Common Sense

Are we really this selfish?

2009-09-08T16:24:11Z

It amazes me what the past year has revealed to me about people in this country. Americans live in one of the most "possibly" countries on Earth. In other words, "All things are possible here". You know, if everyone else will allow you to rise above the place you were born into and the pigeonhole that conveniently keeps them fat and wealthy. I find myself dismayed by the number of citizen interviews that are blatantly uninformed, undereducated or flat out self-serving.

Today, I heard a parent say he doesn't want his child to become a community organizer. God forbid your child grow up to be someone whose purpose in life is the better the social construct of his neighbors. Heaven forfend they actually not chase the almight dollar, because honestly - that's done so well for our economy.

I look at the cost of education, health care, and social services rise to astronomical prices. Does anyone remember that these services used to be free or provided in like service trade? Why? Not because they were worthless, but because they were priceless. They were done with the intention of aiding your fellow man, not buying a new Maserati. Education was not an overpriced, undervalued, and ill-delivered rote system of testing less and less information for more and more students crammed into a classroom. It was a privilege and a honored institution for those who truly wanted to be there to learn. Health care was about healing, the wonder of the human body, and enriching quality of life.

I find myself ashamed when I watch the news half the time. Ashamed that people in my age bracket were somehow raised to believe that they are entitled to more than someone who was born to less. Even those not born to less, who have fallen on hard times or to illness, are regarded as inferior and undeserving. We are a nation quick to pass judgement without forethought and research. Instead of condemning those we feel are "getting a free ride" because someone wearing a suit claming to be on "your side of the party aisle" says that's the case, we could actually check out the facts for ourselves. Put your mouse down and volunteer somewhere in that part of town you normally disdain to even drive through and learn about the people you automatically reject because they don't look or dress to your standard. Leave your comfortable air-conditioned throne of judgement and visit the hospitals that get Medicare patients, homeless, and immigrants into their doors. Don't assume they are all illegal aliens working for $1.00 an hour (which you wouldn't do on a bet) and stealing your tax dollars.

Frankly, more of your tax dollars go to waste via unmonitored ill-spent government management choices on a daily basis than to anyone you see on the street in need. You would be surprised how many of your precious elected officials waste your tax dollars on a regular basis. We have oversight committees and agencies to help prevent this, but there are many more government agencies, projects and budget sheets than those policing them. Besides, most of the misspending isn't intential or with ill-intent. It's rushing to pat down a mob mentality or put out a fire, or undoing a previous administration mistake.

I've seen a 35 year old woman interviewed about her vehement hatred of the Health Care Bill. She was ill-educated on the contents, choosing to place her beliefs on political soundbites, and came from a financially comfortable standpoint having never known what it was to be without. I watched her, as a peer, and felt such remorse. I don't care what your political leanings are - but to frankly state that you believe you are more deserving of good health care than another - is the most hateful attitude.

On a personal note, I hear a lot of people who call themselves God-fearing Christians going against the very tenets of that faith. First, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. (You never know when you may be without a job, and need a doctor) Secondly, Let those without sin cast the first stone. (Before we crucify any of our leadership, let's try putting ourselves in their shoes. These are very difficult decisions they are making. They affect an entire nation. If you don't have a constructive comment to help them, perhaps silence would be the better part of valor in this case? Anyone who thinks they can or have done a better job, please step forward.) Lastly, Blessed are the Meek and Merciful. (Not the rich, greedy, judgemental or selfish.)

I pray I never behave this way and if I should, my friends and family would let me know so I could change my ways. In reality this is a very small world and life is very short. The time we spend here should not be warring factions of people trying to keep the largest piece of the pie for themselves, but rather the enriching of our world for all it's citizens.

PS: If you're wondering where the three quotes are from, try reading that book you keep thumping and actually living its words, not just using them to throw at others. I am no perfect person and I'm guilty of my fair share of poor actions, words and thoughts. So consider this as one peer to another - we all have fallen short after all.

Before you choose Reality TV, consider what it might do to yours.

2009-06-23T14:58:55Z

So, I am not a huge reality television fan, unless we're discussing Top Chef, Project Runway, Top Design, or What Not to Wear. I have little patience for most of the variety of reality television going on. Recently, there has been a minor "uproar" over Jon and Kate plus 8. The couple is sadly getting a divorce. I find myself having the same reaction I did when I heard that Jessica Simpson and her husband were divorcing. It's the same reaction I have when I see couples getting slammed in the grocery aisle tabloids, TMZ, and other media forums before, weeks or months later, separating.

Sometimes the world does not need to watch.

Honestly. How many intimate relationships suffer because a camera crew is always there, a host is putting a spin on the situation or the pressure of "being 'on'" all the time pushes one or both partners too far? Even shows like Housewives of (name that city), which my best friend loves, or any number of the "bachelor" competitions show friendships, morals, and boundaries stretched past all limits. Even in my favorite shows, like Top Chef, you see contestants doing things behind the scenes that they admit are out of character.

From borderline cheating to anger management issues, I wonder - is that what these people are really like on a daily basis? Then you see them at the reunion shows or in an interview recap months later and they are mortified by their portrayal. Family members say, "I don't even know who that was." Is it any wonder marriages end and families fall apart? In the case of Jon and Kate, don't you think having 8 children to raise is stress enough on a marriage? Did you really need a nation following your every move, judging your decisions, and tempting you to forget why you married and had a family to begin with?

I think the answer is a resounding no.

It's been a while...

2009-05-29T17:16:01Z

So, it's been a while since I've allowed myself to be too introspective. It was too depressing for a few months there. Then something happened - first I started surrounding myself with more positive people, music and prayer. Secondly, I was blessed with a new job. Thirdly, I came to realize that things can always be worse. Always. I never really accepted that as true before. I'm an eternal optimist, but the reality is that there is no "crapped on" quota. So dwelling on it only makes it worse - I'm learning to let go.

On that note, I am letting go of the terrible habits I've picked up in the past three years. Not only in little things (what has happened to my language! I have a better vocabulary than this), but in lifestyle (food rules are being reimplemented and no more letting people guilt me into cleaning my plate). I also am trying to accept me for how I am RIGHT now. I struggle with this. I either want to be a new and improved me or the really young me. Neither is the here and now, therefore I'm currently always unhappy. So stupid.

Et Voila, BelleV est nouvelle....again. But not really new, just grounded. So, back to the basics of South Beach (which works for me, it's not for everyone, I know), Bally's (hey, it's cheap for me at this point), and expanding my horizons. There's been a lot of activity going on around me and I felt myself being one of those people I detest who is jealous of other's good fortune - but that is at an end. There's usually enough blessing in life to go around, after all.

So, to end this rambling tribute to emerging from under a rock, I have to say I really miss my Dad. As an adult, he had become one of my best friends and I miss him. I just realized I was reluctant and rarely go to my parents' home, church or other regular haunts because by avoiding those places, I could pretend nothing had changed. But it has and there is a void. It's okay (at least today it is), however, because I'm learning to deal.

I can only imagine that if it is this much of a struggle for me, my mother must have it 10 times as bad. She and my dad had known each other since they were 7 and were married for 35 years last year. They never had the grand anniversary celebrations and were just quietly (or not so quietly) best friends with all the ups and downs that entails. I worry about her in that big house all alone and not always in the best of health. After 48 years in one another's life, I can only imagine her pain. I pray it, like mine, lessens every day.

Hmm, so that was refreshingly weird, eh? I'm content with life, excited about the possibilities currently before me and coming to grips with my loss. Man, almost sounds like I'm growing up or something.

Nah...

Fitness Challenge Demons

2009-02-11T16:11:57Z

Oh, I am so ticked. So my roommate and I are doing the South Beach Diet because it basically matches the eating plan my nutritionist gave me years ago. We are in phase 1 and what happens today, MY OFFICE PROVIDES A MANDATORY ATTENDANCE "PASTA LUNCH ALL-HANDS" MEETING!!!

Yes, I'm shouting. Pasta?! Why THIS week? When I am in the phase where I can't have so much as fruit, much less pasta. And I HAVE to go and sit in the room watching everyone else eat it. ARGH. If I didn't have this kind of luck, I would have NONE.

It's hard to be optimistic when you're mad.

6 months and I'm still standing...

2009-02-10T05:44:16Z

So, when my father died 6 months ago, I was pretty sure I wouldn't survive it. I faked through the motions but it never felt as if I were actually breathing or present. I kept waiting for time to start moving again and the world to turn back on. I was waiting for my Dad to come home. Imagine my surprise when 6 months later the pain is actually less, I'm still here and wonder of wonders, I think that's my heart beating faintly under the bruises.

I just may survive this. I'll never be the same, but I'll still be here. That better count for something.

Oh - and in case it's not inherently obvious - I miss my Dad every single day and I don't see that changing. It's just not crushing me so much anymore.

Miracles do happen!

2008-12-18T16:34:42Z

I, the continually late, was at work - yes AT MY DESK fully functional at 8am this morning. Not only was I at work but I was freshly showered, pressed, breakfasted on an egg-white sandwich with protein shake on the side...AND... I exercised for 30 minutes after waking from a full night's rest of 8 hours which came only after wonderful sex with the perfect guy and a romantic dinner...

Ok that last part is complete BS. I not only didn't exercise, but I didn't go to bed until after Top Chef and slept fitfully until 6 am where I slapped the snooze button at least three times through my "exercise time" and only dreamt of sex after my lean pocket dinner...

*sigh*

I still made it to work a whole hour plus early - even the guard at the gate was looking at his watch like "whaa?"

I'm going to be back at Bally's as of next Monday so I will actually be doing the exercise thing again with my new gym buddy... if only I can get the romantic dinner / sex / full night's sleep part in, THAT would be a true miracle. Christmas or not!

Need a laugh?

2008-10-22T16:52:16Z

Funniest thing I've read in a LONG time.

The advice given is hysterical.

This made my day.

I just wanted you to know.

2008-10-14T20:22:26Z

I have some of the bestest people in the world in my life. Truly, I have the coolest, most giving, and loving friends. I really enjoy laughing, talking, and just plain being around you people.

You know who you are.

PS: One of you is having bubbles blown your way in the etherworld...

Politics Don't Include Common Sense Do They?

2008-09-29T19:39:59Z

Ok, so I was told this weekend that there is a case in the State of New York challenging Sen. Obama's right to run for President. From some quick research it appears this is something that's been proven several times over, but ok - I'll play along for a second. Just a second mind you.

Let's say it's true and he's ousted as a candidate. The Democrats then have to go back to their number 2 candidate, right? So, you're gonna put Hillary (and let's say she keeps Biden) up against McCain and Palin? Ok, if McCain and Biden cancel one another out (and I'm being somewhat facetious here), who wins between Hillary and Sarah... in a not mud-wrestling sort of way?

Yeah that's what I thought. Why would you even go down this path?

Ok, your second is up...

You just missed it!

2008-09-29T15:46:50Z

This is a quickie moment...

So on Sunday my brother and his gf came to the festival. They came at the exact time the sun was out, sky was blue and happiness abounded (well, if you're a mudpuddle or a mudlover). Anyway, they were all smiles and Mistress Rose was explaining the general rule on food at the festival "On a stick = good, IS a stick = bad". The gf asked about potato sticks and Mistress Rose said potatoes cancelled out the rule because potatoes in all forms were alwys good. Without missing a beat, I said, "She only says that because she's a Jew." I said it in accent but it was completely meant out of character and was said without a moment's forethought. I couldn't believe I said it and judging by the stunned expression on Mistress Rose's face and the laughter of everyone around us, nor could she.

Luckily she has a sense of humor. I'll still be watching out for payback. I hear it's a b*tch.

(Note: It's funny because it's true...)

Oh - second moment... I think I almost made Felonious's girlfriend wet her pants laughing at dinner. I was wearing Tavener's ballcap backwards on my head and sitting in his chair while we were chatting. He came back to kick me out of his seat and I said, again without thinking, "But I'm wearing my hat to the back and being black." In my most plaintive voice. Apparently that struck as hilarious...

Which is strange since technically I'm a girl of some decent tannage.... ah well, glad to make people laugh.

Living with Food, not for Food: Life lessons from my dietician and nutritionist.

2008-09-22T19:51:21Z

Sorry it's so long, but these are a lot of notes. Also, these are my notes from two years worth of sessions with my dietician and nutrionist(s). I'm not a doctor nor do I play one on television, so if I get a medical fact wrong - oops. I will say, however, I know these lifestyle changes work. I live them and when I stop living them, I can feel it in my energy level and how my body works.

There are three main things to remember:
1. You eat to live, not live to eat. You should enjoy every bit going into your mouth, so to that end you should be thinking about the food your eating before, during and after the meal. However, since food isn’t the most important thing in your life, each mean should take an average of 20 minutes, no less than 15 and no more than 30.
2. Thirst and Hunger feel strangely similar. Throughout the day, you should be getting in your 64 ounces (8 glasses of water) – but not at meals. There are several benefits to this but the chief among them are a: drinking at mealtime prevents you from truly enjoying the flavors and fullness of the meal itself; b: drinking at mealtime causes you to overeat; c: drinking between mealtimes prevents you from snacking on foods you don’t need.
3. A balanced meal consists of protein, veggies / fruits, and a starch. If you make the largest portion veggies (the nutrient rich and longest filling for digestion part), the next largest portion protein (the heaviest, most densely filling part) and the smallest portion the starch (the head-hunger, comfort food soothing, quick energy part) and eat them in this order [Protein, Veggies, Starch], you will find meals more satisfying, filling and less likely to turn into additional helpings.

So those are the top three, but there are some detailed rules and sound medical / biological reasons for them. They may be repetitive, but if it’s worth saying once – it’s worth repeating:

1. Stop skipping meals. Studies have found that the heaviest people are some of the guiltiest of skipping meals. Stop it. The human body is built to survive. It does this, in regards to food, by storing food as fat for times when the body will have to sustain without nourishment. Unless you live in a wilderness and hunt for every meal (in which case, your wi-fi kicks major butt!), you probably have access to food regularly. You should be eating 5 times a day at a minimum. You know that really healthy (usually thin) girl you can’t stand that seems to always be eating – that’s why she’s got it so easy. Her body knows it will be getting more fuel in about 20 minutes, so there is no reason to store anything she’s eating. Mind you, there is still a activity to caloric intake ratio to be minded here, but in general if you’re planning ahead and stocking healthy snacks within your caloric range you should be fine. Skipping meals is the best way to turn your body off and never enter ketosis again. Randomly skipping meals is as bad, by the way, because your metabolism is like a trained dog or horse. If you keep up the same schedule, it will behave beautifully but if you start coming and going as you please or behaving haphazardly, that animal will begin doing what comes naturally to survive. They don’t care if you did have a meeting.2. Don’t drink with your meals. This is a hard one, but it’s something you have to make the effort to change. Why? Ok, here’s the long medical version in layman terms. Your stomach, if you have weight issues, has already stretched out of shape. Unlike other muscles you can exercise, the stomach can only shrink by continually reducing what’s in it so that the muscle contracts. You can’t permanently “shrink” it, but you can cause it to contact to a size that you can physically feel when you’re overeating.   How? By consciously not bloating it. Liquids alone push the stomach out, but they pass through quickly. Liquids pushing through the stomach and hitting a mass of food, bloat out the stomach to make room for everything then push the mass of food out of the stomach (rather quickly) and into / through the intestines. However, the stomach (if 20 minutes has not passed) is still waiting for the message to the brain that says, “I’ve eaten and I am full.” Now the tummy is empty, larger and can fit more food. So the brain tells you, “Hey, you should eat some more. I’m hungry.”   So what do you do instead? Advice from the experts seems to be that thirty minutes before your meal, you should drink a full 8 oz of water. Water… not wine, not beer, not soda… water (or a water equivalent). After which, you cannot drink anything until 30 minutes after you’ve completed your meal. Eat foods that are not overly dry or spiced so you can prevent self-sabotage, over time you may be able to adapt this. After the meal, start of sipping your drink (whatever you want!), making sure not to gulp down the liquid.3. Chew 20 times for each bite of food. Some experts say 30 times, but on average 20 times reduces the food to a good mush and will take you about as many seconds to chew. Not only is this good for your digestion but your dental health as well.
  4. No gulping. Ever. Chugging down liquid is a terrible waste and abuse of your poor body. Your cells simply can’t take it all in that way and your stomach can’t hold it all in its natural size. Check out a hospital for someone being rehydrated, they don’t flush the liquid into your system via the IV or the liquids you’re encouraged to drink. It’s a lot pressure on all your organs when you drink too much or too quickly.   Drink too much? Yes, you can actually drink too much water if you’re not actively sweating / removing it from your body. But the main concern for someone trying to lose weight is drinking it too fast. You should actually have to swallow normally as you drink with rests in between. If you can feel the liquid pushing at your stomach, you’re probably taking it in too fast. Stretching of the tummy is not good.5. Portion control. An average meal is around 2 cups of food for an average person with an average lifestyle. Don’t freak out. If you’re eating 5 times a day, you’re not going to starve. Here are some sites to give you ideas of how this new way of eating can be accomplished without it being painful. (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-200-calories-look-like.htm ; http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14958715/ ;   Remember, changing the way you view food is essential.   You need enough to take care of your body hunger – not your head hunger.6. Don’t count everything. Pick your poison. Some people choose to count calories and fat grams, calories and sugar, calories and salt, etc. Don’t try to manage it all, it will make you nuts. Calories should be kept within general guidelines (dependent on YOUR physical build and goals) and watched. Depending on your physical makeup, activity and personal weaknesses, you can decide if you need to be stringently monitoring fat, sugar, salt, or simply calories. Pick one and make that your daily mantra. When planning your snacks and basic eating plan, concentrate on your goal and relax about the rest. Remember, you’re developing an eating lifestyle NOT a diet. If your lifestyle needs to be low-fat because you have cholesterol issues genetically and struggle in that area, fine – you should definitely do that and not worry about sugar and salt so much. 7. One basic set of facts you should know and heed: men need to take in 80+ grams of protein daily and women need to take in 65+ grams of protein daily. Why? My summation is that muscle burns more calories at a resting state, however – strangely, the body will “eat into muscle” before fat during activity and you need to replenish your muscle (protein) so that at a resting state you’re burning more fat. Strange but true fact: You can burn more fat sleeping than walking around all day with maintained muscle mass. Exercise forces muscles to move and the body to burn calories at a higher rate in short bursts. Continual exercise over time keeps the metabolism higher.   Oh! By the way, protein isn’t always meat, it’s also nuts and beans and even certain grains. When it is meat, it doesn’t have to be fatty to be good or fried or covered in sauces. People always suggest eating a lot of veggies and less meat but if you are not a vegetarian (in which case, you’re a bean and nut lover for sure!), meat is one of the better ways to fill your tummy with a dense food that takes some time to break down and digest. Talk about curing hunger!8. Some people are blessed with higher metabolisms. Men are lucky in that they are built with more muscle mass and can kick start their metabolism more quickly than women. However, if you’re like me, then you don’t have one of those really cooperative metabolisms that allows you to eat anything and think about exercise while playing video games and magically drop 15 lbs. If you’re like me, you have to work to get your body into ketosis and trick it into maintaining a higher metabolism. Eating all day in several small meals is one way to do this. Constantly drinking water between meals so you never have hunger or thirst pangs is another. Keeping your protein intake high, fiber intake regular (haha!) and sugar intake low is another. (Note: Fiber can come from most veggies, certain fruits and certain whole grains. Learn about your food. They all have pluses and minuses.)   Regular low-intensity exercise is another. (Quick definition of low-intensity exercises: taking the stairs instead of the elevator / escalator; walking the dog around the block instead of letting him / her out into the backyard, parking at the back of the store parking lot, cutting the grass, sweeping the floor with an actual broom, mopping and vacuuming, raking the leaves, washing dishes by hand, ironing, etc.) Simple activities – yep. We’ve automated so many of these things or choose to take the easy way out that we’ve lost some of the unintentional exercise we could have. Take a look at your life and ask, what could I do the “long / hard way” that would maybe take an additional 15 minutes but would make you more physically active that you currently are? No gym required.9. Exercise. I hate this one and fail at it regularly, but it’s in my notes. If you have more than 10 lbs to lose, an exercise program is almost a requirement for significant weight loss. Controlling your caloric intake will bring your weight down to a maintenance plateau but won’t lose the rest of it. Remember the building muscle part? That ties in here. Increasing your lean muscle mass will benefit you long term in losing weight and keeping it off. Note the term LEAN in there. Weights and weight training are something to consider the closer you get to your goal, but starting off it’s a matter of using the muscles and increasing the heart rate for 30 minutes. That’s it. Some planned aerobics will produce a noticeable benefit. Whether you do it in a gym, with a trainer or simply by walking / running regularly, it’s a must. I can give you a list of sites for ideas that may work for you, but right now I’m still trying to find a plan I can stick with for me. As a lifestyle choice, I find that being accountable to someone else makes me more likely to stick to it. If it’s a home DVD, walking around the block at home, dancing in the living room, or something else, I haven’t found something I’m consistent enough with yet.Head hunger. Know when you have it. This will be a self-learning exercise. People who regularly fast are usually quick to identify this. However some simple questions to ask yourself when you “want to eat” are: When is the last time I ate? When is the last time I had something to drink? Is the item I want to eat a comfort food? Would an “insert healthy snack alternative” suffice?   Then, have a glass of water. If you’re still hungry. Eat. Sometimes your head hungers are coming at a time of stress or other emotional need and those need feeding OCCASIONALLY as well. Learning to know when those times are is a challenge. Let’s talk about these meals and actual eating habits. We’ll start with eating at home:
a. Use small plates. They will help you control portion sizes. Even better, if you have issues with eating too quickly and large bites, buy children’s utensils and eat with those.
b. No television or reading while eating. Remember the first rule – you should enjoy every bit that goes in your mouth and not be distracted by other things. If you’re eating with family, you can enjoy the people you’re with but that’s about it. Television and reading distracts you enough that you stop monitoring what’s going in your mouth and the quantity of what’s going in your mouth. Also, it distracts you from how quickly you are eating.   Meals should be 15-30 minutes. That’s not a huge amount of time, but most Americans are guilty of shoveling their food in at large quantity until they are stuffed at 30 minutes. If you are eating with deliberation and portion control, it will take you about 20 minutes to complete your meal.
c. Watch the seasonings. Next meal you cook, try something for me. Don’t use any seasonings on anything but the meat as necessary. (I know it is sacrilege, but bear with me.) Vegetables and starches all have distinctive tastes and flavors that, when combined, make delightful new flavors. It’s something any chef knows. Add seasonings at the table AFTER you’ve had a few bites. See how much you really need to “make it taste good”. If you make a sauce, put it on the side. Dip your bites of food into the sauces, don’t pour them on. Not only will this keep each bite moist, preventing you from taking secret sips / gulps of a drink, but you’ll actually get to enjoy the taste of the elements of the meal. Note: This is how most Europeans eat. They enjoy their food in a very tactile way. It may take hours to complete a meal of several courses, and each serving may be limited in size but every bite is a delight and when you leave the table you are comfortably full, mentally satisfied and have a memory worth keeping.
d. No drinks on the table. Seriously, it’s easier to keep from eating and drinking at the same time if the option isn’t right there. As a general rule, most people are not going to get up and get something unless it’s absolutely necessary (too spicy / salty / etc.), due to many factors chief among which is laziness. Do yourself a favor and don’t bother pouring it.
e. No snacking while cooking.
f. Kids are “starving” and begging for a cookie / snack / pizza before dinner – hand them a glass of water and celery with peanut butter.
g. So, what if you’re eating out? Basic rule of thumb is to try and see the menu before you get there and decide what you will eat prior to arrival. If you can get online and check out the menu, many places have the calorie listings so you can make a smart choice. However, if you don’t eat out a lot, pick something you really will enjoy. Just arrange the rest of your day around the larger meal later.
h. Another excellent eating out trip (whether it’s McDonalds or a 5 star restaurant); immediately put half the food away. Fast food: put half the fries and sandwich back in the bag and close it up. Take your time and eat what you have out. Eating in the car is BAD but if you have no choice, slow your rate of eating down. Time it to every light. Or every right turn.
i. If you’re at a restaurant, you can ask for a box to take part of the food home from the beginning. Having it sitting on the plate in front of you will most likely lead to your eating it all and at most restaurants in the US, the portion sizes are 2-4 times what you should be eating. Another trick is to ask for a smaller plate (have you seen the sizes some of these plates and utensils come in?!) and make your plate on that, again boxing the rest up or sharing with others (sharing with others is not only a great way to control portions but to save money!). The last trick is to order from the kids menu, most places will let you.
How to get started with changing my lifestyle? One change per week. Pick one thing you want to change. (Portion sizes, eating and drinking together, calorie counting, etc.) Concentrate on doing that ONE thing every day for a week. Add a new change every week or two when you feel you have completely integrated the last lifestyle change. It may take you months to get to a fully new way of living with food, but you’ll notice the changes pretty quick. From energy levels to a general feeling of pride of accomplishment, changing how you think of food makes all the difference.
Remember, you can eat anything you want – with deliberation. You can control how much, how often and what else you’re eating. You can control how much food your body can have by how much activity you give it to burn the food. This isn’t a diet; it’s a new point of view.
Most of a food lifestyle change is about slowing down and enjoying life in general. Be keenly aware of everything that goes in your mouth. Food journals are great for this.    Go back and look at them and ask yourself: Do you remember eating that? Was it good? Was it worth it?Read food labels. Know what you’re eating. You’ll be surprised. At restaurants ask for nutritional content information. This isn’t about dieting, but some people like the structure of diets as a starting place. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Choose your battles and the paths that work for you. You have to live with it.
Food is a delectable part of living. You have to have it. It should be good. It should be enjoyed. It doesn’t have to be enjoyed in massive quantity. It should be given due consideration as a part of your life and not be an after thought. Lastly, it should support the life you want to lead, not hamper it.
Starting is always harder than daily living. As you start making changes, if you think:
a. “This sucks, it’s like a diet.” - It could be one of several things: You’re making too many changes at once. You’re putting too much pressure on your lifestyle or fundamentally not committed to change. You need some support. (For all of these, the recommendation is taking a deep breath and a step back for reevaluation. Maybe something needs to give or finding a professional to help you get started / have a place to vent would be helpful.)
b. “Oh, I’ll just (skip breakfast / have wine with dinner / make up my water intake tomorrow)” With all of these, there are compelling reasons – there always are – to break your new lifestyle. Just remember while it takes 2 weeks of repetition to make a habit, it only takes once to break it.
c. “Now I have to eat differently than everyone else.” So what. You’re eating healthy and for yourself, not for public approval. Actually, the best thing you can do is tell others what you’re up to and why. You might be surprised by the support and who joins you. Once everyone in your life knows, they will be happy to help.
d. “Ok, if I do this, how long until I’m skinny?” Umm, I don’t know. Maybe never? Depending on how you integrate exercise and what caloric intake you’re managing and how long your body naturally takes to get in the groove – it’s that amount of time. For some people, results are quick and visible physically in short order. In fact, once you kick start ketosis for most people there is an immediate burst of loss. It’s living that way long term and teaching your body (and mind!) to function permanently this way that’s the challenge. If you’re thinking about when you’ll be skinny, you’re still thinking in terms of a diet. This isn’t about dieting.
e. “If I see one more salad…” Salad?!! If you don’t like salad, WHY are you eating it? You should be eating foods you like! Invest in some new cookbooks and styles of cooking. You’re missing out if you’re limiting yourself to salads. Also, maybe – and this isn’t a judgement because I was guilty of it as well – but maybe you just don’t know how to make a good salad. One of the benefits of letting yourself really taste the raw foods and eliminating or lessening the spices and sauces is learning to enjoying layering the flavors. A good salad has the right balance of crunch (fresh bell peppers), pop (red onions anyone?), and flavor (baby spinach? Yes please!) mixed with whatever other flavors your craving. What something hot? Add some freshly grilled meat (beef, chicken or several types of fish are nice) or warm chickpeas (or cold chickpeas!). Freshly cut tomatoes give off their own flavor and keep the salad from getting dry. If you’re like me, you need a splash of fatty protein and calcium in the form of gourmet cheese, but watch the portions here.   Go wild in the produce aisle and try some new ingredients. Make a lettuceless salad (it can be done) and surprise yourself. And if that still doesn’t float your boat, don’t eat salad. There’s no rule that says you must. There are other ways to get veggies into your system, just remember, the fresher the better. Don’t overcook everything.
f. “I’m trying but I’m always hungry.” Getting your head into the game is the hardest and key part. We’re trained from children in our views about food. Your parents, grandparents, and every generation before learned in the same ways. You eat based on your region, your economic status, and your general beliefs. For some people, food isn’t a constant and was to be eaten / horded when it was available. Scientists are discovering that people from poor nationalities in their heritage (think Scotland, Ireland, Africa, parts of Asia and Southern America) went so long without sustained prosperity (which equals food, clothing and other progressive things like medicine) actually have DNA that has adapted to survive in traditionally unsurvivable conditions. You may be fighting more than your own love for German potato salad. Not only that, you have to know what motivates you to eat. Is it just hunger? Or do you eat when you’re happy / sad / apathetically winsome? These are things you need to ask yourself and figure out. Changing your lifestyle isn’t an overnight choice and isn’t promised to be easy, but it is promised to be beneficial and healthy.

bellev @ 2008-09-17T13:45:00

2008-09-17T17:46:27Z

So if my temperature is "normal", but I feel like my head is on fire and stuffed with cotton and my hands and body are shaking with chills and my nose is running... am I sick? I don't have a fever, after all. Maybe I'm just tired and need water?

bellev @ 2008-09-15T11:12:00

2008-09-15T15:21:16Z

So. This weekend - weather wise - sucked. I'm not talking about those poor saps in Texas that Ike slapped around. *Big wheel keep on rollin', proud Mary keep on rollin'.* I'm talking about the silly schmucks who were expecting rain on Saturday and instead got humid heat the likes of which would have made any Sauna owner proud. But we all pulled through *Schmucks Unite!* and made it to Sunday - which everyone promised would be worse.

Well, y'know what everyone? (makes arm motion implying painful things jabbed into another person in uncomfortable places). Thanks for jinxing us all. People who have years of experience..... working in such conditions *get your mind out of the gutter!*... were collapsing. The air was too thick to breathe and from 9:30 on, I was literally melting. This would have been great if, this morning, I had hopped on the scale and seen that I "melted" away an extra 10 lbs. But that didn't happen, now did it? *No is the correct answer here.*

I have just begun restricting my sugar intake on Sunday and did pretty well foodwise. I only wish it had occurred to me sooner that those frozen lemonades were probably chock full of sugar. Ah well, better luck today.

Regardless, there were some really nice people over the weekend, as well as some super scary ones. As someone stated, we are now entering the "Drunk Awareness" portion of the season.

On a side note, I was so busy trying to stay hydrated and upright, I didn't have sad moment until I got home Sunday night. That's a first since August 9, I guess that means I'm doing better?

Sometimes you come full circle...

2008-09-09T16:45:17Z

I've never really thought of my life as circular. I see things fairly linear - you are born, pass through life and leave this earth for a better place. I'm not so certain things are that simple any longer. The other day, I was going through some things of my dad's and found a letter he had written to his father this past Father's Day. My grandfather has been gone for several years, so I found this odd.

However in the course of the letter, my Dad expressed how he was growing and changing and how so many things in life had affected him. Without divulging too much, he mentioned me - he mentioned something I had said in passing advice that had (apparently) really made him think and change. Me. Little old me, his daughter who has made more than her fair share of mistakes and always went to HIM for advice. Me.

As I've been thinking about that the past few days and how touching it was that my Dad thought enough of me to heed my words, I received an email from an old acquaintance. I only know this person peripherally because he was writing a screenplay and I was critiquing it for him. He's pretty young but has enormous talent and potential and I avidly encourage those traits.

Anyway, he wrote me to say that he had taken a sabbatical but was back to writing and that when he thought of his screenplay the first thing he thought of (after himself) was me. How flattering?! He said my enthusiasm kept him going when he would have quit, my point of view opened up a whole new way of thinking and (get this) my sense of humor helped him refine his own. Wow. Really? Me?!

So now I think we are like little wheels rolling through life. With each rotation we touch God knows how many others and sometimes, if we're lucky, we come full circle and see how we've affected others. Sometimes, we just keep on rolling. Just something to think about - who are you going to affect today?

Notes from a friend (a guy no less)

2008-08-05T15:38:18Z

Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to pick the little 'stringy things' off of it. That's how the primates do it. Also, take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.
Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!
Bell Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.
Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.
To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up.
For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies. Let set for a wonderful minty frosting.
Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and at the end of the recipe if you want a stronger taste of garlic.
Leftover Snickers bars from Halloween make a delicious dessert. Simply chop them up with the food chopper. Peel, core and slice a few apples. Place them in a baking dish and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes!!! Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream. Yummm!
Reheat Pizza: Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.
Easy Deviled Eggs: Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.
Expanding Frosting: When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.
Reheating refrigerated bread: To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
Newspaper weeds away: Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.
Broken Glass: Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.
No More Mosquitoes: Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.
Squirrel Away! : To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.
Flexible Vacuum: To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.
Reducing Static Cling: Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and ... ta da! .. static is gone. (Why a guy knows this, I don't know)
Measuring Cups: Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.
Foggy Windshield?: Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car When the window s fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!
Reopening envelope: If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.
Condition your legs?: Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair.
Goodbye Fruit Flies: To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2' with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!
Get Rid of Ants: Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!

Ok Dawntreader...

2008-07-31T15:30:50Z

Taken a picture naked? no
Made money illegally? no
Had a one night stand? yes
Been in a fist fight? yes
Slept with your best friend? no
Had sex in a public place? yes
Ditched work to have sex? yes
Slept with a member of the same sex? no
Seen someone die? no
Ran from the police? no
Woke up somewhere and not remember how you got there? yes
Worn your partners unmentionables? yes
Fallen asleep at work? yes
Used toys in the bedroom? no
Ran a red light? yes
Been fired? yes
Been in a car accident? yes
Pole danced or done a striptease? no
Loved someone you shouldn't? yes
Sang karaoke? yes
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? yes
Laughed so hard you peed your pants? yes
Caught someone having sex? yes
Kissed a perfect stranger? yes
Shaved your partner? no
Given your private parts a nickname? no
Ever gone in public without underwear? yes
Had sex on a roof top? no
Played chicken? yes
Mooned/flashed someone? yes
Do you sleep naked? yes
Blacked out from drinking? no
Felt like killing someone? yes
Had sex more than 5 times in one day? yes
Been with someone because they were in a band? no
Taken 10 shots of liquor in a day? no
Shot a gun? yes
Gone outside naked? no

Yay Wednesday - Rambly post to follow

2008-07-30T15:19:34Z

I love my friends. Truly, the people who are true friends are priceless. Also... ones who give good luck. Thank you JolieMaman for calling during poker - I won big when I usually lose. Woohoo!!!

Anyone want to review / critique my resume? I need the extra eyes.

Can I just be snide for a moment, I'm usually not but I feel the need - if you are a part of a major event in someone's life, why would you not go out of your way to make it spectacular? Or, in short, why are people so freaking self-centered?

Anyone know a good personal trainers who won't want my firstborn to pay the bill? (Honestly, this is how my mind works, I just usually filter it for the masses.) I'd prefer someone who is more like a motivator than strict fitness expert. I find that once I get in a routine, I can usually handle doing it - provided I get my behind out of bed / off the computer chair / closet floor and actually do it. I think someone should start a service where you get phone calls that are reminiscent of being 15 and having your mother standing over the bed "reminding" you that you have to get up, and do homework, and chores..etc. I could deal with that... "Get up BelleV! You have 5 min to get some clothes on and go walk/run a mile. When I call back, you better be huffing and puffing or I'm charging you and extra 50 bucks at the gym." I would be one skinny chick.

Have you ever been to www.kongregate.com? It's addictive, but the little games are fun.

That is all. More rambly goodness to come later, I'm sure.

PSA: Life - it's passing.

2008-07-18T16:44:37Z

Things you should see this week:

1. www.drhorrible.com (Thanks JolieMaman and DawnTreader)
2. The Dark Knight - So good. Really... very good.
3. Ironman (older, but honestly - you must go see this in the theatre if you still can)

Things you should do this season:

1. Go swimming in an outdoor pool.  Honestly, you've missed out on what summer is all about if you don't.
2. Ride a rollercoaster.
3.  Sit on a beach at dusk / dawn before crowds arrive (or after they leave) - watch for the flash of light on the horizon.
4. Enjoy a summer rain.

Things you should say (in general):

1. I forgive you. It's one thing to get a deserved apology, but to acknowledge it and genuinely let it go is another.
2. I love you. I know it's cliche, but the people we love the most we tend to forget to tell. We assume a lot.
3. I was wrong. No caveats or explanations. Seriously. It won't kill you - I promise.
4. You were right. Like the above, we never do it due to pride but you will be the biggest hero to the person you're willing to be humble before.

Things you should have (always):

1. Change for a telephone call. (A dollar or more these days.)
2. A watch. (There's something satisfying about knowing you'll have the basic ability to tell time, no matter what.)
3. A secret keeper. Not ala Harry Potter, either. I'm talking a best friend, a journal, parent, cockatoo, dog, whatever. Someone you can tell anything to. Keeping it inside isn't healthy.

Things you should try (at least once):

1. Cooking.
2. Dancing.
3. A Foreign Language.

So, you think you know chocolate, eh?

2008-06-30T15:26:07Z

http://food.aol.com/play-with-your-food/candy-bar-id-quiz/

I scored 13 out of 20. 5 of them I missed because I didn't look closely at the pictures and I still think the picture on the KitKat was wrong. There's no caramel in a kit-kat.. right?

Darwin Awards? I'll take two!

2008-06-26T14:19:02Z

Cross posted from my other blog: It is Thursday morning at roughly 3:45 am. About 90 minutes ago, I almost died. It's not the first time I've almost died, but is by far the stupidest.

So, I'm home alone and trying to fix my office up*. I bought a desk (I had to assemble) and some shelves (assembly required again). Respectively, these items weighed a minimum of 50lbs. I lugged the shelves downstairs and since my weak knee was bothering me, decided I wasn't taking any extra trips. So I took the rest of the desk pieces, piled them atop one another and proceeded downstairs.

Now I don't know if I slipped, if my knee said "fuck you", or if the precariously balanced wood and mdf pieces I was carrying shifted but one second I was on a step and the next I was hanging over the next 14.

I tried to rescue the furniture (because I'm an idiot) when it occured to me that unless I dropped it all with the momentum I had going forward, I was probably going to break my neck. As it was, I dropped the furniture and tumbled down feet first (instead of head first) to the bottom landing.

Pain and bleeding aside, I'm fine. I deserved a broken leg or two for being so proud and stupid. As I was lying there trying to restart my heart and make sure my back wasn't broken while avoiding my loving dog's attempts at comforting me, I realized that if I was hurt I was screwed. My cell phone was upstairs, the ADT panic button was in the kitchen, and no one knew I was in the basement.

I also realized I don't tell my family I love them enough. This would have been a stupid way to die and what kind of obituary would they write?

FOCUS: We make fun of stupid people all the time, but occasionally we're the stupid ones. How have you almost killed yourself in a ridiculous manner?

ALT FOCUS: What's the worst way you could die? Like me, from your own proud but stupid actions or a freak accident in the produce section of the grocery store?

*Before you even ask why I'm doing this so late at night, I can be a little OCD. I couldn't go to bed or sleep knowing it needed to be done.

__________________
*sings* To the heart, tick tock, and you don't stop...stop..
or
Miss her, kiss her, love her, wrong move you're dead.. that girl is poison...

Yo Quiero..ah we don't care...

2008-06-26T14:15:47Z

So, my little brother needed a ride and on the way, I (starving) decided I really needed a Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap and a Mango Strawberry Fruitista Freeze. Nothing else, just that. So, there are only two Taco Bells in the area that seem to serve the spicy chicken and I drove 20 minutes out of my way to one of them.

I pull up and when asked, begin my order:

BelleV: I'd like a spicy chicken crunchwrap sup...
Taco Bell Guy: No spicy chicken
BelleV: Oh, you're out.
TBG: No, we don't make it anymore.
BelleV: Wh-a? Well that sucks, all Taco Bells?
TBG: Us. You can have Spicy Chicken Sandwich from KFC.
BelleV: If I wanted KFC, I would have ordered KFC.
TBG: Well, what do you want?
BelleV: I want a spicy chicken crunchwrap supreme, but you just told me I can't have it, so give me a second.
TBG: *grumble grumble* You can have beef.
BelleV: I don't like the beef. I don't want the beef. Look, can I get a plain chicken crunchwrap supreme?
TBG: Yes, you want the meal.
BelleV: No, just the crunchwrap, two strawberry mango fruitist...
TBG: No Fruitista, the machine is broken.
BelleV: It's crushed ice and fruit juice, how hard can that be? you don't have a blender?
TBG: The machine is broken. No Freezes.
BelleV: Fine, I need a double beef cheesy burrito then (My brother's order).
TBG: You want a drink?
BelleV: Yes, I want a strawberry mango fruitista freeze, but you told me I can't have that either. According to you, I can't have anything *I* want so why are you bothering asking? In fact, why is your sign even on - I'm surprised you have taco shells and chicken - you sure you're open? (Now, I know this was an irrational response, but I didn't care then, nor do I now)
TBG: What did you say?
BelleV: (repeats above verbatim, loudly)
TBG:... Uh, you want the meal with the burrito?
BelleV: No, I want a chicken crunchwrap and the burrito and that's all.
TBG: 3.XX please pull to the second window.

Now, I know I was out of line and the poor guy wasn't at fault for his crappy company's inability to provide what I wanted but here's where things get dicey.

BelleV pays the man. Gets handed a drink.

BelleV: I don't have a drink.
TBG: Oh... yes, right... (leaves window)
BelleV: (to brother who is snickering audibly) I swear to God there better be a crunchwrap in that bag or I'm gonna hurt someone.
TBG: Here is your crunchwrap.
BelleV: Where's the burrito?
TBG: Burrito?
BelleV: (glare of death)
TBG: (comes back with burrito) You want sauce?
BelleV: No, you probably don't have the one I want (leaves)
Now, I decide to make sure I have a chicken crunchwrap - which involves taking a bite.

They have taken some spicy sauce from a KFC sandwich and placed it on my crunchwrap. It is obviously NOT a taco bell-esque sauce. So, I have two piece of chicken, a cup of nasty sauce all wrapped in a tortilla.

My brother looks over and says, "I got a soft shell taco, not a burrito."

That's when I went into the store and spoke to the manager. I was kind of irate and I don't remember everything I said there, but I got my money back and a new crunchwrap and burrito.

I'm pretty sure I'm not welcome there ever again.

And that they will fix that damned Fruitista Freeze machine.

*sigh* I can't even blame PMS. I was just hungry.

__________________
*sings* To the heart, tick tock, and you don't stop...stop..
or
Miss her, kiss her, love her, wrong move you're dead.. that girl is poison...

Sadie, Sadie... Married Lady, Smile as I walk by...

2008-06-09T16:14:38Z

As a 1930s wife, I am
Superior

Take the test!

Now all I need is a hubby (preferably from the current era, 1930's wasn't a good financial time.)

Your day's not so bad after all...

2008-06-05T19:20:46Z

We've all had bad days.

But I've never had a day like this.

Oooo. Oooo.

2008-06-04T16:49:30Z

So, I used to be a member at Bally's Total Fitness. But because I moved and I'm at the Pentagon less and less, the gym I prefer is inconvenient. So I kinda stopped going. I mean, I kept paying... but well... yeah.

Anyway, I decided enough was enough and I would find a way to workout at home, since that would be more convenient. I bought an intense workout DVD and some weights. I got a pedometer.

But, I'm really really busy. (Excuse #1) When am I going to find 45 minutes to workout, shower, redo my hair, etc.?

So, I bought a couple DVDs that advertise quick workouts.

But, they were kind of boring and repetitive and I couldn't get motivated. (Excuse #2) I have to WANT to do the workout, y'know?

So, I bought a 10 minute dance workout DVD.

Which I promptly didn't use for at least 2 months. Then last night, as I figured I better do something to really implement this Fitness Challenge*, I put the DVD in and did the first workout. Ok, so the choreography isn't hard but I still need to get the arm movements and at the end of 10 minutes - I was sweating.

I never sweat. I can run 45 minutes on the elliptical (better on my knees) and burn 1000 calories without breaking a sweat... well much of one. But I was really sweating.

So I did the next 10 minute segment. Even faster and boy do I need to remember how to do all those old dances. Now I'm sweaty and out of breath. I do the ab workout (10 minutes) and that's fantastic and fun. I could do that multiple times every day. It went by so fast!

I watched the arm tone segment, but I forgot the rubber band piece upstairs and chose not to go get it. But even that looked like fun.

The last segment was basic ballet leg tone movements using the band, and I was enthralled.

I won't do each segment altogether right off, but tonight I'm doing at least two of them. Next week I'll add a third and hopefully between a quick morning workout and an evening workout I'll be doing the entire set every day.

You can even mix and match the different segments into a personalized workout. How awesome is that?! So I can dance and workout - in my home where if I miss a step or look stupid doing it no one can see?!

Screw Bally's. This is something I might be able to continue doing longterm. Yay!

*Fitness Challenge = Where the challenge is sticking to it!

Does this mean I have to turn in my badge?

2008-06-03T19:53:58Z

So I got sent a link (from a boy no less) to a "virtual personal shopper" service. It's free and they find sales via database searches for your favorite designers and stores then send you an email regularly so you know where to shop.

Now, I'm a girly girl about many things but Joliemaman would be the first to tell you, I'm not a shopper. I mean, I like looking at stuff and have good taste, but I generally don't know who designed what or who makes what shoe. I just know good design when I see it. I also have an innate aversion to giving my money away.

In my head I hear my mother's voice saying stuff like, "You could make that for less. Is it really worth the money? Shouldn't you be saving for a (house, car, insert responsible item here)?"

However, as I've recently accepted that 85% of the time I'm a candidate for "What Not To Wear" (someone PLEASE admit me for this show!) - I figured maybe this virtual shopper thing would be good for me. A: they do all the work for me and B: they tell me about sales. So laziness AND cheapness - I'm in.

Um... but when you get to the selection screen there are HUNDREDS of names to choose from (there is no "choose all" button - I looked.)   I know a few designers because I don't actually live in a cave or under a rock, but beyond the major names - I'm stumped. I wouldn't be able to visualize one of these people's creation with a magnifying glass and a circled picture in a magazine.

My solution (since Jolie didn't answer her phone!) was to randomly pick names that sounded cool. Either very French or uptown New York or Hip Hollywood LA. Not that I know crap about those places or what the clothing designers I've chosen produce. I was ok with this until it hit me this morning...

I am probably the only girl in the continental United States who couldn't go through and pick designers with some assurance. Does this mean I have to turn in my "Girly Girl" badge?  I mean, I still cook like a chef, clean like a (lazy) demon and can turn anyone's home into a well-designed paradise. Doesn't that count more than the fact that I can't dress myself?

Man, if you read my posts - I am so conflicted.