Archive for September, 2008

Check out these beautiful macro photography shots–pictures of the microscopic!

Since the economy is in the toilet, even people who are not usually bargain shoppers are looking for good deals. Readers Digest states “the best day to shop is on Thursday, especially late in the day, because they’ll start marking down for the weekend.” (Reader’s Digest, October 2008)

A couple of places I like to save online are:  Overstock and Smart Bargains.  You can also do some great price comparison shopping at Shopzilla and Nextag.

What about in your local store?  As my family can attest to I am the Frugal Queen Maxima! I have been known to embarrass family members by haggling (a neglected art, in my opinion). Well if someone will give me 15% off an item that is missing a button, a screw, or a seam that I can replace–why not?!

What about you? What do you to save during economic hard times?

I’m a huge fan of tea–all kind, flavors, and blends!  I found this really cool article about 25 Uses For Tea!   Enjoy!

I was a “late bloomer” to gardening, only getting into it after I turned fifty, because I was busy raising a family, moving around the U.S. and well, keeping up with my responsibilities. I should have known it was in my blood. My mother was a gardener. My brothers and sisters are gardeners; so it only stood to reason I would eventually fall in love with gardening as well.

There is nothing that clears the head better than digging in the soil. While working away among the blooms, the oxygen starts flowing, my head clears and all the worries and cares of the day seem to slip away. Whatever is worrying me seems to fade into the earth, leaving me feeling relieved and alive.

When I’ve finally feel purged, I sit under my pine trees to relax and take in the day. My pine trees gently moving in the breeze, full of birds. This time of year it is the little black birds, mockingbirds and hummers that come a callin’. Gardening is the best medicine and if you are a gardener you know that. If you do not garden take my word for it. Oh, and did I mention that it’s a good workout, too?

Gardening means you do not have to waste time, energy or gas driving going to the gym. You can save money on clothes because unlike gyms that require a certain kind of “work out” clothing, I can just grab whatever I want and head out to the garden. Well okay, I require a great pair of gloves and a good sun hat. Both are used and soiled from use. I have no one to impress except that row of flowers that couldn’t care less.

Check out this series of stunning photographs of the Scottish Highlands by photographer Steve Carter.

Bling is that showy display of one’s means of living.  It’s a way of saying “Hey I am successful!” or “This is who I am!”  The older we get, however, the more we start to realize that having lots of shiny jewelry (or other material things) isn’t what makes the woman (or man).  We spend time from the ages of 13-19 in puberty then ages 20 to 40 finding our way–defining ourselves with our education, our career, and our possessions.  After age 40 we start to realize that we have only made it halfway, and there is still a lot more living to do.  By this time we’ve learned a few lessons, gained some success, and have reached a point that we redefine our motivations.  So naturally, our definition of “Bling” changes as well.

My Bling is my gray hair.

You can start to  get your crowning glory of gray at any age.  Personally, I started going gray in my 20′s. I tried unsuccessfully to cover it up for years, but by the time I was in my 40′s I realized it was just too damn much work. So I gave up dying it and spent the better part of a year watching my gray roots overtake my auburn-dyed locks.

Contrary to what I expected, I experienced a huge emotional release.  No longer was I wasting my hard earned money on two to three dye jobs a month, but I also found that dying my hair made me feel like I was hiding my real self.   To this day, I am not sure what I thought covering my gray was suppose to do for me; but what I do know now is what NOT covering my gray has done.

My Bling is out there for all to see–brilliant, true, and wise.  I am making the statement: I am here! Baby Boomer in full view enjoying this period of life!  And man, do I love gray hair. It is the prettiest color I have ever had. I have had people come up to me in a crowd and ask if they can touch it.

So the next time you baby boomers see someone wearing all that Bling point to your head say, like I do, I am Baby Boomer, hear me roar here is my Bling and it is both mine–and free (in more way than one).