Ask A Friend! Seriously!

A note to you senior citizens out there– ask your friends for recommendations.  This means on everything!  Yes, everything from A-Z!  Beauty salons, car mechanics, doctors, dentists, computer repair.  That is the simple beauty of getting old—somebody—somewhere– has been down this dark long, lonely road before you, especially on health issues.  If you are worrying needlessly about a small health issue that’s popped up (or perhaps two or three), discreetly ask a close friend.  They just might have the same issue/symptom/cough/worry and can help you out with tips and suggestions.  If you are afraid of getting something looked at by a doctor, one thing I always keep in the back of my mind is they are aways inventing a new machine/tool, procedure, or pill or outpatient visit that might clear up your issue.  The world is not a perfect place, but believe me, sometimes you need to get over the embarrassment issue and just open your mouth.  Matter of fact, run it by your friends and just ADMIT you are worried.  It might just save your life one day!

Healing in Helen Georgia

Purchased this ebook on Amazon this spring. Want to say I finished it today, it was super good! I was crying by page 16, something I normally don’t do! The story is about a young woman named Dana, I won’t say anymore because it would give the story away. But she has many shattering events take place in the book. The author is Andrea Renee Smith in case you want to check out her other books.

Clean that icky shower curtain!

Place on flat surface outside  (cement sidewalk or parking slab is best).  Wet it down with a little laundry detergent and water, sprinkle with Borax powder, cornmeal or grits.  Scrub with a plastic bristle tire brush or even your outdoor plastic broom.  Flip and repeat.  Rinse with clean water and toss on your clothes line or anywhere it can drip dry.  DON’T do this in freezing temps, the  plastic can crack. Washing it the washing machine or tub never worked for me.

The St. Louis (eyebrow) Arch

Getting your brows waxed occasionally is way easier than tweezing. The beautician will ask do you want a low-medium-high arch? I say ‘medium’. Beware “high” you may look like Joan Crawford! This style is pretty outdated. Also, outdated styles are called paisley or tadpole brows. These have a chunky area at the inside and sort of taper out. The wax is applied and then removed with a cloth in an outside-to-inside yank. It’s sort of like band-aid removal. Over time the hair root will gradually be destroyed and you won’t have to get it done as often. Beware home wax kits, my beautician told me she had a friend who tried this at home with bad results–the wax hardened and she couldn’t remove it. She had to go into the shop after hours and get it removed with a product the beautician had on hand.

invest in rubber dishwashing gloves

I didn’t use rubber gloves until about 10 years into my marriage. I just never gave them any thought. Then I started buying that blue grease cutting dishwashing liquid that starts with a “D”. It effectively stripped all oils from my hands and made my fingers crack. I think they changed the formula years later because these things quit ruining my skin. Using gloves also kept manicures lasting longer and stopped me getting nicked fingers/fingernails from chopping/slicing things like onions and garlic. Using while peeling garlic also, keeps the smell off your skin. I used to buy the Playtex brand from Walmart & the biggest size (XL) was always a bit small. They also tended to deteriorate underneath my sink over time. Now I buy them online, they are a bigger size and tougher.

They Feel Alone- an exciting new book!

Brad only wants to protect those flying from one place to another, to make up for not being able to protect his wife and daughter. They were on the first aircraft to strike the twin towers on 9/11. Cali seems to have it all—her most recent book gave her the celebrity status she once thought was so important but nothing can penetrate the grief she feels after losing her husband. Dex, the guy in high school that scored more than any other guy, seeks vengeance for all that’s gone wrong in his life.

Three individuals living life alone while the world whirls around them. Can they overcome their pasts and see a better future?

this is written by my friend K.C. Sprayberry.  It can be purchased at Solstice Publishing web page and Amazon.

The perfect girlfriend gift- bar soap!

I started doing this recently.  Actually,  I was out of ideas for gifts for women friends.  For years, there was a deluge of “Bath and Body works” products– liquid soap, hand sanitizers (is this really a gift? Come on! It reeks of germs!), and buckets of body lotion.  And scented candles are great, but some folks who live alone and fear house fires don’t really appreciate these.  They give them away to other friends as soon as they receive them.  Then I hit on the idea of bar soap.  It is one of those gifts I don’t buy for myself, but love buying for friends.  Besides the usual places you would buy them, also check in organic grocery stores.  And they don’t clog up landfills like empty liquid bath soap bottles.

money saver tip for the day $$$$

Get dry haircuts.  My other post just disappeared.  My fault.  90% of beauticians  won’t do this.  Find the 10% who will.  You can change an $18 hair cut into a $10.  I just talked my husband into trying it today and he LOVED it.  I have been doing it every chance I get since 1996.  Ask the hairdresser first if she is agreeable to this.  Shampoo at home either the night before or the morning of the cut.  Don’t apply any “product.”

Spanish Sands excerpt (Amazon ebook)

Andy surveyed the beach to see the distance to the Holiday Inn.  It appeared about fifty yards away from where he originally entered the water.  Now they
walked through the surging surf and sand and little brown fish tumbled around their knees.
“You’re safe now.  Are you with a group?”
Lucia pointed to a cluster of red blankets, a rental umbrella, and ice chest.  Two other young women in bikinis were spread out, tanning, and motionless.
“Those your buddies?”
“Yes.”
“Doesn’t seem that you were missed.”  Andy felt disgusted.  How could you not watch out for your friends?
Lucia picked up her pace upon nearing the blankets.
“Patricia, Helen!  Why didn’t you come save me?”
Andy looked over the spot.  Empty plastic drink containers with straws were propped in the sand next to each woman.  They rolled over and looked at her stupidly.
“You were asleep, weren’t you?”  She looked at them indignantly.
“I just drank a coupla beers,” the one in the orange bikini said.”
“Yeah,” the other girl parroted her.  “I just had a couple of beers, too.”
Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, Andy thought.  I could already have been home eating lunch with my dad now.  I could be doing a whole lot of other things too.
“I hate to leave you pretty ladies, but I have to find my shoes that I tossed on the beach half an hour ago.”
Disgusted, he turned to leave.
“Wait!”  Lucia reached out to touch his back.  “I didn’t thank you!”  Her eyes were a startling blue color.
Andy turned to look at her.  She bore such a damned pretty look he almost forgot their situation–almost.  He never could bear stupidity well.

another lovely sunflower to enjoy

I bought a packet of multi-colored sunflower seeds this year.  I don’t remember if they were from Wal*Mart or  Home Depot or Lowes Hardware but the pack had a pretty picture on it.  I didn’t know there was anything  but ‘regular’ sunflowers.  Since the garden expanded 3X this year (due to a tiller purchase) I had LOTS of space to plant any old thing I wanted!  I planted these because my mom always grew sunflowers in her garden and I was amazed at how big they grew.  These are not the kind you eat the seeds out of.  The seeds are teeny tiny.  They are just ornamental but the bugs and flies sure love them!  When buying seeds don’t be a snob.  I have found plenty of seed and flower packets at the Dollar stores around town at much lower prices than other places.  And the seeds always sprouted just fine.  Just saying folks….don’t be a snob.