Happy Holidays to all!

Well, the time has arrived for me where there is no time left and all there is to be done is enjoy! I wish you all a wonderful holiday, whether you celebrate Chanukah, Christmas or Kwanza. May your holidays be bright, may your new year shine brighter and may you prosper and be successful at all that you do. We have much to anticipate in 2009. No status quo this New Year. Keep checking back with me for more tips and commentary in Tending to Details. Happy Holidays one and all. Miriam

Walk the Walk

I think that's what I'm trying to do here! After reading my last entry and analyzing my state of consciousness...I'll make a better effort! Not that I'm smothering, I just am realizing with a week to go I am finally beginning to feel the pinch and a little panic. It's not the usual kind of panic; palpitations, sweaty palms and the like, but enough that I wake during the night and have to have a conversation with myself. I go through the mindtalk at 3 am that I am totally on the ball and have everything in order and no need to fret. I wake a little stressed about situations I totally have well covered! A horrible habit to kick! I am having about 25 people here on Xmas day and food needs to be ordered and purchased. Gifts outside of the fam are wrapped but I still have plenty of work to do. Busy, busy, busy. So, I will impart some words of wisdom that even I need to hear today. One of my favorite tidbits is to simply, "breathe". I have a son who as a little boy would get himself unnecessarily "freaked" over situations that he felt were out of his control which is how we adults sometimes react, but so not necessary for a little 4 year old. I would hold his hand, or hug him and we would take long deep cleansing breaths together and we would just breathe. So, that still works for me. Once re-oxygenated, then, make that list and stick to it. Update and revise each day. Figure out how much time you have to dedicate to the holiday, work backwards from the impending holiday and assign a task each day. Break the day up, figure out what needs to be tended to that relates to your day-to-day and add in a task here or there to be accomplished. That's all we can do. We can't do any more than we can handle. Rome wasn't built in a day and we don't need to be feeling the burn here! Whatever last minute gift I've neglected can always be given and received after the new year as a gesture of thanks for the year ahead. So many people come into our daily lives that we feel we should recognize, and well we should. If it helps you to feel more in control though, purchase a few gender neutral but thoughtful gifts and stash them in a closet. When you find yourself in need just grab one of these little trinkets and you're always at the ready. I try to do this throughout the year with children's gifts. There will be the last minute party invite for one of the boys and no shopping time open. It works, try it. Another nice thank you is to print on the computer a little paragraph of thoughts about someone you need to gift with special thanks. I suggest a little 2x3 or 4x6 size and frame it. This makes a nice affirmation gift for someone that can be placed on their desk at work, tucked in amongst the clutter but can be read and re-read daily. It always nice to tell someone what they mean to you as they don't usually hear it enough or sometimes don't realize how they have positively impacted your life. And what a nice reminder when we get down on ourselves to have that little inspiration to lift us up. I call that a gift! Sometimes it's not easy to tell someone face to face how you feel about them, or we just assume they know. This way they'll always be reminded. There, I think I've solved my own gifting dilemma that woke me early morn. Now that that's behind me, I have the whole day to be successful! Thanks for reading! Miriam

Tending to Details again!

I'm chuckling to myself as I begin this post because I don't know where I've been of late...but not here! Tending to Details, I guess! With the Turkey Holiday so closely chasing the feathers of the next one...well, I'm smothering already in tasks! We've lost a week this year and I'm just realizing that I'm a tad behind. I enjoyed the candied yams and cranberries just a bit too much! So, if you're anything like me you're in need of a jumpstart and some organizational tools to stay afloat. With Chanukah and Christmas so close together this year we all are in a bustle, if this is the holiday you celebrate. Simplify now and you won't get caught missing out. If you can't get to holiday cards, save them for Valentines Day! I had a friend teach me this a long while back. I was so impressed with her that she didn't cause herself alot of strife at Christmas! She simply saved her cards and family photos until Valentines Day when the hustle bustle is over. People are really happy to receive a nice note and pictures of friends they don't see often at a time when we are supposed to be letting people we care about know how much we think of them. So, toss that task aside for now, if need be. With the shopping, well, we all are feeling the punch this year, I'm sure. Keep it simple, keep it close to the heart and give exactly what that person needs or wants. No frills, no useless mismatched purchases just because you need a gift and stopped at the store down the street on your way by. Think it through a bit, make the extra effort but make it thoughtful and worthwhile. Don't worry how much you spend. When it's the perfect gift, you'll know it, and no dollar amount can be put on that! Take time out to sit and enjoy family and friends. A simple cup of spice tea, glass of nog or wine and a chat mean so much more than a big overdone catered affair where there are so many bodies bumping up against us that we just want to find the blinking exit sign and head for home. This isn't the purpose of a gathering but at times this is how we can feel. The decorating can become so cumbersome too so keep it simple. Let all the family members get in on the action and get creative. Outdoor lights are the most fun, just keep it simple and inviting. It's really neat to hang them at night! Put out a boom box for some inspirational holiday music, pour some hot cocoa and grab the ladder! Just be careful! A few colorful lights, window candles and a great door wreath can spruce things up and say Welcome! So, enjoy the festivities...relax and breath deep! It's all good and it should not be about stress and angst! It's about family, friends, togetherness and joy! Peace and happy holidays to all! Miriam

Alligator be gone!

I don't know about you all but I am preoccupied with my skin these days after the natural drying and shriveling of the winter has somehow already begun! Once the heat is turned on, it's all over for my skin! I know natural moisture depletes as we age, but give me a break! I took a little time to do some research and thought I'd impart some of my findings on to you. I have been plagued with dry skin all my life, which had served me well as a teen, no classic breakouts or weekend panic after using the last Stridex! Only the occasional bump with my pregnancies. I could deal. But this dry, alligator skin is relentless and oh, so unattractive. So, here's what I found that might be of use. Did you know that according to statistics 50 million dollars was spent last year along on nutricosmetics-products designed to repair dry, damaged and wrinkled skin? WOW! There are many things we can do besides special treatments, plastic surgery and the like to help our skin resist the damages of aging, sun, and forced air heat! As far as your food consumption, we can all improve our eating habits usually, but to help your skin retain it's tone, texture and resist sagging and wrinkling eat a diet of lean proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables and keep to the whole grains in your breads and pastas. This diet is not only great for your waistline but helps to keep your skin vital as well. Women in your forties and fifties, your hormones fluctuate at a rapid rate and breakouts, mentioned above, surprisingly plague women in this bracket. The drop in estrogen contributes to the dryness in the skin. A good retinol cream is great for bringing moisture back into your skin and can be added into your evening routine. Only use specially designed eye creams for the sensitive area surrounding the eye. Co-enzyme Q10 or any other cream with anti-inflammatory properties helps improve elasticity. I've heard the rumors of Preparation H working wonders here...but I've yet to bring myself to try it A place for everything and everything in it's place, I always say! Instead, a diet high in Omega 3 fatty acids helps to maintain natural radiance in your skin and aids in reducing puffiness. Specifically for women in their fifties, sebum, the natural oils present in our skin ,tends to decrease yearly. If you will use the most emollient product your skin can tolerate, even in your cleansers, you should see benefits in this area. For a procedure sure to pack a punch and defend fine lines and age spots, TCA-Trichloroacetic acid treatment, or a 70% glycolic acid peel can help. On my favs list, http://www.gorgeouslygreen.com/, Sophie says soak in a bathtub of bath oils from luscious places like http://www.bathme.com/ , for instance, a lavender bath tea, which will help to reduce stress and help relax your body. Add in a couple of drops of olive oil to soften the skin. Yum! Doesn't this sound so inviting on a cold winter night? Aromafoiria For Feets Sake, double action spa foot scrub is great for exfoliating and moisturizing those tired puppies. Visit http://www.aromafloria.com/. Jane Iredale mineral cosmetics produces my possibly very newest fav in the lip balm category! Still love my Trish McAvoy but you must try this product! Lip Drink with SPF 15 is just amazing. I could slather myself with it if I could but it's only a lip appropriate tube! But thanks Jane...love it! www.janeiredale.com If you love browsing Bath and Body Works, as I do, you will find some great tried and trues here ,too. Of the True Blue Spa series some of my personal "must haves" are the Look Ma, New Hands hand cream. I'm still insane over this product. They must never, ever discontinue or they'll be hearing from moi! It's only $12 for the 2.5 oz tube and $18.50 for the 5oz. pump. Why does it work so well on my dry crusty digits? Paraffin locks in moisture to bring you softer, smoother and more hydrated skin all day. I think I've mentioned this in the past also, and while this product is still and always will be amazing, it's only to be used sparingly and at night when you are totally finished with any other task. Elizabeth Arden 8-Hour Cream is, in my opinion, one of the fastest-acting products out there for dry hands, cracked feet, etc., etc., however, if you try to touch anything with it, if you're able to pry it off your hands the grease spot will be practically permanent but it's worth it. I hope some of this is helpful in combating your dry skin issues and prevents it from becoming an ordeal. Here in PA we have a long, chilly road ahead of us, and after already receiving a white wintry blast, I fear I must stock up on my products now before I'm snowed in, so I'd best be going! Thanks for reading! Miriam

To continue the theme...

In this time of preparation to give thanks, I expound on this and remind you once again how very important it is to spend time with those that mean the most to you. Tell them, not just now, in the season of giving, but always. My aunt recently lost her husband and while she has so many memories to cherish, her heart is broken. People fall ill all the time and we sometimes don't deal with it because it is too hard to go to that person and tell them what they mean to us before it's too late. Do it while you have the opportunity. Just sit and be together. I attended two family weddings this weekend, one from my side, one from my husbands'. I was surrounded by three generations of my family! How wonderful it feels to be together in a room full of people that I love and who love me back! These occasions are so fleeting and I tried to cherish the moment with each sibling, cousin, aunt, uncle and great aunt as we get so caught up in the busy days that pass too quickly. Our two beautiful young cousins and their handsome young husbands have their whole lives to plan and to share with us all. It's a very settling feeling seeing the cycle continue. A few days back I had a heartwarming conversation with an old college friend that made me smile the entire day, and at moments brought a few tears. I cherish these conversations always and have tried to make it a point to let my friend know. We met when we were so young and our entire lives were before us. We had dreams and plans, and after an astounding 30 years after meeting we can talk like time has stood still. The directions our lives took is vastly different than we thought it might, the good, the bad and the ugly, but we are still there for each other. Cherish these friends, these memories and make the conversation happen. Though some are divorced, have moved away or have chosen the path to go it alone, reach out often. I don't know if aging is what is bringing me to such introspection, I guess I'm okay with aging...I'll be sure to do it as gracefully as I can. I only know I am a very rich person to have so many people that care about me and count myself incredibly blessed after all these years of collecting friendships; ones that I plan to have forever. Peace, Miriam

Back with holiday thoughts to share

I'm glad to be back and able to share some ideas with you! Isn't the new blog layout divine? Thanks Shannon at www.eightcrazydesign.com for her creativity and great design skills! My wheels are spinning with only a couple of weeks left to prepare for Thanksgiving dinner at my house this year. Small crowd, but regardless, we still eat...alot! There will just be more to go around! I have my tried and true recipe for the best turkey ever so that's a done deal. My sides always change because while I like the classics, candied yams, stuffing, cranberries; my guests likes and dislikes dictate the specifics. Mom loves oysters...why, I don't know...but I'll be sure to have a small morsel for her to enjoy. Creamed oysters at that! If I have to suffer through them, wrapped in bacon and broiled would do nicely. Dad doesn't like alot of crunch in his stuffing, but I do. So two varieties, one in the bird, a little more standard for his liking and then one outside the bird with lots of goodies. I found a recipe in Bon Appetit for a yummy dried cranberry, apricot and fig stuffing! Go to bonappetit.com/go/slideshows for a great stuffing slideshow on all the stuffing recipes. The kids like the plain cranberry sauce, wiggly and jiggly out of the can, Ocean Spray version. There will certainly be a need for the more mature palate so I'm going with the cranberry, pomegranate and meyer lemon relish, also found in this months' Bon Appetit. There are actually so many great recipes in this issue, this one is a keeper. Finding space on my shelving is going to be a task. My bookcase overflows already. I have to keep 4 books out at all times since there is no more room! Makes me look like a busy cook! Desserts are standard and always will be; apple crumb pie a la mode and pumpkin, pumpkin and more pumpkin. I hope everyone has a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving and while feasting, remember why we are together and how much each and every person present contributes to the family. Be thankful for what you have and where you are right now. With the volatility in our country there is no better time to hunker down and take stock in what is good and this Thanksgiving I am going to try very hard to make my children aware of all that they have to be grateful for. Thanks for visiting! Miriam

Under Construction

Just wanted to post to let you know that my blog, Tending to Details, is being updated and redesigned. In the meantime, I will continue to collect ideas to share with my blog readers in the very near future. Many thanks for reading! Miriam

Shopping Frenzy in your Closet

A shopping frenzy in your own closet? Imagine that! I've noticed the influx of emails of late with all kinds of private sales, discounts and coupons galore for online and in store shopping. The economy has been hit hard and the stores are hitting their stride for the holiday panic. But that doesn't mean you have to! You may be feeling the urge to browse the racks for something new and exciting but I'll bet you if you look deep enough, you'll find it right under your nose. What is it that Dorothy said, about looking for something you've had all along? If what's in your closet needs refreshing, use your creative right brain and see what you can pull together. Have some slacks cuffed up a few inches and made fresh and new with great boots. Layer some of the tissue tees one over the other and add a thin...or thick cardigan. belt it with a wide or narrow patent belt. Add a great statement pendant and voila! Toss on a plush scarf and awesome gloves in a color to pop the entire outfit and you're ready for the runway. Ok, well, maybe not the runway but take a spin down Chestnut Street and see if ya turn any heads! Take a skirt to your trusted tailor for an update and have the side seams taken in to gain the pencil look. Add a ruffle blouse and a great clutch to match or contrast. Patterned hose and some cool new booties will not break your bank. Try DSW for a pair or two. www.dsw.com Dresses are still in with either printed leg wear and pumps or boots. A wide belt and a swing coat if you have one or blazer with a broach or two can update the dress for fall. Be creative. You can do it! Lay the pieces out on the bed and toss them around until you see something that looks aesthetically pleasing. Then try them on. Pin them yourself to get a more realistic view pre tailoring. The few extra bucks you spend to update some pieces will give them a new life and the appearance of a trendy purchase. Happy Shopping! Miriam

Love your Breast Health

Just a gentle reminder...for all the women reading, please be sure that you schedule your mammogram. With this being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, be especially mindful to remember to do your monthly self exams, and after age 40, schedule your mammogram annually. Men you need to encourage the women in your life that you care about to be active in their own health maintenance. While you're at it, once in a while do a check too. Men can also get breast cancer...bet you weren't aware of that, where you? Let's look towards the cure in our lifetime! Donate to your local chapter or visit http://www.komen.org/ Thanks for caring, Miriam

Haste makes waste...so take your time and make waste useful!

I was recently reading one of my favorite blogs and got to thinking about a question that came up there. Is it better to put your food waste down the disposal drain or in the trash? My husband and I banter about this all the time. I loose interest in my breakfast when I open the trash in the morning to see last nights' dinner staring up at me. He hates forcing mush down the drain. I'm finding that the trash is the winner over the disposal hands down, according to our eco-friendly blog. The amount of water used to wash the ground up food particles down the drain is excessive. Then, once it travels through the system, huge amounts of water are needed to process the waste out of the water at the other end. Placing the waste in the trashcan avoids massive water consumption. During a drought, this can be a valuable piece of knowledge. There is another method, however! Purchase a small countertop composting container and put your food waste to good use. Resource the vitamins and minerals to your gardens, plants and flower pots. If you visit http://www.williamssonoma.com/ or http://www.realgoods.com/ you'll find some excellent prices in products that will easily do the trick for the beginner composter. From a 5.5 quart container at $18 to the ceramic version at $32 and the stainless at $59.99 you can surely find a style that suits your decor. Complete with charcoal filters for odor free composting you have a choice of decorative canisters that will be almost unnoticeable on your countertop. Surprisingly, Target also carries a stainless $59.99 countertop version at http://www.target.com/ or the Nature Mill Pro for under the counter installation. These are significantly more expensive, beginning at $299.99 and the super model at $399.99 designed for small restaurants, offices and large family usage. These composters have vacation settings and the capacity to compost 120 pounds of food waste per month. It has a continuous process function that mixes every 4 hours and ready for composting every two weeks. This is perfect for the avid gardener. These larger canisters can be installed indoors or out! I am just loving this idea and think it's high time I participated! My mother used to compost for her garden but we had to hike out to the back of our couple of acres, usually at night after dinner and dump behind the shed, who knows what lurked back there? I guess I lived to tell about it but I still think I prefer the indoor countertop option. Much more manageable and at a task level that I feel confident I can handle! Try it and let me know your success rate! Good luck going green! Miriam