No, this is not about what you think. Tonight, I performed "plastic" surgery, but it did not involve a scalpel and a deviated septum. This surgery involved a pair of scissors and a credit card.
I try to live as debt free as possible. (This is no small accomplishment when you consider the sickness that I have that causes me to spontaneously and seemingly uncontrollably shop.)My husband and I are graduates of Financial Peace University, our cars are paid for, and I have not charged anything to a credit card in at least five or six years.... except for my Macy's Card. We have a special bond, Macy's and I. I just could not part with my little friend. I justified my relationship with this card by only using it to get the special discounts; and then I would come home and immediately pay the balance on-line, so that is not really incurring debt... right?
Well, that is wrong and I was called out on this fact by my youngest daughter after we took the kids to a Financial seminar. She has seen me use the Macy's card, so she asked me if my husband had said anything about the card (since we are supposed to be living debt free). Well, I explained to her my relationship with the card, and the fact that I would give it up when it was pried from my cold dead hand. Of course she looked at me as only your child can and said "Mom, you know that's not right." So, I was shamed into doing the right thing.
I cut up the last card standing, and it feels good. Although in the future I may feel guilt for how much I buy, I will not feel guilt for going in debt for the purchases. Shopping is fun, but shopping debt free is FABULOUS!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Run GiGi Run
I have never understood running, or people who are runners. I have always seen them running on the roads when it is 100 degrees or below freezing or even pouring down rain. So, I just assumed that runners are either crazy people or just flat out masochists.
The only running I have ever done was from the couch to the kitchen during commercials; but since I have a satellite service with DVR, I have not even had to do that in years. I can hit the pause button and take my time fixing a snack or a gourmet meal... whatever I want.
However, I feel that we should celebrate diversity, and seek to understand those who are different from ourselves. So... I signed up to run a 5K race!
I joined a running group, having just two months to train and go from a non-runner to 5K racer. Obviously, I love a challenge.
I want to tell you about these extraordinary women that I have been running with. When someone reaches a milestone, or excels beyond the others, everyone celebrates her accomplishments. When someone falls behind and does not progress as fast as most, everyone cheers her on and encourages her to keep going. Veteran runners come out to encourage and cheer for those of us who are new at this. We laugh about our struggles and delight in our goals that have been reached. I have never heard a discouraging or disparaging comment from a single runner. I have discovered that runners are not crazy people after all. They are wonderful and generous people! Now, let me tell you about my personal progress...
The first week I was panting like a dog in the desert after running for 60 seconds! But, now the race is only a couple of weeks away and I am running 2 1/2 miles. I only have to add a little over 1/2 mile to my run to equal a 5K. I can do this! I AM doing this. Today I was the only one in the group who showed up to run, probably because it was pouring down rain. Guess what? I ran anyway. I guess that makes me a real runner now, and I am proud to be one...because runners are FABULOUS!
The only running I have ever done was from the couch to the kitchen during commercials; but since I have a satellite service with DVR, I have not even had to do that in years. I can hit the pause button and take my time fixing a snack or a gourmet meal... whatever I want.
However, I feel that we should celebrate diversity, and seek to understand those who are different from ourselves. So... I signed up to run a 5K race!
I joined a running group, having just two months to train and go from a non-runner to 5K racer. Obviously, I love a challenge.
I want to tell you about these extraordinary women that I have been running with. When someone reaches a milestone, or excels beyond the others, everyone celebrates her accomplishments. When someone falls behind and does not progress as fast as most, everyone cheers her on and encourages her to keep going. Veteran runners come out to encourage and cheer for those of us who are new at this. We laugh about our struggles and delight in our goals that have been reached. I have never heard a discouraging or disparaging comment from a single runner. I have discovered that runners are not crazy people after all. They are wonderful and generous people! Now, let me tell you about my personal progress...
The first week I was panting like a dog in the desert after running for 60 seconds! But, now the race is only a couple of weeks away and I am running 2 1/2 miles. I only have to add a little over 1/2 mile to my run to equal a 5K. I can do this! I AM doing this. Today I was the only one in the group who showed up to run, probably because it was pouring down rain. Guess what? I ran anyway. I guess that makes me a real runner now, and I am proud to be one...because runners are FABULOUS!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Sweet Dreams Baby
A Fabulous Woman must get her Beauty Sleep! It is absolutely essential. It is difficult to look one's best with dark circles and bags under your eyes from lack of sleep. Also, to accomplish all the wonderful things that we have to do in a day, we must be well-rested. The trick is to find the right circumstances to get your best sleep. There can be many obstacles to this, some seemingly small - remember the Princess and the Pea?
We all sleep differently and need different types and amounts to function at our best. I do not nap. I have friends that do.... you know who you are! I know some fabulous ladies who spend every Sunday afternoon happily snoozing away. I can't do it. I've tried a couple of times, but it just does not work for me. I can't sleep on airplanes, or even in cars. Much to my husband's chagrin, I feel that it is my job to stay awake and make sure that he does the same... asking him repeatedly if he is ok, or if he needs me to drive. ( I am a terrible control freak from the passenger seat. I know it, but I can't help it.) Anyway, that is a different story. This one is about sleep.
I don't sleep much, but I do sleep well - thanks to a decision my husband and I made a few years ago. We were buying new furniture when we moved. It occurred to us that we were spending thousands of dollars on the pieces of furniture that's main function is to hold my bras and panties , why would we spend less on the one thing in the room that actually holds us? So we made an investment in a fabulous mattress! This has made a huge difference in our sleep. We actually get the "Aaaah" effect each night when we climb in! I sleep like a baby. It is incredible the difference a great mattress has made.
I encourage each of you to find whatever it is that you need to get your best sleep. If you need naps...make the time for them. If you need music, a fan, complete silence, whatever... do whatever is necessary. My personal suggestion is a great mattress, but do whatever you must to get what you need. That is what fabulous women do!
We all sleep differently and need different types and amounts to function at our best. I do not nap. I have friends that do.... you know who you are! I know some fabulous ladies who spend every Sunday afternoon happily snoozing away. I can't do it. I've tried a couple of times, but it just does not work for me. I can't sleep on airplanes, or even in cars. Much to my husband's chagrin, I feel that it is my job to stay awake and make sure that he does the same... asking him repeatedly if he is ok, or if he needs me to drive. ( I am a terrible control freak from the passenger seat. I know it, but I can't help it.) Anyway, that is a different story. This one is about sleep.
I don't sleep much, but I do sleep well - thanks to a decision my husband and I made a few years ago. We were buying new furniture when we moved. It occurred to us that we were spending thousands of dollars on the pieces of furniture that's main function is to hold my bras and panties , why would we spend less on the one thing in the room that actually holds us? So we made an investment in a fabulous mattress! This has made a huge difference in our sleep. We actually get the "Aaaah" effect each night when we climb in! I sleep like a baby. It is incredible the difference a great mattress has made.
I encourage each of you to find whatever it is that you need to get your best sleep. If you need naps...make the time for them. If you need music, a fan, complete silence, whatever... do whatever is necessary. My personal suggestion is a great mattress, but do whatever you must to get what you need. That is what fabulous women do!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Fabulous Women Wearing Scrubs
Hello Ladies... and possibly some gentlemen. I have spent most of the past week in a chair beside the hospital bed of my youngest daughter. This experience has compelled me to share with you my love of and respect for a group of hard-working women who are indeed fabulous!
These women are nurses. I have had more occasions than I would have liked to observe these ladies as they go about their daily business. They are indeed in the business of caring. Over the past few years I have spent time with family members in many different hospital settings, as well as nursing homes and physician offices. Nurses are on the front lines of our battles with illness and suffering. These women choose to share our pain and do all they can to alleviate it. I have watched these women as they work on Surgical Floors, Pediatric Wings, and Intensive Care Units.
These women work 12 hour shifts (which are really 13 hours because they get there early and they stay late). They are on their feet and at our sides. They hold our hand, cry for us, pray with us, and advocate for us. They say things like "You didn't get this from me, but..." as they slip the name of a specialist in another town into your hand when your doctor can't find the answer.
These ladies are sometimes mistreated by doctors, patients and families of patients. They are overworked and underappreciated, yet usually manage a smile under even the worst of circumstances. I have also noticed that they usually have their scrubs pressed, their hair in place and their faces made up beautifully. Just seeing how put together they look can cheer you up when they enter the room.
These women work Christmas, Thanksgiving and Mother's Day. They are spending their husband's birthday taking care of your husband. They are missing Show-and-Tell at their child's school to take care of your child. If they are not assigned to your room one night, they will still come by to see how you are doing. They are nurses because they love what they do... and they are fabulous!
p.s. I know that many nurses are men also, and they are fabulous too!
These women are nurses. I have had more occasions than I would have liked to observe these ladies as they go about their daily business. They are indeed in the business of caring. Over the past few years I have spent time with family members in many different hospital settings, as well as nursing homes and physician offices. Nurses are on the front lines of our battles with illness and suffering. These women choose to share our pain and do all they can to alleviate it. I have watched these women as they work on Surgical Floors, Pediatric Wings, and Intensive Care Units.
These women work 12 hour shifts (which are really 13 hours because they get there early and they stay late). They are on their feet and at our sides. They hold our hand, cry for us, pray with us, and advocate for us. They say things like "You didn't get this from me, but..." as they slip the name of a specialist in another town into your hand when your doctor can't find the answer.
These ladies are sometimes mistreated by doctors, patients and families of patients. They are overworked and underappreciated, yet usually manage a smile under even the worst of circumstances. I have also noticed that they usually have their scrubs pressed, their hair in place and their faces made up beautifully. Just seeing how put together they look can cheer you up when they enter the room.
These women work Christmas, Thanksgiving and Mother's Day. They are spending their husband's birthday taking care of your husband. They are missing Show-and-Tell at their child's school to take care of your child. If they are not assigned to your room one night, they will still come by to see how you are doing. They are nurses because they love what they do... and they are fabulous!
p.s. I know that many nurses are men also, and they are fabulous too!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
On Being Fabulous...
Hello. My name is GiGi, and I am fabulous!
Does that sound vain, or conceited? It is not meant to. I hope that you can say that you are fabulous with confidence as well. Sometimes it is hard for a woman to recognize her own fabulousness. If you do not see fabulousness in yourself, then maybe I can help you find it. Every woman deserves to feel fabulous herself, and to see and appreciate the fabulousness in others.
Being fabulous is not just about being beautiful and wearing fancy clothes (although looking the best you can is important). More on that in the future. Fabulous women are good to themselves and to others. We love deeply, are good wives, good friends, good mothers, and are compassionate to those less fortunate. We want the world to be a better place and take steps along the way to make it so.
Fabulous women can be very serious when it comes to issues that are important to us, however; we do not take ourselves too seriously. For example....
Recently, I was having a great morning. I awoke early, giving me plenty of time to not only get ready for work, but to spend some extra time making myself look especially fabulous. I wore a beautiful black pencil skirt that fit as though it were designed for me, a wonderful purple blouse with beautiful cuffs and collar. My not always completely cooperative hair fell into effortless-looking loose curls; and I slipped on a pair of snake-skin high-heeled sling backs! The look was flawless. When I got to work, I stepped out of my car, over the curb, and my fancy-shoed foot slipped right out from under me! I hit the ground in a very UN-fabulous manner! I scraped both knees, an elbow and the palms of my hands. I even had a cut and nasty bruise on my shin. But, one must not take these things too seriously. So, I stood up, brushed off my knees, threw my head back and laughed! I continued on into the building never even looking around to see who might have noticed. Because....
That's what fabulous women do.
Does that sound vain, or conceited? It is not meant to. I hope that you can say that you are fabulous with confidence as well. Sometimes it is hard for a woman to recognize her own fabulousness. If you do not see fabulousness in yourself, then maybe I can help you find it. Every woman deserves to feel fabulous herself, and to see and appreciate the fabulousness in others.
Being fabulous is not just about being beautiful and wearing fancy clothes (although looking the best you can is important). More on that in the future. Fabulous women are good to themselves and to others. We love deeply, are good wives, good friends, good mothers, and are compassionate to those less fortunate. We want the world to be a better place and take steps along the way to make it so.
Fabulous women can be very serious when it comes to issues that are important to us, however; we do not take ourselves too seriously. For example....
Recently, I was having a great morning. I awoke early, giving me plenty of time to not only get ready for work, but to spend some extra time making myself look especially fabulous. I wore a beautiful black pencil skirt that fit as though it were designed for me, a wonderful purple blouse with beautiful cuffs and collar. My not always completely cooperative hair fell into effortless-looking loose curls; and I slipped on a pair of snake-skin high-heeled sling backs! The look was flawless. When I got to work, I stepped out of my car, over the curb, and my fancy-shoed foot slipped right out from under me! I hit the ground in a very UN-fabulous manner! I scraped both knees, an elbow and the palms of my hands. I even had a cut and nasty bruise on my shin. But, one must not take these things too seriously. So, I stood up, brushed off my knees, threw my head back and laughed! I continued on into the building never even looking around to see who might have noticed. Because....
That's what fabulous women do.
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