Where are the Ineses of Today?

More years ago than I'd care to admit there were the ORIGINAL Supermodels. I know everyone gets on Janice Dickinson about always saying she was the "original" supermodel....but you know what???? Gotta give her props....She was SUPER.
Today every model wants to be one of "those" girls, but way back when, these girls just WERE those girls without putting a label on it.
This is one of the reasons I love Ines de la Fressange. While she wasn't one of the originals, I think she is a great example of IT. For a time she was the muse of Karl Lagerfeld and Chanel. I think she was the perfect COCO girl. She could wear clothes like nobody's business....Not what you might consider pretty, but the whole package just screamed beautiful. She was not blonde or stoney. she had short hair. She was alive and lanky, sort of Garcon and she didn't care about those ideals that someone set down as rules for others to follow.
After she ended her association with Lagerfeld (he was jealous of her boyfirend and wanted to keep her under his thumb, I've read....) she sort of disappeared for a while, and then opened a boutique in Paris. Now she's seen a bit more as she is the representative for Roger Vivier.She has aged a bit, but you know what? She is still spectacular because that same personality still shines through.
She had a couple of fragrances in the 90's, and I own the one pictured here. I've had a few people comment on how great it is when I wear it.
So I ask....Where are the Ineses of today? Zooey Dechanel comes to mind as someone who is herself, and has tremendous IT potential. Perhaps Chloe Sevingny....although she seems a bit more maninstream than she did when she was just modeling.
As for Janice Dickinson, I always loved her zest for life. I am so sad when I see her get more plastic surgery,because I feel it is a sort of self-mutilation because she cannot love herself as she is. I realize that sounds preachy, but that's how I feel.
Ok, Happy Tuesday....
Go forth and be beautiful!

The Unhealthy and the Healthy......

I wrote about Heidi Montag being invited to the Press Dinner the other day.....Well, it seems that Fortune Magazine took pity on Ms. Montag, and invited BOTH her and Spencer to sit at their table. So, they DID attend the festivities after all. I hope this doesn't make Spencer smarter than we all expected....I may have to re-think the world as I know it!!!LOL.

Now on to the "healthy"...

I have started replacing lettuce on my sandwiches for sprouts. I like the taste and they are so good for you. I read in a magazine that sprouts are so nutritious, and it only takes like a quarter of a cup to reap big benefits.

I also cooked another whole chicken in my crock pot. I cooked one last week and it was delicious. I tweaked it a bit today and seasoned it more with zestier spices and cooked it for a shorter period of time, basting it with some of the juices.

Right now, there is a cat YeOWLING outside my window. I don't know what is up with it, but it sounds like a baby crying. I'm surprised Harley hasn't heard it .

Harley has been upset over the crock pot today. It makes a clicking noise every once in a while as it heats or cools, and she is so agitated by it.

I want to be Frankie Stone.....

I was just thinking the other day about different women who I think have it all together. There is that character Frankie Stone from the movie "Making Mr. Right" that I really think is my "ideal" woman. She is confident, quirky and not textbook beautiful, but all together beguiling.
I like her sense of style, and she isn't into "fashion"...she just knows what works for her.
All through this movie she wears these op-art-y suits which are all similar, but in different colors.it is her uniform. She also has a side to her that is so sweet and vulnerable and kooky.
She falls for a robot, but she doesn't really care what anyone else thinks. She is sick of everything that people are telling her is "normal" and she is just listening to her gut.
I also think that a lot of this character is indicative of its portrayer. Ann Magnuson is one ofthe most underrated actors today. She used to play Catherine on "Anything But Love" She was a bit over the top, but still had that great elan. There is something about her that reminds me of actresses in the 40's and 50's. she has that quick-fire patter to her way of speaking, and I could see her in many old movies I have seen, easily.
So today, I pay tribute to Frankie Stone/Ms. Magnuson.
Very chic, and very cool.

Thursday Rantings.....

So....I was reading the New York Post this morning, and saw this blurb in PAGE SIX about how Heidi Montag was invited to the White House Correspondent's Gala by MSNBC (Whaaaa?).( I think she was invited because she said she was going to vote for McCain in November and they made a big deal about it in the press because she isn't even registered to vote. I bet they wanted to make a joke about that)
She will not be attending, because her TOOL of a boyfriend-slash-manager-slash- svengali wannabe , Spencer,got all involved. He supposidly demanded first class tickets for BOTH of them, and he wasn't even invited! Of course, the network said no way, and so he played it off as though she was invited, but the event wasn't "A-list" enough for them and they declined! I take it back....He's not a TOOL, he's the whole freaking TOOL BOX!
Why would he wreck her chance at such a "once-in-a-lifetime" thing? I'm sure she won't be asked again next time!! It makes me angry when people get held back by someone who obviously doesn't have their best interest at heart. Heidi, please wake up girl!!!
Ok, I've said my piece about that.... Today was a beautiful day, and I took Harley for a walk around the block. We saw a few people around the neighborhood, and one boy around the corner asked me how old Harley is. I told him she would be 10 in June, and he said his birthday is in June also. When I asked him which day, he said "The 5th", which is Harley's birthday too! It was so cute to see his reaction when I told him they were born on the same day . He lit right up!
I made Beans and Cornbread today. I swear , that is becoming my favorite meal!
I got an Electric Ice Shaver yesterday. I have been having so much fun shaving huge amounts of ice into glasses, and making Diet Pepsi Slush. I have always wanted one of these machines, because I love the Coke ICEES at Burger King, but they only come in regular, not diet. I'm thinking about how much I will use it when the weather gets really warm this summer.

"real" housewives of NYC

So, I watched Bravo's Real Housewive's of NYC Reunion show last night.....
I was thoroughly amused. Let's start with the good..... Bethanny is actually REAL! I have respect for her, because she is who she is, and doesn't play games except, I think she's in denial about her boyfriend/fiance. I don't think he wants to get married again. I feel bad, because Bethanny has a need to right the wrongs of her parents, and prove to herself that she is an okay person. (Totally uneccessary, because she is a doll, but we all have our neurosis...)
Jill is a trip! She is such a Yenta! I bet NYC is full of them!!!! She can be a bit judgemental (emphasis on mental...) and a tad nosy, but hey, we all know people like that..... I wasn't crazy about the way she was skewering Bethanny about "working on getting a watch" to match those diamond earrings for her birthday. I mean, show some class..... I do love the way she lets her little dog lick the inside of her nostrils though!!!!!!That was too funny!!!!
Luann is an ex-model who has found her Prince/Count Charming (read: older man....) to let her do as she pleases while he's away in Europe (a lot). She has fallen into snobbery. her housekeeper, Rosie is her most valuable possession, but I'm not sure she realizes just who is raising her (nice) children while she is out "slumming" in the bad part of the city with her bohemian niece, drinking very strong cocktails, listening to garage bands.....on "taco night".
AHHH....Alex......(and Simon) I'm not really sure what the deal is here. I'm not convinced that they are co-dependant. I think she is his little American Barbie doll who he loves to dress up and then make her feel guilty by telling her how much he has spent on her. I also think he likes to hear her parrot his ideas and feelings back to himself. Their kids, Francois and Johan seem quite intelligent, but Francois already has his father's arrogance. So sad, and they clearly need manners. (What they let him do to Bethanny's boyfriend's hamburger was so wrong!)
They repeated over and over last night that they weren't social climbers, but that's exactly what they've been saying all along, isn't it? Alex, for me, isn't pretty, but at times she can be quite beautiful with the right makeup on. I would like to see her in something other than those floaty safari dresses and wonky, ratty suits though. And for gosh sakes... do something different with that hair!!!!! There are nude photos of Alex, and the other housewives made a big deal over this, but I think she has a right to do whatever she wants. it's not the first time someone has posed topless....
Which leads me to crazy Ramona. I have tried to find good in her, but she makes Vicky from the housewives of Orange County look serene! This woman has no filter, and she is just unrefined.
She is classless and judgemental, which makes her dangerous, in my opinion. She is very hurtful to others, and she has no remorse gene. She is constantly on the defense because people criticize her for the opinionated, ignorant things that come out of her lasered face...
It really bugs me to see her wearing those diamond encrusted crosses around her neck, when she is very UN-Christian. And, what was this faux outrage at Alex's nude pics? I guess she couldn't stand the spotlight being on someone else for a second.
Like I said, I was amused by this show. I'm not sure if it really represents NYC women, but someone sure found some eccentric ones!

Happy Earth Day!

I like this picture .I took it on Friday when we went and looked at the goats. It reminds me how much I love to knit!LOL
These sheep are so gentle-looking with their soft faces and shaggy bodies just waiting to be sheared.
I think it would be so cool to spin wool into yarn.
I have become very appreciative of yarns made from natural sources. I love the way wool feels while knitting with it, and cotton is so homespun-y and simple.
Another yarn I like is one made from soy. It drapes so beautifully after it is knit, and has a definite texture that's unlike anyting else.
I made a scarf with a soy/wool blend, and it's one of my favorites, which is saying a lot , because if you know me, I always have something wrapped around my neck!LOL

Croc Attack!

Today as I was grocery shopping, I came across a huge display of Crocs sandals at my local Wegman's. At first, I was bit surprised, but I got interested in looking at all the colors that are available! As I was checking them out, I noticed a hand-written note on the top of the display.
at first, I figured it was from Wegman's, letting customers know that Crocs are finally here or something, but upon reading the note, it was nothing of the kind. It was a note from a customer which read: (paraphrasing) Dear Wegman's: Perhaps you think that Croc's are a new green fashion item worn by hippies and the like, but if you really care about the environment, you wouldn't sell them in your stores at all because they are not cute a or environmentally safe product. Besides, they obstructed my view of the salsa and beans.( I love that last part...)
The lady who runs the natural foods department was around the corner, stocking the shelf, and after we exchanged pleasantries, as we do every monday morning, I told her about the note. She said she hadn't seen it, and went and took it down. After she read it, we started discussing wether or not Crocs were considered a "Natural" product. She said her 15-year old daughter said if someone were stuck on a desert island, that if they got hungry they could safely eat their Crocs. After we laughed about it, I decided to look it up and see just what they are made of.
I found out they are made of Croslite PCCR (Proprietary Closed Cell Resin) which is merely a petroleum-based foam. So, they are made of oil products....HMMM...not very green!
But....In their defense, they are only made of really the one material, which cuts down on the number of steps and energy it takes to make them, and they do not wear out as fast as regular footwear. The rivets are a second component, but they are very simple.
The mania for this item has grown over the past few years, and people have bought them in MULTIPLES which sort of negates the good points I have just mentioned. Their carbon footprint is huge, I'm guessing.
That being said, look at the cute croc Cell phone holder I saw! I would've gotten one, but my phone slipped right out of it because it is too slim. I also like the new Croc high heels that they just came out with.

Not all Dinosaurs are Extinct!

Relatives in town last night....Went to the Dinosaur BBQ.. This is the original location, and it is always great....

So, it was very nice to catch up with family, and get out on a Friday evening for a change.

Had to take Harley to the groomer this morning. For some reason, she was all jazzed about going. Some days she doen't want to get out out of the car, but today she could see the lady, Marsha who usually grooms her through the window, and she was all excited.

The weather is so summer-ish today. I'm liking it!

DUKE!!!!!

This is a picture of my little friend DUKE. He resides in a pen at Abbott's Farms, which is a local farm market. he is one of a few goats that live in a pen at the market, and we feel he is the sweetest goat in the bunch. Someone at Abbott's rigged up a ramp that goes up to a platform about 15 feet up. There is a little cup attached to a belt that loops around and up to the platform. It is meant to put feed in for the goats. When it gets to the top, the cup tips the kibble into the box.
Most of the other bigger goats just wait down below for feed, but our little Duke climbs up that ramp and waits. It is so cute.
My friend and I went to see if the farm market was open for the season, and of course, it opens tomorrow....bit we went over and said hello to the sheep and goats. Duke looks a bit fatter since we last saw him in the fall, bit cute , cute, cute, just the same...

Maneki Neko

Happy Thursday!
I have been haunted by this cat for a few months now. Every time I go to an asian restaurant, or my local nail salon, there it is. (not sure if it's male or female...)
Well, I finally investigated, to put an end to my wonderment.....
This is Maneki Neko, also known as the Welcoming/Fortune/ Money/Beckoning Cat (depending on who you ask, or which paw is raised)
It's paw always reminds me of a fist, but it's actually supposed to symbolize a beckoning motion, as in "C'mon in!" In Asian culture, this beckoning motion is done with the palm facing the opposite way we would do it in the West. So, it looks more like a kitty swiping/scratching.
Sometimes you even see the arm with a counterweight in it so it actually moves to welcome customers into an establishment. It is supposed to bring in business, so more money is made by the shop owner.
It reminds me a bit of Hello Kitty, I think that's why I'm attracted to it.
Today was a usual day around here. Went to the craft store and bought yarn,and then went to the bead store and got beads to go with a couple of pendants I've been stashing for a while.
I made some bean thread noodles and they came out very good. I've tried making them in the past, and they always disapoint me. Maybe these were just a better brand ?
Harley is upstairs barking because she wants shrimp. I made some for my supper, and left them to log on and check my mail.
Oyasuminasi!

This stuff is great!

I have always liked yogurt. In fact, I'm still looking for a nice simple yogurt maker so I can always have fresh. Until then, I will eat Fage (pronounced Fa-yeh). This stuff is as creamy as pudding, and it is less acidic than many yogurts.

Since it is a Greek yogurt, it is also thicker with less whey floating around on the top. I always pour off the whey when I see it on the top of yogurt, even though they say a lot of the nutrients are in the whey.

Fage is more expensive then any other (mass-market)yogurt. The price has just risen to $2.19USD for an 8 oz. container! I cannot resist it, and buy 2/wk and treat myself to its creamy lusciousness....usually with berries and some honey slathered on top.

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*** Yesterday a friend had to put her dog to sleep because he was ill. I feel so terrible, because she already lost her older dog not too long ago. R.I.P. Merlin......

HELLO, HELLO!

I just thought this picture was so "spring-like", I had to post it.
I LOVE Hello Kitty. I was too old to appreciate her as a child, but I saw her about 10 years ago for the first time and thought she was just so simple and sweet. That appealed to me.
In the years since our first meeting, I have come to truly love how almost Zen-like Hello Kitty is. She certainly has a calming effect on me, and I love the Japanese animation aspect of her. This picture reminds me of a Murakami painting with all the pink cherry blossoms swirling around.
Ahhhh!
Today was a usual Monday for me. I go grocery shopping on Mondays, and always go to Wegmans. If you are reading this and have never heard of Wegmans, it is a large grocery chain that is very good. Good produce, good meat, good selection of dry goods, and their own store brands are good. I am never diappointed.
I got some different produce today. Baby Bok Choy, Pea pods and cabbage. I also got some bean thread noodles so I can make something yummy.
The other item I got today that was unusual for me was Alfalfa bean sprouts. I just read in Dr. Perricone's book that these are a wonderful source of good nutrients. I put them on my sandwich for lunch...crunchy.
Well, back to laundry. Happy Monday to you!

Sunday, Aldi Sunday.....

Just got back from Aldi. I sort of like Aldi. I used to be a snob, I guess, because I always thought food bought there was low quality. While there are still many things I wouldn't buy there, many of the items they sell are quite high in quality.

Today I just ran in to get some corn tortillas. I'm making Chicken Tortilla soup for supper.

There were plenty of people there shopping like it was the only supermarket in town. THAT is what I don't get. Wegman's is right across the street! I think the Beef and other meat quality is poor, but the dairy can be pretty good. The bread is OK, and cheap. Frozen foods are hit or miss. I love the low fat ice cream flying saucers. Great item. I think their seasonal things are good, as are the international items they rotate in and out during the year.

While you wouldn't think that the chocolate would be good, it is. The Choceur brand of chocolates are quite creamy. Very Swiss indeed.

90% of the items they sell are their own brand names. I can't understand how they can afford to do that and sell the stuff so cheaply. I guess advertising IS the biggest part of the cost of anything!

I'm still having trouble getting pictures from my phone to this blog. I seem to be quite the idiot! I cannot tell you how long it took me to get this image to appear on this post....Well, yes I can... It was about an hour!

THE GREAT BEYOND...

First, let me apologize for my terrible picture. I haven't gotten it right yet, so please bear with me. this was the best one of the few I took.
This is always an interesting time of the year for me. In my husband's and my combined families, we have had some pretty close relatives die during the next two calendar weeks. Every year, very strange things happen to me during this time. I have had some very odd dreams, have had sensations of someone patting me on the back or gripping my arm, wierd coincidences happen and very odd signs happen. I have become attuned to look for and be open to any and all things that may be a "message " from one of these relatives. It's usually my biological mom who died when I was 4 months old, or my Mother-in Law who died 10 years ago.
Already this year I had a phone call from no one, and feelings of being watched.
The other day, I went shopping, and had a coupon for a free item. I looked and looked for it, but couldn't find it. Then without any reason, I thought to look in a very specific place (inside a book).It was a place I would not have looked in a million years, but something told me to look there, and I was astonished to find the coupon right in front of me. Very odd......
So, I went to the store, used the coupon, and came home. As I was unpacking the bags, I realized that the item wasn't in the bag, and upon searching, it wasn't in any of my bags! I actually went out to the car and looked in the trunk and on the passenger's -side seat, and under the seats...
Nowhere....I came in the house, and after Ihad resigned myself to the fact that it was gone, I went into the bathroom, and there it was, in front of my face, even though I had looked there not 10 minutes beforehand......
I usually don't take these things at face value, I usually think that someone is trying to make me open my eyes and be more aware, like the truth to life is out there if you just open yourself up to seeing it.... That kind of thing...
Anyway....I read an article last week about a woman who wrote about loved ones who have died putting dimes in her path. I used to find so many pennies when I would walk, or in the parking lot at my job. I always thought about the whole "pennies from heaven" thing, and I even saved them in a jar for a year. I gathered quite a few!
Tnight as we were leaving the restaurant we ate at it was getting dark as we came out the door, but I noticed a dime shining on the ground and stooped to pick it up. I said to my husband "this is the beginning of 'that" week!" We sort of laughed it off, but I think there is something to it.

JUST BECAUSE....

Lots of things happening today...
Got up this morning and took The Boy (that's what we call my son) back to school. It was a quiet ride, because he is so involved with schoolwork right now he cannot think of anything else, poor guy.
It seemed to take FOREVER to go and get back.
I stopped at Family Dollar on the way home. I always want to stop there and see what kind of stuff they sell there. I ended up spending less than 5 dollars!
When I got back, I called my twin sister, to see what is up with her. She's sick once again with bronchitis. I've been there, and I feel her pain. Bronchitis is so tiring. I miss talking to her. She moved to NJ a few months back.We sort of keep up with each other by sending Youtube videos back and forth to each other. It keeps us amused.
Then, my older sister phoned me to tell me she had gotten the scarf I fixed for her in the mail, and thank you. We chatted about general things, and it was nice to hear from her as well!
If you are wondering, the picture of Harley is in this post, because I finally figured out how to
place photos IN the post and not just next to it. And there is always more room for a pic of that little gal.....
This week flew by. Not sure what we'll be doing this weekend, but I will take pictures, even if it is just random stuff!

YOU ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE SMALL PLEASURES IN LIFE......

This was the saying on my fortune cookie yesterday. Spring is definitely here. As you can see in the pictures, Harley is looking at all the birds from the deck, and when the deck door isn't open, she wants to be outside ASAP....
My simple pleasure ofthe day was a trip to Barnes and Noble. I'm not much of a reader, but I'm a picture person. I usually go to Barnes and Noble to buy magazines, but I've realized that I get just as much of a thrill (maybe even more) going there, getting a cup of Starbuck's , relaxing, and reading magazines. I have been flipping through magazines I normally wouldn't give a second look, and it has been great! Plus, I don't have magazines cluttering up the house. I am a pack rat when it comes to "things" I like. I derive some emotional "push" from random "stuff". I cannot bear to throw things away. I hate the way clutter looks, but I cannot help myself.
My latest mini obsession is that I want to start sketching or drawing. I'm not much of an artist, but I think I want to try.
Packed up a gift for my niece's friend who's having a baby. I knitted a little zipper-front hooded sack thingy, and got a stuffed poodle and some onesies to go along with it.
I just thought of something...I should've taken a picture of the sack.....Hmmm... maybe next time I will remember to do it.
Happy Wednesday everyone. Stay classy.....

Spring, Is that you?????

Today it was warmer....almost 60! I took little Harley to her most favorite spot in the world: The Park. She loves it there, and She rules it there!!! So many people stop to ask about her. Today some man even took her picture.
I spent the balance of the afternoon going through the newspaper and trying to figure out how to work the memory card in my phone. That kind of stuff is so foreign to me. (but I am learning!!!!)
Trying to figure out what's for supper....Hmmmm....I think I will Google around a bit and see if anything inspires me.

Maple Festival

My Husband and I went to the Maple Festival today. Maple has to be one of my favorite things in the whole world. I am drawn to overly sweet food that most people disdain. I love Peeps and Candy Corn as well.
The day was a bit overcast, but I liked it that way. It reminded me of fall. Marathon is a quaint older town with plenty of historical attitude. First we met up with a woman who my husband works with. she is originally from there, and came to work at the festival. They were doing boondoggle with the kids. I hadn't done that in years and cut myself some. It came back easily, and I made a little key ring.
We walked around and got some syrup(of course....) and I had a maple lollypop, which was interesting....but good. There was a man demonstrating a 1920's lumber saw, and they were selling the slices of maple trees they were cutting. I thought It might make a good trivet, so I got myself one. I like finding new and interesting uses for unusual things. I have to let it dry for a few weeks, and then seal it so it doesn't crack.
On the way back, I called a friend who's birthday is today to ask if she wanted to go out for supper. She didn't want to go as she is having quite a bit of turmoil in her romantic life right now, and tonight will be a turning point one way or the other.Poor her. She doesn't deserve it.
We ended up going to a nice restaurant. I had some beautiful broiled haddock with pasta in a cream sauce.
then back home to feed poor Harley.
Harley is my little miniature dachshund who's picture is on my profile. She will be 10 years old in a couple of months. What a personality on this dog.....She can be quite the diva. She's very cat-like, in that she can be almost stand-offish, and a bit reclusive. She' not a lover. She just wants love. Just like a cat! She doesn't tolerate the husband too well. I think he talks too loud to her and she gets scared, plus he just doesn't understand her. There is a battle of wills between them.
Harley is obsessed with balls. She loves to push them around and throw her body over them.
She also loves to crush soda bottles. That is her job.
She loves hand knitted blankets. She makes nests in them to sleep in. Heaven forbid you take her blanket away.....
Ok, I think that does it.....I see I've been rambling.... have a good one!

First Blog

Ok, so this is very strange....I'm not a writer, but I do have many thoughts and feelings. It will probably take me a while to open up. If you are reading this, please be patient with me.
I will start with the mundane, and perhaps deeper stuff will tumble out in the process....
Today was a grey day here in Liverpool. It rained, and was a bit cold. I keep wanting to go out for a walk, but I cannot force myself to!
My name is Sue, and I'm a 47 year old who worked way too hard for many years, and finally had enough. My husband's job affords me to stay at home (for which I am very grateful)which has been wonderful.... but staying at home has it's downside, too. I got fat (again). I used to be very active and busy, and now I'm just mush.
See, I'm opening up already!!!!!!LOL
Many many years ago, I had a budding career in TV/Broadcasting, which I absolutely loved. It suited me very well. Then I met, and fell in love with a man who also loved his career and was really really good at it. Short story short? We got married, had a son,The husband got a huge promotion and we moved away from everyone we knew and started life here.
I literally became a recluse, and it took me a few years to get it together.Now I'm at another crossroads in my life, and I'm just feeling so old!
I just re-read this and it sounds a bit dark, but I am an eternal optimist. I try to see the good in everyone and every situation.
I think this blog may be a good way to remind me of what is good in life, and I promise to keep it more happy than crabby.
Have a good weekend !