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Women growing older…and embracing it. Get pumped!

I Googled ‘Older Woman’ and this page of funny ‘folklore’ came up…I thought I’d share it with you as an intro to my schpeel on growing older.

-An older woman will never wake you up in the middle of the night and ask you, “What are you thinking?” An older woman doesn’t care what you think.
-An older woman is a cheaper date. A younger woman will cost you 12 beers, but an older woman will sleep with you after a cup of herbal tea.
-An older woman can wear bright red lipstick during the day without looking like she just had an adventure inside a jam jar.
-Older women can run faster because they’re always wearing sensible shoes.
-An older woman is almost always already attached to someone, so there’s no need to develop a phobia about committing to her. The last thing she needs in her life is another clingy, whiny, dependent man.
-Older women are more honest. An older woman will tell you that you are a jerk if you’re acting like one. A young woman will say nothing, fearing you might get mad and break up with her.
-An older woman always carries a condom in her purse. A younger woman is still hoping the guy might have one on him.
-An older woman will never get pregnant, then suddenly demand that the two of you get married. In fact, if you impregnate an older woman, you will probably be the last to know.
-Older women have jobs with dental plans. Younger women can’t help you when your teeth get knocked out playing hockey.
-Older women take charge of the situation. An older woman will call you up and ask you for a date. A younger woman will wait forever by the phone for you to call.
-An older woman will agree to go to McDonald’s with you for a meal. Younger women are too nervous to eat anything in front of somebody whom they might boff later.
-Older women know how to cook. Young women know how to dial Pizza Hut take out.
-Older women are psychic. You never have to confess to having an affair, because somehow they always know.
-Older women often own an interesting collection of lingerie that they have acquired from admirers over the years. Young women often don’t wear underpants at all, thus practically eliminating all possibility of a striptease.
-Older women know what Kegel exercises are.
-Older women are dignified. They are beyond having a screaming match with you in the middle of the night in a public park.
-Older women are experienced. They understand that sometimes, after 12 beers, a guy just can’t get it up. A younger woman may need some time to grasp this fact.
-An older woman will introduce you to all of her girlfriends. A younger woman will avoid her girlfriends when she’s with you, in case you get any ideas…
-An older woman has lots of girlfriends … and most of them will want to screw you too.
-An older woman will always meet the minimum height requirement to go on an amusement ride.
-An older woman will never accuse you of stealing the best years of her youth because chances are someone else has stolen them first.
-An older woman will never accuse you of using her. She’s using you

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Okay, so yesterday, I went downtown (Chicago) to participate in a market research group study. There were 5 of us women, all roughly the same age–mid 40’s. The subject matter for the focus group was about TVLand wanting to restructure their format to become more of a ‘destination station’ (what?) and they might possibly form a new TV station. Our job was to go through a stack of business cards with movie names, sit coms, reality TV shows, ect. written on each one. We were asked to pick out our favorite shows to make our own ‘make believe’ station with our personal preferences.

My group of index cards had mostly ‘relationship’ type shows of the comedy variety. Everyone else had different lineups, mine being more like a femme station. What I’m getting at, is I suggested we have shows that embrace aging…reinventing ourselves and inspiring us to trudge forward on our own personal journey’s. What surprised me is a few of the women in my group were so afraid of getting old. They didn’t want to think of it! Oh, the horrors of a grey hair! “Don’t remind me”, they said. I gently told them that although I don’t look forward to getting old either, what we have to do is accept it, embrace it and make the best of it. It’s going to happen and there’s not a thing we can do except run with it and hope for the best.

Robin, the woman who moderated our focus group, was to me, a beautiful woman-And I told her so on a bathroom break. Being the open person that I am, if someone deserves a compliment, I give it to them! She was a New Yorker-a transplanted country girl from Montana, and it showed. She kind of reminded me of Mary Chapin Carpenter with swingy, shoulder length blond hair that had streaks of white and grey going through it. She was attractive in her jeans and floral blouse. She had a casual, country style with a bit of city girl chic all rolled into one. At the age of 45, she had some lines, the lightest blue eyes I’d ever seen and a very pretty face. But more than anything, what eminated from her was self-confidence and class. She was awesome. I know it sounds strange, but I kept looking at her face. You could tell she didn’t work really hard to ‘hide’ her changing looks. She was a natural kinda girl. I was so happy to share 2 hours with her. She inspired me.
I have always looked up to older women, finding some of them to be really beautiful with their lines and grey/white hair. There is a beauty in older women that isn’t present in younger gals. I remember, years ago, at my church, there was a woman named Marie who was a beautiful 62 year old. She had a long, grey braid, and she was intriguing to talk to. She was fun, and wise and had such stories to tell. I looked up to her as almost a mentor for what I’d like to be like when I get to be in my 60’s.

I’ve started to read a book called ”The Goddess’ in Older Women” and the book talks about post menopausal women being ‘crones’–Stereotypically, not a pretty word, but an accurate one. In fact, the book calls feisty, wise and active older women, ‘juicy green crones’. I guess that’s what I’m going to be…a green crone. Whatever. I just want the self-confidence and the classy aura that you earn from living life for a long time. I think the important thing is that we, as women, learn to get by on our wits and wisdom, because our physical looks may not last.

Today at the gym, as I did my 10 miles on the bike, I read an article in the new MORE magazine about men who find middle aged women to be sexy when they choose to let themselves go grey or white haired, instead of dying it. The author of the article did an online dating test and found that she got more hits on match.com with her hair Photo Shopped grey than she did a month later using the same photo, but this time, her hair was in it’s natural state, brunette. With this test, and a few other observations, she found that most men prefer women who don’t try to be false and change their appearance just to keep themselves young looking. There is something very powerful about being natural. It shows we are honest and confident in our own skin. That is what men find sexy–it’s all in the attitude and what’s going on in our minds.

I think, as women, we all need to embrace the fact that we are aging. When you put on your make up, don’t wear it to ‘defy’ your age, as Revlon would like us to do with their makeup. Use it to accentuate the positive, and to bring out a natural glow. Just in the last year or so, I’ve noticed the smile lines radiating from the outside corners of my eyes. Sure, when I first noticed them it made me nervous, but then I thought about those lines. I’ve earned them. They signify a lifetime of laughter and the good times I’ve had. Why would I want to botox them out? I don’t have frown lines. That says something about me. I’m happy, and I want to stay that way, irregardless of the physical changes my body is making as the years go on. Make the best of your life, now and in the future. Eat healthy, exercise, love hard, kiss long, and think young. Be a ‘juicy green crone’ and when you get there, you’ll will be the envy of all the young gals. I promise.

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Back to school this week

Dave, my oldest will be off next saturday for Carbondale. It’s back to the dorm for him and the semester starts again. I will miss him, but with luck, he’ll be home to stay after Christmas break. He’s hoping to transfer to UIC in downtown Chicago and commute. We have our fingers crossed that he’ll get accepted.

My other kiddo’s start week after next. Gosh, this summer went fast! I’m ready…it’ll be nice to have my 6 hour days free once again while they’re in class.

Anyone else happy school begins soon?
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Oh, yea, THAT’S what I’m talkin’ about!!!

Gorgeous, Sexy and O, so BIG!
Carrie to Big…“You can’t leave New York! You’re the Chrysler Building! The Chrysler Building would be all wrong in a vineyard!

I know this is incredibly shallow and very high school of me, but I’m so excited! As many of you may have already seen or heard, Chris Noth (my fantasy man) has signed a contract to be in the new Sex and the City movie, reprising his role as Mr. Big.

I’m so happy someone else won’t be doing this for him. Can any of you ‘Big’ fans even imagine another man filling his shoes? OMG…no way! I’m so glad he decided to bring his character to finality with this movie. What a treat it will be for all of us drooling females who can’t get enough of his 6’4″ tall, dark and handsome self.

Okay…you all must know by now how much I like this guy….so I’m counting down the months till the movie is on the big screen. They say the movie will start shooting in NYC this September.
Oh, yeah BABY!
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My collection–a weakness for shapely ironstone


Kelle, from Two Dancing Crows put out a challenge for everyone to post their collections on their blogs. Here is mine.

These are what I love to collect….beautiful, round pitchers that just so happens to be made of ironstone. I display the larger pieces in the top of a buffet cabinet I picked up at a furniture tent sale for $30…I painted the top black and set family photos on top. Even though the bottom portion of the cabinet is missing, it doesn’t seem to detract from the total look of this very reasonable piece of furniture.

My little ironstone creamer collection is stored in a corner curio cabinet handed down from my husband’s great grandma.
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Thursday morning pamper session…

My new eyebrows…arched and no longer beastly.

Today I went to Ulta’s salon and had the highlights touched up in my hair. Even though I’m a natural blonde, I like to ‘kick it up a notch’ for a more sun-kissed look. Back when I was a kid, I was outside all the time and the sun did for me then what my wallet needs to do now.

While there, waiting for the highlights to process, (I looked like an alien from outer space with tin foil strips sticking out in all directions,) I spyed a clearance rack. I pawed through all the stuff they had and scored some terrific makeup buys for like a buck or two each. The money I saved on make up was well spent on my first eyebrow wax. It was well worth it! Girls, if you can find a place to get this done, by all means do it. My brows look great for the first time in my life!

Oh…Sarah Jessica Parker has a new fragrance called ‘Covet’. It’s a bit stronger than ‘Lovely,‘ but pretty all the same. They are giving little spray samples out at Ulta…so, I may have to run back tomorrow and ask, er, plead for another!
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A nice surprise in my mailbox…



Click on each photo to enlarge

About 2 years ago, I used to design sewing projects on a regular basis for Create and Decorate magazine. I sent in a smaller, slightly changed version of one of my more popular dolls, Faithy Trumbull. I waited and waited, and over the course of a year and a half, went back and forth with the editor, Trish. For reasons I don’t understand, it seemed like that doll was never going to see publication.

Two years have gone by, Create and Decorate has a new editor, and I’d all but forgotten about that little Faithy doll. Last week, I received a box in the mail and after opening it, I found her tucked carefully in the bubble wrap. She was home. My first thought was they sent her back because they were tired of holding on to her and I figured the new editor decided not to include her in any future issues, since she didn’t return my emails.

Today, I go to my mail box and inside is a priority envelope from All American Crafts. I knew immediately what it was–the newest edition of the magazine and there was a good chance my doll was featured, otherwise why would they send me two complimentary issues? Sure enough, I page through the magazine and there she was! My husband also wrote a poem that goes with the doll and they included that, too! Click on the last photo and you can read it. I thought this was a little serendipitous…I’m so excited and now I want to design more for this magazine. What a nice surprise! I’m so delighted and pumped to do more. This is just what I needed….believe me!

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This is OLIVER…speaking of fluffy, cozy things…


I just finished writing about longing for autum and I saw Oliver, my youngest of 4 felines, lying atop a pile of wool I have to sell on ebay. Ollie, Ollie, Ollie…you always seem to gravitate to just the spots you shouldn’t be! He looked so fluffy and the urge to bury my nose in his furry chest was hard to resist. I snapped a quick digital and just had to share him. He’s wonderful and friendly, and guaranteed to lower your blood pressure by 10 points with just a few strokes of his fur.

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Yearning for Autumn

Oh so lovely violet bulky yarn….ahh.

Baskets of dyed wool ready to be spun.


Firey orange Bittersweet

It happens to me at least four times a year. As soon as I get through three quarters of a season, I begin to get an urge for a change in the weather.
Does this happen to you? Maybe it’s just me, tired of the steamy heat and wishing I could throw my windows open and actually get a cooling breeze. Not today, not this week. I like my AC wayyy too much.

Today I was searching ebay for wool yarns I use for packaged doll hair in my ebay store. I quickly became enchanted by the autumny yarn colors and began thinking of cozy warm sweaters. I want to begin knitting again. Maybe this will be the year I’ll learn how to knit that sweater. Learning how to read a knitting pattern would be extremely gratifying to me. I guess I’ll need to start going back to Stitch N Bitch meetings on Tuesday nites so the women can teach me.
Yesterday, as I was organizing my digital photos into specific folders in my C drive, I came across some beautiful pictures I had completely forgotten about. Last fall, a few of my friends and I travelled up to the Chicago Botanic Garden to visit the Country Living Fair. It was an incredible event! There were artisans, delicious food, pumpkins and country sites to be seen everywhere. I took some yummy photos and I wanted to share them with you. At least, if anything, you too, will begin to yearn for crispy, cool air and the rustling of fallen leaves.
I placed an order for the yarns I need, but I also found a lovely bulky yarn I just had to posess. It is the most beautiful shade of heathery violet. Until Autumn arrives, I’m digging out my knitting needles and getting ready for the change–of seasons that is. After all, Labor Day is just around the corner.

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What’s up with my eyes?

I just came back from the post office from mailing my paper bag books. When left the house to go there, I noticed things seemed more blurry than before (yesterday). Not exactly blurry, but let’s say it was a strain to see anything written. As I drove, it was very difficult to read the license plates on the cars in front of me and the street signs unless I was almost upon them. Scary! Not only that, my eyes feel itchy and dried out. I mentioned my sudden optical dilemma to the clerk at the Post office and she said allergies will do that. I don’t think I have allergies, but I read they can appear anytime in life. Wow!

I happened to have some Allegra samples in my cupboard, so when I got home I popped one, hoping it will help. If not, I’m off to the eye doctor for a new prescription. Does this make me feel old. If I do need glasses, I’m going to get contacts and a hip pair of black frames with rhinestones! Very RETRO. Very ME.

Okay people, I’m off to lie on the sofa till the Allegra works its magic.
Will write again soon–if I can see to type!