren’t only for tall women and in fact, can actually make you look taller regardless of how short you may be, just make sure the hem of the top you wear with one doesn’t hit lower than your waistline. Any of the new or one of your favorite flats work well with maxis, however pointy stilettos or super dressy shoes don’t.
Pleated skirts flatter almost every body type but be sure to choose a fabric that flows and moves. If you’re short don’t wear one shorter then knee-length. This is the skirt to bring out your stilettos for!
The Eyes Have It
To compliment your swimwear or summer attire, add a dash of fun with a playful pair of sunglasses. Keep in mind you should go for styles that are the opposite of your face shape. If you have a round or heart-shaped face, go for square frames and if you have a square or rectangle face, look for more rounded styles. You ladies with oval faces can wear any shape! This summer candy colors, oversize frames in black, and animal prints are all the rage, as are mirrored lenses in gold and metallic. Have fun with them!
Summer is the time to shed those bulky sweaters and boots and show a little skin. Just remember to do so with class and style.
One of my favorite clips from the classic and still funny “Friends” TV show is when “Pomp and Circumstance” is played and Phoebe says, “Oh, the Olympics.” Known the world over as the official “graduation march,” the beloved orchestration is officially called “The Pomp and Circumstance Military Marches” and is really a series of marches composed by Sir Edward Elgar. Performed as the processional tune at virtually all high school and college graduation ceremonies, it was first played at such a ceremony at Yale University on June 28, 1905 when Professor of Music Samuel Sanford invited his friend Elgar to attend commencement and receive an honorary doctorate of music.
As the class of 2017 high school earns their diplomas, they take with them traits unique to them. Every year since 1998, Beloit College conducts an in-depth study on high school graduates and compiles its popular “Mindset List.” The list offers a look at the cultural milestones that shape the lives of students entering college this fall. I thought it would be fun to share the findings.
When the incoming class of 2017 arrives on college campuses across America (and beyond) this fall, most of them will be focusing on academic majors that lead to good-paying jobs and some of them will take a few courses taught at a distant university by a professor they never meet. Parents of these incoming freshmen are hoping for four-year degree plans, but odds are it will be longer than that, with the average college graduation being five years.
Born mostly in 1995, these students will use their smart phones in class to read assignments from that day or previous days, record the class and every minute of their college experience, and text and Tweet non-stop. Many of them idolize and admire Bill Gates and Steve Jobs but wonder whether a college degree is all it’s cracked up to be.
Here then, is this year’s “Mindset List” and other interesting tidbits:
For this generation of collegians, Dean Martin, Mickey Mantle, and Jerry Garcia have always been dead.
Eminem and LL Cool J could show up at parents’ weekend.
GM means Genetically Modified, not General Motors.
Chatting seldom involves talking.
Gaga has never been baby talk.
They have known only two presiding presidents.
PayPal has replaced a pen pal.
Rites of passage have more to do with having their own cell phones and Twitter accounts than with getting a driver’s license and car.
The U.S. has always been trying to figure out which side to support in the Middle East.
A tablet has never been something you swallow.
Plasma has never had anything to do with a bodily fluid.
Spray paint has never legally been sold in Chicago.
Planes have never landed at Stapleton Airport in Denver.
They have never had to rely on a physical map for directions.
The Olympics have always been every two years.
Smokers in California have never been able to smoke in public places.
They have never attended a concert in a smoke-filled arena or used lighters to light the place up.
Don Shula is simply a steak house chain.
They have never really needed to go to their friend’s house so they could study together.
They have never watched a Celtics game at Boston Garden.
Washington, D.C. tour buses have never been able to drive in front of the White House.
The only “Cold War” and “Soviet Union” they are familiar with are from their history books.
Bottle caps have always been plastic and they have no idea what pull-top is.
They have no idea what “you sound like a broken record” means.
The original “Star Wars” is so fake.
Answering machines are so old-fashioned to them. The only know voice mail.
They have always had cable TV and remote controls.
Popcorn has always been cooked in the microwave.
They have no idea that Americans were held hostage in Iran but they do know the U.S. have imposed economic sanctions against Iran for their entire life.
They prefer to watch television everywhere except on a television.
They have seen a woman lead the U.S. State Department for most of their lives.
They seldom listen to the car radio.
If they miss any TV show or video, they can always watch it on YouTube or DVR.
They have never seen an airplane “ticket.”
There has always been football in Jacksonville but never in Los Angeles.
Exposed bra straps have always been a fashion statement, not a wardrobe malfunction to be corrected quietly by well-meaning friends.
A significant percentage of them will enter college already displaying some hearing loss.
They have come to political consciousness during a time of increasing doubts about America’s future.
Probably the most tribal generation in history, they despise being separated from contact with their similar-aged friends.
The only significant labor disputes in their lifetimes have been in major league sports.
American tax forms have always been available in Spanish.
More Americans have always traveled to Latin America than to Europe.
Amazon has never been just a river in South America.
Refer to LBJ, and they might assume you’re talking about LeBron James.
They’ve always gone to school with a Mohammed or Abdul.
They won’t go near a retailer that lacks a website.
So good luck graduates. Continue to dream big, work hard, and enjoy life. Remember to do what you love and love what you do and to make not just a living, but a life.
Yesterday St. Thomas More Catholic Church celebrated the 50th anniversary of our beloved Father Elmer’s priesthood with a glorious mass and reception. Father Elmer, formally Monsignor Elmer, retired five years ago but he will forever be special to all of us. During his sermon yesterday, he talked about all the different positions he’s held during his priesthood and that in each and every one he made a point of finding joy wherever he was. “Bloom where you are planted,” he said.
I took this to heart and was inspired by it. At a somewhat crossroads in my life myself, I will try my hardest to live by Father Elmer’s advice as well as a scripture I’ve always liked but have found hard to live by:
“I have learned in whatever state I am to be content.” Phil 4:11
Things may not always be how or what I want, but I am blessed nonetheless. Accepting things as they are is often the first step. From there, I will “bloom” wherever I find myself planted and I will be still. I know that He is God.
If you say “I lost my khakis” you just said “I lost my car keys” with a Boston accent
and if you say “Raise up lights” you just said “Razor blades” with an Australian accent!
HAPPY FRIDAY!
This was one of my first ever blogs back in 2012. It’s my favorite quote by Maya Angelou, who passed away today. RIP great lady and may we all never forget your words of wisdom:
“I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he or she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.
I’ve learned that making a “living” is not the same thing as making a “life.”
I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.
I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.
I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.
I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
I recently saw the above car in a parking lot as I was moving Kristen out of her OU apartment. I thought to myself, “what the heck?” Granted, it more than likely belongs to a college student (and please, no Okie jokes) who didn’t even pay for the car, but why would you want all that on your vehicle? Besides, is it even safe? Can the driver adequately see out the back window?
After seeing this similar yet throw-back van in Florida, I felt a blog coming on.
Bumper stickers have been around for as long as, well, bumpers. People either love them or hate them. I’m somewhere in between. I enjoy a clever (“my Jack Russell is smarter than your honors student” or “honk if you’re Amish) one and I support anyone who supports their team(s) with one, but some literally drive me nuts.
The “Big 3” of bumper stickers seems to be, in no particular order: teams, politics, and kids. I have two of the three on my car:
“OU Mom.” Really Carla? Corny? Yes. Do I care? No!
Kids and their activities probably take up more space on the backs of our cars than anything else, save maybe teams. Everywhere you drive, you are behind someone whose daughter is on a dance team or whose son plays football or one or both who is in the band. Parental pride reigns.
The ones that get me are the family of stick figures.
I guess that says it all, but I did kinda like this one I saw up in Norman. It’s totally my fam!
On the much more crass side is this one I saw one time in Santa Fe:
You gotta admit though, it’s pretty funny!
Politics Aside
Love him or hate him, probably one of the most celebrated political candidate stickers was the infamous black “W” in a white oval for George W. Bush. I had one and I loved them! Classic and clever. Simple yet suffice. Equally widespread is the trademarked “O” on the Obama and “Hope” stickers. I didn’t have either but I’m giving credit where credit is due.
A popular sticker in Austin right now is a pink sneaker with “Wendy” on it in support of gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis. Something tells me you probably aren’t seeing as many of them in Southlake and Waco as you are in Austin.
Supportin the Team
A classic white Longhorn is also the norm in Austin, as is many a “Texas Exes” alum sticker. Still, emblems supporting teams from all 50 states, whether pro or college, are everywhere. Never a drive goes by when I don’t see an Aggie, Boston Red Sox, or Dallas Cowboy sticker on a car. Somewhat surprising though is the absence of NBA stickers.
The owner of this car, however, must be really confused!
Back in the Day
Growing up in Santa Fe, I remember “Onward Through the Fog” stickers everywhere. I’m pretty sure at one point I had one on my car even though to this day I have no idea what it means. All I knew then was that it was cool. I also remember “Texan Go Home” stickers in protest to the growing influx of “goat roper” skiers on our mountain. I never had one and thank goodness. Little did I know I would come to love Texas and have my very own Texas native!
When I did move to Texas, Austin in particular, bumper stickers were in full force. Who remembers those “SOS” ones and the “Pray for me I drive 183” stickers? Now “SOS” could mean “pray for me I drive anywhere in Austin!”
When Kristen comes home to Austin she always comments “oh, there’s a Range Rover (or BMW or Tahoe or any nice car) without letters. Imagine that.” Letters, being those white fraternity or sorority letters. Not so common with UT students, they are everywhere in Norman and many a college campus. Even they have evolved though. When I was at OU, house crests were the norm.
I’ll end with what’s one of my biggest pet peeves: runner’s stickers that state how long the marathon was or half-marathon or triathlon was or whatever they ran. Okay, we get it. You run. Yay for you. But what about baseball players? Should they have stickers stating their RBIs on their car? Do golfers post “hole in one” stickers or have you ever seen a “black diamonds only” on a skier’s vehicle? Enough already. Put them on your bulletin boards or refrigerators please. No one cares that you run or how far you run. Think about it, every time we’re behind you this is what we’re really thinking:
This was not what I planned to post today, but I ran across it and it spoke to me today.
I love Tim Tebow and all he stands for and I really needed to hear this today.
Live it. Believe it.
“A nation that does not honor its heroes will not endure long.” Abraham Lincoln
This is who we honor and memorialize today:
Total American deaths by war
Civil War – 625,000
World War II – 405,399
World War I – 116,516
Vietnam War – 58,151
Korean War – 36,516
Revolutionary War – 25,000
War of 1812 – 15,000
Mexican-American War – 13,283
War on Terror – 6,717
Celebrated the last Monday each May, what is today called Memorial Day was for many years referred to as Decoration Day. It all started after the Civil War as a way to commemorate the more than 600,000 soldiers who died fighting for both the Union and the Confederacy. It became an annual ritual to decorate soldiers’ graves with flowers, wreaths, and flags. In 1967, federal law officially declared it Memorial Day and designated it a National Holiday.
While we’re all kicking off summer, hosting backyard bar-b-cues, opening swimming pools, going to the lake and beach, and enjoying a day off from work, let us also remember those who gave their lives to keep us free and did not come home.
Beyond Words 